bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attitude towards Stretch Pain of the Elbow after Radial Head Fracture
Authors: Guitton Thierry G. , Vranceanu Ana-Maria , Ring David
Published: December 2011

Background

This prospective cohort study tested the hypothesis that agreement with the idea that ‘stretching of the elbow beyond the point where it becomes painful is important in recovery’ leads to greater elbow range of motion, 1 month after injury.

Methods

Seventy-one patients with an isolated partial articular radial head fracture seen within 14 days after injury completed measures of depression and catastrophic thinking and rated their agreement with a statement regarding pain and recovery from their injury on a five-point Likert scale. One month later, patients completed the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire and elbow and forearm motion were measured.

Results

Nine patients (12.6%) disagreed with the role of pain in recovery, six (8%) were neutral and 56 (78.9%) agreed. Patients that disagreed with the role of stretch pain in recovery were older ( p = 0.031), had more depressive symptoms (Center for the Epidemiological Study of Depression Instrument; p = 0.047), and achieved less elbow extension ( p = 0.050) and forearm rotation ( p = 0.017) 1 month after injury.

Conclusions

A protective attitude towards stretch pain during recovery from fracture of the radial head is associated with less elbow motion 1 month after injury.

Level of evidence

Prognostic study, Level 1 (prospectively).
A Methodology for Online Fatigue Monitoring With Consideration of Temperature-Dependent Material Properties Using Artificial Parameter Method
Authors: Zhang Hengliang , Xiong Yangheng , Nie Chu , Xie Danmei , Sun Kunfeng
Published: December 2011

Following the basis of the ASME codes, the major nuclear components are designed to successfully avoid the fatigue failure. However, such design is generally very conservative and it is necessary to accurately assess the fatigue life of the components for the optimal life. The assessment of fatigue damage accumulation due to the thermal transients is currently performed via online fatigue monitoring systems. The algorithms for online calculation of thermal stress are one of the main components of these systems and are often based on the Green function technique (GFT), in which machine parameters such as fluid temperatures, pressures, and flow rates are converted into metal temperature transients and thermal stresses. However, since the GFT is based upon the linear superposition principle, it cannot be directly used when the temperature-dependent material properties are considered. This paper presents a methodology to consider the temperature- dependent material properties using artificial parameter method. Two cases are presented to compare the results calculated from the proposed models with those calculated by finite element method (FEM). It is found that the temperature-dependent material properties have significant influence on the maximum peak stresses which can be accurately captured by the models proposed in this work.
On Shakedown, Ratchet and Limit Analyses of Defective Pipeline
Authors: Chen Haofeng , Chen Weihang , Li Tianbai , Ure James
Published: December 2011

In this study, the limit load, shakedown, and ratchet limit of a defective pipeline subjected to constant internal pressure and a cyclic thermal gradient are analyzed. Ratchet limit and maximum plastic strain range are solved by employing the new linear matching method (LMM) for the direct evaluation of the ratchet limit. Shakedown and ratchet limit interaction diagrams of the defective pipeline identifying the regions of shakedown, reverse plasticity, ratcheting, and plastic collapse mechanism are presented, and parametric studies involving different types and dimensions of part-through slot in the defective pipeline are investigated. The maximum plastic strain range over the steady cycle with different cyclic loading combinations is evaluated for a low cycle fatigue assessment. The location of the initiation of a fatigue crack for the defective pipeline with different slot type is determined. The proposed linear matching method provides a general-purpose technique for the evaluation of these key design limits and the plastic strain range for the low cycle fatigue assessment. The results for the defective pipeline shown in the paper confirm the applicability of this procedure to complex 3-D structures.
Controlling Thermal Conductivity of Alloys via Atomic Ordering
Authors: Duda John C. , English Timothy S. , Jordan Donald A. , Norris Pamela M. , Soffa William A.
Published: December 2011

Many random substitutional solid solutions (alloys) will display a tendency to atomically order given the appropriate kinetic and thermodynamic conditions. Such order–disorder transitions will result in major crystallographic reconfigurations, where the atomic basis, symmetry, and periodicity of the alloy change dramatically. Consequently, phonon behavior in these alloys will vary greatly depending on the type and degree of ordering achieved. To investigate these phenomena, the role of the order–disorder transition on phononic transport properties of Lennard–Jones type binary alloys is explored via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Particular attention is paid to regimes in which the alloy is only partially ordered. It is shown that by varying the degree of ordering, the thermal conductivity of a binary alloy of fixed composition can be tuned across an order of magnitude at 10% of the melt temperature, and by a factor of three at 40% of the melt temperature.
Formability of Porous Tantalum Sheet-Metal
Authors: Nebosky Paul S. , Schmid Steven R.
Published: December 2011

Over the past 10 years, a novel cellular solid, Trabecular MetalTM (TM), has been developed for use in the orthopedics industry as an ingrowth scaffold. Manufactured using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on top of a graphite foam substrate, this material has a regular matrix of interconnecting pores, high strength, and high porosity. Manufacturing difficulties encourage the application of stamping and forming technologies to increase CVD reactor throughput and reduce materials wastes. In this study, the formability of TM was evaluated using a novel camera-based system for measuring surface strains, since the conventional approach of printing or etching gridded patterns was not feasible. A forming limit diagram was then obtained using specially fabricated 1.65 mm thick sheets. No lubricant was used due to the cleanliness requirements for orthopedic implants.
BLACK STRINGS, BLACK RINGS AND STATE-SPACE MANIFOLD
Authors: BELLUCCI STEFANO , TIWARI BHUPENDRA NATH
Published: December 2011

State-space geometry is considered, for diverse three and four parameter nonspherical horizon rotating black brane configurations, in string theory and M-theory. We have explicitly examined the case of unit Kaluza–Klein momentum D1D5P black strings, circular strings, small black rings and black supertubes. An investigation of the state-space pair correlation functions shows that there exist two classes of brane statistical configurations, viz. the first category divulges a degenerate intrinsic equilibrium basis, while the second yields a nondegenerate, curved, intrinsic Riemannian geometry. Specifically, the solutions with finitely many branes expose that the two charged rotating D1D5 black strings and three charged rotating small black rings consort real degenerate state-space manifolds. Interestingly, arbitrary valued M5-dipole charged rotating circular strings and Maldacena–Strominger–Witten black rings exhibit nondegenerate, positively curved, comprehensively regular state-space configurations. Furthermore, the state-space geometry of single bubbled rings admits a well-defined, positive definite, everywhere regular and curved intrinsic Riemannian manifold; except for the two finite values of conserved electric charge. We also discuss the implication and potential significance of this work for the physics of black holes in string theory.
Electrical Stress-Directed Evolution of Biocatalyst Texcoco Soil Community for Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Sathish Kumar K. , Solorza-Feria Omar , Vázquez-Huerta G. , Luna-Arias J. P. , Poggi-Varaldo H. M.
Published: December 2011

Anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) perform an unusual form of respiration in which their electron acceptor is a solid anode. The focus of this study was to characterize the electrical stress direct evolution of biocatalysts as a way of enriching the community with ARB for microbial fuel cell. We gave the electrical stress continually to the Texcoco bacterial community at -150mV/SCE. The 4th day current started to increase and attained the maximum current of 0.35mA in the 15 th day. The current in this period was associated to biofilm growth. On the 15thday and by using cyclic voltammetery, an irreversible electron transfer reaction of alkaliphilic cytochrome was found, due to the electrode fouling. From the impedance measurement, the biofilm ARB resistance was determined (~250Ω). Further confocal microscopy studies of biofilm ARB revealed ~6µm thickness. In the single chamber microbial fuel cell, the electrochemical stressed biofilm-ARB exhibited a maximum power density of 79mW/m2
The Effect of a Chemically Modified Graphene in Water Based Corrosion Coating
Authors: Romo Lucia , Cruz-Silva Rodolfo , Sepúlveda-Guzman Selene , Menchaca-Campos Carmina , Uruchurtu Chavarín Jorge
Published: December 2011

This work investigates the use of chemically modified grapheme (CMG) as an additive in commercial vinylic corrosion coatings. It is expected as the diffusion of aggressive species diminishes through the coating from the presence of graphene, therefore the coating corrosion behaviour improves and so the metal damage reduces. The CMG was prepared by graphite oxide thermal self reduction. Afterwards a coating was formulated based on a vinyl acrylic paint and 1, 3, 5 and 10% wt CMG. The coating was then applied to 1045 carbon steel sheet and dried at room temperature. Electrochemical evaluation was performed in 3% NaCl solution and coatings were characterized using electron scanning microscopy to observe their morphology.
Evaluation of Atmospheric Corrosion in the City of Poza Rica Veracruz
Authors: Lugo Islas Gabriela , Ramírez Reyes José L. , Gallardo Castán Ernesto , García Navarro Norma
Published: December 2011

The corrosive indexes were determined with Aluminum screwed wire probes over bolts of steel, cooper and plastic, also called CLIMAT (Classification of industrial and marine atmosphere) and accord with the technique reported by Bell Telephone Laboratories [1] and widely used by the company Aluminum Cable [2] for the study of galvanic unions of aluminum in the atmosphere conditions. Standard samples as carbon steel, galvanized steel, copper and aluminum were used to determine the categories corrosiveness type ISO in the city Poza Rica Veracruz. The Normative ISO 8565 was applied to the conditions of the exposure, and ISO 9223 for levels of corrosivity and calculating the corrosion rate of coupons after. This study was complemented with the application of electrochemical methods (EIS and CP), studies of morphology and surface analysis of corrosion products by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate the existence of an industrial type atmosphere, influenced by the marine environment, from the Gulf of Mexico. According to the methodology CLIMAT was identified intermediate levels of atmospheric corrosion (C3) for carbon steel and (C4) for galvanized steel. However atmospheric corrosion was very high for copper (C5) and aluminum (C5). This can be attributed to the relative humidity above 80%, speed and wind direction, targeted attacks that produce aggressive agents such as SO2, chlorides, and suspended particles.
Pantoprazol as Inhibitor of API 5L X52 Steal Corrosion in HCl 1M
Authors: Espinoza-Vazquez Araceli , Negrón-Silva Guillermo , Angeles-Beltrán Deyanira , Palomar-Pardavé Manuel E. , Romero-Romo Mario A. , Herrera-Hernández Héctor
Published: December 2011

In this paper the study of increasing concentrations of the organic compound as a drug pantoprazole and its corresponding active substance on the inhibition of corrosion of steel API 5L X52 1M HCL exposed in using the technique of electrochemical impedance (EIS). The impedance diagrams show a continuous increase in the value of | Z | as it increases the amount of inhibitor in the solution. At a concentration of 20 ppm of the drug inhibited by 92% and 78% active substance reaching the maximum efficiency at 100 ppm 97 and 85% respectively. Admenas thermodynamic analysis of Gibbs free energy is -6.40 kcal / mol indicating that it performs a physisorption process.
Dopamine Electrochemical Determination with Uric and Ascorbic Acids Present in Solution Using a Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode (SDS-CPE) at Physiologic pH
Authors: Colin-Orozco Elena , Corona Avendaño Silvia , Romero-Romo Mario , Palomar-Pardavé Manuel , Ramírez-Silva Ma. Teresa
Published: December 2011

The electrochemical behavior of dopamine, DA, was determined in the same solution containing two of its main interferents, ascorbic acid, AA, and uric acid, UA, through differential pulse voltammetry by means of a sodium dodecyl sulphate-modified carbon paste electrode, SDS-CPE, at physiologic pH. With the unmodified CPE the DA's, AA's and UA's signals fully overlap. However, when the [SDS] > CMC it became possible to separate all signals, such that EpaDA - EpaAA = -272 mV, while for the system EpaDA - EpaUA = -171 mV. From the calibration plots for the DA in the presence of AA a linearity range of 9 to 105 micromolar was measured, the detection and quantification limits obtained were 7 and 23 micromolar, respectively. For the system DA-AU the linearity range was 8 to 133 micromolar, and the respective detection and quantification limits found were 14 and 49 micromolar.
Lipid Bilayer Preparation on Hydrophilically Modified Gold Electrode
Authors: Velázquez-Manzanares Miguel , Kycia Annia , Lipkoswki Jacek
Published: December 2011

The Au(111) electrode surface was modified by deposition of a self-assembled hydrophilic monolayer of thioglucose. A combination of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) techniques was then used to deposit a lipid bilayer containing cholesterol (Chol) 30 mol%, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy(polyethyleneglycol)-2000 (Lipid-PEG-2000) (6 mol%) and dimyristoylphophatidylcholine (DMPC) 64 mol% the thioglucose modified gold surface. Compression isotherms were recorded at the air-solution interface to determine the best conditions for the transfer of the (DMPC/Lipido-PEG-2000/Chol) and (DMPC/Chol) monolayers onto the metal electrode surface. The LB transfer of DMPC/Lipid-PEG-2000/Chol was carried out at surface pressure π = 20 mN m-1(30 oC) corresponding to liquid condensed phase of lipids. The bilayer was completed with the outer leaflet of DMPC/Chol transferred by the Langmuir Schaefer method at π = 40 mN m-1. The capacitance of the gold electrode covered by the bilayer was measured. At a single frequency the value of ~ 3.5 μF cm2 was obtained. This value indicates that the bilayer was deposited onto the electrode and that this architecture can be used for further biomimetic studies.
Study on the Supramolecular Interaction of Dopamine with Carbon Nanotubes and β-Cyclodextrin Immovilized over a Carbon Paste Electrode
Authors: Palomar-Pardavé Manuel , Alarcón-Ángeles Georgina , Corona Avendaño Silvia , Romero-Romo Mario , Merkoçi Arben , Rojas-Hernández Alberto , Ramírez-Silva Ma. Teresa
Published: December 2011

This paper showed that dopamine interacted with β-cyclodextrine, β-CD, to form an inclusion complex, which is also well known as a supramolecular complex. Once formed, such complex was applied to design an analytical method to pursue the quantitative determination of dopamine in a pharmaceutical sample, with good analytic parameters. The results are presented here of the modification carried out to the surface of a simple carbon paste electrode with multiwall carbon nanotubes, MWCNT, and with b-cyclodextrin, β-CD, present in solution and with its polymer, poly-β-CD. With these modified electrodes, analyses were performed to understand the effect of such surface modifications on the electrochemical response of the analyte dopamine, which was surface-immovilized through formation of the said inclusion complex, as evidenced by the adsorption process that controlled the overall reaction rate of the oxidation process.
Electrocatalysis of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Pd0.5M0.4Pt0.1 (M=Cu,Ni,Fe,Co) Nanoparticles
Authors: Godínez-Salomón Fernando , Hallen López J. M. , Solorza-Feria Omar
Published: December 2011

This work presents the study of the electrocatalytic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.5M H2SO4 on dispersed nanoparticles of different ternary Pd0.5M0.4Pt0.1 (M = Cu, Ni, Fe and Co) alloys, through thin-film rotating disk electrode (TF-RDE) experimental analysis results. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles between 17-45 nm in sizes. The catalysts containing Co, Ni or Fe, show equivalent behavior to Pd alone, however, Pd0.5Cu0.4Pt0.1 catalyst showed similar specific activity (µA cm2 real) but twice specific mass activity (mA mg-1) compared to Pt synthesized under the same experimental condition.
Nanostructured TiO2 Arrays Obtained at Low and High Potential
Authors: Solís de la Fuente Mauricio , Rincón González Marina E. , Concha Guzmán María O. , Cuevas-Arteaga Cecilia
Published: December 2011

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured TiO2 arrays obtained by electrochemical anodization of Ti foils at low (<3V) and high (50V) potential, using different electrolyte solutions, are presented. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that at low potential film formation is characterized by a porous array with pore length < 1 micrometer, whereas at high potential it corresponds to a nanotube array with nanotube length of 8 micrometers. The difference in surface roughness between the porous and nanotube arrays did not agree with the photocurrent difference observed in a photoelectrochemical cell, suggesting the presence of limiting phenomena in the longer tubes for this application. Electrochemical impedance studies revealed low capacitance and large pore resistance in TiO2 nanotubes, which point out to restricted ion diffusion in photoelectrochemical devices working at low bias, as well as different surface reactivity.
Photoelectrochemical Characterization of CNT-TiO2 Electrodes Sensitized with Bi2S3
Authors: Calva Julio C. , Rincón González Marina E. , Solís de la Fuente Mauricio , Alvarado G.
Published: December 2011

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterization of carbon nanotubes-titania (CNT-TiO2) electrodes sensitized with bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) is presented as a function of CNT-TiO2 annealing temperature and Bi2S3 deposition time. Arrays of CNT were grown on stainless steel substrates by spray pyrolisis and then functionalized with a thin layer of TiO2. Air annealing at 400 and 550ºC modified the morphology and C/TiO2 ratio in the hybrid materials, from CNT-TiO2 coaxial cables to C-doped TiO2. Both matrices increase the amount of Bi2S3 deposited by chemical bath, but the absorbing layer is mainly located at the outer electrode surface. Best PEC performance is observed in electrodes based in C-doped TiO2, as electrodes based on coaxial cables of CNT-TiO2 show large capacitive currents that interfere with photocurrent generation.
Intake of branched-chain amino acids influences the levels of MAFbx mRNA and MuRF-1 total protein in resting and exercising human muscle
Authors: Borgenvik Marcus , Apró William , Blomstrand Eva
Published: December 2011

Resistance exercise and amino acids are two major factors that influence muscle protein turnover. Here, we examined the effects of resistance exercise and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), individually and in combination, on the expression of anabolic and catabolic genes in human skeletal muscle. Seven subjects performed two sessions of unilateral leg press exercise with randomized supplementation with BCAA or flavored water. Biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis muscle of both the resting and exercising legs before and repeatedly after exercise to determine levels of mRNA, protein phosphorylation, and amino acid concentrations. Intake of BCAA reduced ( P < 0.05) MAFbx mRNA by 30 and 50% in the resting and exercising legs, respectively. The level of MuRF-1 mRNA was elevated ( P < 0.05) in the exercising leg two- and threefold under the placebo and BCAA conditions, respectively, whereas MuRF-1 total protein increased by 20% ( P < 0.05) only in the placebo condition. Phosphorylation of p70S6k increased to a larger extent (∼2-fold; P < 0.05) in the early recovery period with BCAA supplementation, whereas the expression of genes regulating mTOR activity was not influenced by BCAA. Muscle levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine were reduced (13–17%) throughout recovery ( P < 0.05) in the placebo condition and to a greater extent (32–43%; P < 0.05) following BCAA supplementation in both resting and exercising muscle. In conclusion, BCAA ingestion reduced MAFbx mRNA and prevented the exercise-induced increase in MuRF-1 total protein in both resting and exercising leg. Further-more, resistance exercise differently influenced MAFbx and MuRF-1 mRNA expression, suggesting both common and divergent regulation of these two ubiquitin ligases.
Objective Assessment of an Ionic Footbath (IonCleanse): Testing Its Ability to Remove Potentially Toxic Elements from the Body
Authors: Kennedy Deborah A. , Cooley Kieran , Einarson Thomas R. , Seely Dugald
Published: December 2011

Ionic footbaths are often used in holistic health centres and spas to aid in detoxification; however, claims that these machines eliminate toxins from the body have not been rigorously evaluated. In this proof-of-principle study, we sought to measure the release of potentially toxic elements from ionic footbaths into distilled and tap water with and without feet. Water samples were collected and analyzed following 30-minute ionic footbath sessions without feet using both distilled (n=1) and tap water (n=6) and following four ionic footbaths using tap water (once/week for 4 weeks) in six healthy participants. Urine collection samples were analyzed at four points during the study. Hair samples were analyzed for element concentrations at baseline and study conclusion. Contrary to claims made for the machine, there does not appear to be any specific induction of toxic element release through the feet when running the machine according to specifications.
Community Walking in People with Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Lamont Robyn M. , Morris Meg E. , Woollacott Marjorie H. , Brauer Sandra G.
Published: December 2011

People with Parkinson's disease often have walking difficulty, and this is likely to be exacerbated while walking in places in the community, where people are likely to face greater and more varied challenges. This study aims to understand the facilitators and the barriers to walking in the community perceived by people with Parkinson's disease. This qualitative study involved 5 focus groups (n=34) of people with Parkinson's disease and their partners residing in metropolitan and rural regions in Queensland, Australia. Results found that people with PD reported to use internal personal strategies as facilitators to community walking, but identified primarily external factors, particularly the environmental factors as barriers. The adoption of strategies or the use of facilitators allows people with Parkinson's disease to cope so that participants often did not report disability.
Platelet-Derived MHC Class I Confers a Pseudonormal Phenotype to Cancer Cells That Subverts the Antitumor Reactivity of Natural Killer Immune Cells
Authors: Placke Theresa , Örgel Melanie , Schaller Martin , Jung Gundram , Rammensee Hans-Georg , Kopp Hans-Georg , Salih Helmut Rainer
Published: December 2011

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance, preferentially eliminating targets with low or absent expression of MHC class I and stress-induced expression of ligands for activating NK receptors. Platelets promote metastasis by protecting disseminating tumor cells from NK cell immunosurveillance, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we show that tumor cells rapidly get coated in the presence of platelets in vitro, and circulating tumor cells of cancer patients display coexpression of platelet markers. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, confocal microscopy, and analyses on an ultrastructural level using immunoelectron microscopy revealed that such coating may cause transfer of MHC class I onto the tumor cell surface resulting in high-level expression of platelet-derived normal MHC class I. The resulting “phenotype of false pretenses” disrupts recognition of tumor cell missing self, thereby impairing cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production by NK cells. Thus, our data indicate that platelets, by conferring an unsuspicious “pseudonormal” phenotype, may enable a molecular mimicry that allows metastasizing tumor cells to downregulate MHC class I, to escape T-cell–mediated immunity without inducing susceptibility to NK cell reactivity. Cancer Res; 72(2); 440–8. ©2011 AACR.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study of Oral Sildenafil Citrate in Treatment-Naive Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Barst Robyn J. , Ivy D. Dunbar , Gaitan Guillermo , Szatmari Andras , Rudzinski Andrzej , Garcia Alberto E. , Sastry B.K.S. , Pulido Tomas , Layton Gary R. , Serdarevic-Pehar Marjana , Wessel David L.
Published: December 2011

Background—

Safe, effective therapy is needed for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods and Results—

Children (n=235; weight ≥8 kg) were randomized to low-, medium-, or high-dose sildenafil or placebo orally 3 times daily for 16 weeks in the Sildenafil in Treatment-Naive Children, Aged 1–17 Years, With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (STARTS-1) study. The primary comparison was percent change from baseline in peak oxygen consumption (PV̇
o
2
) for the 3 sildenafil doses combined versus placebo. Exercise testing was performed in 115 children able to exercise reliably; the study was powered for this population. Secondary end points (assessed in all patients) included hemodynamics and functional class. The estimated mean±SE percent change in PV̇
o
2
for the 3 doses combined versus placebo was 7.7±4.0% (95% confidence interval, −0.2% to 15.6%;
P
=0.056). PV̇
o
2
, functional class, and hemodynamics improved with medium and high doses versus placebo; low-dose sildenafil was ineffective. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. STARTS-1 completers could enter the STARTS-2 extension study; patients who received sildenafil in STARTS-1 continued the same dose, whereas placebo-treated patients were randomized to low-, medium-, or high-dose sildenafil. In STARTS-2 (ongoing), increased mortality was observed with higher doses.

Conclusions—

Sixteen-week sildenafil monotherapy is well tolerated in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Percent change in PV̇
o
2
for the 3 sildenafil doses combined was only marginally significant; however, PV̇
o
2
, functional class, and hemodynamic improvements with medium and high doses suggest efficacy with these doses. Combined with STARTS-2 data, the overall profile favors the medium dose. Further investigation is warranted to determine optimal dosing based on age and weight.

Clinical Trial Registration—

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00159913.
Divided Nations and the Challenges of Protection
Authors: Deng Francis M.
Published: December 2011

The international community confronts a major gap between the ideals propounded by the United Nations and the realities on the ground that often negate those ideals. The lofty principles of peace, security, prosperity and respect for fundamental rights and civil liberties stand in sharp contrast with identity-based conflicts. These conflicts emanate not from mere difference, but from acute divisions within nations and the gross inequalities, discrimination, marginalization, and denial of rights associated with those divisions. When the international community tries to get involved to redress these domestic injustices, sovereignty is invoked as a barricade. Since military intervention to protect populations within countries is very costly in human and material terms, and although it cannot be ruled out under compelling circumstances, it is generally avoided. The challenge then becomes one of how to negotiate sovereignty, to engage governments in a constructive dialogue based on sovereignty as responsibility for state protection of its people, if necessary with the support of the international community. That is the challenge I have continued to confront in the various posts I've held throughout my career. That challenge constitutes the core message of this article.
Constrained Path Tracking at Varying Angles in a Mouse Tracking Task
Authors: Thibbotuwawa Namal , Goonetilleke Ravindra S. , Hoffmann Errol R.
Published: December 2011

Objective: This study was aimed to determine the effects of direction and path length on movement time when traversing a constrained path of width, W, in a mouse tracking task.

Background: Tracking within constrained paths has been demonstrated to hold in many applications. Movement time and velocity of movement have shown very similar relationships, possibly because of the lack of extreme testing conditions. Most previous research evaluated conditions with only constant path length (A) of movement.

Method: A total of 15 participants performed a mouse steering task within a constrained path at various angles. The independent variables were track width (W), path length, and path angle. Movement time was the dependent variable.

Results: Analyses showed a significant effect of movement direction on movement time, and the relationship was approximately sinusoidal and symmetrical about the horizontal axis. Path length had a significant effect on speed of movement, which was not that apparent on movement time. At low A/W values, movements appeared to be ballistic.

Conclusion: Tracking within constrained paths can be modeled to account for the effect of path angle.

Application: Vertical hand movements, especially within constrained paths, may not be ideal from a performance and biomechanical standpoint. The performance curve gradients are a good way to evaluate and standardize the testing of input devices and to define acceptable speeds for various tolerances in computer and industrial tasks that involve angular motions. The results of this experiment will help designers to optimize products and training programs.
Investigating the validity of an integrated listening-speaking task: A discourse-based analysis of test takers’ oral performances
Authors: Frost Kellie , Elder Catherine , Wigglesworth Gillian
Published: December 2011

Performance on integrated tasks requires candidates to engage skills and strategies beyond language proficiency alone, in ways that can be difficult to define and measure for testing purposes. While it has been widely recognized that stimulus materials impact test performance, our understanding of the way in which test takers make use of these materials in their responses, particularly in the context of listening-speaking tasks, remains predominantly intuitive. Recent studies have highlighted the problems associated with content-related aspects of task fulfilment on integrated tasks, but little attempt has been made to operationalize the way in which content from the input material is integrated into speaking performances. Using discourse data from a trial administration of a pilot for an Oxford English language test, this paper investigates how test takers integrate stimulus materials into their speaking performances on an integrated listening-then-speaking summary task, whether these behaviours are reflected in the relevant rating scale and, by implication, whether the test scores assigned according to this scale reflect real differences in the quality of oral performances. An innovative discourse analytic approach was developed to analyse content-related aspects of performance in order to determine if such aspects represent an appropriate measure of the speaking ability construct. Results showed that the measures devised, such as the number of key points included from the input text, and the accuracy with which information was reproduced or reformulated, effectively distinguished participants according to their level of speaking proficiency. The study’s findings support the use of this particular task-type and the appropriateness of the associated rating scale as a measure of speaking proficiency, as well as the utility of the devised discourse-based measures for the validation of integrated tasks in other assessment contexts.
Experimental and numerical studies of the effect of area ratio and driving pressure on the performance of water and slurry jet pumps
Authors: Meakhail Tarek , Teaima Ibrahim
Published: December 2011

The slurry jet pump with scouring nozzle system can be used in dredging of sites, which are difficult to access or need handling of equipments that are used for the intake of pumping stations under bridges and concrete water channels. This system is suitable for sand, silt, sludge, mud, and other organic materials. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of water and slurry jet pumps. The effects of the pump-operating conditions and geometries on its performance were investigated. The experimental rig was constructed in such a way that the driving nozzle diameter can be changed. In this study, three different diameters of driving nozzles, 10, 12.7, and 16 mm, have been used with one mixing chamber of 25.4 mm diameter (i.e. three different area ratios of R = 0.155, 0.25, and 0.4). Also, the effect of driving pressure has been investigated. The results show that increasing the area ratio decreases the maximum mass flow ratio. The results of computational fluid dynamics were found to agree well with actual values obtained from the experimental water and slurry jet pump.
Re-placing sport migrants: Moving beyond the institutional structures informing international sport migration
Authors: Carter Thomas F
Published: December 2011

Interest in international sport migration has been burgeoning recently. This article considers the dominant theoretical models used to explore these movements and suggests that it is time to rethink some of our theoretical presumptions. Recent permutations of these theoretical models, shifting from globalization to network theoretical models, make this reconsideration of migration-related theories necessary. Drawing on the groundbreaking work done in the 1990s and on Rafaelle Poli’s rapidly expanding body of work, it becomes apparent that a more flexible, open-ended theoretical model is necessary. This article reviews these theoretical models before making a suggestion of how international sport migration might be better framed for understanding how migration is structured and experienced in multiple locations around the world. Considering that migrants are bodies moving through space, it seems crucial to return migrants to space-based models of movement thereby advocating a theoretical model that takes into account the complexly dynamic relationships between migrants, institutions, and places.
The Influence of Facilities and Environmental Values on Recycling in an Office Environment
Authors: Price Samantha , Pitt Michael
Published: December 2011

With rising costs of landfill and waste management for businesses, it is increasingly important to understand how to gain high recycling rates through self-separation by occupants in the office environment. Through a detailed case study approach, this paper shows that the office environment does have a profound effect on environmental behaviour. The findings indicate that with careful analysis, facilities can be designed around behaviour to encourage the highest possible recycling rates. The paper shows that a generalised system of recycling for all facilities is not the way forward. Different organisational cultures may foster different environmental behaviours and thus require variable facilities to maximise participation. The paper also reveals the causes of particular types of recycling behaviour.
How Do Households Perceive Risks at the Scale of the Environment in Their Own Home?
Authors: Sennes Vincent , Felonneau Marie-Line , Gombert-Courvoisier Sandrine , Ribeyre Francis
Published: December 2011

Improving housing performance in ecological terms is a major objective of sustainable development policies. This paper looks at the perception that households have of their environment in their homes, in terms of diagnosis, damages and control. Based on a survey of 107 households, it shows that their environmental concerns only partly reflect current ecological and health risks and that people are finding it difficult to reduce these risks. In order to increase environmental awareness at the level of their homes, the authors highlight the importance of providing support on an individual basis and suggest several courses of action, which should be adapted to the four levels of awareness that were identified by the study.
Puncture resistance of natural rubber latex unidirectional coated fabrics
Authors: Hassim Normala , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Ahmad Wan Yunus Wan , Samsuri Azemi , Yahya Mohammad Harris M
Published: December 2011

A study was conducted on the puncture resistance of high-strength nonwoven natural rubber latex (NRL)-coated fabrics. High strength unidirectional (UD) polyethylene fabrics were coated using single dipping (SD), double dipping (DD), and triple dipping (TD) methods. The puncture resistance of the uncoated and coated fabrics was determined by measuring the force needed to penetrate the fabrics using a blunt probe. The mechanisms and modes of deformation involved during penetration were observed as well. In comparison with the uncoated fabrics, the SD, DD, and TD NRL coated fabrics gave higher puncture resistance of 39%, 47%, and 62%, respectively. The increments of the penetration force were proportional with the increase in the NRL-coated fabric thickness. For the uncoated fabric, the force given by the probe resulted in yarns stretching and yarn slippage upon penetration. However, the NRL-coated fabrics were not severely damaged but resulted in a curvature formed at the frontface of the fabric with minimal backface deformation. From the observations, the modes of failure were similar among the NRL-coated fabrics, that is, fiber stretching, delamination of NRL layer, and stretch marks on the fabric surface. The NRL layer acted as a protective sheath and increases the energy absorption and elasticity characteristics of the UD fabric.
Managing Student Learning
Authors: Paletta Angelo
Published: December 2011

The conceptual categories that underlie the business analysis of intellectual capital are relevant to providing an explanation of school performance. By gathering data on student learning, this research provides empirical evidence for the use of school results as an accurate indicator of the effectiveness of the management of public education. This article concludes that schools are essentially knowledge-based organizations, but that is not enough for them to operate as effective learning organizations.
Prescribing in care homes: the role of the geriatrician
Authors: Burns Eileen , McQuillan Nuala
Published: December 2011

Large numbers of frail elderly people spend some time of their lives in care homes. Increasing age is associated with altered physiology, multiple diagnoses and complex comorbidity, and polypharmacy. Those living in care homes often take larger numbers of medications than those who live in the community and the risk of morbidity as a direct or indirect result of medications is high. Many methods have been suggested to revise the number and type of medications prescribed for individuals at risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), both in the community and in hospital with variable success and implementation. Assessment of prescribed and nonprescribed medications by pharmacists, nurses and general practitioners all have a role in optimizing therapeutics with evidence that improved prescribing can reduce the risk of ADRs. In conjunction with these professionals, community geriatricians undertaking a comprehensive geriatric assessment can reduce the number of medications prescribed or optimize therapy where there may be underprescribing (e.g. in depression), thereby reducing the overall risk of hospital admission ADRs.
Editorial: Will the real neutrophil please stand up?
Authors: Zarember Kol A , Kuhns Douglas B
Published: December 2011

Discussion on exudate neutrophils as a more accurate model of the “working” functional in vivo neutrophil than their circulating progenitors.
GLP-1 Neurons in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract Project Directly to the Ventral Tegmental Area and Nucleus Accumbens to Control for Food Intake
Authors: Alhadeff Amber L. , Rupprecht Laura E. , Hayes Matthew R.
Published: December 2011

Central glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor activation reduces food intake; however, brain nuclei and mechanism(s) mediating this effect remain poorly understood. Although central nervous system GLP-1 is produced almost exclusively in the nucleus of the solitary tract in the hindbrain, GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R) are expressed throughout the brain, including nuclei in the mesolimbic reward system (MRS), e.g. the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Here, we examine the MRS as a potential site of action for GLP-1-mediated control of food intake and body weight. Double immunohistochemistry for Fluorogold (monosynaptic retrograde tracer) and GLP-1 neuron immunoreactivity indicated that GLP-1-producing nucleus tractus solitarius neurons project directly to the VTA, the NAc core, and the NAc shell. Pharmacological data showed that GLP-1R activation in the VTA, NAc core, and NAc shell decreased food intake, especially of highly-palatable foods, and body weight. Moreover, blockade of endogenous GLP-1R signaling in the VTA and NAc core resulted in a significant increase in food intake, establishing a physiological relevance for GLP-1 signaling in the MRS. Current data highlight these nuclei within the MRS as novel sites for GLP-1R-mediated control of food intake and body weight.
Unpredictable endocrinology of the menopause transition: clinical, diagnostic and management implications
Authors: Burger Henry G
Published: December 2011

The approach to menopause can be divided into the early (E) and late (L) menopausal transitions (MT) on the basis of menstrual irregularity (EMT) and subsequent observation of at least one episode of 60 or more days amenorrhoea (LMT). In total, 40–60% of cycles in the LMT are anovulatory, often with low oestradiol (E2) and high follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. The ovulatory cycles have variable endocrine characteristics, none of which is specific to EMT or LMT. Hormonal measurements of FSH and E2 are thus of little diagnostic value because of their unpredictable variability. Symptoms during the transitions may result from high or low E2 and can often be satisfactorily managed with low-dose oral contraceptives, which suppress pituitary–ovarian function.
Estrogen treatment affects brain functioning after menopause
Authors: Bayer Ulrike , Hausmann Markus
Published: December 2011

Sex hormones have powerful neuromodulatory effects on functional brain organization and cognitive functioning. This paper reviews findings from studies investigating the influence of sex hormones in postmenopausal women with and without hormone therapy (HT). Functional brain organization was investigated using different behavioural tasks in postmenopausal women using either estrogen therapy or combined estrogen plus gestagen therapy and age- and IQ-matched postmenopausal women not taking HT. The results revealed HT-related modulations in specific aspects of functional brain organization including functional cerebral asymmetries and interhemispheric interaction. In contrast to younger women during the menstrual cycle, however, it seems that HT, and especially estrogen therapy, after menopause affects intrahemispheric processing rather than interhemispheric interaction. This might be explained by a faster and more pronounced age-related decline in intrahemispheric relative to interhemispheric functioning, which might be associated with higher sensitivity to HT. Taken together, the findings suggest that the female brain retains its plasticity even after reproductive age and remains susceptible to the effects of sex hormones throughout the lifetime, which might help to discover new clinical approaches in the hormonal treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Cystatin C and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate as Predictors for Adverse Outcome in Patients with ST-Elevation and Non–ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: Results from the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes Study
Authors: Åkerblom Axel , Wallentin Lars , Siegbahn Agneta , Becker Richard C , Budaj Andrzej , Buck Kristen , Giannitsis Evangelos , Horrow Jay , Husted Steen , Katus Hugo A , Steg Philippe Gabriel , Storey Robert F , Åsenblad Nils , James Stefan K
Published: December 2011

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the predictive ability of cystatin C and creatinine-based estimations of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), including the Chronic Kidney Disease–Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equation, in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with (STE-ACS) or without (NSTE-ACS) ST elevation in a large contemporary ACS population.

METHODS

Concentrations of cystatin C and creatinine, as well as eGFR at randomization, were measured in 16 401 patients in the Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) study and evaluated as predictors of the composite end point of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction within 1 year. Two Cox proportional hazards models were used, the first adjusting for clinical characteristics and the second for clinical characteristics plus the biomarkers N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin I, and C-reactive protein.

RESULTS

The median cystatin C value was 0.83 mg/L. Increasing quartiles of cystatin C were strongly associated with poor outcome (6.9%, 7.1%, 9.5%, and 16.2%). The fully adjusted hazard ratios per SD of cystatin C in the NSTE-ACS and STE-ACS populations were 1.12 (95% CI 1.04–1.20) (n = 8053) and 1.06 (95% CI 0.97–1.17) (n = 5278), respectively. There was no significant relationship of cystatin C with type of ACS (STE or NSTE). c Statistics ranged from 0.6923 (cystatin C) to 0.6941 (CKD-EPI).

CONCLUSIONS

Cystatin C concentration contributes independently in predicting the risk of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction in NSTE-ACS, with no interaction by type of ACS. CKD-EPI exhibited the largest predictive value of all renal markers. Nevertheless, the additive predictive value of cystatin C or creatinine-based eGFR measures in the unselected ACS patient is small.
Redes neurais e representação mental: um ensaio sobre harmonia e racionalidade
Authors: Gonzales Maria Eunice Quilici
Published: December 2011

Investigaremos, a partir da perspectiva da Ciência Cognitiva, a noção de representação mental, no domínio da percepção visual humana. Ênfase é dada ao paradigma Conexionista, ou de Redes Neurais, de acordo com o qual tais representações mentais são descritas como estruturas emergentes da interação entre sistemas de processamento de informação que se auto-organizam - tais como o cérebro - e a luz estruturada no meio ambiente. Sugerimos que essa noção de representação mental indica uma solução para uma antiga polêmica, entre Representacionalistas e Eliminativistas, acerca da existência de representações mentais no sistema perceptual humano.