bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cumulative exposure to poor housing affordability and its association with mental health in men and women
Authors: Bentley Rebecca , Baker Emma , Mason Kate
Published: November 2011

Background

Poor housing affordability affects around 10% of the Australian population and is increasingly prevalent. The authors tested two hypotheses: that cumulative exposure to housing affordability stress (HAS) is associated with poorer mental health and that effects vary by gender.

Methods

The authors estimated the relationship between cumulative exposure to HAS and mental health among 15 478 participants in an Australian longitudinal survey between 2001 and 2009. Individuals were classified as being in HAS if household income was in the lowest 40% of the national distribution and housing costs exceeded 30% of income. Exposure to HAS ranged from 1 to 8 annual waves. Mental health was measured using the Short Form 36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. To test the extent to which any observed associations were explained by compositional factors, random- and fixed-effects models were estimated.

Results

In the random-effects models, mental health scores decreased with increasing cumulative exposure to HAS (up until 4+ years). This relationship differed by gender, with a stronger dose-response observed among men. The mean MCS score of men experiencing four to eight waves of housing stress was 2.02 points lower than men not in HAS (95% CI −3.89 to −0.16). In the fixed-effects models, there was no evidence of acumulativeeffect of HAS on mental health; however, lower MCS was observed after a single year in HAS (β=−0.70, 95% CI −1.02 to −0.37).

Conclusions

While average mental health was lower for individuals with longer exposure to HAS, the mental health effect appears to be due to compositional factors. Furthermore, men and women appear to experience cumulative HAS differently.
Realization of All-Optical Circular Shift Register Using Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
Authors: Lee Ji Sok , Lim Jae Moon , Lee Ju Han , Lee Hyuk Jae , Lee Taek Jin , Lee Seok , Woo Deok Ha , Kim Sun Ho , Jhon Young Min , Kim Jae Hun
Published: November 2011

An all-optical circular shifting register based on the cross-gain modulation of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), a key component for future optical computers and signal processing, is experimentally demonstrated. The ideal schemes of left and right circular shifting registers are proposed. On the basis of the scheme, a left circular shifting register that can shift up to three times has been experimentally demonstrated using two SOAs and verified by VPI simulation.
Low Temperature Phosphorus Doping in Silicon Using Catalytically Generated Radicals
Authors: Hayakawa Taro , Nakashima Yuki , Miyamoto Motoharu , Koyama Koichi , Ohdaira Keisuke , Matsumura Hideki
Published: November 2011

In this paper, we report the possibility of forming a phosphorus (P)-doped layer on silicon (Si) at low temperatures. Using the radicals catalytically generated from phosphine (PH3), a thin n-type layer is formed on a crystalline Si (c-Si) wafer at 150 °C. The secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) profile of doped P atoms indicates that P atoms exist in the vicinity of the c-Si surface, and the depth at which P atom concentration decreases to 1/10 of the surface concentration is less than 12 nm for 300 s of radical treatment. The sheet carrier density on radical-treated c-Si wafers measured using the Hall effect shows that P atoms act as donors without annealing. The sheet carrier concentration of the P-doped layer is increased by adding hydrogen (H2) to the PH3 source gas. The effect of adding H2 to PH3 suggests that the surface reaction of atomic H plays an important role in the doping process.
The relative value of strain and strain rate for defining intrinsic myocardial function
Authors: Ferferieva V. , Van den Bergh A. , Claus P. , Jasaityte R. , Veulemans P. , Pellens M. , La Gerche A. , Rademakers F. , Herijgers P. , D'hooge J.
Published: November 2011

It is well accepted that strain and strain rate deformation parameters are not only a measure of intrinsic myocardial contractility but are also influenced by changes in cardiac load and structure. To date, no information is available on the relative importance of these confounders. This study was designed to investigate how strain and strain rate, measured by Doppler echocardiography, relate to the individual factors that determine cardiac performance. Echocardiographic and conductance measurements were simultaneously performed in mice in which individual determinants of cardiac performance were mechanically and/or pharmacologically modulated. A multivariable analysis was performed with radial and circumferential strains and peak systolic radial and circumferential strain rates as dependent parameters and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW), arterial elastance ( Ea), end-diastolic pressure, and left ventricular myocardial volume (LVMV) as independent factors representing myocardial contractility, afterload, preload, and myocardial volume, respectively. Radial strain was most influenced by Ea (β = −0.58, R2 = 0.34), whereas circumferential strain was strongly associated with Ea and moderately with LVMV (β = 0.79 and −0.52, respectively, R2 = 0.54). Radial strain rate was related to both PRSW and LVMV ( β = 0.79 and −0.62, respectively, R2 = 0.50), whereas circumferential strain rate showed a prominent correlation only with PRSW (β = −0.61, R2 = 0.51). In conclusion, strain (both radial and circumferential) is not a good surrogate measure of intrinsic myocardial contractility unless the strong confounding influence of afterload is considered. Strain rate is a more robust measure of contractility that is less influenced by changes in cardiac load and structure. Thus, peak systolic strain rate is the more relevant parameter to assess myocardial contractile function noninvasively.
Mitochondrial Akt-regulated mitochondrial apoptosis signaling in cardiac muscle cells
Authors: Su Ching-Chieh , Yang Jia-Ying , Leu Hsin-Ban , Chen Yumay , Wang Ping H.
Published: November 2011

We recently reported translocation and activation of Akt in cardiac mitochondria. This study was to determine whether activation of Akt in mitochondria could inhibit apoptosis of cardiac muscle cells. Insulin stimulation induced translocation of phosphorylated Akt to the mitochondria in primary cardiomyocytes. A mitochondria-targeted constitutively active Akt was overexpressed via adenoviral vector and inhibited efflux of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria to cytosol and partially prevented loss of mitochondria cross-membrane electrochemical gradient. Activation of caspase 3 was suppressed in the cardiomyocytes transduced with mitochondria-targeted active Akt, whereas a mitochondria-targeted dominant negative Akt enhanced activation of caspase 3. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nick-end labeling assay showed that mitochondrial activation of Akt significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. When the endogenous Akt was abolished by LY294002, the antiapoptotic actions of mitochondrial Akt remained effective. These experiments suggested that mitochondrial Akt suppressed apoptosis signaling independent of cytosolic Akt in cardiac muscle cells.
Cytoskeletal role in protection of the failing heart by β-adrenergic blockade
Authors: Cheng Guangmao , Kasiganesan Harinath , Baicu Catalin F. , Wallenborn J. Grace , Kuppuswamy Dhandapani , Cooper George
Published: November 2011

Formation of a dense microtubule network that impedes cardiac contraction and intracellular transport occurs in severe pressure overload hypertrophy. This process is highly dynamic, since microtubule depolymerization causes striking improvement in contractile function. A molecular etiology for this cytoskeletal alteration has been defined in terms of type 1 and type 2A phosphatase-dependent site-specific dephosphorylation of the predominant myocardial microtubule-associated protein (MAP)4, which then decorates and stabilizes microtubules. This persistent phosphatase activation is dependent upon ongoing upstream activity of p21-activated kinase-1, or Pak1. Because cardiac β-adrenergic activity is markedly and continuously increased in decompensated hypertrophy, and because β-adrenergic activation of cardiac Pak1 and phosphatases has been demonstrated, we asked here whether the highly maladaptive cardiac microtubule phenotype seen in pathological hypertrophy is based on β-adrenergic overdrive and thus could be reversed by β-adrenergic blockade. The data in this study, which were designed to answer this question, show that such is the case; that is, β1- (but not β2-) adrenergic input activates this pathway, which consists of Pak1 activation, increased phosphatase activity, MAP4 dephosphorylation, and thus the stabilization of a dense microtubule network. These data were gathered in a feline model of severe right ventricular (RV) pressure overload hypertrophy in response to tight pulmonary artery banding (PAB) in which a stable, twofold increase in RV mass is reached by 2 wk after pressure overloading. After 2 wk of hypertrophy induction, these PAB cats during the following 2 wk either had no further treatment or had β-adrenergic blockade. The pathological microtubule phenotype and the severe RV cellular contractile dysfunction otherwise seen in this model of RV hypertrophy (PAB No Treatment) was reversed in the treated (PAB β-Blockade) cats. Thus these data provide both a specific etiology and a specific remedy for the abnormal microtubule network found in some forms of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
Contrasting Behavior of the p18INK4c and p16INK4a Tumor Suppressors in Both Replicative and Oncogene-Induced Senescence
Authors: Gagrica Sladjana , Brookes Sharon , Anderton Emma , Rowe Janice , Peters Gordon
Published: November 2011

The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, p18INK4c and p16INK4a, both have the credentials of tumor suppressors in human cancers and mouse models. For p16INK4a, the underlying rationale is its role in senescence, but the selective force for inactivation of p18INK4c in incipient cancer cells is less clear. Here, we show that in human fibroblasts undergoing replicative or oncogene-induced senescence, there is a marked decline in the levels of p18INK4c protein and RNA, which mirrors the accumulation of p16INK4a. Downregulation of INK4c is not dependent on p16INK4a, and RAS can promote the loss of INK4c without cell-cycle arrest. Downregulation of p18INK4c correlates with reduced expression of menin and E2F1 but is unaffected by acute cell-cycle arrest or inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Collectively, our data question the idea that p18INK4c acts as a backup for loss of p16INK4a and suggest that the apparent activation of p18INK4c in some settings represents delayed senescence rather than increased expression. We propose that the contrasting behavior of the two very similar INK4 proteins could reflect their respective roles in senescence versus differentiation. Cancer Res; 72(1); 165–75. ©2011 AACR.
A Phase I Weekly Dosing Study of Brentuximab Vedotin in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory CD30-Positive Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Fanale Michelle A. , Forero-Torres Andres , Rosenblatt Joseph D. , Advani Ranjana H. , Franklin Anna R. , Kennedy Dana A. , Han Tae H. , Sievers Eric L. , Bartlett Nancy L.
Published: November 2011

Purpose: The antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) brentuximab vedotin comprises a CD30-directed antibody covalently attached to the potent antimicrotubule agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a protease-cleavable linker. This study explored the safety, maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), and activity of weekly dosing of brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive hematologic malignancies.

Experimental Design: In this phase I dose-escalation study, brentuximab vedotin was administered intravenously on Days 1, 8, and 15, of each 28-day cycle at doses ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 mg/kg. Forty-four patients were enrolled: 38 with Hodgkin lymphoma, five with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and one with peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified. Doses were escalated in increments of 0.2 mg/kg until dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. Patients were monitored for antitherapeutic antibodies and pharmacokinetic parameters. Antitumor assessments were carried out every two cycles.

Results: The MTD was 1.2 mg/kg. The most common adverse events were peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, arthralgia, and pyrexia; and the majority of events were mild to moderate in severity. Tumor regression occurred in 85% of patients and the overall objective response rate was 59% (n = 24), with 34% (n = 14) complete remissions. The median duration of response was not reached at a median follow-up of 45 weeks on study.

Conclusions: Weekly administration of brentuximab vedotin resulted in tumor regression and durable remissions in patients with CD30-positive malignancies. This ADC was associated with manageable toxicity, including peripheral neuropathy. Further study in CD30-positive malignancies is warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 18(1); 248–55. ©2011 AACR.
Using Engagement-Based Strategies to Alter Perceptions of the Walking Environment
Authors: Duvall Jason
Published: November 2011

Finding settings that are supportive of outdoor physical activity can be a challenge. Efforts to address this problem have primarily focused on altering the physical environment. Although this may be necessary, relying entirely on design-based solutions is problematic. One alternative involves manipulating how one interacts with the walking environment. To investigate this approach, 117 adults were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, namely, Standard Care (schedule setting) or Engagement (awareness plans) and asked to take at least three, 30-min outdoor walks each week for 2 weeks. Participants in both conditions reported significant increases in total time walking. However, only those in the Engagement condition became more satisfied with the walking setting. This effect was particularly strong for individuals who used awareness plans while walking with a partner. These findings suggest that encouraging more active engagement with the environment may make existing settings more acceptable for outdoor activity.
Securing Fatherhood Through Kin Work
Authors: Madhavan Sangeetha , Roy Kevin
Published: November 2011

In this article, the authors examine how low-income Black men in South Africa and the United States work with their kin to secure fathering and ensure the well-being of children. They use ethnographic and life history data on men who fathered children from 1992 to 2005 to demonstrate how fathers’ roles as kin workers enable them to meet culturally defined criteria for responsible fatherhood in two contexts marked by legacies of racism, increasing rates of incarceration and HIV/AIDS, and a web of interlocking inequalities that effectively precludes them from accessing employment with good wages. Using a comparative framework based on kin work, the authors identify three common processes in both contexts—negotiation between maternal and paternal kin, pedifocal approach, and flexible fathering—that enable men and their kin networks to secure father involvement in economically marginalized communities. The article concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the findings.
Relationship interdependence and satisfaction with important outcomes in coach–athlete dyads
Authors: Jowett Sophia , Nezlek John
Published: November 2011

The study investigated the association between coach–athlete relationship interdependence and satisfaction level as a function of competition level, relationship length, and gender composition. A series of multilevel modelling analyses found that the associations between relationship interdependence and sport-related satisfaction were weaker for lower-level competitors than they were for higher-level competitors, as well as for short-term relationships compared to long-term relationships. We also found that all female dyads were more satisfied with training and instruction than other gender combinations. Moreover, the associations between relationship interdependence and sport-related satisfaction were weaker for female coach-male athlete dyads than they were for other gender combination dyads. The findings and their implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Reliability and validity of the five-repetition sit-to-stand test for children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Wang Tze-Hsuan , Liao Hua-Fang , Peng Yi-Chun
Published: November 2011

Objective To investigate the psychometric properties of the five-repetition sit-to-stand test, a functional strength test, in children with spastic diplegia.

Design: Methodology study.

Settings: Hospital, laboratory or home.

Participants: In total, 108 children with spastic diplegia and 62 with typical development aged from five to 12 years were tested. For test-retest reliability, 22 children with spastic diplegia were tested twice within one week.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main measures: The five-repetition sit-to-stand test measures time needed to complete five consecutive sit-to-stand cycles as quickly as possible. The higher the rate of five-repetition sit-to-stand (repetitions per second), the more strength a person has.

Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients of intra-session reliability and test-retest reliability were 0.95 and 0.99 respectively. The minimal detectable difference was 0.06 rep/sec. The convergent validity of the five-repetition sit-to-stand test was supported by significant correlation with one-repetition maximum of the loaded sit-to-stand test, isometric muscle strength, scores of Gross Motor Function Measure, and gait function ( r or rho = 0.40–0.78). For known group validity, children with typical development and children classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System level I performed higher rates of five-repetition sit-to-stand than children classified as level II, and children classified as level II performed higher rates than level III.

Conclusion: The five-repetition sit-to-stand test was a reliable and valid test to measure functional muscle strength in children with spastic diplegia in clinics.
A Match-and-Motivation Model of How Women Label Their Nonconsensual Sexual Experiences
Authors: Peterson Zoë D. , Muehlenhard Charlene L.
Published: November 2011

Many rape victims are unacknowledged rape victims—they report an experience meeting researchers’ operational definitions of rape but do not label their experience as rape. The purpose of this study was to investigate women’s decisions about whether to label their experiences as rape. Participants were 77 college women (predominantly White; mean age = 19.23) who had experienced rape according to the study’s operational definition. The researchers used open-ended questionnaires and interviews to explore participants’ explanations for labeling or not labeling their experience as rape. Explanations were related to match—whether the incident matched their rape script (e.g., whether the man fit their image of a rapist; whether they fought back)—and to motivation—the perceived consequences of using the label (e.g., discomfort with thinking of the perpetrator as a rapist; feeling less self-blame vs. feeling less control or more traumatized). Over time, participants were more likely to label their experience as rape. Results suggested that individuals differ in the meanings that they ascribe to the label rape. For some individuals, labeling their experience as rape may be adaptive; for others, it may be unhelpful or even harmful. Researchers, clinicians, and advocates should use caution in imposing their own preferred labels on other women’s experiences.
Measuring the efficiency of a healthcare waste management system in Serbia with data envelopment analysis
Authors: Ratkovic Branislava , Andrejic Milan , Vidovic Milorad
Published: November 2011

In 2007, the Serbian Ministry of Health initiated specific activities towards establishing a workable model based on the existing administrative framework, which corresponds to the needs of healthcare waste management throughout Serbia. The objective of this research was to identify the reforms carried out and their outcomes by estimating the efficiencies of a sample of 35 healthcare facilities engaged in the process of collection and treatment of healthcare waste, using data envelopment analysis. Twenty-one (60%) of the 35 healthcare facilities analysed were found to be technically inefficient, with an average level of inefficiency of 13%. This fact indicates deficiencies in the process of collection and treatment of healthcare waste and the information obtained and presented in this paper could be used for further improvement and development of healthcare waste management in Serbia.
The Diagnosis and Management of Pleural Effusions in the ICU
Authors: Maslove David M. , Chen Benson Tze-Ming , Wang Helena , Kuschner Ware G.
Published: November 2011

Pleural effusions are common in critically ill patients. Most effusions in intensive care unit (ICU) patients are of limited clinical significance; however, some are important and require aggressive management. Transudative effusions in the ICU are commonly caused by volume overload, decreased plasma oncotic pressure, and regions of altered pleural pressure attributable to atelectasis and mechanical ventilation. Exudates are sequelae of pulmonary or pleural infection, pulmonary embolism, postsurgical complications, and malignancy. Increases in pleural fluid volume are accommodated principally by chest wall expansion and, to a lesser degree, by lung collapse. Studies in mechanically ventilated patients suggest that pleural fluid drainage can result in improved oxygenation for up to 48 hours, but data on clinical outcomes are limited. Mechanically ventilated patients with pleural effusions should be semirecumbant and treated with higher levels of positive-end expiratory pressure. Rarely, large effusions can cause cardiac tamponade or tension physiology, requiring urgent drainage. Bedside ultrasound is both sensitive and specific for diagnosing pleural effusions in mechanically ventilated patients. Sonographic findings of septation and homogenous echogenicity may suggest an exudative effusion, but definitive diagnosis requires pleural fluid sampling. Thoracentesis should be carried out under ultrasound guidance. Antibiotic regimens for parapneumonic effusions should be based on current pneumonia guidelines, and anaerobic coverage should be included in the case of empyema. Decompression of the pleural space may be necessary to improve respiratory mechanics, as well as to treat complicated effusions. While small-bore catheters inserted under ultrasound guidance may be used for nonseptated effusions, surgical consultation should be sought in cases where this approach fails, or where the effusion appears complex and septated at the outset. Further research is needed to determine the effects of pleural fluid drainage on clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients, to evaluate weaning strategies that include pleural fluid drainage, and to better identify patients in whom pleural effusions are more likely to be infected.
The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation Between Intrafamilial Violence and Mental Health Adjustment in Incarcerated Male Adolescents
Authors: Perkins Suzanne C. , Cortina Kai S. , Smith-Darden Joanne P. , Graham-Bermann Sandra A.
Published: November 2011

This article investigates the relation between history of intrafamilial violence and self-regulatory capacity, cognitive processing, and mental health adjustment in incarcerated adolescents. Adolescents were incarcerated at the time of the study for various violent offenses, ranging from persistent delinquency to sexual assault ( n = 115). A model is proposed that posits that self-regulation, cognitive ability, and cognitive processing are integral to the relation between intrafamilial violence and mental health function. The primary hypothesis of the study tests this mediation model. The relations between mental health, cognitive processing, self-regulation, and intrafamilial violence are also examined. The study was conducted during two sessions at a juvenile facility in the Midwest using survey measures, academic and intelligence testing, and cognitive tasks. Youth were between the ages of 13 and 20. Approximately 70% were previously diagnosed with a disability. Significant Pearson’s correlations were found between seven out of eight mental health subscales of the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and intrafamilial violence history. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the role of cognitive processing in the association between intrafamilial violence and mental health function. Nonverbal or performance deficits, a significant difference between verbal skills and nonverbal skills, were related to intrafamilial violence. Self-regulation partially mediated the relation between intrafamilial violence and mental health function. Self-regulation ability may be compromised by intrafamilial violence and be a precursor to both internalizing and externalizing mental health problem in incarcerated youth. Educational, clinical, and research implications are discussed.
Emergency Management of Chemical Weapons Injuries
Authors: Anderson Peter D.
Published: November 2011

The potential for chemical weapons to be used in terrorism is a real possibility. Classes of chemical weapons include nerve agents, vesicants (blister agents), choking agents, incapacitating agents, riot control agents, blood agents, and toxic industrial chemicals. The nerve agents work by blocking the actions of acetylcholinesterase leading to a cholinergic syndrome. Nerve agents include sarin, tabun, VX, cyclosarin, and soman. The vesicants include sulfur mustard and lewisite. The vesicants produce blisters and also damage the upper airways. Choking agents include phosgene and chlorine gas. Choking agents cause pulmonary edema. Incapacitating agents include fentanyl and its derivatives and adamsite. Riot control agents include Mace and pepper spray. Blood agents include cyanide. The mechanism of toxicity for cyanide is blocking oxidative phosphorylation. Toxic industrial chemicals include agents such as formaldehyde, hydrofluoric acid, and ammonia.
Numerical simulation of axisymmetric supersonic viscous flow over a blunt cone with a diagonal fourth-order finite difference method
Authors: Rashidi M M , Bastani M Moradi , Bég O Anwar
Published: November 2011

The numerical solution of steady viscous supersonic axisymmetric flowfield modelled by thin-layer Navier–Stokes equations is computed over a blunt cone with the shock-fitting method and the diagonal fourth-order central difference scheme implemented. Owing to the presence of high-order terms of the Taylor series in the discretization of derivatives, this method has high accuracy and low numerical error (dispersion error) compared with low-order methods. The boundary-closure scheme plays an important role in the numerical stability of this method. Using a coarse grid in this method, the results of numerical solution are found to be very close to those obtained with a fine grid employing the implicit second-order (Beam–Warming) method. Higher accuracy of this method is identified relative to the second-order method when the grid is being refined. The convergence rate of this method is also higher than the second-order method. Furthermore, the convergence of the method can be adjusted to accommodate the computational hardware capabilities.
Experimental characterization of a hermetic scroll expander for use in a micro-scale Rankine cycle
Authors: Lemort V , Declaye S , Quoilin S
Published: November 2011

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out on a prototype of a hermetic scroll expander, integrated into a gas cycle test rig, whose working fluid is HFC-245fa. This system is designed to test only the performance of the expander. It is made up mainly of a scroll compressor, a scroll expander, a heat exchanger, and a by-pass valve. The latter is used to adjust the pressure ratio imposed to the expander. The expander was originally a compressor designed for heat pump applications and is characterized by a nominal power input of 2.5 kWe. Performance of the expander is evaluated in terms of isentropic effectiveness and filling factor as functions of the main operating conditions. The study also investigates the impact of oil mass fraction on the expander performance. Maximum overall isentropic effectiveness of 71.03 per cent is measured, which is partly explained by the good volumetric performance of the machine. Using the experimental data, parameters of a semi-empirical simulation model of the expander are identified. This model is used to analyse the measured performance of the expander. Finally, a polynomial empirical model of the expander is proposed for fast and robust simulations of organic Rankine cycle systems.
An examination of Canadian information professionals’ involvement in the provision of business information synthesis and analysis services
Authors: Patterson Liane , Martzoukou Konstantina
Published: November 2011

The present study investigated the processes information professionals, working in a business environment, follow to meet business clients’ information needs and particularly their involvement in information synthesis and analysis practices. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data was collected via a survey of 98 information professionals across North America and follow-up interviews with eight Canadian information professionals. It was found that there is an increasing need for value-added services, which incorporate synthesis and analysis but the level of information professionals’ involvement differs depending on a range of factors such as clients’ needs and attitudes, information professionals’ knowledge of the subject area and their length of time working in a particular organization. Information synthesis and analysis in a business context is mostly a collaborative process and principles of analysis are required throughout the entire cycle of information seeking. For the effective transition of information professionals to information synthesists and analysts more effective support may be required to develop a set of essential skills and knowledge.
Bayesian inference for an illness-death model for stroke with cognition as a latent time-dependent risk factor
Authors: van den Hout Ardo , Fox Jean-Paul , Klein Entink Rinke H
Published: November 2011

Longitudinal data can be used to estimate the transition intensities between healthy and unhealthy states prior to death. An illness-death model for history of stroke is presented, where time-dependent transition intensities are regressed on a latent variable representing cognitive function. The change of this function over time is described by a linear growth model with random effects. Occasion-specific cognitive function is measured by an item response model for longitudinal scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, a questionnaire used to screen for cognitive impairment. The illness-death model will be used to identify and to explore the relationship between occasion-specific cognitive function and stroke. Combining a multi-state model with the latent growth model defines a joint model which extends current statistical inference regarding disease progression and cognitive function. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are used for Bayesian inference. Data stem from the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study in the UK (1991–2005).
The knowledge city against urban creativity? Artists’ workshops and urban regeneration in Barcelona
Authors: Martí-Costa Marc , Miquel Marc Pradel i
Published: November 2011

Nowadays, knowledge, culture and creativity are cornerstones of cities’ strategies for local development. Following different approaches, cities are trying to develop knowledge and creative districts/neighbourhoods to foster economic growth in the new economy. Nevertheless there are several contradictions between the knowledge economy and the creative economy as motors for urban development. Through the study of artists’ workshops located during the 1990s in an old industrial neighbourhood planned to be a new knowledge district of Barcelona, these contradictions are explored and the policy results are explained.
Suicide, Culture, and Society from a Cross-National Perspective
Authors: Lenzi Matteo , Colucci Erminia , Minas Harry
Published: November 2011

In this article, the authors explored the associations between suicide rates and a large number of sociocultural indexes, within the sociological framework provided by Durkheim and taking into account recent sociological theories. The analyses were performed on a sample of 87 nations and a subsample of posttraditional societies. The authors found strong positive (linear) correlations between suicide rates and measures of secularization, and curvilinear relationships between measures of individualization and suicide rates. Negative associations were found between suicide rates and measures of individualization in a subsample of posttraditional countries. Following the postmodernization and reflexive modernization theories, the authors argue that a new form of individualization is in place in secular–rational societies. This form of individualization exercises a negative effect on suicide rates through its positive influence on social integration and regulation.
The socio-demographics of texting: An analysis of traffic data
Authors: Ling Rich , Bertel Troels Fibæk , Sundsøy Pål Roe
Published: November 2011

Who texts, and with whom do they text? This article examines the use of texting using metered traffic data from a large dataset (nearly 400 million anonymous text messages). We ask: 1) How much do different age groups use mobile phone based texting (SMS)? 2) How wide is the circle of texting partners for different age groups? 3) To what degree are texting relationships characterized by age and gender homophily? We find that texting is hugely popular among teens compared to other age groups. Further, the number of persons with whom people text is quite small. About half of all text messages go to only five other persons. Finally, we find that there is pronounced homophily in terms of age and gender in texting relationships. These findings support previous claims that texting is an important element of teen culture and is an element in the construction of a bounded solidarity.
Newspaper journalism and video: Motion, sound, and new narratives
Authors: Bock Mary A.
Published: November 2011

Video has become a key component for multi-media newspaper websites. Working with video is often a new skill for print-based journalists, who previously may have considered it the province of television news organizations. Institutional convention has held up television news as a foil to still images and the printed word, a dualism that has fostered hierarchal thinking about video and its normative role in journalism. Such hierarchal thinking, or what Pierre Bourdieu discussed in terms of distinction, is often reflected in institutional, automatic, unconscious daily practices. This study looks through Bourdieu’s lens at a set of observational and interview data to describe the way journalists in newspaper organizations are adopting video for presenting news. The study finds that newspaper journalists, both writers and still photojournalists, are responding in ways that allow them to claim a distinct form of multi-media presentation, thereby sustaining their place in the traditional journalistic hierarchy.
‘Patches don’t have gender’: What is not open in open source software
Authors: Nafus Dawn
Published: November 2011

While open source software development promises a fairer, more democratic model of software production often compared to a gift economy, it also is far more male dominated than other forms of software production. The specific ways F/LOSS instantiates notions of openness in everyday practice exacerbates the exclusion of women. ‘Openness’ is a complex construct that affects more than intellectual property arrangements. It weaves together ideas about authorship, agency, and the circumstances under which knowledge and code can and cannot be exchanged. While open source developers believe technology is orthogonal to the social, notions of openness tie the social to the technical by separating persons from one another and relieving them of obligations that might be created in the course of other forms of gift exchange. In doing so, men monopolize code authorship and simultaneously de-legitimize the kinds of social ties necessary to build mechanisms for women’s inclusion.
The making of an imagined community: The press as a mediator in ethnographic research into Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Authors: Salazar Carles , Orobitg Gemma
Published: November 2011

The purpose of this article is to discuss the concept of community as a methodological tool in the absence of a face-to-face interaction context. Our perspective emphasizes the constitutive role of the researcher and his or her methods in creating communities in any kind of social research. In our case study of research that we conducted in a private medical centre in Barcelona, we show how Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) users were ‘imagined’ as a community through the use of press clippings as mediation tool in the ethnographic interview.
The role of environmental print in emergent literacy
Authors: Neumann Michelle M. , Hood Michelle , Ford Ruth M. , Neumann David L.
Published: November 2011

Young children are surrounded by environmental print on a daily basis. Through their visual exploration of environmental print, coupled with sociocultural experiences, children gain valuable semantic and symbolic knowledge as they make sense of their world. The aim of this review is to examine the question of whether environmental print has value as a literacy learning resource, and if so, the mechanisms by which it promotes literacy development. It is shown that interactions with environmental print in the child's sociocultural context can develop their logographic reading skills. These skills, in turn, promote the development of emergent literacy skills that are the precursors to conventional reading skills. Environmental print may also be used more directly when parents and childhood educators use it to scaffold the learning of emergent literacy skills. It is recommended that parents and early childhood educators capitalize on children's natural attraction to environmental print by using it to promote their literacy development.
Neurophysiological and morphological responses to treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine in a sciatic nerve injury model: preliminary data
Authors: Karsidag S. , Akcal A. , Sahin S. , Karsidag S. , Kabukcuoglu F. , Ugurlu K.
Published: November 2011

We investigated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on the recovery of sciatic nerve injuries in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to two groups: ALCAR treated (for 14 days) and control. Each group was divided into three subgroups: distal transection, proximal transection, and grafted. Distal latencies, amplitudes, and motor nerve conduction velocities were measured. In the third month, biopsies were taken and examined under light microscopy. Electrophysiological measurements demonstrated that regeneration occurred earlier and was better in the ALCAR group, particularly in the distal transection subgroup. Better results were obtained in the distal transection subgroup in terms of axonal regeneration compared with the proximal transection and grafted subgroups because the regenerating segment was shorter. ALCAR enhanced the quality of neural recovery at the different levels and in different types of repair, and led to a decline in nerve death.
Efficacy and safety of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii for the prevention and therapy of gastrointestinal disorders
Authors: Kelesidis Theodoros , Pothoulakis Charalabos
Published: November 2011

Several clinical trials and experimental studies strongly suggest a place for Saccharomyces boulardii as a biotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of several gastrointestinal diseases. S. boulardii mediates responses resembling the protective effects of the normal healthy gut flora. The multiple mechanisms of action of S. boulardii and its properties may explain its efficacy and beneficial effects in acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases that have been confirmed by clinical trials. Caution should be taken in patients with risk factors for adverse events. This review discusses the evidence for efficacy and safety of S. boulardii as a probiotic for the prevention and therapy of gastrointestinal disorders in humans.
Using Nursing Students as Open Airways Facilitators Through a Community Partnership to Influence Asthma Outcomes
Authors: Quaranta Judith , Brown Kimberly , Logvis Kayla , Ponticiello Danielle
Published: November 2011

In conjunction with a community partnership with the American Lung Association, the Broome County Health Department, the Asthma Coalition of the Southern Tier, and the Decker School of Nursing, the American Lung Association’s Open Airways for Schools program was integrated into a nursing curriculum and implemented by nursing students in several local elementary schools. Analysis of pretest/posttest data demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in asthma self-management for the students enrolled in the program. Improvements included knowing when to take medicine, ability to determine when they might start to wheeze or cough, ability to identify asthma triggers at home or at school, ability to remember the steps to take when having asthma symptoms, ability to stay calm during an asthma episode, ability to talk with their teacher about asthma and classroom triggers, ability to determine when to go to school with asthma symptoms, and ability to know when to contact the doctor or go to the emergency room ( P < .05). Feelings about having asthma also demonstrated improvement ( P < .05). No significant findings were found for knowing how much asthma medicine to take or being able to tell an adult that they are having asthma symptoms. Results of this study suggest that a collaborative partnership with a school of nursing has the potential to affect the health status of the community and provide sustainability for those activities that created the positive change. Integrating Open Airways into a nursing curriculum addresses a well-documented need for increased asthma management education for the student with asthma.
Teaching Patients the Critical Components of Asthma Self-Management
Authors: George Maureen , Stoloff Stuart
Published: November 2011

Asthma is a chronic disease with considerable morbidity and mortality. Even those with mild asthma can experience a life-threatening event, and nearly 55% of adults with asthma have poor disease control. Asthma self-management (ASM) training provides instruction on desired medication, monitoring, and trigger avoidance behaviors. Together, these ASM “best practices” are strongly linked to enhanced asthma control and reduced attacks. Certification as an asthma educator (AE-Cs) indicates that the certificant possesses expert knowledge of these 3 critical elements of ASM training, as well as proficiency in the delivery of programs in diverse populations. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of AE-Cs in comparison to the number of individuals with asthma, the task of providing ASM training often falls on members of the health care team who do not have the same knowledge base as AE-Cs or other asthma specialists, such as experienced respiratory therapists or board-certified allergists. To meet the increasing demands for ASM training in the face of the limited number of AE-Cs, all providers must be engaged in the delivery of training. This article serves as a primer for those who deliver training but are uncertain as to what the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program’s Expert Panel Report-3 indicates are the essential components of an ASM curriculum.
FSH withdrawal improves developmental competence of oocytes in the bovine model
Authors: Nivet Anne-Laure , Bunel Audrey , Labrecque Rémi , Belanger Josée , Vigneault Christian , Blondin Patrick , Sirard Marc-André
Published: November 2011

Combinations of genetic, environmental, and management factors are suspected to explain the loss in fertility observed for over 20 years in dairy cows. In some cases, IVF is used. When compared with in vivo embryo production, IVF resulted in low success rates until the FSH coasting process (FSH starvation after superstimulation) was introduced in 2002. Increased competence associated with FSH withdrawal of aspirated oocyte for in vitro maturation and IVF has not been optimized nor explained yet. The goal here was to determine and characterize the optimal oocyte competence acquisition window during the coasting period by determining blastocyst rates and follicular cohort development. Commercial milking cycling cows (n=6) were stimulated with 3 days of FSH (6×40 mg NIH Folltropin-V given at 12 h intervals) followed by a coasting period of 20, 44, 68, or 92 h. Each animal was exposed to the four conditions and served as its own control. At the scheduled time, transvaginal aspirations of immature oocytes were performed followed by IVF of half the oocytes. The outcomes were as follows: i) FSH coasting was optimal at a defined period: between 44 and 68 h of coasting; ii) The best estimated coasting duration was ∼54±7 h; iii) Under these conditions, the best statistical blastocyst rate estimation was ∼70%; iv) Between 44 and 68 h of coasting, follicle size group proportions were similar; v) Follicle diameter was not linearly associated with competence. In conclusion, coasting duration is critical to harvest the oocytes at the right moment of follicular differentiation.
Escatologia à la cantonade: Althusser para além de Derrida
Authors: Morfino Vittorio
Published: November 2011

O autor propõe um confronto entre Althusser e Derrida acerca da questão da temporalidade, focalizando a leitura que os dois autores fazem de Marx sub specie theatri. A partir desse confronto, emerge uma teoria da temporalidade althusseriana, a qual se encontra para além, quer da teleologia da tradição hegeliano-marxista, quer do messianismo sem Messias proposto por Derrida, em sua releitura benjaminiana de Marx. Nesse sentido, a escatologia em Althusser é pensável somente à la cantonade.
(Re)descrevendo Foucault: com Rorty, contra Rorty
Authors: Almeida Felipe Quintão de , Vaz Alexandre Fernandez
Published: November 2011

O artigo propõe uma interlocução entre o filósofo francês Michel Foucault e o filósofo norte-americano Richard Rorty. Apresenta a descrição que Rorty realizou do colega francês. Analisa essa leitura e oferece, a partir do próprio Foucault, uma interpretação alternativa, que aponta para algumas imprecisões cometidas por Rorty, em sua interpretação. Conclui com um comentário sobre a conversação proposta.
A formação de professores para o Ensino Médio: velhos problemas, novos desafios
Authors: Kuenzer Acacia Zeneida
Published: November 2011

Este artigo tem como objeto a formação de professores para o ensino médio. Parte do pressuposto de que a formação de professores, à medida que se constitui em estratégia de reprodução do capital, não se separa da esfera da produção, com o que há propostas diferenciadas e desiguais que atendem às diferentes necessidades de formação para o trabalho; em decorrência, reduz-se a autonomia relativa das propostas pedagógicas. A partir desse pressuposto, mostra que o capitalismo forma seus professores primariamente, no âmbito das relações sociais e de produção, e secundariamente, mediante cursos de formação inicial e continuada. Analisa os dados relativos à formação inicial e ao perfil do professor e referencia as políticas, as diretrizes e as propostas do Plano Nacional de Educação para o período de 2011-2020.