bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reliability of real-time ultrasound for measuring skeletal muscle size in human limbs in vivo: a systematic review
Authors: English Coralie , Fisher Laura , Thoirs Kerry
Published: February 2012

Objective:

To systematically review evidence for the reliability of real-time brightness-mode ultrasound for assessing skeletal muscle size in human limbs in vivo and to establish in which populations and anatomical sites the reliability had been tested.

Data sources:

Articles were retrieved via electronic database searching and expert contact.

Study selection:

Studies reporting reliability indices of test–retest measures of real-time brightness-mode ultrasound measures of skeletal muscle size within human limbs were included.

Data extraction:

Articles were assessed for methodological quality by two reviewers, decisions were made by consensus. Participant characteristics, measurement protocol, ultrasound protocol, type of reliability measured and statistical methods were extracted by one reviewer.

Data synthesis:

Twenty-four articles were included, involving 605 participants. Studies were of low to moderate methodological quality. Most studies were conducted within the healthy population. Only one study demonstrated poor reliability at one site only, and only when the participants were measured in the supine position.

Conclusion:

There is a moderate amount of low-level evidence that real-time brightness-mode ultrasound has good reliability for measuring muscle size across a number of limb sites in healthy populations. There is limited evidence for the reliability of ultrasound measures of muscle size in clinical populations.
Wii Fit® training vs. Adapted Physical Activities: which one is the most appropriate to improve the balance of independent senior subjects? A randomized controlled study
Authors: Toulotte Claire , Toursel Cindy , Olivier Nicolas
Published: February 2012

Objective:

To compare the effectiveness of three protocols (Adapted Physical Activities, Wii Fit®, Adapted Physical Activities + Wii Fit®) on the balance of independent senior subjects.

Design:

Case comparison study.

Settings:

Healthy elderly subjects living in independent community dwellings.

Subjects:

Thirty-six subjects, average age 75.09 ± 10.26 years, took part in this study, and were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental groups: G1 followed an Adapted Physical Activities training programme, while the second group (G2) participated in Wii Fit® training and the third one (G3) combined both methods. There was no training for the fourth group (G4). All subjects trained once a week (1 hour) for 20 weeks and were assessed before and after treatment.

Main measures:

The Tinetti test, unipedal tests and the Wii Fit® tests.

Results:

After training, the scores in the Tinetti test decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) for G1, G2 and G3 respectively in static conditions and for G1 and G3 in dynamic conditions. After training, the performance in the unipedal tests decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) for G1 and G3. The position of the centre of gravity was modified significantly ( P < 0.05) for G2 and G3.

Conclusion:

After 20 training sessions, G1 (Adapted Physical Activities), G2 (Wii Fit®) and G3 (Adapted Physical Activities and Wii Fit®) improved their balance. In addition, G1 and G3 increased their dynamic balance. The findings suggest that Adapted Physical Activities training limits the decline in sensorial functions in the elderly.
Effect of refinery waste effluent on tocopherol, carotenoid, phenolics and other antioxidants content in Allium cepa
Authors: Gupta Amit Kumar , Ahmad Masood
Published: February 2012

Pollution in water used for irrigation is a major cause of stress generation in plant system. Under these stress conditions, reactive oxygen species derived from molecular oxygen can accumulate in plant, resulting in the oxidation of nucleic acids, lipids, chlorophyll and so on. This study was conducted in Allium cepa to analyze the alteration in the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants as a consequence of Mathura refinery waste water (MRWW) exposure. The studied antioxidants were glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ASC). Their determination was carried out in A. cepa bulbs exposed to different concentrations of MRWW that is 0.25×, 0.5×, 0.75× and 1.0×. A significant increase in the levels of these nonenzymatic antioxidants in onion bulbs upon treatment with MRWW suggested that these can serve as suitable biomarkers of toxicity. The toxicity of waste water was also tested on the level of tocopherol (Toc) and carotenoid (CAR) in onion bulbs, and in both the cases a high level of these metabolites was noticed. Phenolic content of A. cepa after the waste water insult was found to be increased, again a manifestation of adaptation against heavy metal and oxidative stress. It is clear from our findings that GSH, ASC, Toc and CAR in A. cepa system could serve as potential biomarkers for the presence of toxicants like heavy metals and its hazards in MRWW. The test waste water demonstrated profound effects on these parameters which is suggestive of the warrior strategies adopted by the plant system against the pollution-induced stress.
Foreclosing on Incarceration? State Correctional Policy Enactments and the Great Recession
Authors: Brown Elizabeth K.
Published: February 2012

The economic collapse of 2008 has forced states to reconsider their priorities in punishment and corrections. States have exhibited a wide range of responses to the fiscal crisis. Using data from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), this article reviews briefly the types of correctional policies enacted by states in 2009. This research then evaluates quantitatively the relationships between state-level economic, political, and crime control conditions in 2009 and variable rates of state-level policy enactments in that same year that reduce reliance on incarceration. Findings from a cross-sectional negative binomial model suggest that three factors were associated with state enactments in 2009 that reduce reliance on incarceration: percentage of seats held by the Republican Party in state legislatures, amount of state revenue, and percentage of federal funds used for corrections expenditures.
A study on fire retardancy and durability performance of bagasse fiber/polypropylene composite for outdoor applications
Authors: Hemmati Farkhondeh , Garmabi Hamid
Published: February 2012

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) and natural fiber composites (NFCs) are increasingly used in decking applications, where exterior exposure can lead to photodegradation and fungal deterioration. Since the fire retardancy is another proficiency concern of these composites, bagasse/polypropylene composites were produced by incorporation of commercially available additives including flame retardants, ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer, antifungal agent and color masterbatches. The addition of the flame retardant which decomposed at high temperature could result in NFC with significant decrease in burning rate (up to 98%) compared to the composite without flame retardant. Simultaneous effects of antifungal agent and green masterbatch lead to complete suppression of the fungal growth and reproduction on composites exposed to either Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus eryngii strain or each of them accompanied by Trichoderma sp. fungus. Durability performance followed by discoloration, mechanical properties loss and surface chemistry variation depended on all additives used. The results indicated that darker color pigment improved color stability and caused much lower fading for UV-stabilized NFC in comparison to the nonstabilized unpigmented composite.
Tracheotomy and children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1
Authors: Rul Brigitte , Carnevale Franco , Estournet Brigitte , Rudler Michèle , Hervé Christian
Published: February 2012

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 is a genetic neuromuscular disease in children that leads to degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons. This sometimes results in severe muscular paralysis requiring mechanical ventilation to sustain the child’s life. The onset of SMA type 1, the most severe form of the disease, is during the first year of life. These children become severely paralysed, but retain their intellectual capacity. Ethical concerns arise when mechanical ventilation becomes necessary for survival. When professionals assess the resulting life for the child and family, they sometimes fear it will result in unreasonably excessive care. The aim of this article is to present an analysis of ethical arguments that could support or oppose the provision of invasive ventilation in this population. This examination is particularly relevant as France is one of the few countries performing tracheotomies and mechanical ventilation for this condition.
New regulation of the right to a dignified dying in Spain: Repercussions for nursing
Authors: Fernández-Sola Cayetano , Granero-Molina José , Manrique Gabriel Aguilera , Castro-Sánchez Adelaida María , Hernández-Padilla José Manuel , Márquez-Membrive Josefa
Published: February 2012

Preserving dignity during the dying process requires reviewing the roles of those involved in the treatment, care methods and decision-making. This article examines the participation and responsibility assigned to nurses regarding decision-making in the final stages of life, as laid out in the Rights to and Guarantee of Dignity for the Individual During the Process of Death Act. This text has been analysed on the levels of socio-cultural practice and discourse practice, using the critical discourse analysis methodology. The results show that, although the law is another result of the social trend of patient empowerment, the responsibility of the nurses is not recognised, and they are left out of the decision-making process in the final stages of life.
Moisture sorption isotherms and glass transition temperature of elecampe (Inula helenium L.) and burdock (Arctium lappa L.) roots at 25°C
Authors: Červenka L. , Kubínová J. , Juszczak L. , Witczak M.
Published: February 2012

Sorption isotherms of elecampe ( Inula helenium L.) and burdock ( Arctium lappa L.) root samples were obtained at 25 °C. Elecampe exhibited hysteresis loop in the range of 0.35–0.90 aw, whereas burdock roots showed significant differences between adsorption and desorption isotherms from 0.65 to 0.80 aw. Blahovec–Yanniotis was considered to give the best fit over the whole range of aw tested. Various parameters describing the properties of sorbed water derived from GAB, Henderson and Blahovec–Yanniotis models have been discussed. Differential scanning calorimetric method was used to measure the glass transition temperature ( Tg) of root samples in relation to water activity. The safe moisture content was determined in 12.01 and 14.96 g/100 g d. b. for burdock and elecampe root samples at 25 °C, respectively. Combining the Tg line with sorption isotherm in one plot, it was found that the glass transition temperature concept overestimated the temperature stability for both root samples.
Fatty acid, cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamin composition of wild and captive freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus)
Authors: Harlioğlu A. Gül , Aydin S. , Yilmaz Ö.
Published: February 2012

The proximate analysis (dry matter, protein, fat and ash), cholesterol, fatty acid and fat-soluble vitamin compositions of the tail muscle of wild caught and captive crayfish ( Astacus leptodactylus) were investigated. Captive crayfish contained higher moisture and fat content than wild crayfish. In contrast, wild crayfish contained a higher level of crude protein, ash and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than captive crayfish. Arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) was the major n-6 PUFA in wild A. leptodactylus, and linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) was the major n-6 PUFA in captive A. leptodactylus. The percentages of total saturated fatty acids (SFA), PUFA, and n-3/ n-6 ratio were higher in wild crayfish and total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were lower. Although differences existed between wild and captive crayfish in vitamins A ( p < 0.001), δ-Tocopherol ( p < 0.001), α-Tocopherol acetate ( p < 0.05), no differences were found in vitamins D2, D3, α- Tocopherol and K ( p > 0.05). The differences may be originated from the diet provided to captive crayfish. Since wild A. leptodactylus contained higher n-3/ n-6 ratio than captive A. leptodactylus, crayfish farms can potentially produce a better quality of crayfish meat by increasing the PUFA n-3 (especially DHA and EPA) in the diets of A. leptodactylus.
Gifts of giving: The role of empathy and perceived benefits to others and self in young adults’ decisions to become organ donors
Authors: Cohen Elizabeth L , Hoffner Cynthia
Published: February 2012

Trait empathy and self-interest exert a strong influence on different prosocial behaviors, but their role in the promotion of organ donation registration is unclear. A survey examined how perceived benefits of organ donation for others and the self affect people’s willingness to register as donors. Perceived other-benefits did not predict registration. Those with lower risk and greater self-benefit perceptions were more willing to donate. Empathic concern predicted donation willingness and moderated the effect of other-benefit perceptions, such that other-benefit perceptions predicted donation willingness among those with greater empathic concern. Applications of these findings to organ donation promotion are discussed.
Effectiveness of a play-integrated primary one preparatory programme to enhance a smooth transition for children
Authors: Li William HC , Mak Yim Wah , Chan Sophia SC , Chu Avis KY , Lee Elmond YMak , Lam TH
Published: February 2012

This study tested the effectiveness of a play-integrated preparatory programme to enhance a smooth transition for children from kindergarten to primary one. A randomized controlled trial was employed and 142 families were recruited. Children in the experimental group experienced greater happiness, fewer worries and lesser difficulty in psychological adjustment than children in the control group, providing evidence that the play-integrated preparatory programme is effective in enhancing a smooth transition for children. Findings from this study promote the awareness in parents and teachers that play is an important part of children’s lives, which is essential for their normal growth and development.
Can a Social Issue Proposition Increase Political Knowledge? Campaign Learning and the Educative Effects of Direct Democracy
Authors: Biggers Daniel R.
Published: February 2012

Proponents of direct democracy contend that the institution increases political knowledge, but limited evidence supports this assertion over a single election. Previous studies of the relationship, however, do not account for the heterogeneous effects of each proposition and employ political knowledge scales that insufficiently rely on information directly related to political campaigns. I address these limitations by looking at the issue content of each ballot measure and using the 2006 and 2008 Cooperative Congressional Election Studies (CCES), which contain numerous voting-relevant and policy-oriented questions from which to construct an improved measurement of actual campaign learning. Although I find no effect attributable to the total number of measures on the ballot, those addressing social issues, because they are well known, highly salient, and tap into existing social cleavages, do exhibit the hypothesized effect on political knowledge. I discuss the implications of these findings in the conclusion.
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and leptin levels in patients with a diagnosis of severe major depressive disorder with melancholic features
Authors: Kotan Zeynep , Sarandöl Emre , Kırhan Emine , Özkaya Güven , Kırlı SelcÇuk
Published: February 2012

Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and leptin have been hypothesized to be involved in the neurobiology of depression. The aim of this study was to investigate BDNF, VEGF and leptin levels in patients with severe melancholic depression.

Methods: A total of 40 drug-free patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with melancholic features and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. Demographic information, psychiatric evaluation and physical examination were documented for both groups. Serum BDNF, VEGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and leptin with radioimmunoassay methods. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were applied to the patients.

Results: There were no significant differences in serum BDNF, VEGF and leptin levels between the patient and control groups. There was a negative correlation between BDNF levels and the number of depressive episodes. It was noted that VEGF levels decreased with increasing severity of depression.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that BDNF levels might be associated with the recurrence of depression and VEGF levels might be a determinant of the severity of depression.
Increased plasma norepinephrine concentration in psychotic depression
Authors: Goekoop Jaap G. , de Winter Remco F.P. , Wolterbeek Ron , Van Kempen Godfried M.J. , Wiegant Victor M.
Published: February 2012

Objective: We previously found psychotic depression (PSDEP) to have positively correlating plasma norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (AVP) concentrations. Since central noradrenergic activity and plasma NE concentration are highly correlated, this suggests an increased noradrenergic activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. We hypothesize the increased release of NE in PSDEP to be an associated mechanism.

Methods: To test this hypothesis we analyzed the relation between plasma NE and PSDEP in a comparison with non-psychotically depressed patients. Potentially confounding variables were, among others, melancholia and two better validated subcategories in the field of melancholia and endogenous depression, three global dimensions of psychopathology – Emotional Dysregulation, Retardation and Anxiety – smoking habit, and different types of psychotropic and particularly antidepressant treatment. The data from nine patients with PSDEP and 69 patients with non-PSDEP were reanalysed.

Results: Analysis of covariance controlling for the effects of tricyclic antidepressant treatment (≥100 mg) and smoking habit showed that PSDEP had an increased concentration of plasma NE. The previously found correlation between plasma NE and AVP was still present after correcting for the effects of confounding variables.

Conclusions: The results suggest an increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system in PSDEP that may act as a specific mechanism for increased vasopressinergic activation. This supports the view of PSDEP as a distinct subcategory of major depression.
Lifetime history of indoor tanning in young people: a retrospective assessment of initiation, persistence, and correlates
Authors: Lostritto Karen , Ferrucci Leah M , Cartmel Brenda , Leffell David J , Molinaro Annette M , Bale Allen E , Mayne Susan T
Published: February 2012

Background

Despite educational and public health campaigns to convey the risks of indoor tanning, many individuals around the world continue to engage in this behavior. Few descriptive studies of indoor tanning have collected information pertaining to the lifetime history of indoor tanning, thereby limiting our ability to understand indoor tanning patterns and potentially target interventions for individuals who not only initiate, but continue to persistently engage in indoor tanning.

Methods

In-person interviews elicited detailed retrospective information on lifetime history of indoor tanning among white individuals (n = 401) under age 40 seen by a dermatologist for a minor benign skin condition. These individuals were controls in a case-control study of early-onset basal cell carcinoma. Outcomes of interest included ever indoor tanning in both males and females, as well as persistent indoor tanning in females - defined as females over age 31 who tanned indoors at least once in the last three or all four of four specified age periods (ages 11-15, 16-20, 21-30 and 31 or older). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of ever and persistent indoor tanning in females.

Results

Approximately three-quarters (73.3%) of females and 38.3% of males ever tanned indoors, with a median age of initiation of 17.0 and 21.5, respectively. Among indoor tanners, 39.3% of females and 21.7% of males reported being burned while indoor tanning. Female ever indoor tanners were younger, had darker color eyes, and sunbathed more frequently than females who never tanned indoors. Using unique lifetime exposure data, 24.7% of female indoor tanners 31 and older persistently tanned indoors starting as teenagers. Female persistent indoor tanners drank significantly more alcohol, were less educated, had skin that tanned with prolonged sun exposure, and sunbathed outdoors more frequently than non-persistent tanners.

Conclusions

Indoor tanning was strikingly common in this population, especially among females. Persistent indoor tanners had other high-risk behaviors (alcohol, sunbathing), suggesting that multi-faceted behavioral interventions aimed at health promotion/disease prevention may be needed in this population.
Wnt signaling pathways in urological cancers: past decades and still growing
Authors: Majid Shahana , Saini Sharanjot , Dahiya Rajvir
Published: February 2012

The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in a wide range of embryonic patterning events and maintenance of homeostasis in adult tissues. The pathological role of the Wnt pathway has emerged from studies showing a high frequency of specific human cancers associated with mutations that constitutively activate the transcriptional response of these pathways. Constitutive activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is a common feature of solid tumors and contributes to tumor development, progression and metastasis in various cancers. In this review, the Wnt pathway will be covered from the perspective of urological cancers with emphasis placed on the recent published literature. Regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway by microRNAs (miRNA), small RNA sequences that modify gene expression profiles will also be discussed. An improved understanding of the basic genetics and biology of Wnt signaling pathway will provide insights into the development of novel chemopreventive and therapeutic strategies for urological cancers.
Granular cell tumor presenting as a tongue nodule: two case reports
Authors: Sena Costa Nivea Cristina , Bertini Fernanda , Carvalho Yasmin Rodarte , Almeida Janete Dias , Rodrigues Cavalcante Ana Sueli
Published: February 2012

Introduction

Granular cell tumor is an uncommon neoplasm that can occur in any part of the body, including the orofacial region. The tumor is usually benign, but there are reports of cases in which the tumor shows a locally aggressive behavior, malignancy, and distant metastases. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that granular cell tumor arises from the altered metabolism of Schwann cells. The tumor is typically asymptomatic and appears as a nodule that does not exceed 3 cm.

Case presentation

In case 1, a 26-year-old Caucasian man was seen at the Oral Medicine out-patient clinic of the São José dos Campos Dental School, Universidade Estadual Paulista, with a 'small blister on the tongue', which he had noted approximately three years ago. The nodule was located on the dorsum of the tongue, measured about 1.5 cm in diameter, and was not tender to palpation. Treatment consisted of an excisional biopsy performed on the basis of the diagnostic hypothesis of granular cell tumor, which was confirmed by microscopic analysis. In case 2, a 31-year-old Caucasian woman attended the out-patient clinic of the São José dos Campos Dental School, Universidade Estadual Paulista, with a five-year history of a 'painful lump on the tongue'. Intra-oral examination revealed the presence of a nodular lesion measuring approximately 0.8 cm in diameter, which was located deep in the submucosa of the right lateral margin of the tongue. Treatment consisted of an excisional biopsy performed on the basis of the differential diagnosis of neurofibroma and granular cell tumor. Microscopic analysis defined the final diagnosis of granular cell tumor.

Conclusions

Granular cell tumor is an uncommon tumor that must be carefully diagnosed and treated correctly.
Key issues and strategies for processing complex carbonate reservoir data in China
Authors: Wang Xuejun , Feng Xukui , Luo Wenshan , Gao Xianjun , Zhu Xinghui
Published: February 2012

The surface structure of carbonate reservoirs in China is rather complicated. The reservoirs are deeply buried, and dominated by secondary dissolution caves, holes, and fractures, which cause strong heterogeneity and anisotropy. Such geological settings make it extremely challenging to accurately image the fracture-cave unit, and this thus becomes the key issue in data processing.
Hospitals, Finance, and Health System Reform in Britain and the United States, C. 1910–1950: Historical Revisionism and Cross-National Comparison
Authors: Gorsky Martin
Published: February 2012

Comparative histories of health system development have been variously influenced by the theoretical approaches of historical institutionalism, political pluralism, and labor mobilization. Britain and the United States have figured significantly in this literature because of their very different trajectories. This article explores the implications of recent research on hospital history in the two countries for existing historiographies, particularly the coming of the National Health Service in Britain. It argues that the two hospital systems initially developed in broadly similar ways, despite the very different outcomes in the 1940s. Thus, applying the conceptual tools used to explain the U.S. trajectory can deepen appreciation of events in Britain. Attention focuses particularly on working-class hospital contributory schemes and their implications for finance, governance, and participation; these are then compared with Blue Cross and U.S. hospital prepayment. While acknowledging the importance of path dependence in shaping attitudes of British bureaucrats toward these schemes, analysis emphasizes their failure in pressure group politics, in contrast to the United States. In both countries labor was also crucial, in the United States sustaining employment-based prepayment and in Britain broadly supporting system reform.
Issue Ads and the Health Reform Debate
Authors: Bergan Daniel , Risner Genevieve
Published: February 2012

The public debate over health care reform in 2009 was carried out partly through issue advertisements aired online and on television. Did these advertisements alter the course of the debate over health care reform? While millions of dollars are spent each year on issue ads, little is known about their effects. Results from a naturalistic online experiment on the effects of issue ads suggest that they can influence the perceived importance of an issue and perceptions of politicians associated with the featured policy while influencing policy support only among those low in political awareness.
A Window of Opportunity: The Louisiana Birth Outcomes Initiative
Authors: Gee Rebekah E. , Alletto Michelle M. , Keck Anthony E.
Published: February 2012

Louisiana ranks forty-ninth nationally in birth outcomes indicators such as infant mortality and in the percentage of low birth weight and very low birth weight babies. This article describes the formation of the Birth Outcomes Initiative, a statewide targeted investment to reduce poor birth outcomes. It describes how the initiative is a result of the convergence of the triad of well-defined problems, a credible array of potential solutions, and favorable political process. It then describes the Birth Outcomes Initiative in Louisiana, a targeted program to improve health indicators for reproductive-aged women and reduce the incidence of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality.
Assessment of Transparent Conducting Zinc Oxide as a Tunneling Contact to p-GaN
Authors: Musunuru S. , Kumbham V. , Justice J. , Lee K. , Korakakis D. , Hornak L. A.
Published: February 2012

Use of aluminum alloyed zinc oxide (AZO) as a transparent contact to p-GaN has received significant attention for GaN/InGaN light emitting diodes applications. Reports show that AZO as deposited on p-GaN forms a Schottky contact given the large work-function difference between AZO and p-GaN [1]. However, utilization of a thin nickel layer inserted between the AZO and p-GaN can result in an ohmic contact [2], given that Ni forms an ohmic contact to p-GaN upon annealing. Here, we undertake simulation studies of this AZO/Ni interface as a function of Nickel layer. Simulation studies of the transport mechanism in this contact indicate the likelihood of a tunneling junction at the AZO/Ni interface, thus the entire AZO/Ni forming an ohmic contact to p-GaN. Potential to better control injected current density uniformity utilizing such a contact structure is also discussed.
Mechanical Behavior of Ion-Irradiated Fe-Cr alloys Investigated by Spherical Indentation
Authors: Hardie Christopher D. , Roberts Steve G. , Bushby Andrew J.
Published: February 2012

Fe12%Cr was irradiated with 2MeV and 0.5MeV Fe+ ions at 320°C, to create a layer with a mean level of displacement damage of 6.18dpa to a depth of ∼800nm. Spherical indentation, with a nominal tip radius of 10μm, was used to investigate the mechanical properties of the damage layer. Indents produced with loads of 2mN, 3mN, 5mN and 10mN were cross-sectioned and fabricated into TEM foils using an in situ lift-out technique in a dual beam FIB-SEM microscope. The extent of the plastic zone beneath the indent was observed in the TEM for each indentation. The indentation results were analysed so as to give an indentation stress-strain curve, in which strain softening was found to occur beyond the yield point. At loads up to 3mN the plastic zone remained entirely within the damage layer, implying strain-softening of the damaged material. At higher indentation loads the plastic zone was observed to extend into the softer un-irradiated substrate, giving rise to a further fall in flow stress with increasing strain.
Measuring Residual Stress on the Nanometer Scale - Novel Tools for Fundamental and Applied Research
Authors: Wehrspohn R. B. , Krause M. , Schriever C.
Published: February 2012

In the present paper, strain measurements based on second harmonic generation (SHG) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is demonstrated via two illustrative applications. While SHG gains access to strains in buried interfaces, EBSD can be used to measure strains in crystalline thin films with high spatial resolution on the order of tens of nanometers and high surface sensitivity. In addition, target preparation using low-voltage ion beam milling is demonstrated, gaining access to unstrained sample positions in strained silicon on insulator (sSOI) systems which are necessary for common “pattern-shift” methodologies.
Railway track performance study using a new testing facility
Authors: Kennedy Justin H. , Woodward Peter K. , Banimahd Meysam , Medero Gabriela M.
Published: February 2012

This paper presents results from full-scale laboratory research on railway tracks using the geopavement and railway accelerated fatigue testing (Graft) facility at Heriot-Watt University. A typical ballast depth of 300 mm has been considered, overlying subgrade soil (a typical situation on site). Sub-ballast has not been used, to ensure that only ballast and subgrade behaviour are investigated. The influence of load level and subgrade stiffness for a typical UK track is presented, and from the results a new railway track settlement equation is proposed that fits the measured data in Graft well. The proposed equation can predict track settlement in Graft after a number of cycles for any applied load, and for the clay and subgrade Young's modulus considered in this paper. The threshold stress concept used in fine-grained subgrade materials, granular materials and within railway track design processes has been considered, and a new track parameter (t) within the track settlement equation has been proposed to account for this. The equation has been compared with other previously published equations with different parameters that are based on both laboratory and field measurements, and similarities have been found. This paper demonstrates how the Graft facility can accurately simulate the railway track response.
Collapse surface characteristics of clayey sands
Authors: Naeemifar Omid , Yasrobi S. Shahaboddin
Published: February 2012

It has been shown that a certain collapse surface may be defined for loose sands in three-dimensional space, in which the sample sand experiences collapse and instability, leading to unsteady and strain-softening behaviour. The unsteady state due to the collapse surface may lead to such phenomena in the sand as liquefaction and flow behaviour during undrained loading. Investigating the existence of the collapse surface in Firoozkooh 161 sand and its different clay mixtures with various plasticities, the present study aims to carry out an in-depth investigation of the effects of clay percentage and plasticity on sand critical-state or steady-state behaviours. The results obtained indicate that collapse surface characteristics depend largely on the fine percentage and the plasticity. Interesting findings are also reported in this paper on the effects of fine sand percentage and plasticity on the behavioural characteristics and liquefaction potential of clayey sands.
Poor Oral Health and Coronary Artery Disease: A Case‐Control Study
Authors: Ashraf Javed , Hussain Bokhari Syed Akhtar , Manzoor Sobia , Khan Ayyaz Ali
Published: February 2012

Background: There is insufficient research on the relationship of oral health and coronary artery disease (CAD) from developing countries, such as Pakistan. This study observes the status of oral health in the CAD population.

Methods: A case‐control study was conducted on 145 cases and 145 controls. Otherwise healthy patients with CAD (cases) and individuals free from previous/current history of CAD (controls), having ≥14 remaining teeth, were examined for oral health status through missing teeth, plaque index (PI), and community periodontal index (CPI). Student t test, χ2 test, and multivariate regression analysis were applied at significance level of 95% (P ≤0.05) to compare study parameters between cases and controls.

Results: A significant difference between cases and controls was observed in this study sample with respect to missing teeth (P = 0.027) and periodontal parameters of PI and CPI (P <0.001). Cases were observed with significantly higher scores of PI (2 and 3) and CPI (3 and 4) compared with controls. Prevalence of periodontal parameters was observed to be higher in cases than controls at subgroup‐level (sex and age group) analysis. A significant odds ratio (OR), unadjusted, between CAD and periodontal indicators of PI (mild to severe plaque/no plaque: OR = 5.04, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.24 to 11.36) and CPI (healthy/poor periodontal status: OR = 4.59, 95% CI = 1.81 to 11.61) scores was noted; cases were at odds of 1.20 (95% CI = 0.93 to 15.68, P = 0.017) for having poor oral health after adjusting age, sex, and education.

Conclusion: Poor oral health was significantly associated with CAD in this study sample matched for sociodemographic characteristics.
Effect of Dwell Time on the Mental Health of US Military Personnel With Multiple Combat Tours
Authors: MacGregor Andrew J. , Han Peggy P. , Dougherty Amber L. , Galarneau Michael R.
Published: February 2012

Objective. We investigated the association of the length of time spent at home between deployments, or dwell time, with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders.

Methods. We included US Marine Corps personnel identified from military deployment records who deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom once (n = 49 328) or twice (n = 16 376). New-onset mental health diagnoses from military medical databases were included. We calculated the ratio of dwell-to-deployment time (DDR) as the length of time between deployments divided by the length of the first deployment.

Results. Marines with 2 deployments had higher rates of PTSD than did those with 1 deployment (2.1% versus 1.2%; P < .001). A DDR representing longer dwell times at home relative to first deployment length was associated with reduced odds of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32, 0.70), PTSD with other mental health disorder (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.33, 0.94), and other mental health disorders (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.51, 0.75).

Conclusions. Longer dwell times may reduce postdeployment risk of PTSD and other mental health disorders. Future research should focus on the role of dwell time in adverse health outcomes.
An Emergency Department-Based Brief Intervention for Veterans at Risk for Suicide (SAFE VET)
Authors: Knox Kerry L. , Stanley Barbara , Currier Glenn W. , Brenner Lisa , Ghahramanlou-Holloway Marjan , Brown Gregory
Published: February 2012

Reducing deaths from veteran suicide is a public health priority for veterans who receive their care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and those who receive services in community settings. Emergency departments frequently function as the primary or sole point of contact with the health care system for suicidal individuals; therefore, they represent an important venue in which to identify and treat veterans who are at risk for suicide. We describe the design, implementation and initial evaluation of a brief behavioral intervention for suicidal veterans seeking care at VA emergency departments. Initial findings of the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention suggest it may be transferable to diverse VA and non-VA settings, including community emergency departments and urgent care centers.
"What do you want to do when you grow up?" Occupational aspirations of Taiwanese preschool children
Authors: Lee Hung-Chang
Published: February 2012

Occupational aspirations have mainly been investigated with teenagers, high school students, and adults. Following Gottfredson's (1981, 2002) theory of circumscription and compromise, in which it is proposed that occupational aspirations originate in the preschool years, in this study
the occupational aspirations of 1,044 preschool children in Taiwan were explored. Children who attended 38 kindergartens and were between the ages of 5 and 6, expressed their preferences about and gender orientations towards occupations and careers. In general, the occupations Taiwanese children
said they most desired to pursue were teaching, being police officers, and working as doctors. Most children can recognize the occupations of their parents at this stage, and the results in this research show that children still identify strongly with their parents' stereotypical occupations.
More boys than girls showed a preference for masculine-dominated occupations. More girls than boys showed a preference for nontraditional occupations. Factors that influence occupational aspirations were found to be parental identification and identifying with the role of teachers.
Social support as a moderator of acculturative stress among refugees and asylum seekers
Authors: Renner Walter , Laireiter Anton-Rupert , Maier Marco J.
Published: February 2012

A group of 63 refugees and asylum seekers, comprising 27 women and 36 men with a mean age of 33.08 years (SD = 10.3) from Chechnya and Afghanistan were granted sponsorship for 6 months and were randomized to an intervention or waiting-list control group. Only those participants
who had been traumatized benefited from the intervention. For the traumatized subsample, sponsorship led to a significant and stable decrease in anxiety, depression, and psychological problems as compared to the control group, with effect sizes comparable to those of psychotherapy. As the
effects were palliative rather than instrumental, sponsorship did not instigate improvements in acculturation, societal contact, or coping capability. Women benefited from the intervention more than men, and Afghans benefited more than Chechens.
Transformational leadership and Taiwanese public relations practitioners' job satisfaction and organizational commitment
Authors: Yang Mu-Li
Published: February 2012

The effects of transformational leadership on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of public relations (PR) practitioners were examined within the context of PR companies in Taiwan. PR practitioners (600) were randomly selected from 159 PR firms located in Taipei and sampled.
There were 305 usable questionnaires (50% validity rate). Regression analyses indicated that transformational leadership dimensions did have a significant impact on the job satisfaction of PR practitioners. Furthermore, in this study job satisfaction was found to be a mediator of the effects
of transformational leadership on the organizational commitment of PR practitioners. The results of this study may provide a managerial reference to assist in enhancing the job satisfaction of PR practitioners as well as their commitment to the organization through improved organizational
leadership.
Validation of the Empathy Quotient – Short Form among Chinese healthcare professionals
Authors: Guan Ruiyuan , Jin Leili , Qian Mingyi
Published: February 2012

In this study we validated the Empathy Quotient Short Form (EQ-Short; Wakabayashi et al., 2006) with a sample of Chinese nurses and nursing students. Factor analyses indicated that 15 of the 22 EQ-Short items presented a 1-component structure across the sample. In terms of concurrent
validity, moderate correlations were found between the empathy quotient and factors E, F, O, and Q3 extracted from the 16 personality factors. Trained nurses reported significantly lower levels of empathy quotient than did nursing students, but no significant gender differences were found
across the samples. We found that the revised Chinese EQ-Short Form (EQ-Short-C) exhibited satisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability, thereby validating the EQ-Short-C as a meaningful measure for dispositional empathy among Chinese healthcare professionals.
The Effect of Corporate Governance on Auditor-Client Realignments
Authors: Cassell Cory A. , Giroux Gary A. , Myers Linda A. , Omer Thomas C.
Published: February 2012

Events leading up to the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) increased the public's focus on corporate governance and increased regulatory scrutiny of corporate governance mechanisms. These events also contributed to a massive restructuring in the audit market that resulted in the transfer of a large number of clients from Big N to non-Big N audit firms. We extend prior research examining the determinants of auditor-client realignments by investigating the effect of corporate governance on downward (i.e., from Big N to non-Big N auditors) switching activity. We develop a corporate governance index comprised of governance characteristics that we expect auditors to find more desirable in their clients (specifically, board and audit committee independence, diligence, and expertise). The results suggest that Big N auditors consider client corporate governance mechanisms when making client portfolio decisions. Specifically, downward auditor-client realignments are more likely for clients that score lower on our corporate governance index. However, the influence of audit committee-related corporate governance components on downward auditor-client realignments decreased post-SOX. The reduced effect of audit committee-related corporate governance components is consistent with what would be expected if the audit committee-related rules imposed by SOX reduced the variation in audit committee quality across clients.

Data Availability: The data used are publicly available from the sources cited in the text.
Publication Benchmarking Data Based on Faculty Promoted at the Top 75 U.S. Accounting Research Institutions
Authors: Glover Steven M. , Prawitt Douglas F. , Summers Scott L. , Wood David A.
Published: February 2012

The primary purpose of this study is to update the Glover et al. (2006) publication benchmarking study by providing benchmarking statistics of faculty promoted to associate and/or full professor from 2004 to 2009. We also extend Glover et al. (2006) by examining new benchmarking metrics and by investigating publication productivity differences between studies. Our results indicate that, on average, faculty promoted from 2004 to 2009 had more publications in leading accounting journals at the time of promotion than faculty promoted from 1995 to 2003. We explore possible explanations for the increase in publication productivity. We find that increases in the time to promotion, number of total published journal articles, and number of co-authors can explain some, but not all of the observed increase in publication productivity. Finally, we find that publication records at the time of promotion are similar between public and private institutions within similar university publication productivity portfolios.

Data Availability: Data used in this paper are available from the authors upon request.
Survey of Canadian Physiotherapists: Entry-Level and Post-professional Education in Women's Health
Authors: Francis Allison M. , Madill Stéphanie J. , Gentilcore-Saulnier Evelyne , McLean Linda
Published: February 2012

Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify (1) practice patterns of Canadian physiotherapists who consider themselves women's health providers or educators (WHPTs); (2) WHPTs' perception of the relative importance of entry-level and post-professional education curricular content directed at women's health issues; and (3) WHPTs' patterns and preferences with respect to continuing education. Method: A survey link was sent via e-mail to all 429 members of the Women's Health Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and to physiotherapist educators at the 14 Canadian physiotherapy programmes. Results: A total of 114 WHPTs responded (27%), including 16 educators. Of the 114 respondents, 53% spent less than 25% of their practice specifically treating women's health issues. Over half of the 114 respondents felt that entry-level preparation must include aging issues, musculoskeletal dysfunction, osteoporosis, and sports injuries in women. Respondents' stated that post-professional education should also include female anatomy, obstetrics and gynecology, pelvic floor assessment, treatment of urogenital concerns, complications of cancer, wellness and health promotion, and research. Most respondents (63%) showed interest in achieving continuing-education credentials in women's health, preferably using a combined theoretical online and hands-on weekend-based format. Conclusions: The survey results suggest that WHPTs practising in Canada seek post-professional training with an emphasis on pelvic floor assessment and treatment, obstetrics and gynecology, urogenital concerns, complications of cancer, wellness and health promotion, and research. Future research should focus on the barriers to devoting full-time practice hours to WHPTs.