bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bonding of Adhesive Luting Agents to Caries-affected Dentin Induced by a Microcosm Biofilm Model
Authors: Peixoto AC , Bicalho AA , Isolan CP , Maske TT , Moraes RR , Cenci MS , Soares CJ , Faria-e-Silva AL
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To evaluate the bond strength of adhesive luting agents applied to caries-affected dentin (CAD).

Methods

Thirty-six noncarious human third molars were abraded to expose an occlusal dentin surface. Caries lesions were induced in half of the samples using a microcosm biofilm model. Biofilm was cultivated under an anaerobic atmosphere for 14 days in a medium enriched with mucin. The same medium containing 1% sucrose was alternated for 4 hours per day. Cylinders of resin cement (RelyX ARC, RelyX U200, or BisCem) were built up over the dentin substrate and submitted to shear bond load. The samples were then longitudinally sectioned. The hardness and elastic modulus of dentin were measured at different depths from the occlusal surface. A three-dimensional finite element simulation was performed to analyze the residual stress distribution during the shear bond strength test. Bond strength data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and hardness and elastic modulus by split-plot ANOVA. Multiple comparisons were performed with the SNK test (α=0.05).

Results

For all cements, the highest bond strengths were observed in sound dentin. Relyx ARC bond strength was similar to that of RelyX U200 for both substrates; BisCem had the lowest values. CAD had lower hardness (above a depth of 100 μm) and elastic modulus (above a depth of 150 μm) values than sound dentin. Stress distribution during the bond strength test was similar under all experimental conditions.

Conclusion

Impairment of the mechanical properties of dentin promoted by carious lesions reduced the bond strength of adhesive luting agents.
Effect of Desensitizing Agents on the Bond Strength of Mild and Strong Self-etching Adhesives
Authors: Sabatini C , Wu Z
Published: January 2015

Background

Desensitizing agents are used, almost as routine practice, in many adhesive restorative procedures. There is still debate as to their effect in dentin bonding, particularly with self-etching adhesives. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different desensitizing agents on the bond strength of mild and strong self-etching adhesive systems to dentin.

Materials and Methods

One hundred twenty recently extracted, noncarious human molars were used to obtain superficial dentin substrate for bonding. No desensitizer was used in the control groups. The experimental groups were pretreated with Gluma Desensitizer, MicroPrime B, and Dentin Desensitizer immediately prior to bonding with self-etching adhesives Optibond XTR, Xeno IV, and iBond. A bonding jig was used to fabricate composite cylinders, which were stored for either 24 hours or three months, after which the shear bond strength (SBS) was evaluated using a notched-edge testing device at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Failure mode distribution was also evaluated at 24 hours and three months. A two-way analysis of variance, Tukey test, and Student t-test, with a significance level of p<0.05, were used for data analysis.

Results

At 24 hours, there was no significant difference in SBS when the same adhesive was used with any of the experimental desensitizing agents compared with the control group without desensitizer. However, at three months, Dentin Desensitizer bonded with Optibond XTR demonstrated significantly lower SBS (p<0.001), while Gluma bonded with iBond showed significantly higher SBS values (p=0.034) relative to their corresponding control group. Only MicroPrime B bonded with Xeno IV and iBond with no desensitizer demonstrated a significant reduction in SBS after three months (p=0.034 and p=0.002, respectively). The most prevalent type of failure was adhesive.

Conclusion

Desensitizing agents can be used in combination with self-etching adhesives to control hypersensitivity without adversely affecting their bond strength to dentin.
Research Design Of An Adaptive Controller Based On Desired Trajectory Compensation Of Neural Networks
Authors: Yu Liu
Published: January 2015

This paper has designed a variable structure controller based on the nominal compensation of neural networks. The neural network input is the desired trajectory, which eliminates the strict assumptions of the control inputs in conventional neural networks. It also ensures the asymptotic stability of the system closed-loop global exponentials to introduce model compensation and continuous variable structure control rate. By means of Lyapunov stability theory, it is analyzed and researched how to guarantee good transient performance of the control system comprehensively and thoroughly. The theoretic analysis and simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the method proposed.
Iot Forest Environmental Factors Collection Platform Based On Zigbee
Authors: Yu Zhang , Xugang Liu , Xue Geng , Dan Li
Published: January 2015

Nowadays the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology has witnessed great changes in the world. As it has often been mentioned, IoT Environment Monitoring Technologies and IOT Smart Home Technologies have been gradually accepted by people and have good prospects for development. Now we can research a networking based intelligent platform to monitor our forest environmental factors in time with the new IoT technology based on ZIGBEE protocol. ZIGBEE based networking technologies has the advantages of low power dissipation, low data rate and high-capacity transportation, which makes it more suitable for the design of the node of forest environmental factors collection platform. So, we are going to discuss a kind of IoT forest environment factors collection platform based on ZIGBEE protocol.
Multi-Targets Tracking Based On Bipartite Graph Matching
Authors: Zhong Jinqin , Tan Jieqing , Li Yingying , Gu Lichuan , Chen Guolong
Published: January 2015

Multi-target tracking is a challenge due to the variable number of targets and the frequent interaction between targets in complex dynamic environments. This paper presents a multi-target tracking algorithm based on bipartite graph matching. Unlike previous approaches, the method proposed considers the target tracking as a bipartite graph matching problem where the nodes of the bipartite graph correspond to the targets in two neighboring frames, and the edges correspond to the degree of the similarity measure between the targets in different frames. Finding correspondence between the targets is formulated as a maximal matching problem which can be solved by the dynamic Hungarian algorithm. Then, merging and splitting of the targets detection is proposed, the candidate occlusion region is predicted according to the overlapping between the bounding boxes of the interacting targets to handle the mutual occlusion problem. The extensive experimental results show that the algorithm proposed can achieve good performance on dynamic target interactions compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Study Of Algorithms Of Oil Immersed Transformer Temperature Measurement Technology
Authors: Jia Danping , Gao Ximeng , Li Chunhua
Published: January 2015

In the paper presented the temperature of an oil-immersed transformer was measured, based on the principles of the fluorescence afterglow life. Three methods were used to calculate the fluorescence afterglow life τ by using the least squares method, the integral area ratio method and Prony algorithm. The leastsquare method, the integral area ratio method and the program of Prony algorithm are written using Matlab and C++. The Least-square fitting is susceptible to the influence of the DC component. When the DC location is different, the fluorescence afterglow life τ values vary widely. The integral area ratio method is not influenced by DC component, but it has low sensitivity. Prony algorithm is not affected by DC, it has high sensitivity. So Prony algorithm is selected as a way to obtain the fluorescence afterglow lifetime value τ.
Wireless Sensor Network Localization Based On A Mobile Beacon And Tsvm
Authors: Xu Jiang , Qian Huanyan , Dai Huan , Zhu Jianxin
Published: January 2015

In this paper a new wireless sensor network localization algorithm, based on a mobile beacon and TSVM (Transductive Support Vector Machines) is proposed, which is referred to as MTSVM. The new algorithm takes advantage of a mobile beacon to generate virtual beacon nodes and then utilizes the beacon vector produced by the communication between the nodes to transform the problem of localization into one of classification. TSVM helps to minimize the error of classification of unknown fixed nodes (unlabeled samples). An auxiliary mobile beacon is designed to save the large volumes of expensive sensor nodes with GPS devices. As shown by the simulation test, the algorithm achieves good localization performance.
A Novel Fuzzy Clustering Recommendation Algorithm Based On Pso
Authors: Hui Zhang , Fei You
Published: January 2015

Aiming at the problem of recommendation systems, this paper proposes a fuzzy clustering algorithm based on particle swarm optimization. This algorithm can find the best solution, using the capacity of global search in PSO algorithm with a powerful global and defining a proportion factor, which can adjust the position and reduce the search space automatically. Then using mutation particles it replaces the particles flying out the solution space by new particles during the searching process. In order to check the performance of the proposed algorithm, by testing with typical ZDT1, ZDT2, ZDT3 functions, the experimental results show that the improved method not only has a better ability to converge to the global point, but can also efficiently avoid premature convergence.
Analysis Of Hotspots In The Field Of Domestic Knowledge Discovery Based On Co-Word Analysis Method
Authors: Wang X. D. , Liu J. J. , Sheng F. S.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, choosing highly frequent keywords from core journals in the field of 1992-2013 national knowledge discovery in CNKI database, counting the number of two frequent keywords co-occurrences in the same journal, then constructing the highly frequent keywords matrix, and transforming the highly frequent keywords matrix into a correlation matrix and a dissimilarity matrix, we analyze the dissimilarity matrix based on the use of factor analysis, cluster analysis. After discussing the results of the analysis, we found that the current hotspots in the field of domestic knowledge discovery have focused on the following six aspects, knowledge discovery based on data research, knowledge discovery algorithm optimization research, the model of knowledge discovery and references research, knowledge management based on domain ontology, expert system construction research, and applied research of the knowledge discovery. Finally, we summarized the research hotspots in the field of international knowledge discovery in the same way and suggested the domestic scholars to extend some directions of the research in the field of knowledge discovery.
Dynamical Topology Analysis Of Vanet Based On Complex Networks Theory
Authors: Zhang Hong , Li Jie
Published: January 2015

A Vehicular Ad hoc NETwork (VANET) is a special subset of multi-hop Mobile Ad hoc Networks, in which the vehicles wireless interfaces can communicate with each other, as well as with fixed equipments alongside city roads or highways. Vehicular mobility dynamic characteristics, including high speed, predictable, restricted mobility pattern significantly affect the performance of routing protocols in a real VANET. Based on the existing studies, here we propose a testing network according to the preferential attachment on the degree of nodes and analyze VANET model characteristics for finding out the dynamic topology from the instantaneous degree distribution, instantaneous clustering coefficient and average path length. Analysis and simulation results demonstrate that VANET has a small world network features and is characterized by a truncated scale-free degree distribution with power-law degree distribution. The dynamic topology analysis indicates a possible mechanism of VANET, which might be helpful in the traffic congestion, safety and management.
The effect of covering and mulching on the soil temperature, growth and yield of tomato
Authors: Kosterna Edyta
Published: January 2015

By improving the thermal and moisture conditions in the immediate vicinity of plants, plastic covers influenced the growth and development and increased the yield of vegetables. Soil mulching with organic material is one method of soil water protection and also helps maintain a constant soil temperature within the root system of crops. This study investigated the effect of plant covering and the type of straw applied to soil mulching (rye, corn, rape or buckwheat) on the soil temperature, development of the plant and the yield of ‘Polfast’ F1 tomato. The effect of the straw was compared to a control plot without mulch. Soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm was higher in covered plots than in the plot without covers. The increase in soil temperature as a result of covering amounted to 1.3°C at 8:00 a.m. and 1.7°C at 2:00 p.m. Both in the morning and in the afternoon, the soil temperature in the plots without straw and without covers and under polypropylene fibre was higher than in the plots with straw. The application of covers resulted in higher aboveground parts of plants and higher leaf area compared to cultivation without covers. Irrespective of whether a covering was used, all of the types of straw investigated in the experiment caused the acceleration of growth and development of tomato plants. Simultaneous plant covering and soil mulching increased the total yield of fruits but did not have an influence on the share of marketable yield of the total yield.
Evaluation of susceptibility of pear and plum cultivars to winter frost
Authors: Khorshidi Shadan , Davarynejad Gholamhossein , Azmoode Fahime , Kameli Mehdi
Published: January 2015

The damage to pear and plum buds was investigated in Mashhad, after a period of unusually warm weather for a few days in March 2013 followed by a sudden drop in temperature to -12°C. Frost damages of vegetative and reproductive buds and spur-part below the buds of pear and plum cultivars were investigated based on visual observations. The following pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars were investigated: William’s, Bell de june, Ida, Spadona, Koshia, Domkaj, Dare Gazi, Mohamad Ali, Boheme, Shekari, Ghodumi and one Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd.). Japanese plum (P. salicina L.) included ’Shiro’, ’Shams’, ’Computi’ and European plum (Prunus domestica L.) included ’Stanley’, ‘Early Santa Rosa’, ’Late Santa Rosa’, ’Shablon’ and ’Black Diamond’. Electrical conductivity (EC) and proline content were measured in reproductive buds. It was discovered that visual damages were different between cultivars, as the vegetative pear bud of ‘Ghodumi’ suffered the most damage and all parts of ‘Late Santa Rosa’ were the most susceptible in plum cultivars. On the other hand, ‘Computi’ had the most resistant reproductive bud and no damage was observed in the other parts. The EC and proline content of ‘Dare Gazi’ were the highest despite the fact that high proline content did not show high resistance, which was related to the phenological stage of ‘Dare Gazi’.
Influence of Schematization Detailness on the Results of Rainfall-Runoff Modelling in the Lubina River Basin / Vliv Podrobnosti Schematizace na Výsledky Srážkoodtokového Modelování v Povodí Lubiny
Authors: Adamec Martin , Noska Lukáš , Vojvodík David
Published: January 2015

This paper, in a form of a case study, deals with the influence of detailed basin schematization on the results of rainfall-runoff modelling. Three schematizations with dissimilar details were created for the study area and subsequently a rainfall-runoff simulation was carried out by means of the HEC-HMS programme for a precipitation event. Resulting hydrographs were further compared with a real discharge measured in the closing profile of the model basin. The model basin is the Lubina River basin occupying c. 160 km2, characterized by significant altitudinal articulation and variable land use, so the comparison was not limited to one landscape type. The study also includes statistical evaluation of model accuracy by means of the Nash-Sutcliffe method. Finally, the results are discussed as well as probable reasons for the behaviour of the models
Possibilities of Application of Static Investment Appraisal Methods for Optimizing Purchase under Conditions of Mine Rescue Service
Authors: Magnusková Jana , Pavelek Zdeněk , Krčmarská Lucie
Published: January 2015

The present article focuses on the importance of making investment decisions and its long-term effect on the economy of companies. It presents a specific investment in the recovery of rescue equipment used for interventions in the irrespirable or deleterious environment on an example of the company HBZS, a.s. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the investment project using static methods in relation to setting an optimal price level for leasing the equipment. The optimization of such setting is examined in terms of the economic lifetime of relevant tangible fixed assets
Overview of Research and use of Indicator Gases of Coal Spontaneous Combustion in China / Přehled Výzkumu a Využití Indikačních Plynů Samovznícení Uhlí V Číně
Authors: Feng Xiyang , Adamus Alois
Published: January 2015

The beginnings of research and use of results in the area of indicator gas application for early detection of spontaneous combustion of coal in China comes from the sixties of the last century. The significant development occurred in the nineties, when the program “Characteristics of the adsorption of coal oxygen and its application in the prevention of mine fires” had been completed. The paper briefly describes an overview of the historical development, achievements, experimental methods, laboratory equipment, legislation, and the outlook for the use of indicator gases of coal spontaneous combustion in China
Possibilities For Simulating The Smoke Rollback Effect In Underground Mines Using Cfd Software / Možnosti Simulace Zpětného Proudění Kouře V Hlubinných Dolech Pomocí Cfd Softwaru
Authors: Adjiski Vancho
Published: January 2015

The effect of fire generated smoke rollback in underground mines can be dangerous and a potentially fatal threat to all who are endangered by the fire. Three critical stages in the process of smoke rollback are 3D local phenomena that can be analysed by CFD software simulations. With the help of a 3D-CFD analysis we can observe the critical stages of smoke rollback and their reaction to a ventilation network. The CFD provides the opportunity to expand the range of prediction of smoke spread for a wide spectrum of airflows, fire intensities, mine-section inclinations and layouts. The paper deals with the possibilities for simulating the smoke rollback effect in underground mines using the CFD software. For the purposes of this research paper, the PyroSim software from the company Thunderhead Engineering was used to create three different CFD fire scenarios and then observe the critical stages of smoke rollback effects.
Geometric Potential of Pléiades 1A Satellite Imagery
Authors: Postelniak Andrii
Published: January 2015

In this paper, the geometrical characteristics of Pléiades 1A satellite imagery (both single and stereo) are analysed. At first the process of digital surface model (DSM) extraction from a Pléiades 1A stereo pair is described and analysed. After that geometric an accuracy of imagery, orthorectified using the extracted DSM and using the SRTM (Shuttle radar topographic mission) was analysed. The Pléiades 1A stereo pair was acquired on October 22, 2012 from the same orbital pass over an urban zone (Kiev, Ukraine). The study area is heterogeneous: there are both built-up and flat areas. The iImage orientation, DSM extraction and orthorectified images generation were performed using the PCI Geomatica 2013 software. The results showed that a strong, positive correlation between reference-derived elevations and DSM-derived elevations can be observed, and the orthorectified image accuracy, generated using that DSM, approximately equal to 1 m can be achieved using a bias compensation sensor model. Different sensor models were used for orthorectification using the SRTM. In this case, the geometric accuracy is а function of a chosen sensor model and a number of ground control points (GCP).
Vermiculite With Ag and Cu Used as an Antibacterial Nanofiller in Polyethylene/ Vermikulit S Ag A Cu Použitý Jako Antibakteriální Nanoplnivo V Polyethylenu
Authors: Hundáková Marianna , Valášková Marta , Samlíková Magda , Pazdziora Erich
Published: January 2015

Vermiculite (Ver) enriched with silver and copper was used as nanofiller to the polyethylene (PE) matrix. Specifically, the low density polyethylene (LDPE) was chosen as a matrix. The samples Ver-Ag,Cu were prepared by shaking of Ver with the aqueous solutions of silver and copper nitrate. The mixtures of the Ver nanofillers and PE were homogenized by melt compounding technique and further thin plates were pressed from stiff matter of PE with Ver nanofiller. The exfoliation of the powdery Ver nanofillers in PE matrix was characterized by the X-ray diffraction analysis of thin plates. Distribution of Ver nanofiller in PE matrix was observed by Light microscopy. The reinforcing effect of nanofillers onto PE matrix was studied by creep experiment. Antibacterial activity of powder Ver-Ag,Cu samples and surfaces of PE/Ver-Ag,Cu samples was tested on the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis. All tested PE/Ver-Ag,Cu surfaces showed good antibacterial behaviour after 24 h in comparison to pure PE. The number of colonies decreased from the countless number to several hundred colonies.
Application of Ozonation to Intensify Nitrification and Denitrification Processes/ Využití Ozonizace K Intenzifikaci Nitrifikačních A Denitrifikačních Procesů
Authors: Drozdová Martina , Jablonka Radim , Kučerová Radmila , Kašáková Hana
Published: January 2015

Nitrogen and phosphorus belong to most important biogenic macro elements and both are required for the growth of microorganisms. Sewage waste waters and industrial waste waters from nitrogen production are important sources of organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds in water. Surface water predominantly contains nitrogen in a form of ammonium cations (NH4 +). This knowledge could be used in waste water treatment. The paper deals with a potential application of ozonation in waste water treatment to treat waste water polluted with excessive amounts of organic compounds, primarily containing nitrogen and its subsequent co-application with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).
Acquisition of Romani in a Bilingual Context
Authors: Kyuchukov Hristo
Published: January 2015

The paper presents research findings from research on Roma children and their acquisition of different grammatical categories in the Romani language. Results from three different studies with Roma children from Bulgaria are discussed: acquisition of mental state verbs (MSV), Bates-MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDI) in Romani and subtests from DELV (Seymour, Roeper, & de Villiers, 2005). All the testing and research shows that Roma children follow the paths of normally developing children in their language development. Roma children are able to correctly use nouns, verbs, wh-questions and to assume different communicative roles.
Age and Gender Effects on Motivation and Attitudes in German Learning: The Polish Context
Authors: Okuniewski Jan E.
Published: January 2015

The research investigates the German language learning motivations of Polish secondary school students and university students. Questionnaire data were collected from 247 students (126 from secondary school and 121 from university). The aim of this research was to examine the relationships among language attitudes, instrumental, cultural interest, integrative, L2 self and motivated learning. The results show the existence of age and gender difference in variables under consideration. Relationships were found between age and gender to the motivational attitudes: older and female students had a more integrative attitude than younger and mail students and experienced more intensive motivation.
Exploring s-e-condition and applications to some Ostrowski type inequalities via Hadamard fractional integrals
Authors: Wang JinRong , Deng JianHua , Fečkan Michal
Published: January 2015

In this paper, a new identity for Hadamard fractional integrals via differentiable mappings is established. A new concept named by s-e-condition is explored to overcome some essence difficulties from the singular kernels in Hadamard fractional integrals. With the help of the new concept s-e-condition and the obtained identity for Hadamard fractional integrals, some new Ostrowski type inequalities for Hadamard fractional integrals are obtained.
A note on the characteristic rank and related numbers
Authors: Balko Ľudovít , Korbaš Július
Published: January 2015

This note quantifies, via a sharp inequality, an interplay between
(a)the characteristic rank of a vector bundle over a topological space X
(b)the ℤ2-Betti numbers of X, and(c)sums of the numbers of certain partitions of integers.

In a particular context, (c) is transformed into a sum of the readily calculable Betti numbers of the real Grassmann manifolds.
A Poet for All Seasons
Authors: Hugo Daniel
Published: January 2015

This is a translation of a general introduction to an anthology of poetry by Olga Kirsch. Major themes and motifs of her work are outlined, as well as a short biography of the authoress is presented. The selection from the poems of Olga Kirsch was published to celebrate her 70th birthday on 23rd of September 1994 as Nou spreek ek weer bekendes aan: ’n Keur 1944-1983 [Now I’m Again Addressing Familiar Ones: A Selection 1944-1983]. For the purposes of the translation the ending of the original introduction has been altered.
’n Nuwe lewe: Olga Kirsch se studentegedig “Resurrexit” / A New Life: Olga Kirsch’s Student Poem “Resurrexit”
Authors: Minnaar Thomas , Roth Egonne
Published: January 2015

The poem “Resurrexit” published by Olga Kirsch in 1945 in the student paper WU´s VIEWS has been all but forgotten. It is, however, a beautiful and an important poem with a pantheistic character. It commemorates the death of the young Jewish flight navigator lieutenant Alec Medalie, whose fighter plane was shot down by German antiaircraft fire near the Yugoslavian coast in 1944. Psychoanalysis opens the poem up to a reading which turns the typical male symbolic order’s death and men’s chaos caused by war into the young man’s rebirth as a new form of being. This happens through the maternal earth’s uterine sea. The fallen is absorbed by the sea and after a period taken up into the clouds to return to the mother and the earth, albeit in a new form. The concept of the chora plays a part in this resurrection which offers consolation to all who are subject to the inevitable uncertainty of the human condition and those who stay behind after a sudden death.
Die poësie van Olga Kirsch: Tuiskoms in vreemdelingskap / The Poetry of Olga Kirsch: Homecoming in Exile
Authors: Spies Lina
Published: January 2015

In writing my article on the poetry of Olga Kirsch I proceed from each poet’s consciousness of the relationship of tension between his humanity and the art he practises. In the case of Olga Kirsch this inner discord was rendered in her humanity. As second recognised Afrikaans woman poet, after Elisabeth Eybers, she was Jewish by birth and English-speaking, although by her own claim Afrikaans, through her environment and school, was stronger than the English of her parental home.

In Olga Kirsch’s debut volume Die soeklig (1944) she professes the youthful heart’s restless longing for romantic love in poems still far too trapped in clichéd language. I linger extensively at these so that the great breakthrough of her talent in her second volume, Mure van die hart (1948), can be clearly evident. In strong, stripped-down poems she expresses the Zionistic longing of the Jew in the diaspora for the lost homeland, intensified by the Jewish suffering in the Second World War, with specific reference to the Holocaust in “Die wandelende Jood” and “Koms van die Messias.”

After Kirsch’s emigration to Israel in 1948 a silence of twenty-four years followed which was unexpectedly interrupted with the 1972 publication of a thin volume, Negentien gedigte, which impressed especially with “Vyf sonette aan my vader,” which I discuss in detail. In 1975 she visited her native land again and the direct contact with Afrikaans and with the country acted as stimulus for her volume Geil gebied of 1976. The “geil gebied” (fertile area) is a metaphor for the rich subsoil of the poem and for the poem itself. In my discussion of Negentien gedigte and Geil gebied I concentrate on her inner dividedness as being inherently part of her human nature, enhanced by the knowledge that she remained irrevocably attached to her native land and to her Jewish homeland. I point out that the only way she can be healed of this dividedness is by writing her another self in her poems in which she arrives home in both countries, the omnipresence of God and the presence of the beloved husband. Lastly I indicate Olga Kirsch’s enduring place in the Afrikaans tradition of poetry through her procreative influence on other poets or by the way they relate to her poetry.
The Men in the Life and Work of Olga Kirsch
Authors: Roth Egonne
Published: January 2015

Olga Kirsch’s life and work was dominated by three men: her father Schmuel M. Kirsch, her youth lover Ellis, and her husband Joseph Gillis. Their presence can be felt throughout her oeuvre, both in her published Afrikaans and in her unpublished English poetry culminating in a collection of seventy-seven poems written in the months that followed the death of her husband. Through these poems the reader is introduced to a passionate side of Kirsch’s personality that was rarely seen by those who knew her in the normal course of her life. These three relationships resulted in some of Kirsch’s most beautiful poetry, of which her “Vyf sonnette vir my vader” is probably the best known.
Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Subjects With Frequent Bilateral or Unilateral Knee Pain: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative Study
Authors: Bindawas Saad M. , Vennu Vishal , Al Snih Soham
Published: January 2015

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Objective

To examine associations between frequent bilateral knee pain (BKP) and unilateral knee pain (UKP) and health-related quality of life (QoL). We hypothesized that frequent BKP would be associated with poorer health-related QoL than would frequent UKP and no knee pain.

Background

Knee pain is one of the most frequently reported types of joint pain among adults in the United States. It is the most frequent cause of limited physical function, disability, and reduced QoL.

Methods

Data were collected from the Osteoarthritis Initiative public-use data sets. Health-related QoL was assessed in 2481 participants (aged 45–79 years at baseline). The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score QoL subscale (knee-specific measure) and the physical component summary and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) (generic measure) were used to assess health-related QoL. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between frequent knee pain and health-related QoL, adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates.

Results

Compared with subjects with no knee pain, subjects with frequent BKP and UKP had significantly lower scores on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score QoL subscale (mean difference, −35.2; standard error [SE], 0.86; P<.001 and mean difference, −29.2; SE, 0.93; P<.001; respectively) and the SF-12 physical component summary score (mean difference, −6.25; SE, 0.41; P<.001 and mean difference, −4.10; SE, 0.43; P<.001; respectively), after controlling for sociodemographic and health covariates. The SF-12 MCS score was lower among those with BKP (−1.29; SE, 0.42; P<.001). Frequent UKP was not associated with the SF-12 MCS.

Conclusion

Subjects with frequent BKP had lower health-related QoL than those with frequent unilateral or no knee pain, as reflected in lower Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score QoL subscale and SF-12 physical component summary and MCS scores. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(2):128–136. Epub 8 Jan 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5123
Baseline Pain Intensity Is a Predictor of Chronic Pain in Individuals With Distal Radius Fracture
Authors: Mehta Saurabh P. , MacDermid Joy C. , Richardson Julie , MacIntyre Norma J. , Grewal Ruby
Published: January 2015

Study Design

Secondary analysis of cohort study.

Objective

This study examined whether baseline pain intensity is a predictor of chronic pain and wrist/hand functions at 1 year following distal radius fracture (DRF). The study also examined the cutoff level for baseline pain intensity that best predicted chronic pain.

Background

Many individuals experience wrist/hand pain and functional impairments for as long as 1 year after DRF. Early identification of individuals at risk of these adverse outcomes can facilitate the delivery of required interventions to mitigate the risk.

Methods

Data for the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) pain and function subscales at baseline and 1 year after DRF, age, sex, injury to the dominant side, presence of comorbidity, education level, mechanism of fracture, smoking status, fall history, and energy of fracture were extracted from an existing data set. Multivariate regression analysis examined the utility of baseline pain intensity and the above variables in predicting pain and functional status at 1 year in individuals with DRF. Receiver operating characteristic curves examined the sensitivity/specificity of baseline pain intensity in predicting chronic pain and functional impairment.

Results

Required data were available for 386 individuals. Baseline pain intensity was found to be a strong predictor of chronic pain, explaining 22% of the variance. A baseline score of 35 out of 50 on the pain subscale of the PRWE had the best sensitivity (85%) and specificity (79%) cutoff values for predicting chronic pain at 1 year after DRF.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation practitioners may be able to use a score of greater than 35/50 on the PRWE pain subscale to screen individuals at risk of chronic pain following DRF.

Level of Evidence

Prognosis, level 4. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(2):119–127. Epub 8 Jan 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5129
Measurement Properties of the Brazilian Version of the Penn Shoulder Score (PSS-Brazil): Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness
Authors: de Souza Marcela Bembo , Martins Jaqueline , Hotta Gisele Harumi , de Oliveira Anamaria Siriani
Published: January 2015

Study Design

Clinical measurement.

Objectives

To determine the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Brazilian version of the Penn Shoulder Score (PSS-Brazil) in patients with shoulder dysfunctions.

Background

Several questionnaires assessing shoulder dysfunctions are available in Brazil, but the measurement properties of most of them, such as the PSS, have not yet been tested.

Methods

Internal consistency, measurement error, construct validity, and floor and ceiling effects were evaluated in 62 patients, 36 of whom completed the questionnaire at baseline and after 2 to 7 days to assess test-retest reliability. Responsiveness was determined with 50 patients who completed the questionnaire at an initial visit and after 4 weeks of physical therapy.

Results

The PSS-Brazil displayed acceptable internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha of .92. Test-retest reliability was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.95; the standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were 12.8 and 14.4 points, respectively. A high correlation was obtained between the PSS and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (0.96) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (0.86). There was moderate correlation between the PSS and its subscales and the pain and function subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (0.40–0.68). There was high responsiveness, with an effect size of 0.95 and standardized response mean of 1.13 for patients with improvement of shoulder dysfunction, and adequate area under the curve of 0.81. No floor or ceiling effects were observed.

Conclusion

The PSS-Brazil is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure for assessing patients with shoulder dysfunction. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(2):137–142. Epub 8 Jan 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5165
Global Ratings of Change Do Not Accurately Reflect Functional Change Over Time in Clinical Practice
Authors: Schmitt John , Abbott J. Haxby
Published: January 2015

Study Design

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Objectives

To determine whether the global rating of change (GROC) is valid for assessing functional change over time in the clinical setting, and whether validity decreases as length of recall increases.

Background

The validity of GROC instruments for representing change over time has been questioned. Our previous study showed that GROC did not adequately represent functional change over time in patients with knee disorders. This was a validation study in patients with hip or ankle/foot disorders.

Methods

We obtained complete data from the Focus On Therapeutic Outcomes clinical database on episodes of care for 7341 patients with hip or ankle/foot disorders. Functional status (FS) was assessed at the intake and discharge physical therapy visits via computerized adaptive testing. Each patient's GROC was assessed at the discharge visit. We assessed the extent to which GROC was associated with intake, discharge, and change in FS using correlation and linear regression analyses, stratified by recall period and anatomical location.

Results

Correlations of GROC with hip and ankle FS change scores were modest for recall less than 30 days and deteriorated further as the recall period lengthened. Prediction of GROC from discharge and change in FS scores by linear regression modeling demonstrated a decline of standardized beta coefficients and R2 values as the recall period lengthened. Regression analyses indicated that GROC was biased toward discharge FS, with little or no influence of intake FS.

Conclusion

These results confirm that GROC does not adequately or consistently correlate with functional change across varying lengths of time, and is therefore not recommended as a substitute for change scores on valid functional outcome measures for use in routine clinical practice. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(2):106–111. Epub 8 Jan 2015. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5247
Reported Characteristics of Participants in Physical Therapy–Related Clinical Trials
Authors: Chevan Julia , Haskvitz Esther M.
Published: January 2015

Background

The inclusion of sociodemographic and anthropometric variables in published clinical trials enables physical therapists to determine the applicability of trial results to patients in their clinics.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the reporting of participant sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics in published physical therapy–related clinical trials.

Design

This was a retrospective review of clinical trials from 2 samples drawn from literature applicable to physical therapy.

Methods

Two reviewers independently extracted data from a random sample of 152 clinical trials from the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and a purposive sample of 85 clinical trials published in the journal Physical Therapy (PTJ). A database containing the occurrence of sociodemographic (age, sex, race/ethnicity, level of education, marital status) and anthropometric variables (height, weight, body mass index) in each article was created to generate descriptive statistics about both samples.

Results

Among the sociodemographic variables, at least 90% of articles reported the sex and age of trial participants. Additional sociodemographic characteristics that were reported in 20% to 26% of articles were participant level of education and participant race/ethnicity. The reporting of anthropometric data differed between the 2 samples, with body mass index being most commonly reported in the PEDro sample (48.0%) and weight being most commonly reported in the PTJ sample (38.8%).

Limitations

Articles reviewed were limited by year of publication (from 2008 to 2012 for PTJ articles and 2010 for clinical trials from PEDro) and to English-language–only literature.

Conclusions

The physical therapy literature would benefit from enhanced reporting requirements for both sociodemographic and anthropometric data about participants.
Management of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Clinical Guidance Statement From the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association
Authors: Avin Keith G. , Hanke Timothy A. , Kirk-Sanchez Neva , McDonough Christine M. , Shubert Tiffany E. , Hardage Jason , Hartley Greg
Published: January 2015

Background

Falls in older adults are a major public health concern due to high prevalence, impact on health outcomes and quality of life, and treatment costs. Physical therapists can play a major role in reducing fall risk for older adults; however, existing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) related to fall prevention and management are not targeted to physical therapists.

Objective

The purpose of this clinical guidance statement (CGS) is to provide recommendations to physical therapists to help improve outcomes in the identification and management of fall risk in community-dwelling older adults.

Design and Methods

The Subcommittee on Evidence-Based Documents of the Practice Committee of the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy developed this CGS. Existing CPGs were identified by systematic search and critically appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation in Europe II (AGREE II) tool. Through this process, 3 CPGs were recommended for inclusion in the CGS and were synthesized and summarized.

Results

Screening recommendations include asking all older adults in contact with a health care provider whether they have fallen in the previous year or have concerns about balance or walking. Follow-up should include screening for balance and mobility impairments. Older adults who screen positive should have a targeted multifactorial assessment and targeted intervention. The components of this assessment and intervention are reviewed in this CGS, and barriers and issues related to implementation are discussed.

Limitations

A gap analysis supports the need for the development of a physical therapy–specific CPG to provide more precise recommendations for screening and assessment measures, exercise parameters, and delivery models.

Conclusion

This CGS provides recommendations to assist physical therapists in the identification and management of fall risk in older community-dwelling adults.
EbolaTracks: an automated SMS system for monitoring persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease
Authors: Tracey L E , Regan A K , Armstrong P K , Dowse G K , Effler P V
Published: January 2015

We report development and implementation of a short message service (SMS)-based system to facilitate active monitoring of persons potentially exposed to Ebola virus disease (EVD), whether returning from EVD-affected countries, or contacts of local cases, should they occur. The system solicits information on symptoms and temperature twice daily. We demonstrated proof-of-concept; however this system would likely be even more useful where there are many local contacts to confirmed EVD cases or travellers from EVD-affected countries.
First secondary case of Ebola outside Africa: epidemiological characteristics and contact monitoring, Spain, September to November 2014
Authors: Lópaz M A , Amela C , Ordobas M , Domínguez-Berjón M F , Álvarez C , Martínez M , Sierra M J , Simon F , Jansá J M , Plachouras D , Astray J , Working group of Ebola outbreak investigation team of Madrid Collective
Published: January 2015

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Effects of Feedback in a Computer-Based Learning Environment on Students’ Learning Outcomes
Authors: Van der Kleij Fabienne M. , Feskens Remco C. W. , Eggen Theo J. H. M.
Published: January 2015

In this meta-analysis, we investigated the effects of methods for providing item-based feedback in a computer-based environment on students’ learning outcomes. From 40 studies, 70 effect sizes were computed, which ranged from −0.78 to 2.29. A mixed model was used for the data analysis. The results show that elaborated feedback (EF; e.g., providing an explanation) produced larger effect sizes (0.49) than feedback regarding the correctness of the answer (KR; 0.05) or providing the correct answer (KCR; 0.32). EF was particularly more effective than KR and KCR for higher order learning outcomes. Effect sizes were positively affected by EF feedback, and larger effect sizes were found for mathematics compared with social sciences, science, and languages. Effect sizes were negatively affected by delayed feedback timing and by primary and high school. Although the results suggested that immediate feedback was more effective for lower order learning than delayed feedback and vice versa, no significant interaction was found.
Teaching Biostatistics and Epidemiology in the Veterinary Curriculum: What Do Our Fellow Lecturers Expect?
Authors: Zeimet Ramona , Kreienbrock Lothar , Doherr Marcus G.
Published: January 2015

Given veterinary students' varying mathematical knowledge and interest in statistics, teaching statistical concepts to them is often seen as a challenge. Consequently, there is an ongoing debate among lecturers about the best time to introduce the material into the curriculum, and the best thematic content and conceptual approach to teaching in basic biostatistics classes. During a workshop meeting of epidemiology and biostatistics lecturers of Austrian, German, and Swiss veterinary schools, the question was raised as to whether the topics taught in epidemiology and statistics classes are of sufficient relevance to our lecturing colleagues in other fields of veterinary education (i.e., whether our colleagues have certain expectations as to what the students should know about biostatistics before taking their classes). In 2012, an online survey was compiled and carried out at all eight German-speaking veterinary schools to address this issue. There were 266 respondents out of approximately 800 contacted lecturers from all schools and disciplines. Almost 50% responded that the basic biostatistics class should be taught early on (in the second or third year), while only 26% indicated that basic epidemiology should commence before the third year of the veterinary curriculum. There were clear differences in perceived relevance of the 44 epidemiological and biostatistical topics presented in the survey, assessed on a Likert scale from 0 (no relevance) to 4 (very high relevance). The results provide important information about how to revise the content of epidemiology and biostatistics classes, and the approach could also be used for other courses within the veterinary curriculum with a natural science focus.