bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction in Mortality in Subjects With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Associated With Advances in Lipid-Lowering Therapy
Authors: Raal Frederick J. , Pilcher Gillian J. , Panz Vanessa R. , van Deventer Hendrick E. , Brice Brigitte C. , Blom Dirk J. , Marais A. David
Published: October 2011

Background—

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disorder caused by mutations in both low-density lipoprotein receptor alleles, which results in extremely elevated plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and very early morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease.

Methods and Results—

To evaluate the impact of advances in lipid-lowering (predominantly statin) therapy on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in a large cohort of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, the records of 149 patients (81 females, 68 males) from 2 specialized lipid clinics in South Africa were evaluated retrospectively. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia was diagnosed by confirmation of mutations in genes affecting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or by clinical criteria. A Cox proportional hazard model with time-varying exposure was used to estimate the risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events among statin-treated patients compared with statin-naive patients. The hazard ratio for benefit from lipid therapy, calculated with the Cox proportional hazards model for the end point of death, was 0.34 (95% confidence interval 0.14–0.86;
P
=0.02), and for the end point of major adverse cardiovascular events, it was 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.22–1.07;
P
=0.07). This occurred despite a mean reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of only 26.4% (from 15.9±3.9 to 11.7±3.4 mmol/L;
P
<0.0001) with lipid-lowering therapy.

Conclusions—

Lipid-lowering therapy is associated with delayed cardiovascular events and prolonged survival in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
India's Nuclear Odyssey: Implicit Umbrellas, Diplomatic Disappointments, and the Bomb
Authors: Kennedy Andrew B.
Published: October 2011

Why did India merely flirt with nuclear weapons in the 1960s and 1970s only to emerge as a nuclear power in the 1990s? Although a variety of factors informed India's prolonged restraint and subsequent breakthrough, new evidence indicates that India's “nuclear odyssey” can be understood as a function of Indian leaders' ability to secure their country through nonmilitary means, particularly implicit nuclear umbrellas and international institutions. In the 1960s and 1970s, India was relatively successful in this regard as it sought and received implicit support from the superpowers against China. This success, in turn, made acquiring the bomb a less pressing question. At the end of the Cold War, however, nonmilitary measures ceased to be viable for India. In the late 1980s, waning Soviet support and the failure of Rajiv Gandhi's diplomatic initiatives led to the creation of India's de facto nuclear arsenal. In the 1990s, India developed a more overt capability, not simply because the pro-bomb Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, but also because its external backing had vanished and because its efforts to improve its security through diplomacy proved unsuccessful.
The Impact of an Interactive Web-Based Module on Residents’ Knowledge and Clinical Practice of Injury Prevention
Authors: Sangvai Shilpa , Mahan John D. , Lewis Kadriye O. , Pudlo Nancy , Suresh Srinivasan , McKenzie Lara B.
Published: October 2011

Objective. To determine the effectiveness of an interactive Web-based module on knowledge acquisition, retention, and clinical practice by residents. Methods. Residents were randomized to complete an interactive Web-based module on injury prevention or a noninteractive Web-based module of identical content. Acquisition and retention of medical knowledge were measured by pretest, posttest, and long-term test scores, and change in clinical practice was measured by videotaped clinical encounters. Results. Fifty-seven residents completed the modules. The control group had higher posttest scores than the intervention group ( P = .036). Thirty-seven residents completed the long-term test with scores that were significantly higher than pretest scores ( P = .00). Thirty-six residents had videotaped encounter scores (232 visits), with no difference in these scores after the intervention ( P = .432). Conclusion. The noninteractive module was more effective in promoting knowledge acquisition. Residents successfully demonstrated knowledge retention with completion of either module. The modules were insufficient to change clinical practice.
Gender equality, development, and cross-national sex gaps in life expectancy
Authors: Medalia Carla , Chang Virginia W
Published: October 2011

Female life expectancy exceeds male life expectancy in almost every country throughout the world. Nevertheless, cross-national variation in the sex gap suggests that social factors, such as gender equality, may directly affect or mediate an underlying biological component. In this article, we examine the association between gender equality and the sex gap in mortality. Previous research has not addressed this question from an international perspective with countries at different levels of development. We examine 131 countries using a broad measure of national gender equality that is applicable in both Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and Highly Developed Countries (HDCs). We find that the influence of gender equality is conditional on level of development. While gender equality is associated with divergence between female and male life expectancies in LDCs, it is associated with convergence in HDCs. The relationship between gender equality and the sex gap in mortality in HDCs strongly relates to, but is not explained by, sex differences in lung cancer mortality. Finally, we find that divergence in LDCs is primarily driven by a strong positive association between gender equality and female life expectancy. In HDCs, convergence is potentially related to a weak negative association between gender equality and female life expectancy, though findings are not statistically significant.
Sex Differences in Social Cynicism Across Societies
Authors: Leung Kwok , Li Fuli , Zhou Fan
Published: October 2011

If male dominance in society causes women to be more cynical, women should show higher social cynicism than men in diverse cultural contexts. This conjecture was evaluated in a global study of social axioms, or general beliefs about the world, which involved university students from 40 societies and adults from 17 societies. Results showed that contrary to this expectation, men were generally more cynical than women. Men’s higher concern for competition may be one factor that contributes to their higher cynicism. In line with this argument, compared to women, men generally showed higher reward for application, the belief in the usefulness of effort and application, but lower fate control, which involves the belief that events are preordained but alterable. These findings suggest that the effect of male dominance on women’s social cynicism may be overridden by men’s higher concern for competitiveness. Consistent with the argument that male dominance increases women’s social cynicism, sex differences in social cynicism were smaller in societies where women had lower status. An implication of this finding is that women’s status in society is more reflective of the level of male dominance than women’s tendency to be competitive.
A linear matrix inequality approach to system stabilization over constrained channels
Authors: Deng Weihua , Fei Minrui , Hu Huosheng
Published: October 2011

In this paper we address the stabilization problem of a networked control system with signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) constrained channels. The minimal SNRs required for stabilizability are obtained by a novel linear matrix inequality approach. Similar results are provided under circumstances of a constant delay and random packet loss. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated with some numerical examples.
Beneficial effects of using a minimal extracorporeal circulation system during coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Liu Y , Tao L , Wang X , Cui H , Chen X , Ji B
Published: October 2011

Background: In this study, we assessed clinical results by using a minimal extracorporeal circuit (MECC) and compared it to a conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

Methods and Materials: From August to October 2006, forty consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG procedures were randomly assigned to either a miniaturized closed circuit CPB with the Maquet-Cardiopulmonary MECC system (Group M, n=20) or to a conventional CPB system (Group C, n=20). Clinical outcomes were observed before, during and after the operation. Besides evaluating the perioperative clinical data, serial blood venous samples were obtained after induction, 30 minutes after CPB initiation, 2h, 6h, 12h, and 24h post-CPB. The focus of our study was on myocardial damage (cTnI), neutrophil and platelet counts, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and free hemoglobin.

Results: Both the transfusion of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma were significantly lower in Group M compared to Group C ( p<0.05). The levels of cTnI were lower in Group M at 2h, 6h and 12h post-CPB than in Group C ( p<0.01). The values of aPTT in Group M recovered to normal levels after surgery, but were prolonged in Group C at early post-CPB and were statistically longer than Group M at 2h, 6h, and 12h post-CPB ( p<0.05). The concentrations of free hemoglobin in Group C were higher than in Group M during and post-CPB, and there was a statistical difference at 2h post-CPB ( p<0.05).

Conclusion: In conclusion, the MECC system is a safe alternative for patients who undertake extracorporeal circulation (ECC) for CABG surgery. Lower transfusion requirements and less damage to red cells may further promote the use of MECC systems, especially in higher risk patients.
Optimal path planning for surveillance with temporal-logic constraints
Authors: Smith Stephen L , Tůmová Jana , Belta Calin , Rus Daniela
Published: October 2011

In this paper we present a method for automatically generating optimal robot paths satisfying high-level mission specifications. The motion of the robot in the environment is modeled as a weighted transition system. The mission is specified by an arbitrary linear temporal-logic (LTL) formula over propositions satisfied at the regions of a partitioned environment. The mission specification contains an optimizing proposition, which must be repeatedly satisfied. The cost function that we seek to minimize is the maximum time between satisfying instances of the optimizing proposition. For every environment model, and for every formula, our method computes a robot path that minimizes the cost function. The problem is motivated by applications in robotic monitoring and data-gathering. In this setting, the optimizing proposition is satisfied at all locations where data can be uploaded, and the LTL formula specifies a complex data-collection mission. Our method utilizes Büchi automata to produce an automaton (which can be thought of as a graph) whose runs satisfy the temporal-logic specification. We then present a graph algorithm that computes a run corresponding to the optimal robot path. We present an implementation for a robot performing data collection in a road-network platform.
Characterization of Immune Cell Infiltration Into Canine Intracranial Meningiomas
Authors: Boozer L. B. , Davis T. W. , Borst L. B. , Zseltvay K. M. , Olby N. J. , Mariani C. L.
Published: October 2011

Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumors in dogs. A variety of inflammatory cells have been shown to invade these tumors in people, but little is known about interactions between the immune system and naturally occurring brain tumors in dogs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of a variety of immune cell subsets within canine intracranial meningiomas. Twenty-three formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples were evaluated using immunohistochemistry with antibodies specific for CD3, CD79a, CD18, CD11d (αD), CD45RA, forkhead box P3, and Toll-like receptors 4 and 9. Immune cell infiltration was evident in all samples, with a predominance of CD3+ T cells. Large numbers of CD18+ microglia and macrophages were noted surrounding and infiltrating the tumors, and a subset of these cells within the tumor appeared to be CD11d+. Scattered macrophages at the tumor–brain interface were TLR4+ and TLR9+. Rare CD79a+ B cells were noted in only a small subset of tumors. Lesser numbers of lymphocytes that were CD11d+, CD45RA+, or FoxP3+ were noted in a number of the meningiomas. Although the function of these cells is not yet clear, work in other species suggests that evaluation of this immune cell infiltrate may provide important prognostic information and may be useful in the design of novel therapies.
Documenting the doable and doing the documented: Bridging strategies at the UK Stem Cell Bank
Authors: Stephens Neil , Atkinson Paul , Glasner Peter
Published: October 2011

We explore the local negotiation of regulatory practice at the UK Stem Cell Bank, the first Bank of its type in the world. Basing our empirical work on a detailed analysis of one aspect of the Bank’s regulatory commitment – the completion of the Cell Line Information form – we make visible the necessary judgements and labour involved in interpreting and operationalizing externally imposed regulation. The discussion opens by detailing the problems encountered when the Bank completes the form: reconciling a bureaucratic system of accountability with craft-like laboratory skills involving multiple kinds of tacit knowledge. We follow this by explicating the emergent ‘bridging strategies’ pursued by the Bank to address these issues, highlighting their reliance upon the formation of trust and social networks. The closing discussion emphasizes the contingent assembly of regulatory practices that emerge in the local setting.
Rediscovering radiology: New technologies and remedial action at the worksite
Authors: Rystedt Hans , Ivarsson Jonas , Asplund Sara , Johnsson Åse Allansdotter , Båth Magnus
Published: October 2011

This study contributes to social studies of imaging and visualization practices within scientific and medical settings. The focus is on practices in radiology, which are bound up with visual records known as radiographs. The study addresses work following the introduction of a new imaging technology, tomosynthesis. Since it was a novel technology, there was limited knowledge of how to correctly analyse tomosynthesis images. To address this problem, a collective review session was arranged. The purpose of the present study was to uncover the practical work that took place during that session and to show how, and on what basis, new methods, interpretations and understandings were being generated. The analysis displays how the diagnostic work on patients’ bodies was grounded in two sets of technologically produced renderings. This shows how expertise is not simply a matter of providing correct explanations, but also involves discovery work in which visual renderings are made transparent. Furthermore, the results point to how the disciplinary knowledge is intertwined with timely actions, which in turn, partly rely on established practices of manipulating and comparing images. The embodied and situated reasoning that enabled radiologists to discern objects in the images thus display expertise as inherently practical and domain-specific.
Full scale performance of compost’s leachate treatment by biological anaerobic reactors
Authors: Mokhtarani Nader , Bayatfard Asghar , Mokhtarani Babak
Published: October 2011

A wide range of treatment processes have been applied to leachate treatment with varying success. The aim of this research was to examine the performance of two hybrid biological anaerobic reactors in a new full-scale leachate treatment plant in Rasht composting facility, north of Iran. The studied plant was operated for nearly 12 months and treated up to 50 m3 day−1 of fresh compost leachate with a relatively high BOD5 to COD ratio of around 0.5. The average COD of the raw leachate was measured to be 81 000 mg L−1. 30% of effective volume of each reactor was filled with clay blocks with a specific area of 87 m2 m−3 as the fixed bed. The sequencing of reactors was down flow and up flow, respectively. The maximum COD removal efficiency of 91% was achieved with 4.5 kg COD m−3 day−1 of organic loading rate and 7500 mg L−1 of volatile suspended solids. There was no significant difference in COD removal efficiency when the reactors were operated with an organic load between 2 and 5 kg COD m−3 day−1. Increasing the volumetric organic loading rate to greater than 6 kg COD m−3 day−1 caused a considerable reduction of COD removal efficiency. The COD removal efficiency decreased to less than 70% when the organic load rose to 10.8 kg COD m−3 day−1. Nevertheless, hybrid anaerobic reactors proved to be a feasible technique for the reduction of organic load from the composting leachate which was the subject of this study.
Clinical laboratory waste management in Shiraz, Iran
Authors: Askarian Mehrdad , Motazedian Nasrin , Palenik Charles John
Published: October 2011

Clinical laboratories are significant generators of infectious waste, including microbiological materials, contaminated sharps, and pathologic wastes such as blood specimens and blood products. Most waste produced in laboratories can be disposed of in the general solid waste stream. However, improper management of infectious waste, including mixing general wastes with infectious wastes and improper handling or storage, could lead to disease transmission. The aim of this study was to assess waste management processes used at clinical laboratories in Shiraz, Iran. One hundred and nine clinical laboratories participated In this cross sectional study, Data collection was by questionnaire and direct observation. Of the total amount of waste generated, 52% (by weight) was noninfectious domestic waste, 43% was non-sharps infectious waste and 5% consisted of sharps. There was no significant relationship between laboratory staff or manager education and the score for quality of waste collection and disposal at clinical laboratories. Improvements in infectious waste management processes should involve clearer, more uniformly accepted definitions of infectious waste and increased staff training.
Influence of different mixing ratios on in-vessel co-composting of sewage sludge with horse stable straw bedding waste: maturity and process evaluation
Authors: Wong Jonathan W. C. , Selvam Ammaiyappan , Zhao Zhenyong , Yu S. M. , Law Alex C. W. , Chung Patricia C. P.
Published: October 2011

Composting sewage sludge alone would reduce the decomposition efficiency due to free limited porosity in sludge. To alleviate this, the use of horse stable straw bedding waste (HSB) was evaluated as a co-composting material with sewage sludge in a 10 tonnes day−1 in-vessel composter for a period of 7 days before curing in a static aeration pile. Sludge was mixed with HSB at 1 : 1.5 (HSL) and 1 : 2.9 (LSL) on a fresh weight basis. After a composting period of 56 days, both mixing ratios demonstrated to be feasible with LSL having a better organic decomposition and a shorter time to reach maturity. The overall decomposition rates were 52.0 and 58.9% (dry weight basis) for HSL and LSL, respectively. In both treatments, temperature in the in-vessel composters could reach 65°C, which was sufficient to remove the pathogens. Although both products were free of pathogens, HSL exhibited a higher ammoniacal nitrogen contents but a lower seed germination index than that of LSL indicating a higher phytotoxicity and a longer curing period would be required. It can be concluded that HSB provided a better composting conditions at a mixing ratio of 1 : 2.9
Anaerobic digestion of Jatropha curcas L. press cake and effects of an iron-additive
Authors: Schmidt Thomas
Published: October 2011

Oil production from Jatropha curcas L. seeds generates large amounts of Jatropha press cake (JPC) which can be utilized as a substrate for biogas production. The objective of this work was to investigate anaerobic mono-digestion of JPC and the effects of an iron additive (IA) on gas quality and process stability during the increase of the organic loading rate (OLR). With the increase of the OLR from 1.3 to 3.2 gVS L−1 day−1, the biogas yield in the reference reactor (RR) without IA decreased from 512 to 194 LN kgVS−1 and the CH4 concentration decreased from 69.3 to 44.4%. In the iron additive reactor (IAR), the biogas yield decreased from 530 to 462 LN kgVS−1 and the CH4 concentration decreased from 69.4 to 61.1%. The H2S concentration in the biogas was reduced by addition of the IA to values below 258 ppm in the IAR while H2S concentration in the RR increased and exceeded the detection limit of 5000 ppm. The acid capacity (AC) in the RR increased to more than 20 g L−1, indicating an accumulation of organic acids caused by process instability. AC values in the IAR remained stable at values below 5 g L−1. The results demonstrate that JPC can be used as sole substrate for anaerobic digestion up to an OLR of 2.4 gVS l−1 day−1. The addition of IA has effectively decreased the H2S content in the biogas and has improved the stability of the anaerobic process and the biogas quality.
Distressed and Dumped
Authors: Immergluck Dan
Published: October 2011

The foreclosure crisis resulted in the accumulation of lender-owned homes in many neighborhoods. But little is known about these homes after they enter lender ownership. This article examines the dynamics of foreclosed properties in Fulton County, Georgia. It does so in the context of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Just when NSP was getting under way, lenders began to rapidly sell low-value foreclosed properties. A large majority of the low-value homes were purchased by small investors, and purchases of foreclosed homes in low-income neighborhoods were dominated by investor-buyers. The article also discusses policy implications of these findings.
Perceptions of the Qualities of Written Arguments by Japanese Students
Authors: Suzuki Shinobu
Published: October 2011

This study examines how Japanese students perceive the qualities of written arguments that were constructed to have different forms. Based on the theoretical dimensions of verbal communication styles that Gudykunst and Ting-Toomey (1988) proposed, the research questions asked whether the respondents would perceive direct arguments to be of higher quality than indirect arguments. They also asked whether they would perceive elaborate arguments to be of higher quality than succinct arguments. Japanese college students voluntarily responded to a questionnaire. The results revealed that they gave higher ratings to direct arguments than to indirect arguments for both of the two indicators, and higher ratings to elaborate arguments than to succinct arguments for two indicators out of the three. The results were discussed and implications were offered.
The Challenges of Contrastive Discourse Analysis
Authors: Maxwell-Reid Corinne
Published: October 2011

This article discusses challenges involved in contrastive discourse analysis that emerged while carrying out a follow-up study into a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) program in Spain. Reversing the focus on English of much contrastive rhetoric work, the study investigates the effect of second-language-English on first-language-Spanish writing. The motivation for this focus and the choice of tools from Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) for genre and clause analysis are discussed. Reflecting on the difficulties involved in contrastive discourse analysis, in particular the challenges of comparing texts, it is suggested that contrastive work benefits from a more differentiating analytical method and a more dynamic conception of language. The implications of an influence from English are also considered, with the theses of hybridity and of homogeneity contributing to indicate a role for language awareness work in schools.
Understanding Economic Abuse in the Lives of Survivors
Authors: Postmus Judy L. , Plummer Sara-Beth , McMahon Sarah , Murshid N. Shaanta , Kim Mi Sung
Published: October 2011

Intimate partner violence (IPV) often includes economic abuse as one tactic commonly used by an abuser; unfortunately, there is a lack of empirical understanding of economic abuse. Additionally, research is limited on the predictors of economic self-sufficiency in the lives of women experiencing IPV. This paper furthers our knowledge about economic abuse and its relationship with economic self-sufficiency by presenting the results from an exploratory study with IPV survivors participating in a financial literacy program. Of the 120 individuals who participated in the first wave, 94% experienced some form of economic abuse, which also correlated highly with other forms of IPV. Seventy-nine percent experienced some form of economic control, 79% experienced economic exploitative behaviors, and 78% experienced employment sabotage. MANOVA results also indicated that economic control differed significantly based on education with those with a high school education experiencing higher rates than those with less than high school education or those with some college. Finally, results from the OLS regressions indicated that experiencing any form of economic abuse as well as economic control significantly predicted a decrease in economic self sufficiency. Implications suggest that advocates should assess for economic abuse when working with survivors and should be prepared to offer financial tools to increase survivors’ economic self-sufficiency. Policymakers should understand the ramifications of economic abuse and create policies that support survivors and prohibit economic abuse. Finally, more research is needed to fully understand economic abuse and its impact on survivors and their economic self-sufficiency.
Betrayal Trauma
Authors: Goldsmith Rachel E. , Freyd Jennifer J. , DePrince Anne P.
Published: October 2011

Betrayal trauma, or trauma perpetrated by someone with whom a victim is close, is strongly associated with a range of negative psychological and physical health outcomes. However, few studies have examined associations between different forms of trauma and emotional and physical symptoms. The present study compared betrayal trauma to other forms of trauma as predictors of young adults’ psychological and physical symptoms, and explored potential mediators. A total of 185 university undergraduate students completed the Brief Betrayal Trauma Survey, the Trauma Symptom Checklist, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Pennebaker Inventory of Limbic Languidness. For each set of symptoms, simultaneous multiple regressions assessed the relative contributions of low versus high betrayal trauma to psychological and physical health reports. Structural equation models examined traumatic stress symptoms and alexithymia as mediators of the relationship between betrayal trauma and physical health symptoms. A total of 151 participants (82%) reported exposure to at least 1 of 11 forms of trauma queried ( M = 2.08, SD = 1.94); 96 participants (51.9%) reported at least 1 betrayal trauma. Traumas characterized by high betrayal predicted alexithymia, anxiety, depression, dissociation, physical health complaints, and the number of days students reported being sick during the past month, whereas other traumas did not. Structural equation modeling revealed that traumatic stress symptoms and alexithymia mediated the association between betrayal trauma and physical health complaints. These results indicate that betrayal trauma is associated with young adults’ physical and mental health difficulties to a greater extent than are other forms of trauma. Results may inform assessment, intervention, and prevention efforts.
Predictors of Preschoolers’ Appraisals of Conflict in Families Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Miller Laura E. , Howell Kathryn H. , Graham-Bermann Sandra A.
Published: October 2011

Factors that may contribute to preschool-aged children’s appraisals of their parent’s violent conflicts in families experiencing recent intimate partner violence (IPV) were evaluated for 116 mother–child dyads. Mothers and children were interviewed using empirically-validated measures to assess level of violence, maternal and child mental health, and children’s appraisals of conflict. Results suggest that preschool-aged children are able to meaningfully respond to statements about their parents’ conflicts. Both mothers’ and children’s reports of violence were significantly associated with children’s appraisals of Threat, but not with appraisals of Self-blame. Girls reported significantly higher levels of Self-blame than did boys. Children’s cognitive appraisals of Threat and Self-blame did not vary by age or ethnicity. These findings suggest that interventions designed for young children might specifically target their cognitive appraisals to help them regulate their feelings of being threatened and to provide for their safety.
Intersection Between Alcohol Abuse and Intimate Partner’s Violence in a Rural Ijaw Community in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria
Authors: Brisibe Seiyefa , Ordinioha Best , Dienye Paul O.
Published: October 2011

According to the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey, the south-south zone of Nigeria had the highest prevalence of domestic violence. This study is to find out if this is related to the widespread consumption of alcohol in the region. The study was carried out in Okoloba, a rural Ijaw community in Bayelsa State, where alcohol is produced and consumed in large quantities; using a cross-sectional study design. The data was collected from married or cohabitating adults aged between 16 and 65 years, with a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 346 subjects, comprising 187 males, and 159 females were studied. They had an average age of 41.4 ± 2.5 years, were mostly Christians (91.9%), farmers/fisher folk (52.3%), and had at most primary school education (64.2%). More than 90% of the subjects took alcohol in the preceding year, while 36% can be classified as alcohol abusers according to their AUDIT score. More than half (55.8%) were perpetrators of intimate partner violence during the preceding 12 months, with a male-to-female prevalence of 83.4%, and female-to-male prevalence of 23.3%. Out of these, 77.2% were under the influence of alcohol during the act. The violence was more likely to be perpetrated by male alcohol abusers (p-value < 0.001), but there were no significant differences in the educational levels and religion of the perpetrators (p-value > 0.05). The study therefore concludes that there is a link between intimate partner abuse and alcohol abuse in the study community.
Youth Victimization
Authors: Zaykowski Heather , Gunter Whitney
Published: October 2011

Despite much focus on school violence, there has been little research that explores the relationship between offending and victimization in various school climates. School climate theory suggests that the school’s social system, culture, milieu, and ecological structure affect student outcomes including academic performance, delinquency, and more recently, victimization. Hierarchical analysis of data from 5,037 11th-grade students in 33 schools found that offending behavior was the strongest predictor for both minor and more serious forms of victimization. School climate, specifically the social cohesion of schools, reduced serious violent victimization risk. However, school climate did not affect the relationship between offending and victimization, and was not substantially modified when characteristics of the school environment were considered.
Value Conflict and Public Opinion Toward Prisoner Reentry Initiatives
Authors: Garland Brett , Wodahl Eric , Schuhmann Robert
Published: October 2011

The dramatic growth in the incarceration rate since the mid-1970s has unintentionally resulted in massive numbers of people being released from prison each year. Consequently, prisoner reentry initiatives are receiving greater attention than ever before. At this point few studies have looked at public support for reentry initiatives, and the existing ones have taken a rather general and atheoretical approach. The current study explores public opinion toward a wide range of reentry policies and practices through a value conflict framework. Results from a randomly selected, statewide sample in Missouri indicate that people take into account such values as social welfare, retribution, and self-interest when assessing their support for reentry measures. As reentry initiatives may struggle to attain legitimacy and resources without public support, a number of policy implications are discussed. These implications include informing the public of the need for servicing those with prior prison terms and communicating the value of housing assistance during reentry.
A Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Hospital Discharge Counseling by Pharmacists
Authors: Chinthammit Chanadda , Armstrong Edward P. , Warholak Terri L.
Published: October 2011

Objectives: This study estimated the cost-effectiveness of pharmacist discharge counseling on medication-related morbidity in both the high-risk elderly and general US population. Methods: A cost-effectiveness decision analytic model was developed using a health care system perspective based on published clinical trials. Costs included direct medical costs, and the effectiveness unit was patients discharged without suffering a subsequent adverse drug event. A systematic review of published studies was conducted to estimate variable probabilities in the cost-effectiveness model. To test the robustness of the results, a second-order probabilistic sensitivity analysis (Monte Carlo simulation) was used to run 10 000 cases through the model sampling across all distributions simultaneously. Results: Pharmacist counseling at hospital discharge provided a small, but statistically significant, clinical improvement at a similar overall cost. Pharmacist counseling was cost saving in approximately 48% of scenarios and in the remaining scenarios had a low willingness-to-pay threshold for all scenarios being cost-effective. In addition, discharge counseling was more cost-effective in the high-risk elderly population compared to the general population. Conclusion: This cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that discharge counseling by pharmacists is quite cost-effective and estimated to be cost saving in over 48% of cases. High-risk elderly patients appear to especially benefit from these pharmacist services.
Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Summerday Nicole Marie , Brown Sherrill J. , Allington Douglas R. , Rivey Michael P.
Published: October 2011

There has been growing interest in determining environmental risk factors that may play a role in the development or progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Epidemiological evidence and data from human and animal studies have shown an association between low serum vitamin D levels and an increased incidence of MS and that supplementation with vitamin D may protect against MS development and/or disease relapses. The most appropriate vitamin D dosage for patients with MS is unclear, but investigators have proposed that serum vitamin D concentrations between 75 and 100 nmol/L (30-40 ng/mL) are optimal to achieve favorable clinical outcomes. Vitamin D supplemented in doses up to 3000 International Units (IU) daily may be necessary to achieve these levels in many patients, and doses of 500 to 800 IU daily appear to be necessary to maintain desired serum vitamin D levels. Short-term supplementation with doses up to 40 000 IU daily has been found to be safe. However, larger and longer clinical studies are needed to assess whether a true relationship exists between serum vitamin D concentrations and MS and to determine a safe and effective amount of vitamin D supplementation.
A study to determine a distinct value of front end bending for a given shape factor in flat rolling
Authors: Byon S M , Lee J H , Lee Y
Published: October 2011

We investigate front end bending (FEB) behaviours of material that usually occur during flat rolling using the shape factor, defined as the ratio of the mean contact length to the mean thickness of a material for a given roll-bite profile (that is, a non-dimensional value composed of the incoming thickness of the material, its exit thickness, and the diameter of the work roll).

In this study, we demonstrate that diverse values of FEB and its slope exist for a given shape factor. To determine a distinct value of FEB and its slope for a given shape factor, we introduce an additional non-dimensional parameter, geometric factor, defined as the ratio of the work roll radius to the incoming material thickness. It has been found that the geometric factor is much more sensitive to FEB behaviour than the shape factor. If one uses the shape factor and geometric factor together, a distinct value of FEB and its slope can be determined no matter what type of roll-bite profile is used in the flat rolling process.
Smooth tool path generation for five-axis flank milling using multi-objective programming
Authors: Zheng G , Bi Q-Z , Zhu L-M
Published: October 2011

Flank milling provides an efficient way to machine turbo-machinery components. However, the trajectory smoothness is seldom considered in the existing tool positioning strategies. In this paper, the tool trajectory is smoothed with a constraint on the resulting geometric error for five-axis flank milling. Unlike existing methods, this new method simultaneously considers the geometric smoothness and geometric deviation. The geometric smoothness is characterized by the strain energy of the cutter axis trajectory surface ( SA). The geometric deviation is measured by the signed maximal orthogonal distance between the design surface ( SD) and the tool envelope surface ( SE). For finish and semi-finish flank millings, smooth tool path optimizations are then modelled as multi-objective programming (MOP) problems. Given a prescribed geometric tolerance, the MOP problems are reformulated as constrained nonlinear programming (NLP) problems. Based on the Taylor expansions of the strain energy and the signed distance on the differential deformation of SA, the constrained NLP problems are solved efficiently by the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method. The existence of the optimal solutions is also discussed. The validity of the approach is confirmed by two numerical examples that generate five-axis flank milling tool paths with cylindrical and conical cutters, respectively.
A novel approach to diffusion bonding of copper to stainless steel
Authors: Kaya Y , Kahraman N , Durgutlu A , Gülenç B
Published: October 2011

In this study, austenitic stainless steel and copper materials were bonded through the diffusion welding method, one of the solid-state welding processes. The welding process was carried out at 875°C temperature for 30 minutes under 3 MPa pressure. Two different methods were employed in the welding process. In the first method, the conventional diffusion welding procedure was followed. In the second one, an external electrical current was applied to the parts to be joined with the help of a system that was added to the conventional system. By doing so, the aim was to determine the diffusion amount and length for the specimens obtained with and without current. The weld quality of the diffusion welded specimens was examined using the tensile and hardness test. In addition, microstructural analyses were done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The highest hardness value was obtained in regions next to the interface and it was decreased gradually as the distance from the interface increased on both sides of the interface. The results indicated that the highest interface strength was obtained for the specimens joined when the external current was applied. According to the EDS and EDS line element analyses results, it can be seen that the specimens joined by applying the external current had a higher amount of diffusion and length than the specimens joined by the conventional technique.
The Number and Quality of Representations in Working Memory
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Luck Steven J.
Published: October 2011

Flexible-resource theories characterize working memory as a flexible resource that can store either a large number of low-quality representations or a small number of high-quality representations. In contrast, limited-item theories propose that the number of items that can be stored in working memory is strictly limited and cannot be increased by decreasing the quality of the representations. We tested these fundamentally different conceptualizations of working memory capacity by determining whether observers could trade quality for quantity in working memory when given incentives to do so. We found no evidence that observers could increase the number of representations by decreasing their quality in working memory, but observers could make such a trade-off at earlier processing stages. Our results show that the capacity limit of working memory is best characterized as a limit on the number of items that can be stored and not as a limit on a finely divisible resource that simultaneously determines the number and quality of the representations.
When Pooping Babies Become More Appealing
Authors: Shidlovski Daniella , Hassin Ran R.
Published: October 2011

In this report, we argue that the intensity of the emotions people experience is partly determined by the goals they nonconsciously pursue, and that this effect is functional in nature: Emotions are modulated in ways that may increase the probability of goal achievement. To test this hypothesis, we primed female participants with a motherhood goal and then measured their level of disgust in response to mildly disgusting pictures. Priming led to a reduction of disgust in response to goal-relevant stimuli (e.g., pictures of babies with runny noses) but not goal-irrelevant stimuli. This effect was moderated by the women’s probability of conception, a proxy of their ability to pursue the motherhood goal.
Sexism and Gender Inequality Across 57 Societies
Authors: Brandt Mark J.
Published: October 2011

Theory predicts that individuals’ sexism serves to exacerbate inequality in their society’s gender hierarchy. Past research, however, has provided only correlational evidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, I analyzed a large longitudinal data set that included representative data from 57 societies. Multilevel modeling showed that sexism directly predicted increases in gender inequality. This study provides the first evidence that sexist ideologies can create gender inequality within societies, and this finding suggests that sexism not only legitimizes the societal status quo, but also actively enhances the severity of the gender hierarchy. Three potential mechanisms for this effect are discussed briefly.
Football ‘wantok’: Sport and social capital in Vanuatu
Authors: Kobayashi Tsutomu , Nicholson Matthew , Hoye Russell
Published: October 2011

This article reports the findings of a study that explored the nexus between sport and social capital in Vanuatu. Specifically, it explored the social networks that operate through football, and the resources that are available to members through these networks. The research involved in-depth interviews with players and administrators within one of the Vanuatu football leagues. The results show that football clubs are sites for significant social capital development, whereby players receive resources such as employment, accommodation, food and transportation, as well as financial incentives and travel opportunities outside Vanuatu. In particular, it is evident that players are able to access employment opportunities that their level of education would not normally make possible. Players secure access to these social networks by gaining the trust of key club administrators and demonstrating their loyalty to the club. The research demonstrates that a type of football wantok exists, which like the traditional wantok, describes a dense social or familial network in which access to essential resources are only available to members of the network.
Confucianism, baseball and ethnic stereotyping in Taiwan
Authors: Yu Junwei , Bairner Alan
Published: October 2011

Unlike the experience of indigenous people in some societies, notably North America and Australia, where there is a significant modern sporting culture to which indigenous people contribute relatively little, in Taiwan the situation is reversed. Here the sporting culture is relatively underdeveloped in large part, we argue, because of the continuing influence of Confucian ideas, but aborigines play a disproportionately significant role not least in what is the most visible aspect of that sporting culture – baseball. Drawing upon existing published work together with interviews and personal communications, this article examines the extent to which sport in Taiwan, and specifically baseball, reflects the ongoing influence of Confucian attitudes towards physical cultures in Taiwanese society not least in relation to the stereotyping of the island’s indigenous population. Given the status of baseball as Taiwan’s national sport and in light of the contribution made to national teams by aboriginal players, these findings are hugely significant. They suggest that, as in the case of women, traditional Confucian values not only have an impact in relation to physical activity but, by extension, affect the ways in which a specific social group is perceived more widely.
Detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis from clinical species using DNA microarrays
Authors: Jia Kun , Yu Miao , Zhang Gui-Hong , Zhang Jun , Lin Zhi-Xiong , Luo Chang-Bao , Yu Hai-Qiong , Li Shou-Jun
Published: October 2011

The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the use of DNA microarray for the rapid and direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis in bovine milk, blood, and pharyngeal swab samples, and to compare the use of DNA microarrays with current molecular detection techniques. The present study describes a microarray assay based on mtp40 and pncA gene sequences, which can be used to detect M. tuberculosis and M. bovis species. Each probe was spotted onto a silylated glass slide with an arrayer and used for hybridization with fluorescently labeled DNA derived from amplified DNA samples. The detection limit for mycobacterial DNA using this DNA microarray method was 50 fg (5 tubercle bacilli). Mycobacterium tuberculosis and/or M. bovis was detected in 7.1% (24/336) of the cattle specimens using the DNA microarray compared to 6.0% (20/336) using culture methods. Mixed infections were detected in 3 animals using the DNA microarray method, whereas the mixed infections were detected in 2 animals using either culture or polymerase chain reaction methods. The use of ancillary in vitro tests alongside the DNA microarray enhanced the detection of cattle infected with M. tuberculosis and/or M. bovis and reduced the number of false-positive animals that would be culled. More species may be easily added to this system, and supplementary probes can be added to increase the simultaneous detection power.