bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
G
13
-Mediated Signaling Pathway Is Required for Pressure Overload–Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure
Authors: Takefuji Mikito , Wirth Angela , Lukasova Martina , Takefuji Seiko , Boettger Thomas , Braun Thomas , Althoff Till , Offermanns Stefan , Wettschureck Nina
Published: September 2012

Background—

Cardiac remodeling in response to pressure or volume overload plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Various mechanisms have been suggested to translate mechanical stress into structural changes, one of them being the release of humoral factors such as angiotensin II and endothelin-1, which in turn promote cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. A large body of evidence suggests that the prohypertrophic effects of these factors are mediated by receptors coupled to the G
q/11
family of heterotrimeric G proteins. Most G
q/11
-coupled receptors, however, can also activate G proteins of the G
12/13
family, but the role of G
12/13
in cardiac remodeling is not understood.

Methods and Results—

We use siRNA-mediated knockdown in vitro and conditional gene inactivation in vivo to study the role of the G
12/13
family in pressure overload–induced cardiac remodeling. We show in detail that inducible cardiomyocyte-specific inactivation of the α subunit of G
13
, Gα
13
, does not affect basal heart function but protects mice from pressure overload–induced hypertrophy and fibrosis as efficiently as inactivation of Gα
q/11
. Furthermore, inactivation of Gα
13
prevents the development of heart failure up to 1 year after overloading. On the molecular level, we show that Gα
13
, but not Gα
q/11
, controls agonist-induced expression of hypertrophy-specific genes through activation of the small GTPase RhoA and consecutive activation of myocardin-related transcription factors.

Conclusion—

Our data show that the G
12/13
family of heterotrimeric G proteins is centrally involved in pressure overload–induced cardiac remodeling and plays a central role in the transition to heart failure.
Prospective Study of Restless Legs Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease Among Women
Authors: Li Yanping , Walters Arthur S. , Chiuve Stephanie E. , Rimm Eric B. , Winkelman John W. , Gao Xiang
Published: September 2012

Background—

Previous cross-sectional studies suggested a positive association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and coronary heart disease (CHD). This observation was not confirmed by subsequent prospective studies. However, these prospective studies did not take into account the duration of RLS symptoms. Therefore, we prospectively examined whether RLS was associated with an increased risk of CHD in women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study, taking into account the duration of RLS symptoms.

Methods and Results—

A total of 70 977 women (mean age, 67 years) who were free of CHD and stroke at baseline (2002) were followed up until 2008. Physician-diagnosed RLS was collected via questionnaire. CHD was defined as nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD. Women with RLS at baseline had a marginally higher risk of developing CHD (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–2.18) compared with women without RLS. The risk was dependent on duration of symptoms: 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.44–2.19) for women with RLS for <3 years and 1.72 (95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.73) for women with RLS for ≥3 years (
P
trend=0.03). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of women with RLS for ≥3 years were 1.80 (95% confidence interval, 1.07–3.01) for nonfatal myocardial infarction and 1.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.55–4.04) for fatal CHD relative to women without RLS.

Conclusions—

We observed that women with RLS for at least 3 years had an elevated risk of CHD. These results suggest that RLS or RLS-associated conditions may contribute to the origin of cardiovascular disease.
Bad, burdened or ill? Characterizing the spouses of women with schizophrenia
Authors: Seeman Mary V
Published: September 2012

Background:

The husbands of women with schizophrenia have been variously characterized in the psychiatric literature as abusive, burdened and ill. The aim of this paper is to summarize what has been written about these three perspectives.

Method:

The search terms ‘schizophrenia’, ‘mental illness’, ‘marriage’, ‘spouse’, ‘partner’, ‘caregiver’, ‘caregiving’, ‘burden’, ‘assortative mating’ and ‘domestic abuse’ were entered into PubMed and Google Scholar. Criteria for inclusion of articles were relevance to the three identified themes of abuse, burden and mental illness in husbands of women with schizophrenia. The results show considerable variation, some of it cultural, with partial evidence for all three characterizations.

Conclusion:

There is a need for support and psychoeducation programmes that are specifically designated for spouses and that address their special concerns.
Knowledge management in social work: The interplay of knowledge sharing platforms
Authors: Leung Zeno CS
Published: September 2012

This article discusses the research on a social service organization practising knowledge management in Hong Kong. Discussion on different knowledge sharing activities conducted on different platforms and their interplay illustrates that a good balance between the two knowledge management approaches can better achieve the objectives in this newly developed management area.
Savings and family functioning since the 2008 recession: An exploratory study in Singapore
Authors: Han Chang-Keun , Rothwell David W
Published: September 2012

Using a survey of 200 low- to moderate-income households in Singapore, this study analyzes how changes in economic resources (in particular assets) are associated with family strains and family functioning. Key findings of this study are as follows: 1) a majority of the sample experienced reduced economic resources; 2) a reduction of savings increased family strain; 3) households experiencing decreases in savings have lower levels of family functioning measured by family social support and family cohesiveness. This article concludes with several implications for policy and practice.
Assessing the capacity of parents with mental illness: Parents with mental illness and risk
Authors: Boursnell Melanie
Published: September 2012

This article presents findings from an empirical study of 23 parents with mental illness in New South Wales, Australia. Discussion focuses on the prevailing risk discourse associated with parental mental illness which suggests a limited capacity to parent. Risk assessment practice creates expectations about parenting ability, often utilizing rigid, inflexible and predetermined categorical information. This approach limits social work practice. The discussion presents an insight into how parents manage mental illness and how they manage risk. The narratives of the parents encourage social workers to increase their skills in family-focused working practices to enhance engagement with these families.
Overcoming poverty in old age: Social security provision in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe revisited
Authors: Dhemba Jotham
Published: September 2012

It is of grave concern that the syndrome of poverty in old age in Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe continues in spite of the existence of formal social security provisions in these countries. The solution to this problem lies in transforming the existing social security schemes in order to ensure broad-based coverage of older persons.
Dental Composites and Amalgam and Physical Development in Children
Authors: Maserejian N.N. , Hauser R. , Tavares M. , Trachtenberg F.L. , Shrader P. , McKinlay S.
Published: September 2012

Resin-based composite dental restoration materials may release bisphenol-A, an endocrine-disrupting chemical. Using secondary analysis of a randomized clinical safety trial of amalgam vs. composites, we tested the hypothesis that dental restoration materials affect children’s growth. Children (N = 218 boys, N = 256 girls) aged 6 to 10 yrs at baseline with ≥ 2 decayed posterior teeth were randomized to amalgam or composites (bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-dimethacrylate composite for permanent teeth, urethane-dimethacrylate compomer for primary teeth) for treatment of posterior caries throughout follow-up. Primary outcomes for this analysis were 5-year changes in BMI-for-age z-scores, body fat percentage (BF%), and height velocity; exploratory analyses (n = 113) examined age at menarche. Results showed no significant differences between treatment assignment and changes in physical development in boys [(composites vs. amalgam) BF%, 4.9 vs. 5.7, p = 0.49; (BMI-z-score) 0.13 vs. 0.25, p = 0.36] or girls (8.8 vs. 7.7, p = 0.95; 0.36 vs. 0.21, p = 0.49). Children with more treatment on primary teeth had greater increases in BF% regardless of material type. Girls assigned to composites had lower risk of menarche during follow-up (hazard ratio = 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.95). Overall, there were no significant differences in physical development over 5 years in children treated with composites or amalgam. Additional studies examining these restoration materials in relation to age at menarche are warranted ( clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00065988).
Specification of multi-resolution modeling space for multi-resolution system simulation
Authors: Hong Su-Youn , Kim Tag Gon
Published: September 2012

Multi-resolution modeling (MRM) represents a real system as a set of models of different resolutions, at different abstraction levels, from the viewpoint of simulation objectives. MRM is a significant technology for complex and large-scale simulation. However, previous research is almost application specific and dependent on a specific simulation algorithm. The concepts separate multi-resolution models from the simulation models, thereby making them adaptable to any existing simulation methodology. This paper proposes a specification of multi-resolution modeling space (MRMS) for multi-resolution system simulation. The proposed specification is based on concepts of decoupling MRM and multi-resolution simulation. This MRMS specification supports MRM in two parts: resolution conversion for dynamically changing simulation model structures and resolution matching interfaces between events in different resolutions. A simple example demonstrates advantages of the proposed specification.
Qualitative simulation of the panic spread in large-scale evacuation
Authors: Wang Jing-hong , Lo Siu-ming , Sun Jin-hua , Wang Qing-song , Mu Hong-lin
Published: September 2012

A small amount of literature has been produced on the study of panic spread in a large-scale emergency evacuation, especially that which involves rescue guidance. In a large-scale evacuation action, there are complicated interactions between people and the disaster environment, and it is very difficult to present such interactions in quantitative functions or specific values. In this paper, a qualitatively simulated approach to model and study the panic spread is proposed. First, the internal structure of the evacuation system is described and various internal and external phenomena related to the change of evacuees’ behaviors in the evacuation process are qualitatively interpreted. Based on the qualitative knowledge, a qualitative simulation model of a large-scale evacuation system is established. The calculation results of inverse group matrix verify the rationality and stability of our model. According to the implementation of a series of scenarios with different input, some uncertainty factors that can affect the panic spread in the evacuation process are analyzed, in which the spread of disaster, the rescue guidance, and the normal emotional evacuees are mainly considered. This model reproduces a well-known phenomenon in crowd evacuation, namely “fast is slow”, and confirms that the severity of disaster exponentially positively correlates with the panic spread, and the effectiveness of rescue guidance is influenced by the leading emotion in the crowds as a whole.
Developing an Indicator of Property Market Resilience—Investigating the Potential of GIS to Analyse Business Occupier Displacement and Property Market Filtering: A Case Study of Tyne and Wear
Authors: Greenhalgh Paul , King Helen
Published: September 2012

The research investigates the potential of a geographical information system to analyse the recorded displacement of office and industrial occupiers in Tyne and Wear, England. The paper demonstrates that a GIS provides an effective tool with which to illustrate, analyse and model occupier displacement and market filtering. The research goes on to develop and test an indicator with which to identify urban areas that may be most vulnerable to property occupier displacement. The correlation of rateable value and VAT registration datasets, with the origin of occupiers of new office and industrial developments and the location of vacant chain-end property, was tested. The strongest correlation is with new VAT registrations within a three-year period. A property market resilience indicator is developed, with which to classify urban areas in terms of their resilience or vulnerability to business occupier displacement generated by commercial property development.
The Environmentalism of the Rich and the Privatization of Nature
Authors: Ávila-García Patricia , Sánchez Eduardo Luna
Published: September 2012

As social property and resources formerly open to common use, such as beaches and coastal lakes, have been privately appropriated, an environmental discourse has arisen among national and transnational elites that justifies this appropriation in terms of conservation and even shapes environmental policies for their benefit. One example is the creation of natural protected areas in zones of predominantly private property, giving them exclusive rights and increasing real estate values and investments in tourism. As a result, tourist paradises have sprung up in places of high biodiversity, offering exclusivity to their owners and clients while violating agrarian rights, creating social conflict, and destroying ecosystems.

Frente a un escenario de apropiación privada de espacios otrora de propiedad social y recursos de uso común como playas y lagunas costeras, ha surgido un discurso ecologista de las élites nacionales y transnacionales que justifica esta apropriación por medio de acciones de conservación e incluso orienta las políticas ambientales para su beneficio. Un ejemplo es la creación de áreas naturales protegidas en zonas donde predomina la propiedad privada, con el fin de dar exclusividad y valorizar las inversiones inmobiliarias y turísticas. Como resultado, han surgido paraísos turísticos en lugares de alta biodiversidad que ofrecen exclusividad a sus propietarios y usuarios pero que afectan derechos agrarios, generan conflictos sociales y destruyen ecosistemas.
Numbing and Dysphoria Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans
Authors: Hassija Christina M. , Jakupcak Matthew , Gray Matt J.
Published: September 2012

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans experience significant rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related mental health conditions. Understanding how specific PTSD symptomatology affects physical health and psychosocial functioning may be useful in improving the conceptualization of PTSD nosology and informing treatment approaches for this population. Confirmatory factor analytic evidence supports four-factor models of PTSD symptoms that classify emotional numbing and/or dysphoria symptoms as a distinct PTSD symptom cluster, and these symptoms appear to be related to poorer psychological adjustment among returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. This review briefly describes current conceptualizations of numbing/dysphoria symptoms of PTSD and summarizes research on the factor structure of PTSD symptoms. Then, the literature on the influence of numbing/dysphoria symptoms on physical and psychological health among these veterans is reviewed, and implications for treatment and directions for future research are presented.
A Preliminary Investigation of Stimulus Control Training for Worry
Authors: McGowan Sarah Kate , Behar Evelyn
Published: September 2012

For individuals with generalized anxiety disorder, worry becomes associated with numerous aspects of life (e.g., time of day, specific stimuli, environmental cues) and is thus under poor discriminative stimulus control (SC). In addition, excessive worry is associated with anxiety, depressed mood, and sleep difficulties. This investigation sought to provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of SC procedures in reducing anxiety-, mood-, and sleep-related symptoms. A total of 53 participants with high trait worry were randomly assigned to receive 2 weeks of either SC training (consisting of a 30-min time- and place-restricted worry period each day) or a control condition called focused worry (FW; consisting of instructions to not avoid naturally occurring worry so that worry and anxiety would not paradoxically increase). At post-training, SC was superior to FW in producing reductions on measures of worry, anxiety, negative affect, and insomnia, but not on measures of depression or positive affect. Moreover, SC was superior to FW in producing clinically significant change on measures of worry and anxiety. Results provide preliminary support for the use of SC training techniques in larger treatment packages for individuals who experience high levels of worry.
Mucin 5 Subtype AC Expression and Upregulation in the Nasal Mucosa of Allergic Rhinitis Rats
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Zheng Ming
Published: September 2012

Objective

To elucidate the functions of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) in mucin hypersecretion in allergic rhinitis (AR), we examined the in vivo effects of an NF‐κB inhibitor, ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), on mucin 5 subtype AC (MUC5AC) expression in the nasal mucosa of ovalbumin‐sensitized rats.

Study Design

Randomized animal study.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Subjects and Methods

Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into a control group (group A), an AR model group (group B), and an AR model treated with an NF‐κB inhibitor (group C). Rats in groups B and C were sensitized systemically and locally by ovalbumin injection and inhalation, whereas group A was treated with normal saline in place of ovalbumin. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (100 mg/kg/d) was given to group C by intraperitoneal injection for 5 days. NF‐κBp65, MUC5AC, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–α, and interleukin (IL)–6 were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, or real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

NF‐κB was activated in group B, and significant NF‐κBp65 protein was expressed in the nucleus of cells from the nasal mucosa, resulting in upregulated transcription from TNF‐α and IL‐6 genes, as well as increased contents of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in the nasal lavage fluids. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate inhibited nuclear localization of NF‐κBp65 and subsequent downregulation of the transcription and secretion of TNF‐α and IL‐6. MUC5AC was upregulated in group B but reduced in a time‐dependent manner after inhibition of NF‐κB activation.

Conclusion

NF‐κB activation might induce MUC5AC hypersecretion in AR rats by inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐6.
Unravelling equality: The combined impact of spending cuts on women
Authors: Stephenson Mary-Ann
Published: September 2012

This article summarises the findings of Unravelling Equality: An Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment of the Spending Cuts on Women in Coventry. It highlights the disproportionate impact that public sector spending cuts will have on women and argues that for some particularly vulnerable women the combined impact of the cuts will damage their human rights.
Time-optimal trajectories with bounded curvature in anisotropic media
Authors: Dolinskaya Irina S , Maggiar Alvaro
Published: September 2012

This paper characterizes time-optimal trajectories in anisotropic (direction-dependent) environments where path curvatures are bounded by the inverse of the minimum-turning radius of a mobile agent. Such problems are often faced in the navigation of aerial, ground and naval vehicles when a mobile agent cannot instantaneously change its heading angle. The work presented is a generalization of the Dubins car problem, which considers the fastest paths with bounded curvature while assuming constant speed and minimum-turning radius. We relax this assumption and discuss fastest-path finding problems for the generalized direction-dependent speed and minimum-turning radius functions, to account for the effects of waves, winds and slope of the terrain on the agent’s motions. We establish that there exists an optimal path such that it is a portion of a path of the type [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] denotes a sharpest-turn curve and [Formula: see text] a straight-line segment. We further analyze a special case wherein the speed polar plot is convex, and show that in that case there exists an optimal path with the same structure as for the Dubins problem: [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. An algorithm that implements our results for the convex speed polar plot is also presented.
Bathymetric particle filter SLAM using trajectory maps
Authors: Barkby Stephen , Williams Stefan B , Pizarro Oscar , Jakuba Michael V
Published: September 2012

We present an efficient and featureless approach to bathymetric simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) that utilizes a Rao–Blackwellized particle filter (RBPF) and Gaussian process (GP) regression to provide loop closures in areas with little to no overlap with previously explored terrain. To significantly reduce the memory requirements (thereby allowing for the processing of large datasets) a novel map representation is also introduced that, instead of directly storing estimates of seabed depth, records the trajectory of each particle and synchronizes them to a common log of bathymetric observations. Upon detecting a loop closure each particle is weighted by matching new observations to the current predictions generated from a local reconstruction of their map using GP regression. Here the spatial correlation in the environment is fully exploited, allowing predictions of seabed depth in areas that may not have been directly observed previously. The results demonstrate how observations of seafloor structure with partial overlap can be used by bathymetric SLAM to improve map self consistency when compared with dead reckoning fused with long-baseline (LBL) observations. In addition we show how mapping corrections can still be achieved even when no map overlap is present.
Penalties and premiums: The impact of gender, marriage, and parenthood on faculty salaries in science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) and non-SEM fields
Authors: Kelly Kimberly , Grant Linda
Published: September 2012

The prevalence of gender wage gaps in academic work is well documented, but patterns of advantage or disadvantage linked to marital, motherhood, and fatherhood statuses have been less explored among college and university faculty. Drawing from a nationally representative sample of faculty in the US, we explore how the combined effects of marriage, children, and gender affect faculty salaries in science, engineering and mathematics (SEM) and non-SEM fields. We examine whether faculty members’ productivity moderates these relationships and whether these effects vary between SEM and non-SEM faculty. Among SEM faculty, we also consider whether placement in specific disciplinary groups affects relationships between gender, marital and parental status, and salary. Our results show stronger support for fatherhood premiums than for consistent motherhood penalties. Although earnings are reduced for women in all fields relative to married fathers, disadvantages for married mothers in SEM disappear when controls for productivity are introduced. In contrast to patterns of motherhood penalties in the labor market overall, single childless women suffer the greatest penalties in pay in both SEM and non-SEM fields. Our results point to complex effects of family statuses on the maintenance of gender wage disparities in SEM and non-SEM disciplines, but married mothers do not emerge as the most disadvantaged group.
The Effect of Smoking on Ligament and Cartilage Surgery in the Knee
Authors: Kanneganti Praveen , Harris Joshua D. , Brophy Robert H. , Carey James L. , Lattermann Christian , Flanigan David C.
Published: September 2012

Background:

The adverse effects of smoking on various health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have been well documented. Many orthopaedic conditions, such as fracture healing, wound repair, and bone mineral density, have been reported to be adversely affected by smoking. However, no known systematic reviews have investigated the effects of smoking on ligament and cartilage knee surgery.

Purpose:

We hypothesized that smoking would have a negative influence from both a basic science and clinical outcome perspective on these types of knee surgeries.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review of multiple medical databases was performed evaluating clinical and basic science studies to determine the effects of smoking on ligament and cartilage knee surgery.

Results:

Fourteen studies were found for inclusion and analysis. Eight of these studies addressed the relationship between smoking and knee ligaments, and 6 investigated the relationship between smoking and articular cartilage. With the exception of 1, all of the basic science and clinical studies exploring the relationship between smoking and knee ligaments found a negative association of smoking, either molecularly, biomechanically, or clinically. One basic science and 3 clinical studies found a negative influence of smoking on articular cartilage of the knee. No studies were found that investigated the relationship of smoking and menisci.

Conclusion:

The current literature reveals a negative influence of smoking on the results of knee ligament surgery, both from a basic science and clinical perspective, implying that smoking cessation would benefit patients undergoing these procedures. The association between smoking and knee articular cartilage was less clear, although the literature still suggests an overall negative influence and highlights the need for further investigation.
The Prevalence of Low Back Pain Among Former Elite Cross-Country Skiers, Rowers, Orienteerers, and Nonathletes
Authors: Foss Ida Stange , Holme Ingar , Bahr Roald
Published: September 2012

Background:

Some cross-sectional studies have suggested that the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) may be high among endurance athletes with repetitive back loading, but there are no large, prospective cohort studies addressing this issue.

Purpose:

To compare the prevalence of symptoms of low back pain (LBP) among former endurance athletes with different loading characteristics on the lumbar region: cross-country skiing (flexion loading), rowing (extension loading), and orienteering (no specific loading), as well as a nonathletic control group.

Study design:

Cohort study; level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Self-reported questionnaire on LBP adapted for sports based on standardized Nordic questionnaires for musculoskeletal symptoms. Responders were 173 rowers, 209 orienteerers, 242 cross-country skiers, and 116 control subjects (88% of the original cohort).

Results:

There were no group differences between the athletic groups and the control group with regard to the 2 main outcomes: reported LBP the previous 12 months ( P = .66) and frequent LBP the past year (>30 days with LBP) ( P = .14). More rowers than orienteerers reported frequent LBP the past year (adjusted OR = 2.32; CI, 1.02-5.28). Occupational changes due to LBP were reported more often by rowers (13%) than skiers (7%) and orienteerers (3%) ( P = .002). More rowers and skiers reported having received outpatient medical assistance than orienteerers or controls. A training volume >550 h/y was a risk factor for reporting LBP during the previous 12 months compared with a training volume <200 h/y (adjusted OR = 2.51; CI, 1.26-5.02). A previous episode with LBP was associated with LBP later in life (adjusted OR = 3.02; CI, 2.22-4.10).

Conclusion:

Low back pain was not more common among former endurance athletes with specific back loading compared with non-athletes. The results indicate that years of prolonged and repetitive flexion or extension loading in endurance sports does not lead to more LBP. However, a large training volume in the past year and previous episodes with LBP are risk factors for LBP. Comparing the sports of rowing, cross-country skiing, and orienteering, it appears that whereas orienteering is protective, rowing can provoke LBP.
Repair of Lateral Meniscus Posterior Horn Detachment Lesions
Authors: Schillhammer Carl K. , Werner Frederick W. , Scuderi Matthew G. , Cannizzaro John P.
Published: September 2012

Background:

Posterior horn detachment (PHD) lesions of the lateral meniscus are commonly associated with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Multiple surgeons have advocated for repair of this lesion at the time of ACL reconstruction. However, the biomechanical consequences of this lesion and its subsequent repair have not been evaluated.

Hypothesis:

The PHD lesion of the lateral meniscus will lead to increased tibiofemoral contact pressures, and repair of this lesion to bone via a tibial tunnel can restore normal contact pressures during simulated gait.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Lateral compartment contact pressures were measured via a sensor on the tibial plateau in 8 cadaver knees with the knee intact, after sectioning the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to simulate PHD, and after repairing the injury. The repair was performed using an ACL tunnel guide to drill a tunnel from the anteromedial tibia to the posterior horn attachment site. Dynamic pressure data were continuously collected using a conductive ink pressure sensing system while each knee was moved through a physiological gait flexion cycle.

Results:

Posterior horn detachment caused a significant increase in tibiofemoral peak contact pressure from 2.8 MPa to 4.2 MPa ( P = .03). After repair of the lesion to bone was performed through a transtibial tunnel, the peak contact pressure was 2.9 MPa. Posterior horn detachment also significantly decreased the maximum contact area over which tibiofemoral pressure is distributed from 451 mm2 in the intact state to 304 mm2 in the detached state. Repair of the PHD lesion increased the maximum contact area to 386 mm2, however, this area was also significantly less than in the intact state ( P = .05).

Conclusion:

Posterior horn detachment of the lateral meniscus causes increased peak tibiofemoral contact pressure. The peak pressure can be reduced to a normal level with repair of the lesion to bone via a transtibial tunnel.

Clinical Relevance:

Posterior horn detachment of the lateral meniscus is a lesion often associated with an acute ACL tear. Debate exists concerning the importance of repairing PHD lesions at the time of ACL reconstruction. The data provided in this study may influence surgeons’ management of the lesion.
Novel amelogenin-releasing hydrogel for remineralization of enamel artificial caries
Authors: Fan Yuwei , Wen Zezhang T , Liao Sumei , Lallier Thomas , Hagan Joseph L , Twomley Jefferson T , Zhang Jian-Feng , Sun Zhi , Xu Xiaoming
Published: September 2012

Recently, the use of recombinant full-length amelogenin protein in combination with fluoride has shown promising results in the formation of densely packed enamel-like structures. In this study, amelogenin (rP172)-releasing hydrogels containing calcium, phosphate, and fluoride were investigated for remineralization efficacy using in vitro early enamel caries models. The hydrogels were applied to artificial caries lesions on extracted human third molars, and the remineralization efficacy was tested in different models: static gel remineralization in the presence of artificial saliva, pH cyclic treatment at pH 5.4 acetic buffer and pH 7.3 gel remineralization, and treatment with multispecies oral biofilms grown in a continuous flowing constant-depth film fermenter. The surface microhardness of remineralized enamel increased significantly when amelogenin was released from hydrogel. No cytotoxicity was observed when periodontal ligament cells were cultured with the mineralized hydrogels.
Midwest or Lesbian? Gender, Rurality, and Sexuality
Authors: Kazyak Emily
Published: September 2012

Research suggests a gendered dimension to the geography of sexual minorities, as gay couples are more likely to live in cities than are lesbian couples. Using data from 60 interviews with rural gays and lesbians, this article employs an intersectional analysis of the mutually constitutive relationships among place, gender, and sexuality in order to assess how acceptance of gays and lesbians in small towns is gendered. Findings indicate that femininity aligns with gay sexuality but not rurality. In contrast, masculinity underpins both the categories “rural” and “lesbian.” Furthermore, both lesbian women and gay men gain acceptance in rural areas by doing masculinity. This analysis indicates that masculinity is not something to which only male bodies are privy. In contrast to prior work, it shows one form of female masculinity that is normative rather than transgressive. The analysis also reveals that the meanings of gender presentations vary by geographical context.
Learning to Stand in the Other’s Shoes
Authors: Gonzalez Cleotilde , Saner Lelyn D. , Eisenberg Laurie Z.
Published: September 2012

We examined the role of experience, religion, and political affiliation in learning to resolve a conflict through the video game, PeaceMaker, which simulates the Israeli–Palestinian conflict by modeling the factors contributing to it. The hypothesis was that practice in the video game would diminish the initial effects of religious views and political affiliations on how people resolve the conflict within the game. Students played several rounds of PeaceMaker and responded to questions about their religious and political beliefs. Results revealed an improvement in students’ game scores and a reduction in the correlations between scores and religion, political affiliation, and game performance across games played. Results suggest that the understanding of the conflict that is provided by the game simulation combined with practice may make it possible to reduce personal bias and learn to stand in another’s shoes when engaging in conflict resolution exercises.
Social Workers and Broadband Advocacy
Authors: Kuilema Joseph
Published: September 2012

This article presents the results of an exploratory study examining attitudes toward broadband advocacy, as related to attitudes toward and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and a variety of other personal, political, and professional characteristics. A random sample ( n = 297) of licensed social workers in Michigan was surveyed. There is a growing body of literature indicating that access to broadband Internet is an important element of the digital divide, especially in the United States, which after having led in this area has fallen behind. Findings from this study indicate significant relationships between willingness to engage in broadband advocacy and political views, attitudes toward and use of ICTs, and knowledge about broadband. The implications for a profession focused on social justice and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations are explored.
Adherence to Clusters of Health Behaviors and Successful Aging
Authors: Pruchno Rachel , Wilson-Genderson Maureen
Published: September 2012

Objectives: Analyses examine the extent to which adherence to recommendations regarding health behaviors cluster among older adults, whether people who adhere to multiple health behaviors are more likely to age successfully than those who adhere to fewer health behaviors, and whether some health behavior clusters are more closely associated with successful aging than others. Method: Cross-sectional data were collected using structured telephone interviews from 5,688 persons aged 50 to 74 living in New Jersey. Results: Prevalence odds ratio analyses indicated that differential cluster patterns exist. Logistic regression revealed that as the number of adherent behaviors increased so did the likelihood of aging successfully and that adherence to some health behavior clusters was more closely associated with successful aging than adherence to others. Discussion: Although adherence to more health behaviors was associated with a greater likelihood of successful aging, it is possible to age successfully by adhering to specific clusters of health behaviors.
Force optimization of planar 2-DOF parallel manipulators with actuation redundancy considering deformation
Authors: Wu Jun , Li Tiemin , Xu Boqiang
Published: September 2012

Internal force distribution is one of the most important issues for redundantly actuated parallel manipulators. This article presents a novel method for optimizing internal force to minimize the deformation of key components in a parallel manipulator. The dynamic model is first derived, and then an objective function is proposed by giving different weights on internal forces of different components based on its flexibility. The deformation of the component with big flexibility is minimized. A planar 2-DOF parallel manipulator with actuation redundancy is taken as an example to validate the force optimization method. The simulation results show that the deformation of the manipulator with the force optimization method proposed in this article is smaller than that with the traditional method to minimize the norm of driving forces. Thus, the manipulator precision can be improved.
Sensor-based navigation of a car-like robot based on Bug family algorithms
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyung , Shin Kyoosik , Han Chang-Soo , Lee Ji Yeong
Published: September 2012

This article presents a sensor-based navigation algorithm for 3-degree-of-freedom car-like robots with a nonholonomic constraint. Similar to the classical Bug family algorithms, the proposed algorithm enables the car-like robot to navigate in a completely unknown environment by only using range sensor information. The car-like robot uses the local range sensor view to determine the local path so that it moves toward the goal. To guarantee that the car-like robot can approach the goal, the two modes of motion are repeated, termed as motion-to-goal and wall-following. The motion-to-goal behavior lets the robot directly move toward the goal and the wall-following behavior makes the car-like robot circumnavigate the obstacle boundary until it meets the leaving condition. For each behavior, the nonholonomic motion for the car-like robot is planned in terms of the turning radius at each step. The proposed algorithm is implemented with a real robot and the experimental results show the performance of the proposed algorithm.
A new data extrapolation method based on the modified Helmholtz equation least-squares method
Authors: Wang R , Chen J , Dong GM
Published: September 2012

Fast Fourier transform-based near-field acoustic holography requires that the measurement aperture should completely enclose the source, which is impractical for large-scale sound sources. Helmholtz equation least-squares method can reconstruct the acoustic field with fewer measurements than fast Fourier transform-based near-field acoustic holography. However, it is not suitable for reconstructing acoustic radiation from multiple sources or a complicated source which consists of several separated parts. To circumvent this difficulty and enhance the reconstruction accuracy, a new data extrapolation method based on the modified Helmholtz equation least-squares method is proposed. The base of this data extrapolation method is a modified Helmholtz equation least-squares method which expresses the acoustic field of a complicated source as the superposition of the acoustic radiation from all of its separated parts. Using the acoustic pressures reconstructed with the modified Helmholtz equation least-squares method, the measurement surface is extended through an iterative procedure. Meanwhile, Tikhonov regularization method together with generalized cross-validation parameter choice method is utilized to treat the ill-posed problem in reconstructions. In the end, taking the extrapolated pressures as input data, the acoustic field can be reconstructed more precisely. Numerical simulation and experimental results demonstrate that this method can significantly enhance the reconstruction accuracy and efficiency.
Homogeneous charge compression ignition technology implemented in a hybrid electric vehicle: System optimal design and benefit analysis for a power-split architecture
Authors: Ahn Kukhyun , Whitefoot John , Babajimopoulos Aris , Ortiz-Soto Elliott , Papalambros Panos Y
Published: September 2012

Homogeneous charge compression ignition technology can improve fuel economy by providing increased efficiency at low-load operation. This article examines the implementation of this technology in hybrid propulsion systems. To assess the benefits, a physics-based model for a spark ignition–homogeneous charge compression ignition dual-operation engine is developed, together with system and component models, and is used to optimize a crossover sport utility van with a power-split hybrid powertrain. Comparison of optimal designs for the pure spark ignition and dual homogeneous charge compression ignition cases indicates the reduction in the fuel consumption based on our modeling assumptions to be in the range 2.5–5%, depending on the test cycle. These benefits increase substantially when the acceleration performance requirements increase. An analysis method is presented to show how such engine-level changes affect the entire powertrain characteristics, and mode maps are developed to indicate when the benefits are expected.
The evaluation of disc brake squeal propensity through a fully coupled transient thermomechanical model
Authors: Hassan Muhammad Z , Brooks Peter C , Barton David C
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a fully coupled transient thermomechanical analysis of a disc brake that takes into account the so-called ‘rotating-heat-source’ effect. Results from this are used to inform the time-based extraction of system eigenvalues that permit quantification of the squeal propensity of the brake. The model performance is validated against a series of dynamometer tests, based upon the SAE J2521 drag brake test schedule, in which the ability of the model to predict the fugitive nature of the squeal problem is confirmed. Finally, a parametric study is also presented that shows how the technique can be used to desensitise the squeal propensity to both material and geometric design changes.
Water contamination effect in wet clutch system
Authors: Fatima Nowshir , Marklund Pär , Larsson Roland
Published: September 2012

Water contamination in wet clutch systems can be a problem since both torque characteristics and wear resistance can be influenced by the presence of water. The present paper reveals the effect of externally added water on the wet clutch frictional performance. Commercially available standard paper-based friction plates and steel separator plates lubricated with commercially available automatic transmission fluid were investigated in a recently developed automated test rig using a well-confined experimental approach. Frictional response was observed for three different situations with different amounts of water and different exposure times. An undesirable friction increase is observed with increasing amounts of water in the system. The rate of increase in friction coefficient does not linearly depend on the amount of added water, and this is a noticeable outcome from the common possible water contamination effects, such as change in lubricant viscosity, inadequate additive performance and weakening of the friction material. The greater reduction in the separator plates’ surface roughness (Ra) in a water contaminated clutch system compared to an uncontaminated one may be a reason for the change in friction. It is also shown that different water exposure time has no great impact on the change in friction level and the separator plates’ roughness.
New tonality design for non-stationary signal and its application to sound quality for gear whine sound
Authors: Kim Eui-Youl , Shin Tae Jin , Lee Sang Kwon
Published: September 2012

The sound quality for the axle-gear whine sound in a sports utility vehicle was investigated in terms of psychoacoustics. Aure’s tonality was considered as the sound metric for the expression of the tonality of gear whine sound in a previous research. However, it did not prove possible to use Aure’s tonality successfully as a sound metric for the tonal impression. Aure’s tonality did not express well the tonal impression of the gear whine sound as the whine sound is a non-stationary signal with both frequency and amplitude modulation. In this study, the new method for the tonality evaluation for a non-stationary signal is presented. It is developed based on the prominence ratio, tonality impression function and lower threshold level. It improves the accuracy and reliability of the sound quality index being used for the sound quality evaluation of the axle-gear whine sound.
Motivational Versus Metabolic Effects of Carbohydrates on Self-Control
Authors: Molden Daniel C. , Hui Chin Ming , Scholer Abigail A. , Meier Brian P. , Noreen Eric E. , D’Agostino Paul R. , Martin Valerie
Published: September 2012

Self-control is critical for achievement and well-being. However, people’s capacity for self-control is limited and becomes depleted through use. One prominent explanation for this depletion posits that self-control consumes energy through carbohydrate metabolization, which further suggests that ingesting carbohydrates improves self-control. Some evidence has supported this energy model, but because of its broad implications for efforts to improve self-control, we reevaluated the role of carbohydrates in self-control processes. In four experiments, we found that (a) exerting self-control did not increase carbohydrate metabolization, as assessed with highly precise measurements of blood glucose levels under carefully standardized conditions; (b) rinsing one’s mouth with, but not ingesting, carbohydrate solutions immediately bolstered self-control; and (c) carbohydrate rinsing did not increase blood glucose. These findings challenge metabolic explanations for the role of carbohydrates in self-control depletion; we therefore propose an alternative motivational model for these and other previously observed effects of carbohydrates on self-control.
“The Mind Is Willing, but the Flesh Is Weak”
Authors: Forstmann Matthias , Burgmer Pascal , Mussweiler Thomas
Published: September 2012

Beliefs in mind-body dualism—that is, perceiving one’s mind and body as two distinct entities—are evident in virtually all human cultures. Despite their prevalence, surprisingly little is known about the psychological implications of holding such beliefs. In the research reported here, we investigated the relationship between dualistic beliefs and health behaviors. We theorized that holding dualistic beliefs leads people to perceive their body as a mere “shell” and, thus, to neglect it. Supporting this hypothesis, our results showed that participants who were primed with dualism reported less engagement in healthy behaviors and less positive attitudes toward such behaviors than did participants primed with physicalism. Additionally, we investigated the bidirectionality of this link. Activating health-related concepts affected participants’ subsequently reported metaphysical beliefs in mind-body dualism. A final set of studies demonstrated that participants primed with dualism make real-life decisions that may ultimately compromise their physical health (e.g., consuming unhealthy food). These findings have potential implications for health interventions.