bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
En Balance Participants Decrease Dietary Fat and Cholesterol Intake as Part of a Culturally Sensitive Hispanic Diabetes Education Program
Authors: Salto Lorena M. , Cordero-MacIntyre Zaida , Beeson Lawrence , Schulz Eloy , Firek Anthony , De Leon Marino
Published: February 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess dietary intake habits of Mexican American Hispanic adults participating in the En Balance diabetes education program.

Methods

En Balance is a 3-month culturally sensitive diabetes education intervention for Spanish-speaking Hispanics. Of the 46 participants enrolled, 39 mainly Mexican American Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes completed the En Balance program. Participants lived in the Riverside and San Bernardino counties of California, and all participants completed the program by June 2008. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and at 3 months using the validated Southwest Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Results

Clinically important decreases in glycemic control and serum lipid levels were observed at the end of the 3-month program. The baseline diet was characterized by a high intake of energy (2478 ± 1140 kcal), total fat (87 ± 44 g/day), saturated fat (28 ± 15 g/day), dietary cholesterol (338 ± 217 mg/day), and sodium (4236 ± 2055 mg/ day). At 3 months, the En Balance group mean intake of dietary fat (P = .045) and dietary cholesterol ( P = .033) decreased significantly. Low dietary intakes of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and vitamin E were also observed in these adults with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions

The En Balance program improved glycemic control and lipid profiles in a group of Hispanic diabetic participants. En Balance also promoted decreases in dietary fat and dietary cholesterol intake.
The Use of Stereotypes and Individuating Information in Political Person Perception
Authors: Crawford Jarret T. , Jussim Lee , Madon Stephanie , Cain Thomas R. , Stevens Sean T.
Published: February 2011

This article introduces the political person perception model, which identifies conditions under which perceivers rely on stereotypes (party membership), individuating information (issue position), or both in political person perception. Three studies supported the model’s predictions. Study 1 showed that perceivers gave primacy to target information that was narrowly relevant to a judgment, whether that information was stereotypic or individuating. Study 2 found that perceivers relied exclusively on individuating information when it was narrowly relevant to the judgment and relied on both stereotype and individuating information when individuating information was not narrowly relevant to the judgment but did imply a political ideology. Study 3 replicated these findings in a more ecologically valid context and showed that people relied on party information in the absence of narrowly relevant policy positions and when individuating information did not imply a political ideology. Implications for political person perception and theories of stereotyping are discussed.
Reconsidering Work—Family Interactions and Satisfaction: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shockley Kristen M. , Singla Neha
Published: February 2011

Researchers studying work—family conflict, and to a lesser extent work—family enrichment, have often relied on Frone, Russell, and Cooper’s domain specificity model to explain the relationships between bidirectional work—family interactions and family and job satisfaction. However, in more recent times, theorists have proposed an alternative model, the source attribution perspective, which predicts a different pattern of relationships. Using meta-analytic path analysis, the present study compared competing hypotheses to examine the relative merits of each theory for both positive and negative work—family interactions. The results universally supported the less popular source attribution perspective. The moderating role of gender in the pattern of relationships was also considered.
Impact and consequences of school-based assessment (SBA): Students’ and parents’ views of SBA in Hong Kong
Authors: Liying Cheng  , Andrews Stephen , Ying Yu
Published: February 2011

School-based assessment (SBA) has recently been introduced into the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations (HKCEE) in English. The present study was conducted within the context of this assessment change to investigate students’ and parents’ perceptions of the impact of SBA. Two surveys were employed to explore students’ and parents’ perceptions of SBA and their perceptions of the impact of SBA on learning. The results from the student survey demonstrated a relationship between students’ perceptions of SBA-related learning activities and their perceptions of their own language competence. The results also showed significant differences between students’ perceptions of the learning activities they had taken part in during the previous school year and those they were currently engaging in. In addition, parents’ perceptions of SBA and the opportunities for them to know about SBA significantly and positively predicted their support for their children’s SBA learning. Parents’ education level and the amount of time they spent with their child daily also predicted their support for their children’s SBA learning, though to a lesser extent. Further, parents’ perceptions about the SBA are directly and significantly related to their children’s perceptions about SBA. Taking the results from both students’ and parents’ surveys together, we have gained a better understanding of the complexity of the impact of SBA within the Hong Kong educational context, as perceived by students and their parents.
Convergent vs. divergent assessment: Impact on college EFL students’ motivation and self-regulated learning strategies
Authors: Huang Shu-Chen
Published: February 2011

This study examined two types of classroom assessment events, the more closed convergent assessments (CA) versus the more open-ended divergent assessments (DA), to see if they influence learners differently in terms of motivation and learning strategies. Participants were 105 college freshmen in Taiwan with the same instructor placed under one listening and two speaking classes. In these intact groups, each student experienced two types of assessment, a more traditional test (the CA) and a group performance assessment (the DA). Immediately after they experienced each assessment event, participants reported on their task-specific motivation and learning strategies. Results indicated that CAs were better received by high self-efficacious students and DAs by low scorers. After controlling for self-efficacy, a comparison revealed that students reacted differently in the listening and speaking classes. More specifically, in speaking student motivation and strategy were higher for the DA than for the CA, whereas in the listening class the pattern was reversed. Local educational culture and the nature of assessment events are then discussed.
Does a rater’s familiarity with a candidate’s pronunciation affect the rating in oral proficiency interviews?
Authors: Carey Michael D. , Mannell Robert H. , Dunn Peter K.
Published: February 2011

This study investigated factors that could affect inter-examiner reliability in the pronunciation assessment component of speaking tests. We hypothesized that the rating of pronunciation is susceptible to variation in assessment due to the amount of exposure examiners have to nonnative English accents. An inter-rater variability analysis was conducted on the English pronunciation ratings of three test candidate interlanguages: Chinese, Korean, and Indian English. Pronunciation was rated by 99 International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examiners across five geographically dispersed test centres. The examiners had either prolonged exposure, or no, or little exposure to the interlanguage of the candidates. A significant proportion of examiners rated pronunciation higher when they had prolonged exposure, and lower when they had no, or little, exposure to the candidates’ interlanguage. The location of the test centre also had a significant effect on the pronunciation rating, independent of the familiarity variable, with a significant proportion of NNS raters scoring candidates from their home country higher than those who were not. It is recommended that interlanguage phonology familiarity should be considered in the design of speaking tests and rater training and that research is required into test centre bias and the phonological judgements and awareness of OPI raters.
Testing of second language pragmatics: Past and future
Authors: Roever Carsten
Published: February 2011

Testing of second language pragmatic competence is an underexplored but growing area of second language assessment. Tests have focused on assessing learners’ sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic abilities but the speech act framework informing most current productive testing instruments in interlanguage pragmatics has been criticized for under-representing the construct. In particular, the assessment of learners’ ability to produce extended monologic and dialogic discourse is a missing component in existing assessments. This paper reviews existing tests and argues for a discursive re-orientation of pragmatics tests. Suggestions for tasks and scoring approaches to assess discursive abilities while maintaining practicality are provided, and the problematicity of native speaker benchmarking is discussed.
Primary Neoplasms of Bones in Mice
Authors: Kavirayani A. M. , Sundberg J. P. , Foreman O.
Published: February 2011

To compare and summarize the mechanisms, frequencies of occurrence, and classification schemes of spontaneous, experimental, and genetically engineered mouse skeletal neoplasms, the literature was reviewed, and archived case material at The Jackson Laboratory was examined. The frequency of occurrence of spontaneous bone neoplasms was less than 1% for most strains, with the exceptions of osteomas in CF-1 (5.5% and 10% in two studies) and OF-1 outbred strains (35%), and osteosarcomas in NOD/ShiLtJ (11.5%) and NOD-derived (7.1%) mice. The frequency was 100% for osteochondromas induced by conditional inactivation of exostoses (multiple) 1 ( Ext1) in chondrocytes, osteosarcomas induced by tibial intramedullary inoculation of Moloney murine sarcoma virus, and osteosarcomas induced by conditional inactivation of Trp53—with or without inactivation of Rb1—in osteoblast precursors. Spontaneous osteogenic neoplasms were more frequent than spontaneous cartilaginous and vascular types. Malignant neoplasms were more frequent than benign ones. The age of occurrence for spontaneous neoplasms ranged from 37 to 720 days ( M = 316.35) for benign neoplasms and 35 to 990 ( M = 299.28) days for malignant. In genetically engineered mice, the average age of occurrence ranged from 28 to 70 days for benign and from 35 to 690 days for malignant. Histologically, nonosteogenic neoplasms were similar across strains and mutant stocks; osteogenic neoplasms exhibited greater diversity. This comparison and summarization of mouse bone neoplasms provides valuable information for the selection of strains to create, compare, and validate models of bone neoplasms.
The combined effect of epoxy nanocomposites and phosphorus flame retardant additives on thermal and fire reaction properties of fiber-reinforced composites
Authors: Katsoulis Charalampos , Kandare Everson , Kandola Baljinder K.
Published: February 2011

This study investigates the thermal stability of an aerospace grade epoxy resin containing a silicate-based nanoclay modified by an organophosphorus moiety (vinyl triphenyl phosphonium bromide; VTP), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and/or conventional phosphorus containing flame retardants (FRs) at weight fractions up to 20% using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When FR additives (15 wt%) or VTP containing nanoclay (5 wt%) are used independently, the overall thermal stability enhancement of the epoxy resin follows the order; ammonium polyphosphate (APP) > nanoclay VTP > resorcinol bis-(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) > tris-(tribromoneopentyl) phosphate (TBP). The addition of DWCNTs alone did not significantly alter the thermal stability of the epoxy resin matrix. The concomitant addition of VTP together with RDP, APP, and TBP at a cumulative weight fraction of 20% led to synergistic improvements in the thermal stability of the resin. The fire reaction properties of the glass fiber-reinforced laminates prepared from modified resin formulations were measured under cone calorimetry conditions at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m2. The addition of conventional FRs with or without the nanoclay significantly reduced the peak value heat release rate and total heat release relative to the control sample. DWCNTs alone did not show a significant effect on the fire reaction properties of the epoxy resin composites. The burning behavior of the flame-retarded samples as evaluated by cone calorimetry correlated very well with TGA and differential thermal analysis (DTA) data. The depolymerization intensity as measured from DTA data agreed with PHRR from cone calorimetry while the TTI showed a direct correlation to the onset of thermal degradation as determined from TGA data. According to a fire risk assessment based on cone calorimetry data, nanocomposites containing APP achieved the highest fire safety rating.
Sensitivity of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium lanchesteri (Crustacea: Decapoda), to heavy metals
Authors: Shuhaimi-Othman Mohammad , Yakub Nadzifah , Ramle Nur-Amalina , Abas Ahmad
Published: February 2011

Adult Macrobrachium lanchesteri were exposed for a 4-day period in laboratory conditions to a range of copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) concentrations. Mortality was assessed and median lethal times (LT50) and concentrations (LC 50) were calculated. At the end of the 4-day period, live prawns were used to determine bioconcentration of the metals. LT50 and LC 50 increased with the decrease in mean exposure concentrations and times, respectively, for all metals. LC50s for 96 hours for Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb were 32.3, 7.0, 525.1 and 35.0 µg/L, respectively. Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb bioconcentration in M. lanchesteri increases with exposure to increasing concentrations and Cd was the most toxic to M. lanchesteri, followed by Pb, Cu and Zn. Comparison of LC50 values for metals for this species with those for other freshwater crustacean organisms reveals that M. lanchesteri is equally or more sensitive to heavy metals than most other tested crustaceans.
Toxic effect of formaldehyde on the respiratory organs of rabbits: A light and electron microscopic study
Authors: Bansal Neelam , Uppal Varinder , Pathak Devendra
Published: February 2011

In this study, the effect of direct exposure of formaldehyde in different concentration was observed in 14 rabbits aged 3-6 months and weighing 1100-1200 g. The animals were divided into two groups with six animals in each group, and two animals were kept as control. The animals of group I were exposed to 10% formalin for 12 weeks and those of group II to 40% formalin solution for 6 weeks. After completion of the experimental periods, the animals were killed and the tissue samples were collected from the nasal cavity, trachea and lungs in 10% neutral buffered formalin and Karnovsky’s fixative to examine the histological and electron microscopic changes in the organs. The mucosal cells of nasal cavity showed loss of cilia and epithelial metaplasia was observed in places. There was vascular congestion and mild subepithelial odema. The tracheal epithelium was organized with hyperchromatic nuclei. There was subepithelial odema along with lymphomononuclear cellular infiltration. There was marked emphysema evident as bulla formation of air spaces due to rupture of interalveolar septum. An increased cellularity of alveolar wall was observed, resulting in its thickening. The epithelial lining of bronchioles showed loss of mucosal folds and hyperplasia of cells along with peribronchial lymphomononuclear cellular infiltration. Thickening of wall of blood vessels was evident. Congestion and haemorrhages were observed in places. It is concluded that the histopathological changes were more remarkable in the animals exposed to 40% formaldehyde for short duration than the animals exposed to 10% formaldehyde for longer duration with a more severe effect on the upper part of the respiratory tract than the lower one.
Electroretinogram Changes in a Pediatric Population With Epilepsy: Is Vigabatrin Acting Alone?
Authors: McCoy Bláthnaid , Wright Thomas , Weiss Shelly , Go Cristina , Westall Carol A.
Published: February 2011

Vigabatrin, a structural analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is widely used as initial monotherapy in infantile spasms and add on therapy in partial onset seizures. Vigabatrin is associated with retinal toxicity causing constriction of the visual field. Our aim was to assess what effect add-on antiepileptic drug therapy has on the incidence of retinal toxicity in patients being treated with vigabatrin. Medication dosages, duration of treatment, and electroretinogram results were examined in a single center retrospective study. Retinal toxicity was detected in 18 of 160 patients (11.25%) over a 10-year period. A total of 14 (77%) were in the group treated with additional antiepileptic drugs, the other 4 received vigabatrin as monotherapy. We detected a significantly higher percentage of toxicity in the group of patients treated with vigabatrin and additional antiepileptic drugs. Our numbers were not sufficient to detect which drug or combination of drugs might be associated with higher risk.
Calorimetric and Thermomechanical Properties of Titanium-Based Orthodontic Wires: DSC–DMA Relationship to Predict the Elastic Modulus
Authors: Laino Giuliana , De Santis Roberto , Gloria Antonio , Russo Teresa , Quintanilla David Suárez , Laino Alberto , Martina Roberto , Nicolais Luigi , Ambrosio Luigi
Published: February 2011

Orthodontic treatment is strongly dependent on the loads developed by metal wires, and the choice of an orthodontic archwire should be based on its mechanical performance. The desire of both orthodontists and engineers would be to predict the mechanical behavior of archwires. To this aim, Gum Metal (Toyota Central R&L Labs., Inc.), TMA (ORMCO), 35°C Copper NiTi (SDS ORMCO), Thermalloy Plus (Rocky Mountain), Nitinol SE (3M Unitek), and NiTi (SDS ORMCO) were tested according to dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. A model was also developed to predict the elastic modulus of superelastic wires. Results from experimental tests have highlighted that superelastic wires are very sensitive to temperature variations occurring in the oral environment, while the proposed model seems to be reliable to predict the Young’s modulus allowing to correlate calorimetric and mechanical data. Furthermore, Gum Metal wire behaves as an elastic material with a very low Young’s modulus, and it can be particularly useful for the initial stage of orthodontic treatments.
Mechanical properties of novel calcium phosphate–mullite biocomposites
Authors: Nath Shekhar , Dubey Ashutosh Kumar , Basu Bikramjit
Published: February 2011

Herein, the results of systematic mechanical property measurements of pressureless sintered calcium phosphate (CaP)–mullite composites are discussed. Our experimental results demonstrated how the mullite addition (upto 30 wt%) influenced hardness, elastic modulus, strength and toughness properties of the composites. In assessing each of these fundamental material properties, either a range of load or a number of complimentary techniques were used to obtain reliable measure of mechanical properties. Importantly, the results of single edge V notch beam measurements revealed that a reliable toughness value of ∼1.5 MPa m0.5 could be obtained in composites containing 20 or 30 wt% mullite. Our results clearly illustrated that a combination of elastic modulus (∼80 GPa), compressive strength of more than 350 MPa, three-point flexural strength of 70–80 MPa, hardness of 4–5 GPa were achievable with the investigated composites. Such a combination of material properties, in addition to modest toughness property appeared to indicate that CaP–mullite composites could be used as a biomaterial for hard tissue replacement.
Evaluation of the wear performance of a polycarbonate-urethane acetabular component in a hip joint simulator and comparison with UHMWPE and cross-linked UHMWPE
Authors: St. John Kenneth , Gupta Minakshi
Published: February 2011

Acetabular hip joint components manufactured from gamma-sterilized ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), gamma cross-linked UHMWPE, or polycarbonate-urethane (PCU) polymers were evaluated in a hip joint simulator, using cobalt alloy femoral components, for at least 5 million cycles. The volume of material losses due to wear was calculated for each type of sample, based upon mass loss measurements, every 500,000 cycles. The loss of material for the conventional UHMWPE was much higher than for the cross-linked UHMWPE, showing about a 70% reduction in wear due to cross-linking. The material loss for the PCU samples appears to have been at least 24% lower than for the cross-linked UHMWPE. Based upon these results, the PCU material seems to have potential for use as an alternative bearing material to UHMWPE for total hip replacement surgeries.
Long-term rabbits bone response to titanium implants in the presence of inorganic bovine-derived graft
Authors: Munhoz Etiene Andrade , Bodanezi Augusto , Cestari Tania Mary , Taga Rumio , de Carvalho Paulo Sergio Perri , Ferreira Osny
Published: February 2011

This study evaluated bone responses to titanium implants in the presence of an inorganic graft material. The bilateral mandible incisors of 24 rabbits were surgically extracted and one of the exposed sockets, chosen at random, was filled with an inorganic xenogenic bone graft (Gen-ox®), whereas the remaining socket was left to heal naturally and served as a control. After 60 days, titanium implants were inserted in the specific areas, and on days 0, 30, 60, and 180 after the implant insertions, six animals of each group were killed. Digital periapical radiography of implant region was obtained and vertical bone height (VBH) and bone density (BD) were evaluated by digital analysis system. In the undecalcified tissue cuts, bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA) within the limits of the implant threads were evaluated and compared statistically by means of two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test ( ρ < 0.05). No significant differences were detected in VBH and BA, either between groups or between different experimental intervals. The BD was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group in all the intervals tested, but there were no significant differences by interval. The BIC was statistically lower in the control group on day 0; however, a significant increase was observed on days 60 and 180 ( ρ < 0.05). The use of an inorganic xenograft prior to insertion of a titanium implant did not interfere with the course of osseointegration.
Urbanization, Community Size, and Population Density
Authors: Hooghe Marc , Botterman Sarah
Published: February 2011

Traditional sociological insights assume that cities are characterized by lower levels of voluntary engagement as it is expected that community size and population density are negatively associated with network and mobilization opportunities. Others, however, argue that cities allow for the formation of different networks that are no longer based on ascribed personal characteristics. The authors analyze voluntary association membership in Belgium, based on the “Social Cohesion Indicators in Flanders” dataset ( n = 2,080 respondents, sampled in 40 communities). The analysis shows that neither population density nor community size have an effect on scope or intensity of participation in voluntary associations. Only two forms of associations are negatively related to population density. Their results therefore do not support the hypothesis of a rural-urban divide in participation in voluntary associations. They speculate how future research could take into account different sorts of voluntary associations when investigating the rural-urban divide and include other measurements of participation.
PEBAX membranes for water desalination by pervaporation process
Authors: Hamouda Sofiane Ben , Boubakri Ali , Nguyen Quang Trong , Amor Mohamed Ben
Published: February 2011

Hydrophobic dense membrane PEBAX were prepared, and their suitability for a water pervaporation process was studied. The effects of the following parameters on the water flux were determined as operating conditions [brine inlet temperature (28—54°C) and NaCl concentration in the feed brine (0—3.5 mol L-1)]. A water flux of 1.3—7 g m-2 h-1 was obtained using this type of membranes. It was found that, for our application, the optimal specifications for our membrane is a thickness of 100 μm and an operating temperature of 50°C that allow us to have a water flux of 7 g m-2 h-1 in the permeate side. These data are required for the manufacturing of a novel desalination system based on this type of dense membranes.
Development of a lightweight frame for a 40-foot flatbed trailer by using CAE-based structural optimization
Authors: Kim J G , Jang G W
Published: February 2011

In this study, a novel ultra-lightweight frame for a flatbed trailer is developed; it has a completely different layout from conventional ladder-type frames and is developed by applying structural optimization using commercial computer aided engineering (CAE)-based software. The proposed process of design optimization consists of two main steps: an initial design step to obtain the optimum layout (or topology) of the structure and a size/shape optimization step to determine its detailed geometric dimensions. In the topology optimization step, an initial design of the frame is generated to obtain the maximized global system performance measures, such as static stiffness or natural frequencies, for which GENESIS, a commercial optimization software package, is used in this investigation. For size and shape optimization, thicknesses of the member plates and the boundary shapes are optimized by using the Taguchi method, in order to minimize further the mass of the frame without violating design constraints on local performance measures such as the allowable stress limit. In addition, manufacturability is also considered during the detail design step of size and shape optimization. As a result, the optimized lightweight frame has improved bending and torsional rigidities while its mass is reduced by 24.5 per cent as compared to that of the original model.
Pollen distribution along climatic and biogeographic gradients in northern Central America
Authors: Correa-Metrio Alexander , Bush Mark B. , Pérez Liseth , Schwalb Antje , Cabrera Kenneth R.
Published: February 2011

Environmental reconstructions based on fossil pollen rely on the understanding of modern pollen distribution along climatic and biogeographic gradients. This study analyses the modern pollen spectra of Central America using three basic approaches: (1) the evaluation of using modern pollen spectra to differentiate the main vegetation types of the region, (2) the usage of non-linear regression to predict individual pollen abundances as a function of climate, and (3) the construction of pollen—climate transfer functions. Standard pollen analysis was carried out on mud—water interface samples from 81 lakes in the Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent mountains of Guatemala and Mexico. Detrended correspondence and cluster analyses were used to evaluate the biogeographic patterns revealed by this modern pollen data set. Non-parametric locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) regression was used to construct pollen—climate functional relationships. Five modern vegetation types were clearly identifiable through their associated pollen spectra: Pinus forest, Quercus forest, mountain mesophyllous forest, tropical rainforest, and tropical seasonal forest. The last group includes three subcategories (evergreen seasonal, tropical semi-deciduous, and tropical deciduous forests), which were not separable via this analysis. Precipitation and temperature trends were consistent and robust for at least 28 and 30 taxa, respectively, in the LOESS regression. While floristic patterns driven by temperature were clearly reflected by the pollen spectra, those driven by precipitation were less sharply defined. Nevertheless, pollen data from the study area offered good resolution to identify broad biogeographic patterns. Furthermore, individual taxa showed high predictability along precipitation and temperature gradients, allowing the theoretical construction of pollen—climate transfer functions. This study provided valuable tools for the interpretation of fossil pollen sequences from Central America.
‘Who Shall Say That the Days of Cavalry Are Over?’ The Revival of the Mounted Arm in Europe, 1853-1914
Authors: Phillips Gervase
Published: February 2011

By the middle decade of the nineteenth century, soldiers of experience across Europe were confidently asserting that, as a consequence of the new ‘arms of precision’ being issued to infantrymen, the ‘days of cavalry were passed’. This view has been echoed uncritically by subsequent generations of historians. Drawing on a range of original materials, it will be argued here that the disappointing performance of cavalry on the battlefields of the Crimea, Italy, and Bohemia owed more to doctrinal failure than infantry fire-power. While recognizing the changed conditions of the battlefield, the cavalry arm in fact successfully reformed and, despite the onward march of weapon technology, entered the global conflict of 1914 at the very peak of its efficiency and utility.
Disability and Community Life: Does Regional Living Enhance Social Participation?
Authors: McPhedran Samara
Published: February 2011

It is well documented that disability can be associated with exclusion from full participation in education and employment. This may in turn affect the overall well-being and life satisfaction of people with disability. Less clear are the ways in which location may affect social participation and access to social support among people with disability. Although it has been argued that regional or rural living facilitates social connectedness and access to social support, the validity of this theory in the context of disability has not been assessed. This study investigates different types of community involvement, levels of perceived social support, and self-reported life satisfaction among regional people with disability relative to their counterparts living in major cities. Regional people with disability report higher involvement in volunteer work, more frequent attendance at community events, and stronger feelings of being part of their community, which partially supports the hypothesis that location and social participation are related. The findings show that despite greater relative socioeconomic disadvantage regional living can be associated with enhanced social connectedness.
Policy in Action: Stories on the Workplace Accommodation Process
Authors: Solstad Vedeler Janikke , Schreuer Naomi
Published: February 2011

Workplace accommodation is an important measure to ensure equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Substantial research has investigated workplace accommodations in the United States. This article represents a first step in exploring the complexities of workplace accommodation from a cross-national perspective. Drawing on 29 qualitative interviews with employed Americans and Norwegians with mobility disabilities, we investigated similarities and differences in experiences with accommodation provision. Two main similarities emerged: Many of the American and Norwegian interviewees made use of accommodations, and the employer played an important role in the provision process in both countries. Concerning the particular role of the employer, two main differences emerged: American interviewees’ accounts of obstacles to a smooth accommodation process were related to the redistribution agent (i.e., the employer). In Norway, employers can either provide the accommodation themselves or make use of subsidized public services. When the employer chose to make use of public services, Norwegian interviewees reported a slow process and obstacles that were related to the recognition of eligibility, which rests on medical assessment. The article reveals a common vulnerability among people with disabilities when dependent on the recognition of their needs and effective provision of workplace accommodation to be competitive employees.
Electromechanical Modeling of the Low-Frequency Zigzag Micro-Energy Harvester
Authors: Karami M. Amin , Inman Daniel J.
Published: February 2011

An analytical electromechanical model is proposed to predict the deflection, voltage, and the power output of a proposed low-frequency micro-harvesting structure. The high natural frequencies of the existing designs of micro-scale vibrational energy harvesters are serious drawbacks. A zigzag design is proposed to overcome this limitation. First, the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of the zigzag structure are calculated. The piezoelectric direct and reverse effect equations, together with the electrical equations, are used to relate the voltage output of the structure to the base vibrations magnitude and frequency. The closed-form solution of the continuous electromechanical vibrations gives the power output as a function of base acceleration spectrum. The usefulness of the design is proved by the significant increase of the power output from the same base accelerations, providing a method of designing a micro-scale harvester with low natural frequency. The optimal mechanical and electrical conditions for power generation are investigated through the case studies.
Strings in General Music
Authors: Martin Jeffrey
Published: February 2011

Instrumental performance that approximates real-world models is one way in which a general music curriculum can encourage high levels of engagement and potential for lifelong musical activity. Although guitars, keyboards, and various folk instruments are useful for this purpose, orchestral instruments can also provide significant solo and ensemble performance opportunities, as well as a meaningful avenue for encountering various styles of orchestral music. In this article, the author discusses a 4-year experience using orchestral strings to engage early secondary (ages 11-14 years) general music students in performing. One of the crucial aspects that led to this program’s success was the multiple sequencing of technical development such that all students, regardless of ability, musical background, or special needs could participate meaningfully in the class ensemble learning experience. The discussion aims to provide teachers who have access to strings or other orchestral instruments ways to incorporate ensemble performance in the general music curriculum.
Patient Decision Making Among Older Individuals With Cancer
Authors: Strohschein Fay J. , Bergman Howard , Carnevale Franco A. , Loiselle Carmen G.
Published: February 2011

Patient decision making is an area of increasing inquiry. For older individuals experiencing cancer, variations in health and functional status, physiologic aspects of aging, and tension between quality and quantity of life present unique challenges to treatment-related decision making. We used the pragmatic utility method to analyze the concept of patient decision making in the context of older individuals with cancer. We first evaluated its maturity in existing literature and then posed analytical questions to clarify aspects found to be only partially mature. In this context, we found patient decision making to be an ongoing process, changing with time, reflecting individual and relational components, as well as analytical and emotional ones. Assumptions frequently associated with patient decision making were not consistent with the empirical literature. Careful attention to the multifaceted components of patient decision making among older individuals with cancer provides guidance for research, supportive interventions, and targeted follow-up care.
Patient Safety: A Consumer’s Perspective
Authors: Hovey Richard B. , Dvorak Mitchell L. , Burton Tessa , Worsham Sherry , Padilla James , Hatlie Martin J. , Morck Angela C.
Published: February 2011

In this article we provide a reconceptualization of patient-centered health care practice through a collaborative person-centered model for enhanced patient safety. Twenty-one participants were selected and interviewed from the internationally diverse population of individuals attending the Chicago Patient Safety Workshop (CPSW) sponsored by Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS). Analysis of the participant transcripts revealed three findings related to patient experience: the impact and meaning of communication and relationship within the health care setting, trust and expectation for the patient and family with the health care provider, and the meaning and application of patient-centeredness. Researchers concluded that successful planning toward enhanced patient-centered care requires multiple perspectives, including the voices of the patient and family members who have experienced the trauma of preventable medical error. Collaborative initiatives such as the CPSW and CAPS offer a positive way forward for enhanced patient safety and quality of care.
From the Inside Out: The Engagement of Physicians as Leaders in Health Care Settings
Authors: Snell Anita J. , Briscoe Don , Dickson Graham
Published: February 2011

Health care delivery must be transformed to manage spiraling costs and preserve quality care. Transforming complex health systems will require the engagement of physicians as leaders in their health care settings, in both formal and informal roles. In this article we explore the experience of physician leader engagement and identify factors operating at the individual, team, and organizational levels related to increased or decreased physician leader engagement. Using an inductive approach, our analysis of the transcribed interviews yielded a rich understanding of what motivates physicians to be engaged as leaders, how they experience engagement, the role of the physician leader, how physicians understand other physicians’ engagement, what encourages and discourages their engagement efforts, and the role that education and training has in physician engagement. We conclude by offering strategies that physicians, health care organizations, and educational institutions can implement to increase the engagement of physician leaders.
Balance, Balancing, and Health
Authors: Lipworth Wendy L. , Hooker Claire , Carter Stacy M.
Published: February 2011

In this article we explore the concept of balance in the context of health. We became interested in balance during a grounded theory study of lay conceptualizations of cancer risk in which participants were concerned with having a good life, which relied heavily on balancing processes. This led us to the qualitative literature about balance in the context of health, which was large and in need of synthesis. We identified 170 relevant studies and used Thomas and Harden’s technique of thematic synthesis to identify key balance-related themes and develop these into more abstract analytic categories. We found that balance and balancing were salient to people in three health-related contexts: health maintenance, disease or disability management, and lay or professional caregiving. In each of these contexts, balance or imbalance could be a state or a process. In addition, those using the word balance had either an internally or externally focused orientation to the world around them. Clinicians and public health practitioners might benefit from using these insights in their research and communication.
The Psychosocial Impact of Epidermolysis Bullosa
Authors: Dures Emma , Morris Marianne , Gleeson Kate , Rumsey Nichola
Published: February 2011

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a disease in which the skin blisters in response to minimal friction, causing painful wounds. Despite the potentially severe nature of epidermolysis bullosa, research on the psychosocial issues is scarce. The aims of the study were to explore the psychosocial impact of epidermolysis bullosa on affected adults and to identify associated support needs. We collected data using semistructured interviews and employed inductive thematic analysis to organize and analyze them. Three main themes—beliefs about containing the impact of EB, understandings of the disease, and the disabling impact of EB—describe the ways in which living with EB influences the daily lives of participants at intraindividual, interindividual, and sociocultural levels. The associated support needs ranged in type and intensity, from a preference for brief, skills-based interventions and the facilitation of peer support through to longer-term specialist psychological support. The results highlight how the particular combination of the rarity of the disease, its lifelong and hereditary nature, and its disfiguring impact on the skin differentiate epidermolysis bullosa from other chronic conditions.
The Structure of Cognitive Abilities in Youths With Manic Symptoms
Authors: Beaujean A. Alexander , Freeman Megan Joseph , Youngstrom Eric , Carlson Gabrielle
Published: February 2011

This study compared the structure of cognitive ability (specifically, verbal/crystallized [ Gc] and visual-spatial ability [ Gv]), as measured in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, in youth with manic symptoms with a nationally representative group of similarly aged youth. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis found the majority of the estimated parameters were invariant between the groups, although there was a difference in the intercepts for the Similarities subtest and difference in unique variances for the Picture Completion, Comprehension, and Picture Arrangement subtests. Thus, although there are many neurological changes associated with manic symptoms, the structure of verbal/crystallized and visual-spatial abilities appear relatively robust and invariant. As Gc and Gv are the primary domains on all the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, results also indicate that clinical interpretation of the Wechsler scales may be appropriate to measure cognitive performance in youths with manic symptoms.
Unsettling Assumptions and Boundaries: Strategies for Developing a Critical Perspective About Business and Management Communication
Authors: Cockburn-Wootten Cheryl , Cockburn Tom
Published: February 2011

This article describes how a collaborative class strategy and an introductory activity were used to develop students’ thinking about business and management communication. The article focuses on teachers who want to integrate critical perspectives about business communication into their classes. A course ethos, learning groups, and an introductory activity were used to develop students’ thinking about business and management communication. These strategies encouraged collaborative peer learning in a large bicultural/multicultural lecture environment and developed learning relationships typically found in a small class context. In addition, the activities produced ongoing lecture learning groups in which business students could question their “trained incapacities,” boundaries, and assumptions gained from their experiences of communicating and managing relationships during these activities.
Teaching Job Interviewing Skills With the Help of Television Shows
Authors: Bloch Janel
Published: February 2011

Because of its potential for humor and drama, job interviewing is frequently portrayed on television. This article discusses how scenes from popular television series such as Everybody Loves Raymond , Friends , and The Mary Tyler Moore Show can be used to teach effective job interview skills in business communication courses. Television episodes may be used to examine in detail topics commonly covered in textbook discussions of job interviewing, such as attire, behavior, and interview questions; they may also be used to explore topics not typically addressed, such as gender issues and involvement of family members. The use of appropriate television scenes can enhance the job interviewing unit by attracting the students’ attention and generating productive class discussion. The article also provides an overview of the relevant U.S. legality issues.
Planning for Evaluation’s Future
Authors: LaVelle John M.
Published: February 2011

Undergraduate students are a potential pool of future evaluators, but little is known about their level of interest in pursuing a career in program evaluation (PE). This two-stage study collected survey data on 249 undergraduate students' knowledge, interest, and attitudes toward various descriptions of PE. Qualitative analysis indicated participants had an understanding of PE’s intent. Correlations suggest that knowledge of PE was related with a perceived match with professional interests ( r = .41) as well as general attitude toward PE ( r = .44), and factorial ANOVA indicates that (a) participants from diverse disciplines (e.g., education, psychology, and business) were equally interested in PE and (b) average participant attitudes were more positive than would be expected by chance. Given this study’s findings regarding students' knowledge, interest, and attitudes about PE, it is proposed that undergraduate students may be a viable source of future program evaluators.
PARP-1 inhibition prevents CNS migration of dendritic cells during EAE, suppressing the encephalitogenic response and relapse severity
Authors: Cavone Leonardo , Aldinucci Alessandra , Ballerini Clara , Biagioli Tiziana , Moroni Flavio , Chiarugi Alberto
Published: February 2011

Background: Pharmacological inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) are currently evaluated in clinical trials for various malignancies but, interestingly, also proved of remarkable efficacy in preclinical models of autoimmune disorders including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine molecular mechanisms underlying suppression of the encephalitogenic response by these drugs; likewise, whether clinically-relevant post-treatment paradigms with PARP-1 inhibitors could prevent EAE relapses.

Methods: Adopted both in vitro techniques (bone marrow-derived cultured DC) as well as in vivo models of chronic or relapsing–remitting (RR) EAE.

Results: We report that two structurally unrelated PARP-1 inhibitors negatively regulated NFκB activation, as well as maturation, cytokine production and APC function of cultured mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs). PARP-1 inhibitors also reduced the number and APC function of DCs migrating in the draining lymph nodes of ovalbumin-immunized mice. In C57Bl mice with chronic EAE or SJL mice with RR EAE, pharmacological inhibition of PARP-1 reduced CNS DC migration and demyelination as well as neurological impairment to an extent similar to that achieved with the potent immunosuppressant cyclosporine A. Remarkably, PARP-1 inhibitors injected after the first phase of disease reduced relapse incidence and severity, as well as the spinal cord number of autoreactive Th17 cells. Under this clinically-relevant treatment paradigm, PARP inhibitors also suppressed epitope spreading of the encephalitogenic response.

Conclusions: Overall, data underscore the potential relevance of PARP-1 inhibitors to MS therapy and suppression of autoimmunity.