bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single dose ivabradine versus intravenous metoprolol for heart rate reduction before coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients receiving long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy
Authors: Celik O , Atasoy MM , Ertürk M , Yalçın AA , Aksu HU , Diker M , Aktürk İF , Atasoy I
Published: September 2013

Background

In patients with contraindication for beta-blockers who are also under long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy for any reason, ivabradine may be used as an alternative treatment to achieve the target heart rate.

Purpose

To assess whether single dose oral ivabradine in patients referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is safe and can significantly decrease heart rate compared to intravenous (i.v.) metoprolol in patients receiving long-term calcium channel-blocker therapy.

Material and Methods

One-hundred and twenty patients who were under calcium channel-blocker therapy referred for CCTA were randomized to premedication with single dose (15 mg) ivabradine ( n = 63) or i.v. metoprolol (5–10 mg) ( n = 62). Hearth rate (HR) was assessed at admission (HR1), prescan (HR2), and during CCTA scan (HR3) for all patients. Blood pressure (BP) was measured before medication (BP1) and immediately before CCTA scan (BP2).

Results

Although the HR averages of two groups were not significantly different before medication (HRIv1 = 80 ± 7 bpm vs. HRβ1 = 81 ± 7 bpm; P = 0.42), significant HR reduction was observed in the ivabradine group (HRIv3 = 62 ± 7 bpm) when compared to the metoprolol group (HRβ3 = 66 ± 6 bpm; P = 0.001). Decreases in HR forivabradine (18 ± 6 bpm) was significantly higher than for metoprolol (15 ± 4 bpm; P = 0.003) without relevant side-effects. Ivabradine showed no significant effect on either systolic BP or diastolic BP (siBPIv1, 139 ± 10; siBPIv2, 138 ± 10; P = 0.260; diBPIv1, 81 ± 7; diBPIv2, 81 ± 6; P = 0.59). Nevertheless, metoprolol group demonstrated significant reduction in both SiBP and DiBP (siBPβ1, 136 ± 11; siBPβ2 130 ± 11; P < 0.001; diBPβ1, 81 ± 6; diBPβ2, 78 ± 6; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Single dose ivabradine is safe and significantly more effective than i.v. metoprolol in decreasing HR in patients under calcium channel-blocker therapy.
Acute pulmonary embolism following adolescent idiopathic scoliosis correction surgery: Case report and review of literature
Authors: Meng Xiang Long , Zhao Hui , Su Qing Jun , Hai Yong
Published: September 2013

Pulmonary embolism is a significant complication of surgery. This report presents a case of suspected fatal postoperative acute pulmonary embolism following posterior correction surgery in a 16-year-old female with idiopathic scoliosis. The patient presented with a suspected pulmonary embolism 2 h postoperatively. She lost consciousness quickly, and cardiac respiratory arrest occurred. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started immediately. The patient was stabilized but underwent a further suspected pulmonary embolism the following day. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed again, but she lost consciousness and respirator support was required. At 40 days after surgery, a computed tomography scan revealed an area of necrotic brain tissue near the lateral cerebral ventricle. The patient remained in a comatose state for 16 months, after which active management was withdrawn. This case reminds us to be alert to potentially fatal postoperative pulmonary embolism in young patients without any risk factors for thrombosis.
John F. Shroder, Jr.’s 1978 and 1980 papers on dendrogeomorphology
Authors: Butler David R. , Stoffel Markus
Published: September 2013

Dendrogeomorphology is the application of tree-ring analysis for the dating of geomorphic processes. Although defined elsewhere, Shroder (1978, 1980) provided the foundation and methodologies for dendrogeomorphology that continue to underpin the discipline more than 30 years after the publication of his research papers. His process-event-response methodology and development of a semi-quantitative index number are techniques employed or discussed in virtually every recent paper within the field of dendrogeomorphology.
Rolling stones and tree rings
Authors: Trappmann Daniel , Corona Christophe , Stoffel Markus
Published: September 2013

This progress report focuses on the contribution of tree-ring series to rockfall research and on recent development and challenges in the field. Dendrogeomorphic techniques have been used extensively since the early 2000s and several approaches have been developed to extract rockfall signals from tree-ring records of conifer trees. The reconstruction of rockfall chronologies has been hampered in the past by sample sizes that decrease as one goes back in time, as well as by a paucity of studies that include broadleaved tree species, which are in fact quite common in rockfall-prone environments. In this report, we propose a new approach considering impact probability and quantification of uncertainty in the reconstruction of rockfall time series as well as a quantitative estimate of presumably missed events. In addition, we outline new approaches and future perspectives for the inclusion of woody vegetation in hazard assessment procedures, and end with future thematic perspectives.
Digital image correlation at high temperatures for fatigue and phase transformation studies
Authors: Holzweissig Martin J , Kanagarajah Pirabagini , Maier Hans J
Published: September 2013

In this study, digital image correlation was used for two widely different cases to assess the potential and the limitations of the technique for applications at high temperatures. Specifically, digital image correlation was employed in high-temperature low-cycle fatigue experiments in a nickel-based superalloy and in phase transformation experiments conducted on bainitic steel in order to shed light on the microstructural processes. Depending on the type of experiments, the microstructure was characterized prior to the experiments (fatigue) or after the experiments (phase transformation). In the fatigue experiments, it was found that the features dominating damage evolution were the dendrites resulting from the solidification of the cast material. In the phase transformation experiments, variant selection is active when stresses are superimposed during the phase transformation process, which resulted in the evolution of transformation plasticity strains. Thereby, mainly the bainite variants oriented along the [101], [201] and [121] directions were observed to grow parallel to the loading axis, which in turn led to transformation plasticity strains. For validation of the digital image correlation data, average strains were calculated for the surface area probed and compared to strain values obtained by conventional extensometry. In all cases studied, the correlation was satisfactory, indicating that digital image correlation can provide for additional insight into processes active at the micro level.
Interpersonal Communication at the Internal Group Level
Authors: Rippa Bella , Rippa Ben , Moss Eric
Published: September 2013

We all carry within ourselves unconscious images of significant figures from our past, which affect the way we relate to particular figures in the present. When considering group analysis, we see that each group member unconsciously brings to the therapy group his/her entire collection of inner significant objects, which may be individual objects and, as we will see in this article, may also be group objects. These may then be unconsciously projected onto individual members, the conductor and/or the group-as-a-whole and can affect their real behaviour in the group in positive and negative ways. The conductor’s task is to help analyse these multiple transferences and projections in order to facilitate change.
Fast in situ enzymatic gelation of PPO-PEO block copolymer for injectable intraocular lens in vivo
Authors: Lee Hanna , Oh Han Jin , Yoon Kyung Chul , Tae Giyoong , Kim Young Ha
Published: September 2013

Foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been utilized to substitute natural lens of cataract patients. In this study, we developed a fast, in situ gelable hydrogel requiring no toxic agent as an injectable IOL material. A 4-armed PPO/PEO-phenol conjugate by a non-degradable linker was synthesized to form a hydrogel in situ by horseradish peroxidase. The gelation time and modulus could be controlled, ranging from 20 s to 2 min and from 1 to 43 kPa. The adhesion of human lens epithelial cells on the hydrogel was significantly reduced compared to that on commercial IOLs. The hydrogels were injected into the rabbit eyes to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility for 8 weeks. Corneal endothelial cell loss and central corneal thickness were comparable with the common IOL implantation procedure. Histologically, the cornea and retina showed the intact structure. The change of refraction after application of pilocarpine was +0.42 D preoperatively and +0.83 D postoperatively, which may indicate the maintenance of accommodation amplitude.
Critique is a thing of this world
Authors: Boland Tom
Published: September 2013

Although Foucault was clearly a critical thinker, his approach also provides for the possibility of a genealogy of critique. Such an approach problematizes critique, and I trace the emergent problematization of critique in Foucault’s later works, and briefly in Latour and Boltanski. From this I move on to the ‘critical problematic’, that is, how critique operates as a form of power/knowledge, as a discourse that creates subjects through a critical regime of truth and critical truth-games. Specifically, I argue that critique is a discourse which transforms and unmasks other ‘truth-claims’, replacing them with a starker vision of reality, which in the end is also a specific cultural vision. To elaborate this view, I return to Foucault’s discussion of Kant, his late lectures on Cynicism and also on ordo-liberalism. The wider circulation of critical discourses is demonstrated through an analysis of ‘cool’ or critical consumerism. In conclusion, the relationship between critique, crisis and modernity is considered.
Heidegger’s influence on posthumanism
Authors: Rae Gavin
Published: September 2013

While Jacques Derrida’s influence on posthumanist theory is well established in the literature, given Martin Heidegger’s influence on Derrida, it is surprising to find that Heidegger’s relationship to posthumanist theory has been largely ignored. This article starts to fill this lacuna by showing that Heidegger’s writings not only influences but also has much to teach posthumanism, especially regarding the relationship between humanism and posthumanism. By first engaging with Heidegger’s destruction of metaphysics and related critique of anthropocentrism, I show that, while rejecting Heidegger’s conclusions for being too humanist, posthumanism shares, and indeed is largely unreflectively defined by, Heidegger’s critique of the binary logic underpinning anthropocentric humanism. With this, posthumanism aims to go beyond Heidegger by overcoming all forms of humanist understanding, an attempt that brings us back to the relationship between humanism and posthumanism and Heidegger’s notion of trace. With this, I not only show that Heidegger influences posthumanism through his destruction of metaphysics, critique of anthropocentrism and notion of trace, but also point towards an understanding of posthumanism that distinguishes it from humanism and transhumanism.
On time-optimal trajectory planning for a flexible link robot
Authors: Springer Klemens , Gattringer Hubert , Staufer Peter
Published: September 2013

This article focuses on time-optimal trajectory planning for robots with flexible links. Minimum time trajectories along specified paths as well as time-optimal point-to-point motions, which avoid vibration excitation due to elastic deflections, are determined. This is achieved by additionally constraining parts of the generalized forces and generalized force derivatives, resulting from the elastic potential. Therefore, the dynamical robot model is obtained using the Projection Equation. In a further step, a reduced model with the most essential degrees of freedom and sufficient accuracy is introduced, resulting in a flat system. Utilizing this, a trajectory control with an exact feedforward linearization in combination with a feedback part, consisting of a motor joint as well as a joint torque control, is realized. This nearly ideal control is used for moving on the time-optimal trajectories. The optimization is conducted with respect to velocity, jerk and motor torques as well as the newly introduced constraints, computable due to the flatness of the system. Experimental results demonstrate the improvement concerning vibration avoidance of the considered robot. Furthermore, a comparison between the occurring bending stress and the maximum permissible bending stress shows that mechanical damage is prevented with the use of the additional constraints.
Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) and Sir John Forbes (1787–1861): Neighbours in Old Burlington Street, Westminster
Authors: Agnew Robin
Published: September 2013

The year 2010 marks the centenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and will, no doubt, be universally remembered. Her life and nursing career have recently been fully described by Bostridge. It is less well known that her neighbour from November 1856 was the distinguished Scottish physician Sir John Forbes MD Edin FRCP Lond FRS DCL Oxon. Although they never met, they exchanged copies of each other’s books and shared a mutual respect.
The globalisation of the hotel industry and the variety of emerging capitalisms in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Niewiadomski Piotr
Published: September 2013

While research on the globalisation of services in economic geography continues to develop in multiple directions, some service industries are still largely under-researched. The hotel industry is one of the most striking examples. Given that the hotel sector is much more global in terms of number of countries covered by each company than many other service industries, one of the crucial aspects of hotel sector globalisation that requires attention from a geographical perspective is the territorial embeddedness of expanding hotel groups in the variety of institutional, political and economic contexts. Grounded in the global production networks (GPNs) approach, this paper aims to address this lacuna in empirical and theoretical terms. Drawing from extensive research carried out in Poland, Estonia and Bulgaria, the paper examines the impact of post-communist transformations on the expansion of international hotel groups into Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and analyses how different hotel GPNs interact with the various contexts across the region. It is argued that the ways in which post-communist transformations influence the expansion of hotel groups into CEE depend upon the degree of territorial embeddedness of the hotel group, which, in turn, is reflective of the group’s business model and the architecture of its GPN. In theoretical terms, the paper illustrates how, to better account for the particularities of CEE, the GPN approach can incorporate the ‘alternative approach’ – the theory of post-communist transformations that challenges the neoliberal orthodoxy which drove the post-communist restructuring in the 1990s.
Exploring the Role of Negative Emotions on Customer’s Intention to Complain
Authors: Choraria Sapna
Published: September 2013

Negative emotions are the most displayed set of emotions experienced during service failure and when dealt carefully improves customer retention attitude with the organization. Anger (anger, frustration and irritation), Unhappiness (unhappiness, worry and nervousness) and Sadness (sadness, helplessness and depression) were identified as major sets of negative emotions through multidimensional scaling techniques. The proposed model is established on the basis of identified categories and its effect is examined for customer complaining intention followed by relationship strength. Results of structural equation modelling (SEM) indicate positive significant effect for unhappiness and anger on relationship strength when mediated by customer complaining intention. Category of sadness indicates negative influence explaining the weak relationship strength. However, such weak effect is diluted when it is examined in the presence of complaining intention. Analysis contributes in providing explanation for the importance of complaining intention that dilutes negative emotional effect among customers. Managerial implication of the study emphasizes for positive approach that motivates customers to complain when they experience negative emotions so as to facilitate the smooth flow of communication and increase customer retention intention.
Book Review: Managing Global Organizations: A Cultural Perspective
Authors: Saini Debi S.
Published: September 2013

Rabi S. Bhagat, Harry C. Triandis, and Annette S. McDevitt, Managing Global Organizations: A Cultural Perspective, Cheltenham (UK): Edward Elgar, 2012, xvi+343 pp., Price not mentioned (Hardback).
Book Review: Reframing Difference in Organizational Communication Studies: Research, Pedagogy, Practice
Authors: Pande Neerja
Published: September 2013

Dennis K. Mumby (Ed.), Reframing Difference in Organizational Communication Studies: Research, Pedagogy, Practice. SAGE Publications Inc., 2011, xiii + 311 pp., Price not mentioned (Paperback).
Book Review: Millennials and the Workplace: Challenges for Architecting the Organizations of Tomorrow
Authors: Khan Sami A.
Published: September 2013

Pritam Singh, Asha Bhandarkar and Sumit Rai, Millennials and the Workplace: Challenges for Architecting the Organizations of Tomorrow, New Delhi: SAGE Response and All India Management Association, 2012, XXIX + 233 pp., ₹ 425 (Paperback)
Book Review: Phone Clones: Authenticity Work in the Transnational Service Economy
Authors: Das Diya
Published: September 2013

Kiran Mirchandani, Phone Clones: Authenticity Work in the Transnational Service Economy, Cornell University Press, 2012.
The Selection Dilemma Faced at Drona Institute of Management Studies
Authors: Balasubramanian Girish
Published: September 2013

This case deals with issues related to the access of higher education facilities to individuals with physical disability (visual disability in this case). The names and the characters are fictitious though the overall inspiration of the case is based on real-life events. This case has been developed as an instructional case to illustrate the model of factors affecting the treatment of individuals with disability in the organization. These factors can be broadly divided into two categories, namely, the personal factors and the environmental factors ( Stone and Colella, 1996 ). This case also touches upon issues like due diligent efforts that need to be made to accommodate the individuals with disability, the acceptance of the individuals with disability into organization and into main stream society, and stereotyping of individuals with disability. This case can also be extended to sensitize individuals and managers to other forms of disability and to educate them about the legal provisions made both nationally and internationally. This case has been developed for academic discussion only.
Experiential Learning in Education for Sustainable Development: Experiences from a Czech–Kazakh Social Learning Programme
Authors: Cincera Jan
Published: September 2013

The article presents experience from a joint Czech–Kazakh project based on experiential education. The goal of the project was to develop trust and cooperation between various stakeholders to promote effective public participation in local sustainable development issues in Kazakhstan. The article describes the methodology of the programme and its evaluation. Despite the fact that the programme achieved its goals, its effectiveness was diminished by shortcomings in its implementation that are described in the article.
Forsaking Nature? Contesting ‘Biodiversity’ Through Competing Discourses of Sustainability
Authors: Kopnina Helen
Published: September 2013

The Convention on Biodiversity has developed the concept of ‘ecosystem services’ and ‘natural resources’ in order to describe ways in which humans benefit from healthy ecosystems. Biodiversity, conceived through the economic approach, was recognized to be of great social and economic value to both present and future populations. According to its critics, the economic capture approach might be inadequate in addressing rapid biodiversity loss, since many non-human species do not have an economic value and there may thus be limited grounds for prohibiting or even restricting their destruction. This article aims to examine the concept of biodiversity through competing discourses of sustainability and to discuss the implications for education for sustainable development (ESD).
Environmental Communication: A Review of Information Sources and Communication Channels for Enhanced Community-Based Natural Resource Management in the Greater Mara Region of Kenya
Authors: Ongare David , Macharia Ayub , Mwakaje Agnes , Muchane Muchai , Warui Charles , Mugoya Charles , Masiga Clet , Nikundiwe Alfeyo , Muiti Anastacia , Wakibara James
Published: September 2013

The Mara-Serengeti is an ecosystem of immense importance to both Kenya and Tanzania, contributing significantly to the economies of both countries and forming a rich biodiversity reservoir. This ecosystem is among the most threatened ecosystems on the African continent. Increasing human population density and changing lifestyles have escalated demand for ecosystem services including timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). These activities have resulted in reduced land productivity and threatened livelihoods. This environmental communication study is aimed at providing a link between effective environmental communication and participatory sustainable natural resource management. It sets out to identify and prioritize natural resource challenges within the Mara region. It subsequently contextualizes the available and effective communication sources and channels to promote participatory approaches to natural resource management in light of several pressures challenging the Mara region. Specific attributes of the community under study are also taken into account in addition to the correlation between the information source and the message.
Embracing the Paradox in Educational Change for Sustainable Development: A Case of Accounting
Authors: Qian Wei
Published: September 2013

Higher education institutions have been encouraged to prepare their graduates to be socially and environmentally responsible professionals. However, previous studies have found a slow uptake of education for sustainable development (ESD) in university curricula, particularly in non-environmental disciplines. This paper investigates the process of developing educational change for sustainability in an Australian university and the impact of such development on an area that has long been resistant to the sustainability initiative—accounting. The paper analyzes an approach that embraces a top-down research-led change and a bottom-up educational change for sustainability, linking university strategy, research concentration and institutional culture development with ESD in the case of accounting. This study examines issues of interest to higher education institutions engaged in accelerating the diffusion of ESD in non-environmental disciplines.
The Nature of Sustainability as Viewed by European Students
Authors: Lockley John , Jarrath Martin
Published: September 2013

Sustainability as a concept, though well understood in general terms, is often politically captured by interest groups and as such expressed through issues like concern for global climate change or the need to develop more efficient energy sources, to address regional, national or international priorities. Education for sustainability as a concept similarly is generally becoming well understood; however, it is expressed in different ways by different educational communities.

This research investigates a conceptual framework for the nature of sustainability to describe the way students and teachers from five European countries express their ideas of sustainability.

The results indicate that despite the diversity of education systems and the range of nationally important issues of sustainability identified by the participants from five significantly different European countries (from Eastern and Western, Northern, Central and Southern Europe), there exists a common understanding of the nature of sustainability that can be expressed through a conceptual framework. The framework, based on a matrix of sustainability aspects (ecological, social, cultural and economic) and concepts (equity, interdependence and personal responsibility for action), allowed dialogue to occur to such a large extent that the nearly 200 participants agreed to a common resolution for future action on living more sustainably, applicable across the five countries.
Fields of Green: Restorying Culture, Environment and Education
Authors: Howard Patrick
Published: September 2013

Edited by Marcia Mackenzie, Paul Hart, Heesoon Bai and Bob Jickling. N.J.: Hampton Press, 2009. $37.50 (soft cover)
Learning for Sustainability in Times of Accelerating Change
Authors: Martin Stephen
Published: September 2013

Edited by Arjen E.J. Wals and Peter Blaze Corcoran. Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2012. 550 pages. (Ä) 69.00 (hardback) ISBN: 978-90-8686-203-0.
Risk Factors for Smoking Behaviors Among Adolescents
Authors: Chung Sung Suk , Joung Kyoung Hwa
Published: September 2013

Many students in Korea begin to use tobacco and develop a regular smoking habit before they reach adulthood. Yet, little is known about various signs contributing to the transition of the student smoking behaviors. This study used a national sample to explore and compare risk factors for smoking behaviors. Three types of smoking behaviors were defined: never smoking (in their lifetime), history of experimental smoking (ever tried but not within the last 30 days), and current smoking (at least 1 day during the last 30 days). Risk factors for experimentally starting and not continuing smoking were identified as gender, perceived health status, and friend-related stress. School type, academic performance, alcohol use, perception of harm of smoking, and close friends’ smoking increased the risk of progressing from never smoking to the history of experimental smoking and current smoking. Our findings may be valuable in school health care settings in planning cessation programs.
Intercultural Communication Apprehension and Emotional Intelligence in Higher Education
Authors: Fall Lisa T. , Kelly Stephanie , MacDonald Patrick , Primm Charles , Holmes Whitney
Published: September 2013

Given the expanding globalized workforce, business educators continue to seek new ways to prepare students for intercultural encounters. Although immersion in other cultures is the optimal strategy, this method is not always feasible. As such, educators seek other mechanisms to simulate intercultural experiences. This study examines emotional intelligence as a predictor of intercultural communication apprehension among university students ( N = 425). Results indicate that three of the emotional intelligence subscales predict intercultural communication apprehension: emotionality, sociability, and self-control. These results support the premise that emotional intelligence manages and/or reduces intercultural communication apprehension and therefore should be integrated in business curriculum.
Collective Action That Influences Tourism
Authors: Hwang Doohyun , Chi Sang-Hyun , Lee Byeongcheol
Published: September 2013

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of the relational structure of a community on tourism-related community collective action. Employing social network analysis and interviews, the network structure and community collective actions were examined at two communities on Jeju Island, South Korea. The research results demonstrate positive associations between successful collective action involvement and features from the relational network structure in communities, such as network density and social pressure related to social roles. The findings can be used to identify specific types of community network structure that facilitates an individual’s tourism related collective action involvement.
Natalia Ginzburg, Clara Sereni and Lia Levi: Jewish Italian women recapturing cities, families and national memories
Authors: Clementi FK
Published: September 2013

To this day, the Italian Jewish literary postwar canon is undisputedly ruled by Primo Levi, Giorgio Bassani and Carlo Levi. This study of three major Italian Jewish women writers – Natalia Ginzburg, Clara Sereni and Lia Levi – highlights the presence in Italian literature of a subversive Jewish écriture feminine. These writers’ formal independence and subversive redeployment of narrative and thematic strategies not only consolidated a strong female voice in Italian literature but also produced a specific Italian brand of Jewish literature. The following analysis shows how, through their literary ‘life miniatures’, Ginzburg, Sereni and Levi recentre the domestic everydayness of woman’s personal and historical experience, while, simultaneously, challenging the traditional representations of women’s positions within family and within the public space, as well as interrogating their Jewish identity vis-a-vis their country’s Fascist past. In particular, this article focuses on the way in which all three authors portray themselves as women trying to strike a balance between their Jewish identity and history alive only in the domestic space of their family lives, and their gender identity which is repressed by the patriarchal system both in the house and in the public arena. These women respond by moving ‘out’ of their homes, by exploring the city space – thus turning the ‘urban monster’ into a positive locus for women’s self-determination and political action – and by bonding with other women. Through a demasculinization of the city space, these memoirs re-elaborated notions of family, Judaism, private and historical memory, and they reinvented a poetics for the ‘small virtues’ ( piccole virtù) of woman’s everyday existence while also pioneering a new space in literature that radically changed the direction of patriarchal Italian (and Jewish Italian) culture in the second half of the twentieth century.
The low prevalence of smoking in the Northern Sweden MONICA study, 2009
Authors: Rodu Brad , Jansson Jan-Håkan , Eliasson Mats
Published: September 2013

Aims: The purpose of this study was to describe tobacco use in the 2009 Northern Sweden cohort of the World Health Organization Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases (MONICA) study. Methods: Subjects ( N = 1698) were randomly selected from population registers, stratified for age (25–74 years old) and gender, in the two northernmost Swedish counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten. Responses from tobacco-related questions were used to develop three mutually exclusive categories of snus use: past, current, or never use; and three comparable categories of smoking that were consistent with previous studies. Results: Among men, the prevalence of smoking (9%) and dual use (2%) remain unchanged from 2004, although the prevalence of snus use declined from 27% in 2004 to 24% in 2009. Among women, the prevalence of all forms of tobacco use declined between 2004 and 2009; smoking dropped from 16% to 11%, dual use from 2% to less than 1%, and snus use from 9% to 8%. Although overall prevalence of tobacco use was similar for younger versus older men and younger versus older women, there were notable differences in specific snus and smoking rates. Conclusions: This study confirms that use of snus was a significant factor in the low prevalence of smoking, especially among younger men and women in Northern Sweden. Furthermore, it documents that tobacco harm reduction is entirely compatible with a population-level decline in overall tobacco use.
The right to work on the street: Public space and constitutional rights
Authors: Meneses-Reyes Rodrigo , Caballero-Juárez José A
Published: September 2013

Do people have a right to work on the street? If so, what are the constraints and conditions attached to this right? Historically, municipal authorities have tried several ways to regulate or even prohibit commerce on the streets, by implementing administrative regulation and criminal laws, but neither has proven successful thus far. In fact, in some cases, these attempts have backfired. Constitutional challenges to municipal regulations have paved the way for the incorporation of municipal regulations based on a right to work on the streets. This article seeks to understand and explain how the act of placing a wooden or metal stall over a public space contributes to the development of a regulatory regime that administrates the right to work in an urban space. It further shows how these solutions have been jeopardized by litigation and transformed by recent constitutional doctrines that recognize the right to work on streets. Constitutional courts in Mexico, Colombia, and India have addressed the struggles between the street vendors’ ability to work on public thoroughfare and the municipal regulations that seek to limit street trading. As such, our aim is to analyze the way in which the municipal capacity to legislate, control, and regulate public space has been challenged and constrained by street vendors’ invocation of their right to work in these countries. This will help explain how constitutional courts do actually represent urban governance.
Examining the Effects of Information, Attorney Capability, and Amicus Participation on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Making
Authors: Szmer John , Ginn Martha Humphries
Published: September 2013

Focusing on litigators or amicus curiae, a significant amount of scholarship has examined the impact of information on Supreme Court decision making. Taking into account that justices have varying degrees of substantive expertise across issues, we model the interaction of justice expertise with these external sources of information. Specifically, we test whether justices are more likely to be influenced by attorney capability in cases where they have less substantive legal expertise. We also explore whether justices’ reliance on amici is conditional on their own expertise, as well as the overall quality of the litigants’ attorneys. As anticipated, this research finds that as the justice’s legal expertise increases, the influence of attorney capability tends to decrease. Moreover, as the expertise of the judge and/or the quality of the attorneys increase, the impact of amici tends to decrease.
School Autonomy and Government Control
Authors: Higham Rob , Earley Peter
Published: September 2013

The Conservative–Liberal Democrat Coalition government elected in 2010 has argued contemporary reform will increase the autonomy of schools in England. Given the complexities that exist, however, in the balance between autonomy and control, we explore how school leaders view autonomy as it exists within the wider policy framework. The article develops, first, a historical and analytical perspective on school autonomy. Second, it analyses a survey of almost 2000 school leaders, as well as case study data, to explore their views on autonomy, accountability, external support and managing change. Third, it considers the implications. Drawing on Simkins’s concepts of operational and criteria power, school leaders are shown to commonly anticipate greater power over aspects of school management but not over the aims and purposes of schooling. A significant variation is also found between school leaders in their perceived capacity and freedom to act. This leads to a proposed typology of confident, cautious, concerned and constrained schools. A key implication, we conclude, is that increasing operational power for schools, declining Local Authority support and differentiated school autonomy have a very real potential to exacerbate existing local hierarchies between schools.
Managing leadership in university reform
Authors: Browne Liz , Rayner Steve
Published: September 2013

The contemporary English policy discourse in higher education of ‘Putting Students at the Heart of the System’ has led to an increasing use of managing by performance ‘smart-data’ reinforcing a consumer-led representation of students as ‘partners’ in the ‘business of learning’ within the academy. This approach disguises ongoing fundamental changes to academic work by mixing an increased ‘market-driven’ transparency with ‘accountability’ in ‘institutional and organization management’, utilizing so-called research-led or evidence-informed practice. The policy discourse masks and limits any critique of such data production, or more particularly its purposes and uses, while perhaps yet more significantly, generating an associated ‘modernizing’ rhetoric impacting multiple levels of decision-making throughout the HE institution. Evidence from previous research into school sector reform as data-based decision-making became mainstreamed is used to support our prognosis for the future. Drawing upon documentary analysis of KIS (Key Information Sets) and other publicly available data, this article presents a critique of widespread institutional reform that is rapidly becoming reliant upon what we call ‘data-smart policy’. In conclusion, a series of emerging issues are identified as part of managing the way forward in meeting data access requirements, ensuring student satisfaction and consumer protection, while preserving intellectual values associated with substantive scholarship and sound academic leadership.
Corrective distal radius osteotomy following fracture malunion using a fixed-angle volar locking plate
Authors: Opel S. , Konan S. , Sorene E.
Published: September 2013

Post-traumatic distal radius deformity may cause severe morbidity, and corrective osteotomy is often necessary to realign the functional axis of the wrist to correct symptomatic malunion. The aim of this retrospective study was to review the short-term results of a single surgeon’s series of distal radius corrective osteotomies following fracture malunion using a fixed-angle volar locking plate for 20 patients (26 women) of an average age of 57 (range 19–83) years. At short-term follow up (average 14 months, range 12–15 months), no complications were noted and radiological union was confirmed in all cases at an average of 3 months. The average post-operative Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 13.48 (range 0–48.33) and an objective improvement was noted in movements at the wrist joint. A statistically significant improvement was achieved in ulnar variance, radial inclination, dorsal tilt, and supination.
High incidence and treatment of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis after trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty for basal joint arthritis
Authors: Low T. H. , Hales P. F.
Published: September 2013

We reviewed the incidence and treatment of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis in 77 patients (81 thumbs) who had trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty for thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis. Eighteen patients, 20 wrists (25%) had flexor carpi radialis tendinitis. The onset was 2–10 months (mean 4.7) after surgery. Two cases had preceding trauma. Eight cases (40%) responded to splinting and steroid injection. Ten patients, 12 wrists (60%) underwent surgery after failing non-operative treatment. Eleven wrists had frayed or partially torn flexor carpi radialis tendon and one had a complete tendon rupture with pseudotendon formation. Flexor carpi radialis tenotomy and pseudotendon excision were performed. All operated patients obtained good pain relief initially post-operatively. However, the pain recurred in two patients after 8 months. One required a local steroid injection for localized tenderness at the site of the proximal tendon stump. The other patient required a revision operation for scaphotrapezoid impingement. Both obtained complete pain relief. Our study has shown a high incidence of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis following trapeziectomy and abductor pollicis longus suspensionplasty. Patients should be warned about this potential complication.
Torque prediction at the shoe–surface interface using insole pressure technology
Authors: Weaver Brian T , Fitzsimons Kathleen A , Braman Jerrod E , Haut Roger C
Published: September 2013

Excessive rotational traction between the foot and the playing surface has been shown to increase the risk of athletic injuries to ligaments in the knee and ankle. It is not currently feasible to accurately determine the free torque generated at the shoe–surface interface utilizing live participants without an embedded force plate. The goal of the current research was to predict the free torques that developed at the shoe–surface interface during voluntary internal and external rotations of the body relative to a planted foot using an insole pressure measurement system. Six participants fitted with a shoe containing an insole pressure measurement device performed trials on an embedded force plate. A pressure sensor mask of specific sensors was determined based on the degree of linear correlation between sensor pressure and the free torque. Linear regression analyses were utilized to develop a General Linear Regression Model and Participant-Specific Linear Regression Models. The results of this study indicated that insole pressure technology, in conjunction with linear regression models, can be utilized to predict free torques generated at the shoe–surface interface during isolated rotational motions of the body with respect to a planted foot. Furthermore, Participant-Specific Linear Regression models may be more accurate in these predictions than a general model, based on a group of participants. When used with computational modeling, this technique might allow the investigation of strains produced in ligaments of the ankle and knee that are generated during internal and external rotations of the body with a planted foot on various turf surfaces outside a laboratory setting.
The dynamic elastic response to impulse synchronisation of composite prosthetic energy storing and returning feet
Authors: Noroozi Siamak , Rahman Abdul GA , Khoo Shin Y , Zahedi Saeed , Sewell Philip , Dyer Bryce , Ong Zhi C
Published: September 2013

In this research, it is proven that perfect synchronisation between the input impulse (human effort) and the ground reaction impulse/impact can result in a phenomenon called the dynamic elastic response to impulse synchronisation with favourable consequences to the behaviour of the energy storing and returning foot. An energy storing and returning composite prosthetic foot was first used in elite competition at the 1988 Paralympic Games. Since its introduction, the prostheses have proven to be a source of controversy. In 2008, it was concluded that the athletes who use such technology when running are in an advantageous position when compared to able-bodied athletes. However, these findings have since been disputed. There still remain unanswered questions regarding the level of contribution of energy storing and returning feet in the performance of amputee athletes. A series of investigations have previously been conducted to study the dynamic characteristics of a number of energy storing and returning composite prosthetic feet. It was found that if a sinusoidal input impulse, with a frequency close to one of the energy storing and returning feet’s natural frequencies, could be applied, it can make the energy storing and returning foot susceptible to resonance, which, in the case of bending mode, if sustained can lead to a gain in height or increased velocity.
Squamous cell carcinoma arising from congenital lymphedema
Authors: Parthiban Raja , Kaler Amrit Kaur , Shariff Shameem , Sangeeta M
Published: September 2013

Congenital lymphedema is a rare type of primary lymphedema occurring at birth or developing shortly later. Primary lymphedema can be classified according to whether it is familial or sporadic. The primary congenital familial lymphedema is also known as Milroy’s disease. Majority of primary cases are sporadic type. Chronic lymphedema can be secondary to infections, surgery with lymph node excision, trauma, lymphadenectomy, radiotherapy, filarial infection, and so on. It is recognized that a variety of malignant tumors can arise in chronic congenital or acquired lymphedema; the most documented associations are lymphangiosarcoma, basal cell carcinoma, lymphoma, malignant melanoma, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. A total of 13 cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic (primary or acquired) lymphedema have been reported, and only 3 cases of congenital lymphedema presented with squamous cell carcinoma as reported. A 32-year-old young male presented with chronic unilateral left lower limb lymphedema of 28 years duration. In addition, he had a 3-month history of a fungating cutaneous lesion on the lateral side measuring 2 cm × 1 cm in size. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed on the later mass, and a diagnosis of angiosarcoma was made. At histopathology, the appearances did not confirm angiosarcoma. However, an impression of carcinoma was made as squamous cells were observed in sheets. Immunohistochemistry was performed using markers for CD31, factor VIII (FVIII), and MiB. The epithelial marker cytokeratin was positive for squamoid cells and MiB index of 75%. The vascular markers FVIII and CD31 were negative, thus ruling out angiosarcoma. The final diagnosis was given as infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma in chronic lymphedema.
Serological testing for celiac disease in adults
Authors: Schyum Astrid Collatz , Rumessen Jüri Johannes
Published: September 2013

Background and aim

We present a systematic review on the performance of currently available methods for serological diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) and the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing.

Objective

A literature survey was conducted using PubMed, MeSH database, Web of Science as well as manual searches.

Results

Tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) (IgA) (tested in nine studies) show sensitivities and specificities in the range of 0.76–0.968 and 0.909–0.98, and deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) (IgA and IgG) (tested in eight studies) show sensitivities and specificities in the range of 0.69–0.984 and 0.903–1. Endomysial antibodies (EMA) (tested in five studies) show sensitivities and specificities in the range of 0.61–0.937 and 0.98–1, respectively. Combination assays (tested in three studies) using DGP + tTG and DGP (IgA + IgG) show sensitivities and specificities in the range of 0.87–1 and 0.8–1, respectively. HLA DQ2/DQ8 may be necessary for the development of CD—HLA DQ2 in particular. A possible close correlation may also exist between CD and HLA‐G.

Conclusion

DGP and tTG for serological testing for CD show equivalent diagnostic performance. More studies with, in particular, DGP alone and in combination with tTG are necessary before a firm recommendation can be made. HLA typing to exclude CD may still be controversial. It still seems premature to diagnose celiac disease in adults based on serology alone.