bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Frequency of Fully Clamped Composite Sandwich Plate
Authors: Morozov E.V. , Lopatin A.V.
Published: June 2009

The magnitude of the first natural frequency is often used as a criterion of the design efficiency of sandwich panels. The vibrations of fully clamped sandwich plate are analyzed using Galerkin method. The effects of the panel dimensions, elastic properties and densities of the facings, and core on the fundamental frequency have been studied using the numerical solution, analytical approach, and finite element analysis. It follows from the analysis that the first natural frequency can be calculated with sufficient accuracy on the basis of the analytical solution developed in this work.
Conceptual, Theoretical and Practical Issues in Measuring the Benefits of Public Participation
Authors: Burton Paul
Published: June 2009

Among parliamentary democracies there is a widespread belief that above and beyond the occasional opportunity to vote, citizens should be allowed to participate in decisions that affect them. Governments at all levels are now going further and supporting more active forms of citizenship in which various decision processes are open to more public participation. While this principle may be widely accepted, the practice has remained remarkably free from empirical scrutiny. For something that is held to deliver a myriad of benefits, we still know little of the extent to which these are in fact delivered. This article addresses this gap by developing a framework for conducting more robust empirical scrutiny of participatory exercises. It does so at three levels: first by proposing a conceptual clarification of the perceived benefits of greater participation, second by considering some of the methodological challenges in designing more robust evaluative studies and finally by reviewing measures that might be used in practice to quantify benefits.
How Legitimate and Justified are Judgments in Program Evaluation?
Authors: Hurteau Marthe , Houle Sylvain , Mongiat Stéphanie
Published: June 2009

The main function of program evaluations is to describe programs in order to generate judgments of value. To be considered credible, judgments should be both legitimate and justified. The research presented in this article posed the following question: do program evaluation practitioners generate legitimate and justified judgments? A meta-analysis of 40 program evaluation reports was carried out, which found that only 50 percent of the reports generated judgments. While these judgments seemed legitimate, they were rarely justified. However, the elements required to support legitimate and justified judgments were present in the reports in similar proportions, whether the reports generated a judgment or not.
Critical Connections between Participatory Evaluation, Organizational Learning and Intentional Change in Pluralistic Organizations
Authors: Suárez-Herrera José Carlos , Springett Jane , Kagan Carolyn
Published: June 2009

The current debate around the emergence of participatory approaches in evaluation practice suggests that participatory evaluation may be considered an organizational learning praxis, one which facilitates the development of a holistic process of intentional change. Through critical reflection on how participatory evaluation has been conceptualized, this article offers an overview of some of the contextual challenges encountered when using participatory evaluation to enable the creation of learning environments. Given the pluralistic nature of modern organizations and some contextual constraints, evaluators appear to have largely developed a more instrumental type of learning, which may, paradoxically, result in a significant source of resistance to intentional change. This article proposes a process of capacity building for evaluative research (CBER). This process offers a collaborative way of overcoming unforeseen resistance to intentional change by overcoming the challenges found in the relationship between participatory evaluation and organizational learning. The article concludes by suggesting some epistemological and organizational issues that evaluators should take into account when enabling the implementation of a process of CBER in pluralistic organizations.
Learning about and through humor in the second language classroom
Authors: Bell Nancy D.
Published: June 2009

Humorous communication is extremely complex in both its forms and functions (e.g. Norrick, 1993; 2003). Much of the previous work that has put forth suggestions for incorporating humor into the language classroom (e.g. Trachtenberg, 1979; Deneire, 1995; Schmitz, 2002) has not examined these complexities in the detail necessary for the target audience (i.e. classroom language teachers) to be able to make informed judgments concerning its possible role in their classrooms. In addition, these researchers have not made use of naturally occurring interaction in making their recommendations. This article draws on data (interviews, participant observation and discourse analysis of audiotaped or videotaped interaction) collected from three research projects involving the use and understanding of humor by second language (L2) speakers in both classroom and non-classroom situations to illuminate what has so far been a largely theoretical discussion. I critique recommendations for pedagogical applications of humor in the L2 classroom, using examples to demonstrate how these are inadequate for determining what might be taught and learned and to whom. I then present arguments as to why it is appropriate to address L2 humor in the classroom and close with suggestions for incorporating humor into the language classroom.
An Experimental Investigation of the Carbonation of Blended Portland Cement Palm Oil Fuel Ash Mortar in an Indoor Environment
Authors: Rukzon Sumrerng , Chindaprasirt Prinya
Published: June 2009

In this research, palm oil fuel ash was utilized as a pozzolanic material in blended Portland cement mortar. The mortar was tested on the normal compressive strength and the negative effect of carbonation in indoor environment using the accelerated carbonation test of 5% CO2 in 50% relative humidity. Three palm oil fuel ash fractions of different fineness, viz., coarse original palm oil fuel ash (CPOA), medium palm oil fuel ash (MPOA) and fine palm oil fuel ash (FPOA) were used for the study. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was partially replaced by these palm oil fuel ashes at the dosages of 20% and 40% by weight of binder. The results showed that the incorporation of the ashes affected the strength and the carbonation depths of mortars. The strengths of mortar slightly decreased with the increases in the dosage of the ash. The fineness of ash, on the other hand, improved the strength and the carbonation of the mortars. The mortars containing FPOA exhibited high strength and relatively low carbonation in comparison to those using coarser MPOA and CPOA. The use of FPOA resulted in a strong and dense mortar owing to the increased packing effect and pozzolanic reaction. It was therefore, demonstrated that the FPOA could be used as a pozzolanic material to replace part of Portland cement for use in the indoor environment.
The Influence of Ventilation Design Mixes on the Thermal Environment in Elementary School Classrooms
Authors: Chiang Che-ming , Lai Chi-ming
Published: June 2009

The roofs of most of the buildings in Taiwan are exposed to direct (overhead) solar radiation during the summer season because it is located near the Tropic of Cancer. The estimated yearly solar heat gain received from a roof is 2.78 times greater than that gained from a south-side wall (the second highest in terms of solar heat gain). Since most elementary schools in Taiwan are not equipped with air conditioners, the classrooms, especially those located on the upper floors, are regularly overheated. Solving the problem of ventilation and improving the thermal environment in Taiwan elementary school classrooms is an important endeavor. CFD simulations were conducted to investigate six combinations of designs that can incorporate natural ventilation (double roofs, ‘‘Covered Ridge with Sidewall Opening’’ (CRSOs), roof ridge openings, and window layout) influence indoor thermal environments, especially during the summer season when the outdoor wind velocity is low. The results show that when a double roof, roof ridge openings, and a CRSO are implemented, both the ventilation performance and the thermal environment of the classrooms are improved, regardless of whether the windows are laid out in a staggered formation (high-low) or in a conventional window layout.
Fracture healing and bone repair: an update
Authors: Tosounidis Theodoros , Kontakis George , Nikolaou Vassilis , Papathanassopoulos Argiris , Giannoudis Peter V
Published: June 2009

Bone healing represents a physiological process of repair and restoration of function. Recent advances in a variety of medical disciplines have enabled scientists and clinicians to characterise this phenomenon at the molecular level. A number of molecular mediators and cells interact utilising different pathways. Despite the involvement of many local and systemic factors failure of the naturally occurring mechanisms can occur leading to either delayed union or non-union. This review article is focused on the recent understanding of the mechanisms governing the bone repair process.
Major trauma in the elderly
Authors: Sarkar Som N
Published: June 2009

With people living longer and able to undertake more activities, any professional involved in trauma care will inevitably be exposed to older victims of trauma. Increasing numbers of older people are admitted to trauma units, presenting the healthcare professional with challenges including altered physiology, polypharmacy and ethical considerations which may lead to diagnostic and treatment dilemmas. Rib fractures for example are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and optimising analgesia may improve outcomes. There are conflicting views over co-morbidities being associated with mortality, but mortality in UK intensive care units appears to be high in elderly trauma victims. The EAST guidelines provide a thorough management strategy of elderly trauma victims. Old age should not be a sole criterion for limiting or withholding care in trauma patients.
Traumatic amputation — a contemporary approach
Authors: Healey Andrew J , Tai Nigel
Published: June 2009

The management of patients with loss or near loss of a limb secondary to high-energy trauma is particularly challenging. Management consists of an acute phase of resuscitation and initial surgery, followed by a longer chronic phase, consisting of rehabilitation, fitting of a prosthesis and stump care. Acute assessment by the full trauma team along standard 〈C〉ABCDE guidelines should not conflict with early stemming of on-going stump or limb haemorrhage as required. Patients with traumatic limb loss are likely to be shocked and have traumatic coagulopathy; initial and on-going resuscitation should satisfy the need to replace blood with packed cells and plasma in a 1 : 1 ratio consistent with the concept of `Damage Control Resuscitation'. The surgical goal is to tailor surgery to the patients' physiological state, removing dead and unviable tissue, restoring perfusion to live tissue, stabilising fractured bone and addressing the loss of soft tissues. The imperative to preserve length should not outweigh the need to leave the patient with a stump that will heal in a timely fashion. Lifelong prosthetic preventive maintenance is paramount as residual limbs change in volume with muscle atrophy and changes inpatient weight. Replacement may also be indicated as improved designs appear from time to time. Early rehabilitation and prosthetic fitting also improves routine prosthetic use, which has been found to positively affect return to work.
Ways of seeing: using ethnography and Foucault's `toolkit' to view assessment practices differently
Authors: Hill Mary
Published: June 2009

Tamboukou and Ball ask, what value can genealogy and/or ethnography add to the other? This article illustrates, through an educational exemplar study, how being genealogically driven can produce new ways of seeing and thinking about practices, within the field of educational assessment. To date, neither the qualitative nor the quantitative methods customarily applied to the assessment field have been able to illuminate why, since the late 1980s, accountability demands have caused New Zealand primary school teachers to prioritize the use of summative classroom assessment practices when research indicates that formative practices are clearly more productive of learning. Using ethnographic data gathering techniques and grounded theory in combination with Foucauldian tools and notions of genealogy, discourses, surveillance, and `the history of the present', it is argued, enabled new ways to think about why teachers have normalized particular assessment practices in New Zealand's self-managing schools. In short, this article argues that it is extremely helpful to mix modernist ethnographic methods that focus on the micro-practices of teaching with post-modernist theoretical tools in order to provide different ways of seeing.
From data archive to ethical labyrinth
Authors: Carusi Annamaria , Jirotka Marina
Published: June 2009

Researchers in the social sciences are increasingly encouraged or obliged to deposit data in digital archives for greater transparency of research or for secondary use by other researchers. However, digital archives raise many ethical challenges at the institutional, disciplinary and personal level, and researchers can find themselves caught between conflicting requirements. This article considers the ethical challenges of qualitative data in particular showing what specific ethical challenges qualitative researchers face. There is generally a lack of policy or guidelines as to how to deal with digital data, or else there are conflicting requirements set by funding and academic institutions and by the law. In the face of this, researchers themselves need to be aware of the ethical and legal dimensions of their data, so that they are in the best position to enter into negotiations concerning whether and how it is archived. The options for archiving are outlined, and an interdisciplinary approach is recommended.
Edward Rose and linguistic ethnography: an Ethno-inquiries approach to interviewing
Authors: Carlin Andrew P.
Published: June 2009

This article discusses the `Ethno-inquiries', founded by Edward Rose, and the analytic affinities with Harold Garfinkel and Harvey Sacks established in the formative development of Ethnomethodology. The article introduces the Ethno-inquiries approach to sociological interviews. Using a project that captured ordinary, oral accounts of the 1996 bombing of Manchester, England, this article shows how the epistemological and methodological attitude of the Ethno-inquiries towards talk — recognizing the linguistic constitution of the social world, avoiding methodological irony, letting informants rather than analysts organize topics — affords fine-grained analyses of ordinary actions within extraordinary events. This article discusses important aspects of interviewing including data gathering and the nature of `interview data', the selection of interviewees and getting the story. A series of vignettes demonstrates the enabling potential of this analytic attitude towards people's accounts.
Problematics of grounded theory: innovations for developing an increasingly rigorous qualitative method
Authors: Wasserman Jason Adam , Clair Jeffrey Michael , Wilson Kenneth L.
Published: June 2009

Our purpose in this article is to identify and suggest resolution for two core problematics of grounded theory. First, while grounded theory provides transparency to one part of the conceptualization process, where codes emerge directly from the data, it provides no such systematic or transparent way for gaining insight into the conceptual relationships between discovered codes. Producing a grounded theory depends not only on the definition of conceptual pieces, but the delineation of a relationship between at least two of those pieces. Second, the conceptualization process of grounded theory is done in hierarchical fashion, where individual codes emerge from the data but then are used to generate insight into more general concepts and thematic statements. But various works on grounded theory have failed to provide any systematic way of using data specific levels of scale (the codes) to gain insight into more macro levels of scale (concepts and themes). We offer fractal concept analysis as a means of resolving both of these issues. By using a logic structure generator, fractal concept analysis delineates self-similar conceptual frameworks at various levels of abstraction, yielding a method for linking concepts together within and between levels of scale encountered in the grounded theory coding and categorization process. We conclude that this fractal analytic technique can bolster the aims of grounded theory as a formalized and systematic process for generating theory from empirical data.
Cities, citizenship, contested cultures: Berlin's Palace of the Republic and the politics of the public sphere
Authors: Staiger Uta
Published: June 2009

The notion of the `public sphere' stands in principle for normative as well as historical conditions of civic participation critically legitimating the democratic state. Yet it also tends to be associated very readily with the distinctly spatial dimension inherent in the terms it is related with, such as public space, agora, or more recently, the network. Arguably, however, an ill-defined distinction between these concepts in fact obscures rather than highlights the role public space — and particularly urban public sites — may play in the creation of an active public sphere. Taking recourse to the debates surrounding the future of Berlin's `Palace of the Republic', the former parliament building of the German Democratic Republic, this article seeks to explicitly consider the role urban sites may play for the participation of civil society in decision-making processes. Public urban spaces, it argues, while historically taken to provide citizens with regulated sites for interaction and debate, increasingly become the object of, rather than the place for, civic discourses and will-formation.
Scipio Africanus: film, internal colonization and empire
Authors: Caprotti Federico
Published: June 2009

This paper analyses the film Scipione l'Africano ( Scipio the African) (Gallone, 1937), relating it to the fascist land reclamation and internal colonization project in the Pontine Marshes as well as Italy's imperial ambitions in Africa. The film, dealing with the defeat of Hannibal by Roman military leader Scipio, posits clear parallels between the Roman empire and the fascist regime, and between Scipio and Mussolini. The paper argues that the filming of Scipio the African on the `conquered' landscape of the Pontine Marshes was a metaphorical allusion to the supposedly successful Italian colonial project in Africa in the 1930s. The landscape of the Pontine Marshes is examined first of all, followed by analysis of the filming of Scipio the African in the marshes through newsreels from the era. The paper then examines the film's content, focusing on representational parallels between a glorious Roman past and a projected victorious fascist future, mediated through the success of the fascist internal colonization initiative in the Pontine Marshes.
How K-12 teachers can put self-determination theory principles into practice
Authors: Reeve Johnmarshall , Halusic Marc
Published: June 2009

We discuss how K-12 teachers can put motivational principles from self-determination theory into practice. To explain the `how to' of autonomy-supportive teaching, we answer eight frequently asked questions from teachers: What is the goal of autonomy-supportive teaching? How is autonomy-supportive teaching unique? Does autonomy support mean permissiveness? How would I encourage students' initial engagement in learning activities? How could I help students maintain their engagement? What would I say/How might I talk? How would I solve motivational and behavioral problems? How do I know if I provided instruction in an autonomy-supportive way? To answer these questions, we recommend the following classroom practices: take the students' perspective, display patience to allow time for learning, nurture inner motivational resources, provide explanatory rationales, rely on noncontrolling language, and acknowledge and accept expressions of negative effect.
The role of parents in facilitating autonomous self-regulation for education
Authors: Grolnick Wendy S.
Published: June 2009

Self-determination theory identifies three dimensions of parenting — autonomy support versus control, involvement, and structure — as facilitating children's autonomous motivation in school. Research involving children of a range of ages — one-year-olds through adolescents — and from a variety of research labs supports this theory. This work is reviewed, as is research on characteristics of children and parents and their external surrounds that facilitate and undermine parenting that is conducive to children's autonomous motivation. Research suggests bidirectional and dynamic influences among context, parenting, and children's motivation.
Self-determination and bilingualism
Authors: Landry Rodrigue , Allard Réal , Deveau Kenneth
Published: June 2009

This article focuses on additive bilingualism for minority group children, more specifically the development of strong literacy skills in English and in the children's language. The personal autonomization language learning (PALL) model is presented. It specifies eight testable hypotheses. Self-determination theory (SDT) is central in the PALL model. It is argued that autonomy support in both languages is related to basic needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness: ACR) which is in turn related to internally regulated motivation for learning the language. Owing to the strong social attraction of English, the model proposes that favouring the learning of the minority language and basic needs satisfaction in that language foster additive bilingualism because of the strong interlinguistic transfer of minority language competencies and of an internal motivational orientation. Self-determination to learn the minority language and minority literacy skills seems to transfer across languages. Research results support the model; these are summarized and educational implications are discussed.
Virtual worlds and the learner hero
Authors: Rigby C. Scott , Przybylski Andrew K.
Published: June 2009

Participation in expansive video games called `virtual worlds' has become a mainstream leisure activity for tens of millions of people around the world. The growth of this industry and the strong motivational appeal of these digital worlds invite a closer examination as to how educators can learn from today's virtual worlds in the development of next generation learning environments. Self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan and Deci, 2000) has shown value in explaining both the motivational dynamics of learning (Deci et al., 1994), as well as the strong motivational pull of video games and virtual worlds (Ryan et al., 2006). As such, SDT provides a framework that can bridge the gap between education and consumer virtual worlds and be applied to new research and development in how to best build virtual worlds for learning. The concept of the `learner hero' is introduced as a potentially useful unifying concept in considering how to leverage the high motivational appeal of commercial virtual worlds in building digital learning environments.
Undermining quality teaching and learning
Authors: Ryan Richard M. , Weinstein Netta
Published: June 2009

Using tests to compare nations, states, school districts, schools, teachers, and students has increasingly become a basis for educational reform around the globe. Although tests can be informative, high-stakes testing (HST) is an approach to reform that applies rewards and sanctions contingent on test outcomes. Results of HST reforms indicate a plethora of unintended negative consequences, leading some to suggest that HST corrupts educational practices in schools. Although there are many accounts of these negative results, SDT supplies the only systematic theory of motivation that explains these effects. In what follows we describe the motivational principles underlying the undermining effects of HST on teachers and learners alike.
Combining vision with voice
Authors: Assor Avi , Kaplan Haya , Feinberg Ofra , Tal Karen
Published: June 2009

We propose that self-determination theory's conceptualization of internalization may help school reformers overcome the recurrent problem of `the predictable failure of educational reform' (Sarason, 1993). Accordingly, we present a detailed learning and implementation structure to promote teachers' internalization and application of ideas and practices based on self-determination theory. Finally, we discuss findings from two studies that (1) demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed structure in promoting educational reform, and (2) highlight the components of this structure that teachers report to be valuable.
Self-determination theory in schools of education
Authors: Ryan Richard M. , Niemiec Christopher P.
Published: June 2009

In many graduate schools of education there is strong resistance to formal theories, especially those that are supported through quantitative empirical methods. In this article we describe how self-determination theory (SDT), a formal and empirically focused framework, shares sensibilities with critical theorists concerning the importance of actors' own embedded experiences of the world, and the importance of liberation and resistance to hegemony. Yet we argue that, unlike many post-modern views that are largely negative, SDT is truly critical precisely because it posits a common human nature, which can be more or less supported and allowed to flourish in different cultural and institutional contexts.
Lifestyle in the Prevention and Management of Cancer: Physical Activity
Authors: Zoeller Robert F.
Published: June 2009

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths annually. It has been estimated that one third of all cancer deaths are related to overweight/ obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. Epidemiological studies have shown that regular physical activity reduces the risk for some types of cancer as well as postdiagnosis mortality. In studies examining the relation between regular physical activity and the risk of breast cancer, women who were the most physically active reduced their risk by at least 20%. Higher levels of recreational physical activity especially demonstrated greater risk reduction. Meta-analyses suggest that greater physical activity, especially leisure-time physical activity, may reduce the risk of colon cancer by 20% or more in men and women. Physical activity did not demonstrate an association with the risk for cancer of the rectum in either gender. Most studies report an inverse relation between physical activity level and risk for endometrial cancer. Although the estimates of risk reduction vary greatly across studies, the average reported risk reduction was about 30%. The benefit of regular physical activity in the prevention of prostate cancer is not as clear as with other types of cancer. There is some evidence, however, that physical activity may be protective of the more aggressive forms of the disease. Further research is needed to better quantify the specific components of physical activity required to reduce the risk for different cancers.
Power, discourse, and learning global citizenship
Authors: Shukla Natasha
Published: June 2009

The field of transnational contestation conceptualized as global civil society (GCS) is gaining academic interest as a political `counter-force' against the exigencies of globalization. However, social actors within GCS occupy unequal positions of power in relation to each other. This article examines how the discourses of transnational action generated by these actors are inflected by their different power positions and how these discursive activities provide spaces for learning divergent forms of global citizenship. This discussion is facilitated through a case study of a transnational campaign involving two unequal actors in GCS — a grassroots movement (NBA) in the Narmada Valley and supporting international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in the West. It is argued that INGO discourses reiterated their power over NBA and provided a space for learning `vertical' forms of global citizenship. Contrastingly, NBA discursively subverted these asymmetries and promoted `horizontal' global citizenship. The article concludes by examining pedagogical implications of these findings for GCS.
`Active learning for active citizenship'
Authors: Annette John
Published: June 2009

This article explores to what extent citizenship education for lifelong learning should be based on a more `political' or civic republican conception of citizenship as compared to a liberal individualist conception, which emphasizes individual rights, or a communitarian conception, which emphasizes moral and social responsibilities. It also considers how people are finding new ways to engage in civic participation which can provide the basis for certificated or accredited lifelong learning for democratic citizenship. It examines, in particular, the `Active Learning for Active Citizenship' programme, which was funded by what was previously the Civic Renewal Unit of the Home Office and the possibility of a learning democratic citizenship based on the theory and practice of deliberative democratic engagement.
Learning global citizenship?
Authors: Mayo Marjorie , Gaventa John , Rooke Alison
Published: June 2009

This article identifies historical connections between adult learning, popular education and the emergence of the public sphere in Europe, exploring potential implications for adult learning and community development, drawing upon research evaluating programmes to promote community-based learning for active citizenship in UK. The research findings illustrate the relevance of the global and indeed the regional levels, when addressing concerns with active citizenship, locally. The article then moves on to examine experiences of global citizen advocacy coalitions, experiences from which participants have been drawing differing lessons about global citizenship. Finally, the conclusions raise questions about the scope for adult learning and community development in the current policy context, shaped so significantly by neo-liberal agendas. Social movements in general and popular education movements, more specifically, would seem to have vital roles to play, facilitating adult learning for critical democratic engagement with the structures of governance, locally and beyond, internationally.
Tendinosis
Authors: Kaeding Christopher , Best Thomas M.
Published: June 2009

Tendinosis is a troublesome clinical entity affecting many active people. Its treatment remains a challenge to sports medicine clinicians. The etiopathophysiology of tendinosis has not been well delineated. The known pathophysiology and the recent advances in the understanding of the etiologic process of tendinosis are discussed here, including new concepts in mechanotransduction and the biochemical alterations that occur during tendon overload. The optimal, nonoperative treatment of tendinosis is not clear. This article reviews recent evidence of the clinical efficacy of the following interventions: eccentric exercise, extracorporal shock wave treatment, corticosteroid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, sclerosing injections, nitric oxide, platelet-rich plasma injections, and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors. Eccentric exercise has strongest evidence of efficacy. Extracorporal shock wave treatment has mixed evidence and needs further study of energy and application protocols. Sclerosing agents show promising early results but require long-term studies. Corticosteroid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications have not been shown to be effective, and many basic science studies raise possible concerns with their use. Nitric oxide has been shown in several basic science studies to be promising, but clinical efficacy has not been well established. More clinical trials are needed to assess dosing, indications, and clinical efficacy of nitric oxide. Platelet-rich plasma injections have offered encouraging short-term results. Larger and longer-term clinical trials are needed to assess this promising modality. Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors have had few clinical studies, and their role in the treatment of tendinosis is still in the early phase of investigation.
Imaging of Tendons
Authors: Chang Anthony , Miller Theodore T.
Published: June 2009

Both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and sonography are well suited to tendon imaging. A normal tendon on MRI demonstrates low signal intensity and on sonography, an echogenic fibrillar pattern. MRI is considered the imaging gold standard, providing an anatomic overview and excellent soft tissue contrast. Sonography is a more rapidly performed examination; it has greater resolution than that of MRI; it allows dynamic evaluation of tendons and muscles; and it can guide percutaneous therapeutic procedures. Moreover, the advent of sonographic extended-field-of-view imaging allows the demonstration of the entire length of a tendon, matching MRI’s ability to display a large anatomic region. Sonography should best be considered a focused examination, concentrating on the area of pain and clinical suspicion of pathology, whereas MRI can provide a global assessment of the region of concern. Both modalities demonstrate high accuracy for abnormalities of various tendons. This article reviews normal tendon anatomy and its imaging appearance, as well as the imaging appearances of tendon degeneration and tear.
The Effect of Grip Size on the Hitting Force During a Soft Tennis Forehand Stroke
Authors: Ohguni Mika , Aoki Mitsuhiro , Sato Hiroki , Imada Kohdai , Funane Sota
Published: June 2009

Background:

Grip size of a tennis racquet has been reported to influence performance, but clear evidence of a correlation has yet to be established.

Hypothesis:

Hitting force during a soft tennis forehand stroke correlates with grip size.

Study Design:

Controlled clinical study.

Methods:

A total of 40 healthy volunteers (20 men and 20 women) with a mean age of 21.9 years were enrolled. Of the 40 participants, 20 were experienced soft tennis players (10 men and 10 women) and 20 were nonexperienced soft tennis players (10 men and 10 women). Based on racquets with 5 different grip sizes, the hitting force during a soft tennis forehand stroke was measured with a handheld dynamometer. Correlations between 4 factors (sex, experience, grip and pinch strengths, and middle finger length) and hitting force were evaluated with each grip size. Measurements for each factor were repeated, and a 2-way analysis of variance was performed on the obtained data.

Results:

The hitting force was greater for male players than for female players and greater for experienced players than for nonexperienced players ( P < .01). Men with large grip and pinch strengths demonstrated an increased hitting force with an increase in grip size. Men who had a long middle finger also demonstrated increased hitting force when grip size increased ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The hypothesis proved accurate for experienced men who had a large grip strength, a large pinch strength, and a long middle finger.

Clinical Relevance:

Large-grip-sized racquets may result in better forehand stroke performance when used by experienced male soft tennis players with a large grip strength, a large pinch strength, and a long middle finger.
Current Concepts in Rehabilitation Following Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Ellenbecker Todd S. , Wilk Kevin E. , Altchek David W. , Andrews James R.
Published: June 2009

Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in throwing athletes frequently occurs from the repetitive valgus loading of the elbow during the throwing motion, which often results in surgical reconstruction of the UCL requiring a structured postoperative rehabilitation program. Several methods are currently used and recommended for UCL reconstruction using autogenous grafts in an attempt to reproduce the stabilizing function of the native UCL. Rehabilitation following surgical reconstruction of the UCL begins with range of motion and initial protection of the surgical reconstruction, along with resistive exercise for the entire upper extremity kinetic chain. Progressions for resistive exercise are followed that attempt to fully restore strength and local muscular endurance in the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers, in addition to the distal upper extremity musculature, to allow for a return to throwing and overhead functional activities. Rehabilitation following UCL reconstruction has produced favorable outcomes, allowing for a return to throwing in competitive environments.
Bone Health
Authors: Manske Sarah L. , Lorincz Caeley R. , Zernicke Ron F.
Published: June 2009

Mechanical loading is a crucial factor for maintaining skeletal health. Physical activities, exercise, and sports provide a wealth and variety of mechanical loads to bones, through muscle forces, ground reaction forces, and other contact or impact forces. Weightbearing activities can be effective exercises to enhance bone health—particularly, those that involve jumping and impact loads (with greater strain magnitudes, rates, and frequencies). Physical activity appears to be acutely beneficial for enhancing bone health in the early pubertal period and in older age, such as in postmenopausal women. In preparing this article, PubMed, Web of Science, and relevant edited books (English language) were reviewed from 1961 to present.
Ultraviolet Light and Skin Cancer in Athletes
Authors: Harrison Shannon C. , Bergfeld Wilma F.
Published: June 2009

The incidence of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers is increasing worldwide. Ultraviolet light exposure is the most important risk factor for cutaneous melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. Nonmelanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Constitutive skin color and genetic factors, as well as immunological factors, play a role in the development of skin cancer. Ultraviolet light also causes sunburn and photoaging damage to the skin.
Effect of annealing on forming limit diagram and crystallographic textures of aluminium 5086 grades annealed at four different temperatures
Authors: Narayanasamy R. , Ravi Chandran M. , Vanitha C. , Sathiya Narayanan C.
Published: June 2009

The crystallographic texture and formability of aluminium alloy 5086 annealed at 160, 200, 250 and 300°C have been studied. Experimentally determined forming limit diagrams (FLDs) for the above said Al 5086 sheets, their crystallographic textures and their orientation distribution function plots made by X-ray diffraction were analysed. The present study shows a comparison between these FLDs of Al 5086 sheets and the corresponding result of crystallographic texture analysis. The FLDs and crystallographic textures were then correlated with normal anisotropy of the sheet metal. It was found that aluminium alloy 5086 annealed at 300°C possessed good formability, preferred texture and high normal anisotropy value.
First order reaction kinetics for transient creep in NiAl hardened austenitic steel
Authors: Satyanarayana D. V. V. , Malakondaiah G. , Phaniraj C. , Sarma D.S.
Published: June 2009

Transient creep of an NiAl hardened austenitic steel was analysed in the temperature range of 823 to 923 K at stresses ranging from 150 to 450 MPa in the frame work of first order reaction kinetics. The present analysis is aimed: to correlate various transient creep parameters with steady state creep rate following first order reaction rate theory to obtain correlation constants; and to arrive at a unified equation to describe primary and steady state regimes of the creep curves in terms of correlation coefficients thus derived. Good correlation of transient creep parameters with steady state creep rate has been obtained over the test conditions studied indicating that the basic mechanism of deformation is the same for all the three stages of creep. Unified equation that fits the experimental creep strain time data for different test conditions over transient and steady state regimes has been obtained in terms of correlation coefficients.
Microstructure evolution in AISI 304 stainless steel during near rapid directional solidification
Authors: Fu J. W. , Yang Y. S. , Guo J. J. , Ma J. C. , Tong W. H.
Published: June 2009

The microstructure evolution of near rapidly directionally solidified AISI 304 stainless steel was investigated in the present paper. It is found that the microstructure consists of δ ferrite dendrites with developed sidebranches and interdendritic austenite ( γ) under the temperature gradient ( G) of 20 K mm–1 and growth rate ( V) of 1·0 mm s–1. Coupled growth microstructures of thin lamellar ferrite and austenite begin to form at a higher growth rate of 2·0 mm s–1. The formation mechanism of the coupled microstructures is analysed based on the nucleation and constitutional undercooling criterion that the δ ferrite phase and austenite phase form alternately before the steady state growth of each phase is reached due to larger undercooling. With further increase of the growth rate up to 3·0 mm s–1, the morphology of the δ ferrite transforms from lathy to cellular.
Purifying multicrystalline silicon by directional solidification method with induced electromagnetic field
Authors: Zhang J. , Li T. J. , Ma X. D. , Luo D. W. , Liu D. H. , Liu N. , Zhang Y. B.
Published: June 2009

As an improved directional solidification (DS) method, the complex directional solidification (CDS) method is used for purifying and preparing multicrystalline silicon ingot in this experiment. The induced electromagnetic field is imposed to control refining and solidification process. An integral silicon ingot with the diameter of 130 mm, the length of 130 mm and the weight of 4 kg is successfully fabricated in a self-designed CDS furnace. Metallographic analyses reveal that the direction of the most grains is parallel to the axial of silicon ingot. Analyses proved that the distribution of impurities in the cross-section is more homogeneously, the distribution in axial is improved and the effective length of silicon ingot is increased. Theoretical calculations indicate that the effect of solidified rate on the removal of impurities is limited and the impurities can be removed effectively after more than two times directional solidification process.
Preclinical characterization of 1-7F9, a novel human anti–KIR receptor therapeutic antibody that augments natural killer–mediated killing of tumor cells
Authors: Romagné Francois , André Pascale , Spee Pieter , Zahn Stefan , Anfossi Nicolas , Gauthier Laurent , Capanni Marusca , Ruggeri Loredana , Benson Don M. , Blaser Bradley W. , Della Chiesa Mariella , Moretta Alessandro , Vivier Eric , Caligiuri Michael A. , Velardi Andrea , Wagtmann Nicolai
Published: June 2009

Inhibitory-cell killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) negatively regulate natural killer (NK) cell–mediated killing of HLA class I–expressing tumors. Lack of KIR-HLA class I interactions has been associated with potent NK-mediated antitumor efficacy and increased survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients upon haploidentical stem cell transplantation from KIR-mismatched donors. To exploit this pathway pharmacologically, we generated a fully human monoclonal antibody, 1-7F9, which cross-reacts with KIR2DL1, -2, and -3 receptors, and prevents their inhibitory signaling. The 1-7F9 monoclonal antibody augmented NK cell–mediated lysis of HLA-C–expressing tumor cells, including autologous AML blasts, but did not induce killing of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting a therapeutic window for preferential enhancement of NK-cell cytotoxicity against malignant target cells. Administration of 1-7F9 to KIR2DL3-transgenic mice resulted in dose-dependent rejection of HLA-Cw3–positive target cells. In an immunodeficient mouse model in which inoculation of human NK cells alone was unable to protect against lethal, autologous AML, preadministration of 1-7F9 resulted in long-term survival. These data show that 1-7F9 confers specific, stable blockade of KIR, boosting NK-mediated killing of HLA-matched AML blasts in vitro and in vivo, providing a preclinical basis for initiating phase 1 clinical trials with this candidate therapeutic antibody.
Improving survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (1980-2008): the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona experience
Authors: Abrisqueta Pau , Pereira Arturo , Rozman Ciril , Aymerich Marta , Giné Eva , Moreno Carol , Muntañola Ana , Rozman María , Villamor Neus , Hodgson Kate , Campo Elías , Bosch Francesc , Montserrat Emili
Published: June 2009

Whether advances in treatment are prolonging survival of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is unclear. We analyzed presentation patterns and survival over time in 929 patients followed from 1980 to 2008 at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. The 5- and 10-year relative survival (adjusted for the expected survival in the general population) was estimated in patients seen in 2 periods of time: 1980-1994 (n = 451) and 1995-2004 (n = 365). We found that CLL shortens life expectancy in all age groups independently of clinical features at diagnosis. Nevertheless, survival is improving, particularly in some groups of patients. Thus, relative survival was significantly higher in the 1995-2004 cohort than in the 1980-1994 group both at 5 years (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.46; P = .004) and 10 years (IRR = 0.65; P = .007) from diagnosis. The improved survival was largely due to a decrease in CLL-attributable mortality in patients younger than 70 years in Binet stage B or C at diagnosis (IRR = 0.40; P = .001 at 5 years; IRR = 0.33; P < .001 at 10 years). These results suggest that newer treatments are changing the prognosis of CLL, particularly in younger patients with advanced disease, whereas no improvement is yet observed in older subjects or those with lower-risk disease.
Association of hereditary thrombocythemia and distal limb defects with a thrombopoietin gene mutation
Authors: Graziano Claudio , Carone Simona , Panza Emanuele , Marino Flora , Magini Pamela , Romeo Giovanni , Pession Andrea , Seri Marco
Published: June 2009

Hereditary thrombocythemia is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in either the thrombopoietin gene (TPO) or its receptor c-MPL. TPO mutations described so far lead to thrombopoietin overproduction through increased translation of m-RNA. Unilateral transverse reduction limb defects are usually sporadic and generally thought to be caused by vascular disruptions. Reports of inherited unilateral limb defects are extremely rare. In the present study, we describe a family with segregation of G185T TPO mutation in the 5′ UTR region in 4 subjects with thrombocythemia. Three of these patients also present congenital transverse limb defects. Association of these events gives a strong hint of the in vivo involvement of thrombopoietin in vasculogenesis, confirming the role of TPO in human development of the hemangioblast, the embryonic progenitor of the hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. This is the first report showing that vascular disruptions could be secondary to specific gene derangements.