bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing and Facilitating Self‐Efficacious Behaviors in Distance Learning Environments
Authors: Derrick M. Gail , Ponton Michael K. , Carr Paul B.
Published: January 2013

The need to understand contemporary adult learners and the methods that promote continual, sustained learning is of paramount importance particularly for doctoral programs, but more specifically for online doctoral programs. The online format is viewed as an alternative way to learn in a technologically driven society that focuses on time, opportunity, and convenience as critical considerations for learning endeavors. An examination of the factors associated with attrition in doctoral programs includes understanding and confronting personal and institutional barriers to successful matriculation.

Researchers have identified general characteristics of effective graduate students such as motivation, attitude, collegiality, writing/communication skills, values and integrity ( Walpole, Burton, Kanyi, & Jackenthal, 2002 ) but have not established a clear understanding of the specific characteristics that facilitate or obstruct enduring and sustained learning.

This paper proposes a conceptual model that includes attributes of learner autonomy (desire, resourcefulness, initiative, and persistence in learning) as influential mediators of self‐efficacy and motivation for learning and may improve retention and completion rates in higher education.
The First Two Decades of New Horizons in Adult Education: From Whence have We Come?
Authors: Hiemstra Roger , Gadbow Nancy
Published: January 2013

This article describes the origins, development, and changing directions in the oldest peer‐reviewed online journal in adult education. An analysis of journal issues by the first author provides evidence of the impact and legacy that New Horizons in Adult Education has had on the field of adult education around the world during the past two decades. The content analysis revealed the range of topics, as well as some timeless themes. The major areas covered include the following: the nature and diversity of adult learners, effective approaches and strategies to help them learn, and trends and issues related to distance education and developing technologies.
Analysis of Participants' Perceptions of Reflect Approach in Their Lives and work: The Case of Botswana
Authors: Maruatona Tonic
Published: January 2013

This manuscript documents the perceptions of teachers and learners towards the Regenerated Freirean Literacy Empowerment and Community Techniques (REFLECT) approach in the delivery of literacy in Ngamiland District, Botswana. It suggests that REFLECT changed the perceptions, lives, and work experiences of learners and teachers. REFLECT caused teachers to recognize learners' knowledge and experiences. It enabled teachers to experience professional growth and engage in democratic practices and encouraged learners to make personal and group choices and take action against certain undesirable practices, such as alcoholism and the sale of beer to minors. The study argues that, compared to REFLECT, the current national literacy program is centralized and has minimal impact on participants. However, as implemented in the pilot project, REFLECT also had limitations, such as failing to generate practical solutions, demanding too much time from participants, and using poorly qualified teachers. These challenges could be addressed and REFLECT should be adopted to train regular literacy teachers nation‐wide.
The Potential and Uniqueness of Virtual Environments for Education
Authors: Bennett Leslie A.
Published: January 2013

Virtual environments (VEs) are growing in popularity among educators and have unique potential for online learning. This paper describes the unique characteristics of VEs that make them an effective venue for online learning due to increased environmental presence. Unique characteristics of VEs include nature of visual stimuli, control of the environment, amount and variety of sensory information utilized by the learner, and level of immersion by the learner. Examples of learning opportunities in VEs are explored. Current disadvantages are also discussed.
Inter‐Generational Differences in Individualism/Collectivism Orientations: Implications for Outlook towards HRD/HRM Practices in India and the United States
Authors: Ghosh Rajashi , Chaudhuri Sanghamitra
Published: January 2013

This article proposes a conceptual model to explore the effects of intergenerational transition in individualism/collectivism orientations on the outlook towards different human resource development (HRD) and management practices. It contributes to the existing cross‐cultural research in HRD by defining three prominent generations in India and by proffering a comparative cross‐cultural study of the effect of generations on individualism/collectivism orientations and preferences for human resource practices in India and the United States.
The Impact of NAFTA on Training and Development in Mexico: The Perspective of Mexican Senior Government Agency Officials
Authors: Ruiz Carlos Enrique
Published: January 2013

This study explored the perceptions of Mexican senior government agency officials with regard to the impact of NAFTA on training and development practices in Mexico. This study was conducted using a phenomenological tradition within qualitative research. The major findings of the study indicate that Mexican senior government agency officials consider NAFTA as a driver for the implementation/development of training and development practices in Mexican companies. According to the participants' perceptions, NAFTA motivated the creation and development of national programs for training and development. The Mexican government has found in these programs a means to provide support to Mexican companies to increase their competitiveness.
What Becoming Pilot‐in‐Command Taught Me about Teaching Adults
Authors: Erickson Diane
Published: January 2013

This essay outlines the key lessons I re‐learned about teaching adults when I decided to earn my private pilot license. I faced a steep learning curve and needed to conquer my fear of falling from the sky when learning required flight maneuvers. The lessons are not about adult development or learning theories or instructional techniques. The lessons are more basic and central to our daily work as educators. These lessons are about empathy, understanding, and building relationships in order to enhance an adult learner's motivation to learn and foster a passion for continued learning.
Synthesis, micellization and gelation of temperature‐responsive star‐shaped block copolymers
Authors: Zou Peng , Nie Lei , Feng Shuibin , Suo Jinping
Published: January 2013

A series of amphiphilic temperature‐responsive star‐shaped poly(D,L‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid)‐b‐methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA‐mPEG) block copolymers with different arm numbers were synthesized via the arm‐first method. Gel permeation chromatography data confirmed that star‐shaped PLGA‐mPEG copolymers had narrow polydispersity index, indicating the successful formation of star‐shaped block copolymers. Indirectly, the 1H NMR spectra in two kinds of solvents and dye solubilization method had confirmed the formation of core‐shell micelles. Further, core‐shell micelles with sizes of about 30–50 nm were directly observed by transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, the micellar sizes and distributions as a function of concentrations and temperature were measured. At various copolymer concentrations, individual micelles with size of 20–40 nm and grouped micelles with size of 600–700 nm were found. Micellar mechanism of star‐shaped block copolymers in aqueous solution was simultaneously discussed. In addition, sol–gel transition of star‐shaped block copolymers in water was also investigated via the inverting test method. The critical gel temperature (CGT) and critical gel concentration (CGC) values of two‐arm, three‐arm and four‐arm copolymer solutions were markedly higher than ones of one‐arm copolymer. Moreover, the same CGC values of copolymer solution with different molecular weight and the same arm composition were ~15 wt %, and CGT values increased from ~38 to ~47°C with increasing arm numbers. Finally, the temperature‐dependent micellar packing gelation mechanism of star‐shaped block copolymer was schematically illustrated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT
Authors: Splett Joni Williams , Fowler Johnathan , Weist Mark D. , McDaniel Heather , Dvorsky Melissa
Published: January 2013

School mental health (SMH) programs are gaining momentum and, when done well, are associated with improved academic and social–emotional outcomes. Professionals from several education and mental health disciplines have sound training and experiences needed to play a critical role in delivering quality SMH services. School psychologists, specifically, are in a key position to advance SMH programs and services. Studies have documented that school psychologists desire more prominent roles in the growth and improvement of SMH, and current practice models from national organizations encourage such enhanced involvement. This article identifies the roles of school psychologists across a three‐tiered continuum of SMH practice and offers an analysis of current training and professional development opportunities aimed at such role enhancement. We provide a justification for the role of school psychologists in SMH, describe a framework for school psychologists in the SMH delivery system, discuss barriers to and enablers of this role for school psychologists, and conclude with recommendations for training and policy.
Deep eutectic solvents as both active fillers and monomers for frontal polymerization
Authors: Mota‐Morales Josué D. , Gutiérrez María C. , Ferrer M. Luisa , Sanchez Isaac C. , Elizalde‐Peña Eduardo A. , Pojman John A. , Monte Francisco Del , Luna‐Bárcenas Gabriel
Published: January 2013

The deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on the mixtures of a variety of ammonium salts and hydrogen bond donors containing acrylic acids and acrylamides are capable of sustaining frontal polymerization (FP). The selection of ammonium salt affects the reactivity and allows FP at relatively low temperature but with full conversion. Also, full conversion allows us to use these polymers for biomedical applications (e.g., drug delivery systems) as the unreactive ammonium salts can be released from the resulting polymer without by‐products. We call these components “active fillers,” which can be ammonium salts with biological or pharmaceutical importance. For instance, we prepared poly(acrylic acid) loaded with lidocaine hydrochloride (a common anesthetic), the release of which was found to occur in a controlled fashion. The ammonium salts also create a sufficiently high viscosity to suppress buoyancy‐driven convection without additional materials. The DES here described played an all‐in‐one role, providing the monomer, the active filler, and the polymerization medium for FPs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Management of Critical Alarms: Connecting the Dots
Authors: Gill Stephen
Published: January 2013

In the aftermath of some high profile national security incidents, investigations starting with the catastrophe or near miss and working backward have shown a clear series of events or warning signs which if recognised may have allowed the incident to be prevented. The security services have subsequently been criticised for being “unable to connect the dots” and intervene appropriately. Similarly, investigations into process safety incidents that work backward from the loss of containment or other more serious outcome often show a clear series of events or warning signs which if recognised and acted upon may have prevented the incident. In the build‐up to both security and process safety events; however, the pattern that is so clear after the fact is often obscured or perhaps unrecognisable due to the other activities that are happening and all of the extraneous information that is available at the same time. In process safety, control room alarms often fall into the category of important information that is visible after the fact but missed or obscured leading up to the event. There are two broad approaches for improving the effectiveness of alarms. The first is to reduce the extraneous information for the operator by reducing the total number of alarms or addressing the rate at which alarms come in during a plant upset. The second approach is to improve the visibility of the alarm and ensure clear expectations for response for the most important or critical alarms. This article focuses on the latter and outlines principles for improving the effectiveness of “critical alarms,” defined here as those where the alarm and the expected operator response are considered to be a “layer of protection” against a major accident hazard scenario. These principles include aspects of the process design, ergonomics and the human machine interface, training, safety culture, and auditing. In an operating company, responsibility for these elements and the associated work processes are often “owned” by different parts of the organisation. It is therefore important that the management systems and organisational structure provide strong linkages to ensure the different work processes or departments mesh effectively to deliver a robust alarm system and associated operating discipline. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 66–71, 2013
How to Communicate to Create a Safety Culture and Improve PSM Results
Authors: Louvar Joseph F.
Published: January 2013

Almost all articles that promote the reduction or elimination of process accidents include process safety management and the importance of communication and a positive safety culture. However, they do not clearly describe how to communicate effectively to create this culture. The objective of this article is to focus on how to communicate and create a positive safety culture to achieve the desired process safety management results; that is, to reduce or eliminate process accidents. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 57–58, 2013
Replacement of HCFC‐22 Refrigerants with Ammonia: A Challenge for Hockey Arenas in Quebec
Authors: Lacoursière J.‐P. , Dumas C.
Published: January 2013

The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the use of a number of substances responsible for ozone depletion. The protocol was adopted in 1987 and covers among other substances, HCFC‐22 used as refrigerants. The Canadian governments (federal and provincials) have put in place legislations to phase out and prohibit the use, production, and importation of HCFC‐22 substances and equipment using HCFC‐22 as refrigerant. Refrigeration systems are used in over 500 hockey arenas in the province of Quebec and 400 of them have to be modified to use a more ozone friendly refrigerant, that is, ammonia. Therefore, the risk associated with these sites is a major concern for the population due to their close proximity. The article presents approaches that are used to reduce the risk to an acceptable level for the neighbors and users. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 78–83, 2013
Photoluminescence of X‐ray irradiated CdSe nanocrystals embedded in dielectric matrices
Authors: Prymak M. V. , Azhniuk Yu. M. , Zvenigorodsky V. V. , Krasilinets V. M. , Rayevska O. E. , Stroyuk O. L. , Gomonnai A. V. , Zahn D. R. T.
Published: January 2013

The effect of X‐ray irradiation (up to 3200 Gy) on the photoluminescence (PL) of CdSe nanocrystals embedded in polyacrylamide and borosilicate glass matrices is studied. In both cases no PL quenching is observed: for the polyacrylamide‐embedded CdSe nanocrystals the PL intensity remains stable, while for the borosilicate glass‐embedded nanocrystals it increases somewhat. The obtained PL behavior correlates well with the optical absorption data. This testifies to the radiation stability of the optical characteristics of CdSe nanocrystals in polyacrylamide and irradiation‐induced charge transfer between the nanocrystals and the borosilicate glass.
Physico‐Mechanical Properties of Starch‐Based Films Containing Naturally Derived Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Kuorwel Kuorwel K. , Cran Marlene J. , Sonneveld Kees , Miltz Joseph , Bigger Stephen W.
Published: January 2013

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) films containing relatively low [0.75 ± 0.08% (w/w)], intermediate [1.08 ± 0.04% (w/w)] and high [3.20 ± 0.29% (w/w)] levels of the antimicrobial (AM) agents carvacrol, linalool and thymol were prepared, and their physico‐mechanical and optical properties were evaluated. Addition of these AM agents to TPS film reduced the tensile strength with increasing AM agent content, with a significant effect observed at the highest AM agent concentration. The Young's modulus and elongation at break increased with increasing AM agent concentration, especially at the highest formulation concentration of AM agent. Films having a low or intermediate formulation concentration of AM agent exhibited no significant effect on their water vapour permeability, transparency and thermal properties when compared to the control film. Although scanning electron microscope imaging suggested a significant and progressive change in the surface morphologies of the films with AM agent concentration, the overall effects on the tested properties were not significant. This suggests that the direct incorporation of AM agents into TPS films did not adversely affect the films, particularly at lower AM agent concentrations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single file reciprocating technique using conventional nickel–titanium rotary endodontic files
Authors: Jin So‐Youn , Lee WooCheol , Kang Mo K. , Hur Bock , Kim Hyeon‐Cheol
Published: January 2013

This study was aimed to evaluate the applicability of a reciprocating movement technique with conventional nickel–titanium files for root canal preparation. Forty‐four simulated canals in resin blocks were used in this study and divided as following four groups according to the instruments used and preparation methods. Group CP (n = 12) and CR (n = 12) were instrumented with continuous rotation using four files of ProFile and RaCe, respectively. Group RP (n = 10) and RR (n = 10) were instrumented with a reciprocation movement by using a single ProFile and RaCe file, respectively. The resin blocks were scanned before and after instrumentation, and the images were superimposed. To compare the efficiency of canal shaping, the preparation time, and centering ratio were calculated. Morphologic changes of tested files were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan's post hoc test at p < 0.05. The preparation time was markedly shorter in Groups RP and RR than in Groups CP and CR. No significant difference in the centering ratio was noted between groups. Although the files used for Groups CP and CR showed no distortion under the SEM evaluation, the files used for Groups RP and RR had considerable torsional distortion. This study suggests that the reciprocating instrumentation technique using conventional nickel–titanium rotary file systems might have a comparable efficacy for the root canal shaping with reduced shaping time. Although the reciprocating technique seems to be an effective alternative to the conventional rotation technique, the risk of torsional distortion and fracture should be considered before clinical application. SCANNING 9999:1–9, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. SCANNING 35:349–354, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An efficient intrusion detection framework in cluster‐based wireless sensor networks
Authors: Sedjelmaci Hichem , Senouci Sidi Mohammed , Feham Mohammed
Published: January 2013

In the last few years, the technological evolution in the field of wireless sensor networks was impressive, which made them extremely useful in various applications (military, commercial, etc.). In such applications, it is essential to protect the network from malicious attacks. This presents a demand for providing security mechanisms in these vulnerable networks. In this paper, we design a new framework for intrusion detection in cluster‐based wireless sensor networks. Our detection framework is composed of different protocols that run at different levels. The first protocol is a specification‐based detection protocol that runs at intrusion detection system (IDS) agents (low level). The second one is a binary classification detection protocol that runs at cluster head (CH) node (medium level). In addition, a reputation protocol is used at each CH to evaluate the trustworthiness level of its IDSs agents. Each CH monitors its CH neighbors on the basis of a specification detection protocol with the help of a vote mechanism applied at the base station (high level). We evaluated the performances of our framework in the presence of four well‐known attacks: hello flood, selective forwarding, black hole, and wormhole attacks. We evaluated specifically the detection rate, false positive rate, energy consumption, and efficiency. Simulation results show that our detection framework exhibits high detection rate (almost 100%), low number of false positives, less time to detect the attack, and less energy consumption. Our intrusion detection framework outperforms other schemes proposed in the literature in terms of detection, false positive rate, and energy consumption. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defending return‐oriented programming based on virtualization techniques
Authors: Jia Xiaoqi , Wang Rui , Jiang Jun , Zhang Shengzhi , Liu Peng
Published: January 2013

Over the past few years, return‐oriented programming (ROP) has drawn great attention of both academia and industry. Because of its Turing completeness, ROP reuses short instruction sequences already present in the victim program's address space to perform arbitrary computation. Hence, it can successfully bypass state‐of‐the‐art code integrity check mechanisms. In this paper, we look into using virtualization technologies to defeat return‐oriented programming. We design and implement HyperCropII, a virtualization‐based automatic runtime approach to defend such attacks. ROP attackers extract short instruction sequences ending in ret called “gadgets” and craft stack content to “chain” these gadgets together. We observe that a key characteristic of ROP is to fill the stack with plenty of addresses that are within the range of the program's libraries. Accordingly, we inspect the content of the stack to see if a potential ROP attack exists and quarantine the damages for further security purposes. We have implemented a proof‐of‐concept system based on the open source Xen hypervisor. The evaluation results exhibit that our solution is effective and efficient. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of chlorpyrifos on reproductive toxicology of male rats
Authors: Sai Linlin , Li Xiangxin , Liu Yanzhong , Guo Qiming , Xie Lin , Yu Gongchang , Bo Cunxiang , Zhang Zhenling , Li Ling
Published: January 2013

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of subchronic exposure to chlorpyrifos on reproductive toxicology of male rats. Forty healthy male rats were divided into four groups: three exposure groups and a control group. Chlorpyrifos was administered orally to male rats at 0, 2.7, 5.4, and 12.8mg/kg for 90 days to evaluate the toxic alterations in testicular histology, testicular marker enzyme activities and related genes expression levels, sperm dynamics, and testosterone levels. The body weight and the testis weight of animals did not show any significant changes. Chlorpyrifos brought about marked reduction in testicular sperm counts, sperm motility, and significant growth of sperm malformation rate in exposed males. Histopathological examination of testes showed mild to severe degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules at various dose levels. The levels of testosterone (T) showed a decreasing tendency, and there was a statistical difference between the 5.4, 12.8 mg/kg groups, and the control group. The levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly increased in 5.4 and 12.8 mg/kg groups, but there were no obvious effects on the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2). A significant increase in the activities of LDH and LDH‐x was observed in chlorpyrifos exposed rats in 5.4 and12.8 mg/kg groups, but the expression levels of related genes had no significant differences between chlorpyrifos exposure groups and the control group. These results suggest that chlorpyrifos has adverse effects on reproductive system of male rats. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 1083–1088, 2014.
Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract attenuate acrylamide induced testicular damage in albino rats
Authors: Yassa Heba A. , George Safaa M. , Refaiy Abeer El Refaiy M. , Moneim Effat M. Abdel
Published: January 2013

Acrylamide is a proved toxin for testicular function, found in food when heated for long period of time. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a potent antioxidant; the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of green tea extract against the toxic effects of acrylamide in rat testes. Methods: acrylamide was administered orally to rats in different doses and also the extract of green tea was administered orally to different groups of animals in combination with the acrylamide. The weight of animals, testosterone hormone level and histopathological effect upon testicles were evaluated. Results: Testosterone hormone level in serum, and histopathological findings were significantly improved with the co‐administration of green tea extract with the acrylamide. Green tea extract reversed all the toxic effects of acrylamide even in high dose for long period (90 days). Conclusion: Green tea extract is a potent antioxidant antidote for the acrylamide toxic effects upon testicular function. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 1155–1161, 2014.
On Using Twitter
Authors: Barone Diane M. , Mallette Marla H.
Published: January 2013

The Editors of The Reading Teacher introduce a new column, “By Educators, for Educators” through sharing ideas from the Interesting Ways series edte.ch/blog/interesting-ways/. Curated by Tom Barrett, the Interesting Ways Series is an example of crowdsourcing or the power collaborative thought. The Interesting Ways Series has more than 30 topics, with new ideas continually added via EDTECH at edte.ch/blog/ and Twitter. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike 3.0 License, allowing collaborators to share the work as well as add ideas. Therefore, the ideas for using different types of technology in the classroom are added via open source, with some more applicable than others. This column presents interesting ways to ue Twitter for teaching and learning literacy.
Reading Workshop 2.0: Children's Literature in the Digital Age
Authors: Serafini Frank , Youngs Suzette
Published: January 2013

As readers encounter children's literature in new formats and modes of delivery, the basic processes of reading, sharing, discussing and analyzing texts will change. Because of these changes, new instructional approaches and resources will be required to support the development of young readers in a Reading Workshop 2.0 environment. In a Reading Workshop 2.0 environment, readers might read children's picturebooks and novels on e‐readers, share their ideas on web‐based discussion boards and analyze texts using digital tools and resources.
“It is Hard Fun”: Scaffolded Biography Writing With English Learners
Authors: Pavlak Christina M.
Published: January 2013

Using Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as a theoretical framework, a team of university staff and educators at a traditionally under‐performing urban elementary school built a collaboration aimed at enhancing writing instruction. The current qualitative research study, which was part of this larger project, focused on biography writing in Eva Rodriguez's third grade sheltered English immersion (SEI) class. To enhance language learning, reading comprehension, and writing skills, the teacher and students deconstructed and jointly constructed biographical text. Students gained a nuanced understanding of the demands of the genre and acquired essential information about persons of study. They were then able to write biographies independently. The purpose of this study was to show how Eva's uniquely scaffolded instruction served as an apprenticeship and influenced English learners’ ability to write in the genre of study.
Differential adhesion in model systems
Authors: Foty Ramsey A. , Steinberg Malcolm S.
Published: January 2013

During embryonic development, cells or groups of cells migrate from their locations of origin to assume their correct anatomical positions. Intercellular adhesion plays an active and instructive role in orchestrating this process. Precisely how adhesion provides spatial positioning information is a subject of intense interest. In the 1960s, Steinberg proposed the differential adhesion hypothesis (DAH) to explain how differences in the intensity of cell adhesion could give rise to predictable spatial interactions between different cell types. The DAH is grounded in the same set of physical principles governing the interaction of immiscible fluids and thus provides a rigorous conceptual framework connecting the chemistry of cell adhesion to the physics underlying cell and tissue segregation. Testing the DAH required the development of methods to measure intercellular cohesion and of assays to accurately assess relative spatial position between cells. The DAH has been experimentally verified and computationally simulated. Moreover, evidence concerning the role of differential adhesion in a number of morphodynamic events is accumulating. It is clear that differential adhesion is a major driving force in various aspects of embryonic development, but recent studies have also advanced the concept that other factors, such as cortical tension and elasticity, may also be involved in fine tuning, or even driving the process. It is likely that an interplay between adhesion and these other factors co‐operate to generate the forces required for tissue self‐organization. WIREs Dev Biol 2013, 2:631–645. doi: 10.1002/wdev.104

This article is categorized under:

Establishment of Spatial and Temporal Patterns > Cell Sorting and Boundary Formation

Early Embryonic Development > Gastrulation and Neurulation

Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan
The Impact of a Ketogenic Diet and Liver Dysfunction on Serum Very Long‐Chain Fatty Acids Levels
Authors: Stradomska T. J. , Bachański M. , Pawłowska J. , Syczewska M. , Stolarczyk A. , Tylki‐Szymańska A.
Published: January 2013

Peroxisomes play an essential role in mammalian cellular metabolism, particularly in oxidation fatty acid pathways. Serum very long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFA), the main biochemical diagnostic parameters for peroxisomal disorders, were examined in 25 neurological patients with epilepsy on a ketogenic diet and 27 patients with liver dysfunction. The data show that patients on a ketogenic diet have increased levels of C22:0 and C24:0, but not C26:0, and normal C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0. Patients with liver insufficiency showed a slightly elevated level of C26:0, a normal level of C24:0 and a decreased level of C22:0; thus in 21/27 the ratio of C24:0/C22:0 was increased and 15/27 the ratio of C26:0/C22:0 was increased.
Improving dementia care: The role of screening and detection of cognitive impairment
Authors: Borson Soo , Frank Lori , Bayley Peter J. , Boustani Malaz , Dean Marge , Lin Pei‐Jung , McCarten J. Riley , Morris John C. , Salmon David P. , Schmitt Frederick A. , Stefanacci Richard G. , Mendiondo Marta S. , Peschin Susan , Hall Eric J. , Fillit Howard , Ashford J. Wesson
Published: January 2013

The value of screening for cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, has been debated for decades. Recent research on causes of and treatments for cognitive impairment has converged to challenge previous thinking about screening for cognitive impairment. Consequently, changes have occurred in health care policies and priorities, including the establishment of the annual wellness visit, which requires detection of any cognitive impairment for Medicare enrollees. In response to these changes, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation convened a workgroup to review evidence for screening implementation and to evaluate the implications of routine dementia detection for health care redesign. The primary domains reviewed were consideration of the benefits, harms, and impact of cognitive screening on health care quality. In conference, the workgroup developed 10 recommendations for realizing the national policy goals of early detection as the first step in improving clinical care and ensuring proactive, patient‐centered management of dementia.
Florbetapir (F18‐AV‐45) PET to assess amyloid burden in Alzheimer's disease dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and normal aging
Authors: Johnson Keith A. , Sperling Reisa A. , Gidicsin Christopher M. , Carmasin Jeremy S. , Maye Jacqueline E. , Coleman Ralph E. , Reiman Eric M. , Sabbagh Marwan N. , Sadowsky Carl H. , Fleisher Adam S. , Murali Doraiswamy P. , Carpenter Alan P. , Clark Christopher M. , Joshi Abhinay D. , Lu Ming , Grundman Michel , Mintun Mark A. , Pontecorvo Michel J. , Skovronsky Daniel M. ,   AV45‐A11 study group
Published: January 2013

Objective

To evaluate the performance characteristics of florbetapir F18 positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy control subjects (HCs).

Methods

Florbetapir PET was acquired in 184 subjects (45 AD patients, 60 MCI patients, and 79 HCs) within a multicenter phase 2 study. Amyloid burden was assessed visually and quantitatively, and was classified as positive or negative.

Results

Florbetapir PET was rated visually amyloid positive in 76% of AD patients, 38% of MCI patients, and 14% of HCs. Eighty‐four percent of AD patients, 45% of MCI patients, and 23% of HCs were classified as amyloid positive using a quantitative threshold. Amyloid positivity and mean cortical amyloid burden were associated with age and apolipoprotein E ε4 carrier status.

Conclusions

The data are consistent with expected rates of amyloid positivity among individuals with clinical diagnoses of AD and MCI, and indicate the potential value of florbetapir F18 PET as an adjunct to clinical diagnosis.
Focal hemosiderin deposits and β‐amyloid load in the ADNI cohort
Authors: Kantarci Kejal , Gunter Jeffrey L. , Tosakulwong Nirubol , Weigand Stephen D. , Senjem Matthew S. , Petersen Ronald C. , Aisen Paul S. , Jagust William J. , Weiner Michael W. , Jack Clifford R. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2013

Background

Prevalence and risk factors for focal hemosiderin deposits are important considerations when planning amyloid‐modifying trials for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Subjects were cognitively normal (n = 171), early‐mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 240), late‐MCI (n = 111), and AD (n = 40) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Microhemorrhages and superficial siderosis were assessed at baseline and on all available MRIs at 3, 6, and 12 months. β‐amyloid load was assessed with 18F‐florbetapir positron emission tomography.

Results

Prevalence of superficial siderosis was 1% and prevalence of microhemorrhages was 25% increasing with age (P < .001) and β‐amyloid load (P < .001). Topographic densities of microhemorrhages were highest in the occipital lobes and lowest in the deep/infratentorial regions. A greater number of microhemorrhages at baseline was associated with a greater annualized rate of additional microhemorrhages by last follow‐up (rank correlation = 0.49; P < .001).

Conclusions

Focal hemosiderin deposits are relatively common in the ADNI cohort and are associated with β‐amyloid load.
A community psychology of object meanings: Identity negotiation during disaster recovery
Authors: Baker Stacey Menzel , Hill Ronald Paul
Published: January 2013

What do material goods intended for personal consumption mean to community? We use the extreme example of natural disaster recovery in a community to explore this question. Our work describes how members make sense of material objects that transition from private to public possessions (damaged goods) and public to private possessions (donated goods). By blending consumer and community psychology perspectives with our narratives, we employ a three‐dimensional framework for analyzing object meanings: (1) material objects as agents of communitas (a shared sense of “we”), (2) material objects as agents of individualism (a focus on “me”), and (3) material objects as agents of opposition (the “we” that speaks for “me” and “us” versus “them”). This theoretical frame allows us to show how different conceptions of identity lead to conflicting meanings of objects within community, and to explain how and why object meanings shift as objects move across time and space from private to public and from scarcity to abundance. We also provide implications for coping with disasters that consider collective and individual identities as well as oppositional stances in between.
Integrierte Versorgung: Wo stehen wir? Eine Public Health orientierte Bestandsaufnahme
Authors: Hildebrandt Helmut
Published: January 2013

Einleitung

Mit der Einführung der Integrierten Versorgung (IV) im Jahr 2000 verband sich die Hoffnung auf die Entwicklung von Versorgungsinnovationen. Zwölf Jahre später ist es an der Zeit, zu überprüfen, ob sich das Modell bewährt hat. Der Verfasser – selber aus dem Public Health Bereich kommend und an der Einführung der IV in 2000 beteiligt – sieht sie als Chance für einen Wettbewerb um die besten Gesundheits-Outcomes bei gleichzeitiger Berücksichtigung von Effizienzkriterien und einem Höchstmaß an Patientenorientierung. Im folgenden Beitrag gibt er einen Überblick über die bisherige Entwicklung der IV und entwickelt ein Public Health orientiertes Raster zur Bewertung der Modelle. Er kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass sich zwar viele durchaus interessante Versorgungsinnovationen entwickelt haben. Das Potenzial der IV für eine Reformierung des deutschen Gesundheitssystems wurde bisher aber nur zu einem Bruchteil genutzt.
Access to Musculoskeletal Specialists and Resources in Free and Charitable Clinics: A Survey of Clinic Directors
Authors: Khadavi Michael J. , Matthews Ryan L. , Gottlieb Karen , Conway Robert , Davis Wade , Parker Jerry C.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To evaluate the capabilities and resources of free and charitable clinics in the United States to deliver musculoskeletal care to an indigent population.

Design

A voluntary, anonymous, cross‐sectional survey.

Setting

Electronic mailing list for the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics in September 2011, and in person at the Annual Summit for the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics in October 2011. At the time of survey, 427 member‐clinics were eligible for participation.

Participants

One hundred forty‐five (34%) respondents were included in data analysis.

Interventions

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Answers to a questionnaire regarding access to musculoskeletal care.

Results

The average annual clinic volume was 5690 patient visits. Low back pain was the most common orthopedic complaint. Access to musculoskeletal specialty consultants was rated as poor or worse in 83% of clinics surveyed. The majority of respondents (63%) believed that their staff was able to treat only half or fewer of the patients who presented with musculoskeletal complaints in their clinic. The resource most needed to treat these conditions was musculoskeletal physician consultants.

Conclusions

Indigent populations have a strong need for musculoskeletal care, but affordable access to physiatrists and other musculoskeletal specialists is extremely limited. Personnel at surveyed clinics believed that the greatest need to improve care is better access to these specialty physicians.
Children's Emotional and Behavioural Problems and Carer-Child Relationships in Permanent Care
Authors: Alexandris Maria M. , Hammond Sabine W. , McKay Michael
Published: January 2013

Children placed in permanent care often display a range of challenging behaviours that can affect the quality of carer-child relationships. The current study examined the relationship between children's emotional and behavioural difficulties and the quality of carer-child relationships in permanent care (N= 46). Permanent carers of children ages 3 to 12 completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1999) and Child-Parent Relationship Scale (CPRS; Pianta, 1992). Results indicated that child emotional and behavioural difficulties were related to carer-child relationships. The SDQ scales Conduct Problems and Pro-Social Behaviour were the strongest predictors of relationship quality. The findings of the study suggest that fewer conduct problems and more pro-social behaviour is important for positive carer-child relationships.
Dimensions of random affine code tree fractals
Authors: JÄRVENPÄÄ ESA , JÄRVENPÄÄ MAARIT , KÄENMÄKI ANTTI , KOIVUSALO HENNA , STENFLO ÖRJAN , SUOMALA VILLE
Published: January 2013

We study the dimension of code tree fractals, a class of fractals generated by a set of iterated function systems. We first consider deterministic affine code tree fractals, extending to the code tree fractal setting the classical result of Falconer and Solomyak on the Hausdorff dimension of self-affine fractals generated by a single iterated function system. We then calculate the almost sure Hausdorff, packing and box counting dimensions of a general class of random affine planar code tree fractals. The set of probability measures describing the randomness includes natural measures in random $V$-variable and homogeneous Markov constructions.
COMMUTATIVITY DEGREE OF A CLASS OF FINITE GROUPS AND CONSEQUENCES
Authors: NATH RAJAT KANTI
Published: January 2013

The commutativity degree of a finite group is the probability that two randomly chosen group elements commute. The object of this paper is to compute the commutativity degree of a class of finite groups obtained by semidirect product of two finite abelian groups. As a byproduct of our result, we provide an affirmative answer to an open question posed by Lescot.
Point of view: Energy factors for food labelling and other purposes should be derived in a consistent fashion for all food components
Authors: Warwick Penelope M. , Baines Janis
Published: January 2013

In Australia, the process by which food energy factors are derived for food labelling purposes is under review. One of the questions of international relevance is whether energy factors should be derived using a definition of metabolisable energy (ME) or a definition of net (metabolisable) energy (NME), or some mixture of the two. ME describes the food energy available for heat production and body gains. NME deducts obligatory thermogenesis from ME in an attempt to reflect the food energy that can be converted to ATP energy within the body. Some countries use NME to derive energy factors for novel food ingredients such as sugar alcohols and polydextrose, but continue to use ME for protein, fat, carbohydrate, and alcohol. The present paper puts a case for using a consistent system (ME at the present time) for all food components. Reasons for this include: consistent application to all food components allows valid comparisons between products; food energy values and estimates of energy expenditure (food energy requirements) should be directly comparable; NME does not account for all sources of thermogenesis; differences between ME and NME for sugar alcohols and polydextrose are small in the context of the whole diet; and the ME system does not preclude information about metabolic efficiency being provided as additional information. Any major change to the way in which energy values are expressed (e.g. global adoption of the NME system) merits wide discussion among the human nutrition community. One aim of this present paper is to stimulate this discussion.
II. PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD: TRAPPED BETWEEN RHETORIC AND REALPOLITIK
Authors: Eden Paul
Published: January 2013

On 23 September 2011, Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the State of Palestine, applied for full membership of the United Nations (UN) on behalf of the State of Palestine. In his letter of application (addressed to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon), Mr Abbas made reference to section F of the Plan of Partition in UN General Assembly Resolution 181(II) of 29 November 1947 (where sympathetic consideration of the application for membership of the UN of both the Arab and Jewish States was urged) as well as the Declaration of Independence of the State of Palestine of 15 November 1988 and the acknowledgement by the General Assembly (GA) of this Declaration in Resolution 43/177 of 15 December 1988.1
FROM NIEO TO NOW AND THE UNFINISHABLE STORY OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Authors: Salomon Margot E
Published: January 2013

Why have attempts to bring development aspirations to bear on international law over a period of 50 years come to far less than any reasonable person would hope? The early claims for a New International Economic Order and permanent sovereignty by developing countries over their natural resources, efforts to delineate a body of international development law, followed by the affirmation of a human right to development, were all attempts to have economic justice reflected in international law. Figures on world poverty and inequality suggest that international law accommodated no such restructuring. This article explores why it is international law has failed the poor of the world, and what interests it has served in their stead.
II. GRAND CHAMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS,A, B & C v IRELAND, DECISION OF 17 DECEMBER 2010
Authors: de Londras Fiona , Dzehtsiarou Kanstantsin
Published: January 2013

The use of ‘European consensus’ as a decision-making mechanism of the European Court of Human Rights has been condemned and praised in almost equal measure.1On the one hand, some scholars argue that the way in which so-called ‘consensus’ is identified is generally unsound and lacking in rigour.2It is also claimed that European consensus is overly subjective in its nature3and, in any case, that it undermines the principle that the Convention has an autonomous meaning determined by the Court and separate to what member States do or interpret it as meaning.4On the other hand there are scholars who, while often concerned with the suboptimal methodology adopted in identifying and using European consensus in the decisions of the Court, recognize the method's potential to increase the legitimacy of the Court and its function as a mechanism for the progressive liberalization of the European public order.5This reflects the fact that, generally speaking, European consensus has been applied in order to establish an expanded scope of protection for the Convention in areas not expressly mentioned within it or contemplated at the time of its drafting, on the basis that there is an identifiable trend (although, in strict linguistic terms, not an actual ‘consensus’) among other European States to protect the alleged right.6