bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re‐Examining Machiavelli: A Three‐Dimensional Model of Machiavellianism in the Workplace
Authors: Kessler Stacey R. , Bandelli Adam C. , Spector Paul E. , Borman Walter C. , Nelson Carnot E. , Penney Lisa M.
Published: August 2010

Machiavellianism has been studied extensively over the past 40 years as a personality characteristic that shares features with the manipulative leadership tactics Machiavelli advocated in The Prince. We introduce a new model of Machiavellianism based in organizational settings that is multidimensional, incorporating aspects not previously included in Machiavellianism scales. Our model consists of 3 factors: maintaining power, harsh management tactics, and manipulative behaviors. The results of 3 studies are summarized, discussing the development of these 3 factors and how they relate to individual‐difference and organizational variables.
Contextual and Individual Predictors of Psychological Disengagement From Sport During a Competitive Event
Authors: Caudroit Johan , Stephan Yannick , Brewer Britton W. , Le Scanff Christine
Published: August 2010

The present study aims to identify the processes underlying athletes' psychological disengagement during a competitive event. It was expected that goal attainment would predict psychological disengagement through the mediation of physical self‐worth. It was further hypothesized that athletic identity and passion for the activity would be predictors of psychological disengagement. Athletes completed measures of athletic identity, passion, and physical self‐worth before a competition; and perceived goal attainment, physical self‐worth, and psychological disengagement after a competition. Physical self‐worth mediated the relationship between perceived goal attainment and discounting. Obsessive passion and athletic identity were negatively related to devaluing over and above goal attainment and physical self‐worth. The study highlights individual and contextual correlates of psychological disengagement in the sport setting.
The Asceticism Dimension of the Protestant Work Ethic: Shedding Its Status of Invisibility
Authors: Mudrack Peter E. , Mason E. Sharon
Published: August 2010

Asceticism seems an “invisible” Protestant work ethic (PWE) dimension that has largely been ignored in research. This study, building directly on existing knowledge, investigated the possibility that deference to authority was central to asceticism and the possible ethical implications of this. In 3 samples of employed persons, results demonstrated that highly ascetic individuals were highly authoritarian, were low in advanced moral reasoning, and regarded ethically questionable activities benefiting organizations (but not individuals) as relatively acceptable. However, “hard workers,” another PWE dimension, regarded all ethically questionable activities as inappropriate, regardless of the beneficiary, and were less clearly authoritarian. Significant relationships involving the PWE may sometimes be undetectable when combining distinct dimensions, and asceticism merits attention as a distinct PWE component.
The Effect of Challenge and Threat Appraisals Under Evaluative Presence
Authors: Feinberg Joshua M. , Aiello John R.
Published: August 2010

Four studies were conducted to examine whether cognitive appraisals, manipulated through task instructions, would moderate social‐facilitation effects. In Study 1, participants in the challenge condition performed better on a mental arithmetic task when the experimenter was present. Conversely, participants in the threat condition performed worse when the experimenter was present. Study 2 extended these findings across 2 math tasks that varied in degree of difficulty. The pattern of performance data failed to support prior drive theories and provided support for a unique contribution of cognitive appraisals in explaining social‐facilitation effects. Study 3 validated the appraisal manipulations by using multiple measures of cognitive appraisals. Finally, Study 4 offered increased validity by replicating the performance data using an anagram task.
Membrane‐directed molecular assembly of the neuronal SNARE complex
Authors: Cho Won Jin , Lee Jin‐Sook , Zhang Lei , Ren Gang , Shin Leah , Manke Charles W. , Potoff Jeffrey , Kotaria Nato , Zhvania Mzia G. , Jena Bhanu P.
Published: August 2010

Since the discovery and implication of N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor (NSF)‐attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins in membrane fusion almost two decades ago, there have been significant efforts to understand their involvement at the molecular level. In the current study, we report for the first time the molecular interaction between full‐length recombinant t‐SNAREs and v‐SNARE present in opposing liposomes, leading to the assembly of a t‐/v‐SNARE ring complex. Using high‐resolution electron microscopy, the electron density maps and 3D topography of the membrane‐directed SNARE ring complex was determined at nanometre resolution. Similar to the t‐/v‐SNARE ring complex formed when 50 nm v‐SNARE liposomes meet a t‐SNARE‐reconstituted planer membrane, SNARE rings are also formed when 50 nm diameter isolated synaptic vesicles (SVs) meet a t‐SNARE‐reconstituted planer lipid membrane. Furthermore, the mathematical prediction of the SNARE ring complex size with reasonable accuracy, and the possible mechanism of membrane‐directed t‐/v‐SNARE ring complex assembly, was determined from the study. Therefore in the present study, using both lipososome‐reconstituted recombinant t‐/v‐SNARE proteins, and native v‐SNARE present in isolated SV membrane, the membrane‐directed molecular assembly of the neuronal SNARE complex was determined for the first time and its size mathematically predicted. These results provide a new molecular understanding of the universal machinery and mechanism of membrane fusion in cells, having fundamental implications in human health and disease.
Primary pneumonic plague in the African Green monkey as a model for treatment efficacy evaluation
Authors: Layton R. Colby , Brasel Trevor , Gigliotti Andrew , Barr Edward , Storch Steven , Myers Leslie , Hobbs Charles , Koster Frederick
Published: August 2010

Background  Primary pneumonic plague is rare among humans, but treatment efficacy may be tested in appropriate animal models under the FDA ‘Animal Rule’.

Methods  Ten African Green monkeys (AGMs) inhaled 44–255 LD50 doses of aerosolized Yersinia pestis strain CO92. Continuous telemetry, arterial blood gases, chest radiography, blood culture, and clinical pathology monitored disease progression.

Results  Onset of fever, >39°C detected by continuous telemetry, 52–80 hours post‐exposure was the first sign of systemic disease and provides a distinct signal for treatment initiation. Secondary endpoints of disease severity include tachypnea measured by telemetry, bacteremia, extent of pneumonia imaged by chest x‐ray, and serum lactate dehydrogenase enzyme levels.

Conclusions  Inhaled Y. pestis in the AGM results in a rapidly progressive and uniformly fatal disease with fever and multifocal pneumonia, serving as a rigorous test model for antibiotic efficacy studies.
Skin application of urea‐containing cream affected cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity, blood flow, and water evaporation
Authors: Horii Yuko , Tanida Mamoru , Shen Jiao , Fujisaki Yosiyuki , Fuyuki Risa , Hashimoto Kazuko , Niijima Akira , Nakashima Toshihiro , Nagai Katsuya
Published: August 2010

Background/purpose: We observed that olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil elevated the activities of sympathetic nerves, and increased the plasma glycerol concentration and blood pressure. In contrast, olfactory stimulation with scent of lavender oil had opposite effects in rats. These suggest that changes in autonomic activities cause physiological functions via histaminergic H1 and H3 receptor. Moreover, it has been reported that somatic sensory stimulation affected autonomic neurotransmission. To examine effects of skin application of urea‐containing cream on cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve activity (CASNA), blood flow, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Method: The activity of CASNA was determined by electrophysiological method, and cutaneous blood flow was determined using laser flowmeter in urethane‐anesthetized rats, TEWL was measured using VapoMeter in the back skin of HWY hairless rats.

Results: CASNA was markedly and significantly inhibited by skin application of 10% urea‐containing cream, whereas cutaneous blood flow was significantly elevated via histaminergic H3‐receptor. In conscious hairless rats, TEWL was significantly decreased 24 h after application of 10% urea‐containing cream to the back skin.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that skin application of 10% urea‐containing cream increases the cutaneous blood flow and water retaining ability, and that histaminergic H3‐receptors may mediate these effects.
Immunological Paradigms and the Pathogenesis of Ovine Chlamydial Abortion
Authors: Entrican Gary , Wattegedera Sean , Wheelhouse Nick , Allan Alasdair , Rocchi Mara
Published: August 2010

Citation Entrican G, Wattegedera S, Wheelhouse N, Allan A, Rocchi M. Immunological paradigms and the pathogenesis of ovine chlamydial abortion. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010

Successful mammalian pregnancy involves complex immunological interactions between the mother and foetus that are not yet fully understood. A number of immunological paradigms have been established to explain the failure of the maternal immune system to reject the semi‐allogeneic foetus, mainly based on studies in mice and humans. However, as placental structure, gestation periods and number of concepti per pregnancy can vary greatly between mammals, it is not always clear how applicable these immunological paradigms are to reproduction in other species. Here, we discuss the predictions of three important immunological paradigms in relation to the pathogenesis of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA), a common cause of infectious abortion in sheep and other ruminants. OEA is caused by the intracellular Gram‐negative bacterium Chlamydophila abortus that exhibits a tropism for placental trophoblast. The paradigms of particular relevance to the pathogenesis of OEA are as follows: (i) intracellular bacterial infections are controlled by TH1‐type CD4+ve T cells; (ii) indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase is expressed in the placenta to prevent immunological rejection of the semi‐allogeneic foetus; and (iii) pregnancy is a maternal TH2‐type phenomenon. We discuss the relevance and validity of these paradigms for chlamydial abortion and reproductive immunology in sheep.
PRODUCTION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND CHEMILUMINESCENCE BY HUMAN MONOCYTES DURING DIFFERENTIATION AND LYMPHOKINE ACTIVATION IN VITRO
Authors: Seim Sjur
Published: August 2010

The zymosan‐induced respiratory burst of human monocytes was studied, measuring the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence (CL). The monocytes' ability to generate ROS declined markedly during the first 24 hours of culture, but regained the original level during the following three days. In contrast, the CL‐response declined steadily during the same period. In vitro activation by lymphokines from lymphocytes stimulated with bacillus Calmette‐Guérin gave a significant increase in ROS‐generation; the CL‐response was only marginally increased, but activated cells consistently displayed an altered kinetics of the CL‐response with a more rapid decline from peak CL‐values. These findings indicate that the production of ROS is not the limiting factor for the magnitude of the CL‐response in the present experimental system and that the CL‐assay may be an uncertain way of quantitating ROS.
A SKIN CHAMBER TECHNIQUE FOR LEUKOCYTE MIGRATION STUDIES; DESCRIPTION AND REPRODUCIBILITY
Authors: SCHEJA AGNETA , FORSGREN ARNE
Published: August 2010

An in vivo skin chamber method, using lesions obtained by suction, was evaluated for studying leukocyte migration. No dyspigmentation or scar was seen after two months. The number of leukocytes accumulated in the collection chamber was 6.9 times 107/cm2 and was correlated to the area of the lesion (r = 0.964). Reproducibility, essentially unchanged over an extended period, was 19% for one skin chamber and 13.6% for determinations with duplicate chambers; by comparison, with an under‐agarose technique, the coefficient of variation for migration was low on consecutive days (6%), but much higher (29%) when determined over a longer period. No correlation was found between the skin chamber technique and chemotaxis or random migration determined with the under‐agarose technique (r = ‐0.38 and 0.12 respectively). Zymosan‐activated serum attracted a higher number of leukocytes than did fresh serum, whereas heat‐inactivated serum attracted a lower number. This attraction seems to be partly caused by C5a, as a higher C5a‐concentration was detected in zymosan‐activated serum and in fresh serum after 24 hours in a collection chamber than in heat‐inactivated serum.
HUMAN MONOCYTE AND NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS IN VITRO EMPLOYING 51Cr‐LABELLED LEUKOCYTES
Authors: TERNOWITZ THOMAS
Published: August 2010

A modification of an objective technique for measuring leukocyte chemotaxis is described using 51Cr‐labelled neutrophils and monocytes. Influence of cell concentration, incubation time, chemotactic factor concentration and gradient, filter pore size and incubation temperature on migrational activity of the studied cells has been investigated. The technique was rigorously standardized in order to optimize the assay conditions. The chemotactic activity is expressed as a ratio of stimulated migration and random migration (chemotactic index = CI). The method is relatively simple, sensitive, and fast. It is suitable as a screening test for abnormal leukocyte chemotaxis.
THE PARATHYROID GLAND IN METAL RICKETSA Stereological Study
Authors: SVENSSON OLLE , REINHOLT FINN P. , ENGFELDT BENGT
Published: August 2010

Rickets can be induced by oral administration of metals. A depressive effect exerted by metal ions on the parathyroid gland has previously been suggested to be a pathogenetic factor in strontium‐induced rickets. In the present investigation, rickets was induced in young rats by oral administration of strontium and manganese, respectively. The parathyroids were fixed by perfusion and the total volume of the parathyroid glands was determined by serial sectioning. Conventional stereological techniques were applied on the ultrastructural level and the densities obtained could be related to the total mass of parathyroid tissue. In both rachitic groups the volume of the parathyroid glands as well as the absolute amounts of all cellular components studied, were reduced. All these changes were, however, correlated to the decreased body weight of the experimental animals. This is well in line with the finding of unaltered serum concentrations of calcium and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone. Therefore, it is concluded that the parathyroids do not play an important role in the pathogenesis of metal rickets.
Prevalence of dental myths, oral hygiene methods and tobacco habits in an ageing North Indian rural population
Authors: Singh Saumyendra V , Tripathi Arvind , Akbar Zafar , Chandra Suresh , Tripathi Anurag
Published: August 2010

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00395.x
 
Prevalence of dental myths, oral hygiene methods and tobacco habits in an ageing North Indian rural population

Background and objectives:  Though increased emphasis is being given to expanding dental care facilities and awareness in Indian villages, the target population is unfortunately less literate and financially‐equipped compared to their urban counterparts. This study attempted to evaluate dental myths, oral hygiene methods and beliefs, and tobacco habits present in a rural ageing population.

Material and methods:  The study area consisted of a group of 10 villages, situated in the district of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The sample comprised 681 people aged 50 years or above. The subjects were questioned about dental myths, tobacco habits and oral hygiene methods and then divided into groups on the basis of age, gender, and educational status. Mean values, standard deviation, chi‐square test, t‐test and p values were used to obtain inter‐group comparisons.

Results:  Forty percent of the subjects considered oral hygiene unnecessary, with 61% relying on simple mouth rinsing for maintaining oral hygiene, 48% either smoked and chewed tobacco or both and 81% had one or more dental myth.

Conclusion:  The results showed that the rural ageing population is deprived and a targeted programme to spread scientific dental practices to them is necessary.
Recreational Use of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors by Healthy Young Men
Authors: Bechara Amado , Casabé Adolfo , De Bonis Walter , Helien Adrián , Bertolino María Victoria
Published: August 2010

Introduction

In recent years, PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i) use has become more popular among men without ED to enhance sexual performance. However, reports in the literature are scarce.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the recreational use of PDE5i in healthy young men.

Main Outcome Measures

We evaluated the recreational use of PDE5i among young and healthy men, their main reasons for use, how they were obtained these drugs, and the combination with alcohol or other drugs.

Methods

Descriptive, transversal study consisting in 400 brief surveys with structured multiple choice and open questions. Nonprobability samples (quota samples) included young men between 18 and 30 years of age in a public area (high schools, universities, and gyms) between August and November 2009. Collecting the questionnaires in a sealed box enforced confidentiality. The survey included demographic and sexual health data and PDE5i use characteristics. For statistical analysis we used Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney tests.

Results

A total of 321 questionnaires were appropriate for the purposes of evaluation. Mean age and standard deviation were 25.1 ± 3,3 years old. Regarding PDE5i use, 69 men (21.5%) mentioned trying the pill (being sildenafil the most commonly used one) at least one time in their lives and 37 (53.4%) men combined it with alcohol or drugs. Referred sources of acquisition PDE5i were 75.4% (N = 52) from a friend, 17.4% (N = 15) from a pharmacy/drugstore without a medical prescription, 4.3% (N = 3) prescribed by a physician and 2.9% (N = 2) through Internet. There were several reasons for taking PDE5i related to sexual confidence, erection quality, and better sexual performance.

Conclusion

According to our results, 21.5% of healthy men between 18 and 30 years old used PDE5i as a recreational drug, mostly associated with alcohol or other drugs without medical control. This could have led to misuse and a public health problem. Further studies are needed to evaluate not only PDE5i recreational use prevalence, but also psychosocial determinants, long term safety, misuse, and abuse related to it.
Identifying research priorities and research needs among health and research professionals in psycho‐oncology
Authors: DZIDOWSKA Monika , PRICE Melanie , BUTOW Phyllis
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To identify and prioritize the key research questions in psycho‐oncology in order to guide the development of large multicenter clinically relevant studies.

Methods:  All members of the Psycho‐Oncology Co‐operative Research Group (n = 295) were invited to participate in an online survey and 180 responded (response rate = 61%). Participants rated eight priority research areas identified from a previous focus group study on a five‐point scale, and ranked their top four priority areas. Within the four ranked research areas, participants selected the three most important specific research questions.

Results:  The highest rated research priority areas were distress identification (23.3%), survivorship (22.7%), and distress management (15.3%), followed by issues relating to health services (9.7%) and carers (8.0%). Interventions were commonly nominated among the most important research questions within each priority area. The single most important research question identified by 44% of the sample was to “Determine the most acceptable, reliable and valid screening tool to be administered routinely at diagnosis and at other key transition points to identify distress and psychosocial needs”.

Conclusion:  This is the first Australian study to explore research priorities in psycho‐oncology, and the first international study to explore these issues in depth. To ensure that the research effort is strategic, clinically relevant and cost‐effective, clear priorities need to be established. The results of this survey will enable limited resources to focus on key research questions of direct clinical benefit.
Prevention of malignant seeding at drain sites by hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients with pleural mesothelioma
Authors: KARA Pinar , UGUR Işil , MISIRLIOGLU Cem , KÜCÜKPLAKCI Bülent , OZGEN Aytul , ELGIN Yesim , DEMIRKASIMOGLU Taciser , SANRI Ergun
Published: August 2010

Aim:  Unlike most other malignancies, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has a tendency to recur along tracks of chest wall instrumentation. We investigated the efficiency of hypofractionated radiotherapy for prevention of malignant seeding.

Methods:  Twenty‐one (six female, 15 male) patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma who had chest wall instrumentation and were treated with prophylactic radiotherapy were investigated retrospectively. All patients underwent surgery or thoracoscopy and/or talc pleurodesis, for diagnosis, staging procedures or as a treatment. All were treated with electron (12 MeV) external beam radiation therapy (21 Gy in three fractions over 3 days), directed to the instrumentation pathway after the invasive procedure. After completion of radiotherapy, four of 21 patients had also undergone chemotherapy.

Results:  Nineteen of 21 patients were followed‐up for a median period of 13 months (1–24 months) and two patients were lost just after the first month of the follow‐up period. None of the followed patients had tumor progression in the treated area. Radiotherapy was well tolerated. The most common side‐effect was grade 1 erythema (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group [RTOG] scale), noted in 13 treated patients.

Conclusion:  Our experience showed that prophylactic radiotherapy to prevent malignant seeding in malignant mesothelioma at invasive procedure sites was effective and well tolerated in preventing malignant seeding, painful metastases after surgery or instrumentation in patients with pleural mesothelioma. Larger multicenter prospective trials are still needed to validate this treatment approach utility for it to be recommended routinely.
The analysis of diagnosis and treatment for pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy for 105 periampullary carcinoma cases
Authors: Kasimu Haxiaobieke , Chen Qilong , Wang Xiyan , Li Jun , Han Wei , He Tieying , Ling Hai , Wen Hao
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To investigate the ways in which to decrease the morbidity of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy and corresponding therapy.

Methods:  Double‐layered end‐to‐side duct‐to‐mucosa anastomosis was applied in 105 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy and pancreaticoenteric reconstruction, postoperative pancreatic fistula cases were treated aggressively by early surgery, effective drainage and enteral nutrition.

Results:  Ten cases of pancreatic fistula occurred among 105 operative cases and required reoperation. The rest of the cases recovered uneventfully, except for five cases of in‐hospital death.

Conclusion:  Aggressively early surgery, effective drainage, comprehensive treatment and continual improvement of operative technique are the key to dealing with postoperative pancreatic fistula.
How Race, Sex, and Age Frame the Use of Authority by Local Government Officials
Authors: Portillo Shannon
Published: August 2010

Thanks to the civil rights movement, women and racial and ethnic minorities increasingly hold positions of public authority—but they experience and exercise this authority differently from white men. Based on 162 narratives collected from 49 US local government officials (city administrators and police), I find that women, minorities, and younger officials in positions of authority face a paradox of rules. Because they have lower social status with the public and within their organizations, they must rely on formal and explicit rules as a key basis for their authority, but such reliance causes their very authority to be questioned. Social status based on implicit assumptions about social identities, including race or ethnicity, sex, and age, originates outside of organizations and has effects society wide. This study shows that social status continues to permeate US local government organizations in both subtle and explicit ways, even in bureaucratic settings that are formally committed to merit and professional norms.
Political Transition and the Rise of Cause Lawyering: The Case of Hong Kong
Authors: Tam Waikeung
Published: August 2010

This article examines how cause lawyering can flourish under authoritarianism. Using the case of Hong Kong, it argues that the process of the sovereignty transition between the 1980s and 1997 contributed to the emergence of cause lawyering by establishing a favorable legal opportunity structure, by creating a political structure that provides incentive for lawyers‐cum‐politicians to engage in cause lawyering, and by prompting a few dedicated foreign human rights lawyers to move their practices to Hong Kong. Apart from the factors related to the sovereignty transition, other factors also facilitated the rise of cause lawyering in Hong Kong, including a rights‐receptive judiciary, an autonomous legal profession, and a government‐funded legal aid system.
An agar diffusion study comparing the antimicrobial activity of Nanoseal with some other endodontic sealers
Authors: Aal‐Saraj Ali Burak , Ariffin Zaihan , Masudi Sam'an Malik
Published: August 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a new experimental nano‐hydroxyapatite epoxy resin‐based sealer (Nanoseal) with several other commercially available sealers; AH26, Tubliseal, Sealapex and Roekoseal against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Escherichia coli for up to 7 days. Agar diffusion was used in this study. Fifty Muller‐Hinton agar plates were prepared and divided into five experimental groups (n = 10), for each micro‐organism. Another 10 agar plates were used as positive and negative controls. Endodontic sealers were tested against each micro‐organism. Inhibition zones produced were recorded. The results of this study showed that all test materials exhibited inhibition zones towards the tested micro‐organisms for 7 days except for Roekoseal, which showed no inhibition zones. Nanoseal and AH26 exhibited similar zones of inhibition. Significant difference was found between Nanoseal and the other tested sealers (P < 0.001).
Excited‐state Intramolecular Proton–transfer‐induced Charge Transfer of Polyquinoline
Authors: Park Sun‐Young , Jeong Hyeok , Yu Hyunung , Park Soo Young , Jang Du‐Jeon
Published: August 2010

The excited‐state intramolecular proton–transfer‐induced charge transfer of semirigid polyquinoline (PQH) is explored in 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane (TCE) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (MP) using picosecond time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Reaction mechanisms are found to depend on the rotational conformations of PQH at the moment of excitation; whereas the trans‐enolic form does not undergo intramolecular proton transfer within its excited‐state lifetime, the cis‐enolic form does within 15 ps to form a tautomeric zwitterion species. While the subsequent intramolecular charge transfer of the zwitterionic species to yield a tautomeric keto species takes place on time scales of 25 ps in TCE (ε = 8.50) and 62 ps in MP (ε = 32.55), its reverse reaction is also followed on time scales of 28 ps in TCE and 20 ps in MP. The lack of a kinetic isotope effect in both forward and reverse charge‐transfer reactions support our proposed mechanisms.
Dynamic, Interactive Documents for Teaching Statistical Practice
Authors: Nolan Deborah , Temple Lang Duncan
Published: August 2010

Significant efforts have been made to overhaul the introductory statistics courses by placing greater emphasis on statistical thinking and literacy and less on rules, methods and procedures. We advocate broadening and increasing this effort to all levels of students and, importantly, using topical, interesting, substantive problems that come from the actual practice of statistics. We want students to understand the thought process of the “masters” in context, seeing their choices, different approaches and explorations. Similar to Open Source software, we think it is vital that the work of the community of researchers is accessible to the community of educators so that students can experience statistical applications and learn how to approach analyses themselves. We describe a mechanism by which one can collect all aspects or fragments of an analysis or simulation into a “document” so that the computations and results are reproducible, reusable and amenable to extensions. These documents contain various pieces of information (e.g. text, code, data, exploration paths) and can be processed to create regular descriptive papers in various formats (e.g. PDF, HTML), as well as acting as a database of the analysis which we can explore in rich new ways. Researchers, instructors and readers can control the various steps in the processing and rendering of the document. For example, this type of document supports interactive components with which a student can easily control and alter the inputs to the computations in a semi‐guided fashion, gradually delve deeper into the details, and go on to her own free‐form analysis. Our implementation for this system is based on widely used and standardized frameworks and readily supports multiple and different programming languages. Also, it is highly extensible which allows adaptation and future developments.
Reshaping an enduring sense of self: the process of recovery from a first episode of schizophrenia
Authors: Romano Donna M. , McCay Elizabeth , Goering Paula , Boydell Katherine , Zipursky Robert
Published: August 2010

Aim: Although advances in the treatment of schizophrenia have been made, little is known about the process of recovery from first episode of schizophrenia (FES). To date, the study of recovery in the field of mental health has focused on long‐term mental illness. This qualitative study addresses ways in which individuals with FES describe their process of recovery and how identified individuals (e.g. family members) describe their perceptions of and roles in the participant's process of recovery.

Methods: Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to interview 10 young adults twice who self‐identified as recovering from FES. In addition, 10 individuals were identified who had influenced their recovery and were interviewed once, for a total of 30 interviews. Data collection sources included in‐depth semi‐structured interviews. Data analysis methods were consistent with Charmaz's methodology and included coding, and constant comparison of data.

Results: The results provide a substantive theory of the process of recovery from FES that is comprised of the following phases: ‘Who they were prior to the illness’, ‘Lives interrupted: Encountering the illness’, ‘Engaging in services and supports’, ‘Re‐engaging in life’, ‘Envisioning the future’; and the core category, ‘Re‐shaping an enduring sense of self’, that occurred throughout all phases. A prominent feature of this model is that participants' enduring sense of self were reshaped rather than reconstructed throughout their recovery.

Conclusions: This model of recovery from FES is unique, and as such, provides implications for clinical care, research and policy development for these young adults and their families.
Primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) – two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Lazarus Angeline , Fuhrer Gregory , Malekiani Christina , McKay Sean , Thurber John
Published: August 2010

Introduction:  We present two cases with symptoms of progressively worsening cough, dyspnea, decreased exercise tolerance and right‐sided back pain in the first case and upper respiratory symptoms characterized by cough and a low grade fever in the second case.

Methods:  Report of two cases.

Results:  The initial chest X‐ray in both the cases showed pleural effusion. Further imaging with computed tomography of the chest confirmed the effusion in both cases. Thoracentesis was done in both of them revealed an exudative effusion that did not reveal any infection or malignancy. Both cases underwent surgical biopsy and the diagnosis of primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma was made.

Conclusions:  Both the cases had progressive clinical deterioration despite chemotherapy with Taxol and Bevacizumab in one case and carboplatin, etoposide, and bevacizumab, in the second case. Both developed metastatic disease to lungs and died.

Please cite this paper as: Lazarus A, Fuhrer G, Malekiani C, McKay S and Thurber J. Primary pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) – two cases and review of the literature. Clin Respir J 2011; 5: e1–e5.
Loggerhead turtle eggshells as a source of maternal nuclear genomic DNA for population genetic studies
Authors: SHAMBLIN BRIAN M. , DODD MARK G. , WILLIAMS KRISTINA L. , FRICK MICHAEL G. , BELL REBECCA , NAIRN CAMPBELL J.
Published: August 2010

Tagging studies on nesting beaches are commonly used to estimate nesting frequency, remigration interval and nesting population size for marine turtle rookeries. Estimates of these demographic parameters from tagging projects may be biased because of the small scale of tagging efforts relative to female nest site fidelity and the logistical difficulty of intercepting all nesting females. Therefore, alternative and supplemental means of individual identification of nesting females are required. We demonstrate that maternal nuclear microsatellite DNA can be isolated from unincubated eggshells of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) through comparison of DNA extracted from 59 eggs collected within 15 h of oviposition and DNA derived from skin samples from respective nesting females. Scorable microsatellite genotypes were produced in 897 of 994 (90.2%) single‐locus egg amplifications attempted. Among eggs from known females, 730 of 748 (97.6%) single‐locus, egg‐derived genotypes matched the respective skin‐derived genotypes. Allelic dropout was the most common type of error, followed by the presence of nonmaternal, presumably paternal, alleles. Genotypes derived from unincubated eggshells permit individual assignment of nests and therefore demographic parameter estimates for loggerhead turtle nesting populations, despite genotyping errors that require further optimization. Although sampling unincubated eggs is destructive, this technique is noninvasive to nesting females and is applicable in marine turtle population genetics studies when individual resolution is required but direct interception of nesting females is undesirable or logistically infeasible.
Population decline assessment, historical baselines, and conservation
Authors: Bonebrake Timothy C. , Christensen Jon , Boggs Carol L. , Ehrlich Paul R.
Published: August 2010

Scientific and historical knowledge of worldwide animal‐population decline is fragmentary at best. However, understanding historical population trends is essential for informing best efforts to preserve species. We reviewed the literature of long‐term studies of population declines across a set of animal taxa and found that only 15% of the studies used data older than 100 years, and 58% of the studies lacked continuous data. Based on our review, we describe five general approaches to studying population declines: counting, correlative, evolutionary, geochemical, and historical. The most common method of population assessment was a census/counting approach (75% of studies) followed by a range mapping/correlative approach (17% of studies). Evolutionary, geochemical, and historical approaches are used less often but, in combination with traditional counting and correlative methods, they hold great potential as tools for conservation. The multidisciplinary approaches we identify and advocate here will be useful for understanding and potentially reversing population declines and ultimately stemming the tide of extinctions currently underway.
Cryptic destruction of India's native forests
Authors: Puyravaud Jean‐Philippe , Davidar Priya , Laurance William F.
Published: August 2010

India sustains some of the world's most imperiled forests. The Forest Survey of India recently announced that forest cover in India had expanded by nearly 5% over the past decade. This result, while technically accurate, is misleading. The Forest Survey estimates forest cover by using automated algorithms to analyze satellite imagery—an approach that fails to distinguish native forests from tree plantations, which are often monocultures of exotic species that have limited value for endangered biodiversity. Since the early 1990s, tree plantations have expanded in India at an estimated rate of roughly 15,400 km2/year. Subtracting plantations from total forest cover shows that native forests in India have declined by 1.5%–2.7% per year. The limited precision of our estimate highlights a paucity of data on native forest cover in India—a problem requiring urgent attention. Forest cutting for fuelwood has been the biggest driver of forest loss and thinning in India. Like India, many nations now rely on satellite imagery to discern changes in vegetation cover, and these frequently lump native, exotic, and degraded forest types. Without sufficiently high‐resolution imagery and adequate safeguards, such approaches could paint a misleading picture of the fate of the world's native forests.
BEITRAG ZUR KLINIK DER HYALINOSIS CUTIS ET MUCOSAE (LIPOID‐GLUKO‐PROTEINOSE URBACH‐WIETHE)**
Authors: Bacskulin József , Bacskulin Elisabeth , GEWIDMET J. FRANÇOIS
Published: August 2010

Die Hyalinosis cutis et mucosae ist bisjetzt in der Ophthalmologie wenig bearbeitet worden. Da abgesehen von der Lidbeteiligung keine wesentlichen Augenbeschwerden vorhanden sind, gelangen die Patientin meistens an den Oto‐Rhino‐Laryngologen und Dermatologen, seltener an den Internisten. Die Lidbeteiligung kann jedoch so charakteristisch sein, dass sie einen bedeutenden Hinweis auf die Diagnosestellung geben kann. Eine erfolgversprechende The rapie besteht nicht. Durch Engere Zusammenarbeit mit den anderen Fachgebieten wird die Klärung dieses Krankheitsbildes vorangebracht.

Es ist uns eine angenehme Pflicht, an dieser Stelle Herrn Prof. Dr. G. W. Korting (Direktor der Univ.‐Hautklinik in Mainz) herzlich für seine Unterstützung, sowie für die Überlassung der beiden letzten Fälle zu danken.
Reducing Customer Dissatisfaction: How Important is Learning to Reduce Service Failure?
Authors: Lapré Michael A.
Published: August 2010

As service failures are inevitable, firms must be prepared to recover and learn from service failures. Yet, the majority of customers are still dissatisfied with the way firms resolve their complaints. Can learning to reduce service failures reduce customer dissatisfaction, and to what extent are such reductions sustainable? Previous research showed that organizational learning curves for customer dissatisfaction (i) follow a U‐shaped function of operating experience and (ii) are heterogeneous across firms. In this paper, I tease out where the U‐shaped learning‐curve effect and learning‐curve heterogeneity originate: service failure or customers' propensity to complain with a third party given the occurrence of a service failure. Using quarterly data for nine major US airlines over 11 years, I find that the U‐shaped learning‐curve effect and the learning‐curve heterogeneity originate in the propensity to complain. In the long term, reductions in service failure did not translate in sustainable reductions in customer dissatisfaction. Customers' propensity to complain eventually went up. Managing the propensity to complain provides more opportunity for a firm to distinguish itself from competitors.
The Republic of Korea and the Nuclear Issue
Authors: Hayes Peter
Published: August 2010

This paper benefited from review and research assistance by my Nautilus associates Lyuba Zarsky, Megan van Frank and Cassandra Morrow; and generous sharing of information by Sandy Spector and Sig Harrison at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Andrew Mack at the International Relations Department, Australian National University; and Tim Dunk of the Institute for Contemporary Asian Studies at Monash University. The author, however, is responsible for any errors of fact or logic contained in this paper.
The Developmental State and the Politics of Business Interest Associations: The Case of the Textile Industry in South Korea
Authors: Kim Eui‐Young
Published: August 2010

The author wishes to thank Professors Chung‐In Moon, Stephan Haggard, and John C. Campbell for reviewing and providing comments on earlier versions of this paper.
Reforming Korea's Political Finance System: What Does the Official Data Tell (not Tell) Us?
Authors: Kim Young Rae , Kim Euysung
Published: August 2010

There is a commonly shared concern among Koreans that Korean politics is much too costly yet inefficient. The issue of money politics and corruption therefore has repeatedly dominated the media and public debate, especially during the election years. Despite repeated reform attempts, many weaknesses in the regulatory system still remain and the opaque nature of political financing persists. This paper argues that one of the major contributing factors to these policy failures is that previous reform measures were undertaken without a knowledge or understanding of the facts regarding the financing of political funds in Korea. This paper will bringing to show that analyses of the official NEC data on political funds are useful in light many of the problems embedded in both the legal and institutional aspects of Korea's political finance system. For instance, the presence of significant advantages for the incumbent in accessing political funds limits competition and fairness, and leads to the entrenchment of elected officials who are detached from their constituents. The official data also reveal evidence of strong linkages between the politicians and moneyed interests, making the political system vulnerable to corruption. In addition, Korea's party system's weak grass‐root support base allows domination by central party bosses; hence, the party system is weak in providing accountability, responsibility, deliberation, and competition. Finally, the most telling signal that Korea's political system is in need of reform comes ironically, not from what the official funds data are able to tell, but from what they are unable to tell. That is, the lack of transparency itself can be seen as an indicator that Korea's political finance system lacks credibility and accountability.
The Six‐Party Nuclear Talks: An Evaluation and Policy Recommendations
Authors: Kwak Tae‐Hwan
Published: August 2010

North Korea's alleged admission of a highly enriched uranium program sparked the current nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, leading to resumption of North Korea's nuclear weapons development program. According to U.S. intelligence estimates, North Korea already has four or five nuclear devices. Thus, the North Korean nuclear issue–a serious international issue that is the most important obstacle to the Korean peace process –needs to be resolved as soon as possible peacefully through diplomatic negotiations at the six‐party talks. The Bush administration insisted that the North Korean nuclear crisis be resolved through the six‐party talks, whereas North Korea insisted on bilateral talks with the U.S.

The author in this article analyzed the origin and development of the current nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, to evaluate the six‐party talks as an multilateral framework of resolving the nuclear issue from the first round of the six‐party nuclear talks to the third round in detail, and to make policy recommendations for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at least at the initial phase of North Korean nuclear dismantlement. The six‐party talks process is not yet dead, and will continue.

The author maintains that bilateral talks between the U.S. and North Korea are essential to the resolution of North Korea's nuclear standoff peacefully and diplomatically. Both need to engage in direct negotiations without preconditions through the six‐party talks process. Both U.S. and North Korea's hard‐line policies cannot solve the nuclear issue peacefully. Therefore, both sides need to be flexible about their respective positions with political will to compromise. The U.S. should be prepared for specifying its road map for multilateral security assurances for North Korea. The author also argues that the U.S. should reconsider proposing possible economic or energy incentives in exchange for North Korea's nuclear freeze to dismantle its nuclear programs.
New Asian Regionalism and the United States: Constructing Regional Identity and Interest in the Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion
Authors: Kim Sunhyuk , Lee Yong Wook
Published: August 2010

In the wake of the Asian economic crisis during 1997–1998, an important debate surfaced in the field of Asian regionalism. The debate, still unsettled and ongoing, centers around the following two questions: 1) comparing the pre‐crisis and post‐crisis periods, are there any significant changes in Asian regionalism to warrant the coinage of the term “new” Asian regionalism? and 2) if “new” Asian regionalism is real, what are its central features? Regarding the first question, we argue that a new regionalism has indeed emerged in Asia in the aftermath of the Asian economic crisis. There is a noticeable degree of discontinuity between the old regionalism before the crisis and the new regionalism after the crisis. As regards the second question, we maintain that one of the crucial characteristics of the new Asian regionalism has been its exclusionary nature, specifically the intentional exclusion of the United States. Using the constructivist theoretical framework and several empirical cases, we analyze and explain why and how Asian regionalism has become exclusionary in its nature.
North Korean Energy Problems and Solutions: A Russian Perspective1
Authors: Toloraya Georgy , Trigubenko Marina
Published: August 2010

The energy situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains very difficult and could prevent the economic progress of the country even if large foreign assistance and investment were at hand. Analysis of the country's energy supply and demand patterns shows that the outdated energy‐hungry industries and the wasteful use of energy due to a lack of incentives lead to a much higher energy use per unit of gross domestic profit (GDP) than in comparable economies. On the other hand the domestic supply is limited, while the lack of financing sources limits the external supply. The DPRK cannot attain energy security on its own: this is the priority task for international assistance, especially in the context of the Six‐Party peace process.

 Suggested measures include modernization of energy sector management, an internationally‐funded system of training of personnel, the modernization of energy sector facilities, the construction of new facilities and innovation. The South Korean role is very important and its assistance should be coordinated with broader international aid in the framework of the Six‐Party talks. Multilateral energy assistance arrangements, including a possible consortium should be considered. Such a body could draw a comprehensive plan of the DPRK's energy production and consumption patterns and the needed investment correlated with the overall prognosis of the DPRK's economic development.