bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Race and Diagnostic Label on Older Adults’ Emotions, Illness Beliefs, and Willingness to Help a Family Member With Osteoarthritis
Authors: Mingo Chivon A. , McIlvane Jessica M. , Haley William E. , Luong My-Linh N.
Published: January 2013

Objective:

To examine how race and the diagnostic label of Osteoarthritis (OA) affects older adults’ emotions, illness beliefs, and willingness to help a family member.

Methods:

African American and White older adults were randomly assigned to read vignettes describing a sister suffering from chronic pain and disability, either with or without the OA label. Race × diagnostic label ANOVAs were conducted.

Results:

Compared to Whites, African Americans were more optimistic that OA could improve with health care, and showed greater willingness to help their sister. The OA label had little impact on emotions, beliefs, or willingness to help. African Americans rated the sister as having more control of their problem than Whites without the OA label, but providing the diagnosis eliminated this difference.

Discussion:

The diagnostic label of OA had little effect on these older adults, but racial differences indicate that cultural values regarding family caregiving are important in arthritis care.
Flame-retardant cotton barrier nonwovens for mattresses
Authors: Parikh Dharnidhar , Ingber Bruce , Nam Sunghyun , Bhat Gajanan , Warnock Mary , Harrington Lee
Published: January 2013

According to regulation CPSC 16 CFR 1633, every new residential mattress sold in the United States since July 2007 must resist ignition by open flame. An environmentally benign “green,” inexpensive way to meet this regulation is to use a low-cost flame-retardant barrier fabric. In this study, a nonwoven fabric of grey unbleached cotton was treated with a low-cost phosphate-based formulation. The energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed uniform nitrogen and phosphorus distribution. With 17% add-on, the flame-retardant unbleached cotton barrier showed a limiting oxygen index of 33% oxygen and 83 mm of char length with no after-flame and no afterglow in the vertical flame test. Under air and nitrogen at 500°C, 24% and 35% char remained after thermogravimetric analyses, respectively. This flame resistance is comparable to that of current commercial barrier fabrics made from bleached cotton and Flovan cyanoguanidine or from T-bond grey cotton fiber highlofts (Jones Fiber). Mattresses constructed with a flame-retardant cotton nonwoven barrier fabric are predicted to meet the requirements of 16CFR1633. As a follow-up to this study, a full-scale mattress burn test is recommended.
Head Circumference in Young Children With Autism
Authors: Morhardt Duncan R. , Barrow William , Jaworski Margie , Accardo Pasquale J.
Published: January 2013

The hypothesis that the presence of macrocephaly might vary with the specific growth chart used was tested by using the Nellahus, CDC, and recent Rollins et al revision head circumference charts to plot the head circumferences of 253 children with neurodevelopmental disorders and with ages between 12 to 36 months; of these children, 59 had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The CDC and Rollins et al head circumference charts identified more cases of macrocephaly and fewer cases of microcephaly than did the older Nellhaus chart but did not significantly differ in their identification of macrocephaly in children with autism.
Embryonal Tumor With Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes
Authors: Alexiou George A. , Stefanaki Kalliopi , Vartholomatos George , Sfakianos George , Prodromou Neofytos , Moschovi Maria
Published: January 2013

Embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes has been recently defined as a distinct central nervous system embryonal neoplasm, although it was initially regarded as a subtype of central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumor. To date 70 cases have been reported. We have performed a literature review and we present 2 new cases. Analysis of the reported data revealed that radiotherapy, tumor excision and high-dose adjuvant chemotherapy with sequential autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue have a prognostic significance.
Vitamin D Intake Is Inadequate in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I Cohort
Authors: Aton Jennifer , Davis Rebecca Hurst , Jordan Kristine C. , Scott Charles B. , Swoboda Kathryn J.
Published: January 2013

Children with type I spinal muscular atrophy commonly demonstrate reduced bone mineral density. Our objectives were to evaluate and assess adequacy of vitamin D intake, serum levels, and association with bone mineral density. Assessments were completed using 3-day food records and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans. The spinal muscular atrophy type I cohort included 22 males and 18 females (N = 40), with a mean age of 18.6 months. Data collection occurred from 2001 to 2011. Seventy-five percent of patients had inadequate intake of vitamin D at the initial visit. Using mixed-effects analyses, vitamin D and calcium intakes correlated positively with bone mineral density ( r = 0.31 and r = 0.53, respectively). Increased vitamin D and calcium consumption were associated with an increase in bone mineral density ( P = .04 and P = .01, respectively). Vitamin D intake correlated positively with serum levels ( r = 0.65). Further study is needed to determine optimal intakes of vitamin D and calcium in the spinal muscular atrophy type I population.
Idiopathic Photosensitive Occipital Epilepsy
Authors: Politi-Elishkevich Keren , Kivity Sara , Shuper Avinoam , Levine Hagit , Goldberg-Stern Hadassa
Published: January 2013

Idiopathic photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy is a reflex, age- and localization-related syndrome. We describe the clinical and electroencephalographic features, therapy, and outcome of 16 children/adolescents with this syndrome. The cohort included 2 sets of siblings and 7 patients with other first- or second-degree relatives with a seizure history. All patients had occipital onset seizures and 15 had secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Seizure frequency was relatively low in all patients but one. Myoclonic seizures later developed in 2 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Eight patients achieved full seizure control with monotherapy, and 5 required a second drug; 3 patients had rare seizures and were not treated with antiepileptics. Seven patients required special education or developmental assistance. This interesting syndrome sheds light on the pathophysiology and genetic etiology of common phenomena such as photosensitivity and headache. Further large prospective studies are required to better define this unique syndrome and its implications.
Contributors to Hypervigilance in a Military and Civilian Sample
Authors: Kimble Matthew O. , Fleming Kevin , Bennion Kelly A.
Published: January 2013

Hypervigilance toward ambiguous or threatening stimuli is a prominent feature in many trauma survivors including active and returning soldiers. This study set out to investigate the factors that contribute to hypervigilance in a mixed sample. One hundred forty-five individuals, 50 of whom were war zone veterans, filled out a series of questionnaires including the Hypervigilance Questionnaire (HVQ; Kimble, Fleming, & Bennion, 2009). Other participants included military cadets, college undergraduates, and a traumatized community sample. In this sample, a history of military deployment and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms independently predicted hypervigilance. The findings suggest that deployment to a war zone, in and of itself, can lead to hypervigilant behavior. Therefore, characterizing hypervigilance as pathological in a veteran sample must be done so with caution.
Collaboration
Authors: Cutajar Mario , Bezzina Christopher
Published: January 2013

In October 2005, the Maltese Government embarked on a new phase of its national educational reform, which focuses on state compulsory primary and secondary schooling. A central part of this reform was the creation of state-maintained colleges. By February 2008 all state primary and secondary schools on the Maltese Islands were clustered into ten provisional colleges. This article aims to show the nature of collaboration that is required to sustain the establishment of school networks. It analyses the nature of collaboration in a policy context that requires joint working within and by individual schools and the formation of a partnership with parents and the community at large. Data collected from face-to-face in-depth semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and documented material have underpinned the importance of the theme of collaboration as a core aspect of this case study. This article reports the results of phase 1 of a larger study that was undertaken in one college.
Teachers’ attitudes toward the appointment of women as school leaders
Authors: Arar Khalid , Abramovitz Ruth
Published: January 2013

The trend towards gender equality in principalship appointments continues to interest researchers, especially when it appears in traditional societies that maintain patriarchal, anti-feminist attitudes and values. Arab society in Israel is undergoing transition from traditionalism to modernism. Arab women hold the majority of Arab school teaching positions, but patriarchal opposition erupts when they aspire to attain principalship positions. This article reports on a study that examined attitudes of teacher colleagues towards the appointment of women principals.  The findings indicated that women principals were perceived as creating a pleasant atmosphere at school, yet all the teachers agreed that women had inferior abilities to conduct relations with external bodies. Male teachers expressed significantly more patriarchal attitudes than female teachers. Surprisingly, teachers with higher-level education expressed more resistance to female leadership than those without academic degrees. The discussion suggests ways to achieve gender equality in the appointment of school principals in Arab society in Israel.
Superintendents describe their leadership styles
Authors: Bird James J. , Wang Chuang
Published: January 2013

Superintendents from eight southeastern United States school districts self-described their leadership styles across the choices of autocratic, laissez-faire, democratic, situational, servant, or transformational. When faced with this array of choices, the superintendents chose with arguable equitableness, indicating that successful leaders can display any of these styles. Their choices, however, seem unrelated to any discernible personal, professional, or district demographic variable. The authors propose that, regardless of leadership style, authenticity within the style may be needed for effectiveness. They discuss the implications for this in terms of professional preparation programs, administrative careers, and selection, professional development, and assessment processes for governing boards.
The possible misfit of Csikszentmihalyi’s dimensions of flow in the contemporary roles of school leaders
Authors: MacNeill Neil , Cavanagh Rob
Published: January 2013

In many jurisdictions school leaders are being placed under increased accountability and stress, which then affects their ability to address the real issue of education − improving students’ learning. Flow Theory, developed by the Hungarian−American psychologist Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, has a high degree of relevance to the issue of the way modern school leaders carry out their roles. A purposive sample of school leaders (N = 8) was interviewed about their Flow experiences, in both in-school and out-of-school situations. The nine dimensions of Flow (Jackson and Csikszentmihalyi, 1999) were used as a conceptual guide in the e-interviews. Each of the school leaders gave powerful descriptions of their memorable out-of-school deep-Flow experiences, but their in-school experiences of Flow appeared to have far less impact. The data analysis showed that with this sample of school leaders only four of Jackson and Csikszentmihalyi’s nine dimensions of Flow were identifiable in their in-school experiences. The misfit of Csikszentmihalyi’s dimensions of Flow is important, and needs re-interrogation in future research. Importantly, the moral dimension of the school leaders’ job was identified by the respondents as the most important facilitator of Flow in both public and private schools, and this may provide the key to improved school leader resilience and motivation.
Defining a tri-dimensional role for leadership in further education colleges
Authors: Lambert Steve
Published: January 2013

This article presents a review of current leadership practices of principals in further education colleges and suggests that principalship is more than a two-dimensional functional model comprising internal or externally focused activities. During the past 20 years further education leadership has become more demanding, with greater accountability imposed by a state-controlled system and, as Hargreaves and Fink (2005) suggest, this has impacted on the number of individuals entering senior leadership posts. In light of these changes it is appropriate to review the role of the principal and what is known about the way the role has changed. As a result of the way in which principalship has evolved, this article introduces a tri-dimensional model of principalship − first by reflecting on leadership practices of college principals and identifying the key elements of their role, and second by suggesting that college principalship compasses three theoretical aspects: a public, an internal–public and an internal–private.
Managing temporary school closure due to environmental hazard
Authors: Stuart Kathy L , Patterson Lesley G , Johnston David M , Peace Robin
Published: January 2013

The February 2011 Canterbury earthquake was a dramatic reminder of the need for schools to have emergency management plans in place. A number of other disaster and hazard events have historically caused New Zealand schools to close temporarily, and often within a short time frame. At such times principals must act decisively and communicate clearly with their communities in complex and difficult circumstances, carrying risk for student well-being. Here we present two hazard-specific New Zealand case studies, pandemic (H1N1) and adverse weather (snowstorm) − both precipitating instances of temporary school closure. Lessons taken from the case studies offer an opportunity for management staff to reflect on how to best plan for and manage environmental hazards precipitating temporary school closure in order to mitigate immediate and long-term risk to pupils and the wider school community.
Why we ‘knead’ theory
Authors: Gunter Helen M
Published: January 2013

This article reports on a seminar by the Critical Educational Policy and Leadership Research Interest Group in June 2012. The article reports on the papers and our engagement with the need to use theory to develop descriptions and understandings.
Reprocessability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposites
Authors: Lim Su Rong , Ariff Zulklifi Mohamad , Chow Wen Shyang
Published: January 2013

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) containing 3 wt% of organo-montmorillonite (OMMT) was prepared using twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. Maleic anhydride-grafted styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS- g-MAH) and N, N′-ethylenebis(stearamide) (EBS) were used as impact modifier and dispersing agent. The reprocessing ability of PET/OMMT nanocomposites was studied through three cycles of extrusion. Properties of the reprocessed PET nanocomposites were characterized using intrinsic viscosity measurements, impact tests, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. The enhanced intercalation of the OMMT silicate layers in the PET was confirmed using XRD. The intrinsic viscosity, impact strength and thermal stability of PET nanocomposites were reduced after subjecting to three cycles of extrusion. Nevertheless, the retention ability in mechanical and thermal properties of PET/OMMT/EBS nanocomposites was higher than that of PET/OMMT/SEBS- g-MAH counterparts.
Children’s perceptions of physical punishment in Ghana and the implications for children’s rights
Authors: Twum-Danso Imoh Afua
Published: January 2013

International children’s rights discourses are centred on the principles of child protection and participation. Underpinning these discourses is the assumption that when children express their views they will support children’s rights principles. However, this is not a guarantee. On key issues affecting their lives such as children’s work and labour, children’s views are often in striking opposition to the dominant children’s rights discourse. This can be attributed to the fact that children’s views show a more nuanced assessment of their situation which challenge simplistic dichotomies about good vs bad. Thus, there is a need to move beyond simple dichotomies and, instead, seek to understand the complexities of children’s lives. This article contributes to this discussion by exploring children’s perceptions of the physical punishment they experience at the hands of parents and other primary caregivers in Ghana and the meanings they themselves attach to the practice. Further, it examines the implications this has for the dominant children’s rights discourse. Data presented in this paper are based on a one-year project funded by the Nuffield Foundation in the UK.
Women and recession revisited
Authors: Rubery Jill , Rafferty Anthony
Published: January 2013

In earlier work (Rubery, 1988), the extent to which women might act as a flexible reserve over the business cycle was argued to depend on three main factors: the pattern of gender segregation and its relationship to employment change; women’s commitment to labour market participation; and state policy and support for women’s employment. This article revisits these factors in the context of the 2008/9 recession and the follow-on austerity policy to explore how gender segregation is associated with employment change by gender, how far reduced demand is influencing women’s labour market participation, and the implications of changes in public policy associated with austerity and reduced labour demand for women’s future employment position.
Preparation and properties of silicon-containing arylacetylene resin/benzoxazines blends
Authors: Gao Yu , Zhou Yan , Huang Farong , Du Lei
Published: January 2013

A series of aniline-based bifunctional benzoxazines (BZs) were synthesized using solventless or solvent method via the Mannich condensation reactions. The chemical structures of these BZs were confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared and proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The polymer blends were prepared by mixing silicon-containing arylacetylene (poly(dimethylsilyleneethynylenephenyleneethynylene) (PSA)) resin with BZ in weight ratios at 110°C until a homogeneous viscosity liquid was obtained. The resultant blends were characterized by solubility tests, rheological analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analyses and thermogravimetric analyses. The good solubility and low melt viscosity of the blends indicated excellent processability. The curing reactions resulted in the formation of interpenetrating polymer networks. The cured blends exhibited high glass transition temperatures (T gs) and thermal stabilities. The compressive strength and flexural strength of the blend casts improved when compared with pristine PSA.
Analysis of partial wing damage on flying-wing unmanned air vehicle
Authors: Kim Ki-joon , Ahn Jongmin , Kim Seungkeun , Choi Jong-soo , Suk Jinyoung , Lim Heungsik , Hur Gi-bong
Published: January 2013

This article investigates the effect of asymmetric wing damage on flight dynamic characteristics of a flying-wing single motor unmanned air vehicle. To construct a six degree-of-freedom model of the damaged aircraft, a flying-wing type unmanned aerial vehicle is designed, and the wind tunnel test for damaged configurations is performed to identify the change of aerodynamic coefficients. The changes of mass, center of gravity, and moment of inertia are also calculated for each damage configuration with CATIA. The changed trim states are calculated depending on the severity of damage, and the movements of poles in longitudinal/lateral-directional flight modes are examined to evaluate the change of the dynamic stability and performance. Numerical simulations and eigenvalue analyses are performed to investigate the altered flight dynamics. It is verified that an asymmetrically wing-damaged unmanned air vehicle shows a sluggish roll behavior with longitudinal instability, and the result of this study can be a cornerstone for the future research on reconfigurable flight controller design against aircraft damage.
Transient and time-averaged characteristics of a compressible ground vortex flow
Authors: Lawson NJ , Knowles K , Bray D , Finnis MV , Eyles JM
Published: January 2013

Particle image velocimetry data are presented from a scaled jet-lift aircraft ground vortex compressible flow. The scaled ground vortex is generated by a vertical compressible jet in cross-flow impinging on a moving ground plane. Particle image velocimetry is used to generate both transient and time-averaged flow statistics from the ground vortex region over a range of nozzle pressure ratios from 2.3 to 3.7, nozzle height-to-diameter ratios ( h/ dn) from 3 to 10 (where dn = 12.7 mm) and cross-flow velocities ( V∞) from 10 to 20 m/s. These conditions correspond to effective (jet-to-cross flow) velocity ratios of 15 < [Formula: see text] < 60. For each condition, mean and root mean square ground vortex core position was analysed from sets of 72 instantaneous particle image velocimetry vector maps. Over the range of effective velocity ratios, [Formula: see text], the particle image velocimetry results showed that the ground vortex mean streamwise position varied from 5 dn to 16 dn and the root mean square fluctuation in this position varied from 0.7 dn to 1.5 dn. Further analysis of the ground vortex temporal characteristics did not reveal any dominant non-dimensional frequencies.
Autonomous sense & avoid capabilities based on aircraft performances estimation
Authors: Melega Marco , Lazarus Samuel , Lone Mudassir , Savvaris Al
Published: January 2013

An autonomous navigation system integrating both the path following and the autonomous sense & avoid functions is presented in this article. The sense & avoid algorithm was developed to provide an avoidance manoeuvre that ensures a minimum separation between the ownship and all other agents during its execution in a multiple flying threats scenario. The resolution manoeuvre is defined as step variations in the heading angle and altitude autopilots commands. The commands are optimised in order to get the smallest step command necessary to keep a minimum predefined separation between the ownship and the threats. Its computation is based on the estimation of the future trajectory of all the agents and, therefore, on the estimation of aircraft performance during the manoeuvre. The suggested resolution manoeuvre is updated at 1 Hz in order to take into account any unpredictable changes of the threat trajectories. The obtained heading and altitude change commands are displayed on a novel human–machine interface to support the pilot in the planning of the avoidance action. The proposed sense & avoid system is modelled in a Matlab/Simulink® environment for a Piper J3 Cub 40 model aircraft. The threats considered are aircrafts that communicate their states to the system through their Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast mode S transponders.
Residual life prediction from statistical features and a GARCH modeling approach for aircraft generators
Authors: Du Xiaofei , Zhou Yuanjun , Dong Shiliang
Published: January 2013

Condition-based maintenance is currently widely used in the aviation industry with diagnoses obtained from the performance data of the aircraft. Online assessments of the real-time condition and predicted residual life have been of great importance for both mechanics and pilots, especially during flight for the latter. Statistical distribution and feature parameters are believed to be crucial criteria of performance degradation, which facilitate making practical component replacement decisions. Furthermore in terms of observations featuring performance degradation, time-series analysis provides feasible forecasts of residual life from the available working time of aero parameters. The recorded data from constant speed generator drives of aircraft generally demonstrate these characteristics, are non-stationary and have time-varying variance in time-series analysis. The generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity approach is appropriate to the situation to obtain prediction results. The suitability of the proposed method has been examined through calculating prediction errors with data from an actual life experiment of aviation generator.
The Neural Basis of Difficulties Disengaging From Negative Irrelevant Material in Major Depression
Authors: Foland-Ross Lara C. , Hamilton J. Paul , Joormann Jutta , Berman Marc G. , Jonides John , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: January 2013

Recurrent uncontrollable negative thoughts are a hallmark of depressive episodes. Deficits in cognitive control have been proposed to underlie this debilitating aspect of depression. Here, we used functional neuroimaging during an emotional working memory (WM) task to elucidate the neural correlates of these difficulties in cognitive control. In a WM manipulation involving depressed participants, the dorsal anterior cingulate and parietal and bilateral insular cortices were activated significantly more when negative words were removed from WM than when they were maintained in WM; in contrast, nondepressed participants exhibited stronger neural activations in these regions for positive than for negative material. These findings implicate anomalous activation of components of the task-positive network, known to be modulated by cognitive effort, in depression-associated difficulties in expelling negative material from WM. Future studies should examine the association between these aberrations and the maintenance of depressive symptoms.
Counting Multidimensional Objects
Authors: Goldfarb Liat , Treisman Anne
Published: January 2013

It has been suggested that a neural instantiation of the temporary multidimensional representations of objects might be synchrony of firing between the neurons representing the features that co-occur in a given location. In this article, we direct attention to a logical problem that arises when certain synchrony assumptions are applied to real situations in which multiple multidimensional objects are presented. We demonstrate a new behavioral effect that shows that this logical problem coincides with a genuine behavioral problem. Even when a display contains only a small number of objects characterized by features on two dimensions, the representation of the display becomes difficult when, according to our described assumptions, the object representations cannot be simultaneously synchronized on both features. This article outlines a new principle that governs object representation, and the experimental results might be unique behavioral evidence for a neural-based theory of feature binding.
Ostracod palaeolimnological analysis reveals drastic historical changes in salinity, eutrophication and biodiversity loss in a coastal Mediterranean lake
Authors: Marco-Barba J , Mesquita-Joanes F , Miracle MR
Published: January 2013

The Albufera of Valencia, one of the largest oligohaline coastal lagoons of the Iberian Peninsula, has suffered hydrological and landscape modifications since medieval times. This paleolimnological study clears up the controversy about the factors, which drove the lake to its present state. Lithological descriptions, ostracod paleoassemblages and Cyprideis torosa (Jones, 1850) shell morphological variations and geochemistry (δ18O, δ13C and Sr/Ca) have been used to reconstruct the lake ecosystem evolution during the last two centuries. The sandy sediments at the bottom of L’Antina core (63 cm) presented a typical assemblage of brackish water ostracods, with shell-derived δ18O values, inferred salinity and Sr/Cawater characteristic of waters with marine influence. However, 10 cm above, coinciding with a drastic change in lithology, ostracod palaeoassemblages and decreased shell δ18O indicated a shift to freshwater influences. At the top of the sequence, inferred salinity suggests oligohaline waters and ostracods have almost disappeared. The early brackish conditions of Lake Albufera changed at the beginning of the 19th century when important hydrological modifications were undertaken for irrigation and started the major period of rice field expansion. Later, with the change of traditional rice farming to a more technological agriculture, together with increased domestic and industrial sewage inputs, the Albufera became a highly eutrophicated system 50 years ago. Eventually, the loss of macrophyte cover, cyanobacteria blooms and the increase of grazing by fish forced the loss of ostracod communities, currently almost inexistent.
A 1200-year multiproxy record of tree growth and summer temperature at the northern pine forest limit of Europe
Authors: McCarroll Danny , Loader Neil J , Jalkanen Risto , Gagen Mary H , Grudd Håkan , Gunnarson Björn E , Kirchhefer Andreas J , Friedrich Michael , Linderholm Hans W , Lindholm Markus , Boettger Tatjana , Los Sietse O , Remmele Sabine , Kononov Yuri M , Yamazaki Yasuhiro H , Young Giles HF , Zorita Eduardo
Published: January 2013

Combining nine tree growth proxies from four sites, from the west coast of Norway to the Kola Peninsula of NW Russia, provides a well replicated (> 100 annual measurements per year) mean index of tree growth over the last 1200 years that represents the growth of much of the northern pine timberline forests of northern Fennoscandia. The simple mean of the nine series, z-scored over their common period, correlates strongly with mean June to August temperature averaged over this region ( r = 0.81), allowing reconstructions of summer temperature based on regression and variance scaling. The reconstructions correlate significantly with gridded summer temperatures across the whole of Fennoscandia, extending north across Svalbard and south into Denmark. Uncertainty in the reconstructions is estimated by combining the uncertainty in mean tree growth with the uncertainty in the regression models. Over the last seven centuries the uncertainty is < 4.5% higher than in the 20th century, and reaches a maximum of 12% above recent levels during the 10th century. The results suggest that the 20th century was the warmest of the last 1200 years, but that it was not significantly different from the 11th century. The coldest century was the 17th. The impact of volcanic eruptions is clear, and a delayed recovery from pairs or multiple eruptions suggests the presence of some positive feedback mechanism. There is no clear and consistent link between northern Fennoscandian summer temperatures and solar forcing.
Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha is associated with poor health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Mak A , Tang CS , Ho RC
Published: January 2013

Objectives

While patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and are more depressed than healthy people, the impact of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), on these unfavourable psychosocial parameters is unclear. We aim to explore potential relationships between lupus-related proinflammatory cytokines, HRQoL and depressive symptoms in patients with SLE.

Methods

Patients with SLE and age-matched healthy subjects were assessed for HRQoL and depressive and anxiety symptoms by the Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) respectively. Using multiplex immunoassay, a panel of serum proinflammatory cytokines including TNFα, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and IL-33 were determined and compared between both groups. Independent associations between SF-36, serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and HADS scores were studied by regression models.

Results

In total, 54 patients and 54 healthy controls were studied. Lupus patients had significantly poorer HRQoL ( p < 0.001) and were significantly more depressed ( p = 0.006) and anxious ( p = 0.022) than their healthy counterparts. Amongst the proinflammatory cytokines studied, serum TNFα was significantly higher in lupus patients ( p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, higher serum TNFα (β = −0.224, p = 0.047) remained significantly associated with lower SF-36, along with smoking (β = −0.253, p = 0.014) and more severe depressive symptoms (β = −0.433, p = 0.002). In healthy subjects, serum TNFα was associated with depressive symptoms but not with SF-36.

Conclusions

Higher serum TNFα level is independently associated with poorer HRQoL and more severe depressive symptoms in SLE patients. These associations suggest a potential impact of inflammatory response on depressive symptoms and the quality of life in patients with SLE.
Emulating the directional sensitivity of fish hair cell sensor
Authors: Tao Junliang , Sun Ye , Wu Guangxi , Yu Xiong
Published: January 2013

This article describes the sensor development efforts that are inspired by the unique acoustic source tracking capability of aquatics such as fish. The physiological basis in the natural system has been attributed to the unique directional responses of hair cell sensor in the otolith. To emulate such directional transduction behaviors, a hair sensor based on piezoelectric microfiber is attempted. The sensor employs piezoelectric fiber both as the hair shaft and as the transduction element. A pair of electrodes was deposited on the fiber surface both for sensor signal collection and for polarizing the piezoelectric materials. Both computational modeling analysis and experimental study were conducted to validate the sensor performance. The hair sensor was found to possess directional responses that change in the pattern of a cosine function of the loading direction, resembling that observed in the hair cell sensor in the biological system. Such transduction behaviors pave the technical basis to emulate the unique acoustic tracking strategy by aquatics.

PACS 07.07.Df, 07.10.Pz, 77.84.Cg, 87.19.lt
Energy harvesting from human motion and bridge vibrations: An evaluation of current nonlinear energy harvesting solutions
Authors: Green Peter L , Papatheou Evangelos , Sims Neil D
Published: January 2013

A large quantity of recent research into the harvesting of electrical energy from ambient vibration sources has been focused on the improvement of device performance via the deliberate introduction of dynamic nonlinearities. In addition to this, the realisation that most of these kinetic energy sources are stochastic in nature has led to many studies focusing on the response of energy harvesters to random vibrations (often Gaussian white noise). This differs from early studies in which it was assumed that ambient vibration sources were sinusoidal. The aim of the present study is to take current nonlinear energy harvesting solutions and to numerically analyse their effectiveness when two real ambient vibration sources are used: human walking motion and the oscillation of the midspan of a suspension bridge. This study shows that the potential improvements that can be realised through the introduction of nonlinearities into energy harvesters are sensitive to the type of ambient excitation to which they are subjected. Additionally, the need for more research into the development of low-frequency energy harvesters is emphasised.
Effects of an Automated Vocabulary and Comprehension Intervention
Authors: Spencer Elizabeth J. , Goldstein Howard , Sherman Amber , Noe Sean , Tabbah Rhonda , Ziolkowski Robyn , Schneider Naomi
Published: January 2013

It is well established that oral language skills in preschool, including vocabulary and comprehension, predict later reading proficiency and that substantial differences in oral language skills exist when children enter school. Although explicit instruction embedded in storybooks is a promising intervention approach, high-fidelity implementation in preschool classrooms remains a challenge. An automated, explicit vocabulary and comprehension intervention embedded in books was investigated in this early efficacy study. Nine children in public prekindergarten classrooms serving low-income families participated in small group “listening centers” in which they listened to recorded stories and embedded vocabulary and comprehension lessons under headphones. A repeated acquisition single-case experimental design across instructional targets was used. Results indicate modest improvements in vocabulary and comprehension with multiple replications demonstrated within as well as across children. Automated embedded vocabulary and comprehension intervention appears to be feasible for implementation and produces promising results.
Flouroscopic Arthrography Versus MR Arthrography of the Lesser Metatarsophalangeal Joints for the Detection of Tears of the Plantar Plate and Joint Capsule
Authors: Mazzuca James W. , Yonke Bret , Downes Jessica M. , Miner Mark
Published: January 2013

Background:

Derangements of the plantar plate and joint capsule are an underrecognized cause of lesser metatarsalgia. Fluoroscopic arthrography and magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography are both used for diagnosis. Currently there are no studies comparing the effectiveness of these two modalities.

Methods:

Patients suspected of having plantar plate or capsular tears underwent both fluoroscopic arthrography and MR arthrography; the imaging findings were then compared and correlated with intraoperative findings, when available, to evaluate the effectiveness of the different imaging modalities. Forty consecutive patients underwent both fluoroscopic and MR arthrography.

Results:

Thirty-two of 40 patients (80%) were found to have tears of the plantar plate, joint capsule, or both. MR arthrography identified all 32 tears. Four cases in the first 29 patients, 13.8%, demonstrated discrepancy where a tear was identified only on the MR arthrogram. A midpoint review of the data was performed. Of the 4 missed tears they were all noted to be plantar lateral in location. Four other patients in this group had plantar lateral tears that were not missed. These patients had an additional steep lateral oblique image on fluoroscopic arthrography, which showed the plantar lateral tear. Therefore an additional steep lateral oblique image was performed routinely capturing these small tears in the last 11 patients.

Conclusion:

MR arthrography was more accurate in identifying tears of the plantar plate and capsule than fluoroscopic arthrography. Fluoroscopic arthrography with additional views, like a steep lateral oblique view, was found to be as reliable, and more cost-effective, than MR arthrography.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.
Common Pitfalls in Syndesmotic Rupture Management
Authors: Symeonidis Panagiotis D. , Iselin Lukas D. , Chehade Mellick , Stavrou Peter
Published: January 2013

Background:

Syndesmotic injuries occur in up to 11% of all ankle injuries. Whereas the optimal fixation of syndesmotic injuries remains controversial, pitfalls in their management can lead to poor outcomes.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective study of all ankle fractures operated on at a level 1 trauma center over a 7-year period. All cases with syndesmotic fixation were classified and patients’ notes and x-rays were reviewed. The timing of definitive syndesmotic fixation, the type of fixation (screw size and number, number of cortices), and the number of unplanned, syndesmotic-related reoperations were recorded. Seventy syndesmotic ruptures were operated on during the study period.

Results:

There were 19 unplanned reoperations. The 3 reasons for reoperation identified were failure to diagnose the syndesmotic injury 9/19 (47%), failure to achieve an anatomic reduction 6/19 (31%), and loss of reduction due to fixation failure 4/19 (21%). The type of fixation was not correlated with the failure rate, nor were the experience of the surgeon, the gender or the age of the patient.

Conclusions:

The reoperation rate for syndesmotic fixation may be higher than previously thought. In order to reduce the pitfalls in their treatment, we emphazise the importance of 3 critical points in the management of these injuries: suspect the injury, document the stability of the syndesmosis, and reduce the fibula anatomically.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative series.
Home Sweet Home? Families’ Experiences With Aggression in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Hodgetts Sandra , Nicholas David , Zwaigenbaum Lonnie
Published: January 2013

Although not inherent to the diagnosis, many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display aggressive behavior. This study examined the experiences of families living with individuals with ASD who also demonstrate aggressive behaviors. Using a qualitative approach, semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of nine males with autism and aggression. Eight families’ homes also were observed. Through constant-comparison analysis of interview data, triangulated with home observations, three central processes were identified: deleterious impact on daily routines and well-being of family members, limited supports and services, and financial strain. Emergent themes included isolation, exhaustion, safety concerns, home expenses, respite needs, and limited professional supports and alternative housing. Examination of families’ experiences living with someone with ASD who is aggressive, and the impact of aggression on the supports and services that families receive, constitutes an important step in tailoring resources to best meet families’ needs.
Vitamin A and systemic inflammation as protective factors in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Salzer Jonatan , Hallmans Göran , Nyström Maria , Stenlund Hans , Wadell Göran , Sundström Peter
Published: January 2013

Background:

Vitamin A is important for the immune system, and might suppress inflammatory activity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objectives:

We aimed to examine if vitamin A levels were associated with MS risk in samples collected prospectively and during gestation.

Methods:

We measured Retinol Binding Protein (RBP – a surrogate marker for vitamin A) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, in (1) prospectively collected biobank blood samples from MS cases and controls, and (2) gestational samples where the offspring had later developed MS, and gestational control samples. The risk of MS was calculated using matched multivariable logistic regression adjusted for confounders.

Results:

In prospective samples, RBP levels within the second quintile (vs. the first) were associated with a lower MS risk (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.19–0.74). No effect on MS risk in the offspring by gestational RBP levels was found. In young subjects hs-CRP levels ≥10 mg/l in prospective samples were associated with a lower MS risk (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.95).

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that sub-optimal vitamin A levels may be associated with MS risk. The association between hs-CRP levels and MS risk in young subjects may support the role of the hygiene hypothesis in MS aetiology.
Cross-language activation in same-script and different-script trilinguals
Authors: Poarch Gregory J. , van Hell Janet G.
Published: January 2013

In a picture naming study, we examined cross-language activation during speech production in three groups of trilinguals: L3-immersed German–English–Dutch, non-L3-immersed Dutch–English–German, and L3-immersed Russian–English–German trilinguals. All trilinguals named pictures with cognate and non-cognate names in their L2 and their L3. Specifically, we examined cognate effects in same-script trilinguals who were either immersed or not immersed in their L3 and trilinguals whose first language (Russian) differs in script from their other two languages (German, English) to address the questions (1) whether, as non-target language knowledge is co-activated, cognate effects accrue across languages during word production, and (2) whether immersion in L3 is a modulating factor in cross-language activation. We found cognate facilitation in the same-script trilinguals across all languages, although with patterns modulated by the trilinguals’ L3-immersion status and L3 proficiency, corroborating and extending earlier findings in bilingual adults and children. Critically, we also found cognate effects in the different-script trilinguals when the pictures had cognate names in all three languages, indicating that the L1 Russian phonology was activated during naming in L2 English when L3 German was also present, and vice versa.
Bilingual children show advantages in nonverbal auditory executive function task
Authors: Foy Judith G. , Mann Virginia A.
Published: January 2013

Previous studies have shown that bilinguals have greater control over attentional resources than monolinguals in nonverbal tasks, perhaps reflecting domain-general enhancements of executive functioning (EF). Most studies of this bilingual advantage have used tasks with visual stimuli whereas fewer studies have examined attentional control in bilinguals in auditory tasks. We studied components of EF in two Go/No-Go auditory tasks with (1) nonverbal auditory stimuli and (2) verbal auditory stimuli in 5-year-old Spanish–English bilingual ( n = 30) and English-speaking monolingual ( n = 30) children matched on age, gender, short-term memory (digits forward subtest), and early reading skills (phoneme awareness and letter naming). The Go/No-Go tasks were modeled after a continuous performance task (CPT) (Mahone, Pillion, & Hiemenz, 2001) and included additional blocks of trials to measure the effects of switching targets. The bilingual children made fewer errors and had shorter reaction times (RTs) in the second block of the nonverbal auditory tasks than the monolinguals, but there were no differences on the verbal auditory task. Our results suggest that early bilingualism may confer advantages in young children for responding to nonverbal auditory stimuli under conditions that require cognitive flexibility.