bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thymoma Metastasis to the Semimembranosus Muscle
Authors: Taniguchi Kenta , Susa Michiro , Ogata Sho , Ozeki Yuichi , Chiba Kazuhiro
Published: January 2017

Thymoma is the most common thymic epithelial tumor whose classification was first introduced in 1999. Type B2 thymoma is considered a moderate/high-risk tumor; however, extrathoracic metastases are extremely rare with limited reports to date. In this report, we present a rare thymoma metastasis to the semimembranosus muscle, which was resected with a wide margin after confirmation by open biopsy. At the final follow-up after 1 year, no local recurrence has been observed.
Differences in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes between Brand-Name and Generic Tacrolimus Used in Stable Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Kim Jong Man , Kwon Choon Hyuck David , Joh Jae-Won , Sinn Dong Hyun , Choi Gyu-Seong , Park Jae Berm , Kang Eun-Suk , Lee Suk-Koo
Published: January 2017

Objectives: In this study, peripheral blood lymphocytes were compared between a brand-name and a generic tacrolimus group in stable liver transplant recipients. Subjects and Methods: Sixteen patients who underwent ABO-compatible living donor liver transplants between 2012 and 2013 and had stable graft function were included in this study. Ten patients received brand-name tacrolimus and 6 patients received generic tacrolimus. CD3, CD4, CD8, γδ, CD4+FoxP3+, and CD3-CD56+ T cells were analyzed in peripheral blood obtained preoperatively and 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after liver transplantation. Categorical variables were compared using a χ2 test or Fisher exact test, and continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Regarding the baseline and perioperative characteristics, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. Immunosuppression also was not different. Subtype analysis of T-cell populations carried out in parallel showed similar levels of CD3, CD4, CD8, and γδT cells with brand-name tacrolimus and generic tacrolimus in stable liver transplant recipients. However, the levels of CD4+Foxp3+ and CD3-CD56+ T cells were higher in the brand-name tacrolimus group than in the generic tacrolimus group 8 weeks after transplantation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The level of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells was higher in the brand-name tacrolimus group than in the generic tacrolimus group after transplantation. This finding showed that brand-name tacrolimus could have more potential immunosuppressive activity than generic tacrolimus regarding the contribution of CD4+Foxp3+ T cells to graft tolerance in liver transplant recipients.
A revision of the genus Leptogorgia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 (Coelenterata: Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the eastern Pacific
Authors: BREEDY ODALISCA , GUZMAN HECTOR M.
Published: January 2017

The species of the widespread gorgoniid genus Leptogorgia, which occur along the eastern Pacific, are taxonomically revised based on original type material of all species described until now and reference specimens from recent surveys and expeditions along the Pacific coast of Panama, and Costa Rica. As a result, 21 species are recognized as valid and one as dubious. Lectotypes are assigned for eight species in order to establish their taxonomic status. All the species are described and illustrated. The fauna herein reported does not represent overall diversity or geographical range of each species but adds new reports. The present count is 16 species for Panama, 11 for Costa Rica, 7 for Mexico, 6 for El Salvador, 4 for Peru, 4 for Ecuador, 3 for Colombia, 2 for California, 2 for Nicaragua, and 2 for Chile.
A new species of taipan (Elapidae: Oxyuranus) from central Australia
Authors: DOUGHTY PAUL , MARYAN BRAD , DONNELLAN STEPHEN C. , HUTCHINSON MARK N.
Published: January 2017

Snakes in the Australo-Papuan elapid genus Oxyuranus are considered to be the most venomous species in the world. A recent expedition to the central ranges of Western Australia discovered a third species, which is described here from the only known specimen. Molecular genetic analyses using mitochondrial nucleotide sequences places the new species as the sister lineage of the two described Oxyuranus species, with all three species united by a long branch that also separates them from the nearest of the brown snakes species (Pseudonaja) to which the taipans are close relatives. Morphologically, the new species shares with the other Oxyuranus an undivided anal scale, high midbody scale row (21) and ventral scale (250) counts, but differs in having a single primary temporal scale and fewer lower labials (six). Maximum body size and venom potency are unknown. The discovery of a third species of taipan in the remote central ranges of Australia underlines the paucity of collecting from this region.
First record of the genus Eucremastus Szépligeti, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cremastinae) from the Arabian Peninsula, with the description of three new species
Authors: GADALLAH NEVEEN S. , SOLIMAN AHMED M. , DHAFER HATHAL M. AL
Published: January 2017

The genus Eucremastus Szépligeti, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cremastinae) is recorded for the first time for the Arabian Peninsula from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The present study is based on specimens collected from Al-Khararah, Rawdhat Al-Harmalyiah, Rawdhat Al-Sabalh, Rawdhat Farshet Sheaal and Wadi Ghaihab (Riyadh region, Central of Saudi Arabia). Three new species, E. arabicus Gadallah & Soliman, E. flavus Gadallah & Soliman and E. rufoantennalis Gadallah & Soliman are described and illustrated. An illustrated key to species is also provided.
Morphological characterisation of a new and two known species of Ditylenchus Filipjev, 1936 (Nematoda: Anguinidae) from Iran
Authors: KARANI HOSSEIN MIRBABAEI , ESKANDARI ALI , GHADERI REZA , HEYDARI RAMIN , MIRAEEZ ESMAEIL
Published: January 2017

Ditylenchus sturhani sp. n. from the rhizosphere of grasses in East Azarbaijan province, Northwestern Iran, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by a straight to slightly arcuate body 656-865 µm in length, presence of four incisures in each lateral field, slender stylet 10–12 µm in length, pharyngeal basal bulb offset or slightly overlapping the intestine, post-uterine sac 1.0–1.9 vulval body diameter long and conical tail with finely rounded terminus. Differences with closely related species including D. solani, D. ausafi, D. angustus, D. dipsaci, D. drepanocercus, D. obesus and D. gallaeformans are discussed. In addition, Iranian populations of two known species, D. valveus and D. virtudesae, are morphologically characterised.
The Concordance of Self-Reported and Officially Recorded Criminal Onset: Results From a Sample of Australian Prisoners
Authors: Payne Jason L. , Piquero Alex R.
Published: January 2017

This study examines the concordance of self-reported and officially recorded criminal onset among a sample of prisoners in Queensland, Australia. Classified into one of four developmental stages, Gwet’s Agreement Coefficient 1 (AC1) is used to examine the concordance of these two popular data sources. Analysis is conducted across seven offense types, and comparisons are made between Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders. Results indicate moderate agreement between self-reports and official records with greater concordance for violent and serious property offenses. With few exceptions, self-reported onset precedes officially recorded onset, and concordance was greater for Indigenous offenders. These findings have important methodological implications for criminological research, in particular, developmental and life-course theory, which emphasizes the theoretical importance of the timing and sequencing of criminal events.
On the Unlikely Case of an Error-Free Principal Component From a Set of Fallible Measures
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Marcoulides George A. , Li Tenglong
Published: January 2017

This note extends the results in the 2016 article by Raykov, Marcoulides, and Li to the case of correlated errors in a set of observed measures subjected to principal component analysis. It is shown that when at least two measures are fallible, the probability is zero for any principal component—and in particular for the first principal component—to be error-free. In conjunction with the findings in Raykov et al., it is concluded that in practice no principal component can be perfectly reliable for a set of observed variables that are not all free of measurement error, whether or not their error terms correlate, and hence no principal component can practically be error-free.
Community participation for rural poverty alleviation: A case of the Iban community in Malaysia
Authors: Hoe Kwok Chin , Abd Wahab Haris , Bakar Siti Hajar Abu , Islam M Rezaul
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to uncover the influential factors of community participation in a rural poverty alleviation programme in Malaysia. A quantitative approach was used, and data were collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire from 260 respondents of the Iban community in Malaysia. The study considered 22 influential factors (18 as independent variables and 4 as dependent variables) to measure the level of community participation in decision-making, implementation, benefits sharing and evaluation. The study explored how these influential factors interacted with participation in a rural poverty alleviation programme. The results found a diversity of interacting factors within the forms of participation at the implementation level. The article contributes a dynamic and multi-dimensional understanding of how influential factors shape community participation processes. The findings are an important indicator to policy-makers and development practitioners.
Novice Teachers’ Experiences in High-Poverty Schools: An Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Bettini Elizabeth , Park Yujeong
Published: January 2017

Retaining teachers in high-poverty schools is essential for ensuring students who live in poverty have equitable educational opportunities. Understanding novices’ experiences can help school leaders improve novices’ retention in high-poverty schools throughout their careers. This integrative review of studies investigates novices’ experiences teaching in high-poverty schools. We identified common themes in extant studies, as well as several important areas of research that are, to date, under-studied; most notably, more research is needed to explore differences in novices’ experiences of their working conditions in high- versus low-poverty schools, and the implications of those differences for teacher development and retention.
Law According to the Chinese Communist Party: Constitutionalism and Socialist Rule of Law
Authors: Xiaodong Ding
Published: January 2017

This article argues that the Chinese Communist Party has adopted a unique understanding of law. Unlike the liberal view and the unwritten constitution view, which generally consider law as positive norms that exist independently of politics, the party understands law as a reflection of the party’s and the people’s will and a form of the party’s and the people’s self-discipline. In the party’s view, liberal rule of law theories are self-contradictory, illusive, and meaningless. This article argues that the party views the people as a political concept and itself as a political leading party, marking a fundamental difference from a competitive party in a parliamentary system. The legitimacy of the party’s dominant role and the party-state regime, therefore, depends on whether the party can continue to provide political momentum to lead the people and represent them in the future.
Application of Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich models to estimate methane sorption capacity on two shale samples from the Upper Triassic Chang 7 Member in the southeastern Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Chen Lei , Jiang Zhenxue , Liu Keyu , Ji Wenming , Wang Pengfei , Gao Fenglin , Hu Tao
Published: January 2017

A series of methane sorption isotherms were measured at 303 K, 313 K, 323 K, 333 K, and 343 K at pressures up to 12.0 MPa for two shale samples from the Upper Triassic Chang 7 Member in the southeastern Ordos Basin with total organic carbon content values of 5.15% and 4.76%, respectively. Both the Langmuir- and Dubinin–Radushkevich-based excess sorption models were found to well represent the excess sorption isotherms within the experimental pressure range. The maxima of absolute methane sorption capacity fitted by both models are not significantly different. In the current study, the effects of temperature and pressure on methane sorption capacity support the findings that under isothermal condition, methane sorption capacity of organic shale goes up with increasing pressure and under isobaric condition, while it goes down with increasing temperature. Good negative linear relationships between temperature and maximum sorption capacity exist both in the Langmuir and the Dubinin–Radushkevich models. In addition, a good positive linear relation exists between the reciprocal of temperature and the natural logarithm of Langmuir pressure, which indicate that temperature and pressure are really important for methane sorption capacity. The extended Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich models have been improved to calculate the methane sorption capacity of shales, which can be described as a function of temperature and pressure. By means of using the two estimation algorithms established in this study, we may draw the conclusion methane sorption capacity can be obtained as a function of depth under geological reservoir. Due to the dominant effect of pressure, methane sorption capacity increases with depth initially, till it reaches a maximum value, and then decrease as a result of the influence of increasing temperature at a greater depth. Approximately, the maximum sorption capacity ranges from 400 m to 800 m.
A Multilevel Multiset Time-Series Model for Describing Complex Developmental Processes
Authors: Ma Xin , Shen Jianping
Published: January 2017

The authors sought to develop an analytical platform where multiple sets of time series can be examined simultaneously. This multivariate platform capable of testing interaction effects among multiple sets of time series can be very useful in empirical research. The authors demonstrated that the multilevel framework can readily accommodate this analytical capacity. Given their intention to use the multilevel multiset time-series model to pursue complicated research purposes, their resulting model is relatively simple to specify, to run, and to interpret. These advantages make the adoption of their model relatively effortless as long as researchers have the basic knowledge and skills in working with multilevel growth modeling. With multiple potential extensions of their model, the establishment of this analytical platform for analysis of multiple sets of time series can inspire researchers to pursue far more advanced research designs to address complex developmental processes in reality.
A farmhouse son-in-law and radiation
Authors: Endo S.
Published: January 2017

The residents of Suetsugi in Fukushima Prefecture measured ambient dose rates and radiocaesium concentrations in the soil after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in an attempt to maintain living conditions in the region. The measurements were colour plotted into maps to visualise the contamination. Through the receipt of external support, a number of radioactivity-related initiatives were implemented for the residents. Studies were also undertaken regarding the impact of radiocaesium contamination on rice farming in Suetsugi following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Cognitive development through schooling and everyday life
Authors: Brouwers Symen A. , Vijver Fons J. R. van de , Mishra Ramesh C.
Published: January 2017

The influences of schooling and everyday experiences on cognitive development are typically confounded. In the present study, we unraveled the influence of chronological age and years of schooling on the development of general cognitive competency in a two-wave longitudinal design with a three-year interval among 181 Kharwar children in India, aged 6 to 12 years. Effects of chronological age and years of schooling on cognitive development could be estimated independently because of their weak correlation among the Kharwar and because of the many shared background characteristics of school drop-outs, children without schooling, and children with schooling. The same five cognitive measures, each with parallel school and everyday testing modes, were administered to all children on both occasions. The internal structures of both the school and the everyday tests were equivalent across time and to each other. In line with our expectations, analyses of the net development per year revealed a decrement of the effect of chronological age, which was stronger for everyday tests than school tests, and an increment of the effect of years of schooling, which was stronger for school tests than everyday tests. Schooling ought to be considered in all theories of cognitive development, with genuine attention toward the real cognitive advantages it has at each developmental level.
Feature engineering for detecting spammers on Twitter: Modelling and analysis
Authors: Herzallah Wafa , Faris Hossam , Adwan Omar
Published: January 2017

Twitter is a social networking website that has gained a lot of popularity around the world in the last decade. This popularity made Twitter a common target for spammers and malicious users to spread unwanted advertisements, viruses and phishing attacks. In this article, we review the latest research works to determine the most effective features that were investigated for spam detection in the literature. These features are collected to build a comprehensive data set that can be used to develop more robust and accurate spammer detection models. The new data set is tested using popular classifiers (Naive Bayes, support vector machines, multilayer perceptron neural networks, Decision Trees, Random forests and k-Nearest Neighbour). The prediction performance of these classifiers is evaluated and compared based on different evaluation metrics. Moreover, a further analysis is carried out to identify the features that have higher impact on the accuracy of spam detection. Three different techniques are used and compared for this analysis: change of mean square error (CoM), information gain (IG) and Relief-F method. Top five features identified by each technique are used again to build the detection models. Experimental results show that most of the developed classifiers obtained high evaluation results based on the comprehensive data set constructed in this work. Experiments also reveal the important role of some features like the reputation of the account, average length of the tweet, average mention per tweet, age of the account, and the average time between posts in the process of identifying spammers in the social network.
New Game, Old Rules? Mechanisms and Consequences of Legitimation in Boundary Spanning Activities
Authors: Kislov Roman , Hyde Paula , McDonald Ruth
Published: January 2017

Despite the increasing deployment of formalized boundary spanning roles and practices, the mechanisms and dynamics of their legitimation remain under-explored. Using the Bourdieusian lens, we theorize legitimation of boundary spanning as accumulation, mobilization and conversion of several forms of capital unfolding in a configuration of intersecting fields. Drawing on a qualitative longitudinal case study of a collaborative partnership between a university and healthcare organizations, we describe changes in the structure, sources and mutual convertibility of capital assets over time. We also analyse the implications of this evolution for the relationships between the intersecting fields and the social trajectory of boundary spanners. We argue that legitimation of boundary spanning roles and practices is a highly transformative, collective and political process that increases the capital endowments and authority of individual boundary spanning agents but may lead to the erosion of the very same roles and practices that were being legitimized.
From digital positivism and administrative big data analytics towards critical digital and social media research!
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: January 2017

This essay argues for a paradigm shift in the study of the Internet and digital/social media. Big data analytics is the dominant paradigm. It receives large amounts of funding, is administrative and a form of digital positivism. Critical social media research is an alternative approach that combines critical social media theory, critical digital methods and critical-realist social media research ethics. Strengthening the second approach is a material question of power in academia.
L1 English / L2 Spanish: Orthography–phonology activation without contrasts
Authors: Shea Christine
Published: January 2017

We consider how orthography activates sounds that are in a noncontrastive relationship in the second language (L2) and for which only one variant exists in the first language (L1). Participants were L1 English / L2 Spanish and native Spanish listeners. Intervocalically, Spanish graphemes ‘b d g’ correspond phonetically to stops and approximants (e.g. lobo ‘wolf’, lo[β]o), and in English they correspond only to stops. In Experiment 1, native and L2 Spanish listeners completed cross-modal (written–auditory) and within modal (auditory) priming tasks. Prime-target pairs were counterbalanced for phonetic variant. The results for L2 listeners in the cross-modal condition showed a significant interaction between variant and mode. Experiment 2 used long-term repetition priming to tap into longer-term representations and test whether L1 orthography is activated even when it is not strictly necessary to complete the task. Results for L2 speakers showed priming by both phonetic variants while for native listeners, only approximants showed a priming effect.
Hilbert maps: Scalable continuous occupancy mapping with stochastic gradient descent
Authors: Ramos Fabio , Ott Lionel
Published: January 2017

The vast amount of data robots can capture today motivates the development of fast and scalable statistical tools to model the space the robot operates in. We devise a new technique for environment representation through continuous occupancy mapping that improves on the popular occupancy grip maps in two fundamental aspects: (1) it does not assume an a priori discrimination of the world into grid cells and therefore can provide maps at an arbitrary resolution; (2) it captures spatial relationships between measurements naturally, thus being more robust to outliers and possessing better generalization performance. The technique, named Hilbert maps, is based on the computation of fast kernel approximations that project the data in a Hilbert space where a logistic regression classifier is learnt. We show that this approach allows for efficient stochastic gradient optimization where each measurement is only processed once during learning in an online manner. We present results with three types of approximations: random Fourier; Nyström; and a novel sparse projection. We also extend the approach to accept probability distributions as inputs, for example, due to uncertainty over the position of laser scans due to sensor or localization errors. In this extended version, experiments were conducted in two dimensions and three dimensions, using popular benchmark datasets. Furthermore, an analysis of the adaptive capabilities of the technique to handle large changes in the data, such as trajectory update before and after loop closure during simultaneous localization and mapping, is also included.
Avoidance of Soccer Injuries with Preseason Conditioning
Authors: Heidt Robert S. , Sweeterman Lisa M. , Carlonas Richelle L. , Traub Jeff A. , Tekulve Francis X.
Published: January 2017

The effect of a preseason conditioning program was studied to evaluate its influence on the occurrence and severity of soccer injuries. Three hundred female soccer players (ages 14 to 18 years) were studied over a 1-year period. Forty-two of these players participated in a 7-week training program before the start of the season. The type, mechanism, and severity of the injury, when the injury occurred, the number of games or practices missed, and type of shoe worn were recorded. All injuries occurred in the lower extremities, with 61.2% occurring at the knee and ankle. Student's t-test evaluations revealed that the trained group experienced a significantly lower incidence of injury than the untrained group (P 0.0085). Although not statistically significant, the trained group also had a lower percentage (2.4%) of anterior cruciate ligament injuries compared with the untrained group (3.1%). These results suggest that this type of conditioning has a significant influence on lowering the incidence of injury in female adolescent soccer players.
Chronic Calf Pain in Athletes Due to Sural Nerve Entrapment
Authors: Fabre Thierry , Montero Claude , Gaujard Eric , Gervais-Dellion Fabienne , Durandeau Alain
Published: January 2017

We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 13 athletes (18 limbs) who had sural nerve entrapment localized in the passage of the nerve through the superficial sural aponeurosis. There were 11 men and 2 women (average age, 43 years; range, 31 to 59). All patients reported chronic calf pain that was exacerbated during physical exertion. Delay to diagnosis averaged 9 months (range, 5 to 24). Tenderness in the calf was identified along the course of the sural nerve in all cases. In 10 patients (15 limbs) electrodiagnostic testing before surgery was positive. After failure of nonoperative treatment, surgery was conducted under local anesthesia. Neurolysis was performed by incising the superficial sural aponeurosis and the fibrous band in it through which the nerve passes. The results of the operation were evaluated in terms of residual symptoms, ability to return to the former sport, and degree of patient satisfaction. A final follow-up examination was performed an average of 14 months (range, 6 to 30) after the operation. The final result was excellent in 9 limbs (2 bilateral), good in 8 limbs (2 bilateral), and fair in 1 case. The differential diagnosis of sural nerve entrapment in athletes is discussed. Increase in sural muscle mass or development of local fibrous scar tissue compromised the sural nerve in its course through the unyielding and inextensible superficial sural aponeurosis.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Lateral Meniscal Cysts Using an Outside-In Technique
Authors: Tudisco Cosimo , Meo Antonio , Blasucci Carlo , Ippolito Ernesto
Published: January 2017

This paper describes 19 cases of lateral meniscal cysts treated arthroscopically using an outside-in technique. In all patients, a horizontal or radial lesion (or both) of the meniscus was present. After the meniscal lesion was arthroscopically removed, the cyst was decompressed both from inside and percutaneously from outside with a motorized instrument introduced through a transmeniscal approach. The follow-up ranged from 2 to 5 years with an average of 3.3 years. On the basis of the evaluation scale developed by Cerullo et al. (1991), the results were rated excellent or good in 17 patients and fair in 2. No patient had cyst recurrence. The computed tomography follow-up examination, done in 10 of the 19 patients after an average of 3 years, showed a good remodeling of the meniscus. One of the two patients with a fair result had hypermobility of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus due to the resection of the meniscal tissue overlying the popliteus tendon, whereas the other had pain and patellar crepitation owing to a preexisting patellofemoral abnormality.
Open Versus Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises for Patellofemoral Pain
Authors: Witvrouw Erik , Lysens Roeland , Bellemans Johan , Peers Koen , Vanderstraeten Guy
Published: January 2017

The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of open versus closed kinetic chain exercises in the nonoperative management of patellofemoral pain. Sixty patients were randomized into a 5-week program that consisted of only closed kinetic chain exercises or only open kinetic chain exercises. Muscle characteristics, subjective symptoms, and functional performance were evaluated in this study at the time of the initial physical examination, at the end of the treatment period, and 3 months later. Both groups experienced a statistically significant decrease in pain and an increase in functional performance. This study shows that both open and closed kinetic chain exercise programs lead to an improved subjective and clinical outcome in patients with anterior knee pain. The few significantly better functional results for some of the tested parameters in the closed kinetic chain group suggest that this type of treatment is a little more effective than the open kinetic chain program in the treatment of these patients.
The Influence of Reverse-Thread Screw Femoral Fixation on Laxity Measurements After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Tendon
Authors: Musgrove Tim P. , Salmon Lucy J. , Burt Charles F. , Pinczewski Leo A.
Published: January 2017

In arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendon graft, the graft rotates slightly as the femoral screw is inserted. Its final position tends to be in the anterior half of the tunnel in right knees, resulting in clinical laxity. To perform identical procedures on left and right knees, a reverse-thread screw was designed for femoral fixation in right knees. We prospectively studied 80 patients undergoing right-knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft. Thirty-six patients underwent reconstruction with a standard screw and 44 underwent reconstruction with a reverse-thread screw. The same technique, performed by the same surgeon, was used on all patients. At 12 months' follow-up, the average side-to-side differences on arthrometry testing were 2.00 mm for the standard screw group and 0.95 mm for the reverse-thread screw group using a manual maximum test, and 1.66 mm and 1.00 mm, respectively, using the 20-pound test. Both differences were statistically significant. Of the standard group, 23% had a manual maximum difference of 3 mm or more, compared with 8% of the reverse-thread group. A significant difference was found between these two groups for Lachman test (77% with grade 0 for the standard group compared with 92% for the reverse group) but pivot shift and Lysholm knee score were not significantly different. The use of a reverse-thread screw for femoral fixation in right-knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions in men significantly decreased laxity at 12 months after surgery compared with standard screw fixation.
The Effect of Monopolar Radiofrequency Treatment Pattern on Joint Capsular Healing
Authors: Yan Lu  , Hayashi Kei , Edwards Ryland B. , Fanton Gary S. , Thabit George , Markel Mark D.
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare joint capsular healing after two delivery patterns of monopolar radiofrequency energy: 1) uniform treatment of the joint capsule (paintbrush pattern) and 2) multiple single linear passes (grid pattern). First, an in vitro study was performed to compare the percent shrinkage of these two treatment patterns using the femoropatellar joints (stifles) of six sheep. Monopolar radiofrequency energy (settings, 70°C/15W) was applied to the lateral joint capsule; the treated area was approximately 10 10 mm. There was no significant difference in shrinkage between the grid (27% 8.7%) and paintbrush (29% 7.9%) patterns. In the in vivo study, stifles of 24 sheep were randomly assigned to the paintbrush or the grid pattern groups and treatment was performed arthroscopically. Sheep were sacrificed immediately after surgery, or at 2, 6, or 12 weeks after surgery. At 6 weeks after surgery, confocal microscopy demonstrated that treated areas had almost completely repaired in the grid group; some nonviable areas were still present in the paintbrush group. Mechanical testing at 6 weeks indicated that joint capsule in the grid group had better mechanical properties than capsule in the paintbrush group. This study revealed that radiofrequency treatment of joint capsule in a grid pattern allowed faster healing than tissue treated in a paintbrush pattern.
Suspensory Versus Aperture Fixation of a Quadrupled Hamstring Tendon Autograft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Browning William M. , Kluczynski Melissa A. , Curatolo Christian , Marzo John M.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Hamstring grafts have become a popular choice for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction; however, the most effective means of fixation of these soft tissue grafts is unknown.

Purpose:

To determine whether suspensory or aperture fixation of hamstring tendon autografts provides better stability and clinical outcomes in ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Meta-analysis.

Methods:

A literature search of studies reporting single-bundle ACL reconstructions using 4-stranded hamstring tendon autografts with aperture or suspensory fixation with a minimum 24-month follow-up was conducted. Stability and clinical outcomes were compared for aperture versus suspensory fixation. Knee stability was measured with the Lachman or pivot-shift test or KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference (SSD), and outcomes were determined with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner, and Lysholm scores as well as graft failures. A random-effects model with a pooled estimate for the between-study variance was used to estimate proportions or means for each outcome and its corresponding 95% CI.

Results:

Forty-one studies were included, of which 20 utilized suspensory fixation techniques and 21 utilized aperture fixation techniques. A >3-mm SSD was seen more often in the aperture group than the suspensory group, which was statistically significant ( P < .0001), but there was no significant difference between groups for a >5-mm SSD ( P = .53). The aperture group demonstrated significantly more graft ruptures than did the suspensory group ( P = .03). There were no statistically significant differences in Lachman grade 0 ( P = .76), grade 1 ( P = .89), and grade 2 ( P = .55) or pivot-shift grade 0 ( P = .72), grade 1 ( P = .97), and grade 2 ( P = .28). There was no statistically significant difference in mean continuous IKDC ( P = .80), Tegner ( P = .34), or Lysholm ( P = .84) scores.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis demonstrated improved overall arthrometric stability and fewer graft ruptures using suspensory fixation compared with aperture fixation of a quadrupled hamstring tendon autograft in ACL reconstruction. There were no differences in IKDC, Lysholm, Lachman, and pivot-shift outcomes between suspensory and aperture fixation.
Active Interest Mentorship for Soon-to-Retire People: A Self-Sustaining Retirement Preparation Program
Authors: Ng Siu-man , Leng Lingli , Wang Qi
Published: January 2017

Retirement is a major life transition that often leads to maladjustments and mental health hazards. In this study, we developed an innovative retirement preparation program, the Active Interest Mentorship Scheme (AIMS), which utilized active interest development as a positive entry point through which to engage soon-to-retire people. Each retiree received a 1-year mentorship 6 months before retirement. Adopting a quasi-experimental design, the study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the AIMS in protecting retirees’ well-being. The well-being status of 161 retirees was assessed at 4-month intervals. Measures included self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Serial trend analysis revealed a general improvement in well-being at 4 months after mentorship, followed by a mark reversion in some variables at 2 months after retirement. Upon completion of the program, participants generally returned to a level of well-being that was comparable with or better than preretirement levels. The first 2 months after retirement appeared to be the most distressing. The findings support the efficacy, as well as feasibility of the innovative retirement preparation program.
Factors and Characteristics of Workplace Violence Against Nurses: A Study in Iran
Authors: Dehghan-Chaloshtari Sahar , Ghodousi Arash
Published: January 2017

Violence against nurses is a serious problem that can affect negatively the quality of nursing care. The extent of violence against nurses in Iran and the factors leading to this violence have not been known. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate all forms of violence against nurses in Shahrekord hospitals in 2014. In this 2014 study, 100 nurses working in Shahrekord’s Hajar, Kashani, and Social Security branch hospitals were studied. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires on workplace violence, as well as demographic data, in health units on five types of violence, including physical and verbal violence, intimidation and bullying, ethnic violence, and violation of chastity. The analysis was done by SPSS (Version 19) software. All nurses indicated that during some period of their work, they had been subjected to at least one type of violence; the highest prevalence of mental violence was belonged to the subtype of intimidation and bullying (91%). The primary agents of violence against nurses were patients and their relatives. Factors such as gender, age, work experience, and nursing shifts played important roles in the distribution of violence. In ethnic violence, the only factor affecting nurses was race ( p < .05). The highest rate of violence against nurses was due to mental or psychological violence. To minimize violence in hospitals, authorities should consider appropriate preventive strategies, good management, proper protective measures, and public education.
Juggling Logics on the Egyptian–Israeli Borderland: Soldiers between Securitization and Arbitrary Humanitarianism
Authors: Ben-Ze’ev Efrat , Gazit Nir
Published: January 2017

The following article investigates two interconnected border logics—securitization and humanitarianism—as they unfold as part of soldiers’ border experiences. We wish to show the alternating implementation of these two logics and to elaborate on how are they bound together. Our ethnographic fieldwork was conducted between 2012 and 2014 along a section of the Israeli–Egyptian border, consisting of observations, as well as off-site interviews with soldiers who were stationed along this border, and analysis of media reports and court affidavits. Dedicating special attention to the interactions between soldiers and irregular migrants, we argue that the ambiguities experienced by the soldiers at the ground level result in what we call “arbitrary humanitarianism.”
Synthesis and properties of novel copolymers of poly(ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether sulfone ether ketone ketone) containing 1,4-naphthylene moieties
Authors: Liu Limin , Wang Guixia , Yan Tao , Cai Mingzhong
Published: January 2017

A new monomer containing naphthalene and sulfone groups, 4,4′-bis(1-naphthoxy)diphenylsulfone (BNODPS), was easily prepared by the condensation reaction of 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone with 1-naphthol in the presence of base in dimethyl sulfoxide. Novel copolymers of poly(ether ketone ketone) and poly(ether sulfone ether ketone ketone) containing 1,4-naphthylene moieties were synthesized by the electrophilic Friedel–Crafts acylation copolycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride with a mixture of diphenyl ether (DPE) and BNODPS, over a wide range of DPE/BNODPS molar ratios, in the presence of anhydrous AlCl3 and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in 1,2-dichloroethane. The polymers obtained were characterized by different physicochemical techniques. The copolymers with 5–25 mol% BNODPS are semicrystalline and had remarkably increased Tgs and decreased Tms over the wholly para-linked poly(ether ketone ketone) due to the incorporation of bulky and rigid 1,4-naphthylene moieties and flexible sulfone linkages in the main chains. The copolymer VI with 25 mol% BNODPS had not only high Tg of 185°C but also moderate Tm of 335°C, having good potential for melt processing. The copolymer VI had tensile strength of 102.2 MPa, Young’s modulus of 2.78 GPa, and elongation at break of 15.9% and exhibited high thermal stability and good resistance to organic solvents.
Vibration analysis of a rotating variable thickness bladed disk for aircraft gas turbine engine using generalized differential quadrature method
Authors: Shahriari B , Jalali Mohammadhadi , Karamooz Ravari MR
Published: January 2017

In this paper, free vibration analysis of rotating variable thickness annular bladed disk suitable to be used in aircraft gas turbine engine is investigated. The numerical generalized differential quadrature method is introduced in this paper as a fast and efficient numerical method to be used for vibration analysis of bladed disks of real gas turbine engines. The boundary conditions are supposed to be similar to those of the real bladed disk used in the aircraft engines i.e. clamped for the inner edge and free for the outer edge. Considering the thickness of the disk to vary as a power function and the blades of the bladed disk to be rigid, the numerical solution is performed and the effects of thickness variation, geometric parameters, angular velocity, and number of blades on the natural frequencies and critical speeds are investigated. The obtained numerical results are compared with those reported in the literature indicating a good agreement.
Human trace on the landscape during the Holocene at El Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain): The palynological evidence
Authors: Expósito Isabel , Burjachs Francesc , Vergès Josep M
Published: January 2017

The archaeological research focusing on El Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) has revealed a succession of occupation levels in a dung layers context that span from the early Neolithic to the middle Bronze Age. The robustness and coherence of the chronological dates of the sequence have contributed to framing the beginning of farming practices on the northern Plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. This study focuses on the palynological analysis of the sedimentary sequence, spanning from ca. 7970–7770 to ca. 3390–3070 cal. yr BP. The results have allowed us to identify a landscape of mixed forest with evergreen and deciduous oaks and pinewood. Despite the discontinuities in such sediments, some fluctuations between different categories of anthropogenic taxa can be observed throughout the sequence, illustrating greater or lesser pressure from livestock or agriculture. From the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, we documented a reduction in the tree cover because of increased human pressure typical of the Neolithisation process, while the relationship between environment and society changes.
High sensitivity of North Iceland (Tröllaskagi) debris-free glaciers to climatic change from the ‘Little Ice Age’ to the present
Authors: Fernández-Fernández José María , Andrés Nuria , Sæmundsson Þorsteinn , Brynjólfsson Skafti , Palacios David
Published: January 2017

The Tröllaskagi peninsula is located in northern Iceland, between meridian 19°30′W and 18°10′W, jutting out into the North Atlantic to latitude 66°12′N. The aim of this research is to study recent glacier changes in relation to climatic evolution of the Gljúfurárjökull and Tungnahryggsjökull debris-free valley glaciers in Tröllaskagi. Glacier extent mapping and spatial analysis operations were performed with ArcGIS (ESRI), using analysis of aerial photographs from 1946, 1985, 1994 and 2000, and a 2005 SPOT satellite image. The results show that these glaciers lost a quarter of their surface area between the ‘Little Ice Age’ and 2005. In this paper, the term ‘Little Ice Age’ follows Grove (2001) as the most recent period when glaciers extended globally between the medieval period and the early 20th century. The abrupt climatic transition of the early 20th century and the 25-year warm period 1925–1950 triggered the main retreat and volume loss of these glaciers since the end of the ‘Little Ice Age’. Meanwhile, cooling during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s altered the trend, with advances of the glacier snouts. Between the ‘Little Ice Age’ and the present day, the mean annual air temperature and mean ablation season air temperature increased by 1.9°C and 1.5°C, respectively, leading to a 40–50 m rise in the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of the glaciers during this period. The response of these glaciers depends not only on the mean ablation season air temperature evolution but also on other factors such as winter precipitation. The models applied show a precipitation increase of up to more than 700 mm since the ‘Little Ice Age’.
Relative sea-level trends in New York City during the past 1500 years
Authors: Kemp Andrew C , Hill Troy D , Vane Christopher H , Cahill Niamh , Orton Philip M , Talke Stefan A , Parnell Andrew C , Sanborn Kelsey , Hartig Ellen K
Published: January 2017

New York City (NYC) is threatened by 21st-century relative sea-level (RSL) rise because it will experience a trend that exceeds the global mean and has high concentrations of low-lying infrastructure and socioeconomic activity. To provide a long-term context for anticipated trends, we reconstructed RSL change during the past ~1500 years using a core of salt-marsh sediment from Pelham Bay in The Bronx. Foraminifera and bulk-sediment δ13C values were used as sea-level indicators. The history of sediment accumulation was established by radiocarbon dating and recognition of pollution and land-use trends of known age in down-core elemental, isotopic, and pollen profiles. The reconstruction was generated within a Bayesian hierarchical model to accommodate multiple proxies and to provide a unified statistical framework for quantifying uncertainty. We show that RSL in NYC rose by ~1.70 m since ~575 CE (including ~0.38 m since 1850 CE). The rate of RSL rise increased markedly at 1812–1913 CE from ~1.0 to ~2.5 mm/yr, which coincides with other reconstructions along the US Atlantic coast. We investigated the possible influence of tidal-range change in Long Island Sound on our reconstruction using a regional tidal model, and we demonstrate that this effect was likely small. However, future tidal-range change could exacerbate the impacts of RSL rise in communities bordering Long Island Sound. The current rate of RSL rise is the fastest that NYC has experienced for >1500 years, and its ongoing acceleration suggests that projections of 21st-century local RSL rise will be realized.
Correlation between toxic organochlorine pesticides and breast cancer
Authors: Eldakroory SA , Morsi DA El , Abdel-Rahman RH , Roshdy S , Gouida MS , Khashaba EO
Published: January 2017

Organochlorines (OCs) are common environmental pollutants that have been linked to cancer. This work aims to assess the role of OCs as a risk factor for breast cancer and to evaluate the cellular changes induced by exposure to such environmental contaminants. The study included 70 cancer patients subjected to thorough history taking and routine investigations. Samples from tumor and normal adjacent tissue were taken to measure OCs’ levels and to perform molecular analysis (some oncogenic and apoptotic markers) by flow cytometry. There were significantly higher concentrations of methoxychlor, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), hexa-chlorobenzene (HCB), and chlordane in tumor tissue samples compared to the surrounding normal tissue. There was a positive statistically significant correlation between G2m and dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane, DDT, and methoxychlor. There was also a negative correlation between propidium iodide (PI) and heptachlor as well as between PI, B-cell lymphoma 2, and methoxychlor. Annexin showed a negative correlation with HCB and methoxychlor. In conclusion, the higher level of organochlorine pesticides in the tissue specimens of breast cancer and the resultant molecular dysfunction highlight a possible association. Further research is warranted to elucidate the other possible mechanisms involved in the process of carcinogenesis.