bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long Latency and High Variability in Accuracy-Speed of Prosaccades in Alzheimer’s Disease at Mild to Moderate Stage
Authors: Yang Qing , Wang Tao , Su Ning , Liu Yuanyuan , Xiao Shifu , Kapoula Zoi
Published: October 2011

Background: Studying saccades is a useful tool to investigate brain function. There is still controversy regarding deficits in prosaccades in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and a study of saccades in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has not been published to date. Methods: We examined horizontal saccades in 10 healthy elderly, and 9 MCI and 9 AD patients. Two tasks were used: gap (fixation target extinguishes prior to target onset) and overlap (fixation stays on after target onset). Eye movements were recorded with the Skalar IRIS system. Results: (1) Latencies were shorter in the gap than in the overlap task (a gap effect) in all three groups of subjects: healthy elderly, MCI and AD; (2) for both tasks, latency of saccades was longer for AD patients than for healthy and MCI subjects, and (3) accuracy and mean velocity were normal in MCI and AD subjects, however, variability in accuracy-speed was higher for AD patients than for healthy and MCI subjects in the overlap task. Conclusions: Abnormalities in reaction time and accuracy-speed variability reflect deficits in cerebral areas involved in the triggering and execution of saccades; a saccade test can be useful to follow up the evolution of MCI subjects as some of them may develop AD disease.
Thrombospondin-4 polymorphism (A387P) predicts cardiovascular risk in postinfarction patients with high HDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels
Authors: Ryan Dan , Moss Arthur , McCarthy Jeanette , Goldenberg Ilan , Zareba Wojciech , Sparks Charles , Corsetti James
Published: October 2011

Few studies are available in human populations investigating involvement of vascular inflammation and oxidative stress-related dysfunctional transformation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in establishing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. To this end, the current work investigated a subgroup of post-infarction patients at high-risk for recurrent events defined by high levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and concurrently high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4), a matricellular protein of vessel walls associated with inflammation, was investigated in terms of CVD risk using multivariable modelling with a well-characterised functional genetic polymorphism of THBS4 (A387P, rs1866389) along with previously demonstrated risk-related functional genetic polymorphisms of CYBA (C242T, rs4673) and CETP (TaqIB, rs708272), and a set of blood markers. Results revealed risk-association for the gain-of-function P-allele of the THBS4 polymorphism (hazard ratio 2.00, 95% confidence interval 1.10–3.65, p=0.024). Additionally, von Willebrand factor was associated with D-dimer levels in the higher-risk P allele patients suggestive of a connection between endothelial dysfunction and thrombogenesis. In conclusion, TSP-4, a matricellular protein involved in regulating vascular inflammation, plays a role in establishing recurrent coronary risk in postinfarction patients with high levels of HDL-C and CRP. Further studies should focus on additional effects of vascular inflammatory processes on anti-atherogenic functionality of HDL particles.
Pathogens and atherosclerosis: Update on the potential contribution of multiple infectious organisms to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Authors: Ann Campbell Lee , Rosenfeld Michael
Published: October 2011

It is currently unclear what causes the chronic inflammation within atherosclerotic plaques. One emerging paradigm suggests that infection with bacteria and/or viruses can contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis either via direct infection of vascular cells or via the indirect effects of cytokines or acute phase proteins induced by infection at non-vascular sites. This paradigm has been supported by multiple epidemiological studies that have established positive associations between the risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality and markers of infection. It has also been supported by experimental studies showing an acceleration of the development of atherosclerosis following infection of hyperlipidaemic animal models. There are now a large number of different infectious agents that have been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These include: Chlamydia pneumoniae, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Helicobacter pylori, influenza A virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus. However, there are significant differences in the strength of the data supporting their association with cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. In some cases, the infectious agents are found within the plaques and viable organisms can be isolated suggesting a direct effect. In other cases, the association is entirely based on biomarkers. In the following review, we evaluate the strength of the data for individual or groups of pathogens with regard to atherosclerosis pathogenesis and their potential contribution by direct or indirect mechanisms and discuss whether the established associations are supportive of the infectious disease paradigm. We also discuss the failure of antibiotic trials and the question of persistent infection.
Venous thromboembolism in patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis
Authors: Goldhaber Samuel , Lessard Darleen , Goldberg Robert , Emery Catherine , Spencer Frederick , Piazza Gregory
Published: October 2011

Patients with atherosclerosis have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We studied patients in the population-based Worcester VTE Study of 1,822 consecutive patients with validated VTE to compare clinical characteristics, prophylaxis, treatment, and outcomes of VTE in patients with and without symptomatic atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, defined as history of ischaemic heart disease, history of positive cardiac catheterisation, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or history of peripheral artery disease. Of the 1,818 patients with VTE, 473 (26%) had a history of symptomatic atherosclerosis. Patients with atherosclerosis were significantly older (mean age 71.9 years vs. 61.6 years) and were more likely to have immobility (57.2% vs. 46.7%), prior heart failure (36.9% vs. 10.7%), chronic lung disease (26.4% vs. 15.5%), cerebrovascular disease (18.1% vs. 9.8%), and chronic kidney disease (4.9% vs. 1.9%) (all p<0.001) compared with non-atherosclerosis patients. Thromboprophylaxis was omitted in more than one-third of atherosclerosis patients who had been hospitalised for non-VTE-related illness or had undergone major surgery within the three months prior to VTE. Patients with atherosclerosis were significantly more likely to suffer in-hospital major bleeding (7.6% vs. 3.8%, p=0.0008). In conclusion, patients with atherosclerosis and VTE are more likely to suffer a complicated hospital course. Despite a high frequency of comorbid conditions contributing to the risk of VTE, we observed a low rate of thromboprophylaxis in patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis.
Neutrophilic granulocytes – promiscuous accelerators of atherosclerosis
Authors: Döring Yvonne , Megens Remco , Soehnlein Oliver , Drechsler Maik
Published: October 2011

Neutrophils, as part of the innate immune system, are classically described to be main actors during the onset of inflammation enforcing rapid neutralisation and clearance of pathogens. Besides their wellstudied role in acute inflammatory processes, recent advances strongly indicate a so far underappreciated importance of neutrophils in initiation and development of atherosclerosis. This review focuses on current findings on the role of neutrophils in atherosclerosis. As pro-inflammatory mechanisms of neutrophils have primarily been studied in the microvascular environment; we here aim at translating these into the context of macrovascular inflammation in atherosclerosis. Since much of the pro-inflammatory activities of neutrophils stem from instructing neighbouring cell types, we highlight the promiscuous interplay between neutrophils and platelets, monocytes, T lymphocytes, and dendritic cells and its possible relevance to atherosclerosis.
Risk factors for symptomatic venous thromboembolism in Thai hospitalised medical patients
Authors: Uaprasert Noppacharn , Vajragupta Laddawan , Numkarunarunrote Numphung , Tanpowpong Nathaporn , Sutcharitchan Pranee , Rojnuckarin Ponlapat
Published: October 2011

Thromboprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) failed to reduce overall mortality in hospitalised medical patients. As a VTE prediction model for Asians is still lacking, this study aimed to identify very high risk patients who would be the main target for prevention. In 2009, medical patients admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital, a tertiary care centre, were prospectively evaluated for risk factors. The high-risk cohort was monitored for symptomatic VTE until six weeks after discharge. No heparin prophylaxis was given. Of 1,290 high-risk patients, 27 (2.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–2.9) developed proven VTE, 25.9% of which were diagnosed after discharge. Cases with VTE stayed longer in the hospital (median 18 vs. 11 days, p < 0.001). The significant risk factors in a multivariate analysis were autoimmune disease, solid tumours, family history of VTE, varicose vein and oestrogen with the relative risks of 11.8, 4.7, 120.3, 40.1 and 17.1 (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.002 and 0.038), respectively. Either autoimmune disease or solid tumours were found in 63% of VTE with the relative risk of 4.5 (95% CI 2.1–9.7, p < 0.001). In contrast, previously reported VTE scores in western patients could not stratify the VTE risks, but all the scores predicted higher mortality. In conclusion, VTE is common in Asian hospitalised medical patients. Patients with autoimmune disease and those with solid tumours are highly susceptible to VTE. A prophylactic strategy in these groups is required.
Platelets in atherosclerosis
Authors: Hundelshausen Philipp von , Lievens Dirk
Published: October 2011

Beyond obvious functions in haemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are considered to be essential in proinflammatory surroundings such as atherosclerosis, allergy, rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer. In atherosclerosis, platelets facilitate the recruitment of inflammatory cells towards the lesion sites and release a plethora of inflammatory mediators, thereby enriching and boosting the inflammatory milieu. Platelets do so by interacting with endothelial cells, circulating leukocytes (monocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, T-cells) and progenitor cells. This cross-talk enforces leukocyte activation, adhesion and transmigration. Furthermore, platelets are known to function in innate host defense through the release of antimicrobial peptides and the expression of pattern recognition receptors. In severe sepsis, platelets are able to trigger the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which bind and clear pathogens. The present antiplatelet therapies that target key pathways of platelet activation and aggregation therefore hold the potential to modulate platelet-derived immune functions by reducing cellular interactions of platelets with other immune components and by reducing the secretion of inflammatory proteins into the milieu. The objective of this review is to update and discuss the current perceptions of the platelet immune constituents and their prospect as therapeutic targets in an atherosclerotic setting.
Urban Heat Island Research in Phoenix, Arizona: Theoretical Contributions and Policy Applications
Authors: Chow Winston T. L. , Brennan Dean , Brazel Anthony J.
Published: October 2011

Over the past 60 years, metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, has been among the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States, and this rapid urbanization has resulted in an urban heat island (UHI) of substantial size and intensity. During this time, an uncommon amount of UHI-specific research, relative to other cities in North America, occurred within its boundaries. This review investigates the possible reasons and motivations underpinning the large body of work, as well as summarizing specific themes, approaches, and theoretical contributions arising from such study. It is argued that several factors intrinsic to Phoenix were responsible for the prodigious output: strong applied urban climate research partnerships between several agencies (such as the academy, the National Weather Service, private energy firms, and municipal governments); a high-quality, long-standing network of urban meteorological stations allowing for relatively fine spatial resolution of near-surface temperature data; and a high level of public and media interest in the UHI. Three major research themes can be discerned: 1) theoretical contributions from documenting, modeling, and analyzing the physical characteristics of the UHI; 2) interdisciplinary investigation into its biophysical and social consequences; and 3) assessment and evaluation of several UHI mitigation techniques. Also examined herein is the successful implementation of sustainable urban climate policies within the metropolitan area. The authors note the importance of understanding and applying local research results during the policy formation process.
Accuracy of Neonatal Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement in the Outpatient Setting
Authors: Wickremasinghe Andrea C. , Karon Brad S. , Cook Walter J.
Published: October 2011

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement in predicting risk for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in outpatients. Design. Subjects were infants ≤8 days old seen in an outpatient clinic. Infants discharged with high-risk (HR) or high-intermediate risk (HIR) total serum bilirubin (TSB) values and jaundiced infants were recruited. TSB and TcB (BiliChek) levels were plotted on an hour-specific nomogram to determine risk for hyperbilirubinemia. Results. A total of 79 infants provided 87 sets of TcB and TsB values. Mean bias and standard deviation between TcB and TsB was 1.5 ± 2.1 mg/dL for outpatients, compared with 2.7 ± 1.3 mg/dL for inpatients. The sensitivity and specificity of HR or HIR TcB for predicting an HR or HIR TSB were 87% and 58%, respectively. Of 9 infants readmitted for phototherapy, 1 had a low-risk TcB and high-risk TSB. Conclusions. TcB screening in the outpatient environment may not be safe and efficient.
Congruence Between Regional and National Elections
Authors: Schakel Arjan H.
Published: October 2011

The number of regional elections and what is at stake at these elections have increased considerably over the past decades. Yet the interpretation of regional election results lags behind, in particular explanations for when and how regional election results deviate from national election results. This article conceptualizes congruence of the vote in three different ways that make it possible to assess the contribution of three competing theoretical approaches in explaining variation in dissimilarity between vote shares across space and time. These approaches are second-order election theory, regional authority and territorial cleavages. The hypotheses are tested against a data set containing the results of more than 4,000 regional and national elections held in 360 regions in 18 countries. It appears that the depth of territorial cleavages explains variation across space, but to understand change over time one needs to consider institutional authority and second-order election effects.
Sinking under the weight of corruption: Neoliberal reform, political accountability and justice
Authors: Soliman Hussein , Cable Sherry
Published: October 2011

The United Nations adopted the 2003 Convention Against Corruption to reduce corruption in developing nations. Corruption’s determinants include political systems’ permeability to economic influence, state economic intervention, weak political competition and officials’ discretionary power to allocate resources. Corruption’s outcomes are slowed economic development, misallocation of government resources, income inequalities and, less frequently, disasters. Using archival and interview data, this article documents corruption’s shaping of the 2006 sinking of an Egyptian ferry in the Red Sea, which killed 1034; high-level corruption not only caused the disaster but exacerbated its impacts. The study’s findings confirm much of the empirical literature but contradict assertions that corruption is associated with high levels of government intervention in the economy. Based on the findings, the article gives a critique of neoliberal reform that associates it with high-level corruption.
The politics of torture in antagonistic politics, and its displacement by the regime of the arts: Abu Ghraib, Colombian paramilitaries and Fernando Botero
Authors: Herrera-Vega Eliana
Published: October 2011

This article proposes a functional analysis of torture, following Luhmann’s social systems theory. Its guiding hypothesis is that torture belongs to a specific type of politics, namely antagonistic politics, and that violence is an essential part of this particular presentation of politics. The article goes on to propose a view on the praxis of torture, which is observed by making a case based on two seemingly isolated situations: the first, a systematic practice in the context of the Colombian conflict: torture followed by dismembering of identified enemies. The second one is torture of presumed terrorists at Abu Ghraib, in the context of the Iraq war. The analysis identifies the common aesthetic elements in the technology of torture in order to ascertain their function within political communication. The analysis finishes by examining the response to torture from an artist’s stance: Fernando Botero’s paintings of both the Colombian violence and the torture in Abu Ghraib. This association introduces the observation of the uses of torture within artistic communication, in contrast with former uses within antagonistic politics. The article concludes by situating the relation between politics and aesthetics, and the conditions for their mutual dialogical interference: from politics towards aesthetics, and from aesthetics towards politics.
Transnational injustice symbols and communities: The case of al-Qaeda and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp
Authors: Olesen Thomas
Published: October 2011

The article identifies a political-cultural deficit in the expansive literature of the last 10–15 years on transnational activist communication. To illustrate the utility of a political-cultural sociological approach the article discusses how contemporary jihadist activists, and especially al-Qaeda, have actively transformed the Guantanamo Bay detention camp set up by the United States following the attacks of 9/11 into a transnational injustice symbol. Transnational injustice symbols are events and situations (both past and present) constructed and employed by political actors to condense and perform perceived injustices before geographically, socially and culturally dispersed audiences. Guantanamo Bay and other injustice symbols such as Palestine, Abu Ghraib and the Muhammad cartoons published in Denmark in 2005 are key elements in the creation of a transnational jihadist injustice community.
Partial Compensation for Altered Auditory Feedback: A Tradeoff with Somatosensory Feedback?
Authors: Katseff Shira , Houde John , Johnson Keith
Published: October 2011

Talkers are known to compensate only partially for experimentally-induced changes to their auditory feedback. In a typical experiment, talkers might hear their F1 feedback shifted higher (so that /ε/ sounds like /æ/, for example), and compensate by lowering F1 in their subsequent speech by about a quarter of that distance. Here, we sought to characterize and understand partial compensation by examining how talkers respond to each step on a staircase of increasing shifts in auditory feedback.

Subjects wore an apparatus which altered their real time auditory feedback. They were asked to repeat visually-presented hVd stimulus words while feedback was altered stepwise over the course of 360 trials. We used a novel analysis method to calculate each subject’s compensation at each compensation step relative to their baseline. Results demonstrated that subjects compensated more for small feedback shifts than for larger shifts. We suggest that this pattern is consistent with vowel targets that incorporate auditory and somatosensory information, and a speech motor control system that is driven by differential weighting of auditory and somatosensory feedback.
Prediction of one-layer woven fabrics air permeability using porosity parameters
Authors: Zupin Živa , Hladnik Aleš , Dimitrovski Krste
Published: October 2011

Air permeability is one of the fundamental textile properties influencing the design of comfortable clothes. In particular, it is very important in the field of technical textiles. Air permeability depends mainly on the fabric structure, which can be described by yarn linear density, type of yarn, warp/weft density and weave.

The purpose of our study was to identify a small number of parameters that have the strongest influence on air permeability of cotton fabrics and enable its good prediction. Rather than focusing on the constructional parameters, we decided to include a composite parameter known from the theory of fluids, hydraulic diameter of pores, which treats rectangular-shaped pores as circular ones. In addition to the hydraulic diameter of pores, two other parameters were used for the prediction of air permeability: the number of macro pores and the total porosity of woven fabrics.

36 woven fabric samples were produced using nine frequently implemented weave types together with two warp densities (29.3 and 22 ends/cm) and two weft densities (15 and 20 picks/cm), resulting in four different densities of woven fabrics. The yarns had the same linear density and material in warp and weft directions. Air permeability measurements were performed with the Air Permeability tester FX 3300 Labotester III (Textest Instruments) according to the ISO 9237:1995 (E) standard.

Principal components analysis revealed that the four investigated plain weave specimens behave differently than the other samples, which might be explained by weave structure. This multivariate statistical method also confirmed the appropriateness of the three selected parameters for air permeability prediction which was done using multiple linear regression. The high adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.94 indicates that the model explains variability in the air permeability to a large extent.
Effect of Carisbamate on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Warfarin in Healthy Participants
Authors: Gonzalez Martha , Zannikos Peter , DiBernardo Allitia , Brashear H. Robert , Ariyawansa Jay
Published: October 2011

Carisbamate's effect (200 mg twice‐daily [study 1], 600 mg twice‐daily [study 2]) on warfarin's (25 mg single dose) pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (international normalized ratio) was assessed during 2 open‐label studies in healthy participants. Coadministration of either carisbamate regimen produced small changes on the mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and mean area under the plasma concentration—time curve to the last measurable time point (AUClast) of (S)‐ and (R)‐warfarin, which are unlikely to be clinically significant. For (S)‐warfarin, the ratios (with carisbamate/without carisbamate) of geometric means for Cmax were 105.44 (study 1) and 98.48 (study 2) and for AUClast were 109.33 (study 1) and 114.43 (study 2); the corresponding 90% confidence intervals were within the bioequivalence limits of 80% to 125%. Results were similar for (R)‐warfarin. Carisbamate at 600 mg (but not 200 mg) twice‐daily prolonged the elimination half‐life of (S)‐ and (R)‐warfarin by ∼10 hours (25% and 32% increase, respectively). Prothrombin time was unaltered by either carisbamate dose. Adverse events with the highest incidence were dizziness (50%) and headache (50%) in study 1 and somnolence (56%) in study 2. Warfarin exposure and international normalized ratio were unaffected by coadministration of carisbamate 200 mg or 600 mg twice‐daily. Carisbamate was well tolerated.
Non-invasive measurement of haemoglobin based on dynamic spectrum method
Authors: Wang Huiquan , Li Gang , Zhao Zhe , Lin Ling
Published: October 2011

For the purpose of measuring the haemoglobin non-invasively, the dynamic spectrum (DS) method, which can minimize and hopefully eliminate the discrepancies among the individuals and the complicated conditions during measurement by near-infrared spectroscopy, was applied. DS is more accurate than the traditional method in haemoglobin non-invasive measurement, which was proved by theoretical derivation. In vivo measurements were carried out in 110 healthy volunteers and a criterion named the number of stable wavelengths was mentioned to evaluate the data’s quality. A back propagation neural network was used to establish the calibration model of haemoglobin concentration against DS data, which were pre-processed by some special algorithms. The correlation coefficient of the predicted values and the true values was 0.907, which demonstrates proof-of-concept for the ability of the DS method to monitor haemoglobin concentration changes non-invasively.
Pro-inflammatory and vasoconstricting prostanoid PGF2α causes no headache in man
Authors: Antonova Maria , Wienecke Troels , Olesen Jes , Ashina Messoud
Published: October 2011

Background: During two decades of migraine provocation studies with naturally occurring signalling molecules, vasodilators such as prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin) and prostaglandin D2 were shown to be able to induce headache in man. To elucidate the role of inflammation and vasodilatation in the generation of headache, we investigated whether the pro-inflammatory and vasoconstricting prostanoid prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) would cause headache in a human model of headache.

Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to receive 3.5 µg/kg/min PGF2α or placebo over 20 min in a two-way crossover study. We recorded headache intensity on a verbal rating scale, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (VMCA) and the diameters of the superficial temporal artery (STA) and radial artery (RA).

Results: We found no difference in the area under the curve (AUC) for immediate headache (0–90 min) between PGF2α and placebo ( p = 0.144). The McNemar's test showed no difference in the incidence of immediate and delayed headache between verum and placebo ( p = 0.500 and p = 1.000, respectively). There was no difference in VMCA ( p = 0.776) and in the diameter of the STA ( p = 0.460) or RA ( p = 0.780) between PGF2α and placebo.

Conclusion: The present study shows that PGF2α, unlike vasodilating prostaglandins, does not provoke headache. We suggest that the vasodilating abilities of prostaglandins are important for the induction of experimental headache in healthy volunteers.
Chronic daily cortical spreading depressions suppress spreading depression susceptibility
Authors: Sukhotinsky Inna , Dilekoz Ergin , Wang Yumei , Qin Tao , Eikermann-Haerter Katharina , Waeber Christian , Ayata Cenk
Published: October 2011

Background: Migraine is a disabling chronic episodic disorder. Attack frequency progressively increases in some patients. Incremental cortical excitability has been implicated as a mechanism underlying progression. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is the electrophysiological event underlying migraine aura, and a headache trigger. We hypothesized that CSD events during frequent migraine attacks condition the cortex to increase the susceptibility to further attacks.

Methods: A single daily CSD was induced for 1 or 2 weeks in mouse frontal cortex; contralateral hemisphere served as sham control. At the end of CSD conditioning, occipital CSD susceptibility was determined by measuring the frequency of CSDs evoked by topical KCl application.

Results: Sham hemispheres developed 8.4 ± 0.3 CSDs/hour, and did not significantly differ from naïve controls without prior cranial surgery (9.3 ± 0.4 CSDs/hour). After 2 but not 1 week of daily CSD conditioning, CSD frequency (4.9 ± 0.3 CSDs/hour) as well as the duration and propagation speed were reduced significantly in the conditioned hemispheres. Histopathological examination revealed marked reactive astrocytosis without neuronal injury throughout the conditioned cortex after 2 weeks, temporally associated with CSD susceptibility.

Conclusions: These data do not support the hypothesis that frequent migraine attacks predispose the brain to further attacks by enhancing tissue susceptibility to CSD.
Traumatic Patellar Dislocation
Authors: Bitar Alexandre Carneiro , Demange Marco Kawamura , D’Elia Caio Oliveira , Camanho Gilberto Luis
Published: October 2011

Background: Over the long term, acute patellar dislocations can result in patellar instability, with high recurrence rates after nonoperative treatment.

Purpose: To compare the results of operative (reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament [MPFL]) versus nonoperative treatment of primary patellar dislocation.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients (41 knees) (mean age, 24.2 years; range, 12-38 years) with acute patellar dislocation were randomized into 2 groups. One group was treated nonoperatively with immobilization and physiotherapy, the other was treated surgically with MPFL reconstruction; both groups were evaluated with minimum follow-up of 2 years. The Kujala questionnaire was applied to assess pain and quality of life, and recurrence was evaluated. Pearson χ2 or Fisher exact test was used in the statistical evaluation.

Results: The statistical analysis showed that the mean Kujala score was significantly lower in the nonoperative group (70.8), when compared with the mean value of the surgical group (88.9; P = .001). The surgical group presented a higher percentage of “good/excellent” results (71.43%) on the Kujala score when compared with the nonoperative group (25.0%; P = .003). The nonoperative group presented a large number of recurrences and subluxations (7 patients; 35% of cases), whereas there were no reports of recurrences or subluxations in the surgical group.

Conclusion: Treatment with MPFL reconstruction using the patellar tendon produced better results, based on the analyses of posttreatment recurrences and the better final results of the Kujala questionnaire after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years.
Study on the resin flow and fiber compaction of tapered composite laminates during autoclave processing
Authors: Xin Chaobo , Li Min , Gu Yizhuo , Luo Ji , Zhang Zuoguang
Published: October 2011

During bleeding autoclave processing, resin flow occurs inside composite laminates because of the utilization of bleeder materials. For the tapered laminates, the masses of bleeder materials placed on thick, tapered, and thin regions should be optimized to obtain appropriate fiber content with uniform distribution. This article mainly focuses on the carbon fiber fabric/epoxy resin-tapered laminates processed under different bleeder schemes, and the effects of bleeder schemes on the resin flow and fiber compaction. The resin pressure variations were studied by means of an on-line monitoring method to analyze the resin flow. Moreover, the resin pressure gradients and resin flow directions at different situations were given. The results demonstrate that the on-line resin pressure measuring system can provide important information for the investigated resin flow and fiber compaction of composite parts with different thickness regions. In addition, the mass and saturation degree of the bleeder materials strongly influence the resin pressure distribution and the flow direction. Resin flow continues within the laminates after the saturation of the bleeder materials, and hence, significantly impacts on the distribution of the fiber content. These observations provide a significant guidance for designing the bleeder scheme and controlling the fiber compaction.
Antiproliferative activity of nanofibers containing quaternized chitosan and/or doxorubicin against MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell line by apoptosis
Authors: Ignatova Milena , Yossifova Lilia , Gardeva Elena , Manolova Nevena , Toshkova Reneta , Rashkov Iliya , Alexandrov Marin
Published: October 2011

The antiproliferative activity of electrospun mats of poly(L-lactide- co-D,L-lactide) (coPLA) containing quaternized chitosan (QCh) and/or doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was evaluated against the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7(MCF-7) human breast carcinoma cell line. QCh- and DOX-containing nanofibrous mats possess good antiproliferative activity and decrease considerably the viability of the MCF-7 cells for the different periods of cell incubation as confirmed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Fluorescent microscopy analyses and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that apoptosis was one of the major mechanisms of MCF-7 cell death induced by the QCh- and DOX-containing mats.
Effect of both nano-size alumina particles and severe deformation on polyethylene crystallinity index
Authors: Tadayyon Gh , Zebarjad SM , Sajjadi SA
Published: October 2011

The morphological and microstructural changes during ball milling of PE powder mixed with different weight percent (5–15 wt%) of Alumina particles (50–100 nm) were studied. The milling was performed in a planetary ball mill for various times up to 40 h. The results showed that the addition of hard particles accelerates the milling process, leading to fracture of polyethylene matrix. The result of X-ray diffraction analysis determined that the degree of crystallinity of polyethylene decreased by increasing of ball milling time and weight percent of Alumina.
Contexts of childhood and play: Exploring parental perceptions
Authors: Singh Asha , Gupta Deepa
Published: October 2011

The article explores cross-cultural notions of play in childhood among parents based on empirical investigations in two economically diverse residential areas in a metropolis in India. All parents had an unquestionable belief in an epistemic grounding of play in children’s lives. However, parents begin to question play timings and children’s engagement with play when faced with the contemporary demands of schooling which are enmeshed in a childhood dominated by academic achievement, suppressing parents’ intuitive leanings towards play. The school-led social environment regulates play and shapes notions of childhood, forcing parents to socialize children for school performance and ‘print expertise’. Social class variations are more an outcome of socioeconomic geographies and not education-based awareness only. The penetrating advent of technology in children’s lives renders gadgets as treasured play objects among certain social groups replacing the make-believe games of yesteryear.
Saving children, saving Haiti? Child vulnerability and narratives of the nation
Authors: Hoffman Diane M
Published: October 2011

Long before the earthquake in Haiti on 12 January 2010, but particularly since, international media and humanitarian groups have drawn attention to the ‘vulnerable child’ in Haiti, a child often portrayed as needing ‘saving’. Focusing in particular on the restavèk (child domestic laborer), this article first explores the ways in which such children are represented as vulnerable and victimized, despite emerging ethnographic evidence on children’s lived experience that paints a rather different picture. It then argues that far from being inconsequential, however, representations of children’s vulnerability enable a critique of the Haitian culture and nation itself as fundamentally flawed and in need of saving through the interventions of the international order. Raising the question of for whom and for what purposes such projects of critique and saving exist, the article suggests that the saving of Haiti’s children can be seen as a way to position the Haitian nation within a universalized and moralizing narrative of maturation/development that ultimately is not so much about meeting Haiti’s (and its children’s) needs as it is about satisfying the needs and desires of the more powerful in terms of their own security, prosperity and global dominance.
On the analysis of force closure and force optimization in fixtures and robotic manipulation
Authors: Ma J , Wang M Y , Zhu X Y
Published: October 2011

This paper deals with mechanical systems with passive contact elements, such as whole-hand grasps and fixture systems. The force closure problem in fixtures and manipulation systems with hybrid (active and passive) contacts is shown to be quite different from the pure active force closure in a multi-fingered robot hand. We discuss the conditions of active and passive force closure problems in such devices based on a rigid-body model with frictional contact. The contact force space is decomposed into three orthogonal subspaces: the space of external forces, the space of active internal forces, and the space of passive internal forces. The space of active internal force and the space of passive internal force play important roles in achieving the closure grasping. This paper presents an algorithm for computing the basis of each subspace. Based on this force decomposition, the force closure problem is formulated as linear matrix inequality feasibility problems, and minimization of the joint torque is also studied.
Modelling distortion induced in an assembly by the self piercing rivet process
Authors: Masters I , Fan X , Roy R , Williams D
Published: October 2011

Traditionally, prediction of the dimensions of an assembly has concentrated on the variation of the constituent components and fixtures. Although recent methods have accounted for both statistical variation and flexibility of sheet metal components, the impact of the joining process has largely been ignored for riveted and spot-welded assemblies. The self-piercing rivet (SPR) has been used increasingly in the automotive industry for joining lightweight aluminium body structures, but the localized distortion around an SPR has been shown to be greater than that associated with the spot weld commonly used in steel body constructions. Consequently incorporation of such distortion into the simulation process for predicting the overall distortion of assemblies would be useful.

This paper presents a simulation method based on a local/global approach where the distortion occurring around a single SPR is projected on to a global assembly at each rivet location. The results for both flat sheet assemblies and a simple top-hat assembly are presented for comparison and show that the method can be valuable in the early design stages by predicting the distortion from the joining process. Some suggestions for improving the method are also discussed.
A parametric study on laser drilling of Al/SiCp metal-matrix composite
Authors: Padhee S , Pani S , Mahapatra S S
Published: October 2011

Machining of metal-matrix composites (MMCs) is difficult owing to their superior characteristics compared with the their parent materials. A specific application of modern laser technology is the drilling of cooling holes in aircraft engine ‘hot-end components’ such as combustion chambers, nozzle guide vanes, and turbine blades, which are made up of MMCs. Laser-drilled holes in aero-engine components must comply with strict quality standards that determine them suitable for in-service use. The current paper presents an effective approach for the optimization of neodymium–yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser drilling of aluminium matrix/silicon carbide particulate (Al/SiCp) MMCs in regard to multiple characteristics, i.e. taper, spatter, and heat-affected zone (HAZ), based on response surface methodology and grey relational grades. Twenty runs based on the response surface methodology are performed to determine factorial interactions and decide the best factor level settings. In addition to response surface methodology, grey relational grades and desirability functions are used for multiple response optimizations. Laser drilling parameters such as pulse width and number of pulses, and MMC parameters like concentration of SiCp, are optimized with consideration to taper, spatter, and HAZ. By analysing the grey relational grade, optimal parametric settings for various responses are determined.
Enhanced piecewise least squares approach for diagnosis of ill-conditioned multistation assembly with compliant parts
Authors: Ceglarek D , Prakash PKS
Published: October 2011

Assembly process-induced dimensional variation has a significant impact on product quality and functionality. The complexity of modern products coupled with part compliance/flexibility frequently results in ill-conditioned assembly systems further adding to the challenges of process control and fault failure diagnosis. This paper proposes an enhanced piecewise least squares (EPLS)-based approach for dimensional fault failure diagnosis of ill-conditioned multistation assembly systems. In this approach, predetermined fault patterns derived from an inverse stiffness matrix of assembly structures and fault patterns obtained from product measurement data are used to detect and isolate dimensional failures caused by fixturing error(s). The EPLS-based diagnostic methodology searches for a set of components called latent vectors with thesearch constrained by assembly response function, the stream of variation analysis (SOVA) model of an assembly system, which performs decomposition of response based on the end-of-line measurements. The verification of the proposed methodology is conducted based on a beam-based model of a multistation assembly process with compliant parts and includes diagnosis of both single and multiple fault scenarios.
Rolling bearing fault detection by short-time statistical features
Authors: Behzad M , Bastami A R , Mba D
Published: October 2011

Rolling element bearing fault diagnosis is a very important part of condition-based maintenance. In this article, a new method for detection of rolling element bearing defects is proposed. The method is based on the concept of the cyclostationarity of the vibration signal to find periodicity in statistical features of the vibration signal. Various statistical features are examined to find the best choice. Several case studies including inner race, outer race, and rolling element defects are investigated in this article. Comparison with the envelope analysis showed that the proposed method benefits from clearer defect frequency identification.
Estimation models for the preliminary design of electromechanical actuators
Authors: Budinger M , Liscouët J , Hospital F , Maré J-C
Published: October 2011

This article presents estimation models for the model-based preliminary design of electromechanical actuators. Models are developed to generate all the parameters required by a multi-objective design, from a limited number of input parameters. This is achieved using scaling laws in order to take advantage of their capability to reflect the physical constraints driving the actuator’s component sizing. The proposed approach is illustrated with the major components that are involved in aerospace electromechanical actuator design. The established scaling laws provide the designer with parameters needed for integration into the airframe, power sizing, thermal balance, dynamics, and reliability. The resulting estimation models are validated with industrial data.
The acoustics of cavitation in spool valve with U-notches
Authors: Lu L , Zou J , Fu X
Published: October 2011

Spiral cavity produced by the swirling flow is observed in spool valve with U-notches. Individual bubbles with similar grown-up size appear in the wake of the fixed cavity. Consecutive bubble collapse produces frequency peak in the spectra, which decreases with the cavitation number. Vortex shedding occurs by the ‘break-off’ of the tail of the spiral cavity, the collapse of which affects significantly to those accompanied individual bubbles dynamics and acoustics. Rayleigh prediction to the bubble collapse time is taken, which is a bit smaller than the experimental result. The considerable viscidity effect of the oil medium is assumed as the predominant reason.
Automated design and fabrication of micro-air vehicles
Authors: Amadori K , Lundström D , Krus P
Published: October 2011

A methodology for an automated design and fabrication of micro-air vehicles (MAVs) is presented. A design optimization framework has been developed that interfaces several software systems to generate MAVs to optimally fulfil specific mission requirements. By means of amulti-objective genetic algorithm, families of MAVs are tailored with respect to objectives such as weight and endurance. The framework takes into consideration the airframe and aerodynamic design as well as the selection and positioning of internal components. The selection of propulsion system components is made from a database of off-the-shelf components. In combination with a three-dimensional printer, physical prototypes can be quickly manufactured. A validation of the framework results from flight tests of a real MAV is also presented.
Robust trajectory modification for tip position tracking of flexible-link manipulators
Authors: Atashzar S F , Talebi H A , Shahbazi M , Towhidkhah F , Yazdanpanah M J
Published: October 2011

This paper presents a composite controller for tip position tracking of flexible link manipulators. The main control challenge for flexible link manipulators is the non-minimum phase characteristics of the system. In this regard, an inner/outer control structure is proposed. As opposed to previous research in this area, the desired reference trajectory is robustly modified in an online scheme to minimize the tip tracking error utilizing the outer controller. The outer trajectory modifier is a [Formula: see text] synthesis based controller which modifies the reference trajectory of the inner loop in the uncertain situations. The inner loop controller is based on the Lyapunov redesign feedback linearization (LRFL) approach which is applied to alleviate the degrading effects of uncertainties and non-linearities presents in the dynamics of the flexible-link manipulator. In the inner loop, a conventional redefined output namely ‘close to the tip’ is considered to avoid the difficulties associated with the non-minimum phase behaviour of the main output (the tip). Conventional control strategies based on this choice of outputs lead to undesirable oscillations in the tip position. However, these oscillations are considerably minimized by applying the proposed outer loop trajectory modifier. Experimental and Simulation results are presented to illustrate the significant improvements in tip tracking performance over the conventional methods.
The immunomodulatory effects of Ipomoea carnea in rats vary depending on life stage
Authors: Hueza Isis M , Górniak Silvana L
Published: October 2011

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. ssp. fistulosa (Mart. Ex Choisy; Convolvulaceae; I. carnea) possesses a toxic component: an indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine (SW) that has immunomodulatory effects due to its inhibition of glycoprotein metabolism. It is also known that SW is excreted into both the amniotic fluid and milk of female rats exposed to I. carnea. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether SW exposure, either in utero or from the milk of dams treated with I. carnea, modulates offspring immune function into adulthood. In addition, adult (70 days old) and juvenile rats (21 days old) were exposed to I. carnea in order to evaluate several other immune parameters: lymphoid organs relative weight and cellularity, humoral and cellular immune responses. Offspring exposed to I. carnea during lactation developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adulthood after an immunogenic challenge. In addition, both adult and juvenile rats exposed to I. carnea showed discrepancies in several immune parameters, but did not exhibit any decrease in humoral immune response, which was enhanced at both ages. These findings indicate that SW modulates immune function in adult rats exposed to SW during lactation and in juvenile and adult rats exposed to SW as juveniles and adults, respectively.