bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When the Cats are away: The impact of sporting events on assault‐ and alcohol‐related emergency department attendances
Authors: Miller Peter , M c Donald Louise , M c Kenzie Stephen , O'Brien Kerry , Staiger Petra
Published: June 2012

Introduction and Aims

Despite the attention given to the broad topic of alcohol and violence, there are few studies of this relationship in the context of sporting events and their impact on alcohol‐related hospital emergency department (ED) attendances, none of which are Australian.

Methods

De‐identified patient records from Barwon Health's Geelong Hospital ED were analysed from 1 July 2005 to 16 February 2010. Information contained in these records included age, gender, suburb of residence, attendance date and time, arrival mode and reason for attendance. The ED triage database was searched for attendances relating to alcohol, drugs and assault of which 16 940 cases were returned.

Results

There was a substantial increase in annual alcohol‐related ED attendances from 2006 to 2009. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses showed that having a game on a particular day did not contribute to the model, but there were significantly more ED attendances for assaults on days when the Geelong Cats won. There were no significant predictors of ED attendance for alcohol‐related harm in the variables studied.

Discussion

The findings of the study suggest that there are significantly more assault‐related attendances at the ED in Geelong when the local national football team, the Geelong Cats, won. None of the variables under investigation appears to have impacted on alcohol‐related attendances which were not assaults (i.e. injuries or intoxication).

Conclusions

It appears that increases in ED attendances associated with the success of a local sporting team are not significantly associated with alcohol use and are more influenced by other factors.
Designing asynchronous online discussion environments: Recent progress and possible future directions
Authors: Gao Fei , Zhang Tianyi , Franklin Teresa
Published: June 2012

Asynchronous online discussion environments are important platforms to support learning. Research suggests, however, threaded forums, one of the most popular asynchronous discussion environments, do not often foster productive online discussions naturally. This paper explores how certain properties of threaded forums have affected or constrained the quality of discussions, and argues that developing alternative discussion environments is highly needed to offer better support for asynchronous online communication. Using the Productive Online Discussion Model developed by Gao, Wang and Sun, we analyzed current work on four types of asynchronous discussion environments that have been developed and researched: constrained environments, visualized environments, anchored environments and combined environments. The paper has implications for developing future asynchronous online discussion environments. More specifically, future work should aim at (1) exploring new environments that support varied goals of learning, (2) integrating emerging technologies to address the constraints of current environments, (3) designing multifunctional environments to facilitate complex learning and (4) developing appropriate instructional activities and strategies for these environments.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Asynchronous online discussion plays an important role in facilitating learning.

It is hard to foster a focused, interactive and in‐depth asynchronous discussion in traditional threaded forums.

Researchers have investigated multiple ways of structuring or facilitating asynchronous online discussions.

What this paper adds

The paper analyzes how existing features of threaded forums constrain the quality of online discussion.

The paper identifies the progress made in designing alternative asynchronous discussion environments and discusses four major types of asynchronous discussion environments that have been developed and researched.

The paper provides suggestions for developing future asynchronous discussion environments.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Designing alternative asynchronous discussion environments is necessary to improve the quality of online discussion and communication.

New asynchronous discussion environments need to be designed to meet varied learning goals and facilitate complex learning.

Appropriate instructional strategies need to be developed for both existing and new online discussion environments.
Parental Racial Socialization as a Moderator of the Effects of Racial Discrimination on Educational Success Among African American Adolescents
Authors: Wang Ming‐Te , Huguley James P.
Published: June 2012

This study investigated whether parental racial socialization practices moderated the relation between racial discrimination in school and adolescents’ educational outcomes. Using data from a longitudinal study of an economically diverse sample of 630 African American adolescents (mean age = 14.5) from a major East Coast metropolis, the results revealed that cultural socialization attenuated the effect of teacher discrimination on grade point average (GPA) and educational aspirations, as well as the effect of peer discrimination on GPA. Also, preparation for bias and cultural socialization interacted to make unique contributions to African American adolescents’ educational outcomes. Finally, there was some evidence that teacher discrimination was more detrimental to the academic engagement of African American males than females. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Cultural Heritage Predictive Rendering
Authors: Happa Jassim , Bashford‐Rogers Tom , Wilkie Alexander , Artusi Alessandro , Debattista Kurt , Chalmers Alan
Published: June 2012

High‐fidelity rendering can be used to investigate Cultural Heritage (CH) sites in a scientifically rigorous manner. However, a high degree of realism in the reconstruction of a CH site can be misleading insofar as it can be seen to imply a high degree of certainty about the displayed scene—which is frequently not the case, especially when investigating the past. So far, little effort has gone into adapting and formulating a Predictive Rendering pipeline for CH research applications. In this paper, we first discuss the goals and the workflow of CH reconstructions in general, as well as those of traditional Predictive Rendering. Based on this, we then propose a research framework for CH research, which we refer to as ‘Cultural Heritage Predictive Rendering’ (CHPR). This is an extension to Predictive Rendering that introduces a temporal component and addresses uncertainty that is important for the scene’s historical interpretation. To demonstrate these concepts, two example case studies are detailed.
Structural Reliability Assessment by Local Approximation of Limit State Functions Using Adaptive Markov Chain Simulation and Support Vector Regression
Authors: Dai Hongzhe , Zhang Hao , Wang Wei , Xue Guofeng
Published: June 2012

Abstract: The surrogate model method is widely used in structural reliability analysis to approximate complex limit state functions. Accurate results can only be obtained when the surrogate model for the limit state function is approximated sufficiently close to the failure region. This study develops a novel local approximation method for efficient structural reliability assessment. The adaptive Markov chain simulation is utilized to generate samples in the failure region (the “region of most interest”). The support vector regression technique is then used to obtain an explicit approximation of the original complex limit state function around the region of most interest. Four examples are given to demonstrate the application and efficiencies of the proposed method.
Inference for Box–Cox Transformed Threshold GARCH Models with Nuisance Parameters
Authors: LEE SANGYEOL , LEE TAEWOOK
Published: June 2012

Abstract.  Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) models have been widely used for analyzing financial time series with time‐varying volatilities. To overcome the defect of the Gaussian quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) when the innovations follow either heavy‐tailed or skewed distributions, Berkes & Horváth (Ann. Statist., 32, 633, 2004) and Lee & Lee (Scand. J. Statist. 36, 157, 2009) considered likelihood methods that use two‐sided exponential, Cauchy and normal mixture distributions. In this paper, we extend their methods for Box–Cox transformed threshold GARCH model by allowing distributions used in the construction of likelihood functions to include parameters and employing the estimated quasi‐likelihood estimators (QELE) to handle those parameters. We also demonstrate that the proposed QMLE and QELE are consistent and asymptotically normal under regularity conditions. Simulation results are provided for illustration.
Compositional Standards, Import Permits and Market Structure: The Case of Canadian Cheese Imports
Authors: Felt Marie‐Hélène , Larue Bruno , Gervais Jean‐Philippe
Published: June 2012

The imposition of cheese compositional standards by the Canadian authorities has created divisions within the Canadian dairy industry and has motivated criticisms from several of Canada’s trade partners. The standards impose minimum limits on the percentage of casein coming from fluid milk. We develop a theoretical model to investigate the implications of Canada’s compositional cheese standards while accounting for Canada’s trade policy. We illustrate why a type of cheese that is not directly impacted by the standards might be the most affected. We show that the standards can decrease the domestic demand for milk or the value of imports. Our empirical investigation identified breaks in the processes determining import unit values shortly before or shortly after the beginning of the implementation of the standards.
‘Nobody wants to sound like a provinciano’: The recession of unstressed vowel devoicing in the Spanish of Cusco, Perú1
Authors: Delforge Ann Marie
Published: June 2012

This study documents changes in the prevalence and evaluation of unstressed vowel devoicing, a salient characteristic of Andean Spanish, in the city of Cusco, Perú following an earthquake in 1950. This event brought city residents into contact with other dialects of Spanish that lack vowel devoicing and also intensified their exposure to the Quechua‐accented Spanish of rural migrants, or provincianos, which is characterized by this pronunciation. Results of an attitude‐perception study indicate that younger Cusqueñans are aware of devoicing and identify it primarily with the speech of provincianos rather than the Spanish of their city. However, acoustic analysis of interviews conducted with Cusqueñans and provincianos shows that, while the pronunciation is receding from Cusco Spanish, many city natives actually exhibit rates of devoicing similar to those of rural migrants. Cusqueñans’ nearly exclusive association of devoicing with provincianos is attributed to local ideology, including negative attitudes toward rural Andean identity.

La presente investigación describe cambios en Ia incidencia y evaluación del ensordecimiento de las vocales átonas, una peculiaridad notable del español andino en Cusco, Perú, durante las décadas posteriores al terremoto que devastó Ia ciudad en 1950. Debido a este acontecimiento, los cusqueños aumentaron su contacto con otros dialectos del español que no exhiben el ensordecimiento vocálico así como con el español de los inmigrantes de zonas rurales, o provincianos, que se caracteriza por este fenómeno fonético. Los resultados de un estudio de actitudes indican que los cusqueños jóvenes son conscientes del ensordecimiento vocálico y lo identifican con el acento de los provincianos pero no lo relacionan con el habla de su propia ciudad. Sin embargo, según el análisis acústico de las entrevistas realizadas a cusqueños y a provincianos, muchos residentes de Ia ciudad siguen empleando esta pronunciación con básicamente Ia misma frecuencia que los provincianos. La asociación del ensordecimiento vocálico con los provincianos, casi exclusiva por parte de los cusqueños jóvenes, es atribuida a actitudes negativas hacia Ia identidad rural andina. [Spanish]
A test for independence between a point process and an analogue signal
Authors: Solo Victor , Pasha Ahmed
Published: June 2012

In neural coding, ultra fine electrodes are used to record spike trains from the brains (neurons) of awake animals such as rats, cats and monkeys. However, analogue signals such as electroencephalography and local field potentials are also recorded. The aim of such experiments is to study the dynamics of the brain with potential development of true neural prosthetics. One problem that arises in extracting information from these recordings is joint modelling of both point processes and analogue signals. Here, we develop for the first time a test for independence between an analogue signal and a point process.
REAL EXCHANGE RATE PERSISTENCE: EVIDENCE FROM THE WESTERN OFFSHOOTS*
Authors: CHANG MING‐JEN , CHEN YI‐WEN
Published: June 2012

This study examines the persistence of real exchange rates for Western Offshoot countries over the post‐Bretton Woods System. The aggregate price levels are decomposed into both tradable and non‐tradable goods prices by three alternative categories. The median level of half‐lives (across methodologies) is 3.27 years for median‐unbiased estimation, but about twice as high for smooth transition autoregressive estimation. The median level of persistence (across categories) using a variety of methodologies ranges from 1.10 years for the consumer price index to 37.17 years for the producer price index. The half‐lives indicate that considerable heterogeneity exists across alternative categories and methodologies.
A METHODOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION TO MEASURING SKILL (MIS)MATCH*
Authors: SGOBBI FRANCESCA , SULEMAN FÁTIMA
Published: June 2012

Researchers have long expressed their discontent with the existing measures of skill mismatch. This paper argues that traditional measures cannot fully capture the essence of an inherently multidimensional and job‐specific concept such as skill mismatch. An empirical job‐based methodology is proposed that classifies the types of skill (mis)matches based on performance of core skills and supplementary skills. The proposed methodology is tested on a sample of 600 Portuguese retail bankers. The results support the job‐specific nature of skills. The differentiated distribution of skill (mis)match by job is a significant determinant of earnings among the sampled retail bankers.
MIGRATION FLOWS, STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND GROWTH CONVERGENCE: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS OF THE ITALIAN REGIONS*
Authors: CAPASSO SALVATORE , CARILLO MARIA ROSARIO , DE SIANO RITA
Published: June 2012

The aim of this paper is to measure the impact of migration flows on growth via their effect on structural change. To this extent we build an empirical growth model in which migration flows and intersectoral wage differentials can affect the speed of labour readjustment between sectors and, ultimately, total factor productivity and growth. By employing Italian regional data stemming over more than four decades we measure the effects of interregional migration on regional growth and convergence. The results confirm that migration in general, and in particular the content of human capital of moving workers, is a relevant factor in determining the speed of technological change and growth.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children With Intellectual Disabilities in Korea
Authors: Choi Eunsook , Park HyunJu , Ha Yeongmi , Hwang Won Ju
Published: June 2012

Background  Overweight and obesity in children with intellectual disabilities may be a major health threat. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Korean children with intellectual disabilities aged 7–18 years who did not have specific genetic syndromes or physical disabilities.

Materials and methods  Participants were 2,404 children with intellectual disabilities aged 7–18 years attending thirteen special schools in Korea. Data from school health records were analysed using SAS (version 9.2). The differences between boys and girls were assessed for children’s height and weight using t‐tests and for children’s age and weight status, such as using Chi‐Square (χ2) test. The relationships between children’s weight status, age and gender were reassessed using Chi‐Square (χ2) test, and strengths of the relationships were measured using Gamma coefficient.

Results  Approximately one‐quarter of children with intellectual disabilities were either overweight or obese. Children’s gender was significantly associated with their weight status, such that overweight and obesity were more prevalent in girls than in boys, specifically girls aged 15–18 years. There was a positive relationship between age and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children for both boys and girls.

Conclusions  The high rates of overweight and obesity in children with intellectual disabilities highlight the need for interventions to help children achieve healthy weight. Before conducting weight management interventions, identifying risk factors that influence weight status in children with intellectual disabilities is an important step.
The egg, the vessels and the words.From Izdubar toAnswer to Job1For an imaging thinking
Authors: Gaillard Christian
Published: June 2012

Abstract: This essay onThe Red Bookseeks to underscore a characteristic specific to Jung's approach to psychoanalysis. In this book, and more generally, in all of his writings, Jung's thinking is based on his personal experience of the unconscious, in which he leaves himself open to progressive encounters. Some of them, in the years 1913–14 and 1929–30, particularly his meeting with the giant Izdubar, were quite threatening. As a result, he forged an original way of thinking that is qualified here as ‘imaging’ and ‘emergent’.The Red Bookserved as the first vessel for theories Jung would later express. His way of thinking, with its failures and semi‐successes, all of which are always temporary, of course, is compared to the art of the potter. The author shows the kinship between the formation of the main Jungian concepts and the teachings of the French poet, professor, and art critic Yves Bonnefoy. He also considers certain recurrent formal themes in the work of contemporary German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer. Lastly, this epistemological study, constantly aware of the demands of Jungian clinical practice, demonstrates the continuity in Jung's work, fromThe Red BooktoAnswer to Job,where Jung ultimately elaborated a conception of history that defines our ethical position today.
Jung'sRed Bookand its relation to aspects of German Idealism
Authors: Bishop Paul
Published: June 2012

Abstract: The late nineteenth century saw a renaissance of interest in the thought of the German Romantic philosopher, F.W.J. Schelling. This paper takes Jung's engagement with Schelling and his awareness of Schellingian ideas and interests (notably, the mysterious Kabeiroi worshipped at Samothrace) as its starting‐point. It goes on to argue that a key set of problematics in German Idealism — the relation between freedom and necessity, between science and art, and ultimately between realism and idealism — offers a useful conceptual framework within which to approach Jung'sRed Book. For the problem of the ideal is central to this work, which can be read as a journey from eternal ideals to the ideal of eternity. (Although the term ‘idealism’ has at least four distinct meanings, their distinct senses can be related in different ways to Jung's thinking.) The eloquent embrace of idealism by F.T. Vischer in a novel,Auch Einer, for which Jung had the highest praise, reminds us of the persistence of this tradition, which is still contested and debated in the present day.
Nationalism chezGellner
Authors: Meadwell Hudson
Published: June 2012

The central distinguishing feature ofErnestGellner's most important treatment of nationalism is the proposition that nationalism is necessary for industrial society. Relatively little attention has been paid to the philosophical dimension of this proposition. The question of necessity in social explanation, however, is a complicated philosophical problem and must be dealt with directly if this proposition is to be endorsed. I argue thatGellner's argument is philosophically flawed. The ‘ordinary prose’ ofNations andNationalismfails to deliver whatGellner claims to have delivered: the demonstration of a necessary connection between nationalism and industrial society. This result is of particular relevance givenGellner's philosophical interests.
Visual functional magnetic resonance imaging of preterm infants
Authors: LEE WAYNE , DONNER ELIZABETH J , NOSSIN‐MANOR REVITAL , WHYTE HILARY EA , SLED JOHN G , TAYLOR MARGOT J
Published: June 2012

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of undertaking visual functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in very preterm children.

Method  Forty‐seven infants born at less than 32 weeks gestational age (25 males, 22 females; mean (SD) age at birth 28.8wks [1.9]) were scanned using 1.5T MRI as part of a longitudinal neuroimaging study. These infants were scanned at preterm age (within 2wks of birth) and at term‐equivalent age. Quantitative T2* data and fMRI in response to visual stimuli (flashing strobe) were acquired in this population. T2* values were compared at preterm age and at term‐equivalent age using a two‐tailed t‐test. A general linear model was used to evaluate occipital lobe response to visual stimuli.

Results  T2* values were significantly higher at preterm age than at term‐equivalent age in both the medial and lateral occipital lobes (preterm infants: 187.2ms and 198.4ms respectively; term infants: 110.9ms and 133.2ms respectively; p<0.002). Significant positive occipital lobe activation (q<0.01) was found in 3 out of 65 (5%) fMRIs carried out at preterm age and in 19 out of 26 (73%) scans carried out at term‐equivalent age.

Interpretation  Visual stimuli do not elicit a reliable blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) response in very preterm infants during the preterm period. This suggests that BOLD fMRI may not be the appropriate modality for investigating occipital lobe function in very preterm infants.
Functional MRI of the developing neonatal brain: potential and challenges for the future
Authors: ARICHI TOMOKI
Published: June 2012

This commentary is on the original article by Lee et al. on pages 724‐729 of this issue
Cognitive depressive symptoms associated with delayed heart rate recovery following interpersonal stress in healthy men and women
Authors: Gordon Jennifer L. , Ditto Blaine , D'Antono Bianca
Published: June 2012

Among cardiac patients, research suggests that somatic depressive symptoms are more strongly associated with altered cardiovascular responses to stress than cognitive depressive symptoms. This study sought to determine whether this was also the case in healthy individuals. One hundred and ninety‐nine adults from the community completed the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II) and underwent psychological laboratory stressors while their blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability were monitored. A cognitive‐affective factor and somatic‐affective factor were identified within the BDI‐II, but only the cognitive factor was associated with reduced heart rate recovery following the stressors in multivariate analyses examining both factors simultaneously. This suggests that cognitive depressive symptoms may be more strongly related to altered stress physiology following psychological stressors.
Acquired fears reflected in cortical sensory processing: A review of electrophysiological studies of human classical conditioning
Authors: Miskovic Vladimir , Keil Andreas
Published: June 2012

The capacity to associate neutral stimuli with affective value is an important survival strategy that can be accomplished by cell assemblies obeying Hebbian learning principles. In the neuroscience laboratory, classical fear conditioning has been extensively used as a model to study learning‐related changes in neural structure and function. Here, we review the effects of classical fear conditioning on electromagnetic brain activity in humans, focusing on how sensory systems adapt to changing fear‐related contingencies. By considering spatiotemporal patterns of mass neuronal activity, we illustrate a range of cortical changes related to a retuning of neuronal sensitivity to amplify signals consistent with fear‐associated stimuli at the cost of other sensory information. Putative mechanisms that may underlie fear‐associated plasticity at the level of the sensory cortices are briefly considered, and several avenues for future work are outlined.
STIM1 is necessary for store‐operated calcium entry in turning growth cones
Authors: Mitchell Camilla B. , Gasperini Robert J. , Small David H. , Foa Lisa
Published: June 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012)122, 1155–1166.

Coordinated calcium signalling is vital for neuronal growth cone function and axon pathfinding. Although store‐operated calcium entry (SOCE) has been suggested to be an important source of calcium in growth cone navigation, the mechanisms that regulate calcium signalling, particularly the regulation of internal calcium stores within growth cones, are yet to be fully determined. Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) is a calcium‐sensing protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane that interacts with Orai proteins in the plasma membrane to initiate SOCE and refilling of intracellular calcium stores. We hypothesize that STIM1‐ and Orai1/2‐mediated SOCE are necessary for growth cone turning responses to extracellular guidance cues. We show that STIM1 and Orai reorganize into puncta upon store depletion and during growth cone turning with STIM1 localization biased towards the turning side (high calcium side) of the growth cone. Importantly, STIM1 knock‐down perturbed growth cone turning responses to the guidance cues brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and semaphorin‐3a (Sema‐3a), as well as abolishing Sema‐3a‐induced growth cone collapse. Furthermore, STIM1 knock‐down abolished SOCE induced by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, but not Sema‐3a. Our data suggest that STIM1 is essential for correct growth cone navigation, playing multiple roles in growth cone motility, including the activation of SOCE.
Extrapair paternity in insular African Blue TitsCyanistes teneriffaeis no less frequent than in continental Eurasian Blue TitsCyanistes caeruleus
Authors: Garcia‐Del‐Rey Eduardo , Kleven Oddmund , Lifjeld Jan T.
Published: June 2012

Birds breeding on islands often exhibit lower rates of extrapair paternity than their mainland counterparts, perhaps explained by low genetic variation, ‘slower’ life histories and reduced sexual selection in island populations. Extrapair paternity was apparent in 39% (12/19) of broods, and encompassed 15% (21/137) of nestlings, in a population of African Blue TitsCyanistes teneriffae, in Tenerife, Canary Islands. There were no cases of intraspecific brood parasitism. The incidence of extrapair young lies in the upper range of that reported from mainland populations of the closely related Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus. We conclude that there is no strong island effect on the genetic mating system in theCyanistesspecies group but that extrapair paternity rates inCyanistesare greater at southern latitudes.
A comparison of indices and measured values of eggshell thickness of different shell regions using museum eggs of 230 European bird species
Authors: Maurer Golo , Portugal Steven J. , Cassey Phillip
Published: June 2012

The thickness of avian eggshells is used to assess shell quality in wild and domestic species, as an indicator of environmental pollution and as an adaptive explanation for shell maculation. Both direct measurements and calculated eggshell thickness indices (ETI) are used in such research, yet this is the first study to quantify, across a large spectrum of bird families (and thus egg shapes), the correlation between measured thicknesses and ETI. Furthermore, few studies have quantified thickness variation across the entire length of the shell, although this variation may influence both gas transfer and embryonic development. We measured the thickness of 942 eggshells of 230 European bird species from the Class II material at the Natural History Museum, Tring, UK, both in the conventional manner, at the equator through the blowhole and, uniquely, after a single longitudinal, cut at its equator at the blunt and pointed ends. Over half of the samples revealed shell defects, cautioning against the indiscriminate use of museum specimens. Strong positive associations were found between species‐specific means of shell thickness with each other and also with ETI, especially those derived from Schönwetter's ‘Handbuch der Oologie’ method, validating the interspecific comparative use of ETI. Thickness measurements and ETI factors are provided for all 230 species. Eggshells were usually thinner at the blunt end (the location of the air sac) than at the equator, but of equal thickness in passerine eggs. This difference was greatest in species producing elongate eggs and suggests that there is a functional significance of shell thickness variation among species that requires further investigation.
Shrinkage Estimators for a Composite Measure of Quality Conceptualized as a Formative Construct
Authors: Shwartz Michael , Peköz Erol A. , Christiansen Cindy L. , Burgess James F. , Berlowitz Dan
Published: June 2012

Objective

To demonstrate the value of shrinkage estimators when calculating a composite quality measure as the weighted average of a set of individual quality indicators.

Data Sources

Rates of 28 quality indicators (QIs) calculated from the minimum dataset from residents of 112 Veterans Health Administration nursing homes in fiscal years 2005–2008.

Study Design

We compared composite scores calculated from the 28 QIs using both observed rates and shrunken rates derived from a Bayesian multivariate normal‐binomial model.

Principal Findings

Shrunken‐rate composite scores, because they take into account unreliability of estimates from small samples and the correlation among QIs, have more intuitive appeal than observed‐rate composite scores. Facilities can be profiled based on more policy‐relevant measures than point estimates of composite scores, and interval estimates can be calculated without assuming the QIs are independent. Usually, shrunken‐rate composite scores in 1 year are better able to predict the observed total number of QI events or the observed‐rate composite scores in the following year than the initial year observed‐rate composite scores.

Conclusion

Shrinkage estimators can be useful when a composite measure is conceptualized as a formative construct.
GPU‐Based Volumetric Reconstruction and Rendering of Trees From Multiple Images
Authors: Vock Dominik M. M. , Gumhold Stefan , Spehr Marcel , Staib Joachim , Westfeld Patrick , Maas Hans‐Gerd
Published: June 2012

This paper presents a new hardware‐accelerated approach to the volumetric reconstruction of trees from photographs, based on the methods introduced by Reche‐Martinez et al. The system applies an adapted computed tomography (CT) procedure that uses a set of oriented photographs with known interior and exterior camera parameters for creating a 3D model of a tree, while requiring considerably fewer images than standard CT. As tomographic reconstructions are complex tasks that result in time‐consuming processes for high‐resolution volumes, the hitherto existing methods are improved and modified to allow an ideal parallelisation of the computations on graphics hardware. The paper delivers a detailed insight into the complete process of the reconstruction, from the acquisition and preparation of the input data to the implementation of the final system on graphics processing hardware.
Enzymatic improvement of guar‐based thickener for better‐quality silk screen printing
Authors: Baldaro Eva , Gallucci Maurizio , Formantici Cristina , Issi Luca , Cheroni Sara , Galante Yves M
Published: June 2012

Guar galactomannan (referred to as guar gum) is a versatile polysaccharide, obtained from the seeds of the shrub Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, which finds several applications in either its native or chemically modified form. For textile printing, guar gum can also be partially depolymerised in order to promote dye penetration, improve swelling in water and achieve the desired rheological properties. Guar gum is obtained from guar seeds by a thermo‐mechanical process that leaves ca. 3% of largely insoluble proteins in the gum, originating from the endosperms aleurone layer. When printing silk fabrics with acid or premetallised dyes, guar endogenous insoluble proteins bind tightly to anionic dyes, causing deposition of coloured aggregates on the fabric. This causes imperfections on the printed fabric in the form of tiny, but visible, ‘dots’, which lowers the quality of the final articles. In order to eliminate ‘dotting’, a novel printing thickener composed of depolymerised guar gum mixed with a bioengineered subtilisin protease has been developed. Upon solubilisation of the gum, and during preparation of the printing paste mixture, the protease hydrolyses guar gum insoluble proteins, generating soluble peptides that are washed off by the post‐printing treatments of the fabric. This enzymatic application prevents ‘dotting’ and significantly improves the quality of the silk print, without any measurable tensile strength loss of the fabric.
Cautious notification and continual monitoring of patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: ODAWARA Toshinari
Published: June 2012

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as ‘a condition between a normal state and dementia indicated by a cognitive decline in comparison to previous results’. MCI groups as a whole are not necessarily in the prodromal stage of dementia. However, when patients are notified of their condition, communication must be cautious and account for the patient's personality, mental status, and examination findings. Hurriedly notifying patients may give the incorrect impression that they will certainly have dementia in the future and cause worry or emotional tension. The efficacy of pharmacotherapy and non‐pharmacotherapy, such as cognitive function training, in preventing dementia in MCI patients has not yet been confirmed. As no particular types of intervention are currently shown to be effective for MCI, it is believed that periodically monitoring patients and providing lifestyle guidance, while also treating lifestyle‐related diseases, is an appropriate treatment strategy for those with MCI.
Ecological Restoration of Headwaters in a Rural Landscape (Normandy, France): A Passive Approach Taking Hedge Networks into Account for Riparian Tree Recruitment
Authors: Forget Guillaume , Carreau Clélia , Le Coeur Didier , Bernez Ivan
Published: June 2012

The safeguard of riparian ecosystems is a major field of study in the understanding and maintenance of the ecological health of rivers. Vegetation communities found on these ecotones ensure essential functions such as limitation of river bank erosion and protection of rivers from pollutants. The aim of our study is to investigate the potential for natural regeneration of trees on river banks after passive restoration. We have also studied the influence of landscape on recolonization through the analysis of the influence of hedge networks. Our study takes place on headwaters in Normandy (France) on Vallée‐Aux‐Berges, a stream, which has been passively restored for the last 6 years. As passive restoration removes stresses (heavy trampling and grazing) caused by cattle on river banks, we expect it to help the growth of natural plant communities. The condition of this stream—from the start of restoration work to the present—is compared to another one in the same catchment considered to be ecologically healthy. Our results suggest that passive restoration leads to an increase in tree cover on river banks and contributes to the improvement of the banks' physical integrity. Landscape structure seems to be a major factor for this recolonization: the more the stream is surrounded by hedge networks, the more the recolonization by trees on banks is effective. These results indicate that the influence of landscape structure should be considered in future restoration management in similar headwaters.
Implementing the Objective Structured Clinical Examination in a Geriatrics Fellowship Program—A 3‐Year Experience
Authors: Avelino‐Silva Thiago J. , Gil Luiz A. , Suemoto Claudia K. , Kikuchi Elina L. , Lin Sumika M. , Farias Luciana L. , Jacob‐Filho Wilson
Published: June 2012

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) appears to be an effective alternative for assessing not only medical knowledge, but also clinical skills, including effective communication and physical examination skills. The purpose of the current study was to implement an OSCE model in a geriatrics fellowship program and to compare the instrument with traditional essay examination. Seventy first‐ and second‐year geriatric fellows were initially submitted to a traditional essay examination and scored from 0 to 10 by a faculty member. The same fellows subsequently underwent an OSCE with eight 10‐minute stations covering a wide range of essential aspects of geriatric knowledge. Each OSCE station had an examiner responsible for its evaluation according to a predefined checklist. Checklist items were classified for analysis purposes as clinical knowledge items (CKI) and communication skills items (CSI); fellow responses were scored from 0 to 10.Although essay examinations took from 30 to 45 minutes to complete, 180–200 minutes were required to evaluate fellows using the proposed OSCE method. Fellows scored an average of 6.2 ± 1.2 on the traditional essay examination and 6.6 ± 1.0 on the OSCE (P < .001). Subanalyses of OSCE scores indicated that average performance on CKI was lower than the average on CSI (6.4 ± 1.1 vs. 8.4 ± 1.1; P < .001). Fellow performance on the essay examination was similar to their performance on CKI (P = .13). Second‐year fellows performed better than first‐year fellows on the essay examination (P < .001) and CKI (P = .05), but not on CSI (P = .25).The OSCE was successfully implemented as an educational strategy during a geriatrics fellowship program. Combining different testing modalities may provide the best assessment of competence for various domains of knowledge, skills, and behavior.
Self‐Reported Hearing Loss in Older Adults Is Associated with Future Decline in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living but Not in Social Participation
Authors: Yamada Mutsuko , Nishiwaki Yuji , Michikawa Takehiro , Takebayashi Toru
Published: June 2012

Objectives

To investigate whether self‐reported hearing loss in older adults is associated with a decline in their ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) or a decline in social participation.

Design

Prospective follow‐up.

Setting

Community.

Participants

One thousand two hundred fifty‐four adults aged 65 to 98.

Measurements

Self‐reported hearing loss, IADL, and social participation were evaluated through home‐visit surveys. Self‐reported hearing loss was measured according to responses to the question, “Do you have difficulty hearing and understanding what a person says to you in a quiet room if they speak normally to you, even when wearing your hearing aid?” Levels of IADL and social participation were measured using the subscales of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG‐IC).

Results

Of the 921 participants with a perfect baseline IADL score and valid follow‐up scores, 105 also self‐reported hearing loss at baseline. Of this group, 44.8% (total n = 105) reported a decline in their IADL score over the 3‐year follow‐up period. After adjusting for major confounders, a statistically significant difference in experiencing an IADL decline over the 3‐year period was found between those with hearing loss at baseline and those without (odds ratio (OR) = 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12–2.87). Self‐reported hearing loss at baseline did not have a statistically significant effect on decline in social participation (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.63–1.76) over the 3‐year follow‐up period.

Conclusion

Self‐reported hearing loss was associated with a decline in IADL, but not with social participation.
Facility‐Level Variation in Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing for Older Veterans
Authors: Gellad Walid F. , Good Chester B. , Amuan Megan E. , Marcum Zachary A. , Hanlon Joseph T. , Pugh Mary Jo V.
Published: June 2012

Objectives

To describe facility‐level variation in two measures of potentially inappropriate prescribing prevalent in Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities—exposure to high‐risk medications in elderly adults (HRME) and drug–disease interactions (Rx‐DIS)—and to identify facility characteristics associated with high‐quality prescribing.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

VA Healthcare System.

Participants

Veterans aged 65 and older with at least one inpatient or outpatient visit in 2005–2006 (N = 2,023,477; HRME exposure) and a subsample with a history of falls or hip fractures, dementia, or chronic renal failure (n = 305,059; Rx‐DIS exposure).

Measurements

Incident use of any HRME (iHRME) and incident Rx‐DIS (iRx‐DIS) and facility‐level rates and facility‐level predictors of iHRME and iRx‐DIS exposure, adjusting for differences in patient characteristics.

Results

Overall, 94,692 (4.7%) veterans had iHRME exposure. At the facility level, iHRME exposure ranged from 1.6% at the lowest facility to 12.8% at the highest (median 4.7%). In the subsample, 9,803 (3.2%) veterans had iRx‐DIS exposure, with a facility‐level range from 1.3% to 5.8% (median 3.2%). In adjusted analyses, veterans seen in facilities with formal geriatric education had lower odds of iHRME (odds ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.77–0.96) and iRx‐DIS (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.88–1.01). Patients seen in facilities caring for fewer older veterans had greater odds of iHRME (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.35–1.75) and iRx‐DIS exposure (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.11–1.33).

Conclusion

Substantial variation in the quality of prescribing for older adults exists across VA facilities, even after adjusting for patient characteristics. Higher‐quality prescribing is found in facilities caring for a larger number of older veterans and facilities with formal geriatric education.
The RPH Clasp Assembly: A Simple Alternative to Traditional Designs
Authors: Nazarova Elena , Taylor Thomas D.
Published: June 2012

One of the popular designs for the distal extension partial removable dental prosthesis is the RPI clasp assembly. A modification of the RPI clasp assembly is introduced. It incorporates a mesial rest (R), proximal plate (P), and a horizontal retentive arm (H—RPH). This clasp assembly provides benefits of the RPI clasp and can be used in clinical situations where the RPI clasp is contraindicated.
Influence of Implant Abutment Angulations and Two Types of Fibers on the Fracture Resistance of Ceramage Single Crowns
Authors: Ellakwa Ayman , Martin F. Elizabeth , Klineberg Iven
Published: June 2012

Purpose: To assess the effect of three implant abutment angulations and two types of fibers on the fracture resistance of overlaying Ceramage single crowns.

Materials and Methods: Three groups, coded A to C, with different implant abutment angulations (group A/0°, group B/15°, and group C/30° angulation) were restored with 45 overlay composite restorations; 15 Ceramage crowns for each angulation. Groups A, B, and C were further subdivided into three subgroups (n = 5) coded: 1, crowns without fiber reinforcement; 2, crowns with Connect polyethylene reinforcement; and 3, crowns with Interlig glass reinforcement. All crowns were constructed by one technician using the Ceramage System. The definitive restorations (before cementation) were stored in distilled water at mouth temperature (37°C) for 24 hours prior to testing. Before testing, the crowns were cemented using Temp Bond. The compressive load required to break each crown and the mode of failure were recorded. The speed of testing was 1 mm/min. The results were statistically analyzed by two‐way ANOVA (p < 0.05). The tested crowns were examined using a stereomicroscope at 40×, and selected crowns (five randomly selected from each group) were further examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to reveal the composite–fiber interface.

Results: Fracture resistance of single crowns was not affected (p > 0.05) by the different abutment angulations chosen (0°, 15°, 30°) or fiber reinforcement (Connect and Interlig fibers). Crowns in group A exhibited average loads to fracture (N) of A1 = 843.57 ± 168.20, A2 = 1389.20 ± 193.40, and A3 = 968.00 ± 387.53, which were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from those of groups B (B1 = 993.20 ± 327.19, B2 = 1471.00 ± 311.68, B3 = 1408.40 ± 295.07), or group C (C1 = 1326.80 ± 785.30, C2 = 1322.20 ± 285.33, C3 = 1348.40 ± 527.21). SEM images of the fractured crowns showed that the origin of the fracture appeared to be located at the occlusal surfaces of the crowns, and the crack propagation tended to extend from the occlusal surface towards the gingival margin.

Conclusions: Implant abutment angulations of 0°, 15°, and 30° did not significantly (p > 0.05) influence the fracture resistance of overlaying Ceramage single crowns constructed with or without reinforcing fibers. The two types of fibers used for reinforcement (Connect and Interlig) had no effect (p > 0.05) on the fracture resistance of overlaying Ceramage single crowns.
Three‐Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Custom‐Made Ceramic Dowel Made Using CAD/CAM Technology
Authors: Yousif Marghalani Thamer , Tharwat Hamed Mohamed , Abdelmageed Awad Mohamed , Hussein Naguib Ghada , Fouad Elragi Ahmed
Published: June 2012

Purpose: This study compares the stress distribution in the structure of a loaded endodontically treated maxillary extracted canine restored with either custom‐made zirconia (Cercon) or cast gold dowel and core.

Materials and Methods: Standard treatments were implemented to prepare the gutta‐percha‐filled root canal and dowel space. The tooth along with the dowel and core fabricated pattern resin were prepared to receive an all‐ceramic (Cercon) crown. An impression was made for the tooth preparation with the zirconia milled dowel and core in place to fabricate the Cercon crown using CAD/CAM. The restored canine was scanned, and from the scan two models were constructed with the surrounding ligament and bone. Three‐dimensional finite element elastic analysis was then carried out for the stress distribution within the different regions of the two models due to a concentrated force of 100 N applied at the mid‐lingual area. Analyses were made for three load angulations, vertical, buccolingual horizontal, and an in‐between oblique force at 45o. Each region of the models was assumed isotropic and homogeneous. The two restored canines with zirconia and gold were compared in terms of the resulting maximum tensile, compressive, and Von Mises stresses.

Results: Generally, there were no significant differences in the maximum stresses in most regions for both models. Von Mises stresses for zirconia dowel and core was 8.966 MPa and for cast gold dowel and core was 8.752 MPa. The maximum tensile stress for zirconia dowel and core was 9.326 MPa, and for cast gold dowel and core was 8.166 MPa.

Conclusions: The present work validates the use of CAD/CAM zirconia material for ceramic dowel and cores. Clinical implications: CAD/CAM Zirconia can be used for a custom‐made dowel and core in an esthetically demanding zone as an esthetic replacement for a metal cast dowel and core when restoring endodontically treated teeth.