bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Endoscopic Gluteus Medius Repair With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up
Authors: Domb Benjamin G. , Botser Itamar , Giordano Brian D.
Published: March 2013

Background:

Gluteus medius tears may be present in as many as 25% of late middle-aged women and 10% of middle-aged men, and they are often misdiagnosed. Outcomes of endoscopic repair of gluteus medius tears have seldom been reported.

Purpose:

To report the early outcomes of endoscopic repair of partial- and full-thickness gluteus medius tears.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Between April 2009 and January 2010, data were prospectively collected for all patients undergoing endoscopic gluteus medius repair by one of the authors. Inclusion criteria for the study were patients undergoing repair for either high-grade, partial-, or full-thickness tears. Only patients with endoscopic evidence of a gluteus medius tear were treated surgically. In the case of an articular-side tear, a transtendinous repair technique was used, whereas in the presence of a full-thickness tear, the tendon was refixated to the bone directly.

Results:

A total of 15 patients met the inclusion criteria. The cohort included 14 women and 1 man, with an average age of 58 years (range, 44-74 years). Endoscopically, 6 cases were found to be partial-thickness tears. Nine were either full-thickness tears or near-full-thickness tears, which were completed for the repair. Follow-up was obtained on all patients at an average of 27.9 months postoperatively (range, 24-37 months). Fourteen of the 15 patients showed postoperative improvement in all 4 hip-specific scores used to assess outcome, with an average improvement of more than 30 points for all scores. Satisfaction with the surgery results was reported to be from good to excellent (scores of 7-10 out of 10) in 14 of 15 patients.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates that endoscopic surgical repair, whether performed through a transtendinous or full-thickness technique, can be an effective treatment of gluteus medius tears at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Longer term follow-up studies are necessary to determine whether these therapeutic and functional gains are maintained.
Impact response of sandwich composites with nano-enhanced epoxy resin
Authors: Reis PNB , Santos P , Ferreira JAM , Richardson MOW
Published: March 2013

Present work intends to study the improvement of impact performance on sandwich composites by the addition of nanoclays. For this purpose, nanoclays Cloisite 30B were previously subjected to a silane treatment in order to improve their dispersion and interface adhesion. Different incident impact energy levels were used and, for both sandwiches, the maximum load, displacement or elastic recuperation shows to be very dependent of the impact energy. Mathematical relationships are proposed to estimate the maximum impact force and displacement, based on the total impact energy and impact bending stiffness. Finally, sandwiches enhanced by nanoclays presented higher maximum impact loads, lower displacements, the best performance in terms of elastic recuperation and maximum residual flexural strength.
The optimization thickness of single/double composite patch on the stress intensity factor reduction
Authors: Ouinas Djamel , Achour Belkacem , Bouiadjra BelAbbes Bachir , Taghezout Noria
Published: March 2013

The repairing process of structures using bonding of composite materials is an efficient and economic way of increasing service life of damaged structures. The finite element method is developed and applied to assist in the design, assessment and optimization of the proposed plans before they are implemented, therefore reducing cost and time. In this study, the finite element method is used to analyze the behavior of a repaired crack using single and double circular composite patches by determining the stress intensity factor reduction. The effects of geometrical and mechanical properties of the patch on the fracture parameters are highlighted. The results show that the thickness gain and the reduction of the asymptotic value of the SIF in the case of the double patch is 7% when compared to the single one. Thus, the gain in the thickness decreases when the thickness of the bonded patch increases up to a value eP = 0.8 mm and beyond this value, it starts increasing. However, an inverse behavior occurs for the mixed mode. In addition, whatever is the size of the strengthened crack, the gain in thickness exceeds 16% in mode I and 20% in mixed mode.
Predictors of Retention Among African American and Hispanic Older Adult Research Participants in the Well Elderly 2 Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Carlson Mike , Jackson Jeanne , Mandel Deborah , Blanchard Jeanine , Holguin Jess , Lai Mei-Ying , Marterella Abbey , Vigen Cheryl , Gleason Sarah , Lam Claudia , Azen Stan , Clark Florence
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this study was to document predictors of long-term retention among minority participants in the Well Elderly 2 Study, a randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention for community-dwelling older adults. The primary sample included 149 African American and 92 Hispanic men and women aged 60 to 95 years, recruited at senior activity centers and senior residences. Chi-square and logistic regression procedures were undertaken to examine study-based, psychosocial and health-related predictors of retention at 18 months following study entry. For both African Americans and Hispanics, intervention adherence was the strongest predictor. Retention was also related to high active coping and average (vs. high or low) levels of activity participation among African Americans and high social network strength among Hispanics. The results suggest that improved knowledge of the predictors of retention among minority elders can spawn new retention strategies that can be applied at individual, subgroup, and sample-wide levels.
Clarifying the Positive Association Between Education and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Pudrovska Tetyana , Anishkin Andriy
Published: March 2013

Using the 1993-2011 data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study ( N = 5,218), we examine prostate cancer screening, mortality after the diagnosis, and health behaviors as potential mechanisms explaining the paradoxical association between men’s higher education and higher prostate cancer risk. Our study combines within-cohort longitudinal hazard models predicting a prostate cancer diagnosis with Monte Carlo simulations estimating the joint effects of socioeconomic differences in prostate cancer screening and mortality after the diagnosis. Our findings strongly suggest that higher utilization of prostate cancer screening and lower mortality after the diagnosis are important explanations for higher prostate rates among more educated men. In addition to applying an innovative method to the issues of prostate cancer incidence and survival, our results have potentially important implications for the current debate about the utility of prostate cancer screening as well as for accurate predictions of future mortality and morbidity trends in the expanding older population.
Health Care Provision for Older Persons
Authors: Band-Winterstein Tova
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to explore the link between neglect and ageism in health care provision for older persons. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 registered nurses with at least 2 years’ experience in 10 long-term care facilities in Israel. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was performed according to the qualitative method. Three main themes emerged: ageism and neglect as the everyday routine (neglect is built into institution life on the platform of ageism); how the institutional system promotes neglect—between institutional and personal ageism (the ways institutions promote neglect in the shadow of ageism); from vision to reality—how neglect can be prevented in an ageist reality. The attempt to demonstrate the link between ageism and neglect and suggesting how to include them as interrelated phenomena in health care provision programs could promote older persons’ quality of life.
Older Adults’ Use of Care Strategies in Response to General and Upper Respiratory Symptoms
Authors: Sandberg Joanne C. , Grzywacz Joseph G. , Suerken Cynthia K. , Altizer Kathryn P. , Quandt Sara A. , Nguyen Ha T. , Bell Ronny A. , Lang Wei , Arcury Thomas A.
Published: March 2013

This study examined the use of complementary and medical treatments, both individually and in combination, to address common general and upper respiratory symptoms. Data for the analysis were collected from a series of 18 daily diary questionnaires administered to community-living older African American and white adults living in rural counties in North Carolina. Participants reported symptoms experienced on each diary day and the treatment strategies they used each day in response to the particular symptom(s). Older adults used diverse categories of strategies to treat symptoms; treatment strategies were used inconsistently across symptoms. Use of only complementary strategies, only medical conventional strategies, or both complementary and medical strategies to treat any one symptom rarely corresponded to the use of the same strategy to address other symptoms. Future research would benefit from analyzing how older adults use health care strategies across symptom categories.
A Pilot Study Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Devices and Surveys to Ascertain Older Adults’ Travel Patterns
Authors: Yen Irene H. , Leung Cindy W. , Lan Mars , Sarrafzadeh Majid , Kayekjian Karen C. , Duru O. Kenrik
Published: March 2013

Some studies indicate that older adults lead active lives and travel to many destinations including those not in their immediate residential neighborhoods. We used global positioning system (GPS) devices to track the travel patterns of 40 older adults (mean age: 69) in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Study participants wore the GPS devices for 7 days in fall 2010 and winter 2011. We collected survey responses concurrently about travel patterns. GPS data showed a mean of four trips/day, and a mean trip distance of 7.6 km. Survey data indicated that older adults commonly made trips for four activities (e.g., volunteering, work, visiting friends) at least once each week. Older adults regularly travel outside their residential neighborhoods. GPS can document the mode of travel, the path of travel, and the destinations. Surveys can document the purpose of the travel and the impressions or experiences in the specific locations.
Effect of the generation and physical–chemical characterization of swine and dairy cattle slurries on treatment technologies
Authors: Villamar Cristina-Alejandra , Rodríguez Diana-Catalina , López Daniela , Peñuela Gustavo , Vidal Gladys
Published: March 2013

Differences in biodegradability can affect the treatment of slurry before its use in spraying. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the generation and physical–chemical characterization of swine and dairy cattle slurries on different biological treatment technologies. This research involved monthly sampling (number/composition) for 1 year of 24 swine farms (16%), cattle farms (38%), and mixed swine and cattle farms (46%). The results obtained showed differences in feeding (3 l water kg−1 food for cattle and 5 l water kg−1 food for swine) and assimilation (0.6 kg food kg −1 milk produced and 3 kg kg−1 weight gain), which may influence the generation of slurry (57 l animal−1d−1 in cattle and 31 l animal−1 d−1 in swine) and its composition. In addition, the composition of swine slurry [23 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) l−1, 3 g total nitrogen (TN) l−1] is significantly different ( P < 0.01) to cattle slurry (4 g COD l−1, 0.3 g TN l−1). Finally, the composition and the S index applied to swine slurry [COD N−1 = 8, biological oxygen demand (BOD)5 COD−1 = 0.3, S index > 0] and cattle slurry (COD N−1 = 16, BOD5 COD−1 = 0.6, S index < 0) show a difference on the biodegradability of both slurries. Suitability of anaerobic and aerobic treatment was assessed based on the findings.
Determining factors for the presence of impurities in selectively collected biowaste
Authors: Puig-Ventosa Ignasi , Freire-González Jaume , Jofra-Sora Marta
Published: March 2013

The presence of impurities in biodegradable waste (biowaste) causes problems with the management of waste, among which are additional costs derived from the need to improve pre-treatment of biowaste, loss of treatment capacity and the difficulty selling treated biowaste as compost owing to its low quality. When treated biowaste is used for soil conditioning it can also cause soil pollution. Understanding the reasons why impurities are in biowaste and the factors affecting the percentage of impurities present can be used to determine ways to minimise these negative effects. This article attempts to identify the main causes for the presence of impurities in biowaste. In order to do so, it carries out an empirical analysis of the level of impurities in biowaste from municipal waste collection in two steps. First, a bivariate analysis focuses on significant correlations between the presence of impurities and several variables. Second, the construction of an explanatory model based on the significant relations obtained in the first step, and on literature research, are used to check the stated hypothesis. The estimates demonstrate that the collection system, the global levels of separate collection, the urban density of the municipality and the requirement to use compostable bags may be the main drivers of impurity levels in biowaste.
An Introduction to the Wechsler Intelligence Tests
Authors: Tobin Renée M.
Published: March 2013

This special issue focuses on two lead articles examining the factor structure of the fourth editions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS-IV; Wechsler, 2003) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV; Wechsler, 2008). These articles are followed by 9 commentaries and a final response by the authors of the lead articles. These diverse approaches critically assess the theoretical and practice implications of the structure of intelligence measured by the Wechsler scales.
WISC-IV and Clinical Validation of the Four- and Five-Factor Interpretative Approaches
Authors: Weiss Lawrence G. , Keith Timothy Z. , Zhu Jianjun , Chen Hsinyi
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine the constructs measured by the WISC-IV and the consistency of measurement across large normative and clinical samples. Competing higher order four- and five-factor models were analyzed using the WISC-IV normative sample and clinical subjects. The four-factor solution is the model published with the test manual. In the five-factor model, the POI differentiated into a visual-spatial factor (consisting of Block Design and Picture Completion) and a fluid reasoning factor (consisting of Matrix Reasoning and Picture Concepts, with and Arithmetic). The five-factor solution included Inductive Reasoning (IR), consisting of Matrix Reasoning and Picture Concepts, as a narrow ability subsumed under the FRI (Gf). When all 15 WISC-IV subtests were considered, both four- and five-factor models were suitable and showed close model-data fit. Further, both models generally demonstrated full factorial invariance between clinical and nonclinical samples. Interpretation of the fifth factor is discussed.
Measuring Components of Intelligence
Authors: Grégoire Jacques
Published: March 2013

The two studies conducted by Weiss, Keith, Zhu, and Chen in 2013 on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), respectively, provide strong evidence for the validity of a four-factor solution corresponding to the current hierarchical model of both scales. These analyses support the calculation of the four index scores and the Full Scale IQ. In this article, we discuss some limits of these validation efforts: (a) the incomplete measurement of the construct, (b) the problem of correspondence between factors and broad abilities, (c) the gap between a structural model and a functional model of intelligence, and (d) the difficulty of combining the measurement of global intelligence and broad abilities. Finally, the option of a five-factor model underlying the index scores is analyzed and its potential for future Wechsler scales is discussed.
Theory and Research
Authors: Claeys Joseph
Published: March 2013

The practice of individual assessment has been moving toward the empirically derived Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory of intellectual ability, which offers a hierarchical taxonomy of cognitive abilities. Current assessment tools provide varying adherence to operationalizing CHC theory, making clinical inference difficult. Expert consensus explicating the factors of contemporary tests has proven to be valuable by showing the promise of using a multifactorial assessment of intellectual abilities. The Weiss et al. (2013) articles in this special issue represent the next evolution of this approach by providing empirical research detailing the test factors of the popular Wechsler tests, so that practitioners using those tests can base their clinical inferences on an evidence-based understanding of their measurement tools.
Intelligent Testing With Wechsler’s Fourth Editions
Authors: Kaufman Alan S.
Published: March 2013

The two featured articles and eight commentaries on the WISC-IV (Wechsler, 2003) and WAIS-IV (Wechsler, 2008) in this special issue of Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment are of exceptional quality. As a collective, this special issue greatly advances the field of cognitive assessment by intelligently synthesizing the best of methodology (confirmatory factor analysis) with the best of theory (Cattell–Horn–Carroll). The Weiss et al. articles represent sophisticated approaches to test validation and interpretation and the commentaries deal with applications, extensions, and limitations of the findings. This “response to the respondents” focuses on Wechsler’s approach to assessment, historical antecedents of factor analysis (especially the contributions of Jacob Cohen in the 1950s), and the “intelligent testing” model of test interpretation.
Technical and Practical Issues in the Structure and Clinical Invariance of the Wechsler Scales
Authors: Weiss Lawrence G. , Keith Timothy Z. , Zhu Jianjun , Chen Hsinyi
Published: March 2013

This discussion article addresses issues related to expansion of the Wechsler model from four to five factors; multiple broad CHC abilities measured by the Arithmetic subtest; advantages and disadvantages of including complex tasks requiring integration of multiple broad abilities when measuring intelligence; limitations of factor analysis, which constrain test developers to creating specific broad and narrow abilities as opposed to integrative tasks; implications from brain imaging research showing the critical role of neurological pathways that integrate brain regions; close relationship of the fluid reasoning factor to g, and the inadequacies of factor analytically driven statistical definitions of g in the development of improved models of intelligence. In this rejoinder to the commentaries in this special issue on structural models of the WAIS-IV and WISC-IV, the advantages and disadvantages of Schmid–Leiman’s transformation, which removes the effects of g on the broad abilities, and the use of nested or bifactor models in evaluating models of intelligence are also discussed.
The Socio-Emotional Guidance Questionnaire (SEG-Q)
Authors: Jacobs Karen , Struyf Elke , De Maeyer Sven
Published: March 2013

Since facilitating the fullest development of each student in terms of enriching their intellectual development as well as their personal, social, and emotional development has become an important objective, social and emotional guidance has become an integral part of education. This recent acknowledgment has stimulated research interest into how to measure, evaluate, and optimize guidance activities in schools. This interest, however, is contingent on a valid assessment of integrated socioemotional guidance, which despite the growing attention still remains a problem. This study therefore aims to investigate the validity and generalizability of the Socio-Emotional Guidance Questionnaire (SEG-Q). Measurement invariance across three groups of teachers teaching in different stages of secondary education (Total n = 3,336) was tested, by means of multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA) in Mplus. The results show partial invariance of the SEG-Q across the teacher groups, confirming that the SEG-Q is a psychometrically sound self-report instrument for secondary education teachers which can be used by researchers and practitioners to measure, map, describe, or evaluate integrated socioemotional guidance.
Composing “Kid-Friendly” Multimodal Text
Authors: Shanahan Lynn E.
Published: March 2013

This interpretive case study investigated how a fifth-grade teacher’s social practices with visual and linguistic signs positioned her students (10- and 11-year-olds) to take up particular modes as they constructed digital compositions. The context of the study was a suburban public school in the northeastern United States. Analysis was threefold. The discourse surrounding multimodal composition was analyzed via inductive analysis. Students’ use of semiotic resources in the HyperStudio composition was analyzed with Unsworth’s image-language intermodal framework. Then, teacher-student conversations related to visual and linguistic signs were triangulated with students’ compositions. Findings show that a classroom teacher’s limited content knowledge as related to metafunctions and metalanguage of visual and linguistic sign systems affected the information taught to the students and, ultimately, their use of visual and linguistic signs. Students demonstrated tacit knowledge of image-language relations beyond what was taught but lacked the explicit knowledge to more strategically use visual and linguistic signs. Implications include the importance of creating opportunities for teachers to develop more substantive content knowledge of the metalanguages and metafunctions of various sign systems.
Ophthalmic findings in acute mercury poisoning in adults
Authors: Aslan Lokman , Aslankurt Murat , Bozkurt Selim , Aksoy Adnan , Ozdemir Murat , Gizir Harun , Yasar Ibrahim
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study is to report ophthalmic findings of acute mercury poisoning in 48 adults referred to emergency department. Full ophthalmologic examination including the best corrected visual acuity, external eye examination, reaction to light, a slit-lamp examination, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurements, and visual field (VF) and color vision (CV) tests were performed at the presentation and repeated after 6 months. The parametric values of VF test, the mean deviation (MD), and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were recorded in order to compare patients and the 30 healthy controls. The mean parameter of color confusion index in patients was found to be statistically different than controls ( p < 0.01). The MD and PSD in patients were different from controls statistically significant ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was no correlation between the ocular findings and the urine and blood mercury levels. Methyl mercury, held in the school laboratory for experimental purpose, may be a source of poisoning. In this case series, we showed that acute exposure to mercury had hazardous effect on the visual system, especially CV and VF. We propose that emphasizing the public education on the potential hazards of mercury is crucial for preventive community health.
Citreoviridin enhances tumor necrosis factor-α-induced adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Authors: Hou Haifeng , Zhou Ru , Jia Qiang , Li Qunwei , Kang Li , Jiao Peng , Li Dong , Jiang Baofa
Published: March 2013

Endothelial adhesion plays an important role in the process of atherosclerosis, which is regulated by endothelial adhesion molecules and chemoattractant molecules. In some areas of China, citreoviridin (CIT) is considered a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the role of CIT in adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) together with the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Adhesion of HUVECs to monocytes was analyzed by coculture experiments using U937 cells labeled with 2,7-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethylester. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin was determined by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and ELISA. The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. CIT markedly increased TNF-α-induced HUVECs adhesion to monocytes and the expression levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and MCP-1. TNF-α-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB in HUVECs was significantly elevated by CIT. Our study demonstrates that CIT upregulates TNF-α-induced endothelial adhesion via increasing activation of NF-κB, which results in the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, and MCP-1. CIT plays a pivotal role in the process of endothelial cell adhesion and may thereby play an important role in the improvement of atherosclerosis in areas of China that have a high prevalence of CIT contamination and atherosclerosis.
Amelioration of iron overload-induced liver toxicity by a potent antioxidant and iron chelator, Emblica officinalis Gaertn
Authors: Sarkar Rhitajit , Hazra Bibhabasu , Mandal Nripendranath
Published: March 2013

In liver, the major site of iron storage, iron overload is associated with oxidative damage of protein, lipid, and DNA and causes protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and rupture of hepatocytes, leading to cell death. Serum ferritin and liver iron content are the main forecasters of moderate to severe iron overload in the liver. The sequels of excess iron deposition in the liver are fibrosis and enhanced levels of serum enzymes and bilirubin markers. Emblica officinalis (EO) fruit extract was found efficient in lessening intraperitoneally injected iron dextran-induced liver toxicity in Swiss albino mice. Mice administered with different doses of 70% methanol extract of EO (50, 100, and 200 mg kg−1 body weight) showed significant decrease in liver iron, serum ferritin, and serum enzyme levels, along with the decrease in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and collagen content. The activity was further supported by its considerable iron chelation with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 70.24 ± 2.74 μg ml−1 and the protection on ferrous ion-mediated DNA breakdown with 50% protection ([P]50) of 1.04 ± 0.01 μg ml−1. Simultaneously, the extract effectively induced the antioxidant enzyme levels and also exhibited the potential activity of reductive release of ferritin iron. These findings suggest that the EO extract may be used as a potent drug for the treatment of pathological sequences arisen in the iron overload-induced liver damage.
Comparison of five different in vitro assays for assessment of sodium metavanadate cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1 line)
Authors: Zwolak Iwona
Published: March 2013

This investigation was undertaken to compare five different in vitro cytotoxicity assays for their power in revealing vanadium-mediated toxicity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells. The cells were exposed to sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) in the range of 10–1000 µM for 24 h and thereafter the cytotoxic effects of NaVO3 were measured by colorimetric in vitro assays: the neutral red (NR) test, the 2,3-bis[2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide inner salt (XTT) assay, the resazurin assay, the sulforhodamine B (SR-B) assay, and by microscopic assessment of cell viability using the trypan blue (TB) staining method. Among the assays used, the NR test was the most sensitive, since it revealed metavanadate cytotoxicity at the lowest NaVO3 dose (=50 µM). Also, NaVO3 cytotoxicity expressed as inhibitory concentration (IC) showed the lowest values for the NR test. Three other tests XTT, resazurin, and SR-B assays showed intermediate sensitivity revealing the cytotoxicity of NaVO3 at 100 µM. The corresponding IC10 and IC50 values calculated for the XTT, resazurin, and SR-B tests were similar. The TB staining method was the least sensitive, since it recorded metavanadate cytotoxicity at the highest NaVO3 concentration tested (=600 µM). Based on the cytotoxicity end points measured with the above assays, it can be concluded that lysosomal/Golgi apparatus damage (measured by NR assay) may be the primary effect of NaVO3 on CHO-K1 cells. The disintegration of mitochondria (assessed with the XTT and resazurin assays) probably follows lysosomal impairment. Plasma membrane permeability (staining with TB) occurs at a late stage of NaVO3-induced cytotoxicity on CHO-K1 cells. The results obtained in this research work show that the NR test can be recommended as a very sensitive assay for the assessment of NaVO3 cytotoxicity in the CHO-K1 cell culture model. Considering the convenience of assay performance along with adequate sensitivity, the XTT and resazurin assays can also be advocated for NaVO3 cytotoxicity assessment.
Effects of Coaching on Teachers’ Use of Function-Based Interventions for Students With Severe Disabilities
Authors: Bethune Keri S. , Wood Charles L.
Published: March 2013

This study used a delayed multiple-baseline across-participants design to analyze the effects of coaching on special education teachers’ implementation of function-based interventions with students with severe disabilities. This study also examined the extent to which teachers could generalize function-based interventions to different situations. In addition, this study examined the effects of function-based interventions on students’ problem and replacement behaviors. After an initial training on functional behavior assessment and implementation of function-based interventions, the experimenter coached each teacher. Results indicated a functional relationship between coaching and an increase in teacher fidelity scores. Teachers generalized the strategies to other situations with the target students. Although some improvement in student behavior was noted upon teachers’ use of function-based interventions without coaching, this improvement was not consistent for all students and across the replacement behaviors. A functional relationship was found between accurate implementation of the function-based interventions and an increase in the students’ primary replacement behaviors.
Group B Streptococcus Colonization of Breast Milk of Group B Streptococcus Positive Mothers
Authors: Burianová Iva , Paulová Magdalena , Čermák Pavel , Janota Jan
Published: March 2013

Background:

Breast milk is occasionally considered as a potential source of neonatal infection. Only a few cases of transmission of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) through breast milk have been published. The incidence of GBS in breast milk varies among studies. The incidence of GBS in breast milk in mothers with positive prenatal vaginal swabs for GBS is not known.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of GBS in the breast milk of women colonized with GBS before delivery (GBS vaginal swabs positive) and women non-colonized with GBS (GBS negative) during the first week after term delivery.

Methods:

Breast milk from our sample of women was checked for the presence of GBS. A sample of 5 ml of breast milk was collected from each woman between days 3 and 7 after term delivery. Statistical analysis was carried out to test the relationship between bacterial content and GBS status of the women.

Results:

We identified only 2 of 243 (0.82%) GBS positive breast milk cultures during the study, both in the GBS negative group. There was found to be no GBS positive breast milk in women with positive prenatal vaginal swabs for GBS.

Conclusion:

The incidence of GBS positive cultures in breast milk in the study was low. When comparing the incidence of GBS positive breast milk cultures between women colonized with GBS before delivery and women non-colonized with GBS, we identified only 2 GBS positive breast milk cultures, both in GBS non-colonized women.
Can Parents Influence Children’s Mathematics Achievement and Persistence in STEM Careers?
Authors: Ing Marsha
Published: March 2013

This study explores the relationship between parental motivational practices, Children’s mathematics achievement trajectories, and persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. Nationally representative longitudinal survey data were analyzed using latent growth curve analysis. Findings indicate that parents’ motivational practices influence their children’s mathematics achievement in terms of where the Children start in the 7th grade and how much mathematics achievement grows or changes through the 12th grade. Findings also indicate a positive relationship between mathematics-specific, intrinsically focused parental motivational practices and growth in mathematics achievement and persistence in STEM careers. These findings provide specific information about how different types of parental motivational practices influence long-term mathematics achievement and persistence in STEM careers.
Key Relationships for International Student University-to-Work Transitions
Authors: Popadiuk Natalee Elizabeth , Arthur Nancy Marie
Published: March 2013

International student research predominantly focuses on the initial and middle stages of their sojourn. Our research, however, specifically addresses how relationships support international students to successfully navigate the late-stage transition from university to work. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 18 international students from diverse cultures, ages, and professions with an emphasis on their last year of university and 3 years post-graduation. We found six major themes: (a) building strong friendships supported the decision to stay, (b) career decision making is a group effort, (c) relationships with supervisors and mentors led to career opportunities, (d) establishing relational networks helped with finding first job, (e) developing connections early in their programs helped in the transition, and (f) mentoring from international alumni would provide role models. We discuss the importance of key relationships for international student success and how relationships are embedded in career decision making. Finally, we provide recommendations for career counselors.
When Accountability Strategies Collide
Authors: Jacobsen Rebecca , Saultz Andrew , Snyder Jeffrey W.
Published: March 2013

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that two accountability strategies—raising standards and public pressure through publicizing performance data—be implemented simultaneously. However, when coupled, they may produce an inappropriate consequence for public opinion. The public may misunderstand the drop in achievement that occurs when the bar is raised and become dissatisfied with school performance. To examine this potential negative consequence, the authors analyze data from New York City. The authors find parent satisfaction declined when school performance grades dropped after the implementation of higher standards. This article contributes to our understanding of how the public responds to school accountability data. Because public support for sustained and successful reforms is key, understanding how accountability policies may erode support is critical.
The New Politics of Accountability
Authors: Jacobsen Rebecca , Young Tamara V.
Published: March 2013

This article describes the origins and goals for this special double issue of Educational Policy, which also represents the 2013 Politics of Education Association Yearbook. We provide an overview of each of the articles that comprise this issue and discuss key themes concerning the new politics of accountability that emerge when we consider the articles collectively. These themes include (a) accountability policy has expanded the number and diversity of political actors; (b) accountability policy has contributed to shifts in traditional alliances; (c) political actors are using traditional and new strategies to influence and respond to accountability policy; (d) accountability policy has altered institutional structures and norms, shifting the distribution of power and resources; (e) accountability policy creates more accountability policy; and (f) the focus on performance- or test-based based accountability has contributed to a decline in democratic accountability.
Politics and Governance
Authors: Wong Kenneth K.
Published: March 2013

The politics of school accountability is significantly different between the time of the publication of the 1997 Yearbook of the Politics of Education Association and the current 2013 volume on accountability. During the mid-1990s, accountability lacked a focus and there was no clear institutional champion. With the 2001 passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), states and districts are governed by a common framework of accountability. Students, schools, districts, and states are held accountable for meeting annual academic proficiency standards or Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). As states and districts develop strategies to meet the accountability pressure, there is a need to examine the new politics of accountability. Authors in this volume have offered a useful knowledge base for pursuing this line of investigation. Further, I observe both enduring and new features on the politics and policy of accountability.
Investigation of the nitrogen oxide reduction characteristics and in-cylinder controls of the regeneration mode of a lean nitrogen oxide trap catalyst in a light-duty diesel engine
Authors: Yoon Joo Wung , Park Simsoo
Published: March 2013

This investigation focused on an in-cylinder control method to create a rich atmosphere inside a lean nitrogen oxide trap catalyst. The experimental procedures can be summarized as follows. To adjust to the excess air ratio λ values of 0.92 and 0.96, the air mass was fixed using a limited post-injection quantity from an engine management system, the main injection timing was slightly adjusted to create a rich atmosphere inside a lean nitrogen oxide trap catalyst in advance and the precise λ values were adjusted by regulating the post-injection timing together with the post-injection quantity calculated using the logic of the engine control unit. The results were as follows. First, the main-injection quantity was greatly reduced when a post-injection quantity was supplied. Second, it was verified that the post-injection quantity participated in generating the torque. Third, the overall efficiency was 26–63% and included a storage efficiency of 11–51%, a reduction efficiency of 56–89% and a conversion efficiency of 11–50%. Fourth, to control the lean nitrogen oxide trap catalyst temperature and its performance precisely using a small λ value, which was caused by the post-injection quantity, as the speed (r/min) increased, the air mass supply must be increased more during the rich mode than during the lean mode.
Analysis of uncertainties in measurement of rotor blade tip clearance in gas turbine engine under dynamic condition
Authors: Satish TN , Murthy Ramesh , Singh AK
Published: March 2013

The rotor tip clearance in a gas turbine engine varies throughout the engine operating regime. It has considerable influence on the engine performance. Blade to casing rub is imminent at certain operating points of the engine. Mechanical rub at high speeds could damage the total engine hardware. A precise measurement helps to obtain the optimum engine performance with safe engine operation. In this article a typical case study related to fan clearance measurement is discussed, where indications of a proven measurement system is not in agreement with the physical event during engine test. Centrifugal, thermal, assembly and wear effects can affect tip clearance measurement. Centrifugal forces untwist the blade tip, resulting in change in the effective area of the target that is seen by capacitance sensor. Relative component growths due to thermal effect result in the displacement of the sensor from its original position. This could induce error into this measurement. Assembly errors are seen during blade to disc assembly. Wear occurs under the action of centrifugal loading and vibration in compressor blades dovetail roots that are attached to the disc. This leads to wear in involved metal surfaces and it could be a source of error in this measurement. Measurement system also has its own uncertainty. During the current work all sources of errors were evaluated. Probable actual running clearance on the engine and reasons for the mismatch in indication were successfully arrived at through analytical and experimental studies. This work has provided an insight into probable sources of errors and their treatment methodologies using analytical and experimental techniques. This has helped in identifying the changes needed in the calibration procedure, methods to reduce the measurement system uncertainty band and measurement procedure.
A comparison and verification of computational methods to determine the permeability of vertebral trabecular bone
Authors: Widmer René P , Ferguson Stephen J
Published: March 2013

Fluid flow in the intertrabecular spaces of vertebral bone has been implicated in a number of physiological phenomena. Despite the potential clinical significance of the flow of various fluids through the intertrabecular cavities, the intrinsic permeability of trabecular bone is not fully characterized or understood. Furthermore, very little is known about the interdependence of permeability and morphological parameters. The main purpose of this study is to characterize computational methods to determine intrinsic bone permeability from three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) image stacks that were, depending on the underlying algorithm of each model, acquired at a spatial resolution ranging from the order of 500 μm (macroscale) up to 10 μm (microscale). A Finite Element formulation of the steady-state Stokes flow and an in house developed pore network modeling approach compute permeability on the microscopic length scale. To approximate the geometry of the trabecular bone network, a cellular model is used to map morphological information into intrinsic permeability by means of a log-linear regression equation. If the image resolution is too low for the quantification of the trabecular bone architecture, permeability is directly derived by fitting a simplified version of the log-linear regression equation to the CT Hounsfield values. Depending on the resolution of the raw image data and the chosen model, permeability value correlations are 0.31 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.90 compared to the Finite Element method, that is referred to as the baseline for any comparisons in this study. Furthermore, we found no significant dependence of the intrinsic permeability on the trabecular thickness parameter.
Parametric study and optimization of an ejector-expansion TRCC cycle integrated with a water purification system
Authors: Yari M , Zare V , Mahmoudi SMS
Published: March 2013

A combined cogeneration cycle is proposed in which the waste heat from an ejector-expansion trans-critical CO2 refrigeration cycle is utilized for power production and water purification simultaneously. The waste heat utilization was performed by means of a CO2 supercritical power cycle and a desalination system for pure water production. In order to run the desalination system, an absorption heat transformer is employed to upgrade the lower temperature waste heat. Thermodynamic models are developed for both the ejector-expansion trans-critical CO2 cycle and the combined cogeneration cycle consisting of all the above mentioned cycles. A parametric study is conducted to investigate and optimize the performance of each cycle under various operating conditions. It is found that, at the optimum conditions, the energy efficiency ratio of combined cogeneration cycle is about 13–45% higher than the coefficient of performance of the ejector-expansion trans-critical CO2 cycle. It is also concluded that, as the gas cooler temperature increases, the pure water production rate in the combined cogeneration cycle is increased.
Performance and flow fields of a supersonic axial turbine at off-design conditions
Authors: Grönman Aki , Turunen-Saaresti Teemu , Röyttä Pekka , Jaatinen Ahti , Backman Jari
Published: March 2013

The increasing demand of energy efficiency and the utilisation of small-scale energy sources require efficient, small and versatile turbines. Supersonic turbines have a high power density and therefore small size and fewer stages than the subsonic ones. However, the performance of a supersonic turbine can decrease rapidly when operating at off-design conditions. This raises a need for the improvement of the turbine off-design performance. In this article, a supersonic axial flow turbine is studied numerically to find the causes of efficiency decrement. This article presents the most thorough study so far about the reasons that lead to the decreased off-design performance with supersonic axial flow turbines and explains the loss sources individually for the stator and the rotor. Three operating conditions are studied, and it is suggested that at the lower than design pressure ratios, the shock losses of the stator decrease while simultaneously the stator secondary losses increase. The high positive incidence at the lowest modelled pressure ratio, mass flow and rotational speed caused a significant decrease in the rotor and stage performance. This highlights the importance of incidence even in shock-driven supersonic turbine flows.
The Role of Feeling Known for Team Member Outcomes in Project Teams
Authors: Purvanova Radostina K.
Published: March 2013

This research introduces the concept of feeling known—or the belief that others have developed accurate opinions of one’s traits and characteristics—to the team literature. Various theoretical streams posit that acquiring a sense of being known and understood is a central human motivation that leads to positive outcomes for individuals. The present research links team member’s sense of feeling known with team member’s reports of interpersonal trust, personal learning, and project satisfaction in a large sample of project teams. Using a longitudinal study design, this research finds that feeling known is indeed a strong predictor of proximal and distal team member outcomes. Additional analyses reveal that team members’ sense of feeling known plays a role in predicting outcomes for both face-to-face and virtual team members, despite the fact that virtual team members report feeling less known than face-to-face team members. The practical significance of these results is discussed.
“The Button”
Authors: Lasiter Sue
Published: March 2013

Patient–nurse interactions are foundational to care that is desired by patients. Evidence about patient-initiated interactions with nurses is scant and little focus has been placed on the meaning to patients of ways to call for help when needed. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to provide a more intensive focus on initiative, one of four categories identified in a grounded theory study related to the perception of feeling safe in intensive care. Of 10 participants, a subset of 9 participant interviews was included in this analysis. Participants perceived “the button” was a way to initiate interaction with a nurse and to get the help they might need “right now.” This report emphasizes the importance of nurse call lights to patients and contributes to evidence focused on the meaning for patients of initiating interaction with nurses. Findings have important implications for care quality and nurse education.