bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Delayed intravesical mesh erosion in a midurethral sling following further mesh‐augmented pelvic prolapse surgery
Authors: Lo Tsia‐Shu , Pue Leng Boi , Tan Yiap Loong , Khanuengkitkong Siwatchaya , Krishna Dass Anil 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIntravesical mesh erosion and extrusion have been reported as devastating late complications of synthetic suburethral sling placement for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. We report a case of a female patient with intravesical mesh erosion from a sling suspension that developed 4 years after primary prolapse surgery with mesh reinforcement. Intravesical mesh erosion was observed ultrasonographically and confirmed through cystoscopy. We excised the mesh via a vaginal approach and repaired both bladder mucosa and vaginal wall. As of this writing, the patient has been symptom‐free for the past year post‐surgery. Long‐term follow‐up is recommended in such cases. Anti‐incontinence surgery followed by primary prolapse surgery could potentially jeopardize the former. Complications may arise several years later so long‐term follow‐up is essential. Ultrasonography is an effective tool in evaluating mesh morphology and detecting intravesical mesh erosion.
Doing and enacting economies of value: Thinking through the assemblage
Authors: Carolan Michael 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis paper speaks to the generative capacities of research more generally and the biological economies process specifically. It highlights the importance of being disruptive and critical while avoiding the traps of structuralist paranoia that keep one from seeing and doing difference. It also seeks to move through, rather than beyond, conventional understandings of value, to include emergent practices, relationships and more‐than‐representational knowledge. In total, it is a rather wild piece about New Zealand biological economies scholarship, in terms of how certain performances are made strange, become altered and lead to the enactment of novel states of becoming.
Using provenance to create stability: State‐led territorialisation of Central Otago as assemblage
Authors: Rosin Christopher , Dwiartama Angga , Grant Darryl , Hopkins Debbie 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the implications of assemblage as an analytical framework in the context of regional economic planning, drawing on Deleuze and Guattari's concept of territoriality to examine the efforts to create temporal stability in the emergent regional economy. We focus on the reterritorialisation of Central Otago through the district council's destination management project centred on the collective branding of the region as ‘A World of Difference’. The implementation of this programme contends with the diverse, incongruent boundaries of emergent tourism activities. The paper, thus, addresses the potential for state initiatives to manage uncertain and ephemeral assemblages.
Worlds of wool: Recreating value off the sheep's back
Authors: Pawson Eric , Perkins Harvey 
Published: November 2013

AbstractRecent attempts to recreate the wealth once generated inNewZealand from wool are discussed. These attempts are theorised as active processes of assemblage within overlapping and interacting social worlds. The focus of the paper is ethnographic, engaging with the actors in worlds of wool as they experiment with ways to retain and add value by enhancing connectivity between farmer‐producers, manufacturers and consumers; delineating and capturing value by constructing new products and brands; and continually developing metrologies, making new animals and advancing an array of environmental and social values. The study focuses on fine and strong wool worlds.
Calcification during bone healing in a standardised rat calvarial defect assessed by micro‐CTandSEM‐EDX
Authors: Okata H , Nakamura M , Henmi A , Yamaguchi S , Mikami Y , Shimauchi H , Sasano Y 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveThe study was designed to investigate the process of calcification during bone healing in a standardised rat calvarial bone defect model, measured by bone mineral density and the concentrations and distributions of calcium, phosphorus and carbon in the bone matrix.Materials and methodsA standard defect was made on the parietal bone of 12‐week‐old rats under anaesthesia. The rats were fixed in weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8, and the calvaria were resected and examined with microcomputed tomography, then frozen and sectioned for histology and analysed with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Parietal bone of 12‐week‐old control rats was processed similarly.ResultsThe mineral density of healing bone increased with time. The healing bone became thicker and denser with time in histology. The distributions of Ca and P expanded over the bone matrix, whereas that of C became localised and complemented that of C and P. The Ca/P concentration ratio increased, whereas the C/Ca and C/P ratios decreased in the healing bone matrix.ConclusionHealing bone is immaturely calcified initially and proceeds calcification gradually, that is, as the bone volume increases, mineral increases in density and matures in quality, while organic components decrease.
Dermoscopy to Identify Dermal Thinning
Authors: Nagler Arielle , Mazza Joni , Kil Erin , Silverberg Nanette B. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBiopsying of children is often difficult to accomplish and traumatic. Consequently, techniques that avert biopsy are welcome in children. We describe the use of handheld dermoscopy for confirmation of the diagnosis of lesions with dermal thinning, including focal dermal hypoplasia, aplasia cutis, and striae. The major advantage of this technique is rapid diagnosis in the absence of a surgical procedure.
Periungual Bowen's Disease in a 4‐Year‐Old Girl
Authors: Kim Sharon , Sun Grace S. , Wright Teresa S. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBowen's disease (BD), or cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ, is rare in children. BD usually occurs in Caucasian adults on sun‐exposed areas and may progress to invasive cutaneous SCC. Most cases of periungual BD have been linked to human papillomavirus infection. We report an immunocompetent child with periungual BD.
Do Country‐of‐Origin Characteristics Help Explain Variation in Health Among Black Immigrants in the United States?
Authors: Hamilton Tod G. 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveBlack immigrants in the United States migrate from a diverse set of countries, including countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, and Africa. This study evaluates whether disparate conditions in black immigrants’ birth countries help explain variation in their postmigration health.MethodsUsing data on black immigrants from the 2001 to 2012 waves of the March Current Population Survey (CPS) along with country data from the 2009 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme, this study examines whether social, economic, and health conditions in black immigrants’ birth countries have an independent effect on their postmigration health.ResultsResults show that health is more favorable among black immigrants who migrate from countries with a relatively high combined gross enrollment ratio for primary, secondary, and tertiary education; low levels of income inequality; and high life expectancies at birth. After controlling for country conditions, relative to non‐African immigrants, African immigrants report the best health.ConclusionFuture studies on the health of immigrants should incorporate characteristics of immigrants’ birth countries. This information could provide valuable insights into the roles of selective migration and birth‐country conditions in explaining variation in immigrants’ postmigration health.
Field evaluation of soil moisture deficit thresholds for limits to trafficability with slurry spreading equipment on grassland
Authors: Vero S. E. , Antille D. L. , Lalor S. T. J. , Holden N. M. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis study investigated the extent of soil damage caused by field traffic associated with different levels of soil moisture deficit (SMD). The hybrid SMD model was used for computing temporal patterns of SMD which can be accurately predicted for a range of soil types in Ireland. The aim of this study was to determine SMD threshold limits to trafficability for incorporation into a decision support system for safe slurry spreading. A tractor and a fully loaded single‐axle slurry tanker (total weight ca. 18 tonnes) were driven over well, moderate and poorly drained soils at SMD values of 0, 5, 10 and 20 mm during drying phases. The change in soil bulk density (SBD) was used as an indicator of soil compaction, and rut profile measurements were taken to determine soil deformation indicative of surface damage. The effect of traffic on the grass crop was determined by measuring dry matter yield at 30 and 60 days posttraffic in the wheel‐rut and nontrafficked area. Results showed that the SMD at the time of traffic had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the magnitude of the changes in SBD on soils of different drainage status, and on rut dimensions following traffic. DMY was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced on the wheeled compared with the nonwheeled soil. No differences in the magnitude of DMY loss were identified between the sites having different drainage status. An SMD value of 10 mm was suggested as an SMD threshold for trafficability for safe slurry spreading purposes.
Asking for something different from our donors: factors influencing persuasion success
Authors: Bagot Kathleen L. , Bove Liliana L. , Masser Barbara M. , White Katherine M. 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundDemand for plasma‐derived products, and consequently plasmapheresis donors, continues to increase. This study aims to identify the factors that facilitate the persuasion success of conversations with whole blood (WB) donors to convert to plasmapheresis donation within a voluntary nonremunerated context.Study Design and MethodsSurveys were sent to WB donors after a plasmapheresis conversion conversation with a blood collection agency (BCA) staff member: in center (Sample 1) or via a call center (Sample 2). Participants reported the number of donor‐initiated and BCA‐initiated conversations about plasma, experienced in the prior 12 months. Perceptions of the most recent conversation, donor oriented and conversion oriented, were also reported. The BCA provided WB donation history for the prior 5 years. Participants' intentions to make a first plasmapheresis donation were captured and any subsequent plasmapheresis donation was objectively recorded.ResultsConversion rates were higher for in‐center than call center–based conversations. For both samples, path analyses revealed that intentions are associated with conversion. Prior WB donations are negatively associated, while donor‐initiated and donor‐orientated conversations are positively associated with conversion intentions. Results for agent‐initiated conversations and conversion‐orientated conversations were mixed across samples.ConclusionConverting suitable WB donors to plasmapheresis is best achieved early in the donor's career using face‐to‐face conversations with collection center staff. BCAs should facilitate donor‐initiated conversations through promotional campaigns that encourage donors to approach staff. Conversations that focus on donors' needs and welfare more effectively encourage conversion intentions than those perceived as pushing the requirements of the BCA.
The Zoonotic Potential of Daptomycin Non‐susceptible Enterococci
Authors: Kelesidis T. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryDaptomycin non‐susceptible Enterococcus (DNSE) is an emerging clinical problem. Little is known about how de novo DNSE infections develop or the risk factors associated with them. Determining risk factors associated with de novo DNSE infections will aid in understanding the mechanisms of daptomycin non‐susceptibility. Humans in contact with animals worldwide are at risk of carriage of multidrug‐resistant bacteria. Herein, I review the scientific evidence that supports the hypothesis that transport of daptomycin non‐susceptibility genes between animals and humans may be a possible mechanism for development of de novo daptomycin non‐susceptibility in enterococci.
Galois representations associated to holomorphic limits of discrete series
Authors: Goldring Wushi , Shin Sug Woo 
Published: November 2013

AbstractGeneralizing previous results of Deligne–Serre and Taylor, Galois representations are attached to cuspidal automorphic representations of unitary groups whose Archimedean component is a holomorphic limit of discrete series. The main ingredient is a construction of congruences, using the Hasse invariant, that is independent of$q$-expansions.
Mechanisms by which a CACNA1H mutation in epilepsy patients increases seizure susceptibility
Authors: Eckle Veit‐Simon , Shcheglovitov Aleksandr , Vitko Iuliia , Dey Deblina , Yap Chan Choo , Winckler Bettina , Perez‐Reyes Edward 
Published: November 2013

Key points
Mutations in the Cav3.2 T‐type Ca2+ channel were found in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsies, yet the mechanisms by which these mutations increase neuronal excitability and susceptibility to seizures remain to be determined.
Using electrophysiological and transfection methods, we validate in cultured hippocampal neurons the hypothesis that an epilepsy mutation increases neuronal excitability.
Mutations in the I–II loop of the channel increase trafficking to the plasma membrane without altering trafficking into dendrites. Mutations also enhance dendritic arborization.
Additionally, we provide the first evidence that Cav3.2 can signal to Ca2+‐regulated transcription factors, which are known to play important roles in neuronal development and gene expression.
AbstractT‐type calcium channels play essential roles in regulating neuronal excitability and network oscillations in the brain. Mutations in the gene encoding Cav3.2 T‐type Ca2+ channels, CACNA1H, have been found in association with various forms of idiopathic generalized epilepsy. We and others have found that these mutations may influence neuronal excitability either by altering the biophysical properties of the channels or by increasing their surface expression. The goals of the present study were to investigate the excitability of neurons expressing Cav3.2 with the epilepsy mutation, C456S, and to elucidate the mechanisms by which it influences neuronal properties. We found that expression of the recombinant C456S channels substantially increased the excitability of cultured neurons by increasing the spontaneous firing rate and reducing the threshold for rebound burst firing. Additionally, we found that molecular determinants in the I–II loop (the region in which most childhood absence epilepsy‐associated mutations are found) substantially increase the surface expression of T‐channels but do not alter the relative distribution of channels into dendrites of cultured hippocampal neurons. Finally, we discovered that expression of C456S channels promoted dendritic growth and arborization. These effects were reversed to normal by either the absence epilepsy drug ethosuximide or a novel T‐channel blocker, TTA‐P2. As Ca2+‐regulated transcription factors also increase dendritic development, we tested a transactivator trap assay and found that the C456S variant can induce changes in gene transcription. Taken together, our findings suggest that gain‐of‐function mutations in Cav3.2 T‐type Ca2+ channels increase seizure susceptibility by directly altering neuronal electrical properties and indirectly by changing gene expression.
Characterization of Printable Micro-Fluidic Channels for Organ Printing
Authors: Zhang Yahui , Yu Yin , Ozbolat Ibrahim Tarik 
Published: November 2013

Despite great progress in tissue engineering, there still exist limitations in engineering and manufacturing thick tissues. The engineered construct is still trapped in a geometrically simple and thin structure due to an inefficient transportation system. In traditional scaffolding, the media exchange rate mainly depends on media diffusion. Even a porous scaffold cannot provide enough media for the high metabolic rate of thick tissue. Embedding microfluidic channels has great potential to increase media exchange capability. The existing microfluidic channel fabrication methods are limits as well. Microfluidic channels with interconnectivity, 3D dimension, or complex geometry have not been achieved. To address these issues, a novel printable microfluidic channel fabrication method is introduced in this paper.
This research investigates the manufacturability of novel cellular micro-fluidic channels. The proposed micro-fluidic channels can directly construct a scaffold that will provide both support of mechanical integrity and fluid transport in 3D. The main purpose of this paper is to experimentally analyze the effect of dispensing parameters and media flow characteristics on resulting microfluidic channels.
Correlation Between Mechanical Properties in Standard Test Specimens and Injection Molded Thin-Wall Parts
Authors: Sandu Laurentiu I. , Stan Felicia , Fetecau Catalin 
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we investigated the effect of injection molding parameters on the mechanical properties of thin-wall injection molded parts. A four-factor (melt temperature, mold temperature, injection speed and packing pressure) and three-level fractional experimental design was performed to investigate the influence of each factor on the mechanical properties and determine the optimal process conditions that maximize the mechanical properties of the part using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio response. The mechanical properties (e.g., elastic modulus, yield strength and strain at break) were measured by tensile tests at room temperature, at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min, and compared with those of the injection-molded specimens.
The experimental results showed that the tensile properties were highly dependent on the injection molding parameters, regardless of the type of the specimens. The values of Young modulus and yield strength of the injection-molded specimens were lower than those of the injection-molded parts, while the elongation at break was considerably lower for the injection-molded parts. The optimal process conditions were strongly dependent on the measured performance quantities (elastic modulus, yield strength and strain at break).
Interface Delamination of Diamond-Coated Carbide Tools Considering Coating Fractures by XFEM
Authors: Lu Ping , Chou Kevin 
Published: November 2013

Interface delamination is the major failure mode of diamond-coated carbide tools in machining. On the other hand, coating cracking is possibly accompanied during a tribological process that induces the delamination phenomenon. However, such an influence between the two failure behaviors has not been investigated in a quantitative way to better understand and design diamond coating tools.
In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) indentation model combining cohesive interactions and extended finite element method (XFEM) was developed to investigate the diamond-coating, carbide-substrate interface behavior with the incorporation of coating cracking. The interface interaction was based on a cohesive zone model (CZM) with a bilinear traction-separation law. XFEM was applied to the coating domain to model cracking in the diamond coating with a damage criterion of the maximum principal stress. Deposition stresses were also included to investigate their effect on the coating delamination and fractures. The model was implemented in finite element (FE) codes to analyze the cone crack in brittle coatings, as well as the interface delamination of diamond coated carbide tools. The XFEM model was validated by the indentation testing data from literature in crack initiations and propagations in brittle materials. FE results from the indentation on diamond-coated tools show that the interface delamination size and the loading force become smaller when coating fractures are incorporated in the model, and the deposition stresses will increase the initial crack radius as well as the critical load for delamination in diamond coatings.
Investigation and Optimization of Laser Welding of Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy Plates
Authors: Caiazzo Fabrizia , Alfieri Vittorio , Corrado Gaetano , Cardaropoli Francesco , Sergi Vincenzo 
Published: November 2013

Titanium alloys are employed for several applications, ranging from aerospace to medicine. In particular, Ti-6Al-4V is the most common, thanks to an excellent combination of low density, high specific strength and corrosion resistance.
Laser welding has been increasingly considered as an alternative to traditional techniques to join titanium alloys. An increase in penetration depth and a reduction of possible welding defects is achieved indeed; moreover a smaller grain size in the fused zone is benefited in comparison to either TIG and plasma arc welding, thus providing an increase in the tensile strength of the welded structures.
The aim of this work is to develop the regression model for a number of responses which are crucial for the feature of the joint. The study was carried out on 3 mm thick Ti-6Al-4V plates; a square butt welding configuration was considered employing a disk-laser source. A 3-level factorial plan was hence arranged in a face-centred cubic scheme. The responses were analyzed referring to the governing parameters. Then, an optimization was carried out via statistical tools, in order to find the optimal welding set-up for the alloy under examination.
Combined Temperature and Force Control for Robotic Friction Stir Welding
Authors: Fehrenbacher Axel , Smith Christopher B. , Duffie Neil A. , Ferrier Nicola J. , Pfefferkorn Frank E. , Zinn Michael R. 
Published: November 2013

The objective of this research is to develop a closed-loop control system for robotic friction stir welding (FSW) that simultaneously controls force and temperature in order to maintain weld quality under various process disturbances. FSW is a solid-state joining process enabling welds with excellent metallurgical and mechanical properties, as well as significant energy consumption and cost savings compared to traditional fusion welding processes.
During FSW, several process parameter and condition variations (thermal constraints, material properties, geometry, etc.) are present. The FSW process can be sensitive to these variations, which are commonly present in a production environment; hence, there is a significant need to control the process to assure high weld quality. Reliable FSW for a wide range of applications will require closed-loop control of certain process parameters.
A linear multi-input-multi-output process model has been developed that captures the dynamic relations between two process inputs (commanded spindle speed and commanded vertical tool position) and two process outputs (interface temperature and axial force).
A closed-loop controller was implemented that combines temperature and force control on an industrial robotic FSW system. The performance of the combined control system was demonstrated with successful command tracking and disturbance rejection. Within a certain range, desired axial forces and interface temperatures are achieved by automatically adjusting the spindle speed and the vertical tool position at the same time. The axial force and interface temperature is maintained during both thermal and geometric disturbances and thus weld quality can be maintained for a variety of conditions in which each control strategy applied independently could fail.