bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ottawa panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for patient education programmes in the management of osteoarthritis
Authors:   Ottawa panel members
Published: June 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines and recommendations on patient education programmes of any type, targeted specially to individuals with OA and which were designed to improve the clinical effectiveness of managing OA. Methods: The Ottawa Methods Group contacted specialized organizations that focus on management for individuals diagnosed with OA to nominate nine experienced clinicians specializing in various fields –rheumatology, physiatry, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy – and a patient with OA. The EBCPGs in this report were created based on the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) criteria. The Ottawa Panel graded the recommendations according to levels (I for randomized controlled trials [RCTs], II for non-randomized studies) and strength of evidence (A, B, C, C+, D, D+, or D–). Results: Using a systematic approach to our literature search, a total of over 1000 articles was found on the efficacy of patient education for OA, and 57 articles were recognized as potentially relevant. Based on the inclusion and exclusion selection criteria, 20 studies were ultimately included. Results from the Jadad scale illustrated that seven of the 20 studies included were considered of high methodological quality (≥ 3). The remaining studies received low scores, therefore they were categorized as poor methodological quality trials. Conclusion: This review of the studies to date seems to indicate the potential of patient education for OA to positively affect pain, at least in the short-term, and exercise compliance in the longer term. While the programmes reviewed varied widely in the focus and approach of education, a number of promising ‘effective ingredients’ seem to be suggested by this review. The Ottawa Panel recommendations are in concordances with other clinical practice guidelines related to the efficacy of patient education for the management of OA, especially to improve pain, physical activity level, self-efficacy and quality of life.
Getting in touch with paramedic student career intentions
Authors: O’Meara Peter , Tourle Vianne , Madigan Veronica , Lighton David 
Published: June 2011

Objective: This study of paramedic and nursing/paramedic students aimed to determine the initial career intentions of full-time paramedic students and to identify the key factors that influence their career choices. Design: A longitudinal study design, utilizing surveys and a focus group, was employed. Setting: The study was conducted in an Australian regional university with a large, on-campus paramedic programme. Method: Students were surveyed to ascertain the factors that shape their preferences for employment and a focus group was conducted with final year students to further investigate the responses. Respondents were asked to nominate their preferences for employment and identify key factors that influence their decision-making. Data were analysed using inferential statistics and textual analysis. Results: There were 508 questionnaires returned from 704 paramedic students (72 per cent response rate). Of the respondents 82 per cent were originally from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the balance from other States/Territories and overseas. Students’ career intentions did not necessarily follow their place of origin with 58 per cent preferring New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory, 17 per cent Victoria, 3.5 per cent other States, and 7 per cent indicating other employers. The identified influences on student career intentions were personal (53 per cent), professional (20 per cent), organizational (8 per cent), and community factors (3 per cent). Conclusion: Potential employers need to address graduate needs if they expect to attract the most talented graduates. Universities educating paramedics should focus on the needs of students and the profession.
Development and validation of an advanced motorcycle riding simulator
Authors: Cossalter V , Lot R , Massaro M , Sartori R 
Published: June 2011

This paper illustrates and discusses the main features of the motorcycle riding simulator designed and built at the University of Padua over recent years. The simulator has been developed for a variety of purposes: to develop and test electronic devices aimed at improving rider safety and vehicle performance (antilock braking systems, traction control systems, etc.), to investigate different design choices and parameter effects on vehicle dynamics, to train riders, and to study their behaviours in different scenarios (normal riding, dangerous situations, etc.). Within the simulator the rider sits on a motorcycle mock-up provided with all the inputs available on a real motorcycle (throttle, clutch, brakes, etc.). These controls are used as inputs for an advanced virtual motorcycle model which computes the real-time vehicle dynamics. With the aim of giving the rider a proper motion cue, a washout filter converts the motion of the virtual motorcycle into the proper motion of a five-degrees-of-freedom motorcycle mock-up. Finally the audiovisual cues are delivered with a 180° panel and 5.1 surround sound system. To validate the simulator, a specific protocol which includes both an objective evaluation and a subjective evaluation was designed and carried out. External devices such as advanced rider assistant systems, on-bike information systems, and human–machine interfaces can be easily integrated into the simulator by means of a standard controller area network.
Design and optimization of a new control strategy in a parallel hybrid electric vehicle in order to improve fuel economy
Authors: Dorri M , Shamekhi A H 
Published: June 2011

In this paper, a new control strategy for the optimization of the fuel consumption of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is proposed. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is employed in the PHEV model. CVT gearboxes have a continuum of gear ratios between their upper and lower limits and their proper control can cause the engine to work optimally. The requested power from the driver and the state of charge of the battery are the controller inputs, while the CVT optimal gear ratio is the controller output. This optimal gear ratio helps the engine to work near its optimal operating points, resulting in better fuel economy and reduced emissions. The controller also attempts to enhance the vehicle performance parameters as much as possible. To investigate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, it is implemented in a PHEV simulated model. Initial results are calculated for three different drive cycles. Afterwards, in order to improve outputs, the initial controller parameters are optimized using multi-objective optimization genetic algorithms. Comparison between the initial and the optimized results showed the success of the optimized control strategy in reducing the fuel consumption, while the vehicle performance and emissions remained within their desired limits.
Leading Beautifully: The Creative Economy and Beyond
Authors: Adler Nancy J. 
Published: June 2011

“These times are riven with anxiety and uncertainty” asserts John O’Donohue.1 “In the hearts of people some natural ease has been broken. . . . Our trust in the future has lost its innocence. We know now that anything can happen. . . . The traditional structures of shelter are shaking, their foundations revealed to be no longer stone but sand. We are suddenly thrown back on ourselves. At first, it sounds completely naïve to suggest that now might be the time to invoke beauty. Yet this is exactly what . . . [we claim]. Why? Because there is nowhere else to turn and we are desperate; furthermore, it is because we have so disastrously neglected the Beautiful that we now find ourselves in such a terrible crisis.”2 Twenty-first century society yearns for a leadership of possibility, a leadership based more on hope, aspiration, innovation, and beauty than on the replication of historical patterns of constrained pragmatism. Luckily, such a leadership is possible today. For the first time in history, leaders can work backward from their aspirations and imagination rather than forward from the past.3 “The gap between what people can imagine and what they can accomplish has never been smaller.”4 Responding to the challenges and yearnings of the twenty-first century demands anticipatory creativity. Designing options worthy of implementation calls for levels of inspiration, creativity, and a passionate commitment to beauty that, until recently, have been more the province of artists and artistic processes than the domain of most managers. The time is right for the artistic imagination of each of us to co-create the leadership that the world most needs and deserves.
Are golf courses a source or sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide? A modelling approach
Authors: Bartlett M D , James I T 
Published: June 2011

Sports facilities have been shown to have a positive impact on local biodiversity, quality of life, and the economy. Their impact on global carbon balances is less clearly understood. Increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) have been linked with global climate change. Currently there is a debate as to whether amenity turf is a net source or a net sink for atmospheric CO2. The turf grass of a natural sports pitch will sequester carbon through photosynthesis, but there are numerous emission sources associated with the management of turf which release CO2 into the atmosphere. These include the engines used to power mechanized operations such as mowing and spraying, the application of agrochemicals, including fertilizers, and the disposal of waste. In order to determine whether a real-world example of a sports facility was a source or sink of carbon a mechanistic mass balance model was developed. Analysis indicated that the areas of the golf course that received the most management attention were a net source of carbon emissions. The magnitude of these releases was significantly different on an equal-area basis ( p < 0.01). The net carbon budget for turf grass areas across the whole golf course accounting for the sequestration by the turfgrass was −33.01 MgC/year. The mature trees that formed an integral part of the landscape of the modelled course had a significant impact on the net carbon balance, resulting in overall net sequestration of −177.3 MgC/year for the whole golf course, equivalent to −1.93 MgC/ha/year. The variability in the size, shape, and vegetation composition of different golf courses has a considerable impact on their net carbon balance, and the resultant environmental impact of sports facilities must be assessed on an individual basis.
The Epidemiology of Pediatric Basketball Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments: 2000-2006
Authors: Pappas Evangelos , Zazulak Bohdanna T. , Yard Ellen E. , Hewett Timothy E. 
Published: June 2011

Background: There is limited published research on the epidemiology of basketball injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs). Hypothesis: Age and sex patterns exist for the most common pediatric basketball injuries treated in EDs. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and the National Sporting Goods Association were used to calculate national injury incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals of pediatric basketball injuries. Results: An estimated 325 465 annual visits were made to US EDs for pediatric basketball-related injuries from 2000 to 2006. The 5 most common injuries were ankle sprains (21.7%), finger sprains (8.0%), finger fractures (7.8%), knee sprains (3.9%), and facial lacerations (3.9%). Among persons aged 12 to 17 years, girls had a higher rate of knee sprains than boys (P < 0.001), but this association did not exist among those aged 7 to 11 years (P = 0.27). Boys had a higher rate of facial lacerations than girls (P < 0.01). Among persons aged 12 to 17 years, girls had a higher rate of finger sprains (P < 0.01). For both boys and girls, the rate of the 5 most common basketball injuries was higher among those aged 12 to 17 years compared with those aged 7 to 11 years (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The annual number of basketball-related pediatric ED visits approaches a third of a million and demonstrates the extent of the public health problem that injuries in this sport pose. Distinct sex and age patterns were observed. Clinical Relevance: The study findings provide important information on basketball injury rates that may be used for targeting prevention interventions by sex and age group.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Choices
Authors: Macaulay Alec A. , Perfetti Dean C. , Levine William N. 
Published: June 2011

Context: Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common surgical procedure; however, there is no consensus to what the best graft option is to replace the injured ACL. The main options available consist of allografts and autografts, which include patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, and quadriceps tendon autografts. Evidence Acquisition: The PubMed database was searched in August 2010 for English-language articles pertaining to ACL grafts. Results: Postoperative outcome variables were analyzed to determine similarities and differences among the different graft options. These variables include stability, strength, function, return to sports, patient satisfaction, complications, and cost. Conclusions: Both allografts and the 3 main options for autografts can provide excellent results in ACL reconstruction and lead to a high percentage of satisfied patients. However, differences exist among the graft choices. Both the similarities and the differences are important to discuss with a patient who will be undergoing ACL reconstruction so that he or she has the best information available when making a choice of graft.
Optical investigations of the early combustion phase in spark ignition boosted engines
Authors: Tornatore C , Sementa P , Merola S S 
Published: June 2011

An improved understanding of the thermo-fluid dynamic phenomena that occur during the combustion process in boosted spark ignition engines is necessary for future developments in these engines. In particular, increased understanding of flame kernel evolution is fundamental since the initial growth of the flame contributes significantly to cycle-to-cycle variation in engine performance and emissions. In this work, flame inception and early stages of the combustion process were investigated in an optically accessible single-cylinder ported fuel injection engine. This engine was equipped with the cylinder head of new generation spark ignition turbocharged engine with the same characteristics as the research engine. Cycle-resolved visualization was applied to follow the flame propagation from the spark ignition to the flame kernel growth. A retrieval procedure for the optical data was realized to obtain information about the flame radius evolution. Natural emission spectroscopy in the ultraviolet–visible wavelength range allowed the detection of the chemical markers of the combustion process such as CH, OH, and HCO radicals, and formaldehyde molecules. In-cylinder optical investigations were correlated with engine parameter measurements obtained by conventional methods.
A survey of the transmission of infectious diseases/infections between wild and domestic ungulates in Europe
Authors: Martin Claire , Pastoret Paul-Pierre , Brochier Bernard , Humblet Marie-France , Saegerman Claude 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe domestic animals/wildlife interface is becoming a global issue of growing interest. However, despite studies on wildlife diseases being in expansion, the epidemiological role of wild animals in the transmission of infectious diseases remains unclear most of the time. Multiple diseases affecting livestock have already been identified in wildlife, especially in wild ungulates. The first objective of this paper was to establish a list of infections already reported in European wild ungulates. For each disease/infection, three additional materials develop examples already published, specifying the epidemiological role of the species as assigned by the authors. Furthermore, risk factors associated with interactions between wild and domestic animals and regarding emerging infectious diseases are summarized. Finally, the wildlife surveillance measures implemented in different European countries are presented. New research areas are proposed in order to provide efficient tools to prevent the transmission of diseases between wild ungulates and livestock.
Primary Neuronal Precursors in Adult Crayfish Brain: Replenishment from a Non-neuronal Source
Authors: Benton Jeanne L , Zhang Yi , Kirkhart Colleen R , Sandeman David C , Beltz Barbara S 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
Adult neurogenesis, the production and integration of new neurons into circuits in the brains of adult animals, is a common feature of a variety of organisms, ranging from insects and crustaceans to birds and mammals. In the mammalian brain the 1st-generation neuronal precursors, the astrocytic stem cells, reside in neurogenic niches and are reported to undergo self-renewing divisions, thereby providing a source of new neurons throughout an animal's life. In contrast, our work shows that the 1st-generation neuronal precursors in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) brain, which also have glial properties and lie in a neurogenic niche resembling that of vertebrates, undergo geometrically symmetrical divisions and both daughters appear to migrate away from the niche. However, in spite of this continuous efflux of cells, the number of neuronal precursors in the crayfish niche continues to expand as the animals grow and age. Based on these observations we have hypothesized that (1) the neuronal stem cells in the crayfish brain are not self-renewing, and (2) a source external to the neurogenic niche must provide cells that replenish the stem cell pool.

Results
In the present study, we tested the first hypothesis using sequential double nucleoside labeling to track the fate of 1st- and 2nd-generation neuronal precursors, as well as testing the size of the labeled stem cell pool following increasing incubation times in 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Our results indicate that the 1st-generation precursor cells in the crayfish brain, which are functionally analogous to neural stem cells in vertebrates, are not a self-renewing population. In addition, these studies establish the cycle time of these cells. In vitro studies examining the second hypothesis show that Cell Tracker™ Green-labeled cells extracted from the hemolymph, but not other tissues, are attracted to and incorporated into the neurogenic niche, a phenomenon that appears to involve serotonergic mechanisms.

Conclusions
These results challenge our current understanding of self-renewal capacity as a defining characteristic of all adult neuronal stem cells. In addition, we suggest that in crayfish, the hematopoietic system may be a source of cells that replenish the niche stem cell pool.
Validation of the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire in 1st generation Black African-Caribbean and South Asian UK migrants: A sub-study to the Ethnic-Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening (E-ECHOES) study
Authors: Bennett Philip C , Lip Gregory YH , Silverman Stanley , Blann Andrew D , Gill Paramjit S 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
We determined the diagnostic accuracy of the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) in 1st generation Black African-Caribbean UK migrants as previous diagnostic questionnaires have been found to be less accurate in this population. We also determined the diagnostic accuracy of translated versions of the ECQ in 1st generation South Asian UK migrants, as this has not been investigated before.

Methods
Subjects were recruited from the Ethnic-Echocardiographic Heart of England Screening (E-ECHOES) study, a community based screening survey for heart failure in minority ethnic groups. Translated versions of the ECQ were prepared following a recognised protocol. All participants attending screening between October 2007 and February 2009 were asked to complete the ECQ in the language of their choice (English, Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi or Gujarati). Subjects answering positively to experiencing leg pain or discomfort on walking were asked to return to have Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) measured.

Results
154 out of 2831 subjects participating in E-ECHOES (5.4%) were eligible to participate in this sub-study, for which 74.3% returned for ABPI assessment. Non-responders were younger than participants (59[9] vs. 65[11] years; p = 0.015). Punjabi, English and Bengali questionnaires identified participants with Intermittent Claudication, so these questionnaires were assessed. The sensitivities (SN), specificities (SP), positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated. English: SN: 50%; SP: 68%; PPV: 43%; NPV: 74%. Punjabi: SN: 50%; SP: 87%; PPV: 43%; NPV: 90%. Bengali: SN: 33%; SP: 50%; PPV: 13%; NPV: 73%. There were significant differences in diagnostic accuracy between the 3 versions (Punjabi: 83.8%; Bengali: 45%; English: 62.2%; p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found in sensitivity and specificity between illiterate and literate participants in any of the questionnaires and there was no significant different difference between those under and over 60 years of age.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that the ECQ is not as sensitive or specific a diagnostic tool in 1st generation Black African-Caribbean and South Asian UK migrants than in the Edinburgh Artery Study, reflecting the findings of other diagnostic questionnaires in these minority ethnic groups. However this study is limited by sample size so conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
Bilateral ovarian teratoma complicated with carcinosarcoma in a 68 year old woman: a case report
Authors: Shanmughapriya S , SenthilKumar G , Balakrishnan K , Vasanthi N , Vinodhini K , Natarajaseenivasan K 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
Composing of less than 1% of all ovarian cancers, immature teratoma is a malignancy that mainly affects the young, and they present with advanced disease. The treatment of immature teratoma is conservative primary surgery usually involving unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by combination chemotherapy.

Case presentation
Here we present a case of a 68 year old woman with bilateral ovarian teratoma complicated with carcinosarcoma. The patient was diagnosed as FIGO stage IIIC. She underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreduction followed by optimal cytoreduction. The post operative management strategies and gynaecological follow up studies revealed no evidence of regional or distant metastasis.

Conclusion
Thus the choice of initial treatment should be decided in a selective fashion depending on various prognostic factors in order to increase the survival of the patients.