bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Munidopsis kareenae, a new species of seamount squat lobster from New Zealand with a key to the New Zealand species of Munidopsis (Crustacea: Decapoda: Munidopsidae)
Authors: AHYONG SHANE T.
Published: January 2013

A new species of the squat lobster genus Munidopsis is described from Nukuhou Seamount, North Island, New Zealand. The new species is allied to members of the “Galathodes group” within Munidopsis that share a flattened, distally trifid rostrum, an unarmed carapace surface (apart from paired epigastric spines in some species), unarmed abdominal tergites and absence of pereopodal epipods. The new species is readily separated from these species by the combination of unarmed lateral carapace margins posterior to the anterolateral spine, absence of epigastric spines, and prominently spinose extensor margins of the pereopod 2–4 meri. Fourteen species of Munidopsis are now recorded from New Zealand; a key to the New Zealand species is provided.
Description of a new species of Miroculis Edmunds, 1963 (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Brazil
Authors: COSTA SABRINA SANTOS , MARIANO RODOLFO
Published: January 2013

A new species of Miroculis is described based on material from State of São Paulo, Brazil.The imago of the new species can be separated from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: upper part of stalked portion of compound eyes with 12 facets in the longest row; forewing translucent tinged with brown, with transverse and longitudinal veins brown; general color of abdomen brown translucent; size of penis from 0.8 to 1.0 the size of forceps segment I.
Assessment of High Cardiovascular Risk Profiles for the Clinician
Authors: Whayne Thomas F.
Published: January 2013

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cardiovascular (CV) risk factor. General Framingham Risk Profile (GFRP) and World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) charts were used to assess CV risk in DM in Oman. The GFRP identified more patients with medium-risk DM; GFRP and WHO/ISH identified essentially equal numbers at very high risk. These were then used to evaluate statin usage in Oman, including economics. Google lists innumerable tools from organizations, hospitals, practitioners, magazines, societies, clinics, and medical associations. The GFRP and WHO/ISH calculations provided useful DM assessment of populations in Oman. Other major risk models are Adult Treatment Panel III, based on Framingham, and Reynolds Risk Score; the latter incorporates other factors such as family history, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin A1c (in DM). These models are useful in assessing specific populations. Individual practitioners with limited time may just evaluate patients as low, medium, and high CV risk based on general knowledge and then treat.
Intracranial Aneurysms in Patients With Carotid Disease
Authors: Radak Djordje , Sotirovic Vuk , Tanaskovic Slobodan , Isenovic Esma R.
Published: January 2013

Before the routine use of computed tomography (CT) angiography, decisions for carotid artery treatment were mostly based on ultrasound findings and conventional angiography. Implementation and increasing use of CT angiography provided better visualization of the carotid and vertebrobasilar arteries system leading to an unexpected more frequent detection of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Concomitant presence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with severe carotid stenosis is a potential cause of significant mortality and morbidity. Due to the possible higher risk of aneurysm rupture after carotid procedures and ischemic events after aneurysm repair, the simultaneous presence of both lesions creates several therapeutic dilemmas. We review the prevalence of UIAs in patients with carotid occlusive disease and management difficulties and the current treatment strategies for handling the concomitant presence of these life-threatening diseases.
Jeux sportifs et religion amérindienne
Authors: Delsahut Fabrice
Published: January 2013

Religion and recreational sports practices are intimately linked in Native American culture. Some stories attest to the origin of the game offered to men by tutelary spirits, the latter having acquired their own status through the game. According to some legends, the organization of the world derives from sport encounters between humans or animals. Mythology relates the dealings of civilizing heroes, who, as true tricksters, use cunning and games to play tricks on others. The mythical–religious elements in traditional sports also express themselves through a wide range of ceremonial rites related to death practices, climate conditions, illness and fertility. The institutionalization of traditional sport has provided religion with a new basis of expression that, although failing to give international visibility to Native American athletes, allows them to find a balance between their traditional values and the modern world.
The Association Between Vitamin D and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children
Authors: Dolinsky Diana H. , Armstrong Sarah , Mangarelli Caren , Kemper Alex R.
Published: January 2013

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and cardiometabolic risk in children and the effect of vitamin D supplementation on risk. We included 35 clinical trials, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies that evaluated the relationship between 25OHD and blood pressure, lipid levels, insulin/glucose metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness. One randomized clinical trial that randomized adolescents to 2000 or 400 IU/d of vitamin D and found improvement in arterial stiffness in the high-dose group and worsening in the low-dose group. One cross-sectional study found no relationship between 25OHD and endothelial dysfunction. Of 12 cross-sectional studies, 10 found an inverse association between 25OHD and systolic blood pressure, although 2 trials found no relationship. There was no consistent association between 25OHD and lipid levels or insulin/glucose metabolism. Insufficient evidence was available to conclude that vitamin D supplementation yields cardiometabolic benefit.
Pediatric Ingestions of House hold Products Containing Ethanol
Authors: Rayar Praveen , Ratnapalan Savithiri
Published: January 2013

Background. Alcohol is present in a number of household items that are readily accessible to children. Ingestion of these household products containing alcohol can lead to significant health risks. Objective. To identify reported cases of ingestions of common household items that have led to ethanol intoxication, poisoning, or death in children up to the age of 18 years. Methods. The OVID MEDLINE database from 1948 to March 2011, Embase from 1980 to March 2011, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) from 1982 to February 2011 were searched for articles with the following key terms: alcohols(ethanol or ethyl alcohol) and ingest*(ingestion) or intoxic*(intoxication) or poisoning* or death. The search was limited to children (0-18 years). All articles that reported ingestion of household products that contained ethanol were included in the analysis. Results. Many household products, particularly mouthwashes, hand sanitizers, and cosmetics contain quantities of ethanol that are significant enough to induce intoxication and hypoglycemia. There were 17 publications directly reporting on children with alcohol intoxication from household products. Serious adverse events included hypoglycemia, seizures, and death. Child-resistant closures appear to have reduced the incidence of ingestion of ethanol-based products, including mouthwashes, and may be applicable to other products such as hand sanitizers. Conclusion. Ingestion of household substances containing alcohol continues to be a health care problem. Legislature to reduce alcohol content in household products and public education should be instituted to prevent poisonings in children.
Washing words: The politics of water in Mourid Barghouti’s I Saw Ramallah
Authors: Farrier David
Published: January 2013

Water has been acknowledged as a key area of dispute in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. In particular, water stress in the occupied territories of the West Bank has been exacerbated by Israel’s colonization of water resources via the Oslo II agreements and, latterly, the erection of a separation wall that articulates a hydropolitical agenda. This article argues that Mourid Barghouti’s I Saw Ramallah, a memoir of Barghouti’s return to the West Bank after thirty years in exile, offers a sustained engagement with the environmental politics of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, most particular the politics of water. Via his reflections on metaphor and metonymy in particular, Barghouti responds to the central question posed in the memoir — “Does a poet live in space or time?” — with the presentation of a distinctively liquid vision of life in exile and in the occupied territories. As such, I Saw Ramallah presents an instance of what Rob Nixon calls the “decentring of environmentalism” in which postcolonial insights offer a corrective to bioregional approaches that neglect politics.
A multiscale hybrid approach for damage and final failure predictions of composite structures
Authors: Laurin F , Carrere N , Huchette C , Maire J-F
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a multiscale hybrid approach for predicting damage and failure of laminated composite structures based on the thermo-mechanical properties (stress/strain behaviour and strength) of the unidirectional plies. This kind of approach is thus predictive for different stacking sequences. The approach introduces viscosity of the matrix in order to obtain an accurate description of the mesoscopic behaviour, especially the non-linearity under shear loading. The failure criterion used is based on physical principles and introduces micromechanical aspects (such as the effect of the local debonding on the non-linear failure behaviour) at the mesoscopic scale. The main improvements, over those proposed in the second world-wide failure exercise, are related to (1) the evolution and effects of the mesoscopic cracks and (2) the coupling between those cracks and delamination (inter-ply damage). This approach has been implemented in an implicit finite element code in order to predict the strength of composite structures, exhibiting different levels of complexity (unnotched plates, open-hole plates) and subjected to complex loadings (membrane or bending loadings). All the 13 Test Cases of the third world-wide failure exercise have been solved.
A mechanical model for dimensional instability in moisture-sensitive fiber networks
Authors: Sellén C , Isaksson P
Published: January 2013

A nonlinear finite element model is developed to simulate the mechanical behavior of fiber networks exposed to moisture. The full-scale three-dimensional Reissner beam model is geometrically nonlinear and handle large deformations and rotations and can be applied to simulate any moisture-sensitive fiber-based network material. Moisture in the surrounding air is transported into the fibers, which leads to chiral curl of individual fibers, which in turn introduce stresses in the network since the fibers are connected to other fibers in a complex manner. Deformations of networks subjected to various degrees of moisture are analyzed. The effects of fiber orientation and network geometry are examined. Numerical results obtained with the model show qualitative agreement to experimental results reported in literature on cellulose materials.
Impact damage on fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite – A review
Authors: Agrawal Sandeep , Singh Kalyan Kumar , Sarkar PK
Published: January 2013

As the application of fibre-reinforced polymer composite material continue to increase day by day, so the knowledge about the impact behaviour of fibre-reinforced polymer composite structures in the areas such as automotive and aerospace is very much needed. This article attempts a comprehensive review of recent literature in the broader area of impact damage. Testing methods and standard parameters as well as discussion of important aspects such as impactor shape, weight of impactor, velocity of impact, environment in which impact takes place are presented. Furthermore, the damage area, energy absorbed, contact time and many other considerations are discussed. Finally, an effort is made to review the research work by considering all aspects related to impact on such type of composite materials.
Theoretical analysis of biaxial tensile properties of power net
Authors: Inoue Mari , Tange Ayako , Niwa Masako
Published: January 2013

Power net is a kind of warp knitted fabric and a distinctive feature of this fabric is its high extensibility in both wale and course directions. The main uses of this power net are supporters, ladies foundation garment, girdle etc. due to its high formability property. The theory of the biaxial extension of power net is introduced, in this study. And the theory is inspected by the biaxial extension experiments of a power net for various biaxial extension modes. The experimental results and theoretical predictions prove to be in agreement. The biaxial extension property of a power net was analyzed and compared with experimental results obtained by a biaxial tensile tester. Another sample was also inspected, and same results were given. The theory can predict well, especially in the forces along the tensile direction, and good agreement between experimental and calculated results was obtained. The theory by the simplified model might be useful for designing the power net, and with the various studies until now, this will be powerful tool for the design of the wearing comfort of ladies foundation garment and so on.
Surface roughness and wettability of wool fabrics loaded with silver nanoparticles: Influence of synthesis and application methods
Authors: Barani Hossein , Montazer Majid , Calvimontes Alfredo , Dutschk Victoria
Published: January 2013

Hydrophilization of wool fabrics was performed by silver nanoparticles with different surface charge using three different methods: exhausting, pad–dry–cure and in situ synthesis. Dynamic wetting measurements and surface topography analysis were used to evaluate surface changes on wool fabrics. The wool samples in situ loaded revealed the highest fabric roughness and porosity, while the use of the pad–dry–cure method leads to the lowest fabric porosity, and its roughness values approximately were the same as those for samples loaded with the exhaustion method. The results revealed that loading silver nanoparticles with high surface charges onto wool fabrics via the exhaustion method can significantly improve the hydrophilicity of wool fibre surface. The possible reasons for this improvement are discussed.
Effect of an air gap on the heat transfer of protective materials upon hot liquid splashes
Authors: Lu Yehu , Song Guowen , Li Jun , Paskaluk Stephen
Published: January 2013

The thermal protective performance of fabrics against hot liquid splashes was investigated under different configurations. The air gap of 6 mm between specimen and sensor was simulated and compared with direct contact configuration. Three liquids (distilled water, canola oil, drilling mud) at 85℃ were applied as challenge hot liquid hazards. The results showed that fabric permeability significantly affected heat transfer due to the occurrence of mass transfer both with and without a spacer. The absorbed energy and second-degree burn time presented significantly negative correlation. The effect of air gap on thermal performance was investigated. The findings demonstrated that minimizing mass transfer could effectively improve thermal protection against hot liquid splashes and the existing of an air layer could improve thermal performance.
The Role of Social Networks in the Integration of Chinese Rural–Urban Migrants: A Migrant–Resident Tie Perspective
Authors: Yue Zhongshan , Li Shuzhuo , Jin Xiaoyi , Feldman Marcus W.
Published: January 2013

Using data from a survey of rural–urban migrants in a city in China, this paper investigates the relationships between migrant–resident ties and migrant integration. Migrant integration is assessed with respect to three dimensions: acculturation, socioeconomic integration and psychological integration. Migrant networks are divided into three categories: kin resident ties, non-kin resident ties and non-resident ties. The relation between resources embedded in migrant networks and socioeconomic integration is also examined by translating position-generator data into network resource indices. The results reveal that non-resident ties still make up the majority of migrant networks and migrant–resident ties are significantly associated with migrant integration. The roles of non-kin resident ties in migrant integration are more consequential. They have positive effects on all three dimensions. Considering the different effects of migrant networks on different dimensions of integration, many migrants risk being trapped in permanent poverty and falling into the underclass in city societies.
Partner Effects of Compulsive Internet Use
Authors: Muusses Linda D. , Finkenauer Catrin , Kerkhof Peter , Righetti Francesca
Published: January 2013

To be a trustworthy partner, people need self-control. People infer others’ level of self-control from behavioral cues, and this perception influences how much they trust others. Exhibiting compulsive Internet use (CIU) might provide such cues. This research examined whether and how CIU affects perceptions of self-control and trust in a partner. In an experimental study, we manipulated CIU in descriptions of strangers and found that participants in the CIU condition judged the other to have lower self-control and trusted them less than in a control condition. In a prospective dyadic study among newlyweds, we extended these results to close relationships. The results confirmed our hypotheses. Additionally, we found that low trait self-control makes people prone to CIU, illustrating that assessing others’ CIU is a good strategy to gauge others’ level of self-control. These results illuminate how and why CIU may be harmful for relationships.
Searching for equilibrium in labour relations before the EU accession: Developing grassroots trade unions in private companies in Poland
Authors: Ostrowski Piotr
Published: January 2013

The article focuses on an analysis of seven cases of the emergence of trade unions in private companies of the greenfield type in Poland before the EU accession in 2004, when the conditions on the labour market in Poland were at their worst. The formation of a trade union is understood as creating a workers’ instrument, designed to equalize the asymmetrical labour relations within the company. Research data are interpreted according to the perspective of Bourdieu’s forms of capital.
Is job insecurity compensated for by employment and income security?
Authors: Berglund Tomas , Furåker Bengt , Vulkan Patrik
Published: January 2013

The so-called flexicurity approach suggests that security for employees can be successfully combined with flexibility for organizations and companies. This article studies if affective job insecurity (worry about losing one’s job) is compensated for by perceptions of employment security (possibilities of finding an equal or better job) and income security. Data derive from a survey carried out in 2010 among employees in Sweden. The main findings are that cognitive job insecurity (the perceived risk of job loss) increases affective job insecurity, whereas both employment and income security have the opposite effect. Moreover, cognitive job insecurity and employment security interact, implying that the effect of cognitive job insecurity on affective job insecurity is reduced in the presence of employment security but is reinforced in the absence of it. These results are discussed in relation to the flexicurity approach, concluding that flexicurity may be a risky venture for employees.
Blended information behaviour in Second Life
Authors: Webber Sheila
Published: January 2013

The aims of this paper are to provide insight into the information behaviour (IB) of people seeking information related to activities carried out in the virtual world (VW) Second Life (SL) and to identify whether IB models derived from contexts other than VWs are also applicable to SL. Ninety-one interviews, each describing an incident when the interviewee needed information for an SL activity, were carried out in SL itself. Data was analysed using existing research models of IB and inductively. It was established that models of IB derived in real-world settings are also applicable in VWs, and the models are enriched with new SL examples. Information encountering emerged as a dominant mode of information discovery, but behaviours such as browsing, monitoring, purposive search and verifying were also identified. Seven categories of need and four major categories of outcome emerged from inductive analysis of the data. A wide variety of sources were used by the participants and a new term, blended IB, is proposed to describe this varied IB. This study contributes insights into the everyday and practice-based IB of academics and professionals that is lacking in the literature. It can also provide guidance for those supporting information-seeking across new digital channels.
An Old Empire in a New Order: The Global Designs of the Dutch Nazi Party, 1931–1942
Authors: Foray Jennifer L
Published: January 2013

This article explores the imperial plans and policies advanced by the Dutch Nazi Party (NSB) and its leader, Anton Mussert, from the party’s inception in 1931 to the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in early 1942. Drawing upon recent discussions concerning ‘generic fascism’ and the fascist ‘ideal type’, I argue that the Dutch Nazis consistently advanced an imperial agenda that was simultaneously defensive and expansionist. Before the war, Mussert sought to reunify all members of the Dutch ‘tribe’ presently scattered around the globe, even in those territories presently held by other imperial powers. Under German occupation, Mussert modified but hardly abandoned his Greater Netherlands worldview. If Hitler and the German National Socialists intended to forge a new European empire founded on the principles of racial purity, the Dutch Nazi leader envisioned a fascist world order led by Hitler but nonetheless rooted in more traditional imperial practices. Mussert’s imperial designs reveal both the powerful tensions inherent in Dutch National Socialism and the vexed wartime relationship between Mussert and the nation’s German occupiers.
The Faith and the Fury: The Construction of Anticlerical Collective Identities in Spain, 1874–1931
Authors: Thomas Maria
Published: January 2013

This article explores the construction of anticlerical collective identities among Spanish workers from the late nineteenth century, outlining the ways in which the daily experience of the Church generated and intensified anticlerical sentiment. From the turn of the century, political, social and cultural changes sparked by industrialization and rural-urban emigration altered the face of ‘traditional’ Spanish popular anticlericalism; newly politicized workers increasingly identified the Church as part of the repressive machinery of the Restoration Monarchy’s political system. As workers struggled to fend off the ever-expanding central state’s intrusions into their domestic space and the Church’s influence over innumerable aspects of everyday life (including, crucially, its control of public spaces) they constructed their own, strongly anticlerical ‘workers’ public sphere’ grounded in alternative forms of socialization, cultural activities, and new secular rituals.
Incorporating Patient Decision Aids into Standard Clinical Practice in an Integrated Delivery System
Authors: Hsu Clarissa , Liss David T. , Westbrook Emily O. , Arterburn David
Published: January 2013

Background. Randomized controlled trials show that patient decision aids (DAs) can promote shared decision making and improve decision quality. Despite this evidence, integration of DAs into routine clinical practice has proceeded slowly. Objective. To identify factors that promote or impede integrating DAs into clinical practice in a large health care delivery system. Design. Mixed-methods case study. Setting and Patients. Group Health, an integrated health plan and care delivery system in Washington state. Intervention. The project was carried out in 6 specialty service lines using 12 video-based DAs for preference-sensitive conditions related to elective surgical procedures. Measurements. Process data, site visits, meeting observations, and in-depth interviews conducted with clinical staff, project staff, and health plan leaders in 2009 and 2010. Results. The project established systemwide and clinic-specific processes that facilitated the distribution of approximately 10,000 DAs over 2 years. Several factors were identified as important for success in this implementation, including strong support from senior leaders, establishing a system for previsit ordering and providing timely feedback to teams about distribution rates, engaging providers and staff in development of the implementation process, and finding ways to address concerns about conditions that were perceived as life-threatening and/or time sensitive. Limitations. Limitations included lack of data on patient perspectives, an implementation setting with salaried providers, and frontline provider interviews conducted in only selected service lines. Conclusions. With strong leadership, financial support, and a well-defined implementation strategy, 12 video-based DAs in 6 specialty service lines were integrated into routine practice over 2 years. Findings from this demonstration may advance the ability of other organizations to use DAs effectively and promote widespread adoption of shared decision making in routine patient care.
Correlates of Diagnostic Accuracy in Patients with Nonspecific Complaints
Authors: Hertwig Ralph , Meier Nathalie , Nickel Christian , Zimmermann Pia-Cristina , Ackermann Selina , Woike Jan K. , Bingisser Roland
Published: January 2013

Objective. To investigate diagnostic accuracy in patient histories involving nonspecific complaints and the extent to which characteristics of physicians and structural properties of patient histories are associated with accuracy. Methods. Six histories of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with nonspecific complaints were provided to 112 physicians: 36 ED physicians, 50 internists, and 26 family practitioners. Physicians listed the 3 most likely diagnoses for each history and indicated which cue(s) they considered crucial. Four weeks later, a subset of 20 physicians diagnosed the same 6 histories again. For each history, experts had previously determined the correct diagnoses and the diagnostic cues. Results. Accuracy ranged from 14% to 64% correct diagnoses (correct diagnosis listed as the most likely) and from 29% to 87% correct differential diagnoses (correct diagnosis listed in the differential). Acute care physicians (ED physicians and internists) included the correct diagnosis in the differential in, on average, 3.4 histories, relative to 2.6 for the family practitioners ( P = 0.001, d = .75). Diagnostic performance was fairly reliable (r = .61, P < 0.001). Clinical experience was negatively correlated with diagnostic accuracy ( r = –.25, P = 0.008). Two structural properties of patient histories—cue consensus and cue substitutability—were significantly associated with diagnostic accuracy, whereas case difficulty was not. Finally, prevalence of diagnosis also proved significantly correlated with accuracy. Conclusions. Average diagnostic accuracy in cases with nonspecific complaints far exceeds chance performance, and accuracy varies with medical specialty. Analyzing cue properties in patient histories can help shed light on determinants of diagnostic performance and thus suggest ways to enhance physicians’ ability to accurately diagnose cases with nonspecific complaints.
Differences between episodic and chronic tension-type headaches in nociceptive-specific trigeminal pathways
Authors: Sohn Jong Hee , Choi Hui Chul , Kim Chul Ho
Published: January 2013

Background

The trigeminal nociceptive system plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of tension-type headaches (TTH).

Objective

This study investigated and compared nociceptive-specific trigeminal pathways in patients with episodic and chronic TTH (ETTH and CTTH, respectively) using the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) and nociceptive trigeminocervical reflex (nTCR).

Methods

We recorded nBR and nTCR in patients with ETTH and CTTH, and healthy controls using concentric electrodes and subsequently compared the threshold (i.e. sensory, pain) and parameters of reflex (i.e. the R2 component of the nBR and the late responses of the nTCR).

Results

Women with ETTH ( n = 40) and CTTH ( n = 32) and age-matched controls ( n = 40) were recruited. CTTH patients displayed significantly lower amplitude and area under the curve (AUC) values of the R2 component for the nBR compared with those displayed by ETTH patients and controls ( p < 0.05). Moreover, the amplitude and AUC of the R2 component was negatively correlated with the frequency of headaches, whereas the latency of the R2 component for the nBR was positively correlated with the frequency and duration of headaches in the TTH groups ( p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in the late response parameters (i.e. latency, duration, amplitude, or AUC) were noted between the groups in terms of the nTCR.

Conclusions

R2 suppression associated with CTTH suggests decreased brainstem excitability. This may be the result of excessive descending inhibitory influences.
Treatment With Platelet-Rich Plasma Is More Effective Than Placebo for Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Patel Sandeep , Dhillon Mandeep S. , Aggarwal Sameer , Marwaha Neelam , Jain Ashish
Published: January 2013

Background:

Specific growth factors have been proposed as therapeutic proteins for cartilage repair.

Hypothesis:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) provides symptomatic relief in early osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 78 patients (156 knees) with bilateral OA were divided randomly into 3 groups. Group A (52 knees) received a single injection of PRP, group B (50 knees) received 2 injections of PRP 3 weeks apart, and group C (46 knees) received a single injection of normal saline. White blood cell (WBC)–filtered PRP with a platelet count 3 times that of baseline (PRP type 4B) was administered in all. All the groups were homogeneous and comparable in baseline characteristics. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire before treatment and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. They were also evaluated for pain by a visual analog scale, and overall satisfaction with the procedure and complications were noted.

Results:

Statistically significant improvement in all WOMAC parameters was noted in groups A and B within 2 to 3 weeks and lasting until the final follow-up at 6 months, with slight worsening at the 6-month follow-up. The mean WOMAC scores (pain, stiffness, physical function, and total score) for group A at baseline were 10.18, 3.12, 36.56, and 49.86, respectively, and at final follow-up were 5.00, 2.10, 20.08, and 27.18, respectively, showing significant improvement. Similar improvement was noted in group B (mean WOMAC scores at baseline: 10.62, 3.50, 39.10, and 53.20, respectively; mean WOMAC scores at final follow-up: 6.18, 1.88, 22.40, and 30.48, respectively). In group C, the mean WOMAC scores deteriorated from baseline (9.04, 2.70, 33.80, and 45.54, respectively) to final follow-up (10.87, 2.76, 39.46, and 53.09, respectively). The 3 groups were compared with each other, and no improvement was noted in group C as compared with groups A and B ( P < .001). There was no difference between groups A and B, and there was no influence of age, sex, weight, or body mass index on the outcome. Knees with Ahlback grade 1 fared better than those with grade 2. Mild complications such as nausea and dizziness, which were of short duration, were observed in 6 patients (22.2%) in group A and 11 patients (44%) in group B.

Conclusion:

A single dose of WBC-filtered PRP in concentrations of 10 times the normal amount is as effective as 2 injections to alleviate symptoms in early knee OA. The results, however, deteriorate after 6 months. Both groups treated with PRP had better results than did the group injected with saline only.
Therapeutic Advantage in Selective Ligament Augmentation for Partial Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Mifune Yutaka , Ota Shusuke , Takayama Koji , Hoshino Yuichi , Matsumoto Tomoyuki , Kuroda Ryosuke , Kurosaka Masahiro , Fu Freddie H. , Huard Johnny
Published: January 2013

Background:

As a result of recent studies describing the double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), selected ACL augmentation procedures, either anteromedial (AM) or posterolateral (PL), have been introduced as the treatment of choice for partial ACL ruptures. The preserved mechanoreceptor and vascularity of the remnant ACL are considered to provide additional biological benefits. Although enhanced knee joint proprioception in ACL augmented patients has been previously reported, there is no study assessing biological healing advantages of the graft after the ACL augmentation procedure.

Hypothesis:

Selected ACL augmentation for partial tears can accelerate the healing process of the grafted tendon, which promotes better biomechanical recovery of the tendon, compared with conventional ACL reconstruction of complete tears.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Two rat models were established in this study: an ACL augmentation partial tear model and conventional ACL reconstruction for a complete tear. Biological assessments of cellularity and angiogenesis were measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunostaining, respectively. Additionally, rat-specific type III collagen and α-smooth muscle actin were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining to analyze the healing process, whereas anti-rat neurofilament antigen was assessed to examine proprioceptive recovery. Biological assessments of the augmented and reconstructed grafts were conducted postoperatively at week 2, whereas biomechanical testing was performed postoperatively at week 8.

Results:

An increase in cellularity and angiogenesis was observed in the augmented grafts compared with the conventionally reconstructed grafts. Also, increased amounts of rat-specific type III collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, and anti-rat neurofilament antigen were expressed in the augmented grafts. Biomechanical testing showed that failure to load was significantly higher in the augmentation group compared with the conventional reconstruction group (augmentation, 15.9 ± 1.0; reconstruction, 7.0 ± 1.3; P < .01).

Clinical Relevance:

Selected ACL augmentation could be a good choice for the repair of partial ACL injury by preserving the uninjured portion of the ACL, which in turn could maintain the anatomic position of the ligament and its biomechanical function.
Protective effects of alpha lipoic acid versus N-acetylcysteine on ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: El-Sisi Alaa El-Din E , El-Syaad Magda E , El-Desoky Karima I , Moussa Ethar A
Published: January 2013

Ifosfamide (IFO) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent for treating a variety of pediatric solid tumors. However, its use is limited due to its serious side effect on kidneys. The side-chain oxidation of IFO in renal tubular cells produces a reactive toxic metabolite that is believed to be responsible for its nephrotoxic effect. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the possible underlying mechanisms that may be involved in IFO-induced nephrotoxicity, including free radical generation and the possible role of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) versus N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in protection against this toxicity. Male albino rats were injected intraperitoneally with saline, IFO (50 mg/kg daily for 5 days), IFO + ALA (100 mg/kg daily for 8 days) and IFO + NAC (200 mg/kg daily for 8 days). Kidney malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and glutathione contents and serum biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis were determined. Both ALA and NAC markedly reduced the severity of renal dysfunction induced by IFO. NAC was more nephroprotective than ALA. This study suggests that oxidative stress is possibly involved in the IFO-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The study also suggests the potential therapeutic role for ALA and NAC against IFO-induced nephrotoxicity.
Antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and proliferative effect of curcumin on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats
Authors: Toydemir Toygar , Kanter Mehmet , Erboga Mustafa , Oguz Serhat , Erenoglu Cengiz
Published: January 2013

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of curcumin on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats. A total of 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated (SH), PH, and PH + curcumin; each group contains eight animals. The rats in curcumin-treated groups were given curcumin (in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally for 7 days, starting 3 days prior to hepatectomy operation. At 7 days after resection, liver samples were collected. The malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were estimated in liver homogenates. Moreover, histopathological examination, mitotic index (MI), proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling, proliferation index (PI), transferase-mediated 2′-deoxyuridine, 5′-triphosphate nick end-labeling assay, and apoptotic index (AI) were evaluated at 7 days after hepatectomy. As a result, curcumin significantly increased MI and PI and significantly decreased AI in PH rats. Additionally, curcumin remarkably inhibited MDA elevation, restored impaired antioxidant SOD activity and GSH level and also attenuated hepatic vacuolar degeneration and sinusoidal congestion. These results suggested that curcumin treatment had a beneficial effect on liver regenerative capacity of the remnant liver tissue after hepatectomy, probably due to its antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and proliferative properties.
A 5-year retrospective evaluation of snakebite cases in Hatay, Turkey
Authors: Karakus Ali , Zeren Cem , Celik M Murat , Arica Secil , Ozden Raif , Duru Mehmet , Tasın Veyis
Published: January 2013

Snakebites are relatively rare medical emergency cases that might lead to serious consequences. This study aims to evaluate snakebite cases in terms of medical follow-up, antivenom therapy and antivenom reactions. Medical records of patients admitted to emergency department between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010 were retrospectively investigated. Snakebite-related cases of a total of 125 patients were included in the scope of the study. Of the total 125 cases, 54.4% were male and 45.6% were female. Most of cases ( n: 65, 52%) were aged over 30 years, while the mean age was 34.87 ± 19.29 years. Snakebite-related applications to the emergency department were mostly seen in June with 27 cases. Upon admitting, all patients were recorded to be conscious and showing good general conditions; however, they suffered from pain and edema at the site of bite. Of all, 25 patients only suffered from bite injury and ecchymosis due to snakebite. The site of bite was upper extremities in 66 patients (52.8%), whereas it was lower extremities in 58 (46.4%). Of all, antivenom was unnecessary in 25 (20%) patients, while four antivenoms were administered to each of the 23 (18.4%) patients. Furthermore, six (4.8%) patients needed nine antivenom administrations for each. Anaphylaxis ( n: 2, 1.6%), compartment syndrome ( n: 2, 1.6%) and serum sickness ( n: 1, 0.8%) encountered in remaining cases. Of all, 86 (68.8%) patients were hospitalized in the emergency department, while 25 (20.0%) patients were followed up by observation in emergency service. Only one patient was treated and followed up in intensive care unit. Implementation of antivenom therapy is considered unnecessary for the treatment of all snakebite cases. Antivenom reactions and number of related cases might be reduced by continuous close monitoring, appropriate prophylaxis and controlled slow infusion administration of medications.
Effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine on inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10) in rats
Authors: Avci Bahattin , Alacam Hasan , Dilek Ahmet , Kozan Ahmet
Published: January 2013

This study is intended to examine the effects of administration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10. A total of 30 Wistar adult albino rats were used. Group I was administrated ( n = 10) with 1 mg/kg/day of ADMA, group II ( n = 10) was administrated with 2 mg/kg/day of ADMA and the control group was administrated ( n = 10) with 0.9% sodium chloride. ADMA was intraperitoneally administrated for 7 days. The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10 were measured. There was a significant decrease in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in group I compared with that of the control group ( p < 0.001 ). There was also a significant decrease in the levels of IL-10 in group II compared with that of the control group ( p < 0.05) but the increase was much more distinct in the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α ( p < 0.001). When comparing the groups by the doses given, no difference between the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in groups I and II ( p > 0.05) was observed; the levels of TNF-α in group II were significantly lower than those of group I (p < 0.05). A significant decrease in the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10, after administration of 1 mg/kg/day and 2 mg/kg/day of ADMA, indicates that ADMA has an effect on inflammation. Increase in ADMA levels in the rats shows that the effects of inflammatory cytokines were suppressed.
A Snapshot of School-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Canada
Authors: Manion Ian , Short Kathy H. , Ferguson Bruce
Published: January 2013

The Mental Health Commission of Canada supported a comprehensive research project to determine the current state of mental health and substance use programs and practices in Canadian schools. The School-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Consortium is made up of a group of 40 leading Canadian researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. The Consortium systematically reviewed literature from around the world, conducted a program scan (147 programs) of current practices in Canadian schools, and distributed a national survey to school boards ( n = 177) and schools ( n = 643) seeking input on the state of knowledge and practice in child and youth mental health and substance abuse. This information is being shared with policy makers and school boards to help inform the delivery of future mental health services in Canada’s schools.
Commercially Sexually Exploited Girls and Participant Perceptions of Blameworthiness
Authors: Menaker Tasha A. , Franklin Cortney A.
Published: January 2013

Prostitution among female youth has been largely misunderstood, trivialized, or ignored. Increased attention has been directed toward juvenile female delinquency, particularly related to the overlap in their status as victims and offenders. Areas in this research continue to be underinvestigated, however, especially with regard to public perceptions of commercially sexually exploited girls. The current study used survey questionnaires to examine participant perceptions of the blameworthiness of a prostituted minor while considering her victimization history disclosure and race. Results indicate that victimization history disclosure significantly reduced perceptions of blameworthiness and reduced blameworthiness operated similarly for Caucasian and African American females forced into prostitution. Further research directions are discussed.
Troubled Times, Troubled Relationships
Authors: Golden Shelley D. , Perreira Krista M. , Durrance Christine Piette
Published: January 2013

We evaluate race/ethnicity and nativity-based disparities in three different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) and examine how economic hardship, maternal economic dependency, maternal gender beliefs, and neighborhood disadvantage influence these disparities. Using nationally representative data from urban mothers of young children who are living with their intimate partners ( N = 1,886), we estimate a series of unadjusted and adjusted logit models on mothers’ reports of physical assault, emotional abuse, and coercion. When their children were age 3, more than one in five mothers were living with a partner who abused them. The prevalence of any IPV was highest among Hispanic (26%) and foreign-born (35%) mothers. Economic hardship, economic dependency on a romantic partner, and traditional gender beliefs each increased women’s risk for exposure to one or more types of IPV, whereas neighborhood conditions were not significantly related to IPV in adjusted models. These factors also explained most of the racial/ethnic and nativity disparities in IPV. Policies and programs that reduce economic hardship among women with young children, promote women’s economic independence, and foster gender equity in romantic partnerships can potentially reduce multiple forms of IPV.
Journey “During” Crime
Authors: Beauregard Eric , Busina Irina
Published: January 2013

The aim of this study was to test whether there is a relationship between situational and modus operandi characteristics and criminal mobility during the sexual assault event. Data collected from both police files and semistructured interviews with 72 serial sex offenders who have committed 361 sexual assaults have been used. Negative binomial regression was used to identify the relationships between the situational and modus operandi characteristics and the criminal mobility exhibited during the sexual assault. Events that involved child or adolescent victims, those where the offender did not use pornography prior to crime, and those where victim resistance was observed exhibited more criminal mobility. Moreover, crimes in which the victim was selected, the victim was alone when approached by the offender, and the assault was characterized by sexual penetration and a lack of premeditation exhibited more criminal mobility. Results seem to suggest that criminal mobility is a goal-oriented action taken by serial sex offenders to successfully complete their crime and to avoid detection and apprehension.
Rape Myth Attitudes in Rural Kenya
Authors: Tavrow Paula , Withers Mellissa , Obbuyi Albert , Omollo Vidalyne , Wu Elizabeth
Published: January 2013

Rape myth attitudes (RMAs) can excuse men for rape, placing blame on female victims. This study identified and classified RMAs in rural western Kenya through 31 focus group discussions with youths and adults. We found that about half of the participants were likely to blame victims unconditionally. Stereotypes about rape victims and perpetrators were rife. Five of seven standardly used RMA categories emerged spontaneously in focus groups, along with a new category: “she owed him.” Based on the data, we developed a “blame index” to assess the likelihood of community victim blaming in Kenya. To reduce victim blaming and bring about more prosecutions for rape, community education, teacher training, and reforms of rape laws are highly recommended.