bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the three United States Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption cervical arthroplasty trials
Authors: Upadhyaya Cheerag D. , Wu Jau-Ching , Trost Gregory , Haid Regis W. , Traynelis Vincent C. , Tay Bobby , Coric Domagoj , Mummaneni Praveen V.
Published: December 2011

Object

There are now 3 randomized, multicenter, US FDA investigational device exemption, industry-sponsored studies comparing arthroplasty with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for single-level cervical disease with 2 years of follow-up. These 3 studies evaluated the Prestige ST, Bryan, and ProDisc-C artificial discs. The authors analyzed the combined results of these trials.

Methods

A total of 1213 patients with symptomatic, single-level cervical disc disease were randomized into 2 treatment arms in the 3 randomized trials. Six hundred twenty-one patients received an artificial cervical disc, and 592 patients were treated with ACDF. In the three trials, 94% of the arthroplasty group and 87% of the ACDF group have completed 2 years of follow-up. The authors analyzed the 2-year data from these 3 trials including previously unpublished source data. Statistical analysis was performed with fixed and random effects models.

Results

The authors' analysis revealed that segmental sagittal motion was preserved with arthroplasty (preoperatively 7.26° and postoperatively 8.14°) at the 2-year time point. The fusion rate for ACDF at 2 years was 95%. The Neck Disability Index, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Mental, and Physical Component Summaries, neck pain, and arm pain scores were not statistically different between the groups at the 24-month follow-up. The arthroplasty group demonstrated superior results at 24 months in neurological success (RR 0.595, I2 = 0%, p = 0.006). The arthroplasty group had a lower rate of secondary surgeries at the 2-year time point (RR 0.44, I2 = 0%, p = 0.004). At the 2-year time point, the reoperation rate for adjacent-level disease was lower for the arthroplasty group when the authors analyzed the combined data set using a fixed effects model (RR 0.460, I2 = 2.9%, p = 0.030), but this finding was not significant using a random effects model. Adverse event reporting was too heterogeneous between the 3 trials to combine for analysis.

Conclusions

Both anterior cervical discectomy and fusion as well as arthroplasty demonstrate excellent 2-year surgical results for the treatment of 1-level cervical disc disease with radiculopathy. Arthroplasty is associated with a lower rate of secondary surgery and a higher rate of neurological success at 2 years. Arthroplasty may be associated with a lower rate of adjacent-level disease at 2 years, but further follow-up and analysis are needed to confirm this finding.
Latent Demand and Time Contextual Constraints to Outdoor Recreation in Sweden
Authors: Fredman Peter , Romild Ulla , Yuan Mike , Wolf-Watz Daniel
Published: December 2011

This study analyzes the latent demand to outdoor recreation participation and identifies what factors are constraining people from realizing this demand. In Sweden, recreation in the outdoors is seen as a public right as articulated in public policy and much of the outdoor recreation centre around forested landscapes—over 60 percent of the land area is classified as forest. Using data from a nationwide survey of 43 recreation activities, the study takes a time-contextual approach to reveal variations in recreation constraints across weekdays, weekends and holidays. Results show that almost half the population has a latent demand to increase their participation in outdoor recreation. Three categories of time contextual constraints are identified and several of the constraints studied show variations across outdoor activities and socio-economic factors. Practical implications for the promotion of outdoor recreation participation by public agencies, recreation managers and tourism businesses are discussed based on the study findings.
Long-Term Effects of Self-Control on Alcohol Use and Sexual Behavior among Urban Minority Young Women
Authors: Griffin Kenneth W. , Scheier Lawrence M. , Acevedo Bianca , Grenard Jerry L. , Botvin Gilbert J.
Published: December 2011

High risk alcohol use and sexual behaviors peak in young adulthood and often occur in the same individuals. Alcohol use has been found to impair decision-making and contribute to high risk sexual activity. However, the association between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior may also reflect enduring individual differences in risk taking, sociability, self-control, and related variables. Both behaviors can serve similar functions related to recreation, interpersonal connection, and the pursuit of excitement or pleasure. The present study examined the extent to which high risk drinking and sexual behavior clustered together in a sample of urban minority young adult women, a demographic group at elevated risk for negative outcomes related to sexual health. We tested whether psychosocial functioning measured at the beginning of high school predicted classes of risk behaviors when girls were tracked longitudinally into young adulthood. Latent class analysis indicated three distinct profiles based on high risk drinking and sexual behavior (i.e., multiple sex partners) in young adulthood. The largest class (73% of the sample) reported low levels of risky drinking and sexual behavior. The next largest class (19%) reported high risk drinking and low risk sexual behavior, and the smallest class (8%) reported high levels of both behaviors. Compared to women from other racial/ethnic groups, black women were more likely to be categorized in the high risk drinking/low risk sex class. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that self-control in adolescence had a broad and enduring protective effect on risk behaviors eight years later and was associated with a greater probability of being in the low risk drinking/low risk sex class. Findings are discussed in terms of understanding the phenotypic expressions of risk behavior as they relate to early psychosocial development and the long-term protective function of self-control in reducing high risk drinking and sexual behaviors.
Bioinformatics Tools and Novel Challenges in Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) Functional Analysis
Authors: Sacco Letizia Da , Baldassarre Antonella , Masotti Andrea
Published: December 2011

The advent of next generation sequencing revealed that a fraction of transcribed RNAs (short and long RNAs) is non-coding. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a crucial role in regulating gene expression and in epigenetics (chromatin and histones remodeling). LncRNAs may have different roles: gene activators (signaling), repressors (decoy), cis and trans gene expression regulators (guides) and chromatin modificators (scaffolds) without the need to be mutually exclusive. LncRNAs are also implicated in a number of diseases. The huge amount of inhomogeneous data produced so far poses several bioinformatics challenges spanning from the simple annotation to the more complex functional annotation. In this review, we report and discuss several bioinformatics resources freely available and dealing with the study of lncRNAs. To our knowledge, this is the first review summarizing all the available bioinformatics resources on lncRNAs appeared in the literature after the completion of the human genome project. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a little guide for biologists and bioinformaticians looking for dedicated resources, public repositories and other tools for lncRNAs functional analysis.
New PCR Assays for the Identification of Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium subglutinans, and Other Species of the Gibberella fujikuroi Complex
Authors: Faria Carla Bertechini , Abe Camila Agnes Lumi , Silva Cleiltan Novais da , Tessmann Dauri José , Barbosa-Tessmann Ione Parra
Published: December 2011

Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium subglutinans are important fungal pathogens of maize and other cereals worldwide. In this study, we developed PCR-based protocols for the identification of these pathogens targeting the gaoB gene, which codes for galactose oxidase. The designed primers recognized isolates of F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans that were obtained from maize seeds from several producing regions of Brazil but did not recognize other Fusarium spp. or other fungal genera that were either obtained from fungal collections or isolated from maize seeds. A multiplex PCR protocol was established to simultaneously detect the genomic DNA from F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans. This protocol could detect the DNA from these fungi growing in artificially or naturally infected maize seeds. Another multiplex reaction with a pair of primers developed in this work combined with a pre-existing pair of primers has allowed identifying F. subglutinans, F. konzum, and F. thapsinum. In addition, the identification of F. nygamai was also possible using a combination of two PCR reactions described in this work, and another described in the literature.
The Effect of Hydrogen Content on Ballistic Transport Behaviors in the Ni-Nb-Zr-H Glassy Alloys
Authors: Fukuhara Mikio , Umemori Yoshimasa
Published: December 2011

The electronic transport behaviors of (Ni0.39Nb0.25Zr0.35)100−xHx (0 ≤ x < 23.5) glassy alloys with subnanostructural icosahedral Zr5Nb5Ni3 clusters have been studied as a function of hydrogen content. These alloys show semiconducting, electric current-induced voltage (Coulomb) oscillation and ballistic transport behaviors. Coulomb oscillation and ballistic transport occur at hydrogen contents between 6.7 and 13.5 at% and between 13.5 and 21.2 at%, respectively. These results suggest that the localization effect of hydrogen in the clusters plays an important role in various electron transport phenomena.
Multi-Parametric Profiling Network Based on Gene Expression and Phenotype Data: A Novel Approach to Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing
Authors: Nagano Reiko , Akanuma Hiromi , Qin Xian-Yang , Imanishi Satoshi , Toyoshiba Hiroyoshi , Yoshinaga Jun , Ohsako Seiichiroh , Sone Hideko
Published: December 2011

The establishment of more efficient approaches for developmental neurotoxicity testing (DNT) has been an emerging issue for children’s environmental health. Here we describe a systematic approach for DNT using the neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) as a model of fetal programming. During embryoid body (EB) formation, mESCs were exposed to 12 chemicals for 24 h and then global gene expression profiling was performed using whole genome microarray analysis. Gene expression signatures for seven kinds of gene sets related to neuronal development and neuronal diseases were selected for further analysis. At the later stages of neuronal cell differentiation from EBs, neuronal phenotypic parameters were determined using a high-content image analyzer. Bayesian network analysis was then performed based on global gene expression and neuronal phenotypic data to generate comprehensive networks with a linkage between early events and later effects. Furthermore, the probability distribution values for the strength of the linkage between parameters in each network was calculated and then used in principal component analysis. The characterization of chemicals according to their neurotoxic potential reveals that the multi-parametric analysis based on phenotype and gene expression profiling during neuronal differentiation of mESCs can provide a useful tool to monitor fetal programming and to predict developmentally neurotoxic compounds.
Statistical and Graphical Assessment of Circumferential and Radial Hardness Variation of AISI 4140, AISI 1020 and AA 6082 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Al-Khalid Hamad , Alaskari Ayman , Oraby Samy
Published: December 2011

Hardness homogeneity of the commonly used structural ferrous and nonferrous engineering materials is of vital importance in the design stage, therefore, reliable information regarding material properties homogeneity should be validated and any deviation should be addressed. In the current study the hardness variation, over wide spectrum radial locations of some ferrous and nonferrous structural engineering materials, was investigated. Measurements were performed over both faces (cross-section) of each stock bar according to a pre-specified stratified design, ensuring the coverage of the entire area both in radial and circumferential directions. Additionally the credibility of the apparatus and measuring procedures were examined through a statistically based calibration process of the hardness reference block. Statistical and response surface graphical analysis are used to examine the nature, adequacy and significance of the measured hardness values. Calibration of the apparatus reference block proved the reliability of the measuring system, where no strong evidence was found against the stochastic nature of hardness measures over the various stratified locations. Also, outlier elimination procedures were proved to be beneficial only at fewer measured points. Hardness measurements showed a dispersion domain that is within the acceptable confidence interval. For AISI 4140 and AISI 1020 steels, hardness is found to have a slight decrease trend as the diameter is reduced, while an opposite behavior is observed for AA 6082 aluminum alloy. However, no definite significant behavior was noticed regarding the effect of the sector sequence (circumferential direction).
Like a Bolt from the Blue: Phthalocyanines in Biomedical Optics
Authors: Sekkat Nawal , Bergh Hubert van den , Nyokong Tebello , Lange Norbert
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this review is to compile preclinical and clinical results on phthalocyanines (Pcs) as photosensitizers (PS) for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and contrast agents for fluorescence imaging. Indeed, Pcs are excellent candidates in these fields due to their strong absorbance in the NIR region and high chemical and photo-stability. In particular, this is mostly relevant for their in vivo activation in deeper tissular regions. However, most Pcs present two major limitations, i.e., a strong tendency to aggregate and a low water-solubility. In order to overcome these issues, both chemical tuning and pharmaceutical formulation combined with tumor targeting strategies were applied. These aspects will be developed in this review for the most extensively studied Pcs during the last 25 years, i.e., aluminium-, zinc- and silicon-based Pcs.
Photochemical and thermal intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of new o-stilbene-methylene-3-sydnones and their synthesis
Authors: Butković Kristina , Marinić Željko , Molčanov Krešimir , Kojić-Prodić Biserka , Šindler-Kulyk Marija
Published: December 2011

New trans- and cis-o-stilbene-methylene-sydnones 3a,b were synthesized by transforming the trans- and cis-o-aminomethylstilbene derivative, obtained by reduction of corresponding o-cyano derivatives, into glycine ester derivatives (43 and 31% yield) followed by hydrolysis (90 and 96% yield), nitrosation and ring closure with acetic acid anhydride (30 and 40% yield). The products were submitted to photochemical and thermal intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloadditions to afford diverse heteropolycyclic compounds. Photochemical reactions afforded cis-3-(4-methylphenyl)-3a,8-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole (11, 12.5% yield) and trans-3-(4-methylphenyl)-3a,8-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindole (12, 5% yield). Thermal reactions afforded 3-(4-methylphenyl)-3,3a,8,8a-tetrahydroindeno[2,1-c]pyrazole (14, 50% yield) and 11-(4-methylphenyl)-9,10-diazatricyclo[7.2.1.02,7]dodeca-2,4,6,10-tetraene (15, 22% yield).
Continuous-flow hydration–condensation reaction: Synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones from alkynes and aldehydes by using a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst
Authors: Rueping Magnus , Bootwicha Teerawut , Baars Hannah , Sugiono Erli
Published: December 2011

A simple, practical and efficient continuous-flow hydration–condensation protocol was developed for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones starting from alkynes and aldehydes by employing a heterogeneous catalyst in a flow microwave. The procedure presents a straightforward and convenient access to valuable differently substituted chalcones and can be applied on multigram scale.
Novel fatty acid methyl esters from the actinomycete Micromonospora aurantiaca
Authors: Dickschat Jeroen S , Bruns Hilke , Riclea Ramona
Published: December 2011

The volatiles released by Micromonospora aurantiaca were collected by means of a closed-loop stripping apparatus (CLSA) and analysed by GC–MS. The headspace extracts contained more than 90 compounds from different classes. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) comprised the major compound class including saturated unbranched, monomethyl and dimethyl branched FAMEs in diverse structural variants: Unbranched, α-branched, γ-branched, (ω−1)-branched, (ω−2)-branched, α- and (ω−1)-branched, γ- and (ω−1)-branched, γ- and (ω−2)-branched, and γ- and (ω−3)-branched FAMEs. FAMEs of the last three types have not been described from natural sources before. The structures for all FAMEs have been suggested based on their mass spectra and on a retention index increment system and verified by the synthesis of key reference compounds. In addition, the structures of two FAMEs, methyl 4,8-dimethyldodecanoate and the ethyl-branched compound methyl 8-ethyl-4-methyldodecanoate were deduced from their mass spectra. Feeding experiments with isotopically labelled [2H10]leucine, [2H10]isoleucine, [2H8]valine, [2H5]sodium propionate, and [methyl-2H3]methionine demonstrated that the responsible fatty acid synthase (FAS) can use different branched and unbranched starter units and is able to incorporate methylmalonyl-CoA elongation units for internal methyl branches in various chain positions, while the methyl ester function is derived from S-adenosyl methionine (SAM).
Measuring Gaps in Reentry Service Delivery through Program Director and Participant Reports
Authors: Lattimore Pamela K. , Visher Christy A. , Steffey Danielle M.
Published: December 2011

Delivery of services and programs to individuals who are incarcerated and those who have been released recently often falls short of expectations formed during the program planning stage. When programs are partially implemented, program participants receive less than what was prescribed—fewer services and lower dosages of provided services. Partial implementation has the effect of diluting treatment effects and reducing the power of outcome evaluations under an intent-to-treat analysis. This article uses data collected from surveys of 12 reentry program directors and interviews with 863 adult male prisoners participating in these 12 individually designed, comprehensive reentry programs. The programs were implemented using federal funds obtained through Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) grants and were designed to provide a variety of services. This article describes the prelease services program directors identified as components of their local SVORI programs and compares these site-level reports with the services participants reported receiving. The analyses provide a “first-order” measure of implementation that assesses the extent to which those providing services and those receiving services agreed in terms of the prevalence of service receipt. The hypothesis is that agreement suggests that the program was at minimum delivering the services planned. We then look in more detail at the variation with respect to the delivery of 21 specific prerelease service items, individually and as part of constructed “service bundles.” Results suggest considerable variability across the sites and across service items and bundle scores in both levels of service reported and the extent of agreement between program directors and participants.
Revisión taxonómica del complejo Centaurea alba L. (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica
Authors: López E. , Devesa J. A.
Published: December 2011

Revisión taxonómica del complejo Centaurea alba L. (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica.- Se efectúa la revisión taxonómica del complejo de Centaurea alba L. (Centaurea L. sect. Centaurea) en la Península Ibérica, representado por dos especies, C. alba y C. costae Willk. Para C. alba se reconocen tres subespecies con áreas bien definidas: C. alba subsp. alba, con tres variedades –alba, macrocephala Pau y latronum (Pau) E. López & Devesa-, C. alba subsp. aristifera (Pau) E. López & Devesa y C. alba subsp. tartesiana Talavera, proponiéndose dos nuevas combinaciones. Se segrega Centaurea costae de C. alba, y se reconocen para ella tres variedades: costae, montsicciana Pau & Font Quer y maluqueri Font Quer. En el caso de C. alba var. latronum, C. alba var. macrocephala y C. alba subsp. aristifera se ha estudiado además el número cromosómico (2n = 18).
Rhaponticum repens (Compositae), una nueva planta alóctona para la Península Ibérica
Authors: López-Alvarado J. , Crespo M. B. , Garcia-Jacas N. , Alonso M. A. , Vilar L. , Cristóbal J. C. , Susanna A. , Martínez-Flores F. , Juan A. , Sáez L.
Published: December 2011

Rhaponticum repens (Compositae), una nueva planta alóctona para la Península Ibérica.- Se cita por primera vez la especie Rhaponticum repens para la flora de la Península Ibérica. Rhaponticum repens es una especie nativa de Asia central que actúa como invasora en diversos países como Argentina, Canadá o los Estados Unidos. Se ha encontrado por primera vez en campos de cultivo abandonados en el pueblo de Vilablareix, cerca de la ciudad de Girona (Cataluña, España) y en el valle del Vinalopó (Valencia, España), donde fue recolectada y mal identificada en 1959. Los datos moleculares, obtenidos a partir de la región ITS del nrDNA, sugieren que estas poblaciones podrían estar relacionadas con plantas invasoras de Estados Unidos. Debido al carácter extremadamente invasor de la especie, y a su posible origen secundario a partir de las poblaciones norteamericanas, se recomienda el seguimiento de estas poblaciones.
Análisis palinológico preliminar de una turbera holocena del Apakará-tepui (Macizo de Chimantá, Guayana venezolana)
Authors: Rull V. , Montoya E. , Nogué S. , Huber O.
Published: December 2011

Análisis palinológico preliminar de una turbera holocena del Apakará-tepui (Macizo de Chimantá, Guayana venezolana).- Este artículo presenta los resultados palinológicos preliminares, a escala de milenios, de una secuencia holocena, desde 8.0 cal kyr BP hasta la actualidad, obtenida en la cima del Apakará-tepui (2170 m de altitud), en el Macizo del Chimantá, situado en la región neotropical de la Guayana venezolana. El Holoceno temprano se caracterizó por una vegetación diferente a la actual, dominada por árboles y arbustos, en la que Myrica L. (Myricaceae) era el elemento principal de los bosques de ribera que circundaban un cuerpo de agua permanente, como indica la presencia contínua de Isoëtes L. (Isoëtaceae). Durante el Holoceno medio (5.3 cal kyr BP), se produjo un cambio a una vegetación más herbácea, estableciéndose las comunidades que actualmente ocupan el área. Ésto se interpreta como indicativo de un cambio desde climas más cálidos y húmedos a condiciones más frías y secas. La primera fase, de 8.0 a 5.3 cal kyr BP, coincide con una fase climática cálida ampliamente documentada a nivel global, conocida como el Máximo Térmico del Holoceno. Las tendencias milenarias obtenidas en este trabajo se refinarán con futuros estudios a escala de siglos y décadas. Estos resultados apoyan la hipótesis de que las mejores localidades para estudios paleoambientales en las montañas tabulares de Guayana se encuentran alrededor de los ecotonos altitudinales.
Algo más acerca de Francisco de Paula Jiménez Munuera y su abandono de la Scientia amabilis
Authors: Laínz, S. J. M.
Published: December 2011

Algo más acerca de Francisco de Paula Jiménez Munuera y su abandono de la Scientia amabilis.- Se revisa la correspondencia entre Francisco de Paula Jiménez Munuera, botánico español de Cartagena, y Pius Font i Quer. Se revelan y analizan las circunstancias internas y los detalles más cercanos de la donación del herbario Jiménez Munuera a la Sección de Botánica del Museo de Ciencias de Barcelona, futuro Instituto Botánico.
Inquiry Learning: Instructor Perspectives
Authors: Vajoczki Susan , Watt Susan , Vine Michelle M
Published: December 2011

The rise of the research intensive university has led some critics to argue that teaching has been discounted in favour of research, and thus the academy has “failed...their undergraduate populations” (Boyer Commission, 1998, p .5). This paper examines instructor perceptions of inquiry at an institution with a significant history of providing inquiry learning opportunities to undergraduate students. Inquiry learning is typically seen as a pedagogical approach, both a method and a process, delivered in small class settings. Qualitative data were collected through interviews (n=16) with instructors who used inquiry in their teaching to elicit instructor perceptions of inquiry teaching. Content analysis was performed on the interviews to extract themes. Results suggest that instructors approached their inquiry teaching differently - some adopting an intentional and some an unintentional approach. There was general consensus that teaching and learning academic skills is valuable, inquiry instructors are facilitators, technology has only a modest place in the inquiry classroom, and larger classes inhibit inquiry. Responses were mixed about the importance of stand-alone inquiry courses. Teaching such courses appears to change the instructor’s perspective about inquiry.
L’augmentation des universités qui sont de plus en plus axées sur la recherche a soulevé quelques critiques à l’effet que l’enseignement ait été délaissé au profit de la recherche et que, conséquemment, les institutions d’enseignement ont « laissé tomber… leurs étudiants de premier cycle » (Boyer Commission 1998, p. 5). Le présent article porte sur la perception des enseignants d’un établissement qui préconise depuis longtemps des pratiques pédagogiques notamment la - méthode d’enquête- pour favoriser l’apprentissage de leurs étudiants de premier cycle. Cette méthode est généralement considérée comme une approche pédagogique qui se préoccupe tant de l’objet que du procesus d’apprentissage. Des entrevues réalisées auprès d’enseignants qui utilisent cette méthode ont permis de recueillir des données qualitatives (n=16) afin de savoir ce qu’ils en pensaient. Les chercheurs ont analysé le contenu des entrevues pour en extraire des thèmes. Les résultats indiquent que les enseignants abordent la méthode d’enquête de manière différente : certains adoptant une approche intentionnelle et d’autres une approche non intentionnelle. Les enseignants s’entendent sur les éléments suivants : l’enseignement et l’apprentissage des stratégies pédagogiques sont utiles, les enseignants qui utilisent la méthode d’enquête ont un rôle de facilitateur, la technologie n’occupe qu’une faible place dans la classe où cette méthode est appliquée et les classes nombreuses nuisent à cette méthode. Les avis sont partagées quant à l’utilisation de cette méthode dans les cours sans préalables. Le fait de donner ce type de cours semble modifier l’opinion de l’enseignant quant à cette méthode.
Writing Helpful Feedback: The Influence of Feedback Type on Students’ Perceptions and Writing Performance
Authors: McGrath April L , Taylor Alyssa , Pychyl Timothy A.
Published: December 2011

Written feedback on students’ assignments is a common method that instructors and teaching assistants use to inform students about their performance or guide revisions. Despite its frequency of use, written feedback often lacks sufficient detail to be beneficial to students, and additional empirical research should examine its effectiveness as a teaching tool. The current study examined the effectiveness of two different types of feedback, developed and undeveloped, in terms of its influence on students’ subsequent writing performance and students’ perceptions of the feedback. Results demonstrated that the type of feedback significantly affected students’ perceptions, with developed feedback related to higher ratings of fairness and helpfulness; however, this feedback did not have a significant positive effect on students’ written performance.
Les commentaires écrits sur les travaux sont une méthode courante utilisée par les enseignants et les aides-enseignants pour renseigner les étudiants sur leurs performances ou pour orienter les révisions. Malgré leur fréquence, il arrive souvent que les commentaires écrits ne soient pas assez détaillés pour être profitables aux étudiants. De plus amples recherches empiriques devraient se pencher sur l’efficacité de cet outil d'enseignement. La présente étude porte sur l'efficacité de différents types de commentaires élaborés et sous-élaborés; sur leur influence sur la performance écrite subséquente des étudiants et sur la perception de ces derniers à propos des commentaires. Les résultats démontrent que le type de commentaires influe significativement sur la perception des étudiants, les commentaires élaborés entraînant des évaluations supérieures en ce qui a trait à l’impartialité et à l'utilité; cependant, ces commentaires n'ont pas d'effets positifs importants sur la performance écrite des étudiants.
Repeatability and Agreement of 2 Scheimpflug Analyzers in Measuring the Central Corneal Thickness and Anterior Chamber Angle, Volume, and Depth
Authors: Bedei Andrea , Appolloni Ilaria , Madesani Antonio , Pietrelli Alessia , Franceschi Sara , Barabesi Lucio
Published: December 2011

Purpose

To evaluate the repeatability and agreement of 2 Scheimpflug tomographies (Pentacam HR, Oculus GmbH; Sirius, CSO Inc.) in measuring the central corneal thickness (CCT) and depth (ACD), volume (ACV), and angle (ACA) of the anterior chamber.

Methods

Three consecutive measurements were performed in one eye of each subject, with both instruments. The following were evaluated: CCT, ACD, ACV, and ACA. Repeatability was assessed by the Friedman test and agreement was assessed by 4 different Wilcoxon tests for paired data.

Results

The study enrolled 30 patients. With Sirius tomography the Friedman test p values for testing homogeneity across measurements was with respect to CCT 0.320, ACD 0.315, ACV 0.171, and ACA 0.020; and with Pentacam CCT 0.191, ACD 0.010, ACV 0.704, and ACA 0.150. The Wilcoxon test p values for testing the measurement homogeneity between the corneal tomography Sirius and Pentacam showed the following: ACD 0.000, ACD 0.000, ACV 0.853, and ACA 0.000.

Conclusions

The measurements may be considered substantially stable for each corneal tomography and each variable, but the 2 corneal tomographies do not produce statistically equivalent measurements.
Endogenous endophthalmitis with an unusual infective agent: Actinomyces neuii
Authors: Graffi Shmuel , Peretz Avi , Naftali Modi
Published: December 2011

Purpose

To report an unusual case of a patient with endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Actinomyces neuii.

Methods and Results

A 69-year-old woman in an immunosuppressed state and who had a previous history of periappendicular abscess presented with bilateral red painful eyes. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture and pan-bacterial polymerase chain reaction drawn from anterior chamber sample. On admission, the patient underwent an intravitreal injection of vancomycin combined with ceftazidime. Following a 3-week treatment of intravenous penicillin and topical sulfacetamide sodium, the patient recovered fully.

Conclusions

Actinomyces neuii can cause endogenous endophthalmitis. Intravenous penicillin G is an effective treatment leading to favorable prognosis.
Nanocomposites for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Hydrogel-Nanoparticle Combinations for a Challenging Drug Delivery
Authors: Giordano Carmen , Albani Diego , Gloria Antonio , Tunesi Marta , Rodilossi Serena , Russo Teresa , Forloni Gianluigi , Ambrosio Luigi , Cigada Alberto
Published: December 2011

Neurodegenerative disorders are expected to strike social and health care systems of developed countries heavily in the coming decades. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (AD/PD) are the most prevalent neurodegenerative pathologies, and currently their available therapy is only symptomatic. However, innovative potential drugs are actively under development, though their efficacy is sometimes limited by poor brain bioavailability and/or sustained peripheral degradation. To partly overcome these constraints, the development of drug delivery devices made by biocompatible and easily administrable materials might be a great adjuvant. In particular, materials science can provide a powerful tool to design hydrogels and nanoparticles as basic components of more complex nanocomposites that might ameliorate drug or cell delivery in AD/PD. This kind of approach is particularly promising for intranasal delivery, which might increase brain targeting of neuroprotective molecules or proteins. Here we review these issues, with a focus on nanoparticles as nanocomponents able to carry and tune drug release in the central nervous system, without ignoring warnings concerning their potential toxicity.
Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Heparin Induced Antibodies in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients and Cardiac Surgery Patients
Authors: Shavit Linda , Bar-Lev Miriam , Lifschitz Meyer , Fink Daniel , Rudensky Bernard , Slotki Itzchak
Published: December 2011

Introduction

The prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies (HIA) varies widely among reported series, but is generally higher in cardiac surgery than hemodialysis patients. This study was designed to explore the reasons behind the different prevalence of HIA in these two populations.

Methods

Blood samples from all hemodialysis and cardiac surgery patients in our hospital were examined for HIA. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was suspected when platelet count was <150,000 in the hemodialysis group, and >50% decline in platelet count in the cardiac surgery group.

Results

79 hemodialysis and 40 cardiac surgery patients were studied. HIA prevalence was significantly higher in cardiac surgery than in hemodialysis patients (65% v 10.1%, respectively, P<0.00001). Conversely, the prevalence of suspected clinical HIT was 37.5% in the hemodialysis and 11.5% in the cardiac surgery group. Prevalence of HIA was higher in patients who were tested during the first 90 days of hemodialysis than in those tested at later times. One-year mortality was 37% in HIA positive and 19% in HIA negative hemodialysis patients.

Conclusions

Prevalence of HIA was significantly lower in hemodialysis as compared with cardiac surgery patients. Our data suggest that the observed difference in HIA prevalence was either population dependent, or due to different timing of heparin administration in the two groups.
Unsupervised adaptation of electroencephalogram signal processing based on fuzzy C‐means algorithm
Authors: Liu Guangquan , Zhang Dingguo , Meng Jianjun , Huang Gan , Zhu Xiangyang
Published: December 2011

This paper studies an unsupervised approach for online adaptation of electroencephalogram (EEG) based brain–computer interface (BCI). The approach is based on the fuzzy C‐means (FCM) algorithm. It can be used to improve the adaptability of BCIs to the change in brain states by online updating the linear discriminant analysis classifier. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, we applied it to a set of simulation data and compared with other unsupervised adaptation algorithms. The results show that the FCM‐based algorithm can achieve a desirable capability in adapting to changes and discovering class information from unlabeled data. The algorithm has also been tested by the real EEG data recorded in experiments in our laboratory and the data from other sources (set IIb of the BCI Competition IV). The results of real data are consistent with that of simulation data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors affecting outcome after traumatic limb amputation
Authors: Perkins Z B , De'Ath H D , Sharp G , Tai N R M
Published: December 2011

Background

Traumatic leg amputation commonly affects young, active people and leads to poor long-term outcomes. The aim of this review was to describe common causes of disability and highlight therapeutic interventions that may optimize outcome after traumatic leg amputation.

Methods

A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases was performed, using the terms ‘leg injury’, ‘amputation’ and ‘outcome’. Articles reporting outcomes following traumatic leg amputation were included.

Results

Studies demonstrated that pain, psychological illness, decreased physical and vocational function, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were common causes of disability after traumatic leg amputation. The evidence highlights that appropriate preoperative management and operative techniques, in conjunction with suitable rehabilitation and postoperative follow-up, can lead to improved treatment outcome and patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Patients who undergo leg amputation after trauma are at risk of poor long-term physical and mental health. Clinicians involved in their care have many opportunities to improve their outcome using a variety of therapeutic variables.
Detecting Children's Lies: Comparing True Accounts About Highly Stressful Injuries with Unprepared, Prepared, and Coached Lies
Authors: Warren Kelly L. , Dodd Elyse , Raynor Graham , Peterson Carole
Published: December 2011

In this investigation, 514 university students judged whether children were telling the truth about highly emotional events. Eight children (half female, half 8–9 and the remainder 12–14 years old) had been injured seriously enough to require emergency room treatment and were interviewed a few days later. Each was yoked to three other children matched in age and gender who fabricated accounts under one of three conditions: lies that were unprepared, prepared (24 hours to prepare), and coached by parents. Participants were at chance when judging true accounts as well as unprepared and prepared lies. However, 74% of the coached lies were judged as true. Participants' confidence in their judgments, age, experience with children, and relevant coursework/training did not improve judgments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Consumer activity in social media: Managerial approaches to consumers' social media behavior
Authors: Heinonen Kristina
Published: December 2011

Today, consumers are involved in a variety of activities, ranging from consuming content to participating in discussions, sharing knowledge with other consumers, and contributing to other consumers' activities. With the enormous interest in social media sites, such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, and Wikipedia, consumers are assumed to be actively contributing to marketing content. However, despite the rich opportunities for contributing, recent academic research indicates that consumers are not necessarily as active online as has been believed. The aim of this paper is to conceptualize consumers' activities in social media by examining the motivations behind the activities. By offering a more detailed description of the differences in consumer use of social media, the study extends existing research on consumer activities related to user‐created content. Based on consumer narratives of their social media activity, we identified 15 activities grouped under three themes. The conceptual framework is used to suggest managerial strategies related to different levels of consumer activity. Thus, it provides a tool for uncovering managerial challenges and for planning responses to consumer activities.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Density functional theory study on catalytic cracking of n‐hexane on heteropoly acid: A comparison with acidic zeolite
Authors: Choomwattana Saowapak , Maihom Thana , Boekfa Bundet , Pantu Piboon , Limtrakul Jumras
Published: December 2011

We have performed a direct comparison of n‐hexane cracking catalysed by a zeolite (H‐ZSM‐5) and a heteropoly acid (phosphotungstic acid, HPW). This comparison was examined by employing density functional theory, including dispersion energy, M06‐L, for the purpose of understanding these two catalysts for this industrially important reaction. The predicted adsorption energies of hexane are −21.4 and −6.8 kcal/mol for H‐ZSM‐5 and HPW, respectively. The protolytic cracking mechanism is proposed to proceed via the first step of the C–C activation and is found to be the rate‐determining step with activation energies of 42.8 and 41.4 kcal/mol for H‐ZSM‐5 and HPW, respectively. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both catalysts for hydrocarbon cracking and give a perspective of utilising cutting‐edge molecular design for a tailor‐made hybrid catalyst. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Development of an extremely precise buffer amplifier for AC shunt standards at audio frequencies
Authors: Kon Saytaro , Yamada Tatsuji
Published: December 2011

The National Metrology Institute of Japan (AIST, NMIJ) launched a project for the development of AC shunt standards. AC shunts allow the most precise measurement of current. A high‐precision AC shunt is an important component of nonsinusoidal power standards. The AC shunt calibration system helps improve the uncertainty assessments of the national primary power standards. The calibration system design with uncertainties of up to 10 ppm requires a precise buffer amplifier which has uncertainties of up to 1 ppm in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 10 kHz, with other uncertainty components taken care of. The two buffer amplifiers dealt with in this paper were verified to have errors within 2 ppm and uncertainties within 1 ppm in in‐phase and quadrature error in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 10 kHz. This also implies a possibility of reducing both in‐phase and quadrature error at 10 kHz within 1 ppm, by taking advantage of both features. This paper describes the circuit design and evaluation results of two different buffer amplifiers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(4): 24–31, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21218
Concentration‐Dependent Dehydrogenation of Ammonia–Borane/Triglyme Mixtures (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 1/2012)
Authors: Kostka Johannes F. , Schellenberg René , Baitalow Felix , Smolinka Tom , Mertens Florian
Published: December 2011

The cover picture shows a graph of the hydrogen release rate from ammonia–borane dissolved in glyme solutions (left). On the right, the compounds formed during the decomposition of ammonia–borane under these conditions as detected by NMR spectroscopy are depicted. The increase of the hydrogen release rate during the course of the reaction as well as the spectroscopic analysis indicate the presence of a complex process governed by multiple pathways. Similarly to the hydrogen release from solid ammonia–borane and in contrast to the low concentration case, the analysis of the decomposition of ammonia–borane in highly concentrated glyme solutions demonstrates that the diammoniate of diborane (DADB) plays a vital role in the overall decomposition scheme. Details are discussed in the article by F. Mertens et al. on p. 49 ff.

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Bestens eingefügt
Authors: Wagner Hermann , Hausmann Laura
Published: December 2011

Sehen, Hören, Orientieren: Wenn es um die Anpassung an einen Lebensraum geht, wird die Schleiereule zum Modelltier. Mit den nachtaktiven Vögeln von der Natur zu lernen, bringt nicht nur neue grundlegende Erkenntnisse – auch innovative technische Anwendungen rücken näher.
Das Auge des Arbeiters
Authors: Hesse Wolfgang , Seifert Manfred
Published: December 2011

Fotografie zwischen proletarischem Dasein und politisch‐propagandistischem Kampf: Nach dem Ersten Weltkrieg hielten begeisterte Amateure ihre oft elende Lebenswelt mit der Kamera fest. Jetzt interessiert sich die Wissenschaft für diese vergessene Alltagskultur.
Depression: a modifiable factor in fearful older fallers transitioning to frailty?
Authors: Ní Mhaoláin Aine M. , Fan Chie Wei , Romero‐Ortuno Roman , Cogan Lisa , Cunningham Clodagh , Lawlor Brian , Kenny Rose‐Anne
Published: December 2011

Objective

Fear of falling is one of the most common fears among community‐dwelling older people and is as serious a health problem as falls themselves. Understanding fear of falling in fallers transitioning to frailty may help us identify effective strategies to reduce it in this already vulnerable group of older people. Our aim was to evaluate the psychological factors associated with fear of falling in a group of fallers transitioning to frailty when compared with robust or non‐frail fallers.

Methods

Cross‐sectional design where 301 fallers underwent assessment at the Technology Research for Independent Living Clinic in Dublin (http://www.trilcentre.org/) is seen. Fear of falling was measured using the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale, and frailty was measured using the Biological Syndrome Model. Psychological measures included assessment of anxiety, depression, loneliness, personality factors and cognition.

Results

Frailer fallers had increased fear of falling when compared with robust fallers (p < 0.001). Age, female gender and lower cognitive scores were associated with greater fear of falling in the robust group. For frailer fallers, higher depression score was the only factor associated with fear of falling on multivariate analysis. The odds ratio of having case level depressive disorder (CESD‐8 ≥ 4) if you were a frailer faller was significantly higher than if you were robust (OR = 2.6, CI 1.3–5.2, p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Fallers at a transitional level of frailty may represent a particularly vulnerable group psychologically who would benefit most from interventional stratagies with specific intervention components addressing depressive symptoms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms in emotionally distressed individuals referred for a depression prevention intervention: relationship to problem‐solving skills
Authors: Kasckow J. , Brown C. , Morse J. , Begley A. , Bensasi S. , Reynolds C. F.
Published: December 2011

Objectives

This study examined the rates of syndromal and subthreshold post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTSD symptom scores in participants with symptoms of emotional distress, subsyndromal depression, and a history of traumatic exposure. Participants had been referred to a study of an indicated depression prevention intervention using problem‐solving therapy in primary care. We hypothesized that higher severity of PTSD symptom scores would predict poorer problem‐solving skills. In addition, some reports have suggested that there are higher rates of PTSD in minority populations relative to Caucasians; thus we hypothesized that race would also predict problem‐solving skills in these individuals.

Methods

We examined the rates of traumatic exposure, syndromal, and subthreshold PTSD. In those exposed to trauma, we performed a multiple linear regression to examine the effects of PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, race, age, and gender on social problem‐solving skills.

Results

Of the 244 participants, 64 (26.2%) reported a traumatic event; 6/234 (2.6%) had syndromal PTSD, and 14/234 (6.0%) had subthreshold PTSD. By way of regression analysis, higher PTSD symptom scores predicted poorer problem‐solving skills. In addition, racial status (Caucasian vs. African American) predicted problem‐solving skills; Caucasians exhibited lower levels of problem‐solving skills.

Conclusions

Individuals presenting with subsyndromal depressive symptoms may also have a history of traumatic exposure, subthreshold and syndromal PTSD. Thus, screening these individuals for PTSD symptoms is important and may inform clinical management decisions because problem‐solving skills are lower in those with more severe PTSD symptoms (even after adjusting for race, age, gender, and depressive symptoms). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.