bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathomechanism of Congenital Malformations
Authors: Laforgia Nicola , Di Mauro Antonio , Favia Guarnieri Giovanna , Varvara Dora , De Cosmo Lucrezia , Panza Raffaella , Capozza Manuela , Baldassarre Maria Elisabetta , Resta Nicoletta
Published: December 2018

Congenital anomalies are significant causes of mortality and morbidity in infancy and childhood. Embryogenesis requires specific signaling pathways to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. These signaling pathways are sensitive to endogenous and exogenous agents able to produce several structural changes of the developing fetus. Oxidative stress, due to an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses, disrupts signaling pathways with a causative role in birth defects. This review provides a basis for understanding the role of oxidative stress in the pathomechanism of congenital malformations, discussing the mechanisms related to some congenital malformations. New insights in the knowledge of pathomechanism of oxidative stress‐related congenital malformations, according to experimental and human studies, represent the basis of possible clinical applications in screening, prevention, and therapies.
Research and Application of Heavy-Equipment Parachute Rope Tension Sensor
Authors: Yao Min , Jin Yanhua , Zhao Min , Xu Shaohua
Published: December 2018

Heavy-equipment airdrops are mainly used to deliver relief supplies and heavy weapons. Given the heavy weight of the goods, the tension of the extraction and brake ropes of the parachute significantly affects the safety of the aircraft. On the basis of the measurement and installation characteristics of the parachute rope, this study designed the structure of a nondestructive pressure-type parachute rope tension sensor and set the location of the strain gauge patch using the ANSYS simulation software to obtain a high sensor sensitivity. The temperature error of the tension sensor is compensated, and the precision is improved using the LSSVM-PSO (Least Squares Support Vector Machine-Particle Swarm Optimization) algorithm. The developed tension sensor is applied to the extraction parachute test system to measure the traction of 2 and 8 m2 parachutes. Test results show that the maximum weight of the platform these two parachutes can draw and the effect of parachute opening can be calculated.
Computational Studies Applied to Flavonoids against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases
Authors: Monteiro Alex France M. , Viana Jéssika De O. , Nayarisseri Anuraj , Zondegoumba Ernestine N. , Mendonça Junior Francisco Jaime B. , Scotti Marcus Tullius , Scotti Luciana
Published: December 2018

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, are understood as occurring through genetic, cellular, and multifactor pathophysiological mechanisms. Several natural products such as flavonoids have been reported in the literature for having the capacity to cross the blood‐brain barrier and slow the progression of such diseases. The present article reports on in silico enzymatic target studies and natural products as inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In this study we evaluated 39 flavonoids using prediction of molecular properties and in silico docking studies, while comparing against 7 standard reference compounds: 4 for Parkinson’s and 3 for Alzheimer’s. Osiris analysis revealed that most of the flavonoids presented no toxicity and good absorption parameters. The Parkinson’s docking results using selected flavonoids as compared to the standards with four proteins revealed similar binding energies, indicating that the compounds 8‐prenylnaringenin, europinidin, epicatechin gallate, homoeriodictyol, capensinidin, and rosinidin are potential leads with the necessary pharmacological and structural properties to be drug candidates. The Alzheimer’s docking results suggested that seven of the 39 flavonoids studied, being those with the best molecular docking results, presenting no toxicity risks, and having good absorption rates (8‐prenylnaringenin, europinidin, epicatechin gallate, homoeriodictyol, aspalathin, butin, and norartocarpetin) for the targets analyzed, are the flavonoids which possess the most adequate pharmacological profiles.
Hypocomplementemia as a Risk Factor for Organ Damage Accrual in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Raymond Warren , Eilertsen Gro , Nossent Johannes
Published: December 2018

While it is a common practice to monitor complement levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to aid in flare prediction and detection, it is unclear if this strategy is helpful in preventing subsequent organ damage. We studied longitudinal complement levels in 102 SLE patients during a median follow-up of 13.8 years (IQR 7.0, 23.1). Low complement was defined as C3 < 0.84 g/L and/or C4 < 0.08 g/L, disease activity by clinical SLEDAI-2K, and organ damage by SLICC-DI. We calculated a time averaged clinical SLEDAI score (cWAS) and performed multivariate regression models to assess the independent predictive value of low complement for organ damage at last visit. Hypocomplementemia (HC) was observed in 67% of all patients and was more often due to low C3 (97%) than low C4 (54%). Compared to patients not developing HC (33%), HC patients were more frequently positive for anti-dsDNA Ab (72% vs 36%, p<0.01) and aPL (74% vs 40%, p<0.01) but HC was concurrently present with anti-dsDNA Ab in only half the cases. The time-adjusted cWAS scores (1.9 vs 1.2, p=0.9), frequency (SDI > 0, n=60), and type of organ damage accrual were similar for patients with and without HC (OR 1.08, p>0.20). Intermittent or sustained HC has no predictive value for damage accrual in SLE or the underlying disease activity over time. This together with significant discrepancies in the concurrence of low C3, C4, and anti-dsDNA Ab indicates frequent activation of the complement pathway by other factors than immune complexes in SLE.
An RSSD-Based Fingerprint Positioning Method for Detection of an Unknown Radio Transmitter Using WLS and Factor Graph
Authors: Zhang Liyang , Du Taihang , Jiang Chundong
Published: December 2018

Realizing accurate detection of an unknown radio transmitter (URT) has become a challenge problem due to its unknown parameter information. A method based on received signal strength difference (RSSD) fingerprint positioning technique and using factor graph (FG) has been successfully developed to achieve the localization of an URT. However, the RSSD-based FG model is not accurate enough to express the relationship between the RSSD and the corresponding location coordinates since the RSSD variances of reference points are different in practice. This paper proposes an enhanced RSSD-based FG algorithm using weighted least square (WLS) to effectively reduce the impact of RSSD measurement variance difference on positioning accuracy. By the use of stochastic RSSD errors between the measured value and the estimated value of the selected reference points, we utilize the error weight matrix to establish a new WLSFG model. Then, the positioning process of proposed RSSD-WLSFG algorithm is derived with the sum-product principle. In addition, the paper also explores the effects of different access point (AP) numbers and grid distances on positioning accuracy. The simulation experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain the best positioning performance compared with the conventional RSSD-based K nearest neighbor (RSSD-KNN) and RSSD-FG algorithms in the case of different AP numbers and grid distances.
Olecranon Apophyseal Nonunion in Adolescent Judo Players: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Yamaura Kohei , Mifune Yutaka , Inui Atsuyuki , Nishimoto Hanako , Ueda Yasuhiro , Kataoka Takeshi , Kurosawa Takashi , Mukohara Shintaro , Kokubu Takeshi , Kuroda Ryosuke
Published: December 2018

Olecranon apophyseal nonunion is an elbow injury from overuse that affects adolescent athletes such as baseball pitchers who participate in overhead throwing sports. However, such injury is rare in collision sports. Here, we report two patients with this condition who are Judo athletes. The purpose of this report was to describe three elbows with olecranon apophyseal nonunion in two adolescent patients participating in Judo. This is a case series; the level of evidence is 4. Two 15-year-old patients were evaluated. One suffered from unilateral and the other from bilateral chronic posterior elbow pain. They were diagnosed with olecranon apophyseal nonunion, which was treated using internal fixation and bone grafting. Radiographic evidence of the apophyseal union was observed four months postsurgery. Two elbows were treated with tension band wiring, then they underwent hardware removal six months postsurgery. Both patients returned to their previous levels of activities six months postsurgery. Internal fixation using autologous bone grafting was a useful treatment for these Judo athletes with olecranon apophyseal nonunion.
Shock Wave Characteristics of Hydraulic Shock Wave Simulator with Variable Damping
Authors: Xu Xiaoqiu , Wang Zhongwen , Han Junwei , Cong Dacheng
Published: December 2018

For simulating the shock wave with high peak force in a short duration, a novel variable damping hydraulic shock wave simulator was developed, and it was used for simulating the cannon recoil motion. The working principle of this simulator was explained with the assistance of established mathematical model and the flow behavior in damping channel was analyzed. The shock wave characteristics curves were obtained by using the numerical computation method. The results showed that the shock wave characteristics were directly related to the sectional area of the damping channel and the damping fluid medium characteristic; the shock wave curve can be simulated by adjusting the variable damping parameters. The computational results agreed well with the theory analysis, which meant that the proposed mathematical model can be used for supplying theoretical references for the cannon recoil motion in artillery fire shock simulation test.
Operating Room Surgery Scheduling with Fuzzy Surgery Durations Using a Metaheuristic Approach
Authors: Nazif Habibeh
Published: December 2018

Operating room (OR) surgery scheduling is a challenging combinatorial optimization problem that determines the operation start time of every surgery to be performed in different surgical groups, as well as the resources assigned to each surgery over a schedule period. One of the main challenges in health care systems is to deliver the highest quality of care at the lowest cost. In real-life situations, there is significant uncertainty in several of the activities involved in the delivery of surgical care, including the duration of the surgical procedures. This paper tackles the operating room surgery scheduling problem with uncertain surgery durations, where uncertainty in surgery durations is represented by means of fuzzy numbers. The problem can be considered as a Fuzzy Flexible Job-shop Scheduling Problem (FFJSP) due to similarities between operating room surgery scheduling with uncertain surgery durations and a multi-resource constraint flexible job-shop scheduling problem with uncertain processing times. This research handles both the advanced and allocation scheduling problems simultaneously and provides an Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) metaheuristic algorithm which utilized a two-level ant graph to integrate sequencing jobs and allocating resources at the same time. To assess the performance of the proposed method, a computational study on five test surgery cases is presented, considering both deterministic and fuzzy surgery durations to enhance the significance of the study. The results of this experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed metaheuristic algorithm.
Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Polynesian Male with a History of Rheumatic Fever: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Diaz Charyse , Lim Matthew A. , Liu Chloe A. , Miwa Chloe S. , Tokunaga Darcy , Hamamura Faith D. , Yamamoto Kara , Kurahara David
Published: December 2018

The presence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has rarely been described in one patient. This report describes an adolescent Polynesian male with RHD who developed SLE years later. Initially, he fulfilled modified Jones criteria for rheumatic fever with aortic insufficiency, transient arthritis, elevated streptococcal titers, and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate with a negative antinuclear antibody (ANA). He responded well to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and penicillin prophylaxis, which supported the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. Five years after his RHD diagnosis, he developed pancreatitis with glomerulonephritis, nephrosis, and pancytopenia. In addition, laboratory results revealed that he had multiple autoantibodies: anti-Sm and extremely elevated anti-dsDNA and ANA, fulfilling diagnostic criteria for SLE. The patient was treated, and he responded to pulse steroids followed by oral steroid therapy. To our knowledge, there are no known reported cases of a patient who was diagnosed with both RHD and SLE and met the clinical criteria for both diseases. The rarity of this concurrent disease process in one patient suggests a possible overlap in humoral immunity toward self-antigens as well as ethnic variability that increases predisposition to rheumatologic diseases.
Development of a Novel Launch System Microwave Rocket Powered by Millimeter-Wave Discharge
Authors: Komurasaki Kimiya , Tabata Kuniyoshi
Published: December 2018

This paper presents the state of art of Microwave Rocket development and related researches on atmospheric discharge in a high-power millimeter-wave beam. Its operational mechanisms, thruster design, history of development, and flight path and cost analyses are introduced along with millimeter-wave discharge observations and numerical simulations. A thruster model of 126 g weight with no on-board propellant was launched to 1.2 m altitude using a 1 MW class gyrotron. A flight analysis that shows 77% cost reduction is possible using Microwave Rocket as the first stage of H-IIB heavy. A millimeter-wave discharge with unique plasma structure such as a quarter-wavelength microstructure and a comb-shaped filamentary structure was observed and reproduced by a two-dimensional numerical model.
Citation Classics in Cone Beam Computed Tomography: The 100 Top-Cited Articles
Authors: Gondivkar Shailesh M. , Sarode Sachin C. , Gadbail Amol R. , Gondivkar Rima S. , Choudhary Nilookumari , Patil Shankargouda
Published: December 2018

Aim. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize the 100 most cited articles on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods. A comprehensive list of citation classics in CBCT was generated by searching the Scopus database without year or language restrictions. The top 100 articles were retrieved after reading abstracts or full texts. The following study variables were evaluated: number of citations, citation density, journal name, impact factor, category and quartile of journals, publication year, authors with their affiliations, article type, and topics covered. Results. The citation number ranged from 86 to 624, with a mean of 161.9 citations per article. The top 100 articles were distributed in 29 journals, and the journal with the most articles was Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (n=16). The articles were published between 1998 and 2012, and eight authors published more than 3 papers. The USA produced the most papers (n=38), followed by the UK (n=12). King’s college London Dental Institute led the list of classics, with 8 articles. Conclusions. This is the first citation analysis to provide a detailed list of the most influential articles on CBCT and helps to recognize the quality of the works, discoveries, and trends steering the field.
Structural Characterization and Antitumor Activity of Polysaccharides from Kaempferia galanga L.
Authors: Yang Xu , Ji Haiyu , Feng Yingying , Yu Juan , Liu Anjun
Published: December 2018

The water‐soluble polysaccharides from Kaempferia galanga L. (KGPs) were extracted and purified, and their structural characteristics and antitumor activity were further investigated. The UV spectrum, high‐performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion chromatography (IC) were employed to evaluate the structural characteristics, and H22 tumor‐bearing mice model was established to demonstrate the antitumor activity. Physicochemical analysis and UV spectrum results showed that the proportions of total sugar, protein, and uronic acid in KGPs were 85.23%, 0.54%, and 24.17%, respectively. HPGPC, FTIR, and IC indicated that KGPs were acidic polysaccharides with skeletal modes of pyranose rings and mainly composed of arabinose and galactose with the average molecular weight of 8.5 × 105 Da. The in vivo antitumor experiments showed that KGPs could effectively protect the thymus and spleen of tumor‐bearing mice from solid tumors and enhance the immunoregulatory ability of CD4+ T cells, the cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, and finally resulting in the inhibitory effects on H22 solid tumors. This study provided a theoretical foundation for the practical application of KGPs in food and medical industries.
Curcumin Exerted Neuroprotection against Ozone‐Induced Oxidative Damage and Decreased NF‐κB Activation in Rat Hippocampus and Serum Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Nery-Flores Sendar Daniel , Mendoza-Magaña María Luisa , Ramírez-Herrera Mario Alberto , Ramírez-Vázquez José de Jesús , Romero-Prado Marina María de Jesús , Cortez-Álvarez César Ricardo , Ramírez-Mendoza Abraham Alberto
Published: December 2018

Ozone is a harmful tropospheric pollutant, causing the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that lead to oxidative damage in living beings. NF‐κB can be activated in response to oxidative damage, inducing an inflammatory response. Nowadays, there are no reliable results that consolidate the use of antioxidants to protect from damage caused by ozone, particularly in highly polluted cities. Curcumin has a strong antioxidant activity and is a potent inhibitor of NF‐κB activation with no side effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of curcumin in preventive and therapeutic approaches against oxidative damage, NF‐κB activation, and the rise in serum levels of IL‐1β and TNF‐α induced by acute and chronic exposure to ozone in rat hippocampus. One hundred male Wistar rats were distributed into five groups; the intact control, curcumin‐fed control, the ozone‐exposed group, and the preventive and therapeutic groups. These last two groups were exposed to ozone and received food supplemented with curcumin. Lipid peroxidation was determined by spectrophotometry, and protein oxidation was evaluated by immunodetection of carbonylated proteins and densitometry analysis. Activation of NF‐κB was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β and TNF‐α) were determined by ELISA. Curcumin decreased NF‐κB activation and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines as well as protein and lipid oxidation, in both therapeutic and preventive approaches. Curcumin has proven to be a phytodrug against the damage caused by the environmental exposure to ozone.
A Biologically Inspired Framework for the Intelligent Control of Mechatronic Systems and Its Application to a Micro Diving Agent
Authors: Bessa Wallace M. , Brinkmann Gerrit , Duecker Daniel A. , Kreuzer Edwin , Solowjow Eugen
Published: December 2018

Mechatronic systems are becoming an intrinsic part of our daily life, and the adopted control approach in turn plays an essential role in the emulation of the intelligent behavior. In this paper, a framework for the development of intelligent controllers is proposed. We highlight that robustness, prediction, adaptation, and learning, which may be considered the most fundamental traits of all intelligent biological systems, should be taken into account within the project of the control scheme. Hence, the proposed framework is based on the fusion of a nonlinear control scheme with computational intelligence and also allows mechatronic systems to be able to make reasonable predictions about its dynamic behavior, adapt itself to changes in the plant, learn by interacting with the environment, and be robust to both structured and unstructured uncertainties. In order to illustrate the implementation of the control law within the proposed framework, a new intelligent depth controller is designed for a microdiving agent. On this basis, sliding mode control is combined with an adaptive neural network to provide the basic intelligent features. Online learning by minimizing a composite error signal, instead of supervised off-line training, is adopted to update the weight vector of the neural network. The boundedness and convergence properties of all closed-loop signals are proved using a Lyapunov-like stability analysis. Numerical simulations and experimental results obtained with the microdiving agent demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach and its suitableness for both stabilization and trajectory tracking problems.
Fasudil Promotes BMSC Migration via Activating the MAPK Signaling Pathway and Application in a Model of Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Zhan Jiheng , He Jianbo , Chen Meihui , Luo Dan , Lin Dingkun
Published: December 2018

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are considered as transplants for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) trauma, but the therapeutic effect is restricted by their finite mobility and homing capacity. Fasudil (FAS), a potent Rho kinase inhibitor, has been reported to alleviate nerve damage and induce the differentiation of BMSCs into neuron-like cells. However, the effect of FAS on the migration of BMSCs remains largely unknown. The present study revealed that FAS significantly enhanced the migration ability and actin stress fiber formation of BMSCs in vitro with an optimal concentration of 30 μmol/L. Moreover, we found that activation of the MAPK signaling pathway was involved in these FAS-mediated phenomena. In vivo, cells pretreated with FAS showed greater homing capacity from the injection site to the spinal cord injury site. Taken together, the present results indicate that FAS acts as a promoting factor of BMSC migration both in vitro and in vivo, possibly by inducing actin stress fiber formation via the MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that FAS might possess synergistic effect in stem cell transplantation of CNS trauma.
SOSYAL POLİTİKALARIN YENİDEN DİZAYNI: KÜRESELLEŞMEYLE BERABER GELEN YERELLEŞME
Authors: KARAGÖL Erdal Tanas , İPEK Esat
Published: December 2018

Dünya tarihinde önceleri sivil toplum ve aile tarafından ihtiyaç sahiplerine ulaştırılan sosyal politika uygulamaları, değişen konjonktür ve sosyal yapı gereği, devletler tarafından üstlenilen bir sorumluluk haline gelmiştir. Küreselleşme rüzgarı bu değişim sürecinde yeni bir kırılma noktasının yaşanmasına sebep olmuştur. Dünya üzerinde her ülke farklı özelliklere sahip olduğu için sosyal politika anlayışlarında da farklılar mevcuttur. Her ne kadar yerel yönetimler sosyal alanda daha görünür olmaya başlasalar da bu, her ülkede farklı şekillerde ve yöntemlerle hayata geçmiştir. Bazen sivil toplum kuruluşları kamunun yerel idari birimleri gibi hareket etmişler bazen de güçlü bir merkezi otoritenin belirlediği çerçeve doğrultusunda sadece uygulayıcı olarak görev almışlardır. Ya da bütüncül bir sosyal politika anlayışı yerine sadece belirli bazı alanlarda faaliyet göstermişlerdir. Türkiye’de kırdan kente doğru yaşanan büyük iç göç hareketleriyle beraber sosyal yapıda ve demografik yapıda ortaya çıkan değişiklikler sonucunda yeni birtakım ihtiyaçlar kendini göstermiştir. Bu da yeni sosyal sorunları ortaya çıkarmış ve bugüne kadar vakıflar ve cemaatler aracılığıyla halka ulaştırılan sosyal politika uygulamalarının yetersiz kalmaya başlamasına neden olmuştur. Sivil toplumun bu alanda eksik kalması devletin daha çok sorumluluk almasını zorunlu kılmıştır. Dünyada hakim olan küreselleşme furyası ise devletin almış olduğu sorumluluğun merkez ve yerel arasında bölüşülmesine sebep olmuştur. Liberal anlayışın dünyada ağırlık kazanmaya başlamasıyla beraber, var olan sınırları yok sayan bir ticaret dünya genelinde kendini göstermeye başlamıştır. Bu anlayış ekonominin yanında siyasal ve toplumsal alanda da etkili olmuş ve daha ileri bir demokratikleşme hedeflenerek; yerel siyaset, yerel katılım ve yerel haklar gibi kavramlar ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu noktada yönetişim ve yerindelik kavramları da gün yüzüne çıkmıştır. Bu yeni kavramlar her alanda olduğu gibi sosyal politika alanında da bir dönüşümü tetiklemiş ve yerel yönetimlerin burada daha fazla rol almalarına kapı aralamıştır.
The Evolution and Arrest of a Turbulent Stratified Oceanic Bottom Boundary Layer over a Slope: Downslope Regime
Authors: Ruan Xiaozhou , Thompson Andrew F. , Taylor John R.
Published: December 2018

The dynamics of a stratified oceanic bottom boundary layer (BBL) over an insulating, sloping surface depend critically on the intersection of density surfaces with the bottom. For an imposed along-slope flow, the cross-slope Ekman transport advects density surfaces and generates a near-bottom geostrophic thermal wind shear that opposes the background flow. A limiting case occurs when a momentum balance is achieved between the Coriolis force and a restoring buoyancy force in response to the displacement of stratified fluid over the slope: this is known as Ekman arrest. However, the turbulent characteristics that accompany this adjustment have received less attention. We present two estimates to characterize the state of the BBL based on the mixed layer thickness: Ha and HL. The former characterizes the steady Ekman arrested state, and the latter characterizes a relaminarized state. The derivation of HL makes use of a newly defined slope Obukhov length Ls that characterizes the relative importance of shear production and cross-slope buoyancy advection. The value of Ha can be combined with the temporally evolving depth of the mixed layer H to form a nondimensional variable H/Ha that provides a similarity prediction of the BBL evolution across different turbulent regimes. The length scale Ls can also be used to obtain an expression for the wall stress when the BBL relaminarizes. We validate these relationships using output from a suite of three-dimensional large-eddy simulations. We conclude that the BBL reaches the relaminarized state before the steady Ekman arrested state. Calculating H/Ha and H/HL from measurements will provide information on the stage of oceanic BBL development being observed. These diagnostics may also help to improve numerical parameterizations of stratified BBL dynamics over sloping topography.
The Role of School-Level Mechanisms: How Principal Support, Professional Learning Communities, Collective Responsibility, and Group-Level Teacher Expectations Affect Student Achievement
Authors: Park Joo-Ho , Lee In Heok , Cooc North
Published: December 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how principal support, professional learning communities, collective responsibility, and group-level teacher expectations affect 11th-grade student math achievement. Research Methods: Data for this study were from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. This study used a multilevel structural equation model to examine how principal support, professional learning communities, collective responsibility, and teacher expectations at the group level affect school math achievement. Findings: The study identified a model of school-level factors affecting students: Principal support positively influenced both professional learning communities and collective responsibility, which in turn, affected student math achievement via group-level teacher expectations; on the other hand, the impact of principal support on group-level teacher expectation and the direct associations of both professional learning communities and collective responsibility with student achievement were not statically significant. Implications: Focusing on how a school-level mechanism influences student achievement provides a better understanding of sustaining high school performance through school reform initiatives (e.g., principal leadership training, building professional learning communities, or interventions to improve group-level teachers’ expectations). To improve student achievement, the current study emphasizes why principals should give more attention to exerting supportive and egalitarian leadership that can contribute to a school’s positive climate and lead to changing teachers’ instructional behaviors and attitudes, rather than focusing on directive or restrictive leadership and managing behaviors.
Hip Joint Torsional Loading Before and After Cam Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery
Authors: Ng K.C. Geoffrey , El Daou Hadi , Bankes Marcus J.K. , Rodriguez y Baena Ferdinando , Jeffers Jonathan R.T.
Published: December 2018

Background:

Surgical management of cam femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) aims to preserve the native hip and restore joint function, although it is unclear how the capsulotomy, cam deformity, and capsular repair influence joint mechanics to balance functional mobility.

Purpose:

To examine the contributions of the capsule and cam deformity to hip joint mechanics. Using in vitro, cadaveric methods, we examined the individual effects of the surgical capsulotomy, cam resection, and capsular repair on passive range of motion and resistance of applied torque.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Twelve cadaveric hips with cam deformities were skeletonized to the capsule and mounted onto a robotic testing platform. The robot positioned each intact hip in multiple testing positions: (1) extension, (2) neutral 0°, (3) flexion 30°, (4) flexion 90°, (5) flexion-adduction and internal rotation (FADIR), and (6) flexion-abduction and external rotation. Then the robot performed applicable internal and external rotations, recording the neutral path of motion until a 5-N·m of torque was reached in each rotational direction. Each hip then underwent a series of surgical stages (T-capsulotomy, cam resection, capsular repair) and was retested to reach 5 N·m of internal and external torque again after each stage. During the capsulotomy and cam resection stages, the initial intact hip’s recorded path of motion was replayed to measure changes in resisted torque.

Results:

Regarding changes in motion, external rotation increased substantially after capsulotomies, but internal rotation only further increased at flexion 90° (change +32%, P = .001, d = 0.58) and FADIR (change +33%, P < .001, d = 0.51) after cam resections. Capsular repair provided marginal restraint for internal rotation but restrained the external rotation compared with the capsulotomy stage. Regarding changes in torque, both internal and external torque resistance decreased after capsulotomy. Compared with the capsulotomy stage, cam resection further reduced internal torque resistance during flexion 90° (change −45%, P < .001, d = 0.98) and FADIR (change −37%, P = .003, d = 1.0), where the cam deformity accounted for 21% of the intact hip’s torsional resistance in flexion 90° and 27% in FADIR.

Conclusion:

Although the capsule played a predominant role in joint constraint, the cam deformity provided 21% to 27% of the intact hip’s resistance to torsional load in flexion and internal rotation. Resecting the cam deformity would remove this loading on the chondrolabral junction.

Clinical Relevance:

These findings are the first to quantify the contribution of the cam deformity to resisting hip joint torsional loads and thus quantify the reduced loading on the chondrolabral complex that can be achieved after cam resection.
Superior Capsule Reconstruction for Reinforcement of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Improves Cuff Integrity
Authors: Mihata Teruhisa , Lee Thay Q. , Hasegawa Akihiko , Fukunishi Kunimoto , Kawakami Takeshi , Fujisawa Yukitaka , Ohue Mutsumi , Doi Munekazu , Neo Masashi
Published: December 2018

Background:

Retear of repaired rotator cuff tendons worsens patient outcome and decreases patient satisfaction. Superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) was developed to center the humeral head and thus restore the force couple for patients with rotator cuff tears.

Purpose:

To evaluate whether SCR for reinforcement before arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) improves cuff integrity.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Thirty-four consecutive patients (mean age, 69.1 years) with severely degenerated but reparable rotator cuff tears underwent SCR with fascia lata autografts for reinforcement before ARCR. All tears were medium (1-3 cm) or large (3-5 cm), and the number of torn tendons was 2 (supraspinatus and infraspinatus) in 29 shoulders and 3 (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis) in 5 shoulders. To assess the benefit of SCR for reinforcement, all data were compared with those after ARCR alone among 91 consecutive patients with medium or large rotator cuff tears (mean age, 63.6 years). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, active shoulder range of motion, and cuff integrity (Sugaya magnetic resonance imaging classification) were compared ( t test and chi-square test) between ARCR with and without SCR, as well as before surgery and at final follow-up.

Results:

All 34 patients who underwent SCR before ARCR had neither postoperative retear nor type III cuff integrity, whereas those treated with ARCR alone had a 4% incidence (4 of 91) of retear and 8% incidence of type III cuff integrity. ASES and JOA scores, active elevation, active external rotation, and active internal rotation increased in both treatment groups ( P < .001). Postoperative ASES score and active range of motion did not differ between groups, although the Goutallier grade of the supraspinatus was higher for ARCR with SCR (mean, 2.8) than ARCR alone (mean, 2.1; P < .0001).

Conclusion:

SCR for reinforcement prevented retear at 1 year after ARCR and improved the quality of the repaired tendon on magnetic resonance imaging. Functional outcomes were similar between groups, even though degeneration of the torn tendons was greater among patients who underwent ARCR with SCR.
The Mental Health of Young Canadians Who Are Not Working or in School
Authors: Gariépy Geneviève , Iyer Srividya
Published: December 2018

Objective:

Recent studies suggest that youth who have a mental health problem are more likely to be NEET—not in education, employment, or training—but findings remain mixed, and evidence from Canada is limited. We examined this association across a range of mental and substance disorders in a representative sample of Canadian youth.

Method:

Data were from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health ( n = 5622; ages 15-29). The survey identified past-year mental (depression, bipolar, generalized anxiety) and substance (alcohol, cannabis, other drugs) disorders from a structured interview and included questions on suicidal ideation. We classified as NEET respondents who were not in school or employed in the past week. Logistic regression models tested the associations between mental and substance disorders and NEET status, adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and geographic variables.

Results:

About 10% of youth were NEET. Being NEET was associated with past-year depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 2.63); bipolar (OR = 2.31; 95% CI, 0.98 to 5.45), generalized anxiety (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.37 to 5.12), and drug use (OR = 3.22; 95% CI, 1.33 to 7.76) disorders; and suicidal ideation (OR = 1.75; 95% CI, 0.99 to 3.09) but was not associated with alcohol (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.69) or cannabis (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.47 to 2.00) disorders.

Conclusions:

Poor mental health was associated with being NEET in Canadian youth. Efforts targeting NEET should include provisions for mental health. Moreover, youth mental health initiatives should consider educational and employment outcomes. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted.
The impact of rail industry restructuring on incentives to adopt innovation: A case study of Britain
Authors: Nash Chris , Matthews Bryan , Smith Andrew
Published: December 2018

This paper examines whether there are features of the structure and regulation of the British rail industry which fail to provide adequate incentives for innovation and how to overcome those found. British experience is of wider interest because Britain has gone further than any other European country to try to provide appropriate incentives through sophisticated track access charges and performance regimes and through cost- and revenue-sharing arrangements. The methodology adopted in this study started with a literature review but then followed this up with a round of interviews in Britain and a more limited round of interviews in Germany and Sweden plus reports prepared by partners on Sweden, France and Slovenia. The two main issues identified are fragmentation of the rail system, so that the organisation bearing the costs of the innovation may not receive the benefits, and short time horizons produced by franchising and regulatory arrangements. A variety of solutions have been tried in different European countries, including the holding company model, government leadership and alliances or other cost- and revenue-sharing arrangements, but all have disadvantages as well as advantages, and the best approach to take depends on circumstances such as whether there is, or could be, a single dominant operator on the network concerned.
Effects of Computerized Interventions on Risky Alcohol Use Among Youth: Systematic Review
Authors: Smedslund Geir , Nilsen Wendy , Wollscheid Sabine , Steiro Asbjørn , Fang Lin , Larun Lillebeth
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

The study assessed the effectiveness of computerized brief interventions (CBIs) for youth (aged 15–25) defined as risky alcohol users.

Methods:

We searched 10 electronic databases. Eligible studies were randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials examining the effect of CBIs for youth.

Results:

Fifty-three studies with 33,316 participants were included. Moderate quality evidence showed CBIs to reduce risky alcohol use compared to single-dose assessment. Short-term (<6 months) effects were overall larger than long-term (≥6 months) effects. None of the studies reported adverse effects.

Conclusions:

The positive effects, easy administration, and lack of adverse effects of CBIs indicate that such brief interventions are a feasible way to reduce risky alcohol use in youth.
Bilingual children do not transfer stress patterns: Evidence from suprasegmental and segmental analysis of L1 and L2 speech of Polish–English child bilinguals
Authors: Zembrzuski Dariusz , Marecka Marta , Otwinowska Agnieszka , Zajbt Ewa , Krzemiński Marek , Szewczyk Jakub , Wodniecka Zofia
Published: December 2018

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

The study examines bilingual children’s prosodic competence, specifically the ability to correctly assign word stress in both languages, and contrasts it with participants’ segmental competence. To this end, we estimated and compared the magnitude of prosodic and segmental transfer in L1 and L2 speech of typically developing Polish–English migrant bilingual children raised in the UK. We also explored the influence of cumulative language exposure on both types of transfer.

Design/methodology/approach:

A non-word repetition task was used in both languages to assess children’s faithfulness in repeating segmentals and stress patterns in two to five syllable-long items. Also, a parental questionnaire on cumulative language exposure was conducted to estimate the quality of input in both languages. All children ( N = 59, M = 5;8) were early bilinguals raised in the UK.

Data and analysis:

A 2x2 ANOVA and a correlation analysis were conducted to compare the magnitude of prosodic and segmental transfer, within and across languages. Also, multiple regression analysis was performed to establish the predictors of transfer in L1 and L2.

Findings/conclusions:

The bilingual children repeated stress patterns in both languages correctly, showing resistance to transfer in word stress, even though bidirectional transfer was observed in segmentals. The magnitude of segmental transfer in Polish and English was predicted by cumulative exposure to English, while prosodic transfer in Polish was predicted by cumulative exposure to Polish.

Originality and significance/implications:

The study provides evidence on word stress placement in the age group of bilingual children, 4–7 years of age, in comparison with segmental data. It uses a novel methodology in comparing the magnitude of transfer between prosody and segmentals, within and across languages. Moreover, the study highlights the importance of language exposure for reducing the amount of segmental transfer in this group of children.
Expanding the use of posthumous assisted reproduction technique: Should the deceased’s parents be allowed to use his sperm?
Authors: Ram-Tiktin Efrat , Gilbar Roy , Fruchter Ronit B , Ben-Ami Ido , Friedler Shevach , Shalom-Paz Einat
Published: December 2018

The posthumous retrieval and use of gametes is socially, ethically, and legally controversial. In the countries that do not prohibit the practice, posthumous assisted reproduction is usually permitted only at the request of the surviving spouse and only when the deceased left written consent. This paper presents the recommendations of an ethics committee established by the Israeli Fertility Association. In its discussions, the committee addressed the ethical considerations of posthumous use of sperm—even in the absence of written consent from the deceased—at the request of either the spouse or the deceased’s parents who wish to become the offspring’s parents or grandparents. It is concluded that under certain conditions, a request by the deceased’s parents to posthumously use the deceased’s sperm is justified and should be granted.
Do Caregiver Characteristics Affect Caregiver Burden Differently in Different Countries?
Authors: Konerding Uwe , Bowen Tom , Forte Paul , Karampli Eleftheria , Malmström Tomi , Pavi Elpida , Torkki Paulus , Graessel Elmar
Published: December 2018

The relationships between caregiver burden as measured with the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers–short form and 6 characteristics of caregivers caring for patients with dementia were investigated for caregivers from England (n = 36), Finland (n = 42), and Greece (n = 46) using survey data. In all 3 countries, caregiver burden increases with physical problems of the caregiver, emotional problems of the caregiver, and weekly hours of care. Hence, in all 3 countries, special support for informal care is required when these characteristics are at high levels. When the caregiver is a spouse or long-term partner of the person with dementia, lives in the same house as this person, or spends fewer than 20 h/wk for other duties than care, this is associated with less caregiver burden in England but with more caregiver burden in Greece. Accordingly, special support is required for Greek caregivers with these characteristics, but the opposite is true for English caregivers.
Research on Babesia: A bibliometric assessment of a neglected tick-borne parasite
Authors: Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Bonilla-Aldana D. Katterine , Escalera-Antezana Juan Pablo , Alvarado-Arnez Lucia Elena
Published: December 2018

Given the emergence and reemergence of tick-borne diseases, here we assessed the publishing patterns of research focused on Babesia. We also discuss the implications for the articles published in the last decade, and how more clinical and epidemiological information concerning Babesia is still required. The findings of this article would be useful to define research priorities about Babesia and diagnose the important of scientific production on this pathogen.
Gender dysphoria symptoms in schizophrenia
Authors: Stusiński Jarosław , Lew-Starowicz Michał
Published: December 2018

Dysforia płci u osób chorujących na schizofrenię może wynikać ze zmienionej urojeniowo identyfikacji z płcią lub ujawniać się niezależnie od procesu psychotycznego. Rozróżnienie tych sytuacji jest nie tylko wyzwaniem diagnostycznym, ale wpływa także na podejmowanie decyzji terapeutycznych. Z dokonanego przeglądu literatury wynika, że różnego rodzaju urojeniowe przekonania dotyczące przynależności do innej płci, budowy lub zmian zachodzących w narządach płciowych występują o około jednej czwartej pacjentów chorujących na schizofrenię. Współczesne klasyfikacje zaburzeń zmierzają w kierunku zniesienia zaburzeń psychotycznych jako kryterium dyskwalifikującego rozpoznanie zaburzeń identyfikacji z płcią. Zwraca się także uwagę, że schizofrenia może zmieniać obraz zaburzeń identyfikacji z płcią, np. przez nadawanie znaczeń i urojeniowe interpretacje faktu niezgodności płci fenotypowej z poczuciem przynależności płciowej. Równocześnie, przed podjęciem decyzji terapeutycznych (szczególnie ukierunkowanych na zmianę płci), konieczne jest wykluczenie psychotycznego podłoża pragnienia zmiany płci. W przypadku współwystępowania zaburzeń, kluczowym staje się ocena chronologii i dynamiki występowania poszczególnych objawów, ich stałości (przedłużona obserwacja), krytycyzmu pacjenta i odpowiedzi na leczenie przeciwpsychotyczne.
Case-control study analysis of DRD2 gene polymorphisms in drug addicted patients
Authors: Sznabowicz Mariusz , Jasiewicz Andrzej , Iskra-Trifunović Joanna , Małecka Iwona , Karakiewicz Beata , Kotwas Artur , Samochowiec Jerzy , Grzywacz Anna
Published: December 2018

Cel pracy

Celem przedstawionego badania było wykazanie związku pomiędzy wybranymi polimorfizmami genu receptora dopaminy DRD2 a uzależnieniem od narkotyków.

Metoda

W badaniu zrekrutowano 100 osób uzależnionych od narkotyków, leczonych w stacjonarnych ośrodkach leczenia uzależnień na terenie Polski. Uczestnicy zostali przebadani z zastosowaniem ustrukturyzowanego wywiadu klinicznego SSAGA celem opisania obrazu klinicznego.
W drugiej części, przebadano uczestników z zastosowaniem narzędzi psychometrycznych oceniających wybrane cechy psychopatologiczne. Od każdego z uczestników pobrano krew celem izolacji DNA, z którego oznaczono następujące polimorfizmy SNP genu DRD2:
Tag 1D (rs1800498), Tag 1B (rs 1079597), rs 1076560.

Wyniki

W badaniu asocjacyjnym wykazano związek polimorfizmu Tag D1 z uzależnieniem od narkotyków, gdzie wariant alleliczny T pojawiał się częściej w grupie badanej w stosunku do grupy kontrolnej. Związek ten okazał się jeszcze silniejszy w podgrupach pacjentów uzależnionych od przetworów konopi indyjskich i opiatów.

Wnioski

Przekaźnictwo dopaminergiczne odgrywa kluczową rolę w neurobiologicznym podłożu uzależnień. Polimorfizmy SNP położone w niekodowanych obszarach genu DRD2, wykazują związek z uzależnieniem. Wpływ tych polimorfizmów na funkcję wybranego receptora, odbywa się poprzez zjawisko “splicing'u”.