bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of anorectal malformations on anorectal function and social integration in adulthood: report from a national database
Authors: Mantoo S. , Meurette G. , Wyart V. , Hardouin J. , Cretolle C. , Capito C. , Sarnacki S. , Podevin G. , Lehur P.‐A.
Published: March 2013

Aim

The impact of anorectal malformation (ARM) on bowel function and social, educational and occupational end‐points was investigated in adult patients entered on a national database.

Method

Data from a national database of adult patients operated on between 1962 and 1999 for ARM were analysed. The database Malformations Ano‐rectales et Pelviennes rares (MAREP) was part of a common information system, CEMARA, on rare congenital disorders. A self‐administered questionnaire regarding bowel function, academic qualifications, employment and family status was mailed to patients. The type of ARM, subsequent follow‐up and management including surgical interventions were retrospectively retrieved from medical records.

Results

Of 210 adult patients on the registry since 2008, 68 were included in this study. Only three (8.5%) had had regular follow‐up. All reported some disturbance in bowel function. The fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman did not differ from the general population.

Conclusion

Anorectal malformation ARM often leads to suboptimal bowel function in adulthood. This has an impact on social integration.
Influence of exercise order on upper body maximum and submaximal strength gains in trained men
Authors: Assumpção Claudio O. , Tibana Ramires A. , Viana Luan C. , Willardson Jeffrey M. , Prestes Jonato
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of exercise order on one‐repetition maximum (1‐RM) and ten‐repetition maximum (10‐RM) strength gains after 6 weeks of resistance training (RT) in trained men. Sixteen men were randomly assigned into two groups based on the order of exercises performed during training sessions: a group that performed large muscle group exercises first and progressed to small muscle group exercises (LG‐SM); while a second group performed the opposite sequence and started with small muscle group exercises and progressed to large muscle group exercises (SM‐LG). Four sessions of RT were conducted per week; all exercises were performed for three sets of 8–12 repetitions with 1‐min rest intervals between sets. Maximal and submaximal strength were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of RT with 1‐RM and 10‐RM testing for the bench press (BP), lat pulldown (LPD), triceps pulley extension (TE) and biceps curl (BC), respectively. Two‐way ANOVA for the 1‐RM and 10‐RM tests indicated a significant group x time interaction. The 1‐RM values significantly increased for all exercises in both groups (P<0.05), but were not significantly different between groups. However, effect size (ES) data indicated that the LG‐SM group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1‐RM and 10‐RM) for the BP and LPD exercises. Conversely, ES indicated that the SM‐LG group exhibited a greater magnitude of gains (1‐RM and 10‐RM) for the TE and BC exercises. In conclusion, the results suggest that upper body movements should be prioritized and performed according to individual needs to maximize maximal and submaximal strength.
A rare combination of sebaceoma with carcinomatous change (sebaceous carcinoma), trichoblastoma, and poroma arising from a nevus sebaceus
Authors: Wang Etienne , Lee Joyce Siong‐See , Kazakov Dmitry V.
Published: March 2013

We report a case of a 48‐year‐old Malay female who presented with multiple tumors arising from a large nevus sebaceus on her right parieto‐temporal scalp. Histologically, the tumors corresponded to a sebaceoma with carcinomatous change, a poroma and a trichoblastoma. Immunohistochemical staining of the sebaceous tumor with p53 showed strong within the areas of carcinomatous change, while there was negative to weak staining within the sebaceoma‐like areas. A discussion on the potential secondary neoplasms from a nevus sebaceus ensues, with a review of this literature on multiple tumors from a nevus sebaceus.
High response rate to low‐dose rituximab plus high‐dose dexamethasone as frontline therapy in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Gómez‐Almaguer David , Tarín‐Arzaga Luz , Moreno‐Jaime Brizio , Jaime‐Pérez José Carlos , Ceballos‐López Adrián Alejandro , Ruiz‐Argüelles Guillermo J. , Ruiz‐Delgado Guillermo J. , Cantú‐Rodríguez Olga Graciela , Gutiérrez‐Aguirre Cesar Homero , Sánchez‐Cárdenas Mónica
Published: March 2013

Corticosteroids as initial therapy for primary immune thrombocytopenia achieve a low rate of sustained remission.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated the efficacy, safety, and response duration of low‐dose rituximab plus high‐dose dexamethasone as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed primary immune thrombocytopenia patients. One cycle of dexamethasone, 40 mg/d/intravenously for four consecutive days, plus weekly intravenous rituximab, 100 mg for four doses, was delivered.

Results

Twenty‐one consecutive adults were enrolled. The overall response at day +28 was 90.5%. Complete sustained response at 6 months and relapse rate were 76.2% and 15.8%, respectively, compared with 30% and 62.5% for a historical group who had received standard treatment with prednisone (P = 0.005 and P = 0.004). There was a 9.5% incidence of adverse effects.

Conclusions

The combination of low‐dose rituximab and high‐dose dexamethasone as frontline therapy for adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia was effective and had a high overall response rate and a low incidence of relapse.
The influence of static eye and head position on the ventriloquist effect
Authors: Van Barneveld Denise C. P. B. M. , Van Wanrooij Marc M.
Published: March 2013

Orienting responses to audiovisual events have shorter reaction times and better accuracy and precision when images and sounds in the environment are aligned in space and time. How the brain constructs an integrated audiovisual percept is a computational puzzle because the auditory and visual senses are represented in different reference frames: the retina encodes visual locations with respect to the eyes; whereas the sound localisation cues are referenced to the head. In the well‐known ventriloquist effect, the auditory spatial percept of the ventriloquist's voice is attracted toward the synchronous visual image of the dummy, but does this visual bias on sound localisation operate in a common reference frame by correctly taking into account eye and head position? Here we studied this question by independently varying initial eye and head orientations, and the amount of audiovisual spatial mismatch. Human subjects pointed head and/or gaze to auditory targets in elevation, and were instructed to ignore co‐occurring visual distracters. Results demonstrate that different initial head and eye orientations are accurately and appropriately incorporated into an audiovisual response. Effectively, sounds and images are perceptually fused according to their physical locations in space independent of an observer's point of view. Implications for neurophysiological findings and modelling efforts that aim to reconcile sensory and motor signals for goal‐directed behaviour are discussed.
Color and Spatial Frequency Are Related to Visual Pattern Sensitivity in Migraine
Authors: Shepherd Alex J. , Hine Trevor J. , Beaumont Heidi M.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To assess the potential for particular colors to alleviate visual discomfort when people with migraine view repetitive geometric or striped patterns.

Background

Visual stimuli, such as flicker, glare, or stripes, can trigger migraine and headache. They can also elicit feelings of discomfort and aversion. There are reports that color can be used to decrease the experience of discomfort and reduce migraine frequency.

Design/Methods

Five sets of striped patterns (3, 12 cycles per degree [cpd]) were created using cardinal colors tailored to selectively stimulate the early visual pathways: achromatic (black/white), tritan (black/purple, black/yellow), protan/deutan (black/red, black/green). All had the same high luminance contrast (0.9 Michelson contrast). Twenty‐eight migraine (14 migraine with aura, 14 migraine without aura) and 14 control participants rated the discomfort and described the distortions seen in these patterns. They were also assessed for visual migraine/headache triggers, contrast sensitivity, color vision, acuity, stereopsis, visual discomfort from reading, and dyslexia.

Results

In the migraine groups, a comparable number of illusions were seen with the 3 and 12 cpd achromatic gratings, whereas in the control group the greatest number was seen with the 3 cpd grating. In the migraine groups only, all 4 colors reduced, to some extent, the number of illusions and 2 decreased the discomfort, particularly for the 12 cpd gratings. There were significant group differences for contrast sensitivity, reported visual migraine/headache triggers, and the visual discomfort scale. There were a few significant correlations between the different measures, notably between the achromatic visual discomfort measures and reports of visual migraine triggers.

Conclusions

Color, independent of luminance or particular color contrasts, can have therapeutic effects for people with visually triggered migraine as it can reduce the number of perceived illusions when viewing stripes or text. The effect was not color‐specific and was greatest for the 12 cpd gratings. Given the significant associations between the achromatic discomfort measures and reports of visual triggers, and the lack of significant associations between the chromatic discomfort measures and reports of visual triggers, further research is recommended to explore the potential to reduce the number of visually triggered migraines with color in addition to alleviating visual discomfort.
Petrographic study of the Miocene Mizunami Group, Central Japan: Detection of unrecognized volcanic activity in the Setouchi Province
Authors: Sasao Eiji
Published: March 2013

A petrographic study of sandstones from the Miocene Mizunami Group in Central Japan has been performed on core samples from a single borehole, in order to evaluate the provenance of the sedimentary rock. Evaluation of the provenance is based on bulk mineral, heavy mineral and plagioclase contents and on whole rock chemical compositions. The sandstones studied are divisible into three types; the first type is characterized by the occurrence of biotite and plagioclase ranging from albite to oligoclase, the second type is characterized by the dominance of amphibole and labradorite with pyroxene (clinopyroxene > orthopyroxene), and the third type is characterized by the dominance of pyroxene (orthopyroxene > clinopyroxene) and andesine with lesser labradorite, bytownite and anorthite. The first type is interpreted to be derived from the basement granite, whereas the others were derived mostly from volcanic ash, judging from their mineral compositions. The volcanic activity that supplied the volcanic ash to the Mizunami Basin occurred in two phases, distinguishable by variations in their mineralogical and geochemical compositions, an indication of change in character of the volcanic activity. This petrographic study of the sandstones in the Mizunami Group suggests that unrecognized volcanic activity occurred around the Mizunami Basin, even though potential provenance of the volcanic ash has not yet been identified.
Poverty, Preference or Pensioners? Measuring Material Deprivation in the UK*
Authors: Hick Rod
Published: March 2013

Indicators of material deprivation are typically based on a two‐part question, asking, first, whether respondents possess a series of deprivation items and, second – if they do not – whether this is because of a lack of resources or is by choice. This second subquestion, or ‘enforced lack’ criterion, is ubiquitous but its efficacy has been questioned by a number of authors. In an important critique published in Fiscal Studies, McKay (2004) claimed that older people were more likely than younger respondents to report that they did not want the items they lacked, despite their lower incomes, and also that the enforced lack criterion introduced a subjectivity which, in effect, required respondents to feel poor in order to be classified as such. This critique has potentially profound implications for poverty measurement.

In this paper, we seek to address the question of whether, if we are to employ indicators of material deprivation for poverty measurement, we should include the enforced lack criterion or not. In seeking to answer this question, we draw on data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and present tests of reliability and validity on indices of material deprivation, with and without the enforced lack criterion. Using odds ratio and analysis of variance methods, we find that the inclusion of the enforced lack criterion provides a measure of material deprivation which is both more reliable, and more valid based on a subjective measure of deprivation as well as on a majority of more objective forms of deprivation. Amongst the remaining minority (ill health for both methods and income quintile for the analysis of variance method), the divergent results can be explained, at least in part, by the older age profile of respondents in poor health and on low incomes. Thus, while there are legitimate concerns about the performance of such deprivation indicators amongst certain subgroups – in particular, amongst older people – on aggregate the enforced lack criterion helps to distinguish between poverty and preference.
Capital Structure, Corporate Taxation and Firm Age*
Authors: Pfaffermayr Michael , Stöckl Matthias , Winner Hannes
Published: March 2013

This paper analyses the relationship between corporate taxation, firm age and debt. We adapt a standard model of capital structure choice under corporate taxation, focusing on the financing and investment decisions typically faced by a firm. Our model suggests that the debt ratio is associated positively with the corporate tax rate and negatively with firm age. Further, we predict that the tax‐induced advantage of debt is more important for older firms than for younger ones. To test these hypotheses empirically, we use a cross‐section of around 405,000 firms from 35 European countries and 127 NACE three‐digit industries. In line with previous research, we find that a firm's debt ratio increases with the corporate tax rate. Further, we observe that older firms exhibit smaller debt ratios than their younger counterparts. Finally, consistent with our theoretical model, we find a positive interaction between corporate taxation and firm age, indicating that the impact of corporate taxation on debt increases over a firm's lifetime.
Time for Labour to establish economic credibility
Authors: Curtice John
Published: March 2013

In his regular column for Juncture, John Curtice argues that Labour cannot assume that continuing poor economic performance will be sufficient to deliver it victory in 2015. It needs to re‐establish its own economic credentials in the eyes of the public too.
SHARED DECISION MAKING AND PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN CHOOSING HOME THERAPIES
Authors: Johansson Lina
Published: March 2013

Background

Patient involvement through shared decision making is advocated to support patients deciding on a dialysis treatment suitable to their clinical condition, lifestyle and social circumstances. Evidence to date, however, suggests that shared decision making is far from routine practice. Not all physicians or patients are willing to participate in shared decision making. Equally, modality education does not always meet the needs of patients and their families, resulting in a significant proportion of patients remaining unaware of the existence of home therapies. The selection of home therapies appears to be tightly associated with the quality of the modality education. This paper considers several ways in which patient involvement in their dialysis modality decision can be improved, with particular reference to information provision. Information needs to be balanced, explore the medical as well as the psychosocial aspects of each treatment, be tailored to the needs of the individual patient and be delivered in a timely fashion.

Conclusion

Optimising modality education will optimise patient's ability to participate in shared decision making, thereby improving uptake of home therapies.
THE ROLE OF PRIVATE CAPITAL INFLOWS AND THE EXCHANGE MARKET PRESSURE ON REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION: THE CASE OF TURKEY
Authors: ERSOY IMRE
Published: March 2013

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of different private capital inflows and the exchange market pressure (EMP) on the real effective exchange rate (REER) appreciation of the currency in Turkey. To that end, the paper first investigates the long‐run equilibrium relationship and then employs Granger causality analysis. Results of the bounds test for cointegration within the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modelling approach of Pesaran et al. (2001) reveal level relationship between the diverse private capital inflows, EMP and REER. Granger causality analysis suggests that there is a unidirectional causality running from all the concerned private capital inflows and EMP to REER. The ARDL model shows first that the impact of bank liabilities and portfolio investment liabilities are almost equal, high and positive. Second, foreign direct investment and workers' remittances have a negative but statistically insignificant effect. Third, EMP mitigates REER appreciation of the currency in Turkey. The empirical results suggest that speculative portfolio investment liabilities but particularly bank liabilities with short maturities should be better managed; more flexibility should be introduced to the floating exchange rate regime to avoid loss of competitiveness related with capital inflows; whereas foreign direct investments and remittances should be encouraged.
Self‐reported questionnaire for surveillance of periodontitis in Chinese patients from a prosthodontic clinic: a validation study
Authors: Wu Xiayi , Weng Haiyan , Lin Xuefeng
Published: March 2013

Background and Purpose

Periodontal maintenance is critical for the long‐term success of prosthodontic treatment. This study investigates the validity of questionnaires/models in monitoring periodontitis for Chinese prosthodontic patients.

Methods

In total, 114 patients completed the questionnaire. The chi‐squared test and classification and regression trees were used to screen for predictive items. Predictive models developed by Yamamoto et al. and Dietrich et al. were validated using ROC curves and calibration plots.

Results

Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that demographic features (age, gender, smoking history, education history and number of remaining teeth), symptoms(tooth mobility without injury, painful gums), dental recommendations (“need periodontal or gum treatment?”) and treatment history (scaling and root planing) were predictive of periodontitis. The AUC values of the Yamamoto model and Dietrich's model‐a and model‐b were 0.67, 0.89, and 0.89 for moderate/severe periodontitis and 0.78, 0.93, and 0.93 for severe periodontitis, respectively. The calibration plot showed that Dietrich's model‐a and model‐b accurately predicted the actual probability of moderate/severe and severe periodontitis, respectively.

Conclusion

Questionnaires may be an efficient approach to monitor periodontal health in China. Dietrich's models, with age, smoking and self‐reported mobility as predictors, can be used to monitor periodontal health for Chinese prosthodontic patients.
Anthropometric indicators of obesity for identifying cardiometabolic risk factors in a rural Bangladeshi population
Authors: Bhowmik Bishwajit , Munir Sanjida B , Diep Lien M , Siddiquee Tasnima , Habib Samira H , Samad Mohammad A , Azad Khan Abul Kalam , Hussain Akhtar
Published: March 2013

Aims/Introduction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive ability of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentages (BF%) for the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors, namely type 2 diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome (MS).

Materials and Methods

A total of 2293 subjects aged ≥20 years from rural Bangladesh were randomly selected in a population‐based, cross‐sectional survey. The association of anthropometric indicators with cardiometabolic risk conditions was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for DM, HTN, dyslipidemia and MS.

Results

Area under the curve cut‐off values showed that the association of WHR, BF% and WC was higher than that for other indices for DM, HTN and MS, respectively, for both sexes, and WHtR for men and WHR for women for dyslipidemia. The ORs were highest for WHR for DM and WC for MS for both sexes, and WHtR for men and WC for women for HTN and dyslipidemia, respectively. The optimal cut‐off values for obesity for the present study in men and women showed BMIs of 22 and 22.8 kg/m2, WHRs of 0.93 and 0.87, WHtRs of 0.52 and 0.54, BF% of 21.4 and 32.4%, and WCs of 82 and 81 cm, except for MS, which were 90 for men and 80 for women.

Conclusions

Compared with BMI, measures of central obesity, particularly WHR, WC, WHtR and BF%, showed a better association with obesity‐related cardiometabolic risk factors for both sexes.
Functional properties of behaviour problems depending on level of intellectual disability
Authors: Medeiros K. , Rojahn J. , Moore L. L. , van Ingen D. J.
Published: March 2013

Background

Behaviour problems are common among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) especially in those with more severe forms. The determination of the functional profile of a targeted behaviour has important implications for the design of customised behavioural interventions.

Method

We investigated the relationship between the level of ID and the functional profile of aggression, stereotypy and self‐injurious behaviour (SIB) using the Questions about Behavioural Function (QABF). Two staff members at two time points completed the QABF for each of 115 adults with varying levels of ID participating in a day training and habilitation programme.

Results and conclusions

Our results suggest that there is a differential relationship between the functions of behaviour problems and level of ID. While SIB is more often seen by raters to be maintained by escape of social demands and by attaining access to tangible items with the decline of the intellectual level, aggressive and stereotypic behaviours were identified more often as serving multiple functions equally across functioning level.
The relationship between maltreatment victimisation and sexual and violent offending: differences between adolescent offenders with and without intellectual disability
Authors: van der Put C. E. , Asscher J. J. , Wissink I. B. , Stams G. J. J. M.
Published: March 2013

Background

Juveniles with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more often victims of maltreatment and more often perpetrators of abuse than juveniles without ID. Because previous research on the relationship between maltreatment victimisation and subsequent offending behaviour was primarily performed in non‐disabled samples, the present study aimed to examine differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the relationship between maltreatment victimisation and sexual and violent offending.

Method

The sample consisted of juvenile offenders with ID (n = 102) and without ID (n = 526) who appeared before the courts for a criminal act and for whom the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (WSJCA) was completed. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the strength of the relationship between maltreatment and offending, Fisher's z tests were calculated to assess the significance of the differences between the two groups in the strength of the correlations, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the unique contribution of maltreatment victimisation to the prediction of violent and sexual offending.

Results

Seventy per cent of the juvenile offenders with ID and 42% of the juvenile offenders without ID had experienced abuse and/or neglect. Both sexual and violent offending were more common in juvenile offenders with ID than in juvenile offenders without ID. Moreover, the relationship between different forms of maltreatment and sexual offending was stronger in juvenile offenders with ID than in juvenile offenders without ID.

Conclusions

Given the high rates of abuse and neglect victimisation and the strength of the association between victimisation and sexual offending, especially in juvenile offenders with ID, treatment should focus on potential trauma and other problems associated with the abuse.
Views of Black Nurses Toward Genetic Research and Testing
Authors: Powell‐Young Yolanda M. , Spruill Ida J.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

To describe views and beliefs that Black nurses hold regarding several conceptual areas of genetic research and testing.

Design

Data were generated using a descriptive, cross‐sectional design. The sample consisted of 384 Black nurses attending the 2009 annual conference of the National Black Nurses Association in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Methods

The chi‐squared test was used to evaluate group differences by education level, functional area, age, and gender.

Findings

One half of the Black nurses surveyed believed the potential for the discriminative misuse of genetic information against minority populations exists. However, 84% of these nurses believed the possibility of information misuse should not be used as a barrier to participation in genetic research and testing by the Black populace.

Conclusions

Black nurses expressed concerns about the potential for discriminatory use of genetic information gleaned from research and testing. Yet, Black nurses recognize the importance of racial‐ethnic minority participation in genetic research and testing.

Clinical Relevance

Participation in genetic research and testing by diverse populations will provide opportunities to improve the healthcare delivery system and aid the eradication of health disparities. More research is needed to clarify factors that contribute to the bifurcation of importance for participation, reluctance to participate, and what interventions might reduce reluctance.
Formal hepatitis C education enhances HCV care coordination, expedites HCV treatment and improves antiviral response
Authors: Lubega Samali , Agbim Uchenna , Surjadi Miranda , Mahoney Megan , Khalili Mandana
Published: March 2013

Background & Aims

Formal Hepatitis C virus (HCV) education improves HCV knowledge but the impact on treatment uptake and outcome is not well described. We aimed to evaluate the impact of formal HCV patient education on primary provider‐specialist HCV comanagement and treatment.

Methods

Primary care providers within the San Francisco safety‐net health care system were surveyed and the records of HCV‐infected patients before and after institution of a formal HCV education class by liver specialty (2006–2011) were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Characteristics of 118 patients who received anti‐HCV therapy were: mean age 51, 73% males and ~50% White and uninsured. The time to initiation of HCV treatment was shorter among those who received formal education (median 136 vs 284 days, P < 0.0001). When controlling for age, gender, race and HCV viral load, non‐1 genotype (OR 6.17, 95% CI 2.3–12.7, P = 0.0003) and receipt of HCV education (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1–7.9, P = 0.03) were associated with sustained virologic treatment response. Among 94 provider respondents (response rate = 38%), mean age was 42, 62% were White, and 63% female. Most providers agreed that the HCV education class increased patients' HCV knowledge (70%), interest in HCV treatment (52%), and provider‐patient communication (56%). A positive provider attitude (Coef 1.5, 95% CI 0.1–2.9 percent, P = 0.039) was independently associated with referral rate to education class.

Conclusions

Formal HCV education expedites HCV therapy and improves virologic response rates. As primary care provider attitude plays a significant role in referral to HCV education class, improving provider knowledge will likely enhance access to HCV specialty services in the vulnerable population.
On the origin and diagnostic use of salivary RNA
Authors: Fábryová H , Celec P
Published: March 2013

Saliva as a diagnostic fluid enables non‐invasive sampling, which can be performed even by an untrained person. Saliva is, thus, particularly useful for large population screenings, for children, elderly and whenever repeated samplings are needed. Saliva is a plasma filtrate actively modified by the salivary glands. Saliva could replace some routine blood tests in the future. The sources of salivary RNA include oral epithelial cells and oral micro‐organisms. Recent developments suggest that using known salivary RNA markers, it is possible to diagnose diseases such as oral carcinoma and other diseases will be added soon. Salivary RNA can be used to identify oral bacteria and to determine the expression of specific genes. On a systemic level, it provides information about the whole oral transcriptome and microbiome. Despite the small amount of salivary RNA, the issues with its isolation have been overcome. Saliva, thus, contains RNA of sufficient quality and quantity for sensitive and specific analyses. Salivary RNA can provide medically relevant information about oral microbiome, oral carcinoma, but also breast and pancreatic cancer and is, thus, a promising tool for future research and clinical diagnostics.
Different Roles and Viewpoints of Scientific Experts in Advising on Environmental Health Risks
Authors: Spruijt Pita , Knol Anne B. , Torenvlied René , Lebret Erik
Published: March 2013

Environmental health risks are often complex, largescale, and uncertain. The uncertainties inherent in these problems permit differences among experts in the appraisal of risks. This raises the question of whether different expert roles exist and, if so, how this affects the policy advice that is given. Here, we present a pilot study of the different roles and viewpoints that can be discerned among scientific experts in the Netherlands. Q methodology was used to empirically explore existing theoretical treatises on different expert roles. In total, 26 electromag­netic field (EMF) experts and 21 particulate matter (PM) experts participated. The responses were analyzed separately for EMF and PM respondents using Q factor analysis. In both the EMF and PM domain, three different expert roles were identified. This suggests that particular expert roles depend on the specific environmental health risk. The results indicate that different expert roles exist among scientists who provide policy advice on environmental health risks. This empirical study adds new data and insights to the literature on expert roles. The results of this study are relevant for the selection and composition of expert committees and the interpretation of expert advice.
The Measurement of Subjective Probability: Evaluating the Sensitivity and Accuracy of Various Scales
Authors: Haase Niels , Renkewitz Frank , Betsch Cornelia
Published: March 2013

The RISK of an event generally relates to its expected severity and the perceived probability of its occurrence. In RISK research, however, there is no standard measure for subjective probability estimates. In this study, we compared five commonly used measurement formats—two rating scales, a visual analog scale, and two numeric measures—in terms of their ability to assess subjective probability judgments when objective probabilities are available. We varied the probabilities (low vs. moderate) and severity (low vs. high) of the events to be judged as well as the presentation mode of objective probabilities (sequential presentation of singular events vs. graphical presentation of aggregated information). We employed two complementary goodness‐of‐fit criteria: the correlation between objective and subjective probabilities (sensitivity), and the root mean square deviations of subjective probabilities from objective values (accuracy). The numeric formats generally outperformed all other measures. The severity of events had no effect on the performance. Generally, a rise in probability led to decreases in performance. This effect, however, depended on how the objective probabilities were encoded: pictographs ensured perfect information, which improved goodness of fit for all formats and diminished this negative effect on the performance. Differences in performance between scales are thus caused only in part by characteristics of the scales themselves—they also depend on the process of encoding. Consequently, researchers should take the source of probability information into account before selecting a measure.
Latin‐American Special Olympics athletes: evaluation of oral health status, 2010
Authors: Hanke‐Herrero Rosana , López del Valle Lydia M. , Sánchez Carolina , Waldman H. Barry , Perlman Steven P.
Published: March 2013

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health status and dental needs of the athletes with intellectual disabilities from Latin‐American and Caribbean countries who were participating in the II Latin‐American Special Olympics games held in Puerto Rico, February 2010.

Methods

There were 930 athletes who participated in the games, of whom 445 received a dental examination, including 367 from Latin‐American and 78 from Caribbean countries. Forty‐four trained and standardized dental professionals performed dental screenings of athletes with intellectual disabilities, following Special Olympic Special Smiles and CDC protocols. These criteria were used to record untreated caries, missing and filled teeth, and gingival status. Socio‐demographics, existence, and severity of pain and oral hygiene habits were assessed by questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using EPI‐INFO and SPSS Statistical Program to produce descriptive statistics and chi‐square test.

Results

Untreated dental caries was recorded for more than half of the examined athletes. Missing teeth were noted in more than one‐third of the athletes. More than half of the participants had signs of gingival disease and half needed preventive mouth guards. Statistics for each Latin‐American country suggests a dissimilar trend of dental decay and treatment needs among nations.

Conclusions

While the Special Olympic athletes may not be representative of the entire population of individuals with intellectual disabilities in their specific country, the general consistency of the oral health status of these athletes from the 31 countries supports the certainty of the need for increased dental services for individuals with intellectual disability in the respective countries.
Moving Past Picket Fences: The Meaning of “Home” for Public Housing Residents
Authors: Tester Griff , Wingfield Adia Harvey
Published: March 2013

The literature on the meaning of “home” has generally focused on creating lists without giving much attention to the context that shapes meanings. Recently, scholars have argued that to understand “home” it is important to know the range of meanings that different people in different contexts give it. In this article, we focus on the meaning of “home” for public housing residents and consider how they construct the meaning of “home” and if they find that meaning in public housing. Our findings suggest that respondents consider their public housing residences to be “home,” and they construct this meaning using the dimensions of home identified in the literature. However, how respondents used these dimensions were, in some ways, different because of the context of living in public housing. Respondents emphasized the social dimension, and this dimension appeared to organize the other dimensions. As such, our findings support arguments that context matters to the meaning of “home.” They also suggest that policymakers need to broaden their understandings of public housing, as places that can be “home,” and use this understanding when making decisions about housing transformations.
Middle‐Class Parents, Urban Schooling, and the Shift From Consumption to Production of Urban Space
Authors: Billingham Chase M. , Kimelberg Shelley McDonough
Published: March 2013

Dominant approaches to the study of gentrification tend to attribute this process either to the production of urban space by elites or to the consumption of urban space by individual consumers. In this article, we take a preliminary step toward bridging this gap by illustrating how these groups may, in some cases, be the same actors. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with middle‐class parents in Boston, we explore the transitions that gentrifiers undergo as they age and have children. As young singles and childless couples, our respondents interacted with the city mainly as passive consumers. Years later, however, facing pressures to relocate in search of high‐quality educational options, these parents emerged as active producers of the urban landscape through their substantial involvement in their children's public elementary schools. This school‐based engagement reinforced their loyalties to their neighborhoods, dissuading them from moving to the suburbs. Since it is based on intense interactions with small local institutions, though, this strategy will likely be more difficult for parents to sustain in larger, less personal high schools. Thus, these parents may reconsider their dedication to city living as their children age. We discuss the implications of this research for urban theory and policy.
Leaving Science: Gender Differences in Career Continuity Following a Job Loss
Authors: Moore Thomas S. , Meiksins Peter , Root Ken
Published: March 2013

This study investigates gender differences in the postdisplacement experience of nonacademic science and engineering (S&E) workers. Using a pooled sample created from the Displaced Worker Surveys conducted between 1994 and 2008, it finds that (1) this S&E work force is particularly vulnerable to job loss and potential career disruption; (2) displaced female S&E workers are more likely than comparable male workers to exit the work force, a gender difference that is conditional on and explained by marital and parental status; and (3) reemployed female S&E workers are also more likely to leave science for non‐S&E occupations, but this gender difference is limited to unmarried workers. A concluding section discusses the implications of these findings for interpreting gender differences in career outcomes.
A clinical review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of uroabdomen in the dog and cat
Authors: Stafford Jennifer R. , Bartges Joseph W.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To review current literature regarding uroabdomen in dogs and cats with respect to etiology, diagnostic approach, medical and surgical treatment, and prognosis.

Etiology

Uroabdomen in dogs and cats is most often associated with vehicular or blunt trauma. This condition may also result from urinary tract obstruction, traumatic bladder expression or catheterization, neoplasia, and postoperative leakage following abdominal or urogenital surgery.

Diagnosis

Disruption to the urinary tract should be considered when a patient is diagnosed with azotemia, hyperkalemia, and abdominal effusion. By comparing the creatinine concentration of the abdominal fluid to the serum or plasma creatinine concentration, a diagnosis of uroabdomen can be made if the creatinine ratio is ≥2:1. In most patients imaging studies with contrast are necessary to identify the exact source of urine leakage and to determine therapeutic options.

Therapy

Uroabdomen is a medical emergency, not a surgical emergency. Acute management involves stabilization of the patient with IV fluid therapy and treatment of hyperkalemia. Urinary diversion and, in some cases, peritoneal dialysis are necessary to stabilize the patient until life‐threatening conditions such as hyperkalemia or concomitant injuries such as pulmonary contusions resolve. Once the patient is stable for anesthesia, surgical repair, if indicated, may be performed.

Prognosis

The prognosis of patients with uroabdomen depends on the extent of urinary and nonurinary injuries as well as the development of complications. Potential complications include dehiscence or urine leakage following surgical repair of the urinary tract, urosepsis, unresolving azotemia secondary to renal damage or underlying renal insufficiency, or stricture formation in the urinary tract.
In situ formation and electron-spectroscopic study of bis(arene) V and Cr compounds on a graphite surface
Authors: Bermudez Victor M.
Published: March 2013

Thin layers of bis(arene) transition metal (TM) compounds have been formed in situ in ultra-high vacuum by depositing Cr or V metal on top of a film of benzene (Bz) or toluene (Tol) ice at 100 K on a graphite substrate. The species thus formed are Cr(C6H6)2, V(C6H6)2, or Cr(C6H5-CH3)2 (termed CrBz2, VBz2, or Cr(Tol)2), and the valence structures have been examined using electron energy loss and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopies (ELS and UPS). The reaction is “clean” in that there is no indication of side reactions or unwanted by-products, although a small coverage of unreacted TM atoms appears unavoidable. A simple ring substituent (CH3) remains intact during the reaction. Thus, it should be possible to synthesize and study species that are not readily available (or cannot easily be made) in bulk form or that have too low vapor pressure to allow easy in situ deposition. Data have been obtained for VBz2 and Cr(Tol)2, the valence structures of which have not previously been studied in detail using UPS and ELS. Although deeper-lying arene orbitals are essentially unperturbed by formation of the bis(arene)TM sandwich, subtle differences in the TM-related orbitals have been observed and discussed in comparison to CrBz2 with the aid of density functional theory. In the case of VBz2, clear evidence is seen for a molecular reorientation during annealing, based on the ELS polarization dependence. Electron transfer between an adsorbed bis(arene)TM and graphite depends on the occupancy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and on its energy relative to the Fermi level (EF). The small amount of unreacted TM resulting from in situ synthesis causes a large decrease in work function, which shifts the adsorbate HOMO to below EF and thus impedes electron transfer to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. This is an obstacle to forming doping layers by this method.
Rotation of non-spherical micro-particles by amplitude modulation of superimposed orthogonal ultrasonic modes
Authors: Schwarz Thomas , Petit-Pierre Guillaume , Dual Jurg
Published: March 2013

Contactless rotation of non-spherical particles has been modeled and experimentally achieved using ultrasonic manipulation. For this purpose an acoustic radiation torque was generated by a time-varying pressure field resulting in a change of orientation of the potential well. The rotation method is based on amplitude modulation of two orthogonal ultrasonic modes. The force potential field has been used to evaluate the different modes and actuations to achieve rotation. Experiments have been performed in micro devices with copolymer particles and glass fibers at frequencies in the megahertz range. A continuous rotation was successfully demonstrated and the method allowed to stop the rotation at arbitrary angular positions.
The influence of talker and foreign-accent variability on spoken word identification
Authors: Bent Tessa , Frush Holt Rachael
Published: March 2013

In spoken word identification and memory tasks, stimulus variability from numerous sources impairs performance. In the current study, the influence of foreign-accent variability on spoken word identification was evaluated in two experiments. Experiment 1 used a between-subjects design to test word identification in noise in single-talker and two multiple-talker conditions: multiple talkers with the same accent and multiple talkers with different accents. Identification performance was highest in the single-talker condition, but there was no difference between the single-accent and multiple-accent conditions. Experiment 2 further explored word recognition for multiple talkers in single-accent versus multiple-accent conditions using a mixed design. A detriment to word recognition was observed in the multiple-accent condition compared to the single-accent condition, but the effect differed across the language backgrounds tested. These results demonstrate that the processing of foreign-accent variation may influence word recognition in ways similar to other sources of variability (e.g., speaking rate or style) in that the inclusion of multiple foreign accents can result in a small but significant performance decrement beyond the multiple-talker effect.
Computer simulations in room acoustics: Concepts and uncertainties
Authors: Vorländer Michael
Published: March 2013

Geometrical acoustics are used as a standard model for room acoustic design and consulting. Research on room acoustic simulation focuses on a more accurate modeling of propagation effects such as diffraction and other wave effects in rooms, and on scattering. Much progress was made in this field so that wave models also (for example, the boundary element method and the finite differences in time domain) can now be used for higher frequencies. The concepts and implementations of room simulation methods are briefly reviewed. After all, simulations in architectural acoustics are indeed powerful tools, but their reliability depends on the skills of the operator who has to create an adequate polygon model and has to choose the correct input data of boundary conditions such as absorption and scattering. Very little is known about the uncertainty of this input data. With the theory of error propagation of uncertainties it can be shown that prediction of reverberation times with accuracy better than the just noticeable difference requires input data in a quality which is not available from reverberation room measurements.
The monaural temporal window based on masking period pattern data in school-aged children and adults
Authors: Buss Emily , He Shuman , Grose John H. , Hall Joseph W.
Published: March 2013

Several lines of evidence indicate that auditory temporal resolution improves over childhood, whereas other data implicate the development of processing efficiency. The present study used the masking period pattern paradigm to examine the maturation of temporal processing in normal-hearing children (4.8 to 10.7 yrs) compared to adults. Thresholds for a brief tone were measured at 6 temporal positions relative to the period of a 5-Hz quasi-square-wave masker envelope, with a 20-dB modulation depth, as well as in 2 steady maskers. The signal was a pure tone at either 1000 or 6500 Hz, and the masker was a band of noise, either spectrally wide or narrow (21.3 and 1.4 equivalent rectangular bandwidths, respectively). Masker modulation improved thresholds more for wide than narrow bandwidths, and adults tended to receive more benefit from modulation than young children. Fits to data for the wide maskers indicated a change in window symmetry with development, reflecting relatively greater backward masking for the youngest listeners. Data for children >6.5 yrs of age appeared more adult-like for the 6500- than the 1000-Hz signal. Differences in temporal window asymmetry with listener age cannot be entirely explained as a consequence of a higher criterion for detection in children, a form of inefficiency.