bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
By the book: A strategy for success in reading
Authors: Donohoe Tom
Published: October 2014

Children's steady progress in reading throughout the key stages is absolutely fundamental to their learning as a whole. Tom Donohoe outlines the effectiveness of a two-pronged strategy.
Performance-related pay and what it means for you
Authors: Adams Margaret
Published: October 2014

The processes for this will be new and you need to find out about your school's policy in order to prepare. Margaret Adams advises on the questions to ask.
The battle against rogue breeders
Authors: Kisko Caroline
Published: October 2014

In September the Kennel Club ran its annual Puppy Awareness Week about the importance of buying a puppy from a responsible breeder. Following another successful week, Kennel Club Secretary, Caroline Kisko, explains what the veterinary professional can do to help.
Utopian clothing: The Futurist and Constructivist proposals in the early 1920s
Authors: Loscialpo Flavia
Published: October 2014

‘Can fashion start from zero?’ is a question that, as observed by theorists, historians and curators, ultimately haunts those radical sartorial projects embodying a ‘new’ vision of the world. In the experimental overalls designed at the beginning of the twentieth century by Thayaht in Italy and Stepanova, Rodchenko and Popova in Russia, it is possible to follow and progressively unfold the aspiration to a total renovation and reorganization of life. The differences between the artistic contexts to which these artists belong – Italian Futurism and Russian Constructivism – have often induced critics to discuss their sartorial proposals separately, overlooking their points of convergence. Within this article, the overalls by Thayaht and the Russian Constructivists are instead analysed in relation to each other, as agents of change, or rather as instances of a ‘utilitarian outrage’. In examining their biographies, the article questions the newness of these creations, the rhetoric of the ‘new’ that accompanied them and their status as ‘anti-fashion’ projects. Combining material culture with cultural history, it argues that their iconoclasm and utopian potential resides precisely in their proposing a rationalization of clothing, and in ‘questioning the very fashion project itself’, in both its symbolic and tangible presence. Finally, on the basis of archival research and interviews conducted at the Thayaht-RAM Archive, Florence, the characterization of Thayaht’s tuta as a Futurist creation, which has often been taken for granted, is reconsidered and problematized further.
Before and after: The DuBarry Success Course
Authors: Leslie Catherine Amoroso
Published: October 2014

At any time of day or night, we can witness a ‘makeover’ segment on morning and afternoon television talk shows: programmes such as What Not to Wear (2003) or The Biggest Loser (2004); virtual salons and online makeover video games produced by cosmetic companies and networks (Mary Kay, Revlon, Lifetime, Oxygen). This article examined an important early player in the makeover game, the DuBarry Success Course, which operated on a mail-order basis beginning in 1940. What started as a beauty salon programme for debutantes was translated into a mail-order ‘course’ available for a fraction of the price. Advertisements featuring black and white photographs of clients ‘before’ and ‘after’ coupled with testimonial headlines and personal details appeared in Mademoiselle, Life, Good Housekeeping and Woman’s Day. Women who achieved remarkable weight loss participated in an ‘Achievement Award’ contest featuring an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, including a stay at the Waldorf-Astoria, theatre and night clubs. During World War II, marketing materials directly appealed to improving appearance as a patriotic duty. It is estimated that more than 100,000 became Success Course students during an eight-year period. Although the language used in DuBarry advertisements and promotions may not resonate with, or offend, contemporary audiences, the ‘style’ may have changed, but the desire for a ‘makeover’ remains.
The Joy of Pecs: Representations of masculinities in fashion brand advertising
Authors: Hancock II Joseph H. , Karaminas Vicki
Published: October 2014

The commercial representation of men’s bodies is part of a longer history that has been particularly intensive in the post-war years and especially in the last two decades. Popular brands Jockey, Bonds, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, BVD (Bradley, Voorhees and Day) Munsingwear and Aussie Bum have internationally dominated fashion media over the last century with campaigns that have incorporated cultural ideals of men’s lifestyles using unclothed images and infusing them with branding messages, in effect communicating to male consumers expectations of how they should look. Through the context of market position, fashion promotion and using various visual techniques, the male body has become a product that has been marketed and objectified, and a hyperrealized image of global cultural proportions. This article reflects the cultural approach of the market position and brand management by tracing the representation of the male body in fashion brand promotions, fashion spreads and advertisements. By analysing the male body as a discursive effect created at the intersection of consumption, advertising and visual communication, the major goal of this article is to demonstrate how advertisers construct and represent the male torso to communicate culturally sanctioned meanings about desirable bodies and idealized masculine features to consumers.
Sand in my pockets: Five years at the VCU School of the Arts in Qatar
Authors: Lindholm Christina
Published: October 2014

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts opened the first American branch campus to be offered offshore in Doha, Qatar, in 1998. The challenges and opportunities were many and included language and cultural experiences and expectations. Now in its seventeenth year, the VCUQ campus is thriving and many of the early issues have been resolved.
Elsa and Edie: Plausible Conversations
Authors: Boyd Annita
Published: October 2014

Following in the tradition of the Vanity Fair ‘Impossible Interviews’ of the 1930s and the recent exhibition ‘Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations’, this creative work takes two real-life personages and places them together in an imagined context in conversation with each other. We do not know if Elsa Schiaparelli and Little Edie Beale ever met one another, but it is quite likely that they did, as they inhabited the same cultural and social spheres, and geographical locations at the same time in history. By directly quoting from their writings and recorded speech it is possible to construct a conversation between these two women that depicts them both reflecting upon similarities in their parallel fashion careers, personal achievements and regrets, and philosophizing upon truth, religion, men and war.
Review
Authors: Payne Alice
Published: October 2014

Fashion Thinking: Creative Approaches to the Design Process, F. Dieffenbacher (2013) London: AVA, 224 pp., ISBN: 9782940411719, p/bk, $79.99
Multiplatform strategy on Italian Public Service Broadcasting: The role of Rainet and its relationship with traditional professional profiles
Authors: Zanatta Sara , Zoppeddu Milena
Published: October 2014

New technologies have greatly affected, among other things, the television industry and its organizational structure, which has become increasingly competitive. To keep up, Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) has needed to cope with this changing scenario in order to maintain their market relevance and their ‘social’ legitimacy. In that respect a multiplatform strategy has been one of the main responses. RAI, for instance, has developed its own multiplatform portfolio, thanks both to the Rainet subsidiary and many other professionals. The former has managed to develop the technical platform for multiplatform delivery, whereas the latter showed a proactive attitude and experimented autonomously content production on the Internet. The interaction between traditional production processes and new ones for different platforms (especially for Internet) is investigated in the article; we consider in particular the impact that RAI’s multiplatform strategy has had on the working practices of two different editorial staffs. Our case studies are the political talk show Annozero/Yearzero (2006–2011) and the long-running soap opera Un posto al sole/A Place in the Sun (1996–).
Interventions, productions and collaborations: The relationship between RAI and visual artists
Authors: Leuzzi Laura
Published: October 2014

On 17 May 1952, before RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana Studios began their regular broadcast from Milan, the Spatialist painter and sculptor Lucio Fontana broadcast his own experimental ‘artwork’ on Italian television, beginning a fruitful relationship between RAI and visual artists. For some, it provided careers as designers and art directors, such as the painter Mario Sasso and the Arte Povera artist Pino Pascali, while for others, who were given unique access to RAI’s television apparatus, it was an opportunity to explore their own artistic experimentations with an expensive and exclusive medium, such as Carlo Quartucci and Gianni Toti. RAI also hosted seminal artists’ performances on-screen including John Cage and Fabio Mauri. This article, based on documents and interviews collected during the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project REWINDItalia, discusses these and other seminal cases as well as tracing and assessing the history of this fruitful and complex exchange between RAI and visual artists.
RAI beyond national boundaries: The case of ‘Comunità Radiotelevisiva Italofona’/‘Italophone Broadcasting Community’
Authors: Carelli Paolo
Published: October 2014

In 1985, during a decade of many transnational television experiments in Europe, RAI launched a project in cooperation with public service broadcasters of neighbouring countries; the collaboration involved the Swiss public service (RSI) and the Yugoslavian experience of RTV Koper. This project was called ‘Comunità Radiotelevisiva Italofona’/‘Italophone Broadcasting Community’ because the aim was the promotion and development of Italian language and culture all across the world. The experience of Comunità Radiotelevisiva Italofona represents one of the clearest examples of the so-called ‘Italicity’, as defined by Bassetti – that is, the admixture between Italian culture and the foreign cultures with which it blends. The aim of this article is to retrace the history of this experience following multiple perspectives: an overview of the most significant transnational broadcasters that arose in Europe; the concept of ‘Italicity’ and the role of Italic and Italophone media in the world; the key stages and the most important changes in the history of Comunità Radiotelevisiva Italofona. Ideally, the result would be a complete overview of a project that has been primary in making Italian public service (and its international branches) and Italian culture known beyond national boundaries.
A necessidade de competir para evitar a inferioridade: Estudos de validação da versão portuguesa da SAIS
Authors: Ferreira Cláudia , Gouveia José Pinto , Duarte Cristiana
Published: October 2014

A Striving to Avoid Inferiority Scale (SAIS; Gilbert et al., 2007) avalia as crenças acerca da necessidade de competir ou lutar/esforçar-se para evitar a inferioridade. Numa amostra de 2411 sujeitos da população geral, verificou-se uma estrutura de dois factores para a SAIS parte um – striving inseguro e non-striving seguro – e SAIS parte três –procura e evitamento de competição. Nas três partes encontraram-se valores elevados de consistência interna, e correlações item-total moderadas a altas. Comprovou-se a validade de constructo através da análise de correlações com medidas de ranking social, vinculação ao grupo social, perfeccionismo e sintomatologia ansiosa, depressiva e stress. Verificou-se uma boa estabilidade temporal. Esta é uma medida útil na avaliação da patologia do comportamento alimentar, discriminando entre uma amostra clínica de 91 doentes com perturbação alimentar e uma amostra de 102 participantes da população normal. Os resultados são discutidos considerando-se a literatura existente.
Facetas de mindfulness: características psicométricas de um instrumento de avaliação
Authors: Gregório Sónia , Gouveia José Pinto
Published: October 2014

O mindfulness tem sido definido como prestar atenção com propósito, no momento presente e sem ajuizar a experiência. Nos últimos anos têm sido desenvolvidos vários instrumentos de medida do mindfulness. Este artigo tem como objectivo apresentar a aferição do Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) para a população portuguesa. 821 Sujeitos completaram o FFMQ e outras medidas de psicopatologia. A Análise Factorial Exploratória mostrou uma solução de cinco factores a explicar 50.48% da variância total. As facetas apresentaram uma boa consistência interna e mostraram-se moderadamente correlacionadas entre si, à excepção de algumas correlações inesperadas com as facetas Observar e Não Julgar. As correlações entre as facetas e outros constructos psicológicos foram no sentido previsto, à excepção da faceta Observar que se comportou de modo contrário às restantes, à semelhança do que aconteceu no estudo original. Os resultados deste estudo de validação mostram que o Questionário das Cinco Facetas de Mindfulness é apropriado para a população portuguesa.
Estudo das características psicométricas da versão portuguesa do Questionário de Metacognições – versão reduzida e do Questionário de Meta-preocupação
Authors: Dinis Alexandra , Gouveia José Pinto
Published: October 2014

O modelo da Função Executiva Auto-Reguladora (Wells, 2000; Wells & Matthews, 1994; 1996) assenta na premissa de que os processos metacognitivos (que controlam, corrigem, avaliam e regulam os pensamentos) são factores importantes no desenvolvimento e manutenção dos distúrbios psicológicos. Neste âmbito, foram desenvolvidos alguns instrumentos de auto-resposta, tal como o Questionário de Metacognições – versão reduzida (Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004) e o Questionário da Meta -Preocupação (Wells, 2005), que permitem avaliar a ampla gama de metacognições que são relevantes para a compreensão da psicopatologia emocional. Neste estudo examinámos as propriedades psicométricas das versões portuguesas destes dois instrumentos numa amostra constituída por 420 estudantes universitários. Os resultados psicométricos obtidos demonstram que as versões portuguesas dos dois instrumentos apresentam boas características psicométricas, e de que ambas são medidas úteis para avaliar as metacognições, podendo ser usadas por investigadores e clínicos na população portuguesa.
Propriedades Psicométricas da Escala de Cuidado do Questionário de Experiências de Cuidado e Abuso na Infância (Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse – CECA.Q)
Authors: Carvalho Serafim , Pinto-Gouveia José , Pimentel Paulo , Castilho Paula , Maia Dulce , Pereira Jorge Mota
Published: October 2014

Certas formas de cuidado, como negligência ou antipatia, o abuso infantil e a adversidade em geral são preditores de patologia na vida adulta. As entrevistas existentes para a sua avaliação são muito longas tornando-se úteis só em pequenas amostras. O estudo das experiências infantis através de um questionário de auto-resposta torna viável a realização de investigação em amostras mais amplas. Neste trabalho apresentam-se as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Cuidado (EC) da versão em português do Questionário de Experiências de Cuidado e Abuso na Infância (CECA.Q) (Smith, Lam, Bifulco, & Checkley, 2002). A EC avalia as experiencias de cuidado até aos 17 anos. Na versão original apresenta uma escala com 16 itens, respondida duas vezes, uma em relação à mãe e outra em relação ao pai, possuindo duas subescalas, negligência e antipatia. Globalmente, o CECA.Q avalia para além de experiências de negligência e antipatia, perda parental, abuso físico e sexual. A EC foi avaliada num grupo de estudantes (N = 545), num grupo da população geral (N = 262) e num grupo de doentes com depressão major (N = 100). Após um primeira análise dos dados, concluiu-se que os itens 7, 8, 11, e 15 não possuíam qualidades psicométricas para se manterem na versão portuguesa da EC do CECA.Q, resultando então uma versão de 12 itens. A análise factorial demonstrou a existência de dois factores (negligência e antipatia) nas três amostras, verificou-se uma boa consistência interna, entre .70 e .95 considerando os dois factores, ambos os pais, os três grupos e ambos os géneros, bem como uma adequada validade de construto e estabilidade teste-reteste entre .62 e .88 no grupo de estudantes e população geral. A presente versão da Escala de Cuidado do CECA.Q mostrou ter qualidades psicométricas adequadas para ser utilizada em estudantes, em sujeitos da população geral, bem como em populações com psicopatologia depressiva, sendo necessária agora investigação em outras amostras e utilizando estudos de seguimento.
O Impacto Traumático de Experiências de Vergonha: Estudo das propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Impact of Event Scale - Revised
Authors: Matos Marcela , Pinto-Gouveia José , Martins Sónia
Published: October 2014

Experiências precoces de vergonha têm sido apontadas como possíveis experiências traumáticas, constituindo-se como memórias traumáticas com implicações na vulnerabilidade para a psicopatologia. O presente estudo explora as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala do Impacto do Acontecimento- Revista (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R; Weiss & Marmar, 1997) numa amostra de 811 sujeitos da população geral. Especificamente, examina a estrutura factorial, a consistência interna, a validade convergente e divergente deste instrumento de auto-resposta. A escala original (IES-R) foi traduzida para português e a comparabilidade do conteúdo foi verificada através de tradução-retroversão. A validade de constructo foi analisada através de uma Análise em Componentes Principais, cujos resultados apoiaram a estrutura de uma dimensão subjacente à IES-R, que explica 55.4% da variância. Foram encontradas correlações item-total moderadas a elevadas (>.56) e um alfa de Cronbach elevado (α=.96), indicadores de excelente consistência interna. A validade convergente e divergente da escala foi comprovada através das correlações elevadas encontradas com a Escala de Centralidade do Acontecimento e das correlações moderadas encontradas com as subescalas Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress. A IES-R mostrou ser um instrumento fiável e válido para avaliar reacções de stress traumático, com características de intrusão, evitamento e hiperactivação, em relação a experiências de vergonha.
Contributos para a Validação da Versão Portuguesa do Questionário de Estilos de Coping
Authors: Dinis Alexandra , Gouveia José Pinto , Duarte Cristiana
Published: October 2014

O Questionário de Estilos de Coping (CSQ; Coping Styles Questionnaire; Roger, Jarvis, & Najarian, 1993) avalia as estratégias de coping habitualmente utilizadas pelos sujeitos perante uma situação percebida como excedendo os seus recursos para lidar com ela. Numa amostra de 444 sujeitos da população geral, procedeu-se a uma Análise Factorial em Componentes Principais. Verificou-se na versão portuguesa uma estrutura de 4 factores – racional, emocional, evitante e distanciado/desligado – idêntica à da versão original. Encontraram-se valores de consistência interna iguais ou superiores a .70, e correlações item-total moderadas. Comprovou-se a validade de constructo através da análise de correlações com a ruminação, a sintomatologia ansiosa, depressiva e stress, o afecto positivo e negativo, a expressividade emocional e a aceitação. Verificou-se uma boa estabilidade temporal. Conclui-se que, exceptuando o factor distanciado/desligado que não apresentou qualidades psicométricas robustas, as subescalas racional, emocional e evitante constituem medidas válidas e úteis na avaliação das estratégias de coping.
Estudos de validação com a versão portuguesa da Escala de Dificuldades na Regulação Emocional (EDRE)
Authors: Veloso Mário , Gouveia José Pinto , Dinis Alexandra
Published: October 2014

O domínio da regulação emocional encontra-se em expansão e a sua importância em diferentes settings terapêuticos conduziu ao desenvolvimento de instrumentos de avaliação deste constructo. A Escala de Dificuldades na Regulação Emocional (EDRE) visa avaliar as dificuldades na regulação emocional experienciadas pelos adultos. O presente estudo pretendeu validar a EDRE para a população portuguesa, tendo-se, para esse efeito, recorrido a uma amostra de 431 estudantes universitários oriundos de várias instituições de Ensino Superior do país. Os resultados revelaram que a EDRE possui uma elevada consistência interna (α=.904) e uma boa estabilidade temporal (r=.841). A análise em componentes principais foi diferente da solução original, tendo sido extraído um componente adicional para além dos seis verificados por Gratz e Roemer (2004), perfazendo um total de sete componentes. Este instrumento apresentou ainda validade convergente, divergente e discriminante. Apesar da existência de algumas limitações, a EDRE assume-se com um instrumento relevante no contexto clínico.
Estudo de validação da versão portuguesa da Escala de Respostas Ruminativas – Versão Reduzida
Authors: Dinis Alexandra , Gouveia José Pinto , Duarte Cristiana , Castro Telma
Published: October 2014

A ruminação tem sido amplamente estudada no campo da vulnerabilidade cognitiva para a depressão. De acordo com a Teoria dos Estilos de Resposta (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987) a ruminação tem um papel crucial no desenvolvimento e manutenção do humor depressivo. Neste estudo examinamos as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala de Respostas Ruminativas (versão reduzida) (Nolen- Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991), que recentemente sofreu modificações, tendo sido eliminados os itens que apresentavam um conteúdo confundente com medidas de sintomas depressivos (Treynor, Gonzalez, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2003). As análises conduzidas, numa amostra da população geral, revelam que a versão portuguesa do instrumento apresenta boas características psicométricas. Os resultados da análise factorial confirmam a existência de uma estrutura bidimensional, composta pelas dimensões cismar e reflexiva, que apresentam relações diferenciais com medidas de psicopatologia. Os resultados obtidos fornecem ainda suporte empírico para a necessidade de diferenciar entre estes dois componentes em investigações futuras sobre a ruminação.
La Unión Europea y la génesis del espacio de cooperación en educación superior y reconocimiento académico comunitario
Authors: Solanas Facundo
Published: October 2014

Con sus distintos contrapuntos, el proceso de convergencia de los sistemas de educación superior de los países de la Unión Europea y otros veinte países aledaños, no puede entenderse sin evocar la experiencia obtenida a partir del desarrollo de un conjunto de programas implementados por la Comisión Europea a partir de los años 80. Independientemente de los cuestionamientos que se le pueden realizar al “Proceso de Bolonia”, impulsado por los principales Estados miembros de la Unión Europea, éste se asienta sobre las primeras acciones en materia de movilidad territorial de los estudiantes y el reconocimiento académico de esos períodos de estudio. Partiendo de algunas herramientas de análisis provenientes de marcos teóricos afines a algunas subdisciplinas de la ciencia política, como la sociología de la acción pública y las dinámicas de europeanización, el artículo propone analizar la génesis e importancia de las políticas de cooperación europea en el ámbito de los sistemas de educación superior para su convergencia.
X-ray Crystallographic Structure of 3-(Propan-2-ylidene) benzofuran-2(3H)-one
Authors: Palmer Rex A , Spencer John , Mendham Andrew P , Chowdhry Babur Z , Lisgarten David R , Trost Barry M , Cramer Nico , Male Louise , Coles Simon J
Published: October 2014

3-(Propan-2-ylidene)benzofuran-2(3H)-one, C11H10O2, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with unit cell parametersa =7.1869(3), b = 18.0636(10), c = 13.1656(7) b= 96.763(3), V =1697.28(15) , Z = 8 (Z? = 2 independent molecules, A and B, per asymmetric unit), DcÂ = 1.363 g cm-3Â and the linear absorption coefficient = 0.093 mm-1. The crystal structure determination was carried out using MoKa X-ray data measured at 120(2) K. In the final refinement cycle the data/restraints/parameter ratios were 3827/0/239, the goodness-of-fit on F2 = 1.019. Final R indices for [I>2sigma(I)] were R1 = 0.0517, wR2 = 0.1115 and R indices (all data) R1 = 0.1007, wR2 = 0.1354. The largest electron density difference peak and hole were 0.254 and -0.244 electrons sup>-3, respectively. The two independent molecules A and B have essentially identical bond lengths and angles and are highly planar, with rms deviation for all 12 non-H atoms of 0.0292 for molecule A and 0.0592 for molecule B. The two molecules in the asymmetric unit are assembled parallel to each other within 1.58(4) with each of the six atoms of benzene ring A overlapping with one of the atoms in benzene ring B at a mean distance of 3.84(3) . The closest contacts between molecules A and B are C(12A)H---O(4B) = 3.521 and C(11B)H---O(4A) = 3.441 The crystal structure is formed by infinite sheets of these assemblies all lying parallel to the (1 0`1) plane. The presence of two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit provides an opportunity to examine the molecular geometry in detail by comparison. The benzene ring in both molecules A and B exhibits distortions as a result of the presence of the furan moiety. In particular, C(1)-C(6) = 1.369(2) in molecule A and 1.367(2) in molecule B are both significantly less than the average of the other 10 C-C bonds, 1.393(2), by about 12?. Other examples of crystal structures are discussed where this effect is observed.
Simultaneous equation method for the estimation of Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Zidovudine in Bulk and tablet dosage forms
Authors: Jayaprakash Ramesh , Natesan Senthilkumar , Ramasamy Vijay Amirtharaj , Kommi Rajasekhar , Gandhi Kiran R
Published: October 2014

A simple, accurate, precise, economical and reproducible UV-Visible Spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Zidovudine in bulk and in combined tablet dosage form. The stock solutions were prepared in methanol followed by the further required dilutions with distilled water. This method involves the formation and solving of simultaneous equations at 271, 282 and 267 nm, as absorbance maxima of lamivudine, nevirapine and zidovudine, respectively. Beers law obeyed the concentration range of 1.5-9, 2.5-15 and 3-18 g/mL for Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Zidovudine, respectively. The results of analysis were validated statistically and by recovery studies. The %RSD for the recovery study was less than 2. The proposed method can be effectively applied for the simultaneous estimation of these drugs in bulk and in combined tablet dosage form.
The Challenge of Retaining Customers Acquired with Free Trials
Authors: Datta Hannes , Foubert Bram , Van Heerde Harald J.
Published: October 2014

Many service firms acquire customers by offering free-trial promotions. However, a crucial challenge is to retain the customers acquired with these free trials. To address this challenge, firms need to understand how free-trial customers differ from regular customers in terms of their decisions to retain the service. This article conceptualizes how marketing communication and usage behavior drive customers’ retention decisions and develops hypotheses about the impact of free-trial acquisition on this process. To test the hypotheses, the authors model a customer's retention and usage decisions, distinguishing usage of a flat-rate service and usage of a pay-per-use service. The model allows for unobserved heterogeneity and corrects for selection effects and endogeneity. Using household panel data from a digital television service, the authors find systematic behavioral differences that cause the average customer lifetime value of free-trial customers to be 59% lower than that of regular customers. However, free-trial customers are more responsive to marketing communication and usage rates, which offers opportunities to target marketing efforts and enhance retention rates, customer lifetime value, and customer equity.
Ultrasensitive proteome analysis using paramagnetic bead technology
Authors: Hughes Christopher S , Foehr Sophia , Garfield David A , Furlong Eileen E , Steinmetz Lars M , Krijgsveld Jeroen
Published: October 2014

In order to obtain a systems‐level understanding of a complex biological system, detailed proteome information is essential. Despite great progress in proteomics technologies, thorough interrogation of the proteome from quantity‐limited biological samples is hampered by inefficiencies during processing. To address these challenges, here we introduce a novel protocol using paramagnetic beads, termed Single‐Pot Solid‐Phase‐enhanced Sample Preparation (SP3). SP3 provides a rapid and unbiased means of proteomic sample preparation in a single tube that facilitates ultrasensitive analysis by outperforming existing protocols in terms of efficiency, scalability, speed, throughput, and flexibility. To illustrate these benefits, characterization of 1,000 HeLa cells and single Drosophila embryos is used to establish that SP3 provides an enhanced platform for profiling proteomes derived from sub‐microgram amounts of material. These data present a first view of developmental stage‐specific proteome dynamics in Drosophila at a single‐embryo resolution, permitting characterization of inter‐individual expression variation. Together, the findings of this work position SP3 as a superior protocol that facilitates exciting new directions in multiple areas of proteomics ranging from developmental biology to clinical applications.
Efficient sample processing for proteomics applications—Are we there yet?
Authors: Kanshin Evgeny , Thibault Pierre
Published: October 2014

The ability to solubilize and digest protein extracts and recover peptides with high efficiency is of paramount importance in proteomics. A novel proteomic sample preparation protocol by Krijgsveld and colleagues (Hughes et al, 2014) provides significant advantages by enabling all sample processing steps to be carried out in a single tube to minimize sample losses, thereby enhancing sensitivity, throughput, and scalability of proteomics analyses.
Intervention in HCM: patient selection, procedural approach and emerging techniques in alcohol septal ablation
Authors: Cooper Robert M. , Shahzad Adeel , Stables Rodney H.
Published: October 2014

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a highly heterogeneous disease with varied patterns of hypertrophy. Basal septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve (MV) are the key pathophysiological components to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in HCM. LVOT is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients with HCM. Percutaneous septal reduction therapy with alcohol septal ablation (ASA) can lead to a significant improvement in left ventricle haemodynamics, patient symptoms and perhaps prognosis. ASA delivers pure alcohol to an area of myocardium via septal coronary arteries; this creates damage to tissue akin to a myocardial infarction. The basal septal myocardium involved in SAM–septal contact is the target for this iatrogenic infarct. Appropriate patient selection and accurate delivery of alcohol are critical to safe and effective ASA. Securing the correct diagnosis and ensuring suitable cardiac anatomy are essential before considering ASA. Pre-procedural planning and intra-procedural imaging guidance are important to delivering precise damage to the desired area. The procedure is performed worldwide and is generally safe; the need for a pacemaker is the most prominent complication. It is successful in the majority of patients but room for improvement exists. New techniques have been proposed to perform percutaneous septal reduction. We present a review of the relevant pathophysiology, current methods and a summary of available evidence for ASA. We also provide a glimpse into emerging techniques to deliver percutaneous septal reduction therapy.
Psg22 expression in mouse trophoblast giant cells is associated with gene inversion and co-expression of antisense long non-coding RNAs
Authors: Williams John M , Ball Melanie , Ward Andrew , Moore Tom
Published: October 2014

Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are secreted carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecules-related members of the immunoglobulin superfamily and are encoded by multigene families in species with haemochorial placentation. PSGs may be the most abundant trophoblast-derived proteins in human maternal blood in late pregnancy and there is evidence that dysregulation of PSG expression is associated with gestational pathology. PSGs are produced by syncytiotrophoblast in the human placenta and by trophoblast giant cells (TGCs) and spongiotrophoblast in rodents, and are implicated in immune regulation, angiogenesis and regulation of platelet function. PSGs are encoded by 17 genes in the mouse and ten genes in the human. While functions appear to be conserved, the typical protein domain organisation differs between species. We analysed the evolution of the mousePsggenomic locus structure and report inversion of thePsg22gene within the locus.Psg22is the most abundantPsgtranscript detected in the first half of mouse pregnancy and we identified antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts adjacent toPsg22associated with an active local chromatin conformation. This suggests that an epigenetic regulatory mechanism may underpin highPsg22expression relative to the otherPsggene family members in TGCs.
Transfer of The Learning: Teacher Professional Development
Authors: McDonald Lex
Published: October 2014

On-going professional development and learning (PDL) should be a significant component of a professional’s development. Teachers, like all professionals, need to engage in continuous learning to ensure that relevant knowledge and skills are being utilised in their day-to-day activities to ensure professional growth and improved student outcomes. A new paradigm of PDL has emerged that supports this development, based upon a constructivist philosophy emphasising a student-centred, contextual, systems, empowering and collaborative approach that promotes teacher reflection. Numerous models supporting this paradigm have evolved, but overall, little attention given to the transfer of training (ToT) with research frequently indicating a lack of transfer. Nevertheless, PDL is only meaningful if it promotes change in teachers. Difficulties with ToT occur because it is a misunderstood, controversial, bewildering complex phenomenon and is consequently ill planned for PDL. Accordingly, PDL planning needs to incorporate a transfer plan that specifies a strategic framework and specific factors promoting on-the-job application of knowledge and skills. The Transfer of Training Audit (TOTA), based upon an evidence-based approach and developed by the author, is a means of systematically facilitating ToT promoting improved student outcomes.
Teachers Competency for Inclusive Education
Authors: Bukvić Zlatko
Published: October 2014

SEN student have right for appropriate education, based on their interests, needs and abilities together with their peers. Does teacher in regular school possesses required general and specific competency and knowledge for SEN student teaching is the main question in the field of compulsory education. To work in inclusive classroom, teacher has to know specific characteristics about disabilities, strategy of teaching and develop personal competencies to create stimulating environment for learning. This study want to discuss teacher personal perception of their own competency for teaching SEN student in early and compulsory regular education. Sample is conducted from 100 early and compulsory teachers, employed in regular schools. For this study questionnaire was created. In first part there are general questions about age, level of education, experience working in school. Second part includes 47 items divided in 7 areas, experience with SEN students, attitudes about disabilities, knowledge, acceptance, professional support in school. Results shows that about 70% of examined teacher have none or very little knowledge about teaching SEN students, and their attitudes are mostly negative but younger teachers experience higher competencies. Further, some teachers that have positive attitudes about inclusive education would not accept SEN student if could make choice. Competencies of examined teacher in regular school are not equally developed. Reason for those findings, in some aspect, could be found in teacher training college program which has been changed in last decades. According to results, and teachers personal perception of their own competency, conclusion that teachers do not have necessary skills and competency can be made.
Quality of Special Education: Parent Perspective
Authors: Bethere Dina , Pavitola Linda
Published: October 2014

Parent participation is one of the main quality indicators for education, including special education. Parent perspective can help to ensure quality improvement and reveal possible drawbacks of the education system. The study analyses 23 narratives of parents of children with SEN. The context of children educational biographies reflects parent evaluations on the quality of educational provisions, pedagogical staff competence in terms of taking care of children’s wellbeing, physical and emotional security, and promoting educational achievements. The purpose of this study is to outline parent understanding of diverse quality education dimensions and their involvement in evaluating the quality of educational provisions for SEN. The research questions put forward: • In evaluation of which quality dimensions of educational provisions do parents of children with SEN require support. • What is the relationship between parent expectations of quality education and existing offer. The participants of the study were recruited using a strategy of stratified sampling and a qualitative research method of narratives was selected. To analyse and interpret the findings, the quality evaluation model of educational institutions developed by Tietze (2008; 2014) was applied. The findings state that the parents recognize education as a particular value and are interested in the education of their children. They express the ability to evaluate professional competence and educational provisions, however, they lack understanding about the quality of outcomes. Educational institutions have to initiate communication and plan collaboration strategies, developing both constructive and emotionally positive contacts, in order to balance the expectations of parents with the existing situation.
The Experience of Laboratory Learning – How Do Chemistry Students Perceive Their Learning Environment?
Authors: Sandström Niclas , Ketonen Elina , Lonka Kirsti
Published: October 2014

Universities have in the recent years faced new challenges as the new generations of students enter the old institutions. We have to rethink both the physical facilities and the practices of higher education. Many of the incomers belong to the so-called digital natives who use various digital applications and mobile devices as integrated parts in their everyday lives. Their knowledge seeking and knowledge sharing activities are different from previous generations. This study stems from a need to acknowledge this gap in research on the changes in knowledge practices and their relationship to learning. The participants were university chemistry students, who were interviewed concerning their perceptions of the learning environments. The interviews revealed a variation in students’ perceptions. There was also a variation in how they felt the physical tools provided affordances for their cognition. Some students needed much more external scaffolding and procedural facilitation for their laboratory work. The results are in line with previous research on the domain-specific features in sciences. In the future, the results are going to be looked at more in-depth in relation to students’ epistemological beliefs.
Development of a Pediatric Hospitalist Curriculum to Promote Faculty Development, Teaching Excellence, and Evidence-Based Care
Authors: Bucklen Kathryn A. , Carlson Doug W. , Shah Neha , Pruitt Cassandra
Published: October 2014

Objective:

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies (PHMCC), published in 2010, serve as the foundation for development of pediatric hospital medicine curricula to standardize and improve inpatient pediatric training and practice. Here the authors describe development of a PHMCC-based curriculum for faculty development, improved teaching, and evidence-based care, and as the basis for scholarly projects.

Methods:

A 2-year repeating curriculum of 51 topics based on the PHMCC was designed, presented by hospitalists for division members at weekly division conferences, and recorded for asynchronous learning. Fourteen of those topics were created for online viewing only. Topic development included use of pertinent medical research, guidelines, and local experts. Presentations followed a standardized format and were reviewed by senior division members before delivery. Attendees evaluated all presentations.

Results:

Twenty live topics were presented. All talks received ratings of 4.3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) on evaluation by attendees, and 70% of presentations were reported as likely to change practice by 80% or more of attendees. Opportunities for increased mentorship were realized. The division was recognized for its work through an invitation to present topics 4 times annually at a community-wide continuing medical education program and regional pediatric meetings, and proposals have been submitted for national meetings.

Conclusions:

The PHMCC-based curriculum has led to increased opportunities for education, mentorship, and improvement in the quality of care by attendees. Other academic divisions may benefit from a curriculum to enhance professional development and standardize clinical care and teaching.
A Discharge Planning Template for the Electronic Medical Record Improves Scheduling of Neurology Follow-up for Comanaged Seizure Patients
Authors: Brittan Mark , Tyler Amy , Martin Sara , Konieczny Jennifer , Torok Michelle , Wheeler Marcus , Boyer Ann
Published: October 2014

objective:

We examined whether the addition of a standardized discharge planning template (DPT) for the electronic medical record facilitated scheduling of outpatient neurology follow-up appointments in children hospitalized with seizures.

Methods:

We reviewed medical records of patients discharged from a children’s hospital with a diagnosis of seizures between January 2012 and June 2013. The study cohort included children who were admitted to the hospitalist service with neurology service comanagement. To facilitate interdisciplinary communication around discharge planning, a DPT was added to the neurology consult note in July 2012. Multivariate regression was used to determine whether the postimplementation time period was associated with the primary outcome (scheduling of outpatient neurology follow-up before discharge).

Results:

The final cohort included 300 patients, of whom 101 (34%) were discharged before implementation of the DPT, and 199 (66%) were discharged postimplementation of the DPT. The odds of having a neurology follow-up appointment scheduled before discharge was significantly higher after implementation of the DPT (adjusted odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.7–4.8) and for weekday as compared with weekend discharges (adjusted odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.2–3.9).

Conclusions:

A discharge planning template for the electronic medical record can standardize the flow of discharge-related information between disciplines and may help expedite transitional care planning for hospitalized children, especially those with multiple consultants involved in their care. Given the inherent barriers to arranging outpatient services over the weekend, additional strategies may be necessary to enhance transitional care planning for patients going home over the weekend.
A Practical Guide to Manuscript Writing With Particular Relevance to the Field of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Authors: Teufel Ronald J. , Andrews Anne L. , Williams Derek J.
Published: October 2014

Publishing manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, such as Hospital Pediatrics, is critical for both the academic development of practitioners in pediatric hospital medicine and the scientific advancement of our field. Understanding the purpose of scientific writing and developing a structured approach to the writing process is essential. Doing so will improve the clarity of your work and likely the ease at which your research is published and disseminated throughout the scientific community. The purposes of this article are to detail the structure of a scientific manuscript, to highlight specific writing strategies, and to provide writing tips that may help or hinder publication. Our ultimate goal is to advance the field of pediatric hospital medicine and its growing membership by promoting the dissemination of high-quality research.
Increasing Recruitment Rates in an Inpatient Clinical Research Study Using Quality Improvement Methods
Authors: Sauers Hadley S. , Beck Andrew F. , Kahn Robert S. , Simmons Jeffrey M.
Published: October 2014

Objective:

One important benefit of successful patient recruitment is increased generalizability of findings. We sought to optimize enrollment of children admitted with asthma as part of a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study with the goal of enrolling at least 60% of all eligible and staffed patients.

Methods:

Quality improvement methods were used to improve cohort recruitment. Weekly meetings with study staff and study leadership were held to plan and discuss how to maximize recruitment rates. Significant initial variability in recruitment success prompted the team to use small-scale tests of change to increase recruitment numbers. A number of tests were trialed, focusing primarily on reducing patient refusals and improving recruitment process efficiency. Recruitment rates were calculated by dividing eligible by enrolled patients and displayed using annotated Shewhart control charts. Control charts were used to illustrate week-to-week variability while also enabling differentiation of common-cause and special-cause variation.

Results:

The study enrolled 774 patients, representing 54% of all eligible and 59% of those eligible for whom staff were available to enroll. Our mean weekly recruitment rate increased from 55% during the first 3 months of the study to a statistically significant sustained rate of 61%. This was sustained given numerous obstacles, such as departing and hiring of staff and adding a second recruitment location.

Conclusions:

Implementing quality improvement methods within a larger research study led to an increase in the rate of recruitment as well as the stability in recruitment rates from week-to-week.
Glucose Management in Newborns With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Authors: McGowan Jane E.
Published: October 2014

Perinatal asphyxia is associated with decreased delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain. The goal of resuscitation is to provide adequate substrate delivery to restore brain function. However, studies in children and adults suggest that excessive glucose supply after an episode of hypoxic-ischemia may result in further brain injury. Thus, the optimal level of glucose to provide during and after resuscitation has not been determined. In this review, we summarize the available data from animal and human studies and discuss the role of glucose in recovery from asphyxia.