bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal Thresholds for Infarction and Hypothermic Protection in Long-Evans Rats
Authors: Hashimoto Megumi , Zhao Liang , Nowak Thaddeus S.
Published: January 2008

Background and Purpose—

Some previous studies in Long-Evans rats noted larger infarcts after transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions than after permanent occlusions, interpreted to demonstrate “reperfusion injury.” Recent experiments failed to reproduce this phenomenon, prompting an investigation of the sources of variability in this animal model.

Methods—

Male Long-Evans rats were subjected to surgical occlusion of the right MCA and ipsilateral common carotid artery. Variables tested included duration of occlusion and halothane anesthesia exposure and targeting of proximal or distal MCA occlusion sites. The temporal window for hypothermic protection was also investigated.

Results—

MCA occlusions at the level of the rhinal fissure produced graded increases in infarct volume with ischemia duration, and lesion size did not differ between 3-hour and permanent occlusions independent of anesthesia duration. Occlusions at a more distal site produced infarcts of comparable size after transient 3-hour occlusions and after permanent occlusions accompanied by prolonged anesthesia, but significantly smaller infarcts were seen when permanent occlusions were followed by rapid anesthesia termination. Hypothermia conferred protection only when initiated before reperfusion after transient proximal occlusions.

Conclusions—

These results indicate that previously described “reperfusion injury” after transient MCA occlusions conversely reflects unexpected injury reduction when rats with permanent occlusions experience early anesthesia termination. More rapid blood pressure recovery under such conditions permits improved collateral perfusion. The absence of a detectable postischemic window for hypothermic protection further argues against a significant component of delayed postreperfusion injury in this model.
No Association of
PLIN
Polymorphisms With Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Song Weihua , Chen Jingzhou , Sun Kai , Yu Hui , Hui Rutai
Published: January 2008

Background and Purpose—

Perilipin is encoded by the gene
PLIN
and mediates lipid metabolism. Its upregulation has been linked to the formation of foam cells, rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, and perhaps acute coronary syndrome. We hypothesized that genetic variations in
PLIN
might contribute to the susceptibility to stroke. The hypothesis was tested in 2 case–control studies.

Methods—

Six
PLIN
tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7176403, rs8179078, rs6496589, rs8179043, rs894160, rs1052700) were genotyped in 1571 patients with stroke (690 cerebral thrombosis, 429 lacunar infarction, 452 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 1638 control subjects. A SHEsis software platform was used to analyze pairwise linkage disequilibrium and haplotype association in the case–control study. The study was replicated in another independent case–control study including 120 patients with stroke and 240 control subjects.

Results—

No association of the
PLIN
variants with stroke (
P
>0.05) or with stroke subtypes (
P
>0.05) was found in the first study. The findings were confirmed in the second population (
P
>0.05).

Conclusions—

The data represent an important negative finding that the common variants of
PLIN
do not have a major effect on susceptibility to stroke in a Chinese population.
Nortriptyline Protects Mitochondria and Reduces Cerebral Ischemia/Hypoxia Injury
Authors: Zhang Wen-hua , Wang Hongyan , Wang Xin , Narayanan Malini V. , Stavrovskaya Irina G. , Kristal Bruce S. , Friedlander Robert M.
Published: January 2008

Background and Purpose—

Nortriptyline, an antidepressant, was identified as a strong inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition by our screening of a library of 1040 drugs. Because mitochondrial permeability transition and consequent mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in acute neuronal death, we proposed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effects of nortriptyline in cerebral ischemia.

Methods—

The effects of nortriptyline were first studied in oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced death of primary cerebrocortical neurons, a cellular model of cerebral ischemia. Mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial factor release, and caspase 3 activation were evaluated after its treatment. Nortriptyline was also studied in a mouse model, which was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The infarct volume, neurological function, and biochemical events were examined in the absence or the presence of nortriptyline.

Results—

Nortriptyline inhibits oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced cell death, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, downstream release of mitochondrial factors, and activation of caspase 3 in primary cerebrocortical neurons. Furthermore, it decreases infarct size and improves neurological scores after middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice.

Conclusions—

The ability of nortriptyline to inhibit mitochondrial factor release and caspase activation and further protect the animals correlates to its inhibitory effect on mitochondrial permeability transition in isolated mitochondria. This study indicated that nortriptyline is neuroprotective against cerebral ischemia. It also suggested mitochondrial permeability transition might be a valuable therapeutic target for acute neurodegeneration.
On the vP Analysis of Persian Finite Control Constructions
Authors: Darzi Ali
Published: January 2008

Ghomeshi (2001) proposes an account of Persian subject control constructions in terms of a reduced vP complement to the control verb, following a proposal made by Wurmbrand (2001). Faced with the fact that the complement of the control verb is headed by what has been treated in the linguistic literature on Persian as the complementizer ke ‘that’, she suggests that ke, in this construction, is a clitic hosted by the matrix control verb. However, closer examination of the claimed “restructuring” construction, the distribution of temporal adverbials, and ke-cliticization in Persian militates against such a proposal.
On the Relation between Expletive There and Its Associate: A Reply to Williams
Authors: Hazout Ilan
Published: January 2008

The relation between expletive there and its associate involves agreement, as suggested in Hazout 2004, and not θ-role assignment, as suggested in Williams 1994, 2006. This difference reflects radically different assumptions about the nature of the subject-predicate relation. The analysis in Hazout 2004 provides a superior account of the empirical facts and affords insights that are missed by the account in Williams 1994.
Morphological and Abstract Case
Authors: Legate Julie Anne
Published: January 2008

This article examines the relationship between abstract and morphological case, arguing that morphological case realizes abstract Case features in a postsyntactic morphology, according to the Elsewhere Condition. A class of prima facie ergative-absolutive languages is identified wherein intransitive subjects receive abstract nominative Case and transitive objects receive abstract accusative Case; these are realized through a morphological default, which is often mislabeled as absolutive. Further support comes from split ergativity based on a nominal hierarchy, which is shown to have a morphological source. Proposals that case and agreement are purely morphological phenomena are critiqued.
Multiple Oscillatory Modes of the Argentine Basin. Part I: Statistical Analysis
Authors: Weijer Wilbert , Vivier Frédéric , Gille Sarah T. , Dijkstra Henk A.
Published: January 2008

Observations of the sea surface height in the Argentine Basin indicate that strong variability occurs on a time scale of 20−30 days. The aim of this study is to determine the physical processes responsible for this variability. First, results are presented from two statistical techniques applied to a decade of altimetric data. A complex empirical orthogonal function (CEOF) analysis identifies the recently discovered dipole mode as the dominant mode of variability. A principal oscillation pattern (POP) analysis confirms the existence of this mode, which has a period of 25 days. The second CEOF displays a propagating pattern in the northern Argentine Basin, plus a rotating dipole in the southwest corner. The POP analysis identifies both patterns as individual modes, with periods of 30 and 20 days, respectively. Second, the barotropic normal modes of the Argentine Basin are studied, using a shallow-water model capturing the full bathymetry of the basin. Coherences between the spatial patterns of these modes and altimeter data suggest that several of the basin modes are involved in the observed variability. This analysis implies that the 20-day mode detected by recent bottom-pressure measurements is a true barotropic mode. However, the 25-day variability, as found in altimeter data, cannot be directly attributed to the excitation of a free Rossby basin mode. This study indicates that the results of several apparently conflicting observations of the flow variability in the Argentine Basin can be reconciled by assuming that multiple basin modes are involved.
Observational Evidence of Winter Spice Injection
Authors: Yeager Stephen G. , Large William G.
Published: January 2008

Temperature and salinity (T–S) profiles from the global array of Argo floats support the existence of spice-formation regions in the subtropics of each ocean basin where large, destabilizing vertical salinity gradients coincide with weak stratification in winter. In these characteristic regions, convective boundary layer mixing generates a strongly density-compensated (SDC) layer at the base of the well-mixed layer. The degree of density compensation of the T–S gradients of an upper-ocean water column is quantified using a bulk vertical Turner angle (Tub) between the surface and upper pycnocline. The winter generation of the SDC layer in spice-formation zones is clearly seen in Argo data as a large-amplitude seasonal cycle of Tub in regions of the subtropical oceans characterized by high mean Tub. In formation regions, Argo floats provide ample evidence of large, abrupt spice injection (T–S increase on subducted isopycnals due to vertical mixing) associated with the winter increase in Tub. A simple conceptual model of the spice-injection mechanism is presented that is based on known behavior of convective boundary layers and supported by numerical model results. It suggests that penetrative convective mixing of a partially density-compensated water column will enhance the Turner angle within a transition layer between the mixed layer and the upper pycnocline, generating seasonal T–S increases on density surfaces below the mixed layer. Observations are consistent with this hypothesis. In OGCMs, regions showing high Tub mean and seasonal amplitude are also the sources of significant interannual spice variability in the permanent pycnocline. Decadal changes in the North Pacific of a model hindcast simulation show qualitative resemblance to the observed multiyear time series from the Hawaii Ocean Time series (HOT) station ALOHA. Modeled pycnocline variations near Hawaii can be linked to high Tub seasonality and winter spice injection within a formation region upstream of ALOHA, suggesting that spice injection may explain the origins of observed large, interannual variations on isopycnals in the ocean interior.
Optimal Surface Salinity Perturbations Influencing the Thermohaline Circulation
Authors: Sévellec Florian , Ben Jelloul Mahdi , Huck Thierry
Published: January 2008

Optimal surface salinity perturbations influencing the meridional overturning circulation maximum are exhibited and interpreted on a stable steady state of a 2D latitude–depth ocean thermohaline circulation model. Despite the stability of the steady state, the nonnormality of the dynamics is able to create some transient growth and variability through stimulation by optimal perturbations. Two different measures are compared to obtain the optimum—one associated with the departure from steady state in terms of density, and the other with the overturning circulation intensity. It is found that such optimal analysis is measure dependent; hence, the latter measure is chosen for studying the following physical mechanisms. The response to the optimal initial sea surface salinity perturbation involves a transient growth mechanism leading to a maximum modification of the circulation intensity after 67 yr; the amplification is linked to the most weakly damped linear eigenmode, oscillating on a 150-yr period. Optimal constant surface salinity flux perturbations are also obtained, and confirm that a decrease in the freshwater flux amplitude enhances the circulation intensity. At last, looking for the optimal stochastic surface salinity flux perturbation, it is established that the variance of the circulation intensity is controlled by the weakly damped 150-yr oscillation. Two approaches are tested to consider extending such studies in more realistic 3D models. Explicit solutions (versus eigenvalue problems) are found for the overturning circulation measure (except for the stochastic optimal); a truncation method on a few leading eigenmodes usually provides the optimal perturbations for analyses on long time scales.
Multiple Oscillatory Modes of the Argentine Basin. Part II: The Spectral Origin of Basin Modes
Authors: Weijer Wilbert , Vivier Frédéric , Gille Sarah T. , Dijkstra Henk A.
Published: January 2008

In this paper the spectrum of barotropic basin modes of the Argentine Basin is shown to be connected to the classical Rossby basin modes of a flat-bottom (constant depth), rectangular basin. First, the spectrum of basin modes is calculated for the Argentine Basin, by performing a normal-mode analysis of the barotropic shallow-water equations. Then a homotopy transformation is performed that gradually morphs the full-bathymetry geometry through a flat-bottom configuration into a rectangular basin. Following the eigenmodes through this transition establishes a connection between most of the basin modes and the classical Rossby basin modes of a rectangular geometry. In particular, the 20-day mode of the Argentine Basin is identified with the lowest-order mode of classical theory. Sensitivity studies show that the decay rate of each mode is controlled by bottom friction, but that it is insensitive to lateral friction; lateral friction strongly impacts the oscillation frequency. In addition, the modes are found to be only slightly sensitive to the presence of a background flow.
Improving QPE and Very Short Term QPF: An Initiative for a Community-Wide Integrated Approach
Authors: Vasiloff Steven V. , Seo Dong-Jun , Howard Kenneth W. , Zhang Jian , Kitzmiller David H. , Mullusky Mary G. , Krajewski Witold F. , Brandes Edward A. , Rabin Robert M. , Berkowitz Daniel S. , Brooks Harold E. , McGinley John A. , Kuligowski Robert J. , Brown Barbara G.
Published: January 2008

Accurate quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) and very short term quantitative precipitation forecasts (VSTQPF) are critical to accurate monitoring and prediction of water-related hazards and water resources. While tremendous progress has been made in the last quarter-century in many areas of QPE and VSTQPF, significant gaps continue to exist in both knowledge and capabilities that are necessary to produce accurate high-resolution precipitation estimates at the national scale for a wide spectrum of users. Toward this goal, a national next-generation QPE and VSTQPF (Q2) workshop was held in Norman, Oklahoma, on 28–30 June 2005. Scientists, operational forecasters, water managers, and stakeholders from public and private sectors, including academia, presented and discussed a broad range of precipitation and forecasting topics and issues, and developed a list of science focus areas. To meet the nation's needs for the precipitation information effectively, the authors herein propose a community-wide integrated approach for precipitation information that fully capitalizes on recent advances in science and technology, and leverages the wide range of expertise and experience that exists in the research and operational communities. The concepts and recommendations from the workshop form the Q2 science plan and a suggested path to operations. Implementation of these concepts is expected to improve river forecasts and flood and flash flood watches and warnings, and to enhance various hydrologic and hydrometeorological services for a wide range of users and customers. In support of this initiative, the National Mosaic and Q2 (NMQ) system is being developed at the National Severe Storms Laboratory to serve as a community test bed for QPE and VSTQPF research and to facilitate the transition to operations of research applications. The NMQ system provides a real-time, around-the-clock data infusion and applications development and evaluation environment, and thus offers a community-wide platform for development and testing of advances in the focus areas.
The Convective Storm Initiation Project
Authors: Browning Keith A. , Blyth Alan M. , Clark Peter A. , Corsmeier Ulrich , Morcrette Cyril J. , Agnew Judith L. , Ballard Sue P. , Bamber Dave , Barthlott Christian , Bennett Lindsay J. , Beswick Karl M. , Bitter Mark , Bozier Karen E. , Brooks Barbara J. , Collier Chris G. , Davies Fay , Deny Bernhard , Dixon Mark A. , Feuerle Thomas , Forbes Richard M. , Gaffard Catherine , Gray Malcolm D. , Hankers Rolf , Hewison Tim J. , Kalthoff Norbert , Khodayar Samiro , Kohler Martin , Kottmeier Christoph , Kraut Stephan , Kunz Michael , Ladd Darcy N. , Lean Humphrey W. , Lenfant Jürgen , Li Zhihong , Marsham John , McGregor James , Mobbs Stephan D. , Nicol John , Norton Emily , Parker Douglas J. , Perry Felicity , Ramatschi Markus , Ricketts Hugo M. A. , Roberts Nigel M. , Russell Andrew , Schulz Helmut , Slack Elizabeth C. , Vaughan Geraint , Waight Joe , Wareing David P. , Watson Robert J. , Webb Ann R. , Wieser Andreas
Published: January 2008

The Convective Storm Initiation Project (CSIP) is an international project to understand precisely where, when, and how convective clouds form and develop into showers in the mainly maritime environment of southern England. A major aim of CSIP is to compare the results of the very high resolution Met Office weather forecasting model with detailed observations of the early stages of convective clouds and to use the newly gained understanding to improve the predictions of the model.

A large array of ground-based instruments plus two instrumented aircraft, from the U.K. National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and the German Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK), Karlsruhe, were deployed in southern England, over an area centered on the meteorological radars at Chilbolton, during the summers of 2004 and 2005. In addition to a variety of ground-based remote-sensing instruments, numerous rawinsondes were released at one- to two-hourly intervals from six closely spaced sites. The Met Office weather radar network and Meteosat satellite imagery were used to provide context for the observations made by the instruments deployed during CSIP.

This article presents an overview of the CSIP field campaign and examples from CSIP of the types of convective initiation phenomena that are typical in the United Kingdom. It shows the way in which certain kinds of observational data are able to reveal these phenomena and gives an explanation of how the analyses of data from the field campaign will be used in the development of an improved very high resolution NWP model for operational use.
Detecting Depressive Disorder With a 19-Item Local Instrument in Tanzania
Authors: Kaaya Sylvia F. , Lee Bandy , Mbwambo Jessie K. , Smith-Fawzi Mary C. , Leshabari Melkizedek T.
Published: January 2008

Background: Based on experience with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in a Tanzanian population, this study attempted to develop a locally specific screen that employs indigenous expressions.

Aim and method: Thirty ethnographically derived local idioms were added and the final 47-item questionnaire administered to 787 randomly selected antenatal clinic attendees.

Results: Logistic regression identified 19 items for the Dar-es-Salaam Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ), which demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.84), interrater reliability (intraclass r = 0.89), and test-retest reliability (intraclass r = 0.82). Positive endorsement overall increased only slightly, but the report of mild symptoms was more frequent with the DSQ (15.0%) than the HSCL-25 (10.8%). Content and discriminant validation of the local scale conformed to expectation, but depressed affect failed to emerge as an important feature.

Conclusion: Locally derived expressions may aid in the reporting of illness and illness severity. Further studies are recommended to uncover universal aspects and culturally specific manifestations of illness expression.

Declaration of interest: None to report.
Ethnicity, Gender and Mental Health: Social Worker Perspectives
Authors: Barn Ravinder
Published: January 2008

Background: This paper draws on a two-year Department of Health research study on social worker conceptualisations of ethnicity, gender and mental health. The findings and discussion are placed within the `culturalist' and an `integrative' perspective on the mental health needs of Asian women. It is argued that the culturalist perspective has led to an overemphasis of individual and group differences in theoretical and practice debates, and by design or default has resulted in an under-emphasis of the interconnections between `race', ethnicity, gender and social class, as well as an underemphasis on the adequacy and appropriateness of existing service provision. The importance of the latter is highlighted in its integrative nature in pointing to the interconnections between race, ethnicity, gender and social class.

Aims: To study professional perspectives to enhance understanding of the interconnections of ethnicity, gender, social class and mental health, to promote improved policy, provision and practice.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with social work professionals to obtain their perceptions of Bangladeshi women's mental illness, well-being, sources of stress and service provision.

Results: In understanding the mental health situation of Bangladeshi women, a thematic analysis identified a multiplicity of factors including poverty, poor and overcrowded housing, racism, language, culture, religion, and gender and patriarchy. Low use of social services by Bangladeshi women, combined with fear and mistrust and lack of familiarity, raised important concerns about unmet need.

Conclusions: Social worker perceptions demonstrate an understanding that suggests that the experience of ethnicity is gendered and that gender relations are ethnically distinct and impacted by social class. The paper highlights the importance of understanding patriarchy and gender relations, as well as the wider context of race and ethnicity and the interconnections between ethnicity, gender and social class.
Multilevel Impacts of Perceived Incivilities and Perceptions of Crime Risk on Fear of Crime
Authors: Wyant Brian R.
Published: January 2008

Past work has linked incivilities to fear of crime but has left open two questions: Do multilevel impacts of incivilities persist after simultaneously controlling for sociodemographics, perceptions of crime risk, neighborhood fabric, and violent crime? Is neighborhood fear spatially lagged, and if so, does controlling for nearby fear alter endogenous impacts on fear? Survey data from 45 Philadelphia neighborhoods showed that those perceiving more incivilities and more crime risk than their neighbors were more fearful. Furthermore, neighborhoods where residents on average saw more crime risk were on average more fearful, even after controlling for significantly auto-correlated nearby neighborhood fear. The results suggest that impacts of incivilities on fear at the individual level are not completely mediated by perceived risk and that average fear levels in nearby neighborhoods correlate significantly, suggesting that some localized processes are operating above the neighborhood level. What these are, and how they link to neighborhood- and individual-level dynamics, remains to be investigated.
Co-Offending and the Age-Crime Curve
Authors: Stolzenberg Lisa , D'Alessio Stewart J.
Published: January 2008

It is proffered rather frequently that co-offending is the dominate form of criminal offending among juveniles because of the enhanced salience of peer pressure during adolescence, and that this enhanced propensity to co-offend is pivotal for understanding the age-crime curve. Using National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data for 2002, the authors conduct an analysis of 466,311 criminal arrests drawn from seven states. Their findings indicate that co-offending patterns by age are not noteworthy in elucidating why participation in illegal activities rises in adolescence, peaks in early adulthood, and then declines thereafter. Once co-offending is differentiated from solo offending, with solo offending representing the bulk of criminal activity among all age groups, including juveniles, a curvilinear relationship remains between age and solo-offending and between age and co-offending. These nonlinear associations are not conditioned by an offender's sex, race, or by offense type. The authors also analyzed co-offending crimes reported to police. In many types of crimes, offenders and victims come into contact, thus allowing for the estimation of the perpetrator's age notwithstanding whether an arrest was made. The findings generated in this supplemental analysis are similar to those produced using the arrest data. The results of this study have consequential theoretical implications not only because they cast doubt on the assertion that differences in co-offending levels between juveniles and adults account for the age-crime curve, but they also contravene the widely held belief that most juvenile offenses are perpetrated in the company of others rather than by individuals acting alone. Based on the new data reported here it appears that group offending is merely incidental in circumstance and thus of little etiological significance.
Patterns in early interaction between young preschool children with severe speech and physical impairments and their parents
Authors: Sandberg Annika Dahlgren , Liliedahl Marie
Published: January 2008

The aim of this study is to examine whether the asymmetrical pattern of communication usually found between people who use augmentative and alternative communication and their partners using natural speech was also found in the interaction between non-vocal young preschool children with cerebral palsy and their parents. Three parent—child dyads (children's age 2;5—3;4 and developmental age 18 months) were video-recorded during everyday activities. Three comparison dyads with children matched for developmental age and sex with the children in the focus dyads were studied in the same situations. There were only small differences between the two sets of children, while the parents in the focus dyads were more active than the parents in the comparison dyads. The results are discussed in relation to early intervention, aiming at enhancing development of functional patterns of interaction.
Literacy in the mainstream inner-city school: Its relationship to spoken language
Authors: Myers Lucy , Botting Nicola
Published: January 2008

This study describes the language and literacy skills of 11-year-olds attending a mainstream school in an area of social and economic disadvantage. The proportion of these young people experiencing difficulties in decoding and reading comprehension was identified and the relationship between spoken language skills and reading comprehension explored. The study recruited 36 individuals from a mainstream secondary school who were representative of the year group as a whole. Detailed spoken language and literacy assessments were carried out and information about educational attainment and special educational needs were obtained. Participants had significantly lower mean language and literacy scores than published test norms on all measures except story-telling. Twenty-one (58%) participants showed reading comprehension difficulties, 10 of whom also had difficulties with decoding. Participants with reading comprehension difficulties had significantly lower spoken language skills. A significant proportion of this group experience difficulties in literacy with associated spoken language deficits. The nature of the relationship between language and literacy skills, issues of identification and intervention are discussed.
The “Proper Trust of Liberty”: economical reform, the English constitution and the protections of accounting during the American War of Independence
Authors: Funnell Warwick
Published: January 2008

Prior to the nineteenth century the more lucrative public offices under the direct control of the Crown as part of the civil list were given as sinecures to favoured individuals. The use of these sinecures, pensions and other valuable appointments provided the Crown with the means by which it could buy influence and, thereby, undermine the constitutional authority and independence of parliament. In the main, civilian officers of the Crown were not accountable to parliament. Financial accountability for spending on the civil list was sporadic, without sufficient enforcement mechanisms and, therefore, a threat to the liberty of all “Englishmen". The financial and political strains that the American War of Independence placed upon England, combined with the abuse of patronage privileges by the Crown, provoked a movement for economical reform, most often associated with Edmund Burke, which sought the reform of both the civil list and executive accounts as protections for liberty. Crucial to convincing the government of the urgency of reform were reports from the Commissioners for Examining the Public Accounts.
Using Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory To Teach Different Recruitment and Selection Paradigms
Authors: Billsberry Jon , Gilbert Louise H.
Published: January 2008

This article makes a case for using Roald Dahl's children's fantasy and morality tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to teach recruitment and selection. It draws attention to its relevance in illustrating and explaining three different recruitment and selection paradigms: psychometric, social process, and fit. It argues that the use of this fantasy is particularly useful because its unusual nature causes students to approach the analogy in a critical fashion. Moreover, it offers a compelling approach that will stay long in students' memories. The article begins with a discussion of different recruitment and selection paradigms, which is followed by a critical explanation of how the plotlines in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory map onto these paradigms. The article ends with specific guidance to recruitment and selection teachers on different ways of using the 2005 film version of the story in the management classroom.
Is What You See, What You Get?
Authors: Tyran Kristi Lewis , Gibson Cristina B.
Published: January 2008

In this study, the authors observed and examined 57 bank branch teams to better understand the consequences of two types of team heterogeneity— surface level (gender and ethnicity) and deep level (collectivism cultural values and tenure)—on internal (group efficacy) and external (team reputation) team outcomes, arguing in general that heterogeneity has a negative impact on group efficacy but a positive impact on team reputation. As proposed, teams with lower tenure heterogeneity had higher group efficacy, and teams with higher gender heterogeneity and higher collectivism heterogeneity received better ratings on team reputation. However, contrary to the hypotheses, the relationship between collectivism heterogeneity and group efficacy was positive, and the relationship between ethnic heterogeneity and team reputation was negative. Implications for theories of social cognition, group development, and international management are discussed.
Effects of Charismatic Content and Delivery on Follower Task Performance
Authors: Johnson Stefanie K. , Dipboye Robert L.
Published: January 2008

The current study examined the moderating effect of task type on the effectiveness of charismatic leadership. Using a laboratory study, the content (visionary, nonvisionary) and delivery (expressive, unexpressive) of a leadership speech were manipulated, along with the charisma conduciveness of performance tasks. Based on the propositions asserted by Shamir and Howell, the authors suggest that charisma-conducive tasks are low in analyzability (more complex) and require greater levels of initiative and creativity. In addition, the authors expected that the effects of charismatic leadership on task performance should be more pronounced in terms of quality than quantity of performance. As expected, visionary content and expressive delivery resulted in higher attributions of charismatic leadership. In addition, visionary content led to better quality of performance on more charisma-conducive tasks.
How Service Agents Manage the Person—Role Interface
Authors: Ashforth Blake E. , Kulik Carol T. , Tomiuk Marc A.
Published: January 2008

Service agents represent the organization in customer transactions. This study focuses on how agents manage the interface between their role as frontline exemplars of the organization and themselves as individuals. Semistructured interviews with 105 service agents from a variety of occupations suggest that service agents use transition rituals, boundary markers, and psychological preparation to enter and exit their service roles with surprisingly little effort; often find it difficult to maintain their objectivity and to minimize interrole blurring; are very aware of being “on stage” and use the backstage as a respite from stress and a place to resolve coworker conflicts; and protect against threats to their sense of self by rationalizing away the threats and partitioning their roles or partitioning themselves from the service role or clients.
The Homicide Drop in Postwar Japan
Authors: Johnson David T.
Published: January 2008

Japan's homicide rate dropped 70% in the last 50 years, and the nation now has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world. A decline of this magnitude has been documented in few other contemporary social settings. One key feature of the fall is young Japanese males, who now commit one tenth as many homicides as their counterparts did in 1955. At present, Japan's homicide rate is higher among men in their 50s than among males aged 20 to 24. This article describes Japan's postwar homicide decline and the vanishing young killer in particular. More is known about who is responsible for the decline than about what has caused it. The search for a more satisfying explanation of Japan's homicide drop should be a high priority in homicide studies.
Explaining Differences in Homicide Clearance Rates Between Japan and the United States
Authors: Roberts Aki
Published: January 2008

Japan maintains near-perfect homicide clearance rates (around 95%, compared with roughly 60% in the United States). This study explored possible explanations for higher homicide clearance rates in Japan than in the United States. Using recent (2000 to 2004) official summary statistics, this study found that Japanese homicides contain a higher proportion of “easy-to-clear” cases, including those with nonfirearm weapons, family member offenders, and child (and not teenager or young adult) victims, than do American homicides. Also the Japanese categorization of homicides in official statistics includes cases favorable to clearance (attempted homicide) and excludes cases unfavorable to clearance (robbery-homicide). These findings suggest caution in attributing Japan's higher homicide clearance rates exclusively to police effectiveness or citizen–police cooperation. Suggestions for future multivariate research are also discussed.
Historical Origins of a Cross-National Puzzle
Authors: Savolainen Jukka , Lehti Martti , Kivivuori Janne
Published: January 2008

Cross-national studies of homicide are dominated by theories that focus on inequality and other structural factors as the source of variation in the level of lethal violence. As a nation with a comparatively high homicide rate in the presence of a strong welfare state, Finland represents a puzzle to this paradigm. The apparent weakness of the structural approach opens the door for cultural explanations. As the basic step in this path, the purpose of this research is to examine the historical origins of the Finnish problem with lethal violence. The authors find that the homicide patterns responsible for the exceptional status of Finland are of relatively recent origin. The authors conclude the study by proposing that specific features of the Finnish welfare state inadvertently sustain a subculture of alcohol-related lethal violence.
Communicative spontaneity of children with autism
Authors: Chiang Hsu-Min
Published: January 2008

The communicative spontaneity of children with autism who had limited spoken language in their natural environment was investigated. This naturalistic observation is a preliminary study using a continuum model to describe the nature of communicative spontaneity. The results indicate that the level of communicative spontaneity in the natural environment varied (1) along a continuum, (2) across communicative forms, functions, activities, partners and consequences, and (3) across the effectiveness of requesting and rejecting functions. The findings from this study may provide some directions for future study.
Maternal involvement in the education of young children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Benson Paul , Karlof Kristie L. , Siperstein Gary N.
Published: January 2008

Parent involvement is widely acknowledged to be a critical `best practice' in the education of young children with ASD. Despite its importance, no studies to date have systematically examined the relative influence of child, family, and school factors on the extent to which parents participate in the education of their children with ASD. In the present study, questionnaire and interview data collected from the mothers and teachers of 95 children receiving public school services for ASD were used to address this issue. Descriptively, wide variation was found in both type and intensity of mothers' educational involvement. Regression analyses showed involvement, both at school and at home, to be heavily influenced by the extent to which school staff actively encouraged, assisted, and provided opportunities for parent involvement. In addition, severity of child behavior problems was also found to exert a uniformly negative effect on intensity of mothers' educational involvement, while the influence of family resources and demand variables varied, depending on whether involvement occurred at school or at home. Implications of these findings for future research and for the support of parents seeking to participate in the learning and development of their children with ASD are discussed.
Understanding the Medicare Part D Prescription Program: Partnerships for Beneficiaries and Health Care Professionals
Authors: De Natale Mary Lou
Published: January 2008

The Medicare Part D prescription coverage plan became available to qualified beneficiaries under Medicare on January 1, 2006. The plans provided by private insurers and state programs have challenged Medicare beneficiaries in their understanding of enrollment issues, availability of medications at an affordable cost, and use of community resources for consultation regarding prescription coverage. A total of 72 beneficiaries were interviewed during their attendance at one of six senior centers during the months of September to December 2006. Each beneficiary noted that financial cost was a priority in his or her choice of prescription coverage. Results of this qualitative research study provide guidance to health care professionals planning instruction or providing informational assistance to beneficiaries and/or families.
Latinos, Language Minority Students, and the Construction of ESL
Authors: Bunch George C. , Panayotova Dora
Published: January 2008

This article explores language assessments and policies that Latino students and others from immigrant backgrounds face as they graduate from high school and attempt to enter community colleges. Focusing on California, the authors examine the assumptions that underlie these assessments and policies. They argue that the policies signal different conceptions (and misconceptions) about the nature of bilingualism and the needs of U.S.-educated language minority students pursuing academic goals.
Who Mentors Hispanic English Language Learners?
Authors: De La Cruz Yolanda
Published: January 2008

Ten Hispanic university students enrolled in higher education courses were interviewed and considered successful despite the lack of support they received in learning English during their primary and secondary education. Analysis of the questionnaires and personal interviews reveal four major types of mentors who supported and motivated them to succeed throughout their post—high school education: family mentor, advisor mentor, self-mentor, and peer mentor.
Leiomyosarcoma of the Retrohepatic Vena Cava Treated by Excision and Reconstruction With an Aortic Homograft: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Praseedom Raaj K. , Dhar Puneet , Jamieson Neville V. , Wallwork John , Bergman Ivan , Lomas David J.
Published: January 2008

Leiomyosarcoma of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava is a rare entity and presents a number of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here such a case is presented in which the retrohepatic inferior vena cava was excised after full mobilization of the liver under venovenous bypass. The continuity of the vena cava was restored with cryopreserved aortic homograft. The technical details with regard to total vena caval clamping, venovenous bypass, hepatic inflow occlusion, techniques of reconstruction, including the use of cryopreserved aortic homograft, and a brief review of the literature on the surgical management of retrohepatic inferior vena caval tumors are discussed.
Modified Robotic Lightweight Endoscope (ViKY) Validation In Vivo in a Porcine Model
Authors: Gumbs Andrew A. , Crovari Fernando , Vidal Clement , Henri Patrick , Gayet Brice
Published: January 2008

The added precision and steadiness of a robotically held camera enables the performance of more complex procedures laparoscopically. In contrast to typical laparoscope holders, the modified lightweight robotic endoscope, the ViKY system is particularly compact, simple to set up and use, and occupies no floor space. Ease and safety of setup was confirmed in a porcine model and several common general surgical procedures were performed. The sterilizable endoscope manipulator is sufficiently small to be placed directly on the operating room table without interfering with other handheld instruments during minimally invasive surgery. The endoscope manipulator and its user interface were tested and evaluated by several surgeons during a series of 5 minimally invasive surgical training procedures in a porcine model. The endoscope manipulator described has been shown to be a practical device with performance and functionality equivalent to those of commercially available models, yet with greatly reduced size, weight, and cost.
Optimizing the MIS Fellowship Experience
Authors: Sherman Vadim , Kavic Steven
Published: January 2008

Surgeons are committed to the principle of improving clinical practice through assessment of personal outcomes. Indeed, “practice-based learning and improvement” has been adopted as one of the 6 core competencies that are required areas of instruction and evaluation in surgical residency. Residents are encouraged to analyze their own experiences, ideally in a systematic fashion, in the hopes that this semi-objective process will lead to better patient care.

At what point does this reflective process begin, and how do we teach it? In our students, it is too early—there is an obvious need to experience surgical clerkships before it is possible to appraise their experience. For residents and fellows, it is worthwhile to hear about the process from those who have had the opportunity to reflect and are still close enough to training to speak the common tongue.

In this issue, Dr. Vadim Sherman examines some of the evolution of his thoughts on surgical training. As he has transitioned from medical student to resident, resident to fellow, fellow to attending, and attending to fellowship director, he has a unique vantage point to discuss training in minimally invasive surgery. I hope that you enjoy his commentary, and I look forward to your responses and reactions to this column.
Duodenal—Jejunal Bypass Sleeve: A Totally Endoscopic Device for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity
Authors: Gersin Keith S. , Keller Jennifer E. , Stefanidis Dimitrios , Simms Connie S. , Abraham Delois D. , Deal Stephen E. , Kuwada Timothy S. , Heniford B. Todd
Published: January 2008

Morbid obesity affects over 15 million people in the United States. Nonsurgical management produces sustained weight loss in less than 5% of patients. Despite associated comorbidities, less than 1% of obese patients seek surgical intervention. Less invasive procedures have been developed with varying success. The Endobarrier ™ (GI Dynamics™, Watertown, MA) duodenal—jejunal bypass sleeve is a totally endoscopically delivered device designed to produce weight loss in the morbidly obese. We describe the first placement of a duodenal—jejunal bypass sleeve in a patient in the United States. A blinded, randomized, prospective clinical trial was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate safety and efficacy of a novel device for weight loss in the obese. The first patient enrolled was a 36-year-old woman with body mass index of 45.2. After informed consent, endoscopic placement of the device under general anesthesia was performed using fluoroscopy to confirm positioning. The device was placed without complications. At conclusion of the 3-month study period, the device was removed endoscopically. Total weight lost by the patient was 9.09 kg. Described herein is the first deployment of the duodenal—jejunal bypass sleeve in North America. The device is delivered in a totally endoscopic manner in morbidly obese patients. In our patient, total weight loss at 3 months was 9.09 kg. Continued follow-up and enrollment is ongoing to demonstrate patient safety and efficacy. Additional studies are being performed to elucidate mechanism of weight loss and future clinical applications of this device.