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Objective: To evaluate acute and chronic changes seen on angiographic and histopathological studies of porcine rete mirabile, comparing those treated with the Menox liquid embolic system (LES) and those treated with the Onyx LES. Materials and Methods: Five pigs, each weighing approximately 35 kg, were submitted to rete mirabile embolization under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, with the Menox LES or Onyx LES. Four animals were treated with the Menox LES and underwent cerebral angiography, followed by euthanasia, at 1, 30, 60, and 90 days after embolization. One animal was treated with the Onyx LES underwent the same procedures at 30 days after embolization. In a subsequent histopathological analysis, we compared the Menox LES and Onyx LES in terms of the acute and chronic changes observed. Results: We observed no significant changes in blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiographic parameters that could be attributed to the super-selective infusion of dimethyl sulfoxide or the Menox embolic agent. Fluoroscopy showed adequate material opacity, appropriate progression to the center of the rete mirabile and complete unilateral embolization. Microcatheters were uneventfully detached from the embolized nidus. We observed mild to moderate intravascular and extravascular inflammatory responses, without histological evidence of necrotizing arteritis. There were no adverse neurovascular events. Conclusion: The Menox LES appears to be safe and effective, as well as being apparently equivalent to the Onyx LES in terms of the postprocedure angiographic and histopathological findings.

We showed an association between serum concentrations of vitamin D and bone health among community-dwelling adults in Japan after adjustment for confounding factors, with 730 participants in a city, with concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D, and with parameters of quantitative ultrasound. The primary objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and bone indicators as measured by quantitative ultrasound in middle-aged and older Japanese adults living in low-latitude seaside areas during summer and autumn. We conducted a cross-sectional study, the Unzen study, on community-dwelling Japanese adults who participated to periodic health examinations between 2011 and 2013 (during the months of May to November). A total of 301 men (mean (SD) age, 67.9 (8.2) years; range, 50–92 years) and 429 women (mean (SD) age, 67.9 (7.7); range, 50–89 years) participated in this study. Serum 25(OH)D levels and quantitative ultrasound parameters (broadband ultrasound (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and stiffness index of the calcaneus were measured for the participants. We excluded two men and 28 women from the 730 participants because they were on medication for osteoporosis. So, 299 men and 401 women were included in the final data analysis. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (

As building information modeling (BIM) technology becomes mature, there is an increasing demand for the interaction or interoperability between BIM tools and various facility management (FM) systems, especially in semiconductor fabrication plants (FABs). Customized BIM services, i.e., plugin programs, have been developed for FM systems to reuse BIM data or functionality. However, such development may make an FM system more vulnerable to external changes such as BIM tool upgrades. The quality of BIM models reused may deteriorate sharply even if a slight change occurs in any of the upstream BIM services. Based on the model-driven architecture defined by Object Management Group, this research proposes a semi-automated FM system factory called EncapsulatingBIM4FM to formalize the reuse process of BIM services so that changes on BIM tools will not propagate to an FM system. A pilot system for selected FM tasks for an FAB in Taiwan was crafted using EncapsulatingBIM4FM. The tests demonstrated that BIM and FM systems can achieve software interoperability, and they can evolve independently based on individual requirements. BIM's central role in the management of a facility's lifecycle information could be established if EncapsulatingBIM4FM is utilized to develop associated FM systems for the facility.

Although lowest price guarantees (LPGs) are common on airlines’ official websites, a deeper understanding of how customers evaluate these guarantees is lacking. This study examines the effects of two LPG terms—depth of refund and refund conditions—on customer perceptions and purchase intention. An experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted with a sample of 282 adults, and structural equation modelling was used to test the model. The results show that refund depth increases customer purchase intention by enhancing perceptions of the believability and value of the LPG. Strict refund conditions enhance customer purchase intention by increasing the believability of the LPGs.

BackgroundIntracranial hypertension (ICH) is a common final pathway of most neurosurgical pathologies and leads to poor prognosis if not detected and treated properly. Inflammatory markers have been assessed in clinical scenarios of neurological injuries, in which systemic and brain tissue aggressions may introduce bias. There is a lack of studies under controlled settings to isolate the ICH effect on inflammation. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ICH on the serum concentration of cytokines as biomarkers of neuroinflammation in an experimental model which isolates ICH from potential confounding variables.MethodsAn established model of ICH using an intracerebral pediatric bladder catheter and a multisensor intraparenchymal catheter was used in adult pigs (Sus domesticus). The animals were randomly allocated to 2 groups based on the catheter balloon volume used to simulate the ICP increase (4 ml or 7 ml). Cytokines were measured in 4 timepoints during the experiment: (1) 15 min before balloon insufflation; (2) 5 min after insufflation; (3) 125 min after insufflation; (4) 60 min after deflation. The following cytokines were measured IL-1α; IL-1β; IL–1ra; IL-2; IL-4; IL-6; IL-8; IL-10; IL-12; IL-18; TNFα. Generalized estimating equations were modeled to compare the ICP and cytokines values between the groups along the experiment. The study sample size was powered to detect interactions between the groups and the study moments with an effect size (f) of at least 0.3. The ARRIVE checklist was followed.ResultsA total of 20 animals were studied (10 in each group, 4 ml or 7 ml balloon volume insufflation). The animal model was successful in increasing the ICP along the moments of the experiment (p p = 0,004). The interaction term (moment × group) was also significant (p ConclusionThe serum concentration of cytokines varied in response to intracranial hypertension. The study demonstrated the specific changes in each cytokine after intracranial hypertension and provides key information to guide neuroinflammation clinical research. The proposed experiment was successful as an animal model to the study of neuroinflammation biomarkers

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are increasingly diagnosed but treatment is still controversial. Although the descriptions and use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) have increased, comparative studies with standard approaches are rare.MISIAN (Minimally Invasive Surgery for Treatment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms) is a prospective randomized single-center clinical trial with long-term follow-up comparing different MIS techniques with standard open surgery for treatment of UIAs.We randomly allocated a standard pterional approach (PtA) or MIS (1:2) to 111 patients with UIAs of the anterior circulation (mean dome diameter, 6.4 mm; range, 3-20 mm). Patients selected for MIS underwent a second randomization between a transeyelid approach (TelA) or nanopterional approach (NPtA) (1:1).Forty-one patients were randomized to and treated with the PtA, 36 with the TelA, and 34 with the NPtA. Only patients treated with PtA had permanent facial nerve palsy (n = 4 [10%]; P = 0.032). MIS cosmetic results were considered better than those of PtA by independent observers (P0.001), and less temporal atrophy in the MIS group was also observed (P = 0.0034). The proportion of excellent results was higher in the TelA group than in the NPtA group (86% vs. 67.6%; P = 0.039). Patients undergoing MIS also reported consistently higher satisfaction and quality-of-life scores (P0.001).MIS is superior to standard PtA for microsurgical clipping of small UIAs of the anterior circulation in terms of cosmetic, satisfaction, and quality-of-life outcomes. The TelA or NPtA for UIAs did not show significant outcome differences at 12-18 months.

We showed an association between serum concentrations of vitamin D and bone health among community-dwelling adults in Japan after adjustment for confounding factors, with 730 participants in a city, with concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D, and with parameters of quantitative ultrasound.The primary objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration and bone indicators as measured by quantitative ultrasound in middle-aged and older Japanese adults living in low-latitude seaside areas during summer and autumn.We conducted a cross-sectional study, the Unzen study, on community-dwelling Japanese adults who participated to periodic health examinations between 2011 and 2013 (during the months of May to November).A total of 301 men (mean (SD) age, 67.9 (8.2) years; range, 50-92 years) and 429 women (mean (SD) age, 67.9 (7.7); range, 50-89 years) participated in this study. Serum 25(OH)D levels and quantitative ultrasound parameters (broadband ultrasound (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and stiffness index of the calcaneus were measured for the participants. We excluded two men and 28 women from the 730 participants because they were on medication for osteoporosis. So, 299 men and 401 women were included in the final data analysis. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency ( 30 ng/ml) was very high: 71.9% in men and 95.5% in women. In women, the log(25(OH)D) positively and significantly correlated with SOS (p = 0.011) and stiffness index (p = 0.028) but not with BUA (p = 0.176). In men, the log(25(OH)D) did not correlate with the BUA, SOS, or stiffness index (p = 0.218, 0.420, and 0.262, respectively).Serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with SOS or stiffness index in women but not in men.

Background: Invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) is currently the gold standard method for the safe diagnosis and treatment of intracranial hypertension (ICHy), but it is subject to hemorrhage, infection and malfunction. Ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been applied as a non-invasive alternative that is cost effective and available at the bedside. However, ONSD time-lapse behavior in a set of ICHy and its relief by means of whether saline infusion or surgery is still unknown. The objective of this study was to correlate intracranial pressure and ultrasonography of the optic nerve sheath in an experimental animal model of ICHy, and the interval needed to ONSD to return to its baseline levels.Methods: An experimental study was conducted on 30 male and female pigs weighing about 20 kg. The diameter of the optic nerve sheath was evaluated by ultrasound at different measures of ICP given by intraventricular catheter and intracranial balloon inflation, saline infusion and balloon deflation. Laboratory and hemodynamic data were collected from the animals. ICP and ONSD values were correlated at each time point of the study.Results: All the variables obtained by ONSD ultrasonography as left optic nerve, right optic nerve and average of optic nerve sheath (AON) diameter were statistically significant to estimate ICP value. ONSD values changed immediately at balloon inflation, with a delay of 30 minutes average to return to baseline levels after balloon deflation (p = 0.016). No statistical significance was observed in ICP and ONSD values with hypertonic saline infusion. Correlation between ICP and ONSD was linear and can be estimated using the formula: -80.5 + 238.2 x AON, in this swine model. Conclusion: In the present study, ultrasound of optic nerve sheath diameter disclosed linear correlation with ICP, although a short delay in returning to its baseline levels may be observed in the case of sudden intracranial hypertension relief.

PurposeLogistics companies need creative employees to enhance supply chain resiliency and differentiate service. The purpose of this paper is to adopt a job-resource perspective to investigate the antecedents of frontline employee creativity in the logistics industry and how the impact of such antecedents may differ between different types of logistics companies.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a sample of 226 frontline employees of logistics companies. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model.FindingsThe results indicate that job complexity (the extent to which a job is multifaceted) increases customer orientation, customer orientation increases employee creativity, and job complexity increases logistics employee creativity. The mediating effect of customer orientation is stronger for logistics companies that provide a variety of logistics services than for carriers that provide standardized services.Originality/valueThis study is the first to investigate logistics employee creativity and its antecedents. By providing a job-resource perspective, this study provides a novel perspective on why job complexity increases creativity through customer orientation. The findings provide information for logistics companies in terms of job design and resource allocation.

This study gauges customer perspectives to investigate how return policy generosity (the degree to which a retailer imposes minimal restrictions on returns) influences customer-perceived value and customer purchase intention. It also examines two moderators, retailer brand familiarity (the extent to which the retailer brand is well-known) and product categories (the difference between products with respect to the magnitude of effort required to make a return). An experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted. The results show that return policy generosity increases customer purchase intention by enhancing the perceived value of the policy. Lesser-known retailers benefit more from generous return policies than their well-known competitors, particularly when a product requires significant return effort. Well-known retailers benefit from offering generous return policies only for product categories that involve low levels of return effort. The findings of this study suggest that if a retailer formulates a return policy without considering the moderating effects of retailer brand familiarity and product category, then it will tend to over-invest if the return policy is generous.

Introdução: Monitoração invasiva da PIC é o único método aceito indiscriminadamente como forma para o diagnóstico seguro do aumento da pressão intracraniana (PIC), assim como para o tratamento da hipertensão intracraniana (HIC). Por ser invasiva, está sujeita a hemorragia, infecção e mau funcionamento. O ultrassom da bainha do nervo óptico (UBNO) destacase como alternativa não invasiva, custo benefício efetivo e disponível à beira leito. O objetivo deste estudo foi correlacionar PIC e ultrassonografia da bainha de nervo óptico em um modelo animal experimental de HIC. Materiais e Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo experimental em modelo animal de HIC com 30 suínos de ambos os sexos, 20 kg de peso corporal. Foram medidos simultaneamente o diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico com ultrassom e a PIC com cateter intraparenquimatoso, além de dados laboratoriais e hemodinâmicos dos animais. Os valores foram correlacionados entre si para definir a aplicação deste procedimento em diferentes situações clínicas de HIC. Resultados: A média dos diâmetros das bainhas dos nervos ópticos obtidas por UBNO foram estatisticamente significativas para predizer o valor de PIC. Dessa forma, PIC pode ser predita usando a função linear: PIC = 238,2 x NO médio - 80,5. Conclusão: UBNO é um método confiável para predizer a PIC com inúmeras vantagens, como custo benefício efetivo, disponibilidade à beira leito dispensando a necessidade de transporte de pacientes além de não ser invasivo, estando livre das complicações dos cateteres intracranianos como hemorragia, infecção e mau funcionamento Introduction: Invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) is the only method accepted indiscriminately as a form for the safe diagnosis and treatment of intracranial hypertension (IH). Being invasive, it is subject to hemorrhage, infection and malfunction. Ultrasound of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) stands out as a non-invasive alternative, cost effective and available at the bedside. The objective of this study was to correlate ICP and ultrasonography of the optic nerve sheath in an experimental animal model of cerebral hematoma. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was carried out with 30 pigs of both sexes, 20 kg body weight. The diameter of the optic nerve sheath with ultrasound and ICP with intraparenchymal catheter were measured simultaneously. The values were correlated with each other to define the application of this procedure in different clinical situations of IH. Results: The ONSD values were statistically significant to predict the ICP values. Thus, ICP can be predicted using the linear function: ICP = 238.2 x ONSD - 80.5. Conclusion: ONSD ultrassound is a reliable method to predict ICP with numerous advantages, such as cost effectiveness, availability at the bedside, eliminating the need to transport patients and freedom of the complications of intracranial catheters such as hemorrhage, infection and malfunction

This study investigates how brand credibility affects consumer purchase intention in the airline sector. Based on signaling theory and relationship marketing theory, it explores the relationships among four constructs: brand credibility, decision convenience, affective commitment and purchase intention. A structural equation model applied to consumer survey data supports the argument. The results indicate that airline brand credibility increases consumer purchase intention by increasing consumers' decision convenience and enhancing affective commitment. Decision convenience can be considered a new mediator of a causal relationship between brand credibility and purchase intention. The results offer implications for airline marketers and directions for future research.

Background. This study aimed to analyse cerebral autoregulation (CA) during induction and treatment of intracranial hypertension (ICH) in an experimental model. Materials and Methods. Landrace and Duroc piglets were divided into mild and severe ICH groups. Four or seven millilitres of saline solution was infused into paediatric bladder catheter inserted in the parietal lobe (balloon inflation). After 1.5 h, a 3% saline solution was infused via venous catheter, and 30 min later, the bladder catheter balloon was deflated (surgery). The cerebral static autoregulation (sCA) index was evaluated using cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFV) obtained with Doppler ultrasound. Results. Balloon inflation increased ICP in both groups. The severe ICH group showed significantly lower sCA index values (p=0.001, ANOVA) after balloon inflation (ICH induction) and a higher sCA index after saline injection (p=0.02) and after surgery (p=0.04). ICP and the sCA index were inversely correlated (r=−0.68 and pr=0.74 and p Conclusion. ICH was associated with local balloon expansion, which triggered CA impairment, particularly in the severe ICH group. Moreover, ICP-reducing treatments were associated with improved CA in subjects with severe ICH.

Cross-selling additional services to existing customers is an important task for multi-service companies. This paper examines whether and how a corporate reputation influences customers' economically orientated (that is, perceived benefits of buying new services from current supplier) and relationship perceptions (that is, evaluations of relationship strength and supplier's offerings) and, in turn, their cross-buying intentions. Good corporate reputations build customer cross-buying intentions by increasing customers' expected service quality, decreasing information costs, and enhancing trust and affective commitment. Survey data from the Taiwanese life insurance industry support the arguments, and the results offer some important extensions to cross-buying theory.

In this study we report the sequences of MT-2 cDNA from two species of Megascoleidae earthworms, Metaphire posthuma and Polypheretima elongata, by mRNA differential display after exposure of the organisms to cadmium. Complementary (c)DNA was verified as the MT-2 gene by the characteristics of its predicted translation product, namely a high cysteine content, conserved CXC motifs, and a molecular weight of around 8 kDa. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed a conserved TKCCG in the cloned MT-2 of both megascolecid earthworms instead of the corresponding conserved TQCCG found in lumbricid earthworms. The cDNAs corresponding to the two megascolecid MT-2 genes were expressed, and the MT-2 proteins were purified for biochemical characterization. The binding of Cu2+ exhibited monophasic kinetics and those of Zn2+ and Cd2+ biphasic kinetics. The proteins bound more tightly to Cd2+ than to Zn2+ and more tightly still to Cu2+. Zn-MT and apo-MT were the most effective at scavenging free radicals, followed by Cd-MT. In conclusion, MT-2s from M. posthuma and P. elongata showed unique sequence features compared to those of lumbricid earthworms. These earthworms could be used to evaluate heavy-metal pollution in soil due to the inducible MT-2 by cadmium exposure.

Using the five-factor model of personality and a previously theorized motivation typology, the authors investigated the relationship between personality and motivation for playing online games. The results indicated that openness was positively related to discovery and roleplaying motivation, and conscientiousness was positively related to escapism motivation. In addition, extraversion was positively related to teamwork motivation, and agreeableness was positively related to advancement motivation. However, neuroticism was negatively related to teamwork motivation. These findings have several implications and could provide further research directions.

Marketers heavily prioritise customer loyalty. Previous works have identified the ‘flow’ experience (optimal experience with total concentration and intrinsic enjoyment) as a predictor of online customer e-loyalty. However, applications of the concept to managing customer e-loyalty are limited. Personality traits influence individual psychology and can thus reveal which individuals are likely to experience flow. This study thus examines how customer openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, skill, flow and online customer e-loyalty are related. This study surveyed 1,852 online game customers. The analytical results of a follow-up survey of 593 customers confirmed the findings of the initial survey that openness and conscientiousness positively influence customer skills and thus increase the likelihood of online game customers experiencing flow, which then enhances customer e-loyalty. The influence of extraversion was observed in the follow-up survey but not in the initial survey.