bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is There a Relationship Between Landing, Cutting, and Pivoting Tasks in Terms of the Characteristics of Dynamic Valgus?
Authors: Jones Paul A. , Herrington Lee C. , Munro Allan G. , Graham-Smith Philip
Published: July 2014

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a major problem among female athletes. Screening for the risk of ACL injuries tends to focus on landing tasks, which may be limited in sports where changing direction is the main action involved in noncontact ACL injuries such as soccer.

Purpose:

To investigate whether there is a relationship between single-legged landing (SLL), cutting (90° cuts), and pivoting (180° turns) in terms of the characteristics of dynamic valgus.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Twenty female soccer players (mean ± SD: age, 21.0 ± 3.9 years; height, 1.65 ± 0.08 m; mass, 58.4 ± 6.4 kg) performed a minimum of 6 trials of SLL from a 0.3-m drop height and cutting and pivoting all on the right leg. Kinematics and kinetics were calculated from 3-dimensional motion analysis.

Results:

Strong correlations were found for peak knee abduction angles between tasks ( R = 0.63-0.86, P < .01), whereas only moderate correlations between SLL and cutting ( R = 0.46, P < .05), cutting and pivoting ( R = 0.56, P < .05), and SLL and pivoting ( R = 0.43, P > .05) were found between tasks for peak knee abduction moments.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that female athletes who exhibit poor SLL mechanics perform the same during various changing direction tasks.

Clinical Relevance:

The results support the use of existing screening tests that involve landing tasks to identify at-risk athletes for noncontact ACL injuries.
The Legitimation of Inequality
Authors: Im Dong-Kyun
Published: July 2014

Why people of lower socioeconomic status often support conservative economic policies has been one of the most intriguing puzzles for sociologists. This study tackles this paradox and presents a social psychological explanation that considers the effect of two kinds of psychosocial dispositions—authoritarianism and social dominance orientation—on attitudes toward economic inequality. Using two nationally representative Chinese social surveys and using structural equation modeling for empirical analysis, this article demonstrates that stark rural–urban income disparity in China resulted in large regional–educational inequality and that lower educational levels in disadvantaged areas led to residents’ conservative psychosocial dispositions. This article sheds light on a previously neglected social psychological mechanism of political attitude formation and shows how such a mechanism is embedded in macro-institutional contexts.
A National Survey of Critical Care Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs
Authors: Steinberg Marilyn , Dresser Linda D. , Daneman Nick , Smith Orla M. , Matte Andrea , Marinoff Nicole , Bell Chaim M. , Morris Andrew M.
Published: July 2014

Objective:

Antimicrobial stewardship is a process designed to optimize antimicrobial therapy by ensuring patients get the right antimicrobials at the right dose and at the right time. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are increasingly being implemented in health care institutions, are required by some accreditation bodies, and have the potential for maximum impact in intensive care units (ICUs). We administered a survey to critical care physicians across Canada to better understand their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions on the utility of ASPs in improving patient care.

Design, Setting, and Patients:

We distributed a Web-based survey to physicians who attend in Canadian ICUs. Respondents were identified through the membership lists of multiple critical care organizations. Content validity, utility, clarity, and test–retest reliability were evaluated prior to distribution. Survey items assessed ASP knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. Attitudes toward ASPs were assessed on a 5-point Likert-type scale.

Measurements and Main Results:

The survey was completed by 185 physicians, with a response rate of 29% (n = 185/634) for all physicians contacted. A majority (74%) of respondents reported that there was at least 1 component of an ASP at their institution. Most (86%) respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the patients in their ICU benefit from an ASP, with 81% reporting the ASP increases their knowledge of appropriate antimicrobial use in the ICU setting. Only 11% of respondents reported they felt that time spent interacting with the ASP team was an inefficient use of their time, and only 7% expressed concern that the ASP negatively affected their autonomy.

Conclusion:

Based on our survey results, Canadian intensivists are supportive of antimicrobial stewardship in ICUs and feel that ASPs provide a valuable service to both patients and clinicians.
Suicidal Ideation in an Older U.S. Chinese Population
Authors: Dong XinQi , Chen Ruijia , Wong Esther , Simon Melissa A.
Published: July 2014

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among U.S. Chinese older adults. Method: Guided by the community-participatory research approach, the PINE (Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago) study is a population-based epidemiological study conducted from 2011 to 2013 of 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese adults aged 60 years and above in the Greater Chicago area. Results: The 2-week prevalence of suicidal ideation, 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation, and lifetime suicidal ideation were 3.5%, 4.8%, and 9.4%, respectively. Age, sex, marital status, education, income, living arrangement, country of origin, years in the United States, overall health status, quality of life, and health changes over the past year were significantly correlated with suicidal ideation. Discussion: Suicidal ideation was common among U.S. Chinese older adults in the Greater Chicago area. Further longitudinal studies should be conducted to explore the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation.
Racial/Ethnic Predictors of Falls Among Older Adults
Authors: Nicklett Emily J. , Taylor Robert Joseph
Published: July 2014

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the probability and frequency of falls among adults aged 65 and older. Method: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 2000 to 2010, the authors conducted random-intercept logistic and Poisson regression analyses to examine whether race/ethnicity predicted the likelihood of a fall event and the frequency of falls. Results: The analytic sample included 10,484 older adults. Baseline analyses showed no significant racial/ethnic differences in the probability or number of falls. However, in the longitudinal random-intercept models, African Americans had significantly lower odds (0.65) of experiencing at least one fall compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Among fallers, African Americans had significantly fewer falls (24%) than non-Hispanic Whites, controlling for health and sociodemographic covariates (all ps < .05). Latinos did not differ from non-Hispanic Whites in the likelihood or number of falls. Discussion: African Americans are less likely to experience initial or recurrent falls than non-Hispanic Whites.
A modified method to determine the radius of influence domain in element-free Galerkin method
Authors: Sheng Mao , Li Gensheng , Shah Subhash
Published: July 2014

The radius of the influence domain is an important parameter in the weight function and plays an essential role in the accuracy of approximations. A modified method was proposed for determining the radius of influence domain. The modification is that the radius of influence domain is prescribed by the desired amount of support nodes for any point of interest. The advantages of this strategy are the regularity of matrix can be ensured in moving least square approximation and the algorithm is simple and practicable. The modified method was validated by thousands of patch tests in the case of regular and irregular node collocations and Timoshenko beam problem with using random node collocation. Results show that the proposed method performs more capability to handle the arbitrary node collocation than the pre-existing methods. This paper provides an alternative way to determine the radius of influence domain.
Dynamical analysis of vibratory feeder and feeding parts considering interactions by an improved increment harmonic balance method
Authors: Kong Xiangxi , Zhang Xueliang , Li Qinliang , Wen Bangchun
Published: July 2014

Vibratory feeder is known as one of major machines in various industries. The feeding parts in a vibratory feeder are experiencing repeated discontinuous friction that can be considered as a typical strong nonlinear dynamic problem. It is very significant to obtain the motion of parts under different alternating loads for the design of vibratory feeder. An analytical model of parts’ motion in sliding regime was constructed and verified with a simplified model based on discrete element method. An improved increment harmonic balance method was proposed to obtain the dynamic behaviors of vibratory feeder and the motion of feeding parts. In contrast to previous researches, we considered the interactions between vibratory feeder and parts in detail, not only containing the effects of the dynamics of vibratory feeder on the motion of parts but also the motion of parts on vibratory feeder. Finally, studying the interactions for various parts’ masses in different frequencies, the motion of parts had a significant effect on the dynamics of vibratory feeder. In reverse, the alterations of the dynamics of vibratory feeder influenced the motion of parts and conveying speed. In the design of vibratory feeder, the interactions between vibratory feeder and parts should not be neglected.
Impact of Maternal Marital Status on Birth Outcomes Among Young Malaysian Women
Authors: Mohd Zain Norhasmah , Low Wah-Yun , Othman Sajaratulnisah
Published: July 2014

This study evaluated the impact of maternal marital status on birth outcomes among young Malaysian women and investigated other risk factors influencing the birth outcomes. Pregnant women with and without marital ties at the point of pregnancy diagnosis were invited to participate in this study. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire at pregnancy diagnosis and shortly after childbirth. From a total of 229 unmarried and 213 married women who participated, marital status was significantly associated with preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.61) and low birth weight (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.98-6.57). Other factors significantly associated with birth outcomes was prenatal care (OR, 4.92; 95% CI, 1.43-16.95), “use of drugs” (OR, 10.39; 95% CI, 1.14-94.76), age (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.16), and number of prenatal visits (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07). Promoting access to prenatal care and social support programs for unmarried mothers may be important to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Evolution of Microscopic Colitis to Giant Cell Colitis Without Significant Intraepithelial Lymphocytosis or Thickened Collagen Plate
Authors: De Petris Giovanni , Chen Longwen
Published: July 2014

Microscopic colitis (MC) is an umbrella term that encompasses lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC). Several histological variants of these 2 entities exist; among them is the uncommon giant cell colitis (GCC), in which histiocytic giant cells (GCs) are present in background of CC or LC. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman complaining of watery diarrhea for several years that was diagnosed with CC. At follow-up, she developed giant cell colitis (GCC). Nine years later, a colectomy revealed a form of microscopic colitis in which significant intraepithelial lymphocytosis and collagen plate thickening have disappeared while GCs persisted with diffuse mononuclear cells inflammation of the lamina propria. Thinning of the collagen plate in association with GCs has been described previously. The case contributes the possibility of further evolution of MC into a pure giant cell colitis in which the prototypical manifestations of MC have all but disappeared.
Single-Incision Lateral Approach for Triple Arthrodesis
Authors: Moore Blake E. , Wingert Nathaniel C. , Irgit Kaan S. , Gaffney Christian J. , Cush Gerard J.
Published: July 2014

Background:

Triple arthrodesis is a powerful hindfoot corrective procedure involving fusion of the talonavicular (TN), calcaneocuboid (CC), and subtalar (ST) joints. A 2-incision approach, a single-incision medial triple arthrodesis, and a single-incision medial double arthrodesis are well described. We present a single-incision lateral approach to triple arthrodesis.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 70 patients who underwent triple arthrodesis at our institution from 2007 to 2011. Patients had either double-incision (n = 33) or single-incision lateral (n = 37) triple arthrodesis. A single surgeon performed all procedures. The most common diagnosis was stage III planovalgus deformity. Deformity correction, union rate, time of surgery, complications, wound healing, reoperations, and pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were analyzed for both groups.

Results:

There were no statistical differences in deformity correction, wound healing, complications, reoperations, or improvement in VAS pain scores. Operation time was significantly shorter in the single-incision lateral group (86 minutes vs 95 minutes, P = .0395). There was no difference in union rates with regard to the TN, ST, or CC joints. Five patients had radiographic nonunions of the CC joint between both groups.

Conclusions:

This is the first study that presents outcomes of a single lateral approach for triple arthrodesis. The single-incision approach was faster. The low rate of symptomatic nonunions suggests that fusion of the CC joint may not be important in symptomatic relief or deformity correction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Trends in Nonemergent Use of Emergency Departments by Health Insurance Status
Authors: Gandhi Sabina Ohri , Grant Lauren P. , Sabik Lindsay M.
Published: July 2014

This article describes trends in nonemergent emergency department (ED) visits by insurance type, using the 2000-2009 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and Current Population Survey. We analyzed trends in the probability that an ED visit is nonemergent and in nonemergent ED visit rates per person. We found that visits for Medicare enrollees were least likely to be for nonemergent reasons, while uninsured visits were most likely to be nonemergent. When we accounted for total visits and population size by insurance group, we found nonemergent ED visit rates per person were largest among Medicaid enrollees. Trends in nonemergent ED visit rates were stable for all insurance groups. The findings suggest a reliance on the ED for nonemergent care by the Medicaid population. It will be important to continue to track patterns of nonemergent ED utilization after Medicaid expansions under the Affordable Care Act.
Fatal Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by allopurinol–rituximab–bendamustine therapy
Authors: Fallon Michael J , Heck Jessica N
Published: July 2014

Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap is an acute hypersensitivity reaction that compromises the integrity of mucous membranes and cutaneous tissue. While the pathophysiology of this syndrome has not been fully elucidated, it is commonly associated with the medication use and carries a significant mortality risk of approximately 30%. No commonalities among causative medications have been identified, and determining the offending agent can be challenging. This case report describes fatal Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap in a patient after receiving his first cycle of allopurinol, rituximab, and bendamustine treatment for non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphoma. An analysis of FDA Medwatch adverse reaction case reports involving allopurinol, rituximab, and bendamustine is also presented.
Being authentic or being responsible? Food consumption, morality and the presentation of self
Authors: Grauel Jonas
Published: July 2014

Ethical consumption has become a popular topic in the sociology of consumption in recent years. However, extant research on explicit ‘ethical consumption’ and on implicit moralities of consumption has scarcely been linked. In the research on ethical consumption, tensions between an inner self and self-presentation to others have been reported. By examining the case of food consumption, the study asks how the idea of ‘taking responsibility’ as a consumer is negotiated by persons who do not identify strongly with ethical consumption. Theoretically, the article starts from two approaches that have located morality either as internal to the person or as external in communication. It is contended that this opposition is not merely a theoretical one, but empirically present in the accounts of the food consumers studied: While consumers have to present their moral motivation as authentic, they also have to communicate their actions as morally valid according to socially established ‘vocabularies of motive’. On the basis of a study of 25 in-depth interviews with consumers from a mid-sized German town, it is shown that the idea that consumers should ‘take responsibility’ for distant others is just one of several abstract constructions of ‘good’ consumption, and that not living up to this idea may be justified with references to personal taste and practical circumstances. It is argued that via references to authenticity, inner morality is part of the vocabulary of motive, and that these vocabularies frame the presentation of moral motivation as internal.
Clothing and colonialism: The Dungiven costume and the fashioning of early modern identities
Authors: Horning Audrey
Published: July 2014

The entanglement of identity and personal attire in colonial settings is explored through consideration of a tattered set of clothes from late sixteenth-early seventeenth-century Ireland incorporating elements of Irish, English, and Scots fashion. Reconsideration of the clothing, recovered from a bog, provides a rare opportunity to explore the physical manifestations of processes of hybridity and mimesis, as well as the pragmatic accommodations of impoverishment and displacement in colonial settings. In addition to considering the role of material culture in colonial identity formation and negotiation, examination of what has become known as the Dungiven costume also speaks to the ongoing legacy of early modern colonial encounters, as the cultural associations of the garments, and by extension their past wearer(s), continue to be subjected to the politically charged nature of identity politics in contemporary Northern Ireland.
Organization Development Through Franchise Advisory Boards
Authors: Cumberland Denise M. , Githens Rod Patrick
Published: July 2014

Franchising brings a unique set of challenges to human resources and organization development (HROD) practitioners who are focused on strategically aligning human capacity and organizational goals through cultures of collaboration. Because franchising consists of inter-firm relationships, the presence of franchise associations can help ensure that franchisee voices are heard and that collaborative relationships exist between the franchisor and franchisees. These franchise associations typically use governance structures, which includes elected boards of directors. Although practitioner data delineate the roles these franchise boards should perform, there has been only limited empirical investigation on the topic. Moreover, no research addresses how to foster productive relationships between the franchisees and franchisors who work together in these board relationships. This article presents a proposed framework for these boards, using a multi-theoretical perspective that addresses the competing emphases affecting the franchisor–franchisee relationship and the respective roles for HROD professionals.
Timing of surgical reconstruction for closed traumatic injury to the supraclavicular brachial plexus
Authors: Birch R.
Published: July 2014

While it is widely accepted that cases of traumatic injury to the brachial plexus benefit from early surgical exploration and repair, with results deteriorating with long delays, policies vary regarding the exact timing of intervention. This is one of a pair of review articles considering the clinical issues, investigations, and surgical factors relating to management of injuries to the supraclavicular brachial plexus, as well evidence from experimental work and clinical outcomes.

In this article Professor Birch argues for early exploration of the brachial plexus as the optimum both to delineate the pathology and undertake reconstructive surgery.
Timing of surgical reconstruction for closed traumatic injury to the supraclavicular brachial plexus
Authors: Hems T.E.J.
Published: July 2014

While it is widely accepted that cases of traumatic injury to the brachial plexus benefit from early surgical exploration and repair, with results deteriorating with long delays, policies vary regarding the exact timing of intervention. This is one of a pair of review articles considering the clinical issues, investigations, and surgical factors relating to management of injuries to the supraclavicular brachial plexus, as well as evidence from experimental work and clinical outcomes.

In this article Mr Hems outlines when waiting may be advantageous, allowing for further investigation to help clarify the extent of the injury and thus the best surgical options.
CT angiography-guided single-stage release of adjacent webspaces in non-Apert syndactyly
Authors: Hynes S. L. , Harvey I. , Thomas K. , Copeland J. , Borschel G. H.
Published: July 2014

We describe the CT angiography protocol and surgical technique utilized at our institution for single-stage release of adjacent web-spaces in non-Apert syndactyly. In a series of seven consecutive hands we analyse syndactyly anatomy, CT angiographic findings, operative details, and complications. Outcomes were assessed with a functional activity evaluation, range of motion, and a parental visual analogue scale. Seven affected hands in four patients underwent single-stage release of adjacent webspaces. In all cases, the CT angiogram correctly predicted the presence of at least one artery supplying each digit. There were no cases of digital ischemia or loss. Angiographically guided, single-stage release of adjacent webspaces is technically feasible and benefits patients by reducing the number of surgical stages and allowing complete release to be achieved at an earlier age compared with the standard multi-stage approach.

Level of Evidence: IV
Measuring Sesamoid Position in Hallux Valgus
Authors: Catanese Dominic , Popowitz Daniel , Gladstein Aharon Z.
Published: July 2014

Measuring tibial sesamoid position is an important component of the preoperative radiographic evaluation of hallux valgus as it helps guide the surgeon in surgical selection. Tibial sesamoid position is typically measured on an anteroposterior (AP) radiograph on a scale from 1 to 7 as described by Hardy and Clapham. Some authors have advocated measuring the position on the sesamoid axial view, noting that the AP and axial views often yield different measurements. There is no consensus as to which view is more helpful in guiding the surgeon’s surgical decision. Weightbearing radiographs of 99 feet in patients with a clinical diagnosis of hallux valgus were retrospectively reviewed. Tibial sesamoid position was measured on the AP view using the 7-point scale of Hardy and Clapham. Tibial sesamoid position was also measured on the axial radiograph. Cohen’s kappa statistic was used to assess agreement of measurements obtained on the 2 views. There was poor agreement of the AP and axial views, with a kappa of 0.31. In our analysis of the data, it was determined that the lack of agreement was due mainly to X-rays showing tibial sesamoid positions of 4 and 5. A subgroup analysis of all X-rays with tibial sesamoids in positions other than 4 or 5 showed excellent agreement, with a kappa of 0.95. Anteroposterior and sesamoid axial views of feet with hallux valgus show excellent agreement in patients with the tibial sesamoid in positions other than 4 or 5. If the tibial sesamoid has a position of 4 or 5 on the AP, an axial view may be warranted to further understand the extent of deformity.

Levels of Evidence: Diagnostic, Level IV: Case series
Telomerase Activity in Articular Chondrocytes Is Lost after Puberty
Authors: Wilson Brooke , Novakofski Kira D. , Donocoff Rachel Sacher , Liang Yan-Xiang Amber , Fortier Lisa A.
Published: July 2014

Objective:

Telomere length and telomerase activity are important indicators of cellular senescence and replicative ability. Loss of telomerase is associated with ageing and the development of osteoarthritis. Implantation of telomerase-positive cells, chondrocytes, or stem cells expressing a normal chondrocyte phenotype is desired for cartilage repair procedures. The objective of this study was to identify at what age chondrocytes and at what passage bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) become senescent based on telomerase activity. The effect of osteogenic protein–1 (OP-1) or interleukin-1α (IL-1α) treatment on telomerase activity in chondrocytes was also measured to determine the response to anabolic or catabolic stimuli.

Methods:

Articular cartilage was collected from horses ( n = 12) aged 1 month to 18 years. Chondrocytes from prepubescent horses (<15 months) were treated with OP-1 or IL-1α. Bone marrow aspirate from adult horses was collected and cultured for up to 10 days to isolate MSCs. Telomerase activity was measured using the TeloTAGGG Telomerase PCR ELISA kit.

Results:

Chondrocytes from prepubescent horses were positive for telomerase activity. Treatment with IL-1α resulted in a decrease in chondrocyte telomerase activity; however, treatment with OP-1 did not change telomerase activity. One MSC culture sample was positive for telomerase activity on day 2; all samples were negative for telomerase activity on day 10.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that chondrocytes from prepubescent donors are potentially more suitable for cartilage repair procedures and that telomerase activity is diminished by anabolic and catabolic cytokine stimulation. If MSCs are utilized in cartilage repair, minimal passaging should be performed prior to implantation.
Individual Differences in Disgust Sensitivity Do Not Influence Moral Reasoning, but a Discipline-Specific Ethics Course Does
Authors: McCool Lisa M. , Bremser Jennifer A.
Published: July 2014

The purpose of this research study was to determine undergraduate students’ perceptions of ethical dilemmas as a means of measuring general concern for leadership ethics within the marketplace. With the end goal of identifying best practices for ethics education in business and to further aid our understanding of how individual factors, such as disgust sensitivity, can alter students’ moral assessments, we measured the relationship between emotion and cognition in affecting ethical decision making. We found specific coursework in business ethics can produce a significant gain in moral reasoning. These results suggest that in the absence of strong moral intuitions, discipline-specific ethics coursework can lead to more postconventional moral decision making.
Fabrication of nanoporous silicon carbide fibres by thermal treatment
Authors: Shin D. G. , Cho K. Y. , Kim Y. , Kwon W. T. , Kim S. R. , Lee Y. J. , Riu D. H.
Published: July 2014

Nanoporous silicon carbide fibres were prepared by curing and heat treatment of melt spun polycarbosilane (PCS) fibres. During the curing process, green PCS fibres were thermally oxidised at the temperature between 180 and 220°C and time between 2 and 10 h for cross-linking among the molecule chains in the PCS and controlling the oxygen concentration and distribution. After thermal oxidation, fibres were heat-treated between 1200 and 1600°C for the conversion to SiC phase. About 15–20 wt-% of oxygen was analysed after heat treatment at 1200°C and it can be possible to pyrolyse without melting or deformation of fibre. At a temperature above 1400°C, the uniform distribution of nanopores was observed on the fibre surface, and the size of pores was increased with curing and heating condition. This type of nanoporous SiC fibre is expected to be a good candidate for high temperature catalyst or catalytic supports.
Pyrolysis of polyborosilazane and its conversion into SiBN ceramic
Authors: Ge K. K. , Ye L. , Han W. J. , Han Y. , Zhao T.
Published: July 2014

The polyborosilazane was prepared by coammonolysis of boron trichloride and methyldichlorosilane with hexamethyldisilazane. The decarburisation process of the polyborosilazane under ammonia was studied. The results suggested carbon was effectively removed under ammonia and the removal of carbon mainly occurred during the temperature range of 400–600°C. After pyrolysed at 900°C under ammonia, the carbon content was only 0·29 wt-%. Further heat treatment at 1500°C under argon yielded SiBN ceramic. The structure and morphological properties of SiBN ceramic were studied by solid 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the SiBN ceramic was amorphous and possessed a smooth surface. The contents of boron, silicon and nitrogen in the SiBN ceramic are 10·9, 42·6 and 38·48 wt-% respectively.
Ncor2 is required for hematopoietic stem cell emergence by inhibiting Fos signaling in zebrafish
Authors: Wei Yonglong , Ma Dongyuan , Gao Ya , Zhang Chunxia , Wang Lu , Liu Feng
Published: July 2014

Key Points

Ncor2 is essential for HSC emergence in zebrafish. Ncor2 inhibits Fos-Vegfd signaling through recruitment of histone deacetylase 3 (Hdac3).
A distinct glucose metabolism signature of acute myeloid leukemia with prognostic value
Authors: Chen Wen-Lian , Wang Jing-Han , Zhao Ai-Hua , Xu Xin , Wang Yi-Huang , Chen Tian-Lu , Li Jun-Min , Mi Jian-Qing , Zhu Yong-Mei , Liu Yuan-Fang , Wang Yue-Ying , Jin Jie , Huang He , Wu De-Pei , Li Yan , Yan Xiao-Jing , Yan Jin-Song , Li Jian-Yong , Wang Shuai , Huang Xiao-Jun , Wang Bing-Shun , Chen Zhu , Chen Sai-Juan , Jia Wei
Published: July 2014

Key Points

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients present an altered glucose metabolism signature. A panel of 6 metabolite biomarkers involved in glucose metabolism are identified with prognostic value for cytogenetically normal AML.
Real-world data on prognostic factors and treatment in peripheral T-cell lymphomas: a study from the Swedish Lymphoma Registry
Authors: Ellin Fredrik , Landström Jenny , Jerkeman Mats , Relander Thomas
Published: July 2014

Key Points

Population-based data show a favorable outcome with upfront autologous stem cell transplantation in PTCL. The addition of etoposide to CHOP was associated with favorable PFS in patients ≤60 years with PTCL.
Searching algorithm of theodolite auto-focusing based on compound focal judgment
Authors: Liu Chun-tong , He Zhen-xin , Zhan Ying , Li Hong-cai
Published: July 2014

Focusing of search judgment is one of the important parts of theodolite image measurement. Traditional hill-climbing search algorithm cannot usually focus accurately due to the interference of the evaluation function of the local extremum affected by measuring environment, such as light illumination. A compound auto-focal judgment combining image definition evaluation function and modulation transfer function (MTF) auxiliary function was introduced to improve the hill-climbing method. Definition evaluation function and MTF values of images were considered to judge the search direction together. Slanted-edge method was improved to calculate the image MTF values accurately based on the auto-selection of slanted-edge area. Lastly, the principle and implementation of the improved algorithm were given. In the theodolite auto-focusing system, the system imaging effect was validated, and different initial position and circumstances were considered using the proposed searching algorithm. The experiment results of theodolite auto-focus system show that the improved hill-climbing search algorithm can effectively eliminate the local extremum disturbance and make the system search focusing accurate and reliable.
Infrapatellar fat pad in the knee: is local fat good or bad for knee osteoarthritis?
Authors: Han Weiyu , Cai Shiji , Liu Zhenhua , Jin Xingzhong , Wang Xia , Antony Benny , Cao Yuelong , Aitken Dawn , Cicuttini Flavia , Jones Graeme , Ding Changhai
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Recent studies regarding the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) mainly focus on the roles of the cells derived from the IPFP. There have been few clinical or epidemiological studies reporting on the association between the IPFP and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Our objective is to generate hypotheses regarding the associations between IPFP maximum area and knee OA measures in older adults.

Methods

A total of 977 subjects between 50 and 80 years of age (mean, 62.4 years) participated in the study. Radiographic knee osteophyte and joint space narrowing (JSN) were assessed using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas. T1- or T2-weighted fat suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to assess IPFP maximum area, cartilage volume, cartilage defects, and bone marrow lesions (BMLs). Knee pain was assessed by self-administered Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire.

Results

After adjustment for potential confounders, IPFP maximum area was significantly associated with joint space narrowing (odds ratio (OR): 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62 to 0.91 (medial), 0.77, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.96 (lateral)) and medial osteophytes (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.76), knee tibial and patellar cartilage volume (β: 56.9 to 164.9 mm3/cm2, all P <0.001), tibial cartilage defects (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.81 (medial), 0.53, 95% CI: 0.40-0.71 (lateral)), any BMLs (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.94), and knee pain on a flat surface (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.98). IPFP maximum area was negatively, but not significantly, associated with femoral cartilage defects, lateral tibiofemoral BMLs, and total knee pain or other knee pain subscales.

Conclusion

IPFP maximum area is beneficially associated with radiographic OA, MRI structural pathology and knee pain on a flat surface suggesting a protective role for IPFP possibly through shock absorption. Consequently, we must pay special attention to IPFP in the clinical settings, avoiding resection of normal IPFP in knee surgery.
A method for correcting acoustic finite-difference amplitudes for elastic effects
Authors: Hobro James W. D. , Chapman Chris H. , Robertsson Johan O. A.
Published: July 2014

We present a new method for correcting the amplitudes of arrivals in an acoustic finite-difference simulation for elastic effects. In this method, we selectively compute an estimate of the error incurred when the acoustic wave equation is used to approximate the behavior of the elastic wave equation. This error estimate is used to generate an effective source field in a second acoustic simulation. The result of this second simulation is then applied as a correction to the original acoustic simulation. The overall cost is approximately twice that of an acoustic simulation but substantially less than the cost of an elastic simulation. Because both simulations are acoustic, no S-waves are generated, so dispersed converted waves are avoided. We tested the characteristics of the method on a simple synthetic model designed to simulate propagation through a strong acoustic impedance contrast representative of sedimentary geology. It corrected amplitudes to high accuracy for reflected arrivals over a wide range of incidence angles. We also evaluated results from simulations on more complex models that demonstrated that the method was applicable in realistic sedimentary models containing a wide range of seismic contrasts. However, its accuracy was reduced for wide-angle reflections from very high impedance contrasts such as a shallow top-salt interface. We examined the influence of modeling at coarse grid resolutions, in which converted S-waves in the equivalent elastic simulation are dispersed. These results provide some validation for the accuracy of the method when applied using finite-difference grids designed for acoustic modeling. The method appears to offer a cost-effective means of modeling elastic amplitudes for P-wave arrivals in a useful range of velocity models. It has several potential applications in imaging and inversion.
Unified Treatment of One-Range Addition Theorems for Complete Orthonormal Sets of Generalized Exponential-Type Orbitals and Noninteger n Slater Functions
Authors: Guseinov Israfil I
Published: July 2014

By the use of L(pl*)-generalized Laguerre polynomials (L(pl*)-GLPs) introduced by the author, the combined formulas for the one- and two-center one-range addition theorems of complete orthonormal sets of φ (pl*)-generalized exponential-type orbitals (φ (pl*)-GETOs) and χ-noninteger n Slater type orbitals (χ-NISTOs) in terms of χ-integer STOs (χ-ISTOs) are suggested, where pl* = 2l + 2 − α* and α* are the integer (α* = α, −∞ < α ≤ 2) or noninteger (α* ≠ α, −∞ < α* < 3) self-frictional quantum numbers. The series expansion coefficients of these theorems are expressed through the overlap integrals over χ-NISTOs. As an application, the Combined Hartree–Fock–Roothaan (CHFR) total energy values for the ground states of some atoms obtained in the minimal basis set approximation are presented.
Clinical use and safety of a novel gentamicin-releasing resorbable bone graft substitute in the treatment of osteomyelitis/osteitis
Authors: Fleiter N. , Walter G. , Bösebeck H. , Vogt S. , Büchner H. , Hirschberger W. , Hoffmann R.
Published: July 2014

Objective

A clinical investigation into a new bone void filler is giving first data on systemic and local exposure to the anti-infective substance after implantation.

Method

A total of 20 patients with post-traumatic/post-operative bone infections were enrolled in this open-label, prospective study. After radical surgical debridement, the bone cavity was filled with this material. The 21-day hospitalisation phase included determination of gentamicin concentrations in plasma, urine and wound exudate, assessment of wound healing, infection parameters, implant resorption, laboratory parameters, and adverse event monitoring. The follow-up period was six months.

Results

Systemic exposure to gentamicin after implantation was very low as local gentamicin concentrations were measured in wound exudate after six to ten hours. There were no signs of infectious complication throughout the clinical phase. Four patients had recurrent infections several weeks to months after implantation. The outcome was deemed successful by remission of infection in 16 (80%) of these problematic long-term treated patients. Safety laboratory measurements did not indicate nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic effects.

Conclusions

Local application of calcium sulphate/carbonate bone void filler comprising gentamicin revealed sufficient active local levels of the antibiotic by simultaneous significant low systemic exposure in patients with mostly chronic osteomyelitis/osteitis. The material was safe and well tolerated. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:223–9.
Functional Communication Training in Rett Syndrome: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Byiers Breanne J. , Dimian Adele , Symons Frank J.
Published: July 2014

Rett syndrome (RTT) is associated with a range of serious neurodevelopmental consequences including severe communicative impairments. Currently, no evidence-based communication interventions exist for the population (Sigafoos et al., 2009). The purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of functional assessment (FA) and functional communication training (FCT) methods for teaching 3 individuals (ages 15–47 years) with classic RTT novel communicative behaviors. Using single-case experimental designs, functional reinforcers were identified (FA) and each participant quickly learned to activate a voice-output switch to obtain a reinforcer (FCT). These results suggest that individuals with classic RTT can learn novel communicative responses, which has important implications for future intervention research.
On the existence of nilsolitons on 2-step nilpotent Lie groups
Authors: Oscari D.
Published: July 2014

A 2-step nilpotent Lie algebra n is said to be of type (p, q) if dim n = p + q and dim[n, n] = p. By considering a class of 2-step nilpotent Lie algebras naturally attached to graphs, we prove that there exist indecomposable, 2-step nilpotent Lie groups of type (p, q) which do not admit a nilsoliton metric for every pair (p, q) such that 21 ≤ q and q − 1 ≤ p ≤½ q2 − 5/2q + 9. This improves a result due to Jablonski [6].
On the algebraic models of symmetric smooth manifolds
Authors: Ghiloni R. , Tancredi A.
Published: July 2014

Let M be a compact smooth submanifold of ℝn that is symmetric with respect to an affine subspace L. In this paper, we prove that M has a symmetric Nash model N, which is unique up to Nash isomorphism preserving symmetries. Such a model N can be chosen to be a union of nonsingular connected components of a real algebraic set if M is a (not necessarily compact) Nash submanifold of ℝn. If M does not intersect the mirror L, then we are able to construct a symmetric algebraic model of M too. More precisely, in this case, we show that the set of birationally nonisomorphic symmetric algebraic models of M has the power of continuum.
Rotational linear Weingarten hypersurfaces in the Euclidean sphere Sn+1
Authors: Barros A. , Silva J. , Sousa P.
Published: July 2014

We present a complete description of all rotational linear Weingarten hypersurfaces in the Euclidean sphere Sn+1. These hypersurfaces are characterized by a linear relation aH1+bH2 = c, where H1 and H2 stand for the first two symmetric functions of the principal curvature and a, b and c are real constants.
On axiomatic definitions of non-discrete affine buildings
Authors: Bennett C. D. , Schwer P. N. , Struyve K.
Published: July 2014

We prove the equivalence of several sets of axioms for non-discrete affine buildings, by providing different types of metric, exchange and atlas conditions. We apply our result to show that the definition of a Euclidean building depends only on the topological equivalence class of the metric on the model space. The sharpness of the axioms dealing with metric conditions is illustrated in an appendix. There it is shown that a space X defined over a model space with metric d is possibly a building only if the induced distance function on X satisfies the triangle inequality.
On the representation theory of partition (easy) quantum groups
Authors: Freslon Amaury , Weber Moritz
Published: July 2014

Compact matrix quantum groups are strongly determined by their intertwiner spaces, due to a result by S. L. Woronowicz. In the case of easy quantum groups (also called partition quantum groups), the intertwiner spaces are given by the combinatorics of partitions, see the initial work of T. Banica and R. Speicher. The philosophy is that all quantum algebraic properties of these objects should be visible in their combinatorial data.
We show that this is the case for their fusion rules (i.e. for their representation theory). As a byproduct, we obtain a unified approach to the fusion rules of the quantum permutation group

S
N
+

${S_{N}^{+}}$

, the free orthogonal quantum group

O
N
+

${O_{N}^{+}}$

as well as the hyperoctahedral quantum group

H
N
+

${H_{N}^{+}}$

.
We then extend our work to unitary easy quantum groups and link it with a “freeness conjecture” of T. Banica and R. Vergnioux.
Dirac cohomology and geometric quantization
Authors: Chuah Meng-Kiat , Huang Jing-Song
Published: July 2014

LetGbe a connected real semisimple Lie group having a finite center and a compact Cartan subgroupTwith Lie algebra𝔱0${\mathfrak{t}_{0}}$. Let ω be aG×T${G\times T}$-invariant symplectic form onX=G×𝔱0${X=G\times\mathfrak{t}_{0}}$. We incorporate Dirac cohomology into the geometric quantization of(X,ω)${(X,\omega)}$and study the resulting multiplicity-free unitaryG×T${G\times T}$-representation on a Hilbert spaceℋ⁢(X,ω)${\mathcal{H}(X,\omega)}$. We also perform symplectic reduction of(X,ω)${(X,\omega)}$and show that our quantization method satisfies the principle “quantization commutes with reduction”. As an application we construct various models of discrete series.
On the direct products of quasi-finitely axiomatizable groups
Authors: Lasserre Clément
Published: July 2014

The notions of quasi-finitely axiomatizable (QFA) groups and quasi-axiomatizable (QA) groups were introduced by A. Nies in 2003. We say that a finitely generated group G is QFA if there exists a first-order sentence ϕ that is satisfied by G such that each finitely generated group that satisfies ϕ is isomorphic to G. The aim of this paper is to further investigate properties of direct products with respect to these notions, thereby extending F. Oger's result for nilpotent-by-finite groups. More precisely, we study the relations between (1) G and H are QFA, and (2) G×H is QFA. We prove that (1) implies (2) under the additional condition that there exist bounds on the commutator width in the central extensions of the center Z(H) by G and Z(G) by H. We also prove that the converse is true if the groups are ℤ-replaceable, in particular if they are residually
soluble. Thus (1) and (2) are equivalent, for instance, in the classes of finitely generated abelian-by-polycyclic or abelian-by-metanilpotent groups.
Investigation of elemental and radiological contamination of soils in two shipyards in Chittagong, Bangladesh
Authors: Uddin Md. Shuza , Barua Bijoy Sonker , Shariff Md. Asad , Hasan Md. Mehedi , Rashid Md. Abdur , Kamal Masud
Published: July 2014

An analysis of metallic
elements and natural radioactivity in soils collected from two
shipyards and their surroundings in Chittagong, Bangladesh is
presented. The elemental concentrations of the metals Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni
and Cu were obtained by PIXE analysis with a 3 MV Tandem
Accelerator, and the radioactivity of 226Ra,
232Th and 40K was determined using HPGe
gamma-ray spectrometry. From the mean specific activities of the three
radionuclides in soil samples, the radium equivalent activity, the
gamma absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose rate and the
external hazard index were calculated. The study was focused on
investigation of soil contamination via shipbreaking
activities, if any. The somewhat higher contents of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and
Cu in soil samples of shipyards, as compared to other locations, seem
to be caused by the shipbreaking activities. The specific
radioactivities as well as radium equivalent activity in soils of
shipyards are also higher and thus possibly an indirect result of
shipbreaking activities.
Genauigkeitssteigerung bei Messungen in Zweiflankenanlage
Authors: Wedmann Achim , Kniel Karin , Krah Thomas , Härtig Frank
Published: July 2014

Maß- und Formmessungen an Gewinden, Zahnrädern oder anderen
lückenbehafteten Bauteilen werden häufig in Zweiflankenanlage
durchgeführt. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden bisher oft
vernachlässigte Einflüsse durch diese Art der Messpunktaufnahme
beschrieben und Lösungsmöglichkeiten zur Genauigkeitssteigerung
aufgezeigt. Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil ist hierbei das neu entwickelte
Lückennormal.
Filterung der Ratenmesswerte einer Quarz-Mikrowaage für geschaltete
Effusionszellen
Authors: Zeuke Christoph , Scheicher Richard , Jenik Herbert , Fischerauer Gerhard
Published: July 2014

Bei der Fertigung von organischen LEDs (OLEDs) werden einzelne Schichten mit
geschalteten Effusionszellen aufgedampft. Die zu messenden Raten liegen im
Bereich der minimalen Auflösung des Messsystems. Aufgrund der hohen
Empfindlichkeit treten viele Messausreißer und ein großes Rauschen
auf. Herkömmliche systemtheoretisch beschreibbare Filter stoßen hier
an ihre Grenzen. Eine große Zeitkonstante glättet zwar das Signal,
jedoch auf Kosten der Dynamik. Das hier vorgeschlagene statistische Filter
erkennt Messausreißer und glättet den Signalverlauf, ohne
wesentliche Informationen an den Schaltflanken zu verlieren.