bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Ethical Tools on Aggressiveness in Financial Reporting
Authors: Nagle Brian M. , Wasieleski David M. , Rau Stephen
Published: December 2012

The proposed adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the United States has ignited a debate as to whether the principles‐based nature of these standards better serves the interests of investors. While it is argued that these principled‐based standards will encourage more transparent financial reporting than the current rules‐based U.S. standards, critics argue that IFRS will invite more aggressive financial reporting through the liberal exercising of professional judgment. This empirical study aims to understand what individual and organizational factors may affect aggressiveness when making accounting judgments. In particular, we examine the influence that prior ethics training, codes of ethics and an individual's predominant moral reasoning schema have on adherence to company policy in an accounting‐related (depreciation) judgment. Results of the study show that respondents with prior ethics training are more likely to adhere to company accounting policy than those who have not had formal ethics education. Respondents presented with a company ethics code also were less aggressive in their accounting judgments than those who were not presented with a code prior to reading the scenario. Finally, decision aggressiveness was moderated by individuals who used conventional moral reasoning schemas.
Different Pedagogy, Different Politics: High School Learning Opportunities and Youth Political Engagement
Authors: Kahne Joseph , Crow David , Lee Nam‐Jin
Published: December 2012

Using data from an original two‐wave panel survey of California high school students and a two‐wave panel survey of high school students in Chicago, we find that different pedagogical approaches influence different forms of civic and political engagement. Specifically, controlling for prior levels of engagement and demographic factors, we find that open discussion of societal issues promotes engagement with political issues and elections. In contrast, service learning opportunities increase community‐based and expressive actions. Both kinds of opportunities promoted commitments to participatory citizenship. These patterns can teach us about the kinds of opportunities (both in school and out) that can shape adolescents' civic and political development.
Affective Contagion in Effortful Political Thinking
Authors: Erisen Cengiz , Lodge Milton , Taber Charles S.
Published: December 2012

We offer a theory of motivated political reasoning based on the claim that the feelings aroused in the initial stages of processing sociopolitical information inevitably color all phases of the evaluation process. When a citizen is called on to express a judgment, the considerations that enter into conscious rumination will be biased by the valence of initial affect. This article reports the results of two experiments that test our affective contagion hypothesis—unnoticed affective cues influence the retrieval and construction of conscious considerations in the direction of affective congruence. We then test whether these affectively congruent considerations influence subsequently reported policy evaluations, which we call affective mediation. In short, the considerations that come consciously to mind to inform and to support the attitude construction process are biased systematically by the feelings that are aroused in the earliest stages of processing. This underlying affective bias in processing drives motivated reasoning and rationalization in political thinking.
Joint Estimation of Intersecting Context Tree Models
Authors: GALVES ANTONIO , GARIVIER AURÉLIEN , GASSIAT ELISABETH
Published: December 2012

We study a problem of model selection for data produced by two different context tree sources. Motivated by linguistic questions, we consider the case where the probabilistic context trees corresponding to the two sources are finite and share many of their contexts. In order to understand the differences between the two sources, it is important to identify which contexts and which transition probabilities are specific to each source. We consider a class of probabilistic context tree models with three types of contexts: those which appear in one, the other, or both sources. We use a BIC penalized maximum likelihood procedure that jointly estimates the two sources. We propose a new algorithm which efficiently computes the estimated context trees. We prove that the procedure is strongly consistent. We also present a simulation study showing the practical advantage of our procedure over a procedure that works separately on each data set.
The first income tax, political arithmetic, and the measurement of economic growth
Authors: Thompson S. J.
Published: December 2012

The imposition of the world's first modern income tax in 1799 prompted a revival of interest in national accounting. This article examines the extent to whichWilliamPitt the Younger, who proposed the new tax, modelled his estimates of national wealth on those produced a century earlier by the pioneers in this field,SirWilliamPetty,CharlesDavenant, andGregoryKing. In addition, the calculations ofBenjaminBell andHenryBeeke, two ofPitt's contemporaries, are analysed in detail to highlight the fragility of these contemporary estimates of national income. This analysis has important implications for economic historians who have used this material to try to establish the structure and growth of national output. National accountants during the long eighteenth century were not, for the most part, concerned with structural change. Rather, their descriptions of economic structure should be understood as reflecting a particular set of a priori claims about what they deemed to be the proper mode and distribution of taxation.
Nutrition in theEnglish agricultural labourer's household over the course of the long nineteenth century
Authors: Gazeley Ian , Horrell Sara
Published: December 2012

The welfare of agricultural labourers has recently received renewed interest in both establishing living standards for a baseline group over the long term, and assessing the energy available for increased physical labour in the eighteenth century. Disagreement persists. This article examines a key aspect of agricultural labourers' families' welfare: nutrient consumption. We utilize datasets of the diets of agricultural labourers' households for 1787–96, 1835–46, 1863, 1893, and 1912, to analyse the availability of calories and 11 key nutrients. Self‐provisioned foodstuffs are incorporated and adjustments are made for beer consumption. Deficiency is computed against household needs. The results corroborate the general levels of calorie availability identified in agricultural production accounts for the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and assess these as sufficient for productive agricultural labour. However, no improvement is found in the nutritional aspect of household welfare between 1787–96 and 1835–46, thus endorsing pessimistic views of living standards for this group over this time period. Gains were evident in the next half‐century, but these improvements were neither consistent nor dramatic and left a large minority of these households with nutrient deficiencies even in the twentieth century.
Incarnation and the Divine Hiddenness Debate
Authors: Brown Hunter
Published: December 2012

This paper examines the debate that has arisen in connection withJ.L.Schellenberg's work on divine hiddenness. It singles out as especially deserving of attentionPaulMoser's proposal that the debate distinguish more clearly between classical theism andHebraic theisms. This worthwhile proposal, I argue, will be unlikely to exert its full potential influence upon the debate unless certain features ofChristian incarnation belief are recognized and addressed in connection with it.
Effects of work environment on transfer of training: empirical evidence from Master of Business Administration programs in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Nga T. P. , Segers Mien S. R. , Gijselaers Wim H.
Published: December 2012

Practical application of newly gained knowledge and skills, also referred to as transfer of training, is an issue of great concern in training issues generally and in Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs particularly. This empirical study examined the influence of the trainees’ work environment on their transfer of training, taking into account the role of trainees’ transfer strategies. The study was conducted on 167 trainees from eight MBA programs in Vietnam in 2007–2008. Path analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to examine the effects of potential factors on transfer of training. The results showed that work environment factors such as supervisory support, job autonomy and preferred support (support as needed by the trainee) were significantly associated with the training transfer. Additionally, trainee's use of transfer strategies mediated the work environment and training transfer relationship.
Lexical borrowing from English into Danish in the Sciences: An empirical investigation of ‘domain loss’
Authors: Hultgren Anna Kristina
Published: December 2012

The emergence of English as an international language of science has generated prolific debates in the Nordic countries about ‘domain loss’, here defined as the national Nordic languages failing to develop adequate scientific terminology. This paper sheds some much needed empirical light on domain loss by examining the language practices of 10 scientists delivering undergraduate courses in chemistry, physics and computer science at the University of Copenhagen. Focusing on lexical borrowing from English into Danish, it is found that there is considerable variation within the scientific domain, with the sub‐domain computer science exhibiting significantly more lexical borrowing than physics and chemistry. The paper discusses the findings in relation to the concept of domain loss, and offers some alternative reasons for the concern that has been expressed.

Det engelske sprogs rolle som internationalt forskningssprog har skabt debat i de nordiske lande om ‘domænetab’, her forstået som det forhold at de nationale nordiske sprog ikke udvikler adækvat fagterminologi. Denne artikel forsøger at kaste tiltrængt empirisk lys over domænetab ved at undersøge sprogbrugen hos ti videnskabsfolk som underviser på bachelorniveau i kemi, fysik og datalogi på Københavns Universitet. Ved at fokusere på leksikalske lån fra engelsk i dansk vises at der er stor variation inden for det videnskabelige domæne, idet sub‐domænet datalogi har betydeligt flere lån end fysik og kemi. Artiklen diskuterer resultaterne i forhold til begrebet ‘domænetab’, og foreslår alternative årsager til den bekymring der er blevet udtrykt.
Identity alignment on an ESOL class blog
Authors: Simpson James
Published: December 2012

This paper concerns a multilingual adult learner of English, Shahedah, and her written interaction on the class blog of her English language course. Lesson observations revealed that the pedagogic use of the blog did not enable the development of new learner identity positions for students in Shahedah's class, often cited as an affordance of electronic media in language learning contexts. Moreover conventional classroom hierarchies were reproduced in interaction on the blog. Comprising an analysis of online written discourse, spoken interaction and life history interview, this study examines how blog interaction displays identity alignment – that is, identity positions offered and claimed online align with those in other learning contexts. Shahedah aspires to further study, and the paper points to implications of electronic media for academic literacy.

Este artículo concierne una estudiante adulta de inglés, Shahedah, y su interacción escrita en el blog de su curso de inglés. Observaciones de la clase pusieron en manifestó que el uso pedagógico no posibilitaron el desarrollo de posiciones nuevas en la identidad de los estudiantes en la clase de Shahedah, algo citado a menudo como un facilidad de los medios electrónicos en contextos del aprendizaje de idiomas. Además las jerarquías convencionales del aula eran reproducidas en las interacciones el blog. Constatando de un análisis del discurso escrito en línea, la interacción oral y una entrevista biográfica, este trabajo examina como la interacción expone alienación de identidad – es decir, posiciones de identidad que son ofrecidas y reclamas en línea se alienan con esos en otros contextos de aprendizaje. Shahedah aspira a mas estudios, y este artículo señala a implicaciones en habilidades académicas en los medios electrónicos.
Power and pedagogy in ELT: Native‐speaker teachers and the case of bilingual dictionaries and L1
Authors: Mandalios Jane
Published: December 2012

This interpretive study explored native‐speaker ELT teachers' beliefs and practices regarding bilingual dictionaries, both as language learners and teachers. Evidence emerged of a significant discrepancy: while respondents reported that bilingual dictionaries were indispensable in their own language‐learning, they felt constrained from encouraging their use among their own students because they felt bilingual dictionaries are viewed negatively by current ELT theory, which they perceive as continuing to support the monolingual approach. The study indicates an imbalance of power within ELT, as respondents felt obliged to follow certain pedagogical approaches, which may conflict with their own instincts and experiences. It offers support for recent calls for the reinstatement of the L1, a reappraisal of the role of bilingual dictionaries, and investigation into the distribution of pedagogical power.

Cette étude d'interprétation explorait les opinions et expériences d'enseignants en anglais (l'anglais étant leur langue primaire) concernant les dictionnaires bilingues, en tant qu'étudiants et enseignants. Une différence importante est apparue: alors que les participants ont déclaré que les dictionnaires bilingues sont indispensables à leur propre apprentissage des langues, ils se sentaient contraints d'éviter leur utilisation parmi leurs propres étudiants parce qu'ils pensent que les dictionnaires bilingues sont perçus négativement par la théorie actuelle du ELT, une vue qu'ils considèrent comme une continuation à favoriser l'approche monolingue. Cette étude indique un déséquilibre de pouvoir au sein du ELT, car les participants se sentaient obligés de suivre certaines méthodes pédagogiques, qui pouvaient entrer en conflit avec leurs propres instincts et expériences. Ceci offre un soutien aux appels récents pour la réintégration de la méthode L1 (langue primaire), une réévaluation du rôle des dictionnaires bilingues, et une enquête sur la distribution du pouvoir pédagogique.
Co‐Creating Adoption Law: A Lutheran Perspective
Authors: Failinger Marie A.
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  Lutheran theological insights on orders of creation, the duty of neighbor‐love, and the pervasiveness of sin in institutions as well as individuals can help secular governments and adoption agencies consider how to respond to controversies over interracial and intercountry adoption, parental qualifications, open adoption, and the market structure of adoption in the United States.
Adoption in Judaism
Authors: Yarden Ophir
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  This article examines of the place of adoption in Jewish thought and law. Adoption is undocumented in the Hebrew Bible, but some verses suggest—or have been said to describe—realities similar to adoption. Beginning with a discussion of the immutability of the relationships in the biological family, this article discusses the merits of caring for orphans and the special halakhic situations that arise for a Jewish family that pursues a civil adoption. The article concludes with a discussion of adoption as a metaphor for a convert's relationship with the ancestors of the Jewish people.
Orphan Sunday: Narratives of Salvation in Transnational Adoption
Authors: Patton‐Imani Sandra
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  The article is a critical analysis of public narratives about transnational adoption that equate adoption with the salvation of “orphans.” The stories I weave together from in‐depth interviews, social science and humanities research, law and policy, and public dialogues make visible the scaffolding of power that shapes families’ lives. I tell a specific story about Korean American adoption that speaks to the power inequalities shaping the transnational transfer of children from developing countries all over the world. These stories reframe the circumstances of adoptees’ births and relinquishments as issues of social inequality rather than as individual choice.
Christian Adoption?
Authors: Waters Brent
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  Adoption is not a uniquely Christian practice, but it is a distinctly Christian act when grounded in the traditions of neighbor love and familial belonging. An orphaned child is a neighbor in need, and adoption is a fitting response to meeting this need. Caritas is the initial motive prompting this response but is not a disinterested provisional of parental care. Rather it is oriented toward parental love and familial belonging. Consequently, this Christian understanding of adoption should be preserved as a uniquely moral act in order to prevent orphaned children from being reduced to a means of remedying childlessness, or the using of adopted children as a wedge for justifying unwarranted governmental intrusion into the family.
Understanding the Adoptive Family within the Context of Christian Hospitality
Authors: Wrobel Gretchen Miller
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  Adoptive families can take many forms, yet there are similarities across adoptive family types that can be studied. Relevant research regarding the adoptive kinship network, openness and contact in adoption, family communication about adoption, adoption‐related curiosity and information‐seeking, and adoptive identity is reviewed. Christian hospitality is provided as a context within which adoptive families are formed and understood.
Avoiding Fundamentalism and Relativism: A Pluralist Lutheran Theology
Authors: Ingram Paul O.
Published: December 2012

Abstract:  In this essay I argue that the following defining principles of Luther's theology can support a pluralistic theology of religions that avoids the pitfalls of Christian fundamentalism and postmodernism's debilitating relativism: sola scriptura, extra nos, “In, With, and Under,”“Three Uses of the Law,”“Two Realms,”“the hidden and revealed God,” and theologia crucis. A Lutheran can be a pluralist, too, and in the twenty‐first century, ought to be.
Species loss and gain in communities under future climate change: consequences for functional diversity
Authors: Gallagher Rachael V. , Hughes Lesley , Leishman Michelle R.
Published: December 2012

It is anticipated that anthropogenic climate change will lead to substantial reassembly within communities in coming decades as individual species shift their ranges to track optimal conditions for growth and survival. As species are lost and gained in communities, what are the consequences for functional trait diversity? Functional traits are the characteristics of species that affect individual performance and provide the vital link between biodiversity at the species level and ecosystem function. We investigated how projected changes in species richness in plant communities under climate change scenarios for the decade 2050 will affect the distribution and diversity of five functional traits. We aggregated range change projections made in Maxent for the decade 2050 across all species in the regional pool of littoral rainforest vines in eastern Australia (n = 163 species). The effect of richness changes on trait diversity was assessed in nine rainforest reserves along the east coast of Australia. Although richness was predicted to significantly decline across all communities, functional diversity remained stable, indicating a decoupling in response to climate change at these two different levels of biological organization. A high degree of redundancy in trait composition in communities may buffer against the loss of function in these plant communities. Scaling‐up our understanding of the impact of climate change from the species level to communities is a critical step towards developing conservation strategies aimed at preserving ecosystem function.
A Mad Mother and Her Dead Son: The Impact of the Irish Theatre on Modern Korean Theatre
Authors: Hwang Yuh. J.
Published: December 2012

During the colonial period (1910–1945), Korean intellectuals introduced Irish artists and their works to the public through newspapers and magazines. Because of the political similarity between Ireland and Korea at that time, these intellectuals considered Ireland as an ideal to emulate. The impact of the Irish dramatic movement on modern Korean theatre was significant, in that it provided a direction for Korean intellectuals involved in establishing modern theatre. One of the most famous modern Korean plays from this period, Yu Ch’ijin’s A Mud Hut was indirectly influenced by Irish playwright Sean O’Casey whose trilogy is based on Dublin’s working class. The work of another Korean playwright, Ham Sedŏk’s Sanhuguri, was indebted to the works of J.M. Synge, whose plays deal with Irish peasants. In their plays, Yu Ch’ijin and Ham Sedŏk depict the miserable lives of some common Korean people as realistically as they can, by imitating the writings of Sean O’Casey and J.M. Synge. The main motif that appears in their works is that of a mad mother and her dead son. In Yu Ch’ijin’s play, this motif is represented by the land as an absent space. In Ham Sedŏk’s play, it is illustrated by the sea as an absolute space of fate. The mother figure in both plays is presented as a languid, defeatist and self‐pitying figure who is confronted by the colonial reality represented by her dead son. Through these images, the future is portrayed as hopeless. This paper attempts to shed a light on a particular strand of modern Korean plays and their emergence under the influence of Irish theatre in the early twentieth century.
The Eighteenth‐Century Print: Tracing the Contours of a Field
Authors: Fordham Douglas , Albright Adrienne
Published: December 2012

This essay examines new developments and trends in the study of eighteenth‐century prints, with a particular focus on reproductive engraving, book illustration, fine art etching, and caricature. Recent studies demonstrate an increasingly theoretical engagement with the production and reception of prints and assert the centrality of prints and printmaking to the field of art history. Digital scanning and database technology have dramatically expanded scholarly access to the printed page, posing both opportunities and challenges to the conceptualization of the Enlightenment print.
Timing for Initiation of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Patients With Septic Shock and Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Shum Hoi‐Ping , Chan King‐Chung , Kwan Ming‐Chit , Yeung Alwin Wai‐Tak , Cheung Emily Wing‐Sze , Yan Wing‐Wa
Published: December 2012

The optimal timing for renal replacement therapy initiation in septic acute kidney injury (AKI) remains controversial. This study investigates the impact of early versus late initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on organ dysfunction among patients with septic shock and AKI. Patients were dichotomized into “early” (simplified RIFLE Risk) or “late” (simplified RIFLE Injury or Failure) CRRT initiation. Patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 or those on long‐term dialysis were excluded. Organ dysfunction was quantified by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. From January 2008 to June 2011, 120 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thirty‐one (26%) underwent “early” while 89 (74%) had “late” CRRT. No significant difference was noted between groups on improvement of total SOFA/non‐renal SOFA score or noradrenaline equivalent in the first 24 and 48 h after CRRT initiation. Dialysis requirement and mortality (at 28 days, 3 months and 6 months) did not differ. In conclusion, improvement of non‐renal SOFA score 48 h after CRRT correlated with SOFA score on CRRT initiation (P = 0.040) and APACHE IV risk of death (P = 0.000), but not estimated glomerular filtration rate on CRRT initiation (P = 0.377). Improvement of non‐renal SOFA score correlated with SOFA score on CRRT initiation and APACHE IV risk of death. However, this retrospective review cannot identify any significant clinical benefit of early CRRT initiation in patients presenting with septic shock and AKI.
Therapeutic Potential of Low‐Density Lipoprotein Apheresis in the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Tamura Kouichi , Tsurumi‐Ikeya Yuko , Wakui Hiromichi , Maeda Akinobu , Ohsawa Masato , Azushima Kengo , Kanaoka Tomohiko , Uneda Kazushi , Haku Sona , Azuma Koichi , Mitsuhashi Hiroshi , Tamura Nobuko , Toya Yoshiyuki , Tokita Yasuo , Kokuho Toshiharu , Umemura Satoshi
Published: December 2012

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD are reported to have a significant greater risk of CVD‐associated mortality than that of the general population after stratification for age, gender, race, and the presence or absence of diabetes. CKD itself is also an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, and in particular, patients undergoing dialysis typically bear many of the risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and disturbed calcium‐phosphate metabolism, and commonly suffer from severe atherosclerosis, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is a potentially valuable treatment applied to conventional therapy‐resistant hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease and PAD. Although previous and recent studies have suggested that LDL apheresis exerts beneficial effects on the peripheral circulation in dialysis patients suffering from PAD, probably through a reduction of not only serum lipids but also of inflammatory or coagulatory factors and oxidative stress, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the long‐term effects of LDL apheresis on the improvement of the peripheral circulation remains unclear and warrants further investigation.
Dialyzability and Pharmacokinetics of Sitafloxacin Following Multiple Oral Dosing in Infected Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Tsuruoka Shuichi , Yokota Noritsugu , Hayasaka Tokie , Saito Tetsuo , Yamagata Kunihiro
Published: December 2012

The pharmacokinetics and dialyzability of oral sitafloxacin, a newly available quinolone, in infected intermittent hemodialysis patients have not been reported previously. Seven infected maintenance hemodialysis patients lacking residual renal function were enrolled. Sitafloxacin (50 mg after hemodialysis on the first day, on the next day and 4 h before scheduled hemodialysis session on the 3rd day) was orally administered. On the 3rd day, blood was taken from arterial and venous sides before and 2 and 4 h after session initiation. Another sampling was performed 1 h after the session and on the 5th day of the study. Pharmacokinetic parameters and dialyzability of sitafloxacin were evaluated. All patients exhibited improved symptoms without major problems. Drug concentrations in all arterial samples were above the MIC of targeted bacteria. Dialyzer clearance and elimination fraction were 49.9 ± 0.9 mL/min per m2 and 53.3 ± 2.1%, respectively. Apparent half‐life during dialysis session was significantly shorter than that after the session (4.0 ± 0.4 and 46.5 ± 3.6 h, during and after the session, respectively). Dialyzer clearance was positively correlated with urea reduction ratio and negatively correlated with serum albumin concentration. About 23% of the drug in the body was removed by dialysis. Rebound of the drug concentration after the dialysis was not seen. Oral dosing of this drug at 50 mg daily in maintenance hemodialysis patients provides a safe drug concentration compatible with that of healthy subjects orally receiving 100 mg daily. Because a significant amount of the drug was removed, administration might be undertaken after the dialysis session.
Fiscal Prudence and Growth Sustainability: An Analysis of China's Public Debts
Authors: Fan Gang , Lv Yan
Published: December 2012

This paper analyses and assesses China's current fiscal system, including its basic institutional arrangements, the relationship between central and local governments, and the fiscal balance and public debt. This paper pays special attention to the local government borrowings that have increased dramatically in recent years, and tries to measure the “overall public debt risk” by including all kinds of eligible debts. This paper finds that although the large expansion of local government debt during the fiscal stimulation response to the global financial crisis was devastating, the all‐inclusive total public debt to gross domestic product ratio remains under 50%, and as long as the local debt stops growing, the risk is quite manageable. This paper also points out that more attention should be paid to improving and reforming the Chinese fiscal system, particularly the reform of the fiscal relationship between central and local governments, and the legal framework for local government debt management.
Estimating Non‐Keynesian Effects for Japan
Authors: Kameda Keigo
Published: December 2012

Is a fiscal stimulus effective? This classical question has received significant research attention since the collapse of the global financial services firm Lehman Brothers. Although most studies agree on the existence of Keynesian multiplier effects, several studies also demonstrate the existence of non‐Keynesian effects. What explains this lack of consensus in the literature? In this paper, we aim to bridge the two views by estimating a near‐vector autoregressive system that includes interaction terms of fiscal instruments, and the debt‐to‐gross domestic product (GDP) or the primary‐deficit‐to‐GDP ratios. Moreover, to embed the dynamics of the debt‐to‐GDP ratio in the analysis, we explicitly incorporate the government budget constraint. By computing and comparing the impulse response functions, we find Keynesian effects when fiscal conditions are sound, and non‐Keynesian effects when the primary deficit is large.
Size and Shape Tailoring of Titania Nanoparticles Synthesized by Solvothermal Route in Different Solvents
Authors: Roca Roman Alvarez , Leite Edson Roberto
Published: December 2012

A simple solvothermal low‐temperature synthesis process of TiO2 nanoparticles was investigated in different solvents [Octanol (Oc), Ethanolamine (Am) and Terathane (Tr)] with titanium (IV) chloride (TiCl4) as precursor. The samples were characterized by X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). XRD showed the crystallite size ranging from 4 to 12 nm, which were calculated using Debye–Scherrer's equation. The existence of poor or high crystalline anatase phases and high crystalline anatase/rutile mixture was also shown. TEM images displayed variations in the morphological behavior depending on the synthesis condition. Particles of irregular morphology with high irregular agglomeration up to well‐defined particles can be observed, which are self‐assembled by oriented attachment (OA). This self‐assembly led to TiO2 microparticles with 3‐D Wulff shape for anatase and 1‐D shape for rutile. The results showed that the TiO2 nanopowder could be easily engineered and adapted by the solvent type, the TiCl4 concentration and the synthesis time.
Magnetic Properties of Mixed Valence La(AgSr)MnO3 Manganites Obtained by Solid‐State Reaction Method
Authors: Amano M. E. , Betancourt I. , Huerta L.
Published: December 2012

In this work, we present a systematic study on the effect of monovalent and divalent cation inclusion on the magnetic properties of the manganites series La0.80(Ag1−xSrx)0.20MnO3 (x = 0.0–1.0) synthesized by the solid‐state reaction method. The decreasing Sr:Ag proportion across the compositional series was verified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Concerning magnetic properties, the hysteresis curves manifested an initial paramagnetic response at x = 0.0, followed by a progressive ferromagnetic behavior with an optimum Ag:Sr ratio at x = 0.75, for which an enhanced saturation magnetization of 51 Am2/kg and a Curie temperature of 336 K were recorded. Results are explained on the basis of the effect of the increasing unit cell volume on the double exchange interaction between magnetic Mn3+– Mn4+ atoms.
Direct Combustion Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Nanopowder from the Elements
Authors: Mukasyan Alexander S. , Lin Ya‐Cheng , Rogachev Alexander S. , Moskovskikh Dmitry O.
Published: December 2012

Direct synthesis of silicon carbide (SiC) nanopowders (size 50–200 nm, BET ~20 m2/g) in Si–C system is conducted in an inert atmosphere (argon) using a self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis (SHS) approach. A preliminary short‐term (e.g., minutes) high‐energy ball milling (HEBM) of the initial mixture, which involves pure Si and C powders, is used to enhance system reactivity. Two conditions of HEBM with different force fields (17G and 90G) are applied and the results are compared. The influence of HEBM's conditions on the microstructure of mechanically treated mixtures and combustion products is also investigated and discussed. Obtained results suggest that by changing the intensity of mechanical treatment one may prepare a completely amorphous reactive mixture containing carbon and silicon, or gradually change the ratio of (Si/C)–SiC phases and finally produce pure silicon carbide powder during the milling process. The influence of HEBM on the combustibility of the Si/C mixture possesses a critical character: the self‐sustained reaction becomes feasible only after a critical time of ball milling (i.e., 10 min for 90G; 30 min for 17G). Comparison of the microstructures for as‐milled and as‐synthesized powders reveals that for all investigated conditions the morphologies of the as‐milled reactive Si/C media are essentially the same as that for SiC combustion products. The mechanism for direct synthesis of SiC by combustion reaction is also proposed.
An Evaluation of Multi‐Component Exposure Treatment of Needle Phobia in an Adult with Autism and Intellectual Disability
Authors: Wolff Jason J. , Symons Frank J.
Published: December 2012

Background

Fear of medical procedures in general and needles in particular can be a difficult clinical challenge to providing effective health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Methods

A changing criterion design was used to examine graduated exposure treatment for blood‐injury‐injection phobia in an adult male with autism and intellectual disability and a history of medical noncompliance. The additional contributions of differential reinforcement and a safety signal were also evaluated during treatment.

Results

Compliance with needle‐to‐skin contact was achieved by the final criterion phase, and the behavior was maintained on follow‐up. Differential reinforcement and a safety signal added to the quality of treatment but were successfully faded as treatment progressed.

Conclusions

An exposure approach was effective in reducing phobic behavior and may be flexible enough to accommodate component changes and leaner reinforcement schedules applicable to real‐world settings.
Predicting extinction from fossil trajectories of geographical ranges in benthic marine molluscs
Authors: Tietje Melanie , Kiessling Wolfgang
Published: December 2012

Aim

The geographical ranges of marine taxa wax and wane in a nearly symmetrical fashion over their durations. We use this pattern as well as the age distribution of genera to predict the time of extinction of extant genera of benthic marine molluscs.

Location

A global occurrence database (Paleobiology Database) of fossil marine molluscs from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras was used for this study.

Methods

For the geographical range method, we determined the average trajectories of geographical range size for extinct genera of bivalves and gastropods. The maxima of these trajectories were used as landmarks for predicting the time of extinction for extant genera. Prediction was done by cross‐multiplication, using the time elapsed until the maximum was reached and the position of the landmark. For the duration–frequency method, we calculated the time of extinction based on probabilities derived from the frequency distribution of stratigraphic ranges (durations) of all extinct genera. The accuracy and precision of predictions were tested with extinct genera and then applied to extant genera.

Results

On average, bivalve and gastropod extinct genera reached their maximum geographical range size at 62% and 50% of their total duration. The accuracy of predictions ranged from −3.1 to 11.0 million years (Myr) for both groups, and the precision ranged from 13.6 to 19.5 Myr. Only a small subset of extant genera was suitable for prediction with the geographical range method, mainly because the geographical ranges of most extant genera are still rising on geological time‐scales. The second method provided a similar prediction quality, but showed a substantial decrease in quality when predicting long‐duration (> 100 Myr) genera.

Main conclusions

The mean probability for an accurate prediction using the geographical range approach is 57% with a precision of ± 15 Myr. Prediction is possible only for genera whose peak geographical range has already elapsed (17% of extant bivalves, 16% of extant gastropods). The duration–frequency approach does not have this prerequisite and is therefore applicable to many more genera, but prediction quality declines with duration. The two methods therefore complement each other and can supplement the various efforts used to estimate extinction risk.
Annual Research Review: What is resilience within the social ecology of human development?
Authors: Ungar Michael , Ghazinour Mehdi , Richter Jörg
Published: December 2012

Background: The development of Bronfenbrenner’s bio‐social‐ecological systems model of human development parallels advances made to the theory of resilience that progressively moved from a more individual (micro) focus on traits to a multisystemic understanding of person–environment reciprocal processes.

Methods: This review uses Bronfenbrenner’s model and Ungar’s social‐ecological interpretation of four decades of research on resilience to discuss the results of a purposeful selection of studies of resilience that have been done in different contexts and cultures.

Results: An ecological model of resilience can, and indeed has been shown to help researchers of resilience to conceptualize the child’s social and physical ecologies, from caregivers to neighbourhoods, that account for both proximal and distal factors that predict successful development under adversity. Three principles emerged from this review that inform a bio‐social‐ecological interpretation of resilience: equifinality (there are many proximal processes that can lead to many different, but equally viable, expressions of human development associated with well‐being); differential impact (the nature of the risks children face, their perceptions of the resources available to mitigate those risks and the quality of the resources that are accessible make proximal processes more or less influential to children’s development); and contextual and cultural moderation (different contexts and cultures provide access to different processes associated with resilience as it is defined locally).

Conclusion: As this review shows, using this multisystemic social‐ecological theory of resilience can inform a deeper understanding of the processes that contribute to positive development under stress. It can also offer practitioners and policy makers a broader perspective on principles for the design and implementation of effective interventions.
Estimation of climatic favourable areas for locust outbreaks in Spain: integrating species' presence records and spatial information on outbreaks
Authors: Aragón P. , Coca‐Abia M. M. , Llorente V. , Lobo J. M.
Published: December 2012

For millennia, locust swarms have recurrently devastated crop productivity across continents. In much of Europe, locust outbreaks have been considerably reduced by human pressure in recent decades, but importantfociof outbreaks still exist in Spain. Distribution models are often used to derive spatial hypotheses and risk maps. Because insufficient information is available to include the extreme plasticity of the solitary and gregarious phases of locusts in large‐scale spatial models, we modelled the distribution either of Acrididae species or of outbreaksper se. Confirmed occurrences ofDociostaurus,CalliptamusandChorthippusspecies were obtained from a field survey complemented by museum collection data and the published literature. The locations of confirmed or potential outbreaks covering two time periods of 20 years each were obtained from the literature and from Spanish autonomous community reports. Models were built with one topographic and eleven climatic predictors. We evaluated the ability of different models to predict outbreak recurrence and found that models based on Moroccan locust data or outbreak occurrence data performed the best. We generated a predictive map of the climatic favourability for locust outbreaks in Spain and found that the majorfociof locust swarms were encompassed by those areas categorized by the models as areas of highest risk. Predictive maps of outbreak favourability can facilitate the more sustainable use of insecticides and more efficient integrated pest management.
An additional cause of health care disparities: the variable clinical decisions of primary care doctors
Authors: McKinlay John , Piccolo Rebecca , Marceau Lisa
Published: December 2012

Rationaleaims and objectives

Decades of work on health disparities have culminated in identification of three contributors to variability in diagnosis and management of disease: (i) patient attributes; (ii) doctor's characteristics; and (iii) organizational factors. Understanding the relative influence of different contributors to variability in diagnosis and management of diabetes is important to improving quality and reducing disparities. This study was designed to examine the influence of patient, provider and organizational factors on the diagnosis and management of a major chronic disease – diabetes.

Method

A factorial experiment using video vignettes was conducted among n = 192 primary care doctors. Doctors were interviewed after viewing vignettes of (1) a ‘patient’ with symptoms strongly suggestive of diabetes and (2) an already diagnosed diabetes ‘patient’ with emerging peripheral neuropathy.

Results

A total of 60.9% of doctors identified diabetes as the correct diagnosis, with significant variations depending on the patients’ race/ethnicity. Many doctors offered competing diagnoses with high levels of certainty. For the ‘patient’ with emerging peripheral neuropathy, 42.2% of doctors would do all essential components of a foot examination, while 21.9% would do none.

Conclusions

That half of all diabetes in the United States remains undiagnosed is unsurprising given only 60.9% of doctors would diagnose it when the condition is strongly suggested, and nearly one‐quarter suspecting diabetes would not order tests necessary to confirm it. The diagnosis of diabetes is significantly influenced by a patient's race/ethnicity, and clinical management (specifically for foot neuropathy) is influenced by patient socio‐economic status (SES), doctor's gender and access to clinical guidelines.
Comparison of outcomes between endoscopic ultrasound‐guided transcolonic and transrectal drainage of abdominopelvic abscesses
Authors: Ramesh Jayapal , Bang Ji Young , Trevino Jessica , Varadarajulu Shyam
Published: December 2012

Background

Transrectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided pelvic abscess drainage has been reported, but data on transcolonic drainage are scant.

Aim

To compare outcomes in patients undergoing transcolonic and transrectal drainage of abdominopelvic abscesses.

Methods

Retrospective study of all patients who underwent EUS‐guided drainage of abdominopelvic abscesses over a 7‐year period. Abscesses were drained by a standard single‐step EUS‐guided technique with deployment of double‐pigtail stents ± catheters. Technical success was defined as successful placement of stents or drainage catheters within the abscess cavity. Treatment success was defined as resolution of abscess on follow‐up computed tomography at 2 weeks with symptom improvement.

Results

Of 38 patients, 11 underwent transcolonic and 27 transrectal drainages. There was no difference in patient demographics, laboratory values, and median abscess size (65 vs 70 mm, P = 0.85) between the two cohorts. Etiology of abscess was postsurgical in 65.7%, diverticulitis in 13.1%, perforated viscus in 10.5%, and other causes in 10.5%. There was no difference in rates of technical success (100% in each cohort), treatment success (70% vs 96.3%, P = 0.052), or complications (none). Three patients in the transcolonic and one in the transrectal cohort underwent surgery for failed endoscopic drainage (27.3% vs 3.7%, P = 0.06). When evaluated by etiology, treatment success for diverticular abscess was significantly lower compared with others (25% vs 97%, P = 0.002). At a median follow‐up of 1228.5 days (interquartile range = 131–1660), all patients with treatment success were doing well with no recurrence.

Conclusion

Except for patients with diverticular etiology, treatment of abdominopelvic abscess under EUS guidance is highly effective and safe for both routes.
Association of cyclin D and estrogen receptor α36 with hepatocellular adenomas of female mice under chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Lau Mo Yin , Han Hui , Hu Jay , Ji Cheng
Published: December 2012

Background and Aims

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) are benign tumors that can lead to medical complications. Chronic inflammation and mutations in β‐catenin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α, or glycoprotein 130 are potential causes for human HCA. However, additional causes may exist due to heterogeneity of HCA. We investigated whether HCA are caused by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Methods

Mice with a liver‐specific deletion of the major chaperone BiP (LGKO) were used. Liver tumor occurrence was examined in LGKO with or without feeding of a high‐fat diet (HFD) and characterized with immunohistochemistry with molecular markers of proliferation/malignancy. Molecular changes were analyzed with immunoblotting.

Results

Spontaneous monoclonal liver tumors were observed in 34% of LGKO females with constitutive hepatic ER stress. Lack of portal tracks or central veins, dilated sinusoidal spaces, hemorrhagic areas, active proliferation, and lipid deposits were observed in the liver tumors. HFD feeding induced multiclonal liver tumors in 83% of the LGKO females versus 0 in wild‐type females. Hepatocytes reactive to antiglypican 3 antibodies were detected in the HFD‐induced, but not spontaneous, tumors. In the liver tumors, inhibition of cyclin D and increase of the 36 kD estrogen receptor variant (estrogen receptor α36), active transcription activator 4/6, glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 were detected, whereas no change of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α, β‐catenin, p‐53, androgen receptor α, or estrogen receptor α was detected. HFD activated Janus kinase and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3.

Conclusions

Our evidence supports a novel link of HCA with ER stress and altered expression of cyclin D and estrogen receptor α36. Additional stress such as HFD may promote malignant transformation of HCA through the Janus kinase‐signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway.