bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Robust Disturbance Attenuation Control Design for Static Var Compensator in Power System
Authors: Liu Ting , Jiang Nan , Jing Yuanwei , Zhang Siying
Published: December 2013

The problem of designing an adaptive backstepping controller for nonlinear static var compensator (SVC) system is addressed adopting two perspectives. First, instead of artificially assuming an upper bound or inequality scaling, the minimax theory is used to treat the external unknown disturbances. The system is insensitive to effects of large disturbances due to taking into account the worst case disturbance. Second, a parameter projection mechanism is introduced in adaptive control to force the parameter estimate within a prior specified interval. The proposed controller handles the nonlinear parameterization without compromising control smoothness and at the same time the parameter estimate speed is improved and the robustness of system is strengthened. Considering the short-circuit ground fault and mechanical power perturbation, a simulation study is carried out. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Large Eddy Simulation of Unstably Stratified Turbulent Flow over Urban-Like Building Arrays
Authors: Wang Bobin , Cui Guixiang
Published: December 2013

Thermal instability induced by solar radiation is the most common condition of urban atmosphere in daytime. Compared to researches under neutral conditions, only a few numerical works studied the unstable urban boundary layer and the effect of buoyancy force is unclear. In this paper, unstably stratified turbulent boundary layer flow over three-dimensional urban-like building arrays with ground heating is simulated. Large eddy simulation is applied to capture main turbulence structures and the effect of buoyancy force on turbulence can be investigated. Lagrangian dynamic subgrid scale model is used for complex flow together with a wall function, taking into account the large pressure gradient near buildings. The numerical model and method are verified with the results measured in wind tunnel experiment. The simulated results satisfy well with the experiment in mean velocity and temperature, as well as turbulent intensities. Mean flow structure inside canopy layer varies with thermal instability, while no large secondary vortex is observed. Turbulent intensities are enhanced, as buoyancy force contributes to the production of turbulent kinetic energy.
Latency and Jitter Analysis for IEEE 802.11e Wireless LANs
Authors: Youm Sungkwan , Kim Eui-Jik
Published: December 2013

This paper presents a numerical analysis of latency and jitter for IEEE 802.11e wireless local area networks (WLANs) in a saturation condition, by using a Markov model. We use this model to explicate how the enhanced distributed coordination function (EDCF) differentiates classes of service and to characterize the probability distribution of the medium access control (MAC) layer packet latency and jitter, on which the quality of the voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calls is dependent. From the proposed analytic model, we can estimate the available number of nodes determining the system performance, in order to satisfy user demands on the latency and jitter.
On the Generalized Krätzel Transform and Its Extension to Bohemian Spaces
Authors: Al-Omari S. K. Q. , Kılıçman Adem
Published: December 2013

We investigate the Krätzel transform on certain class of generalized functions. We propose operations that lead to the construction of desired spaces of generalized functions. The Krätzel transform is extended and some of its properties are obtained.
A Unit Commitment Model with Implicit Reserve Constraint Based on an Improved Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm
Authors: Han Wei , Wang Hong-hua , Zhang Xin-song , Chen Ling
Published: December 2013

An implicit reserve constraint unit commitment (IRCUC) model is presented in this paper. Different from the traditional unit commitment (UC) model, the constraint of spinning reserve is not given explicitly but implicitly in a trade-off between the production cost and the outage loss. An analytical method is applied to evaluate the reliability of UC solutions and to estimate the outage loss. The stochastic failures of generating units and uncertainties of load demands are considered while assessing the reliability. The artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFSA) is employed to solve this proposed model. In addition to the regular operation, a mutation operator (MO) is designed to enhance the searching performance of the algorithm. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated from 10 to 100 units system, and the testing results are compared with those obtained by genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and ant colony optimization (ACO) in terms of total production cost and computational time. The simulation results show that the proposed method is capable of obtaining higher quality solutions.
Antituberculosis: Synthesis and Antimycobacterial Activity of Novel Benzimidazole Derivatives
Authors: Keng Yoon Yeong , Ashraf Ali Mohamed , Choon Tan Soo , Ismail Rusli , Chee Wei Ang , Suresh Kumar Raju , Osman Hasnah , Beevi Farzana
Published: December 2013

A total of seven novel benzimidazoles were synthesized by a 4-step reaction starting from 4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzoic acid under relatively mild reaction conditions. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antimycobacterial activity againstM. tuberculosisH37Rv (MTB-H37Rv) and INH-resistantM. tuberculosis(INHR-MTB) strains using agar dilution method. Three of them displayed good activity with MIC of less than 0.2 μM. Compound ethyl 1-(2-(4-(4-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-aminophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl)-2-(4-(5-(4-fluorophenyl)pyridin-3-ylphenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (5g) was found to be the most active with MIC of 0.112 μM against MTB-H37Rv and 6.12 μM against INHR-MTB, respectively.
Chlamydia trachomatisInfection in HIV-Infected Women: Need for Screening by a Sensitive and Specific Test
Authors: Bhattar Sonali , Bhalla Preena , Chadha Sanjim , Tripathi Reva , Kaur Ravinder , Sardana Kabir
Published: December 2013

Reproductive tract infection (RTIs)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are recognized as a major public health problem, particularly due to their relationship with HIV infection. Early detection and treatment ofChlamydia trachomatisinfection (CTI) among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women may impact heterosexual HIV transmission. A total of 120 participants were enrolled: 30 HIV seropositive women with symptoms of RTIs, 30 HIV seropositive women without symptoms of RTIs, 30 HIV seronegative women with symptoms of RTIs, and 30 HIV seronegative women without symptoms of RTIs. One endocervical swab was collected from all participants and CTI was detected by real-time PCR (COBAS TaqMan CT Test, v2.0). CTI was detected in 4 (6.67%) HIV-infected women and in 1 (1.67%) HIV-uninfected woman (OR 4.214; 95% CI 0.457–38.865). Vaginal discharge was present in almost half of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women; lower abdominal pain was present in 11 (18.3%) of HIV-infected and in 9 (15%) of HIV-uninfected women. This study showed that CTI is more prevalent among HIV-infected females as compared to HIV-uninfected females. As the use of real-time PCR is not feasible in most hospitals, efforts should be made to develop a simple, sensitive, and specific test to identify women with CTI for prevention of sequelae and HIV transmission.
Bioleaching of Arsenic-Rich Gold Concentrates by Bacterial Flora before and after Mutation
Authors: Xie Xuehui , Yuan Xuewu , Liu Na , Chen Xiaoguang , Abdelgadir Awad , Liu Jianshe
Published: December 2013

In order to improve the bioleaching efficiency of arsenic-rich gold concentrates, a mixed bacterial flora had been developed, and the mutation breeding method was adopted to conduct the research. The original mixed bacterial flora had been enrichedin acid mine drainage of Dexing copper mine, Jiangxi Province, China. It was induced by UV (ultraviolet), ultrasonic, and microwave, and their combination mutation. The most efficient bacterial flora after mutation was collected for further bioleaching of arsenic-rich gold concentrates. Results indicated that the bacterial flora after mutation by UV 60 s combined with ultrasonic 10 min had the best oxidation rate of ferrous, the biggest density of cells, and the most activity of total protein. During bioleaching of arsenic-rich gold concentrates, the density of the mutant bacterial cells reached to1.13×108cells/mL at 15 days, more than 10 times compared with that of the original culture. The extraction of iron reached to 95.7% after 15 days, increased by 9.9% compared with that of the original culture. The extraction of arsenic reached to 92.6% after 12 days, which was increased by 46.1%. These results suggested that optimum combined mutation could improve leaching ability of the bacterial flora more significantly.
The Impact of miRNA-Based Molecular Diagnostics and Treatment of NRF2-Stabilized Tumors
Authors: Yamamoto Shinsuke , Inoue Jun , Kawano Tatsuyuki , Kozaki Ken-ichi , Omura Ken , Inazawa Johji
Published: December 2013

NF-E2–related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master transcriptional regulator that integrates cellular stress responses and is negatively regulated by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) at the posttranslational level. In human cancers, aberrantly stabilized NRF2, either by mutation of NRF2 or KEAP1, plays a vital role in chemoresistance and tumor cell growth through the transcriptional activation of target genes, suggesting that targeted inhibition of NRF2 is a potential therapy for NRF2-stabilized tumors. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that can negatively regulate gene expression by interfering with the translation or stability of target transcripts. Moreover, tumor-suppressor miRNAs have been suggested to be useful for cancer treatment. Here, a reporter-coupled miRNA library screen identified four miRNAs (miR-507, -634, -450a, and -129-5p) that negatively regulate the NRF2-mediated oncogenic pathway by directly targeting NRF2. Importantly, downregulation of these miRNAs, in addition to the somatic mutation of NRF2 or KEAP1, is associated with stabilized NRF2 and poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Furthermore, administration of a miR-507 alone or in combination with cisplatin inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Thus, these findings reveal that miRNA-based therapy is effective against NRF2-stabilized ESCC tumors.

Implications: This study determines the potential of miRNA-based molecular diagnostics and therapeutics in NRF2-stablized tumors. Mol Cancer Res; 12(1); 58–68. ©2013 AACR.
Individuals with coronary artery disease at a young age and features of the metabolic syndrome have an increased prothrombotic potential
Authors: Kok Maayke G. M. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Pinto-Sietsmal Sara-Joan
Published: December 2013

The relation between coagulation and atherosclerosis has been extensively described, pointing towards a hypercoagulable state in patients with atherosclerosis, especially in young individuals. However, not all studies were conclusive. It is known that the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), is related to a higher incidence of thrombo-embolic events. We hypothesised that individuals with CAD at a young age and MetS have an increased prothrombotic potential. It was the study objective to analyse the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and related thrombin generation parameters in patients with CAD before the age of 51 in men and 56 in women with and without MetS features and their healthy first-degree relatives. In this case-control study we included 118 CAD patients and 50 first-degree relatives (controls). Parameters of thrombin generation were obtained with calibrated automated thrombinography. An adjusted general linear model (GLM) showed a positive association between the peak thrombin levels and the presence of CAD at a young age. Based on the NCEP criteria we divided our patient group in CAD patients with and without MetS, and compared them to the controls without MetS. We showed that CAD patients with MetS have increased ETP levels, both in comparison with healthy first-degree relatives and with CAD patients without MetS. There were no differences in ETP between patients without MetS and healthy controls. In conclusion, this study shows that individuals with CAD at a young age and MetS features have an increased prothrombotic potential, compared to CAD patients without MetS.
The Politics of Trade and Power: Dahir al-Umar and the Making of Early Modern Palestine
Authors: Yazbak Mahmoud
Published: December 2013

Abstract

When Shaykh Dahir al-ʿUmar al-Zaydani died in 1775, he had ruled large parts of Palestine for over half a century. Capitalizing on the forward economy introduced by the Dutch merchant “gone native,” Paul Maashoek (d. 1711), Dahir created a politics of trade and power that brought about the economic flourishing of Palestine and the prosperity of its population for most of the eighteenth century. From his urbanization of the Galilee’s main villages, Tiberias, Nazareth, Acre and Haifa, sprang the merchant class whose subsequent active trading with the West helped quicken the pace of Palestine’s integration into the Europe-dominated world economy.
Integrated instruction framework for information literacy
Authors: Kessinger Pamela
Published: December 2013

In response to a college required programme review, the Portland Community College Library undertook a case study of its information literacy (IL) programme in order to understand and illustrate clearly how the programme addressed levels of IL competencies throughout the curriculum. Content and qualitative analysis were used in reviewing curriculum documents to identify emergent patterns of IL skills and concepts within the college disciplines and certificate programmes. Analysis of the college’s course outcomes revealed distinct differences as well as trends across the curriculum for faculty expectations of information conceptualisation, information seeking strategies and research methods. Following this analysis, a Research Support Framework was devised as a template for guiding lower division undergraduate students’ progression through several cognitive domains of IL. Course Specific Research Support Forms were created to map, in specific detail, how library instructional objectives match up with individual course outcomes as well as with the college core outcomes. Combining a critical thinking taxonomy with a continuum of skills, progressing from pre-college level readiness towards academic literacy, generated a developmental approach to IL instruction. This also illustrated the necessary preliminary steps for students’ progression and knowledge gaps which may frequently arise and must be resolved before further progression is possible. Discussions between librarians and content faculty are now supported with a much more precise view of what is developmentally appropriate IL instruction for particular courses. The framework is especially applicable to students in their first two years of college. The unique situation of American community colleges means that first-year seminars are not usually possible, and the curriculum can often be as much vocational as academic. This versatile and developmental approach to IL instruction ensures the embedding of IL throughout the curriculum, providing students various and cumulative learning experiences. It will also encourage leading discussions with four-year colleges about alignment and realistic IL targets for students who intend to transfer for completion of their baccalaureate degrees. This article is based on a paper presented at LILAC 2013.
Using Air Temperature to Quantitatively Predict the MODIS Fractional Snow Cover Retrieval Errors over the Continental United States
Authors: Dong Jiarui , Ek Mike , Hall Dorothy , Peters-Lidard Christa , Cosgrove Brian , Miller Jeff , Riggs George , Xia Youlong
Published: December 2013

Understanding and quantifying satellite-based, remotely sensed snow cover uncertainty are critical for its successful utilization. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow cover errors have been previously recognized to be associated with factors such as cloud contamination, snowpack grain sizes, vegetation cover, and topography; however, the quantitative relationship between the retrieval errors and these factors remains elusive. Joint analysis of the MODIS fractional snow cover (FSC) from Collection 6 (C6) and in situ air temperature and snow water equivalent measurements provides a unique look at the error structure of the MODIS C6 FSC products. Analysis of the MODIS FSC dataset over the period from 2000 to 2005 was undertaken over the continental United States (CONUS) with an extensive observational network. When compared to MODIS Collection 5 (C5) snow cover area, the MODIS C6 FSC product demonstrates a substantial improvement in detecting the presence of snow cover in Nevada [30% increase in probability of detection (POD)], especially in the early and late snow seasons; some improvement over California (10% POD increase); and a relatively small improvement over Colorado (2% POD increase). However, significant spatial and temporal variations in accuracy still exist, and a proxy is required to adequately predict the expected errors in MODIS C6 FSC retrievals. A relationship is demonstrated between the MODIS FSC retrieval errors and temperature over the CONUS domain, captured by a cumulative double exponential distribution function. This relationship is shown to hold for both in situ and modeled daily mean air temperature. Both of them are useful indices in filtering out the misclassification of MODIS snow cover pixels and in quantifying the errors in the MODIS C6 product for various hydrological applications.
AMSU-A-Only Atmospheric Temperature Data Records from the Lower Troposphere to the Top of the Stratosphere
Authors: Wang Wenhui , Zou Cheng-Zhi
Published: December 2013

The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A, 1998–present) not only continues but surpasses the Microwave Sounding Unit’s (MSU, 1978–2006) capability in atmospheric temperature observation. It provides valuable satellite measurements for higher vertical resolution and long-term climate change research and trend monitoring. This study presented methodologies for generating 11 channels of AMSU-A-only atmospheric temperature data records from the lower troposphere to the top of the stratosphere. The recalibrated AMSU-A level 1c radiances recently developed by the Center for Satellite Applications and Research group were used. The recalibrated radiances were adjusted to a consistent sensor incidence angle (nadir), channel frequencies (prelaunch-specified central frequencies), and observation time (local solar noon time). Radiative transfer simulations were used to correct the sensor incidence angle effect and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-15 (NOAA-15) channel 6 frequency shift. Multiyear averaged diurnal/semidiurnal anomaly climatologies from climate reanalysis as well as climate model simulations were used to adjust satellite observations to local solar noon time. Adjusted AMSU-A measurements from six satellites were carefully quality controlled and merged to generate 13+ years (1998–2011) of a monthly 2.5° × 2.5° gridded atmospheric temperature data record. Major trend features in the AMSU-A-only atmospheric temperature time series, including global mean temperature trends and spatial trend patterns, were summarized.
The Wish to be Hated
Authors: Rosen Irwin C.
Published: December 2013

Richard III’s legendary villainy, in addition to its obvious role in furthering his ambition for power, arguably had deeper psychological roots: motives embedded in the developmental unfolding of his complex relationship with a severely traumatized and rejecting mother. The theoretical formulations of Ronald Fairbairn are used to show that Richard’s villainy preserved and perpetuated a specific object-tie to his mother, that of being her demonized and despised “child of hate,” and that many of his victims, especially women, served as maternal surrogates in his lifelong quest to replicate his maternal “bad-enough object.” Similar patterns of severe relational disturbance pervade many of the mother-son dyads portrayed in Shakespeare’s other plays, a repetitive theme that may well be linked to the playwright’s own mother’s history of severe loss and depression during his infancy and its impact on her ability to provide her son with bountiful emotional nurturance. A collateral issue is also addressed—the narcissistically embedded bonding difficulties between parents and their disabled children, whose visible impairment is said to give rise to greater adjustment problems than does the medical severity of the condition itself.
Professionalism interrupted? Professionalism’s challenges to local knowledge in New Zealand counselling
Authors: Miller Judi H
Published: December 2013

In 2009, the New Zealand Association of Counsellors applied for statutory registration under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003). Contrary to the possible unification of members, this move exposed divisions within the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and threatened to undermine advances to incorporate culturally sensitive practices into the association’s policies. This article suggests that attempts to professionalize counselling in New Zealand require the complementary use of two potentially conflicting forms of professionalism: organizational professionalism (represented in the need to raise counselling membership standards for registration), and occupational professionalism (represented in the form of resistance to a process that will exclude some members because their traditional ways of working and local knowledge may not be accepted by a registration board). At stake is a form of local knowledge, Māori theories of wellbeing and ways of working, that has been incorporated into the New Zealand Association of Counsellors’ policies but which may not be accepted as essential to the protocols of statutory registration. As a case study, this highlights that in a postcolonial society, both organizational and occupational professionalism are required to negotiate occupational change and both are interrupted when local knowledge is seen as a centrally important value.
The Impact of Neighborhood Composition on Work-Family Conflict and Distress
Authors: Young Marisa , Wheaton Blair
Published: December 2013

Theories of work-family conflict (WFC) and health remain limited because they emphasize individual-level antecedents to the exclusion of broader contexts, such as residential neighborhoods. We address this issue by focusing on the impact of neighborhood social composition on WFC. Among couples with children we assess whether socially similar neighbors relative to oneself reduce perceptions and mental health consequences of WFC, and whether these associations differ by gender. We argue that the convergence of similarities in residents’ features relative to the respondent’s own may affect WFC by influencing normative expectations about work and family, and assumptions of available support. We use data on intact families with at least one child between the ages of 9 and 16 from Toronto, Canada, linked to census data. Results highlight that greater similarity between respondents and residents reduces perceptions and consequences of WFC for women but not men. We discuss these findings in relation to neighborhood effects and mental health literature.
A simulation-based decision support system for industrial field service network planning
Authors: Hertz Philipp , Cavalieri Sergio , Finke Gandolf R , Duchi Aldo , Schönsleben Paul
Published: December 2013

Technical field services for industrial machinery and equipment have become increasingly important for original equipment manufacturers. To deliver services to their customers, companies have to build up new core competencies and infrastructure, a challenge due to the high complexity and dynamics of this business. To assist companies in the strategic design of their network and the planning of resources for delivering industrial field services, we present a model-driven decision support system that uses discrete event simulation to support decision makers in various aspects of strategic design and tactical planning. The benefits of the decision support system include the creation of a generic framework that makes it possible to create simulation models of different field service networks for multiple purposes. Specifically, the system can be used to support various tactical planning and strategic design decisions while keeping investments low in terms of time consumption and money spending. In addition, the paper closes an identified gap involving a lack of decision support for the management of field service networks. An application of the decision support system in an exemplary case is used to illustrate potential applications and benefits.
The politics of dispossession in an Odishan steel town
Authors: Strümpell Christian
Published: December 2013

The article discusses how industrial workers in Rourkela, a steel town in Odisha, experience the large-scale job losses entailed by the recent restructuring of India’s first public sector steel plant. In this article, I argue that this manpower reduction presents a moment of what Harvey (2003) calls accumulation by dispossession and which he considers as the hallmark of neoliberal capitalism. Importantly, I add to Harvey’s analysis that this process is experienced, and acted upon, in significantly different ways by different fractions of the town’s steel workforce. Taking a long-term historical perspective, I will show that these differences are rooted in the politics that the postcolonial regional state of Odisha has pursued in the town since the 1950s. In methodological terms, the argument put forward in this article follows Burawoy’s (2000) call for an ethnographic ‘grounding’ of global processes such as neoliberalisation that pays attention to how such processes shape and are shaped by local histories of dispossession and resistance against it.
T-shirts and tumblers
Authors: Carswell Grace , De Neve Geert
Published: December 2013

This article explores the variegated nature of processes of neoliberalisation and their diverse impacts on relations of caste and dependency in rural India. Focusing on the rural hinterland of Tiruppur, a major industrial cluster in Tamil Nadu, south India, the article examines the ways in which neoliberal regimes insert themselves in the region and combine, coexist or clash with existing institutional regimes of power. It documents the highly differentiated and unpredictable effects neoliberalisation has on the lives of villagers who have become directly or indirectly engulfed by its processes, paying particular attention to the uneven impacts on local landscapes of capitalist production and on rural relations of caste and dependency. The article examines rural transformations through the contrasting experiences of Dalits in two villages that became connected to the Tiruppur industry. While in one village, Dalits gained access to the urban industry, in the other, they remained disconnected from urban garment jobs due to persistent relations of debt bondage and unfree labour. It is argued that processes of industrial neoliberalisation do not lead to linear transformations in caste relations and social inequalities. Rather, the relevance and meaning of caste are transformed in uneven, and often even contrasting ways, depending on how particular localities are integrated into wider institutional regimes of power and rule. Processes of neoliberalisation unleash powerful encounters between old structures of power and new regimes of rule, and generate new configurations that defy prediction and expectation.
Regulatory Forum Commentary*
Authors: Evans Ellen W.
Published: December 2013

One of the biggest challenges in drug development is interpretation of findings suggestive of immunostimulation, particularly when the findings are unexpected based on the known mechanism of action of the drug. Findings suggestive of immunostimulation do not necessarily preclude development of the drug. By understanding mechanism, the patient population, and species differences and by careful clinical monitoring, many of the drugs that produce immunostimulation can be successfully developed. This opinion piece describes various types of immunostimulation and a risk assessment strategy for management of unexpected immunostimulation in toxicity studies.
Study on different bandages and application techniques for achieving stiffer compression
Authors: Suehiro K , Morikage N , Murakami M , Yamashita O , Ueda K , Samura M , Hamano K
Published: December 2013

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between interface pressure and stiffness of compression achieved by various combinations of bandages and application techniques.

Method

There were eight healthy volunteers. One roll (4.5 m) of four types of bandages with different extensibilities (0, 90, 108 and 218%) was applied to the leg in single-layer bandage fashion with eight random tensions. Then, the leg was wrapped with one to eight rolls in multi-layer bandage fashion.

Results

Each combination of bandage and application technique displayed an indigenous linear interface pressure-static stiffness index relationship. With single-layer bandage, lower extensibility was associated with higher static stiffness index at a given interface pressure. With multi-layer bandage, the static stiffness index at a given interface pressure was independent of the bandage type.

Conclusion

The stiffness at a given interface pressure was affected by the extensibility with single-layer bandage but not with multi-layer bandage.
Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the French version of the Knee Outcome Survey–Activities of Daily Living Scale
Authors: Roy Jean-Sébastien , Esculier Jean-Francois , Maltais Désirée B
Published: December 2013

Purpose:

The Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Knee Outcome Survey (KOS-ADLS) is a joint-specific questionnaire measuring functional limitation experienced by individuals with knee disorders. The original English version of the KOS-ADLS has been shown to be highly reliable and responsive to change. The purpose of this study was to perform a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the KOS-ADLS questionnaire into French and to validate this French version of the questionnaire.

Method:

In accordance with standard procedure, the original version of the KOS-ADLS was translated and cross-culturally adapted into French. Once the final French version of the KOS-ADLS was developed, it was subjected to further psychometric evaluation with 76 individuals with knee disorders. Each participant completed the KOS-ADLS on three occasions: at baseline, two days later to evaluate test–retest reliability, and four weeks later to evaluate responsiveness. Symptoms and function-oriented construct questions were also completed to evaluate construct-convergent and known-group validity.

Results:

The cross-cultural adaptation procedure revealed no major problems with content or language. The French version of the KOS-ADLS showed excellent test–retest reliability with low measurement error (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92, minimal detectable change = 8.3), as well as high responsiveness (standardized response mean = 1.41; clinically important difference = 13.6). Further, it discriminates between different levels of self-rated or clinician-rated knee function.

Conclusions:

The French version of the KOS-ADLS is a reliable, valid and responsive questionnaire for the assessment of functional limitation in individuals with musculoskeletal knee disorders.
Improved effect of the combination naltrexone/D-penicillamine in the prevention of alcohol relapse-like drinking in rats
Authors: Orrico Alejandro , Martí-Prats Lucía , Cano-Cebrián María J , Granero Luis , Polache Ana , Zornoza Teodoro
Published: December 2013

Opioid antagonists are licensed drugs for treating alcohol use disorders; nonetheless, clinical studies have evidenced their limited effectiveness. Preclinical findings indicate that opioid receptor (OR) antagonists, such as naltrexone (NTX), reduce the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE). However, a detailed analysis of published data shows the existence of a delayed increase in ethanol consumption after continuous OR blockade, a phenomenon originally called as ‘delayed ADE’. We have recently reported that D-penicillamine (DP) is able to prevent ADE through a mechanism dependent on the inactivation of acetaldehyde, the main metabolite of ethanol. Hypothetically, OR activation would be triggered by acetaldehyde after ethanol consumption. Hence, we conjecture that the combination of NTX and DP, due to their distinct but complementary mechanisms to impede OR activation, may be more efficacious in the prevention of the ADE and, specifically, the ‘delayed ADE’. Herein, we compare the effects of the combination NTX/DP (NTX: 2×5 mg/kg SC injection daily/DP: SC infusion (0.25 mg/h)) versus NTX on the ADE in long-term ethanol-experienced rats. As expected, NTX-treated animals displayed a delayed ADE. However, NTX/DP treatment prevented this delayed effect. Our present data indicate that this combination therapy shows an adequate anti-relapse preclinical efficacy being able to overcome the preclinical limitations of NTX alone.
Clinical, Radiological, and Morphological Evaluations of Posterior Horn Tears of the Lateral Meniscus Left In Situ During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Lee Dhong Won , Jang Hyoung Won , Lee Sung Rak , Park Jung Ho , Ha Jeong Ku , Kim Jin Goo
Published: December 2013

Background:

Recent studies have shown that lateral menisci have a higher healing potential and that they can be treated successfully without symptoms by being left in situ during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, few studies have reported morphological results.

Hypothesis:

Stable posterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus left in situ during ACL reconstruction could be healed spontaneously and would result in not only successful clinical outcomes but also morphological restoration.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Among 367 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between 2008 and 2010, 53 patients who had lateral meniscus tears that were left in situ were analyzed. These patients were evaluated subjectively and radiologically and compared with a matched control group that underwent ACL reconstruction without any other structural disorders. Of the 53 patients with stable posterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus left in situ, 28 patients were assessed by second-look arthroscopic surgery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results:

The mean follow-up of the study group and the control group was 36.47 and 37.26 months, respectively. There were no statistical differences in postoperative clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. Clinical results of both groups including the Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score significantly improved. In the subgroup composed of 28 patients, follow-up MRI showed 25 (89%) and 24 (86%) healed menisci in sagittal and coronal views, respectively. Twenty-one (75%) were considered to be completely healed, and 5 (18%) were incompletely healed on second-look arthroscopic surgery.

Conclusion:

Stable posterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus left in situ at the time of ACL reconstruction revealed successful clinical outcomes compared with isolated ACL injuries and showed considerable healing and functional restoration of tears with repeat MRI and second-look arthroscopic surgery. Therefore, leaving stable posterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus in situ during ACL reconstruction should be considered.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Ramski David E. , Kanj Wajdi W. , Franklin Corinna C. , Baldwin Keith D. , Ganley Theodore J.
Published: December 2013

Background:

Debate regarding the optimal initial treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children and adolescents has not resulted in a clear consensus for initial nonoperative treatment or operative reconstruction.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically analyze aggregated data from the literature to determine if a benefit exists for either nonoperative or early operative treatment for ACL injuries in the pediatric patient. The hypothesis was that combined results would favor early operative reconstruction with respect to posttreatment episodes of instability/pathological laxity, symptomatic meniscal tears, clinical outcome scores, and return to activity.

Study Design:

Meta-analysis.

Methods:

A literature selection process included the extraction of data on the following clinical variables: symptomatic meniscal tears, return to activities, clinical outcome scores, return to the operating room, and posttreatment instability/pathological laxity. A symptomatic meniscal tear was defined as occurring after the initial presentation, limiting activity, and requiring further treatment. Instability/pathological laxity was defined for the sake of this study as having an episode of giving way, a grade ≥2 Lachman/pivot-shift test result, or a side-to-side difference of >4 mm as measured by the KT-1000 arthrometer. All studies were evaluated using a formal study quality analysis. Meta-analysis was conducted for aggregated data in each category.

Results:

Six studies (217 patients) comparing operative to nonoperative treatment and 5 studies (353 patients) comparing early to delayed reconstruction were identified. Three studies reported posttreatment instability/pathological laxity; 13.6% of patients after operative treatment experienced instability/pathological laxity compared with 75% of patients after nonoperative treatment ( P < .01). Two studies reported symptomatic meniscal tears; patients were over 12 times more likely to have a medial meniscal tear after nonoperative treatment than after operative treatment (35.4% vs 3.9%, respectively; P = .02). A significant difference in scores between groups was noted in 1 of 2 studies reporting International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores ( P = .002) and in 1 of 2 studies reporting Tegner scores ( P = .007). Two studies reported return to activity; none of the patients in the nonoperative groups returned to their previous level of play compared with 85.7% of patients in the operative groups ( P < .01). Study quality analysis revealed that the majority of the studies were inconsistent in reporting outcomes.

Conclusion:

Meta-analysis revealed multiple trends that favor early surgical stabilization over nonoperative or delayed treatment. Patients after nonoperative and delayed treatment experienced more instability/pathological laxity and inability to return to previous activity levels than did patients treated with early surgical stabilization.
Topical Ginger Treatment With a Compress or Patch for Osteoarthritis Symptoms
Authors: Therkleson Tessa
Published: December 2013

Aim: This article is a report of a study evaluating changes in health status before and after topical ginger treatment for adults with moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Method: In 2011, 20 adults with chronic osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to one of two groups for 7 consecutive days of topical ginger treatment by trained nurses: Group 1 received a manually prepared ginger compress and Group 2 a standardized ginger patch. Participants had the option to continue self-treatment using the ginger patch for a further 24 weeks. A brief arthritis health questionnaire was completed weekly for 3 weeks and 4 weekly for 24 weeks. Results: The mean scores for Group 1 and Group 2 show a notable decline following 1-week topical ginger treatment; scores in pain, fatigue, global effect, and functional status reduced by 48%, 49%, 40%, and 31%, respectively, whereas health satisfaction improved from 80% dissatisfied to 70% satisfied. Scores for all participants in all five domains progressively reduced over the following 24 weeks of self-treatment. Conclusion: Topical ginger treatment has the potential to relieve symptoms, improve the overall health, and increase independence of people with chronic osteoarthritis.
Impacts of mid- to late-Holocene land use on residual hill geomorphology: A remote sensing and archaeological evaluation of human-related soil erosion in central Karnataka, South India
Authors: Bauer Andrew M
Published: December 2013

This paper describes the impacts of Neolithic Period ( c. 5000–3200 cal. BP) and Iron Age ( c. 3200–2300 cal. BP) occupation and land use on the geomorphology of residual hills that punctuate an expansive planation surface in central Karnataka, South India. Analyses of archaeological survey data, soil and regolith profiles, remotely sensed metrics of hill morphology and distributions of soil and sediment, and paleoecological data indicate that cultural land use altered the morphology of these features and the distribution of soils on them, and consequently impacted the processes by which they continued to develop. Statistical regression models indicate that archaeological evidence for ancient land use is a significant explanatory variable for the proportion of remaining soil cover and exposed residual rock on the sampled hills. Moreover, multivariate regression models explaining soil removal on the hills are effective when including archaeological proxies for ancient land use along with other geomorphological variables. The combined effects of intensified agro-pastoral land use, vegetation changes, and variations in climatic humidity during the mid-Holocene to late Holocene appear to have facilitated erosional conditions that outpaced subsurface weathering. These findings imply that the refinement of models for the development of residual hills in South India, where early paradigms for explaining the evolution of such landforms were formalized, should consider the effects of Holocene land use where applicable. The findings also suggest that recent efforts to understand the unique ecology of these landforms should account for historical human land use.
Carbon isotope composition as indicator for climatic changes during the middle and late Holocene in a peat bog from Maramureş Mountains (Romania)
Authors: Cristea Gabriela , Cuna Stela Maria , Fărcaş Sorina , Tanţău Ioan , Dordai Edina , Măgdaş Dana Alina
Published: December 2013

The main goal of this study was to use stable carbon isotopic composition of bulk peat sampled in Tăul Mare-Bardău peat bog, Maramureş Mountains, as a tool to provide paleoclimatic information over the middle and late Holocene in this region. A peat core of 3.60 m was sampled for δ13C analysis, and bulk peat samples were analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) method. δ13C values reveal a maximum variation of 4.69‰ along a 3.6-m-long peat core. We examined the vertical variation of δ13C bulk peat and concluded that several factors could contribute to up core trends of δ13C. Four intervals of climatic variability could be related with variations of δ13C values between ~6800 cal. yr BP and present: two wet periods (around 2800 and 545 cal. yr BP) and two dry periods (6760 and 1430 cal. yr BP). We concluded that variability in the δ13C of bulk peat profile could be influenced most heavily by the water availability, which in turn is related to the amount of precipitation at the time. Four intervals of δ13C variations of the peat sequence between 225 and 25 cm can be related with generally accepted intervals of climatic variability that have occurred within the last 2000–2500 years (‘Roman Warm Period’ (RWP), ‘Dark Age Cold Period’ (DACP), ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (MWP) and ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA)). The climate was probably of warm–cold alternations, as revealed in our peat core by δ13C variations between 2800 cal. yr BP and present. The δ13C values of the peat profile showed two positive signals at 40 and 225 cm depth and two negative signals at 105 and 350 cm depth. We suggest that these could also represent a change in vegetation at the time.
India–New Zealand Relations in the New Century: A Historical Narrative of Changing Perceptions and Shifting Priorities
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Sekhar
Published: December 2013

India–New Zealand relations, which could be historically dated back to the days of the British Empire, lacked until recently in substance and were rocked by several irritants, the most important of which were the divergent views on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation. However, in last one decade or so there have been some remarkable developments in this bilateral relation, as the security interests of the two nations have converged, volume of trade increased, educational ties grew stronger and people-to-people contacts improved significantly. While there still remain some challenges, as negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement have taken longer time than expected, there are also immense possibilities. This essay looks critically at those challenges and possibilities in the relationship between two countries, which on the one hand share some historic common grounds, but are also set apart by geography as well as numerous systemic dissimilarities.
Book Review: Is China Buying the World?
Authors: Singh Gunjan
Published: December 2013

Nolan, Peter, Is China Buying the World? (Malden: Polity, 2012). Pp. 120. Price: £14.99.
Book Review: Youth Gangs and Street Children: Culture, Nurture and Masculinity in Ethiopia
Authors: Singh Puthem Jugeshor
Published: December 2013

Heinonen, Paula, Youth Gangs and Street Children: Culture, Nurture and Masculinity in Ethiopia (New York: Berghahn Books, 2011). Pp. ix–169.
Response Inhibition in Tic Disorders
Authors: Thibeault Marc , Lemay Martin , Chouinard Sylvain , Lespérance Paul , Rouleau Guy A. , Richer Francois
Published: December 2013

Objective: Tic disorders such as Gilles-de-la-Tourette syndrome (TS) are associated with difficulties in withholding movements and sometimes inappropriate actions. The present study examined whether these disorders lead to a specific difficulty in withholding preprogrammed voluntary movements irrespective of decisions on whether or not to move. Method: Children with TS with or without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and controls performed a fast-paced simple reaction time task involving responses to a target in a rapid letter stream (9 letters/s, average foreperiod 332 ms) with feedback on response speed. Results: The ADHD group showed more premature responses and more variable response time than other groups, whether the timing of the target was predictable or not. Conclusion: The data indicate that in tic disorders, the presence of ADHD is associated with difficulties in waiting to initiate preprogrammed movements independently of response selection or response timing difficulties.