bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of Pacemaker Implantation in Nonagenarians
Authors: Mandawat Anant , Curtis Jeptha P. , Mandawat Aditya , Njike Valentine Y. , Lampert Rachel
Published: March 2013

Background—

Data are scarce on outcomes of pacemaker implantation in nonagenarians (age≥90 years).

Methods and Results—

We identified patients >70 years of age (n=115 683) who underwent initial pacemaker implantation in the 2004 to 2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project–Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay, and charges. Unadjusted outcomes were compared using χ
2
and Mantel-Haenszel tests. Multivariate hierarchical logistic models and stepwise linear regression models adjusted for case-mix variation and clustering. Eleven percent (12 917) were >90 years of age. Relative to patients aged 70 to 79 years, patients >90 years of age were more likely to have moderate/severe comorbidity (Charlson score >1; 43.2% versus 40.1%) and less likely to be admitted electively (17.5% versus 29.9%), all
P
<0.001. The unadjusted mortality and complication rates in patients aged 70 to 79 years were 0.60% (confidence interval [CI], 0.53–0.67%) and 5.61% (CI, 5.40–5.82%), respectively, and in patients aged >90 years were 1.87% (CI, 1.63–2.11%) and 6.31% (CI, 5.89–6.72%). Length of stay and charges in patients aged 70 to 79 years were 3.22 days (CI, 3.20–3.24 days) and $38 871 (CI, $38 700–$39 043), and in patients aged >90 years, 4.27 days (CI, 4.25–4.30 days) and $41 373 (CI, $41 190–$41 556). Multivariable analysis revealed severe comorbidity (odds ratio, 5.00; 95% CI, 4.05–6.17) was a greater predictor of mortality than increasing age (odds ratio, 2.81 per decade; CI, 2.35–3.35), all
P
<0.001. Similarly, severe comorbidity (Charlson score >5) was more strongly associated with complications, length of stay, and charges than age.

Conclusions—

Although increasing age predicts worsening outcomes in the elderly, the absolute rates are modest, even in nonagenarians, and comorbidity is a stronger predictor.
Activation of Lung p53 by Nutlin-3a Prevents and Reverses Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Mouraret Nathalie , Marcos Elisabeth , Abid Shariq , Gary-Bobo Guillaume , Saker Mirna , Houssaini Amal , Dubois-Rande Jean-Luc , Boyer Laurent , Boczkowski Jorge , Derumeaux Geneviève , Amsellem Valérie , Adnot Serge
Published: March 2013

Background—

Induction of cellular senescence through activation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein is a new option for treating proliferative disorders. Nutlins prevent the ubiquitin ligase MDM2 (murine double minute 2), a negative p53 regulator, from interacting with p53. We hypothesized that cell senescence induced by Nutlin-3a exerted therapeutic effects in pulmonary hypertension (PH) by limiting the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs).

Methods and Results—

Nutlin-3a treatment of cultured human PA-SMCs resulted in cell growth arrest with the induction of senescence but not apoptosis; increased phosphorylated p53 protein levels; and expression of p53 target genes including p21, Bax, BTG2, and MDM2. Daily intraperitoneal Nutlin-3a treatment for 3 weeks dose-dependently reduced PH, right ventricular hypertrophy, and distal pulmonary artery muscularization in mice exposed to chronic hypoxia or SU5416/hypoxia. Nutlin-3a treatment also partially reversed PH in chronically hypoxic or transgenic mice overexpressing the serotonin-transporter in SMCs (SM22-5HTT+ mice). In these mouse models of PH, Nutlin-3a markedly increased senescent p21-stained PA-SMCs; lung p53, p21, and MDM2 protein levels; and p21, Bax, PUMA, BTG2, and MDM2 mRNA levels; but induced only minor changes in control mice without PH. Marked MDM2 immunostaining was seen in both mouse and human remodeled pulmonary vessels, supporting the use of Nutlins as a PH-targeted therapy. PH prevention or reversal by Nutlin-3a required lung p53 stabilization and increased p21 expression, as indicated by the absence of Nutlin-3a effects in hypoxia-exposed p53
−/−
and p21
−/−
mice.

Conclusions—

Nutlin-3a may hold promise as a prosenescence treatment targeting PA-SMCs in PH.
Synergetic Neuroprotection of Normobaric Oxygenation and Ethanol in Ischemic Stroke Through Improved Oxidative Mechanism
Authors: Geng Xiaokun , Fu Paul , Ji Xunming , Peng Changya , Fredrickson Vance , Sy Christopher , Meng Ran , Ling Feng , Du Huishan , Tan Xiaomu , Hüttemann Maik , Guthikonda Murali , Ding Yuchuan
Published: March 2013

Background and Purpose—

Normobaric oxygenation (NBO) and ethanol both provide neuroprotection in stroke. We evaluated the enhanced neuroprotective effect of combining these 2 treatments in a rat stroke model.

Methods—

Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hours. Reperfusion was then established and followed by treatment with either (1) an intraperitoneal injection of ethanol (1.0 g/kg), (2) NBO treatment (2-hour duration), or (3) NBO plus ethanol. The extent of brain injury was determined by infarct volume and motor performance. Oxidative metabolism was determined by ADP/ATP ratios, reactive oxygen species levels, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Protein expression of major nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits (p47
phox
, gp91
phox
, and p67
phox
) and the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase was evaluated through Western immunoblotting.

Results—

NBO and ethanol monotherapies each demonstrated reductions as compared to stroke without treatment in infarct volume (36.7% and 37.9% vs 48.4%) and neurological deficits (score of 6.4 and 6.5 vs 8.4); however, the greatest neuroprotection (18.8% of infarct volume and 4.4 neurological deficit) was found in animals treated with combination therapy. This neuroprotection was associated with the largest reductions in ADP/ATP ratios, reactive oxygen species levels, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and the largest increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity.

Conclusions—

Combination therapy with NBO and ethanol enhances the neuroprotective effect produced by each therapy alone. The mechanism behind this synergistic action is related to changes in cellular metabolism after ischemia reperfusion. NBO plus ethanol is attractive for clinical study because of its ease of use, tolerability, and tremendous neuroprotective potential in stroke.
Stent-Assisted Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Chalouhi Nohra , Jabbour Pascal , Singhal Saurabh , Drueding Ross , Starke Robert M. , Dalyai Richard T. , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula , Gonzalez L. Fernando , Dumont Aaron S. , Rosenwasser Robert , Randazzo Ciro G.
Published: March 2013

Background and Purpose—

Self-expanding stents are increasingly used for treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms. We assess the safety and the efficacy of intracranial stenting and determine predictors of treatment outcomes.

Methods—

A total of 508 patients with 552 aneurysms were treated with Neuroform and Enterprise stents between 2006 and 2011 at our institution. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify predictors of complications, recanalization, and outcome.

Results—

Of 508 patients, 461 (91%) were treated electively and 47 (9%) in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Complications occurred in 6.8% of patients. In multivariate analysis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, delivery of coils before stent placement, and carotid terminus/middle cerebral artery aneurysm locations were independent predictors of procedural complications. Angiographic follow-up was available for 87% of patients at a mean of 26 months. The rates of recanalization and retreatment were, respectively, 12% and 6.4%. Older age, previously coiled aneurysms, larger aneurysms, incompletely occluded aneurysms, Neuroform stent, and aneurysm location were predictors of recanalization. Favorable outcomes were seen in 99% of elective patients and 51% of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. Patient age, ruptured aneurysms, and procedural complications were predictors of outcome.

Conclusions—

Stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms is safe, effective, and provides durable aneurysm closure. Higher complication rates and worse outcomes are associated with treatment of ruptured aneurysms. Stent delivery before coil deployment reduces the risk of procedural complications. Staging the procedure may not improve procedural safety. Closed-cell stents are associated with significantly lower recanalization rates.
The Conduciveness of CA-Rule Graphs
Authors: Barbosa Valmir C.
Published: March 2013

Given two subsets A and B of nodes in a directed graph, the conduciveness of the graph from A to B is the ratio representing how many of the edges outgoing from nodes in A are incoming to nodes in B. When the graph's nodes stand for the possible solutions to certain problems of combinatorial optimization, choosing its edges appropriately has been shown to lead to conduciveness properties that provide useful insight into the performance of algorithms to solve those problems. Here we study the conduciveness of CA-rule graphs, that is, graphs whose node set is the set of all CA rules given a cell's number of possible states and neighborhood size. We consider several different edge sets interconnecting these nodes, both deterministic and random ones, and derive analytical expressions for the resulting graph's conduciveness toward rules having a fixed number of non-quiescent entries. We demonstrate that one of the random edge sets, characterized by allowing nodes to be sparsely interconnected across any Hamming distance between the corresponding rules, has the potential of providing reasonable conduciveness toward the desired rules. We conjecture that this may lie at the bottom of the best strategies known to date for discovering complex rules to solve specific problems, all of an evolutionary nature.
Multilingual Joint Parsing of Syntactic and Semantic Dependencies with a Latent Variable Model
Authors: Henderson James , Merlo Paola , Titov Ivan , Musillo Gabriele
Published: March 2013

Current investigations in data-driven models of parsing have shifted from purely syntactic analysis to richer semantic representations, showing that the successful recovery of the meaning of text requires structured analyses of both its grammar and its semantics. In this article, we report on a joint generative history-based model to predict the most likely derivation of a dependency parser for both syntactic and semantic dependencies, in multiple languages. Because these two dependency structures are not isomorphic, we propose a weak synchronization at the level of meaningful subsequences of the two derivations. These synchronized subsequences encompass decisions about the left side of each individual word. We also propose novel derivations for semantic dependency structures, which are appropriate for the relatively unconstrained nature of these graphs. To train a joint model of these synchronized derivations, we make use of a latent variable model of parsing, the Incremental Sigmoid Belief Network (ISBN) architecture. This architecture induces latent feature representations of the derivations, which are used to discover correlations both within and between the two derivations, providing the first application of ISBNs to a multi-task learning problem. This joint model achieves competitive performance on both syntactic and semantic dependency parsing for several languages. Because of the general nature of the approach, this extension of the ISBN architecture to weakly synchronized syntactic-semantic derivations is also an exemplification of its applicability to other problems where two independent, but related, representations are being learned.
MINDtouch: Embodied Mobile Media Ephemeral Transference
Authors: Baker Camille C.
Published: March 2013

This article reviews discoveries that emerged from the author's MINDtouch media research project, in which a mobile device was repurposed for visual and non-verbal communication through gestural and visual mobile expressivity. The work revealed new insights from emerging mobile media and participatory performance practices. The author contextualizes her media research on mobile video and networked performance alongside relevant discourse on presence and the embodiment of technology. From the research, an intimate, phenomenological and visual form of mobile expression has emerged. This form has reconfigured the communication device from voice and text/SMS only to a visual and synesthetic mode for deeper expression.
Positioning Locative Media: A Critical Urban Intervention
Authors: Tierney Thérèse F.
Published: March 2013

Technologies of space, information and power are integral aspects of cartography that have serious implications for the legibility and accessibility of a city; thus the design of locative media is more than a technical problem. In this paper, i-metro, an interactive installation, is developed in four stages: first, a theoretical discussion of urban representation is linked to historical notions of the commons; second, research methodologies are described; third, the findings are summarized, exposing a critical information inequality; fourth, a public locative media intervention is proposed as a design response.
Brunelleschi's Discovery of Perspective's “Rule”
Authors: Park Malcolm
Published: March 2013

Brunelleschi's lost panel painting of the Florence Baptistery, created in the early 15th century, is frequently cited as the first work to accurately use perspective. The system he used is unknown, and the only information about the painting mentions a demonstration by which the painting was viewed through a hole in the panel as a reflected image in a mirror. The author argues here that the image was created in a camera obscura using the panel and a mirror in the same relationship as used in the demonstration. The author also proposes that the process revealed perspective's basic “rule”: Vanishing points for parallel, horizontal lines exist at the eye level.
Historical Relevance Feedback Detection by Text Re-use Networks
Authors: Büchler Marco , Crane Gregory , Heyer Gerhard
Published: March 2013

Text re-use has been in the humanist's interest for centuries. Collecting parallel texts implies giving a certain information, e.g. a moral statement or report on wars and conflicts, a kind of witness. The more independent parallel texts are collected, the more feasible the information is. The contribution reported here is on automatic detection of text re-use and the usage of a text re-use network to derive a Cultural Heritage Aware PageRank technique given ancient text re-uses like quotations, paraphrases, and allusions.
Modeling Transportation in the Roman World: Implications for World Systems
Authors: Meeks Elijah
Published: March 2013

ORBIS is a geospatial transportation network model of the Roman world, simulating historical travel patterns by modeling the major roads, rivers, and sea routes active during the Roman Empire. With such a model, historians can more accurately examine not only individual route patterns, but also emergent structures of the network as a whole. By defining traditional world systems networks as a particular movement profile for application on a geospatial transportation network, we can begin to see regions of the network using community analysis and analyze those regions for historical patterns.
Sound Sketchbook: Synthetic Synesthesia on a Mobile Platform
Authors: Kim Meehei , Woo Sung Ju , Yeo Woon Seung
Published: March 2013

The authors present Sound Sketchbook, a mobile phone application featuring real-time sound synthesis based on simple yet evocative cross-modal data mappings. While originally designed as a tool for evaluation of audiovisual correspondences, the application is also appreciated as an enjoyable sound toy and has a strong potential as a multimedia education tool for children. The authors introduce the data mapping strategy of Sound Sketchbook with regard to synesthesia, describe new cross-modal interactions implemented on mobile devices, and discuss the effectiveness of the application based on user survey results.
Survey of Declarations or Statements Made by the Parties to the Law of the Sea Convention: 30 Years after Adoption
Authors: Song Yann-huei
Published: March 2013

Abstract

This article surveys the declarations or statements made by the States or entities under Articles 287, 298, and 310 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over the past thirty years when they signed, ratified, or acceded to the LOS Convention, or at any time thereafter, with regard to the interpretation and application of certain provisions contained in the Convention. This study shows that differences regarding the interpretation or application of the provisions of the Convention can be found in the declarations and statements made by States located in different geographical regions. The author suggests that a possible way to amend the Convention is to include an item for discussion in the agenda of future meetings of the UN General Assembly, the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, or State Parties to the Convention.
Distinguishing root- and stem-wood of Picea Abies
Authors: Bernabei Mauro , Bontadi Jarno
Published: March 2013

In archaeology, palaeobotany and dendrochronology, it can be important to distinguish between root- and stem-wood. Although numerous studies have described the root-wood of various species in great detail, there is, as yet, no quick and generally accepted wood anatomy-based method to distinguish Norway spruce root- from stem-wood. This study compared the anatomical characteristics of Norway spruce root- and stem-wood, and found it was possible to distinguish these two parts of the tree by differences in the average number of rows of ray tracheids as viewed in radial section, and in the frequency of rays per mm2 as viewed in tangential section. The reliability of these criteria was verified in a double-blind trial. Finally, a cross-comparison between Norway spruce and European larch root- and stem-wood characteristics was carried out, and it was determined that spruce root-wood can be distinguished from larch stem- or root-wood.
A Characterization of African Easterly Waves on 2.5–6-Day and 6–9-Day Time Scales
Authors: Wu Man-Li C. , Reale Oreste , Schubert Siegfried D.
Published: March 2013

This study shows that the African easterly wave (AEW) activity over the African monsoon region and the northern tropical Atlantic can be divided in two distinct temporal bands with time scales of 2.5–6 and 6–9 days. The results are based on a two-dimensional ensemble empirical mode decomposition (2D-EEMD) of the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA). The novel result of this investigation is that the 6–9-day waves appear to be located predominantly to the north of the African easterly jet (AEJ), originate at the jet level, and are different in scale and structure from the well-known low-level 2.5–6-day waves that develop baroclinically on the poleward flank of the AEJ. Moreover, they appear to interact with midlatitude eastward-propagating disturbances, with the strongest interaction taking place at the latitudes where the core of the Atlantic high pressure system is located. Composite analyses applied to the mode decomposition indicate that the interaction of the 6–9-day waves with midlatitude systems is characterized by enhanced southerly (northerly) flow from (toward) the tropics. This finding agrees with independent studies focused on European floods, which have noted enhanced moist transport from the ITCZ toward the Mediterranean region on time scales of about a week as important precursors of extreme precipitation.
Two Decades of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: Anatomy, Variations, Extremes, Prediction, and Overcoming Its Limitations
Authors: Wunsch Carl , Heimbach Patrick
Published: March 2013

The zonally integrated meridional volume transport in the North Atlantic [Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC)] is described in a 19-yr-long ocean-state estimate, one consistent with a diverse global dataset. Apart from a weak increasing trend at high northern latitudes, the AMOC appears statistically stable over the last 19 yr with fluctuations indistinguishable from those of a stationary Gaussian stochastic process. This characterization makes it possible to study (using highly developed tools) extreme values, predictability, and the statistical significance of apparent trends. Gaussian behavior is consistent with the central limit theorem for a process arising from numerous independent disturbances. In this case, generators include internal instabilities, changes in wind and buoyancy forcing fields, boundary waves, the Gulf Stream and deep western boundary current transports, the interior fraction in Sverdrup balance, and all similar phenomena arriving as summation effects from long distances and times. As a zonal integral through the sum of the large variety of physical processes in the three-dimensional ocean circulation, understanding of the AMOC, if it is of central climate importance, requires breaking it down into its unintegrated components over the entire basin.
La théorie bergérienne de la certitude religieuse à l’épreuve de la théorie du choix rationnel
Authors: Nizigama Isaac
Published: March 2013

Berger’s sociological theory of religion underlined the role of modern religious pluralism in undermining taken for granted religious certainties. The pluralization of expressions and of religious beliefs would lead to a challenge directed not only at the political management of religions but also at the sustainability of the religious content as such. The latter would weaken as the pluralism increased. In contrast, the economic school of the scientific study of religion, exploiting Rational Choice Theory (RCT), demonstrates that the development of the modern religious pluralism, far from sounding the death knell of religion’s strength, constitutes rather its mold, which would have been lacking in a situation of religious monopoly. This article goes into the detail of this school’s arguments with a critical aim regarding Berger’s point of view. It resorts to an abstract and theoretical method.
Validation of the Job Demands-Resources model in cross-national samples: Cross-sectional and longitudinal predictions of psychological strain and work engagement
Authors: Brough Paula , Timms Carolyn , Siu Oi-ling , Kalliath Thomas , O’Driscoll Michael P , Sit Cindy HP , Lo Danny , Lu Chang-qin
Published: March 2013

The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model proposes that employee health and performance are dependent upon direct and interacting perceptions of job demands and job resources. The JD-R model has been tested primarily with small, cross-sectional, European samples. The current research extends scholarly discussions by evaluating the full JD-R model for the prediction of psychological strain and work engagement, within a longitudinal research design with samples of Australian and Chinese employees ( N = 9404). Job resources (supervisor support and colleague support) accounted for substantial variance, supporting the motivational hypothesis of the JD-R model. However, minimal evidence was found for the strain hypothesis of the JD-R model. The interactions of job demands and job resources were not evident, with only one from 16 interaction tests demonstrating significance. We discuss explanations for our findings. The implications of testing western-derived organizational behavior theories among employees employed in Asian regions, especially in regard to the increasing ‘westernization’ of many Asian organizations and their employees, are also discussed.
Compliance with International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Prorok Alyssa K. , Appel Benjamin J.
Published: March 2013

This article examines compliance with international laws prohibiting the intentional targeting of noncombatants in interstate war, specifically focusing on the role of third-party states in enforcement. We argue that the expectation of third-party coercion, when sufficiently high, can induce war participants to comply with this body of law. We identify the conditions under which combatant states will anticipate a high likelihood of coercion, demonstrating that third-party states are most likely to coerce combatants when they have both the willingness and opportunity to do so. Democratic third parties that value the rule of law and human rights possess the willingness to coerce war participants, while strong allies, trade partners, and intergovernmental organization (IGO) partners with existing ties to the combatant state have the opportunity to engage in coercion by linking combat-ant behavior to the provision of benefits or imposition of costs. Based on this logic, we hypothesize that war combatants who have ratified the Geneva/Hague Conventions prohibiting the intentional targeting of noncombatants during war are more likely to comply with the legal obligations included in those conventions when they interact with relatively strong democratic alliance, trade, and IGO partners. In a series of quantitative tests on a data set of all interstate wars from 1900 to 2003, we find strong statistical and substantive support for the role of third parties in inducing compliance with the law.
SimGine: A simulation engine for stochastic discrete-event systems based on SDES description
Authors: Khalili Ali , Abdollahi Azgomi Mohammad , Jalaly Bidgoly Amir
Published: March 2013

Discrete-event systems have gained a lot of interest due to their wide range of applications, and discrete-event simulation is a useful method for the performance evaluation of such systems. In this domain, model-based evaluation methods play an important role and there are many formalisms and realistic experiments using these methods. In this paper, we introduce SimGine, a multi-formalism simulation engine for stochastic discrete-event systems based on SDES, which is a unified abstract description for stochastic discrete-event systems. The engine is also capable of rare-event simulation of models using the importance sampling technique, which makes it the first multi-formalism simulation tool with rare-event simulation capability. The XML-based input language of SimGine allows for definition of the required methods. The body of each method is expressed by codes in a high-level programming language and this provides a powerful and flexible approach for defining events with complex behavior. For the simulation of an existing model, a tool for translating models into the SimGine input language should be prepared. SimGine can be used as a stand-alone simulation tool or as a simulation engine in other tools.
A High Performance Work Practices Taxonomy
Authors: Posthuma Richard A. , Campion Michael C. , Masimova Malika , Campion Michael A.
Published: March 2013

High Performance Work Systems are designed to enhance organizational performance by improving employee capability, commitment, and productivity. Yet there is very little consensus about the structure of these systems and the practices therein. The lack of structure may be inhibiting the growth of knowledge in this field and the degree to which organizations adopt these systems. To address these concerns we develop a comprehensive High Performance Work Practices (HPWPs) taxonomy. We analyzed 193 peer-reviewed articles published over the past 20 years (1992-2011). We classified 61 specific practices into nine categories. We analyze the usefulness of this taxonomy using frequency, time, and countries. Directions for future research are provided.
Crossing the qualitative-quantitative chasm III
Authors: DeLyser Dydia , Sui Daniel
Published: March 2013

In our third and final report, we again prioritize the open embrace of methodological differences, seeking to span the qualitative-quantitative chasm in different ways. Amid broad focus on methodological newness, we review the importance of enduring methods such as interviewing and mapping. Amid efforts to make data and publications openly available, we review efforts to include communities in participatory research. Amid the emergence of data-extensive studies, which some call the fourth paradigm, we highlight the continuing importance of ‘small’ data and methodological pluralism.
Exploring the life cycle management of industrial solid waste in the case of copper slag
Authors: Song Xiaolong , Yang Jianxin , Lu Bin , Li Bo
Published: March 2013

Industrial solid waste has potential impacts on soil, water and air quality, as well as human health, during its whole life stages. A framework for the life cycle management of industrial solid waste, which integrates the source reduction process, is presented and applied to copper slag management. Three management scenarios of copper slag are developed: (i) production of cement after electric furnace treatment, (ii) production of cement after flotation, and (iii) source reduction before the recycling process. A life cycle assessment is carried out to estimate the environmental burdens of these three scenarios. Life cycle assessment results showed that the environmental burdens of the three scenarios are 2710.09, 2061.19 and 2145.02 Pt respectively. In consideration of the closed-loop recycling process, the environmental performance of the flotation approach excelled that of the electric furnace approach. Additionally, although flash smelting promotes the source reduction of copper slag compared with bath smelting, it did not reduce the overall environmental burdens resulting from the complete copper slag management process. Moreover, it led to the shifting of environmental burdens from ecosystem quality damage and resources depletion to human health damage. The case study shows that it is necessary to integrate the generation process into the whole life cycle of industrial solid waste, and to make an integrated assessment for quantifying the contribution of source reduction, rather than to simply follow the priority of source reduction and the hierarchy of waste management.
Gendering Reciprocity
Authors: Ashwin Sarah , Tartakovskaya Irina , Ilyina Marina , Lytkina Tatyana
Published: March 2013

Theories of reciprocity have been surprisingly gender-blind. We develop a gendered account of reciprocity using qualitative data from Russia. We focus on gifts of unpaid task assistance, where gender differences are particularly visible. In our data, women’s gifts of labor involve greater time and effort than men’s, but women report nonreciprocation, while men do not. Paradoxically, the most onerous gifts are those least likely to be reciprocated. We show how this puzzling finding relates to the gendering of reciprocity. We define four stages of the gift cycle—giving, (non)recognition, (non)reciprocation, and givers’ responses to (non)reciprocation—detailing how each is gendered. We argue that reciprocity is a socially embedded phenomenon that cannot be considered in isolation from gender norms. This insight has implications for research employing reciprocity as a framework, and for debates in relation to issues such as care work and family relations.
The Influence of Cognitive Impairment, Special Care Unit Placement, and Nursing Facility Characteristics on Resident Quality of Life
Authors: Abrahamson Kathleen , Lewis Teresa , Perkins Anthony , Clark Daniel , Nazir Arif , Arling Greg
Published: March 2013

Objectives: We examined the (a) influence of nursing facility characteristics on resident quality of life and (b) the impact of cognitive impairment and residence on a dementia special care unit(SCU) on QOL after controlling for resident and facility characteristics. Method: Multilevel models (resident and facility) were estimated for residents with and without cognitive impairment on conventional units and dementia SCU. Data came from the 2007 Minnesota Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life and Consumer Satisfaction Survey ( N = 13,983). Results: Level of resident CI was negatively related to QOL, although residing on a dementia SCU was positively related to QOL. Certified Nursing Assistant and activity personnel hours per resident day had a positive relationship with resident QOL. Discussion: Our results highlight the need to ensure adequate levels of paraprofessional direct care staff and the availability of dementia-focused (SCU)s despite current constraints on long-term care funding.
The generation of loads in excess of the osteogenic threshold by physical movement
Authors: Shippen James M
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the use of physical movement to cause joint and bone loads that stimulate bone growth in order to reduce the adverse effects of osteoporosis. It has been established that stresses in bones in excess of the osteogenic threshold will stimulate bone growth; however, protocols for the generation of these stresses had not been established. Two trial movements were examined in the study: the plié and a movement requiring the subject to move a leg sequentially to 45° displaced positions – the star excursion balance test. Using inverse dynamics and an optimisation approach, the loads in the muscles crossing the hip and knee joints and the corresponding joint contact forces were calculated. It was found that the osteogenic threshold was exceeded in both these trials identifying them as suitable exercises in the maintenance of bone health. In the order of increasing bone load at the hip, and hence increasing bone growth stimulation, are the following demi plié, star excursion balance test with maximum reach criterion, grande plié and star excursion balance test with maximum speed criterion. In the order of increasing bone load at the knee are demi plié, grande plié, star excursion balance test with maximum reach criterion and star excursion balance test with maximum speed criterion. However, due to the high loads encountered, these exercises are not recommended for subjects with advanced osteoporosis although the boundary between therapeutic bone loading leading to increase in bone mineral density and loads capable of causing fracture is unclear.
Veil and Shroud: Eastern References and Allegoric Functions in the Textile Imagery of a Twelfth-century Gospel Book from Braunschweig
Authors: Bücheler Anna
Published: March 2013

This article discusses two medieval textile-inspired images that evoke the repeat of Eastern silk, and argues that so-called textile-pages in illuminated German manuscripts are not merely a sophisticated form of decoration, but that textile imagery generates iconological meaning in certain contexts and serves specific functions. The article proposes an iconological reading of two textile-pages in the Aegidien Gospels, a twelfth-century manuscript. It identifies one textile image as a visual commentary on the allegory of scripture as a veil of revelation, and the other as a representation of the shroud, which is shown to have mnemonic and contemplative functions in relation to the historic narrative and sacred truth of Christ’s death and resurrection. A kufesque inscription in the image of the shroud marks the depicted textile as an object of Eastern origin, and can be interpreted as a reference to the Holy Land in particular. By visually evoking the holy site of Christ’s tomb, the shroud image participates in a transfer of loca sancta from Jerusalem to twelfth-century Braunschweig, and in turn, connects with other holy sites that mark a larger sacred landscape of medieval Saxony. Interpreting the two textile-pages in the Aegidien Gospels from the viewpoint of recent approaches towards medieval court culture, textile imagery in this manuscript is shown to not be the result of the passive copying of textile patterns; rather, it is a distinct artistic contribution and form of appropriation that reflects the spiritual needs of the twelfth-century Saxon audience.
Diversification Opportunities through Fixed-income Managed Funds in Eastern Europe
Authors: Grose Chris
Published: March 2013

In measuring the performance characteristics of fixed-income mutual funds in the emerging economies of Eastern Europe, we use a sample of funds domiciled in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, finding failure to surpass passive benchmarks even before considering the impact of expenses on overall returns. Market timing on the part of fund managers is found but in higher moment testing, being overwhelmed though by seemingly full replication of passive benchmark strategies followed. Results are negatively influenced by stock market returns in the relative markets, while public information variables appear to enclose informational content proven useful to fund managers.

JEL Classification: G11, G15, G23
Internationalizing Higher Education in Thailand
Authors: Lavankura Pad
Published: March 2013

Each country responds to internationalization differently and offers various interpretations of the concept. Thailand has incorporated the internationalization of higher education into its plans since 1990. This article aims to discuss the primary motivations of the government and of Thai universities in moving toward the goal of internationalization. The discussion focuses on so-called “international programs” in Thailand. Using English as the medium of instruction, these “international programs” have been widely offered in both public and private universities. The programs illustrate the internationalization of higher education in terms of its teaching function. Generally, government rationales involve both global economic trends and domestic socioeconomic forces. At the institutional level, stakeholders’ demands, needs of universities to generate fee income, and specific reasons drawn from domestic context were shown to be the main drivers of the international programs. Current interpretations of the efforts to internationalize higher education in Thailand show a quantitative growth in programs that only serve particular demographic groups. The substantial contributions that internationalization may offer to the higher education system have not been guaranteed.
Tendoscopic Groove Deepening for Chronic Subluxation of the Peroneal Tendons
Authors: Vega Jordi , Batista Jorge Pablo , Golanó Pau , Dalmau Antoni , Viladot Ramón
Published: March 2013

Introduction:

Recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons over the lateral malleolus is an uncommon disabling condition in young people involved in sports. Injury to the superior peroneal retinaculum, sometimes in association with a shallow fibular groove, can lead to this condition. There are several surgical treatments for recurrent peroneal tendon subluxation, but no tendoscopy technique has been reported to date. The aim of this study was to describe a tendoscopic groove-deepening technique and its results for treating patients with recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons.

Methods:

Seven patients (3 women and 4 men; mean age 26.4 [21-32] years) with chronic subluxation of the peroneal tendons were treated with a tendoscopic procedure. All patients experienced pain at the lateral retromalleolar area and recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons. The right ankle was affected in 4 patients. Mean follow-up was 15.4 (8-25) months.

Results:

On tendoscopic examination, all patients had a flat fibular groove, and the superior peroneal retinaculum was found to be detached in 4 cases. Three patients had a superficial injury of the peroneus brevis tendon which was debrided. Tendoscopic deepening of the peroneal groove without superior peroneal retinaculum repair was performed in all cases. None of the patients experienced recurrent subluxation during follow-up. The AOFAS score increased from 75 preoperatively to 93 at final follow-up. No complications were reported in any case.

Conclusion:

Tendoscopic deepening of the fibular groove was a reproducible, minimally invasive technique that provided a favorable outcome for recurrent subluxation of the peroneal tendons in our limited number of patients.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Validation of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score in Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity
Authors: Mani Sriniwasan B. , Brown Haydée C. , Nair Pallavi , Chen Lan , Do Huong T. , Lyman Stephen , Deland Jonathan T. , Ellis Scott J.
Published: March 2013

Introduction:

The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score has been under recent scrutiny. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) is an alternative subjective survey, assessing outcomes in 5 subscales. It is validated for lateral ankle instability and hallux valgus patients. The aim of our study was to validate the FAOS for assessing outcomes in flexible adult acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD).

Methods:

Patients from the authors’ institution diagnosed with flexible AAFD from 2006 to 2011 were eligible for the study. In all, 126 patients who completed the FAOS and the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) on the same visit were included in the construct validity component. Correlation was deemed moderate if the Spearman’s correlation coefficient was .4 to .7. Content validity was assessed in 63 patients by a questionnaire that asked patients to rate the relevance of each FAOS question, with a score of 2 or greater considered acceptable. Reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) in 41 patients who completed a second FAOS survey. In 49 patients, preoperative and postoperative FAOS scores were compared to determine responsiveness.

Results:

All of the FAOS subscales demonstrated moderate correlation with 2 physical health related SF-12 domains. Mental health related domains showed poor correlation. Content validity was high for the Quality of Life (QoL; mean 2.26) and Sports/Recreation subscales (mean 2.12). All subscales exhibited very good test–retest reliability, with ICCs of .7 and above. Symptoms, QoL, pain, and daily activities (ADLs) were responsive to change in postoperative patients ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

This study has validated the FAOS for AAFD with acceptable construct and content validity, reliability, and responsiveness. Given its previous validation for patients with ankle instability and hallux valgus, the additional findings in this study support its use as an alternative to less reliable outcome surveys.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.
Sleep and Circadian Rhythmicity in Adult ADHD and the Effect of Stimulants
Authors: Snitselaar Mark A. , Smits Marcel G. , van der Heijden Kristiaan B. , Spijker Jan
Published: March 2013

Objective: This review updates information on sleep and circadian rhythmicity in adult ADHD, especially circadian rhythmicity and the influence of stimulants. Method: Investigations into sleep, chronotype, and circadian rhythm in adult ADHD were searched in the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, and PsycInfo databases. Results: ADHD in adults is associated with longer objective sleep latency, irrespective of insomnia complaints. Sleep maintenance is disturbed and waking up time is delayed. Adult ADHD is associated with increased eveningness, delayed dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), and later waking up time. Stimulant treatment induces delay of nonparametric circadian parameters, whereas light therapy (LT) induces shifts toward morningness, which is associated with a reduction of ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: Adult ADHD is associated with delayed circadian rhythmicity and analogous sleep characteristics, which are typical of a delayed sleep phase disorder. Stimulants induce delay of circadian rhythmicity.
Cooking is Good to Think
Authors: Sutton David
Published: March 2013

The three books under review here represent the recent efflorescence of diverse approaches to a previously neglected topic: the anthropology of cooking. By examining cooking through the lens of biological anthropology and differing cultural anthropological approaches, the books together make a strong case for the centrality of in-depth analysis of cooking to issues of gender, and to social change and evolutionary change. As Lévi-Strauss long ago recognized, this review reaffirms the notion that cooking is "good to think" about many of the topics that preoccupy our contemporary academic studies.
The Hoarding Economy of Endometrial Stem Cell Storage
Authors: Fannin Maria
Published: March 2013

The proliferation of for-profit enterprises offering stem cell storage services for personal use illustrates one of the ways health is increasingly governed through uncertainty and speculative notions of risk. Without any firm guarantee of therapeutic utility, commercial stem cell banks offer to store a range of bodily tissues, signalling the further transformation of the living body into an accumulation strategy within biotechnology capitalism’s ‘tissue economies’. This article makes two related claims: first, it suggests that specifically gendered forms of identification with the leading edge of the bioeconomy are embedded in the speculative practices of commercial stem cell banking and are particularly visible in the recent creation of a banking service for endometrial tissue marketed directly to women. Second, the article offers a novel analytic through which to explore the commercial banking of one’s own bodily tissues (or ‘autologous’ banking) through Marx’s discussion of money hoarding. The aim of the article is to thus further the conceptual claims linking emergent forms of economic and biomedical subjectivity to transformations in biotechnology capital.
Exploring the affective dimension of the life review process: Facilitators’ interactional strategies for fostering personhood and social value among older adults with early dementia
Authors: Williams Beverly R. , Blizard Tracie I. , Goode Patricia S. , Harada Caroline N. , Woodby Lesa L. , Burgio Kathryn L. , Sims Richard V.
Published: March 2013

We employed an auto-ethnography approach to explore the affective dimension of life review sessions with community-dwelling older military veterans with minor cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia. Using researchers’ analytic memos, we identified facilitators’ interactional strategies that fostered the participant’s sense of personal identity, dignity and social self-worth. Interaction among participant, caregiver, and facilitators evoked a range of emotional responses, offering a window into the affective world of MCI and early dementia. Positive emotional responses outnumbered negative emotional responses by a ratio of two-to-one in the life review sessions; however, negative emotions were more revelatory of current struggles with declines in health and function. Facilitators utilized two interactional strategies, in particular, to foster personhood and social value of participants: focusing on the participant and creating an empathic connection with the participant. Further work is needed to understand the role of emotions in research interactions and to examine the psychosocial mechanisms through which positive affect functions in promoting identity, personhood and social value among persons with MCI and early dementia.
Study of electrospun nanofibre formation process and their electrostatic analysis
Authors: Hamzeh Saeed , Miraftab Mohsen , Yoosefinejad Ata
Published: March 2013

Electrospinning generates nanofibres at speeds that often surpass those of conventional man-made fibre production. This makes control and manipulation of these nanofibres that much more difficult and challenging. However, to take full advantage of the superior properties of electrospun nanofibres, their production process must be clearly understood and all possible means of fibre formation and hence fibre control explored. This article attempts to explain electrospun fibre production from first principles and uses schematics to follow the electrospinning process from inception, i.e. in the nozzle, to collection with respect to electrostatic behaviours. The complex interrelationship between the charged species in the moving solution and their subsequent polarization and the induced internal field by the applied external electric field are systematically explored and explained.