bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental literacy, ecological literacy, ecoliteracy: What do we mean and how did we get here?
Authors: McBride B. B. , Brewer C. A. , Berkowitz A. R. , Borrie W. T.
Published: May 2013

Numerous scholars have argued that the terms environmental literacy, ecological literacy, and ecoliteracy have been used in so many different ways and/or are so all‐encompassing that they have very little useful meaning. However, despite the seemingly arbitrary and, at times, indiscriminate use of these terms, tremendous efforts have in fact been made to explicitly define and delineate the essential components of environmental literacy, ecological literacy, and ecoliteracy, and to firmly anchor their characterizations in deep theoretical and philosophical foundations. A driving purpose behind these ongoing conversations has been to advance complete, pedagogy‐guiding, and broadly applicable frameworks for these ideals, allowing for standards and assessments of educational achievement to be set. In this manuscript, we review a diversity of perspectives related to the often nuanced differences and similarities of these terms. A classification of the numerous proposed frameworks for environmental literacy, ecological literacy, and ecoliteracy (advanced within the fields of environmental education, ecology, and the broader humanities, respectively) is presented, and used to compare and contrast frameworks across multiple dimensions of affect, knowledge, skills, and behavior. This analysis facilitates close examination of where we have been, where we are, and where we might be headed with respect to these vital conversations. This work also offers points of reference for continued critical discourse, and illuminates a diversity of inspiration sources for developing and/or enriching programs aimed at cultivating these types of literacies.
An Evidenced‐Based Scoring Index to Determine the Periodontal Prognosis on Molars
Authors: Miller Preston D. , McEntire Mark L. , Marlow Nicole M. , Gellin Robert G.
Published: May 2013

Background: This retrospective study evaluates and assigns scores to six prognostic factors and derives a quantitative scoring index used to determine the periodontal prognosis on molar teeth.

Methods: Data were gathered on 816 molars in 102 patients with moderate‐to‐severe periodontitis. The six factors evaluated (age, probing depth, mobility, furcation involvement, smoking, and molar type) were assigned a numeric score based on statistical analysis. The sum of the scores for all factors was used to determine the prognosis score for each molar. Only patients with all first and second molars at the initial examination qualified for the study. All patients were evaluated a minimum of 15 years after treatment.

Results: The post‐treatment time ranged from 15 to 40 years and averaged 24 years. When the study was completed, 639 molars survived (78%), and, of those surviving molars, 588 survived and were periodontally healthy (92%). In molars with lower scores (scores 1‐3), the 15‐year survival rates ranged from 98% to 96%. In molars with middle scores (scores 4‐6), the 15‐year survival rates ranged from 95% to 90%, and, for molars with higher scores (scores 7‐10), the survival rates ranged from 86% to 67%.

Conclusion: The present results indicate that the periodontal prognosis of molars diagnosed with moderate‐to‐severe periodontitis can be calculated using an evidence‐based scoring index.
Evaluation of Healing Following Tooth Extraction With Ridge Preservation Using Cortical Versus Cancellous Freeze‐Dried Bone Allograft
Authors: Eskow Adam J. , Mealey Brian L.
Published: May 2013

Background: The objective of this study is to compare histologic and clinical healing following tooth extraction and ridge preservation with either cortical or cancellous freeze‐dried bone allograft (FDBA) in non‐molar extraction sockets.

Methods: Forty patients requiring implant placement were enrolled, with 20 patients randomly assigned to each group (cortical versus cancellous FDBA). All of the allograft materials were obtained from the same donor to control for variability between donors and processing. Patients returned after 17 to 21 weeks (average: 18.2 weeks), and a 2‐mm‐diameter core biopsy was obtained before implant placement. Histomorphometric analysis was performed to determine percentage of new bone formation, residual graft material, and non‐mineralized connective tissue (CT)/other material. Clinical measurements of ridge dimensions were taken at the time of tooth extraction and again at implant placement.

Results: There was no significant difference in new bone formation between the cortical and cancellous FDBA groups (P = 0.857). A significantly greater percentage of residual graft material was detected in the cortical FDBA group compared with the cancellous FDBA group (P = 0.019). A significantly greater percentage of non‐mineralized CT/other material was found in the cancellous FDBA group compared with the cortical FDBA group (P = 0.040). The only significant clinical difference between groups was a greater loss of lingual ridge height in the cancellous group.

Conclusions: This is the first reported study to compare the histologic changes following tooth extraction with ridge preservation in humans using cortical versus cancellous FDBA. There were no differences in the percentage of new bone formation between the groups.
Study on the Application of the Tie-Line-Table-Look-Up-Based Methods to Flash Calculations in Compositional Simulations
Authors: Yan Wei , Belkadi Abdelkrim , Michelsen Michael L. , Stenby Erling H.
Published: May 2013

Flash calculation can be a time-consuming part in compositional reservoir simulations, and several approaches have been proposed to speed it up. One recent approach is the shadow-region method that reduces the computation time mainly by skipping stability analysis for a large portion of the compositions in the single-phase region. In the two-phase region, a highly efficient Newton-Raphson algorithm can be used with the initial estimates from the previous step. Another approach is the compositional-space adaptive-tabulation (CSAT) approach, which is based on tie-line table look-up (TTL). It saves computation time by replacing rigorous phase-equilibrium calculations with the stored results in a tie-line table whenever the new feed composition is on one of the stored tie-lines within a certain tolerance. In this study, a modified version of CSAT, named the TTL method, has been proposed to investigate if approximation by looking up a tie-line table can save flash-computation time in the two-phase region. The number of tie-lines stored for comparison and the tolerance set for accepting the feed composition are the key parameters in this method because they will influence the simulation speed and the accuracy of simulation results. We also proposed the tie-line distance-based approximation (TDBA) method, an alternative method to TTL, to obtain approximate flash results in the two-phase region. The method uses the distance to a previous tie-line in the same grid-block to determine whether the approximation should be made. Comparison between the shadow-region approach and the approximation approach, including TTL and TDBA, has been made with a slimtube simulator by which the simulation temperature and the simulation pressure are set constant. It is shown that TDBA can significantly improve the speed in the two-phase region. In contrast, TTL, even with a precalculated tie-line table, is not so advantageous compared with an efficient implementation of rigorous flash. Furthermore, we implemented TDBA in a compositional streamline simulator to apply TDBA to scenarios with pressure variation across the reservoir. We also discussed how to extend TDBA to the general situation in which pressures in grid-blocks are updated dynamically.
A Simple and Reliable Approach for the Estimation of the Joule-Thomson Coefficient of Reservoir Gas at Bottomhole Conditions
Authors: Pinto Mario , Karale Chaitanya , Das Prasanta
Published: May 2013

With the advent of distributed temperature sensing (DTS), accurate and continuous monitoring of the wellbore-temperature profile is possible, which helps identify fluid flow from each reservoir layer. The reliable prediction of fluid flow during large drawdown requires an accurate value of the Joule-Thomson coefficient (JTC), which is a measure of the change in temperature (T) of a fluid for a given change in pressure (P) at constant enthalpy. The JTC also serves as an input for the interpretation of temperature-log data, which can be used to identify water- or gas-entry locations. Furthermore, an accurate JTC value is important when modeling the thermal response of the reservoir.

The equation-of-state (EOS) method can be used to predict the JTC of reservoir gas. However, this might not be an easy task because of the complexity involved. In contrast, a simple and reliable method to evaluate the JTC for reservoir gas is presented. Conditions under which this method is applicable are discussed in detail by referring to a typical phase diagram. In addition, a discretized approach to calculate the temperature change during a throttling process with the JTC is also presented.

The methodology has been validated at three levels with experimental data available in the literature—comparison of experimental vs. predicted JTC values of mixtures, comparison of experimentally observed vs. predicted temperature drop for a given pressure drop with laboratory-scale data, and comparison of experimentally observed vs. predicted temperature drop for a given drawdown with actual reservoir data. A good match with experimental data was obtained within all three areas, demonstrating the reliability of the methodology.
Experimental Investigations Into the Performance of a Flat-Rheology Water-Based Drilling Fluid
Authors: Xu Lin , Xu Ming-biao , Zhao Lin , Wen Shou-cheng , Liu Wei-hong , Xu Jie , You Fu-chang , Gong Chen
Published: May 2013

The aqueous drilling fluid (AF) with unique flat rheology (FR), as a potential alternative to nonaqueous fluids (NAFs), is meaningful in deepwater operations. In this work, a novel FR water-based mud (WBM) was presented. An evaluation of FR profiles was conducted on the designed system by detecting the typical rheological data at a certain temperature and pressure range. The results showed that for the newly developed WBM, in addition to typical FR parameters [i.e., 6- and 3- rev/min readings and yield points (YPs)], the viscosity term also delivers near-constant variations in the temperature range of 39 to 150°F. To attain FR profiles, the rheological modifier appears to be necessary for its temperature-activated behavior. In addition, the FR WBM displays lower pressure and temperature dependence. The laboratory contamination tests indicated that the WBM system possesses excellent inhibition and lubricity properties as well as a strong tolerance to the contamination of seawater and sand/mudstone cuttings.
Modeling Crop Yield in West‐African Rainfed Agriculture Using Global and Local Spatial Regression
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Zurita‐Milla Raul , Stein Alfred
Published: May 2013

Performance of crop yield models is generally evaluated without testing their ability to capture yield spatial variability across a large area. Local soil and environmental conditions or management factors usually cause significant crop yield variability. In West Africa, landscape heterogeneity and data scarcity pose yet additional challenges to crop yield modeling. In this study, conditional autoregression (CAR) and geographical weighted regression (GWR) were used to better understand spatial patterns in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yields in Burkina Faso. A series of SPOT satellite normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) 1‐km2 10‐d composite images spanning the crop growing season and observations of rainfall, topography, soil properties, and labor availability were used as explanatory variables in the CAR and GWR models. Regression analyses revealed that crop yield was significantly related to rainfall and topography in the semiarid and subhumid agroecological zones of Burkina Faso. Soil properties and labor availability mainly affected sorghum and millet yields in the semiarid zone. By addressing spatial dependency between crop yield observations in the two zones, GWR outperformed CAR models. For CAR models, adjusted R2 (Ra2) values for the sorghum, millet, and cotton yields were 0.76, 0.70, and 0.50, respectively, for the semiarid zone and 0.54, 0.32, and 0.30, respectively, for the subhumid zone. For GWR models, Ra2 values were 0.85, 0.70, 0.78, respectively, for the semiarid zone and 0.76, 0.67, 0.65, respectively, for the subhumid zone. Thus, despite limited data availability, GWR can be used to model the spatial variability of crop yields across large areas in West Africa.
In‐Season Nitrogen Effects on Organic Hard Red Winter Wheat Yield and Quality
Authors: Mallory Ellen B. , Darby Heather
Published: May 2013

Ensuring adequate available N for grain protein development is a primary challenge for organic production of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Topdressing organic wheat in‐season may improve grain yield and quality. The objective of this study was to determine if supplemental N topdressing at key wheat developmental stages would improve organic hard red winter wheat yield and protein concentrations. Field experiments were conducted over 4 site‐years from 2009 to 2011 in Maine and Vermont, using the variety Harvard. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of two organic‐approved N sources (Chilean nitrate, CN, and dehydrated poultry litter, DPL) and three times of application (tillering, flag leaf, and boot stages). Plant N uptake, grain yield, and grain protein concentration were determined. Plant‐accumulated N was always higher in the CN treatments than in the DPL and manure‐only treatments. The CN topdress treatments yielded on average 11% more than the manure‐only treatment and 6% more than DPL treatments. Topdressing increased grain protein concentration in all cases, although none of the treatments reached the 120 g kg–1 milling standard, due in part to variety Harvard being a low‐protein, high‐yielding variety. Chilean nitrate was more effective at increasing grain protein levels than DPL, and for both N sources, later applications were more effective than earlier ones. Topdressing could be a cost‐effective strategy to boost grain protein levels for organic winter wheat production, but further work is needed to evaluate topdressing with higher protein varieties and identify additional rapidly‐available and economical organic approved N sources.
Dose Calculations for [131I] Meta-Iodobenzylguanidine-Induced Bystander Effects
Authors: Gow M. D. , Seymour C. B. , Boyd M. , Mairs R. J. , Prestiwch W. V. , Mothersill C. E.
Published: May 2013

Targeted radiotherapy is a potentially useful treatment for some cancers and may be potentiated by bystander effects. However, without estimation of absorbed dose, it is difficult to compare the effects with conventional external radiation treatment. Methods: Using the Vynckier - Wambersie dose point kernel, a model for dose rate evaluation was created allowing for calculation of absorbed dose values to two cell lines transfected with the noradrenaline transporter (NAT) gene and treated with [131I]MIBG. Results: The mean doses required to decrease surviving fractions of UVW/NAT and EJ138/NAT cells, which received medium from [131I]MIBG-treated cells, to 25 – 30% were 1.6 and 1.7 Gy respectively. The maximum mean dose rates achieved during [131I]MIBG treatment were 0.09 – 0.75 Gy/h for UVW/NAT and 0.07 – 0.78 Gy/h for EJ138/NAT. These were significantly lower than the external beam gamma radiation dose rate of 15 Gy/h. In the case of control lines which were incapable of [131I]MIBG uptake the mean absorbed doses following radiopharmaceutical were 0.03 – 0.23 Gy for UVW and 0.03 – 0.32 Gy for EJ138. Conclusion: [131I]MIBG treatment for ICCM production elicited a bystander dose-response profile similar to that generated by external beam gamma irradiation but with significantly greater cell death.
Association between Genotype and Phenotype in Uromodulin-Associated Kidney Disease
Authors: Moskowitz Jonathan L. , Piret Sian E. , Lhotta Karl , Kitzler Thomas M. , Tashman Adam P. , Velez Erin , Thakker Rajesh V. , Kotanko Peter
Published: May 2013

Background and objectives

Uromodulin-associated kidney disease (UAKD) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by uromodulin (UMOD) gene mutations. This study explored genotype-phenotype correlations by examining the relationship between the type of UMOD mutation and the age at onset of ESRD.

Design, setting, participants & measurements

Extensive bibliographic research was used to ascertain patient-level data of all patients with UAKD published up to October 2011. Data included sex; ages at onset of hyperuricemia, gout, and ESRD; and UMOD genotype. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models fitted with shared gamma frailty terms to adjust for within-family correlations were used to model time to event.

Results

Thirty-one peer-reviewed publications reporting on 202 patients from 74 families with 59 different UMOD mutations were included. Median ages at onset of hyperuricemia, gout, and ESRD were 24, 40, and 56 years, respectively. Men developed gout and ESRD significantly earlier than did women (age at ESRD was 50 years for men and 60 for women; P=0.04, shared frailty model). Median ages at ESRD development were lowest with Cys77Tyr (37.5 years) and highest with Gln316Pro (65.5 years) UMOD mutations. Onset of ESRD was significantly earlier with UMOD mutations located within the epidermal growth factor domains 2 and 3 (range, 45–52 years; P<0.01 and 0.04, respectively) compared with the cysteine-rich domains (range, 60–65 years; by shared frailty model).

Conclusions

The UMOD genotype is related to the clinical phenotype of UAKD. This finding may assist in counseling of patients.
Systematic Review of Structural and Functional Neuroimaging Findings in Children and Adults with CKD
Authors: Moodalbail Divya G. , Reiser Kathryn A. , Detre John A. , Schultz Robert T. , Herrington John D. , Davatzikos Christos , Doshi Jimit J. , Erus Guray , Liu Hua-Shan , Radcliffe Jerilynn , Furth Susan L. , Hooper Stephen R.
Published: May 2013

CKD has been linked with cognitive deficits and affective disorders in multiple studies. Analysis of structural and functional neuroimaging in adults and children with kidney disease may provide additional important insights into the pathobiology of this relationship. This paper comprehensively reviews neuroimaging studies in both children and adults. Major databases (PsychLit, MEDLINE, WorldCat, ArticleFirst, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE) were searched using consistent search terms, and studies published between 1975 and 2012 were included if their samples focused on CKD as the primary disease process. Exclusion criteria included case reports, chapters, and review articles. This systematic process yielded 43 studies for inclusion (30 in adults, 13 in children). Findings from this review identified several clear trends: (1) presence of cerebral atrophy and cerebral density changes in patients with CKD; (2) cerebral vascular disease, including deep white matter hyperintensities, white matter lesions, cerebral microbleeds, silent cerebral infarction, and cortical infarction, in patients with CKD; and (3) similarities in regional cerebral blood flow between patients with CKD and those with affective disorders. These findings document the importance of neuroimaging procedures in understanding the effect of CKD on brain structure, function, and associated behaviors. Results provide a developmental linkage between childhood and adulthood, with respect to the effect of CKD on brain functioning across the lifespan, with strong implications for a cerebrovascular mechanism contributing to this developmental linkage. Use of neuroimaging methods to corroborate manifest neuropsychological deficits or perhaps to indicate preventive actions may prove useful to individuals with CKD.
The role of immunohistochemical evaluation in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma of the pleura
Authors: Panjkovic Milana , Lovrenski Aleksandra , Eri Zivka , Knezevic-Usaj Slavica , Tegeltija Dragana , Krcedinac Jelena
Published: May 2013

Backround/Aim. The final diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma is made
exclusively by histopathological examination of biopsy materials that are
routinely complemented by the use of immunohistochemical analysis. The aim
of this paper was to determine the significance of immunohistochemical
analysis and application of certain antibodies in the diagnosis of malignant
pleural mesothelioma. Methods. This retrospective analysis included clinical
data of 32 patients with the histopathological diagnosis of malignant
pleural mesothelioma made in the period 2004-2009 at the Institute for
Pulmonary Diseases in Sremska Kamenica. The material was processed and
analyzed at the Center for Pathology. Results. CK5/6 was positive, in 63% of
the cases calretinin, in 94% and HBME-1 in 80% of the cases. CK7 was
positive in 78%, and EMA in 83% of the cases. All the cases (100%) were
negative for TTF-1, CEA, CD20, desmin and MOC31. Conclusion.
Immunohistochemistry has become an essential diagnostic procedure for the
diagnosis and determination of the type of malignant pleural mesothelioma,
and due to the lack of individual antibodies a combination of antibody with
different sensitivity and specificity is in use today.
Histomorphological and clinical study of primary and secondary glomerulopathies in Southeast Serbia (20-year period of analysis)
Authors: Stankovic Nikola , Vlahovic Predrag , Savic Vojin
Published: May 2013

Background/Aim. Epidemiological studies of renal biopsies have been performed
to follow up the incidence of glomerular diseases on a specified territory
and to compare the obtained results with results from other regions. The aim
of this study was to analyze the frequency of certain
histopathophysiological types of glomerular diseases on the territory of
Southeast Serbia. Methods. In a 20-year period (1986-2006), 316 kidney
biopsies were performed in patients with clinicall signs of impaired renal
function, in Southeast Serbia. On average 1.6 biopsies were made per year
per 100 000 inhabitants. Results. Biopsies of adult patients represented 88%
of all biopsies, biopsies in children (aged under 18 years) represented 8%,
while biopsies of elderly patients (more than 60 years) represented 4% of
all biopsies. The predominance of male patients was described with
male/female ratio of 1.4. The most frequent clinical manifestation in
patients at the time of biopsy were nephrotic syndrome (42.5%), and
asymptomatic proteinuria and/or hematuria (31.3%) and nephritic syndrome
(14.9%). The most common glomerular disease was IgA nephropathy with an
incidence of 21.5% of total biopsy diagnosed glomerulopathies, followed by:
membranous glomerulonephritis (12.6%), focal segmental proliferative and
sclerosing glomerulonephritis (10.7%), lupus nephritis (8.4%),
nephroangiosclerosis (7.0%), mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis
(6.1%), minimal change disease (2.8%), mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis
(2.3%). Conclusion. The frequency of certain histopathologic findings
significantly correlated with data from studies that we used for comparison,
with the exception of minimal change disease whose incidence in our study
was smaller.
Support to Teachers in a Context of Educational Change and Poverty: A Case Study from South Africa
Authors: Olsen Sissel-Tove
Published: May 2013

This article presents a case study aimed at describing and exploring the needs for — and provision of — formal support in South African primary schools, examining, in particular, the significance of organisational development in addressing the needs of teachers. Educational projects are often focused on the needs of learners and learner well-being and little is being done to understand the well-being of teachers. The qualitative methodology was decided upon in order to address the question of how, and to what extent, the teachers at a poverty-stricken school might benefit from the support provided. The research design draws on organisational change theories.
Developing the Teaching Competences of Novice Faculty Members: A Review of International Literature
Authors: Kiffer Sacha , Tchibozo Guy
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this article is to outline what could be learned from the international research literature on the issue of developing teaching competences of novice faculty members. The mission of academics has changed in recent years. Academics must now also meet a strong social demand for graduates' access to employment and are increasingly required to possess a number of competences beyond disciplinary knowledge. The challenge of developing these competences in faculty members is therefore ambitious. However, a review of research literature shows that developing the competences of novice academics, as described here, is not well documented. The literature addresses the issue of university lecturers at the start of their career quite well, but does so more from a point of view of professional development. The notion of competence is not excluded, but often appears only to identify knowledge, skills and attitudes that novice academics should possess as part of reference frameworks. This literature review was developed using a traditional method with a theme-based approach. The results make it possible to identify avenues for necessary and possible research in the field of developing competences of novice university academics based on the concept of situated competence.
The Ideal of Education and the Emancipation of Labour
Authors: Pavlidis Periklis
Published: May 2013

This article discusses the ideal of education in relation to the pursuit of alternative perspectives in education, beyond its currently dominant subordination to the needs of the market. It presents the philosophical traditions of paideia, Bildung and liberal education, with special emphasis on the element they all share — namely, the perception of education as a self value, as an end in itself. At the same time, the article adopts a critical approach to the detachment of the ideal of education, put forward by the above traditions, from issues pertaining to man's material, productive activity, and the alienating relations developing within it. In order to present an alternative perspective, the ideal of education is seen in the light of the Marxist social ideal, with a focus on identifying the educational content of the prospect of labour emancipation. Finally, the article touches upon the future of education, which is presented in association with the possibility of transforming labour into cultural activity.
Epidemiology and Mortality of New-Onset Diabetes After Dialysis
Authors: Tien Kai-Jen , Lin Zhe-Zhong , Chio Chung-Ching , Wang Jhi-Joung , Chu Chin-Chen , Sun Yih-Min , Kan Wei-Chih , Chien Chih-Chiang
Published: May 2013

OBJECTIVE

We examined the predictors and risks associated with pre-existing versus new-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) after initiation of chronic dialysis therapy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we examined records of ESRD patients who initiated dialysis between 1999 and 2005. Patients were followed until death, transplant, dialysis withdrawal, or 31 December 2008. Predictors of new-onset DM and mortality were calculated using Cox models.

RESULTS

A total of 51,487 incident dialysis patients were examined in this study, including 25,321 patients with pre-existing DM, 3,346 with new-onset DM, and 22,820 without DM at any time. Patients’ age (mean ± SD) was 61.8 ± 11.5, 61.6 ± 13.7, and 56.5 ± 16.6 years in pre-existing, new-onset DM, and without DM groups, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate of new-onset DM was 4% at 1 year and 21% at 9 years. Dialysis modality was not a risk factor for new-onset DM (peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis hazard ratio [HR] of new-onset DM, 0.94 [95% CI 0.83–1.06]). Pre-existing DM was associated with 80% higher death risk (HR 1.81 [95% CI 1.75–1.87]), whereas the new-onset DM was associated with 10% increased death risk (HR 1.10 [95% CI 1.03–1.17]).

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas dialysis modality does not appear to associate with new-onset DM, both pre-existing and new-onset DM are related to higher long-term mortality in maintenance dialysis patients.
In Vitro Performance of Class I and II Composite Restorations: A Literature review on Nondestructive Laboratory Trials—Part II
Authors: Dietschi D , Argente A , Krejci I , Mandikos M
Published: May 2013

A literature review was conducted on adhesive Class I and II restorations and nondestructive in vitro tests using the PubMed/Medline database for the 1995-2010 period. The first part of this review has presented and critically appraised selected literature dealing with the quality and in vitro behavior of adhesive Class II restorations using photoelasticity, finite element analysis, and microleakage study protocols. This second part reviews additional parameters, which are deformation and fracture resistance to cyclic loading, shrinkage stress and tooth deformation following restoration placement, bond strength (microtensile, tensile, and shear tests), and marginal and internal adaptation. In addition, a “relevance score” has been proposed that aims to classify the different study protocols according, firstly, to the resulting quality, quantity, and consistency of the evidence and then, secondly, to their potential clinical relevance, as estimated by their ability to simulate oral and biomechanical strains. The highest clinical relevance was attributed to marginal and internal adaptation studies, following cyclic loading in a moist environement. However, a combination of in vitro protocols will have an even greater predictive potential and has to be considered as a crucial preclinical research approach with which to investigate the numerous restorative configurations that cannot be efficiently and rapidly tested in vivo.
Prevalence of and risk factors associated with atherosclerosis in psittacine birds
Authors: Beaufrère Hugues , Ammersbach Mélanie , Reavill Drury R. , Garner Michael M. , Heatley J. Jill , Wakamatsu Nobuko , Nevarez Javier G. , Tully Thomas N.
Published: May 2013

Objective—To estimate the prevalence of clinically relevant atherosclerotic lesions in birds and identify epidemiological variables and illness types associated with development of atherosclerosis.

Design—Retrospective case-control study.

Sample—Records of 7683 psittacine birds, including 525 with advanced atherosclerosis.

Procedures—5 pathology centers provided databases and access to histopathology slides. Age and sex were collected for all birds of the Amazona, Ara, Cacatua, Nymphicus, and Psittacus genera. Databases were searched for atherosclerosis cases, and slides were reviewed for the presence of type IV through VI atherosclerotic lesions. Results were used to build several multiple logistic models to define the association between advanced atherosclerosis and age, sex, genus, illness type, and specific lesions. Prevalence was reported as a function of age, sex, and genus.

Results—In the first model including 7683 birds, age, female sex, and the genera Psittacus, Amazona, and Nymphicus were significantly associated with clinically relevant atherosclerosis detected via necropsy. Subsequent models of 1,050 cases revealed further associations with reproductive disease, hepatic disease, and myocardial fibrosis, controlling for age, sex, and genus.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Age, female sex, and 3 genera appeared to be positively associated with the presence of advanced atherosclerotic lesions in psittacine birds. This information may be useful in clinical assessment of the cardiovascular system and patient management. Reproductive diseases were the only potentially modifiable risk factor identified and could be a target for prevention in captive psittacine birds.
Comparison of a chlorambucil-prednisolone combination with an azathioprine-prednisolone combination for treatment of chronic enteropathy with concurrent protein-losing enteropathy in dogs: 27 cases (2007–2010)
Authors: Dandrieux Julien R. S. , Noble Peter-John M. , Scase Timothy J. , Cripps Peter J. , German Alexander J.
Published: May 2013

Objective—To compare treatment protocols for chronic enteropathy and concurrent protein-losing enteropathy that used prednisolone in conjunction with either azathioprine or chlorambucil in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—27 dogs.

Procedures—All dogs had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin concentration, < 18.0 g/L) and chronic enteropathy as diagnosed via complete gastrointestinal tract investigations including intestinal biopsy. Dogs received either an azathioprine-prednisolone combination (group A; n = 13) or a chlorambucil-prednisolone combination (group C; 14). Response to treatment was assessed by evaluation of body weight gain, serum albumin concentration, and duration of primary treatment.

Results—No significant pretreatment differences were detected between groups for any baseline variable (signalment and weight), clinicopathologic variable (albumin, cobalamin, and folate concentrations), or histopathologic findings. After treatment, serum albumin concentration and weight gain were significantly greater in group C. Median survival time for group A dogs was 30 days (95% confidence interval, 15 to 45 days) and was not reached for group C dogs. Duration of primary treatment was positively associated with the histopathologic presence of mild lacteal dilatation and use of a chlorambucil-prednisolone combination.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that a chlorambucil-prednisolone protocol is more efficacious for treatment of chronic enteropathy and concurrent protein-losing enteropathy, compared with an azathioprine-prednisolone combination. Given these findings, a prospective randomized clinical trial is warranted.
Cystoscopic sex identification of posthatchling chelonians
Authors: Selleri Paolo , Di Girolamo Nicola , Melidone Raffaele
Published: May 2013

Objective—To describe a noninvasive technique for sex identification of posthatchling chelonians and to assess its safety in Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni).

Design—Validation study and clinical trial.

Animals—15 recently dead posthachling chelonians and 25 healthy posthatchling Hermann's tortoises.

Procedures—Cystoscopy was performed on both dead and anesthetized live chelonians. Dead chelonians ranged in body weight from 32.4 to 75.1 g (0.07 to 0.17 lb; median, 45.7 g [0.10 lb]). Dead chelonians were dissected immediately after cystoscopy, and gonads were collected for histologic examination. Urinary bladder was macroscopically evaluated in situ to assess its integrity after retrograde injection of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Hermann's tortoises ranged in body weight from 27.3 to 57.8 g (0.06 to 0.13 lb; median, 37.0 g [0.08 lb]). Cystoscopic examination of live tortoises was performed following induction of general anesthesia with a mixture of morphine, dexmedetomidine, and ketamine administered IM. The Pearson coefficient was used to assess the consistency between procedure time and body weight; κ statistic was used to evaluate agreement between sex identified by cystoscopy and histologic examination beyond that expected by mere chance.

Results—Visualization of gonads was feasible through the thin, transparent urinary bladder wall in all the animals evaluated in this study. Blinded histologic examination confirmed the results of cystoscopic gonad identification in all dead chelonians (κ = 1.0). The urinary bladder did not have evidence of macroscopic leakage or microscopic alterations of normal tissue architecture within the representative sections chosen for histologic examination. In live tortoises, median procedure time (range) was 90 (39 to 345) seconds. No significant correlations were found between procedure time and body weight.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cystoscopy performed by means of rigid endoscopy with fluid instillation was found to be an effective method for sex identification of immature chelonians. Furthermore, no complications were observed when this procedure was performed in vivo.
L-leucinium perchlorate: new molecular complex with nonlinear optical properties. Vibrational, calorimetric and theoretical studies
Authors: Marchewka Mariusz , Drozd Marek
Published: May 2013

On the basis of prior X-ray crystallographic results published by J. Janczak and G. Perpetuo, detailed vibrational studies were performed. The FT-IR and Raman spectra at ambient temperature were measured. The NLO properties were determined with the Kurtz-Perry experiment. Theoretical vibrational spectra were calculated. A detailed potential energy distribution (PED) analysis was performed. Assignments of observed bands were made. On the basis of these results, the behaviour of hydrogen bonds in the investigated compound was analysed and discussed. The equilibrium geometry of L-leucinium perchlorate was obtained. The results were compared with experimental X-ray data. The DFT formalism was used in theoretical studies. Detailed TDDFT study of hyperpolarizbility of first and second order for the investigated molecule was performed. Results were compared with experiments. Theoretical population analysis was used to determine the local electron density and local charges in investigated molecule. Differential scanning calorimetric study (DSC) was performed.
Optimization of synthesis conditions and the study of magnetic and dielectric properties for MgFe2O4 ferrite
Authors: Druc Alin , Dumitrescu Anca , Borhan Adrian , Nica Valentin , Iordan Alexandra , Palamaru Mircea
Published: May 2013

Nano-sized magnesium ferrites were synthesized by the sol-gel auto-combustion method using a variety of chelating/combustion agents: tartaric acid, citric acid, cellulose, glycine, urea and hexamethylenetetramine. The original purpose of this work was the synthesis of nano-sized magnesium ferrite by using, for the first time, cellulose and hexamethylenetetramine as chelating/combustion agents. Synthesized samples were subjected to different heat treatments at 773 K, 973 K and, respectively 1173 K in air. The disappearance of the organic phase and nitrate phase with the spinel structure formation was monitored by infrared absorption spectroscopy. Spinel structure, crystallite size and cation distribution were evaluated by X-ray diffraction data. The morphology of as-prepared powders was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic and dielectric properties were studied for the obtained samples.
High resolution mass spectrometric characterization of amino linked oligosaccharides — a preliminary study
Authors: Ghiulai Roxana , Galusca Mirela , Sisu Ioana , Sisu Eugen , Zamfir Alina
Published: May 2013

In this study maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose were for the first time, coupled to 4,4′-methylenedianiline (MDA). The aim of this preliminary work was to test the feasibility of oligo- and polysaccharide coupling to MDA and the characterization of the coupling products by high resolution mass spectrometry (MS). (+) nanoESI in combination with a quadrupole time of flight (QTOF) MS in full scan (MS) and MS/MS was optimized first on underivatized maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose. The optimal screening and sequencing conditions were further applied to the MDA-functionalized oligosaccharides. The obtained results revealed a straightforward MS detection of the functionalized oligomers, high sequence coverage and a fragmentation pathway with the formation of B and Y ions as well as the complementary C and Z ions along with a typical cleavage of the aglycon. We consider that this methodology is fully applicable also to polydisperse mixtures of long chain polysaccharides, which due to the large number of components and their size require a systematic method of development and testing.
Optimization of synthesis procedure and structure characterization of manganese tungstate nanoplates
Authors: Rahimi-Nasrabadi Mehdi , Pourmortazavi S. , Khalilian-Shalamzari Morteza , Hajimirsadeghi S. , Zahedi M.
Published: May 2013

A simple and fast chemical method was used for synthesis of manganese tungstate nanoplates in flower-like clusters; while Taguchi robust design was employed as statistical method for optimization of the experimental parameters for the procedure. Ultrafine manganese tungstate plates in flower-like clusters were synthesized via a direct precipitation method involving addition of manganese ion solution to the aqueous tungstate reagent. Effects of various reaction conditions such as manganese and tungstate concentrations, flow rate of reagent addition and reactor temperature on the thickness of the synthesized manganese tungstate plates were investigated experimentally. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that manganese tungstate nanoplates could be effectively synthesized by tuning significant parameters of precipitation procedure. Meanwhile, optimum conditions for synthesis of MnWO4 nanoplates via this simple, fast, and cost effective method were proposed. The structure and composition of the prepared nanoplates under optimum conditions were characterized by EDX, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, and photoluminescence techniques.
The Steep Ramp Test in Dutch White Children and Adolescents: Age- and Sex-Related Normative Values
Authors: Bongers Bart C. , de Vries Sanne I. , Obeid Joyce , van Buuren Stef , Helders Paul J.M. , Takken Tim
Published: May 2013

Background

The Steep Ramp Test (SRT), a feasible, reliable, and valid exercise test on a cycle ergometer, may be more appealing for use in children in daily clinical practice than the traditional cardiopulmonary exercise test because of its short duration, its resemblance to children's daily activity patterns, and the fact that it does not require respiratory gas analysis.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to provide sex- and age-related normative values for SRT performance in Dutch white children and adolescents who were healthy and 8 to 19 years old.

Design

This was a cross-sectional, observational study.

Methods

A total of 252 Dutch white children and adolescents, 118 boys (mean age=13.4 years, SD=3.0) and 134 girls (mean age=13.4 years, SD=2.9), performed the SRT (work rate increment of 10, 15, or 20 W·10 s−1, depending on body height) to voluntary exhaustion to assess peak work rate (WRpeak). Normative values are presented as reference centiles developed by use of generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape.

Results

Peak work rate correlated highly with age (r=.915 and r=.811), body mass (r=.870 and r=.850), body height (r=.922 and r=.896), body surface area (r=.906 and r=.885), and fat free mass (r=.930 and r=.902) in boys and girls, respectively. The reference curves demonstrated an almost linear increase in WRpeak with age in boys, even when WRpeak was normalized for body mass. In contrast, absolute WRpeak in girls increased constantly until the age of approximately 13 years, when it started to level off. Peak work rate normalized for body mass in girls showed only a slight increase with age until 14 years of age, when a slight decrease in relative WRpeak was observed.

Limitations

The sample may not have been entirely representative of the Dutch population.

Conclusions

The present study provides sex- and age-related normative values for SRT performance in terms of both absolute WRpeak and relative WRpeak, thereby facilitating the interpretation of SRT results by clinicians and researchers.
Evaluating Physical Therapy Students' Knowledge of and Adherence to the Ambassador Low Back Pain Guideline
Authors: Collinge Wesley R. , Gross Douglas P. , Bostick Geoff P. , Cutforth Greg S. , Rutten Geert M. , Maroun Claude , Oostendorp Rob A.B.
Published: May 2013

Purpose: To examine a process for evaluating physiotherapy (PT) students' knowledge of and adherence to the Ambassador Low Back Pain (LBP) guideline using vignettes. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Participants were PT students who had received information related to the guideline as part of their curriculum. Primary measures were responses to questions about the management of four clinical vignettes. Adherence to guideline recommendations was measured by comparing participant scores to a “guideline-based” set of responses from a physiotherapist involved in developing the Ambassador guideline, which was considered a criterion standard. Results: A total of 74 respondents provided complete data, for a response rate of 89%; 65 (88%) reported no knowledge of the guideline. Overall consistency with the criterion standard was high (>70%). Respondents demonstrated high adherence when identifying red flags and deciding whether to refer to another provider. Conclusion: Despite known exposure, knowledge of the guideline was low in this sample of Canadian PT students. Nevertheless, in several key areas, unconscious adherence was high relative to the guideline-based criterion standard. With minor modifications, the vignettes are suitable for evaluating the Ambassador LBP guidelines in a larger study.
‘We are the other, the other is us’
Authors: Echlin Kim , Kamboureli Smaro , McGregor Hannah
Published: May 2013

abstract

In this interview, Kim Echlin discusses Canadian writers’ interest in writing about other cultures, which requires research and an empathic imagination as well as the responsibility to people who cannot tell their own stories of trauma. She addresses primarily her process of writing The Disappeared, her novel about Cambodia, in which the central character tests the limits of empathy and witnessing.
Travel, Ethics, and Moral Distress inThe Prophet’s Camel Bell
Authors: Bailey Suzanne
Published: May 2013

abstract

The ideological work of The Prophet’s Camel Bell as it is directed to Western readers highlights ethics as a concern and maps elements of an ethically informed response to questions of cultural difference. The memoir suggests that encounters with the foreign can become part of a reorientation toward other environments, which include people as well as natural and human-made affordances. This essay considers the foreign not as a static object or concept but as an embodied field in The Prophet’s Camel Bell, drawing on Tim Ingold’s environmentalist anthropology. Conceptualized in this way, ‘Somalia’ consists in a series of shifting environments rather than a singular, describable entity, paralleling Laurence’s own emergence within these spaces. At the same time, the text contains historically specific aesthetic strands that create political inconsistencies in the text that have puzzled Laurence’s critics. The essay argues for renewed critical attention to epistemological and ethical issues in a major work in the genre of Canadian travel writing.
Hypothalamic hamartomas. Part 2. Surgical considerations and outcome
Authors: Mittal Sandeep , Mittal Monika , Montes José Luis , Farmer Jean-Pierre , Andermann Frederick
Published: May 2013

Hypothalamic hamartomas are uncommon developmental heterotopic masses composed of an intermixed array of neurons, glia, and myelinated fibers closely associated with the mammillary bodies. Gelastic seizures, the hallmark feature of hypothalamic hamartomas, commonly present in early childhood. However, patients usually also display a disabling clinical syndrome, which may include various other types of refractory seizures with secondary generalization together with progressive cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric dysfunction. The hamartoma itself has been unequivocally shown to be intrinsically epileptogenic. Over the past 2 decades there has been considerable effort to develop neurosurgical techniques to treat the epileptic syndrome effectively as well as to improve the neurocognitive and behavioral outcome.