bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VORTEX-GENERATED SOUND IN FLOW ABOUT SPINNING CYLINDERS
Authors: ZHENG TING-HUI , POVITSKY ALEX , VATISTAS GEORGIOS H.
Published: December 2008

This study provides a computational insight into unsteady far-field and surface pressure developed by vortex interaction with multiple rigid bodies in lift conditions. Flows around a spinning cylinder and two cylinders in tandem were taken as simple but yet representative prototypes of flows around multi-element lifting devices. The unsteady Euler equations are solved in terms of propagating disturbances originating from deforming vortices in the mean flow developed in the neighborhood of cylinders. Numerical errors associated with the discretization and boundary conditions were kept small employing a high-order scheme with accurate nonreflecting boundary conditions. To model the interaction of vortices with rigid bodies using moderate amount of computational resources, we apply a single-grid approach and implement the bipolar coordinate transformation where applicable. We address here the amplification of sound by the mean flow with nonzero circulation, strong influence of vortex profile on the generated sound waves, and different degree of amplification of sound in lifting flows for localized and nonlocal vortices. We find that the flow about a cylinder not only amplifies the sound strength but it also shifts the sound directivity. Vortices deforming within the flow about cylinders placed in tandem and in the traverse layouts were examined.
CONSTRUCTION OF m-METRIC ARRAY CODES DETECTING AND CORRECTING CT-BURST ARRAY ERRORS
Authors: Jain Sapna , Choi Seul Hee
Published: December 2008

In [11], the first author introduced the notion of CT bursts in the space Mat m×s(Fq), the linear space of all m × s matrices with entries from a finite field Fq, endowed with a non-Hamming metric [16] and obtained some lower bounds for CT burst array error correction. In this paper, we first obtain various construction bounds on the parameters of m-metric array codes [16] for the detection and correction of CT burst array errors and then construct the array codes meeting these bounds.
Granodiorite aggregates from East Bohemia for high-performance and high-strength concretes
Authors: Martinec P. , Scucka J. , Vavro M. , Safrata J.
Published: December 2008

This paper describes the petrological characteristics of biotite granodiorites from the Litice nad Orlici Quarry in East Bohemia (Czech Republic). Physical, chemical and mechanical parameters of extracted rocks and crushed aggregates are presented, together with the results of a study of rock fabric influence on the shape parameters of aggregate grains as a principal component of high-performance and high-strength concretes.
Rank-biased precision for measurement of retrieval effectiveness
Authors: Moffat Alistair , Zobel Justin
Published: December 2008

A range of methods for measuring the effectiveness of information retrieval systems has been proposed. These are typically intended to provide a quantitative single-value summary of a document ranking relative to a query. However, many of these measures have failings. For example, recall is not well founded as a measure of satisfaction, since the user of an actual system cannot judge recall. Average precision is derived from recall, and suffers from the same problem. In addition, average precision lacks key stability properties that are needed for robust experiments. In this article, we introduce a new effectiveness metric,
rank-biased precision
, that avoids these problems. Rank-biased pre-cision is derived from a simple model of user behavior, is robust if answer rankings are extended to greater depths, and allows accurate quantification of experimental uncertainty, even when only partial relevance judgments are available.
Get smart
Authors: Wright Alex
Published: December 2008

Future generations of smartphones will be context aware, tracking your behavior, providing information about the immediate environment, and anticipating your intentions.
From the front linesGround control to Architect Tom…
Authors: Bell Alex E.
Published: December 2008

Using David Bowie's classic song "Space Oddity" as a backdrop, the unscrupulous tactics of architecture astronauts are exposed.
ViewpointScaling the academic publication process to internet scale
Authors: Crowcroft Jon , Keshav S. , McKeown Nick
Published: December 2008

A proposal to remedy problems in the reviewing process.
Seam carving for media retargeting
Authors: Shamir Ariel , Avidan Shai
Published: December 2008

Traditional image resizing techniques are oblivious to the content of the image when changing its width or height. In contrast, media (i.e., image and video) retargeting take s content into account. For example, one would like to change the aspect ratio of a video without making human figures look too fat or too skinny, or change the size of an image by automatically removing "unnecessary" portions while keeping the "important" features intact. We propose a simple operator; we term
seam carving
to support image and video retargeting. A seam is an optimal 1D path of pixels in an image, or a 2D manifold in a video cube, going from top to bottom, or left to right. Optimality is defined by minimizing an energy function that assigns costs to pixels. We show that computing a seam reduces to a dynamic programming problem for images and a graph min-cut search for video. We demonstrate that several image and video operations, such as aspect ratio correction, size change, and object removal, can be recast as a successive operation of the seam carving operator.
THE WAY I SEE ITPeople are from earth, machines are from outer space
Authors: Norman Donald A.
Published: December 2008

Prologue: In the summer of 2008, I locked myself away in a secluded, secret location and wrote a book. My publisher didn't like it. "Boring," he said. Boring! Me? So I rewrote the beginning, which I present here to you. (Interested readers can find the original version, "Sociable Design," on my website, jnd.org.)
Alternative Activation of Macrophages: An Immunologic Functional Perspective
Authors: Martinez Fernando O. , Helming Laura , Gordon Siamon
Published: December 2008

Macrophages are innate immune cells with well-established roles in the primary response to pathogens, but also in tissue homeostasis, coordination of the adaptive immune response, inflammation, resolution, and repair. These cells recognize danger signals through receptors capable of inducing specialized activation programs. The classically known macrophage activation is induced by IFN-γ, which triggers a harsh proinflammatory response that is required to kill intracellular pathogens. Macrophages also undergo alternative activation by IL-4 and IL-13, which trigger a different phenotype that is important for the immune response to parasites. Here we review the cellular sources of these cytokines, receptor signaling pathways, and induced markers and gene signatures. We draw attention to discrepancies found between mouse and human models of alternative activation. The evidence for in vivo alternative activation of macrophages is also analyzed, with nematode infection as prototypic disease. Finally, we revisit the concept of macrophage activation in the context of the immune response.
On a Max-Type Difference Equation
Authors: Yalçinkaya I. , Iricanin B. D. , Çinar C.
Published: December 2008

We study the behaviour of the solutions of the following difference equation with the max operator:xn+1=max{1/xn,Axn−1},n∈ℕ0, where parameterA∈ℝand initial valuesx−1andx0are nonzero real numbers. In the most of the cases we determine the behaviour of the solutions in the terms of the initial valuesx−1andx0and the parameterA.
Single and Multiple Scattering in UWB Bicone Arrays
Authors: D′Errico Raffaele , Sibille Alain
Published: December 2008

An analysis of interactions between radiators in a UWB biconical array, drawing attention to single and multiple scatterings, is carried out. The complementarity between electrical coupling and radiation scattering is argued. The point source approximation is discussed and shown to be insufficient. An approximation of radiation scattering based on angular averaging of the scattering coefficient is proposed. This approach yields a reduction of the problem complexity, which is especially interesting in UWB multiple antenna systems, because of the large bandwidth. Multiple scattering between radiators is shown to be a second‐order effect. Finally, a time domain approach is used in order to investigate pulse distortion and quantify the exactness of the proposed scattering model.
Small-Cell Lung Cancer: 8 Years Experience of a Single Multidisciplinary Team
Authors: El-Helw Loaie M. , Rogers Trevor K. , Hatton Matthew Q. F.
Published: December 2008

Aims. We have audited the changes in treatment practice for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) presented to a single multidisciplinary team (MDT) at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals between January 1998 and December 2005.Materials and Methods. The MDT database was used to identify all patients with SCLC. Anonymised demographic, treatment, and outcome details were extracted from the database supplemented by patient records.Results. 235 patients were identified. 112 (48%) had limited disease at presentation. Chemotherapy was the initial treatment for 195 patients, 77% of whom had a documented radiological response with a complete response in 24%. Chemotherapy regimes evolved during the study period with the increasing use of platinum-based chemotherapy. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy was most used before 2004 and was given to 57% of all patients. 42% received consolidation thoracic radiotherapy and 24% prophylactic cranial irradiation. The median and 2-year survival were 8 months and 18%, respectively, for patients with limited disease and 5 months and 5%, respectively, for extensive disease.Conclusion. We have documented changes in treatment practice and service delivery of SCLC over the 8 years during which the MDT has been operating. However, there has not achieve any significant improvement in outcome for the population of patients with SCLC.
Chlamydia trachomatisSerology in Women with and without Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Ness Roberta B. , Shen Caixia , Bass Debra , Jackson Carlynn , Moysich Kristen , Edwards Robert , Brunham Robert C.
Published: December 2008

Pelvic inflammation has been implicated in the genesis of ovarian cancer. We conducted serologic measurements ofChlamydia trachomatisantibodies as a surrogate marker of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease. Women with ovarian cancer (n=521) and population-based controls (n=766) were tested. IgG antibodies to serovar D of chlamydia elementary bodies (EBs) were detected using an ELISA assay. The odds of having ovarian cancer among women with the highest titers (≥0.40 OD units) were 0.6 (95% CI 0.4–0.9). These data do not support our earlier finding of elevated titers for antibodies toC. trachomatisamong women with ovarian cancer.
Jaceosidin Induces Apoptosis in Human Ovary Cancer Cells through Mitochondrial Pathway
Authors: Lv Wen , Sheng Xia , Chen Ting , Xu Qiang , Xie Xing
Published: December 2008

We examined the antiproliferation effect of Jaceosidin (4′, 5, 7‐trihydroxy‐3′, 6‐dimethoxyflavone) isolated from the herb of Artemisia vestita Wall on several human cancer cell lines. Jaceosidin significantly reduced the proliferation of CAOV‐3, SKOV‐3, HeLa, and PC3 cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. A time‐dependent inhibition was also observed in CAOV‐3 cells by Jaceosidin. By flow cytometric analysis, we found that Jaceosidin treatment resulted in an increased apoptosis in CAOV‐3 cells. The cells treated with Jaceosidin exhibited a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Jaceosidin also increased the level of cleaved caspase‐9 and induced the cleavage of caspase‐3 and poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP), while caspase‐3 inhibitor Z‐DEVD‐FMK significantly reversed the proapoptotic effect of Jaceosidin in CAOV‐3 cells. Moreover, Jaceosidin elevated the level of cytochrome c in cytosol. These findings suggest that the anticancer effect of Jaceosidin may be contributed by an induction of apoptosis involving cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol.
Asymptotic Behavior of a Competition‐Diffusion System with Variable Coefficients and Time Delays
Authors: Zapata Miguel Uh , Avila Vales Eric , Estrella Angel G.
Published: December 2008

A class of time‐delay reaction‐diffusion systems with variable coefficients which arise from the model of two competing ecological species is discussed. An asymptotic global attractor is established in terms of the variable coefficients, independent of the time delays and the effect of diffusion by the upper‐lower solutions and iteration method.
Fixed Points and Stability of an Additive Functional Equation of n‐Apollonius Type in C∗‐Algebras
Authors: Moradlou Fridoun , Vaezi Hamid , Park Choonkil
Published: December 2008

Using the fixed point method, we prove the generalized Hyers‐Ulam stability of C∗‐algebra homomorphisms and of generalized derivations on C∗‐algebras for the following functional equation of Apollonius type .
Statistical Signal Processing by Using the Higher‐Order Correlation between Sound and Vibration and Its Application to Fault Detection of Rotational Machine
Authors: Masuike Hisako , Ikuta Akira
Published: December 2008

In this study, a stochastic diagnosis method based on the changing information of not only a linear correlation but also a higher‐order nonlinear correlation is proposed in a form suitable for online signal processing in time domain by using a personal computer, especially in order to find minutely the mutual relationship between sound and vibration emitted from rotational machines. More specifically, a conditional probability hierarchically reflecting various types of correlation information is theoretically derived by introducing an expression on the multidimensional probability distribution in orthogonal expansion series form. The effectiveness of the proposed theory is experimentally confirmed by applying it to the observed data emitted from a rotational machine driven by an electric motor.
Effects of Nonlinearity on the Variational Iteration Solutions of Nonlinear Two‐Point Boundary Value Problems with Comparison with Respect to Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Atay MehmetTarık , Coşkun SafaBozkurt
Published: December 2008

Solution of a nonlinear two‐point boundary value problem is studied using variational iteration method (VIM) considering its convergence behavior due to the changing nonlinearity effects in the equation. To achieve this, steady Burger equation is first solved by using finite element method (FEM) with a very fine mesh for the comparison of results obtained from VIM. Effect of the nonlinear term in the equation that is multiplied by a constant is taken into account for five different cases by changing the corresponding constant. Results have shown that VIM is a flexible, easy to apply, and promising method for the analysis of nonlinear two‐point boundary value problems with the fact that the larger the effect of the nonlinear term of the equation, the slower the convergence rate when compared to FEM solutions.
Nonlinear Dynamics of Sea Clutter
Authors: Field Timothy R. , Haykin Simon
Published: December 2008

We review experimental evidence for the nonlinearity of sea clutter
and the role of the z‐parameter or Mann‐Whitney rank‐sum statistic in
quantifying this nonlinear behavior in the context of a hybrid AM/FM model
for sea clutter, viewed as a cyclostationary process. An independent theoretical
derivation of the stochastic dynamics of radar scattering in a sea clutter
environment, in terms of a pair of coupled stochastic differential equations for
the received envelope and radar cross‐section (RCS), enables the identification
of nonlinearity in terms of the shape parameter for the RCS. We are led
to conclude that, from both experimental and theoretical points of view, the
dynamics of sea clutter are nonlinear with a consistent degree of nonlinearity
that is determined by the sea state.
Guanosine Triphosphate Cyclohydrolase I Expression and Enzymatic Activity Are Present in Caveolae of Endothelial Cells
Authors: Peterson Timothy E. , d'Uscio Livius V. , Cao Sheng , Wang Xiao-Li , Katusic Zvonimir S.
Published: December 2008

Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential cofactor required for the synthesis of NO. GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) is the rate-limiting enzyme for tetrahydrobiopterin production in endothelial cells, yet little is known about the subcellular localization of this enzyme. In this study, we demonstrated that GTPCH I is localized to caveolar membrane microdomains along with caveolin-1 and endothelial NO synthase. GTPCH I activity was detected in isolated caveolar membranes from cultured endothelial cells. Confocal and electron microscopy analyses confirmed GTPCH I colocalization with caveolin-1. Consistent with in vitro studies, GTPCH I activity was evident in isolated caveolar microdomains from lung homogenates of wild-type mice. Importantly, a 2-fold increase in GTPCH I activity was detected in the aortas of caveolin-1–deficient mice, suggesting that caveolin-1 may be involved in the control of GTPCH I enzymatic activity. Indeed, overexpression of caveolin-1 inhibits GTPCH I activity, and tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis is activated by the disruption of caveolae structure. These studies demonstrate that GTPCH I is targeted to caveolae microdomains in vascular endothelial cells, and tetrahydrobiopterin production occurs in close proximity to endothelial NO synthase. In addition, our findings provide new insights into the regulation of GTPCH I activity by the caveolar coat protein, caveolin-1.
Pravastatin for Cardiovascular Event Primary Prevention in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension in the Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese (MEGA) Study
Authors: Kushiro Toshio , Mizuno Kyoichi , Nakaya Noriaki , Ohashi Yasuo , Tajima Naoko , Teramoto Tamio , Uchiyama Shinichiro , Nakamura Haruo
Published: December 2008

Lipid-lowering therapy in individuals with high risk of cardiovascular disease reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease. However, few studies have assessed the benefits of cholesterol lowering for primary prevention of coronary heart disease in hypertensive patients with mild dyslipidemia or without conventional dyslipidemia. The large, randomized Management of Elevated Cholesterol in the Primary Prevention Group of Adult Japanese Study showed a 33% reduction in coronary heart disease incidence with pravastatin as the primary prevention in Japanese patients. We conducted an exploratory analysis of the effect of diet plus pravastatin therapy on the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease, coronary heart disease plus cerebral infarction, and cardiovascular disease) in the 3277 patients with hypertension during the 5-year follow-up. There were no significant differences in mean baseline total cholesterol, blood pressure levels, or variation in blood pressure during the 5-year period between the diet (n=1664) and diet plus pravastatin (n=1613) groups. In the diet plus pravastatin group, the relative risk of coronary heart disease plus cerebral infarction was reduced by 35% (hazard ratio: 0.65; CI: 0.46 to 0.93;
P
=0.02), cerebral infarction by 46% (hazard ratio: 0.54; CI: 0.29 to 0.98;
P
=0.04), and cardiovascular disease by 33% (hazard ratio: 0.67; CI: 0.49 to 0.91;
P
=0.01). In patients without a history of cardiovascular disease who have hypertension and mildly elevated cholesterol, pravastatin was effective in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease, particularly cerebral infarction. Hence, in patients with hypertension with mildly elevated cholesterol levels, treatment with a statin is advisable to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
Increased Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 Expression in the Maternal Vasculature of Women With Preeclampsia
Authors: Sankaralingam Sowndramalingam , Xu Yi , Sawamura Tatsuya , Davidge Sandra T.
Published: December 2008

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder unique to pregnancy, in which the placenta may release factors into the maternal circulation resulting in systemic effects. Small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL; which is susceptible for oxidation) is increased in preeclampsia. Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a receptor for oxidized LDL. However, the expression levels and the regulation of LOX-1 in the maternal vasculature of women with preeclampsia are unknown. We hypothesized that there is an increased LOX-1 expression in arteries from women with preeclampsia. We further hypothesized that circulating factors in the plasma of women with preeclampsia would upregulate the LOX-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells and contribute to vascular endothelial oxidative stress. We observed abundant LOX-1 expression and the presence of oxidized LDL in arteries from women with preeclampsia, which was negligible in arteries from normotensive pregnant women. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated for 24 hours with 2% plasma from preeclamptic women increased LOX-1 expression and oxidized LDL uptake, as well as induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide and peroxynitrite levels. These effects were significantly reduced by pretreatment with blocking antibody or small interfering RNA to LOX-1, as well as 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato iron (III), chloride (FeTPPS), a peroxynitrite scavenger. Exogenous peroxynitrite and 3-morpholino sydnonimine (SIN-1) increased LOX-1 protein and mRNA expression. In conclusion, increased LOX-1 expression in the systemic vasculature of preeclampsia women provides a fundamental insight into the pathology of preeclampsia and likely contributes to the induction and maintenance of vascular oxidative stress.
Contribution of Endothelin A Receptors in Endothelin 1–Dependent Natriuresis in Female Rats
Authors: Nakano Daisuke , Pollock David M.
Published: December 2008

Renal medullary endothelin B receptors contribute to blood pressure regulation by facilitating salt excretion. Premenopausal females have relatively less hypertension than males; therefore, we examined whether there is a sex difference in the natriuretic response to renal medullary infusion of endothelin peptides in the rat. All of the experiments were conducted in anesthetized wild-type (wt) or endothelin B–deficient (sl/sl) rats. Infusion of endothelin 1 (ET-1) significantly increased sodium excretion (U
Na
V) in female, but not male, wt rats (ΔU
Na
V: 0.41±0.07 versus −0.04±0.06 μmol/min, respectively). The endothelin B receptor agonist sarafotoxin 6c produced similar increases in U
Na
V in both male (Δ0.58±0.15 μmol/min) and female (Δ0.67±0.18 μmol/min)
wt
rats. Surprisingly, ET-1 markedly increased U
Na
V in female (Δ0.70±0.11 μmol/min) but not male
sl/sl
rats (Δ0.00±0.05 μmol/min). ET-1 had no effect on medullary blood flow in females, although medullary blood flow was significantly reduced to a similar extent in males of both strains. These results suggest that the lack of a natriuretic response to ET-1 in male rats is because of reductions in medullary blood flow. Treatment with ABT-627, an endothelin A receptor antagonist, or
N
G
-propyl-
l
-arginine, an NO synthase 1 inhibitor, prevented the increase in U
Na
V observed in female rats. Gonadectomy eliminated the sex difference in the U
Na
V and medullary blood flow response to ET-1. These findings demonstrate that there is no sex difference in endothelin B–dependent natriuresis, and the endothelin A receptor contributes to ET-1–dependent natriuresis in female rats, an effect that requires NO synthase 1. These findings provide a possible mechanism for why premenopausal women are more resistant to salt-dependent hypertension.
Dysregulation of Vascular TRPM7 and Annexin-1 Is Associated With Endothelial Dysfunction in Inherited Hypomagnesemia
Authors: Paravicini Tamara M. , Yogi Alvaro , Mazur Andrzej , Touyz Rhian M.
Published: December 2008

Inadequate magnesium intake and hypomagnesemia may contribute to chronic diseases, such as hypertension. The novel magnesium transporter TRPM7 is a critical regulator of magnesium homeostasis in vascular cells, but its role in pathophysiology is unclear. In a model of hypomagnesemia, we examined microvascular structure and function, TRPM7 expression, and vascular inflammatory status using inbred mice selected for normal-high intracellular magnesium levels or low intracellular magnesium levels (MgLs). Blood pressure was significantly increased in MgLs compared with normal-high intracellular magnesium levels. Pressurized myography of mesenteric resistance arteries showed that MgLs had significantly impaired endothelial function together with decreased plasma nitrate levels and endothelial NO synthase expression when compared with normal-high intracellular magnesium levels. Significant differences in vascular structure were also evident in both mesenteric arteries and aortas from MgLs. Aortas from MgLs had increased medial cross-sectional areas, whereas mesenteric arteries from MgLs had increased lumen diameters with increased medial cross-sectional areas, indicating outward hypertrophic remodeling. Expression of the magnesium transporter TRPM7 was significantly elevated in the vasculature of MgLs, whereas expression of a TRPM7 downstream target, the anti-inflammatory molecule annexin-1, was reduced. MgLs had increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, indicating vascular inflammation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the inherited magnesium status of MgLs and normal-high intracellular magnesium levels mice affects magnesium transporter expression, endothelial function, vascular structure, and inflammation. Our findings suggest a potential regulatory role for TRPM7 signaling in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Alterations in magnesium status and/or TRPM7 signaling may contribute to vascular injury in conditions associated with hypomagnesemia.
Measuring Technology of the Anisotropic Tensile Properties of Woven Fabrics
Authors: Jiaming Zheng  , Takatera Masayuki , Inui Shigeru , Shimizu Yoshio
Published: December 2008

A new creditable and effective multi-axial circular tensile tester (MACTT) with 16 load sensors installed around a circumference has been developed. The new tester could be used to measure tensile properties in various directions with one sample simultaneously under the same initial conditions. As a result, not only an error could be reduced, but also the experiment samples and time could be saved. The experimental results showed good agreement with the theoretical approximate values calculated based on Hooke's Law. We also compared the stress distributions obtained by the new tester with those tested by the Kawabata's Evaluation System (KES) instrument and the results confirmed that the new tester was theoretically reasonable and practically feasible for measuring orthotropic tensile properties of the fabrics with symmetrical structures, and that the new tester could also be used to test and evaluate the anisotropic tensile properties of fabrics with no orthogonal main axes.
Weatherability Assessment of Woven Geotextiles for Soft Ground Improvement
Authors: Yoo Hankyu , Jeon Han-Yong , Kwang Yeol Lee
Published: December 2008

In this study, polypropylene and polyester woven geotextiles having 5, 8, and 12 ton/m design strength were used. The parameters which affect the weatherability of woven geotextiles were examined through the index and field exposure tests. The reduction factors of these exposure conditions were also determined to interpret the long-term design strength of woven geotextiles.
Race-Based Shifting Standards and Racial Discrimination
Authors: Biernat Monica , Collins Elizabeth C. , Katzarska-Miller Iva , Thompson Elizabeth R.
Published: December 2008

Members of stereotyped groups tend to be judged relative to group-specific standards such that subjective descriptions (smart , aggressive , tall ) mean something different when they are applied to members of different groups. A “shifting standards” effect is present when judgments of group members on objective rating scales show stronger evidence of assimilation to stereotypes than the same judgments on subjective scales. This research asks whether the tendency to shift standards when judging the academic competence of Black and White students is related to measures of racial prejudice and to race-relevant decisions. In three studies, the tendency to shift standards was uncorrelated with other measures of prejudice but predicted reduced allocation of funds to a Black student organization, an effect moderated by implicit prejudice. The importance of examining interactions among indicators as they predict behavioral outcomes and implications for the conceptualization of prejudice are discussed.
A Painful Reminder: The Role of Level and Salience of Attitude Importance in Cognitive Dissonance
Authors: Starzyk Katherine B. , Fabrigar Leandre R. , Soryal Ashley S. , Fanning Jessie J.
Published: December 2008

In his seminal book, L. Festinger (1957) emphasized the role of attitude importance in cognitive dissonance. This study (N = 308) explored whether people's use of dissonance reduction strategies differs as a function of level of attitude importance and whether the personal importance of an attitude is salient. Results showed that level and salience of attitude importance interacted to affect high-choice (HC) participants' tendency to use attitude change and trivialization to reduce dissonance. When HC participants were not reminded of the personal importance of their attitude (i.e., it was not salient), they changed their attitudes equally irrespective of attitude importance, but engaged in greater trivialization with increasing levels of importance. In contrast, when attitude importance was salient, HC participants changed their attitudes less with increasing attitude importance and showed no evidence of trivializing under any level of importance.
The Dialectical Self-Concept: Contradiction, Change, and Holism in East Asian Cultures
Authors: Spencer-Rodgers Julie , Boucher Helen C. , Mori Sumi C. , Lei Wang  , Kaiping Peng
Published: December 2008

Naïve dialecticism refers to a set of East Asian lay beliefs characterized by tolerance for contradiction, the expectation of change, and cognitive holism. In five studies, the authors examined the cognitive mechanisms that give rise to global self-concept inconsistency among dialectical cultures. Contradictory self-knowledge was more readily available (Study 1) and simultaneously accessible (Study 2) among East Asians (Japanese and Chinese) than among Euro-Americans. East Asians also exhibited greater change and holism in the spontaneous self-concept (Study 1) and inconsistency in their implicit self-beliefs (Study 3). Cultural differences in self-concept inconsistency were obtained when controlling for alternative explanatory variables, including self-criticism (Study 4) and self-concept certainty (Studies 2 and 3) and were fully mediated by a direct measure of dialecticism (Study 5). Naïve dialecticism provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding these cultural differences and the contradictory, changeable, and holistic nature of the East Asian self-concept.
Value Creation and Value Claiming in Strategic Outsourcing Decisions: A Resource Contingency Perspective
Authors: Verwaal Ernst , Commandeur Harry , Verbeke Willem
Published: December 2008

This study integrates the concepts of value creation and value claiming into a theoretical framework that emphasizes the dependence of resource value maximization on value-claiming motivations in outsourcing decisions. To test this theoretical framework, it develops refutable implications to explain the firm's outsourcing decision, and it uses data from 178 firms in the publishing and printing industry on outsourcing of application services. The results show that in outsourcing decisions, resource value and transaction costs are simultaneously considered and that outsourcing decisions are dependent on alignment between resource and transaction attributes. The findings support a resource contingency view that highlights value-claiming mechanisms as resource contingency in interorganizational strategic decisions.
Can Test Preparation Help to Reduce the Black—White Test Performance Gap?
Authors: Chung-Herrera Beth G. , Ehrhart Karen Holcombe , Ehrhart Mark G. , Solamon Jerry , Kilian Britta
Published: December 2008

Using a field sample, the authors examined the extent to which race is related to test preparation and whether test preparation is related to test performance. They found that African Americans reported more self-initiated test preparation than Caucasians did and that tutorial attendance and self-initiated test preparation were related to test performance. Moreover, the authors found that only self-initiated test preparation mediated the race—performance relationship. Last, the hypothesis that the Matthew Effect (defined as the amplification of any initial advantage that leads to cumulative effects) would hold in an employment setting was not supported. The implications of test preparation are discussed.
How Changes in Social Security Affect Recent Retirement Trends
Authors: Gustman Alan L. , Steinmeier Thomas
Published: December 2008

Descriptive data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) suggest that men aged 65 to 69 years were about 6 percentage points less likely to be retired in 2004 than in 1992, and data from the CPS and the Health and Retirement Study suggest a corresponding difference of 3 percentage points between 1998 and 2004. Changes in Social Security rules that were phased in between 1992 and 2004 increase full-time work by those aged 65 to 67 by a bit less than 2 percentage points, raising full-time work by those aged 65 to 67 by about 9%. Altogether, the changes in Social Security benefits increase labor force participation by those aged 65 to 67 by between 1.4 and 2.2 percentage points, or 2% to 4%, depending on age. About one sixth of the increase in labor force participation between 1998 and 2004 for married men aged 65 to 67 is due to changes in Social Security.
Besieged in Britain
Authors: Brittain Victoria
Published: December 2008

The effects of the war on terror in restricting civil liberties have been widely documented; its exacerbation of Islamophobia less so. But one shocking development has remained invisible — the rounding up, imprisonment and indefinite house arrest of a number of Muslim men resident in the UK, in a situation analogous to Guantánamo. Held for years without charge, under restricted regimes of twelve to twenty-four hour curfews, with virtually no access to the wider world and kept in ignorance of the alleged evidence against them, the impact on them and their families has been devastating. Many had come to Britain as refugees seeking a safe haven; some have been driven into madness, some have attempted suicide, some have left their families and returned voluntarily to regimes where they may face imprisonment and torture. The mental and physical health impacts on the men and their families, of an inhumanity that beggars belief, masked under the bureaucracy of 'control orders', 'SIAC deportation bail' and torturous legal processes, is here unveiled.
Catching history on the wing: conference speech
Authors: Sivanandan A.
Published: December 2008

On 1 November 2008, the Institute of Race Relations held a conference, 'Catching history on the wing', at the National Union of Teachers building in London, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of its formation. We publish here the text of A. Sivanandan's speech to the conference, reflecting on the lessons of the Institute's history for today's political struggles.
The 2001 Economic Crisis, Its Impacts and Evaluations: The Case of Workers and Small Employers in Ankara
Authors: Erbaş Hayriye , Turan Feryal
Published: December 2008

This article examines primarily the social impacts of the 2001 economic crisis on small employers and workers and their evaluation of the crisis in Ankara, Turkey. Besides this basic aim, it also provides an overview of the macroeconomic policies that have been implemented since 1980 and discusses the results of these policies. The fieldwork for this study was carried out in selected sectors in Ankara from February to April, 2002.
Trends in Disability-Free Life Expectancy Among Chinese Older Adults
Authors: Jufen Liu  , Gong Chen  , Xinming Song  , Chi Iris , Xiaoying Zheng
Published: December 2008

Objectives: This study evaluates trends in disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of Chinese adults aged 60 and older. Methods: Based on two national disability surveys in 1987 and 2006 as well as mortality data from World Population Prospects, the Sullivan method was used to calculate DFLE. Results: DFLE increased from 13.0 to 13.9 years at age 60 and from 1.2 to 1.5 years at age 90 in1987 and 2006, respectively. The proportion of DFLE increased after age 75. The proportion of DLEx with severe disability decreased while that of least disability increased. Onset of disability was delayed from 0.3 years to 4.7 years across disability types. Conclusions: Trends in DFLE by age and severity of disability as well as the delayed onset of disability provide evidence for the compression of morbidity among the oldest old in China. But a similar trend was not found among the young-old.
Increased Mortality Risk in Older Adults With Persistently Low or Declining Feelings of Usefulness to Others
Authors: Gruenewald Tara L. , Karlamangla Arun S. , Greendale Gail A. , Singer Burton H. , Seeman Teresa E.
Published: December 2008

Objective: This study seeks to determine if persistently low or declining feelings of usefulness to others in later life predict increased mortality hazard in older adults. Method: Data on change in perceptions of usefulness, health, behavioral and psychosocial covariates, and mortality originate from the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging, a prospective study of 1,189 older adults (aged 70 to 79). Results: Older adults with persistently low feelings of usefulness or who experienced a decline to low feelings of usefulness during the first 3 years of the study experienced a greater hazard of mortality (sociodemographic adjusted hazard ratio = 1.75; 95% confidence interval = 1.22, 2.51) during a subsequent 9-year follow-up as compared to older adults with persistently high feelings of usefulness. Discussion: Older adults with persistently low perceived usefulness or feelings of usefulness that decline to a low level may be a vulnerable group with increased risk for poor health outcomes in later life.
Filipino Entrepreneurs on the Internet
Authors: Alampay Erwin A.
Published: December 2008

This study explores the evolving landscape of e–commerce in the Philippines. It looks at two information and communication technology (ICT) applications that are being used innovatively by Filipinos: mobile phone–based cash systems and social networking websites to enable small entrepreneurs to venture into e–commerce. The article investigates how these two technologies help overcome barriers for individuals to participate in e–commerce, and explores how small and informal markets are evolving in the information age. The research samples individuals already doing business online (through Multiply.com), investigates the profile of these new entrepreneurs, the limitations of their market and explore how they nurture their business. While this phenomenon of using social networks and m–cash may primarily involve an urban population, it is significant for development, nonetheless, considering the growing segment of the poor found in urban locales. Further, lessons for the rural population can still be derived by analysing the barriers to entry in the online world, provided that access to infrastructure (that is, the Internet, courier and G–Cash services) is available. In this regard, the linking enablers/disablers of online commerce to offline contexts remains crucial.
How the Development of ICTs Affects ICTs for Development
Authors: Parthasarathy Balaji , Srinivasan Janaki
Published: December 2008

Historically, capitalism has been characterised by socio-spatial unevenness, and information capitalism is no exception. To that extent, it is relevant to ask who is served by ‘development’ projects in the information age? In the context of information and communication technology (ICT) deployments in development projects in particular, it is critical to ask: ICTs for whom? This article argues that the development of standards is an important factor in influencing who benefits from ICTs. While standards can deliver long-run aggregate benefits, the extent of benefits will depend on the trade-offs that standardisation entails. Since standards draw boundaries between those who conform and those who do not, there is a trade-off between aggregate benefits and the creation of individual winners and losers. There is another trade-off, between a narrow focus required for rationalising processes, and the need to retain wider context and diversity. In other words, the outcomes of the deployment of ICTs for development are shaped by these trade-offs and reflect the social contestation over the choice of standards.
Video Game Effects—Confirmed, Suspected, and Speculative
Authors: Barlett Christopher P. , Anderson Craig A. , Swing Edward L.
Published: December 2008

This literature review focuses on the confirmed, suspected, and speculative effects of violent and non-violent video game exposure on negative and positive outcomes. Negative outcomes include aggressive feelings, aggressive thoughts, aggressive behavior, physiological arousal, and desensitization, whereas positive outcomes include various types of learning. Multiple theories predict, and empirical findings reveal, that violent video game exposure is causally related to a host of negative outcomes and a few positive outcomes. Some non-violent video games have been causally related to some specific positive learning effects as well as certain types of visual cognition (e.g., spatial rotation abilities) and may be associated with some negative effects on executive control and attention disorders.
Management of Neuropathic Cancer Pain Following WHO Analgesic Ladder: A Prospective Study
Authors: Mishra Seema , Bhatnagar Sushma , Gupta Deepak , Nirwani Goyal Gaurav , Jain Roopesh , Chauhan Himanshu
Published: December 2008

Cancer pain treatment according to the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) is effective and safe in majority of patients. 818 neuropathic cancer pain patients were enrolled in the study and pain was managed according to WHO analgesic ladder and followed up to six months. Main adjuvant drugs used were amitryptaline (29.9%), gabapentin (29.9%) and gabapentine with dexamethasone in (19.9%) and dexamethasone alone in (20.2%) patients. Opioids prescribed were mainly tramadol, codeine sulphate and morphine. 52% patients received morphine as rescue analgesic. At the end of six months 53.2% patients had no pain and 41.9% of patients had mild pain as compared to 0% and 10.2% patients respectively at the first visit. 4.9% of patients had moderate pain even after the treatment. Neuropathic cancer pain can be relieved by multimodal treatment following WHO guidelines as majority of cancer patients suffered multiple types of pain.
Ethical Issues for Hospice Volunteers
Authors: Berry Patricia , Planalp Sally
Published: December 2008

Health care professionals usually receive professional education in ethics, but the half million hospice volunteers in the United States may receive only brief training that is limited to confidentiality and the volunteer role. The purpose of this study was to explore ethical issues hospice volunteers confront in their work. Interviews with 39 hospice volunteers were conducted, audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative methods. Prominent themes were dilemmas about gifts, patient care and family concerns, issues related to volunteer roles and boundaries, and issues surrounding suicide and hastening death. Suggestions for training include discussions of ethics after initial training once volunteers had confronted ethical issues, with special emphasis on strategies for negotiating their uneasy role positioned between health care professional and friend.
Collagenous Gastritis
Authors: Jain Richa , Chetty Runjan
Published: December 2008

A 25-year-old patient presented with epigastric pain, which on gastric biopsy revealed the characteristic appearance of collagenous gastritis. There was a thick prominent subepithelial band that was confirmed to be collagen with a Masson’s trichrome stain. There was associated Helicobacter pylori gastritis but no evidence of a lymphocytic gastritis. The patient did not have watery diarrhea. Collagenous gastritis can occur in young patients, be restricted to the stomach, and can be associated with celiac disease.
Alcohol Dementia and Thermal Dysregulation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Tanev Kaloyan S. , Roether Melissa , Yang Clifford
Published: December 2008

Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis in alcoholics are thought to be due to thiamine deficiency. When the process goes untreated, patients may develop alcohol-induced persisting dementia. We review the literature on thermal dysregulation and the place of thiamine treatment in Wernicke's encephalopathy, Korsakoff's psychosis, and alcohol-induced persisting dementia. We describe a patient with alcohol-induced persisting dementia who showed thermal dysregulation which responded to parenteral but not oral thiamine. Subsequently, he developed aspiration pneumonia with associated fever reaction and expired. We describe the neuroimaging findings—diffuse cortical atrophy, ventricular dilatation, atrophy of the corpus callosum, hypothalamus, and medulla, and a probable arachnoid cyst in the left temporal tip. We conclude that thermal dysregulation was likely related to dysfunction of temperature regulatory brain centers, that thermal dysregulation was stabilized with parenteral but not oral thiamine, and that parenteral thiamine may have a role even in chronic cases of alcohol-induced persisting dementia.
Persons With Mild or Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Managing Daily Activities via Verbal Instruction Technology
Authors: Lancioni Giulio E. , La Martire Maria L. , Singh Nirbhay N. , O'Reilly Mark F. , Sigafoos Jeff , Pinto Katia , Minervini Mauro G.
Published: December 2008

Four studies assessed the effectiveness of verbal instructions presented via technology in helping persons with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease perform daily activities. The first 2 studies were replication efforts concerning morning bathroom routine and table setting and included 4 and 2 participants, respectively. The third study targeted coffee preparation with 3 participants. The fourth study assessed maintenance and generalization of morning bathroom routine and dressing with 1 participant. Nonconcurrent multiple baseline designs served for the first 3 studies and a 5-month postintervention data collection for the fourth study. Verbal instructions for the activity steps presented via technology were effective in helping the participants of the first 3 studies reacquire basic daily activities and the participant of the fourth study retain the reacquired activities across time and settings. These results suggest that the approach reported may be a useful strategy for helping persons with Alzheimer's disease.