bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cannabis culture: A stable subculture in a changing world
Authors: Sandberg Sveinung
Published: May 2012

In criminological and sociological studies of illegal drugs, the thesis of normalization suggests that when a drug goes from being a marginal to a widespread phenomenon, theoretical and methodological approaches that rely on subculture theory fall short. This article argues that normalization theory fails to recognize the existence of a distinct cannabis culture because it has a traditional understanding of subcultures as ‘groups of people’. The article suggests that a definition of subculture as a collection of rituals, stories and symbols is better for understanding contemporary subcultures and especially the cultural aspects of cannabis use. The conclusion is that although many use cannabis, it still signals opposition and cultural difference. A subcultural theoretical framework is thus crucial to understand illegal drug use. The study is based on qualitative interviews with 100 cannabis users in Norway.
The linguistics of self-branding and micro-celebrity in Twitter: The role of hashtags
Authors: Page Ruth
Published: May 2012

Twitter is a linguistic marketplace (Bourdieu, 1977) in which the processes of self-branding and micro-celebrity (Marwick, 2010) depend on visibility as a means of increasing social and economic gain. Hashtags are a potent resource within this system for promoting the visibility of a Twitter update (and, by implication, the update’s author). This study analyses the frequency, types and grammatical context of hashtags which occurred in a dataset of approximately 92,000 tweets, taken from 100 publically available Twitter accounts, comparing the discourse styles of corporations, celebrity practitioners and ‘ordinary’ Twitter members. The results suggest that practices of self-branding and micro-celebrity operate on a continuum which reflects and reinforces the social and economic hierarchies which exist in offline contexts. Despite claims that hashtags are ‘conversational’, this study suggests that participatory culture in Twitter is not evenly distributed, and that the discourse of celebrity practitioners and corporations exhibits the synthetic personalization (Fairclough, 1989) typical of mainstream media forms of broadcast talk.
Humor in the workplace: A regulating and coping mechanism in socialization
Authors: Mak Bernie Chun Nam , Liu Yiqi , Deneen Christopher Charles
Published: May 2012

Professionals transitioning into a workplace face the challenge of socializing into their new working communities. One important factor in this process is humor (Plester and Sayers, 2007). We present a case study of how a newcomer transitioning towards integral status interacts with the use of humor in her new workplace. Using the Communities of Practice framework (Wenger, 1998), we examine workplace discourse collected from a new recruit, Emma, and her colleagues in a Hong Kong firm. The analysis portrays a picture of how humor is a critical element as Emma negotiates relationships with other colleagues and works towards her assigned tasks. Findings suggest that humor can be an indicator to newcomers of appropriate or inappropriate behavior. Humor can be used for newcomers’ integration into the workplace; humor can be used by integral members to mold newcomers into the normative ways of doing things. We argue that humor may be used as a regulating and coping mechanism in workplace socialization.
Changes in the carpal tunnel while wearing the Manu® soft hand brace: a sonographic study
Authors: Manente G. , Melchionda D. , Staniscia T. , D’Archivio C. , Mazzone V. , Macarini L.
Published: May 2012

We studied the effect of the Manu® soft hand brace, which has been designed to relieve median nerve entrapment in carpal tunnel syndrome. An observational, controlled study was conducted in 10 participants, five with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and five controls, using sonography to study changes in the dimensions of the carpal tunnel before and while wearing the brace. An increase in transverse diameter, thinning of the flexor retinaculum, and displacement of the proximal insertion of the lumbrical muscle to the middle finger from the edge of the carpal tunnel were observed in patients while wearing the brace. The changes in the morphology of the carpal tunnel while wearing the Manu® support its use as an alternative to a night wrist splint.
Management of spermatic cord tumors: a rare urologic malignancy
Authors: Rodríguez Dayron , Olumi Aria F.
Published: May 2012

Primary spermatic cord tumors are rare yet clinically significant urologic lesions that affect patients of all ages. They are the most common tumors of the paratesticular region and generally present as asymptomatic, slow growing, firm, palpable paratesticular masses. Although most of them are benign comprised primarily of lipomas, approximately 25% are potentially life-threatening malignant tumors. The most common reported malignant histological types include liposarcomas, leiomyosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and fibrosarcomas. Management of these malignant tumors has been difficult because of their rarity, therefore there is little consensus regarding optimal surgical and adjunctive treatment strategies. It is recommended that radiological techniques such as scrotal ultrasound (US), computed tomography, and magnetic resonance be used to evaluate these masses before surgery. The curative treatment of choice is radical orchiectomy with high cord ligation and wide excision of surrounding soft tissue structures within the inguinal canal. Patients with inadequately resected disease should undergo a reoperative procedure for wide inguinal re-resection. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is recommended when there is preoperative evidence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis and as an adjuvant treatment for rhabdomyosarcomas since they have a higher propensity for lymphatic spread. Adjuvant treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have shown little efficacy, except in the management of patients with local recurrence or high-grade rhabdomyosarcomas. Long-term follow up is recommended given their high recurrence rates.
Novel approaches in the treatment of myositis and myopathies
Authors: Albayda Jemima , Christopher-Stine Lisa
Published: May 2012

The inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by muscle weakness and inflammation. Although no standard therapeutic guidelines exist, traditional treatment has included corticosteroids and a variety of second-line immunosuppressants. As treatment of refractory disease has been difficult, newer agents and approaches have been used with varying response. The advent of standardized treatment response criteria by the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies (IMACS) group has helped investigators to evaluate and compare clinical trial outcomes in a more rigorous fashion. The use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), rituximab, biologic agents including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, stem-cell transplantation, gene therapy, and vascular occlusion resistance training are reviewed here. As our understanding of disease pathogenesis at the immunologic, genetic, and molecular level expands, the discovery of novel therapeutic targets hold promise for the successful treatment of these conditions.
Acute Free Fatty Acid Elevation Eliminates Endurance Training Effect on Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Chow Lisa S. , Seaquist Elizabeth R. , Eberly Lynn E. , Mashek Mara T. , Schimke Jill M. , Nair K. Sreekumaran , Mashek Doug G.
Published: May 2012

Context:

Both training and normal body mass index are associated with high insulin sensitivity, but the mechanism may be different.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to examine whether lean trained humans may be protected from acute free fatty acid (FFA)-induced insulin resistance compared with lean sedentary humans.

Design and Setting:

We conducted an interventional trial using either a 6-h lipid (20% Intralipid at 90 ml/h) or glycerol (2.25 g/100 ml at 90 ml/h) infusion along with a concurrent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and serial muscle biopsies (0, 120, 360 min) at a clinical research unit at the University of Minnesota.

Patients or Participants:

The study included lean endurance-trained (n = 14) and sedentary (n = 14) individuals matched for age, gender, and body mass index.

Main Outcome Measures:

We measured the decline in glucose infusion rate (GIR) during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.

Results:

The trained group had higher baseline mitochondrial DNA copy number, mRNA of cytochrome C oxidase subunit 3, and insulin sensitivity (as measured by GIR) compared with the sedentary group. When FFA was acutely elevated to the upper physiological range (0.6–0.7 mEq/liter) by lipid infusion, the GIR in both activity groups declined similarly compared with their respective glycerol controls, although insulin signaling, as measured by Ser 473 pAKT/AKT, remained comparable. Specific to the trained group, the stimulatory effect of hyperinsulinemia on mitochondrial mRNA levels during the glycerol infusion was absent during the lipid infusion.

Conclusions:

Elevated FFA had similar effects in reducing insulin sensitivity in trained and sedentary humans. In trained participants, this decline was associated with alterations in the skeletal muscle mitochondrial mRNA response to hyperinsulinemia.
Non Serviam: James Joyce and Mexico
Authors: Price Brian L.
Published: May 2012

This essay examines how Fernando del Paso and Salvador Elizondo, two Mexican authors at opposite ends of what might be termed the Joycean spectrum, assimilate Joyce into their respective cultural projects. The essay argues that the incorporation of Joycean aesthetics into Mexican letters is the result of a persistent quest for universality, a quest that demands defiance towards notions of literary nationalism associated with the periphery and cosmopolitan assignations of cultural inferiority. The essay endeavors to answer two seminal questions: How do Del Paso and Elizondo constitute themselves as participatory members in the larger field of Western and world culture? And how does the apparent divestment of national cultural identity actually reaffirm the importance of that identity? Specifically, I am intrigued by the different ways in which they interact with Joyce both as literary icon and body of texts in order to assert their cultural credentials on the world stage. To that end, the essay is divided into three sections. The first examines how Joyce arrived in Mexico and the critical context that brought his work into the center of discussions about literature in the 1960s, as well as the ways in which updated theoretical approaches can help move beyond comparative narratologies. The second section examines Del Paso's engagement with the Western canon in his public addresses and his parodic subversions of Joycean texts. The third section studies Elizondo's appropriation of Joyce's early aesthetics and his translation of the first page of Finnegans Wake.
For Want of a Door: Poetry's Resistant Interiors
Authors: Feuerstein Melissa
Published: May 2012

This essay explores the ethical stakes of poetic difficulty, focusing on images of impeded access and remote interiority in poems that dramatize encounters with matters that resist comprehension. Following Barbara Johnson's suggestion that having both an inside and an outside makes the “thing, the human, the poem, and indeed language itself” into metaphors for each other (Feminist Difference 130), this essay takes the link between poetic difficulty and images of occlusion as a way to broach the difficulties of entering into alien experience by way of lyric poems. More broadly, it finds in imagined encounters with resistant interiors answers to the question of what it means to want to know, to understand, or to relate to an other and argues that, in the face of irrevocable remoteness, poetry's potential for repair resides in the restoration rather than resolution of its resistance. The essay begins with a brief overview of recent theories of poetic difficulty, finding in the personifications and anthropomorphic metaphors of interiority that appear in those theories evidence of the ways in which we project agency, will, and moral choice onto poems that resist our attempts to grasp them. It then explores the workings of such resistance — particularly its renegotiation of the divide between interior and exterior, self and other, which anthropomorphic projections seek to overcome — in poems by William Butler Yeats, Jorie Graham, Wisława Szymborska, Francis Ponge, and Anne Carson. The essay argues that, like D.W. Winnicott's transitional object, resistant poems open a space between interior and exterior worlds, a space of “experiencing” that helps one learn to tolerate frustration, separation, loss, and reality.
Formation of telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) foci in highly proliferating mouse cerebellar neuronal progenitors and medulloblastoma
Authors: Deng Zhong , Wang Zhuo , Xiang Chaomei , Molczan Aliah , Baubet Valérie , Conejo-Garcia Jose , Xu Xiaowei , Lieberman Paul M. , Dahmane Nadia
Published: May 2012

Telomeres play critical roles in the maintenance of genome integrity and control of cellular senescence. Most eukaryotic telomeres can be transcribed to generate a telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) that persists as a heterogeneous nuclear RNA and can be developmentally regulated. However, the precise function and regulation of TERRA in normal and cancer cell development remains poorly understood. Here, we show that TERRA accumulates in highly proliferating normal and cancer cells, and forms large nuclear foci, which are distinct from previously characterized markers of DNA damage or replication stress. Using a mouse model for medulloblastoma driven by chronic Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, TERRA RNA was detected in tumor, but not adjacent normal cells using both RNA FISH and Northern blotting. RNA-FISH revealed the formation of TERRA foci (TERFs) in the nuclear regions of rapidly proliferating tumor cells. In the normal developing cerebellum, TERRA aggregates could also be detected in highly proliferating zones of progenitor neurons. SHH could enhance TERRA expression in purified granule progenitor cells in vitro, suggesting that proliferation signals contribute to TERRA expression in responsive tissue. TERFs did not colocalize with γH2AX foci, PML, or Cajal bodies in mouse tumor tissue. We also provide evidence that TERRA is elevated in a variety of human cancers. These findings suggest that elevated TERRA levels reflect a novel early form of telomere regulation during replication stress and cancer cell evolution, and the TERRA RNA aggregates may form a novel nuclear body in highly proliferating mammalian cells.
Introduction to the Special Issue on the Emergence and Impact of User-Generated Content
Authors: Fader Peter S. , Winer Russell S.
Published: May 2012

The growth of the “social” Web has resulted in the enormous growth of what is referred to as user-generated content, or UGC. UGC takes the form of product reviews, descriptions of product usage, “homemade advertising,” blogs, and other consumer-initiated contributions. Following a research competition cosponsored by the Marketing Science Institute and the Wharton Interactive Media Initiative (now known as the Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative), a call for papers for a special issue of Marketing Science resulted in 69 submissions. Of these, eight papers were accepted, covering a range of issues such as how and why people make UGC contributions, the impact of UGC contributions, and new methods for analyzing UGC data.
Are robots taking over orthopaedic surgery?
Authors: Cobb J. P. , Andrews B. L.
Published: May 2012

In a global environment of rising costs and limited funds, robotic and computer-assisted orthopaedic technologies could provide the means to drive a necessary revolution in arthroplasty productivity. Robots have been used to operate on humans for 20 years, but the adoption of the technology has lagged behind that of the manufacturing industry. The use of robots in surgery should enable cost savings by reducing instrumentation and inventories, and improving accuracy. Despite these benefits, the orthopaedic community has been resistant to change. If the ergonomics and economics are right, robotic technology just might transform the provision of joint replacement.
Limb salvage for bone tumours
Authors: Grimer R. J. , Jeys L. M.
Published: May 2012

Amputation was once widely practised for primary bone tumours of the limbs. Yet this situation has changed with limb salvage surgery becoming increasingly popular in the last 30 years. Many different techniques are now available. These include allografts, autografts, endoprostheses and allograft-prosthesis composites. This article reviews these methods, concentrating on the functional outcomes and complications that have been reported.
Physical Activity Patterns of Youth with Down Syndrome
Authors: Esposito Phil E. , MacDonald Megan , Hornyak Joseph E. , Ulrich Dale A.
Published: May 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity patterns of children with Down syndrome. A cross-sectional approach and accelerometry were used to measure the time children with Down syndrome (N  =  104) spent in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Results indicated that adolescents from ages 14 to 15 years were the most sedentary and spent the least amount of time in light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. A general trend of decreasing physical activity as children increase in age was found. This trend is similar to that found among typically developing youth. Participants in this study were found to spend a majority of their day engaged in sedentary activities. Results indicate that most participants were not accumulating the recommended 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity.
Normal for an Asperger: Notions of the Meanings of Diagnoses Among Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Authors: Rosqvist Hanna Bertilsdotter
Published: May 2012

This study explores the production of a counterhegemonic discourse of “autistic normalcy” among adults with high-functioning autism by analyzing notions of diagnosis. The discourse analyses are based on material from ethnographic fieldwork in a Swedish educational setting. Study participants were 3 male and 9 female adults who had been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. The notion of diagnosis comprises issues concerning coming out and knowledge production. The findings capture an ongoing reformulation process among people involved in the autistic self-advocacy movement when it comes to the meanings of Asperger syndrome and what it means to be a person with Asperger syndrome.
Sexuality and Sex Education of Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: Mothers' Attitudes, Experiences, and Support Needs
Authors: Pownall Jaycee Dawn , Jahoda Andrew , Hastings Richard Patrick
Published: May 2012

Few studies have considered families' views about adolescents' sexual development. The authors compared attitudes and behaviors of mothers of young people with (n  =  30) and without intellectual disability (n  =  30). Both groups placed similar importance on dealing with their children's developing sexuality and were similarly confident in doing so. Mothers of young people with intellectual disability held more cautious attitudes about contraception, readiness to learn about sex, and decisions about intimate relationships. Mothers expressed concerns about their children with intellectual disability and sexual vulnerability. They had also spoken about fewer sexual topics with their children and began these discussions when their children were older. The findings can inform more sensitive supports and materials to help families deal with the sexual development of their offspring.
Who Was Deborah Kallikak?
Authors: Smith J. David , Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: May 2012

The Kallikak Family was, along with The Jukes: A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease, and Heredity, one of the most visible eugenic family narratives published in the early 20th century. Published in 1912 and authored by psychologist Henry Herbert Goddard, director of the psychological laboratory at the Vineland Training School for Feebleminded Children in Vineland, New Jersey, The Kallikak Family told the tale of a supposedly “degenerate” family from rural New Jersey, beginning with Deborah, one of the inmates at the Training School. Like most publications in the genre, this pseudoscientific treatise described generations of illiterate, poor, and purportedly immoral Kallikak family members who were chronically unemployed, supposedly feebleminded, criminal, and, in general, perceived as threats to “racial hygiene.” Presented as a “natural experiment” in human heredity, this text served to support eugenic activities through much of the first half of the 20th century. This article reviews the story of Deborah Kallikak, including her true identity, and provides evidence that Goddard's treatise was incorrect.
Demographic Characteristics, Health Conditions, and Residential Service Use in Adults with Down Syndrome in 25 U.S. States
Authors: Stancliffe Roger J. , Lakin K. Charlie , Larson Sheryl A. , Engler Joshua , Taub Sarah , Fortune Jon , Bershadsky Julie
Published: May 2012

This study describes service users with Down syndrome (N  =  1,199) and a comparative sample with intellectual and developmental disabilities but not Down syndrome (N  =  11,182), drawn from National Core Indicator surveys of adult service users in 25 U.S. states. Individuals with Down syndrome were younger than were individuals without Down syndrome. Men with Down syndrome were older than women with Down syndrome, whereas the reverse was true of the individuals without Down syndrome. Most (68%) people with Down syndrome had mild or moderate intellectual disability. The prevalence of vision impairment, hearing impairment, and physical disability increased with age. Adults with Down syndrome were more likely to have Alzheimer's dementia, have a hearing impairment, or be overweight, but they were less likely to have a physical disability than those without Down syndrome. Adults with Down syndrome were less likely to live in institutions or their own home, but they more likely to live in a family member's home. The results of a logistic regression showed that participants were more likely to be reported to be overweight if they had Down syndrome, were female, and were physically inactive, but they were less likely to be reported to be overweight if they were older, had more severe intellectual disability, had cerebral palsy, or were not independently mobile.
Is there a suitable point-of-care glucose meter for tight glycemic control? Evaluation of one home-use and four hospital-use meters in an intensive care unit
Authors: Gijzen Karlijn , Moolenaar David L.J. , Weusten Jos J.A.M. , Pluim Hendrik J. , Demir Ayse Y.
Published: May 2012

Background: Implementation of tight glycemic control (TGC) and avoidance of hypoglycemia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients require frequent analysis of blood glucose. This can be achieved by accurate point-of-care (POC) hospital-use glucose meters. In this study one home-use and four different hospital-use POC glucose meters were evaluated in critically ill ICU patients.

Methods: All patients (n=80) requiring TGC were included in this study. For each patient three to six glucose measurements (n=390) were performed. Blood glucose was determined by four hospital-use POC glucose meters, Roche Accu-Check Inform II System, HemoCue Glu201DM, Nova StatStrip, Abbott Precision Xceed Pro, and one home-use POC glucose meter, Menarini GlucoCard Memory PC. The criteria described in ISO 15197, Dutch TNO quality guideline and in NACB/ADA-2011 were applied in the comparisons.

Results: According to the ISO 15197, the percentages of the measured values that fulfilled the criterion were 99.5% by Roche, 95.1% by HemoCue, 91.0% by Nova, 96.6% by Abbott, and 63.3% by Menarini. According to the TNO quality guideline these percentages were 96.1%, 91.0%, 81.8%, 94.2%, and 47.7%, respectively. Application of the NACB/ADA guideline resulted in percentages of 95.6%, 89.2%, 77.9%, 93.4%, and 45.4%, respectively.

Conclusions: When ISO 15197 was applied, Roche, HemoCue and Abbott fulfilled the criterion in this patient population, whereas Nova and Menarini did not. However, when TNO quality guideline and NACB/ADA 2011 guideline were applied only Roche fulfilled the criteria.
The role of biomarkers in the development of novel cancer therapies
Authors: Jungić Saša , Tubić Biljana , Skrepnik Tijana
Published: May 2012

The etiology of diverse patient responses to a given pharmaceutical treatment has eluded science for decades. Only during the last 10–15 years has our understanding of the interplay between genetics and pharmaceuticals advanced to the point that personalized medicine may optimize therapies for each individual patient. The primary goals of personalized medicine are identifying individuals at risk of developing disease to better prevent disease in the healthy population, accurately monitoring each patient’s response to therapy and predicting recurrence in order to pre-empt it. This review gives an explanation of biomarkers and addresses their role in the diagnosis and surveillance of various cancers. It also addresses the challenges of developing novel therapies utilizing newly discovered biomarkers.
First-trimester reference ranges for decidual thickness and its relation to progesterone levels
Authors: Hızlı Deniz , Köşüş Nermin , Köşüş Aydin , Kasap Burcu , Kafali Hasan , Turhan Nilgün Ö.
Published: May 2012

Aims: The present study aimed to provide normal reference ranges for decidual thickness measured ultrasonographically in healthy first-trimester pregnancies and to evaluate whether there was a relationship between decidual thickness and serum progesterone levels.

Methods: Decidual thickness of 173 women with a healthy gestation between 6+0 and 9+6 weeks was measured ultrasonographically and serum progesterone concentration was determined. Distribution of decidual thickness at each gestational week and its relation with serum progesterone levels was evaluated.

Results: Mean decidual thickness was 6.8, 5.7, 5.5, and 6.1 mm at 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th gestational weeks, respectively. Decidual thickness showed a mild negative correlation with gestational week (ρ=–0.207, P=0.006) and a mild positive correlation with serum progesterone concentrations (ρ=0.191, P=0.021).

Conclusion: The present study provided normal reference ranges for decidual thickness in healthy pregnancies in the first trimester. The association found between decidual thickness and progesterone levels might shed light on further studies investigating the predictive factors of pregnancy loss and might lead to changes in the management of threatened miscarriage.
Development of an Active Detector for the Characterization of the Late-Time Radiation Environment from a Reactor Pulse
Authors: Luker S. M. , Griffin P. J. , Kolb N. R. , Naranjo G. N. , Suo-Anttila A. J.
Published: May 2012

This paper discusses the use of a commercially available 235U fission chamber, with a matching compensating ion chamber, originally sold as a single-ended detector with the signal conducted over the shield of a coaxial cable. The authors designed an aluminum housing that isolates the two detectors and converts the signals to full differential mode as a noise-reduction technique. The signals are processed using the switched resistor technique to extend the signal range to longer times from the peak of the pulse [Luker, S. M., Griffin, P. J., King, D. B., and Suo-Anttila, A. J., “Improved Diagnostics for Analysis of a Reactor Pulse Radiation Environment,” 13th International Symposium on Reactor Dosimetry, Akersloot, Netherlands, May 25, 2008, pp. 4–6.]. The newly configured fission chamber assembly has been used at the annular core research reactor at Sandia National Laboratories to provide a high-fidelity characterization of the neutron time profile from a pulsed operation.
The Mechanism of Adhesion Improvement of Elastomeric Silicone Sealants to Difficult-to-Bond Polymeric Substrates through Reactive or Interpenetrating Molecular Brushes
Authors: Gutowski W.(Voytek) S. , Toikka Gary , Li Sheng
Published: May 2012

High-quality and durable adhesion of elastomeric adhesives to metallic, ceramic, and organic substrates is essential to a broad range of industries, e.g., building and construction, automotive, electronic, aerospace, biomedical, and others. The principles of engineering substrate surfaces through grafted connector molecules are discussed in this paper. In particular, two important modes of interaction for surface-grafted “molecular brushes” are investigated and experimentally verified. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of silicone- and/or amine-terminated graft molecules, such as silanes or polyethyleneimines, at polymer interfaces, results in the formation of strong molecular bridges between a range of organic substrates and elastomeric sealants leading to significantly improved bonding. The technology has been successfully adopted by global automotive industry for improving adhesion of a variety of adhesives and coatings to polyolefinic substrates.
Use of Ultrasound Thermometry to Study Natural Convection in Opaque Nanofluids
Authors: Wong Kau-Fui V. , Bon Bradley L.
Published: May 2012

Nanofluids are being evaluated as alternative heat transfer fluids, and thus their behavior during storage or low velocity applications in which natural convection can be significant has to be known and documented. Buoyancy induced flows in rectangular enclosures using nanofluids can be studied experimentally using thermocouples, thermistors, surface heat flux sensors, and ultrasound thermometry. The effects of the mass fraction concentration of nanoparticles, the enclosure aspect ratio, and the inclination have been studied experimentally, but more could be done. The opacity of nanofluids does not permit the use of particle image velocimetry, laser induced fluorescence, or any other means of flow visualization or visual temperature measurement of the local fluid temperature. However, the temperature field can be observed using a non-invasive method such as ultrasound thermometry. The experimental enclosure here was validated using water as the initial fluid; measured values of the local fluid temperature were compared with numerical simulations utilizing commercial software. Nanofluid mass fractions of 10% and 25% were used for comparative purposes to study the effects of concentration on the temperature field. Buoyancy force reversal effects were witnessed in both 10% and 25% concentrations. The nanofluid also prolonged the multicellular effects that occur in buoyancy inversion flows. A Rayleigh number inversion was observed with the 25% mass fraction nanofluid. The multicellular regime transitions to a boundary layer regime at about Ra = 1 × 107 when the aspect ratio is 2.625 and at about Ra = 2 × 108 when the aspect ratio is 1.000 for different concentrations of nanofluid. The observations could be physically explained. The current work confirms that temperature measurements of the flow field can be made to assess convective regimes and flow phenomena that induce significant temperature variations. The use of ultrasound thermometry is successfully demonstrated for opaque nanofluid.
Clot Dissolution: A Novel Treatment of Midgut Volvulus
Authors: Kiely Edward M. , Pierro Agostino , Pierce Christine , Cross Kate , De Coppi Paolo
Published: May 2012

Midgut volvulus due to malrotation may result in loss of the small bowel. Until now, after derotation of the volvulus, pediatric surgeons do not deal with the mesenteric thrombosis, which causes continuing ischemia of the intestine. On occasion, a “second look” laparotomy is performed in the hope that some improvement in blood supply to the intestine has occurred. We describe a new combined treatment to restore intestinal perfusion based on digital massage of the superior mesenteric vessels after derotation and systemic infusion of tissue-type plasminogen activator. This new therapy has been successful in 2 neonates with severe intestinal ischemia due to volvulus.
How Children With Specific Language Impairment View Social Situations: An Eye Tracking Study
Authors: Hosozawa Mariko , Tanaka Kyoko , Shimizu Toshiaki , Nakano Tamami , Kitazawa Shigeru
Published: May 2012

OBJECTIVE:

Children with specific language impairment (SLI) face risks for social difficulties. However, the nature and developmental course of these difficulties remain unclear. Gaze behaviors have been studied by using eye tracking among those with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Using this method, we compared the gaze behaviors of children with SLI with those of individuals with ASD and typically developing (TD) children to explore the social perception of children with SLI.

METHODS:

The eye gazes of 66 children (16 with SLI, 25 with ASD, and 25 TD) were studied while viewing videos of social interactions. Gaze behaviors were summarized with multidimensional scaling, and participants with similar gaze behaviors were represented proximally in a 2-dimensional plane.

RESULTS:

The SLI and TD groups each formed a cluster near the center of the multidimensional scaling plane, whereas the ASD group was distributed around the periphery. Frame-by-frame analyses showed that children with SLI and TD children viewed faces in a manner consistent with the story line, but children with ASD devoted less attention to faces and social interactions. During speech scenes, children with SLI were significantly more fixated on the mouth, whereas TD children viewed the eyes and the mouth.

CONCLUSIONS:

Children with SLI viewed social situations in ways similar to those of TD children but different from those of children with ASD. However, children with SLI concentrated on the speaker’s mouth, possibly to compensate for audiovisual processing deficits. Because eyes carry important information, this difference may influence the social development of children with SLI.
Developmental Status of 1-Year-Old Infants Fed Breast Milk, Cow’s Milk Formula, or Soy Formula
Authors: Andres Aline , Cleves Mario A. , Bellando Jayne B. , Pivik R. T. , Casey Patrick H. , Badger Thomas M.
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Although soy formula has been reported to support normal development, concerns exist regarding potential adverse developmental effects of phytochemicals associated with soy protein. This study characterized developmental status (mental, motor, and language) of breastfed (BF), milk-based formula–fed (MF), or soy protein–based formula–fed (SF) infants during the first year of life.

METHODS:

Healthy infants (N = 391) were assessed longitudinally at ages 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Development was evaluated by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Preschool Language Scale-3. Mixed effects models were used while adjusting for socioeconomic status, mother’s age and IQ, gestational age, gender, birth weight, head circumference, race, age, and diet history.

RESULTS:

No differences were found between formula-fed infants (MF versus SF). BF infants scored slightly higher than formula-fed infants on the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) score at ages 6 and 12 months (P < .05). Infants who were breastfed also had higher Psychomotor Development Index scores than SF infants at age 6 months and slightly higher Preschool Language Scale-3 scores than MF infants at ages 3 and 6 months (P < .05). In addition, BF infants had a lower probability to score within the lower MDI quartile compared with MF infants and a higher likelihood to score within the upper quartile for the MDI and Psychomotor Development Index compared with SF infants.

CONCLUSIONS:

This unique study showed that all scores on developmental testing were within established normal ranges and that MF and SF groups did not differ significantly. Furthermore, this study demonstrated a slight advantage of BF infants on cognitive development compared with formula-fed infants.
Anderson Localization of Phonons in Random Multilayer Thin Films
Authors: Frachioni Anthony , White Bruce
Published: May 2012

1020 Joules of energy are generated by the United States each year; 60% of this energy is lost to waste heat [1]. Thermoelectric based energy scavenging has tremendous potential for the recovery of significant quantities of this waste heat. However, utilization of thermoelectric devices is limited due to relatively low energy conversion efficiency and the utilization of relatively scarce materials. This work focuses on generating sustainable and efficient thermoelectric materials through modifications to the lattice vibrations of materials with excellent thermoelectric electronic properties (Seebeck coefficients larger than 500 μV/K). In particular, Anderson localization of phonons in random multilayer thin films has been explored as a means for reducing lattice thermal conductivity to values approaching that of aerogels (∼10 mW/m-K). Silicon has been a sample of choice due to its high crust abundance and Seebeck coefficient. Reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations have been utilized to determine the thermal conductivity of structures of interest. Simulations with pure Lennard-Jones argon solids have been performed to establish a methodology and to characterize the effect of different kinds of disorder prior to the examination of silicon. The simulation results indicate that mass disorder confined to randomly selected planes to be an effective way in which to reduce lattice thermal conductivity with the lattice thermal conductivity decreasing by a factor of thirty (to 4 mW/m-K) in the argon case and a factor of over ten thousand (to 15 mW/m-K) for silicon. Based on models in which the charge carrier mean free path is limited by scattering from the planes with mass disorder, the mobility of silicon is expected to reach values of 10 cm2/V-s. At this mobility the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, (utilizing the Wiedeman-Franz law to calculate the electronic thermal conductivity) varies between 4.5 and 11 as the mass ratio of the disordered planes is varied from 4 to 10 in 20% of the lattice planes. These results indicate that the pursuit of nanostructured thermoelectric materials in the form of random multilayers may provide a path to efficient and sustainable thermoelectric materials.
Analytical Model of Raman Enhancement by Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Sun Greg , Khurgin Jacob B.
Published: May 2012

We present an analytical model for the enhancement of molecular Raman process by metal nanoparticles. The result is compared with that of a PL process. Although both processes are similar in the sense that they are both a two-photon process in which one photon is absorbed and another photon at a different frequency is emitted, the SP enhancement mechanisms for these two processes have some rather distinct features. In addition to stronger enhancement, the Raman process shows no sign of quenching ever taking place even when the molecule is placed right at the surface of the metal nanoparticle – a situation that will lead to strong quenching effect in PL measurement. Significant advantages of our analytical approach include not just predications that are consistent with experimental observations, but rather a clear insight for the actual physical process at work.
The use of natural stone for internal flooring
Authors: Blanchard Ian
Published: May 2012

This paper describes the theoretical and technical aspects of using natural stone as a surfacing material for internal flooring, based on relevant recent British and European standard and other literature guidance. The rationale for selecting a specific stone type is discussed, including the appropriateness of some types for specific applications. Additionally, a comparison is given between the geological and commercial definitions of several well-known stone types, which can provide misleading reassurance to end users as to the likely performance of a stone. Various case studies are included based on commercial experience of investigations of floor defects and failures, highlighting diverse issues including movement joint distribution, inappropriate bedding of the stone tiles on mortar dabs, early overloading of installed floors and slip resistance problems relating to surface contamination and to in-service abrasion leading to polishing of the floor. In addition, the resistance to staining and discoloration of floors in service is discussed.
Design advice for rigid highway pavements constructed in natural stone
Authors: Li Peng , Fairfield Charles , Fordyce Derek
Published: May 2012

Guidance for the design of natural stone setts and slabs as rigid pavement solutions in an urban environment is becoming increasingly important as engineers seek sustainable and aesthetic solutions in conservation areas, for public/municipal projects, and indeed for general environmental enhancement. Due to the demands placed on urban roads (from private cars through to buses and commercial delivery vehicles) the stresses applied to road pavements are constantly increasing especially if traffic volumes continue to rise and vehicle axle limits increase. This paper provides guidance on general fitness for purpose issues and provides a framework for design and installation of rigid pavements constructed with natural stone sett and slab surfaces. Typical stone pavement design examples are provided. Details yielded by the method include: bond adhesive strength, material requirements, overall pavement thickness and individual stone element dimensions.
Association Between Peyronie Disease and Low Serum Testosterone Levels: Detection and Therapeutic Considerations
Authors: Cavallini Giorgio , Biagiotti Giulio , Giudice Cristoforo Lo
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper was to find a link between Peyronie disease (PD) and bioavailable testosterone (bT)/free testosterone (fT) blood levels. Subjects with no erectile dysfunction were prospectively studied with respect to 3 parameters: differences in bT/fT between 106 PD patients and 99 healthy controls; differences in plaque area, penile curvature, and pain between 54 PD patients with low bT/fT and 52 PD patients with normal bT/fT; and differences in intraplaque verapamil efficacy between 20 hypogonadal PD patients supplemented with testosterone and 23 hypogonadal PD patients administered a placebo. Medical history, objective examination, and dynamic duplex scanning of the penis, both before and 8 months after the end of the therapy (ie, at the end of the study period), were used to assess PD. Testosterone supplementation was carried out with testosterone buccal adhesive patches 2 × 30 mg/d for the entire study period. bT and fT were significantly lower in PD patients than in control patients. The plaque area was significantly higher in PD patients with low bT/fT than in patients with normal bT/fT. No significant difference emerged when pain or penile deformity were examined. Plaque area and penile curvature improved to a greater extent when intraplaque verapamil injections were associated with testosterone administration than when associated with a placebo. Men with PD had lower bT/fT than healthy controls. In these patients, supplementation with testosterone improved the efficacy of intraplaque verapamil. Plaque area and penile curvature were more severe in hypogonadal PD.
Microsurgical Subinguinal Varicocelectomy in Children, Adolescents, and Adults: Surgical Anatomy and Anatomically Justified Technique
Authors: Mirilas Petros , Mentessidou Anastasia
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT: Microsurgical varicocelectomy has become the gold standard in adults because of low recurrence and postoperative hydrocele rates; it is increasingly applied in children and adolescents. This review aims to provide the surgeon with the necessary surgical anatomy of the spermatic cord and with a step‐by‐step, anatomically justified description of technique, toward clearer comprehension and improved application. The anatomic compartments of the spermatic cord are delineated by the external and internal spermatic fasciae. Venous drainage of testis‐epididymis is accomplished by the internal spermatic, deferential, and external spermatic (cremasteric) veins. All 3 anastomose at the caudal pole of testis, and then via gubernacular veins with the posterior scrotal veins. Another anastomosis exists between a cremasteric branch and anterior scrotal veins, which gives the external pudendal vein. Subinguinal approach offers access to varicose spermatic veins and collaterals. Use of surgical microscope offers identification of small veins, preservation of arteries, lymphatics, and nerves, and appreciation of spermatic cord fasciae, which permits the development of two surgical planes. In the surgical plane of internal spermatic vessels, internal spermatic veins are ligated, whereas the testicular artery and innervation, as well as lymphatics, are preserved. In the plane of cremasteric vessels and vas, cremasteric veins are ligated, whereas the cremasteric artery, vas deferens and its vasculature, lymphatics, and the genital branch of genitofemoral nerve are preserved. Delivery of the testis to ligate gubernacular veins is at the discretion of the surgeon. Finally, venous return is effected by deferential and scrotal veins, or, when gubernacular veins are ligated, by deferential veins only.
Combined Tadalafil and α‐Blocker Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction: A Multicenter, Prospective Study
Authors: Lee Joo Yong , Park Sung Yul , Jeong Tae Yoong , Moon Hong Sang , Kim Yong Tae , Yoo Tag Keun , Choi Hong Yong , Park Hae Young , Lee Seung Wook
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT: This prospective study evaluated the safety of tadalafil 5 mg taken once a day in terms of hypotensive side effects and whether it improves lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and restores sexual function in patients with erectile dysfunction who are receiving concomitant α‐blocker (AB) therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 158 LUTS/BPH patients receiving AB therapy for ≥3 months were given tadalafil 5 mg once a day. Before treatment with tadalafil (V1), and 4 weeks (V2) and 12 weeks (V3) after starting tadalafil, blood pressure, heart rate, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal urine flow rate (Qmax), postvoiding residual urine volume, and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) score were measured. Of the 158 LUTS/BPH patients, a total of 119 completed the trial. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and heart rate did not change. IPSS and IIEF‐5 scores improved significantly, but Qmax and postvoiding residual urine volume did not; however, in the 39 men with a low baseline Qmax (≤10 mL/s), Qmax rose significantly from 7.97 ± 1.44 mL/s (baseline) to 8.91 ± 1.60 mL/s (V3; P = .012). The remaining patients (baseline Qmax >10 mL/s) did not change. At V2 and V3, adverse side effects were observed in 10 men (7.30%) and 6 men (5.04%), respectively. Facial flushing was the most common adverse side effect (6 men at V2 and 4 men at V3), followed by headache (2 men each at V2 and V3) and dizziness (2 men at V2). Two patients dropped out of the study because of adverse side effects. In conclusion, tadalafil 5 mg once a day in combination with AB appeared to have few adverse effects on hypotensive events and can improve LUTS and restore sexual function.