bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid repetitive passive movement promotes knee proprioception in the elderly
Authors: Ju Yan-Ying , Lin Jin-Kun , Cheng Hsin-Yi Kathy , Cheng Chih-Hsiu , Wong Alice May-Kuen 
Published: April 2013

AbstractJoint proprioception plays an important role in the generation of coordinated movements, maintenance of normal body posture, body conditioning, motor learning, and relearning. Previous studies have demonstrated that proprioceptive function of the elderly can be enhanced via specific exercises; however, not all of the elderly can actively and safely participate in physical activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of rapid repetitive passive movement in an average velocity of 90°/s on knee proprioception in the elderly. A repeated-measure design was employed. Two age groups (12 young/12 elderly) were intervened with repetitive passive movements of 60 repetitions to the knee joint via two machines (isokinetic dynamometer/self-designed machine) in separate days. Changes in proprioception were evaluated via joint active repositioning and kinesthesia, both before and after the intervention. The results revealed that all subjects demonstrated good test–retest reliabilities on proprioceptive measurements. For the active repositioning and kinesthesia, significant statistical main effects were found for group and time, but not for machine. No statistical interactions were revealed. Despite of age-related proprioceptive declines, elderly subjects could benefit from rapid repetitive passive movements. This indicates that repetitive passive movement may be an alternative to physical activity for those who are home-bound, in a sedentary lifestyle, or with other health conditions that may limit their abilities to actively maintain or strengthen joint proprioception.
Effects of age and physical activity on response speed in knee flexor and extensor muscles
Authors: Rodríguez-Ruiz D. , García-Manso J. M. , Rodríguez-Matoso D. , Sarmiento S. , Da Silva-Grigoletto M. , Pisot R. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
This study aims to determine the normalized response speed (V
rn) in vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles in different age groups using tensiomyography. Eighty-four male subjects were divided into four age groups: teenage subjects (T); undergraduate students (U), adult subjects (A), and the elderly group (E). Differences in V
rn were observed between E and T (p = 0.000), E and U (p = 0.000), and E and A (p = 0.018) for right VL and between E and T (p < 0.000) and U (p = 0.003) for left VL; between T and U (p = 0.010) and A (p = 0.000) for right VL, and A (p = 0.004) for left VL. V
rn in the BF displayed different behavior from that of the VL, increasing moderately or stabilizing and declining slightly in E, in right leg (p = 0.020). The data obtained highlighted a decline in V
rn for the VL in both legs with increasing age and, declines in BF response speed were observed only in E.
The importance of bubble deformability for strong drag reduction in bubbly turbulent Taylor–Couette flow
Authors: van Gils Dennis P. M. , Narezo Guzman Daniela , Sun Chao , Lohse Detlef 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBubbly turbulent Taylor–Couette (TC) flow is globally and locally studied at Reynolds numbers of $\mathit{Re}= 5\times 1{0}^{5} $ to $2\times 1{0}^{6} $ with a stationary outer cylinder and a mean bubble diameter around 1 mm. We measure the drag reduction (DR) based on the global dimensional torque as a function of the global gas volume fraction ${\alpha }_{global} $ over the range 0–4 %. We observe a moderate DR of up to 7 % for $\mathit{Re}= 5. 1\times 1{0}^{5} $. Significantly stronger DR is achieved for $\mathit{Re}= 1. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ and $2. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ with, remarkably, more than $40\hspace{0.167em} \% $ of DR at $\mathit{Re}= 2. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ and ${\alpha }_{global} = 4\hspace{0.167em} \% $. To shed light on the two apparently different regimes of moderate DR and strong DR, we investigate the local liquid flow velocity and the local bubble statistics, in particular the radial gas concentration profiles and the bubble size distribution, for the two different cases: $\mathit{Re}= 5. 1\times 1{0}^{5} $ in the moderate DR regime and $\mathit{Re}= 1. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ in the strong DR regime, both at ${\alpha }_{global} = 3\pm 0. 5\hspace{0.167em} \% $. In both cases the bubbles mostly accumulate close to the inner cylinder (IC). Surprisingly, the maximum local gas concentration near the IC for $\mathit{Re}= 1. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ is ${\approx }2. 3$ times lower than that for $\mathit{Re}= 5. 1\times 1{0}^{5} $, in spite of the stronger DR. Evidently, a higher local gas concentration near the inner wall does not guarantee a larger DR. By defining and measuring a local bubble Weber number ($\mathit{We}$) in the TC gap close to the IC wall, we observe that the cross-over from the moderate to the strong DR regime occurs roughly at the cross-over of $\mathit{We}\sim 1$. In the strong DR regime at $\mathit{Re}= 1. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ we find $\mathit{We}\gt 1$, reaching a value of $9(+ 7, - 2)$ when approaching the inner wall, indicating that the bubbles increasingly deform as they draw near the inner wall. In the moderate DR regime at $\mathit{Re}= 5. 1\times 1{0}^{5} $ we find $\mathit{We}\approx 1$, indicating more rigid bubbles, even though the mean bubble diameter is larger, namely $1. 2(+ 0. 7, - 0. 1)~\mathrm{mm} $, as compared with the $\mathit{Re}= 1. 0\times 1{0}^{6} $ case, where it is $0. 9(+ 0. 6, - 0. 1)~\mathrm{mm} $. We conclude that bubble deformability is a relevant mechanism behind the observed strong DR. These local results match and extend the conclusions from the global flow experiments as found by van den Berg et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 94, 2005, p. 044501) and from the numerical simulations by Lu, Fernandez & Tryggvason (Phys. Fluids, vol. 17, 2005, p. 95102).
Comparison of physical activity energy expenditure in Japanese adolescents assessed by EW4800P triaxial accelerometry and the doubly labelled water method
Authors: Ishikawa-Takata Kazuko , Kaneko Kayoko , Koizumi Kayo , Ito Chinatsu 
Published: April 2013

The present study compared the accuracy of triaxial accelerometry and the doubly labelled water (DLW) method for measuring physical activity (PA) in Japanese adolescents. A total of sixty adolescents aged 12–15 years were analysed. The total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured over 7 d by the DLW method and with an EW4800P triaxial accelerometer (Panasonic Corporation). The measured (RMRm) and predicted RMR (RMRp) were 5·7 (sd 0·9) and 6·0 (sd 1·0) MJ/d, respectively. TEE measured by the DLW method and accelerometry using RMRm or RMRp were 11·0 (sd 2·6), 10·3 (sd 1·9), and 10·7 (sd 2·1) MJ/d, respectively. The PA levels (PAL) measured by the DLW method using RMRm or RMRp were 1·97 (sd 0·31) and 1·94 (sd 0·31) in subjects who exercised, and 1·85 (sd 0·27) and 1·74 (sd 0·29) in subjects who did not exercise. The percentage of body fat correlated significantly with the percentage difference between RMRmv. RMRp, TEE, PA energy expenditure (PAEE) and PAL using RMRp, and PAL using RMRm assessed by the DLW method and accelerometry. The present data showed that while accelerometry estimated TEE accurately, it did not provide the precise measurement of PAEE and PAL. The error in accelerometry was attributed to the prediction error of RMR and assessment in exercise.
Effect ofLactobacillus brevisKB290 on the cell-mediated cytotoxic activity of mouse splenocytes: a DNA microarray analysis
Authors: Fukui Yuichiro , Sasaki Erika , Fuke Nobuo , Nakai Yuji , Ishijima Tomoko , Abe Keiko , Yajima Nobuhiro 
Published: April 2013

Lactic acid bacteria confer a variety of health benefits. Here, we investigate the mechanisms by whichLactobacillus brevisKB290 (KB290) enhances cell-mediated cytotoxic activity. Female BALB/c mice aged 9 weeks were fed a diet containing KB290 (3 × 109colony-forming units/g) or starch for 1 d. The resulting cytotoxic activity of splenocytes against YAC-1 cells was measured using flow cytometry and analysed for gene expression using DNA microarray technology. KB290 enhanced the cell-mediated cytotoxic activity of splenocytes. DNA microarray analysis identified 327 up-regulated and 347 down-regulated genes that characterised the KB290 diet group. The up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in Gene Ontology terms related to immunity, and, especially, a positive regulation of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity existed among these terms. Almost all the genes included in the term encoded major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules involved in the presentation of antigen to CD8+cytotoxic T cells.MarcoandSignr1specific to marginal zone macrophages (MZM), antigen-presenting cells, were also up-regulated. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that the proportion of MZM was significantly increased by KB290 ingestion. Additionally, the over-represented Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways among the up-regulated genes were those for natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antigen processing and presentation. The results for the selected genes associated with NK cells and CD8+cytotoxic T cells were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. These results suggest that enhanced cytotoxic activity could be caused by the activation of NK cells and/or of CD8+cytotoxic T cells stimulated via MHC class I presentation.
Management of incidental and non-incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Authors: Elliott M S , Gao K , Gupta R , Chua E L , Gargya A , Clark J 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground:The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer is rising, with an increase in the number of microcarcinomas being discovered. There is controversy in the literature regarding the optimal management of these tumours. This study aimed to review our institution's experience with the presentation and management of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Methods:Retrospective analysis from the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, from 1987 to 2009.Results:A total of 228 patients were analysed. Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas were discovered incidentally in 116 (50.9 per cent) patients and non-incidentally in the remaining 112 (49.1 per cent) patients. Amongst the non-incidental group, 11.6 per cent of patients presented with lateral cervical lymph node involvement. Non-incidental microcarcinomas were significantly associated with younger age (<45 years) (p = 0.007) and larger tumours (5–10 mm) (p < 0.001). Only four patients in the incidental group suffered recurrent disease (locoregional). No patient developed distant metastatic disease or died during follow up.Conclusion:Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas present both incidentally and non-incidentally, with equal prevalence. Non-incidental tumours not infrequently present with cervical lymph node disease. The patient outcome is generally excellent.
Treatment algorithm for oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in epistaxis patients
Authors: Biggs T C , Baruah P , Mainwaring J , Harries P G , Salib R J 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground and objectives:There is currently little published guidance on the management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication in patients admitted with epistaxis. The routine practice of withholding such medication in an attempt to control the epistaxis is common in the UK. However, this practice is not evidence-based, is often unnecessary, and can be associated with significant morbidity. This study introduces a treatment algorithm for oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in epistaxis patients, validated through a completed audit cycle.Methods:One hundred patients admitted with epistaxis to the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust were studied via a two-audit cycle covering the implementation of a new treatment algorithm formulated jointly by the otolaryngology and haematology departments.Results:On admission, 58 per cent of patients were taking some form of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. The number of patients having such medication withheld decreased significantly between the two audits, for all drugs studied (i.e. aspirin, clopidogrel and warfarin). There was no significant increase in re-bleeding or re-admission rates between the audits.Conclusion:Implementation of this treatment algorithm would help standardise management for epistaxis patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, and should reduce morbidity associated with unnecessary routine discontinuation of such medication.
On coercion, love, and horrors
Authors: CRISP THOMAS M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn this article, I explain and critique J. L. Schellenberg's atheological argument from horrors. I raise an epistemic objection, arguing that no one could be justified in believing its conclusion on the basis of its premises. Then I adumbrate a notion of the divine which is different in various ways from the God of classical theism and argue that Schellenberg's argument makes no trouble for belief in the existence of God so construed.
Is faith in the Ultimate rationally required? Taking issue with some arguments in The Will to Imagine
Authors: MORRISTON WES 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAccording to J. L. Schellenberg, sceptical faith in the Ultimate is not merely permitted, but is rationally required. It is, all things considered, the response that we should make. In this article, I assess just three of Schellenberg's arguments for this bold conclusion. I explain why I find each of them unpersuasive.
Unemployment and Income Protection: How do Better-Earning Households Expect to Manage Financially?
Authors: CLASEN JOCHEN , KOSLOWSKI ALISON 
Published: April 2013

AbstractApart from health care and education, it could be argued that working-age households with above-average income in the UK have never relied as much on the welfare state as their counterparts in many other European countries. How then do better-earning households expect to cope financially with the risk of unemployment, and to what extent do they plan ahead for a possible loss of earnings? Based on sixty-one interviews with couples, the article discusses various sources of income protection that these households envisage drawing upon in the event of unemployment. State benefits figure only marginally, private insurances to a limited extent and savings slightly more. However, there is little evidence of strategic planning. By contrast, many perceive their current job and personal employability as providing some security and regard the prospect of occupational redundancy pay as a major source of income protection. This finding contrasts sharply with a paucity of systematic information about the actual scope, quality and development of employer-based income security.
Effects of plasma and ultrashort laser pulse on residual electron energy in optical-field-ionized oxygen plasma
Authors: Eslami Esmaeil , Basereh Keyvan 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn this paper the classical theory of Above Threshold Ionization (ATI) in the oxygen plasma was used to show how the residual electron energy depends on the laser parameters such as pulse length, wavelength and peak intensity. The value of ATI energy is found to increase with laser wavelength and its intensity. Our study conducted for three cases of τ > 2π/νp, τ = 2π/ωp, and τ < 2π/ωp, where ωp is the plasma frequency, reveals that the ATI energy is decreased for the pulse duration τ ≠ 2π/ωp. Also it is showed how the space charge effect can reduce the residual electron energy to a minimum value, in a suitable condition. By optimizing various parameters, we can generate the cold electrons suitable for the recombination x-ray laser.
Spatial and temporal variation in community composition of herbivorous insects on Neoboutonia macrocalyx in a primary tropical rain forest
Authors: Heimonen Kaisa , Lwanga Jeremiah S. , Mutanen Marko , Nyman Tommi , Roininen Heikki 
Published: April 2013

Abstract:Spatial and temporal variation of tropical insect communities has rarely been studied, although such variation influences estimates of global species richness. Therefore, we compared spatial and temporal variation of herbivorous insect communities on Neoboutonia macrocalyx trees among seven sites over 1 y in a primary tropical rain forest in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The distance between the study sites varied from 4.8 to 31.2 km and altitudinal differences ranged from 20 to 242 m. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed significant spatial changes in community composition of the herbivorous insects and study sites differed also in insect abundance (6.9–26.2 individuals m−2 of leaf area). This is likely to be caused by differences in vegetation, altitude and microclimate among the study sites. The similarity of insect species composition was negatively correlated with geographic and altitudinal distances among sites and positively correlated with the similarity of tree community composition. Species richness varied significantly between sampling dates, ranging from 33 to 41 species. Also community compositions changed between sampling dates, which likely follows from marked seasonal changes in climate and the phenology of other host plants used by the generalist insect species also living on Neoboutonia macrocalyx. In general our study supports the idea of high variability of herbivorous insect communities in primary rain forests even at a small spatial scale. This should be considered when estimations of insect biodiversity are made.
Trypanosoma cruzi genotyping supports a common source of infection in a school-related oral outbreak of acute Chagas disease in Venezuela
Authors: DÍAZ-BELLO Z. , THOMAS M. C. , LÓPEZ M. C. , ZAVALA-JASPE R. , NOYA O. , DE NOYA B. ALARCÓN , ABATE T. 
Published: April 2013

SUMMARYTrypanosoma cruzi I, a discrete typing unit (DTU) found in human infections in Venezuela and other countries of the northern region of South America and in Central America, has been recently classified into five intra-DTU genotypes (Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, Ie) based on sequence polymorphisms found in the spliced leader intergenic region. In this paper we report the genotype identification of T. cruzi human isolates from one outbreak of acute orally acquired Chagas disease that occurred in a non-endemic region of Venezuela and from T. cruzi triatomine and rat isolates captured at a guava juice preparation site which was identified as the presumptive source of infection. The genotyping of all these isolates as TcId supports the view of a common source of infection in this oral Chagas disease outbreak through the ingestion of guava juice. Implications for clinical manifestations and dynamics of transmission cycles are discussed.
Mixed-integer nonlinear optimization
Authors: Belotti Pietro , Kirches Christian , Leyffer Sven , Linderoth Jeff , Luedtke James , Mahajan Ashutosh 
Published: April 2013

Many optimal decision problems in scientific, engineering, and public sector applications involve both discrete decisions and nonlinear system dynamics that affect the quality of the final design or plan. These decision problems lead to mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems that combine the combinatorial difficulty of optimizing over discrete variable sets with the challenges of handling nonlinear functions. We review models and applications of MINLP, and survey the state of the art in methods for solving this challenging class of problems.Most solution methods for MINLP apply some form of tree search. We distinguish two broad classes of methods: single-tree and multitree methods. We discuss these two classes of methods first in the case where the underlying problem functions are convex. Classical single-tree methods include nonlinear branch-and-bound and branch-and-cut methods, while classical multitree methods include outer approximation and Benders decomposition. The most efficient class of methods for convex MINLP are hybrid methods that combine the strengths of both classes of classical techniques.Non-convex MINLPs pose additional challenges, because they contain non-convex functions in the objective function or the constraints; hence even when the integer variables are relaxed to be continuous, the feasible region is generally non-convex, resulting in many local minima. We discuss a range of approaches for tackling this challenging class of problems, including piecewise linear approximations, generic strategies for obtaining convex relaxations for non-convex functions, spatial branch-and-bound methods, and a small sample of techniques that exploit particular types of non-convex structures to obtain improved convex relaxations.We finish our survey with a brief discussion of three important aspects of MINLP. First, we review heuristic techniques that can obtain good feasible solution in situations where the search-tree has grown too large or we require real-time solutions. Second, we describe an emerging area of mixed-integer optimal control that adds systems of ordinary differential equations to MINLP. Third, we survey the state of the art in software for MINLP.
Evaluating the initial impact of the revised Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages on dietary intake and home food availability in African-American and Hispanic families
Authors: Odoms-Young Angela M , Kong Angela , Schiffer Linda A , Porter Summer J , Blumstein Lara , Bess Stephanie , Berbaum Michael L , Fitzgibbon Marian L 
Published: April 2013

AbstractObjectiveThe present study assessed the impact of the 2009 food packages mandated by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on dietary intake and home food availability in low-income African-American and Hispanic parent/child dyads.DesignA natural experiment was conducted to assess if the revised WIC food package altered dietary intake, home food availability, weight and various lifestyle measures immediately (6 months) following policy implementation.SettingTwelve WIC clinics in Chicago, IL, USA.SubjectsTwo hundred and seventy-three Hispanic and African-American children aged 2–3 years, enrolled in WIC, and their mothers.ResultsSix months after the WIC food package revisions were implemented, we observed modest changes in dietary intake. Fruit consumption increased among Hispanic mothers (mean = 0·33 servings/d, P = 0·04) and low-fat dairy intake increased among Hispanic mothers (0·21 servings/d, P = 0·02), Hispanic children (0·34 servings/d, P < 0·001) and African-American children (0·24 servings/d, P = 0·02). Home food availability of low-fat dairy and whole grains also increased. Dietary changes, however, varied by racial/ethnic group. Changes in home food availability were not significantly correlated with changes in diet.ConclusionsThe WIC food package revisions are one of the first efforts to modify the nutrition guidelines that govern foods provided in a federal food and nutrition assistance programme. It will be important to examine the longer-term impact of these changes on dietary intake and weight status.
Analysis of Influence of Voltage on Potential Barrier on BiCuVOX and BiTiVOX Ceramics
Authors: Gheno S.M. , Pimentel V.L. , Morelli M.R. , Filho P.I. Paulin 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe BiMeVOx family of compounds appears to be more attractive for applications at low temperatures when ionic conductivity is the determining parameter. The objective of this study was to analysis the influence of voltage of the behavior of the Schottky barrier in both BiCuVOX and BiTiVOX. The samples were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and electric force microscopy (EFM). EFM experiments were conducted to map the electric field distribution on the surface. The formation of Schottky barriers was observed, and their height and width measured. BiCuVOX samples show a barrier width of 140 nm, and BiTiVOX shows a barrier width of 350 nm. The applied voltage has no effect on the barrier width but increases the peak height as observed in the cantilever frequency as measured with the EFM technique.