bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Judicial Approaches to Tobacco Control: The Third Wave of Tobacco Litigation as a Tobacco Control Mechanism
Authors: Kelder Graham E. , Daynard Richard A.
Published: April 2010

Tobacco products liability litigation is one of the most potentially effective means of controlling the sale and use of tobacco. Recent factual developments—concerning (1) the addictiveness of nicotine, (2) tobacco industry knowledge of this addictive‐ness, and (3) the industry's efforts to conceal its knowledge from the public while making its products more addictive—make it unlikely that the tactics used successfully by the tobacco industry in the first (1954 to 1973) and second (1983 to 1992) waves of tobacco litigation will succeed in the third wave of tobacco litigation. Victory in any of these cases would result in a transfer of costs from injured states or individuals to the tobacco industry. Such a transfer of costs would likely have the immediate impact of raising cigarette prices and thereby lowering cigarette consumption. The long‐term effects of a victory would probably be much more devastating to the industry.
Introduction of the 1995 Kurt Lewin Memorial Award Recipient: Marilynn B. Brewer
Authors: Penner Louis A.
Published: April 2010

It is my great pleasure to introduce Dr. Marilynn Brewer, Regents Professor of Psychology at the Ohio State University and this year's recipient of the Kurt Lewin Memorial Award. This award is given annually by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues to an individual whose career and professional achievements reflect the values and ideals of Kurt Lewin. It was the judgment of the 1995 committee members, Peggy Clark, Jack Dovidio, and myself that Dr. Brewer is an extremely appropriate recipient of this award. But, before I tell you about Dr. Brewer, I want to briefly discuss some aspects of Kurt Lewin's life, some of his contributions to social issues and action research, and the origins of this award. Then I will tell you about Marilynn Brewer and some of the reasons why we chose her for this award.
The Personal and Social Correlates of a Gender Difference Ideology
Authors: Lott Bernice
Published: April 2010

In our society, widely shared strong beliefs about differences between women and men in interests, competencies, and roles are ubiquitous. This paper explores the powerful, problematic and widespread influence of this gender difference ideology, and presents examples from areas of personal experience, family life, paid employment, and social interaction. It is proposed that the relationship between a gender ideology and social behavior is a complex one and that beliefs do not necessarily precede behavior. A final section presents challenges to a gender difference ideology and suggests that, because our construction of gender is inextricably tied to inequality, our study of gender must focus on the process and conditions that underlie the construction.
How Paradigms Shape the Stories We Tell: Paradigm Shifts in Gender and Health
Authors: Barnett Rosalind C.
Published: April 2010

The stories we tell about the linkages between gender and health are shaped by the paradigms that guide our inquiries. Paradigms direct our attention away from certain phenomena and toward others. In particular, the dominant paradigms in the study of gender and health have promoted studies of differences, not similarities. Even in the face of strong challenges, many old paradigms persist. Continued reliance on flawed and insensitive paradigms is a major social issue. The aim of this article is to illustrate where we have come from, where we are now, and where we are heading in the study of gender and health. I will do this by tracking changes in the underlying paradigms that have shaped this research area, focusing on the literature in the area of gender and psychosocial factors, especially social‐role experiences, and stress‐related mental and physical health, to highlight changes that have taken place in these paradigms.
Gender and Emotion: Beyond Stereotypes
Authors: Brody Leslie R.
Published: April 2010

Stereotypes about gender and emotional expression tend to be imprecise and misleading. They fail to acknowledge situational, individual, and cultural variations in males' and females' emotional expressiveness. They also tend to generalize across emotional intensity and frequency, as well as across different modalities of emotional expression, e.g. verbal vs. behavioral modalities. Moreover, they tend to exaggerate the extent of gender differences in emotional expression. I argue that when gender differences in emotional expression do occur, they can be traced to social processes such as dissimilar gender roles, status and power imbalances, and differing socialization histories of males and females. These processes may predispose some males and females to express emotions differently in some cultures and in some contexts. To support this argument, I present data from two studies, one showing that the amount of time fathers spend with their children relates to the gender stereotypic nature of their children's emotional expressiveness; and the other showing that gender differences in emotional expressiveness are culturally specific in a sample of Asian international, Asian‐American, and European‐American college students. Finally, I note the potentially destructive limitations imposed by stereotypes on males' and females' interpersonal functioning as well as on their mental and physical health.
From Snapshots to Videotape: New Directions in Research on Gender Differences
Authors: Riger Stephanie
Published: April 2010

This article identifies five answers to the question of whether there are sex differences in abilities and personality traits: the “sociobiology” argument, the “differently situated” argument, the “contingent” argument, the “no differences” argument, and the “disadvantage, not difference” argument. The multiplicity of arguments about sex differences derives from contrasting research paradigms in psychology. The individual differences model, stemming from the early days of scientific psychology, assumes a radical individualism in which mental abilities are made up of stable and unalterable individual characteristics that are not influenced by social factors; these characteristics are easily captured by quick, one‐time, “snapshot” research methods. In contrast, the social psychological model considers the individual to be embedded in and influenced by the social situation. This article points out shortcomings of both models for the study of sex differences, and advocates instead a multi‐level approach that considers both micro‐ and macro‐level factors in shaping the behavior of both females and males. Videotape as a metaphor suggests new ways of thinking about research on women's lives.
Participatory Action Research: Psychology and Social Change
Authors: Brydon‐Miller Mary
Published: April 2010

Participatory Action Research provides psychologists with a way of putting their skills and training to work in support of positive social change while still contributing to the important work of knowledge generation within the field. This article summarizes the development of Participatory Action Research and reviews the theoretical justification for this practice as a valid form of social research. The basic tenets and practices of this approach are discussed and the potential role of Participatory Action Research in psychology is considered.
Activist Participatory Research Among the Maya of Guatemala: Constructing Meanings from Situated Knowledge
Authors: Lykes M. Brinton
Published: April 2010

In this article, I analyze two separate experiences with the Maya in rural communities within Guatemala and discuss strengths and limitations of Participatory Action Research (PAR) within this context. These experiences are the context in and from which I explore my “situated otherness” within a praxis of solidarity and question dominant theoretical models for conceptualizing and responding to the effects of war on children. Further, I explore, with my Maya colleagues, alternative methodologies (including PAR) for “standing under” these realities from this position of “other.” I conclude the essay with a brief discussion of selected criteria that contribute to evaluating participatory strategies in PAR and a summary of current efforts to extend this praxis from situations of ongoing violence in Guatemala to more local sites, e.g., Boston, Massachusetts.
Engaging the Process of Transformation
Authors: Brydon‐Miller Mary , Tolman Deborah L.
Published: April 2010

The contributions included in this issue demonstrate the variety of ways in which participatory and interpretive methods are transforming the field of psychology and clarify the integration of the personal and political commitments of the authors within their research. A number of issues remain to be negotiated, however, before these methods take their full place in the field. This conclusion considers a few of these issues, including an examination of how these approaches demand a fundamental reassessment of validity in psychological research. It also considers the critical issue of the ownership of knowledge, and proposes a reframing of the ethical guidelines for research in the field. Finally, it invites further discussion and debate around the issues raised in this issue.
The Perils of a Public Intellectual
Authors: Harris Benjamin
Published: April 2010

In 1939 George W. Hartmann was Chairman of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) and a prominent activist‐scholar. By the end of World War II, his teaching career and psychological health lay in ruin, and he never reestablished his influence as a psychopolitical expert. This article traces the rise and fall of Hartmann's career and its unique mixture of Gestalt psychology, socialism, and anti‐Communism. Unpublished correspondence, family papers, and files from the FBI and other intelligence agencies are used to recreate Hartmann's political personae—including Socialist electoral candidate, chairman of Peace Now, and leader of the War Resisters League. His life as a public intellectual is used to reflect upon the nature of psychological expertise at midcentury.
Creating a Consensus: Psychologists, the Supreme Court, and School Desegregation, 1952–1955
Authors: Jackson John P.
Published: April 2010

SPSSI psychologists' involvement in the early civil rights movement in the postwar United States was epitomized by their involvement in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. This article examines how social scientists sought to maintain the persona of objective, scientific expert when asked to prepare briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court for the Brown case. The social scientists believed that only by collapsing what they saw as an artificial distinction between objectivity and advocacy could the social scientist become a social activist. This article is based on extensive research in numerous archives, including the papers of Gordon W. Allport, Kenneth B. Clark, Stuart W. Cook, David Krech, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Theodore M. Newcomb, Robert Redfield, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.
Science in the Service of the Far Right: Henry E. Garrett, the IAAEE, and the Liberty Lobby
Authors: Winston Andrew S.
Published: April 2010

Henry E. Garrett (1894–1973) was the President of the American Psychological Association in 1946 and Chair of Psychology at Columbia University from 1941 to 1955. In the 1950s Garrett helped organize an international group of scholars dedicated to preventing race mixing, preserving segregation, and promoting the principles of early 20th century eugenics and “race hygiene.” Garrett became a leader in the fight against integration and collaborated with those who sought to revitalize the ideology of National Socialism. I discuss the intertwined history the International Association for the Advancement of Ethnology and Eugenics (IAAEE), the journal Mankind Quarterly, the neofascist Northern League, and the ultra‐right‐wing political group, the Liberty Lobby. The use of psychological research and expertise in the promotion of neofascism is examined.
Paradigm Shift: Why a Focus on Health Is Important
Authors: Ickovics Jeannette R. , Park Crystal L.
Published: April 2010

Traditionally, medicine and the social and behavioral sciences have studied health by focusing on pathology. The purpose of this issue of the Journal is to go beyond such a vulnerability model and focus on thriving. We suggest that thriving represents something more than a return to equilibrium following a challenge. This issue describes a “value‐added” model, whereby an individual or community may go beyond survival and recovery from a stressor or illness to thrive. We suggest that this change of focus from illness to health represents a paradigm shift. This article gives an overview of the various ideas featured in this issue, which elaborate empirical and theoretical work on the concept of thriving. Ultimately, we believe that the scientific study of thriving can enhance our understanding of health and provide important opportunities for prevention and intervention.
Resilience and Thriving: Issues, Models, and Linkages
Authors: Carver Charles S.
Published: April 2010

This article addresses distinctions underlying concepts of resilience and thriving and issues in conceptualizing thriving. Thriving (physical or psychological) may reflect decreased reactivity to subsequent stressors, faster recovery from subsequent stressors, or a consistently higher level of functioning. Psychological thriving may reflect gains in skill, knowledge, confidence, or a sense of security in personal relationships. Psychological thriving resembles other instances of growth. It probably does not depend on the occurrence of a discrete traumatic event or longer term trauma, though such events may elicit it. An important question is why some people thrive, whereas others are impaired, given the same event. A potential answer rests on the idea that differences in confidence and mastery are self‐perpetuating and self‐intensifying. This idea suggests a number of variables whose role in thriving is worth closer study, including personality variables such as optimism, contextual variables such as social support, and situational variables such as the coping reactions elicited by the adverse event.
Stress‐Related Growth and Thriving Through Coping: The Roles of Personality and Cognitive Processes
Authors: Park Crystal L.
Published: April 2010

This article describes the theoretical perspectives and the empirical research relating personal dispositions, resources, appraisals, and coping processes to stress‐related growth and thriving within a transactional stress and coping framework. Following a description of this framework, the personal characteristics relevant to thriving and growth are reviewed. It is noted that personal characteristics may exert effects directly on positive outcomes such as thriving and growth, and that the effects of these personal characteristics may also be mediated by various appraisal and coping processes. Theoretical and empirical work on appraisal and coping processes as predictors of growth and thriving are then reviewed. Work on comprehensive models of stress‐related growth and thriving that include personal resources and coping processes is discussed; such models consider appraisal and coping processes as potential mechanisms through which personal characteristics may operate indirectly to affect stress‐related growth and thriving. Finally, some implications of these relationships for individuals and for communities are suggested.
Quantitative Assessment of Thriving
Authors: Cohen Lawrence H. , Cimbolic Kathleen , Armeli Stephen R. , Hettler Tanya R.
Published: April 2010

We review methodological issues related to the quantitative assessment of thriving with interviews and paper‐and‐pencil scales. We emphasize two new paper‐and‐pencil measures of thriving, the Stress‐Related Growth Scale (SRGS; Park, Cohen, & Murch, 1996) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). These scales are designed to assess perceived benefits that result from a specific stressor. Research with the SRGS suggests a unidimensional structure of thriving, whereas research with the PTGI suggests a multidimensional structure. Two possible reasons for this inconsistent finding concern differences in the method of participant selection and in the recall period for the reporting of stressful events. In addition, we present a number of strategies to validate self‐report measures of thriving, including corroboration from significant others and the use of control groups. We conclude with a brief discussion of the assessment of thriving at the group and community levels.
A Personal Account
Authors: Snodgrass Sara E.
Published: April 2010

The author's personal experience with breast cancer is described and related to the theories and definitions of thriving as discussed in this issue.
Armenia: A Country's History of Challenges
Authors: Karakashian Meliné
Published: April 2010

The example of a small nation of three‐and‐a‐half million people is selected to conceptualize thriving in reference to the individual, the nuclear and extended family, the community, the state, the geopolitics of the land, the diaspora, and the cultural traditions. Armenia is selected not only because it is unique in the amount of adversity it has endured, but also because, as a very small nation, it has survived the challenges of centuries whereas other comparable civilizations have not. The article analyzes the cultural and geo‐historical characteristics of Armenia, the development and role of a diaspora in the preservation of identity, and the contribution of parenting in the development of resilience and thriving. The article concludes that the strength of the family and child‐rearing practices contributes to thriving of the individual and society. In addition, cultural factors, such as the arts, literature, sports, institutions, the church, intercultural networks, and the need to make up for the damages of genocide, earthquakes, and other adversities, contribute to the strength of the people. The article proposes that these characteristics of one society, albeit a small one, are suggestive of the universal human characteristics that contribute to thriving.
Strength in the Face of Adversity: Individual and Social Thriving
Authors: O'Leary Virginia E.
Published: April 2010

Inherent in any profound challenge is the potential for crisis or opportunity. This article focuses on the opportunities that challenge presents at the level of individuals, organizations, and nations: opportunities to move beyond recovery and to display thriving by using the challenge as an impetus for change leading to growth. A variety of individual and social resources hypothesized to promote thriving are explored with an eye toward identifying a set of conceptually meaningful categories for use in future theoretical development and empirical investigation.
Youth Political Development: An Introduction
Authors: Flanagan Constance A. , Sherrod Lonnie R.
Published: April 2010

Research on political socialization during the 1950s focused on early precursors of political attitudes and treated children as rather passive participants in the process. A second wave of research in the 1960s considered youth a force creating social change and held that the transition between adolescence and adulthood was a period uniquely suited to examining political issues. Developmental research during the past two decades has emphasized lifelong plasticity and the importance of the sociohistorical contexts in which children grow up. This change in views of development has occurred at a time when populations in all societies are becoming more diverse and when there have been dramatic economic and sociopolitical upheavals throughout the world. Thus there is a renewed importance for research on the political development of young people and the potential for examining this topic in increasingly meaningful ways. This issue highlights a new generation of research in this domain, paying particular attention to international and comparative work and to those studies that bring afresh and developmental approach.
Political Volunteering From Late Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Authors: Rosenthal Saul , Feiring Candice , Lewis Michael
Published: April 2010

Political and general volunteering were characterized in late adolescence and young adulthood and related to predictive factors from infancy, childhood, and adolescence. One hundred five White participants (48 boys) completed measures of their volunteer involvement at 18 and 21 years of age. In addition, cognitive, social, adjustment, stress, and family data were collected from infancy through adolescence. Results indicated that most adolescents are involved in at least one volunteer activity. From 18 to 21 years of age, the likelihood of volunteering in a political activity increases significantly. In examining predictors of volunteering, results indicate that the strongest relations with volunteering are shown by adolescent factors including cognitive ability, family coherence, and membership in a prosocial organization (such as the Boy Scouts). Results support the notion that the social structure may be modified to provide incentives that increase volunteering.
Urban America as a Context for the Development of Moral Identity in Adolescence
Authors: Hart Daniel , Atkins Robert , Ford Debra
Published: April 2010

Moral identity, defined as a self‐consistent commitment to lines of action benefiting others, is described in the contexts of adolescence and poor, urban neighborhoods. A model of moral identity development is proposed. According to the model, stable characteristics of the individual and the individual's family, in conjunction with social attitudes, self‐conceptions, and opportunities for the exploration of prosocial action, influence the development of moral identity. Analyses from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth provide support for the model, and demonstrate that urban poverty is associated with few opportunities for development of moral identity. We argue that the provision of these opportunities should be given a high priority both to foster good individual development and as a means for increasing social capital in neighborhoods.
Postcommunist Societies in Times of Transition: Perceptions of Change Among Adolescents in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Macek Petr , Flanagan Constance , Gallay Leslie , Kostron Lubomir , Botcheva Luba , Csapo Beno
Published: April 2010

This article examines adolescents' perceptions of the economic changes and the justice of the new “social contract” in Eastern/Central Europe. Focusing on three countries, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, it explores the social, political, and economic environments in which adolescents came of age in 1990. Surveys conducted among high school students in each country during 1995 tapped their perceptions of the economy, the local community, and their personal beliefs about the efficacy of individual initiative and hard work. Responses differed significantly based on age, gender, social class, value orientation, and country. Older adolescents and girls were more likely to observe that economic disparities were growing in their country and to be cynical about the value of hard work. Those with socialist values also discounted the value of recent changes. Adolescents in the Czech Republic were the least cynical about economic changes, whereas those in Bulgaria were the most cynical, with Hungarian youth the least optimistic about the future.
Catapulted Into Democracy: South African Adolescents' Sociopolitical Orientations Following Rapid Social Change
Authors: Finchilescu Gillian , Dawes Andrew
Published: April 2010

In this article, we explore the effects of the political transformations in South Africa on the orientations of adolescents to these changes. The study was conducted between 1992 and 1996. This period includes the first negotiations toward a new political dispensation for the country, the first democratic elections of April 1994, and the first few years of post‐apartheid democratic governance. Informed by generational and life span approaches, this study examined some effects of these changes on 14‐ and 17‐year‐old adolescents. These adolescents grew up in racially segregated South African communities, which had different experiences of the transformation process because of their position in the apartheid racial caste system. Results indicate that the separate and differential life circumstances created under apartheid powerfully shaped orientations to the changes in South Africa since 1994. All the adolescents expressed strong concern with the future. White adolescents in particular were alienated from many of the changes that have taken place, while Black African adolescents were generally positive. Those of Indian and mixed racial descent showed a variety of responses, but were also frequently negative or ambivalent. In addition, perceived differences in the society at the two times of measurement generally had more powerful influences on the participants' orientations than did age.
Theoretical, Empirical, and Practical Approaches to Intergroup Conflict
Authors: Alexander Michele G. , Levin Shana
Published: April 2010

The study of intergroup relations has long been an interest of social scientists, particularly members of The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. The articles in this issue offer a wide variety of theoretical, empirical, and practical approaches to understanding and resolving national and international group conflict. This introductory article summarizes the original social psychological work that laid the foundation for contemporary thinking on intergroup relations, and presents an overview of each of the contributions in this issue. Also discussed are applications of social psychology to real‐world intergroup conflicts.
Identities in Northern Ireland: A Multidimensional Approach
Authors: Cassidy Clare , Trew Karen
Published: April 2010

The conflict in Northern Ireland is often described in terms of a clash of identities, national and religious. This study aimed to determine the relative importance of these identities using a multidimensional approach to examine the identity structures of students (N = 216). Analyses revealed that national and religious identities were accorded low salience and centrality relative to other identities. The study also investigated relations between a variety of identity dimensions derived from two identity traditions, social identity theory and identity theory. The differing patterns of relationships to emerge across groups and across identities suggest that the process of identification in Northern Ireland is a complex one. The implications of these findings for the analysis of the Northern Ireland conflict are discussed.
Coping With Interracial Stress in Ethnically Diverse Classrooms: How Important Are Allport's Contact Conditions?
Authors: Marcus‐Newhall Amy , Heindl Timothy R.
Published: April 2010

This study examined desegregated classrooms with an emphasis on how students' perceptions of Allport's (1954) contact dimensions influence the frequency and effectiveness of their coping strategies for interracial stress, their self‐esteem, and their self‐reported academic performance. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from two ethnically diverse middle schools in Los Angeles, California, participated. Results indicated that students' perceptions of a more positive interracial classroom climate were associated with less frequent and more effective coping strategies, specifically as related to the frequency and effectiveness of positive/approach coping strategies. Positive classroom climate also was related to higher self‐esteem and better academic performance. This research highlights the importance of the presence of contact criteria when desegregation is to be a positive experience both academically and socially and of the integration of coping strategies as a means of reducing interracial stress.
Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Patients with Syncope Evaluated by Head‐Up Tilt Test
Authors: Domenichini Giulia , Diemberger Igor , Biffi Mauro , Martignani Cristian , Valzania Cinzia , Bertini Matteo , Saporito Davide , Ziacchi Matteo , Branzi Angelo , Boriani Giuseppe
Published: April 2010

Background: Clinicians may be tempted to consider a positive head‐up tilt test (HUTT) an unfavorable prognostic indicator. We investigated whether results of routine HUTT predict long‐term recurrence of syncope.

Methods: We analyzed syncope recurrence at long‐term among 107 patients (mean age 51 ± 20 years) receiving HUTT for diagnostic evaluation of unexplained/suspected neurocardiogenic syncope in our Institute.

Results: HUTT was positive in 76 patients (vasodepressive response, n = 58; cardioinhibitory, n = 5; mixed, n = 13). During a median follow‐up of 113 months (range, 7–161), 34 (32%) patients experienced recurrence (24 [32%] with positive HUTT during 110 months (7–159); 10 [32%] with negative HUTT during 120 [22–161] months). Actuarial freedom from recurrence at 10 years did not significantly differ for patients with positive/negative test results (after passive/active phases) or with different positive response patterns (vasodepressive, cardioinhibitory, mixed). By contrast, history of >4 syncopes in the 12 months preceding HUTT stratified risk of recurrence, irrespective of HUTT positivity/negativity. At Cox proportional hazards analysis, history of >4 syncopes in the 12 months preceding HUTT was the single independent risk factor for recurrence both in the overall study population (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.07–2.69) and within the subset of patients who tested positive (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.07–3.17).

Conclusions: This long‐term follow‐up study reinforces the concept that a positive HUTT should not be considered an unfavorable prognostic indicator; frequency of recent occurrences may be a more valid predictor.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):101–106
ST‐Segment Resolution Prior to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Is a Poor Indicator of Coronary Artery Patency in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Verouden Niels J. , Haeck Joost D. , Koch Karel T. , Henriques José P. , Baan Jan , Van Der Schaaf René J. , Vis Marije M. , Peters Ron J. , Wilde Arthur A. , Piek Jan J. , Tijssen Jan G. , De Winter Robbert J.
Published: April 2010

Background: The prognostic value of ST‐segment resolution (STR) after initiation of reperfusion therapy has been established by various studies conducted in both the thrombolytic and mechanic reperfusion era. However, data regarding the value of STR immediately prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to predict infarct‐related artery (IRA) patency remain limited. We investigated whether STR prior to primary PCI is a reliable, noninvasive indicator of IRA patency in patients with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: The study population consisted of STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI at our institution between 2000 and 2007. STR was analyzed in 12‐lead electrocardiograms recorded at first medical contact and immediately prior to primary PCI and defined as complete (≥70%), partial (70%− 30%), or absent (<30%).

Results: In 1253 patients with a complete data set, STR was inversely related to the probability of impaired preprocedural flow (Pfor  trend < 0.001). Although the sensitivity of incomplete (<70%) STR to predict a Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow of <3 was 96%, the specificity was 23%, and the negative predictive value of incomplete STR to predict normal coronary flow was only 44%.

Conclusions: This study establishes the correlation between STR prior to primary PCI and preprocedural TIMI flow in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. However, the negative predictive value of incomplete STR for detection of TIMI‐3 flow is only 44% and therefore should not be a criterion to refrain from immediate coronary angiography in STEMI patients.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):107–115
Diagnostic Significance of a Small Q Wave in Precordial Leads V2 or V3
Authors: Katsuno Tetsuya , Hirao Kenzo , Kimura Shigeki , Komura Masatoshi , Haraguchi Go , Inagaki Hiroshi , Hachiya Hitoshi , Isobe Mitsuaki
Published: April 2010

Background: An abnormal Q wave is usually defined as an initial depression of the QRS complex having a duration of ≥40 ms and amplitude exceeding 25% of the following R wave in any contiguous leads on the 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, much smaller Q waves are sometimes recorded on the ECG. This study investigated the diagnostic value of the small Q wave recorded in precordial leads V2 or V3 on the ECG.

Methods: We investigated 807 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography. A small Q wave was defined as any negative deflection preceding the R wave in V2 or V3 with <40‐ms duration and <0.5‐mV amplitude, with or without a small (<0.1‐mV) slurred, spiky fragmented initial QRS deflection before the Q wave (early fragmentation). ECG and coronary angiographic findings were analyzed.

Results: The small Q wave was present in 87 patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that presence of a small Q wave was a strong independent predictor of any coronary artery stenosis or left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis (odds ratio = 2.706, 2.902; P < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: A small Q wave (<40‐ms duration and <0.5‐mV amplitude) in V2 or V3 with or without early fragmentation significantly predicted the presence of CAD and, especially, significant stenosis in the LAD.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):116–123
Aspects of Left Ventricular Morphology Outperform Left Ventricular Mass for Prediction of QRS Duration
Authors: Hakacova Nina , Steding Katarina , Engblom Henrik , Sjögren Jane , Maynard Charles , Pahlm Olle
Published: April 2010

Background: The knowledge of the case‐specific normal QRS duration in each individual is needed when determining the onset, severity and progression of the heart disease. However, large interindividual variability even of the normal QRS duration exists. The aims of the study were to develop a model for prediction of normal QRS complex duration and to test it on healthy individuals.

Methods: The study population of healthy adult volunteers was divided into a sample for development of a prediction model (n = 63) and a testing sample (n = 30). Magnetic resonance imaging data were used to assess anatomical characteristics of the left ventricle: the angle between papillary muscles (PMA), the length of the left ventricle (LVL) and left ventricular mass (LVM). Twelve‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was used for measurement of the QRS duration. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to develop a prediction model to estimate the QRS duration. The accuracy of the prediction model was assessed by comparing predicted with measured QRS duration in the test set.

Results: The angle between PMA and the length of the LVL were statistically significant predictors of QRS duration. Correlation between QRS duration and PMA and LVL was r = 0.57, P = 0.0001 and r = 0.45, P = 0.0002, respectively. The final model for prediction of the QRS was: QRSPredicted= 97 + (0.35 × LVL) − (0.45 × PMA). The predicted and real QRS duration differed with median 1 ms.

Conclusions: The model for prediction of QRS duration opens the ability to predict case‐specific normal QRS duration. This knowledge can have clinical importance, when determining the normality on case‐specific basis.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):124–129
Microvolt T‐Wave Alternans during Holter Monitoring in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Makarov Leonid , Komoliatova Vera
Published: April 2010

Background: Time‐domain microvolt T‐wave alternans (TWA) has been described as a noninvasive marker of sudden cardiac death in adults. The incidence of TWA in pediatric populations has not been defined well. The aim of the study was to determine peculiarities of TWA in children.

Methods: We examined 68 healthy patients—newborns (20) and children in age group of 7–17 years (48)—and 85 pediatric patients: ventricular premature beats—65; dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP)—2; long QT syndrome (LQTS)—10; Brugada syndrome (BrS)—5, catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia (CVT)—3. All underwent Holter monitoring (HM) with definition of the peak value of TWA by modified moving average method.

Results: In healthy newborns, TWA was 32 ± 8 (12–55) μV (HR 123–156 bmp). In healthy children (7–17 years) it was 30 ± 11 (10–l 55) μV, (HR 64–132 bmp) without any differences between boys and girls. In all group of patients, TWA were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in healthy. Circadian peak of TWA was found (90%) in a second part of day and at sleep (8%). Among them 60% (LQTS, BrS, and DCPM) had TWA > 55 μV.

Conclusion: Time‐domain TWA during HM in children was independent of age, gender, and heart rate. In 94% healthy children, values of TWA do not exceed 55 μV but 20–50% children with cardiac pathology had TWA more than 55 μV. Night circadian type of TWA in diseases with risk of life‐threatening arrhythmias associated with TWA was more than 55 μV.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):138–144
Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Shock: Appropriate or Inappropriate?
Authors: Nault Michael A. , McIntyre William F. , Simpson Christopher S. , Redfearn Damian P. , Abdollah Hoshiar , Brennan F. James , Baranchuk Adrian
Published: April 2010

A 76‐year‐old female with a single chamber implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator implanted for secondary prevention was referred due to multiple discharges. The device was programmed for ventricular tachycardia (VT) detection at 400 ms, fast VT detection at 280 ms, and ventricular fibrillation detection at 320 ms. Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) during charge was enabled. Interrogation revealed a VT episode with a mean cycle length of 270 ms, which was successfully terminated with ATP during charge. Seconds later, the device delivered a shock. This case illustrates the importance of understanding programming algorithms as part of troubleshooting when facing a scenario of device discharge.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):181–183
The Relationship Between Cesarean Section and Labor Induction
Authors: Wilson Barbara L. , Effken Judith , Butler Richard J.
Published: April 2010

Background: Numerous study results vary when analyzing the relationship between labor induction and the likelihood of cesarean delivery; and few have accounted for the multiple influences of maternal sociodemographic characteristics combined with the provider and hospital in subsequent birth outcomes such as cesarean section.

Objective: This study evaluated the likelihood of cesarean birth following labor induction while accounting for maternal, hospital, and provider  characteristics.

Methods: A cross‐sectional retrospective descriptive design using secondary data was employed to determine what variation in cesarean births was due to differences of hospitals, providers, and patients using the Quality Health Outcomes Model (QHOM). Data were partitioned by primiparous and multiparous women. The individual demographic, system, and provider outcomes in all hospitals and single birth center for Maricopa County in 2005 (N=62,816) were analyzed, using both random effects and fixed effects models.

Results: For primiparous women, an increased likelihood of cesarean births was associated with medical inductions, maternal age, being Black, and the number of prenatal visits; and less likely in teaching hospitals and women with higher educational attainment. In multiparous women, cesarean births were associated with increased maternal age and medical inductions; and less likely in for‐profit hospitals and following elective induction.

Discussion: Labor inductions were associated with an increased likelihood of cesarean sections based on parity, age, race, number of prenatal visits, education, and hospital teaching status and ownership. Because the QHOM emphasizes multiple contextual variables that influence the delivery and outcomes of care, it can prove ideal for the study of birth outcomes following interventions such as the induction of labor.

Clinical Relevance: Nurses should be well educated about the risks of elective labor induction prior to term gestation and “elective” cesarean birth.
Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Properties of Silica Refractory
Authors: Manivasakan Palanisamy , Rajendran Venkatachalam , Rauta Prema Ranjan , Sahu Bhakta Bandhu , Sahu Pabitra , Panda Bharati Krushna , Valiyaveettill Suresh , Jegadesan Subbiah
Published: April 2010

Nanosized TiO2 was obtained using a simple chemical route from natural ilmenite available in Tamilnadu, India. The nano‐TiO2 particles obtained were comprehensively characterized by X‐ray diffraction, FTIR, BET surface area, particles size, and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The results observed reveal that the nano‐TiO2 show a rutile crystal structure with an average particle size of 50 nm and a specific surface area of 112.64 m2/g with spherical morphology. Different proportions of nanotitania were added in silica brick composition to determine out the amount of tridymite phase transformation. It was observed that the addition of 0.5 wt% nano‐TiO2 leads to highest amount of tridymite phase formation. The effect of incorporation of nano‐TiO2 in silica refractory was explored in terms of refractory properties such as bulk density, apparent porosity, cold crushing strength, refractoriness under load, creep in compression, and reversible thermal expansion.
A Strong‐Fluorescent Tb‐Containing Hydrotalcite‐Like Compound
Authors: Chen Hong , Zhang Wen‐Gong
Published: April 2010

A novel strong‐fluorescent Tb‐containing hydrotalcite‐like compound (Tb‐HTlc) was prepared using the coprecipitation method. The Tb‐HTlc has a special layer structure, in which aluminum(III) was partially substituted by terbium(III) in the hydrotalcite‐like layers; acetylacetone and 1,10‐phenanthroline were dispersed into the anions among the interlayer region. Tb3+ ions in the layers were coordinated by the acetylacetone and 1,10‐phenanthroline through the oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The sample was characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction patterns, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimeter (TG–DSC), transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectra, and its properties and structure were determined. The results indicated that the sample exhibited a characteristic green light (545 nm). The fluorescent lifetime and fluorescence quantum yield of Tb‐HTlc were measured to be, 1092.88 μs and 54.07% respectively, higher than those of Tb(III)‐acetylacetone‐1,10‐phenanthroline complex [Tb(acac)3phen]. The result of TG–DSC measurement clearly showed the enhanced thermal stability of Tb‐HTlc compared with that of MgAl‐LDH and Tb(acac)3phen. Possessing excellent photoluminescent property and thermal stability, low contents of rare earth ions and ligands, the Tb‐HTlc may become one of the novel fluorescent materials with potential application in organic light‐emitting diodes.
Fabrication of Nitrogen‐Containing Cordierite Ceramics
Authors: Saito Noritaka , Nishimura Shin‐Ya , Kawano Michio , Araki Shin‐Ichi , Sukenaga Sohei , Nakashima Kunihiko , Yasukouchi Toshikazu
Published: April 2010

We have investigated the crystallization behavior of cordierite‐based oxynitride glass prepared by melting a powder mixture of cordierite and silicon nitride. The results indicated that two polymorphs exist: a stable α‐form, which has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and a metastable μ‐form. The time–temperature–transformation diagram of the crystallization of the α‐form shows a typical C‐shaped curve that has a nose around 1420 K. Above 1373 K, the α‐form can be directly obtained by the isothermal crystallization of the oxynitride glass and the μ‐form inverts to the α‐form at temperatures below 1273 K. We also have fabricated an α‐cordierite ceramic that has a nitrogen content of 1.55 mass%, which is much lower than the content of the batch composition (5 mass%); this is mainly owing to the decomposition reaction of nitrogen in the oxynitride melts and glasses during heat treatment. However, the fabricated nitrogen‐containing α‐cordierite ceramics showed the coefficient of thermal expansion of 10−7 K−1, which is comparable with that of the oxide α‐cordierite ceramics. Moreover, Young's modulus of the α‐cordierite ceramics improved with the incorporation of nitrogen.
Microstructural Analysis and Mechanical Properties of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Fibers Derived by Different Processing Routes
Authors: Dittmer Robert , Clemens Frank , Schoenecker Andreas , Scheithauer Uwe , Ismael Marina Rojas , Graule Thomas
Published: April 2010

Piezoceramic fibers are broadly used for advanced ultrasound transducers and composite sensors and actuators for smart system applications. Different techniques (ALCERU® cellulose spinning technique, extrusion, and polysulfone process) have been developed for fiber fabrication, although there is still an essential need to evaluate the mechanical and electromechanical performance of these fibers. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties have been investigated for different fibers fabricated by the three routes. Because of the same sintering program, the fibers showed mainly a similar grain size (1–2 μm) and porosity (2%–6%). A tensile strength up to 72 MPa could be measured for PZT fibers with a diameter of 250 μm produced by the cellulose spinning technique. The Young's modulus varied between 30 and 60 GPa. Stress–strain deformation showed nonlinearity behavior, which could be attributed to ferroelastic domain switching. The threshold for domain switching (proportional limit) of the deformation curve had decreased by increasing the diameter of the fiber. No correlation between fiber processing and proportional limit could be observed.
Study of the Dehydroxylation–Rehydroxylation of Pyrophyllite
Authors: Perez‐Rodriguez Jose L. , Duran Adrian , Sánchez Jiménez Pedro E. , Franquelo Maria L. , Perejón Antonio , Pascual‐Cosp Jose , Pérez‐Maqueda Luis A.
Published: April 2010

Pyrophyllite is a raw material of significant interest due to its large number of applications. Most of these applications require a thermal transformation of pyrophyllite; this thermal transformation implies the release of structural OH groups and the formation of new phases. In this paper, we report on the dehydroxylation of pyrophyllite and the reversibility of the process. A value of 224±16 kJ/mol for the dehydroxylation of pyrophyllite was obtained. In addition, it was observed that the partially or totally dehydroxylated pyrophyllite suffered a partial reversible rehydroxylation when cooled to room temperature. This rehydroxylation was substantiated by thermogravimetric measurements, while infrared spectroscopic studies showed that, during the rehydroxylation, the intensity of the OH band at 3675 cm−1 increased as two new bands at 3690 and 3702 cm−1 appeared. This rehydroxylation process was heavily influenced by the particle size of the pyrophyllite. Thus, smaller particles (<1 μm) showed a larger rehydroxylation percentage (about 12%), while the larger ones (20–40 μm) showed a smaller percentage (about 1.6%). The extent of rehydroxylation also depended on the dehydroxylation temperature and reached a maximum value at 750°C.