bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Disparities and Health Equity: The Issue Is Justice
Authors: Braveman Paula A. , Kumanyika Shiriki , Fielding Jonathan , LaVeist Thomas , Borrell Luisa N. , Manderscheid Ron , Troutman Adewale
Published: November 2011

Eliminating health disparities is a Healthy People goal. Given the diverse and sometimes broad definitions of health disparities commonly used, a subcommittee convened by the Secretary's Advisory Committee for Healthy People 2020 proposed an operational definition for use in developing objectives and targets, determining resource allocation priorities, and assessing progress.

Based on that subcommittee's work, we propose that health disparities are systematic, plausibly avoidable health differences adversely affecting socially disadvantaged groups; they may reflect social disadvantage, but causality need not be established. This definition, grounded in ethical and human rights principles, focuses on the subset of health differences reflecting social injustice, distinguishing health disparities from other health differences also warranting concerted attention, and from health differences in general.

We explain the definition, its underlying concepts, the challenges it addresses, and the rationale for applying it to United States public health policy.
Characterizing Workplace Exposures in Vietnamese Women Working in California Nail Salons
Authors: Quach Thu , Gunier Robert , Tran Alisha , Von Behren Julie , Doan-Billings Phuong-An , Nguyen Kim-Dung , Okahara Linda , Lui Benjamin Yee-Bun , Nguyen Mychi , Huynh Jessica , Reynolds Peggy
Published: November 2011

Objectives. We engaged Vietnamese nail salon workers in a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study to measure personal and area concentrations of solvents in their workplace.

Methods. We measured average work-shift concentrations of toluene, ethyl acetate, and isopropyl acetate among 80 workers from 20 salons using personal air monitors. We also collected area samples from 3 salons using summa canisters.

Results. For personal measurements, the arithmetic mean was 0.53 parts per million (range = 0.02–5.50) for ethyl acetate, 0.04 parts per million (range = 0.02–0.15) for isopropyl acetate, and 0.15 parts per million (range = 0.02–1.0) for toluene. Area measurements were lower in comparison, but we detected notable levels of methyl methacrylate, a compound long banned from nail products. Predictors of solvent levels included different forms of ventilation and whether the salon was located in an enclosed building.

Conclusions. Using a CBPR approach that engaged community members in the research process contributed to the successful recruitment of salon workers. Measured levels of toluene, methyl methacrylate, and total volatile organic compounds were higher than recommended guidelines to prevent health symptoms such as headaches, irritations, and breathing problems, which were frequently reported in this workforce.
Disproportionate Exposures in Environmental Justice and Other Populations: The Importance of Outliers
Authors: Gochfeld Michael , Burger Joanna
Published: November 2011

We examined traditional environmental justice populations and other groups whose exposure to contaminants is often disproportionately high. Risk assessment methods may not identify these populations, particularly if they are spatially dispersed.

We suggest using a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey approach to oversample minority communities and develop methods for assessing exposure at different distances from pollution sources; publishing arithmetic and geometric means and full distributions for minority populations; and paying particular attention to high-end exposures.

Means may sufficiently characterize populations as a whole but are inadequate in identifying vulnerable groups and subgroups. The number of individuals above the 95th percentile of any distribution may be small and unrepresentative, but these outliers are the ones who need to be protected.
Academic Progress in Developmental Math Courses: A Comparative Study of Student Retention
Authors: Silverman Loretta H. , Seidman Alan
Published: November 2011

The majority of college students are not ready for college-level math courses, which, when completed, have been shown to increase graduation and transfer rates. To address this problem, the Math My Way (MMW) program was developed to integrate module-based curriculum and mastery learning approaches. The program is based on Seidman's retention formula, which postulated that early identification of student deficiencies followed by early, intensive, and continuous interventions increase student retention and success. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the MMW program improves progression rates and academic achievement. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent treatment-control group evaluation using survival analysis revealed that students who completed the MMW program were significantly more likely to progress through their math sequence than students who completed equivalent curriculum in the control group. Further, students in the treatment group had significantly higher math grade point averages (GPA) than their counterparts, with no significant difference for cumulative college GPA.
Impact of Perceptions of Faculty on Student Outcomes of Self-Efficacy, Locus of Control, Persistence, and Commitment
Authors: Hong Barbara S. S. , Shull Peter J. , Haefner Leigh A.
Published: November 2011

The literature on higher education supports the assumption that the integration of environmental and psychological factors are critical in influencing the intents of students to stay in college. Yet, questions exist on the impact faculty may have on student retention. This exploratory study examines perceptions of students about faculty in terms of relatedness, responsiveness, teaching quality, and treatment of students and how those perceptions impact students' own perceptions of their self-efficacy, locus of control, persistence, and commitment. Results yielded positive and significant correlations. Respondents identified specific attributes of faculty which could potentially enhance or frustrate their intentions to stay in college. Recommendations for promoting quality faculty-student interactions in and out of the classroom and the ethics of caring are discussed.
Persistence of Adult Undergraduates on a Traditionally-Oriented University Campus: Does Donaldson and Graham's Model of College Outcomes for Adult Students Still Apply?
Authors: Samuels Wendy , Beach Andrea L. , Palmer Louann Bierlein
Published: November 2011

The purpose of this study was to explore the social and academic experiences of non-traditional students pursuing a bachelor's degree at a traditionally-oriented residential university and how these experiences promote or impede their persistence to graduation. The study explored components of Donaldson and Graham's Model of College Outcomes for Adult Students and confirmed their proposed influences, including prior experience and personal biographies, adult cognition, psycho-social and value orientation, life-world environment, and the connecting classroom. Three additional specific findings focused on a strong personal striving characteristic among students, the motivation to attend and stay in college to be role models for their children, and gender difference regarding the use of and expectation for faculty support.
A Sophomore-to-Junior Mentoring Program That Works: The Sam Program at the University of Texas Pan American
Authors: Reyes Maria Elena
Published: November 2011

In an effort to increase the retention rates of college sophomores in a Hispanic Serving Institution in south Texas, university administrators created and implemented a successful peer mentoring model, the Sophomore Academic Mentoring (SAM) Program. Results suggest that the program has contributed to an increase in retention for second year, sophomore-to-junior students at the university.
Novel Brønsted-acidic ionic liquids based on benzothiazolium cations as catalysts for esterification reactions
Authors: Zhou Xian , Liu Bing , Luo Feng , Zhang Wen , Song Hang
Published: November 2011

Three novel Br?nsted-acidic ionic liquids based on benzothiazolium cations
were prepared, which served as catalysts for the synthesis of benzoic esters.
All three gave good yields of the target esters in esterification reactions.
Moreover, they combine the advantages of both homogeneous and heterogeneous
solid catalysts in esterification reactions, which enabled them to serve as
homogeneous catalysts to catalyze the reactions and be conveniently recovered
by simple filtration after the reactions. They could be reused several times
without noticeable decrease in efficiency.
Influence of the content of hard segments on the properties of novel urethane-siloxane copolymers based on a poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(ε- caprolactone) triblock copolymer
Authors: Pergal Marija , Antic Vesna , Ostojic Sanja , Marinovic-Cincovic Milena , Djonlagic Jasna
Published: November 2011

A series of novel thermoplastic urethane-siloxane copolymers (TPUSs) based on
a ?,?-dihydroxy-[poly(?-caprolactone)-bpoly(
dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(?-caprolactone)] (?,?-dihydroxy-PCLPDMS- PCL)
triblock copolymer, 4,4?-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and
1,4-butanediol (BD) was synthesized. The effects of the content (9-63 wt. %)
of hard urethane segments and their degree of polymerization on the
properties of the segmented TPUSs were investigated. The structure,
composition and hard segment degree of polymerization of the hard segments
were examined using 1H- and quantitative 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The degree of
crystallinity of the synthesized copolymers was determined using wide-angle
X-ray scattering (WAXS). The surface properties were evaluated by measuring
the water contact angle and water absorption. In the series of the TPUSs, the
average degree of polymerization of the hard segments was varied from 1.2 to
14.4 MDI-BD units. It was found that average values from 3.8 to 14.4 MDI-BD
units were effective segment lengths for crystallization of hard segments,
which resulted in an increase in the degree of microphase separation of the
copolymers. Spherulite-like superstructures were observed in copolymer films
by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which are believed to arise from the
crystallization of the hard segments and/or PCL segments, depending on the
content of the hard segments. The surface of the copolymers became more
hydrophobic with increasing weight fraction of PDMS. The synthesized
copolymers based on a PCL-PDMS-PCL segment showed good thermal stability,
which increased with increasing content of soft PDMS segments, as was
confirmed by the value of the starting temperature of thermal degradation.
Lethal Osteogenesis Imperfecta–Like Condition with Cutis Laxa and Arterial Tortuosity in MZ Twins Due to a Homozygous Fibulin-4 Mutation
Authors: Erickson Lance K. , Opitz John M. , Zhou Holly
Published: November 2011

This case report involved male infants of a size consistent with the estimated gestational age of 31 weeks. The mother of the twins was a 27-year-old, G4P3 woman with limited prenatal care who presented for cesarean delivery. Resuscitation efforts were initiated and continued until the infants became asystolic. Postmortem radiographs showed innumerable fractures of the limbs, ribs, and skull in various states of healing with callus formation; hence, the fractures were of prenatal origin. Despite the fractures, the growth of the long bones was not impaired. The radiographic findings were initially thought to represent osteogenesis imperfecta type IIC. However, there were also vascular anomalies not explained by this phenotype. Grossly, all arteries were elongated, thickened, and tortuous. The carotids, descending aorta, and iliac arteries were redundant to such an extent that they produced corkscrew patterns. There was also cutis laxa with loose, redundant skin over the entire body. Collagen genes did not show any mutations; however, when it was suggested Fibulin-4 be studied because of overlap with the condition described by Dasouki and colleagues in 2007, a homozygous premature stop codon mutation was found in that gene.
Appendiceal Goblet Cell Metaplasia and Benign Obstructive Mucus Retention in Children: Report of Eight Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: de Chadarévian Jean-Pierre , Guzman Miguel A. , Pascasio Judy Mae , Arthur L. Grier
Published: November 2011

We report the clinical-pathologic study of 8 cases of pediatric benign, postobstructive, appendiceal mucus retention in patients 3–15 years of age. The appendices showed very limited acute inflammation. Their most significant change consisted of minimal to mild dilatation of the distal lumen, which was filled with mucus and lined by an epithelium showing often dramatic increase in mucus cells devoid of atypia and without any of the villous proliferation reported in instances of “mucosal hyperplasia” observed in adult patients. In all 8 cases, there was seepage of mucus through the appendiceal wall into the surrounding tissue, eliciting a macrophagic reaction. Proximal to the zones of mucus retention, the lumen of 2 of the appendices was obstructed by a fecalith, and 2 exhibited fibrous obliteration of the lumen at that site. We believe the condition results from obstruction and focal inflammation, which isolate the distal portion of the appendix and elicit goblet cell metaplasia, the secretion of which is followed by luminal distention, eventual rupture, and seepage of mucus within the wall and the mesoappendix. The clinical and radiologic picture of this condition may be mistaken for that of an acute appendicitis complicated by rupture and abscess formation. The report provides an opportunity to describe and characterize “appendiceal mucosal goblet cell metaplasia,” a seldom mentioned entity associated with benign appendiceal obstructive mucus retention in children.
Analysis and numerical approximation of a parabolic-hyperbolic transmission problem
Authors: Jovanović Boško , Vulkov Lubin
Published: November 2011

In this paper we investigate a mixed parabolic-hyperbolic initial boundary value problem in two disconnected intervals with Robin-Dirichlet conjugation conditions. A finite difference scheme approximating this problem is proposed and analyzed. An estimate of the convergence rate is obtained.
Einstein-Cartan gravity with scalar-fermion interactions
Authors: Razina Olga , Myrzakulov Yerlan , Serikbayev Nurzhan , Nugmanova Gulgasyl , Myrzakulov Ratbay
Published: November 2011

In this paper, we have considered the g-essence and its particular cases, k-essence and f-essence, within the framework of the Einstein-Cartan theory. We have shown that a single fermionic field can give rise to the accelerated expansion within the Einstein-Cartan theory. The exact analytical solution of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac equations is found. This solution describes the accelerated expansion of the Universe with the equation of state parameter w = −1 as in the case of ΛCDM model.
A simplified shear model for reinforced concrete elements subjected to reverse lateral loadings
Authors: Rodrigues Hugo , Varum Humberto , Costa Aníbal
Published: November 2011

The response of reinforced concrete elements to earthquake loads can be controlled by bending or shear behaviour, depending on the geometrical characteristics of the elements and on the reinforcement detailing. To represent the shear behaviour, in elements where shear is not negligible, it was developed and implemented in the VisualANL a non-linear shear model. Finally, in this paper are presented and discussed the results of a set of numerical calibration analyses based on tests on full-scale frames.
The Most Important Angiogenic Growth Factors Influencing the Development and Function of Blood Vessels - in the Context of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
Authors: Sterzynska Karolina , Sujka-Kordowska Patrycja , Witkiewicz Wojciech
Published: November 2011

Currently available approaches for treating patients with ischemic heart disease include medical therapy or coronary revascularization by surgical procedures, like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Bypass grafting often provides dramatic relief from the symptoms of myocardial ischemia. However, a significant number of patients are not candidates for these kind of treatment or achieve incomplete revascularization. Hence, an alternative treatment strategy such as therapeutic angiogenesis has emerged as a new method for patients with inoperable coronary artery disease. Recently it has been demonstrated that angiogenic growth factors, like vascular endothelial growth factor or fibroblast growth factor, can improve myocardial perfusion and function.
Recent Labour Market Trends in the Visegrad Group Countries
Authors: Kwiatkowski Eugeniusz
Published: November 2011

This study analyses labour market trends that appeared in Poland and other Visegrad Group countries during the global economic crisis, i.e. between 2007 and 2009. Special attention is paid to the changes in employment and unemployment rates that occurred in that period. For the sake of comparison, the labour market indicators are contrasted with average rates for the European Union and the euro area. The presented analysis aims to identify the degree to which unemployment rates and indicators of employment changed in the selected countries in response to the global crisis and to explain why the labour markets in the sample countries reacted differently. It also addresses the changing production volumes and labour market flexibility, particularly towards wages, employment and working time. The above analyses show that the labour markets of the Visegrad Group countries changed significantly during the global economic crisis, i.e. between 2007 and 2009; unemployment rates rose, while volumes and rates of employment decreased. In Poland, the two indicators changed their values relatively insignificantly, but in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic the changes were quite distinct. In the crisis years, Polish employment fell and unemployment increased to a relatively small degree. Although the main reason for this was the quite favourable growth trend in the Polish GDP, cuts in real wage and working time reductions also played a role. The relatively marked decline in the Hungarian employment is maliny attributed to the strong downward trend in the country’s GDP, but the decline would have probably been much more extensive, if not for the reductions in working time, real wages and labour productivity. The large declines in the Slovak and Czech employment appeared because the countries' GDPs grew smaller while real wages grew bigger. Shorter working hours and limitations on labour productivity that the two countries introduced could not reverse the unfavourable employment trends that occurred during economic downturn.
The Ecological and Ethical Consumption Development Prospects in Poland Compared with the Western European Countries
Authors: Koszewska Małgorzata
Published: November 2011

An overview of the Western European literature shows that one of the most distinct trends in consumption that has been noted in the recent years is globally increasing environmental and social awareness. The issue of consumers' behaviours and attitudes towards "socially responsible products" has been gaining importance in Polish economy as well. This article evaluates the development prospects of ethical and ecological consumption in Poland vis-a-vis Western European countries. The comparative analysis being part of the article utilizes primary sources of information, i.e. interviews with a representative sample of Polish adults, as well as secondary sources of information. A factor analysis or, more precisely, a principal component analysis, allowed dividing Polish consumers into groups that were typologically homogeneous in respect of their sensitivity to various aspects of business ethics and ecology.
Innovation Performance in Poland and Polish Companies
Authors: Pałubska Dorota
Published: November 2011

Poland, with its’ weak innovation performance still lags far behind most European countries. The share of expenditures on Research and Development In GDP accounts for 0,56% and represents one of the lowest levels in Europe. It is estimated, that Poland, with its’ current innovation growth rate, will reach the average level of EU in about 20 years. The goal of this paper is to analyse the current innovation situation of Poland's economy and Polish companies in comparison to EU countries. The article presents also results of survey on investing in innovations in large Polish companies.
Reaction Kinetics of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Diethanolamine Solutions Using the Stopped-Flow Technique
Authors: Siemieniec Marta , Kierzkowska-Pawlak Hanna , Chacuk Andrzej
Published: November 2011

Reaction Kinetics of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Diethanolamine Solutions Using the Stopped-Flow Technique

The pseudo-first-order rate constants (kOV) for the reactions between CO2 and diethanolamine have been studied using the stopped-flow technique in an aqueous solution at 293, 298, 303 and 313 K. The amine concentrations ranged from 167 to 500 mol·m-3. The overall reaction rate constant was found to increase with amine concentration and temperature. Both the zwitterion and termolecular mechanisms were applied to correlate the experimentally obtained rate constants. The values of SSE quality index showed a good agreement between the experimental data and the corresponding fit by the use of both mechanisms.
Statistical Calibration of Model Solution of Analytes
Authors: Simeonov Danail , Spasov Lyubomir , Simeonova Pavlina
Published: November 2011

Statistical Calibration of Model Solution of Analytes

A new method based on spectrophotometric-partial least-squares procedure was proposed for simultaneously determination of thorium and zirconium using SPADNS (4,5-Dihydroxy-3-(p-sulfophenylazo)-2,7-naphthalene disulfonic acid, trisodium salt) as a color reagent. Absorbance measurements were made in the range of γ = 541÷620 nm with 1.0 nm steps in buffered solutions at pH 3.5. The linear ranges were obtained for 0.5÷11.5 and 1.5÷14.5 μg cm-3for Th4+and Zr4+ions, respectively. The limits of detection were determined 0.4 and 1.2 μg cm-3for thorium and zirconium, respectively. The standard deviation (n = 3) and recovery percent of 10 samples in the prediction set were obtained in the amplitude 0.22÷0.38 μg cm-3and 91.3÷109.2, respectively. The proposed method was used for simultaneously determination of mentioned ions in spiked real water samples and wastewater. The results show that the method is applicable for the analysis of samples with similar matrix.
The Dean of Information
Authors: Burley Hansel
Published: November 2011

The author focuses on the institutional researcher as an institutional leader, over and above providing traditional reporting and support. IR practitioners hold authority over the institution’s data. Leadership and social psychological theory can explain their effectiveness. The author combines effective leadership theory with the Theory of Planned Behavior to produce framework for IR leadership. This framework should help the IR professional be more than a data custodian. It should help the IR professional adopt both a transformative and facilitative leadership stance as needed, in order to help the institution reach its goals.
Changing the Grant Culture of a College
Authors: McLean James E. , Dail Alanna Rochelle King
Published: November 2011

In today’s environment, external support for college activities has become much more than a luxury. While the basic teaching functions are funded internally, funding the research and service components of their missions is a real challenge. Many colleges seek external sources to support these functions. However, these efforts are often inefficient unless they are addressed in a strategic manner. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the components of a successful effort to redefine the culture of a college regarding external funding. The chapter describes the components of the program, its implementation, and outcomes from both administrative and participant viewpoints. Further, data that demonstrate the overall impact of the program are provided.
Institutional Research Using Data Mining
Authors: Bodea Constanta-Nicoleta , Bodea Vasile , Mogos Radu
Published: November 2011

The aim of this chapter is to explore the application of data mining for analyzing academic performance in connection with the participatory behavior of the students enrolled in an online two-year Master degree program in project management. The main data sources were the operational database with the students’ records and the log files and statistics provided by the e-learning platform. One hundred eighty-one enrolled students, and more than 150 distinct characteristics/ variables per student were used. Due to the large number of variables, an exploratory data analysis through data mining was chosen, and a model-based discovery approach was designed and executed in Weka environment. The association rules, clustering, and classification were applied in order to identify the factors explaining the students’ performance and the relationship between academic performance and behavior in the virtual learning environment. Data mining has revealed interesting patterns in data. These patterns indicate that academic performance is related to the intensity of the student activities in virtual environment. If the student understands how to work and she/he is motivated to communicate with others, then he might have a good academic performance. Based on clustering analysis, different student profiles were discovered, explaining the academic performance. The results are very encouraging and suggest several future developments.
Using Geospatial Information Systems for Strategic Planning and Institutional Research
Authors: Valcik Nicolas A.
Published: November 2011

This chapter will address the use of Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) for institutional research and strategic planning departments. Throughout the chapter GIS will be examined for its applied purposes as well as answering basic research questions. This chapter will provide examples on how GIS can be used to answer certain questions and provide analysis to research. By using GIS, institutional research and strategic planning offices can use location as a variable to obtain answers on certain types of questions that can be useful to university administrators and government officials attempting to construct policies and procedures for their institutions. GIS can also be used by institutional research and strategic planning departments for requests from upper administrators in colleges and universities as well as external requests.
Using Machine Learning Techniques in Student Dropout Prediction
Authors: Bukralia Rajeev , Deokar Amit V. , Sarnikar Surendra , Hawkes Mark
Published: November 2011

This chapter outlines a case of identifying students at-risk of dropping out of online courses by using institutional research data. The case delineates this step-by-step process that includes identification of appropriate constructs and variables, data collection, data pre-processing, data analysis, and model evaluation to develop a predictive model for student dropout in online courses at a small, public, Midwest university in the United States. Included is a comparative data analysis of various machine learning techniques, such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Decision Trees, and Support Vector Machines (SVM), with statistical Logistic Regression (LR) analysis. The chapter provides steps for data analysis and predictive modeling using the open source, downloadable data mining software, WEKA. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the challenges and suggestions for building a predictive model in the context of institutional research.
Measuring Diversity at a Historically Black College of Dentistry
Authors: Henley Garnett Lee , Lawrence Wanda , Mitchell Candace , Henley-Jackson Donna , Feimster Tawana
Published: November 2011

There are several excellent indices available to quantify diversity within a student body. Richness and evenness can be studied using Simpson’s Index with its associated Reciprocal Index, and with Shannon-Weiner’s Index “H” and Index “E”. Lieberson provides the means to measure isolation and interaction, and Dissimilarity works well to identify segregated communities. Results using these indices show that the Historically Black College of Dentistry is a culturally vibrant and diverse academic and social environment. White students at the Historically Black College of Dentistry are more likely to enjoy interaction with other Whites than will Historically Black and Hispanic students at all other dental schools, except at the other Medical College, the only other HBCU with a dental school. Overall, there was no statistical diversity difference between the Historically Black College of Dentistry and all other dental schools over the 10 year study period. Statistically significant correlations between each index provided a framework for using each index in prediction modeling. Recent methods to manage multi-collinearity, such as extracting unstandardized residuals to use as adjusted coefficients add promise that all indices can be used in future diversity studies.
The Birth of a Survey
Authors: Fehr Mary Cain , Agnello Mary Frances , Crooks Steven M. , Inan Fethi , Flores Raymond
Published: November 2011

Assessing the effectiveness of academic programs is a critical element of institutional research. Changing demographics in the United States compel us to measure the effectiveness of academic programs to address issues of diversity. At a large public university in the Southwestern U.S., a team of researchers constructed a diversity awareness survey as part of its institutional research. This survey was created in response to several factors: (1) results from a university-wide survey of graduating seniors regarding attitudes toward diversity were alarming; (2) the College of Education was undergoing NCATE accreditation review, and assessment had become part of institutionalized procedures in the college; (3) the Curriculum and Instruction department chair requested it; (4) the teacher certification program was guided by a mission to prepare teachers to be effective in diverse classrooms. This process appeared simple at first, but proved to be a lengthy, complex series of steps on a not-so-linear path. After three years, we are just now reaching a point where we believe the survey validity is strong and the questions need no further revision.
African Americans and Planned Resilience
Authors: Burley Hansel , Barnard-Brak Lucy , McGaha-Garnett Valerie , Olaniran Bolanle A. , Marbley Aretha
Published: November 2011

The purpose of the current study is to examine secondary school factors that predict the performance and persistence of African American students at postsecondary institutions. Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), used as the theoretical framework of this study, suggests that intentions, driven by attitudes and beliefs, can predict behavior. This theory was adapted to include resilience, a theory that focuses on student assets, rather than deficits. This theory focuses on how children overcome risk factors like poverty and poor schools to reach agreed upon measures of success.
Using Bad News to Make Good Decisions
Authors: Johnson Margaret , Hovey Larry , Tipton Pam
Published: November 2011

Along the way, a number of personnel, organizational, and technical problems were encountered, and many were resolved. What did became clear is that using data to inform decision making is an evolving process that can provide a solid basis for continuous program improvements.
Multimedia Content Encryption for Secure Multimedia Communication
Authors: Lian Shiguo
Published: November 2011

The principal concern of this chapter is to provide those in the secure multimedia communication or content protection community with an overview of multimedia content encryption technology. Multimedia (image, audio or video) content encryption technologies are reviewed, from the background, brief history, and performance requirement, to research progress. Additionally, the general encryption algorithms are classified, and their performances are analyzed and compared. Furthermore, some special encryption algorithms are introduced. Finally, some open issues and potential research topics are presented, followed by some conclusions. The author hopes that the chapter will not only inform researchers of the progress of multimedia content encryption but also guide the design of practical applications in industry field.
Access Control on Semantic Web Data Using Query Rewriting
Authors: Li Jian , Cheung William K.
Published: November 2011

Semantic Web technologies allow on-line resources to be semantically annotated to support more effective and intelligent online services. However, ontologies sometimes may contain sensitive information. Providing access to them requires proper control to ensure the data protection requirement. Yet, the protection should not be too restrictive to make the access management inflexible. While there has been recent work on policy-based access control, in this paper, the authors present a policy representation specifically for access control on ontology-based data and explain how issues like policy propagation and policy conflict resolution are addressed. The authors present bucket-based query rewriting algorithms for realizing the access control policies to avoid sensitive resources leakage in the context of the Semantic Web. The authors validate the correctness of the proposed mechanisms by going through some illustrative examples in detail.
An Auction Mechanism Considering Seat Reservations in Movie Theater Services
Authors: Nishino Nariaki , Fukuya Koji , Ueda Kanji
Published: November 2011

This paper proposes a new auction mechanism with seat reservations in movie theaters using an interdisciplinary approach. In movie theater services, the movie price is generally fixed, not depending on the quality of contents or the theater seat. It implies that such a service mechanism by fixed pricing might not reflect the value of movie contents. In this study, a new mechanism of theater services is proposed introducing the Vickrey–Clarke–Groves (VCG) mechanism and Gale–Shapley (GS) mechanism, which present effectiveness in the field of mechanism design. First derived is the theoretical predictions of equilibrium and how the mechanism works using experiments with human subjects. In addition, agent-based simulation is conducted using agents that make the decisions observed in the experiments. Consequently, the results present the validity of the proposed mechanism, showing an increase in the social surplus.
Collaborative Production, the Knowledge Commons and the Application of Open Content Licenses
Authors: Pang Natalie
Published: November 2011

In recent years impacts of information and communication technologies, market enclosures, and the opposing struggle to retain community and public goods have had significant impacts on the social interactions of communities. This chapter examines communities in the context of the knowledge commons – a space by which “a particular type of freedom” (Benkler, 2004) can be practised. It also provides an appropriate lexicon to the examination and discourse of communities and the ways they work. As Castells (2003) notes, self-knowledge “is always a construction no matter how much it feels like a discovery” –this construction is enabled when people work or associate themselves with each other. In particular, the chapter is concerned about the structure of open content licenses operating within such domains. The chapter first explores the concept of the knowledge commons to understand the types of intellectual property that are distinctive to communities (public, communal, and private). Thereafter, licenses as a structure are examined as they may apply within such contexts. A significant influence on the discussion is the contemporary media environment that communities operate in today, resulting in the breaking down of boundaries, the blurring of distinctions between an original and a copy, and shifting the nature of production in communities. These debates lead to a case for open content licenses as an appropriate structural mechanism for communities.
Fostering and Developing Leadership Amongst Library Staff at the University of Zambia Library
Authors: Kanyengo Christine Wamunyima
Published: November 2011

The chapter critically describes and discusses leadership development experiences at the University of Zambia library by looking at the leadership development opportunities that are availed to library staff. It discusses the challenges of leadership development at the institution. A case study approach to make inferences on leadership development was adopted. The chapter contends that leadership development is an important aspect of organizational development in libraries, because it enables an organization to regenerate and carry on with its mission in an orderly and transformative manner. It offers insights of leadership development and organizational transformation in resource-constrained environments.
Modernization of a Traditional Library
Authors: Ansari Mehtab Alam
Published: November 2011

Maulana Azad Library is considered one of the major libraries of the world, with a glorious past and promising future. It was established with the foundation of Madarsatul-Uloom Musalmanan at Aligarh in 1875, which became Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College in 1877 and became full-fledged Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 1920. The Maulana Azad Library came into existence with the donation of personal collection of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University in 1877. The library has very rich collection consisting of oriental and occidental printed and non-printed records. Various formats exist, such as: books, journals, manuscripts, government publications, Rrot graphs, audio-visual materials, phonodiscs, phonorecords, microfiche, pre-recorded cassettes, microfilms, compact discs, floppies, et cetera. Autographed letters, edicts of the kings and queens of the Mughal period, portraits of important personalities, coins, theses, dissertations, braille books, pamphlets, maps, charts, paintings etc. are available. The documents cover almost every discipline of knowledge with special reference to Islamic theology, history, literature, et cetera. A very good collection of books in oriental languages is also available in the Library. The library has started the automation process selecting Libsys software that is quite popular in central universities of India. The present chapter examines the automation process in different sections of the library.
The School Librarian in Rural China
Authors: Warning Peter , Henri James
Published: November 2011

This chapter examines the school librarian (SL) in rural China in terms of his/her roles as the school information specialist and reading programme catalyst. The analysis is based on case study observations from site visits and interviews over a four-year period. The analysis surfaced key obstacles faced by the librarians, including: low knowledge base and expertise, limited material resources, and a lack of understanding of their roles by stakeholders within their communities. To alleviate these impediments, the importance of the SL’s roles needs to be understood by the school’s stakeholders, enabling the school librarian to be recognized as a skilled professional with an important and unique contribution to the educational process.
The Future of Readership Development
Authors: Magara Elisam
Published: November 2011

Libraries play an important role in development of human kind, especially in the development of readership among the users. In particular, the development of ICTs has opened up new horizons for the creation, storage, access, distribution, and presentation that has significantly imparted and dramatically changed the fabric of the library user habits. It remains a challenge, however, to most of the libraries regarding which acquisitions models would be adequate for the user’s needs. This chapter attempts to analyse the changing user habits and library acquisition trends and their contribution to the readership development within the ICT environments in developing countries. The chapter attempts to assess how academic libraries, with examples of Makerere University Library, have applied the library acquisition models to address the changing user habits and their implications. The chapter gives strategies for readership development to meet the socio-economic demands of the society.
Status of Information Ethics Teaching at the School of Information Sciences, Moi University, Kenya
Authors: Kemoni Henry N.
Published: November 2011

The purpose of the chapter is to present the status of information ethics teaching at the School of Information Sciences, Moi University, Kenya with particular reference to the Bachelor of Science (BSc.) Information Sciences Degree programme. The chapter is based on review of literature and content analysis of the present BSc. Information Sciences curriculum at Moi University. The content provided in the chapter includes an attempt to define the terms “ethics” and “information ethics,” and the role of ethics in development by highlighting various conferences held on ethics and development. Other issues covered include background information about the School of Information Sciences, Moi University and the status of information ethics teaching, curriculum content for information ethics. Conclusion and suggestions for further research are provided.
Data Analysis and Interpretation in Metabolomics
Authors: Garcia-Manteiga Jose M.
Published: November 2011

Metabolomics represents the new ‘omics’ approach of the functional genomics era. It consists in the identification and quantification of all small molecules, namely metabolites, in a given biological system. While metabolomics refers to the analysis of any possible biological system, metabonomics is specifically applied to disease and physiopathological situations. The data collected within these approaches is highly integrative of the other higher levels and is hence amenable to be explored with a top-down systems biology point of view. The aim of this chapter is to give a global view of the state of the art in metabolomics describing the two analytical techniques usually used to give rise to this kind of data, nuclear magnetic resonance, NMR, and mass spectrometry. In addition, the author will focus on the different data analysis tools that can be applied to such studies to extract information with special interest at the attempts to integrate metabolomics with other ‘omics’ approaches and its relevance in systems biology modeling.
Computational Sequence Design Techniques for DNA Microarray Technologies
Authors: Tulpan Dan , Ghiggi Athos , Montemanni Roberto
Published: November 2011

In systems biology and biomedical research, microarray technology is a method of choice that enables the complete quantitative and qualitative ascertainment of gene expression patterns for whole genomes. The selection of high quality oligonucleotide sequences that behave consistently across multiple experiments is a key step in the design, fabrication and experimental performance of DNA microarrays. The aim of this chapter is to outline recent algorithmic developments in microarray probe design, evaluate existing probe sequences used in commercial arrays, and suggest methodologies that have the potential to improve on existing design techniques.
Structural and Dynamical Heterogeneity in Ecological Networks
Authors: Jordán Ferenc , Livi Carmen Maria , Lecca Paola
Published: November 2011

Diversity is a key feature of biological systems. In complex ecological systems, which are composed of several components and multiple parallel interactions among them, it is increasingly needed to precisely understand structural and dynamical variability among components. This variability is the basis of adaptability and evolvability in nature, as well as adaptive management-based applications. The authors discuss how to quantify and characterize the structural and dynamical variability in ecological networks. They perform network analysis in order to quantify structure and we provide a process algebra-based stochastic simulation model and sensitivity analysis for better understanding the dynamics of the studied ecological system. They use a large, data-rich, real ecological network for illustration.
Lessons from a Mouse Model Characterizing Features of Vascular Cognitive Impairment with White Matter Changes
Authors: Ihara Masafumi , Tomimoto Hidekazu
Published: November 2011

With the demographic shift in age in advanced countries inexorably set to progress in the 21st century, dementia will become one of the most important health problems worldwide. Vascular cognitive impairment is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease and is frequently responsible for the cognitive decline of the elderly. It is characterized by cerebrovascular white matter changes; thus, in order to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in white matter changes, a mouse model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion has been developed, which involves the narrowing of the bilateral common carotid arteries with newly designed microcoils. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive summary of the achievements made with the model that shows good reproducibility of the white matter changes characterized by blood-brain barrier disruption, glial activation, oxidative stress, and oligodendrocyte loss following chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Detailed characterization of this model may help to decipher the substrates associated with impaired memory and move toward a more integrated therapy of vascular cognitive impairment.
Posterior-Draining Dural Carotid Cavernous Fistulae: A Possible Cause of Computed Tomographic Angiography Negative Isolated Third Nerve Palsy
Authors: Wong George Kwok Chu , Ho Yu Simon Chun , Poon Wai Sang
Published: November 2011

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is a well-established non-invasive investigation for this neurological presentation to exclude intracranial aneurysms. However, dural arteriovenous fistulae with anterograde venous drainage only can be missed by CTA. Here we reported two patients with painful complete third nerve palsy and dural carotid cavernous fistulae with anterograde venous drainage only missed by CTA. The natural history and management option are discussed. In patients with persistent symptoms or without vasculopathic risk factors, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) should be considered to exclude the diagnosis.
Minimally Invasive Management of Dorsiflexion Contracture at the Metatarsophalangeal Joint and Plantarflexion Contracture at the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint of the Fifth Toe
Authors: de Prado Mariano , Ripoll Pedro-Luis , Golanó Pau , Vaquero Javier , Maffulli Nicola
Published: November 2011

Several surgical options have been described to manage persistent dorsiflexion contracture at the metatarsophalangeal joint and plantarflexion contracture at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the fifth toe. We describe a minimally invasive technique for the management of this deformity. We perform a plantar closing wedge osteotomy of the 5th toe at the base of its proximal phalanx associated with a lateral condylectomy of the head of the proximal phalanx and at the base of the middle phalanx. Lastly, a complete tenotomy of the deep and superficial flexor tendons and of the tendon of the extensor digitorum longus is undertaken. Correction of cock-up fifth toe deformity is achieved using a minimally invasive approach.