bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Li Ryan T. , Lorenz Stephan , Xu Yan , Harner Christopher D. , Fu Freddie H. , Irrgang James J.
Published: October 2011

Background: Evidence suggests that single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction does not reliably prevent the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the overall prevalence of and risk factors for the development of radiographic knee OA after single-bundle ACL reconstruction.

Study Design: Case control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: There were 249 individuals who had undergone primary single-bundle ACL reconstruction included in this retrospective cohort study. Follow-up radiographs were scored by a single orthopaedic surgery sports medicine fellow using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale to determine the degree of OA in the medial, lateral, and patellofemoral compartments. Radiographic OA of the involved knee was considered to be present if, compared with the noninvolved knee, there was at least a 2-grade difference in the KL score in at least 1 compartment or a 1-grade difference in at least 2 compartments. Predictors of OA that were explored included patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status activity level, meniscectomy before or concurrent with ACL reconstruction, chondral injury present at the time of ACL reconstruction, graft type and source, tibial and femoral tunnel positions, need for revision, and length of follow-up. Univariable and stepwise multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify factors that were associated with radiographic knee OA.

Results: Thirty-nine percent of the patients had radiographic OA an average of 7.8 years after surgery. Female sex, BMI, time from injury to surgery, medial and patellofemoral compartment chondrosis, prior medial or lateral meniscectomy, concurrent medial meniscectomy, and length of follow-up were associated with radiographic knee OA after ACL surgery. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression indicated that prior medial meniscectomy (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-6.85), grade 2 or greater medial chondrosis (95% CI, 1.27-6.73), length of follow-up (95% CI, 1.07-1.24), and BMI (overweight 95% CI, 1.08-3.84; obese 95% CI, 1.34-7.80) were the best set of predictors of knee OA.

Conclusion: Despite reduced laxity and instability and improved activity and participation, individuals who have undergone ACL reconstruction are still at high risk for developing knee OA compared with the general population. The strongest predictors of knee OA after ACL reconstruction were obesity and grade 2 or greater chondrosis in the medial compartment. These results may aid in identifying patients at risk for OA after ACL reconstruction.
Evaluation of simplified calculation methods for determining heat transfer between a smoke flow and a sprinkler spray
Authors: Li Kai Yuan , Spearpoint Mike J.
Published: October 2011

Empirical equations determining heat transfer between a smoke layer and a sprinkler spray have been assessed by using data from several experiments available in the literature. The comparison of the heat loss and temperature of the smoke layer under sprinkler spray shows that the equations developed by Williams for 15 mm pendent conventional sprinklers agree reasonably well with the experimental results. Equations from Spearpoint et al. (Spearpoint MJ, Williams C and Morgan HP. Engineering relationships for calculating the heat transfer from a horizontally-moving Buoyant smoke layer to a sprinkler spray, Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, Herts, UK, 1993 (unpublished)) perform fairly well compared to upright sprinkler experiments especially for a spray sprinkler case but need more validation due to the lack of experimental data. Predictions from the equation given by Heselden are close to the values for a pendent conventional sprinkler with a depth below ceiling less than 0.3 m but values are lower than those given by Williams (Williams C. The Downward Movement of Smoke due to a Sprinkler Spray, PhD dissertation, South Bank University, London, UK, 1993) and by Li et al. (Li SC, Chen Y, Wei D, Yang D, Sun XQ, Huo R and Hu LH. A Mathematical Model for Cooling Effect of Sprinkler on Smoke Layer. In: Proceeding ASME 2009 Heat Transfer Summer Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, Vol. 3, 2009, pp. 7–13). If the effect of smoke downdrag is taken into account, then the Heselden equation performs well whereas the other equations give relatively higher predictions. For a conservative assessment, the predictions from the equation given by Li et al. multiplied by a factor of 1½ are sufficiently in excess of the maximum heat loss values predicted by other equations. However, the heat loss must be compared to the total convective heat flow to avoid getting unreasonable results. The study has been limited by data regarding smoke temperature, layer depth, sprinkler types, and operating pressures. As a result, the conclusions should only be applied to 15-mm nominal sprinklers for a smoke flow with an average temperature of less than 100°C, a depth less than 1.6 m, and water flow rates below 133 L/min. The equations should be used with care for any other conditions.
Dead Wolves, Dead Birds, and Dead Trees
Authors: Walter Pierre
Published: October 2011

This historical study identifies catalysts for transformative learning in the lives of three scientist-environmentalists important to the 20th-century environmental movement: Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and David Suzuki. Following a brief review of theoretical perspectives on transformative learning, the article argues that transformative learning for these scientists was catalyzed by certain “disorienting dilemmas” and was both rational and emotional. Moreover, the personal transformative learning of each scientist helped provoke a process of transformative learning in society at large: Leopold’s contribution to the founding of the disciplines of wildlife conservation and restoration ecology, and his “land ethic” fostered the development an ecological consciousness in the 1940s; Carson’s Silent Spring helped provoke the environmental consciousness of the 1960s; and Suzuki’s public environmental education and activism from the 1970s to the present-day played an influential role in North American environmental movement.
Composites of Recycled PET Reinforced with Short Glass Fiber
Authors: Mondadori NML , Nunes RCR , Canto LB , Zattera AJ
Published: October 2011

Composites of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and short glass fibers (GFs) in different compositions (0, 20, 30, and 40 wt% of GFs) with optimized microstructures and high mechanical performance were obtained through melt processing. Composites showed appropriate dispersion and distribution and suitable bonding of the GF throughout the PET matrix, using either recycled bottle-grade PET in its degraded form or in a solid-state polymerized (SSP) form and GFs treated with either aminosilane or epoxysilane coupling agents. The high level of reinforcement of these PET/GF composites was confirmed by comparison of the experimental elastic modulus values of PET/GF composites with theoretical ones obtained using the Halpin–Tsai model. An important aspect highlighted by this study is that although it has been stated in the literature that this is only possible with the use of twin-screw extruders, these PET/GF composites with optimized microstructure and with high mechanical performance were compounded using a single-screw extruder with a double-flight barrier screw. In general, slightly better mechanical strengths were achieved for the composites based on the SSP recycled PET, which may be associated with its highly entangled amorphous phase arising from its higher molecular weight.
Assessment of long-term water absorption in natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites influenced by filler rate and compatibilizer treatment
Authors: Kord Behzad
Published: October 2011

The scope of the present article is to study the effect of reinforcing filler loading and coupling agent treatment on long-term water uptake of wood plastic composites. Polypropylene and wood flour were compounded into hake internal mixer and the test specimens were prepared by injection molding. Three different contents of wood flour as 40%, 50% and 60% were considered, and the concentration was varied from 0 to 4% for coupling agent. The long-term water absorptions of samples were evaluated by immersing them in water at room temperature for several weeks, and water diffusion coefficients were also calculated by evaluating the water absorption isotherms. The results showed that the water absorption in the samples increased with immersion time, reaching a certain value at saturation point and the composites water content remained constant. Also, the water absorption of the composites increased with increasing wood flour loading. The coupling agents had a positive effect on the water absorption of these composites. Water absorption of all formulations approached the Fickian diffusion case.
A unified formula of fault-tolerant algorithms considering joint velocity jump for redundant robots
Authors: Zhao J , Xie B , Liu Y
Published: October 2011

Based on the previous research studies, the analytical formula of the optimal joint velocity with minimum jump for robots with multi-degrees of redundancy is derived. This new algorithm considers the motion planning of healthy and reduced robots at the same time to achieve an overall better performance of fault tolerance. Simulation examples are implemented with a planar 4 R robot and a 5 R spatial robot. In the end, the issues of reducing the joint velocity jump and thereby improving the motion stability for both single-degree and multi-degree redundant robots in fault-tolerant operations are completely solved.
Stress relaxation and elastic follow-up using a stress range-dependent constitutive model
Authors: Boyle J T
Published: October 2011

Despite the availability of detailed non-linear finite element analysis (FEA), some aspects of high-temperature design can still be best addressed through more simplified methods. One such simplified method relates to the problem of elastic follow-up where, typically in strain-controlled situations, elastic behaviour in one part of a structure can lead to large strain accumulation in another. Over the past 30 years, it has been shown that in regions with significant elastic follow-up, a plot of maximum stress against strain (a ‘stress-strain trajectory’) is virtually independent of the constitutive relation – a characteristic which can be used to estimate elastic follow-up for design purposes without detailed non-linear FEA. The majority of studies which have reported this independence on material behaviour have used simple constitutive models for creep strain, primarily based on power-law creep or variations. Recently, studies of the behaviour of high-temperature structures with a stress range-dependent constitutive law have begun to emerge. This article examines the problem of elastic follow-up using such a constitutive law for a classic two-bar structure and for a more complex structure using FEA. It is found that the independence of the stress–strain trajectory on constitutive equation is lost with a stress range-dependent relation.
Fatigue enhancement by interference-fit in a pin-loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastics laminate
Authors: Kim S-Y , Hennigan D J , Kim D , Seok C-S
Published: October 2011

Bearing strength and fatigue life of pin-loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) with various interference-fit ( I) percentages are experimentally investigated. Stainless steel pins with interference-fits ranging from 0 per cent to 2 per cent are inserted into vacuum infusion-processed GFRP. After pin installation, damage in the composite hole is observed. The quasi-static and fatigue properties of the pin-loaded composites with interference-fits ( I = 0.6 per cent, 1 per cent, and 2 per cent) are then compared to samples with transition-fit ( I = 0 per cent). The experimental results showed that interference-fit of 0.6 per cent and 1 per cent improved bearing strength slightly and fatigue life significantly when compared with transition-fit of 0 per cent. Bearing strength was decreased with 2 per cent interference-fit due to GFRP damage induced during pin installation. The sample with I = 0.6 per cent attains the longest fatigue life and provides the most reliable results, with the least amount of scatter.
Consumer total ownership cost model of plug-in hybrid vehicle in China
Authors: Wang N , Gong Z , Ma J , Zhao J
Published: October 2011

This paper used Advisor to define structures and power trains of parallel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), made two PHEV models that have different battery electric ranges of 20 km and 60 km, established consumer total ownership cost models based on purchase, and used cost and compared with a conventional vehicle (CV) and conventional hybrid vehicles. Then three scenarios were defined – government subsidy (US$2571 for PHEV20 and US$7143 for PHEV60 according to Chinese policy, where in this paper 1 US$ = 7.00 RMB), high oil price (10 per cent annual growth rate), and government subsidy and high oil price – and PHEV market competitiveness was analysed during a 15 year nominal lifecycle. The results show that in the government subsidy scenario a PHEV’s total ownership cost will be lower than that of a CV after 5 years without a battery replacement and 7 years with a battery replacement; in the high oil price scenario it separately needs 6 years and 8 years to show an advantage; in the government subsidy and high oil price, which is the most optimistic scenario, it only respectively needs 4 years and 5 years. It is shown that the government subsidy has a much more obvious effect during the first industrialization stage, but the high oil price has a long time function during the nominal lifecycle and the battery replacement cost is not a sensible factor to include in the PHEV’s total ownership cost.
Multi-objective optimization of a composite wing subject to strength and aeroelastic constraints
Authors: Guo S , Li D , Liu Y
Published: October 2011

This article presents a multi-objective optimization of a large aircraft composite wing subject to multiple constraints including strength, damage tolerance, and aeroelastic stability. Based on a preliminary design of the wing structure, the investigation demonstrated a multi-disciplinary design optimization process to replace the usual manual iteration of finite element analysis in the detailed design phase. For potential application, the optimization process was performed by making the full use of the commercial software MSC Nastran, which is widely employed in aerospace industry. The optimization procedure was divided into two stages according to the design objectives. This allows the designer to interact and make decision in the design process. The first stage was focused on the minimum weight optimization subject to the multiple constraints. The laminate ply thickness and orientation of the wing skins were taken as design variables. The optimized structure weight was reduced by 44.6 per cent. The second stage was focused on aeroelastic tailoring to reduce the wing gust response to the same level as the original value of the preliminary design with a minimum weight penalty. This led to the final optimized structure weight saving by 34.5 per cent. A post-process was performed to trim the optimized skin laminate layup and ply thickness under the manufacturing constraint. For a conservative design, an option of increasing the skin laminate thickness was made and led to a slight increase of the structure weight. However, the final weight saving is still over 30 per cent. A practical optimum design of the composite wing structure with significant weight saving can be achieved by a practical approach.
Relative Brightness in Natural Images Can Be Accounted for by Removing Blurry Content
Authors: Shapiro Arthur , Lu Zhong-Lin
Published: October 2011

One critical question regarding visual cognition concerns how the physical properties of the visual world are represented in early vision and then relayed to high-level vision. Here, we posit a simple theory: Processes that encode object appearance reduce their response to spatial content that is coarser than the size of the attended object. We show that a filtering procedure based on this theory can account for the relative brightness levels of test patches placed in images of natural scenes and for many hard-to-explain brightness illusions. The implication is that the perception of brightness differences in most brightness illusions actually corresponds to physical differences present in the images. Portions of the visual system may encode these physical differences by means of neural processes that adaptively reduce their response to low-spatial-frequency content.
Modelling and analysis of direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator wind turbine based on wind-rotor neural network model
Authors: Dai J-C , Hu Y-P , Liu D-S , Wei J
Published: October 2011

A new practical way of modelling direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbines is proposed. The model emphasizes on the wind-rotor-to-PMSG-to-converter-to-grid system, which is the main energy flow system of the direct-driven wind turbine. In this article, a new wind-rotor back propagation neural network is proposed, which consists of a four-layer network and is used to describe the wind-rotor aerodynamic characteristics. According to the orthogonal experimental method, 1200 sets of wind-rotor aerodynamic data, which are calculated based on combining blade element momentum-modified theory with a dynamic stall model, are adopted as the sample data; and the wind-rotor neural network is trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm. Then, the coupling dynamic models of the wind-rotor and PMSG, and AC–DC–AC converter model are established, respectively; the control strategies for the generator-side and grid-side converters are constructed, too. The mechanical model, electric model, and control model are integrated into the whole simulation model, and the numerical simulation are carried out. The research results show that all the wind-rotor aerodynamic characteristics, electrical characteristics, and control characteristics can be obtained quickly and efficiently from the constructed model, and are helpful for optimization design and control for large-scale direct-direct PMSG wind turbines.
Recovery of the blood flow around the femoral head during early corticosteroid therapy: dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Nakamura J , Ohtori S , Watanabe A , Nakagawa K , Inoue G , Kishida S , Harada Y , Suzuki M , Takahashi K
Published: October 2011

Disturbance of blood supply to the femoral head is a risk factor for corticosteroid-associated osteonecrosis. The aim was to measure blood supply of the proximal femur during corticosteroid therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We repeatedly performed 78 dynamic MRIs of 19 hip joints in 19 SLE patients after initiation of corticosteroid administration for one year. Blood supply of the femoral head (epiphysis, growth plate, and metaphysis), the femoral neck, and the medial circumflex femoral artery were measured in terms of peak percent enhancement. At the first month, blood supply of the growth plate was significantly higher in the pediatric group (<15 years old) than in the adolescent and adult group (>15 years old). At the fourth month, blood supply in every part of the femoral head (epiphysis, growth plate, and metaphysis) was significantly higher in the pediatric group than in the adolescent and adult group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that blood supply to the femoral head depended on the number of days after initiation of corticosteroid administration and the age at the time of dynamic MRI. Blood supply to the femoral head is abundant in pediatric patients and is a function of the number of days after initiation of corticosteroid administration.
Opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection causing colonic perforation in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Strasser C , Wolf EM , Kornprat P , Hermann J , Münch A , Langner C
Published: October 2011

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with a long-standing history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with colonic perforation and subsequent purulent peritonitis whilst using combined immunosuppressive therapy. The pathogenesis and the clinical presentation of this unique case is discussed in detail. Opportunistic infection should always be kept in mind in SLE patients presenting with fever. Viral serology should be routinely performed in these patients, especially when immunosuppressive therapy is given, to avoid delay in instituting adequate management and therapy.
Sebaceous metaplasia in a canine mammary gland non-infiltrative carcinoma with myoepithelial component
Authors: Grandi Fabrizio , Colodel Marcia M. , Rocha Rafael M. , Sequeira Julio L.
Published: October 2011

Sebaceous metaplasia in canine mammary tumors is a rare condition with only 1 case documented. The current study describes a case of sebaceous metaplasia in a mammary gland carcinoma of an 8-year-old intact, nulliparous female Poodle dog with a subcutaneous tumor located in the left fifth mammary gland. The lesion measured 0.7 cm × 0.5 cm × 0.6 cm in diameter, was firm, circumscribed, painless, non-haired, and non-ulcerated, and did not adhere to deep tissues. The cut surface was non-lobulated, non-encapsulated, whitish to gray, and opaque. Histological evaluation revealed 3 different populations of cells: the first was composed of columnar to cuboidal malignant epithelial cells arranged in intraductal papillary projections, the second of myoepithelial cells associated with a myxoid stroma, and the third presenting sebaceous metaplasia similar to those previously described in both human and veterinary medicine.
Effects of DNA extraction method on Porcine circovirus-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction quantification in swine lymph node samples
Authors: Faccini Silvia , Nigrelli Arrigo D. , Franzini Giuliana , Rosignoli Carlo , Barbieri Ilaria , Alborali Giovanni L. , Boniotti Maria B.
Published: October 2011

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an important tool for Porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) research and diagnosis. However, significant differences in detection limit and quantification data, among laboratories and quantitative real-time PCR methods, have been demonstrated. New efforts are required for providing more accurate and comparable results. The current study is an evaluation of the effects of DNA extraction procedures on PCV-2 quantification in lymph node samples. Differences, greater than 1 log10 copies/g, were shown among PCV-2 loads detected after different extraction procedures. The work highlighted the critical role of the DNA extraction method in PCV-2 quantification by quantitative real-time PCR. This important aspect should be evaluated when comparing data from different laboratories or different studies. The PCV-2 quantification data should not be considered comparable before demonstrating the equivalence of the DNA extraction methods performed.
Quantitative duplex TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction for the assessment of the etiologic agent of epizootic bovine abortion
Authors: Brooks Roxann S. , Blanchard Myra T. , Anderson Mark L. , Hall Mark R. , Stott Jeffery L.
Published: October 2011

Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA), also commonly known as “foothill abortion,” is a late-term abortion primarily in beef cattle with significant economic impacts in California, Nevada, and Oregon. The causative agent is a novel deltaproteobacterium (aoEBA) closely related to the order Myxococcales and vectored by the soft-shelled tick Ornithodoros coriaceus. Historically, diagnosis has relied upon the pathologic examination of the fetus and the presence of elevated fetal serum immunoglobulins. Identification of the etiologic agent, a unique deltaproteobacterium, permitted the development of a quantitative duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using a unique 90-bp sequence of aoEBA 16S ribosomal RNA gene in conjunction with an 88-bp sequence of the bovine β-actin gene. Reaction efficiencies were 100.9% for the 16S aoEBA gene and 93.1% for the bovine β-actin gene. Application of the duplex TaqMan to a set of aoEBA-infected fetal bovine necropsy tissues demonstrated the assay to be robust in quantitatively identifying the aoEBA bacteria and establishing host-tissue pathogen load. Consistent with previously reported immunohistochemical data, organized lymphoid tissue generally carried the heaviest bacterial load as compared to non-lymphoid tissue. The newly developed duplex TaqMan assay will facilitate diagnosis in difficult cases and provide an invaluable tool for delineating the pathogenesis of EBA.
Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test strip for detection of Rabies virus in dog saliva samples
Authors: Kasempimolporn Songsri , Saengseesom Wachiraporn , Huadsakul Samrerng , Boonchang Supatsorn , Sitprija Visith
Published: October 2011

An immunochromatographic test strip for Rabies virus was evaluated with dog saliva samples. The test was initially validated against 237 dogs of known infection status, and then evaluated in the field with 1,290 live dogs. By validation of paired saliva–brain specimens obtained from dogs at necropsy, the saliva strip test was 94.4% specific and 93.0% sensitive when compared to the gold standard fluorescent antibody test (FAT) on brain smears. The sensitivity and specificity of a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assay using saliva were 100% compared to the FAT results. The performance of strip test with field saliva samples from street dogs had a specificity of 98.7% in comparison to nPCR as the reference method. As the strip test kit can potentially be used outside the laboratory and be applicable as an on-site testing assay, it represents a powerful screening tool for epidemiological surveys and disease control. The test could be useful for the surveillance of rabies in dogs and, in particular, be used to monitor the success of rabies control programs.
Influence of prolonged formalin fixation of tissue samples on the sensitivity of chromogenic in situ hybridization
Authors: Mostegl Meike M. , Richter Barbara , Dinhopl Nora , Weissenböck Herbert
Published: October 2011

Chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) is a commonly used tool in diagnostic pathology to detect pathogens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Prolonged formalin fixation time was identified to be a limiting factor for the successful detection of nucleic acid from different pathogens, most probably due to the cross-linking activity of formalin between RNA, DNA, and proteins. Therefore, in the current study, the influence of formalin fixation time on ISH signal intensity of 2 viral ( Porcine circovirus-2 [PCV-2] and Porcine respiratory and reproductive virus [PRRSV]) and 2 protozoal agents ( Cryptosporidium serpentis and Tritrichomonas sp.) was evaluated. Tissue samples were fixed in 7% neutral buffered formaldehyde solution, and at defined intervals, pieces were embedded in paraffin wax and subjected to pathogen-specific ISH. For all 4 pathogens, the signal intensity remained comparable with the starting ISH signal for different periods of fixation (PCV-2: 6 weeks, PRRSV: 23 weeks, C. serpentis: 55 weeks, Tritrichomonas sp.: 53 weeks). Thereafter, the signal started to decline until loss of nucleic acid detection. The influence of increased proteinase K concentrations for inverting the formalin-induced cross-linking activity was examined compared with the standard protocol. With all 4 infectious agents, a 4-fold proteinase K concentration restored the ISH signals to a level comparable with 1 day of fixation. In conclusion, the influence of prolonged formalin fixation on the intensity of detected ISH signal highly depends on the analyzed infectious agent and the pretreatment protocol.
Outbreak of equine endometritis caused by a genotypically identical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Allen Joanne L. , Begg Angela P. , Browning Glenn F.
Published: October 2011

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that has been recognized as a cause of endometritis in mares. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was used to characterize and compare isolates of P. aeruginosa from an outbreak of endometritis and unrelated isolates collected at the same time as the outbreak. The restriction endonuclease digestion patterns and antimicrobial resistance profiles of all outbreak isolates were identical. Therefore, a single strain of P. aeruginosa was responsible for the cases of endometritis. The unrelated isolates could be distinguished from the outbreak strain using the techniques outlined in the present study. The results establish that this pathogen was not venereally transmitted between all the horses from which it was isolated, but rather must have been disseminated, at least initially, from a contaminated water source. Once the water used to clean the mares and stallions was replaced, there were no further reports of endometritis caused by this organism on the affected stud. Furthermore, the fertility of the stallions was not affected, in spite of persistent carriage for 1 to 2 months. The current study has shown that the use of pulsed field gel electrophoresis has considerable value in epidemiological investigations of equine urogenital tract infections with P. aeruginosa.
Select Features in Sibelius 6 for Music Educators
Authors: Thompson Douglas Earl
Published: October 2011

Select features of interest to music educators are spotlighted in Sibelius 6 (version 6.2.0 build 88) and presented under three headings: (a) Worksheets, (2) Plug-Ins, and (3) Potpourri. Guidance is given for accessing these features, and the commentary suggests their application in the music education classroom.
Wisdom for Music Education From the Recording Studio
Authors: Thibeault Matthew D.
Published: October 2011

Instead of focusing on the “stuff” of recording technology, this column explores ideas about the music that comes from the recording studio. Based on the author’s experience working with Mark Rubel, four ideas about music are explored—one, the rise of alternatives to performance; two, the “get it done early” school of thought; three, recording as a pathway for ideas and dreams; and, four, the need for downtime in digital recording environments. Each of these ideas is then connected to implications for music educators. Additional references connect the wisdom of the recording studio with practical approaches to recording as well as philosophical ideas about music education and technology.
Social Support and Anxiety in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Authors: Aktan Nadine M.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of study was to examine relationships between social support and anxiety in pregnant and postpartum women. Hypotheses were that there will be an inverse relationship between social support and anxiety in pregnancy and the postpartum. The sample consisted of 177 women. The Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) 85—Part 2 and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. The STAI demonstrated coefficient alphas from 0.90 to 0.93; 0.87 and 0.93 for the PRQ. All five hypotheses were supported—social support and state anxiety in pregnancy ( r = −.308, p = .000) and trait anxiety ( r = −.420, p = .000) and postpartum ( r = −.497, p = .000) and social support and state anxiety in the postpartum ( r = −.375, p = .000) and trait anxiety ( r = −.276, p = .013). Findings are relevant to advance nursing theory, science, and practice. Nurses must understand these complex processes to effectively intervene.
Managing Complexity in Aircraft Design Using Design Structure Matrix
Authors: Shekar B. , Venkataram R. , Satish B.M.
Published: October 2011

Modern aerospace systems have reached a level of complexity that requires systematic methods for their design. The development of products in aircraft industry involves numerous engineers from different disciplines working on independent components. Routine activities consume a significant part of aircraft development time. To be competitive, aircraft industry needs to manage complexity and readjust the ratio of innovative versus routine work. Thus, the main objective is to develop an approach that can manage complexity in engineering design, reduce the design cycle time, and reduce the product development cost.

The design structure matrix (DSM) is a simple tool to perform both analysis and management of complex systems. It enables the user to model, visualize, and analyze the dependencies among the functional group of any system and derive suggestions for the improvement or synthesis of a system. This article illustrates with a case study how DSM can be used to manage complexity in aircraft design process. The result of implementing the DSM approach for Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India, (in aircraft design) show primary benefits of 75% reduction in routine activities, 33% reduction in design cycle time, 50% reduction in rework cost, and 30% reduction in product and process development cost of aircraft.
Neural Bases of Rapid Word Learning
Authors: Shtyrov Yury
Published: October 2011

Humans are unique in developing large lexicons as their communication tool; to achieve this, they are able to learn new words rapidly. However, neural bases of this rapid learning, which may be an expression of a more general cognitive mechanism likely rooted in plasticity at cellular and synaptic levels, are not yet understood. In this update, the author highlights a selection of recent studies that attempted to trace word learning in the human brain noninvasively. A number of brain areas, most notably in hippocampus and neocortex, appear to take part in word acquisition. Critically, the currently available data not only demonstrate the hippocampal role in rapid encoding followed by slow-rate consolidation of cortical word memory traces but also suggest immediate neocortical involvement in the word memory trace formation. Echoing early behavioral studies in ultra-rapid word learning, the reviewed neuroimaging experiments can be taken to suggest that our brain may effectively form new cortical circuits online, as it gets exposed to novel linguistic patterns in the sensory input.
White Matter Microstructure and Cognitive Function
Authors: Roberts R. Edward , Anderson Elaine J. , Husain Masud
Published: October 2011

In recent years, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has been increasingly used to explore the relationship between white matter structure and cognitive function. This technique uses the passive diffusion of water molecules to infer properties of the surrounding tissue. DW-MRI has been extensively employed to investigate how individual differences in behavior are related to variability in white matter microstructure on a range of different cognitive tasks and also to examine the effect experiential learning might have on brain structural connectivity. Using diffusion tensor tractography, large white matter pathways have been traced in vivo and used to explore patterns of white matter projections between different brain regions. Recent findings suggest that diffusion-weighted imaging might even be used to measure functional differences in water diffusion during task performance. This review describes some research highlights in diffusion-weighted imaging and how this technique can be employed to further our understanding of cognitive function.
Kounis syndrome is likely culprit of coronary vasospasm induced by capecitabine
Authors: Kounis Nicholas G , Tsigkas Grigorios G , Almpanis George , Mazarakis Andreas
Published: October 2011

Capecitabine administration has been associated with various allergic reactions including acneiform skin rash, linchenoid photosensitive eruption, exudative non healing scalp, skin reactions, pyogenic granuloma, subacute cutaneous systemic lupus erythematosus, exudative hyponychia dermatitis, and hand–foot syndrome. A patient who developed ventricular fibrillation following capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm and necessitating cardioverter-defibrillator implantation was published recently in J Oncol Pharm Practice. The authors attributed this reaction to capecitabine cardiotoxicity, but capecitabine hypersensitivity is closely associated with Kounis syndrome. Tests and measures which will help to confirm, prevent and treat cardiac hypersensitivity to antineoplastic agents are recommended.
The impact of a pharmacist as a member of healthcare team on facilitating evidenced-based prescribing of innovative drugs in an Italian oncology department
Authors: Cioffi Pasquale , Antonelli Daniela , Belfiglio Maurizio , Melena Stefania , Petrelli Fabio , Grappasonni Iolanda
Published: October 2011

Aims and background: At the Oncology Department of the Chieti and Ortona Hospitals, the pharmacist designated by the Abruzzo Region to oversee the obligatory monitoring of innovative oncological drugs listed in the database of the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) collaborates with oncologists to educate them about evidenced-based prescribing for off-label uses of drugs and to optimize the efficiency of spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reaction (ADR) local system.

Methods: The contribution of the pharmacist as a member of the healthcare team was evaluated using the following indices: the percentage of off-label prescriptions of the innovative drugs monitored, the number of reported ADRs, and the percentage of pharmacist suggestions actually implemented by physicians.

Results: In the course of 3 years (2008–2010), the pharmacist monitored a total of 843 patients treated with 716 appropriate uses and 127 off-label uses of drugs, oversaw a reduction in the latter from 28.3% in 2008 to 9.6% in 2010, and contributed to almost tripling the number of reported ADRs, from 10 in 2008 to 27 in 2010. In 2010, the pharmacist identified 60 potentially inappropriate prescribing cases, and proposed more appropriate prescriptions for each case: 68.3% (41) of the suggestions were implemented by the physicians and only 31.7% (19) were not. According to answers to a questionnaire administered at the end of the 2010 to evaluate the usefulness of this particular collaboration, physicians are interested in continuous and extensive collaboration.

Conclusions: This article demonstrates that a pharmacist, active in the department as part of the heath-care team, can facilitate evidenced-based prescribing for off-label uses of drugs and improve spontaneous reporting of ADRs.
Using a Multicomponent Adapted Power Card Strategy to Decrease Latency During Interactivity Transitions for Three Children With Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Angell Maureen E. , Nicholson Joanna K. , Watts Emily H. , Blum Craig
Published: October 2011

An adapted Power Card strategy was examined to determine effectiveness in decreasing latency in responding to teacher cues to initiate interactivity transitions in the classroom among three students, aged 10 to 11 years, with developmental disabilities (i.e., one with autism and two with intellectual disability). The Power Card strategy, a form of visually cued instruction, included scripts in which the students’ “heroes” or preferred fictional characters demonstrated targeted interactivity transition behaviors. The strategy decreased response latency for all three students as documented within a single-case withdrawal (A-B-A-B-A-B) design replicated across the three participants. Instructional staff implemented the intervention and, at the end of the study, all remarked about the dramatic effectiveness of the adapted Power Card strategy, said they would use this strategy in the future, and noted that overall classroom functioning had improved. Implications for classroom practice and recommendations for further research on the use of Power Card strategies are discussed.
Process Evaluation of a Lifestyle Intervention in Primary Care
Authors: Barte Jeroen C. M. , ter Bogt Nancy C. W. , Beltman Frank W. , van der Meer Klaas , Bemelmans Wanda J. E.
Published: October 2011

The Groningen Overweight and Lifestyle (GOAL) intervention effectively prevents weight gain. The present study describes a process evaluation in which 214 participants in the intervention group received a structured questionnaire within 7 months (a median of 5 months) after the end of the intervention. The authors investigated the content of the intervention (on basis of the participants’ recall), the participants’ satisfaction of the intervention, the participants’ satisfaction with the nurse practitioners (NPs), and the determinants of the participants’ satisfaction. In general, the results show that the content corresponded well with the protocol for the intervention, except for the number of telephone calls and the percentage of participants with individualized goals for a healthy lifestyle. The overall satisfaction of the participants was high, and success and perceived success and a low educational level were important determinants for a higher overall satisfaction grade. Furthermore, the NP was considered to be an expert and motivational to learning and keeping up a healthy lifestyle. The authors therefore conclude that the GOAL study is feasible and indicates that the NP is well equipped to treat these patients. However, it is recommended to reinforce the advice given and the lifestyle goals after the first contact sessions.
Modified hidden semi-Markov models for motor wear prognosis
Authors: Wu X , Li Y , Teng W
Published: October 2011

Prognosis can greatly benefit system maintenance via prediction of the remaining-useful life (RUL). The hidden semi-Markov model (HSMM) has been proposed as a prognostic modelling in previous research (M Dong and D He, Hidden semi-Markov model-based methodology for multi-sensor equipment health diagnosis and prognosis. Eur. J. Oper. Res., 2007, 178(3), 858–878), as improvement to the conventional hidden Markov model. When using the existing HSMM algorithm, it has been found that the underflow issue may arise in the computation of the forward and backward variables at the forward–backward method for large data sequences. This note presents a revision for the existing HSMM algorithm, which aims to eliminate the possible underflow issue during computation. A modified forward–backward training algorithm and an expectation-modification method are used to estimate the model parameters, including the state transition probability matrix, initial state distribution, and observation probability matrix. The proposed method is validated with a simulation example of bearing wear prognostics for a linear actuator application. The proposed modification of the HSMM algorithm can lower the requirement for numerical accuracy of the computational platform, without the negative impact on the RUL prediction, and benefit the development of cost-effective on-board prognosis.
Tribological characteristics of Al 6063–SiCp metal–matrix composite under reciprocating and wet conditions
Authors: Dvivedi A , Rajeev V R , Kumar P , Singh I
Published: October 2011

Particle-reinforced metal–matrix composites (MMC) with prerequisites such as uniform distribution and minimum porosity have superior mechanical properties than matrix material. Nevertheless, their tribological characteristics come next to justify the practical applicability. In this study, tribological characteristics of Al 6063–SiCp MMC, under reciprocating and wet conditions, have been assessed and reported. The process parameters selected were the applied load, sliding distance, reciprocating velocity, counter-surface temperature, and SiC percentage. The responses measured were wear loss and coefficient of friction (COF). Mathematical models have been proposed for modelling and analysis of the effects of selected process parameters. The results reveal that a proper control of process parameters can result in improved tribological characteristics. The applied load, sliding distance, reciprocating velocity, counter-surface temperature, and SiC percentage significantly affect wear loss. The applied load, sliding distance, and SiC percentage significantly affect COF. The assessment can be used to predict the tribological performance of MMCs in engineering applications subjected to similar operating environmental conditions.
Effects of cryogenic treatment on the mechanical and dry-sliding tribological behaviour of an Fe75Ni25 alloy
Authors: Kang Y , Yang J , Ma J , Bi Q , Fu L , Liu W
Published: October 2011

An Fe75Ni25 alloy was subjected to shallow cryogenic treatment (SCT) at −80°C and deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) at −196°C to induce martensitic transformation to different degrees. The effects of cryogenic treatment on phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear resistance of Fe75Ni25 alloys were investigated. The results showed that after SCT and DCT processes, the volume fraction of retained austenite approximately reduced from 42 per cent to about 30 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively, and the hardness increased from 174 to 276 and 336 HV accordingly. In the dry-sliding test, the cryogenic-treated samples exhibited better wear resistance compared with the conventional heat (annealing) treated samples, but the friction coefficient of the alloys was independent of cryogenic treatment. The improved hardness and wear resistance were likely to be attributed to the increase of martensite volume fraction.
Incidence of fractures in patients with multiple sclerosis: the Danish National Health Registers
Authors: Bazelier Marloes T , de Vries Frank , Bentzen Joan , Vestergaard Peter , Leufkens Hubert GM , van Staa Tjeerd-Pieter , Koch-Henriksen Nils
Published: October 2011

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are potentially at high risk of fracture due to falls and osteoporosis.

Objective: To estimate incidence rates of fractures in MS patients, stratified by fracture type, sex and age, and to compare these rates with controls.

Methods: The case population consisted of all patients with an accepted diagnosis of MS in the Danish MS Registry (1949–2007). Data were linked to the National Hospital Discharge Register (1977–2007). Patients with MS ( n = 11,157) were 1:6 matched by year of birth, gender, calendar time and region to persons without MS (controls). Incidence rates of fracture were estimated as the number of fractures per 1000 person-years. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated by dividing fracture rates in MS patients by fracture rates in controls.

Results: Among patients with MS, the incidence rate of any fracture yielded 22.8 per 1000 person-years. The IRR of any fracture between MS patients and controls was 1.40 (95% CI 1.33–1.46). In particular, IRRs of tibia fracture (3.36 [2.75–4.11]), femur fracture (6.66 [5.06–8.76]) and hip fracture (3.20 [2.83–3.62]) were elevated in MS patients versus controls.

Conclusion: Fractures occurred more often in patients with MS, especially fractures of the tibia, hip and femur.