bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Not a Real Worker”: Gendering Migrants in Thailand’s Shrimp Farms
Authors: Resurreccion Bernadette P. , Sajor Edsel E. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThai shrimp farm‐owners and migrant couple workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Northeast Thailand act in concert to create gendered subjects and a sense of “place” among Surat Thani’s shrimp farms. The creation of place by the migration of workers into Surat Thani is layered by employers’ efficiency goals with migrants’ need for a conjugal residence while earning a living. The conjugal workforce is, however, differentiated by the creation of a female worker subject, publicly defined as “not a real worker.” By paying migrants a couple’s wage, employers recreate and solidify discourses on the work and labour capacities that differentiate women and men on shrimp farms. Women workers themselves reproduce this: they invoke the status of “not a real worker” to achieve certain ends, such as exploring supplementary income sources or creating latitude for child care while still being on the farm’s payroll. It is mostly Thai women who are able to find other income sources, whereas Burmese and Laotian workers are largely tied to their husbands and employers. Women workers’ enactments of “not a real worker” in turn reproduce and differentiate migrant national subjects. This paper therefore demonstrates that labour practices and migration processes produce gender and migrant subjects. This puts in question essentialist and reified assumptions about gender and gender differences. Instead, we place social practices that produce gender subjects at the centre of analysis, thereby being attentive to the production of gender as a dynamic process and the diversity of subject positions available to women in a single context.
Loss of soil resources from water‐eroded versus uneroded cropland sites under simulated rainfall
Authors: Stavi I. , Lal R. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractSoil erosion is widespread in agricultural lands of the US Corn Belt. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of antecedent erosion on loss of soil under laboratory simulated rainfall. The soil was obtained from the surface layer of eroded (ER) and uneroded (UN) sites within a conservation agro‐ecosystem in central Ohio, USA. Air‐dried soil was subjected to a rainfall simulation for 60 min (dry run), and to another simulation (wet run) 24 h after the dry run. In the dry run, the cumulative water runoff, sediment yield, and soil organic carbon loss were higher in ER (12.3 L/m2, 169.3 g/m2, and 5.6 g/m2, respectively) than in the UN (7.3 L/m2, 22.6 g/m2, and 0.9 g/m2 respectively). An opposite trend was observed for the cumulative water infiltration (0.9 and 3.9 L/m2, respectively). In the wet run, despite a similar cumulative water runoff from the two erosional phases (20.1 and 19.6 L/m2 in ER and UN respectively), sediment yield and soil organic carbon loss were higher in ER (484.4 g/m2, and 16.3 g/m2 respectively) than in the UN (146.6 g/m2, and 5.3 g/m2 respectively). Also for the wet run, an opposite trend was observed for the cumulative infiltration (0.8 and 5.8 L/m2 respectively). This study suggests that past erosional processes increase the susceptibility of remaining soil to accelerated erosion.
Relation Between Renal Dysfunction Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy and Promoter Polymorphism of the Erythropoietin Gene in Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Popov Aron F. , Schulz Egbert G. , Schmitto Jan D. , Coskun Kasim O. , Tzvetkov Mladen V. , Kazmaier Stephan , Zimmermann Janna , Schöndube Friedrich A. , Quintel Michael , Hinz José 
Published: November 2010

AbstractSeveral genetic polymorphisms have been identified to play a role in the occurrence and progression of renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Recently, it was demonstrated that the T allele of SNP rs1617640 in the promoter of the erythropoetin (EPO) gene is significantly associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) due to increased EPO expression. This disease risk‐associated gene and its potential pathway mediating severe microvascular complications in T‐allele carriers could also play a role on renal dysfunction in patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB. We hypothesized that the patients' ability to produce increased EPO concentrations will affect morbidity and mortality after CPB. We conducted a prospective single center study between April 2006 and May 2007. In 481 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB we prospectively examined the SNP rs1617640 in the promoter of the EPO gene by DNA sequencing. The patients were grouped according to their genotype (GG, GT, and TT). The genotype distribution of SNP rs1617640 in the promoter of the EPO gene was 36% (TT), 49% (TG), and 15% (GG). There was no difference in age, body mass index, gender, CPB time, or length of stay in intensive care unit. The hospitalization was irrespective of the patients' genotypes. The baseline creatinine in the TT group was 0.2 points higher than in the other groups; however this was without statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. No significant difference was shown in Euroscore, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score II, Acute Renal Failure Score, or the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of Kidney Function Score. The mortality was equal across the genotypes. However, an association between the TT genotype and acute renal replacement therapy (P = 0.03), intra‐aortic balloon pump usage (P = 0.02), and serum creatine phosphokinase‐MB increase (P = 0.03) were observed after cardiac surgery. Our analysis suggests that the risk allele (T) of rs1617640 plays a role in the development of renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery with CPB. Patients with the TT risk allele required more frequent acute renal replacement therapy. Since our result is close to the border of significance, this hypothesis should be investigated in larger prospective studies with long‐term follow‐up to emphasize this polymorphism as a potential risk factor.
Evaluation of Neonatal Membrane Oxygenators With Respect to Gaseous Microemboli Capture and Transmembrane Pressure Gradients
Authors: Qiu Feng , Guan Yulong , Su Xiaowei , Kunselman Allen , Ündar Akif 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA series of studies performed at our center demonstrates that gaseous microemboli (GME) remain a challenge in cardiac surgical procedures. Evaluation of novel oxygenators must address hemodynamic parameters and microemboli capture capability. The objective of this study is to compare two neonatal membrane oxygenators, the Quadrox‐i (MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG, Hirrlingen, Germany) and the Capiox RX05 (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), with respect to GME capture and hemodynamic energy delivery. The experimental circuit included a Maquet HL‐20 heart‐lung machine, a Heater‐Cooler Unit HCU 30 (MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG), a membrane oxygenator (Quadrox‐i Neonatal or Capiox RX05), and ¼‐inch tubing from the COBE Heart/Lung Perfusion Pack (COBE Cardiovascular, Inc., Arvada, CO, USA). A Capiox cardiotomy reservoir CX*CR10NX (Terumo Corporation) acted as a pseudopatient. The circuit was primed with human packed red blood cells and lactated Ringer's solution and de‐aired according to clinical priming procedure. Heparin (5000 IU) was added into the circuit. The total volume was 400 mL and hematocrit was 30%. Pump flow rate was maintained at 500 or 1000 mL/min under both pulsatile and nonpulsatile modes. All trials were conducted under 100 mm Hg of circuit pressure at normothermia (35°C). In each trial, bolus air (0.5 mL) was injected into the circuit at the prepump site over 5 s. Total emboli counts and total emboli volume were significantly reduced by the Quadrox‐i Neonatal membrane oxygenator compared to the Capiox RX05 membrane oxygenator. Classification and quantification of GME detected at the postoxygenator site at two different flow rates indicated that the Quadrox‐i Neonatal captures the majority of microemboli larger than 40 µm in diameter. The Quadrox‐i Neonatal membrane oxygenator had a higher transmembrane pressure drop at 500 mL/min, whereas it had a lower pressure drop at 1000 mL/min compared to the Capiox Baby RX05 oxygenator. Additionally, the Quadrox‐i Neonatal oxygenator preserved more pulsatile energy than the Baby RX05 oxygenator at both flow rates. Compared to the Capiox RX05 membrane oxygenator, the Quadrox‐i Neonatal membrane oxygenator has significantly improved GME handling capacity and had better hemodynamic energy preservation. Further research encompassing in vivo and clinical studies is needed to investigate the magnitude and mechanisms of these benefits.
Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support Systems: Education and Training at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital
Authors: McCoach Robert , Weaver Bonnie , Carney Elizabeth , Clark J. Brian , Pauliks Linda , Guan Yulong , Qiu Feng , Chang Dennis , Reed‐Thurston Deborah , Myers John L. , Ündar Akif 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe following is a description of the training offered to extracorporeal life support (ECLS)‐trained staff at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Changes with the ECLS circuit prompted the need for an initiative to train staff in the care of patients requiring ECLS support. In addition to didactic material, we incorporated a “hands‐on” approach in designing the education. During the didactic portion, the circuit was demonstrated as a wet lab. The final step offered a voluntary visit to the animal research facility utilizing clinical case scenarios which allowed participants to articulate and demonstrate proper circuit management. The effort throughout this process was to build a competent ECLS team which will ultimately provide our patients with the greatest chance for a full recovery.
A Microfluidic Device for Continuous White Blood Cell Separation and Lysis From Whole Blood
Authors: Kim Myounggon , Mo Jung Seung , Lee Kyeong‐Hwan , Jun Kang Yang , Yang Sung 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA microfluidic device, which is composed of a blood inlet, a cell lysis solution inlet, a bifurcation outlet containing six microchannels, and a white blood cell (WBC)‐lysed solution outlet, is proposed in this study to separate WBCs from whole blood and lyse the WBCs in a continuous and near real‐time fashion. The geometry of the microfluidic device is determined based on the bifurcation law and a cell crossover method. The microflow patterns of blood cells in the microfluidic channels are simulated by computational fluid dynamics. The simulation results agree with the experiment results by considering the reduction of blood viscosity in the microfluidic channels. The performance of the microfluidic device is evaluated by investigating the WBC recovery efficiency and the ratio of spectrophotometric absorbance of the blood sample at 260 to that at 280 nm. The WBC recovery efficiency at the main channel outlet is 97.2%. The measured spectrophotometric absorbance ratio of 1.82 indicates that the separated WBCs are completely lysed, leaving only pure DNA in the WBC‐lysed solution. The continuous cell separation and lysis is completed within only 0.5 s. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed microfluidic device is promising for separating WBCs from whole blood without any pretreatment and lysing the WBCs in a continuous and near real‐time fashion. The proposed microfluidic device may be applicable to a lab‐on‐a‐chip for blood analysis.
The Role of Phospho‐Adenosine Monophosphate‐Activated Protein Kinase and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in a Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Heidrich Florian , Sossalla Samuel , Schotola Hanna , Vorkamp Tobias , Ortmann Philipp , Popov Aron F. , Coskun Kasim O. , Rajab Taufiek K. , Friedrich Martin , Sohns Christian , Hinz Jose , Bauer Martin , Quintel Michael , Schöndube Friedrich A. , Schmitto Jan D. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe established a stable and reproducible animal model of chronic heart failure (CHF) in sheep to investigate biomolecular changes. Therefore, two biomarkers, adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) were examined to reveal their role during chronic ischemic conditions of the heart. AMPK was studied because it plays an important role in cellular energy homeostasis and its upregulation is associated with myocardial ischemia, whereas VEGF‐A was studied because it acts as an important signaling protein for neoangiogenesis. We examined 15 juvenile sheep (mean weight, 78 ± 4 kg; control, n = 3; ShamOP, n = 2; coronary microembolization [CME], n = 10). CHF was induced under fluoroscopic guidance by multiple sequential microembolizations (MEs) through bolus injection of polysterol microspheres (90 µm, n = 25.000) into the left main coronary artery. CME was repeated up to three times at 2‐ to 3‐week intervals until animals started to develop stable signs of CHF. All animals were followed for 3 months. Phosphorylation of AMPK, marking the activated protein form, was detected by Western blotting. VEGF‐A and vascular endothelial growth factor‐receptor 2 (VEGF‐R2) mRNA were detected by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as a reference housekeeping gene. All 10 CHF animals developed clinical signs of CHF as indicated by a significant decrease of cardiac output, decreased ejection fraction, as well as occurrence of tachycardia and tachypnoea. Western blots showed significant phosphorylation of AMPK in CME animals compared to the control group (phospho‐adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase α) (GAPDH control: 0.0, CME left ventricle [LV]: 0.39 ± 0.20, CME right ventricle [RV]: 0.53 ± 0.30; P < 0.05). VEGF‐A and VEGF‐R2 expression in CME animal myocardium was within the range of the control group, but this data did not reach statistical significance due to the small size of this group. While microinjection was performed into the left main coronary artery, phosphorylation of AMPK and expression of VEGF‐A and VEGF‐R2 were significantly higher in the RV than in the LV. Multiple sequential intracoronary MEs can effectively induce myocardial dysfunction with clinical and biomolecular signs of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. Quantitative analysis of biomolecular markers showed a significantly higher phosphorylation of AMPK in CHF animals compared with control myocardium.
Differential Immune Activation During Simulated Cardiopulmonary Bypass Procedure Using Freshly Drawn and Week‐Old Blood—A Pilot Study
Authors: Aran Kiana , Fok Alex , Guan Yulong , Sun Qi , Zahn Jeffrey D. , Ündar Akif 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe goal of this study is to assess whether the use of different aged blood, used during the simulated Penn State Hershey Pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) model affects immune activation. In order to study and compare the cytokine release involved in the humoral immune response during simulated CPB, both freshly drawn whole blood used less than 1 h after donation (n = 2) and reconstituted whole blood (1 week old) (n = 3) were circulated in a simulated CPB circuit under identical perfusion conditions. Discrete samples were collected in both experiments and analyzed for the proinflammatory cytokines concentrations of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐8 using immunofluorocytometry as an indicator of immune activation. The results indicated that the cytokine concentrations of freshly drawn blood increased significantly compared with the reconstituted blood over the CPB circulation time. The fresh blood activation was two to three orders of magnitude larger than the week‐old blood for all cytokines analyzed. These results suggest that the use of freshly drawn blood is required to evaluate immune responses to the extracorporeal circulation.
Description of a Flow Optimized Oxygenator With Integrated Pulsatile Pump
Authors: Borchardt Ralf , Schlanstein Peter , Arens Jutta , Graefe Roland , Schreiber Fabian , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich 
Published: November 2010

AbstractExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a well‐established therapy for several lung and heart diseases in the field of neonatal and pediatric medicine (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome, congenital heart failure, cardiomyopathy). Current ECMO systems are typically composed of an oxygenator and a separate nonpulsatile blood pump. An oxygenator with an integrated pulsatile blood pump for small infant ECMO was developed, and this novel concept was tested regarding functionality and gas exchange rate. Pulsating silicone tubes (STs) were driven by air pressure and placed inside the cylindrical fiber bundle of an oxygenator to be used as a pump module. The findings of this study confirm that pumping blood with STs is a viable option for the future. The maximum gas exchange rate for oxygen is 48 mL/min/Lblood at a medium blood flow rate of about 300 mL/min. Future design steps were identified to optimize the flow field through the fiber bundle to achieve a higher gas exchange rate. First, the packing density of the hollow‐fiber bundle was lower than commercial oxygenators due to the manual manufacturing. By increasing this packing density, the gas exchange rate would increase accordingly. Second, distribution plates for a more uniform blood flow can be placed at the inlet and outlet of the oxygenator. Third, the hollow‐fiber membranes can be individually placed to ensure equal distances between the surrounding hollow fibers.
Impact of Tubing Length on Hemodynamics in a Simulated Neonatal Extracorporeal Life Support Circuit
Authors: Qiu Feng , Uluer Mehmet C. , Kunselman Allen , Clark J. Brian , Myers John L. , Ündar Akif 
Published: November 2010

AbstractDuring extracorporeal life support (ECLS), a large portion of the hemodynamic energy is lost to various components of the circuit. Minimization of this loss in the circuit leads to better vital organ perfusion and decreases the risk of systemic inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the hemodynamic properties of differing lengths of tubing in a simulated neonatal ECLS circuit. The neonatal ECLS circuit used in this study included a Capiox Baby RX05 oxygenator (Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), a Rotaflow centrifugal pump (MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG, Hirrlingen, Germany), and a heater and cooler unit. An 8 Fr Biomedicus arterial and a 10 Fr Biomedicus venous cannula were connected to the pseudopatient. One‐fourth inch tubing was used for both the arterial and the venous line. A Hoffman clamp was located upstream from the pseudopatient to maintain a certain patient pressure. Three pressure transducers were placed at different sites: postoxygenator, prearterial cannula, and postarterial cannula. The system was primed with Lactated Ringer's solution; human blood was then added to maintain a hematocrit of 40%. The volume of the pseudopatient was 500 mL. We hemodynamically evaluated three circuits with different lengths of tubing: 6, 4, and 2 feet (182.88, 121.92, and 60.96 cm, respectively) for both arterial and venous lines; the priming volumes including all of the components of the circuits were 195, 155, and 115 mL, respectively. In each circuit, we measured the pressure drops of the arterial tubing and the arterial cannula, as well as the flow rates at different rpm (1750–3000, 250 intervals) under three patient pressures (40, 60, and 80 mm Hg). All the experiments were conducted at 37°C. The pressure drop across the arterial cannula is much larger than that of arterial tubing in all set‐ups, especially under high flow rates. Upon cutting the tubing from 6 to 2 feet, the pressure drop of the arterial tubing decreased by half, while the pressure drop of the arterial cannula increased due to the slightly higher flow rates. These results suggest that compared to the arterial tubing, the arterial cannula has a larger impact on the hemodynamics of the circuit. There is a little influence of tubing length on the circuit flow rate.
Inflammatory and Hemostatic Response to Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Pediatric Population: Feasibility of Seriological Testing of Multiple Biomarkers
Authors: Aĝirbaşli Mehmet , Nguyen My‐Le , Win Khin , Kunselman Allen R. , Clark J. Brian , Myers John L. , Ündar Akif 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPerioperative myocardial and cerebral damages are the major determinants of postoperative morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac surgery. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes alterations in the levels of biomarkers related to inflammation, tissue damage, and other tissue pathologies. Early and accurate evaluation of inflammation and tissue damage would therefore be clinically useful. Our objective is to assess the suitability of using Multi‐Analyte Profiling (MAP) (Rules Based Medicine, Austin, TX, USA) in pediatric cardiac surgery as a potential surrogate marker of clinical outcome. MAP technology platform allowed us to analyze 90 different biomarkers using only 100 µL of plasma to detect any changes in the levels of 90 biomarkers. Plasma samples (100 µL) were collected at five different time points: 1. before midline incision; 2. on CPB for 3–5 min; 3. at the end of CPB; 4. 1 h after CPB; and 5. 24 h after CPB. After removing the outliers, the average and standard deviation of the values obtained from the 10 patients were calculated for each time point. The average values of each biomarker at each time point were then compared to each other and to the baseline. The pilot protocol included 10 patients (ages from 3 months to 4 years old) with similar Jenkins risks stratifications who underwent nonpulsatile CPB. We detected changes in the levels of 90 biomarkers. Biomarkers were assessed in groups. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A) were the earliest markers to rise with 49‐ and 18‐fold increases 3–5 min after the onset of CPB, respectively. The most striking increase was noted in the heart‐type fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) levels. FABP increased 25, 193, 151, and 4‐fold at time points 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Surges in the novel markers of injury were followed by the markers of inflammation (i.e., C‐reactive protein, interleukins) peaking at 24 h after CPB. This pilot study shows that it is possible to measure 90 different biomarkers using only a very small sample of plasma to evaluate the effects of CPB. Novel markers of tissue injury (FABP, PAPP‐A, or MPO) are the earliest markers to rise. Serial monitoring of multiple biomarkers may help to predict and improve outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery.