bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rhetoric and policy learning: On Rhodri Morgan’s ‘Clear Red Water’ and ‘Made in Wales’ health policies
Authors: Moon David S
Published: August 2012

One of the benefits of multi-level systems of governments, according to their supporters, is that their plurality of governmental institutions/levels provides the scope for valuable policy innovation and learning. One vocal supporter of this view has been former Labour First Minister of Wales (2000–2009) Rhodri Morgan, who labelled the United Kingdom’s devolved bodies “laboratories” for the formulation of new ideas to be subsequently shared and learnt from across the Union. An issue which has yet to be discussed, however, is the underappreciated but nevertheless important role played by the rhetoric of key actors such as Morgan in facilitating such a culture of policy learning. This article focuses upon this subject, looking at rhetoric as a factor in policy transfer through an analysis of the governmental language of Morgan himself. Specifically, it analyses the rhetoric through which his administrations’ health policies – which radically diverged from those followed at Westminster – were justified and described. It argues, in so doing, that Morgan’s administrations adopted a non-universal rhetoric of national (Welsh) specificity based around phrases such as “Made in Wales” and “Clear Red Water” politics to justify their policy programme, which may have actually delimited rather than facilitated possibilities for cross-border learning. Policy makers aiming to promote cross-polity institutional learning, it concludes, would do well to learn from the case of Morgan’s Labour administrations and avoid the dangers of nation-bounded rhetoric.
Playing with fire: Limitations of the Big Society for an emergency service
Authors: Halliday Joyce , Asthana Sheena , Hewson Paul , Gibson Alex
Published: August 2012

A key role of the Big Society is to bring about a transformation in public service provision through the greater involvement of voluntary and community groups. It is often assumed that, because rural areas have higher levels of volunteering, they are most likely to ‘benefit’ from the Big Society, while deprived urban areas will benefit the least. This article questions that assumption. Examining the scope and impact for promoting localism in the Fire and Rescue Service, a sector in which local involvement has played an important role in rural service provision, it finds that the ‘Big Society’ vision makes untested assumptions about the willingness and ability of citizens to perform public sector functions without the same employment rights as public sector employees; the extent to which the resource context shapes current and future capacity for community involvement; and the role of localism in driving forward improvements in service quality. Moreover, far from benefitting rural areas, higher rates of localism are not necessarily associated with higher performance, raising important questions about the implications of rolling out the Big Society agenda for rural and urban areas alike.
The influence of nanosilica functionalization on the properties of hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: Florea Nicoleta-Mihaela , Lungu Adriana , Vasile Eugeniu , Iovu Horia
Published: August 2012

The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of silica nanoparticles (SNs) modification on the physicochemical properties of some hybrid nanocomposites. SNs with high specific surface area were silanized by two complementary mechanisms using organosilanes with different functionalities, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS), octyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) or a mixture of them in order to generate a different interphase between the filler and the polymeric matrix. The SN silanization efficiency was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectra, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Several types of hybrid nanocomposites based on dimethacrylate monomer and SN were synthesized by bulk polymerization process. The influence of the silanized SN on the methacrylic groups reactivity was studied using differential scanning calorimetry, and the thermostability of the hybrid nanocomposites was revealed by TGA. Additionally, the dynamic thermomechanical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites were determined by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA).
Experimental investigation on die corner accuracy for wire electrical discharge machining of Monel 400 alloy
Authors: Selvakumar G , Sarkar Soumya , Mitra Souren
Published: August 2012

The experimental research presented in this article explores the wire electrical discharge machining of Monel 400 alloy. An L-18 orthogonal array has been used for experimentation by considering machine controllable factors (i.e. wire tension, pulse-on time, pulse frequency, peak current and servo voltage) and machine uncontrollable factors (namely flushing nozzle height, workpiece thickness and corner angle) as process parameters. Using Taguchi methodology, the influence of the process parameters on the responses, such as material removal rate, surface roughness and corner error, were studied. The impact of pulse parameters modification in corner accuracy improvement has been analyzed. Finally, using Taguchi’s additive model predictions and Pareto optimality approach, a sample technology table for a specific machining condition has been reported for ready use.
Statistical analysis and optimization study on the machinability of beryllium–copper alloy in electro discharge machining
Authors: Yildiz Yakup , Sundaram Murali M , Rajurkar Kamlakar P
Published: August 2012

Beryllium–copper alloys have several industrial applications but are exposed to serious machinability challenges by conventional machining processes because of excessive tool wear and poor surface finish. This study explores the machinability of beryllium–copper alloy in an electro discharge machining process based on particularly dielectric medium parameters, oil and deionized water. Machinability characteristics were evaluated for material removal rate ( MRR), electrode wear ratio ( EWR) and the quality of the machined surfaces in terms of surface roughness ( R a). Experimental results were statistically analyzed and optimized using analysis of variance, Taguchi’s orthogonal array and grey relation analysis. Response surface methodology has been used for modeling and prediction of the optimal experimental conditions. It was observed that the dielectric medium is a significant parameter, as is the working current for the machinability of beryllium–copper alloys. Electrode shape deformations, depending on electro discharge machining parameter variations, were also analyzed as an appendix section.
Steady fully developed mixed convection flow in a vertical parallel plate microchannel with bilateral heating and filled with porous material
Authors: Jha Basant K , Daramola Deborah , Ajibade Abiodun O
Published: August 2012

This study investigated analytically the hydrodynamic and thermal behaviour of a fully developed laminar, viscous, incompressible fluid in a vertical parallel plate microchannel taking into account the velocity slip and thermal jump at the walls. The governing equations are expressed in a dimensionless form using the dimensionless quantities. The method of undetermined coefficient was employed to obtain the closed-form expression for velocity, which is used to determine the skin friction. The solution obtained is then presented graphically and the results are discussed for various dimensionless parameters entering the problem. During the course of investigation, it is found that the critical values of the mixed convection parameter Gre (which is the ratio of the Grashof number Gr to the Reynolds number Re) led to flow reversal decrease with increase in Darcy number, while it increases with increase in Knudsen number Kn. Also, the Nusselt number Nu is found to increase with increasing Darcy number.
Radical political unionism reassessed
Authors: McIlroy John
Published: August 2012

Defections from European social-democratic parties and a resurgence of union militancy have prompted some to diagnose a new left-wing trade unionism across Europe. This comment on the article by Connolly and Darlington scrutinizes trends in France and Germany but primarily analyses recent developments in Britain. While there are some instances of disaffiliation from the Labour Party, support for electoral alternatives, growth in political militancy and emphasis on new forms of internationalism, these have been limited. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that we are witnessing the making of a new radical collectivism.
An unusual cause of factitious arthritis
Authors: Süha T , Ali A , Ozgen CG , Ozgür T , Yunus K
Published: August 2012

Septic arthritis and toxic synovitis are clinical conditions that can develop in association with various causes and involve symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness, sensitivity and restricted movement in the joint. A 42-year-old male presented to the emergency department with severe joint pain and nausea after injecting a 1-cc mixture of turpentine oil, eucalyptus oil, mint oil and thyme oil, which he purchased from an alternative medicine store, into his right knee with a syringe because of chronic knee pain. Ballottement and sensitivity were present at physical examination. Knee puncture yielded 60 cc of cloudy fluid. There was no growth in the material obtained. Improvement was observed following subsequent arthroscopic washing of the joint space and IV antibiotherapy, and the patient was discharged on day 21 of hospitalization with oral antibiotic and analgesic therapy. Intra-articular injection of foreign bodies into the knee joint space for therapeutic purposes, as in this case report, is a very rare occurrence, but may lead to potentially complicated arthritis.
Exploring ethical aspects of elective surgery patients’ decision-making experiences
Authors: Lin Mei-Ling , Huang Chuen-Teng , Chiang Hsien-Hsien , Chen Ching-Huey
Published: August 2012

The practice of respecting patients’ autonomy is rooted in the healthcare professionals’ empathy for patients’ situations, without which appropriate supports to the patients during the informed consent process may be remarkably moderated. The purpose of this study was to explore elective surgery patients’ experiences during their decision-making process. This research was conducted using a phenomenological approach, and the data analysis was guided by Colaizzi’s method. A total of 17 participants were recruited from a hospital in southern Taiwan. Two major themes emerged from the analyses: (a) a voluntary yet necessary alternative—to undergo a surgery and (b) alternatives compelled by the unalterable decision—the surgery. It was concluded that unless healthcare professionals can empathize with the distressed situation of their patients who are facing elective surgery, the practice of informed consent may become merely a routine. Nurses can be the best advocates for patients and facilitators to enhance communication between patients and healthcare personnel.
Ethical issues in the introduction of case management for elderly people
Authors: Corvol Aline , Moutel Grégoire , Gagnon Dominique , Nugue Mathilde , Saint-Jean Olivier , Somme Dominique
Published: August 2012

As case management is under development in France for elderly people, this study sets out to identify and analyse key situations responsible for ethical dilemmas for French case managers. We based our study on the analyses of individual interviews made with case managers and focus-group discussions, bringing together all case managers working in local organisations running for at least a year. We identified three situations giving rise to ethical dilemmas: in the order of importance, the refusals of care, the practicalities of collecting and sharing personal data and the allocation of resources. These three situations can lead to conflict between the principle of beneficence and those of respect for autonomy, non-maleficence and justice. We describe here how French case managers practically deal with these situations.
Ethical challenges and how to develop ethics support in primary health care
Authors: Lillemoen Lillian , Pedersen Reidar
Published: August 2012

Ethics support in primary health care has been sparser than in hospitals, the need for ethics support is probably no less. We have, however, limited knowledge about how to develop ethics support that responds to primary health-care workers’ needs. In this article, we present a survey with a mixture of closed- and open-ended questions concerning: How frequent and how distressed various types of ethical challenges make the primary health-care workers feel, how important they think it is to deal with these challenges better and what kind of ethics support they want. Five primary health-care institutions participated. Ethical challenges seem to be prominent and common. Most frequently, the participants experienced ethical challenges related to scarce resources and lack of knowledge and skills. Furthermore, ethical challenges related to communication and decision making were common. The participants welcomed ethics support responding to their challenges and being integrated in their daily practices.
Infrastructure’s and Housing’s Development in the Rural Areas in Poland—Some Problems
Authors: Szymańska Daniela , Biegańska Jadwiga
Published: August 2012

The article refers to an analysis and an evaluation of changes in the technical infrastructure and housing in the rural areas of Poland in the years 1995–2008. The article covers all rural and rural–urban (excluding urban parts) gminas1 in Poland that altogether amounts to 2,172 units (as of 2008). It was stated that in the rural areas in Poland a population density increased and it is caused mainly by dynamic suburbanisation processes and by a population movement from cities and towns towards suburban gminas, and in a lesser degree by natural increase. In the article the spatial variations of rural gminas were presented in the following elements: length of the water-line and sewerage networks per 100 km2; share of water-line and of sewerage systems’ users, number of dwellings per 1,000 population, number of rooms per person, the usable floor space of a dwelling in m2 per person, share of dwellings fitted with water-line system and share of dwellings equipped with flush toilet and bathroom. It is also shown that there are relationships between population density and infrastructure and housing elements by providing positive as well as negative correlations.

JEL Classification: R11
Rural Housing and Risks for Children’s and Women’s Health: Estimates for Rajasthan State, India
Authors: Katrak Homi
Published: August 2012

This article is concerned with the prevalence of unhealthy housing (UH) in the rural areas of the state of Rajasthan, India. UH is defined to be the houses that are made with non-permanent materials and those that lack a supply of clean water and proper sanitation. Habitation in such houses poses a health risk, particularly for children and women. The Indian government has initiated various programmes to increase the provision of healthy housing for low-income rural families. However, the progress of these programmes has so far been constrained by the limited availability of resources. The prevalence of UH is measured here as the percentage of families that live in such houses. We test whether this prevalence and the associated risks to children’s and women’s health are significantly higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas. Our main finding is that the prevalence of UH is at least five times higher in the rural area than in the urban area. Moreover, this difference is much greater than that for some indicators of health care and household poverty.

JEL Classification: R—Urban, Rural and Regional Economics, R-31—Housing Supply and Markets
Efficiency of the Information and Technology Sector of India and Its Relevance to Indian Economic Growth
Authors: Sahoo Dukhabandhu
Published: August 2012

This article investigates the contribution of the service sector, especially the information and communication services to Indian Economic growth using a growth accounting analysis and data from the CMIE database. The results suggest that the mean Pure Technical Efficiency (PTE) score was about 0.6, indicating thereby that companies are 40 per cent pure technical inefficient. Pure technical inefficiency in the Indian software industry may be attributed to the poor infrastructure, mainly power supply. Infrastructure bottlenecks and frequent power cut lead to delays and productivity loss in the silicon city of India, that is, Bengaluru. Percentage of efficient companies in terms of PTE scores was lowest in the year 2003–04 (20.83 per cent) and highest in the year 2005–06 (40.28 per cent). Percentage of efficient companies in PTE score followed a cyclical pattern as well. Indian software companies are becoming more scale inefficient over the years. It was observed that the private Indian (PI) companies have relatively high Overall Technical Efficiency (OTE) score as compared to private foreign (PF) and group-owned companies, which may be due to external environmental factors that have a bearing on OTE of the companies.

JEL Classification: O52, J24, L80, L84
Voluntary engagement in sports clubs: A behavioral model and some empirical evidence
Authors: Emrich Eike , Pitsch Werner , Flatau Jens , Pierdzioch Christian
Published: August 2012

Voluntary engagement is an important prerequisite for the production of club goods. Although unpaid, the individual decision for or against voluntary engagement can be regarded and formally modeled as a deliberate act of social exchange using elements of behavioral economics. We lay out a simple behavioral model that captures in a stylized way several motives (consumption of the club good, social recognition, human capital, etc.) that may explain why individuals volunteer. We then use results from an interview study to assess the quantitative importance of the different motives, and to shed light on dimensions along which the model can be extended in future research.
Creating or awakening national pride through sporting success: A longitudinal study on macro effects in the Netherlands
Authors: Elling Agnes , Van Hilvoorde Ivo , Van Den Dool Remko
Published: August 2012

Like many other countries, the Dutch government increased investments in elite sports in the last decennium, partly driven by the ambition to organise the Olympic Games in 2028 in the Netherlands. One of the most important legitimations for this ambition is that elite sports events and national achievements should foster national pride, social cohesion and international prestige.

In this article we present and discuss the results of a study on the relationship between Dutch international sport achievements and the development of national pride. The outcome is based on 27 longitudinal measurements among the adult Dutch population in the years 2008–2010 in which European and world Championships men’s soccer and a summer and winter Olympic Games took place.

The results support the common belief that international sporting success of Dutch athletes contributes to the testimony and expression of national pride and belonging. However, the extent to which national pride can be increased by national sporting success seems to be rather limited. The data show that national performances in international sport events may lead to small, short-term eruptions in feelings of national sporting pride and well-being, especially among athletes, men and non-immigrants. However, the results indicate that national pride is a rather stable characteristic of national identification that cannot easily be increased by improving national sporting success and winning more Olympic medals.
Non-linear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting from a vertical cantilever beam with tip mass
Authors: Friswell Michael I , Ali S Faruque , Bilgen Onur , Adhikari Sondipon , Lees Arthur W , Litak Grzegorz
Published: August 2012

A common energy harvesting device uses a piezoelectric patch on a cantilever beam with a tip mass. The usual configuration exploits the linear resonance of the system; this works well for harmonic excitation and when the natural frequency is accurately tuned to the excitation frequency. A new configuration is proposed, consisting of a cantilever beam with a tip mass that is mounted vertically and excited in the transverse direction at its base. This device is highly non-linear with two potential wells for large tip masses, when the beam is buckled. The system dynamics may include multiple solutions and jumps between the potential wells, and these are exploited in the harvesting device. The electromechanical equations of motion for this system are developed, and its response for a range of parameters is investigated using phase portraits and bifurcation diagrams. The model is validated using an experimental device with three different tip masses, representing three interesting cases: a linear system; a low natural frequency, non-buckled beam; and a buckled beam. The most practical configuration seems to be the pre-buckled case, where the proposed system has a low natural frequency, a high level of harvested power and an increased bandwidth over a linear harvester.
Crack initiation and fatigue life prediction on aluminum lug joints using statistical volume element–based multiscale modeling
Authors: Zhang Jinjun , Liu Kuang , Luo Chuntao , Chattopadhyay Aditi
Published: August 2012

This article presented the application of an energy-based multiscale damage criterion for crack initiation and life prediction in crystalline metallic aerospace structural components under fatigue loading. A novel meso statistical volume element model was developed to improve computational efficiency compared to traditional meso representative volume element models. The key microscale factors affecting the mechanical properties of crystalline materials, including grain orientation, misorientation, principal axis direction, size, aspect ratio, and shape were considered in the formation of the statistical volume element model. The effect of several factors was studied to assess the importance in the overall macroscopic response of the material. Fatigue tests of lug joint samples were performed to validate the damage criterion as well as the statistical volume element model. Crack initiation was predicted within 29% accuracy, and orientation was predicted within a 2° range, which was comparable to other methods. The simulation efficiency of the statistical volume element model was improved 15 times over the traditional representative volume element models.
Exploring the Dimensionality of Digit Span
Authors: Bowden Stephen C. , Petrauskas Vilija M. , Bardenhagen Fiona J. , Meade Catherine E. , Simpson Leonie C.
Published: August 2012

The Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler Scales is used to measure Freedom from Distractibility or Working Memory. Some published research suggests that Digit Span forward should be interpreted differently from Digit Span backward. The present study explored the dimensionality of the Wechsler Memory Scale–III Digit Span (forward and backward) items in a sample of heterogeneous neuroscience patients ( n = 267) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for dichotomous items. Results suggested that four correlated factors underlie Digit Span, reflecting easy and hard items in both forward and backward presentation orders. The model for Digit Span was then cross-validated in a seizure disorders sample ( n = 223) by replication of the CFA and by examination of measurement invariance. Measurement invariance tests of the precise numerical generalization of trait estimation across groups. Results supported measurement invariance and it was concluded that forward and backward digit span scores should be interpreted as measures of the same cognitive ability.
A new discretization method for solving an optimal vibrating controlled system on an arbitrary domain
Authors: Jahromi Alireza Fakharzadeh , Firozabadi Nadimeh Jafarpoor
Published: August 2012

By setting a partition on the domain and approximating each part with a sector of a suitable circle, the system solution was identified as a trigonometric series with unknown coefficients. After bringing into account the harmony and smoothness of the solution, the problem was transferred into a new linear one in which it was involved with radon measures. Existence of the optimal solution for the new problem was proved automatically. Then, by some discretization schemes, it was also shown that how the optimal classical trajectory and control were identified simultaneously via the results of a finite linear programming. To see the advantages of this general, simple and linear new method, a numerical simulation was also presented.
Victim Empathy Intervention With Sexual Offenders
Authors: Mann Ruth E. , Barnett Georgia D.
Published: August 2012

A sexual offender is thought to have victim empathy when he has a cognitive and emotional understanding of the experience of the victim of his sexual offense. Most sex offender treatment programs devote significant time to developing victim empathy. The authors examine three meta-analytic studies and some individual studies that suggest victim empathy work is unnecessary, or even harmful. Service user studies, however, report positive reactions to victim empathy work. The authors conclude that the enthusiasm for victim empathy work as a rehabilitative endeavor is disproportionate given the weak evidence base and the lack of a coherent theoretical model of change. However, because the research is inconclusive, it is not possible to conclude that victim empathy work is “correctional quackery.” We suggest a research program to clarify whether or not victim empathy intervention for sexual offenders has value.
Scintigraphic thyroid volume calculation in hyperthyroid cats
Authors: Volckaert Veerle , Vandermeulen Eva , Saunders Jimmy H , Combes Anaïs , Duchateau Luc , Peremans Kathelijne
Published: August 2012

A successful, euthyroid outcome after radioiodine therapy in hyperthyroid cats ranges from 83% to 95%. Thyroid volume has been reported as one of the factors influencing radioiodine therapy outcome in man and cats. The goal of this study was to describe the most reliable and practically applicable formula to determine thyroid volume using scintigraphy. The volume of each thyroid lobe of 32 hyperthyroid cats was determined by ultrasound and scintigraphy. The ultrasonographically determined volume (ellipsoid formula) for each thyroid lobe was compared with the scintigraphic volume that was calculated using eight different formulas: F1 [(π/6) × L × H × W], F2 [(π /2) × L × W2], F3 [0.33 × (area cm2)3/2], F4 [1.08 × (π /6) × L × W2], F5 (area × H), F6 (0.27 × area × L), F7 (π × L × W2) and F8 [π × (4/3) × W3]. F1, F3, F4 and F6 did not differ statistically from the volumes measured on ultrasound, while F2, F5, F7 and F8 did. Subjective shape assessment of the thyroid lobes, assigned as cylindrical or spherical, and the use of corresponding formulas, did not appear to be useful.
‘My Rainbow Family’—Discomfort and the Heteronormative Logics
Authors: Hanssen Jorid Krane
Published: August 2012

Many consider Scandinavian countries to be tolerant and liberal with regard to homosexuality and same-sex parenthood. Nevertheless, heteronormative assumptions of ‘the normal family’ still dominate. The participants in this research project have grown up in rainbow families,1 and this article focuses on how they negotiate and work on heteronormativity and representations of ‘normal’ family life in ways that challenge and alter these assumptions. Their work reveals a continuum of practices ranging from concealment and non-disclosure to being very open and proactive in representing their families. In analyzing the data, I employ Sara Ahmed’s (2004) work on comfort/discomfort, and discuss the discomfort of working on the heteronormative logics. The 25 participants in this project come from Denmark and Norway, and range from 15 to 45 years of age (most are between 20 and 25). In interviews and written autobiographies, they spoke and wrote about their families, parenthood and their parents’ sexual orientation.
Differences in the Teen Blogosphere: Insights from a Content Analysis of English- and Czech-Language Weblogs
Authors: Blinka Lukas , Subrahmanyam Kaveri , Šmahel David , Seganti Francesca Romana
Published: August 2012

Extant research on youth online content and culture is mostly based on US and Western contexts. Our goal was to examine whether a dominant global online youth culture or whether the local context (for example, language and popular culture) influences youth online content. We compared English language blogs from the US blogosphere, and Czech language blogs from the Czech blogosphere, written by 13- to 17-year-old youth. The last three entries from each blog were selected for content analysis, yielding a sample of 1038 entries. Results showed that English-speaking bloggers presented less personal information, used a text-based style and wrote mainly about their peers and everyday structured life. Czech-speaking bloggers used visuals, and focused on the public scene. Meta-blogging played a significant role in both blogospheres. The pattern of similarities and differences suggested that the blog authors’ physical context likely influenced the particular format or content of their blog entries.
Isoprostanes in clinically isolated syndrome and early multiple sclerosis as biomarkers of tissue damage and predictors of clinical course
Authors: Sbardella Emilia , Greco Anita , Stromillo Maria L , Prosperini Luca , Puopolo Maria , Cefaro Luca Ausili , Pantano Patrizia , De Stefano Nicola , Minghetti Luisa , Pozzilli Carlo
Published: August 2012

Background:

Isoprostanes (IsoP) are sensitive biomarkers of oxidative stress. Their cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) level is increased in several neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In particular, in relapsing–remitting MS, IsoP have been proposed as an index of neurodegenerative processes. The mechanisms leading to neuroaxonal damage in MS are not fully understood but oxidative mechanisms play a substantial role. Although axonal loss is present in MS patients since their first clinical symptoms, IsoP levels at this early stage have not been evaluated yet.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were (a) to assess IsoP levels in CSF of patients with a first clinical attack suggestive of MS; (b) to correlate IsoP levels with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of brain damage and (c) to assess IsoP value in predicting disease clinical evolution.

Methods:

Thirty-nine patients with a first clinical attack suggestive of MS underwent neurological examination, lumbar puncture with IsoP levels quantification and conventional/spectroscopic-MRI. Patients were followed up for 24 months.

Results:

CSF IsoP levels were higher in patients than controls (mean±standard deviation (SD) 123.4±185.8 vs 4.5±2.9 pg/ml; p<0.0001) and inversely correlated to normalized brain volume ( p=0.04) and N-acetylaspartate/choline (NAA/Cho) ( p=0.01). The risk of experiencing clinical relapses differed according to IsoP level: subjects with levels higher than 95 pg/ml (a cut-off value resulting from ROC analysis) were more likely to relapse than patients with levels equal or lower than 95 pg/ml (59% vs 27% respectively; p=0.03).

Conclusions:

CSF IsoP might be useful biomarkers of tissue damage in MS with a predictive value of disease course.
Time to first relapse as an endpoint in multiple sclerosis clinical trials
Authors: Sormani MP , Signori A , Siri P , De Stefano N
Published: August 2012

Background:

The increasing number of effective therapies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) raises ethical concerns for the use of placebo in clinical trials, suggesting that new clinical trial design strategies are needed.

Objectives:

To evaluate time to first relapse as an endpoint for MS clinical trials.

Methods:

A recently-developed model fitting the distribution of time to first relapse in MS was used for simulations estimating the sample sizes of trials using this as an outcome, and for comparison with the size of trials using the annualized relapse rate (ARR) as the primary outcome.

Results:

Trials based on time to first relapse were feasible, requiring sample sizes that were similar or even smaller than if the study was based on ARR instead. In the case of low ARR (0.4 relapses/year), as is expected in future trials, the 1-year trials designed to detect a treatment effect of 30%, with 90% power, require fewer patients when based on time to first relapse (470 patients/arm) than if based on ARR (540 patients/arm).

Conclusions:

Our simulations show that time to first relapse is not less powerful than ARR in MS trials; thus, this measure would be a potentially useful primary outcome offering the advantage of an ethically sound design, as the patients randomized to placebo can then switch to the active drug, once they relapse. A potential drawback is the loss of information for other endpoints collected at fixed time points.
CSF neurofilament and N-acetylaspartate related brain changes in clinically isolated syndrome
Authors: Khalil M , Enzinger C , Langkammer C , Ropele S , Mader A , Trentini A , Vane MLG , Wallner-Blazek M , Bachmaier G , Archelos J-J , Koel-Simmelink MJA , Blankenstein MA , Fuchs S , Fazekas F , Teunissen CE
Published: August 2012

Background:

Axonal damage is considered a major cause of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may start early in the disease. Specific biomarkers for this process are of great interest.

Objective:

To study if cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for axonal damage reflect and predict disease progression already in the earliest stages of the disease, that is, in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).

Methods:

We assessed CSF levels of neurofilament heavy (NFH), neurofilament light (NFL) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in 67 patients with CIS and 18 controls with neuropsychiatric diseases of non-inflammatory aetiology (NC). Patients with CIS underwent baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T, and a follow-up MRI after 1 year was obtained in 28 of them.

Results:

Compared with NC, patients with CIS had higher NFH ( p=0.05) and NFL ( p<0.001) levels. No significant group differences were found for NAA. Patients’ NFH levels correlated with physical disability ( r=0.304, p<0.05) and with change in brain volume over 1 year of follow-up ( r=-0.518, p<0.01) but not with change in T2 lesion load.

Conclusion:

Our results confirm increased neurofilament levels already in CIS being related to the level of physical disability. The association of NFH levels with brain volume but not lesion volume changes supports the association of these markers with axonal damage.
Deconstructing the notion of ‘belief’ in Psychology: Commentary on ‘Beyond belief’
Authors: Santiago-Delefosse Marie
Published: August 2012

The article by John Cromby raises pertinent issues concerning the exclusively cognitive approach of ‘belief’ as well as regarding the very variable and vague definition of this notion. Beliefs in the area of Health do not stem from the mere cognitive sector. They are not purely discursive in nature either. Beliefs are rooted in experienced embodiment and influenced by the unique story of each subject. However, the reader sometimes regrets the lack of development on the nature of the links between three different levels: the cognitive, the affective and the social one. The notion of ‘belief’ in Psychology remains to be deconstructed.
Priorities for autism spectrum disorder risk communication and ethics
Authors: Yudell Michael , Tabor Holly K , Dawson Geraldine , Rossi John , Newschaffer Craig ,   Working Group in Autism Risk Communication and Ethics
Published: August 2012

Autism spectrum disorders are an issue of increasing public health significance. The incidence of autism spectrum disorders has been increasing in recent years, and they are associated with significant personal and financial impacts for affected persons and their families. In recent years, a large number of scientific studies have been undertaken, which investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for autism, with more studies underway. At present, much remains unknown regarding autism spectrum disorder risk factors, but the emerging picture of causation is in many cases complex, with multiple genes and gene–environment interactions being at play. The complexity and uncertainty surrounding autism spectrum disorder risk factors raise a number of questions regarding the ethical considerations that should be taken into account when undertaking autism spectrum disorder risk communication. At present, however, little has been written regarding autism spectrum disorder risk communication and ethics. This article summarizes the findings of a recent conference investigating ethical considerations and policy recommendations in autism spectrum disorder risk communication, which to the authors’ knowledge is the first of its kind. Here, the authors discuss a number of issues, including uncertainty; comprehension; inadvertent harm; justice; and the appropriate roles of clinicians, scientists, and the media in autism spectrum disorder risk communication.
Bilingual brain training: A neurobiological framework of how bilingual experience improves executive function
Authors: Stocco Andrea , Yamasaki Brianna , Natalenko Rodion , Prat Chantel S.
Published: August 2012

Individuals who develop bilingually typically outperform monolinguals on tests of executive functions. This advantage likely reflects enhanced prefrontal function, but the mechanisms that underlie this improvement are still poorly understood. This article describes a theory on the nature of the neural underpinnings of improved executive function in bilinguals. Specifically, we propose that growing up in a bilingual environment trains a gating system in the striatum that flexibly routes information to the prefrontal cortex. This article is divided into three sections. Firstly, literature establishing a three-way connection between bilingualism, executive function, and fronto-striatal loops is summarized. Secondly, a computational model of information processing in the basal ganglia is described, illustrating how the striatal nuclei function to transfer information between cortical regions under prerequisite conditions. Finally, this model is extended to describe how bilingualism may “train the brain,” enabling improved performance under conditions of competitive information selection during information transfer. Theoretical implications and predictions of this theory are discussed.
Polymedia: Towards a new theory of digital media in interpersonal communication
Authors: Madianou Mirca , Miller Daniel
Published: August 2012

This article develops a new theory of polymedia in order to understand the consequences of digital media in the context of interpersonal communication. Drawing on illustrative examples from a comparative ethnography of Filipino and Caribbean transnational families, the article develops the contours of a theory of polymedia. We demonstrate how users avail themselves of new media as a communicative environment of affordances rather than as a catalogue of ever proliferating but discrete technologies. As a consequence, with polymedia the primary concern shifts from the constraints imposed by each individual medium to an emphasis upon the social, emotional and moral consequences of choosing between those different media. As the choice of medium acquires communicative intent, navigating the environment of polymedia becomes inextricably linked to the ways in which interpersonal relationships are experienced and managed. Polymedia is ultimately about a new relationship between the social and the technological, rather than merely a shift in the technology itself.
The politics of new media, space, and race: A socio-spatial analysis of the 2008 presidential election
Authors: Stern Michael J. , Rookey Bryan D.
Published: August 2012

Recent national, regional, and community-level research has shown that the Internet has the potential to provide a powerful medium for political engagement. Yet, systematic analyses that consider space and place as critical components of this area of research are lacking. This issue is important inasmuch as the extant literature has clearly shown that the diffusion of sophisticated Internet technology to some places has been slow and that the use of high-speed broadband modems has a significant impact on using the technology for social and economic purposes. The data for this study come from the nationally representative Pew Internet and American Life Study conducted in November 2008 directly after the United States presidential election. Although the results are consistent with previous research on both spatial and digital inequality in terms of Internet use, the interactions between race and place suggest that it is not just that the Obama campaign used new media to mobilize constituents, but that these efforts were realized in a particular region of the country and were particularly influential in given segments of the population. Implications for future research and the value of digital capital are discussed.
Balancing powers: university researchers thinking critically about participatory research with young fathers
Authors: Braye Suzy , McDonnell Liz
Published: August 2012

The Talking Dads Project brought together young fathers, an NGO and university researchers to explore the experiences of young fathers in a UK seaside city. Young fathers took a lead role in developing the content of, and conducting, interviews with peer participants. Drawing on an analytical framework derived from participatory research literature, this article provides an analysis of five critical processes that created intense debate and became sites for negotiation of the delicate balance of powers between participants. These included young fathers’ initial engagement, the translation of their research ideas into research tools, research ethics such as confidentiality and duty of care, the academic researchers’ role in making adjustments to facilitate comprehensive, in-depth data collection, and the differential impact of the research on the lives of all involved. The learning emerging from this evaluation of the research process contributes to the understanding of the challenges of participatory research and the value of flexibility in responding to challenges and constraints.
Using Actor–Network Theory to understand planning practice: Exploring relationships between actants in regulating low-carbon commercial development
Authors: Rydin Yvonne
Published: August 2012

There has been a recent growth in interest within planning theory in Actor–Network Theory. This article explores the potential for Actor–Network Theory to deliver a distinctive perspective on planning practice. Using a case study of commercial office development and the discussion of its carbon performance within the regulatory planning process, an Actor–Network Theory–based analysis is provided. The analysis points to the role of planning policy documents as intermediaries, the planning consent process as an obligatory passage point and energy-modelling exercises as potentially black-boxing low-carbon development. It also emphasises how materiality of the development embodies compliance with policy through the construction and warranting of evidence claims. In all these ways, the relationships between actants within networks are shaped. The practice-based conclusions draw attention to the importance of planners devising highly detailed and carefully worded plan policies, and understanding and being able to challenge the knowledge derived from energy-modelling tools as ways of developing agency to influence the outcomes of planning practice. Such agency is revealed by an Actor–Network Theory analysis to be small work in local sites of practice but set against the backdrop of regulatory regimes.
Interactive Regulated Participation: Children’s perspectives on child–parent interaction when suspicion of child sexual abuse is raised
Authors: Søftestad Siri , Toverud Ruth , Jensen Tine K.
Published: August 2012

This article presents the findings of a study on child–parent interaction during suspicion of child sexual abuse as seen from the children’s point of view. Study methods followed the principles of grounded theory approaches. Data were drawn from research interviews and child abuse assessment interviews with thirteen children referred to the child protection services because of suspected child sexual abuse. During analysis the core concept of Interactive Regulated Participation was constructed on the basis of the following main categories developed from the children’s narratives: conversations on suspicion, receiving information, contributing in decision-making, sharing feelings and thoughts, and engaging in conversations on meaning-making. These categories help us understand the difficult situation children find themselves in when a suspicion of child sexual abuse is raised, and help us explore and support child–parent interaction in this specific situation. Attention to variations in child–parent interaction may help professionals and parents to focus on children’s opportunities to talk about possible abuse as well as on the children’s situation in the midst of child sexual abuse allegations.
Living with and living within: Visions of ‘environment’ in contemporary social work
Authors: Probst Barbara
Published: August 2012

Social work’s commitment to an environmental perspective has been its hallmark, the feature that has distinguished it from other helping professions. Yet the definition and utility of person-in-environment have been inconsistent and poorly conceptualized, varying by practitioner as well as by cohort and era. As this thematic analysis of interviews with 30 clinical social workers reveals, ‘environment’ has both broad and specific meanings in contemporary practice, with horizontal (current) and vertical (historical) dimensions ranging from situational triggers to cumulative adversity. Social work clients bring to the clinical encounter a personal and socio-cultural history that they live ‘with,’ as well as a multi-faceted present context that they live ‘within.’ While participants in this study agreed that inclusion of context was essential for understanding a client’s story and struggle, they did not find environment to have significant clinical ‘power’ for treatment decisions or as a guide to practice. These findings raise important questions about what constitutes a uniquely ‘social work’ intervention, particularly in an era when treatment is increasingly shaped around de-contextualized psychiatric diagnosis.
Introducing a New Paradigm for 21st-Century HRD
Authors: Storberg-Walker Julia
Published: August 2012

The Problem

Workforce development is a pressing challenge in today’s society, yet the discipline of HRD is not contributing toward research or practice solutions. This gap is a product of current paradigm undergirding HRD—the paradigm implicitly favors nonworkforce development issues, problems, and challenges.

The Solution

The article calls for a paradigm shift in HRD to focus the work of the discipline on enhancing the public good through workforce development. The article provides an in-depth description of how paradigms can change in the social sciences, so that stakeholders (HRD researchers and practitioners) can take intentional actions to facilitate and nurture the change. Finally, the article provides specific research and practice suggestions for expanding HRD’s role in the workforce development domain.

The Stakeholders

HRD researchers and practitioners; employees and employers.