bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disclosure of Medical Data to Relatives after the Patient’s Death: Recent Legal Developments with Respect to Relatives’ Entitlements in The Netherlands.
Authors: Bongers L.M.H.
Published: July 2011

In the Netherlands the physician is still bound to professional confidentiality after the patient’s death. However, in the legal doctrine and in case law some exceptions have been recognized, especially for circumstances where the relatives have a legitimate interest in the inspection of medical records of the deceased. Today developments as regards the Dutch proposal to new legislation on patients’ rights, notably the proposed insertion of a provision stipulating the conditions under which the relatives have a right of access to medical records of the deceased, give cause for renewed consideration of this issue related to legal protection after death. This article explores whether the proposed provision corresponds to the prevailing principles regarding disclosure of medical data after death. It is concluded that there is a need to reconsider the provision’s wording or to adhere to self-regulation of the Royal Dutch Medical Association in order to strike an appropriate balance between the various interests concerned.
It is Modern to be Traditional: Tradition and Tibetan Medicine in the European Context
Authors: Schwabl Herbert
Published: July 2011

Europe takes a rather cautious approach to herbal medicines. Traditional Herbal Medicines are regulated via European Union-directive 2001/83/EC, especially articles 16a‐h. For Asian medicines, this new regulation poses several challenges, specifically the requirements on medicine ‘quality’ and on requirements of a proven record of at least 15 years of tradition or use within the EU. This makes it very hard for most of the medicines of Asian tradition to enter the EU market as medicines. The notion of ‘tradition’ in this directive may have been taken from a definition given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Traditional Medicine or from the existing label Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Both concepts, although labelled as ‘traditional’, link themselves to a modernised and standardised practice of complementary medicine in a globalised setting. This essay investigates the function of the label ‘traditional’ in the European frame in connection with Tibetan medicine.
Thoughts on the Precarious State of Medicinal Herbs and Plants in the Tibet Autonomous Region and Ideas About Their Protection
Authors: Gonkatsang Tsering D. , Nyima Kalden
Published: July 2011

This paper, translated from the Tibetan original, presents the author’s viewpoint on the current situation regarding the protection of medicinal herbs and vegetation—the sources of Tibetan medicine—and makes recommendations on measures that should be taken for their protection in the future. The article also includes an appendix listing species names of plants that are A) particularly rare or endangered, and B) the subjects of conservation efforts and/or cultivation trials through the Project to Strengthen Traditional Tibetan Medicine (PSTTM), which is based in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), China.
An Investigation Into the Advisability of Translating Names of Tibetan Medicine Into Other Languages
Authors: Dorje Gawai , Gonkatsang Tsering D.
Published: July 2011

This research article primarily focuses on the author’s personal views on the history of translating names of Tibetan medicine into Chinese; the merits of translating (such terms) into other languages like Chinese; issues of improper translation in certain cases; considerations on the advisability of translating names of Tibetan medicine into Chinese and other languages; and the ways and means to resolve this issue.
Screening Obese Students for Acanthosis Nigricans and Other Diabetes Risk Factors in the Urban School-Based Health Center
Authors: Rafalson Lisa , Eysaman Jill , Quattrin Teresa
Published: July 2011

Objective. To determine the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) and other diabetes risk factors in urban school health clinics. Methods. During the period 2006-2009 nurse practitioners (NPs) screened students who had a BMI ≥ 95th percentile and 1 additional diabetes risk factor. Blood glucose (BG) was measured by finger stick. NPs were trained on how to ascertain the presence of AN on the neck area. Results. NPs screened 854 students (mean age 11.4 years, 60.5% female, and 73.3% black). AN and elevated BG were found among 26% and 6.4% of students, respectively. Females and minorities were respectively 50% and 4 times more likely to have AN. Youth with AN were twice as likely to have elevated glucose. Conclusion. AN can be easily identified by trained health care professionals even in busy school-based clinic settings. Checking for AN and appropriate education and counseling should become a routine part of electronic documentation in overweight youth.
Training and Practice in Trauma, Catastrophes, and Disaster Counseling
Authors: Bowman Sharon L. , Roysircar Gargi
Published: July 2011

Trauma-related assistance in response to disasters or catastrophes is needed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and the authors argue that there is a necessity for counseling psychologists and counseling psychology programs to incorporate it into their prevention, training, and social justice repertoire. Counseling psychologists are in a unique position to engage in disaster relief efforts because of their values and training, particularly around work with diverse clients. The authors present examples from two training programs of disaster mental health work completed in the field with students and their preparation of students for this work. They discuss some struggles and challenges in involving students and interventions for resolutions and further show how real-world crisis situations and interventions can easily be used as training tools. The authors discuss a number of themes that emerged throughout the disaster site examples, including students’ flexibility, openness to cultural issues, self-care, good interpersonal skills, resilience, and compassion.
Target Rotations and Assessing the Impact of Model Violations on the Parameters of Unidimensional Item Response Theory Models
Authors: Reise Steven , Moore Tyler , Maydeu-Olivares Alberto
Published: June 2011

Reise, Cook, and Moore proposed a “comparison modeling” approach to assess the distortion in item parameter estimates when a unidimensional item response theory (IRT) model is imposed on multidimensional data. Central to their approach is the comparison of item slope parameter estimates from a unidimensional IRT model (a restricted model), with the item slope parameter estimates from the general factor in an exploratory bifactor IRT model (the unrestricted comparison model). In turn, these authors suggested that the unrestricted comparison bifactor model be derived from a target factor rotation. The goal of this study was to provide further empirical support for the use of target rotations as a method for deriving a comparison model. Specifically, we conducted Monte Carlo analyses exploring (a) the use of the Schmid–Leiman orthogonalization to specify a viable initial target matrix and (b) the recovery of true bifactor pattern matrices using target rotations as implemented in Mplus. Results suggest that to the degree that item response data conform to independent cluster structure, target rotations can be used productively to establish a plausible comparison model.
An Alternative Presentation of Incremental Validity
Authors: Mattern Krista D. , Shaw Emily J. , Kobrin Jennifer L.
Published: June 2011

This study examined discrepant high school grade point average (HSGPA) and SAT performance as measured by the difference between a student’s standardized SAT composite score and standardized HSGPA. The SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure was used to examine whether certain students are more likely to exhibit discrepant performance and in what direction. Additionally, the relationship between the SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure and other academic indicators was examined. Finally, the relationship between the SAT–HSGPA discrepancy measure and the error term of three admission models (HSGPA only, SAT score only, and HSGPA and SAT scores) was examined. Results indicated that females, minority, low socioeconomic status, and nonnative English speakers were more likely to have higher HSGPAs relative to their SAT scores. Furthermore, using only HSGPA for admission overpredicted college performance for those students who had higher HSGPA as compared with SAT scores and underpredicted college performance for students with higher SAT scores as compared with HSGPA. The results underscore the utility of using both HSGPA and test scores for admission decisions.
Statistical Consequences of Attribute Misspecification in the Rule Space Method
Authors: Im Seongah , Corter James E.
Published: June 2011

The present study investigates the statistical consequences of attribute misspecification in the rule space method for cognitively diagnostic measurement. The two types of attribute misspecifications examined in the present study are exclusion of an essential attribute (which affects problem-solving performance) and inclusion of a superfluous attribute (which does not). Results of a simulation study show that exclusion of an essential attribute tends to lead to underestimation of examinees’ mastery probabilities for the remaining attributes, whereas inclusion of a superfluous attribute generally leads to overestimation of attribute mastery probabilities for the other attributes. In addition, order relations among attributes induced by superset/subset relationships affect the biases in the estimated attribute mastery probabilities in systematic ways. These results underscore the importance of correct attribute specification in cognitively diagnostic assessment and delineate some specific effects of using incorrect attribute sets.
The Impact of Missing Data on the Detection of Nonuniform Differential Item Functioning
Authors: Finch W. Holmes
Published: June 2011

Missing information is a ubiquitous aspect of data analysis, including responses to items on cognitive and affective instruments. Although the broader statistical literature describes missing data methods, relatively little work has focused on this issue in the context of differential item functioning (DIF) detection. Such prior research has focused on uniform DIF and has identified a complicated relationship between the type and amount of missing data, along with the methods for dealing with it. The current simulation study was designed to extend this earlier work by focusing on the impact of missing data and methods for dealing with it on nonuniform DIF detection using popular tools, including logistic regression, crossing SIBTEST, and the item response theory likelihood ratio test. Results suggest that the relationships between the various factors manipulated here were complex with no one method emerging as optimal in all cases, although listwise deletion consistently produced results similar to those obtained with the complete data across simulated conditions. Implications of these results are also discussed.
Classification of L2 Vocabulary Learning Strategies: Evidence from Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses
Authors: Bo Zhang  , Changyu Li
Published: June 2011

This research presents a classification theory for the L2 vocabulary learning strategies. Based on the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of strategies that adult Chinese English learners used, this theory identifies six categories, four of which are related to the cognitive process in lexical acquisition and the other two are metacognitive and affective factors. Compared to other theories on language learning strategies, the uniqueness of this theory lies in that the cognitive factors correspond to the essential steps learners take in acquiring new words. This research does not support that a memory factor or a social factor exists independently in vocabulary learning strategies.
Semagacestat Pharmacokinetics Are Not Significantly Affected by Formulation, Food, or Time of Dosing in Healthy Participants
Authors: Willis Brian A. , Zhang Wei , Ayan‐Oshodi Mosun , Lowe Stephen L. , Annes William F. , Sirois Paul J. , Friedrich Stuart , de la Peña Amparo
Published: July 2011

Semagacestat, a γ‐secretase inhibitor, reduces formation of amyloid beta peptide. Two single‐dose (140 mg), open‐label, randomized, 3‐period, crossover studies evaluated the effect of formulation, food, and time of dosing on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of semagacestat in healthy participants. The first study (n = 14) compared tablet to capsules. For all formulations, the median time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) was generally 1.0 hour. Plasma elimination was rapid, with a half‐life of approximately 2.5 hours. Tablet form II bioavailability (F) relative to capsule was approximately 100% (F = 1.03 [90% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–1.10]). In the second study, participants (n = 27) received semagacestat either fed or fasting in the morning or fasting in the evening. No significant change in exposure (AUC0‐∞ [area under the concentration‐time curve from 0 to infinity] ratio = 1.02, [90% CI, 0.990–1.05]) occurred with food, whereas maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) declined approximately 15%, and median tmax was delayed to 1.5 hours. Time of dosing made no significant difference in AUC0‐∞, Cmax, or tmax (AUC0‐∞ ratio 1.01, [90% CI, 0.975–1.04]). No clinically significant safety concerns occurred in either study. Accordingly, semagacestat may be dosed without regard to formulation, food, or time of administration.
Sustainability in entrepreneurship: A tale of two logics
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Voronov Maxim
Published: June 2011

Given the uncertainty surrounding the role and meaning of sustainability in business practice, it is important to explore the legitimacy drivers that newcomers (entrepreneurs) to a field derive from balancing sustainability and profitability. Drawing on the institutional logics literature and Bourdieu’s notion of habitus, this article theorizes how the characteristics of the field, as well as entrepreneur characteristics and actions, influence the legitimacy derived from adhering to the field-prescribed balance between sustainability and profitability. First, regarding the role of field-level factors, we discuss how the impact of field-imposed expectations on entrepreneur legitimacy may be amplified for dominant and mature fields. Second, regarding the role of micro-level factors, we highlight that whilst previous experience of the field-prescribed balance between sustainability and profitability may amplify the impact of field-imposed expectations on legitimacy, strategic actions can suppress this impact.
Planning for Evaluation
Authors: Deng Lan , Freeman Lance
Published: July 2011

This article introduces a quasi-experimental research design known as regression discontinuity (RD) to the planning community. The RD design assigns program participants to a treatment or a control group based on certain cutoff criteria. We argue that the RD design can be especially useful in evaluating targeted place-based programs. The article describes how RD works and compares it with other commonly used evaluation techniques. We also present an example to illustrate its use. The article concludes with a discussion of how some existing place-based programs, with minor modification, could be evaluated by the RD design.
Wind energy: a technology that is still evolving
Authors: Milborrow D J
Published: June 2011

Wind energy is developing very rapidly and over 30 GW of capacity was installed worldwide in 2009. It is also continuing to mature, with rotor diameters and ratings steadily increasing. Now there are several commercial designs available with rotor diameters exceeding 100 m and ratings exceeding 5 MW. Although the majority of developments are installed onshore, offshore wind is slowly taking off and there are plans for around 40 GW in Great Britain alone. The rapid growth has been accompanied by better understanding of the design issues, so that blades, towers, and other components are now lighter than they were 30 years ago and can be produced more efficiently. The most significant trend in recent years has been the move towards direct-drive generators, eliminating gearboxes that have, at times, been troublesome. Permanent magnet generators are delivering further weight savings, and research that is funded both by governments and manufacturers promises to deliver further improvements in cost effectiveness.
Energy storage in association with tidal current generation systems
Authors: Barbour E , Bryden I G
Published: June 2011

This article explores the possibility of coupling a tidal current energy converter (TCEC) with an energy storage system. The purpose of this study is two-fold: first, to show that storage can decrease the loss of output from a TCEC, when there are transmission constraints present. Second, to specify the properties of the storage system (efficiency, capacity, input/output power limit, and self-discharge rate) required in order to produce either demand-matching or base-load output from a TCEC. Models of such systems are constructed. These are run over several spring/neap cycles, to determine the time dependence of the whole system. It is shown that a 1.2 MW tidal current energy converter associated with a 1-MWh storage system of modest efficiency can offer significant advantages over the generator working alone.
Physical design space for isolated wind-battery system incorporating resource uncertainty
Authors: Roy A , Kedare S B , Bandyopadhyay S
Published: June 2011

The physical design space of a wind-battery system enables a system designer to understand the trade-offs between different system design variables, the physical limits of the major decision variables, and arrive at an optimum solution subject to an appropriate design objective. An improved methodology for design of isolated wind-battery systems by accounting for the uncertainty associated with wind speed is proposed in this article. Chance-constraint programming technique is used to incorporate resource uncertainty in system sizing; thereby, facilitating system design corresponding to a specified reliability requirement. It is found that the cut-in speed of the wind turbine plays a critical role in delivering desired power supply reliability. A feasible design solution is obtained only when the probabilities associated with the cut-in and the cut-off wind speeds are accounted for along with the specified system reliability requirement. All feasible combination of system variables generated through a time-series simulation are represented on a rotor diameter versus generator rating diagram with minimum battery bank size as parameter. Solutions obtained by the proposed method are validated by sequential Monte Carlo simulations. Optimum system configuration for a given reliability requirement is determined based on minimum cost of energy (US$/kWh). It is shown that wind-battery systems cannot be designed to provide power supply reliability beyond a maximum value.
Crossover studies with survival outcomes
Authors: Buyze Jozefien , Goetghebeur Els
Published: June 2011

Crossover designs are well known to have major advantages when comparing the effect of two treatments which do not interact. With a right-censored survival endpoint, however, this design is quickly abandoned in favour of the more costly parallel design. Motivated by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention studies which lacked power, we evaluate what may be gained in this setting and compare parallel with crossover designs. In a heterogeneous population, we find and explain a substantial increase in power for the crossover study using a non-parametric logrank test. With frailties in a proportional hazards model, crossover designs equally lead to substantially smaller variance for the subject-specific hazard ratio (HR), while the population-averaged HR sees negligible gain. Its efficiency benefit is recovered when the population-averaged HR is reconstructed from estimated subject-specific hazard rates. We derive the time point for treatment crossover that optimizes efficiency and end with the analysis of two recent HIV prevention trials. We find that a Cellulose sulphate trial could have hardly gained efficiency from a crossover design, while a Nonoxynol-9 trial stood to gain substantial power. We conclude that there is a role for effective crossover designs in important classes of survival problems.
Group Management and Empowerment
Authors: Moniruzzaman M.
Published: June 2011

Community development organisations employ a group approach, arguing that it strengthens the empowering capacity of local communities. Drawing on the experiences of two major NGOs in Bangladesh, this study argues that in community development greater attention is usually paid to the effects of ‘empowering’ inputs such as microcredit, while lesser importance is placed on the internal management of the group. This is a serious defect which may have direct negative effects on the empowering outcomes. This article argues that paying greater attention to the internal management of the groups can make the group approach more effective in community development.
An Illness Perception Model of Primary Care Patients’ Help Seeking for Depression
Authors: Elwy A. Rani , Yeh James , Worcester Jason , Eisen Susan V.
Published: June 2011

Many people with depression recognize their symptoms as depression, but fail to seek treatment for a number of years. We aimed to explore the reasons for this. Thirty primary care patients who screened positive for depression participated in semistructured, face-to-face interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded thematic analysis. Patients who sought depression treatment emphasized their understanding of depression, their belief that treatment would work, and the negative consequences that would ensue if they did not seek treatment. Patients who did not seek treatment emphasized that treatment would not be effective, thought that depression would not last very long, and believed that depression did not affect their everyday lives. Patients’ illness perceptions of depression were represented by and organized using the framework of the Self-Regulation Model of Illness Behavior. This model might be useful for planning patient activation intervention studies to increase the uptake of depression treatment in primary care.
Exact analytical solution for free vibration of functionally graded thin annular sector plates resting on elastic foundation
Authors: Baferani A Hasani , Saidi AR , Jomehzadeh E
Published: July 2011

This article introduces an exact analytical method for free vibration analysis of functionally graded (FG) thin annular sector plates resting on Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundations. The annular sector plate has simply supported radial edges and arbitrary boundary conditions along the circular edges. Based on the displacement field of Kirchhoff plate theory, the governing equations of motion are obtained considering the in-plane displacements and rotary inertia. Using a set of functions, the three coupled governing equations of motion are converted into two decoupled equations. By applying the boundary conditions at inner and outer radii, an eigenvalue problem for finding the natural frequencies is obtained. The nine distinct cases are considered involve all possible combinations of boundary conditions along the circular edges. Accurate non-dimensional frequency is presented for over a wide range of sector angles, some inner to outer radii (aspect ratio) and different powers of functionally graded material. Accurate natural frequencies of FG annular sector plates resting on elastic foundations are presented for the first time and can be used as reference values for numerical analyses.
Digital control systems based on Matlab/Simulink software for strength machines
Authors: Macha Ewald , Kasprzyczak Leszek , Mirek Grzegorz
Published: July 2011

This paper presents the stands for strength tests of materials and structures with digital control systems, designed and built at the Department of Mechanics and Machine Design, Opole University of Technology. The authors described electrohydraulic strength stands for tests under uniaxial tension – compression, biaxial tension – compression of cruciform specimens, and electromechanical stands for tests under cyclic bending and torsion with phase shift, and under polyharmonic bending with torsion. Fatigue tests which could be performed on these stands as well as algorithms of controllers were presented.
Functional Impairment and Occupational Outcome in Adults With ADHD
Authors: Gjervan Bjørn , Torgersen Terje , Nordahl Hans M. , Rasmussen Kirsten
Published: July 2011

Objective: ADHD is associated with poor functional outcomes. The objectives were to investigate the prevalence of functional impairment and occupational status in a clinically referred sample of adults with ADHD and explore factors predicting occupational outcome. Method: A sample of 149 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD participated in the present study. Cross-sectional data were collected from the participant’s medical records and from self-report questionnaires. A multiple regression model was applied to identify possible predictors of occupational outcome. Results: Only 22.2% had ordinary work as their source of income, compared with 72% in the general population. The most prevalent comorbid disorders were lifetime depression (37.8%), substance abuse (28.1%), and alcohol abuse (23.3%). Age at first treatment with central stimulants and inattentiveness negatively predicted occupational outcome. Conclusion: Adult ADHD was associated with lower educational attainment and lower level of employment. Later age of first central stimulant treatment and higher inattentiveness ratings were associated with lower level of employment.
Systems Antecedents for Dissemination and Implementation
Authors: Emmons Karen M. , Weiner Bryan , Fernandez Maria Eulalia , Tu Shin-Ping
Published: July 2011

There is a growing emphasis on the role of organizations as settings for dissemination and implementation. Only recently has the field begun to consider features of organizations that affect dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions. This manuscript identifies and evaluates available measures for five key organizational-level constructs: (a) leadership, (b) vision, (c) managerial relations, (d) climate, and (e) absorptive capacity. Overall the picture was the same across the five constructs—no measure was used in more than one study, many studies did not report the psychometric properties of the measures, some assessments were based on a single response per unit, and the level of the instrument and analysis did not always match. One must seriously consider the development and evaluation of a robust set of measures that will serve as the basis of building the field, allow for comparisons across organizational types and intervention topics, and allow a robust area of dissemination and implementation research to develop.
Auto-tuning full applications: A case study
Authors: Tiwari Ananta , Hollingsworth Jeffrey K , Chun Chen  , Hall Mary , Chunhua Liao  , Quinlan Daniel J , Chame Jacqueline
Published: June 2011

In this paper, we take a concrete step towards materializing our long-term goal of providing a fully automatic end-to-end tuning infrastructure for arbitrary program components and full applications. We describe a general-purpose offline auto-tuning framework and apply it to an application benchmark, SMG2000, a semi-coarsening multigrid on structured grids. We show that the proposed system first extracts computationally intensive loop nests into separate executable functions, a code transformation called outlining. The outlined loop nests are then tuned by the framework and subsequently integrated back into the application. Each loop nest is optimized through a series of composable code transformations, with the transformations parameterized by unbound optimization parameters that are bound during the tuning process. The values for these parameters are selected using a search-based auto-tuner, which performs a parallel heuristic search for the best-performing optimized variants of the outlined loop nests. We show that our system pinpoints a code variant that performs 2.37 times faster than the original loop nest. When the full application is run using the code variant found by the system, the application’s performance improves by 27%.
Making the Right Choice! Inquiries into the Reasoning Behind Young People’s Decisions about Education
Authors: Grytnes Regine
Published: July 2011

The article looks at how different types of reasoning about educational choices within a group of ninth graders have influenced their participation in the Danish educational system. The study, based on interviews with 15-year-olds,1 shows how social background and differing personal experiences and strategies influence young people’s ability and desire to engage in the decision-making process. The article identifies six different ideal types of reasoning about educational choice and shows that types of reasoning are a vital component in managing the transition from compulsory to post-compulsory education.
Blame and forgiveness judgements among children, adolescents and adults with autism
Authors: Rogé Bernadette , Mullet Etienne
Published: June 2011

We compared the capacity of children, adolescents and adults with and without autism to use (a) intent and severity of consequences information for attributing blame to an offender, and (b) intent and apologies information for inferring willingness to forgive. Participants were presented with two sets of six scenarios obtained by combination of intent and severity (or apology) information, and instructed to indicate appropriate levels of blame (or willingness to forgive). In the blame condition, persons with autism were able to consistently use intent information but not to the same degree as their comparison counterparts. In the forgiveness condition, intent was not taken into account for judging by persons with autism, irrespective of their age.
Does central coherence relate to the cognitive performance of children with autism in dynamic assessments?
Authors: Aljunied Mariam , Frederickson Norah
Published: June 2011

Central coherence refers to an in-built propensity to form meaningful links over a wide range of stimuli and to generalize over as wide a range of contexts as possible. In children with autism this ability is diminished, and the impact of central coherence deficits in children with autism have previously been observed using static measures of learning, such as reading comprehension test performance. In this study, the relationship between central coherence and more dynamic indicators of learning are investigated. The responses of 52 children with autism (mean age 9:10 years) on a test of central coherence and a dynamic assessment task were analysed. All the children showed significant improvements in dynamic assessment test scores after mediation; however, among those with below average nonverbal intelligence scores, weak central coherence was significantly associated with smaller gains in performance after teaching. Implications for the validity of dynamic assessments for children with autism are discussed.
Jane Jacobs’ framing of public disorder and its relation to the ‘broken windows’ theory
Authors: Ranasinghe Prashan
Published: July 2011

Though much has been written about the ‘broken windows’ theory, very little effort has been made to locate and contextualize it within an historical perspective. This article serves as a corrective to this void. I explore the way the concerns about public disorder, which (re)emerged in the US academic literature beginning in the 1960s, were important forerunners for the concerns that would be raised in ‘broken windows’. Specifically, I locate the significance of Jane Jacobs’ seminal The Death and Life of Great American Cities, and explore its relation to the ‘broken windows’ theory, explicating the (dis)connections and (dis)similarities between the way these two texts frame the problem of public disorder and the normative agendas that are espoused.
Trust in anthropology
Authors: Corsín Jiménez Alberto
Published: June 2011

The article explores some of the assumptions behind the current valence of the notion of trust and in particular its entanglement in discourses of social robustness, the management and reporting of (corporate) knowledge, and its underlying culture and systems of responsibility. It unfolds by contrasting classic and contemporary anthropological work on cultures of suspicion, culpability and spiritual ambiguity with the new vocabulary of capitalist corporate ethics. Finally, the argument examines the work that relationships do when moving in and out of the occult, and contrasts it with the kind of temporal work that capitalism demands from relationships to remain diaphanous. If public trust functions as the political epistemology of neoliberal society, an anthropological theory of trust ought perhaps to reaffirm instead our trust in anthropological theory and comparison.
The nexus of bicameralism: Rapporteurs’ impact on decision outcomes in the European Union
Authors: Costello Rory , Thomson Robert
Published: June 2011

When the chambers of a bicameral legislature must negotiate to reach a decision outcome, the bargaining strength of each side is affected by the composition of its negotiating delegations. We examine some of the implications of this proposition for legislative negotiations between the European Parliament (EP) and the Council of Ministers. We develop and test hypotheses on how the bargaining success of the EP is affected by the choice of its chief negotiator, the rapporteur. Our findings support the argument that negotiators in a bicameral setting play a ‘two-level game’, where bargaining strength is shaped by the degree to which negotiators can credibly claim to be constrained by their parent chamber.
On the borderline: Exploring liminal consumption and the negotiation of threshold selves
Authors: Cody Kevina , Lawlor Katrina
Published: June 2011

In this paper we explore the complex mediation of selves and symbolic resources that occurs on the threshold between two sociocultural identities. Using the anthropological theory of liminality as a lens of analysis, in line with the inherent interdisciplinary genesis and practice of interpretive consumer research, a theory of liminal consumption is presented. This theorization of the consumption practices of young adolescents, who belong neither in world of child nor of teen but who are concurrently embedded in both, is characterized by stillness and movement, darkness and light, ambiguity and focus. Thus this shadowed reality, this fruitful darkness belies agentive consumption and active engagement with signifiers of a duality of mediated selves. In thus considering liminal characteristics as congruent with furthering theorization of identity and consumption, we highlight the inherent problematization of an integral aspect of marketing theory and practice, specifically the notion of age alignment and boundary creation at the heart of marketing segmentation strategies, in the process contributing to a debunking of the ‘tween’ myth, as marketing’s final frontier of target segments.
Blurring Borders: The Effect of Federal Activism on Interstate Cooperation
Authors: Woods Neal D. , Bowman Ann O'M.
Published: June 2011

Interstate compacts are an increasingly important policy tool available to states, one that allows them to tackle regional and national issues. What effect does policy activity at the federal level have on state participation in interstate compacts? Drawing on theories of functional federalism, the authors explore the possibility that a state’s response to federal activism varies across policy domains. For economic policy the authors hypothesize that federal activism causes an increase in compact participation, as states attempt to defend themselves against federal intrusion. In other policy areas the authors expect that states are more likely to enter into compacts during periods of relative federal inactivity. Results from a set of event-count models generally support these hypotheses. The study findings suggest that states may sometimes use interstate compacts as a mechanism to resist federal incursion but that this is just one facet of a more complex pattern of intergovernmental policy adjustment.
Responsiveness and Electoral Accountability in the U.S. Senate
Authors: Kassow Benjamin J. , Finocchiaro Charles J.
Published: June 2011

This article examines the link between elections and the representational behavior of senators by considering whether ideological congruence with state preferences impacts vote shares on Election Day. We advance the literature on electoral accountability by proposing a more refined theoretical and empirical assessment of congruence with constituent preferences. Additionally, our analysis focuses on the effect of divergence in the Senate, which has been subject to significantly less attention than the House, and examines all elections to the upper chamber involving incumbents from 1960-2004. We find that measures of ideological divergence that are conditioned on the underlying ideological preferences of state constituencies significantly improve on existing measures, and that senators who are out of step with their state do in fact suffer at the polls.
Mild Hypercholesterolemia, Normal Plasma Triglycerides, and Normal Glucose Levels Across Dementia Staging in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Ramdane Said , Daoudi-Gueddah Doria
Published: June 2011

We examined retrospectively the concurrent relationships between fasting plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), in a clinical setting-based study. Total cholesterol level was higher in patients with AD compared to elderly controls; triglycerides or glucose levels did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Respective plotted trajectories of change in cholesterol level across age were fairly parallel. No significant difference in total cholesterol levels was recorded between patients with AD classified by the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score subgroups. These results suggest that patients with AD have relative mild total hypercholesterolemia, normal triglyceridemia, and normal fasting plasma glucose level. Mild total hypercholesterolemia seems to be permanent across age, and across dementia severity staging, and fairly parallels the trajectory of age-related change in total cholesterolemia of healthy controls. We speculate that these biochemical parameters pattern may be present long before—a decade at least—the symptomatic onset of the disease.
Effects of Sweet Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Park Jae-Woo , Jeon Ju-Hyun , Yoon Jeungwon , Jung Tae-Young , Kwon Ki-Rok , Cho Chong-Kwan , Lee Yeon-Weol , Sagar Stephen , Wong Raimond , Yoo Hwa-Seung
Published: June 2011

Objective. This is a case series reporting safety and degree of response to 1 dose level of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture (SBVP) or melittin as a symptom-control therapy for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Setting. All treatments were conducted at the East West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Oriental Hospital, Daejeon University, Republic of Korea, an institution that uses complementary therapies for cancer patients. Methods. Five consecutive patients with CIPN were referred to the EWCC from March 20, 2010, to April 10, 2010. Patients with World Health Organization Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (WHO CIPN) grade 2 or more were treated with SBVP for 3 treatment sessions over a 1-week period. Measures of efficacy and safety. Validated Visual Analog System (VAS) pain scale, WHO CIPN grade, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G) were compared before and after the 1-week course of treatment. To ensure the safety of SBVP, pretreatment skin response tests were given to patients to avoid any potential anaphylactic adverse effects. All patients were closely examined for any allergenic responses following each treatment session. Results. One patient discontinued treatment after the first session, and 4 patients completed all treatment sessions. Using each patient as their own comparator, marked improvements of VAS, WHO CIPN grade, and physical section scores of FACT-G were seen in 3 patients. Most important, there were no related adverse side effects found. Conclusion. This safety results of the SBVP therapy merits further investigations in a larger size trial for it to develop into a potential intervention for managing CIPN symptoms. This study will be extended to a dose–response evaluation to further establish safety and response, prior to a randomized trial.
A Critical Review of the Effects of Medical Qigong on Quality of Life, Immune Function, and Survival in Cancer Patients
Authors: Oh Byeongsang , Butow Phyllis , Mullan Barbara , Hale Amanda , Lee Myeong Soo , Guo Xinfeng , Clarke Stephen
Published: June 2011

Background. Due to the limitations and side effects of conventional cancer treatment, especially in relation to quality of life (QOL), patients are increasingly utilizing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to supplement health-related outcomes. However, evidence for the safety and efficacy of such treatments is lacking. The purpose of the current review was to investigate evidence for the role of one CAM, medical Qigong (MQ), in supportive care. Methods. The literature was searched for reported effects of MQ in improving QOL, immune function, and survival in cancer patients. Results. Although many studies possessed methodological limitations and small sample sizes, encouraging evidence was found for the effects of MQ on these health-related outcomes. More robust evidence in the form of randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes also reflected positive results for the role of MQ in improving QOL, mood and fatigue parameters, and reducing inflammation. Conclusion. Given such encouraging results, further research is recommended in methodologically sound approaches to further delineate the action of MQ. These findings support the utilization of MQ by cancer patients and the place for such programs in comprehensive cancer care.
The Use of Reverse Thermosensitive Polymer (LeGoo) for Temporary Vessel Occlusion in Clampless Peripheral Vascular Surgery
Authors: Shalhoub Joseph , Thapar Ankur , Davies Alun H.
Published: June 2011

Introduction: There is a need to develop methods of vascular hemostasis, which limit vessel trauma. LeGoo is a reverse thermosensitive polymer (poloxamer) which is a viscous liquid at room temperature, becoming a firm plug at body temperature. We aimed to describe early single center experience in clampless peripheral vascular surgery. Methods: Single surgeon experience using LeGoo during peripheral vascular surgery between February and October 2010 was analyzed. Results: LeGoo was used in 13 anastomoses in 11 patients. A satisfactory bloodless field without the use of conventional occlusion devices was achieved in 92% of anastomoses. At a median of 36 weeks follow-up, total conduit patency was 91%. Conclusions: In this small series, LeGoo was seen to be safe and effective in the provision of a clamp-free bloodless field in the context of peripheral vascular surgery. Prospective comparative study is necessary to determine performance against conventional vascular clamps.
External Compression of the Superior Mesenteric Artery by the Median Arcuate Ligament
Authors: Stein Jeffrey J. , Costanza Michael J. , Rivero Mariel , Gahtan Vivian , Amankwah Kwame S.
Published: June 2011

The median arcuate ligament can compress the proximal portion of the celiac artery causing symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia. This rare condition typically affects young women and often poses a diagnostic challenge. Compression of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in addition to the celiac artery represents an unusual variant of median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). We present a case of MALS resulting predominantly from external compression of the SMA. Diagnostic and therapeutic options are discussed.
Endovascular Repair of Traumatic Aortic Injury Using a Custom Fenestrated Endograft to Preserve the Left Subclavian Artery
Authors: Gilani Ramyar , Ochoa Lyssa , Wall Matthew J. , Tsai Peter I. , Mattox Kenneth L.
Published: June 2011

Purpose: To describe the use of custom fenestrated endografts to preserve left subclavian artery (SCA) flow when requiring coverage during endovascular repair of blunt aortic injury (BAI). Case Report: A 39-year-old male involved in a motor vehicle accident sustained injuries including intracranial hemorrhage, BAI, and extremity fractures. Immediate neurosurgical intervention was required. Once neurologically stabilized, endovascular repair was performed with a commercially available device modified with a custom fenestration to preserve flow into the left SCA. Serial follow-up CT angiography (CTA) demonstrates satisfactory repair with prograde left SCA flow and no evidence of endoleak. Conclusion: Left SCA coverage is often required for successful endovascular repair of BAI. A subgroup of patients who undergo left SCA coverage will require revascularization. The use of custom fenestrated endografts for preserving left SCA during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for BAI is an innovative and feasible option in patients who require revascularization.
Rhyme, Response, and Reflection: An Investigation of the Possibilities for Critical Transformative Learning Through Adult Poetry Reading
Authors: Wright Robin Redmon , Coryell Joellen E. , Martinez Miriam , Harmon Janis , Henkin Roxanne , Keehn Susan
Published: June 2011

This article summarizes the results of a study of 22 self-identified poetry readers. The project was designed to discover the reasons why adults read poetry, how the love of poetry was inspired, and what they learn from poetry. Through qualitative data analyses, findings indicate that via multiple reading strategies and reflective personal engagement with the prose, our participants constructed new, more critical perspectives that transformed their worldviews. Implications on how poetry and embodied, emotional, and spiritual knowing can be effective learning resources for critical transformative learning are provided.
School Nurse Survival
Authors: McKee Sue , Bultas Margaret , Ahearn Tina
Published: June 2011

School nursing is a specialty that requires nurses to provide holistic health care to a diverse population. Federal disability laws make it necessary for the school nurse to maintain and competently perform higher level technical skills—outside the home or hospital setting. Skills include tracheotomy care, gastric tube care, urinary catheterizations, central line care, oxygen delivery, ostomy care, and advanced assessment skills. How do school nurses maintain these skills if they are not used frequently enough to assure competency? The authors’ college of nursing and a school outreach department have partnered to offer an annual school nurse conference. One option for participants is to use the simulation laboratory to refresh these skills and to review newer equipment and technology. The simulation laboratory staff and pediatric faculty are available to demonstrate and assist participants with skills technique. Participants have responded positively to this collaborative effort.
NASN 2011—Our Annual Checkup
Authors: Galemore Cynthia A. , Schoessler Sally
Published: June 2011

NASN continually monitors information of importance to the health of the organization and is dedicated to sharing this information with its stakeholders. Our Weekly Digest provides real-time updates in a concise manner to address the needs of the busy school nurse. This article, “Our Annual Checkup,” will provide more depth and include information regarding membership and finances, as well as information pertaining to each area of NASN’s strategic plan: Programs, Research, Public Relations, and Advocacy. It is the goal of NASN to utilize the July issue of the NASN School Nurse to provide an annual update to the membership.