bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Handwriting in early childhood education: Current research and future implications
Authors: Dinehart Laura H
Published: March 2014

Early fine motor writing skills are quickly becoming recognized as an important school readiness skill associated with later academic success ( Dinehart and Manfra, 2013 ; Grissmer et al., 2010 ; Son and Meisels, 2006 ). Yet, little is known about the development of handwriting, the extent to which it is of value in the early childhood classroom and the best means by which to teach handwriting, or at least handwriting readiness, to young children. The current work reviews the literature on handwriting and its place in early childhood education. Overall, this article serves as a call for (a) researchers to continue examining the role of handwriting in the early education and development of young children and (b) practitioners to develop and implement programmes they know to be best practice in teaching early handwriting or handwriting ‘readiness’ skills.
Investigating the Role of Brand Equity in Predicting the Relationship Between Message Exposure and Parental Support for Their Child’s Physical Activity
Authors: Jarvis Jocelyn W. , Rhodes Ryan E. , Deshpande Sameer , Berry Tanya R. , Chulak-Bozzer Tala , Faulkner Guy , Spence John C. , Tremblay Mark S. , Latimer-Cheung Amy E.
Published: March 2014

Social marketing researchers have identified brand equity as a potential mediator of the relationship between campaign message exposure and resulting behavior. This study examined whether message exposure and components of brand equity contribute to overall brand equity changes over the course of a 12-month campaign evaluation. In addition, we examine whether brand equity consistently accounts for covariance (i.e., mediation) in the relationship between message exposure and parental support (PS). Data were drawn from ParticipACTION’s “Think Again” campaign evaluations that targeted parents, specifically moms, with children between the ages of 5 and 11 years (three independent samples: March 2011, N = 702 [T1]; September 2011, N = 706 [T2]; March 2012, N = 670 [T3]). Univariate analyses of variance were used to examine changes in message exposure and components of brand equity over time, while structural equation modeling was used to examine the brand equity model relationship. Findings revealed that message exposure was greatest at T3 ( ps < .01) and that brand equity was greatest at T2 ( ps < .05). Model fit statistics revealed modest to good fit. Results demonstrated that Think Again message exposure was related to brand equity (standardized effects .10–.28) and that brand equity was related to PS (standardized effects .30–.40; ( ps < .01). Importantly, an indirect effect of message exposure on PS through brand equity (standardized effects .03–.09) emerged in all models ( ps < .05). This study demonstrates the utility of branding social marketing campaigns to increase campaign effectiveness.
Assessing the Intensity of Sports Rivalries Using Data From Secondary Market Transactions
Authors: Sanford Ken , Scott Frank
Published: March 2014

Assessing the intensity of college football rivalries is an annual exercise of sports columnists. Fan polling, average ticket price, and even the bad behaviors of athletes have been used to quantify and rank rivalries. For economists, market prices of tickets have an appealing behavioral interpretation as they represent fans’ marginal willingness to substitute game attendance for other sources of utility. We have collected secondary market data on 278,117 individual ticket sales at different points in the season for 171 home games played by Southeastern Conference (SEC) member football teams over a 2-year period. Our rich data set allows us to control for the quality of the seats and the effects of on-field successes or failures during the season. Since we use data from 2 successive years, we are also able to normalize the level effect on prices of certain stadiums. We construct a willingness-to-pay measure of fan interest in various matchups and use this to compare the intensity of different rivalries for SEC schools.
Neurocognitive Improvement After Carotid Artery Stenting in Patients With Chronic Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion
Authors: Fan Yi-Ling , Wan Jie-Qing , Zhou Zheng-Wen , Chen Lei , Wang Yong , Yao Qing , Jiang Ji-Yao
Published: March 2014

Symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion with hemodynamic impairment remains a dismal disease when untreated. In this prospective, single-center, controlled study, we investigated the feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of stenting by endovascular recanalization for patients with chronic ICA occlusion. Forty patients with symptomatic chronically occluded ICA were assigned to receive endovascular recanalization (group A, n = 18) or conservative management (group B, n = 22). The primary end point was 100% complete recanalization of the primary occlusion at 60 minutes, and secondary end points were improvement in neurologic function and cognitive function. Patients in the 2 groups were comparable in demographic and baseline characteristics. Successful recanalization was achieved in 88.9% (16 of 18) of patients with the restoration of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Ischemia/Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia 2 or 3 flow. There was no procedural or new cerebral ischemic event. Improvement in brain perfusion was observed in 12 (12 of 18, 75%) patients on single-photon emission computed tomography. Improvement in neurologic function defined as a reduction of ≥4 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 6 months was observed in group A (baseline, 6.83 ± 3.01 vs 6 months, 2.61 ± 1.20; P < .01) and group B (baseline, 6.05 ± 2.75 vs 6 months, 4.77 ± 1.69; P < .05). A significant difference in NIHSS scores was noted between group A and B at 1, 3, and 6 months ( P < .05 or .001). Improvement in cognitive function defined as an increase of ≥8 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was observed in group A at 3 and 6 months (baseline, 14.67 ± 3.56 vs 3 months, 24.17 ± 3.55 and 6 months, 24.72 ± 2.85; P < .01). Significant improvement in MoCA was also observed in group B ( P < .01). Furthermore, a significant difference in MoCA scores was noted between group A and B at 1, 3, and 6 months ( P < .05 or .001). Endovascular recanalization is feasible and safe for patients with symptomatic chronic carotid artery occlusion. Successful carotid artery stenting can improve neurological function and global cognitive function than nonrevascularization.
The effects of sildenafil and n-acetylcysteine on ischemia and reperfusion injury in gastrocnemius muscle and femoral artery endothelium
Authors: Aksu Volkan , Yüksel Volkan , Chousein Serchat , Taştekin Ebru , İşcan Şahin , Sağiroğlu Gönül , Canbaz Suat , Sunar Hasan
Published: March 2014

Purpose

We aimed to examine the effects of sildenafil and n-acetylcystein on ischemia/reperfusion injury in femoral artery endothelium and gastrocnemius muscle.

Basic methods

32 rats of Sprague-Dawley breed were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8). Median laparotomy was performed, then a 120-minute ischemia was created by microvascular clamping of infrarenal aorta, followed by the release of clamping. In sildenafil group, 1 mg/kg of sildenafil infusion and in the n-acetylcystein group, 100 mg/kg of n-acetylcystein infusion was administered after release of clamps. Blood samples and tissue samples of femoral artery and gastrocnemius muscle were extracted for a histopathological evaluation.

Principal findings

Serum levels of malondialdehyde in ischemia/reperfusion group (6.16 ± 0.79) were higher compared to the control group (4.69 ± 0.33), whereas a significant decrease was detected in sildenafil (5.17 ± 0.50) and n-acetylcystein (4.96 ± 0.49) groups. Femoral artery tissue sections of the control group, mean tumor necrosis factor alpha and hypoxy-induced factor-1 alpha immunoreactivity were found to be negative. In the ischemia/reperfusion group, mean tumor necrosis factor α immunoreactivity was intense and mean hypoxy-induced factor-1 alpha immunoreactivity was 51–75%. In the ischemia/reperfusion + Sildenafil and ischemia/reperfusion + NAS groups, mean tumor necrosis factor α immunoreactivity was slight and mean hypoxy-induced factor-1 alpha immunoreactivity was 26–50%.

Conclusions

In conclusion, sildenafil and n-acetylcystein may reduce femoral artery endothelium and gastrocnemius muscle injury following lower extremity ischemia/reperfusion.
An investigation into sonography student experiences of simulation teaching and learning in the acquisition of clinical skills
Authors: Gibbs Vivien
Published: March 2014

Technological developments are impacting on many aspects of life, including education. One particular area of technology where there is growing interest within higher education institutions (HEIs) offering healthcare training is the use of simulators. The literature shows diverging views on the role of simulated learning in healthcare and further evaluation is needed to explore the quality of learning opportunities that are offered, and their effectiveness in the preparation of students for clinical practice. A qualitative study was undertaken, using interviews to explore the experiences of a group of sonography students after interacting with an ultrasound simulator. Simulation was positively evaluated by students in this study. The findings confirm that simulated learning enables students to be interactive learners rather than being passive recipients of knowledge. Simulated learning provides learning opportunities in a risk free environment, which reduces stress for the student and potential harm to patients. Confidence levels were increased, thereby improving future clinical scanning experiences for both the student and their patients. Suggestions were made for the more effective integration of simulated learning into the curriculum. Continued research into simulation, teaching and learning practices needs to occur if we are to ensure maximum advantage of the simulation experience.
Creating the Youth Justice Board: Policy and policy making in English and Welsh youth justice
Authors: Souhami Anna
Published: March 2014

Despite continuing interest in English and Welsh youth justice policy there has been little critical engagement with the nature of policy itself. Instead, analyses share a common methodological position whereby ‘policy’ is equated with policy ‘products’ (such as legislation or ministerial speeches). This article argues that to understand youth justice policy a wider view is required of what constitutes policy, and where and by whom it is made. It explores how policy is produced in the complex arena of social practice which, following the establishment of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB), now constitutes the central operation of the system. Through the creation of the YJB the central youth justice system became essentially undefined. This not only gave YJB officials significant influence in shaping the direction of the youth justice system, but a broad and flexible arena in which to act. Moreover it enabled them to do so according to values and objectives potentially unconnected to ministerial outcomes. Drawing on an ethnographic study of the operation of the YJB, this article explores the policy-making work of YJB officials through the transformation of the role and activities of the YJB itself, comparing the initial parameters of its operation to the way it was defined in action. The article discusses the implications for understanding New Labour’s English and Welsh youth justice policy, and the nature of ‘policy’ itself.
Improving the health status of Caribbean people: recommendations from the Triangulating on Health Equity summit
Authors: Sastre Francisco , Rojas Patria , Cyrus Elena , De La Rosa Mario , Khoury Aysha H.
Published: March 2014

In 2011, Morehouse School of Medicine convened a summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to discuss issues related to the health status of people and communities in the Caribbean region. The summit provided a forum for transparent dialog among researchers, policymakers, and advocates from the Caribbean region and the United States. The summit’s theme—improving the region’s health outcomes through the adoption of effective practices linking health promotion and primary care, within the context of social and cultural determinants—called for a comprehensive and integrative model or a triangulation of methodologies to improve health outcomes. This article summarizes the recommendations of two workgroup sessions examining the challenges to improving health outcomes in the region and the opportunities to meet those challenges. The recommendations seek to develop action-oriented agendas that integrate research, practice, and policy. Outcomes of the summit highlight the importance of (a) community participation in planning interventions, (b) policymakers’ commitment to prioritizing health, and (c) Caribbean governments’ commitment to addressing the underlying social factors responsible for poor health outcomes.
The post-millennium development goals agenda: include ‘end to all wars’ as a public health goal!
Authors: Jayasinghe Saroj
Published: March 2014

The process of identifying global post-millennium development goals (post-MDGs) has begun in earnest. Consensus is emerging in certain areas (e.g. eliminating poverty) and conflicts and violence are recognized as key factors that retard human development. However, current discussions focus on tackling intra-state conflicts and individual-based violence and hardly mention eliminating wars as a goal. Wars create public health catastrophes. They kill, maim, displace and affect millions. Inter-state wars fuel intra-state conflicts and violence. The peace agenda should not be the monopoly of the UN Security Council, and the current consensus-building process setting the post-MDG agenda is a rallying point for the global community. The human rights approach will not suffice to eliminate wars, because few are fought to protect human rights. The development agenda should therefore commit to eliminating all wars by 2030. Targets to reduce tensions and discourage wars should be included. We should act now.
Shaping Social Identities in Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Western Iberia: The Role of Funerary Practices, Stelae, and Statue-Menhirs
Authors: Díaz-Guardamino Marta
Published: March 2014

This paper assesses the applicability of modern notions of gender identity and individuality, and examines ‘relationality’ as a key dimension structuring social identity during the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron Age in western Iberia through a focus on funerary practices and stelae- and statue-menhir-making. It is argued that these practices were involved in the recollection of genealogical and mythical pasts. They entailed the creation of the dead and the ancestors as relational entities through the explicit inscription of graphic and spatial relations. Ultimately, these practices were structured by, and structured, shared understandings of the self and the roles of the deceased and the ancestors in social life—understandings in which ‘relationality’ played a seminal role.
Platelet adhesion involves a novel interaction between vimentin and von Willebrand factor under high shear stress
Authors: Da Qi , Behymer Molly , Correa Juliana I. , Vijayan K. Vinod , Cruz Miguel A.
Published: March 2014

Key Points

Vimentin expressed on the platelet surface serves as adhesive receptor for VWF.
Metavir 2: new tools for viral metagenome comparison and assembled virome analysis
Authors: Roux Simon , Tournayre Jeremy , Mahul Antoine , Debroas Didier , Enault François
Published: March 2014

Background

Metagenomics, based on culture-independent sequencing, is a well-fitted approach to provide insights into the composition, structure and dynamics of environmental viral communities. Following recent advances in sequencing technologies, new challenges arise for existing bioinformatic tools dedicated to viral metagenome (i.e. virome) analysis as (i) the number of viromes is rapidly growing and (ii) large genomic fragments can now be obtained by assembling the huge amount of sequence data generated for each metagenome.

Results

To face these challenges, a new version of Metavir was developed. First, all Metavir tools have been adapted to support comparative analysis of viromes in order to improve the analysis of multiple datasets. In addition to the sequence comparison previously provided, viromes can now be compared through their k-mer frequencies, their taxonomic compositions, recruitment plots and phylogenetic trees containing sequences from different datasets. Second, a new section has been specifically designed to handle assembled viromes made of thousands of large genomic fragments (i.e. contigs). This section includes an annotation pipeline for uploaded viral contigs (gene prediction, similarity search against reference viral genomes and protein domains) and an extensive comparison between contigs and reference genomes. Contigs and their annotations can be explored on the website through specifically developed dynamic genomic maps and interactive networks.

Conclusions

The new features of Metavir 2 allow users to explore and analyze viromes composed of raw reads or assembled fragments through a set of adapted tools and a user-friendly interface.
Cross-sectional study of the relationship of peripheral blood cell profiles with severity of infection by adenovirus type 55
Authors: Chen Wei-Wei , Nie Wei-Min , Xu Wen , Xie Yang-Xin , Tu Bo , Zhao Peng , Qin En-Qiang , Zhang Yun-Hui , Zhang Xiu , Li Wen-Gang , Zhou Zhi-Ping , Lv Ji-Yun , Zhao Min
Published: March 2014

Background

The immunologic profiles of patients with human adenovirus serotype 55 (HAdV-55) infections were characterized in subjects diagnosed with silent infections (n = 30), minor infections (n = 27), severe infections (n = 34), and healthy controls (n = 30) during a recent outbreak among Chinese military trainees.

Methods

Blood was sampled at the disease peak and four weeks later, and samples were analyzed to measure changes in leukocyte and platelet profiles in patients with different severities of disease. Differential lymphocyte subsets and cytokine profiles were measured by flow cytometry and Luminex xMAP®, and serum antibodies were analyzed by ELISA and immunofluorescence staining.

Results

Patients with severe HAdV infections had higher proportions of neutrophils and reduced levels of lymphocytes (p < 0.005 for both). Patients with minor and severe infections had significantly lower platelet counts (p < 0.005 for both) than those with silent infections. The silent and minor infection groups had higher levels of dendritic cells than the severe infection group. Relative to patients with silent infections, patients with severe infections had significantly higher levels of IL-17+CD4+ cells, decreased levels of IL-17+CD8+ cells, and higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-α2 (p < 0.001 for all comparisons).

Conclusions

Patients with different severities of disease due to HAdV-55 infection had significantly different immune responses. These data provide an initial step toward the identification of patients at risk for more severe disease and the development of treatments against HAdV-55 infection.
DNA damage response and DNA repair – dog as a model?
Authors: Grosse Nicole , van Loon Barbara , Rohrer Bley Carla
Published: March 2014

Background

Companion animals like dogs frequently develop tumors with age and similarly to human malignancies, display interpatient tumoral heterogeneity. Tumors are frequently characterized with regard to their mutation spectra, changes in gene expression or protein levels. Among others, these changes affect proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR), which served as a basis for the development of numerous clinically relevant cancer therapies. Even though the effects of different DNA damaging agents, as well as DDR kinetics, have been well characterized in mammalian cellsin vitro, very little is so far known about the kinetics of DDR in tumor and normal tissuesin vivo.

Discussion

Due to (i) the similarities between human and canine genomes, (ii) the course of spontaneous tumor development, as well as (iii) common exposure to environmental agents, canine tumors are potentially an excellent model to study DDRin vivo. This is further supported by the fact that dogs show approximately the same rate of tumor development with age as humans. Though similarities between human and dog osteosarcoma, as well as mammary tumors have been well established, only few studies using canine tumor samples addressed the importance of affected DDR pathways in tumor progression, thus leaving many questions unanswered.

Studies in humans showed that misregulated DDR pathways play an important role during tumor development, as well as in treatment response. Since dogs are proposed to be a good tumor model in many aspects of cancer research, we herein critically investigate the current knowledge of canine DDR and discuss (i) its future potential for studies on thein vivolevel, as well as (ii) its possible translation to veterinary and human medicine.
Extreme sensitivity of gene expression in human SH-SY5Y neurocytes to ultra-low doses of Gelsemium sempervirens
Authors: Marzotto Marta , Olioso Debora , Brizzi Maurizio , Tononi Paola , Cristofoletti Mirco , Bellavite Paolo
Published: March 2014

Background

Gelsemium sempervirensL. (Gelsemium s.) is a traditional medicinal plant, employed as an anxiolytic at ultra-low doses and animal models recently confirmed this activity. However the mechanisms by which it might operate on the nervous system are largely unknown. This work investigates the gene expression of a human neurocyte cell line treated with increasing dilutions ofGelsemium s.extract.

Methods

Starting from the crude extract, six 100 × (centesimal, c) dilutions ofGelsemium s.(2c, 3c, 4c, 5c, 9c and 30c) were prepared according to the French homeopathic pharmacopoeia. Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were exposed for 24 h to test dilutions, and their transcriptome compared by microarray to that of cells treated with control vehicle solutions.

Results

Exposure to theGelsemium s.2c dilution (the highest dose employed, corresponding to a gelsemine concentration of 6.5 × 10-9 M) significantly changed the expression of 56 genes, of which 49 were down-regulated and 7 were overexpressed. Several of the down-regulated genes belonged to G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathways, calcium homeostasis, inflammatory response and neuropeptide receptors. Fisher exact test, applied to the group of 49 genes down-regulated byGelsemium s.2c, showed that the direction of effects was significantly maintained across the treatment with high homeopathic dilutions, even though the size of the differences was distributed in a small range.

Conclusions

The study shows thatGelsemium s., a medicinal plant used in traditional remedies and homeopathy, modulates a series of genes involved in neuronal function. A small, but statistically significant, response was detected even to very low doses/high dilutions (up to 30c), indicating that the human neurocyte genome is extremely sensitive to this regulation.
Cutting costs of multiple mini-interviews – changes in reliability and efficiency of the Hamburg medical school admission test between two applications
Authors: Hissbach Johanna C , Sehner Susanne , Harendza Sigrid , Hampe Wolfgang
Published: March 2014

Background

Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) are a valuable tool in medical school selection due to their broad acceptance and promising psychometric properties. With respect to the high expenses associated with this procedure, the discussion about its feasibility should be extended to cost-effectiveness issues.

Methods

Following a pilot test of MMIs for medical school admission at Hamburg University in 2009 (HAM-Int), we took several actions to improve reliability and to reduce costs of the subsequent procedure in 2010. For both years, we assessed overall and inter-rater reliabilities based on multilevel analyses. Moreover, we provide a detailed specification of costs, as well as an extrapolation of the interrelation of costs, reliability, and the setup of the procedure.

Results

The overall reliability of the initial 2009 HAM-Int procedure with twelve stations and an average of 2.33 raters per station was ICC=0.75. Following the improvement actions, in 2010 the ICC remained stable at 0.76, despite the reduction of the process to nine stations and 2.17 raters per station. Moreover, costs were cut down from $915 to $495 per candidate. With the 2010 modalities, we could have reached an ICC of 0.80 with 16 single rater stations ($570 per candidate).

Conclusions

With respect to reliability and cost-efficiency, it is generally worthwhile to invest in scoring, rater training and scenario development. Moreover, it is more beneficial to increase the number of stations instead of raters within stations. However, if we want to achieve more than 80 % reliability, a minor improvement is paid with skyrocketing costs.
Elevated blood lead levels among unskilled construction workers in Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Gebrie Higemengist A , Tessema Dejene A , Ambelu Argaw
Published: March 2014

Background

No study has been carried out to assess the blood lead levels of workers or the contribution of common workplace practices to lead exposure in Ethiopia. This study was carried out to assess the blood lead levels of female and male laborers in the construction sector in Jimma town, Ethiopia.

Method

A cross-sectional study on the blood lead levels of 45 construction workers was carried out in the town of Jimma. The t-test, analysis of variance, the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann–Whitney and odds ratio tests were used to compare mean blood lead levels and to investigate the associations between specific job type, use of self-protection device, sex, service years and occurrence of non-specific symptoms with BLLs.

Results

The mean blood lead level of the exposed group (40.03 ± 10.41 μg/dL) was found to be significantly greater than that of the unexposed group (29.81 ± 10.21 μg/dL), p = 0.05. Among the exposed group female workers were found to have higher mean blood lead level (42.04 ± 4.11 μg/dL) than their male colleagues (33.99 ± 3.28 μg/dL). Laborers who were regularly using self-protection devices were found to have significantly lower blood lead levels than those who were not using.

Conclusion

The blood lead levels of construction workers in Jimma town are considerably high with a range of 20.46 – 70.46 μg/dL and the workers are in danger of imminent lead toxicity. More endangered are female construction workers who are bearers of the future children of the country and the issue requires urgent attention.
Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus detected in human lung cancer tissue arrays
Authors: Linnerth-Petrik Nicolle M , Walsh Scott R , Bogner Paul N , Morrison Carl , Wootton Sarah K
Published: March 2014

Background

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer and is frequently observed in non-smoking patients. Adenocarcinoma in-situ (formerly referred to as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma) is a subset of lung adenocarcinoma characterized by growth along alveolar septae without evidence of stromal, vascular, or pleural invasion, that disproportionately affects never-smokers, women, and Asians. Adenocarcinoma in-situ is morphologically and histologically similar to a contagious lung neoplasm of sheep called ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA). OPA is caused by infection with the exogenous betaretrovirus, jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), whose envelope protein (Env) is a potent oncogene. Several studies have reported that a proportion of human lung adenocarcinomas are immunopositive for an antigen related to the Gag protein of JSRV, however other groups have been unable to verify these observations by PCR.

Methods

Here we examine human lung cancer tissue arrays (TA) for evidence of JSRV Env protein and DNA by immunohistochemical staining and PCR, respectively.

Results

Our results reveal that a subset of human lung cancers express an antigen that reacts with a JSRV Env-specific monoclonal antibody in immunohistochemistry and that exogenous JSRV-like env and gag sequences can be amplified from TA tumor samples, albeit inefficiently.

Conclusions

While a causative role has not been established, these data suggest that a JSRV-like virus might infect humans. With next generation sequencing approaches, a JSRV-like virus in human lung cancers may be identified which could have profound implications for prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
Systematic review of chronic ankle instability in children
Authors: Mandarakas Melissa , Pourkazemi Fereshteh , Sman Amy , Burns Joshua , Hiller Claire E
Published: March 2014

Background

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a disabling condition often encountered after ankle injury. Three main components of CAI exist; perceived instability; mechanical instability (increased ankle ligament laxity); and recurrent sprain. Literature evaluating CAI has been heavily focused on adults, with little attention to CAI in children. Hence, the objective of this study was to systematically review the prevalence of CAI in children.

Methods

Studies were retrieved from major databases from earliest records to March 2013. References from identified articles were also examined. Studies involving participants with CAI, classified by authors as children, were considered for inclusion. Papers investigating traumatic instability or instability arising from fractures were excluded. Two independent examiners undertook all stages of screening, data extraction and methodological quality assessments. Screening discrepancies were resolved by reaching consensus.

Results

Following the removal of duplicates, 14,263 papers were screened for eligibility against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Nine full papers were included in the review. Symptoms of CAI evaluated included perceived and mechanical ankle instability along with recurrent ankle sprain. In children with a history of ankle sprain, perceived instability was reported in 23‐71% whilst mechanical instability was found in 18‐47% of children. A history of recurrent ankle sprain was found in 22% of children.

Conclusion

Due to the long‐lasting impacts of CAI, future research into the measurement and incidence of ankle instability in children is recommended.
Mean-field analysis of orientation selectivity in inhibition-dominated networks of spiking neurons
Authors: Sadeh Sadra , Cardanobile Stefano , Rotter Stefan
Published: March 2014

Mechanisms underlying the emergence of orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex are highly debated. Here we study the contribution of inhibition-dominated random recurrent networks to orientation selectivity, and more generally to sensory processing. By simulating and analyzing large-scale networks of spiking neurons, we investigate tuning amplification and contrast invariance of orientation selectivity in these networks. In particular, we show how selective attenuation of the common mode and amplification of the modulation component take place in these networks. Selective attenuation of the baseline, which is governed by the exceptional eigenvalue of the connectivity matrix, removes the unspecific, redundant signal component and ensures the invariance of selectivity across different contrasts. Selective amplification of modulation, which is governed by the operating regime of the network and depends on the strength of coupling, amplifies the informative signal component and thus increases the signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we perform a mean-field analysis which accounts for this process.
Level of agreement between 2002 American–European Consensus Group and 2012 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome and reasons for discrepancies
Authors: Cornec Divi , Saraux Alain , Cochener Béatrice , Pers Jacques-Olivier , Jousse-Joulin Sandrine , Renaudineau Yves , Marhadour Thierry , Devauchelle-Pensec Valérie
Published: March 2014

Introduction

The aims of this study were to assess agreement between the currently used 2002 American–European Consensus Group (AECG) classification criteria and the new 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and to identify potential sources of disagreement.

Methods

We studied 105 patients between 2006 and 2013 from the Brittany cohort of patients with suspected SS. AECG criteria were applied using only Schimer’s test and unstimulated whole salivary flow (UWSF) to assess objective ocular and oral involvement, since these are the tests most physicians use in clinical practice. Agreement between the two sets of criteria was assessed using Cohen’s κ coefficient.

Results

Of those studied, 42 patients fulfilled AECG and 35 ACR criteria. Agreement between the two sets was moderate (κ = 0.53). Patients fulfilling ACR but not AECG criteria (n = 8) were significantly younger and had shorter symptom durations, but only three of them had SS in the opinion of the evaluating physician. Xerostomia and xerophthalmia (AECG set only) did not discriminate between patients with and without SS. The use of UWSF in the AECG but not the ACR criteria explained part of the disagreement. The serological item in the ACR set (positive rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody ≥1:320 or anti-SSA/SSB positivity) did not result in classification differences compared to anti-SSA/SSB antibody alone (AECG set). Agreement between ocular staining score ≥3 (ACR set) and Schirmer’s test ≤5 mm/5 min (AECG set) was very low (κ = 0.14).

Conclusions

Agreement was only moderate between ACR and AECG criteria, suggesting these two sets would not select comparable patient populations. An international consensus about which classification criteria should be used in clinical studies is needed.
Elevated malondialdehyde levels in sepsis - something to 'stress' about?
Authors: Weiss Scott L , Deutschman Clifford S
Published: March 2014

Oxidative stress has been postulated as a mechanism of organ dysfunction - and thus a potential therapeutic target - in sepsis. Lorente and colleagues report increased serum levels of malondialdehyde, a biomarker of oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation, in adults with severe sepsis, particularly in non-survivors. While survivors exhibited a decrease in serum malondialdehyde over time, the elevation was sustained in non-survivors. These findings suggest that there is increased oxidative stress in sepsis and that membrane lipids in particular are targeted by free radical species. Further study is required to validate the utility of malondialdehyde as a prognostic biomarker in sepsis and to determine a role for antioxidant therapy.
Microvesicles derived from human Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by suppressing CX3CL1
Authors: Zou Xiangyu , Zhang Guangyuan , Cheng Zhongliang , Yin Deming , Du Tao , Ju Guanqun , Miao Shuai , Liu Guohua , Lu Mujun , Zhu Yingjian
Published: March 2014

Introduction

Studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could reverse acute and chronic kidney injury by a paracrine or endocrine mechanism, and microvesicles (MVs) have been regarded as a crucial means of intercellular communication. In the current study, we focused on the therapeutic effects of human Wharton-Jelly MSCs derived microvesicles (hWJMSC-MVs) in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury and its potential mechanisms.

Methods

MVs isolated from conditioned medium were injected intravenously in rats immediately after ischemia of the left kidney for 60 minutes. The animals were sacrificed at 24 hours, 48 hours and 2 weeks after reperfusion. The infiltration of inflammatory cells was identified by the immunostaining of CD68+ cells. ELISA was employed to determine the inflammatory factors in the kidney and serum von Willebrand Factor (VWF). Tubular cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified by immunostaining. Renal fibrosis was assessed by Masson’s tri-chrome straining and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining. The CX3CL1 expression in the kidney was measured by immunostaining and Western blot, respectively. In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with or without MVs for 24 or 48 hours under hypoxia injury to test the CX3CL1 by immunostaining and Western blot.

Results

After administration of hWJMSC-MVs in acute kidney injury (AKI) rats, renal cell apoptosis was mitigated and proliferation was enhanced, inflammation was also alleviated in the first 48 hours. MVs also could suppress the expression of CX3CL1 and decrease the number of CD68+ macrophages in the kidney. In the late period, improvement of renal function and abrogation of renal fibrosis were observed. In vitro, MVs could down-regulate the expression of CX3CL1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells under hypoxia injury at 24 or 48 hours.

Conclusions

A single administration of MVs immediately after ischemic AKI could ameliorate renal injury in both the acute and chronic stage, and the anti-inflammatory property of MVs through suppression of CX3CL1 may be a potential mechanism. This establishes a substantial foundation for future research and treatment.
Modal Sensitivity and Selectivity of Small, Rectangle-Shaped Piezoelectric Transducers Used as Sensors and Actuators in Active Vibroacoustic Control Systems
Authors: Nowak Lukasz J. , Zieliński Tomasz G.
Published: March 2014

The paper focuses on some issues regarding the utilization of small rectangle-shaped piezoelectric transducers as both sensors and actuators in active vibration and vibroacoustic control systems of beam, plate and panelled structures with arbitrary (non-homogeneous) boundary conditions. A new form of description of a simple proportional active control system with multiple independent feedback loops is proposed. The modal sensitivity functions of sensors and the modal selectivity functions of actuators are introduced to describe their ability for sensing and exciting specific structural modes of the structures. Basing on the assumed form of cost function and the derived equations of control system the influence of the modal characteristics of transducers on the stability of the system and on the performance of the active control is analyzed. The results of analytical solutions and numerical simulations are compared with the results of the experiments carried out on various beam and plate structures made up of aluminium or composite materials including the actual materials used in aviation, proving usefulness of the presented approach.
Using a High Resolution Motion Capture System to Determine 6-DOF Whole-Body Vibration Accelerations
Authors: Jack Robert J. , Oliver Michele , Hayward Gordon
Published: March 2014

Comprehensive investigations of the human response to vibration require many markers, accelerometers, and electrodes. The use of multiple measurement systems can result in time intensive subject preparation, large memory requirements for data storage and processing, skin motion artifacts, and subject encumbrance. The purpose of this study was to determine if a VICON™ motion capture system could reliably and accurately measure translational and rotational acceleration levels produced by mobile machines, thereby eliminating the need for accelerometers and potentially minimizing the aforementioned problems. Simulating these vibration exposures in a laboratory, it was found that translational displacements ≥ 0.1 mm produced absolute peak and RMS average acceleration measurement differences less than 5% between the VICON™ system and an accelerometer. The absolute peak and RMS rotational accelerations determined by the VICON™ system and those produced by a PRSCO™ hexapodrobot differed by 5.44 ± 3.87% and 3.57 ± 2.44% respectively. Accounting for the vibration attenuation of the human body, the VICON™ system also appears well suited for determining 6-DOF acceleration levels in laboratory seat-to-head vibration transmission studies.
Traffic Noise Prediction and the Influence of Vehicle Horn Noise
Authors: Nassiri Parvin , Dehrashid Shaho Ahmadi , Hashemi Mukhtar , Shalkouhi P. Jafari
Published: March 2014

A study was conducted to propose statistical models in order to predict equivalent sound pressure level ( LAeq (1 h)) and maximum sound pressure level ( LAFmax (1 h)) due to road traffic. Variables including traffic flow, vehicles' speed, relative humidity, the length and width of the segments of the roads, the average height of the buildings located around the road and the slope of the segments of roads were considered. Also, the vehicle horn noise as a predictor variable was included in the models. The results reveal that LAFmax (1 h) values are considerably higher than LAeq (1 h) values. It is concluded that the vehicle horn noise may be responsible for the considerable difference between LAeq (1 h) values and LAFmax (1 h) values. Hence, to study traffic noise pollution the vehicle horn noise must be taken into consideration.
A Review of Prediction Methods for the Transient Vibration and Sound Radiation of Plates
Authors: Ou D.Y. , Mak C.M.
Published: March 2014

Transient noise is a typical real-life noise problem. In order to develop efficient methods of dealing with it, the generating and transmitting mechanisms of transient noise radiating from a vibrating structure have been widely studied. The analytical methods used differ according to the properties of the excitation, structure, and acoustic environment. Focusing on plate-like structures, this paper provides an overview of commonly-used approaches to the analysis of structural transient vibration and sound radiation (TVSR). A general process for solving this type of problem is presented, together with suggestions for future work in this field.
Active Vibration Control of Moving Web with Varying Density
Authors: Ma Li'e , Wu Jimei , Mei Xuesong , Wang Yan , Li Zheng
Published: March 2014

Nowadays more and more materials can be manufactured or stored in continuous web form. The vibration of the moving web limits the productivity and quality of the web materials. The active vibration control of the moving web with varying density is considered in this paper. Finite difference method is used to discretize the dynamic equations of the moving web with varying density and derive the state equation of transverse vibration control system for the moving web with varying density. The simulation of the response and decay process of transverse vibration for the moving web with varying density after the implementation of suboptimal control is performed by numerical calculation.
Optimal Control of Nonlinear Resonances for Vehicle Suspension Using Linear and Nonlinear Control
Authors: Liu Can-Chang , Ren Chuan-Bo , Liu Lu , Yun Hai
Published: March 2014

The dynamic equations of the strongly nonlinear vibration of vehicle suspension with linear and nonlinear feedback controllers are developed. The strongly nonlinear vibration is transformed into the weakly nonlinear vibration by the nonlinear controller. The forced vibration of vehicle suspension is studied by the method of multiple scales. The regions of feedback gains obtained from the stability conditions of eigenvalue equation quantitatively are presented. Taking attenuation ratio and energy function as the objective functions, the control parameters of velocity and displacement are calculated by the minimum optimal method. Illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of vibration control.
Optimized Control of the Doubly Fed Induction Generator System Based on input-output Linearizing Scheme
Authors: Chen Guodong , Zhang Luhua , Cai Xu
Published: March 2014

With regard to a nonlinear system, designing the controller with the approximate linearized method is convenient, but it does not match with the nonlinear characteristic of the system, and also it will degrade the dynamic response. Vector control in the doubly fed wind system aims for decoupling control of active power and reactive power with a good dynamic performance. However, the active power and reactive power are only asymptotically decoupled. The control strategy is verified by a 7.5 kW wind power generation test rig under normal and abnormal conditions. Experiment results validate that the input-output linearizing and decoupling control can provide an improved dynamic response and a completely decoupled control of the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) in both steady and dynamic state.
Technical Note: Blade Integrated Overspeed Protection for Small Turbines — Experimental Observations
Authors: McMahon Niall M. , Rogers Patrick , Byrne Raymond , MacArtain Paul , Staudt Lawrence D.
Published: March 2014

In the 1980s many wind turbines were stall-regulated fixed-pitch machines. The rotors were often equipped with blade-integrated overspeed protection such as ailerons, tip brakes and flip tips. The market for larger small wind turbines is reappearing, and it is conceivable that blade-integrated overspeed control will re-emerge as a solution. Although electrical braking techniques associated with permanent magnet generators are useful, independent rotor-based overspeed control mechanisms are at present still required for fail-safe operation. In this note, we present observations from more than twenty experimental tests. We note that it is possible to effect braking using particular leading-edge profiles.
Noise Source Localization on a Small Wind Turbine Using a Compact Microphone Array with Advanced Beamforming Algorithms: Part II — A Study of Mechanical Noise from Nacelle Using a Wind Turbine Drive Train Simulator
Authors: Patel Hirenkumar , Ramachandran Rakesh C. , Raman Ganesh , Jiang Yong , Shi Xiaodong , Krishnamurthy Mahesh
Published: March 2014

The main goal of this study was to separate and evaluate the noise contribution of each sub-component of a small scale wind turbine drive train that contributes to the overall mechanical noise inside the nacelle of a small (8 kW) wind turbine. The experiments were performed in a drive train simulator that housed the drive train of a Viryd 8000 wind turbine. Different wind speeds were simulated on the test stand through a drive system consisting of a motor, gearbox and flywheel. In order to evaluate the overall sound generation single microphone acoustic measurements were made. The frequency of sound generation was observed to be the same as that of vibrations of the drive train measured using two accelerometers. Sound radiated by each component of the drive train was evaluated through acoustic beamforming using a compact microphone array in conjunction with advanced beamforming algorithms. A strong relationship between the drive train power generation, and sound emitted by various mechanical components was observed. A unique contribution of this study is our ability to localize, separate and quantify noise from sub-components in a complex functioning wind turbine drive train.
Automatic Image Annotation Based on Co-Training
Authors: Ke Xiao , Chen Guolong
Published: March 2014

Automatic image annotation is a critical and challenging problem in pattern recognition and image understanding areas. There are some problems in existing automatic image annotation areas. For example, the size of unlabeled data is much larger than the labeled data. Besides, most image annotation models can only use one kind of image segmentation strategy and certain image description method. According to the above problems, an automatic image annotation model based on Co-training is proposed. In this model, four independent feature properties are constructed and then four corresponding sub-classifiers are built. In this way, different image segmentation strategies and feature representation methods can be integrated into a unified framework. An adaptive algorithm based on vote and consistency is proposed to extend the training dataset. The proposed method use Co-training algorithm and mass unlabeled data to improve the performance of automatic image annotation. Experiments conducted on Corel 5 K dataset verify the effectiveness of proposed method.