bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A morphometric study of bone marrow angiogenesis in hairy cell leukaemia with clinicopathological correlations
Authors: Korkolopoulou Penelope , Gribabis Despina A. , Kavantzas Nikolaos , Angelopoulou Maria K. , Siakantaris Marina P. , Patsouris Efstratios , Androulaki Athina , Thymara Irene , Kokoris Styliani I. , Kyrtsonis Maria C. , Kittas Christos , Pangalis Gerassimos A.
Published: September 2003

Summary. Bone marrow angiogenesis has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology and course of various haematological malignancies. Little is known, however, about the significance of this phenomenon in hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). We evaluated various morphometric characteristics of microvessels, highlighted by means of anti‐CD34 immunohistochemistry, in the bone marrow of 44 patients with typical HCL, before and after treatment with interferon‐α (IFN‐α). Overall, bone marrow from 103 HCL patients and 20 controls was examined. Microvessel density (MVD) and several size‐ and shape‐related parameters were quantified in the region of most intense vascularization using image analysis. MVD, size‐related parameters and the percentage of branching microvessels were higher in HCL than in controls. Likewise, perimeter counts were higher in partial/non‐responders than in complete responders. Achievement of complete response was accompanied by smaller calibre microvessels. IFN‐α induced a decrease in MVD and branching values in cases with diffuse marrow involvement. In univariate analysis, progression‐free survival was adversely affected by MVD, branching and major axis length. Multivariate analysis indicated that MVD/branching independently affected progression‐free survival and the likelihood of complete response. Our data suggest that the generation of bone marrow microvessels indicated an increased risk of progression and IFN‐α treatment failure in HCL. Furthermore, the prognostic significance of angiogenesis requires the concomitant assessment of MVD and the complexity of the microvascular network.
Immunoglobulin A multiple myeloma presenting with Henoch–Schönlein purpura associated with reduced sialylation of IgA1
Authors: Van Der Helm‐van Mil Annette H. M. , Smith Alice C. , Pouria Shideh , Tarelli Edward , Brunskill Nigel J. , Eikenboom Heroen C. J.
Published: September 2003

Summary. Henoch–Schönlein purpura is characterized by immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) depositions in blood vessels of the skin or in glomeruli, resulting from altered hinge region O‐glycosylation. Henoch–Schönlein purpura is seldom reported as a complication of IgA1 myeloma, even when the circulating IgA concentration is very high. We report two patients with IgA1 myeloma presenting with Henoch–Schönlein purpura. The O‐glycosylation of these patients' IgA1 was studied. Both patients showed increased binding to peanut agglutinin lectin, suggesting a low degree of sialylation of the hinge region of IgA1 that was confirmed by mass spectrometry. IgA multiple myeloma, secreting IgA1 molecules with decreased sialylation, presenting with a Henoch–Schönlein purpura‐like syndrome was diagnosed.
Specialist palliative care: patients’ experiences
Authors: Seymour Jane , Ingleton Christine , Payne Sheila , Beddow Vikki
Published: September 2003

Background. Nursing research generally, and palliative care research in particular, has been criticized for generating numerous small scale, often qualitative and/or evaluative studies, from which it is difficult to draw generalizations.

Aims. Our aim in this study was to conduct a synthesis of three evaluative studies of palliative care services in the United Kingdom (UK), to ascertain patients’ reported expectations and experiences of specialist care. We also demonstrate how secondary data analysis and synthesis can identify commonalities and differences between services.

Methods. Secondary qualitative data analysis was conducted on interview data gathered from 37 patients during three evaluation studies of specialist palliative care services. All studies used formative evaluation methodology.

Findings. Four themes were identified: (1) knowledge and information about services, (2) meeting practical and psychosocial needs, (3) lack of control, and (4) family atmosphere. Data are presented to illustrate the presence or absence of these themes in patients’ accounts of their expectations and experiences of each service.

Study limitations. Data were collected at different times between 1998 and 2000, and interviews were conducted by different researchers.

Conclusions. Synthesizing findings from small scale qualitative studies offers the possibility of demonstrating their applicability beyond local and specific contexts. It is imperative to listen to the experiences of patients and carers as a basis for developing interventions and guidelines for services. The methods proposed in this paper offer the potential for these voices of experience to be heard more widely.
Psycho‐spiritual well‐being in patients with advanced cancer: an integrative review of the literature
Authors: Lin Hung‐Ru , Bauer‐Wu Susan M.
Published: September 2003

Purpose. An integrative literature review was undertaken to examine the research on psycho‐spiritual well‐being in terminally ill people, specifically patients with advanced cancer.

Method. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, CancerLit and PsycINFO using relevant keywords produced 43 primary research studies that investigated psycho‐spiritual well‐being in patients with advanced cancer. Each report was read, critiqued and systematically assessed for purpose statement or research questions, study design, sample size, characteristics of the subjects, measurement of independent and dependent variables, sample attrition, method of data analysis and results. Major themes and findings were identified for each of the studies.

Findings. Psycho‐spiritual well‐being is an area of interest to researchers all over the world. Retrieved studies had been conducted in 14 countries by researchers in a variety of disciplines, including nursing, medicine, psychology and theology. Six major themes repeatedly emerged as essential components of psycho‐spiritual well‐being: self‐awareness, coping and adjusting effectively with stress, relationships and connectedness with others, sense of faith, sense of empowerment and confidence, and living with meaning and hope.

Conclusion. Patients with an enhanced sense of psycho‐spiritual well‐being are able to cope more effectively with the process of terminal illness and find meaning in the experience. Prognostic awareness, family and social support, autonomy, hope and meaning in life all contribute to positive psycho‐spiritual well‐being. Emotional distress, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness and fear of death all detract from psycho‐spiritual well‐being. The research indicated that health professionals can play an important role in enhancing psycho‐spiritual well‐being, but further research is needed to understand specific interventions that are effective and contribute to positive patient outcomes.
Treatment of Kasabach–Merritt syndrome: a stepwise regimen of prednisolone, dipyridamole, and interferon
Authors: Wananukul Siriwan , Nuchprayoon Issaraang , Seksarn Panya
Published: September 2003

Background  Kasabach–Merritt syndrome (KMS) is a rare, aggressive, vascular tumor with thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy. A standard treatment regimen for KMS has not been established. We reviewed our experience of a stepwise approach for the treatment of 10 children with KMS.

Methods  All patients were first treated with oral corticosteroid (initially 3 mg/kg/day then 5 mg/kg/day) and dipyridamole. Interferon‐alpha‐2b (IFNα2b) was used as second therapy for steroid‐resistant cases for 12 months, then tapered to an alternate‐day regimen, and then discontinued. Adjunctive therapy, including embolization of the feeding vessel or chemotherapy, was additionally used in patients who failed to respond to IFN or could not be taken off IFN.

Results  Ten patients were treated on this protocol with a follow‐up time of 1–6 years. Oral corticosteroid plus dipyridamole was successful in four patients, but was tapered off by 12 months without recurrence in only two cases. Of the eight steroid‐resistant cases, IFNα2b successfully induced regression of the tumor and increased the platelet count in six patients; however, IFNα2b was successful as monotherapy in only three cases; two patients died of aspiration pneumonia whilst on therapy and one patient could not be taken off IFNα2b until weekly vincristine was given (eight doses). Two other patients did not respond to IFNα2b in 4 weeks; embolization and vinblastine was used in one patient to induce regression of the tumor and resolution of thrombocytopenia. Hypertension developed in all children on high‐dose prednisolone.

Conclusions  KMS may be treated in a stepwise approach. High‐dose steroid does not result in a high response rate and is not tolerated well. The response to IFNα2b is more favorable, but life‐threatening adverse events may occur. Chemotherapy with vincristine or vinblastine may be useful as adjunctive therapy in KMS, but experience is still limited.
Design and validation of a universal 6D seam tracking system in robotic welding based on laser scanning
Authors: Fridenfalk Mikael , Bolmsjö Gunnar
Published: September 2003

This paper presents the design and validation of a universal 6D seam tracking system that reduces the need of accurate robot trajectory programming and geometrical databases in robotic laser scanning. The 6D seam tracking system was developed in the flexible unified simulation environment, integrating software prototyping with mechanical virtual prototyping, based on physical experiments. The validation experiments showed that this system was both robust and reliable and should be able to manage a radius of curvature less than 200 mm. In the pre‐scanning mode, a radius of curvature down to 2 mm was managed for pipe intersections at 3 scans/mm, using a laser scanner with an accuracy of 0.015 mm.
A dexterous robotic gripper for autonomous grasping
Authors: Biagiotti L. , Melchiorri C. , Vassura G.
Published: September 2003

In advanced robotics applications in unstructured environments (e.g. those foreseen in space) some degree of dexterity and autonomy is necessary in order to safely and successfully execute the required tasks. With this respect, besides the kinematic configuration, important aspects to be considered in the design of robotic end‐effectors are the sensorial equipment and proper control strategies. In this paper, an activity for designing and experimenting a gripper for this operation in unstructured environments is reported, and laboratory results are presented and discussed.
Service quality and customer loyalty perspectives on two levels of retail relationships
Authors: Wong Amy , Sohal Amrik
Published: September 2003

This study attempts to examine the impact of service quality dimensions on customer loyalty, on two levels of retail relationships: person‐to‐person (salesperson level) and person‐to‐firm (store level). A total of 1,261 surveys were administered to shoppers who were leaving a large chain departmental store in Victoria, Australia. The results showed that service quality is positively associated with customer loyalty, and that the relationship between the two is stronger at the company level, rather than at the interpersonal level. Specifically, among the dimensions of service quality, the most significant predictor of customer loyalty at a company level is tangibles, while the most significant predictor of customer loyalty at an interpersonal level is empathy. Further discussion and managerial implications can be drawn from these findings.
Designing knitted apparel by engineering the attributes of shape memory alloy
Authors: Winchester Rachael C.C. , Stylios George K.
Published: September 2003

This paper discusses how shape memory alloy can be engineered to provide new design concepts that enhance the aesthetic appeal of knitted textiles for apparel. It focuses on the range of techniques and processes used to accommodate the specific characteristics and requirements of the shape memory alloy and it describes a new approach to the overall design construct.
Bullet proof: how to make yourself indispensable
Authors: Scott Mark C.
Published: September 2003

Advances the view that the strategic tools that firms use to improve their competitiveness can readily be used by individuals to protect their own positions. Introduces the notion of the “competitive advantage” of the individual and demonstrates that there are some simple approaches people can adopt to secure themselves in their place of work by making better judgements. Highlights, in particular, the importance of each individual knowing his/her own value drivers.
The making of a modern nosey‐parker: careers in journalism
Authors: Beal Brian
Published: September 2003

Examines the nature of journalism and the ways of becoming a journalist. Details the development and training available, paying particular attention to the role of the National Council for the Training of Journalists and spelling out the courses available at the University of Central Lancashire. Highlights the characteristics of a good journalist.
Benchmarking in the purchasing function and its impact on purchasing and business performance
Authors: Sánchez‐Rodríguez Cristóbal , Martínez‐Lorente Ángel R. , Clavel José G.
Published: September 2003

The importance of benchmarking in the achievement of better results in the purchasing function and in overall business performance has been widely asserted in literature. However, few studies have addressed the implementation of benchmarking in the supply function and its impact on purchasing and business performance. Data was collected from 306 companies and structural equations modeling was used to develop valid and reliable instruments for benchmarking, purchasing performance and business performance. The results showed a significant positive impact of benchmarking on purchasing performance and an indirect positive effect on business performance. Implications of the findings for purchasing managers are also discussed.
Nurse administered relative analgesia using high concentration nitrous oxide to facilitate minor procedures in children in an emergency department
Authors: Frampton A , Browne G J , Lam L T , Cooper M G , Lane L G
Published: September 2003

Aims:To describe the experience of using high concentration nitrous oxide (N2O) relative analgesia administered by nursing staff in children undergoing minor procedures in the emergency department (ED) and to demonstrate its safety.

Method:Data were collected over a 12 month period for all procedures in the ED performed under nurse administered N2O sedation. All children greater than 12 months of age requiring a minor procedure who had no contraindication to the use of N2O were considered for sedation by this method. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of a major complication namely respiratory distress or hypoxia during the procedure. Secondary outcome measures were minor complications and the maximum concentration of N2O used.

Results:Data were collected for a total of 224 episodes of nurse administered N2O sedation over a 12 month period. In 73.2% of children no complications were recorded. One major complication was recorded (respiratory distress) and the most common minor complication was mask intolerance in 17%. The mean maximum concentration of N2O used was 60.2%.

Conclusions:N2O is a safe analgesic in children over the age of 1 year undergoing painful or stressful procedures in the ED. It may safely be administered in concentrations of up to 70% by nursing staff after appropriate training.
Improving the effectiveness of the emergency management of renal colic in a district general hospital: a completed audit cycle
Authors: Kastner C , Tagg A
Published: September 2003

Objectives:To assess the current practice of emergency management of renal colic in a district hospital, review literature, implement new guidelines, and assess them.

Methods:Data were collected about the use of analgesia, waiting time for intravenous urography (IVU), and admission status of patients presenting to the hospital with symptoms of renal colic over the period of three months. A literature search into the use of analgesia, imaging, and treatment was performed. Members of the involved departments were consulted and new guidelines developed and implemented. This was followed by further data collection over three months.

Results:Seven of 14 patients were admitted. Five to wait for their IVU. Their average waiting time was 12.3 (SD 2.2) hours. Mainly intramuscular opioid analgesia was used. Literature recommended the use of diclofenac. Although computed tomography was favoured it was decided to continue to use IVU because of circumstances within the hospital. The literature recommended a cut off between conservative and surgical treatment at a calculus size of >4 mm. Existing policies of the relevant departments were obeyed and a training system for the junior doctors was introduced. Emergency department staff were encouraged to perform 3-film IVUs. After this, of 5 of 19 patients were admitted, only one of those to wait for an IVU. The average waiting time for an IVU was 4.1 (SD 0.96) hours. Rectal diclofenac was noted to be the drug of choice.

Conclusion:Coordination of efforts, interdepartmental communication, and a practical application of available literature has resulted in a significant improvement of effectiveness without affecting medical standards, workload, or resources. Accident and emergency senior house officers felt highly satisfied at being able to complete management from presentation to diagnosis and treatment. Interdisciplinary communication has to be continued to maintain smooth operation of the guidelines.
Impact of health consequences feedback on patients acceptance of advice about alcohol consumption
Authors: Patton R , Crawford M J , Touquet R
Published: September 2003

Objectives:To demonstrate the impact of health consequences feedback on patients willingness to accept advice about drinking.

Methods:281 patients identified as hazardous drinkers were offered advice about alcohol consumption. During the experimental period patients’ were given feedback as to the health consequences.

Results:Introduction of feedback led to a 23% increase in the proportion of patients who were willing to accept brief advice.

Conclusions:Feedback provision should be included as part of Screening and Brief intervention programmes to increase the number of patients that may benefit from an intervention.
Electrocardiographic features of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Authors: Keating L , Morris F P , Brady W J
Published: September 2003

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is not uncommon in the emergency department. Its early recognition and initial treatment allows rapid restoration to sinus rhythm. Prompt referral to cardiology is essential for risk stratification through electrophysiological studies.
Aspects of higher training in emergency medicine
Authors: Kilroy D A
Published: September 2003

Objectives

To devise and develop a structured questionnaire addressing important issues relating to specialist registrar training in emergency medicine in the UK, and to then administer this questionnaire nationally to higher trainees in order to establish current practice and opinion regarding those issues.

Methods

Informal interviews with current trainees were undertaken to identify themes which might be of wider importance in relation to training. The transcriptions were incorporated into a discussion questionnaire which was circulated to other trainees and to members of the Joint Committee on Higher Training in Accident and Emergency. A postal survey was developed from this draft and distributed to all trainees currently registered with the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine.

Results

The response rate was 75%. Collective responses to certain aspects of training are demonstrated in order to reflect current practice and opinion among UK specialist registrars and to allow further debate.

Conclusion

Development of a structured questionnaire allows issues in relation to training in emergency medicine to be assessed. The findings of the survey allow national data to be presented which will be of interest to trainees and trainers in the UK as well as overseas.
A Class of Homogeneous Scalar–Tensor Cosmologies with a Radiation Fluid
Authors: Yazadjiev Stoytcho S.
Published: September 2003

We present a new class of exact homogeneous cosmological solutions with a radiation fluid for all scalar–tensor theories. The solutions belong to Bianchi type VIh cosmologies. Explicit examples of nonsingular homogeneous scalar–tensor cosmologies are also given.
Discretized Yang–Mills and Born–Infeld Actions on Finite Group Geometries
Authors: Aschieri P. , Castellani L. , Isaev A. P.
Published: September 2003

Discretized non-Abelian gauge theories living on finite group spaces G are defined by means of a geometric action ∫ Tr F ∧ *F. This technique is extended to obtain discrete versions of the Born–Infeld action. The discretizations are in 1–1 correspondence with differential calculi on finite groups.

A consistency condition for duality invariance of the discretized field equations is derived for discretized U(1) actions S[F] living on a four-dimensional Abelian G. Discretized electromagnetism satisfies this condition and therefore admits duality rotations.

Yang–Mills and Born–Infeld theories are also considered on product spaces MD×G, and we find the corresponding field theories on MD after Kaluza–Klein reduction on the G discrete internal spaces. We examine in detail the case G=ZN, and discuss the limit N→∞.

A self-contained review on the noncommutative differential geometry of finite groups is included.
Twisted Einstein Tensors and Orbifold Geometry
Authors: de Boer J. , Halpern M. B. , Helfgott C.
Published: September 2003

Following recent advances in the local theory of current-algebraic orbifolds, we study various geometric properties of the general WZW orbifold, the general coset orbifold and a large class of (nonlinear) sigma model orbifolds. Phase-space geometry is emphasized for the WZW orbifolds — while for the sigma model orbifolds we construct the corresponding sigma model orbifold action, which includes the previously-known general WZW orbifold action and general coset orbifold action as special cases. We focus throughout on the twisted Einstein tensors with diagonal monodromy, including the twisted Einstein metric, the twisted B field and the twisted torsion field of each orbifold sector. Finally, we present strong evidence for a conjectured set of twisted Einstein equations which should describe those sigma model orbifolds in this class which are also one-loop conformal.
Dempster Combination Rule for Signed Belief Functions
Authors: Kramosil Ivan
Published: September 2003

A possibility to define a binary operation over the space of pairs of belief functions, inverse or dual to the well-known Dempster combination rule in the same sense in which substraction is dual with respect to the addition operation in the space of real numbers, can be taken as an important problem for the purely algebraic as well as from the application point of view. Or, it offers a way how to eliminate the modification of a belief function obtained when combining this original belief function with other pieces of information, later proved not to be reliable. In the space of classical belief functions definable by set-valued (generalized) random variables defined on a probability space, the invertibility problem for belief functions, resulting from the above mentioned problem of "dual" combination rule, can be proved to be unsolvable up to trivial cases. However, when generalizing the notion of belief functions in such a way that probability space is replaced by more general measurable space with signed measure, inverse belief functions can be defined for a large class of belief functions generalized in the corresponding way. "Dual" combination rule is then defined by the application of the Dempster rule to the inverse belief functions.
Assessment of Clusteranalysis and Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Petersohn Helge
Published: September 2003

Market segmentation represents a central problem of preparing marketing activities. The methodical approach of this problem is supported by clustering methods. Available data are used to detect common grounds regarding their quality structures. Therefore statistics provides various methods for cluster analysis. Self-organizing maps are another possibility to form classes. They are a special approach of the artificial neural networks. The statistical methods and these methods, which are based on organic processes of our brain, offer different solutions although the starting conditions are the same. Often decisions about investigations are based on such solutions. Therefore the results of clustering are very important to reveal systematic information about the size of classes and their structure. Methodical notes are needed for the use of any clustering method. This paper offers a simplified way to select the best result for clustering.
A Probabilistic Approach to Ordering Formulas in a Possibilistic Knowledge Base
Authors: Giang P. H. , Dubois D. , Prade H.
Published: September 2003

In this paper, a careful analysis of interval-valued possibilistic knowledge bases indicates that there exists a natural probability distribution over the set of orderings of formulae compatible with the weights given in the knowledge base. We propose a new view, by which a possibilistic knowledge base can be considered in term of such probability distribution. It reveals some interconnections between probabilistic and possibilistic logics. We show that the principle of minimum specificity, widely used in possibilistic logic, is a special case of the principle of maximum likehood (at least, from the standpoint of nonmonotonic reasoning). We propose a formula to calculate probability for a defeasible conclusion. Moreover, the proposed view seems to be useful for other practical purposes. As an example, we apply it to a traditional problem of fusion of possibilistic knowledge from many sources and derive a new solution.
LSLNCF: A Hybrid Uncertain Reasoning Model Based on Probability
Authors: Luo Xudong , Zhang Chengqi
Published: September 2003

The "take-them-in-or-leave-them-out" of prior probabilities is a key problem in uncertain reasonings. The EMYCIN uncertain reasoning model is inconsistent with probability theory, due to 'leaving them out', while the PROSPECTOR uncertain reasoning model is substantially consistent with probability theory, due to 'taking them in'. This presents a difficult task for human experts when supplying prior probabilities. In this paper, in order to overcome the difficulty, we propose a hybrid uncertain reasoning model, by combing rule strengths in the PROSPECTOR model with rule strengths in the EMYCIN model. Moreover, different forms of rule strength will enable human experts to supply values for the rule strengths more flexibly in a knowledge base. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the power of our methodology.
An Effective Partition Method of the Fuzzy Inheritance Hierarchies on the basis of the Semantic Proximity
Authors: Liu Wei-Yi
Published: September 2003

In this paper, based on the concept of the semantic proximity, a partition method of fuzzy inheritance hierarchies has been given. It is shown that this method is reasonable and effective. Particularly, for a problem with fuzzy concepts, such as systematic botany and zoology, this partition method has especial advantages.
Measures of Information in Generalized Constraints
Authors: Yager Ronald R.
Published: September 2003

The concept of a generalized constraint is introduced and as means of representing different kinds of information. The measurement of the amount of information contained in these constraints is then considered. First we consider possibilistic constraints, those in which the associated variable can take on only one value and show that the measure of specificity provides the appropriate measure. We then provide a measure of information in a fuzzy graph. We next turn to veristic constraints, those in which the associated variable can assume multiple values, and show that the associated measure of information is the negation of the measure of fuzziness. Finally we discuss the idea that their can exist some uncertainty associated with the variable in a generalized constraint and provide some measure of the information about the variable.
Coping with Environmental Stressors by Urban Slum Dwellers
Authors: Siddiqui Roomana N. , Pandey Janak
Published: September 2003

Deteriorating environmental quality is the source of a variety of grave problems facing urban residents. This article reports slum residents' perceptions and responses to air and water pollution, noise, garbage, crowding, and traffic. The respondents were 280 male and female slum dwellers in Old Delhi, New Delhi, and Allahabad in India. Results showed that slum dwellers of Delhi reported greater stress compared to the respondents of Allahabad, and they further reported greater helplessness and acceptance in coping with the environmental stressors. The results also showed gender differences in the perception of some of the environmental stressors.
A Systematic Assessment of Intoxication at University Parties
Authors: Glindemann Kent E. , Geller E. Scott
Published: September 2003

Levels of intoxication among university students were assessed at two types of parties: fraternity and private (nonfraternity) parties. Participants' blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels were assessed using hand-held breathalyzers at 19 parties (11 at fraternity houses and 8 at private residences). A total of 1,525 students (502 women and 1,023 men) participated. Results indicated that students were significantly more intoxicated at fraternity parties (mean BAC = .093) than at private parties (mean BAC = .082), and men (mean BAC = .093) were significantly more intoxicated than women (mean BAC = .080). These results support the common belief that parties hosted by fraternity groups set the occasion for the highest levels of intoxication found on college campuses. The failure to find a main effect for Greek-life status suggests the environmental context (i.e., fraternity house) is a critical determinant of excessive alcohol consumption.
Suicide and the Jail Environment
Authors: Tartaro Christine
Published: September 2003

A sample of 321 jail administrators identified their facilities as being either linear intermittent; podular, indirect supervision; or podular, direct supervision. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the odds of these jails experiencing at least one inmate suicide during 1998. Jail design and supervision were not found to affect the likelihood of these jails reporting at least one inmate suicide. Other possible factors, such as aggregate inmate sex and age, the percent of pretrial detainees, officer/inmate ratio, the number of bookings, and the amount of time that officers spent in the inmate living areas were controlled for in the models.
The Incorporation of Black Faculty at Predominantly White Institutions
Authors: Weems Robert E.
Published: September 2003

This article provides a historical analysis of the incorporation experiences of the members of African American faculty at University of Missouri's Columbia campus. This article demonstrates how such individual factors as the scholarly reputation of African American faculty, coupled with departmental commitment, can go a long way to foster incorporation within university and college settings. At the same time, this article also demonstrates how ambivalence and limited commitments, on the part of university administrators, maintain the status quo of exclusion and nonincorporation.
The Implementation of Diversity in Predominantly White Colleges and Universities
Authors: McKinley Jones Brayboy Bryan
Published: September 2003

Across America, colleges and universities have appropriated the language of diversity as a way of signaling their commitment to faculty and students of color. This article argues that language of diversity and efforts to implement diversity are bound to fail in the absence of an institutional commitment to incorporating strategies for diversity into their research, teaching, and service missions. The research for this article relies heavily on interviews with African American, American Indian, Asian, and Latino faculty members, of junior status, in predominantly White colleges and universities.
Incorporation and Marginalization in the Academy
Authors: Turner Caroline S.
Published: September 2003

Faculty of color entering the academy describe factors leading toward their incorporation as well as factors keeping them at the margins. Relying on educational research, the concepts of incorporation and marginalization are discussed in this article. There are positive and negative aspects to incorporation and marginalization, which are very often overlooked.
Self-Enhancement and Self-Criticism in Japanese Culture
Authors: Takata Toshitake
Published: September 2003

A large number of cross-cultural studies have shown that Japanese tend to exhibit less self-enhancement and more self-criticism than North Americans. Using Heine, Takata, and Lehman's experimental paradigm, the present study sheds light on the conditions under which Japanese exhibit self-enhancement. Replicating Heine et al.'s study, it was found that Japanese tend to be self-critical when they are under a competition-free situation and feel some affective bonds to others, namely, those with whom they have an Uchi (inner) relationship. On the other hand, Japanese tend to display self-enhancement as much as their North American counterparts in a situation where they have to be competitive with someone to whom they are not affectively related, or one with whom they have a Soto (outer) relationship. It was suggested that one crucial determinant of whether self-enhancement or self-effacement/criticism is predominant in Japanese culture is the quality of the interpersonal relationship.
Self-Esteem and Self-Enhancement in Japan and America
Authors: Kobayashi Chihiro , Brown Jonathon D.
Published: September 2003

Although the self-enhancement motive is commonly held to be a universal human motivation, some theorists have recently argued that it does not operate in Japan. In an attempt to shed light on this issue, the authors conducted an investigation that explored the relation between self-esteem and self-enhancement in Japan and America. In both cultures and to the same degree, high self-esteem people were more apt to display evidence of self-enhancement than were low self-esteem people. The correspondence between the two cultures suggests that the self-enhancement motive does operate in Japan.
Meta-Analyses of Cluster Randomization Trials
Authors: Donner Allan , Piaggio Gilda , Villar José
Published: September 2003

A commonly cited purpose for conducting a meta-analysis of randomized trials is to increase the statistical power for detecting the effect of an intervention on a specified set of endpoints. At the same time, it also has been noted by several authors that many large-scale cluster randomization trials have not had the power to detect small or even moderate effect sizes. The loss of efficiency associated with cluster randomization relative to individual randomization, and the frequent failure of investigators to take this loss of efficiency into account at the planning stage of a trial, undoubtedly contributes to this problem. In this article, the authors present an approach that may be used to estimate the power of a planned meta-analysis that includes trials that are cluster randomized. Two examples are presented.
Obtaining Power or Obtaining Precision
Authors: Kelley Ken , Maxwell Scott E. , Rausch Joseph R.
Published: September 2003

Sample-size planning historically has been approached from a power analytic perspective in order to have some reasonable probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis. Another approach that is not as well-known is one that emphasizes accuracy in parameter estimation (AIPE). From the AIPE perspective, sample size is chosen such that the expected width of a confidence interval will be sufficiently narrow. The rationales of both approaches are delineated and two procedures are given for estimating the sample size from the AIPE perspective for a two-group mean comparison. One method yields the required sample size, such that the expected width of the computed confidence interval will be the value specified. A modification allows for a defined degree of probabilistic assurance that the width of the computed confidence interval will be no larger than specified. The authors emphasize that the correct conceptualization of sample-size planning depends on the research questions and particular goals of the study.
Assisted Living: The Philosophical Challenges of Everyday Practice
Authors: Utz Rebecca L.
Published: September 2003

Assisted living represents a philosophy to provide residential long-term care in a home-like environment that maximizes autonomy and independence for its residents. This article explores the question of whether providers achieve this philosophy in their everyday practice. Results are based on mail surveys and semistructured interviews with assisted living providers. Findings suggest that providers are united under a common philosophy yet struggle with how to provide care that balances their philosophical goals with more traditional business considerations. Management training—specifically, whether one is licensed as a nursing home administrator—is associated with poorer philosophical performance. Results also indicate that services and amenities are directly proportional to average monthly costs, but adoption of the assisted living philosophy, which presumably increases the quality of life for residents, has a far smaller impact on consumer costs. Results are discussed in terms of both practice and policy issues related to the industry.
The Effect of Administrative Resources on Care in Nursing Homes
Authors: Castle Nicholas G. , Banaszak-Holl Jane
Published: September 2003

This article evaluates whether the hours spent on the job by nursing home administration have an effect on the quality of care. Administration with more hours on the job were expected to be actively involved in developing market strategies, implementing continuous, quality improvement, and in developing stricter facility guidelines for care—all of which contribute to improved care processes. The proportion of residents who were restrained, catheterized, had pressure ulcers, or were given psychoactive drugs and the number of health-related deficiencies and nonhealth-related deficiencies were used as measures of quality in 15,834 nursing facilities. We examined effects separately for facilities that belong to a chain and those that are freestanding. Overall, the results indicate that the quality indicators are associated with the number of full-time equivalent hours of administration in both chain and freestanding facilities. This study provides preliminary evidence that the intensity of facility administration can have an important effect on the quality of care residents receive.
Depressive Symptoms and Decision Making among African American Youth
Authors: Okwumabua Jebose O. , Wong S. P. , Duryea Elias J.
Published: September 2003

Childhood and adolescent depression has emerged as a public health concern because of its impairment of functioning, particularly in the domains of decision making and self-efficacy. The present investigation examines the association between depressive symptoms and decision coping patterns among a nonreferred, nonclinical community sample of 276 low-income African American adolescents. The students ranged in age from 12 to 17 years. The Children's Depression Inventory was used to assess participants'depressive symptomatology. The Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire was used for assessing participants' decision coping patterns. The instrument was group administered in classroom settings by the research staff. Findings indicated a significant association between depressive symptomatology and the use of maladaptive decision coping patterns. Perhaps increasing competence in decision making may have beneficial effects on overall mood and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents.
Family Relationship Quality and Contact with Deviant Peers as Predictors of Adolescent Problem Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Gender
Authors: Werner Nicole E. , Silbereisen Rainer K.
Published: September 2003

This investigation examines how family relationship quality and contact with deviant peers (CDP) contributed to change in problem behaviors in a sample of German adolescents (M age = 14.6 years). In particular, the authors were interested in whether gender of the adolescent and parent moderated these associations, and whether individual differences in the average level and/or changes in family and peer risk factors predicted change in problem behaviors across a 12- to 18-month period. Two waves of data collected from 248 adolescents, mothers (N = 248), and fathers (N = 176) were analyzed using path analysis. Results revealed that CDP was directly associated with increases in problem behaviors, whereas family influence on problem behaviors was indirect and varied as a function of gender. Specifically, family cohesion and closeness with fathers were associated with females'CDP only. Findings are discussed in terms of theories positing females' sensitivity to family stress and the fathers' role for females' behavioral development.
Instrumentalist Perspectives on the `Public' in Public Education: Incentives and Purposes
Authors: Lubienski Christopher
Published: September 2003

Recent structural reforms of education highlight an emerging recognition of the difference between `public education' and `public schools.' Traditional perspectives emphasized ownership, governance, processes, and other institutional criteria in assessing the public nature of schooling. Yet many theorists and reformers now call for a focus on the effects of schools as instruments for serving consumer preferences—a perspective referred to here as instrumentalism. This analysis draws from the implementation of reform policies in one state to examine both the politics and political economy of instrumentalist approaches to public education. Attempts to expand the definition of public education to include independent providers are shown to change the incentive structures that define the public- and private-good effects of schooling. Consequently, the analysis suggests that efforts to elevate private-good aspects of education place schools in marketized environments, negating some of the public-good aspects of education, while diminishing broader forms of control over schooling.
Improving Student Achievement through Labor-Management Collaboration in Urban School Districts
Authors: Urbanski Adam
Published: September 2003

Central to any efforts to improve our urban schools is the relationship between the school managers and the teachers' union. Without labor-management collaboration, the best efforts of management are tantamount to one hand clapping. The suggestions contained here are predicated on the assumption that district and union leaders are willing to forge a genuine partnership and develop sufficient trust to turn goodwill into results. These recommendations include creating learner-centered schools; focusing on improving the knowledge and skills of teachers; negotiating `Living Contracts;' and expanding school choice by making public schools more like private—without privatizing public education.
`Some Strange Things Happening in our Country': Opposing Proposed Changes in Anti-Cruelty Laws in Canada
Authors: Sorenson John
Published: September 2003

Ideologies are most efficient when they operate invisibly to naturalize power relations, yet even the most successful hegemonies are not seamless. Contradictions in our attitudes towards animals are exposed by welfare measures such as anti-cruelty laws. This article examines opposition to proposed amendments to Canada's anti-cruelty legislation. Directed at individual acts of violence, anti-cruelty amendments proposed in Bill C-15B posed no challenge to animal exploitation industries and consisted of only moderately increased penalties for deliberately sadistic actions in non-institutional settings. The amendments were not motivated by ideas from an animal-rights perspective and constituted no fundamental change. Nevertheless, industrial users of animals presented even modest reforms as a direct threat to their interests. This article examines discursive strategies of those who profit from institutionalized abuse and killing of animals and shows that they deliberately exaggerated the amendments' effects and vilified those with genuine and reasonable concerns for the welfare of animals as `radicals', `extremists' and `terrorists'.
Group Properties of Defective Crystal Structures
Authors: Parry G. P.
Published: September 2003

The continuum mechanics of crystals draws on the atomistic view of crystal structure by assuming that the symmetries of perfect (atomic) crystal lattices define the material symmetry groups of associated continua. Thus, for example, the discrete (point) group which gives the rotational symmetries of a perfect cubic lattice is employed, commonly, in defining the material symmetry group of the strain energy function of a linearly elastic continuum with cubic symmetry. In fact, the general procedure has also been used successfully in the context of nonlinear elasticity theory; it amounts to a constitutive assumption which transfers some aspect of a relevant discrete structure to the continuum model.

Here I begin to extend this procedure so as to encompass crystals with uniform distribution of defects. The extension is of interest because the behavior of defects is reckoned to amount for significant variations in the mechanical strength of crystalline materials. So an understanding of the geometry of configurations of points that represent uniform distributions of defects is a prerequisite for constructing energy functions that model continua where relevant defect densities are non-zero, if we accept that the symmetries of such configurations define the material symmetry group of the corresponding continuum. The paper investigates the structure of these configurations.
Helical Shear for Hardening Generalized Neo-Hookean Elastic Materials
Authors: Horgan Cornelius O. , Saccomandi Giuseppe
Published: September 2003

The purpose of this research is to investigate the helical shear problem for a circular cylindrical tube composed of an isotropic hyperelastic incompressible material. Three specific constitutive models that account for hardening at large deformations are examined. These involve a strain-energy density which depends only on the first invariant of the Cauchy-Green tensor. For limiting values of a material parameter, all of these models reduce to the classical neo-Hookean form. The stress fields and displacements are characterized for each of these models. For two of the models considered, explicit closed-form analytic expressions are obtained. The results are compared with one another and with the predictions of the neo-Hookean model.