bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Function Patterns at Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Presentation in Childhood and Adolescence Are Mainly Conditioned by Patients’ Age
Authors: Wasniewska Malgorzata , Corrias Andrea , Salerno Mariacarolina , Mussa Alessandro , Capalbo Donatella , Messina Maria Francesca , Aversa Tommaso , Bombaci Sara , De Luca Filippo , Valenzise Mariella
Published: November 2012

Background: There are few studies investigating the factors which may affect different biochemical presentations of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and these are frequently based on limited pediatric populations. Aims: (1) To assess the frequency of thyroid function patterns at HT diagnosis in 608 children and adolescents, and (2) to analyze the factors that affect thyroid status at diagnosis. Results: At presentation, test results showed euthyroidism in 52.1% of patients (subgroup A), overt or subclinical hypothyroidism in 41.4%, and overt or subclinical hyperthyroidism in 6.5%. The mean age of patients with thyroid dysfunctions (subgroup B) was significantly lower than that of subgroup A, and the rate of children below 10 years of age was significantly greater in subgroup B. Other variables related to thyroid function patterns were prepubertal status; association with either Down or Turner syndromes, which correlated with increased risk of thyroid dysfunctions, and association with other autoimmune diseases, which correlated with decreased risk of thyroid dysfunctions. None of the remaining factors analyzed were associated with increased risk of thyroid dysfunctions. Conclusions: Biochemical thyroid function patterns at HT presentation in childhood and adolescence are mainly conditioned by patients’ age.
Transition from Pediatric to Adult Healthcare: Assessment of Specific Needs of Patients with Chronic Endocrine Conditions
Authors: Godbout Ariane , Tejedor Isabelle , Malivoir Sabine , Polak Michel , Touraine Philippe
Published: November 2012

Background/Aim: Transition from pediatric to adult care is a challenging turning point. The aim was to evaluate the transition process and needs expressed by patients with chronic endocrine conditions at transition in order to ensure program optimization. Methods: Prospective assessment of the transition period was conducted through completion of standardized questionnaires given to targeted patients. Two types were created: (1) a general questionnaire (GQ) addressing universal aspects of transition, and (2) a specific questionnaire (SQ) exploring concerns related to each endocrine condition. Three endocrinopathies (congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and growth hormone deficiency) were selected for assessment since they present specific challenges requiring characterization. Results: Over the last decade, 244 patients in transition were registered in our department and 153 were included since they presented one of the endocrinopathies selected. A total of 73 subjects completed both the GQ and the SQ. Over 80% of the patients were satisfied with the transition process in terms of organization, accessibility and medical care. The actual age of transition corresponded for most to the age considered by patients as ideal for transition. SQs identified psychosexual issues that must be addressed more systematically. Conclusion: This study identified key elements allowing the creation of an improved transition program tailored for our center and for each endocrine condition studied.
Molecular Cloning and Heterologous Expression of a True Lipase in Pichia pastoris Isolated via a Metagenomic Approach
Authors: Zheng Jianhua , Liu Liguo , Liu Cuina , Jin Qi
Published: November 2012

Lipases are important enzymes for various biotechnological applications. By using functional expression screening, lipZ03, a novel lipase gene, was isolated from a soil-derived metagenomic library. The gene was supposed to encode a protein of 617 amino acids with a C-terminal targeting signal region and four potential N-linked glycosylation sites. The protein sequence shared a conserved GXSXG motif (X represents any amino acid residue) with other microbial lipases. Gene lipZ03 was expressed in Pichia pastoris and the molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 65 kDa by electrophoresis. The optimum reaction temperature and pH value for LipZ03 was 50°C and 9.0, respectively. The enzyme was highly stable in the temperature range of 40–60°C and under alkaline conditions (pH 8–10). Lipolytic activity was significantly enhanced by Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, but dramatically inhibited by Cu2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ ions and EDTA. The purified enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed relatively long-chain triacylglycerols and was a true lipase rather than an esterase. Using a multi-stepwise methanol supply, the purified LipZ03 achieved a conversion yield of biodiesel production up to 74% after 36 h. Some interesting characteristics described here showed that the recombinant lipase may have potential to be a useful enzyme in industrial applications.
Self-Rated Health Predicts Mortality and Graft Loss after Kidney Transplantation: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Majernikova Maria , Rosenberger Jaroslav , Prihodova Lucia , Nagyova Iveta , Roland Robert , Groothoff Johan W. , van Dijk Jitse P.
Published: November 2012

Background: This study explored whether self-rated health (SRH) shortly after kidney transplantation (KT) predicts mortality and graft loss at up to 10 years’ follow-up. Methods: A total of 276 patients shortly after successful KT were interviewed. SRH was measured using the first item of the SF-36 questionnaire and divided into three tertiles: poor, average and excellent health. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records. Cox regression was used to identify whether different levels of SRH predicted mortality and graft loss in transplant recipients. The observation period was up to 10 years. Results: Poor SRH (HR 11.1, p < 0.001), average SRH (HR 4.21, p < 0.05), estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.26, p < 0.05) and age (HR 1.04, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with mortality. Similarly, poor SRH (HR 6.4, p < 0.001), average SRH (HR 3.6, p < 0.05), new-onset diabetes mellitus after KT (HR 3.3, p < 0.05) and chronic renal allograft dysfunction (HR 3.7, p < 0.00) were significantly associated with graft loss. Conclusion: Poor SRH shortly after transplantation indicates an increased risk of mortality and graft loss at up to 10 years’ follow-up. SRH could be an inexpensive and reliable indicator for starting diagnostic and/or treatment strategies. The usefulness of SRH compared to other global clinical measures predicting mortality and graft loss should also be studied.
Synergistic Adaptations to Exercise in the Systemic and Coronary Circulations That Underlie the Warm-Up Angina Phenomenon
Authors: Lockie Timothy P.E. , Rolandi M. Cristina , Guilcher Antoine , Perera Divaka , De Silva Kalpa , Williams Rupert , Asrress Kaleab N. , Patel Kiran , Plein Sven , Chowienczyk Phil , Siebes Maria , Redwood Simon R. , Marber Michael S.
Published: November 2012

Background—

The mechanisms of reduced angina on second exertion in patients with coronary arterial disease, also known as the warm-up angina phenomenon, are poorly understood. Adaptations within the coronary and systemic circulations have been suggested but never demonstrated in vivo. In this study we measured central and coronary hemodynamics during serial exercise.

Methods and Results—

Sixteen patients (15 male, 61±4.3 years) with a positive exercise ECG and exertional angina completed the protocol. During cardiac catheterization via radial access, they performed 2 consecutive exertions (Ex1, Ex2) using a supine cycle ergometer. Throughout exertions, distal coronary pressure and flow velocity were recorded in the culprit vessel using a dual sensor wire while central aortic pressure was recorded using a second wire. Patients achieved a similar workload in Ex2 but with less ischemia than in Ex1 (
P
<0.01). A 33% decline in aortic pressure augmentation in Ex2 (
P
<0.0001) coincided with a reduction in tension time index, a major determinant of left ventricular afterload (
P
<0.001). Coronary stenosis resistance was unchanged. A sustained reduction in coronary microvascular resistance resulted in augmented coronary flow velocity on second exertion (both
P
<0.001). These changes were accompanied by a 21% increase in the energy of the early diastolic coronary backward-traveling expansion, or suction, wave on second exercise (
P
<0.05), indicating improved microvascular conductance and enhanced left ventricular relaxation.

Conclusions—

On repeat exercise in patients with effort angina, synergistic changes in the systemic and coronary circulations combine to improve vascular–ventricular coupling and enhance myocardial perfusion, thereby potentially contributing to the warm-up angina phenomenon.
Representing Female Desire Within A Labial Framework of Sexuality
Authors: Schiller Britt-Marie
Published: November 2012

Sexual experiences, rather than being neutral, are specifically male or female. Yet at present no conceptual framework exists for representing female sexual desire. This has resulted in frequent misrepresentations of female sexual experience. To correct this, a labial framework is proposed, not to replace or oppose a phallic framework, but to exist alongside it. The lips of the mouth and those of the genitals provide a felicitous doubling of sexuality and speech to represent female desire and sexual pleasure as labial. Phallic and labial rhythms are organized differently in sexual arousal and desire, since, as Simone de Beauvoir put it, “Man ‘gets stiff,’ but woman ‘gets wet.’” The labial framework therefore represents female psychosexuality more in terms of “wetware” than of “hardware.”
Adoption and Implementation of Corporate Responsibility Practices
Authors: Vidal Natalia , Kozak Robert A. , Hansen Eric
Published: November 2012

Defining and implementing Corporate Responsibility can be a challenge for many businesses. The identification of patterns in the processes of adoption and implementation of Corporate Responsibility practices can help managers to administer these processes more ably. In this research note, the authors identify four factors influencing the adoption and implementation of Corporate Responsibility practices: (a) internal drivers; (b) organizational structures; (c) attributes of practice; and (d) formal processes. Results indicate that there is also a continuous improvement component, meaning that the adoption and implementation of Corporate Responsibility practices are cyclical, rather than linear, processes.
Toilet Training Method Is Not Related to Dysfunctional Voiding
Authors: Colaco Marc , Johnson Kelly , Schneider Dona , Barone Joseph
Published: November 2012

Background. Toilet training is an important marker of physical and psychosocial development, but the best strategy for implementing training is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare dysfunctional voiding outcomes for 2 common toilet training strategies: parent-oriented training and child-oriented training. Materials and methods. This study was completed using a case-control design, with participants between the ages of 4 and 12 years. All participants were asked to complete questionnaires related to demographics and toilet training method. Results were then analyzed between cases and controls. Results. In all, 215 patients with a mean age 7.76 years participated in this study. Cases and controls showed no significant difference for demographic measures and socioeconomic status. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in dysfunctional voiding between toilet training methods. Conclusion. Toilet training method does not seem to have any long-term effect on dysfunctional voiding. As such, clinicians should advise parents that both methods are acceptable.
Egoism, Altruism, and the Ethical Foundations of Personhood
Authors: Gantt Edwin E. , Burton Judson
Published: November 2012

Most contemporary theorizing in psychology rejects the possibility of genuine altruism by endorsing explanations that assume psychological egoism. We seek to reframe psychological inquiry on the question of altruism by exploring an alternative, nonegoistic conceptual framework, within which genuine altruism is possible and whereby the meaning and moral dimensions of altruism can be more fruitfully explored. Two central features of our analysis are (a) the conceptual necessity of human agency for the preservation of the possibility of meaning in human affairs and (b) an examination of the ontological necessity of a genuinely social and moral understanding of personhood that preserves the possibility of altruism. Once these two issues have been addressed, an alternative conceptual framework for exploring the question of altruism drawing on the work of the French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas is briefly presented.
Does Early Education Influence Key Stage 1 Attainment? Evidence for England from the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: George Anitha , Stokes Lucy , Wilkinson David
Published: November 2012

There is a body of evidence that shows that early education improves cognitive and social development for children while they are still attending, but the longer-term impacts depend on the quality of early education. Much of this evidence in England relates to a period when attendance rates at early education were around 60 per cent. Since then, early education has expanded through the guarantee of free provision for three- and four-year-olds, such that attendance at early education is now almost universal. This paper uses data from the Millennium Cohort Study to consider whether, in an era of near universal provision, early education is still associated with detectable improvements in outcomes for children. The analysis focuses on attainment in Key Stage 1 assessments when children were aged seven and finds that the overall impact of early education on Key Stage 1 attainment is modest, but that the impact is generally greater for those children who experienced poverty when they entered early education.
Understanding How Young People Do Activism
Authors: Coe Anna-Britt , Goicolea Isabel , Hurtig Anna-Karin , Sebastian Miguel San
Published: November 2012

While social movement research employs “tactical repertoire” to emphasize protest tactics directed at the state, literature on youth activism globally indicates that young people do politics outside the realm of formal political spheres. Youth activism on body politics in Latin America offers evidence that enhances conceptual tools intended for understanding how young people make claims and toward whom they make them. This article takes young activists’ strategies as its point of departure through a study that explored how young people perceived their activism to advance sexual health in Ecuador and Peru. Young activists employed a range of interconnected strategies that went beyond protests directed at the state, including responding to adult allies, carrying out social advocacy among youth, building organizations, carrying out political advocacy, and developing themselves as activists. Strategies were shaped by the degree to which young activists negotiated alternative notions of “youth” with different actors.
Women’s Property Rights in a Chinese Lineage Village
Authors: Chan Kwok-shing
Published: November 2012

This article examines female property rights in a Chinese lineage village in rural Hong Kong in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It demonstrates the conditions under which female villagers have been entitled to family property and/or cash dividends of an ancestral estate, even though the male-only inheritance rule is a deeply rooted lineage custom. Notably, female inheritance, while allowed, has applied only to land and cash, not to village houses themselves because those are still essential for the maintenance of a lineage community and its associated sense of identity. As for cash and land, particularly after the 1970s, they are not bound up with that social or symbolic meaning, and thus are considered transferable to female villagers. This article shows that in a lineage system women’s property rights are permitted, but this is neither absolute nor based on the principles of gender equality, meaning that women’s rights are situational and subject to negotiation.
Taming the Khampas
Authors: Tsomu Yudru
Published: November 2012

Issues of insecurity and unruliness on the Kham frontier forced the government of Republican China to adopt a policy of integration. They also provided the impetus behind the work of Republican intellectuals to re-imagine a new geo-space in which frontier peoples were inscribed as co-nationals. As represented by Ren Naiqiang, these intellectuals set out to introduce the Kham periphery to policy makers and Chinese citizens such that the contested Kham region appeared an inalienable part of Chinese national space. To legitimate the civilizing projects sponsored by the state, Ren’s narrative strategies gave new meaning to the Kham periphery. By representing the culture and traditions of Kham as a historical remnant of China’s past, it was no longer an alien “other.” By employing the “rhetoric of privation,” together with elements of the “rhetoric of primitivism,” Ren presented the Khampas as stuck at a lower state of development, deprived materially, culturally, and morally.
Origins of the movement’s strategy: The case of the Serbian youth movement Otpor
Authors: Nikolayenko Olena
Published: November 2012

Using the case of the Serbian social movement Otpor (Resistance), this article argues that learning is critical to the development of an effective movement strategy. This article specifies three learning mechanisms: (1) participation in previous protest campaigns, (2) the cross-national diffusion of ideas, and (3) within-movement deliberation practices. The empirical analysis is based upon semi-structured interviews with former movement participants. This research seeks to contribute to the comparative democratization literature by tracing the development of the movement’s strategy in a hybrid regime falling somewhere between democracy and dictatorship.
Regional party system, causal attribution, and economic voting in new democracies: The case of the 2007 Korean presidential election
Authors: Kang WooJin
Published: November 2012

How do citizens in new democracies locate the target of responsibility for economic conditions, and how do political cleavages mediate citizens’ attribution process and their consequences? To answer these important but little-studied questions, this study analyzes the 2007 presidential election in Korea. Primary findings in this study elucidate the need to consider the role of political cleavages in explaining economic voting in new democracies. Specifically, even after controlling for economic salience and voters’ political sophistication, political cleavages (represented by hometown and regional partisanship) exercise a clear and significant influence on voters’ attribution process and their electoral choices. Thus, in new democracies, in particular in Korea, the attribution of responsibility clearly works in a manner different from that in established democracies. Although focused on the case of Korea, the results of this study have important implications for economic voting in any new democracy.
Institutional contexts contribute to the low priority given to developing self-care independence in a rehabilitation ward: a qualitative study
Authors: Chang Ling-Hui , Wang Jye
Published: November 2012

Objectives:

To examine the institutional contexts that contribute to the low priority given to the development of self-care independence in a rehabilitation ward.

Design:

Research was guided by ethnographic principles of Martyn Hammersley and Paul Atkinson (2007). Individual in-depth interviews were completed. Participant observation was done daily during the rehabilitation stay of the patients.

Patients:

Six men and three women with neurological impairments and their caregivers.

Results:

Patients’ daily routines on a rehabilitation ward in Taiwan are described. Four prominent themes emerged from the data: (1) the attitudes of patients, caregivers, and staff facilitated extended rehabilitation stays within the first year after disability, (2) attending therapy sessions was the most important activity, (3) pragmatic considerations, such as ‘faster and easier’, outweighed the value of developing self-care independence, and (4) strategic organization of daily routines to keep therapy the priority was critical for daily activity.

Conclusion:

Multiple institutional factors jeopardize the development of self-care independence in a rehabilitation ward. The factors include the primacy of biomedical-oriented rehabilitation ideology, insurance reimbursement policies, and cultural values associated with family caregiving. They legitimize the low priority given to developing self-care independence. Therapists need to include a critical review of daily routines (what and how activities are carried out inside and outside of therapy clinics) as part of therapy regime to identify opportunities and institutional constraints to the development of self-care independence.
Long-term effects of new progressive group balance training for elderly people with increased risk of falling – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Halvarsson Alexandra , Franzén Erika , Farén Elin , Olsson Elisabeth , Oddsson Lars , Ståhle Agneta
Published: November 2012

Objective:

To evaluate the long-term effects of a progressive and specific balance group-based program in healthy elderly individuals with increased risk of falling.

Design:

Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial at nine and 15 months on a population that has previously been described at three months.

Setting:

The study was conducted in Stockholm, Sweden.

Subjects:

59 community-dwelling elderly (age 67–93 years), recruited by advertisement, were randomly allocated to training or to serve as controls.

Intervention:

Group balance training three times per week during 12 weeks with a 15 month follow-up time.

Main measures:

Participants were assessed at baseline, three, nine, and 15 months thereafter for gait function (preferred and fast walking), rapid step execution (single and dual task), fear of falling, and likelihood of depression.

Results:

Fast gait speed ( p = 0.004), dual task step execution ( p = 0.006) and fear of falling ( p = 0.001) were still improved in the training group at nine months follow-up. Only self-perceived fear of falling remained significantly improved ( p = 0.012) at 15 months follow-up. Although fast gait speed had decreased to baseline level in the training group (1.49 m/s) it remained significantly higher than in the control group (1.37 m/s) at the end of the study, a difference between the groups that was not seen at baseline.

Conclusion:

This training program provided important positive short and long-term benefits to gait, balance function, and fear of falling.
Does social support impact depression in caregivers of adults ageing with spinal cord injuries?
Authors: Rodakowski Juleen , Skidmore Elizabeth R , Rogers Joan C , Schulz Richard
Published: November 2012

Objective:

The objective of this study was to examine the role of social support in predicting depression in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries.

Design:

Cross-sectional secondary data analyses were conducted for this study.

Setting:

Participants were recruited from multiple community locations in Pittsburgh, PA and Miami, FL.

Subjects:

Community-dwelling caregivers of aging adults with spinal cord injuries ( N = 173) were interviewed as part of a multisite randomized controlled trial.

Main measures:

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale measured caregiver depression symptom levels. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the effect of social support (social integration, received social support, and negative social interactions) on depressive symptom levels for the caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries, controlling for demographic characteristics, and caregiving characteristics.

Results:

Caregivers were, on average, 53 years old (SD = 15) and care-recipients were 55 years old (SD = 13). Average Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores indicated that 69 (40%) of caregivers had significant depressive symptoms (mean 8.69, SD = 5.5). Negative social interactions ([Formula: see text] = 0.27, P< 0.01) and social integration ([Formula: see text] = −0.25, P< 0.01) were significant independent predictors of depressive symptom levels in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries.

Conclusions:

Findings demonstrate that negative social interactions and social integration are associated with the burden in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries. Negative social interactions and social integration should be investigated in assessments and interventions intended to target caregiver depressive symptom levels.
Role of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT1B) receptors in the regulation of ethanol intake in rodents
Authors: Sari Youssef
Published: November 2012

Evidence indicates that the serotonergic system is important in mediating dependence on and craving for alcohol. Among serotonin receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT1B) receptors have been associated with drug abuse including alcohol. In this review, the neurocircuitry involving 5-HT1B receptors in central reward brain regions related to alcohol intake are discussed in detail. Emphasis has been placed on the pharmacological manipulations of 5-HT1B receptor-mediated alcohol intake. Furthermore, 5-HT1B auto- and hetero-receptors regulate alcohol intake through the regulatory mechanism involving release of 5-HT, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine, and glutamate is evaluated. Thus, interactions between 5-HT1B receptors and these neurotransmitter systems are suggested to modulate alcohol-drinking behavior. This review on the role of 5-HT1B receptors in neurotransmitter release and consequent alcohol intake provides important information about the potential therapeutic role of 5-HT1B receptors for the treatment of alcohol dependence.
A randomized, controlled pilot study of MDMA (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of resistant, chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Authors: Oehen Peter , Traber Rafael , Widmer Verena , Schnyder Ulrich
Published: November 2012

Psychiatrists and psychotherapists in the US (1970s to 1985) and Switzerland (1988–1993) used MDMA legally as a prescription drug, to enhance the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Early reports suggest that it is useful in treating trauma-related disorders. Recently, the first completed pilot study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD yielded encouraging results. Designed to test the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in patients with treatment-resistant PTSD; our randomized, double-blind, active-placebo controlled trial enrolled 12 patients for treatment with either low-dose (25 mg, plus 12.5 mg supplemental dose) or full-dose MDMA (125 mg, plus 62.5 mg supplemental dose). MDMA was administered during three experimental sessions, interspersed with weekly non-drug-based psychotherapy sessions. Outcome measures used were the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS). Patients were assessed at baseline, three weeks after the second and third MDMA session (end of treatment), and at the 2-month and 1-year follow-ups.

We found that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can be safely administered in a clinical setting. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred. We did not see statistically significant reductions in CAPS scores ( p = 0.066), although there was clinically and statistically significant self-reported (PDS) improvement ( p = 0.014). CAPS scores improved further at the 1-year follow-up. In addition, three MDMA sessions were more effective than two ( p = 0.016).
Multiple impacts: A state transition diagram approach
Authors: Jia Yan-Bin , Mason Matthew T , Erdmann Michael A
Published: November 2012

Impact happens when two or more bodies collide, generating very large impulsive forces in a very short period of time during which kinetic energy is first absorbed and then released after some loss. This paper introduces a state transition diagram to model a frictionless multibody collision. Each state describes a different topology of the collision characterized by the set of instantaneously active contacts. A change of state happens when a contact disappears at the end of restitution, or when a disappeared contact reappears as the relative motion of two bodies goes from separation into penetration. Within a state, (normal) impulses are coupled differentially subject to relative stiffnesses at the active contact points and the strain energies stored there. Such coupling may cause restart of compression from restitution during a single impact. Impulses grow along a bounded curve with first-order continuity, and converge during the state transitions. To solve a multibody collision problem with friction and tangential compliance, the above impact model is integrated with a compliant impact model. The paper compares model predictions to a physical experiment for the massé shot, which is a difficult trick in billiards, with a good result.
Two-Year Follow-up Study on Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Polyurethane Meniscal Scaffolds
Authors: De Coninck Tineke , Huysse Wouter , Willemot Laurent , Verdonk René , Verstraete Koenraad , Verdonk Peter
Published: November 2012

Background:

Little is known about radial displacement (RD) of polyurethane (PU) scaffolds, intended for partial meniscus defect substitution; no data are available on whether rim thickness influences RD and whether RD correlates with clinical outcome scores.

Hypotheses:

The meniscus is not extruded preoperatively, but RD occurs after scaffold implantation. A thicker rim will limit RD, and there is no correlation between RD and clinical outcome.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Twenty-six patients were implanted with a PU scaffold (8 lateral, 18 medial). Radial displacement (mm) was evaluated on magnetic resonance images preoperatively and at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. At each time point, it was determined whether a correlation existed between the rim and RD. Clinical outcome was determined using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain as well as the Lysholm knee scoring scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score.

Results:

Radial displacement of lateral scaffolds was not significantly different ( P = .178) either preoperatively (mean ± SD, 3.42 ± 0.99 mm) or at 3 months (4.82 ± 0.59 mm), 1 year (4.55 ± 0.87 mm), or 2 years postoperatively (4.10 ± 0.93 mm). No correlation was observed between the rim and lateral RD at all time points. Medial scaffold RD increased significantly ( P < .001) from preoperative values (2.17 ± 0.84 mm) to those at 3 months (4.25 ± 0.89 mm), 1 year (4.43 ± 1.01 mm), and 2 years postoperatively (4.41 ± 0.96 mm). A strong negative correlation between medial RD and the rim was observed at all time points. There was no significant correlation between clinical outcome scores and RD, either preoperatively or postoperatively.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that limited medial meniscal RD was present preoperatively but increased by 2 mm after scaffold implantation. Lateral RD was also present preoperatively but did not increase after scaffold implantation. Importantly, a strong negative correlation was found between the rim and postoperative medial RD; a thicker rim limited RD. However, in the lateral compartment, rim thickness did not correlate with RD because RD was already strongly present preoperatively. Finally, no correlations were observed between scaffold RD and clinical outcome scores, either preoperatively or postoperatively.
The Barricades and the Ivory Tower
Authors: Pimpare Stephen
Published: November 2012

JEL Classifications: A13, H11, H50, I30, J52, N32, Z13

Through the lens of four recent books, this article considers the obstacles faced by those who undertake engaged or activist scholarship in the social sciences, examining professional methodological, theoretical, historical, and rhetorical challenges.
Direct Care Worker’s Perceptions of Job Satisfaction Following Implementation of Work-Based Learning
Authors: Lopez Cynthia , White Diana L. , Carder Paula C.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a work-based learning program on the work lives of Direct Care Workers (DCWs) at assisted living (AL) residences. The research questions were addressed using focus group data collected as part of a larger evaluation of a work-based learning (WBL) program called Jobs to Careers. The theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism was used to frame the qualitative data analysis. Results indicated that the WBL program impacted DCWs’ job satisfaction through the program curriculum and design and through three primary categories: relational aspects of work, worker identity, and finding time. This article presents a conceptual model for understanding how these categories are interrelated and the implications for WBL programs. Job satisfaction is an important topic that has been linked to quality of care and reduced turnover in long-term care settings.
The Needs and Use of Programs by Service Providers Working With Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Authors: Fruhauf Christine A. , Pevney Brooke , Bundy-Fazioli Kimberly
Published: November 2012

Grandparents who raise grandchildren often need support services. Yet, little is known about what service providers' need in order to better serve grandparents. As a result, qualitative methods were used to understand service providers’ views about programs and services they use when assisting grandparents raising grandchildren. We conducted telephone interviews with professional service providers ( N = 16) from agencies serving grandparents. Data were transcribed verbatim and transcripts were analyzed using an inductive, constant comparison approach. Findings revealed two themes reflecting the types of services and support mechanisms providers’ use with grandparent caregivers and providers’ needs and recommendations to better serve grandparent caregivers. Participants fully supported continual funding for the Kinship Care System Navigator position and discussed the importance of community providers sharing a common voice and working together. It is important that professionals who serve grandparent caregivers are knowledgeable and willing to collaborate with other providers to meet grandparents’ needs.
Symptom Profile of Postoperative Delirium in Patients With and Without Dementia
Authors: Lundström Maria , Stenvall Michael , Olofsson Birgitta
Published: November 2012

This study compares the symptom profile of patients with postoperative delirium after femoral neck fracture surgery in those with and without dementia. In this study, 129 patients of age ≥70 years (mean age ±SD, 86±6 yr, 72% women) with postoperative delirium, were included. Delirium and dementia were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria. Of the 129 patients with delirium, 54 (42%) had a dementia disorder. Patients with delirium superimposed on dementia more often had any hyperactive and pure emotional delirium. Communication difficulties and symptoms such as restlessness/agitation, aggressive behavior, and irritability were more commonly found in the dementia group. In contrast, patients with delirium but without dementia were more often diagnosed with pure hypoactive and any psychotic delirium. The symptom profile of postoperative delirium varies according to whether it occurs in patients with or without dementia. This may indicate that postoperative delirium among patients with hip fracture differs based on the presence or absence of dementia.
Validation of the Hebrew Version of the MoCA Test as a Screening Instrument for the Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Individuals
Authors: Lifshitz Michal , Dwolatzky Tzvi , Press Yan
Published: November 2012

Introduction:

The English version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test has been shown to be reliable in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the sensitivity and specificity of the Hebrew version of this instrument are yet to be determined.

Methods:

The study population consisted of 2 groups of older individuals, 74 patients diagnosed with MCI and 80 patients who were cognitively asymptomatic. Cognitive evaluation included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mindstreams computerized cognitive assessment, and the MoCA test.

Results:

The Hebrew version of MoCA distinguished between cognitively asymptomatic older individuals and those with MCI, with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 76.3%, using a cutoff of 26/30 points.

Conclusions:

The Hebrew version of the MoCA test is effective for identifying MCI in older patients. As a screening instrument for MCI, its higher sensitivity makes it preferable o the MMSE, which is used extensively in the clinical setting.
Co-occurrence of Anemia, Marginal Vitamin B6, and Folate Status and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults
Authors: Pan Wen-Harn , Chang Yi-Ping , Yeh Wen-Ting , Guei Yu-Shu , Lin Bi-Fong , Wei Ien-Lan , Yang Feili Lo , Liaw Yung-Po , Chen Kuan-Ju , Chen Wei J.
Published: November 2012

Although nutrient deficiencies are thought to play roles in the development of depression, observational studies have yielded inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate whether multiple marginal nutrient deficiencies are associated with symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older Taiwanese. Data from 1371 elderly adults recruited from the Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan was used in this study. Depressive symptom scores on depressed mood and emotions affecting daily life were derived from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36). Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, plasma vitamins B6, B12, and folate concentration, and erythrocyte transketolase and glutathione reductase activation coefficients were measured. After adjusting for age, gender, cognitive function, physical activity, disease history, and medication in the multivariate analysis, anemia, and marginal B6 deficiency were significantly associated with the presence of depression symptoms, respectively. In addition, co-occurrence of vitamin B6 with low folate level and co-occurrence of anemia either with low vitamin B6 or with folate level were all associated with the depressive mood and with depressive emotions defined by SF-36 (odds ratios [OR] in the range of 2.32−7.13, all P values ≤.05). The magnitude of the ORs is larger when the number of deficiencies increased. Elderly people with coexisting marginal deficiencies of nutrients involved in the S-adenosylmethionine and hemoglobin production were more likely to experience depressed mood and emotion that affect daily activity. Examining status of these nutrients is worthy of consideration for older adults with depressed symptoms.
Effects of bamboo fibers on friction performance of friction materials
Authors: Ma Yunhai , Shen Shenglong , Tong Jin , Ye Wei , Yang Yazhou , Zhou Jiang
Published: November 2012

The mechanical properties of bamboo ( Phyllostachys heterocycla) fiber were evaluated. The friction and wear performance of the bamboo fiber-reinforced friction materials (BFRFMs) were tested on a constant speed friction tester. The results showed that the friction coefficient of BFRFMs (reinforced with 3 wt.%, 6 wt.% and 9 wt.% bamboo fibers) was higher than those of the non-BFRFM with identical ingredients and process conditions during the temperature increasing procedure. The friction coefficient of 12 wt.% BFRFMs decreased with increasing temperature during temperature increasing procedure, but fluctuation appeared at 200°C and then it decreased again with increasing temperature. The friction coefficients of BFRFMs with 3 wt.% bamboo fiber were higher than that with other bamboo fiber contents. Specific wear rate of BFRFMs increased with the temperature increasing during temperature-increasing procedure, and the wear rates of BFRFM with 3 wt.% fiber were lower than that of others. Morphologies of wear surfaces of friction materials were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the friction characteristics were discussed. The results showed that carbonized bamboo fiber can reduce the specific wear rate and the noise and provide stable friction coefficient.
Potentials and Limitations of Mobile Eye Tracking in Visitor Studies
Authors: Eghbal-Azar Kira , Widlok Thomas
Published: November 2012

The main goal of this article is to demonstrate the potentials and limitations of mobile eye tracking (MET) in visitor studies and other social science research. We provide empirical examples of MET research in the context of a comparative study of two exhibitions at two museums in Germany. The article underlines the potentials of MET in combination with other methods and in comparison with conventional forms of observation and interviewing. On the basis of our case material we provide recommendations for social scientists who consider integrating mobile eye-tracking in their field research.
Computer-aided modelling of three-dimensional maxillofacial tissues through multi-modal imaging
Authors: Barone Sandro , Paoli Alessandro , Razionale Armando V
Published: November 2012

Recent developments in digital imaging techniques have allowed a wide spread of three-dimensional methodologies based on capturing anatomical tissues by different approaches, such as cone-beam computed tomography, three-dimensional photography and surface scanning. In oral rehabilitation, an objective method to predict surgical and orthodontic outcomes should be based on anatomical data belonging to soft facial tissue, facial skeleton and dentition (maxillofacial triad). However, none of the available imaging techniques can accurately capture the complete triad. This article presents a multi-modal framework, which allows image fusion of different digital techniques to create a three-dimensional virtual maxillofacial model, which integrates photorealistic face, facial skeleton and dentition. The methodology is based on combining structured light surface scanning and cone-beam computed tomography data processing. The fusion procedure provides multi-modal representations by aligning different tissues on the basis of common anatomical constraints.
Time to play: The temporal organization of chess competition
Authors: Fine Gary Alan
Published: November 2012

How is competition to be understood as a time-bound activity? While the comparison of task completion success is a central feature of competition, time is routinely used as a principle through which contests are organized, either as a direct measure of success or as a constraining resource that insures the contest is fair. In competitions various models of temporal organization (and sequential turn-taking) organize strategy and produce constraints that lead to the evaluation of success. I present an ethnography of competitive chess to demonstrate the centrality and consequences of temporality in contests in which time is used as a resource. Time shapes chess on the macro-level (for organizing events), the meso-level (as interpersonal engagement), and the micro-level (as psychic pressure). Put together, activities create a temporal tapestry. Treating time as a resource in competitive activity emphasizes that rules depend on temporal strategies to create equitable outcomes.
Statistical analysis of life history calendar data
Authors: Eerola Mervi , Helske Satu
Published: November 2012

The life history calendar is a data-collection tool for obtaining reliable retrospective data about life events. To illustrate the analysis of such data, we compare the model-based probabilistic event history analysis and the model-free data mining method, sequence analysis. In event history analysis, we estimate instead of transition hazards the cumulative prediction probabilities of life events in the entire trajectory. In sequence analysis, we compare several dissimilarity metrics and contrast data-driven and user-defined substitution costs. As an example, we study young adults' transition to adulthood as a sequence of events in three life domains. The events define the multistate event history model and the parallel life domains in multidimensional sequence analysis. The relationship between life trajectories and excess depressive symptoms in middle age is further studied by their joint prediction in the multistate model and by regressing the symptom scores on individual-specific cluster indices. The two approaches complement each other in life course analysis; sequence analysis can effectively find typical and atypical life patterns while event history analysis is needed for causal inquiries.
Impact of Fiscal Policy Shocks on the Indian Economy
Authors: Yadav Swati , Upadhyay V. , Sharma Seema
Published: November 2012

In this article, we analyse the impact of fiscal shocks on the Indian economy using structural vector auto-regression (SVAR) methodology. The study uses quarterly data for the period 1997Q1–2009Q2. Two different identification schemes have been used to assess the effects of shocks on government spending and tax revenues on output. The recursive scheme is based on the Cholesky decomposition and the second identification scheme of Blanchard & Perrotti’s (1999) technique of using information on the tax system to identify the SVAR model. We find that the impulse responses obtained from both identification schemes behave in a similar fashion but the values of the multipliers differ. Also, the shock-to-tax variable has a bigger impact on gross domestic product (GDP) than the government spending shock. In the extended four variable VAR model, the effects of fiscal shocks on private consumption has been assessed using the recursive identification scheme. Findings indicate that the tax variable has a larger impact on private consumption compared to the government spending variable. In the short run, the impact of expansionary fiscal shocks follows the Keynesian tradition but the long-run response is mixed.

JEL Classification: C32, E32, E62
The Professional Medical Ethics Model of Decision Making Under Conditions of Clinical Uncertainty
Authors: McCullough Laurence B.
Published: November 2012

The professional medical ethics model of decision making may be applied to decisions clinicians and patients make under the conditions of clinical uncertainty that exist when evidence is low or very low. This model uses the ethical concepts of medicine as a profession, the professional virtues of integrity and candor and the patient’s virtue of prudence, the moral management of medical uncertainty, and trial of intervention. These features combine to justifiably constrain clinicians’ and patients’ autonomy with the goal of preventing nondeliberative decisions of patients and clinicians. To prevent biased recommendations by the clinician that promote such nondeliberative decisions, medically reasonable alternatives supported by low or very low evidence should be offered but not recommended. The professional medical ethics model of decision making aims to improve the quality of decisions by reducing the unacceptable variation that can result from nondeliberative decision making by patients and clinicians when evidence is low or very low.