bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapports entre équilibre et dynamique au tournant des 17e et 18e siècles
Authors: Schmit Christophe
Published: December 2014

This article investigates the reception of Galileo and Descartes’ principles of statics in the works of some French scientists in the second half of seventeenth century, tracing their importance for the genesis of a concept of force. Through an examination of the link between statics and dynamics ‒ especially concerning the phenomena of collision and the motion of falling bodies ‒ it will be shown, first, that these principles of statics actually contributed to the genesis of dynamics; secondly, that the authors examined in this article managed to unify the various fields of mechanics by building a common axiomatic basis, and, thirdly, that there exists a conceptual identity between actions in engines and actions in dynamic phenomena. The evidence brought fourth in this articles challenges the view according to which statics, and more particularly the law of the lever, was an obstacle for the development of dynamics, and particularly for the conceptualization of force.
The Aramaic Component and Aramaisms in the Arabic Column of Ms. BL OR7562
Authors: Zewi Tamar
Published: December 2014

The article analyzes the Aramaic component and Aramaisms embedded in the first hand’s stage of the Arabic column of Ms. BL OR7562 (c. 1300),1 which mainly conveys a Samaritan version of Saadya Gaon’s translation of the Pentateuch. While Aramaic words are known to feature in all versions of Saadya’s Tafsīr, Ms. BL OR7562 evinces examples of Aramaic loan words and various kinds of Aramaisms that are found neither in other versions of Saadya’s Tafsīr, nor in the other two main Samaritan Arabic versions, namely the early Samaritan Arabic translation and its later revision.
A new species of Pericallis (Senecioneae, Asteraceae) endemic to Porto Santo (Madeira, Portugal)
Authors: Jones Katy Elizabeth , SEQUEIRA M. , CARINE M. , JARDIM R.
Published: December 2014

A new species, Pericallis menezesii, is described from the island of Porto Santo in the Madeiran archipelago. Morphological comparisons are made with its sister taxon, P. aurita which is now considered to be endemic to the island of Madeira.
A Second-Order Exact Ensemble Square Root Filter for Nonlinear Data Assimilation
Authors: Tödter Julian , Ahrens Bodo
Published: December 2014

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and its deterministic variants, mostly square root filters such as the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF), represent a popular alternative to variational data assimilation schemes and are applied in a wide range of operational and research activities. Their forecast step employs an ensemble integration that fully respects the nonlinear nature of the analyzed system. In the analysis step, they implicitly assume the prior state and observation errors to be Gaussian. Consequently, in nonlinear systems, the analysis mean and covariance are biased, and these filters remain suboptimal. In contrast, the fully nonlinear, non-Gaussian particle filter (PF) only relies on Bayes’s theorem, which guarantees an exact asymptotic behavior, but because of the so-called curse of dimensionality it is exposed to weight collapse. Here, it is shown how to obtain a new analysis ensemble whose mean and covariance exactly match the Bayesian estimates. This is achieved by a deterministic matrix square root transformation of the forecast ensemble, and subsequently a suitable random rotation that significantly contributes to filter stability while preserving the required second-order statistics. The properties and performance of the proposed algorithm are further investigated via a set of experiments. They indicate that such a filter formulation can increase the analysis quality, even for relatively small ensemble sizes, compared to other ensemble filters in nonlinear, non-Gaussian scenarios. Localization enhances the potential applicability of this PF-inspired scheme in larger-dimensional systems. The proposed algorithm, which is fairly easy to implement and computationally efficient, is referred to as the nonlinear ensemble transform filter (NETF).
Surgical procedure of extracting teeth for obtaining dental pulp for regenerative medicine in swine
Authors: Sasaki R , Matsumine H , Watanabe Y , Yamato M , Ando T
Published: December 2014

Dental pulp is a potential source of cells that can be used in cell replacement therapy for various nerve disorders, including stroke, spinal cord injury, and peripheral nerve defect. However, the validation of an animal model closely related to humans is needed in translational research. The miniature pig is a suitable experimental model in maxillofacial surgery, because its anatomical structure and size are similar to those of humans. However, the swine tooth is extremely long. The routine closed extraction procedure for harvesting dental pulp tissue causes root fracture. This report describes the details of a surgical procedure for tooth extraction. Four healthy 7–8-month-old male NIBS miniature pigs were used. Two mandibular deciduous right incisors (Di1 and Di2) were extracted in order to obtain dental pulp tissue. Gingival envelope incision with vertical-releasing incision was performed, and a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was made. The buccal alveolar bone was exposed and removed by osteotomy. Di1 and Di2 were extracted. Dental pulp tissue was obtained from these extracted teeth by splitting hard tissue. In this procedure, 9.8 ± 2.5 × 105 cells were obtained from the mandibular Di1 and Di2 ( n = 4).
Collegiate Connections
Authors: Conway Colleen , Rawlings Jared , Wolfgram T.J.
Published: December 2014

A trained music educator accepted a band paraprofessional position and discovered some of the challenges inherent in the role. Certified for K–12 music, he was hired part-time in a large suburban instrumental music program. The job, although interesting and challenging, did not pay enough to sustain him financially. Other music educators warned him about being “used” by the administration, but he learned a great deal from the experience and is now a full-time assistant band director. The data shared here also include statistics about increased numbers of paraprofessionals in the education field and offer a personal look at paraprofessional work.
How Critical Is Critical Thinking?
Authors: Shaw Ryan D.
Published: December 2014

Recent educational discourse is full of references to the value of critical thinking as a 21st-century skill. In music education, critical thinking has been discussed in relation to problem solving and music listening, and some researchers suggest that training in critical thinking can improve students’ responses to music. But what exactly is meant by “critical thinking”? This article explores how critical thinking, when thought of as an outgrowth of Critical Theory and pedagogy concepts, may look very different than our popular definitions of the concept. This reframing of critical thinking requires that students take an active role in questioning and challenging music, education, and the ways in which they may take critical action to pursue change. Examples of critical thinking questions, activities, and curricula are offered, and resources are included for further reading.
From I to International
Authors: Holmes Alena , VanAlstine Sharri
Published: December 2014

International-mindedness is defined in many different ways in education discourse. Some of the definitions include the ability to be open-minded and respectful of cultures and peoples or having an awareness of the interconnectedness of people not only intellectually but also with growing empathy. Do music educators have any role in helping students acquire and develop international-mindedness? We would like to suggest it is an essential part of music education and an exciting way to teach/learn about cultures and music. We describe eight strategies of an Internationalized Approach to Instruction (IAI) that can make learning cultural musics more meaningful, accurate, and exciting for teachers, students, and the community.
Backing the Bundeswehr
Authors: Fogarty Francesca
Published: December 2014

Along with Germany’s suspension of the Wehrpflicht (mandatory service requirement) in 2011, the Bundeswehr has been reformed to accommodate an all-volunteer force. In the years that followed, studies were conducted to determine the state of civil–military relations in Germany via the opinions of military leadership regarding the reforms and via the opinions of civilians on their perspective of the military in general. This study provides additional data from the perspective of young soldiers ( n = 347) at the Universität der Bundeswehr München and the Helmut Schmidt Universität in Hamburg regarding the civil–military relationship in Germany as of early 2014. The results indicate that the majority of these young soldiers are satisfied with their decision to join the Bundeswehr, yet they feel unsupported and underappreciated by the society they serve.
How HANDy are baby signs? A commentary on a systematic review of the impact of gestural communication on typically developing, hearing infants under the age of 36 months
Authors: Howard Lorraine E. , Doherty-Sneddon Gwyneth
Published: December 2014

The ethos behind provision of early intervention programmes to infants and young children with additional support needs has been established for some time (e.g. Right-from-the-Start), but targeting the development of typically developing infants has been a relatively recent phenomenon. Baby sign is one of the many intervention techniques available, alongside programmes focused on movement, music, massage, multisensory experience, as well as reading specifically to infants and toddlers. Some of these alternatives, like baby sign, make claims regarding cognitive and socio-emotional advancements. However, much of this can be based on anecdote and opinion. This has happened in the case of baby sign.
A PDE-Based Regularization Algorithm Toward Reducing Speckle Tracking Noise
Authors: Guo Li , Xu Yan , Xu Zhengfu , Jiang Jingfeng
Published: December 2014

Obtaining accurate ultrasonically estimated displacements along both axial (parallel to the acoustic beam) and lateral (perpendicular to the beam) directions is an important task for various clinical elastography applications (e.g., modulus reconstruction and temperature imaging). In this study, a partial differential equation (PDE)–based regularization algorithm was proposed to enhance motion tracking accuracy. More specifically, the proposed PDE-based algorithm, utilizing two-dimensional (2D) displacement estimates from a conventional elastography system, attempted to iteratively reduce noise contained in the original displacement estimates by mathematical regularization. In this study, tissue incompressibility was the physical constraint used by the above-mentioned mathematical regularization. This proposed algorithm was tested using computer-simulated data, a tissue-mimicking phantom, and in vivo breast lesion data. Computer simulation results demonstrated that the method significantly improved the accuracy of lateral tracking (e.g., a factor of 17 at 0.5% compression). From in vivo breast lesion data investigated, we have found that, as compared with the conventional method, higher quality axial and lateral strain images (e.g., at least 78% improvements among the estimated contrast-to-noise ratios of lateral strain images) were obtained. Our initial results demonstrated that this conceptually and computationally simple method could be useful for improving the image quality of ultrasound elastography with current clinical equipment as a post-processing tool.
Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Methyl Eugenol–induced Nonneoplastic and Neoplastic Neuroendocrine Cell Lesions in Glandular Stomach of Rats
Authors: Janardhan Kyathanahalli S. , Rebolloso Yvette , Hurlburt Geoffrey , Olson David , Lyght Otis , Clayton Natasha P. , Gruebbel Margarita , Picut Catherine , Shackelford Cynthia , Herbert Ronald A.
Published: December 2014

Methyl eugenol induces neuroendocrine (NE) cell hyperplasia and tumors in F344/N rat stomach. Detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) characterization of these tumors has not been previously reported. The objective of this study was to fill that data gap. Archived slides and paraffin blocks were retrieved from the National Toxicology Program Archives. NE hyperplasias and tumors were stained with chromogranin A, synaptophysin, amylase, gastrin, H+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), pepsinogen, somatostatin, and cytokeratin 18 (CK18) antibodies. Many of the rats had gastric mucosal atrophy, due to loss of chief and parietal cells. The hyperplasias and tumors were confined to fundic stomach, and females were more affected than the males. Hyperplasia of NE cells was not observed in the pyloric region. Approximately one-third of the females with malignant NE tumors had areas of pancreatic acinar differentiation. The rate of metastasis was 21%, with liver being the most common site of metastasis. Immunohistochemically, the hyperplasias and tumors stained consistently with chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Neoplastic cells were also positive for amylase and CK18 and negative for gastrin, somatostatin, H+/K+ ATPase, and pepsinogen. Metastatic neoplasms histologically similar to the primary neoplasm stained positively for chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Based on the histopathological and IHC features, the neoplasms appear to arise from enterochromaffin-like cells.
Early mobilization of patients who have had a hip or knee joint replacement reduces length of stay in hospital: a systematic review
Authors: Guerra Mark L , Singh Parminder J , Taylor Nicholas F
Published: December 2014

Objective:

To systematically review the effect of early mobilization after hip or knee joint replacement surgery on length of stay in an acute hospital.

Methods:

Randomized controlled trials were selected from electronic databases based on inclusion criterion requiring an experimental group mobilizing (sitting out of bed/walking) earlier than a comparison group post joint replacement surgery of the hip or knee in an acute hospital. Clinically homogeneous data were analyzed with meta-analysis.

Results:

Five randomized controlled trials (totaling 622 participants) were included for review. A meta-analysis of 5 trials found a reduced length of stay of 1.8 days (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.6) in favor of the experimental group. In 4 of the 5 trials the experimental group first sat out of bed within 24 hours post operatively. In 4 of the 5 trials the experimental group first walked within 48 hours post operatively. Individual trials reported benefits in range of motion, muscle strength and health-related quality of life in favor of the experimental group. There were no differences in discharge destinations, incidence of negative outcomes or adverse events attributable to early mobilization when compared to the comparison groups.

Conclusion:

Early mobilization post hip or knee joint replacement surgery can result in a reduced length of stay of about 1.8 days. Trials that reported these positive results showed that early mobilization can be achieved within 24 hours of operation. This positive gain was achieved without an increase in negative outcomes.
Aleutian Disease
Authors: LaDouceur E. E. B. , Anderson M. , Ritchie B. W. , Ciembor P. , Rimoldi G. , Piazza M. , Pesti D. , Clifford D. L. , Giannitti F.
Published: December 2014

Aleutian disease virus (ADV, Amdovirus, Parvoviridae) primarily infects farmed mustelids (mink and ferrets) but also other fur-bearing animals and humans. Three Aleutian disease (AD) cases have been described in captive striped skunks; however, little is known about the relevance of AD in free-ranging carnivores. This work describes the pathological findings and temporospatial distribution in 7 cases of AD in free-ranging striped skunks. All cases showed neurologic disease and were found in a 46-month period (2010–2013) within a localized geographical region in California. Lesions included multisystemic plasmacytic and lymphocytic inflammation (ie, interstitial nephritis, myocarditis, hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, pneumonia, and splenitis), glomerulonephritis, arteritis with or without fibrinoid necrosis in several organs (ie, kidney, heart, brain, and spleen), splenomegaly, ascites/hydrothorax, and/or encephalomalacia with cerebral microangiopathy. ADV infection was confirmed in all cases by specific polymerase chain reaction and/or in situ hybridization. The results suggest that AD is an emerging disease in free-ranging striped skunks in California.
Spinal Cord Ependymal Responses to Naturally Occurring Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Dogs
Authors: Moore S. A. , Oglesbee M. J.
Published: December 2014

The spinal cord ependymal layer (SEL) is a recent focus in spinal cord injury (SCI) research because of its potential to serve as a source of endogenous neural stem cells. Dogs are an important spontaneous model of SCI; however, there is a paucity of information available in the literature regarding the canine SEL. Here we describe the histologic appearance and immunohistochemical staining patterns of the SEL in normal dogs ( n = 4) and dogs with acute SCI caused by intervertebral disk extrusion ( n = 7). Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA, Ki-67, caspase 3, E-cadherin, GFAP, and vimentin was employed in both groups. Staining for Ki-67 was absent in the SEL of normal and SCI-affected dogs, indicating possible restricted proliferative capacity of the canine SEL acutely after SCI. GFAP-positive cells were increased after SCI at both at the lesion epicenter and at proximal spinal cord sites ( P = .001 and P = .006, respectively), supporting the possibility of astrocytic differentiation within the SEL after SCI. Total E-cadherin staining did not differ between normal and SCI-affected dogs ( P = .42 for lesion epicenter, P = .09 at proximal sites) and was restricted to the apical cell surface in normal dogs. After SCI, E-cadherin staining was membrane-circumferential and cytosolic in nature, indicating possible loss of cellular polarity after injury that could drive cell migration from the SEL to injury sites. Enhanced GFAP expression and changes in E-cadherin expression patterns support additional studies to evaluate the canine SEL as a source of endogenous neural precursors that may be modulated for future clinical interventions after SCI.
Dynamics of Virus Shedding and In Situ Confirmation of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 in Hawaiian Green Turtles With Fibropapillomatosis
Authors: Work T. M. , Dagenais J. , Balazs G. H. , Schettle N. , Ackermann M.
Published: December 2014

Cancers in humans and animals can be caused by viruses, but virus-induced tumors are considered to be poor sites for replication of intact virions (lytic replication). Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease associated with a herpesvirus, chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), that affects green turtles globally. ChHV5 probably replicates in epidermal cells of tumors, because epidermal intranuclear inclusions (EIIs) contain herpesvirus-like particles. However, although EIIs are a sign of herpesvirus replication, they have not yet been firmly linked to ChHV5. Moreover, the dynamics of viral shedding in turtles are unknown, and there are no serological reagents to confirm actual presence of the specific ChHV5 virus in tissues. The investigators analyzed 381 FP tumors for the presence of EIIs and found that overall, about 35% of green turtles had lytic replication in skin tumors with 7% of tumors showing lytic replication. A few (11%) turtles accounted for more than 30% cases having lytic viral replication, and lytic replication was more likely in smaller tumors. To confirm that turtles were actively replicating ChHV5, a prerequisite for shedding, the investigators used antiserum raised against F-VP26, a predicted capsid protein of ChHV5 that localizes to the host cell nucleus during viral replication. This antiserum revealed F-VP26 in EIIs of tumors, thus confirming the presence of replicating ChHV5. In this light, it is proposed that unlike other virus-induced neoplastic diseases, FP is a disease that may depend on superspreaders, a few highly infectious individuals growing numerous small tumors permissive to viral production, for transmission of ChHV5.
Sustaining Evidence-Based Practices by Graduated Special Educators of Students With ASD
Authors: Hall Laura J.
Published: December 2014

Supporting special educators’ sustained use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is a priority for the field. In this study, the authors used multiple measures to evaluate the first graduated cohort from a university program 6 years after graduation with a master’s degree with a specialization in autism, and at least 8 years working as special educators, to determine whether they (a) remain in the field working with students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and (b) sustain effective practices. Survey and interview responses and content from viewed data sheets and graphs were summarized. All 12 graduates remain in the field. All continued to collect data for progress monitoring purposes and continue to use the EBPs identified by the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD with fidelity. All graduates indicated that the university program assisted in their capacity to implement and sustain their use of EBPs and attribute support from a community of practice as a sustaining factor.
Experimental investigation of flow characteristic of tip leakage flow in an axial flow compressor rotor
Authors: Wu Yanhui , An Guangyao , Wu Junfeng , Jia Yizhe
Published: December 2014

Tip leakage flow fields in a small-scale high-speed subsonic axial flow compressor rotor were investigated by virtue of the steady and casing instantaneous pressure measurements over wide stable operating range. Fast Fourier transformation and short time Fourier transformation analyses were conducted to elucidate the flow characteristics at different operating conditions, with an emphasis on extending experimental database to validate the previous and subsequent numerical investigations, which would be crucial to the understanding of the origin of tip flow unsteadiness. The measured quasi-steady flow characteristics agreed well with the flow features of tip leakage flow from previous steady simulations. The unsteady flow characteristic of tip leakage flow was the appearance of rotating instability, which was of varying frequency closely related to tip loading variation. An agreement between the unsteady flow characteristics of tip leakage flow from the current measurements and from the previous unsteady simulations to some extent indicated that further systematical unsteady simulations and a deeper quantitative validation of simulation results should be made so that the origin of rotating instability could be uncovered precisely.
Agent-based model for social and sexual partnerships formation
Authors: Mudimu Edinah , Engelbrecht Gerhard Nieuwoudt
Published: December 2014

This paper presents an agent-based model that aims to replicate the social and sexual partnerships in real-world settings. This work is part of work in progress and aims to model the progression of HIV in a community. The model builds on existing models allowing for marriage, divorce and agent death. The main aim of this paper is to enhance the understanding of the evolution of social and sexual partnerships in a dynamically changing agent population. Agents are assigned attributes such as attractiveness, aspiration, courtship duration and sexual drive. Partnership formation is based on a likeability index which is calculated using age, aspiration and attractiveness.
Heart transplants: Identity disruption, bodily integrity and interconnectedness
Authors: Mauthner Oliver E , De Luca Enza , Poole Jennifer M , Abbey Susan E , Shildrick Margrit , Gewarges Mena , Ross Heather J
Published: December 2014

Of heart transplant recipients, 30 per cent report ongoing or episodic emotional issues post-transplant, which are not attributable to medications or pathophysiological changes. To this end, our team theorized that cardiac transplantation introduces pressing new questions about how patients incorporate a transplanted heart into their sense of self and how this impacts their identity. The work of Merleau-Ponty provided the theoretical underpinning for this project as it rationalizes how corporeal changes affect one’s self and offer an innovative framework to access these complex aspects of living with a transplanted heart. We used visual methodology and recorded 25 semi-structured interviews videographically. Both visual and verbal data were analyzed at the same time in an iterative process. The most common theme was that participants expressed a disruption to their own identity and bodily integrity. Additionally, participants reported interconnectedness with the donor, even when the transplanted heart was perceived as an intruder or stranger. Finally, transplant recipients were very vivid in their descriptions and speculation of how they imagined the donor. Receiving an anonymous donor organ from a stranger often leaves the recipient with questions about who they themselves are now. Our study provides a nuanced understanding of heart transplant recipients’ embodied experiences of self and identity. Insights gained are valuable to educate transplant professionals to develop new supportive interventions both pre- and post-transplant, and to improve the process of informed consent. Ultimately, such insights could be used to enable heart transplant recipients to incorporate the graft optimally over time, easing distress and improving recovery.
Us(ed): The role of victim sensitivity in potentially exploitative intergroup relationships
Authors: Süssenbach Philipp , Gollwitzer Mario
Published: December 2014

In two studies, the influence of victim sensitivity, defined as individual differences in the extent to which people react emotionally when confronted with injustice to their own disadvantage, on intergroup emotions in potentially exploitative intergroup situations was examined. Using a cross-lagged design embedded in the German reunification context ( N = 451), it was found that West Germans high in victim sensitivity felt more anger toward East Germans and angst for their ingroup’s future vitality 2 years later. In a second experimental study ( N = 63), the effect of victim sensitivity on intergroup anger and intergroup angst was shown to be dependent upon perceived exploitation by an outgroup and explained unique variance over and beyond ideological variables (social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, political orientation). Taken together, these results suggest that victim sensitivity is an important variable to consider in potentially exploitative situations, not only on the interpersonal, but also on the intergroup level.
Mobilizing the depths of the market
Authors: Schwarzkopf Stefan
Published: December 2014

Twentieth-century consumer society was characterized by a process of disembedding as described by Karl Polanyi in The Great Transformation (2001 [1944]). The Austro-American consumer researcher Ernest Dichter played a key role in preparing the ideological framework necessary for this process to succeed. In order to assess Dichter’s role and that of psychoanalytic motivation research in general in the creation of the idea of the disembedded consumer, this article presents an analysis of Dichter’s unpublished consumer research reports ranging across different countries and industries between 1939 and 1973. Through content analysis and historical contextualization, I show that Ernest Dichter in particular and psychoanalytic motivation research in general were instrumental in removing from market relationships the invisible hand of social norms. The case of the consumer psychoanalyst Ernest Dichter thus provides new insights into the sociocultural mechanisms by which theorizing in consumer research can influence the objects of its theorizing.
A Comparison Between SRSS-IE and SSiS-PSG Scores
Authors: Lane Kathleen Lynne , Oakes Wendy Peia , Common Eric Alan , Zorigian Kris , Brunsting Nelson C. , Schatschneider Christopher
Published: December 2014

We report findings of a validation study comparing two screening tools: the Student Risk Screening Scale–Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE, an adapted version of the Student Risk Screening Scale) and the Social Skills Improvement System–Performance Screening Guide (SSiS-PSG). Participants included 458 kindergarten through fifth-grade elementary students from one school in a southeastern state. Correlation coefficients indicated statistically significant, inverse relations between SRSS-IE scores (SRSS-IE 12 [total score], SRSS-E7 [subscale score which includes original seven items constituting the SRSS], and SRSS-I5 [subscale scores of the five items to address internalizing behaviors]) and Prosocial Behavior, Motivation to Learn, Reading Skills, and Math Skills subscale scores of the SSiS-PSG. Analysis of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves contrasting students with significant difficulty versus adequate progress suggested the SRSS-IE12 is more accurate for detecting Prosocial Behavior (area under the curve [AUC] = .972) and Motivation to Learn (AUC = .904) compared with Math (AUC = .817) and Reading Skills (AUC = .805) as measured by the SSiS-PSG. Educational implications, limitations, and future directions are offered.
The effectiveness of using reinforcements in the classroom on the academic achievement of students with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Adibsereshki Narges , Abkenar Somaye Jalil , Ashoori Mohammad , Mirzamani Mahmood
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two kinds of reinforcements, tangible reinforcements and social reinforcements, on the academic achievement of eighth-grade female students with intellectual disabilities in the science subject. The study was an experimental method by pretest, with a control group. The participants of the study comprised 45 female students with intellectual disabilities from three different middle schools in the province of Tehran. The multistage cluster method was chosen to determine the sample. The Wechsler intelligence test for matching the groups in terms of IQ and teacher-applied tests were used for all students to measure the progress of students in science. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that (a) there was a significant difference in the academic achievement scores of the groups after applying the intervention and (b) the mean difference in achievement scores for the tangible reinforcements group was significantly higher than the social reinforcement group and the control group. Also the mean scores for the social reinforcement group were significantly higher than the control group.
Order in chaos: Ballot order effects in a post-conflict election?
Authors: Hansen Bertel Teilfeldt , Olsen Asmus Leth
Published: December 2014

Ballot order effects are well documented in established democracies, but less so in newly democratizing countries. In this research note we analyze ballot order effects in the 2010 parliamentary election in Afghanistan. The election provides a first look at ballot order effects in a high stakes, post-conflict election. In this setting, we argue that limited cognitive skills and information are more likely explanations of potential ballot order effects than mechanisms of lacking effort or ambivalence of choice. However, we find no clear evidence of a positive effect on the vote share of a higher ballot position. This raises the broader question of how applicable anomalies found in political behavior are to post-conflict democracies.
The Effect of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Achilles Tendon Ruptures
Authors: Şen Baran , Güler Serkan , Çeçen Berivan , Kumtepe Erdem , Bağrıyanık Alper , Özkal Sermin , Özcan M. Ali , Özsan Hayri , Şanlı Namık , Tatari Mehmet Hasan
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures in rabbits.

Methods:

The study included 14 New Zealand albino rabbits that were divided randomly into 2 groups, A and B, each containing seven rabbits. On day zero, all 28 Achilles tendons were tenotomized and repaired. In group A, the tendons were injected with PRP post surgery whereas those in group B were left untreated. On day 28, the right tendons in both groups were examined histopathologically via both light and electron microscopy, and the left tendons were subjected to biomechanical testing.

Results:

The histological and biomechanical findings in group A were better than those in group B, but the difference was not significant.

Conclusion:

PRP had no effect on the healing process 28 days post Achilles tendon rupture.
The Comparison of Results of Early and Late Rehabilitation Following Arthroscopic Bankart Repair with Knotless Anchor in Recurrent Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Dislocation
Authors: Kütahya Harun , Yel Mustafa , Bilge Onur , Güleç Ali , Kaçıra Burkay Kutluhan , Toker Serdar
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and functional results of early and late rehabilitation of patients who had undergone arthroscopic Bankart repair with knotless anchor for recurrent shoulder dislocation and to define the most appropriate rehabilitation time and the effect of this on recurrence.

Methods:

34 patients (32 male and 2 female) were included in this study. The patients were diagnosed with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation with Bankart lesion in our institution. The exclusion criteria in this study were multi-directional shoulder instability, wide osseous Bankart lesion, wide Hill-Sachs lesion or rotator cuff tear. All patients underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair. Knotless anchor was used in all patients. The patients were grouped into 2 groups postoperatively according to the immobilization period and rehabilitation regimen. Both groups equally consisted of 17 patients. (Group 1; early rehabilitation group, Group 2; late rehabilitation group) All patients were examined retrospectively. Gender, age, dislocated side, dominant hand, recurrence, presence of additional pathologies, time of first and last dislocations preoperatively and numbers of dislocations were the demographic data recorded. At the final follow-up; the restriction in external rotation was measured by comparative goniometry and clinical evaluation was made using the Constant and Rowe scores. One-sample T-test, Mann-Whitney U Test, Crosstabs Chi Square Test and Shapiro-Wilk Tests used for statistical analysis.

Results:

The mean age of the patients in Group 1 was found to be 25.1 ± 6.5 ( 17-43) years and in Group 2, 30.8 ± 6.8 (21-46) years. After a mean follow-up period of 14.7 months, no patients in Group 1 experienced a recurrence, whereas in Group 2 over the mean follow-up period of 38.5 months, there was dislocation, following episodes of subluxation, in only 1 patient (5.8%). When the parameters of first dislocation, last dislocation and number of dislocations were evaluated separately in two groups, no statistical difference was observed between the groups in the relevant parameters (n.s.). A statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect to the restriction in external rotation (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in respect to the Constant and Rowe scores (n.s.).

Conclusion:

The most important result of this study was that the early beginning of rehabilitation yielded less external rotation restriction than late beginning of rehabilitation. The absence of recurrence in the group of early beginning of rehabilitation reminds the question “does early rehabilitation reduce recurrence rates?” The findings in this study should be confirmed with further prospective, randomized and longer follow-up studies.
Comparison of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Versus Bone Marrow Treatment to Enhance Tendon to Bone Healing in an Animal Model
Authors: Aktaş Erdem , Lu Jun , Chamberlain Connie , Saether Erin , Lee Jae Sung , Vanderby Ray
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

Although anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is one of the most common procedures in the field of sports medicine, less than 50% can return to previous activity level partially due to poor biological incorporation of tendon to bone. The aim of the study is to investigate the biological and mechanical effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) and Bone Marrow (BM) treatment for early tendon graft healing in a bone tunnel.

Methods:

60 Wistar Albino rats were enrolled in the study and divided in 3 groups equal in number. In all animals a bilateral 1.2 mm bone tunnel was created in proximal tibia. 15 mm Digital Flexor tendons were harvested from each lower extremity and passed from each tunnel. Medial ends of the graft was secured to bone using a custom made endobutton while lateral portion was sutured to periosteum. 100μl whole Bone marrow was aspirated from group 1 animals and injected into the tunnel after tendon transfer while 106 MSCs in 50μl HBSS was injected in the tunnel in group 2. Group 3 was taken as control. Tendon to bone healing was evaluated via immunohistochemistry and mechanical testing at 2 and 6 weeks.

Results:

At 2 weeks the tendon to bone interface tissue was found to be stronger in the BM treatment group whereas there was no difference in stiffness between group 1 and 2. Interface tissue width was found to be significantly decreased in the BM group compared to control and MSC treatment groups (p=0.0012, p=0.0001). At 2 weeks the number of M1 macrophages at the interface tissue was found to be significantly low in the BM group while M2 macrophages were highest in the MSC group. Cellularity was observed significantly high in the MSC group while tissue density was lowest in the BM group due to accelerated graft degradation at 2 weeks.

Conclusion:

Although both Bone Marrow and Mesenchymal Stem Cell treatments enhance tendon to bone healing by accelerating the remodeling process, Bone Marrow treatment reveals a more anti-inflammatory healing with improved mechanical properties.
How Consistent are the MRI Findings and the Clinical Outcomes after Meniscus Repair?
Authors: Bombaci Hasan , Cetinkaya Fatih , Meric Kaan
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

The meniscal repair is a preferred treatment whenever possible after meniscus tear. There are reports in the literature that MRI assessment is not useful to evaluate healing of the meniscus after repair. However, we have not found any study which compares the clinical outcomes of meniscus repair according to the MRI findings. The purpose of this study was to compare the MRI features and the clinical outcomes after meniscus repair.

Methods:

32 patients underwent meniscus repair between January 2011 and June 2013. Twenty three of them accepted a control MRI examination at last follow-up visit. One patient was more than 130 kg in weight so it was not possible to perform MRI examination in our institution. Therefore, twenty-two patients (17 male, 5 female) were included in this study. The mean age was 31.81 (18-48). Preoperative clinical and radiological findings were obtained from the hospital registry. At last follow-up, the clinical examination and MRI assessment were performed. The results were compared statistically with the ANOVA method.

Results:

MRI assessment, obtained at the last follow-up, was performed blindly by the radiology specialist and senior surgeon and any conflicts between the two assessments were settled by using the preoperative MRI findings. In 10 patients (45.45%), the MRI examination revealed normal/nearly normal meniscal signal alteration, in three (13.64%), incomplete tear and in nine (40.91%), a vertical/complex tear signal located in the previously torn meniscus area. Post-operatively the mean Lysholm score was 91.40±10.57 and Tegner activity score, 4.59±1.62. Also, the Lysholm score (91.5±12.44, 94.33±5.50 and 90.33±10.34, respectively) and Tegner activity score (4.2±1.87, 6±1.00 and 4.5±1.33, respectively) were evaluated in each group separately, however the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion:

In the present study, there was no correlation between the MRI signals and clinical outcomes. The Lysholm score was found to be over 90 in 20 of the 22 knees in this series. In conclusion, the findings reveal that the meniscus fulfills its function as normal or nearly normal even though the MRI findings fail to prove healing, in the mean 19. 5 months’ period postoperatively.
Injury of the Infrapatellar Branch of the Saphenous Nerve During Hamstring Graft Harvest
Authors: Sipahioglu Serkan , Zehir Sinan , Baykara İslam , Bilge Ali
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

Sensory disturbance around the surgical incision due to injury of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN) can be seen in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction after the operation. In this research, we aimed to compare the incidence, extent of sensory loss, its clinical effect and natural course caused by two different skin incisions used for autogenous hamstring graft harvest during ACL reconstruction.

Methods:

Seventy eight patients who underwent hamstring graft harvest during ACL reconstruction participated in the study. Among the 78 patients, vertical incision for 36 patients and oblique incision for 42 patients were used for graft harvest. The area of the sensory loss was documented at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months follow-ups. A blunt pin was used for pin prick examination starting from proximal end of the incision and the patient was asked to note the point of change in sensation from normal to abnormal. The abnormal points were joined and digital photographs of hypesthesia were taken and analysed by computer for area detection. The length of incision and subjective complain of sensory loss were also noted. Results

Results:

The patients’ age and incision length between the two groups had no significant difference. At 6 weeks, vertical incision was associated with persistent sensory loss in 77% (28/36) cases which was significantly higher when compared to the oblique incision (19/42). The measured area of hypesthesia was significantly higher in vertical incision (42.4±22.3 cm2) than that in oblique incision (9.3±15.3 cm2) at 6 weeks. On further follow-ups at 3 and 6 months, the area of hypesthesia gradually shrunk in size. The recovery pattern was from distal to proximal in direction. Also, subjective cutaneous anaesthesia was higher in vertical incision (15/36, 41%) than oblique incision (6/42, 14%) at 6 months.

Conclusion:

Injury to the IPBSN can be seen during hamstring graft harvest. Vertical incision has maximum incidence of IPBSN injury. Oblique incision with less risk of nerve damage may be better for graft harvesting in ACL reconstruction. Area of hypesthesia gradually reduces with time and even recovers totally. Sensory loss does not impair normal daily activities in most of these patients. As a possible complication, nerve injury and its benign prognosis should be explained to the patient before surgery.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life Questionnaire
Authors: Kinikli Gizem Irem , Celik Derya , Atay Ozgur Ahmet , Yuksel Inci
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

Despite a number of questionnaires in the area of ACL injuries there is a need for cross-cultural adaptation for patients with ACL reconstruction (ACL-R). To test the measurement properties of the Turkish version of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACL-QOL).

Methods:

One-hundred nineteen patients with ACL-R completed internal consistency, agreement, construct validity, floor and ceiling effect analyses. Eighty out of 119 patients with ACL-R completed the Turkish adapted version of the ACL-QOL questionnaire twice for the test-retest reliability. A subgroup of thirty-nine patients undergoing physiotherapy were also asked to answer the ACL-QOL questionnaire, the Lysholm knee scale (LKS), Knee Outcome Survey – Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) at preoperative, 16th week and 2 years post-operatively to assess responsiveness.

Results:

The questionnaire had high internal consistency (Cronbach α=.95). The paired t-test showed no significant difference between the test-retest means. The intraclass correlation was excellent for reliability and agreement in five domains and overall score (ICC: 0.95, 0.95, 0.97, 0.95, 0.96, and 0.95; p<0.001). The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minumum detectable change (MDC95) were found to be 3.14 points and 8.70 points, respectively. The questionnaire showed a fair correlation (r=0.23) with (LKS) and a poor correlation (r=0.14) with (KOS-ADLS); good and very good construct validity (r=0.51, r=0.62) with SF-36 physical component score and mental component score, respectively. We observed no ceiling and floor effects overall on the ACL-QOL questionnaire except the subdomain of “work-related concerns” (22.9%). The responsiveness demonstrated a dramatic effect size of 2.12 at the 16th week and large effect size of 0.97 at 2 years follow-up.

Conclusion:

The Turkish version of the ACL-QOL questionnaire is a reproducible and responsive instrument that can be used in clinical studies.
Do Body Mass, Body Mass Index and Body Fat Ratio have an Effect on Proprioception?
Authors: Numanoğlu Esra Ateş , Can Filiz , Erden Zafer
Published: December 2014

Objectives:

Proprioceptive sense plays important role of the protective reflex response against the harmful forces on the joint takes part in protection against the injuries. The load on the musculoskeletal system increases with higher body weights and joints become prone to injuries due to this increased load. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between the proprioceptive sense of the knee joint, mostly affected by loading, and the body weight, body mass index, and body fat ratio.

Methods:

25 healthy people aged between 21 and 36 years included in the study. Body weights, body mass indexes (BMI), and body fat ratios of the individuals were measured. Proprioceptive sense in the knee joint is evaluated through the active joint position sense (A-JPS) assessments. The A-JPS of 50 knees of 25 individuals are evaluated at supine and load bea squat with 30° and 90° of knee flexion. To measure A-JPS, targeted angle were shown using goniometer and digital photography has been taken. Then they return to the initial position and repeat the angle and the second image was captured. After three times repetitions, deviations from 30° and 90° were called mean angle errors. The angle error measurements were performed with specifically written programme MATLAB (Computer Aided Design software). Pearson and Spearman Correlation Analyses were used for statistics.

Results:

There was no correlation between the body weight and the proprioceptive error at supine and squat for 30° and 90° flexion angles (p>0.05). When the individuals has been grouped according to their BMI values thinnesses for (BMI = 15-20 kg/m²), normals for (BMI = 20-25 kg/m²), and overweights for (BMI = 25-30 kg/m²) and the correlation between the BMI and proprioceptive error has been evaluated, there was no correlation for thinnesses and normals, for overweights at 90° squat position a medium strength positive correlation is observed (r=0.644, p=0.01). For thinnesses and normals there is no correlation between the body fat ratio and the proprioceptive error. For the overweights for 30° and 90° flexions at squat there is medium strength, strong positive correlations (r1=0.540, p=0.04; r2=0.709, p=0.005).

Conclusion:

Consequently, especially for individuals with high BMI, at load bearing squat position for 90° flexion, the proprioceptive sense decreases. Increased body fat ratio negatively affects the proprioception at load bearing squat position for 30° and 90° flexion angles. According to these results being overweight can be considered as an disadvantage in terms of proprioceptive sense.