bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of dental esthetic perceptions of young adolescents and their parents
Authors: Kavand Golnaz , Broffitt Barbara , Levy Steven M. , Warren John J.
Published: February 2012

Objectives: To compare dental esthetic perceptions of adolescents at age 13 with those of parents and to assess associations with dental fluorosis.

Methods: Adolescents aged 13 underwent dental examinations for fluorosis on maxillary anterior teeth using the Fluorosis Risk Index. Adolescents and parents completed questionnaires concerning satisfaction with adolescents’ dental appearance. McNemar and Bowker tests of symmetry were used for comparisons of esthetics ratings between parents and adolescents. Comparison of satisfaction between subjects with fluorosis and subjects with no fluorosis was made using Cochran‐Armitage Trend and Fisher's Exact tests.

Results: From 376 adolescents included in the study, 26 percent had definitive fluorosis, mostly at a mild level. Fifteen percent of adolescents were dissatisfied with dental appearance, and concerns were mainly about color (45 percent) and alignment (35 percent). Adolescents were less satisfied with overall dental appearance (P < 0.001) and color (P = 0.048) and more concerned about tooth shape (P = 0.002) than were their parents. Fluorosis status (yes/no) was not significantly associated with adolescents’ perceptions (P > 0.05). Parents of subjects with fluorosis were more dissatisfied with dental appearance (P = 0.014) and color (P < 0.001) than other parents. The number of maxillary anterior zones exhibiting fluorosis was negatively associated with adolescent (P = 0.03) and parent (P = 0.002) satisfaction.

Conclusion: Adolescents generally had less satisfaction with dental appearance and color, and were more concerned with tooth shape than were parents. For both parents and adolescents, decreased satisfaction was associated with the number of zones with definitive fluorosis.
Examining protected area effectiveness in Sumatra: importance of regulations governing unprotected lands
Authors: Gaveau D. L. A. , Curran L. M. , Paoli G. D. , Carlson K. M. , Wells P. , Besse‐Rimba A. , Ratnasari D. , Leader‐Williams N.
Published: February 2012

Several studies suggest that protected areas conserve forests because deforestation rates are lower inside than outside protected area boundaries. Such benefits may be overestimated when deforestation rates within protected areas are contrasted with rates in lands where forest conversion is sanctioned. Here, we reexamine protected area performance by disentangling the effects of land use regulations surrounding the 110,000 km2 protected area network in Sumatra, Indonesia.

We compared 1990–2000 deforestation rates across: (1) protected areas; (2) unprotected areas sanctioned for conversion; and (3) unprotected production areas where commercial logging is permitted but conversion is not. Deforestation rates were lower in protected areas than in conversion areas (Mean: −19.8%; 95% C.I.: −29.7—−10.0%; P < 0.001), but did not differ from production areas (Mean: −3.3%; 95% C.I.: −9.6—2.6%; P= 0.273).

The measured protection impact of Sumatran protected areas differs with land use regulations governing unprotected lands used for comparisons. If these regulations are not considered, protected areas will appear increasingly effective as larger unprotected forested areas are sanctioned for conversion and deforested. In the 1990s, production areas were as effective as protected areas at reducing deforestation. We discuss implications of these findings for carbon conservation.
Family Finding and Engagement Beyond the Bench: Working Across International Borders
Authors: Northcott Felicity Sackville , Jeffries Wendy
Published: February 2012

The unsupervised or hastily conceived movement of children out of foster care is not in the best interest of any child. Careful consideration of all possible permanency options must take place, and include the input of all potential care givers, stakeholders, and the child. Legal and judicial partners in the child welfare process must take a broader approach to family finding and engagement for every child in foster care so that more children find permanent homes. The goal of family finding and engagement may not be placing a child with a family member but can include locating non‐custodial parents to terminate rights to free the child for adoption, to notify a non‐custodial parent that his child is in care and explore his interest in reunification, or finding family members who may not be able to take physical custody of the child but can act as a resource for her. Each of these can be a viable permanent outcome in the best interest of the child and, therefore, should not be limited by geographic or cultural boundaries. All stakeholders in the permanency planning process can address these potential barriers by adopting a broader, more global, view of the range of permanent placements and family connections for all children in foster care.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Relief for Neglected, Abused, and Abandoned Undocumented Children
Authors: Junck Angie
Published: February 2012

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is a form of immigration relief available to undocumented children who are under the jurisdiction of a state juvenile court (defined broadly), who cannot be reunified with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, or similar basis under state law, and in whose best interest it is to remain in the United States. Although immigration is a federal issue, Congress has directed that state juvenile courts make the factual findings that establish basic SIJS eligibility. Without these findings, children may never be able to legalize their status in the U.S. and become productive, contributing members of society.
Domestic Violence and Immigrants in Family Court
Authors: Thronson Veronica T.
Published: February 2012

Immigrants, particularly women and children, are at greater risk for domestic violence not only because of their immigration status, but because of the way U.S. immigration law is structured. This article explores important aspects of the link between domestic violence and immigration law. First, it analyzes the way in which U.S. immigration law frameworks enable domestic violence and empower abusers. Second, it outlines the current relief options available in immigration law that use domestic violence as a factor. The article discusses the ways in which these issues may arise in family court proceedings and suggests approaches for addressing these issues to prevent the further victimization of vulnerable women and children.
When Federal and State Systems Converge: Foreign National Human Trafficking Victims Within Juvenile and Family Courts
Authors: Carr Bridgette
Published: February 2012

This article highlights the concerns facing foreign national children who are both victims of human trafficking and under the jurisdiction of juvenile and family courts. Human trafficking is modern day slavery in which individuals, including children, are compelled into service and exploited. Foreign national human trafficking victims in juvenile and family court systems must navigate both the state system and a complex federal immigration system. This article explains the federal benefits available to these children and identifies the best practice approaches for juvenile and family court systems to increase identification of and support for foreign national child trafficking victims.
Impact of a new refrigerator on the preservation of hepatic grafts
Authors: Kanamoto Mami , Shimada Mitsuo , Utsunomiya Tohru , Imura Satoru , Morine Yuji , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Mori Hiroki , Hanaoka Jun
Published: February 2012

Aim:  Current medical transplantation methods focus on solutions for major problems such as the shortage of donors. To overcome these issues, expanding organ preservation time has become a major concern. A new refrigerating chamber has been recently developed, which can cool the inside of a material to the required temperature by frequently sensing the temperature of both inside and surface of the materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of a new refrigerating system in hepatic preservation.

Methods:  The liver grafts were harvested from rats and divided into two groups. Group A consisted of grafts preserved in chilled University of Wisconsin solution (UW) solution (on ice) for 24, 72 and 168 h. Group B consisted of grafts preserved in the UW solution in a new refrigerator at 4°C.

Results:  In group B, aspartate aminotransferase released into effluent after cold storage for 72 h showed a marked decrease compared to group A (P < 0.05). The levels of ammonia and lactate decreased significantly in group B (P < 0.05). In group B, the levels of adenosine triphosphate were significantly preserved after cold storage for 24 h and 72 h compared to group A (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed positive cells for heme oxygenase‐1 were significantly increased in group B after cold storage.

Conclusion:  This new refrigerator can improve preservation injury of hepatic grafts and may provide an innovative technique for liver transplantation.
Modelling dispersal: an eco‐evolutionary framework incorporating emigration, movement, settlement behaviour and the multiple costs involved
Authors: Travis Justin M. J. , Mustin Karen , Bartoń Kamil A. , Benton Tim G. , Clobert Jean , Delgado Maria M. , Dytham Calvin , Hovestadt Thomas , Palmer Stephen C. F. , Van Dyck Hans , Bonte Dries
Published: February 2012

1. Understanding the causes and consequences of dispersal remains a central topic in ecology and evolution. However, a mismatch exists between our empirical understanding of the complexity of dispersal and our representation of dispersal in models. While the empirical literature is replete with examples of condition dependence at the emigration, movement and settlement phases, models rarely incorporate realism or complexity to this degree. Nor do models often include the different costs associated with dispersal, which can themselves be linked to one or more of the three key phases.

2. Here, we propose that by explicitly accounting for emigration, movement and settlement (and the multiple costs associated with each) we can substantially improve our understanding of both the dispersal process itself and how dispersal traits trade off against other life‐history characteristics. We explore some of these issues conceptually, before presenting illustrative results gained from a flexible individual‐based model which incorporates considerable dispersal complexity.

3. These results emphasise the nonlinear interplay between the different dispersal stages. For example, we find that investment in movement ability (at a cost to fecundity) depends upon the propensity to emigrate (and vice versa). However, owing to selection acting at the metapopulation level as well as at the individual level, the relationship between the two is not straightforward. Importantly, the shape of the trade‐off between movement ability and reproductive potential can strongly influence the joint evolution of dispersal parameters controlling the degree of investment in safer movement, the probability of emigration and the straightness of movement.

4. Our results highlight that the joint evolution of dispersal characteristics can have major implications for spatial population dynamics and we argue that, in addition to increasing our fundamental biological understanding, a new generation of dispersal modelling, which exploits recent empirical advances, can substantially improve our ability to predict and manage the response of species to environmental change.
Workload and its impact on community pharmacists' job satisfaction and stress: a review of the literature
Authors: Lea Victoria M , Corlett Sarah A , Rodgers Ruth M
Published: February 2012

Objective

The objective was to identify, review and evaluate published literature on workloads of pharmacists in community pharmacy. It included identification of research involving the measurement of pharmacist workload and its impact on stress levels and job satisfaction. The review focused on literature relating to practice in the UK.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched from 1995 to May 2011. In addition, manual searches were completed for documents not available electronically. The findings were analysed with specific focus on research methodology, workload and its impact on pharmacist job satisfaction and stress levels.

Key findings

Thirteen relevant studies relating to workload in community pharmacy alone or in conjunction with job satisfaction and stress were identified. One utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify differences in pharmacist workload in retail pharmacy businesses before and after the implementation of the 2005 English and Welsh community pharmacy contractual framework. This indicated that pharmacists spend most of their working day dispensing. The majority of studies suggested community pharmacists generally perceived that workload levels were increasing. Several also stated that increased workload contributed to increasing job-related stress and decreasing job satisfaction. No studies reporting dispensing rates for community pharmacies in the UK were identified and there was limited evidence concerning time devoted to non-dispensing services. One study investigated the differences between self-estimated and actual workload.

Conclusions

Whilst there is a clear perception that the type and amount of work output expected from individual community pharmacists has been changing and increasing over the last few decades, pharmacists are viewed as continuing to remain based in the dispensary. The impact of such changes to the practice of community pharmacy in the UK is poorly defined, although links have been made to increasing levels of pharmacist job dissatisfaction and stress.
Positive academic emotions moderate the relationship between self‐regulation and academic achievement
Authors: Villavicencio Felicidad T. , Bernardo Allan B. I.
Published: February 2012

Background. Research has shown how academic emotions are related to achievement and to cognitive/motivational variables that promote achievement. Mediated models have been proposed to account for the relationships among academic emotions, cognitive/motivational variables, and achievement, and research has supported such mediated models, particularly with negative emotions.

Aims. The study tested the hypotheses: (1) self‐regulation and the positive academic emotions of enjoyment and pride are positive predictors of achievement; and (2) enjoyment and pride both moderate the relationship between self‐regulation and achievement.

Sample. Participants were 1,345 students enrolled in various trigonometry classes in one university.

Methods. Participants answered the Academic Emotions Questionnaire‐Math (Pekrun, Goetz, & Frenzel, 2005) and a self‐regulation scale (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie, 1991) halfway through their trigonometry class. The students’ final grades in the course were regressed to self‐regulation, positive emotions, and the interaction terms to test the moderation effects.

Results and Conclusions. Enjoyment and pride were both positive predictors of grades; more importantly, both moderated the relationship between self‐regulation and grades. For students who report higher levels of both positive emotions, self‐regulation was positively associated with grades. However, for those who report lower levels of pride, self‐regulation was not related to grades; and, for those who reported lower levels of enjoyment, self‐regulation was negatively related to grades. The results are discussed in terms of how positive emotions indicate positive appraisals of task/outcome value, and thus enhance the positive links between cognitive/motivational variables and learning.
Medians and means in Finsler geometry
Authors: Arnaudon Marc , Nielsen Frank
Published: February 2012

We investigate existence and uniqueness of p-means ep and the median e1 of a probability measure μ on a Finsler manifold, in relation with the convexity of the support of μ. We prove that ep is the limit point of a continuous time gradient flow. Under some additional condition which is always satisfied for p≥2, a discretization of this path converges to ep. This provides an algorithm for determining the Finsler center points.
Transition of Wear Mechanisms of Plasma Source Nitrided AISI 316 Austenitic Stainless Steel Against Ceramic Counterface
Authors: Li G. Y. , Wang Z. Y. , Lei M. K.
Published: February 2012

A single high-nitrogen face-centered-cubic (f.c.c.) phase (γN) layer formed on the plasma source nitrided AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel at a nitriding temperature of 450 °C for a nitriding time of 6 h. An approximately 17 μm-thick γN layer has a peak nitrogen concentration of about 20 at. %. Tribological properties of the γN phase layer on a ball-on-disk tribometer against an Si3N4 ceramic counterface under a normal load of 2 and 6 N with a sliding speed of 0.15 to 0.29 m/s were investigated by friction coefficient and specific wear rate measurement. Worn surface morphology and wear debris were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The microhardness of the γN phase layer on the nitrided stainless steel was measured as about 15.1 GPa. The change in the friction coefficient of the γN phase layer on the stainless steel was dependent on the applied normal load, which was associated with that in the specific wear rate. Under a lower normal load of 2 N, the lower specific wear rate of the γN phase layer with a sliding speed of 0.15 m/s was obtained as 2.8 × 10−6 mm3/N m with a friction coefficient of 0.60. Under a higher normal load of 6 N, the lower specific wear rate with a sliding speed of 0.29 m/s was 7.9 × 10−6 mm3/N m with a friction coefficient of 0.80. When the applied load increased from 2 to 6 N, a transition of the wear mechanisms from oxidative to abrasive wear was found, which was derived from the oxidation reaction and the h.c.p. martensite phase transformation of the γN phase during the wear tests, respectively.
Combined Influence of Wear and Misalignment of Journal on the Performance Analysis of Three-Lobe Three-Pocket Hybrid Journal Bearing Compensated With Capillary Restrictor
Authors: Sharma Satish C. , Phalle Vikas M. , Jain S. C.
Published: February 2012

The multirecess noncircular hybrid journal bearings have been receiving wide importance in order to overcome the adverse effects on performance characteristics of multirecess circular journal bearings. During the lifetime of a machine, bearings are quite often required to be operated over a number of years and are subjected to several start and stop operations. As a consequence of this, the bush becomes progressively worn out and thereby changing the clearance space between journal and bearing. The present paper presents an analytical study investigating the effect of wear along with both aligned and misaligned conditions of journal on the performance of a capillary compensated three-lobe three-pocket hybrid journal bearing system for the various offset factors δ = 0.8,1.0, and 1.2. The wear caused on the bearing surface due to the transient (start/stop) operations has been modeled using Dufrane’s wear model. The modified Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant in the clearance space of a three-lobe multirecess worn hybrid journal bearing system along with both aligned and misaligned conditions of journal has been solved using an iterative scheme based on FEM. The influence of offset factor (δ), the wear depth parameter (δ¯w), and journal misalignment factors (σ¯,δ¯) on the performance of the three-lobe three-pocket hybrid journal bearing and three-pocket circular hybrid journal bearing system have been investigated. The results have been presented for the capillary compensated three-lobe three-pocket hybrid journal bearing system. The simulated results suggest that a bearing with a higher value of offset factor (δ>1) provides better static and dynamic performance characteristics as compared with a three-pocket circular journal bearing but the bearing with offset factor (δ < 1) is predominantly affected by the wear defect and misalignment of journal. The numerically simulated results suggest that the wear defect and offset factors significantly affect the bearing performance. Therefore, it becomes imperative to account for the influence of wear and offset factors during the design process so as to generate accurate data of bearing performance. The numerically simulated results have been presented in terms of maximum fluid-film pressure, minimum fluid-film thickness, lubricant flow rate, direct fluid-film stiffness, damping coefficients, and stability threshold speed margin. The present study demonstrates that the performance of bearing is significantly affected by wear along with both aligned and misaligned conditions of journal and the loss is partially compensated by keeping the offset factor δ>1.
Comparative Contact Analysis Study of Finite Element Method Based Deterministic, Simplified Multi-Asperity and Modified Statistical Contact Models
Authors: Megalingam A. , Mayuram M. M.
Published: February 2012

The study of the contact stresses generated when two surfaces are in contact plays a significant role in understanding the tribology of contact pairs. Most of the present contact models are based on the statistical treatment of the single asperity contact model. For a clear understanding about the elastic-plastic behavior of two rough surfaces in contact, comparative study involving the deterministic contact model, simplified multi-asperity contact model, and modified statistical model are undertaken. In deterministic contact model analysis, a three dimensional deformable rough surface pressed against a rigid flat surface is carried out using the finite element method in steps. A simplified multi-asperity contact model is developed using actual summit radii deduced from the rough surface, applying single asperity contact model results. The resultant contact parameters like contact load, contact area, and contact pressure are compared. The asperity interaction noticed in the deterministic contact model analysis leads to wide disparity in the results. Observing the elastic-plastic transition of the summits and the sharing of contact load and contact area among the summits, modifications are employed in single asperity statistical contact model approaches in the form of a correction factor arising from asperity interaction to reduce the variations. Consequently, the modified statistical contact model and simplified multi-asperity contact model based on actual summit radius results show improved agreement with the deterministic contact model results.
Stabilization of Journal Bearing Using Two-Layered Film Lubrication
Authors: Rao T. V. V. L. N.
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this paper is to present the linearized stability analysis of two-layered fluid film in the journal bearing. In this work, a modified classical Reynolds equation is derived under dynamic conditions consisting of two layers of fluid film described by Newtonian viscosities. The magnitude of lubricant layer’s film thickness and viscosities are taken into consideration. The Reynolds boundary conditions are used in the analysis of classical one-dimensional journal bearing to predict the stiffness and damping coefficients, threshold speed and critical whirl frequency ratio. The coefficients of load capacity, threshold speed, and critical whirl frequency ratio (Cw, Cω, CΩ) for two-layered film with reference to homogeneous film are computed as a function of the two parameters: (i) higher to lower dynamic viscosity ratio of two-layered fluid film (β), and (ii) thickness ratio of fluid layer attached to journal and bearing (γ). Higher threshold speed is obtained for thick high viscosity fluid film attached to the bearing surface and a thin low viscosity fluid film attached to the journal surface.
What is the Small Parameter ε in the Chapman-Enskog Expansion of the Lattice Boltzmann Method?
Authors: Watari Minoru
Published: February 2012

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is shown to be equivalent to the Navier-Stokes equations by applying the Chapman-Enskog (C-E) expansion, which has been established by pioneer researchers. However, it is still difficult for elementary researchers. There is no clear explanation of the small parameter ε used in the C-E expansion. There are several expressions for the viscosity coefficient; some are unclear on the relationship with ε. There are two expressions on the LBM evolution equation. Elementary researchers are perplexed as to which is correct. The LBM achieves second order accuracy by including the numerical viscosity within the physical viscosity. This is not only difficult for elementary researchers to understand but also sometimes leads senior researchers into making errors. The C-E expansion of the LBM was thoroughly reviewed and is presented as a self-contained form in this paper. It is natural to use the time step Δt as ε. The viscosity coefficient is expressed as μ∝Δxc(τ − 1/2). The viscosity relationship and the second order accuracy were confirmed by numerical simulations. The difference in the two expressions on the LBM evolution is simply one of perspective. They are identical. The difference between the relaxation parameter τD for the discrete Boltzmann equation and τ for the LBM was discussed. While τD is a quantity of time, τ is genuinely nondimensional, which is sometimes overlooked.
Mean Concentration Field of a Jet in a Uniform Counter-Flow
Authors: Torres Luis A. , Mahmoudi Mohammad , Fleck Brian A. , Wilson David J. , Nobes David
Published: February 2012

An experimental investigation of the scaling factors of mean scalar concentration field of jets issuing into a uniform counter-flow stream is presented. The centerline decay and radial spreading of the mean concentration field were measured by using planar laser induced fluorescence. Jet to counter-flow velocity ratios ranging between 4 to19 were investigated for two different jet diameters. The 5% contour of the mean concentration field of the jet was used to define new scaling factors that generate universal forms for the centerline concentration decay. The jet growth rate in the radial direction was found to be divided into two regions where a linear growth was observed and a region characterized by a power law. Empirical expressions are introduced which predict concentration decay in the established flow region in both the axial and radial directions.
Wake Formation From a Pair of Circular Cylinders Traversing Between Small- and Large-Incidence Flow Regimes
Authors: Hayder Mir M. A.
Published: February 2012

Cross flow past a pair of equal-diameter staggered circular cylinders, with either one of the pair subject to forced harmonic transverse oscillation, is investigated experimentally within Reynolds numbers Re = 525–750. The center-to-center pitch ratio and stagger angle of the cylinders at their mean position are 2.5° and 21°, respectively. Results with cylinder excitation frequencies in the range 0.07 ≤ feD/U ≤ 1.18 (D = cylinder diameter, U = mean flow velocity) at a constant oscillation amplitude (peak-to-peak) of 0.44D are reported. Flow visualization of the wake formation region and hot-film measurements of the wake velocity are reported. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms leading to vortex shedding. Results show that the wake undergoes considerable modification with the oscillation of either of the two cylinders; this modification depends strongly on the value of feD/U. The flow patterns remain essentially the same as those of the corresponding static cases for feD/U < 0.10. However, the flow at higher oscillation frequencies than that can no longer maintain those patterns. In particular, there are distinct regions of fundamental and superharmonic synchronizations between the dominant wake periodicities and the cylinder oscillation over the whole range of feD/U. Moreover, the manner in which the wake responds to the cylinder oscillation depends strongly on whether it is the upstream or downstream cylinder which is being oscillated.
Creep Constitutive Law of Packing Materials Based on Relaxation Tests
Authors: Diany Mohammed , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim
Published: February 2012

The tightness of valves, compressors and pumps is ensured by superposed braided rings installed in a stuffing-box system. The nature of the packing material and structure, which is like a rectangular braided cord, influences the proper stuffing-box assembly behavior. During installation, a minimum compressive load is required to ensure a minimum level of tightness. A fairly large percentage of this axial compression load is transferred to the radial direction to generate the contact pressures at the packing-stem and packing-housing interfaces necessary for sealing.The packing is considered in several studies as a viscoelastic material with its creep-relaxation behavior assumed as one-dimensional rheological model. In the present work, relaxation tests in a test-bunch containing all the components of the packed stuffing-box, are carried out to define a creep constitutive law for packing braids of different materials. Based on three-dimensional compression tests the developed method is applied to three different packing materials.
Fatigue at Nanoscale: An Integrated Stiffness and Depth Sensing Approach to Investigate the Mechanisms of Failure in Diamondlike Carbon Film
Authors: Ahmed R. , Fu Y. Q. , Faisal N. H.
Published: February 2012

Nanoscale impact fatigue tests were conducted to comprehend the relative fatigue performance and failure modes of 100 nm thick diamondlike carbon (DLC) film deposited on a 4 in. diameter Si (100) wafer of 500 μm thickness. The nanofatigue tests were performed using a calibrated TriboIndenter equipped with Berkovich indenter in the load range of 300–1000 μN. Each test was conducted for a total of 999 fatigue cycles (a low cycle fatigue test). Contact depth in this load range varied from 10 to 30 nm. An integrated contact stiffness and depth sensing approach was adapted to understand the mechanisms of fatigue failure. The contact depth and stiffness data indicated some peculiar characteristics, which provided some insights into the mechanisms of cohesive and adhesive failure in thin films. Based on the contact stiffness and depth data, and surface observations of failed DLC films using atomic force microscope and scanning probe microscopy, a five-stage failure mechanism is proposed. The failure of films starts from cohesive failure via cracks perpendicular to the film/substrate interface, resulting in a decrease in contact depth with number of fatigue cycles and no appreciable change in contact stiffness. This is followed by film delamination at the film/substrate interface and release of elastic stored energy (residual stress) resulting in an increase in contact stiffness. Finally, as the film breaks apart the contact stiffness decreases with a corresponding increase in contact depth.
A Model-Free Feature-Based Bi-Planar RSA Method for Kinematic Analysis of Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Amiri Shahram , Anglin Carolyn , Agbanlog Kenard , Masri Bassam A. , Wilson David R.
Published: February 2012

Fluoroscopic imaging is commonly used for assessing relative motions of orthopaedic implants. One limiting factor to in vivo model-based roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis of total knee arthroplasty is the need for 3D models of the implants.The 3D models of the implant components must be reverse-engineered, if not provided by the company, which makes this method impractical for a clinical study involving many types or sizes of implants. This study introduces a novel feature-based methodology that registers the features at the implant-bone or implant-cement interface of the components that have elementary shapes. These features include pegs with hemispherical heads, and straight, circular or curved edges located on flat faces of the box of the femoral component or the stem geometry of the tibial component. Software was developed to allow easy registration of these features through a graphical user interface. The accuracy and precision of registration for multiple flexion angles from 0 to 120 deg was determined with reference to registered poses of the implants through experiments on bone replica models and also on a cadaver specimen implanted with total knee prostheses. When compared to an equivalent bi-planar model-based registration, the results were comparable: The mean accuracy of this feature-based method was 1.45 deg and 1.03 mm (in comparison to 0.95 deg and 1.32 mm for the model-based approach), and the mean precision was 0.57 deg and 0.26 mm (in comparison to 0.42 deg and 0.44 mm for the model-based approach).The methodology and the developed software can easily accommodate different design of implants with various fixation features. This method can facilitate in vivo kinematic analysis of total knee arthroplasty by eliminating the need for 3D models of the implant components.
LiYF4 and LiYF4:Eu Studied by XPS
Authors: Maślankiewicz Paweł , Szade Jacek
Published: February 2012

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the principal core levels and of the valence band are presented for LiYF4 and LiYF4:Eu. No significant difference between fresh surfaces of samples fractured in air and in vacuum was observed, which is a sign of relatively high stability of LiYF4 against air. This supports the use of LiYF4 as a laser host material.
Analyzing the coda from correlating scattered surface waves
Authors: Dylan Mikesell T. , van Wijk Kasper , Blum Thomas E. , Snieder Roel , Sato Haruo
Published: February 2012

The accuracy of scattered Rayleigh waves estimated using an interferometric method is investigated. Summing the cross correlations of the wave fields measured all around the scatterers yields the Green’s function between two excitation points. This accounts for the direct wave and the scattered field (coda). The correlations themselves provide insights into the location of the scatterers, as well as which scatterer is responsible for particular parts of the coda. Furthermore, these measurements confirm a constant-time arrival in the correlations, not part of the Green’s function, but which has previously been derived as a result of the generalized optical theorem.
Glucocorticoids Can Induce PTSD-Like Memory Impairments in Mice
Authors: Kaouane Nadia , Porte Yves , Vallée Monique , Brayda-Bruno Laurent , Mons Nicole , Calandreau Ludovic , Marighetto Aline , Piazza Pier Vincenzo , Desmedt Aline
Published: February 2012

Remembering Stressful Events

Situations surrounding emotional events are better remembered than others that accompany neutral events. However, in severe pathological states such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), exposure to threatening situations can also result in memory impairment. In this case, a hypermnesia for a salient trauma-related cue is associated with loss of memory for important aspects of the traumatic event. The memory for the core traumatic event is enhanced, but the capacity to place it in the right place and in response to the right cues is reduced.

Kaouane
et al.

(p.
1510
, published online 23 February) associated a high-intensity threat with the infusion of corticosterone in the hippocampus to induce PTSD-like memory impairments in mice. The animals became unable to identify the threat context as the right predictor of the threat, and they showed a fear response for discrete salient cues normally identified as safe. The neural activation patterns in the amygdala and hippocampal regions of these mice were similar to those observed in human PTSD.
Assessment of adverse events in medical care: lack of consistency between experienced teams using the global trigger tool
Authors: Schildmeijer Kristina , Nilsson Lena , Årestedt Kristofer , Perk Joep
Published: February 2012

Background

Many patients are harmed as the result of healthcare. A retrospective structured record review is one way to identify adverse events (AEs). One such review approach is the global trigger tool (GTT), a consistent and well-developed method used to detect AEs. The GTT was originally intended to be used for measuring data over time within a single organisation. However, as the method spreads, it is likely that comparisons of GTT safety outcomes between hospitals will occur.

Objective

To evaluate agreement in judgement of AEs between well-trained GTT teams from different hospitals.

Methods

Five teams from five hospitals of different sizes in the southeast of Sweden conducted a retrospective review of patient records from a random sample of 50 admissions between October 2009 and May 2010. Inter-rater reliability between teams was assessed using descriptive and κ statistics.

Results

The five teams identified 42 different AEs altogether. The number of identified AEs differed between the teams, corresponding to a level of AEs ranging from 27.2 to 99.7 per 1000 hospital days. Pair-wise agreement for detection of AEs ranged from 88% to 96%, with weighted κ values between 0.26 and 0.77. Of the AEs, 29 (69%) were identified by only one team and not by the other four groups. Most AEs resulted in minor and transient harm, the most common being healthcare-associated infections. The level of agreement regarding the potential for prevention showed a large variation between the teams.

Conclusions

The results do not encourage the use of the GTT for making comparisons between hospitals. The use of the GTT to this end would require substantial training to achieve better agreement across reviewer teams.
Accuracy of the initial diagnosis among patients with an acutely altered mental status
Authors: Sporer Karl A , Solares Mariel , Durant Edward J , Wang Wilbur , Wu Alan H B , Rodriguez Robert M
Published: February 2012

Objectives

The objectives of this prospective observational study were to: (1) determine the accuracy of physician diagnosis in patients with an acutely altered mental status (AMS) within the first 20 min of emergency department (ED) presentation; and (2) access if physician confidence in early diagnosis correlates with accuracy of diagnosis.

Methods

A prospective observational convenience study was conducted of 112 adult patients who presented to an urban county ED with AMS (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤14) between August 2008 and July 2009. Within the first 20 min of patient presentation to the ED, treating physicians were asked to record their best diagnostic guess of the cause of the patient's AMS and their confidence in this diagnosis. Serial hourly GCS was performed and the results of all diagnostic testing were recorded. Blinded investigators determined the final consensus diagnostic cause of the patient's AMS.

Results

The final consensus diagnoses for AMS aetiologies were as follows: isolated alcohol intoxication 31%, other (psychotic episodes, underlying dementia) 21%, combination alcohol/other drug intoxications 18%, isolated other drug intoxications 10%, other metabolic derangements 6%, cerebrovascular accident/transient ischaemic attack 4%, seizures/post-ictal states 4%, traumatic brain injuries 3%, isolated opiate intoxications 2%, isolated benzodiazepine intoxication 1% and septic episode 1%. The emergency physician's initial diagnosis of the AMS patient correlated with the accuracy of the final diagnosis (r2=0.807). The quintiles of confidence of diagnosis were: 0–20% degree of confidence had a 33% diagnostic accuracy, 21–40% had 25% accuracy, 41–60% had 43% accuracy, 61–80% had 52% accuracy and those with 81–100% confidence of initial diagnosis had 78% accuracy. Of the 106 patients with an initial diagnosis, 52 (51%) had a head CT performed, with eight (8%) having an acute abnormality.

Discussion

Early diagnoses of AMS patients are moderately accurate. Few early misdiagnoses of AMS patients were clinically relevant. Physicians' greater degree of confidence in their diagnosis correlated with greater accuracy.
In situ removal of the pipeline embolization device: the ‘corking’ and ‘pseudo-corking’ techniques
Authors: Colby Geoffrey P , Gomez Juan F , Lin Li-Mei , Paul Alexandra R , Coon Alexander L
Published: February 2012

The pipeline embolization device (PED) is a revolutionary tool for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms by flow diversion. Treatment using the PED often requires considerable manipulation and customization by the neurointerventionalist at the time of deployment. Proper use of the PED involves a novel set of techniques and associated jargon, which must be learned by all neurointerventionalists, fellows and residents for safe treatment of patients with this device. In this report, the PED removal techniques referred to as ‘corking’ and ’pseudo-corking’ are described. Corking is used for the removal of a partially deployed in situ PED when the pusher wire is intact whereas ‘pseudo-corking’ is used if the pusher wire is fractured or disconnected. Knowledge of both techniques is necessary for withdrawing the PED in situations of malposition or failed expansion.
Treatment of vitamin D deficiency: divergence between clinical practice and expert advice
Authors: Findlay Mark , Anderson Julia , Roberts Susan , Almond Alison , Isles Chris
Published: February 2012

Background

Current recommendations for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency vary from calciferol 800 IU per day to loading doses of vitamin D followed by maintenance therapy of up to 2000 IU per day.

Objective

To assess the preparations and doses of vitamin D used to load and maintain patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) <25 nmol/l.

Methods

We examined all requests for serum 25OHD over a 12-month period, from September 2009 to 2010 in southwest Scotland. We wrote to all 33 general practices asking whether they usually started replacement therapy with a loading dose and/or recommended over-the-counter maintenance preparations. We accessed the Emergency Care Summary for all patients with serum 25OHD <25 nmol/l to determine whether they had been prescribed maintenance therapy.

Results

Serum 25OHD was requested in 1162 patients. Levels were <25 nmol/l in 282 (24%) patients, only 173 (61%) of whom were receiving vitamin D replacement therapy 3–15 months after diagnosis. Only four (1.4%) were prescribed a loading dose. One hundred and fifty-three (54%) were treated with cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol and 19 (7%) with alfacalcidol or calcitriol. The median dose of chole/ergocalciferol was 800 IU per day, usually in combination with 1200 mg calcium per day.

Conclusions

We have shown a divergence between clinical practice and even the most conservative expert advice for vitamin D replacement therapy. Possible explanations are conflicting advice on treatment and difficulty obtaining suitable vitamin D preparations, particularly high dose vitamin D and vitamin D without calcium, in the UK.
The impact of diabetes duration on left ventricular diastolic function and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Kim Yujeong , Shin Mi-Seung , Kim Yeun Sun , Kang Woong Chol , Kim Bong Roung , Moon Jeonggeun , Chung Wook-Jin , Ahn Tae Hoon , Shin Eak Kyun
Published: February 2012

Objectives

The question of whether diabetes mellitus (DM) duration correlates with the severity of dysfunction has not been well studied. We hypothesised that the longer the duration of DM the worse the severity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

We reviewed 547 diabetic patients between January 2005 and April 2010. Finally, 92 consecutive patients who presented with type 2 DM and who underwent echocardiographic assessment were enrolled according to the selection criteria. In all patients, ischaemic heart disease and heart failure were excluded.

Results

Diastolic parameters were significantly worsened with increasing duration of DM (p<0.05). In the ≥7 years DM duration group (n=50), the E/Ea ratio increased significantly and the Ea/Aa ratio decreased significantly, compared with those in the <7 years DM duration group (n=42). CVD developed in 28 patients (30.4%) during the follow-up period. However, the duration of DM showed less statistical correlation with the incidence of CVD (p=0.188) and other LV diastolic function indices did not differ significantly between groups with or without CVD.

Conclusions

Alteration of diastolic function induced by DM worsens with increasing duration of DM. DM duration on echocardiographic evaluation time did not differ significantly between the CVD incident and the non-CVD incident groups. The rate of CVD development was not significantly different if the duration of DM was more than 7 years. Therefore, active medical care including echocardiography should be undertaken to prevent CVD from the point of diagnosis of type 2 DM.
Xanthelasma palpebrarum: a marker of premature atherosclerosis (risk of atherosclerosis in xanthelasma)
Authors: Pandhi Deepika , Gupta Pooja , Singal Archana , Tondon Anupama , Sharma SumanBala , Madhu S V
Published: February 2012

Purpose

To evaluate the association between xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) and atherosclerosis by the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). In addition, the concurrent association between metabolic syndrome, dyslipidaemia and dyslipoproteinaemia was also assessed.

Study design

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2008 to April 2009 involving 40 patients of XP and an equal number of age, sex and body mass index matched controls. All study subjects underwent CIMT estimation by ultrasonography and were evaluated for metabolic syndrome (obesity, blood pressure, blood glucose, serum lipid profile), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B.

Results

The mean CIMT was significantly higher in XP patients as compared with controls. However, there was no correlation with the extent or the duration of the XP lesions. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in both groups while non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was more frequent in XP patients as compared with controls (p=0.001). The mean serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in the two groups. However, there was significant increase in the mean pro-atherogenic apolipoprotein B and decrease in the anti-atherogenic apolipoprotein A1 levels in XP patients.

Conclusions

Alteration in apolipoprotein levels (A1 and B) in XP patients may predispose to cutaneous and systemic deposition of lipids, including atherosclerosis. Therefore, XP patients irrespective of their lesion size or serum lipid levels should be screened using CIMT for detection of subclinical atherosclerosis.
BACK PROJECTION STRATEGY FOR SOLVING MODE MIXING PROBLEM
Authors: HU XIYUAN , PENG SILONG , TAN JIE , HU WEIPING
Published: February 2012

Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is an adaptive and data-driven approach for analyzing multicomponent nonlinear and non-stationary signals. The mode-mixing problem is one of the most important topics for the improvement of the EMD algorithm. In this paper, we study the reasons of the mode mixing phenomenon. And then, we propose a new method to resolve this problem relying on the assumption that each IMF should be locally orthogonal to the others. We experiment on several signals, including simulated and real-life signals, to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method to resolve the mode mixing problem.
CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH VANISHING MOMENTS LINEAR PHASE 3-BAND WAVELETS BASED ON LATTICE STRUCTURE
Authors: SHEN ZHENG WEI , WU JITAO
Published: February 2012

The compact supported, linear phase, perfect reconstruction, orthogonal 3-band wavelet with high vanishing moments is very useful in engineering. However, the construction of these systems is not a simple task. In this paper, we construct the 3-band wavelet system with those properties. In this approach, we first designate the scaling filter length which means compact support, then the vanishing moments is set beforehand in spectral factorization formulation. Consequently, the scaling filters with desirable properties are obtained by solving nonlinear equations which implies less parameters. Moreover, we proposed a lattice structure decomposition of polyphase matrix for 3-band wavelet system, which imposed with paraunitary property. With this method, the corresponding wavelet filters are constructed.