bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The benefit of stratification in clinical trials revisited
Authors: Ganju Jitendra , Zhou Kefei
Published: September 2011

Stratification is common in clinical trials because it can reduce the variance of the estimated treatment effect. The traditional demonstration of variance reduction relies on the assumption of stratum sizes being fixed quantities. However, in practice, to speed up enrollment, and to obtain a study population with a similar distribution as the overall population, the stratum sizes are allowed to vary. Under the condition that the total sample size is fixed and that the stratum sizes have a multinomial distribution, the criterion changes for achieving a reduction in variance. The relationship between the stratified and unstratified variances is established and shown to be approximately the same for prestratified and post‐stratified trials. It is demonstrated why stratification may actually increase the variance compared with no stratification even when the mean square error is reduced on account of stratification. Data from a real clinical trial will be used for illustration. The benefit attributed to stratification needs to be re‐examined in light of the findings presented, particularly given its widespread use. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Stimulates Endothelial Colony Forming Cells Proliferation and Tubulogenesis by Inducing Oscillations in Intracellular Ca2+ Concentration
Authors: Dragoni Silvia , Laforenza Umberto , Bonetti Elisa , Lodola Francesco , Bottino Cinzia , Berra-Romani Roberto , Carlo Bongio Giacomo , Cinelli Maria Pia , Guerra Germano , Pedrazzoli Paolo , Rosti Vittorio , Tanzi Franco , Moccia Francesco
Published: September 2011

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) home from the bone marrow to the site of tissue regeneration and sustain neovascularization after acute vascular injury and upon the angiogenic switch in solid tumors. Therefore, they represent a suitable tool for cell-based therapy (CBT) in regenerative medicine and provide a novel promising target in the fight against cancer. Intracellular Ca2+ signals regulate numerous endothelial functions, such as proliferation and tubulogenesis. The growth of endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), which are EPCs capable of acquiring a mature endothelial phenotype, is governed by store-dependent Ca2+ entry (SOCE). This study aimed at investigating the nature and the role of VEGF-elicited Ca2+ signals in ECFCs. VEGF induced asynchronous Ca2+ oscillations, whose latency, amplitude, and frequency were correlated to the growth factor dose. Removal of external Ca2+ (0Ca2+) and SOCE inhibition with N-(4-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]phenyl)-4-methyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole-5-carboxamide (BTP-2) reduced the duration of the oscillatory signal. Blockade of phospholipase C-γ with U73122, emptying the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-sensitive Ca2+ pools with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and inhibition of InsP3 receptors with 2-APB prevented the Ca2+ response to VEGF. VEGF-induced ECFC proliferation and tubulogenesis were inhibited by the Ca2+-chelant, BAPTA, and BTP-2. NF-κB activation by VEGF was impaired by BAPTA, BTP-2, and its selective blocker, thymoquinone. Thymoquinone, in turn, suppressed VEGF-dependent ECFC proliferation and tubulogenesis. These data indicate that VEGF-induced Ca2+ oscillations require the interplay between InsP3-dependent Ca2+ release and SOCE, and promote ECFC growth and tubulogenesis by engaging NF-κB. This novel signaling pathway might be exploited to enhance the outcome of CBT and chemotherapy.
Seismic behavior analysis for composite structures of steel frame‐reinforced concrete infill wall
Authors: Peng Xiaotong , Gu Qiang
Published: September 2011

The composite structure of steel frame–reinforced concrete infill wall (CSRC) combines the advantages of steel frames and reinforced concrete shear walls. Reinforced concrete infill walls increase the lateral stiffness of steel frames and reduce seismic demands on steel frames thus providing opportunities to use partially restrained connections. In order to study seismic behavior and load transfer mechanism of CSRC, a two‐story one‐bay specimen was tested under cyclic loads. With that, the main characters such as, strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation, load distribution, performance of steel frames, partially restrained connections and studs, are analyzed and evaluated. The experimental results show that the structure has adequate strength redundancy and sufficient lateral stiffness. The CSRC system has good ductility and energy dissipation capability. Partially restrained connections could enhance ductility and avoid abrupt decreases in strength and stiffness after the failure of infill walls. The composite interaction is ensured by headed studs, which have failed because of low‐cycle fatigue. Steel frames bear 80%–100% of overturning moments, and the remainder is undertaken by infill walls; steel frames and infill walls resisted 10%–20% and 80%–90% of lateral loads, respectively. Furthermore, relevant design recommendations are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
π‐conjugated molecules covered by permethylated cyclodextrins
Authors: Terao Jun
Published: September 2011

Insulated π‐conjugated molecules, in which the π‐conjugated compounds are covered by a cyclic protective sheath, have attracted considerable attention because of their potential applicability in next‐generation mono‐molecular electronic devices. We have developed new methods of synthesizing insulated π‐conjugated molecules involving the self‐inclusion of rotaxane precursors linking π‐conjugated units as a guest and permethylated cyclodextrin (PMCD) as a macrocyclic host. The insulated π‐conjugated molecules thus formed are highly soluble in organic solvents and display photoluminescence efficiency. This paper also highlights a new method for synthesizing insulated molecular wire (IMW) through the polymerization of insulated π‐conjugated molecules as monomers. The IMWs thus formed have a high covering ratio, rigidity, and showed high charge mobility in the solid state; further, they are readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents. In this account, the synthetic methodologies and characteristic of insulated π‐conjugated molecules and IMWs are discussed. DOI 10.1002/tcr.201100009
The missing disciplinary substance of formative assessment
Authors: Coffey Janet E. , Hammer David , Levin Daniel M. , Grant Terrance
Published: September 2011

We raise concerns about the current state of research and development in formative assessment, specifically to argue that in its concentration on strategies for the teacher, the literature overlooks the disciplinary substance of what teachers and students assess. Our argument requires analysis of specific instances in the literature, and so we have selected four prominent publications for consideration as examples. These, we show, pay little attention to the student reasoning they depict, presume traditional notions of “content” as correct information, and treat assessment as distinct from other activities of learning and teaching, even when they claim the contrary. We then offer an alternative image of formative assessment centered on attention to disciplinary substance, which we illustrate with an example from a high school biology class. Assessment, we contend, should be understood and presented as genuine engagement with ideas, continuous with the disciplinary practices science teaching should be working to cultivate. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 1109–1136, 2011
Bootstrap
Authors: Hesterberg Tim
Published: September 2011

This article provides an introduction to the bootstrap. The bootstrap provides statistical inferences—standard error and bias estimates, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests—without assumptions such as Normal distributions or equal variances. As such, bootstrap methods can be remarkably more accurate than classical inferences based on Normal or t distributions. The bootstrap uses the same basic procedure regardless of the statistic being calculated, without requiring the use of application‐specific formulae. This article may provide two big surprises for many readers. The first is that the bootstrap shows that common t confidence intervals are woefully inaccurate when populations are skewed, with one‐sided coverage levels off by factors of two or more, even for very large samples. The second is that the number of bootstrap samples required is much larger than generally realized. WIREs Comp Stat 2011 3 497–526 DOI: 10.1002/wics.182

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Bootstrap and Resampling
Efficacy of polyethylene glycol adhesion barrier after gynecological laparoscopic surgery
Authors: ten Broek R. P. G. , Kok-Krant N. , Verhoeve H. R. , van Goor H. , Bakkum E. A.
Published: September 2011

Postoperative adhesions are the most frequent complication of peritoneal surgery, causing small bowel obstruction, female infertility and chronic pain. This pilot study assessed the efficacy of a sprayable polyethylene glycol (PEG) barrier in the prevention of de novo adhesions. 16 patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery were randomly assigned by shuffled sealed envelopes to receive either the adhesion barrier or no adhesion prevention. Incidence and severity of adhesions were scored at eight sites in the pelvis and reassessed by second look laparoscopy. Adhesion prevention was considered successful if no de novo adhesion were found at second look laparoscopy. One patient was excluded before randomization. Nine patients were randomized to treatment and six patients to control group. De novo adhesions were found in 0/9 patients who received the PEG barrier compared to 4/6 without adhesion prevention (0% vs. 67%, P = 0.01). Reduction in adhesion score was significantly greater in patients receiving PEG barrier (−2.6 vs. −0.06, P = 0.03). Meta-analysis of three randomized trials demonstrated that PEG barrier reduces the incidence of adhesions (odds ratio [OR] = 0.27; 95% CI 0.11–0.67). From this study, PEG barrier seems effective in reducing postoperative formation of de novo adhesions.
A Novel Approach for Determination of Free Fatty Acids in Vegetable Oils by a Flow Injection System with Manual Injection
Authors: Ayyildiz H. Filiz , Kara Huseyin , Sherazi S. T. H.
Published: September 2011

A non‐aqueous flow injection method for determining free fatty acid (FFA) content in corn and sunflower oil samples was developed. A single‐line manifold system was built by modification of an HPLC for flow injection analysis (FIA). Without pre‐treatment, oil samples were injected into a n‐propanol solution containing KOH and phenolphthalein (PHP). The main parameters, such as flow rate of carrier phase, length, geometry, inner diameters of the coils and reagent concentration were all optimized. The proposed FIA method was validated for precision, accuracy, linear region, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The intra‐ and inter‐day measurements of the precision of the method were found to be within the limits of acceptance criteria (RSD < 1%), and were rugged when the method was performed by a different analyst. The linear concentration range was calculated as 0.09–1.50 and 0.07–1.40 FFA% for corn and sunflower oils, correspondingly. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 7.53 × 10−4–2.28 × 10−3 oleic acid % and 7.11 × 10−4–2.23 × 10−3 oleic acid % for corn and sunflower oils, respectively. The results were compared with those obtained by the AOCS (Ca‐5a‐40) method using statistical t and F tests, and a significant difference was not observed between the methods at a 95% confidence level. The proposed method is suitable for quality control of routine applications due to its simplicity, high sample throughput, and economy of solvents and sample, offering considerable promise as a low cost analytical system that needs minimum human intervention over long periods of time.
Early Neogene Radiolarian Faunal Turnover in the Northern Indian Ocean: Evidence from Andaman-Nicobar
Authors: Sharma V. , Daneshian Jahanbakhsh , Devi L. Bhagyapati
Published: September 2011

Two intervals of faunal turnover are revealed by the study of radiolarians from the Early to Middle Miocene sequence of Andaman-Nicobar belonging to Stichocorys wolffii -Calocycletta costata -Dorcadospyris alata zones. These faunal changes are reflected in the values of species diversity, change in abundance of taxa, origination and extinction events and change in radiolarian assemblages. One such faunal change is identified in the latest Early Miocene. The time of this faunal change is marked by the extinction of species like Carpocanopsis cingulata and appearance of Calocycletta costata, Giraffospyris toxaria, Acrocubus octopylus and Liriospyris parkerae, an increasing trend in percentage of cold water species and a decreasing trend in species diversity upwards. The interval coincides with the time of initiation of cooling of sea surface water. Another, and the most prominent faunal turnover of radiolarians is recognized in the Middle Miocene Dorcadospyris alata Zone at about 14.8-12.7 Ma and is characterized by almost complete disappearance of an earlier dominant assemblage and an increase in abundance of an assemblage that was practically absent in the older sequence. The time of this turnover can be correlated with the time of Middle Miocene cooling identified in the examined sequence.
Cleaning of the Ganga
Authors: Das Subhajyoti
Published: September 2011

Ganga, the national river of India, is now sadly depleted in flow and utterly polluted due to construction of dams and barrages, discharge of untreated municipal and industrial wastes, floral offerings, cremation of dead bodies on its bank. Kanpur to Trighat is identified as the most polluted section of the river. This critical state of the river has been revealed in the paper based on an analysis of the published accounts and research results by various institutes and individuals. It also sheds light on the strategies and action plans to rejuvenate the Ganga to its pristine quality.
Toward role-based provisioning and access control for infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
Authors: Shin Dongwan , Akkan Hakan , Claycomb William , Kim Kwanjoong
Published: September 2011

Cloud computing has drawn much attention in recent years. One of its service models, called infrastructure as a service (IaaS), provides users with infrastructure services such as computation and data storage, heavily dependent upon virtualization techniques. Most of the current IaaS providers take the user-resource direct mapping approach for their business, where individual users are the only type of service consumer who can request and use virtualized resources as long as they pay for the usage. Therefore, in this approach, the users and virtual resources are centrally managed at the IaaS providers. However, this also results in the lack of support for scalable authorization management of users and resources, organization-level policy support, and flexible pricing for business users. Considering the increasing popularity and growing user base of cloud computing, there is a strong need for a more flexible IaaS model with a finer grained access control mechanism than the aforementioned all-or-nothing approach. In this paper we propose a domain-based, decentralized framework for provisioning and managing users and virtualized resources in IaaS. Specifically, an additional layer called domain is introduced to the user-resource direct mapping scheme, whereby de-centralization of user and resource management is facilitated. Our framework also allows the IaaS service provider to delegate its administrative routines to domains so that each domain is able to manage its users and virtualized resources allocated by the IaaS provider. Our domain-based approach offers benefits such as scalable user/resource management, domain-based security and governance policy support, and flexible pricing.
PROPERTY (FA) OF THE GAUSS–PICARD MODULAR GROUP
Authors: WANG JIEYAN , XIE BAOHUA
Published: September 2011

In this note, we prove that the Gauss–Picard modular groupPU(2,1;Θ1) has Property (FA). Our result gives a positive answer to a question by Stover [‘Property (FA) and lattices in SU(2,1)’,Internat. J. Algebra Comput.17(2007), 1335–1347] for the groupPU(2,1;Θ1).
SUMS OF DISTINCT INTEGRAL SQUARES IN , AND
Authors: KIM JI YOUNG , LEE YOUNG MIN
Published: September 2011

In this article, we determine all the totally positive integers of $\mathbb {Q}(\sqrt {m})$ which can be represented as sums of distinct integral squares, where m=2, 3, 6.
Dietary patterns and risk of oesophageal cancers: a population-based case–control study
Authors: Ibiebele Torukiri I. , Hughes Maria Celia , Whiteman David C. , Webb Penelope M.
Published: September 2011

Epidemiological studies investigating the association between dietary intake and oesophageal cancer have mostly focused on nutrients and food groups instead of dietary patterns. We conducted a population-based case–control study, which included 365 oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), 426 oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (OGJAC) and 303 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cases, with frequency matched on age, sex and geographical location to 1580 controls. Data on demographic, lifestyle and dietary factors were collected using self-administered questionnaires. We used principal component analysis to derive three dietary patterns: ‘meat and fat’, ‘pasta and pizza’ and ‘fruit and vegetable’, and unconditional logistic regression models to estimate risks of OAC, OGJAC and OSCC associated with quartiles (Q) of dietary pattern scores. A high score on the meat-and-fat pattern was associated with increased risk of all three cancers: multivariable-adjusted OR 2·12 (95 % CI 1·30, 3·46) for OAC; 1·88 (95 % CI 1·21, 2·94) for OGJAC; 2·84 (95 % CI 1·67, 4·83) for OSCC (P-trend < 0·01 for all three cancers). A high score on the pasta-and-pizza pattern was inversely associated with OSCC risk (OR 0·58, 95 % CI 0·36, 0·96,Pfor trend = 0·009); and a high score on the fruit-and-vegetable pattern was associated with a borderline significant decreased risk of OGJAC (OR for Q4v.Q1 0·66, 95 % CI 0·42, 1·04,P = 0·07) and significantly decreased risk of OSCC (OR 0·41, 95 % CI 0·24, 0·70,Pfor trend = 0·002). High-fat dairy foods appeared to play a dominant role in the association between the meat-and-fat pattern and risk of OAC and OGJAC. Further investigation in prospective studies is needed to confirm these findings.
Relative validity of a FFQ in measuring carbohydrate fractions, dietary glycaemic index and load: exploring the effects of subject characteristics
Authors: Kaartinen Niina E. , Tapanainen Heli , Valsta Liisa M. , Similä Minna E. , Reinivuo Heli , Korhonen Tommi , Harald Kennet , Eriksson Johan G. , Peltonen Markku , Männistö Satu
Published: September 2011

FFQ require validation as part of epidemiological research of diet–disease relationships. Studies exploring associations between carbohydrate type and chronic diseases are rapidly increasing, but information on the validity of carbohydrate fractions, dietary glycaemic index (GI) and the glycaemic load (GL) estimated by FFQ is scarce. Likewise, the effects of subject characteristics on FFQ validity have been poorly documented. The present study evaluates the relative validity of an 131-item FFQ in relation to two 3 d food records (FR) performed 6 months apart focusing on the intake of carbohydrate fractions, dietary GI and the GL. Furthermore, we assessed the extent to which subjects' age, education and BMI explain differences between these methods. The study sample comprised 218 men and 292 women aged 25–74 years participating in a large population-based survey in Finland. Energy-adjusted Spearman's rank correlations ranged from 0·27 (sugars) to 0·70 (lactose) for men and from 0·37 (sugars) to 0·69 (lactose) for women. On average, 73 % of the subjects were categorised into the same or adjacent distribution quintile based on the two methods. In general, the FFQ overestimated the intakes compared with FR. Especially in women, FFQ validity for some nutrients was associated with the level of intake, subjects' age and, to a lesser extent, education but not BMI. In conclusion, the FFQ appears to be reasonably valid in the assessment of carbohydrate exposure variables, but the findings show a need for adjustment of diet–disease relationships for subjects' age and education.
A new class of restricted type spaces
Authors: Rodríguez-López Salvador , Soria Javier
Published: September 2011

We find new properties for the space R(X), introduced by Soria in the study of the best constant for the Hardy operator minus the identity. In particular, we characterize when R(X) coincides with the minimal Lorentz space Λ(X). The condition that R(X) ≠ {0} is also described in terms of the embedding (L1, ∞ ∩ L∞) ⊂ X. Finally, we also show the existence of a minimal rearrangement-invariant Banach function space (RIBFS) X among those for which R(X) ≠ {0} (which is the RIBFS envelope of the quasi-Banach space L1, ∞ ∩ L∞).
PLATO'S PRISONS
Authors: HUNTER VIRGINIA
Published: September 2011

Plato wrote two Utopian works, the Republic and the Laws. The second, written in the 350s and early 340s bc, describes a mythical city-state named Magnesia. It is often ignored as secondary, not only in terms of chronology, but also in quality – the work of the philosopher's declining years. Such a characterization is misplaced. The Laws may lack the optimism and brilliance of the Republic but it nonetheless reveals a still-powerful mind at work, sketching a more realistic societal project. Nor have its philosophic underpinnings changed: they are precisely those of the Republic. Instead of philosopher-kings, Plato now puts his trust in a code of virtually unchanging laws that cover every aspect of life in Magnesia – society, economy, politics, and family. It is this elaborate rule of law, in which the laws are the masters of those who rule and the latter in turn are the slaves of the laws (715d), which alone can produce a successful state and citizens that correspond to it.
Large Foreign Ownership and Firm-Level Stock Return Volatility in Emerging Markets
Authors: Li Donghui , Nguyen Quang N. , Pham Peter K. , Wei Steven X.
Published: September 2011

This study constructs a firm-level measure of large foreign ownership (LFO) and investigates its impact on stock return volatility in 31 emerging markets. We find a negative relationship between LFO and volatility, even after controlling for potential endogeneity and the impact of major domestic shareholders. This suggests a stabilizing role of LFO in emerging markets, which is consistent with previous suggestions in the literature on the strong commitments and potential monitoring role of large foreign shareholders. Overall, our study highlights the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity among foreign investors and the benefits of large foreign shareholders to emerging stock markets.
A Mayan ontology of poultry: Selfhood, affect, animals, and ethnography
Authors: Kockelman Paul
Published: September 2011

This article has three key themes: ontology (what kinds of beings there are in the world), affect (cognitive and corporeal attunements to such entities), and selfhood (relatively reflexive centers of attunement). To explore these themes, I focus on women's care for chickens among speakers of Q'eqchi' Maya living in the cloud forests of highland Guatemala. Broadly speaking, I argue that these three themes are empirically, methodologically, and theoretically inseparable. In addition, the chicken is a particularly rich site for such ethnographic research because it is simultaneously self, alter, and object for its owners. To undertake this analysis, I adopt a semiotic stance towards such themes, partly grounded in the writings of the American pragmatists Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and George Herbert Mead, and partly grounded in recent and classic scholarship by linguists, psychologists, and anthropologists. (Linguistic anthropology, political economy, ontology, affect, selfhood, animals, chickens, Mesoamerica, Maya, Q'eqchi')*
Signed languages and globalization
Authors: Hiddinga Anja , Crasborn Onno
Published: September 2011

Deaf people who form part of a Deaf community communicate using a shared sign language. When meeting people from another language community, they can fall back on a flexible and highly context-dependent form of communication calledinternational sign, in which shared elements from their own sign languages and elements of shared spoken languages are combined with pantomimic elements. Together with the fact that there are few shared sign languages, this leads to a very different global language situation for deaf people as compared to the situation for spoken languages and hearing people as analyzed in de Swaan (2001). We argue that this very flexibility in communication and the resulting global communication patterns form the core of deaf culture and a key component of the characterization of deaf people as “visual people.” (Globalization, sign language, international sign, Deaf culture, language contact, multilingualism)*
The packing spectrum for Birkhoff averages on a self-affine repeller
Authors: REEVE HENRY W. J.
Published: September 2011

We consider the multifractal analysis of Birkhoff averages of continuous potentials on a self-affine Sierpiński sponge. In particular, we give a variational principle for the packing dimension of the level sets. Furthermore, we prove that the packing spectrum is concave and continuous. We give a sufficient condition for the packing spectrum to be real analytic, but show that for general Hölder continuous potentials, this need not be the case. We also give a precise criterion for when the packing spectrum attains the full packing dimension of the repeller. Again, we present an example showing that this is not always the case.
FIRE, FOLIAGE AND FURY: VESTIGES OF MIDSUMMER RITUAL IN MOTETS FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST
Authors: Anderson Michael Alan
Published: September 2011

The thirteenth-century motet repertory has been understood on a wide spectrum, with recent scholarship amplifying the relationship between the liturgical tenors and the commentary in the upper voices. This study examines a family of motets based on the tenors IOHANNE and MULIERUM from the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (24 June). Several texts within this motet family make references to well-known traditions associated with the pagan festival of Midsummer, the celebration of the summer solstice. Allusions to popular solstitial practices including the lighting of bonfires and the public criticism of authority, in addition to the cultural awareness of the sun's power on this day, conspicuously surface in these motets, particularly when viewed through the lens of the tenor. The study suggests the further obfuscation of sacred and secular poles in the motet through attentiveness to images of popular, pre-Christian rituals that survive in these polyphonic works.
Distribution and abundance of Chubut Steamerducks: an endemic species to Central Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: AGÜERO MARÍA LAURA , BORBOROGLU PABLO GARCÍA , ESLER DANIEL
Published: September 2011

We documented the breeding distribution and estimated abundance of Chubut SteamerducksTachyres leucocephalus,a flightless waterbird endemic to a relatively small section of coastline in Patagonia, Argentina. The distribution of Chubut Steamerducks is restricted to approximately 700 km of coast. We counted 1,703 adult steamerducks at a subset of shorelines within their range and estimated 1,841 adults after correcting for visibility for shore-based surveys. To estimate adult densities in unsurveyed areas, we used two different methods of extrapolation, resulting in estimates of 1,587 and 1,832 adults. Combined with numbers from surveyed shorelines, the total breeding population size is estimated to be between 3,428 and 3,673 adults. In addition, we counted 1,899 juvenile steamerducks, which occur in irregular aggregations. The Interjurisdictional Marine Park in San Jorge Gulf contains about 46% of the entire population, which may provide some protection from disturbance and habitat destruction. However, oil pollution, other anthropogenic activities, and invasive species still pose potential threats to the population.
CAPABILITIES FOR THE MISERABLE; HAPPINESS FOR THE SATISFIED
Authors: EDWARDS JOSÉ M. , PELLÉ SOPHIE
Published: September 2011

The aim of this paper is to explain the process of diversification of normative economics by presenting the work of two authors—Tibor Scitovsky (1910–2002) and Amartya Sen (1933–). While these two authors first contributed to traditional welfare analysis from within, they were subsequently involved in the development of two different, and even opposed, programs: the economics of happiness; and the capability approach. They focused on different concepts of well-being: the “joy” of satisfied consumers for Scitovsky; and the “capabilities” of deprived individuals for Sen. In imposing new theoretical frameworks and applications, as well as new concepts of well-being, which are measureable, the capability approach and the economics of happiness represent two major attempts to renew normative economic analysis.
Age of acquisition and proficiency in a second language independently influence the perception of non-native speech
Authors: ARCHILA-SUERTE PILAR , ZEVIN JASON , BUNTA FERENC , HERNANDEZ ARTURO E.
Published: September 2011

Sensorimotor processing in children and higher-cognitive processing in adults could determine how non-native phonemes are acquired. This study investigates how age-of-acquisition (AOA) and proficiency-level (PL) predict native-like perception of statistically dissociated L2 categories, i.e., within-category and between-category. In a similarity task, participants rated the level of similarity between pairs of English syllables from 1 (similar) to 4 (dissimilar). Early L2 acquisition predicts accurate within-categorization and high proficiency in late L2 acquisition predicts improved between-categorization. Our results suggest that the manner in which bilinguals learn to categorize non-native sounds depends on the cognitive processes available at the age of L2 exposure.
Rewards can be used effectively with repeated exposure to increase liking of vegetables in 4–6-year-old children
Authors: Corsini Nadia , Slater Amy , Harrison Adam , Cooke Lucy , Cox David N
Published: September 2011

Objective

To examine whether parents offering a sticker reward to their child to taste a vegetable the child does not currently consume is associated with improvements in children's liking and consumption of the vegetable.

Design

A randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of exposure only (EO) and exposure plus reward (E + R), relative to a control group, on children's liking and consumption of a target vegetable. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 2 weeks from baseline (post-intervention). Follow-up assessments were conducted at 4 weeks and 3 months from baseline.

Setting

The study took place in Adelaide, South Australia. Participants were self-selected in response to local media advertisements seeking to recruit parents finding it difficult to get their children to eat vegetables.

Subjects

Participants were 185 children (110 boys, seventy-five girls) aged 4–6 years and their primary caregiver/parent (172 mothers, thirteen fathers).

Results

The E + R group was able to achieve more days of taste exposure. Both EO and E + R increased liking at post-intervention compared with control and no further change occurred over the follow-up period. All groups increased their intake of the target vegetable at post-intervention. Target vegetable consumption continued to increase significantly over the follow-up period for E + R and control but not for EO.

Conclusions

The findings provide support for the effectiveness of using a sticker reward with a repeated exposure strategy. In particular, such rewards can facilitate the actual tastings necessary to change liking.
Closed-Cell Foam Skin Thickness Measurement Using a Scanning Electron Microscope
Authors: Todd Clifford S. , Kuznetsova Valentina
Published: September 2011

Closed cell polymer foam skin thickness can be assessed by taking backscatter electron (BSE) images in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a series of accelerating voltages. Under a given set of experimental conditions, the electron beam mostly passes through thin polymer skin cell walls. That cell appears dark compared to adjacent thicker-skinned cells. Higher accelerating voltages lead to a thicker skin being penetrated. Monte Carlo modeling of beam-sample interactions indicates that at 5 keV, skin less than ∼0.5 μm in thickness will appear dark, whereas imaging at 30 keV allows skin thicknesses up to ∼4 μm to be identified. The distribution of skin thickness can be assessed over square millimeters of foam surface in this manner. Qualitative comparisons of the skin thicknesses of samples can be made with a simple visual inspection of the images. A semiquantitative comparison is possible by applying image analysis. The proposed method is applied to two example foams. Characterizing foam skin thickness by this method is possible using any SEM that is capable of collecting useful BSE images over a range of accelerating voltages. Imaging in low vacuum, where an electrically conductive metal coating is not required, leads to more sensitivity in skin thickness characterization.
Access to Justice: Accessibility
Authors: Rickard-Clarke Patricia T
Published: September 2011

Patricia T Rickard-Clarke writes on the complex issues relating to access to justice for the citizens of Ireland. Her article addresses the practical need for consolidation of legislation and the issues of making law accessible in a form that people can understand. The article also takes into account comparative developments in other jurisdictions.
Working for Parliamentarians, Contributing to Parliament
Authors: Dennison Madelaine
Published: September 2011

Madelaine Dennison describes the work of the Oireachtas Library & Research Service (L&RS) and how it works for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament. The L&RS delivers a range of services to parliamentarians including a Legislative Analysis Service. Following a period of investment in the L&RS there is now a requirement to reduce costs while continuing to meet members' needs. A challenge for the L&RS is to become the research hub within parliament and the preferred information and research resource for members.
Reflections from George Woodman, MBE
Authors: Woodman George
Published: September 2011

This article takes the form of a short interview with George Woodman, Librarian at the Northern Ireland Assembly Library. The questions were posed by the LIM Editor. George was recently given Life Membership of BIALL and received the Wildy BIALL Law Librarian of the Year 2011 Award at the 2011 BIALL Annual Dinner in Newcastle. More significantly, George was awarded an MBE in HM The Queen's Birthday Honours 2010 in recognition of his services to the profession.
Chief State Solicitor's Office
Authors: Cassidy Jean
Published: September 2011

In this brief article Jean Cassidy describes the work of the Chief State Solicitor's Office in Dublin.
Legal Information Service Provision within Government in Northern Ireland
Authors: Lorrimer Alison
Published: September 2011

Alison Lorrimer, Librarian in Departmental Solicitor's Office outlines the work of Departmental Solicitor's Office and how the library service has evolved to meet the information requirements of the office.
Online Screencasting Tutorials: a Way Forward for Legal Resources Training?
Authors: Peters Lisa
Published: September 2011

Lisa Peters offers some thoughts on the development of screencasting.
A Comparative Study of the Comprehensive System and a Psychoanalytic Sequence Analysis
Authors: Baba Reiko
Published: September 2011

L’étude porte sur une comparaison entre deux méthodes d’interprétation d’un protocole de Rorschach: une interprétation selon le Système Intégré, et une analyse psychanalytique des réponses proposée par l’auteur.

Les styles défensifs et adaptatifs majeurs du sujet se sont reflétés de manière évidente dans les deux approches, et l’interprétation des traits de personnalité était congruente. Les hypothèses concernant les désirs, en se fondant sur les représentation (contenus) parlantes du protocole, étaient aussi congruentes.

Quelques points de désaccord sont cependant apparus: faut-il considérer les troubles qui ne sont pas suffisamment graves pour augmenter significativement les indices spéciaux du Système Intégré comme relevant d’un fonctionnement névrotique ou comme des manifestations des traits de personnalité de base; doit-on expliquer les attitudes contradictoires comme étant l’une une formation réactionnelle par rapport à l’autre; et comment interpréter le Type de Résonance Intime ambiéqual? On indique comment ces différences dérivent des différences dans les théories de la personnalité, dans la façon d’appliquer les données, et dans l’hypothèse interprétative concernant le Rorschach.

La façon dont l’auteur emploie les opérations du Système Intégré dans son interprétation présente des avantages et des inconvénients, et il souligne qu’il existe une réelle continuité entre l’administration, le système de cotation, et l’interprétation propre à chaque approche. En outre, l’auteur met en avant le fait que, quelle que soit l’approche utilisée, l’aspect le plus difficile dans la pratique du Rorschach, celui qui fait tout particulièrement appel à son habileté, c’est l’élaboration d’une description de la personnalité à partir des informations que fournit chaque interprétation spécifique.
Borderline Personality Disorder: Content and Formal Analysis of the Rorschach
Authors: Burla Franco , Ferracuti Stefano , Lazzari Renato
Published: September 2011

In questo studio sono stati confrontati venti pazienti con diagnosi DSM-III-R di disturbo borderline di personalitê, con un numero eguale di nevrotici (soggetti con disturbi somatoformi o ansiosi secondo il DSM-III-R) e di psicotici (pazienti con diangosi DSM-III-R di schizofrenia o disturbo delirante). I pazienti non-differivano in forma statisticamente significativa per etê media.

Tutti i soggetti sono stati sottoposti al test di Rorschach, ed i protocolli sono stati valutati con il sistema di Exner per quanto concerne l’analisi strutturale e con analisi contenutistica. Per quanto riguarda quest’ultima sono state valutate le seguenti scale: scale di barriera e penetrazione di Fisher and Cleveland (1958) ; scala di ostilitê (Elizur, 1949); scala di ansietê (Elizur, 1949); scala di dipendenza ( De Vos, 1952 ); scala di depressione ( Endicott, 1972 ; Endicott & Jortner, 1966 ); scala di sospettositê ( Endicott, 1972 ; Endicott, Jortner, & Abramoff, 1969 ), scala delle difese di Lerner ( Lerner & Lerner, 1980 ).

Per quanto concerne l’esame di realtê sono state prese in considerazione le confabulazioni e un grado di maggiore gravitê delle stesse. Quest’ultime sono state tipizzate come confabulazioni nelle quali era presente una iperelaborazione dello stimolo, con tematizzazione di una breve storia, abitualmente drammatica, e dove il contatto con realtê appariva completamente perso.

L’analisi strutturale ha indicato che i pazienti con disturbo borderline di personalitê e i soggetti psicotici presentavano un numero maggiore di segni depressivi. L’indice SCZI ha differenziato esclusivamente il gruppo degli psicotici, il quale peraltro Åanche risultato come quello maggiormente compromesso per quanto concerne l’accuratezza percettiva. Le capacitê empatiche e di identificazione interpersonale sono risultate migliori nei pazienti borderline.

L’analisi contenutistica ha indicato che i pazienti borderline erano differenziabili dagli altri due gruppi per una maggiore presenza di segni di dipendenza affettiva. Inoltre, rispetto agli psicotici, i pazienti borderline presentavano un maggior numero di segni di ostilitê, e utilizzavano in maggior grado rispetto ai nevrotici meccanismi difensivi di svalutazione ed identificazione proiettiva. I pazienti borderline presentavano anche un maggior numero di confabulazioni gravi rispetto ai nevrotici. I dati di questo studio suggeriscono la possibilitê che vi sia un discreto grado di sovrapposizione tra le categorie diagnostiche dei borderline con altre condizioni pre-psicotiche.
Rorschach Content and Coping Type
Authors: Gabriel Theresia , Opgenoorth Elfriede
Published: September 2011

Travaillant avec le Rorschach dans le domaine du diagnostic clinique, nous constatons que le Système Intégré ne comporte pas les catégories de contenu qui nous paraissent intéressantes dans notre recherche sur les types de coping (en référence à la configuration bi-dimensionnelle en 4 styles de coping, 1993: plutôt anxieux, inhibé, sensitif et très anxieux), ou pour la différenciation des catégories cliniques des troubles de la personnalité, en particulier le BPO (défenses primitives de Lerner et Rappaport, modèle bi-dimensionnel de psychopathologie selon Blatt). A partir de la littérature existante (particulièrement Lerner, Rappaport, Blatt, Levine & Spivak), nous avons élaboré une approche intégrale personnelle. Elle se caractérise par des dimensions logiques et une cotation systématique et psychométrique des contenus au Rorschach. Ce faisant, nous avons observé que les contenus au Rorschach peuvent aisément être différenciés en 3 niveaux: spécificité, identité (de l’objet) et distance dans le temps et l’espace.

Nous souhaitons dans cet article montrer comment on peut différencier les types de coping inhibé et sensitif. 1) Les inhibés présentent significativement moins de contenus spécifiques que les sensitifs, 2) leurs protocoles comprennent plus de contenus simples (Humain, Animal, Objet) que des contenus mixtes (humain/animal, humain/objet, animal/objet, humain/animal/objet) et 3) les inhibés perçoivent des contenus moins distanciés dans le temps et dans l’espace. Nous avons aussi analysé les données sour l’angle du nombre de réponses. Nous avons trouvé que 92 sur 257 protocoles contenaient moins de 14 réponses et qu’ils ne pouvaient donc valablement être interprétés dans le Système Intégré. Ceci pourrait être une caractéristique de la population „tout-venant“ psychiatrique étudiée, ou de la population européenne en général – ce qui renforcerait l’idée qu’il est indispensable d’établir des normes européennes pour le Système Intégré.
Deciphering the Broken Narrative of Trauma
Authors: Armstrong Judith G.
Published: September 2011

La dissociation est une défense d’évitement contre le risque de se trouver submergé par les émotions liées à des souvenirs traumatiques. Elle consiste en un brusque changement d’état qui facilite la division entre pensée, affect, comportement et mémoire narrative. En conséquence, de par sa nature même, la dissociation crée une histoire traumatique disjointe et intraduisible. Le Rorschach est une méthode très puissante pour faire apparaître la dissociation dans la mesure où il pousse les sujets à plonger dans le magasin interne de leurs souvenirs verbaux et de les associer aux stimuli visuo-kinesthésiques des taches d’encre. Les exigences du test vont donc à l’encontre de la dissociation, ce qui permet au testeur de saisir le travail des défenses plus clairement. Dans cet article nous commençons par décrire la compréhension théorique de la dissociation. La littérature de recherche avec le Rorschach nous permet de définir les marqueurs Exner de l’intrusion traumatique et de l’évitement émotionnel qui sont caractéristiques de la dissociation. L’intrusion traumatique est signalée par des scores du type de la combinaison fabulée (FABCOM), des réponses circonstanciées (DR) et les contenus agressifs-morbides, qui reflètent les flashback et les “troubles traumatiques de la pensée” qui y sont associés. On peut repérer les signes d’évitement émotionnel dans l’élévation des kinesthésies humaines, du Lambda et des réponses de dimensionnalité formelle, ainsi que dans une baisse du rapport affectif (Afr). L’analyse séquentielle révèle souvent une alternance entre des scores d’évitement et de submersion qui signale l’échec de la dissociation et l’émergence d’un trouble de stress posttraumatique. En incluant dans le processus diagnostic des informations sur les comportements hors-test du sujet et les réactions contre-transférentielles du testeur, on peut suivre le fil de la dissociation pendant le test et clarifier les tenants et aboutissants de la défense pour le sujet. Nous décrivons certains comportements dissociatifs hors-test typiques, comme le désaveu de réponses, des changements dans la distance physique aux planches, des réactions de peur, des mouvements appuyyés des yeux et un regard vide. Nous introduisons le concept de “relation dissociée” pour désigner un champ de relation contretransférentielle dans lequel les réactions du testeur reproduisent en miroir les réactions du sujet. Une prise de conscience de tels phénomènes de contretransfert, comme d’avoir envie de dormir, avoir l’impression de flotter, ou perdre le fil de la narration, peut alerter les testeurs sur la présence d’une dissociation pendant l’évaluation. Nous présentons des vignettes pour illustrer de quelle manière les éléments cliniques et les résultats de recherche peuvent aider au processus diagnostique. Nous donnons quelques indications pour l’entretien qui suit le test, qui peuvent amener le sujet à explorer plus avant ses réponses dissociées au test et fournir des éléments importants pour la poursuite de la thérapie.
The Retinoic Acid Receptor‐Related Orphan Nuclear Receptor γ1 (RORγ1): A Novel Player Determinant of Insulin Sensitivity in Morbid Obesity
Authors: Tinahones Francisco J. , Moreno‐Santos Inmaculada , Vendrell Joan , Chacon M. R. , Garrido‐Sanchez Lourdes , García‐Fuentes Eduardo , Macias‐González Manuel
Published: September 2011

The orphan nuclear receptors (ONRs), retinoic acid receptor‐related orphan receptor γ‐1 (RORγ1) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ‐2 (PPARγ2), are central mediators controlling adipocyte (AD) differentiation. Through their distinct tissue distribution and specific target gene activation, ONRs control diverse aspects of fatty acid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Adding further complexity, obesity begets resistance to insulin signals and can ultimately result in diabetes. In this study, we investigate whether there are differences in the RORγ1 and PPARγ2 expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from morbid obesity (MO) individuals either insulin resistant (high‐IR MO) or insulin sensitivity (low‐IR MO). Our results indicate for the first time in human the RORγ1 mRNA and protein expression levels and activation with coactivator, such as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1‐α (PGC‐1α) were higher in the VAT from high‐IR MO. In contrast, PPARγ2 expression and activation were higher in the VAT from low‐IR MO. In this way, we have also found a positive association between RORγ1 mRNA and protein expression with many components of metabolic syndrome, with a strong dependence of insulin and HOMAIR index in VAT, but not in SAT. Our data suggest that RORγ1 may be added to the growing list of nuclear receptors in adipose tissue use to modulate the insulin resistance associated to the obesity. Measurement of RORγ1 and PPARγ2 in adipose tissue might be useful for evaluating the outcomes of various clinical interventions for obesity‐related diabetes type II.