bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of physician utilization, emergency room use, and hospitalizations among populations with multiple health vulnerabilities
Authors: Small La Fleur F.
Published: December 2010

Understanding the factors that influence differing types of health care utilization within vulnerable groups can serve as a basis for projecting future health care needs, forecasting future health care expenditures, and influencing social policy. In this article the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations is used to evaluate discretionary (physician visits) and non-discretionary (emergency room visits, and hospitalizations) health utilization patterns of a sample of 1466 respondents with one or more vulnerable health classification. Reported vulnerabilities include: (1) persons with substance disorders; (2) homeless persons; (3) persons with mental health problems; (4) victims of violent crime; (5) persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; (6) and persons in receipt of public benefits. Hierarchical logistic regression is used on three nested models to model factors that influence physician visits, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Additionally, bivariate logistic regression analyses are completed using a vulnerability index to evaluate the impact of increased numbers of vulnerability on all three forms of health care utilization. Findings from this study suggest the Behavioral Model of Vulnerable Populations be employed in future research regarding health care utilization patterns among vulnerable populations. This article encourages further research investigating the cumulative effect of health vulnerabilities on the use of non-discretionary services so that this behavior could be better understood and appropriate social policies and behavioral interventions implemented.
‘The family is part of the treatment really’: A qualitative exploration of collective health narratives in families
Authors: Lindenmeyer Antje , Griffiths Frances , Hodson Jean
Published: December 2010

Clinicians are increasingly asking questions about family history to inform decision making, but the quality of decisions rests on the quality of information provided by the patient. In families with genetically transmitted diseases, research has found a strong collective understanding of inheritance and risk, developed through constant communication between family members. Here, we explore whether there are similar processes in families with more common conditions like heart disease, asthma or osteo-arthritis. From in-depth interviews with lay people, we found that families created a culture of ‘health talk’, especially between sisters. Caring for other family members was demonstrated through sharing vital health information; on the other hand care could be shown by not worrying family members by talking about possibly inherited illness. Patterns of inheritance and health were talked about in participants’ families (resemblance, similar conditions and affected body areas). From these, a picture developed of what the family was ‘like’ in health terms. Overall, experiential knowledge and family narrative was interwoven with expert discourse to form a complex understanding of medical family histories.
Confession, sexuality and pornography as sacred language
Authors: Duff Brian
Published: December 2010

This article explores the connection between religious and sexual sources of personal meaning. It revisits the analyses of modern sexuality offered by Michel Foucault and Catharine MacKinnon to argue that an understanding of the role of sexuality in religious confessional discourse sheds new light on the role of pornography in contemporary culture. Pornography can be understood as a popular discourse with effects analogous to the elite discourse, rooted in confession, examined by Foucault. This analysis reveals ways that Foucault’s attention to religious texts might shed more direct light on lived sexualities, and the relationship between sexuality, spirituality and notions of the sacred in contemporary culture.
The ironic hero of Virginia Tech: Healing trauma through mythical narrative and collective memory
Authors: Berkowitz Dan
Published: December 2010

In times of great trauma, news can offer healing, consolation and inspiration. This study applied textual analysis of news items and opinion pieces about the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech to explore how collective memory and mythical narratives become part of the healing process that news media offer to society. Many of the items studied involved an ironic hero who survived the Holocaust only to die at Virginia Tech, with frequent references to collective memory of school shootings and the Holocaust, along with narratives based on the hero myth. The ironic hero became the perfect story character to fuse both narrative tools to bring a stronger positive message of healing.
Journalism students: Left-wing and politically motivated?
Authors: Hopmann David Nicolas , Elmelund-Præstekær Christian , Levinsen Klaus
Published: December 2010

In both the public and scientific debates on journalism in western countries, it would appear to be taken for granted that journalists’ political opinions can influence their professional output. Since journalists tend to lean more to the left than the general population, it is often assumed that media content has a left-wing bias. This article discusses and analyses the political motivations among journalism students. A case study of Danish journalism students indicates that most of the students were not politically motivated when choosing to pursue an education in journalism. Left-wing students tend to be slightly more politically motivated; however, the differences between the respective groups of journalism students are minor. Moreover, other sources of motivation are deemed more important, irrespective of political opinions. The case study concludes that political motivation plays a limited role in the decision to study journalism.
*Including English Learners in a Multitiered Approach to Early Reading Instruction and Intervention
Authors: Fien Hank , Smith Jean Louise M. , Baker Scott K. , Chaparro Erin , Baker Doris Luft , Preciado Jorge A.
Published: December 2010

This article reviews the research on and provides a framework for integrating assessment and early reading instruction in a unified tiered approach that includes English language learners (ELLs). The authors begin with a review of the research for implementing the guiding principles of the tiered framework with ELLs, including (a) screening and progress monitoring for ELLs, (b) delivering explicit and systematic reading instruction for ELLs, and (c) structuring reading instruction within a multitiered approach.
Retracing the roots of teacher activism in urban schools
Authors: Collay Michelle
Published: December 2010

This article explores experiences that led individuals to become teacher leaders advocating for under-served students in urban schools. Cohort members in an urban teacher leadership master’s degree programme engaged in systematic critical reflection about becoming leaders for equity, describing the influences of their families and communities, positive and negative experiences in school, and the importance of leadership opportunities provided within and beyond school. Being marginalized as students influenced their activism and their commitment to teach in their communities. Vignettes or cases show how teachers’ professional identity was powerfully shaped by educational interactions influenced by differences in race, class, gender, and language. These urban teachers take leadership by advocating for marginalized students and their families and are truly activists for social justice.
‘No biggie’: The denial of oppression on campus
Authors: Perry Barbara
Published: December 2010

Shifts in the demographics in North American colleges and universities over the past decades have created much more diverse and multiethnic campuses. Some praise these trends for creating more dynamic environments. However, not all are happy with the ‘infiltration’ of traditionally white, male enclaves, such that newcomers are met with hostility, even violence. In our campus hate crime study conducted at adjoining college and university campuses in Ontario, we found widespread awareness that minority students were frequent victims of hate crime and discrimination. In an interesting paradox, however, this did not translate into a parallel awareness that racism, or sexism, or homophobia were problems for the campus in question. In other words, while students may observe racist behaviour, they do not ‘see’ it — that is, they do not register the structured embeddedness of campus oppression.
Noxa mediates p18INK4c cell-cycle control of homeostasis in B cells and plasma cell precursors
Authors: Bretz Jamieson , Garcia Josefina , Huang Xiangao , Kang Lin , Zhang Yang , Toellner Kai-Michael , Chen-Kiang Selina
Published: December 2010

Inhibition of Cdk4/Cdk6 by p18INK4c (p18) is pivotal for generation of noncycling immunoglobulin (Ig)-secreting plasma cells (PCs). In the absence of p18, CD138+ plasmacytoid cells continue to cycle and turnover rapidly, suggesting that p18 controls PC homeostasis. We now show that p18 selectively acts in a rare population of rapidly cycling CD138hi/B220hi intermediate PCs (iPCs). While retaining certain B-cell signatures, iPCs are poised to differentiate to end-stage PCs although the majority undergo apoptosis. p18 is dispensable for the development of the PC transcriptional circuitry, and Blimp-1 and Bcl-6 are expressed fully and mutually exclusively in individual iPCs. However, a minor proportion of iPCs express both, and they are preferentially protected by p18 or Bcl-xL overexpression, consistent with expansion of the iPC pool by Bcl-xL overexpression, or loss of proapoptotic Bim or Noxa. Expression of Noxa is induced during B-cell activation, peaks in iPCs, and selectively repressed by p18. It is required to promote apoptosis of cycling B cells, especially in the absence of p18. These findings define the first physiologic function for Noxa and suggest that by repressing Noxa, induction of G1 arrest by p18 bypasses a homeostatic cell-cycle checkpoint in iPCs for PC differentiation.
Barriers and facilitators of disclosures of domestic violence by
mental health service users: qualitative study
Authors: Rose Diana , Trevillion Kylee , Woodall Anna , Morgan Craig , Feder Gene , Howard Louise
Published: December 2010

Background

Mental health service users are at high risk of domestic violence but
this is often not detected by mental health services.

Aims

To explore the facilitators and barriers to disclosure of domestic
violence from a service user and professional perspective.

Method

A qualitative study in a socioeconomically deprived south London borough,
UK, with 18 mental health service users and 20 mental health
professionals. Purposive sampling of community mental health service
users and mental healthcare professionals was used to recruit
participants for individual interviews. Thematic analysis was used to
determine dominant and subthemes. These were transformed into conceptual
maps with accompanying illustrative quotations.

Results

Service users described barriers to disclosure of domestic violence to
professionals including: fear of the consequences, including fear of
Social Services involvement and consequent child protection proceedings,
fear that disclosure would not be believed, and fear that disclosure
would lead to further violence; the hidden nature of the violence;
actions of the perpetrator; and feelings of shame. The main themes for
professionals concerned role boundaries, competency and confidence.
Service users and professionals reported that the medical diagnostic and
treatment model with its emphasis on symptoms could act as a barrier to
enquiry and disclosure. Both groups reported that enquiry and disclosure
were facilitated by a supportive and trusting relationship between the
individual and professional.

Conclusions

Mental health services are not currently conducive to the disclosure of
domestic violence. Training of professionals in how to address domestic
violence to increase their confidence and expertise is recommended.
Applied behaviour analysis and standard treatment in
intellectual disability: 2-year outcomes
Authors: Hassiotis Angela , Canagasabey Anton , Robotham Daniel , Marston Louise , Romeo Renee , King Michael
Published: December 2010

Applied behaviour analysis by a specialist team plus standard treatment for
adults with intellectual disability displaying challenging behaviour was
reported to be clinically and cost-effective after 6 months. In a 2-year
follow-up of the same trial cohort, participants receiving the specialist
intervention had significantly lower total and subdomain Aberrant Behavior
Checklist scores than those receiving usual care alone. After adjustment for
baseline covariates there was no significant difference in costs between the
trial arms.
Novel Ontogenetic Patterns of Sexual Differentiation in Arcuate Nucleus GHRH Neurons Revealed in GHRH-Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Transgenic Mice
Authors: McArthur Simon , Robinson Iain C. , Gillies Glenda E.
Published: December 2010

GH secretion and growth rates are developmentally regulated and sexually dimorphic, but the neuroregulatory mechanisms between birth and puberty are unclear. Using the GHRH-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) transgenic mouse, in which eGFP provides a strong surrogate signal for identifying GHRH neurons, we showed that numbers in the male arcuate nucleus were double those seen in females at x postnatal day (P)1 and P10, during which time numbers increased 2- to 3-fold. Thereafter (P20, P30, P60, P365) there was a significant trend for numbers to decrease in males and increase in females, such that sex differences were, surprisingly, absent in young and late adulthood. Conversely, we identified the emergence of male-dominant sex differences in the number of processes extended per GHRH perikarya across puberty. Intriguingly, prepubertal gonadectomy (P28), unlike adult gonadectomy, caused a dramatic 40% loss of GHRH cells in both sexes in adulthood and a significant (30%) increase in processes emanating from cell bodies only in females. These findings establish a novel ontogenetic profile for GHRH neurons and suggest previously undiscovered roles for peripubertal gonadal factors in establishing population size in both sexes. They also provide the first demonstration of emergent sex-specific GHRH architecture, which may signal the onset of sex-dependent regulation of activity reported for adult GHRH-eGFP neurons, and its differential regulation by gonadal factors in males and females. This information adds to our knowledge of processes that underpin the emergence of sex-specific GH secretory dynamics and hence biological activity of this pleiotropic hormone.
Regulation of fragile sites expression in budding yeast by MEC1, RRM3 and hydroxyurea
Authors: Hashash Nadia , Johnson Anthony L. , Cha Rita S.
Published: December 2010

Fragile sites are specific loci within the genome that exhibit increased tendencies for chromosome breakage. They are conserved among mammals and are also found in lower eukaryotes including yeast and fly. Many conditions, including mutations and exogenous factors, contribute to fragile site expression, but the nature of interaction among them remains elusive. Here, we investigated this by examining the combined effects of rrm3Δ, mec1 and hydroxyurea (HU), three conditions that induce fragile sites, on expression of the replication slow zone (RSZ), a type of fragile site in budding yeast. Contrary to the expectation that each factor would contribute to fragile site expression in an independent manner, we show that rrm3Δ and high concentrations of HU suppressed RSZ expression in mec1-4ts cells. Further analyses revealed that rrm3Δ suppression occurs via promotion of Sml1 degradation, whereas HU suppresses RSZ via a premature commitment to inviability. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that: (1) the yeast genome contains different types of fragile site with regard to regulation of their expression, and (2) each fragile-site-inducing condition does not act independently, but can elicit a cellular response(s) that can paradoxically prevent the expression of a specific type(s) of fragile sites.
Hybridization of Carbon Nanotubes with Si–π Polymers and Attachment of Resulting Hybrids to TiO2 Surface
Authors: Ohshita Joji , Tanaka Daiki , Matsukawa Junya , Mizumo Tomonobu , Yoshida Hiroto , Ooyama Yousuke , Harima Yutaka
Published: December 2010

The Sonogashira coupling of diethynyldisilanes with dibromopyrene in the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) produced soluble hybrid materials of poly(disilanylenediethynylpyrene)s and SWNTs. Ball milling of poly(disilanylenediethynylpyrene)s or poly(disilanylenequinquethienylene) with SWNTs also afforded the polymer–SWNT hybrids. Irradiation of TiO2 electrodes in chloroform solutions of the hybrids led to the attachment of the hybrids to the TiO2 surface via Si–O–Ti bonding. Applications of the hybrid-attached TiO2 electrodes to dye-sensitized solar cells were studied.
Photochromism of a Diarylethene with Methoxymethyl Groups at Reactive Carbons: Thermal Irreversible Reaction of the Closed-ring Isomer
Authors: Kitagawa Daichi , Kobatake Seiya
Published: December 2010

A photochromic diarylethene having methoxymethyl groups at the reactive carbons was synthesized, and the thermal stability of the closed-ring isomer was examined. The closed-ring isomer of the diarylethene caused both the thermal cycloreversion and a thermally irreversible reaction at 120 °C. The structure of the thermal product was determined by 1H NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.
Ionic Liquid Molecules (ILs) as Novel Guests for Pillar[5]arene: 1:2 Host–Guest Complexes between Pillar[5]arene and ILs in Organic Media
Authors: Ogoshi Tomoki , Tanaka Shunya , Yamagishi Tada-aki , Nakamoto Yoshiaki
Published: December 2010

Pillar[5]arene formed 1:2 host–guest complexes with ionic liquid molecules in organic media. Chemically responsive release of ionic liquid molecules from the cavity of pillar[5]arene is also reported.
Single-crystal Structure of Porphyrin Bicapped with Trimethyl-β-cyclodextrins: A Novel Dye-oriented Material
Authors: Tsuchiya Youichi , Yamano Akihito , Shiraki Tomohiro , Sada Kazuki , Shinkai Seiji
Published: December 2010

Complexes formed between porphyrins and cyclodextrins are among the most fascinating targets of host–guest complexes. So far, the structural details have been discussed on the basis of the solution properties. However, the real complex structure determined from single-crystal analysis is not known up to the present. In this paper, we report the first successful example for formation of a single crystal and its X-ray analysis. We believe that the resultant dye-oriented crystalline material would lead to novel host–guest chemistry applicable to new photo and electronic devices.
Intrinsic resistance to aminoglycosides in Enterococcus faecium is conferred by the 16S rRNA m5C1404-specific methyltransferase EfmM
Authors: Galimand Marc , Schmitt Emmanuelle , Panvert Michel , Desmolaize Benoît , Douthwaite Stephen , Mechulam Yves , Courvalin Patrice
Published: December 2010

Aminoglycosides are ribosome-targeting antibiotics and a major drug group of choice in the treatment of serious enterococcal infections. Here we show that aminoglycoside resistance in Enterococcus faecium strain CIP 54-32 is conferred by the chromosomal gene efmM, encoding the E. faeciummethyltransferase, as well as by the previously characterized aac(6′)-Ii that encodes a 6′-N-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase. Inactivation of efmM in E. faecium increases susceptibility to the aminoglycosides kanamycin and tobramycin, and, conversely, expression of a recombinant version of efmM in Escherichia coli confers resistance to these drugs. The EfmM protein shows significant sequence similarity to E. coli RsmF (previously called YebU), which is a 5-methylcytidine (m5C) methyltransferase modifying 16S rRNA nucleotide C1407. The target for EfmM is shown by mass spectrometry to be a neighboring 16S rRNA nucleotide at C1404. EfmM uses the methyl group donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine to catalyze formation of m5C1404 on the 30S ribosomal subunit, whereas naked 16S rRNA and the 70S ribosome are not substrates. Addition of the 5-methyl to C1404 sterically hinders aminoglycoside binding. Crystallographic structure determination of EfmM at 2.28 Å resolution reveals an N-terminal domain connected to a central methyltransferase domain that is linked by a flexible lysine-rich region to two C-terminal subdomains. Mutagenesis of the methyltransferase domain established that two cysteines at specific tertiary locations are required for catalysis. The tertiary structure of EfmM is highly similar to that of RsmF, consistent with m5C formation at adjacent sites on the 30S subunit, while distinctive structural features account for the enzymes' respective specificities for nucleotides C1404 and C1407.
Competing RNA secondary structures are required for mutually exclusive splicing of the Dscam exon 6 cluster
Authors: May Gemma E. , Olson Sara , McManus C. Joel , Graveley Brenton R.
Published: December 2010

Alternative splicing of eukaryotic pre-mRNAs is an important mechanism for generating proteome diversity and regulating gene expression. The Drosophila melanogaster Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (Dscam) gene is an extreme example of mutually exclusive splicing. Dscam contains 95 alternatively spliced exons that potentially encode 38,016 distinct mRNA and protein isoforms. We previously identified two sets of conserved sequence elements, the docking site and selector sequences in the Dscam exon 6 cluster, which contains 48 mutually exclusive exons. These elements were proposed to engage in competing RNA secondary structures required for mutually exclusive splicing, though this model has not yet been experimentally tested. Here we describe a new system that allowed us to demonstrate that the docking site and selector sequences are indeed required for exon 6 mutually exclusive splicing and that the strength of these RNA structures determines the frequency of exon 6 inclusion. We also show that the function of the docking site has been conserved for ∼500 million years of evolution. This work demonstrates that conserved intronic sequences play a functional role in mutually exclusive splicing of the Dscam exon 6 cluster.
Dynamic testing with tangible electronics: Measuring children's change in strategy use with a series completion task
Authors: Resing Wilma C. M. , Elliott Julian G.
Published: December 2010

Aims.  This study sought to explore the use of a novel approach that incorporates dynamic testing and tangible electronics in the assessment of children's learning potential and strategy use.

Sample.  A total of 77 children with a mean age 8.9 years participated in the study; half of them were dynamically tested using graduate prompt techniques; the others served as a control group.

Method.  Children in the experimental group received a series of inputs consisting of a pre‐test, two training sessions, and a post‐test all involving a number of series completion tasks; the controls received only pre‐ and post‐tests. All test sessions were undertaken individually using a specially designed programme incorporating an electronic console and tangible materials equipped internally with sensors.

Results.  As a consequence of training, children significantly outperformed controls on a number of series completion tasks. Significant individual differences were noted in terms of the children's response to assistance. The study's hypothesis that dynamic testing would increase analytical, and reduce trial‐and‐error, behaviour was supported. While a significant proportion of the children employed strategies that had earlier been identified as optimal, a sizeable minority demonstrated rather more idiosyncratic approaches.

Conclusions.  Findings from the study demonstrate the potential value of electronic dynamic testing using graduated prompts. However, a number of further refinements to improve the procedure are suggested.
Effects of a ‘Learn to Think’ intervention programme on primary school students
Authors: Hu Weiping , Adey Philip , Jia Xiaojuan , Liu Jia , Zhang Lei , Li Jing , Dong Xiaomei
Published: December 2010

Background.  Methods for teaching thinking may be described as out‐of‐context or infusion. Both approaches have potential to raise students’ general cognitive processing ability and so raise academic achievement, but each has disadvantages.

Aims.  To describe and evaluate a theory‐based learn to think (LTT) curriculum for primary school students, which draws on the strengths of both out‐of‐context and infusion approaches.

Sample.  One‐hundred and sixty‐six students in three classes of Grade 1 (6+ years old), Grade 2 (7+ years old), and Grade 3 (8+ years old) in a primary school in Shanxi province, China, randomly ascribed to experimental (90) and control (76) groups.

Methods.  All students were pre‐tested for non‐verbal intelligence and academic achievement. Experimental students followed the LTT curriculum (one activity every 2 weeks) for 4 school years. All were post‐tested on three occasions for thinking ability and four times for academic achievement.

Results.  Grade 1 and Grade 2 students showed effects of LTT from 1 year after their start and increasing: on thinking abilityd= .78–1.45; on Chinesed= .68–1.07; on maths .58–.87. Grade 3 students showed effects from 6 months after their start: on thinking ability .90–1.37; Chinese .77–1.32; maths .65–1.29. The effects were concentrated in students in the middle band of initial ability.

Conclusions.  A curriculum for teaching thinking based on a structured theoretical model that combines elements of out‐of‐context and infusion methods has been shown to have long‐term far transfer effects on students’ thinking ability and academic achievement. More work is needed to meet the needs of a wider range of abilities.
Self‐regulated learning of basic arithmetic skills: A longitudinal study
Authors: Throndsen Inger
Published: December 2010

Background. Several studies have examined young primary school children's use of strategies when solving simple addition and subtraction problems. Most of these studies have investigated students’ strategy use as if they were isolated processes. To date, we have little knowledge about how math strategies in young students are related to other important aspects in self‐regulated learning.

Aim. The main purpose of this study was to examine relations between young primary school children's basic mathematical skills and their use of math strategies, their metacognitive competence and motivational beliefs, and to investigate how students with basic mathematics skills at various levels differ in respect to the different self‐regulation components.

Sample. The participants were comprised of 27 Year 2 students, all from the same class.

Method. The data were collected in three stages (autumn Year 2, spring Year 2, and autumn Year 3). The children's arithmetic skills were measured by age relevant tests, while strategy use, metacognitive competence, and motivational beliefs were assessed through individual interviews. The participants were divided into three performance groups; very good students, good students, and not‐so‐good students.

Results. Analyses revealed that young primary school children at different levels of basic mathematics skill may differ in several important aspects of self‐regulated learning. Analyses revealed that a good performance in addition and subtraction was related not only to the children's use of advanced mathematics strategies, but also to domain‐specific metacognitive competence, ability attribution for success, effort attribution for failure, and high perceived self‐efficacy when using specific strategies.

Conclusions. The results indicate that instructional efforts to facilitate self‐regulated learning of basic arithmetic skills should address cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational aspects of self‐regulation. This is particularly important for low‐performing students.
Loglinear representations of multivariate Bernoulli Rasch models
Authors: Hessen David J.
Published: December 2010

In this paper, the extended Rasch model for dichotomously scored items is derived from the general multivariate Bernoulli distribution. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the multivariate Bernoulli distribution to be equal to the extended Rasch model provide a new loglinear representation of the extended Rasch model. Conditions are also given under which the extended Rasch model is equal to the random effects Rasch model, and it is shown under what conditions the extended Rasch model is equal to a random effects Rasch model in which the underlying variable has a normal distribution. In addition, alternative models for the construction of likelihood ratio tests are proposed. One of these alternative models is Haberman's extended interaction model. Furthermore, it is shown how both the SPSS and SAS programs can be used to estimate and test loglinear representations of extended Rasch models.
A closer look at the effect of preliminary goodness‐of‐fit testing for normality for the one‐sample t‐test
Authors: Rochon Justine , Kieser Meinhard
Published: December 2010

Student's one‐sample t‐test is a commonly used method when inference about the population mean is made. As advocated in textbooks and articles, the assumption of normality is often checked by a preliminary goodness‐of‐fit (GOF) test. In a paper recently published by Schucany and Ng it was shown that, for the uniform distribution, screening of samples by a pretest for normality leads to a more conservative conditional Type I error rate than application of the one‐sample t‐test without preliminary GOF test. In contrast, for the exponential distribution, the conditional level is even more elevated than the Type I error rate of the t‐test without pretest. We examine the reasons behind these characteristics. In a simulation study, samples drawn from the exponential, lognormal, uniform, Student's t‐distribution with 2 degrees of freedom (t2) and the standard normal distribution that had passed normality screening, as well as the ingredients of the test statistics calculated from these samples, are investigated. For non‐normal distributions, we found that preliminary testing for normality may change the distribution of means and standard deviations of the selected samples as well as the correlation between them (if the underlying distribution is non‐symmetric), thus leading to altered distributions of the resulting test statistics. It is shown that for skewed distributions the excess in Type I error rate may be even more pronounced when testing one‐sided hypotheses.
Bootstrap standard error and confidence intervals for the correlations corrected for indirect range restriction
Authors: Li Johnson Ching‐hong , Chan Wai , Cui Ying
Published: December 2010

The standard Pearson correlation coefficient, r, is a biased estimator of the population correlation coefficient, ρXY, when predictor X and criterion Y are indirectly range‐restricted by a third variable Z (or S). Two correction algorithms, Thorndike's (1949) Case III, and Schmidt, Oh, and Le's (2006) Case IV, have been proposed to correct for the bias. However, to our knowledge, the two algorithms did not provide a procedure to estimate the associated standard error and confidence intervals. This paper suggests using the bootstrap procedure as an alternative. Two Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to systematically evaluate the empirical performance of the proposed bootstrap procedure. The results indicated that the bootstrap standard error and confidence intervals were generally accurate across simulation conditions (e.g., selection ratio, sample size). The proposed bootstrap procedure can provide a useful alternative for the estimation of the standard error and confidence intervals for the correlation corrected for indirect range restriction.
The effect of applicant–employee fit and temporal construal on employer attraction and pursuit intentions
Authors: von Walter Benjamin , Wentzel Daniel , Tomczak Torsten
Published: December 2010

Although applicant–employee fit has emerged as an important topic in recruitment research, little is known about how job seekers’ perceived similarity with the employees working for an organization affects employer attraction. In this research, we introduce temporal construal as a crucial moderating variable and study how the temporal decision context affects the weighting of applicant–employee fit. In particular, we argue that applicant–employee fit is construed in abstract, high‐level terms, and exerts a stronger influence when prospective applicants hold a distant time perspective. In contrast, instrumental attributes such as pay level represent low‐level construals and gain greater relevance when prospective applicants hold a near time perspective. Two experiments involving a student sample and a sample of unemployed job seekers supported these predictions.
Anger response styles in Chinese and Dutch children: A socio‐cultural perspective on anger regulation
Authors: Novin Sheida , Rieffe Carolien , Banerjee Robin , Miers Anne C. , Cheung Jamie
Published: December 2010

In this study, we evaluated hypotheses about cultural convergence and divergence in the nature and correlates of anger expressions. With a sample of 141 11‐year‐olds from the Netherlands and Hong Kong, we first examined a broad range of strategies for responding to a provocateur, finding that both Chinese and Dutch children were more likely to use intrapersonal strategies (for coping internally with the angry feelings) than interpersonal responses (to communicate anger to the provocateur). No cultural divergence was shown in the overall extent to which anger would be verbally expressed, but differences became apparent when we asked children precisely what they would say to an aggressor in a hypothetical anger‐eliciting situation. As predicted, Chinese children were more likely to react tolerantly to the aggressor than their Dutch peers, whereas Dutch children indicated that they would verbally confront the aggressor more often, trying to reinstate their personal goals. In comparison with Dutch children, the Chinese sample viewed their chosen strategies as more likely to elicit positive reactions from the aggressor and to reduce anger. Directions for further research on the personal and socio‐cultural functionality of anger response styles are discussed.
Basal and Stimulated Calcitonin and Procalcitonin by Various Assays in Patients with and without Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Kratzsch Jürgen , Petzold Anne , Raue Friedhelm , Reinhardt Walter , Bröcker-Preuβ Martina , Görges Rainer , Mann Klaus , Karges Wolfram , Morgenthaler Nils , Luster Markus , Reiners Christoph , Thiery Joachim , Dralle Henning , Fuhrer Dagmar
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND

Calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive marker for evaluation of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). However, CT measurement can vary with assay- and nonassay-dependent factors, and procalcitonin (PCT) measurement has been proposed for evaluating questionable increases in CT.

METHODS

We tested 2 fully automated CT assays (Immulite [IL] and Liaison [LIA]) and 1 nonautomated CT assay (IRMA, Medipan) and compared these results with PCT (Brahms Kryptor). We evaluated preanalytical conditions and PCT cross-reactivity in sera of 437 patients with clinical conditions associated with hypercalcitoninemia. Additionally, we determined the true “nil” CT concentration in 60 thyroidectomized patients and defined CT cutoff concentrations for pentagastrin stimulation testing in 13 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and 10 MTC patients.

RESULTS

Markedly decreased CT concentrations were found after storage of sera for >2 h at room temperature and >6 h at 4 °C. Cutoff concentrations for basal and stimulated CT were disease and assay dependent. Proton pump inhibitor therapy was the most frequent reason for increased CT. PCT concentrations were higher in patients with MTC than in patients with CKD without infections (P < 0.001). Whereas IL and LIA demonstrated comparable analytical quality, the IRMA gave increased CT concentrations in nil sera and showed cross-reactivity with PCT in patients with concomitant bacterial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

IL, LIA, and IRMA detected increased CT concentrations in non-MTC patients and discriminated MTC from CKD patients in pentagastrin tests. PCT assessment may be helpful in the diagnostic work-up of increased CT concentrations in questionable clinical circumstances.
Current Status of Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids Meeting European Underground Mining Standards
Authors: Vettel Paula , Hertel Guenter
Published: December 2010

The European Mines Safety Commission was established in 1961 in response to a mining disaster in August 1956 at Bois du Cazier, Belgium. Hydraulic hoses were ruptured and the pressurized flammable hydraulic fluid was ignited, resulting in 267 deaths. A commission of technical experts from Europe was formed to recommend replacements for flammable oils in critical applications. Specifications were developed for fluids used in underground pumping systems and mining roof support equipment. The initial report was last updated in 1994 and is now known as the 7th Luxembourg Report. This document has been particularly important for the underground mining industry. The Report is in the process of being updated by conversion of the test methods and requirements to ISO standards. The 7th Luxembourg Report contains four categories of required testing: Fire resistance, technological properties, ecological properties, and toxicological properties. Approval testing must be conducted by a certified independent laboratory. This paper will discuss each of these categories and give examples of the tests required. Particular emphasis will be given to high water content mining hydraulic fluids and the problems encountered with corrosion resistance and emulsion stability. A new classification for water glycol fluids with lower water content has been added in recent years. An example will be shown of a fluid in this classification that meets all of the 7th Luxembourg requirements and provides excellent pump lubrication with no derating of the pump.
Determination of the activation constants for miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) by linear least squares regression
Authors: Wasim Mohammad , Arif Mohammad , Zaidi Jamshed Hussain
Published: December 2010

This paper presents a detailed description of the determination of experimental activation constants for 22 elements for miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR). The activation constants have been measured for the most intense γ-rays of the radionuclides commonly observed in neutron activation analysis. The experimental values have been compared with those based on mathematical expression and calculated by using f and α of the irradiation channel and k
0 and Q
0 factors from published literature. A comparison of the expression-based and experimentally determined activation constants shows a good agreement, except for some cases where difference is about 10% of the expression-based values. The activation constants were validated by analyzing synthetic multielement standards (SMELS-I and -II); the results revealed all elements within ±3 Z-score.
99mTc-Novobiocin: a~novel radiotracer for infection imaging
Authors: Shah S. Q. , Khan M. R. , Khan A. U.
Published: December 2010

The radiosynthesis of 99mTc-Novobiocin (99mTc-NBN) complex and its suitability as a radiotracer for infection imaging was assessed. The radiochemical purity (RCP) of the 99mTc-NBN complex was determined using radio-TLC and radioactive HPLC and biodistribution was studied in artificially infected (A.I.) rats and rabbit, using single well gamma counter (SWGRC) interface with scalar count rate meter (SCRM) and Gamma Camera (γ-CM). The maximum RCP observed for the preparation having 2 mg of NBN, 111 MBq of sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) and 125 μL of SnF2 (1 μg/μL in 0.01 N HCl) at a pH 5.6 was 98.97±0.40% and remained stable >90% up to 120 min. The activity of the 99mTc-NBN in the infected muscle (TI) was significantly increased from 6.50±0.15 to 19.00±0.17% and decreased in the inflamed muscle (TII), normal muscle (NT), blood, liver, spleen, stomach and intestine within 120 min. The TI/NT and TII/NT ratios were 7.60±1.08 and 1.60±1.14. The Whole Body Static (WBS) images of A.I. rabbit were obtained at 30, 40, 50 and 60 min after the I.V. administration of 111 MBq of 99mTc-NBN to the A.I. rabbit. The stability in saline and serum, higher TI/NT, lower TII/NT ratios and WBS images confirmed the feasibility of the 99mTc-NBN complex as an infection imaging agent.
Optimising BTP ligands by tuning their basicity
Authors: Trumm S. , Wipff G. , Geist Andreas , Panak Petra J. , Fanghänel Thomas
Published: December 2010

A novel approach for the optimisation of extractants for the actinide(III)/lanthanide(III) separation is presented. Two BTP ligands are synthesised carrying OMe or Cl moieties on the pyridine ring, thus altering the electronic structure of the aromatic system. The influence of functionalisation on the ligand basicity is determined both spectroscopically and by quantum chemical calculations. Furthermore, we show that both distribution ratios and separation factors for Am(III)/Eu(III) separation increase upon increase of ligand basicity.
Investigations on redox behaviour of Pu(IV)/Pu(III) in H2SO4 on Pt nanoparticles-modified glassy carbon and platinum electrodes
Authors: Sharma Manoj K , Ambolikar Arvind S , Aggarwal S. K.
Published: December 2010

Redox behaviour of Pu(IV)/Pu(III) couple in 1 M H2SO4 was investigated on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)-modified glassy carbon (GC) and Pt electrodes. PtNPs-modified electrodes were prepared by electrodeposition of Pt from 10 mM K2PtCl4+0.1 M H2SO4 solution. Redox kinetics were observed to improve in both the oxidation and reduction processes after electrodeposition of PtNPs in contrast to bare electrodes. However, significant improvement was seen for the reduction of Pu(IV) to Pu(III) in PtNPs coated GC electrode compared to bare GC electrode. These studies are of great relevance to develop electroanalytical methodologies for Pu determination using nanoparticles modified electrodes.
The Survival and Development Space for China's Labor NGOs: Informal Politics and Its Uncertainty
Authors: Cheng Joseph Y. S. , Ngok Kinglun , Zhuang Wenjia
Published: December 2010

This article attempts to use three case studies of labor organizations to explain the uncertainty of informal politics in China. Because informal rules are naturally vague and uncertain, the tactical interactions between government agencies and civic groups become unbalanced. Uncertainty in informal politics in China is almost inevitable.
India and Military Power Projection: Will the Land of Gandhi Become a Conventional Great Power?
Authors: Ladwig Walter C.
Published: December 2010

All three branches of the Indian armed forces have recently articulated the need to operate beyond the country's immediate borders. While the Indian military is highly unlikely to achieve its more ambitious power projection objectives in the medium term, the conventional wisdom that India's traditional foreign-policy orientation precludes military power projection is untenable, especially for an aspiring regional hegemon.
Vietnamese Engagement with Tamil Migrants in Colonial Cochinchina
Authors: Pairaudeau Natasha
Published: December 2010

This article seeks to understand how Vietnamese in colonial Cochinchina engaged with Tamil migrants in their midst. By shedding light on little-known aspects of the Indian role in Cochinchina, it offers a new perspective on the complexities of the lived experience of colonialism for Vietnamese in the colony. It reveals the important role, until now unrecognized, of the Tamil presence in shaping Vietnamese calls for reform in the southern part of Vietnam. The rare glimpse offered of Indian migration under French (rather than British) imperial conditions is of important comparative relevance to scholars of Indian diasporas across the colonial world.
Lê Vân and Notions of Vietnamese Womanhood
Authors: Schafer John C.
Published: December 2010

In this article I investigate notions of womanhood in Vietnam by examining an autobiography by Lê Vân, a well-known actress. My approach, taken from literary studies, is intertextual: it assumes that in telling their life stories authors will inevitably evoke "texts," or cultural codes, relating to manhood and womanhood. I identify, categorize, and discuss some texts related to womanhood that Lê Vân evokes in her autobiography. I conclude that these texts favor men, making gender equality difficult to achieve. Culture influences do not determine behavior, however, and thus agency—acting creatively—is possible, and I find evidence of it in Lê Vân's Loving and Living.
Post-1975 Land Reform in Southern Vietnam: How Local Actions and Responses Affected National Land Policy
Authors: Dang Trung Dinh
Published: December 2010

After 1975, the Vietnamese Communist Party struggled to carry out the socialist transformation of agriculture in the south of Vietnam. Party leaders considered land redistribution to be a temporary measure toward collectivization, but it turned out be a source of long-term struggle and conflict between the party and southern society. The land reform encountered diffi culty in the Southern Region [Nam Bộ]; its implementation dragged on for many years, and the result was far different from the party's original objectives. This article argues that villagers and local cadres were two key sets of actors who contributed to the poor performance of the reform. Moreover, in order to defend their land, villagers in the Southern Region engaged not only in forms of everyday resistance but also in some open, public, confrontational resistance and other kinds of politics.
Plasmapheresis as preparatory method for thymectomy in myasthenia gravis
Authors: Seggia José Carlos Brant , Abreu Paulo , Takatani M.
Published: December 2010

To study the effects of plasmapheresis in preparation for thymectomy, two groups of 40 patients were selected from a sample of 286 patients with myasthenia gravis examined by the first author Group 1 included patients (15 male and 25 female; age range 8-64 yrs) who underwent thymectomy without previous plasmapheresis, whereas patients in group 2 (17 male and 23 female; age range 11-61 yrs) were thymectomized after plasmapheresis. We required patients to have a minimum follow-up period of 12 months to be included in the study. A clinical evaluation protocol composed of 76 items was developed for the study. We found significant improvement in respiratory function and muscular strength in patients thymetomized after plasmapheresis. Furthermore, the combined treatment reduced cost and length of hospital stay. Therefore, we conclude that plasmapheresis should be considered as a coadjuvant to thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Bilateral putaminal hemorrhage related to methanol poisoning: a complication of hemodialysis? Case report
Authors: Giudicissi Filho Miguel , Holanda Carlos V. M. , Nader Nelson A. , Gomes Sergio R. P. , Bertolucci Paulo H. F.
Published: December 2010

A case of acute methanol intoxication is presented, in which bilateral putaminal hemorrhage developed after hemodialysis. Even though the patient was initially comatose and profoundly acidotic, favorable outcome was achieved, with long-term neurologic impairments essentially restricted to mild crural paraparesis, retrograde amnesia, and marked visual deficit. A comparative literature review is evaluated.