bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatricians’ Knowledge of Current Sports Concussion Legislation and Guidelines and Comfort With Sports Concussion Management
Authors: Carl Rebecca L. , Kinsella Sarah B.
Published: March 2014

Background. Sports-related concussions disproportionately affect young athletes. The primary objective of our study was to determine Illinois pediatricians’ level of familiarity with state concussion legislation and with published consensus guidelines for sports concussion diagnosis and treatment. We also sought to determine pediatricians’ knowledge regarding concussion management and comfort treating sports concussion patients. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey of pediatrician members of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Results. Few general pediatricians (26.6%, n = 42) were “very familiar” or “somewhat familiar” with the recently passed Illinois state concussion legislation. Only 14.6% (n = 23) of general pediatrician respondents use concussion consensus guidelines in their practice. Pediatricians were generally very knowledgeable about concussions; only 5 out of 19 knowledge-based items were answered incorrectly by more than 25% of the study participants. Conclusions. General pediatricians are knowledgeable about concussions but most are not well aware of state concussion legislation and concussion consensus guidelines.
Frequency of Bathing in the Management of Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Koutroulis Ioannis , Petrova Katrina , Kratimenos Panagiotis , Gaughan John
Published: March 2014

Background. Atopic dermatitis prevalence has increased in the developed world in recent decades, and effective management is vital to improve patients’ quality of life. Methods. A prospective, randomized, case-control study with a purposive sample of 28 children, aged 6 months to 10 years, diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. Participants received bathing instructions to be followed either daily or twice a week, with a follow-up duration of 2 weeks. Improvement of symptoms over time was measured using the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) tool. Results. Overall symptoms decreased significantly at follow-up compared with baseline (difference = 5.0938, confidence interval = 0.2116 to 9.9759) but the differences in scores before and after interventions were not statistically significant between the groups (difference = −1.0937, confidence interval = −5.9759 to 3.7884). Conclusions. The frequency of bathing did not seem to play an important role in the management of atopic dermatitis. Clinicians should focus on the need for adequate skin hydration.
Marxism after postmodernism: Rethinking the emancipatory political subject
Authors: Filc Dani , Ram Uri
Published: March 2014

The concept of a historical-social and political emancipatory subject, central in Marxism, has been rebuked by postmodern theories. In this article the authors examine the encounter between Marxist and postmodernist theories and ponder whether and how to conceive of an emancipatory political subject. The article identifies the questions posed by worldwide protests in the context of the global economic crisis and outlines a typology of the different responses of Marxist thinkers to the postmodernist challenge. The authors distinguish between ‘total rejection’ (anti-postmodern Marxism) and ‘total acceptance’ (post-Marxism), and between ‘rejection in part’ (Marxist postmodernism) and ‘acceptance in part’ (synthetic Marxist postmodernism). Based on this typology, the authors discuss the different approaches to the question of the emancipatory subject. Anti-postmodern Marxists have made relatively small adaptations to the contention that class constitutes the central explanatory concept. Marxist postmodernists retain the major Marxist categories, but they conceptualize also new struggles and new political subjectivities. Synthetic Marxist postmodernists view political subjectivity as a combination of classical Marxist categories and identity and cultural categories. Post-Marxists deconstruct the concept of class and propose new collective subjectivities. Finally, the article discusses the limitations of each of the approaches in addressing the identity of the emancipatory subject.
The understanding of Indigenous peoples towards professional relationships: The case of Taiwan
Authors: Chong Hiu Ha
Published: March 2014

Based on a theme that emerged from a study conducted with 25 Indigenous stakeholders between 2009 and 2010, this article argues for the inadequacy of Western models of the practitioner–client relationship, and a need to consider rural and cultural characteristics of Indigenous social work in relationship building and maintaining. The findings suggest that historical and affective contexts, life contextualized scenarios and the collective interest which affect professional boundaries and the dyadic relationship are important in terms of addressing the relationship in a tribal community. The article ends by highlighting implications for Indigenous social work.
Doing fieldwork with transnational families in an unstructured environment: Issues and challenges for beneficent research
Authors: Chereni Admire
Published: March 2014

My intentions in this article are two-fold: 1) to highlight some of the complexities related to beneficent research which social workers might encounter when doing fieldwork with transnational families in an unstructured environment; 2) to argue that efforts to bring about good for vulnerable respondents outside remedial social work settings may have to confront structures that maintain people in circumstances of injustice. Structural change, however, can hardly be achieved within the scope of fieldwork research relationships. Throughout I draw on my fieldwork experiences for illustrations.
Forced marriage as a political project
Authors: Baines Erin
Published: March 2014

One of the most vexing contradictions about the Uganda originated rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), is the fact that it institutionalized forced marriage on the one hand, while actively discouraging sexually immoral behavior on the other: rape, sexual violence, and promiscuity both within the group and outside it were punishable by severe beating or death. What explains this contradiction? The article suggests that in addition to maintaining discipline and control over a diverse and reluctant group, forced marriage and the regulation of sexual relations reproduced a political project of imagining a ‘new Acholi’ nation. The article draws on original data collected in focus group discussions with former commanders and wives to commanders to discuss the historical evolution of this vision, how the LRA enforced rules regarding sexual behavior, and finally, the way forced marriage implicated women and girls in the organization of power and domination in the group until it was forced from permanent bases in Sudan in 2002.
Copper Cable Theft
Authors: Sidebottom Aiden , Ashby Matt , Johnson Shane D.
Published: March 2014

Objectives:

To test the commonly espoused but little examined hypothesis that fluctuations in the price of metal are associated with changes in the volume of metal theft. Specifically, we analyze the relationship between the price of copper and the number of police recorded “live” copper cable thefts from the British railway network (2006 to 2012).

Method:

Time-series analysis was performed using 76 months of data to determine the association between mean copper price and police recorded “live” copper cable theft. Two rival hypotheses, that changes in the theft of copper cabling reflect changes in the theft of railway property more generally (or the reporting thereof) or variations in the rate of unemployment, were also tested.

Results:

We find support for the price–theft hypothesis: Changes in the price of copper were positively associated with variations in the volume of “live” copper cable theft. A downward trend in copper cable theft in recent years is also observed, although the mechanism/mechanisms underpinning this pattern is unclear.

Conclusion:

The theft of “live” copper cable is associated with fluctuations in copper price. As such, it differs substantially from the “crime drop” typically noted for most types of crime providing further support for the price–theft hypothesis.
The Great British Class Fiasco: A Comment on Savage et al.
Authors: Mills Colin
Published: March 2014

Savage et al. (2013) claim they have produced a new model of the British class structure. They stress the innovative use of an internet survey, the BBC’s Great British Class Survey (GBCS), but it plays no serious role in the generation of their class typology. What they do is a theory free (though Bourdieu inspired) data dredging exercise. What they derive is an arbitrary typology determined by a contingent fact – the size of their sample.
Class Descriptors or Class Relations? Thoughts Towards a Critique of Savage et al.
Authors: Bradley Harriet
Published: March 2014

The work of Savage et al. in relation to the Great British Class Survey is acknowledged as an important contribution to a reinvigorated sociological research agenda on class, with a major public impact, but it is argued that the analysis, although bold and responsive to current social transformations, is flawed. Three weaknesses are identified: the approach to class is gradational, not relational; the markers of cultural capital used in the model are highly selective, therefore skewing the empirical findings, and lead to a negative view of working-class culture; and the model of latent classes resulting from the analysis is not coherent, with groupings that might be better distinguished as class fractions. Finally, an alternative deductively based class schema is proposed, which tries to accommodate contemporary change.
Race, Class and ‘The Harmony of Dispositions’
Authors: Rollock Nicola
Published: March 2014

This response piece is informed by recent public discussions concerning the BBC ‘Great British Class Calculator’ – a survey which seeks to rethink traditional ways of categorising class for the 21st century. This article focuses on how individuals feel about, and respond to, their class location. Drawing on data from a two-year study about the black middle classes, it is argued that class identity cannot be fully understood without taking account of the intersecting role of race. Specifically, exposing how white identity and white racial knowledge work to inform and protect the boundaries of middle class and elite class positions (to the disadvantage of minoritised groups) remains central to advancing race equity and genuine social mobility.
Thinking about Class
Authors: Dorling Danny
Published: March 2014

Social classes are changing as people move around the world more often, moving more frequently between different class systems, holding different positions in different places, and changing the meanings of class, and social classes are also changing as rising economic insecurity reduces established certainties. The continued worldwide emancipation of women and rising income and wealth inequalities all change how we see ourselves and treat others. We are also changing how we wish to be grouped and seen. The BBC class survey ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973 ) and the article published simultaneously in Sociology (Savage et al., 2013) have generated considerable public discussion in the media but that debate is still largely parochially British. A public debate was initiated over how class is defined and about the relevance of social class in the contemporary world. Contributors ranging, in occupational class terms, from celebrity comics to the elite of the intellectual commentariat began to re-engage with the importance of social class as an explanatory concept. But if class matters as much as we now think it does we need to know how it is changing and how we can help change it for the better.
Auxetic materials and their potential applications in textiles
Authors: Wang Zhengyue , Hu Hong
Published: March 2014

Auxetic materials are a kind of non-conventional materials having negative Poisson’s ratio. They laterally expand when stretched or laterally shrink when compressed. Compared to conventional materials, auxetic materials have a number of enhanced properties that could be very interesting for some special applications. This paper reviews the latest achievements in auxetic materials, including their properties, structures and applications. A special discussion on their potential applications in textiles is also made. It is expected that this review could provide some useful information for the future development of auxetic textile materials.
A new method for the detection and classification of weave pattern repeat
Authors: Zheng Dejun
Published: March 2014

A novel method combining the characteristics of corner information and second-order statistics of fabric images is proposed for analyzing the repeat size and identifying the weave type of fabrics. The analysis method is formulated in a research framework of near regular texture analysis. Firstly, the original fabric image is split into two components: the geometric component and the textural component, in which low-level cues of corners are detected by the Harris detector. Secondly, clustering techniques are used to cluster interest points by image patch appearance. Thirdly, a Markov Random Field (MRF) model is adopted for inferring the location of texture elements, and their shape is then used for classifying the weave patterns. The experimental results show that the main disadvantages and difficulties of using structural and frequency methods in texture classifications have been overcome by the proposed method.
The avant-garde of decline: Karl Heinz Bohrer’s essays on England
Authors: Graham Paul
Published: March 2014

Karl Heinz Bohrer’s Ein bißchen Lust am Untergang: englische Ansichten is a collection of essays on England originally published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ( FAZ) and in the monthly Merkur between 1968 and 1981. This article explores these and subsequent essays by Bohrer. At the heart of Ein bißchen Lust am Untergang is the concept of decadence as a positive – or at least ambivalent – concept: it is ‘the highly stylized capacity for enjoyment after so much imperial exertion’. Marx described England as the ‘demiurge of the bourgeois cosmos’, and for Bohrer even in decline the country remains the avant-garde of the Western world, in contrast to hard-working, but un-decadent Germany. The Falklands War (1982) marked the end of this specifically English form of ‘enjoyment in decline’. More recent reflections on British, German and European politics reveal tensions and inconsistencies in Bohrer’s characterization of decadence. In reconstructing Bohrer’s work a number of concepts alongside decadence are discussed: the agonal; political aesthetics; closed form; and nostalgic modernism.
A logical redeemer: Kirillov in Dostoievskii’s Demons
Authors: Allan Derek
Published: March 2014

The engineer Kirillov, an important character in Dostoievskii’s Demons, has provoked considerable critical disagreement. In a well-known section of Le Mythe de Sisyphe, Albert Camus describes him as a figure who expresses the theme of ‘logical suicide’ with ‘the most admirable range and depth’. Other commentators have not always been so sanguine, some dismissing Kirillov as a madman in the grip of a mad theory. While dissenting from Camus’s analysis in certain respects, this article offers an interpretation consistent with his basic argument. Kirillov’s decision to commit suicide is based on a simple, if implacable, logic which convinces him that as long as he kills himself for the right reason, his death will be an act of redemption for all humanity. Kirillov is a wholly ‘metaphysical’ character – one of the earliest in modern fiction – whose ambition to become the ‘man-god’ is explored by Dostoievskii to its ultimate, desolate conclusion.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Children With Intestinal Failure Receiving Home Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Wozniak Laura J. , Bechtold Hannah M. , Reyen Laurie E. , Hall Theodore R. , Vargas Jorge H.
Published: March 2014

Background: Vitamin D plays important roles in both skeletal and nonskeletal health. Limited data suggest that patients with intestinal failure (IF) receiving home parenteral nutrition (PN) are at risk for vitamin D deficiency due to inadequate oral intake, poor absorption, and chronic illness. The purpose of this study was to document vitamin D status in pediatric patients with IF receiving home PN. Materials and Methods: We performed a 2‐year retrospective review of children with IF followed at our center who had been on home PN for ≥6 months and had ≥1 serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) level checked as part of routine clinical care. Patients were then categorized as deficient (<20 ng/mL), insufficient (20–29 ng/mL), or normal (≥30 ng/mL) based on their lowest vitamin D level. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were also assessed. Results: Eleven of 27 children (41%) had ≥1 insufficient 25‐OHD level, including one child with vitamin D deficiency. Diagnosis of short bowel syndrome (compared with dysmotility or malabsorption syndromes) was associated with decreased likelihood of suboptimal vitamin D status, with an odds ratio of 0.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.8, P = .028). Osteopenia was noted in 59% of the cohort. There was a trend toward higher risk for osteopenia in patients with low 25‐OHD levels compared with those with normal 25‐OHD levels (82% vs 44%, P = .109). Conclusion: Suboptimal 25‐OHD levels are common in children with IF on home PN. This emphasizes the critical importance of routine surveillance of serum vitamin D levels and consideration of enteral supplementation when indicated.
The Connection Between Varying Treatment Effects and the Crisis of Unreplicable Research
Authors: Gelman Andrew
Published: March 2014

We connect the replication crisis in social science to the default model of constant effects coupled with the flawed statistical approach of null hypothesis significance testing and the related problems arising from the default model of constant treatment effects. We argue that Bayesian modeling of interactions could lead to a general improvement in the communication and understanding of research results. Moving to Bayesian methods (or, more generally, multilevel approaches that incorporate external information) offers an opportunity for introspection into how social scientists interact with social phenomena to produce knowledge.
Music education in Puerto Rican elementary schools: A study from the perspective of music teachers
Authors: López-León Ricardo , Lorenzo-Quiles Oswaldo , Addessi Anna Rita
Published: March 2014

This article presents, for the first time, descriptive research on the status of music education in Puerto Rican public elementary schools. General music education at elementary schools on the island has been part of the school offering for more than 50 years. As yet, music education at this level has not been recognized as an essential discipline in the Department of Education’s official curriculum. The official governmental positions are contradictory to the reality of the teaching of music. As a result, this study is directed at obtaining a true understanding of the factors by performing research using 228 music educators from different areas of the Puerto Rican territory as the main suppliers of information. A questionnaire, validated by 15 experts, was administered to the 228 highly qualified in-service music teachers, and a 100% response rate was obtained. Overall, the results revealed that music teachers from Puerto Rico are performing under less than ideal teaching conditions.
A cross-cultural perspective about the implementation and adaptation process of the schoolwide enrichment model
Authors: Hernández-Torrano Daniel , Saranli Adile Gulsah
Published: March 2014

Gifted education and talent development are considered today as key elements for developing human capital and increasing competitiveness within education and the economy. Within this framework, a growing number of countries have begun to invest large amounts of resources to discover and nurture their most able students. As boundaries and differences between cultures become less pronounced in a global world, educational models to guide gifted education and talent development are also becoming more widely applicable. In this context, the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) stands as a flexible model that enables schools in different regions of the world to provide individuals with opportunities to identify their potentials and to help them reach their highest levels of competence. This paper provides an overview of the SEM and the broad range of regions in which the model is currently implemented, as well as an examination of the reasons for its widespread acceptance among educators around the world. In addition, this paper includes an interview with Dr Joseph Renzulli, inventor of SEM, in which several issues related to the cultural adaptation of the SEM are discussed. Finally, the paper presents an introduction to the SEM International Network, a newly developed project created to connect SEM users around the world and to facilitate the sharing and accessing of ideas and resources for talent development.
A randomized controlled trial of eccentric vs. concentric graded exercise in chronic tennis elbow (lateral elbow tendinopathy)
Authors: Peterson Magnus , Butler Stephen , Eriksson Margaretha , Svärdsudd Kurt
Published: March 2014

Objective:

To analyse treatment effects of eccentric vs. concentric graded exercise in chronic tennis elbow.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Primary care in Uppsala County, Sweden.

Subjects:

A total of 120 subjects with tennis elbow lasting more than three months were recruited from primary care and by advertisement.

Intervention:

Eccentric ( n = 60) or concentric exercise ( n = 60), by lowering or lifting a weight, at home daily, for three months with gradually increasing load.

Main measures:

Pain during muscle contraction and muscle elongation, as well as strength, was assessed at baseline and after one, two, three, six, and 12 months. Function and quality of life was assessed at baseline and after three, six and 12 months.

Results:

The eccentric exercise group had faster regression of pain, with an average of 10% higher responder rate at all levels of pain reduction, both during muscle contraction and elongation, ( p < 0.0001 and p = 0.006, respectively). Significant differences were found in Cox’s analysis from two months onwards (HR 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–0.96, p < 0.02). This represents an absolute pain reduction of 10% in the eccentric vs. the concentric group and a number-needed-to-treat of 10. The eccentric group also had a greater increase of muscle strength than the concentric ( p < 0.02). The differences persisted throughout the follow-up period. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding function or quality of life measures.

Conclusion:

Eccentric graded exercise reduced pain and increased muscle strength in chronic tennis elbow more effectively than concentric graded exercise.
Effect of threshold on the correlation between airflow obstruction and low attenuation volume in smokers assessed by inspiratory and expiratory MDCT
Authors: Yanagawa Noriyuki , Kawata Naoko , Matsuura Yukiko , Sugiura Toshihiko , Suzuki Toshio , Kasai Hajime , Irie Ryosuke , Iesato Ken , Tada Yuji , Tanabe Nobuhiro , Suzuki Yoichi , Tatsumi Koichiro
Published: March 2014

Background

The estimation of emphysematous changes is very sensitive to computed tomography (CT) threshold level. In clinical practice, the predetermined threshold is usually set at −950 Hounsfield units (HU) for the detection of low attenuation volume (LAV). However, threshold levels that are tightly connected to pulmonary function abnormalities have not been determined.

Purpose

To determine the threshold level for calculating an LAV that closely reflects airflow limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Material and Methods

Seventy-six consecutive non-COPD smokers and COPD patients underwent paired inspiratory and expiratory multidetector CT (MDCT). LAV% was segmented every 10 HU between −1000 and −750 HU to examine the correlation between LAV% and indexes of obstructive impairment.

Results

LAV% gradually increased as the threshold level increased on both inspiratory and expiratory images. LAV% on inspiratory images was higher than that on expiratory images at all threshold levels between −1000 and −750 HU. The threshold level that correlated with obstructive impairment differed between the two images: −930 HU on inspiratory and −870 or −880 HU on expiratory images.

Conclusion

LAV% dramatically changed according to the threshold level on both inspiratory and expiratory images, indicating that LAV% is dependent on the attenuation threshold level in patients with COPD. The threshold linking LAV% to airflow limitation was higher on expiratory than on inspiratory images.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Adolescents With Open Physis
Authors: Funahashi Kristina M. , Moksnes Havard , Maletis Greg B. , Csintalan Rick P. , Inacio Maria C.S. , Funahashi Tadashi T.
Published: March 2014

Background:

Treatment choices for skeletally immature patients sustaining anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have been controversial. The main dilemma is whether surgical treatment should be provided before patients reach skeletal maturity or whether nonoperative treatment should be provided until the physis has closed. Surgical reconstruction risks physeal damage, while delaying surgery may increase menisci and cartilage damage.

Purpose:

To identify patients at the onset of ACL injury and follow them longitudinally to surgery or final follow-up to describe differences between nonoperative and operative patients and to analyze the effect of delayed reconstruction.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A retrospective review of patients enrolled at a large integrated health care system (IHS) between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008, was performed. The study sample included all females ≤12 years old and males ≤14 years old who were evaluated with an ACL injury. The incidence of ACL injuries in each age group was calculated using the number of covered lives by the IHS system per age category as the denominator. Each patient was longitudinally followed using an electronic health record that captures all patient encounters. Every encounter was reviewed for symptoms associated with the index knee, and encounters were considered significant if new-onset pain or swelling was reported. Patients were instructed to restrict their activities while awaiting skeletal maturity to undergo reconstruction by not participating in activities that included any cutting or pivoting movements that would risk injury to the knee. Cartilage and meniscal injuries were recorded for patients who underwent reconstruction.

Results:

A total of 71 patients were identified during the study period (66 males, 4 females). At the completion of this study, 47 (66.2%) patients had undergone ACL reconstruction, and 24 (33.8%) were being treated nonoperatively. While there were no significant associations between time to surgery and meniscal or cartilage injury, there was a positive association between the number of significant encounters and the likelihood of a combined cartilage and meniscal injury ( P = .01).

Conclusion:

This is the first study to measure the incidence of ACL injuries in a skeletally immature population. For patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, an increased number of significant encounters was statistically significantly associated with combined meniscal and cartilage injuries, while increased time from injury to surgery was not significantly associated with additional injuries. In addition, one-third of the patients continued nonoperative treatment without symptoms that warranted surgical interventions during the follow-up period.
The Benefit of Synthetic Versus Biological Patch Augmentation in the Repair of Posterosuperior Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Ciampi Pietro , Scotti Celeste , Nonis Alessandro , Vitali Matteo , Di Serio Clelia , Peretti Giuseppe M. , Fraschini Gianfranco
Published: March 2014

Background:

Rotator cuff repair typically results in a satisfactory, although variable, clinical outcome. However, anatomic failure of the repaired tendon often occurs.

Hypothesis:

Patch augmentation can improve the results of open rotator cuff repair by supporting the healing process, protecting the suture, and reducing friction in the subacromial space.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 152 patients with a posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tear were treated by open repair only (control group; n = 51; mean age, 67.06 ± 4.42 years), open repair together with collagen patch augmentation (collagen group; n = 49; mean age, 66.53 ± 5.17 years), or open repair together with polypropylene patch augmentation (polypropylene group; n = 52; mean age, 66.17 ± 5.44 years) and were retrospectively studied. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and after 36 months with a visual analog scale (VAS) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale and by measuring elevation of the scapular plane and strength with a dynamometer. The VAS and UCLA scores were also obtained 2 months postoperatively. Tendon integrity was assessed after 1 year by ultrasound. Patients were homogeneous as per the preoperative assessment.

Results:

After 2 months, results (mean ± standard deviation) for the control, collagen, and polypropylene groups, respectively, were as follows: VAS scores were 6.96 ± 1.11, 6.46 ± 1.02, and 4.92 ± 0.90, while UCLA scores were 11.29 ± 1.46, 11.40 ± 1.51, and 19.15 ± 1.99. After 36 months, the mean scores for the respective groups were 3.66 ± 1.05, 4.06 ± 1.02, and 3.28 ± 1.10 for the VAS and 14.88 ± 1.98, 14.69 ± 1.99, and 24.61 ± 3.22 for the UCLA scale. In addition, after 36 months, elevation on the scapular plane was 140.68° ± 9.84°, 140.61° ± 12.48°, and 174.71° ± 8.18°, and abduction strength was 8.73 ± 0.54 kg, 9.03 ± 0.60 kg, and 13.79 ± 0.64 kg for the control, collagen, and polypropylene groups, respectively. The retear rate after 12 months was 41% (21/51) for the control group, 51% (25/49) for the collagen group, and 17% (9/52) for the polypropylene group. In particular, the reduced 12-month retear rate and the increased UCLA scores, abduction strength, and elevation at 3-year follow-up were statistically significant for patients treated with a polypropylene patch compared with those treated with repair only or with a collagen patch.

Conclusion:

Polypropylene patch augmentation of rotator cuff repair was demonstrated to significantly improve the 36-month outcome in terms of function, strength, and retear rate.
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Formulations and Blood Products on Human Synoviocytes
Authors: Braun Hillary J. , Kim Hyeon Joo , Chu Constance R. , Dragoo Jason L.
Published: March 2014

Background:

The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on chondrocytes has been studied in cell and tissue culture, but considerably less attention has been given to the effect of PRP on synoviocytes. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) compose 80% of the normal human synovium and produce cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases that can mediate cartilage catabolism.

Purpose:

To compare the effects of leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP), leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP), red blood cell (RBC) concentrate, and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) on human FLS to determine whether leukocyte and erythrocyte concentrations of PRP formulations differentially affect the production of inflammatory mediators.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Peripheral blood was obtained from 4 donors and processed to create LR-PRP, LP-PRP, RBCs, and PPP. Human synoviocytes were cultured for 96 hours with the respective experimental conditions using standard laboratory conditions. Cell viability and inflammatory mediator production were then evaluated.

Results:

Treatment with LR-PRP resulted in significantly greater synoviocyte death (4.9% ± 3.1%) compared with LP-PRP (0.72% ± 0.70%; P = .035), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0.39% ± 0.27%; P = .018), and PPP (0.26% ± 0.30%; P = .013). Synoviocytes treated with RBC concentrate demonstrated significantly greater cell death (12.5% ± 6.9%) compared with PBS ( P < .001), PPP ( P < .001), LP-PRP ( P < .001), and LR-PRP (4.9% ± 3.1%; P < .001). Interleukin (IL)–1β content was significantly higher in cultures treated with LR-PRP (1.53 ± 0.86 pg/mL) compared with those treated with PBS (0.22 ± 0.295 pg/mL; P < .001), PPP (0.11 ± 0.179 pg/mL; P < .001), and RBCs (0.64 ± 0.58 pg/mL; P = .001). IL-6 content was also higher with LR-PRP (32,097.82 ± 22,844.300 pg/mL) treatment in all other groups ( P < .001). Tumor necrosis factor–α levels were greatest in LP-PRP (9.97 ± 3.110 pg/mL), and this was significantly greater compared with all other culture conditions ( P < .001). Interferon-γ levels were greatest in RBCs (64.34 ± 22.987 pg/mL) and significantly greater than all other culture conditions ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Treatment of synovial cells with LR-PRP and RBCs resulted in significant cell death and proinflammatory mediator production.

Clinical Relevance:

Clinicians should consider using leukocyte-poor, RBC-free formulations of PRP when administering intra-articularly.
Adverse Event Rates and Classifications in Medial Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy
Authors: Martin Robin , Birmingham Trevor B. , Willits Kevin , Litchfield Robert , LeBel Marie-Eve , Giffin J. Robert
Published: March 2014

Background:

Previously reported complications in medial opening wedge (MOW) high tibial osteotomy (HTO) vary considerably in both rate and severity.

Purpose:

(1) To determine the rates of adverse events in MOW HTO classified into different grades of severity based on the treatments required and (2) to compare patient-reported outcomes between the different adverse event classifications.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

All patients receiving MOW HTO at a single medical center from 2005 to 2009 were included. Internal fixation was used in all cases, with either a nonlocking (Puddu) or locking (Tomofix) plate. Patients were evaluated at 2, 6, and 12 weeks; 6 and 12 months; and annually thereafter. Types of potential surgical and postoperative adverse events, categorized into 3 classes of severity based on the subsequent treatments, were defined a priori. Medical records and radiographs were then reviewed by an independent observer. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were compared in subgroups of patients based on the categories of adverse events observed.

Results:

A total of 323 consecutive procedures (242 males) were evaluated (age, mean ± standard deviation, 46 ± 9 years; body mass index, mean ± standard deviation, 30 ± 5 kg/m2). Adverse events requiring no additional treatment (class 1) were undisplaced lateral cortical breaches (20%), displaced (>2 mm) lateral hinge fracture (6%), delayed wound healing (6%), undisplaced lateral tibial plateau fracture (3%), hematoma (3%), and increased tibial slope ≥10° (1%). Adverse events requiring additional or extended nonoperative management (class 2) were delayed union (12%), cellulitis (10%), limited hardware failure (1 broken screw; 4%), postoperative stiffness (1%), deep vein thrombosis (1%), and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 (1%). Adverse events requiring additional or revision surgery and/or long-term medical care (class 3) were aseptic nonunion (3%), deep infection (2%), CRPS type 2 (1%), and severe hardware failure with loss of correction (1%). Additional surgery rate was 3%. Class 1 and 2 adverse events did not affect patient-reported outcomes at 6, 12, or 24 months postoperatively. Patients with class 3 adverse events had significantly lower total WOMAC scores at 6 months but not at 12 or 24 months postoperatively.

Conclusion:

The most common adverse event in MOW HTO requiring extended nonoperative treatment (class 2) is delayed union (12%). The rate of severe adverse events requiring additional surgery and/or long-term medical care (class 3) is low (7%).
Greenhouse gas emissions from the treatment of household plastic containers and packaging: Replacement with biomass-based materials
Authors: Yano Junya , Hirai Yasuhiro , Sakai Shin-ichi , Tsubota Jun
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to quantify the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction that could be achieved by replacement of fossil-derived materials with biodegradable, biomass-based materials for household plastic containers and packaging, considering a variety of their treatment options. The biomass-based materials were 100% polylactide or a combination of polybutylene succinate adipate and polylactide. A scenario analysis was conducted considering alternative recycling methods. Five scenarios were considered: two for existing fossil-derived materials (the current approach in Japan) and the three for biomass-based materials. Production and waste disposal of 1 m3 of plastic containers and packaging from households was defined as the functional unit. The results showed that replacement of fossil-derived materials with biomass-based materials could reduce life-cycle GHG emissions by 14–20%. Source separation and recycling should be promoted. When the separate collection ratio reached 100%, replacement with biomass-based materials could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 31.9%. Food containers are a priority for replacement, because they alone could reduce GHG emissions by 10%. A recycling system for biomass-based plastics must be carefully designed, considering aspects such as the transition period from fossil-derived plastics to biomass-based plastics.
The status and development of treatment techniques of typical waste electrical and electronic equipment in China: A review
Authors: He Yunxia , Xu Zhenming
Published: March 2014

A large quantity of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is being generated because technical innovation promotes the unceasing renewal of products. China’s household appliances and electronic products have entered the peak of obsolescence. Due to lack of technology and equipment, recycling of WEEE is causing serious environment pollution. In order to achieve the harmless disposal and resource utilization of WEEE, researchers have performed large quantities of work, and some demonstration projects have been built recently. In this paper, the treatment techniques of typical WEEE components, including printed circuit boards, refrigerator cabinets, toner cartridges, cathode ray tubes, liquid crystal display panels, batteries (Ni–Cd and Li-ion), hard disk drives, and wires are reviewed. An integrated recycling system with environmentally friendly and highly efficient techniques for processing WEEE is proposed. The orientation of further development for WEEE recycling is also proposed.
Cost recovery of municipal solid waste management in small cities of inland China
Authors: Ren Xin , Hu Shunong
Published: March 2014

Financial performance of waste management, the key for efficiency and sustainability, has rarely been studied in China, especially for small cities. Through questionnaires and interviews, we conducted such a case study in several cities aiming to fill the gap and improve waste service. We found that labour accounts for more than half to three-quarters of the operation cost, followed by fuel and vehicle maintenance. The waste service heavily relies on budget transfer of the municipality. User fees collected recover less than half of total operation cost at best, even if the collection rate is relatively high. The low cost recovery is mainly due to low fee rates, unchanged for years owing to public pressure. Public complaint seems to be justified by the finding that the service only accounts for 5–10% of municipal revenue annually and even lower in government spending. Contrary to general perception, per capita waste generation in small cities is not less than big ones. Waste composition is dominated by kitchen wastes, with fractions of recyclables and combustibles much lower than big cities. These findings have implications on the waste management strategy: commercial incineration or recycling may not be economically viable for small cities. The article concludes that user fees might better serve, and be designed for, behaviour change than for cost recovery. Municipalities need to first improve cost efficiency and transparency of waste services to gain public trust and support in order to tackle the biggest challenge facing developing countries, cost recovery.
Determining Length of Breastfeeding Exclusivity
Authors: Burnham Laura , Buczek Magdalena , Braun Natalie , Feldman-Winter Lori , Chen Ning , Merewood Anne
Published: March 2014

Background:

Infant feeding data are often collected retrospectively through maternal report. Validation studies show that maternal report of initiation and duration of any breastfeeding is accurate but that report of duration of exclusive breastfeeding may be less accurate.

Objective:

This study aimed to compare infant feeding data collected longitudinally throughout the first 6 months of life with maternal report of duration of exclusive breastfeeding collected 2 years postpartum.

Methods:

Infant feeding data were collected prospectively throughout the first 6 months of life from medical records and maternal report, including maternal 24-hour recall. At 2 years postpartum, we asked mothers of these same infants how long they exclusively breastfed their infants. Their responses were compared to the prospectively collected data. Simple and multiple linear regressions tested for any significant predictors of the difference between the prospectively collected data and maternal report at 2 years.

Results:

Of the 292 mothers included in the final analysis, only 88 (30.1%) mothers reported a duration of exclusive breastfeeding at 2 years postpartum that matched the prospectively collected data. Sixty-four women reported exclusively breastfeeding for the recommended 6 months (21.9%), but according to the prospectively collected data, only 2 women (0.7%) breastfed exclusively through 6 months. The median difference between the prospectively collected data and maternal report at 2 years was 1 month (IQR, 0-4).

Conclusion:

In this sample of mothers, report of exclusive breastfeeding practices 2 years after birth was often inaccurate and mothers tended to overestimate duration.
High-temperature matrix resins based on bispropargyl ethers (BPEs) – part 2
Authors: Dhanalakshmi Jeyaraj Pandiyan , Pitchaimari Gnanasekar , Alam Sarfaraz , Vijayakumar Chinnaswamy Thangavel
Published: March 2014

Structurally diverse bispropargyl ethers (BPEs) using resorcinol, quinol, 4,4′-dihydroxy biphenyl, bisphenol-A, 4,4′-dihydroxy diphenyl ketone, 4,4′-dihydroxy diphenylsulphone, trimethyl indane bisphenol and tetramethyl spirobiindane bisphenol were synthesized, and it was separately blended with 4,4′-bismaleimido diphenyl methane (BMIM) in mole ratios (0.5:0.5). The structural characterizations of the materials are carried out using Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis shows that the difference in the melting characteristics and decrease in the curing window for different BPEs were caused by the incorporation BMIM. Addition of BMIM to BPEs reduces the heat liberated during the thermal curing. The curing kinetics is investigated using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Vyazovkin and Friedman methods. Amongst the various BPEs investigated, the activation energy ( Ea) values obtained from spirobiindane BPE (SPIPE) behaves entirely in a different manner compared to all other materials investigated. The apparent Ea values for SPIPE was observed to increase with increasing extent of reaction up to 0.2–0.5 and then the Ea values decrease with increasing extent of reaction up to 0.55–0.8. The Ea for the polymer blends obtained by the incorporation of BMIM with different BPEs shows nearly linear increase in the Ea value, and the rate of increase is influenced by the structure of the aromatic spacer present in between the propargyl groups.
Additional material feeding method by plunger shape design for hydroforming of triangular tubes
Authors: Shin Young-Chul , Lim Seong-Joo , Choi Ho-Joon , Yoon Duk-Jae
Published: March 2014

In this study, a hydroforming process is used for the manufacture of a bicycle frame tube, one side end of which is expanded to an acute-angled triangular shape from the initial tube, which has a regular triangular cross section. The end section of the expanding side is designed to be smoothly connected with the initial tube cross section to maintain sealing by the plunger. The tube hydroforming process is controlled using an axial feeding plunger and a pressure intensifier. Various load conditions can be applied to the initial tubes through these units. However, the experimental results showed that forming into the desired shape without bursting at the expanding area or shear cracking at other areas was not possible. These problems seem to occur because the circumferential propagation of plastic deformation is constrained by the triangular cross-sectional profile of the initial tube. To resolve this problem, less axial feeding should be supplied to the compressing zone compared with the expanding zone even in a single tube. In this work, besides conventional axial feeding, an additional axial feeding method by an end cam–shaped plunger is suggested to supply different axial feeding for each circumferential location of the tube. Finite element simulation and experimental studies are performed to verify the effectiveness of the concept.
Ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing of cylindrical groove arrays on silicon carbide
Authors: Sun Zhi Y , Guo Bing , Zhao Qing L , Pan Yong C
Published: March 2014

Thanks to its superior mechanical and physical properties, silicon carbide is a promising mold material in glass molding of micro-structured optical elements. However, the high micro-structured surface quality can be hardly generated by means of conventional abrasive polishing because of the high hardness of silicon carbide. In this article, the ultrasonic vibration was introduced to assist abrasive polishing with an aim to improve the cylindrical groove arrays’ surface quality and also to increase the polishing efficiency. First, the comparison experiments between abrasive polishing and ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing were conducted, and then, the factors affecting ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing performance were investigated. The experimental results indicate that through conventional abrasive polishing, the surface roughness of silicon carbide cylindrical groove arrays decreases to 25.5 nm from the precision ground surface roughness ( Ra) of 115.6 nm, while through ultrasonic vibration–assisted polishing, the surface roughness decreases to 8.6 nm with a factor of three times improvement. Furthermore, a 35-kHz vibration frequency corresponds to a smaller surface roughness than a 25-kHz vibration frequency under identical processing parameters. In the vibration amplitude range from 1.0 to 2.5 µm, the surface roughness accordingly decreases linearly, while in the range of 2.5–4.0 µm, ultrasonic vibration presents no assistance in improving the surface quality.