bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatty Acid Composition and Levels of Selected Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Four Commercial Important Freshwater Fish Species from Lake Victoria, Tanzania
Authors: Robert Agnes , Mfilinge Prosper , Limbu Samwel M. , Mwita Chacha J.
Published: December 2014

Fatty acids (FAs) particularlyω3 andω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important role in human health. This study aimed to investigate the composition and levels of selectedω3 PUFAs in four commercial fish species, Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus),Tilapia zillii, and dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) from Mwanza Gulf in Lake Victoria. The results indicated that 36 types of FAs with different saturation levels were detected. These FAs were dominated by docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), and eicosatetraenoic acids.O. niloticushad the highest composition of FAs (34) compared toL. niloticus(27),T. zillii(26), andR. argentea(21). The levels of EPA differed significantly among the four commercial fish species(F=6.19,  P=0.001). The highest EPA levels were found inR. argenteafollowed byL. niloticusandO. niloticusand the lowest inT. zillii. The DPA levels showed no significant difference among the four fish species studied(F=0.652,  P=0.583). The study concluded that all four commercial species collected from Mwanza Gulf are good for human health, butR. argenteais the best for consumption because it contains higher levels ofω3 FAs, mainly EPA.
Purification and Characterization of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Camel Liver
Authors: Ibrahim Mahmoud A. , Ghazy Abdel-Hady M. , Salem Ahmed M. H. , Ghazy Mohamed A. , Abdel-Monsef Mohamed M.
Published: December 2014

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from camel liver was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and a combination of DEAE-cellulose, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, and 2′, 5′ ADP Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography columns. The specific activity of camel liver G6PD is increased to 1.80438 units/mg proteins with 63-fold purification. It turned out to be homogenous on both native PAGE and 12% SDS PAGE, with a molecular weight of 64 kDa. The molecular weight of the native form of camel liver G6PD was determined to be 194 kDa by gel filtration indicating a trimeric protein. TheKmvalue was found to be 0.081 mM of NADP+. Camel liver G6PD displayed its optimum activity at pH 7.8 with an isoelectric point (pI) of pH 6.6–6.8. The divalent cations MgCl2, MnCl2, and CoCl2act as activators; on the other hand, CaCl2and NiCl2act as moderate inhibitors, while FeCl2, CuCl2, and ZnCl2are potent inhibitors of camel liver G6PD activity. NADPH inhibited camel liver G6PD competitively withKivalue of 0.035 mM. One binding site was deduced for NADPH on the enzyme molecule. This study presents a simple and reproducible purification procedure of G6PD from the camel liver.
A Comparison of Evolutionary Computation Techniques for IIR Model Identification
Authors: Cuevas Erik , Gálvez Jorge , Hinojosa Salvador , Avalos Omar , Zaldívar Daniel , Pérez-Cisneros Marco
Published: December 2014

System identification is a complex optimization problem which has recently attracted the attention in the field of science and engineering. In particular, the use of infinite impulse response (IIR) models for identification is preferred over their equivalent FIR (finite impulse response) models since the former yield more accurate models of physical plants for real world applications. However, IIR structures tend to produce multimodal error surfaces whose cost functions are significantly difficult to minimize. Evolutionary computation techniques (ECT) are used to estimate the solution to complex optimization problems. They are often designed to meet the requirements of particular problems because no single optimization algorithm can solve all problems competitively. Therefore, when new algorithms are proposed, their relative efficacies must be appropriately evaluated. Several comparisons among ECT have been reported in the literature. Nevertheless, they suffer from one limitation: their conclusions are based on the performance of popular evolutionary approaches over a set of synthetic functions with exact solutions and well-known behaviors, without considering the application context or including recent developments. This study presents the comparison of various evolutionary computation optimization techniques applied to IIR model identification. Results over several models are presented and statistically validated.
Multivariate Option Pricing with Pair-Copulas
Authors: Barban Anna , Di Persio Luca
Published: December 2014

We propose a copula-based approach to solve the option pricing problem in the risk-neutral setting and with respect to a structured derivative written on several underlying assets. Our analysis generalizes similar results already present in the literature but limited to the trivariate case. The main difficulty of such a generalization consists in selecting the appropriate vine structure which turns to be of D-vine type, contrary to what happens in the trivariate setting where the canonical vine is sufficient. We first define the general procedure for multivariate options and then we will give a concrete example for the case of an option written on four indexes of stocks, namely, the S&P 500 Index, the Nasdaq 100 Index, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and the Nyse Composite Index. Moreover, we calibrate the proposed model, also providing a comparison analysis between real prices and simulated data to show the goodness of obtained estimates. We underline that our pair-copula decomposition method produces excellent numerical results, without restrictive assumptions on the assets dynamics or on their dependence structure, so that our copula-based approach can be used to model heterogeneous dependence structure existing between market assets of interest in a rigorous and effective way.
Conventional Rapid Latex Agglutination in Estimation of von Willebrand Factor: Method Revisited and Potential Clinical Applications
Authors: Mahat Marianor , Abdullah Wan Zaidah , Che Hussin Che Maraina
Published: December 2014

Measurement of von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF : Ag) levels is usually performed in a specialised laboratory which limits its application in routine clinical practice. So far, no commercial rapid test kit is available for VWF : Ag estimation. This paper discusses the technical aspect of latex agglutination method which was established to suit the purpose of estimating von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels in the plasma sample. The latex agglutination test can be performed qualitatively and semiquantitatively. Reproducibility, stability, linearity, limit of detection, interference, and method comparison studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of this test. Semiquantitative latex agglutination test was strongly correlated with the reference immunoturbidimetric assay (Spearman’s rho = 0.946,P<0.001,n=132). A substantial agreement (κ=0.77) was found between qualitative latex agglutination test and the reference assay. Using the scoring system for the rapid latex test, no agglutination is with 0% VWF : Ag (control negative), 1+ reaction is equivalent to <20% VWF : Ag, and 4+ reaction indicates >150% VWF : Ag (when comparing with immunoturbidimetric assay). The findings from evaluation studies suggest that latex agglutination method is suitable to be used as a rapid test kit for the estimation of VWF : Ag levels in various clinical conditions associated with high levels and low levels of VWF : Ag.
Risks of Misinterpretation in the Evaluation of the Effect of Fruit-Based Drinks in Postprandial Studies
Authors: Peluso Ilaria , Palmery Maura
Published: December 2014

It has been suggested that some fruit-based drinks (FBD) may delay the onset of postprandial stress, which is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. The majority of the studies, which have investigated the effects of FBD on postprandial stress, involved a placebo that was a drink with the same content in sugars or carbohydrates of the FBD, but without the bioactive antioxidant compounds. These studies were aimed more at evaluating the effect of the antioxidants rather than the effect of the FBD as a whole. Only 4 studies compared the effect of FBD with water as control and did not support the hypothesis that FBD could inhibit postprandial dysmetabolism, as well as the studies that compared the effect of orange juice and cola. Overall, the results suggest a complex relationship between postprandial dysmetabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers need further analytical validation and normal ranges should be established in order to reach a firm conclusion. Finally, caution should be taken in the interpretation of the effect of FBD in postprandial studies and the reviewed results suggest that dietary recommendations should aim to limit rather than increase sugar-sweetened beverages consumption.
Effects of Toll-Like Receptors 3 and 4 in the Osteogenesis of Stem Cells
Authors: Qi Chen , Xiaofeng Xu , Xiaoguang Wang
Published: December 2014

Objective. To investigate the effects of Toll-like receptors in stem cell osteogenesis.Methods. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were divided into the blank group, the TLR-3 activated group, and the TLR-4 activated group. After 10 days’ osteogenic-promoting culture, expression of type I collagen and osteocalcin was determined by Western blot. Osteoblasts (OBs) were also divided into three groups mentioned above. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining were performed after 10 days’ ossification-inducing culture. The expression ofβ-catenin was investigated by Western blot.Results. Both the TLR-3 and TLR-4 activated groups had increased expression of type I collagen and osteocalcin; the effect of TLR-4 was stronger. The intensity of alizarin red and ALP staining was strongest in the TLR-3 activated group and weakest in the TLR-4 activated group. Activation of TLR-4 decreased the expression ofβ-catenin, whilst activation of TLR-3 did not affect the expression ofβ-catenin.Discussion. This study suggested that both TLR-3 and -4 promoted differentiation of BMSCs to OBs. TLR-3 had an inducing effect on the ossification of OBs to osteocytes, whilst the effect of TLR-4 was the opposite because of its inhibitory effect on the Wnt signaling pathway.
Chronic Expanding Hematoma in the Popliteal Fossa after Pseudoaneurysm Surgery because of Nail Puncture
Authors: Yilmaz Serdar , Cankaya Deniz , Deveci Alper , Ozkurt Bulent , Simsek Mehmet Emin , Tabak Abdullah Yalcin , Bozkurt Murat
Published: December 2014

Hematomas caused by surgery or trauma that persist and expand slowly for more than a month are defined as chronic expanding hematomas (CEH). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for the diagnosis. Total excision with the pseudocapsule is the treatment method. Pseudoaneurysms result from arterial wall disruptions and can be mistaken for CEH. We present a rare case report of a 45-year-old man with a large, painful swelling in his left popliteal fossa. He had a puncture wound by a nail 11 years ago and a gradually expanding mass occurred in his popliteal fossa. A pseudoaneurysm was detected and operated a year later. After surgery, a gradually expanding mass recurred in his popliteal fossa. On the arteriography, the popliteal artery was occluded and the blood flow was maintained with collateral vessels. On MRI, an enormous swelling of 115 × 107 × 196 cm in diameter was seen. It was diagnosed as CEH and was excised completely protecting the collateral vessels and there was no recurrence after a year from the surgery.
A Note on the Generalized Camassa-Holm Equation
Authors: Wu Yun , Zhao Ping
Published: December 2014

We study the generalized Camassa-Holm equation which contains the Camassa-Holm (CH) equation and Novikov equation as special cases with the periodic boundary condition. We get a blow-up scenario and obtain the global existence of strong and weak solutions under suitable assumptions, respectively. Then, we construct the periodic peaked solutions and apply them to prove the ill-posedness inHswiths<3/2.
Singularity Processing Method of Microstrip Line Edge Based on LOD-FDTD
Authors: Li Lei , Zhang Xin , Li Yingsong
Published: December 2014

In order to improve the performance of the accuracy and efficiency for analyzing the microstrip structure, a singularity processing method is proposed theoretically and experimentally based on the fundamental locally one-dimensional finite difference time domain (LOD-FDTD) with second-order temporal accuracy (denoted as FLOD2-FDTD). The proposed method can highly improve the performance of the FLOD2-FDTD even when the conductor is embedded into more than half of the cell by the coordinate transformation. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can achieve higher accuracy when the time step size is less than or equal to 5 times of that the Courant-Friedrich-Levy (CFL) condition allowed. In comparison with the previously reported methods, the proposed method for calculating electromagnetic field near microstrip line edge not only improves the efficiency, but also can provide a higher accuracy.
Marital transitions and life satisfaction
Authors: Næss Siri , Blekesaune Morten , Jakobsson Niklas
Published: December 2014

This article is based on three waves of data collected by the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway. It investigates changes in life satisfaction associated with transition both into and out of marital unions (marriages and cohabitations). It provides longitudinal data on life satisfaction for a larger sample ( N=57,446), a longer age span (19–101 years) and over a longer observation period (22 years) than previously published research on this topic. The large sample permits interaction analyses focusing on small gender/age categories. Results indicate that marriage and cohabitation does enhance life satisfaction, but more for some groups than for others. Cohabitation enhances life satisfaction no less than marriage. There is little difference in life satisfaction between the non-partnered statuses when adjusted for selection. Both men and women are more satisfied as married or cohabiting than as non-partnered. However, transition into widowhood is more harmful to men than to women, and divorce is much more harmful to young males (below 35) than to any other age or gender group.
For a long time nothing happened: Settler colonialism, deferred action and the scene of colonization in Kim Scott’s That Deadman Dance
Authors: Hughes-d’Aeth Tony
Published: December 2014

That Deadman Dance (2010) is Kim Scott’s third novel and his second to win the premier literary prize in Australia, the Miles Franklin Award. Scott’s novel is set in the period of contact between European settlers and the Indigenous Noongar people on the south coast of Western Australia at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Scott’s father was Noongar and his writing is positioned in the interplay between cultures and histories. In this article, I argue that contact fiction is conditioned by the psychoanalytic principle of deferred action and use Scott’s novel to exemplify this argument.
Prediction of corrosion susceptibilities of Al-based metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles using artificial neural network
Authors: Tuntas Remzi , Dikici Burak
Published: December 2014

In this theoretical study, the prediction of the corrosion resistance of Al–Si–Mg-based metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles has been studied, using an artificial neural network. Four input vectors were used in the construction of the proposed network; namely, volume fraction of SiC reinforcement, aging time of the composites, environmental conditions, and potential. Current was used as the one output in the proposed network. Test results indicate that the proposed network can be used efficiently for the prediction of the corrosion resistance of Al–Si–Mg-based metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles, and the methodology is suitable for engineers to study the corrosion of metal matrix composites. In addition, a few forecasts regarding the polarization response for different SiC volume fractions and aging conditions have also been generated without using any experimental data.
East Meets West
Authors: Wong IpKin Anthony , McKercher Bob , Li Xiangping
Published: December 2014

This study allows a better understanding of the multifaceted and richly blended nature of tangible and intangible cultural appeal co-created from both indigenous and Western cultural traditions that tourists seek in postcolonial destinations. It showcases an example of how two dominant cultures coexist and co-create a unique symbiotic hybrid culture that tourists like. It also draws upon Goossens’s hedonic tourism motivational model by linking cultural travel motivation, destination constraints, cultural interest, and hedonic responses. It further explores the moderating effect of past travel experience on the mediating role of cultural interest. The findings suggest that postcolonial cultural interest depends on tourists’ origin, while the effects of destination constraints on cultural interest and the effect of cultural travel motives on cultural satisfaction are contingent on past travel experience.
A comment on ‘A unique case of facial burn superinfected with Dermatobia hominis larvae’
Authors: Smith Stephen M
Published: December 2014

A recently reported case of a massive infection of a facial wound by Dermatobia hominis is almost certainly a misidentification of the insect.
Pre-treatment practices among patients attending an Animal Bite Management clinic at a primary health centre in Haryana, North India
Authors: Salve Harshal , Rizwan SA , Kant Shashi , Rai Sanjay K , Kharya Pradip , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: December 2014

A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Animal Bite Management (ABM) clinic in a primary health centre in the Faridabad district of Haryana. Information about socio-demographic characteristics, animal bite exposure and pre-treatment practices was obtained. Clinical examination determined the severity of the bite. All 619 patients who reported to the ABM clinic during January 2011 to December 2012 were included. Out of the total, 38% had applied chilli-oil paste, and 4% antiseptics to the wound as pre-treatment; only 30.6% had washed the wound with water. There was a direct association between traditional pre-treatment practices and delay in seeking treatment for animal bites which was statistically significant ( P = 0.01). Health education of the general population with culturally appropriate Information, Education and Communication material is therefore a necessary strategy to reduce delay in seeking appropriate treatment.
Autonomy and confidentiality: patients’ perspectives
Authors: Abdalrahman Ihab Babiker , Osman Ahmed Mohammed Abdulrahman , Ali Baraah Mohammed Adham , Mustafa El Imam ElGhazali Seddik Mohamed , Ali Eman Esam Hassan , Muneer Mohamed Siddig Eltayeb
Published: December 2014

Background

Little is known about patients’ opinions about their rights in autonomy and confidentiality concerning their illness and this study was conducted to assess it.

Methods

This multi-centred, cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient clinics in Khartoum, Sudan. It was delivered to 295 respondents. Data were managed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS.

Results

Eighty-five percent of the patients wanted to know about their conditions, of whom 17% wanted to choose their treatment and 29% believed they had the right to refuse treatment. Most of the respondents would not wish to hide information from their doctors. There was a wide variation at the rate of patients hiding information from their relatives, depending on their diagnosis (HIV 90%, malignancy 16.7% and tuberculosis 0%.)

Conclusion

Respondents want to choose their treating doctor, know about their diseases, be consulted before a procedure. They would like to leave technical issues to their treating doctors without jeopardising their own rights.
Salmonella Typhimurium pneumonia in a patient with multiple myeloma
Authors: Khan Sadia , Kumar V Anil , Sidharthan Neeraj , Mehta Asmita , Backer Binita , Dinesh Kavitha R
Published: December 2014

Pneumonia due to non-typhoidal Salmonella is a rarely reported entity. A fatal case of Salmonella pneumonia is reported here where Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from the endotracheal aspirate and blood culture.
Epidemic dropsy 2013: case series
Authors: Tomar Laxmikant Ramkumarsingh , Raizada Alpana , Yadav Anil , Agarwal Sunil
Published: December 2014

Epidemic dropsy (ED) is caused due to intoxication with Argemone mexicana. Here we report a case series of three families, all of whom were residents of Uttar Pradesh, India, who presented in August 2013 with all the classical features of ED. We aim to highlight the importance of this malady even though the sale of unbottled mustard oil is illegal in India.
Flipping the Switch
Authors: Egan Patrick M. , Hirt Edward R.
Published: December 2014

Research suggests that high levels of interpersonal power can promote enhanced executive functioning capabilities. The present work explored whether this effect is contingent upon expectancies concerning power’s downstream cognitive consequences. Study 1 showed that social dominance orientation (SDO) predicted idiosyncratic expectancies of mental energy change toward interpersonal power. Study 2 showed that SDO moderated the executive functioning changes associated with interpersonal power and that this moderation effect was contingent upon changes in perceived mental depletion. Study 3 showed that directly manipulating expectancies of mental energy change concerning interpersonal power moderated the executive functioning consequences of power and that this moderation effect was contingent upon SDO and changes in perceived mental depletion. Together, the present findings underscore the importance of expectancies and individual differences in understanding the effects of interpersonal power.
Comparing Simple Scoring With IRT Scoring of Personality Measures
Authors: Oswald Frederick L. , Shaw Amy , Farmer William L.
Published: December 2014

This article analyzes data from U.S. Navy sailors ( N = 8,956), with the central measure being the Navy Computer Adaptive Personality Scales (NCAPS). Analyses and results from this article extend and qualify those from previous research efforts by examining the properties of the NCAPS and its adaptive structure in more detail. Specifically, this article examines item exposure rates, the efficiency of item use based on item response theory (IRT)–based Expected A Posteriori (EAP) scoring, and a comparison of IRT-EAP scoring with much more parsimonious scoring methods that appear to work just as well (stem-level scoring and dichotomous scoring). The cutting-edge nature of adaptive personality testing will necessitate a series of future efforts like this: to examine the benefits of adaptive scoring schemes and novel measurement methods continually, while pushing testing technology further ahead.
The ideology of modernity and the Myth of the Given
Authors: Sachs Carl
Published: December 2014

In his most recent work, McDowell argues that the oscillation between the Myth of the Given and coherentism can be avoided only by an ‘equipoise’ between the objective and the subjective. However, I argue that Adorno’s ‘cognitive utopia’ is a genuine 4th option distinct from equipoise and from the oscillation between the Myth of the Given and coherentism. McDowell’s inability to acknowledge the cognitive utopia is traced to his overly abstract conception of the disenchantment of nature, in contrast to Adorno’s emphasis on the domination of nature. This difference is traced to their different interpretations of Hegel.
Politicizing science: Conceptions of politics in science and technology studies
Authors: Brown Mark B
Published: December 2014

This essay examines five ideal–typical conceptions of politics in science and technology studies. Rather than evaluating these conceptions with reference to a single standard, the essay shows how different conceptions of politics serve distinct purposes: normative critique, two approaches to empirical description, and two views of democracy. I discuss each conception of politics with respect to how well it fulfills its apparent primary purpose, as well as its implications for the purpose of studying a key issue in contemporary democratic societies: the politicization of science. In this respect, the essay goes beyond classifying different conceptions of politics and also recommends the fifth conception as especially conducive to understanding and shaping the processes whereby science becomes a site or object of political activity. The essay also employs several analytical distinctions to help clarify the differences among conceptions of politics: between science as ‘political’ (adjective) and science as a site of ‘politics’ (noun), between spatial-conceptions and activity-conceptions of politics, between latent conflicts and actual conflicts, and between politics and power. The essay also makes the methodological argument that the politics of science and technology is best studied with concepts and methods that facilitate dialogue between actors and analysts. The main goal, however, is not to defend a particular view of politics, but to promote conversation on the conceptions of politics that animate research in social studies of science and technology.
Length Change Patterns in the Lateral Extra-articular Structures of the Knee and Related Reconstructions
Authors: Kittl Cristoph , Halewood Camilla , Stephen Joanna M. , Gupte Chinmay M. , Weiler Andreas , Williams Andy , Amis Andrew A.
Published: December 2014

Background:

Lateral extra-articular soft tissue reconstructions in the knee may be used as a combined procedure in revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery as well as in primary treatment for patients who demonstrate excessive anterolateral rotatory instability. Only a few studies examining length change patterns and isometry in lateral extra-articular reconstructions have been published.

Purpose:

To determine a recommended femoral insertion area and graft path for lateral extra-articular reconstructions by measuring length change patterns through a range of knee flexion angles of several combinations of tibial and femoral insertion points on the lateral side of the knee.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were freed of skin and subcutaneous fat. The knee was then mounted in a kinematics rig that loaded the quadriceps muscles and simulated open-chain knee flexion. The length changes of several combinations of tibiofemoral points were measured at knee flexion angles between 0° and 90° by use of linear variable displacement transducers. The changes in length relative to the 0° measurement were recorded.

Results:

The anterior fiber region of the iliotibial tract displayed a significantly different ( P < .001) length change pattern compared with the posterior fiber region. The reconstructions that had a femoral insertion site located proximal to the lateral epicondyle and with the grafts passed deep to the lateral collateral ligament displayed similar length change patterns to each other, with small length increases during knee extension. These reconstructions also showed a significantly lower total strain range compared with the reconstruction located anterior to the epicondyle ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

These findings show that the selection of graft attachment points and graft course affects length change pattern during knee flexion. A graft attached proximal to the lateral femoral epicondyle and running deep to the lateral collateral ligament will provide desirable graft behavior, such that it will not suffer excessive tightening or slackening during knee motion.

Clinical Relevance:

These results provide a surgical rationale for lateral extra-articular soft tissue reconstruction in terms of femoral graft fixation site and graft route.
Adolescents Demonstrate Greater Gait Balance Control Deficits After Concussion Than Young Adults
Authors: Howell David R. , Osternig Louis R. , Chou Li-Shan
Published: December 2014

Background:

Age has been described as a factor that affects recovery after concussion. The recommended management protocol is to treat adolescents in a more cautious manner than adults. However, few studies have prospectively and longitudinally assessed the way these age groups perform on motor tasks after concussion.

Purpose:

To examine dual-task gait balance control deficits after concussion in a group of adolescents and young adults in reference to matched control subjects within 72 hours of injury and throughout 2 months after injury.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Adolescents and young adults who sustained a concussion and individually matched controls completed a whole-body motion gait analysis while simultaneously performing a cognitive task. Subjects with concussion reported to the laboratory within 72 hours after injury and at the following time points: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months after injury. Control subjects completed the same protocol at similar time points. Gait balance control measurements included whole-body center-of-mass (COM) medial-lateral displacement/velocity and anterior velocity.

Results:

A total of 38 subjects with concussion, 19 young adults (mean ± SD age, 20.3 ± 2.4 years) and 19 adolescents (mean ± SD age, 15.1 ± 1.1 years), and 38 individually matched control subjects were tested. Within 72 hours of injury, adolescents displayed significantly greater COM medial-lateral displacement ( P = .001) and peak velocity ( P = .001) relative to their control group, and the young adult concussion group displayed significantly less peak COM anterior velocity than their control group ( P = .01). Across the 2 months of testing, adolescents with concussion displayed significantly greater total COM medial-lateral displacement than did adolescent controls ( P = .001), while young adults with concussion did not significantly differ from their matched controls ( P = .07).

Conclusion:

An examination of gait balance control during dual-task walking revealed that after concussion, in reference to matched controls, adolescents demonstrated greater gait balance control deficits than did young adults initially and throughout the 2-month postinjury period, supporting the recommendation of conservative management for adolescents after concussion.
Sports Activity After Treatment of Residual Hip Dysplasia With Triple Pelvic Osteotomy Using the Tönnis and Kalchschmidt Technique
Authors: Ettinger Max , Berger Stefan , Floerkemeier Thilo , Windhagen Henning , Ezechieli Marco
Published: December 2014

Background:

Pelvic osteotomies are performed to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis and its associated pain due to adult hip dysplasia, particularly for young patients with no or low-grade osteoarthritis. No data are available concerning levels of sporting activity before and after triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide comprehensive data on levels of sporting activity and the subjective outcome of patients after this complex operation.

Hypothesis:

Patients can return to a higher level of sports activity after TPO compared with their preoperative level.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Between 2003 and 2011, a total of 116 triple pelvic osteotomies were performed at a single institution; the Tönnis and Kalchschmidt technique was used on 91 patients. After exclusion criteria for this study were applied, 77 patients remained (59 females and 18 males); the mean ± SD age at operation was 26 ± 3.9 years. To study outcomes, patients were asked to complete both the Harris hip score (HHS) and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) preoperatively and at postoperative follow-up. Their level of activity was determined according to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score. Patients rated their hip movement and overall satisfaction preoperatively and at postoperative follow-up using a visual analog scale for sporting activity, physical fitness level, and level of pain experienced while performing their sport.

Results:

The mean ± SD follow-up time was 6.2 ± 1.4 years. The mean HHS changed significantly from 63.3 ± 15.6 preoperatively to 90.1 ± 10.8 at follow-up ( P < .001), and the mean HOOS changed significantly from 52.9 ± 20.1 to 82 ± 17.1 at follow-up ( P < .001). The mean UCLA activity score changed significantly from 4.8 ± 2.1 to 7.7 ± 1.4 at follow-up ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Patients achieved a higher level of sports activity postoperatively. The postoperative level of participation in sports was superior, with a shift from low- to high-impact activities.
Heat transfer simulation and analysis of mandrel for heated-mandrel winding method of tapered shell
Authors: Qiao Ming , You Bo , Xu Jiazhong , Jia Bingshu
Published: December 2014

With the advantages of high production efficiency and good product quality, the heated-mandrel winding method has been widely used for high-pressure shells. Previous research results show that it is very important to ensure that the axial temperature is distributed as expected because the temperature distribution influences shell-forming qualities to a large extent. In contrast to cylindrical shells, tapered shells have not only a tapered mandrel but also uneven thickness of the shell, so the internal structure of currently used mandrels cannot achieve the desired temperature distribution. The finite element model of the temperature field and flow field of the steam inside the mandrel of tapered shell using the standard k-e formula and the steam-heating process for mandrels with tapered shells is simulated using FLUENT. The results of the numerical simulation show the temperature, velocity, and pressure of the model. According to this, the flow and heat transfer characteristics of steam are analyzed to reveal the influences of process parameters and runner structure on the internal temperature distribution of the mandrel. By considering the influences of inlet pressure, hole positions, and hole diameters, the relationship between the temperature distribution of the surface of the mandrel and the process and the mandrel structure parameters are discussed. The conclusions provide the theoretical basis for the optimization of the mandrel structural design and the heated-mandrel winding method.
Effect of carbon nanotubes on the thermoelectric properties of CFRP laminate for aircraft applications
Authors: Lin Yueguo , Gigliotti Marco , Lafarie-Frenot Marie Christine , Bai Jinbo
Published: December 2014

The present paper focuses on the thermoelectric behavior of carbon nanotube-charged carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials for aircraft applications. Two types of samples: Type A with carbon nanotube and Type B without carbon nanotube), and with two different stacking sequences (unidirectional—[0]8, cross orthogonal—[0/90]4) were manufactured for the thermoelectric experiments, DC electrical current was injected through the specimens, and the temperature of the specimens was monitored simultaneously in order to deduce the effect of carbon nanotube on the electrical conductivity change of the specimen. During the test, transient and steady temperature fields were measured on the sample surfaces by infrared thermography, and real-time voltage measurements monitor the sample electrical resistance. The results show that the presence of carbon nanotube produces increasing values of longitudinal electric conductivity σ L of about 10%. At 9 A, the maximum temperature value is around 95℃ for unidirectional and 145℃ for cross orthogonal samples. The presence of carbon nanotube tends to decrease the entire range of maximum temperatures, about 7% on average for the unidirectional and about 4% on average for cross orthogonal samples.
The Influence of Mathematics Vocabulary Instruction Embedded Within Addition Tutoring for First-Grade Students With Mathematics Difficulty
Authors: Powell Sarah R. , Driver Melissa K.
Published: December 2014

Researchers and practitioners indicate students require explicit instruction on mathematics vocabulary terms, yet no study has examined the effects of an embedded vocabulary component within mathematics tutoring for early elementary students. First-grade students with mathematics difficulty (MD; n = 98) were randomly assigned to addition tutoring with an embedded vocabulary component, addition tutoring without the embedded vocabulary component, or business-as-usual control. At posttest, students who received addition tutoring without vocabulary demonstrated greater gains than control students on addition fluency. On a measure of mathematics vocabulary, students in the active tutoring conditions demonstrated improved performance on mathematics vocabulary over control students. Results indicate that exposure to addition tutoring with or without an embedded vocabulary component positively improves mathematics vocabulary performance.
Electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/carbon dioxide modified polyethyleneimine composite nanofiber scaffolds
Authors: Wu Han-Bing , Bremner David H , Nie Hua-Li , Quan Jing , Zhu Li-Min
Published: December 2014

A novel biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol/carbon dioxide modified polyethyleneimine (PVA/PEI-CO2) composite nanofiber was fabricated by a green and facile protocol, which reduces the cytotoxicity of PEI through the surface modification of the PEI with CO2. The 13C NMR spectrum, elemental analysis, and TGA show that CO2 has been incorporated in the PEI surface resulting in a relatively stable structure. The resulting PVA/PEI-CO2 composite nanofibers have been characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the average diameters of the nanofibers range from 265 ± 53 nm to 423 ± 80 nm. The cytotoxicity of PVA/PEI-CO2 composite nanofibers was assessed by cytotoxicity evaluation using the growth and cell proliferation of normal mice Schwann cells. SEM and the MTT assay demonstrated the promotion of cell growth and proliferation on the PVA/PEI-CO2 composite scaffold. It suggests that PEI-CO2 can have tremendous potential applications in biological material research.
Violence Against Latinas
Authors: Zadnik Elizabeth , Sabina Chiara , Cuevas Carlos A.
Published: December 2014

This study investigated whether legal status was related to interpersonal victimization and help-seeking by comparing Latina immigrants with permanent legal status with Latina immigrants who are undocumented on rates of reported interpersonal victimization, types of perpetrators, and rates of help-seeking. Data come from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) study, which interviewed 1,377 immigrant Latinas about their lifetime histories of sexual assault, physical assault, stalking, and threats along with help-seeking efforts. Results did not reveal significant differences between legal status and reported victimization rates or types of perpetrators. However, undocumented Latinas ( n = 91) were less likely to seek formal help than those with permanent status. Results of this study indicate that undocumented status does not independently put women at risk of victimization, but that responses to violence are related to legal status.
Motivations for Participation in Knitting Among Young Women
Authors: Stannard Casey R. , Sanders Eulanda A.
Published: December 2014

The number of young women who knit has increased dramatically in the past ten years; however, there is little research focused on understanding young, female knitters. The purpose of this research was to examine the motivations of females 18 to 30 years of age, for participation in knitting. Uses and Gratifications Theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Qualitative data were collected from 15 in-depth interviews. The interviews were analyzed with a constant comparative approach. Three major themes (incentives, barriers, and outcomes) and 12 subthemes emerged from the data. The emergent themes were compared to Uses and Gratifications Theory to determine the motivations for young women who participate in knitting. A Model of Motivations for Knitting among Young Women, was created to illustrate the relationship between the motivational themes that emerged from the data and categories within Uses and Gratifications Theory.
Black Disidentification: The 2013 Protests, Rolezinhos, and Racial Antagonism in Post-Lula Brazil
Authors: Vargas João H. Costa
Published: December 2014

This article explores dimensions of a foundational social antagonism that, the author claims, characterizes the Brazilian polis, by analyzing the ways in which the problem of Black presence manifested itself in the 2013 mass street protests and the rolezinhos (literally cruises, or little strolls). The author makes an initial analysis of the drastic policy changes brought about by the two Lula federal administrations, in particular their emphasis on addressing long-term and structural poverty. This is followed by an examination of white participation in and Black disidentification with the 2013 protests, establishing the grounds on which the heuristic proposition about the foundational Black antagonism vis-à-vis the nation is further elaborated and tested. The final section analyses the rolezinhos and the controversies they generated.
Unaccounted Foundations: Black Girls, Anti-Black Racism, and Punishment in Schools
Authors: Wun Connie
Published: December 2014

For nearly three decades, racial formations theory has influenced ideas, discourses and political projects surrounding race and racism in the United States. The theory holds that although race is a permanent feature in the US, the formation, order, and set of meanings inscribed onto racialized subjects are contingent upon historical and political contexts. This framework conceals anti-black racism as an enduring social order that affects policies, policy outcomes and organizes the relationship between non-black and black bodies. One exemplary social institution through which this can be seen is the public education system and its culture of discipline and punishment in the US. Current interrogations of school disciplinary landscapes have focused in on disparities in discipline policies as they affect working-class/working-poor boys of color. While it is useful to examine the uneven rates of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests, focusing on these disciplinary discrepancies misses everyday occurrences of punishment that young black girls experience. This qualitative paper examines school discipline policies and informal punitive practices including the implications that these mechanisms have on the physical and emotional worlds of black girls. The study finds that black girls are rendered structurally vulnerable to discipline and punishment at the hands of adults and peers in ways that exceed or contend with the logics espoused through racial formations theory. Placing black girls at the center of analysis compels us to examine the anti-black logic of discipline and punishment in schools and at large.
Program Performance and Multiple Constituency Theory
Authors: Campbell David A. , Lambright Kristina T.
Published: December 2014

This article seeks to deepen our understanding of performance measurement in the nonprofit human services sector by investigating issues related to funder and provider motivations for collecting and analyzing program-level performance information. Using survey and interview data from nonprofit human service organizations and their funders (nonprofit and local government), we analyze this study’s research questions through the lens of multiple constituency theory. Consistent with multiple constituency theory, the study found similarities and differences in funder and provider motivations for collecting performance information. The study also indicates that other key constituents (such as service beneficiaries, donors to nonprofit organizations, and other levels of government that provide resources to local governments) play a role in defining program performance. The article suggests that multiple constituency theory applies to program-level performance and that understanding program performance requires considering the perspectives of multiple stakeholders.
Corrugated right-angled triangular tabs for supersonic jet control
Authors: Arun Kumar P , Rathakrishnan E
Published: December 2014

This paper compares the mixing promoting efficiency of two identical sharp and truncated vertex right-angled triangular tabs provided with semicircular, triangular, and square corrugations along its edges, offering geometrical blockage of 2.5% each, placed at the exit of a Mach 2 circular nozzle was studied experimentally. To quantify the effectiveness of the controlled jets in mixing, Pitot pressure along the jet axis and the jet spread along and normal to the tabs were measured, covering highly overexpanded and marginal underexpanded levels at the nozzle exit. The results reveal that the corrugated tabs enhance mixing higher than the uncorrugated (plain) tabs, for both sharp and truncated vertices. For the jet controlled with sharp vertex right-angled triangular tabs, a maximum reduction of about 91% in core length is caused by the square corrugation at NPR7. The corresponding core length reduction caused by semicircle, triangular corrugated, and plain tabs is about 87, 85, and 65%, respectively. For the jet controlled with truncated vertex right-angled triangular tabs also, the core length reductions are of the same order as those for the sharp vertex triangular tabs. The jet mixing is strongly influenced by the combined effect of tab geometry, corrugation shape, tip effect, and expansion ratio. The shadowgraph pictures clearly show that the waves in the controlled jets are made weaker than those of the uncontrolled jet.
Optimization of nonlinear controller design for thermal management in polymerase chain reaction amplification
Authors: Sehat Nia Arman , Kharrati Hamed
Published: December 2014

In this study, a new optimized nonlinear controller is designed for heat transfer part of a polymerase chain reaction machine (Thermal Cycler). Polymerase chain reaction is an important molecular technique which is performed in a Thermal Cycler to amplify a specific region of DNA. The main part of Thermal Cycler is a Peltier, which raises and lowers the temperature of the block in discrete, pre-programmed steps in several cycles. Based on the theoretical model, the goal was achieved using genetic algorithm in extended feedback linearization control system. The new optimized control structure was verified with improved temperature-tracking performance compared to earlier designs on reduced overshoot (0.3 °C) and settling time (3.5–4.5 s faster). Also, the validation of the proposed method has been performed through simulation.
A goodness-of-fit test for the random-effects distribution in mixed models
Authors: Efendi Achmad , Drikvandi Reza , Verbeke Geert , Molenberghs Geert
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we develop a simple diagnostic test for the random-effects distribution in mixed models. The test is based on the gradient function, a graphical tool proposed by Verbeke and Molenberghs to check the impact of assumptions about the random-effects distribution in mixed models on inferences. Inference is conducted through the bootstrap. The proposed test is easy to implement and applicable in a general class of mixed models. The operating characteristics of the test are evaluated in a simulation study, and the method is further illustrated using two real data analyses.