bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiscal Policy and the Firm
Authors: Jensen Nathan M.
Published: December 2011

The existing literature on the political economy of taxation explores how the mobility of firms affects the ability of governments to tax capital. In this article the author tests the relationship between corporate tax rates and multinational investment decisions in advanced, industrialized economies. He utilizes a time-series cross-sectional general error correction model to explore the impact of corporate taxation rates and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in up to 19 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development economies from 1980 to 2000. To mitigate potential endogeneity problems, the author’s identification strategy takes advantage of delays between the passage of tax reductions and the implementation of these policies. The author finds no relationship between corporate tax rates and flows of foreign direct investment. This finding has implications on the link between globalization and domestic politics.
Reflections on Moving Over A Border
Authors: Knights Chris
Published: December 2011

In this article, the author reflects on the differences between Church life in England and Scotland, and the significance of borders for identity, in the light of his recent move from ministry in North-East England to ministry in the Scottish Borders, and suggests that it is as we face changes that we grow.
Can a medieval just war theory address 21st century concerns?
Authors: Fisher David
Published: December 2011

There has been a recent revival of interest in just war teaching but can a medieval theological theory help us address 21st century security concerns? The just war principles do not, as some philosophers have recently argued, need to be radically reinterpreted to maintain their relevance. But the moral principles do need to be reinforced by the theory and practice of the virtues, as Aquinas taught. The virtues required by the military are examined, including moral courage - the virtue lacking in the officers, including the chaplain, criticised by the judge in the Baha Mousa inquiry for failing to prevent the physical abuse of Iraqi detainees. The virtues – lost in recent just war thinking – need to be rediscovered and reintegrated in just war thinking.
Individual Differences in the Benefits of Feedback for Learning
Authors: Kelley Christopher M. , McLaughlin Anne Collins
Published: December 2011

Objective: Research on learning from feedback has produced ambiguous guidelines for feedback design—some have advocated minimal feedback, whereas others have recommended more extensive feedback that highly supported performance. The objective of the current study was to investigate how individual differences in cognitive resources may predict feedback requirements and resolve previous conflicted findings.

Method: Cognitive resources were controlled for by comparing samples from populations with known differences, older and younger adults. To control for task demands, a simple rule-based learning task was created in which participants learned to identify fake Windows pop-ups. Pop-ups were divided into two categories—those that required fluid ability to identify and those that could be identified using crystallized intelligence.

Results: In general, results showed participants given higher feedback learned more. However, when analyzed by type of task demand, younger adults performed comparably with both levels of feedback for both cues whereas older adults benefited from increased feedback for fluid ability cues but from decreased feedback for crystallized ability cues.

Conclusion: One explanation for the current findings is feedback requirements are connected to the cognitive abilities of the learner—those with higher abilities for the type of demands imposed by the task are likely to benefit from reduced feedback.

Application: We suggest the following considerations for feedback design: Incorporate learner characteristics and task demands when designing learning support via feedback.
Beyond the Particular: Prosody and the Coordination of Actions
Authors: Szczepek Reed Beatrice
Published: December 2011

The majority of research on prosody in conversation to date has focused on exploring the role of individual prosodic features, such as certain types of pitch accent, pitch register or voice quality, for the accomplishment of specified social actions. From this research the picture emerges that when it comes to the implementation of specific actions at specific sequential locations conversationalists employ prosodic features systematically, but also with considerable variation, and indeed flexibility. This paper suggests a further line of enquiry, which pursues a wider, more fundamental role of prosody for interaction, and which does not focus on individual prosodic practices or features, but on participants’ collaborative use of prosody for the implementation of one of the most basic interactional decisions: whether to continue a previously established action trajectory, or whether to start a new one. The data and findings of recent research make it clear that prosody, and in fact talk-in-interaction as such, is not appropriately defined by reference to individual features, speakers, locations and actions alone, but must be approached as a resource and negotiating strategy for social interaction. Prosody, therefore, must be described according to its role for both the accomplishment, and the coordination of actions across turns and participants.
Developing Listening Skills through Peer Interaction
Authors: Johnson Erik
Published: December 2011

Teachers who conduct ensembles of any ability level know that many skills are required for students to successfully participate. Often neglected or overlooked are the skills that students must have to interact musically with their peers. This article focuses on listening as a way to help make successful ensemble collaboration a reality. The method comprises three levels of listening that provide structure for student interaction in an ensemble rehearsal. Interaction is divided into three levels driven by what students hear, giving students the ability to organize an overwhelming number of possibilities into manageable segments. Based on peer teaching research as well as real-life application, this article addresses the ability of teachers to shape a participant structure where all students are given the chance to have a voice and develop individual ownership. By giving individual students and peers the opportunity to solve musical problems, the traditional teacher-centered power structure of the typical ensemble rehearsal is redefined. The benefit of raised awareness based on listening and musical interaction in a rehearsal can also fuel creative development in other areas of the music curriculum, such as composition and evaluating music and performance.
An Aural Learning Project
Authors: Gamso Nancy M.
Published: December 2011

The Aural Learning Project (ALP) was developed to incorporate jazz method components into the author’s classical practice and her applied woodwind lesson curriculum. The primary objective was to place a more focused pedagogical emphasis on listening and hearing than is traditionally used in the classical applied curriculum. The components of the ALP for the applied studio are (1) listening to at least two professional recordings of the works currently being studied and analyzing the performances, (2) recording projects with a written evaluation of the performance, (3) SmartMusic practice, (4) memorization and transcription projects, (5) assigned readings and research on works studied, and (6) composed and improvised warm-up and technique exercises. This article is a report on the project and a description of its implementation and assessment.
From Research to the General Music Classroom
Authors: Madsen Clifford K.
Published: December 2011

One challenge for music educators is to find techniques to help students “listen across time” to the examples they are assigned to study and to stay focused on a piece as they listen. Measurement tools to assess music listening have a long history, ranging from very simple to very complex, and very dated to very recent. This article traces the development of the Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) device and reviews its use in music education research, with suggestions for how general music teachers can apply this research in their classrooms.
If We Knew What Spirituality Was, We Would Teach for It
Authors: Yob Iris M.
Published: December 2011

Two extraordinary recent experiences that the author would call highly “spiritual” are explored against the background of ideas provided by writers such as Friedrich Schleiermacher, Rudolf Otto, Paul Tillich, and Abraham Maslow to unpack what spirituality is, with particular attention to the emotions and the insights involved in spirituality. The description helps to clarify the distinctions and also the relationships between spirituality and both religion and morality—constructs that are frequently confused with spirituality. The description also suggests two moves teachers can make toward offering a spiritual education.
Tell Me What You Hear
Authors: Walby Nathan
Published: December 2011

Teaching musical vocabulary in a middle school general music class can often be challenging to the performance-based teacher. This article provides several teaching strategies for approaching words from both a theoretical and a practical standpoint. Based on a dialectical “this-with-that” approach by Estelle Jorgensen, this article argues that general music vocabulary is best learned when vocabulary lessons focusing on word meanings and relationships are presented alongside listening activities focusing on vocabulary application. Three sections include general acquisition strategies for vocabulary, an examination of Standard 6 in the National Standards as an indicator for suitable middle school music vocabulary, and techniques that integrate vocabulary into listening assignments.
Evaluation of yarn evenness in fabric based on image processing
Authors: Liu Jihong , Jiang Hongxia , Pan Ruru , Gao Weidong , Xu Min
Published: December 2011

The traditional approach to unevenness characterization of yarn is based on the CV (i.e. coefficient of variation) of mass between defined portions of yarn measured with the USTER evenness tester. In fact, yarn with the same parameters has different evenness in fabric, and the evenness of yarn in fabric is different from the source yarn, which is caused by the producing process and parameters of the fabric. However, there is no good method to describe the appearance of yarn in fabric. The paper focuses mainly on a novel method known as yarn evenness in fabric (YEF). The method processes the image of the fabric and is divided into four steps. The first step is the acquisition of the relative image from the sample of woven fabric. The second step is the pretreatment of the image and segmentation of the warp and weft from the fabric based on fast Fourier transform and inverse fast Fourier transform. The third step is to separate the single yarn from the warp or weft sets by the gray unidirectional mean method. In the fourth step, the average relative thickness was selected for characterizing yarn. SD data of thickness that we will analyze in future is also a method. Experimental results on virtual and physical woven fabric showed that the method mentioned can obtain the fine information of yarn from fabric in details. The method of YEF was programmed by Matlab software. Computational burdens are about 11.4 seconds on average, for one meter of warp and weft yarn samples. The program could be valuable when applied to the practical industry.
Australian Aboriginal Urban Residents’ Satisfaction with Living in Their Neighbourhood: Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Socio-cultural Environment and Individual Socio-demographic Factors
Authors: Osborne Katy , Ziersch Anna M. , Baum Fran Elaine , Gallaher Gilbert
Published: December 2011

This paper draws on survey data from 143 Aboriginal participants living in Adelaide, South Australia, to examine factors associated with Australian Aboriginal urban residents’ satisfaction with living in their neighbourhoods. Associations were examined between neighbourhood satisfaction, individual socio-demographic measures and perceptions of the neighbourhood socio-cultural environment (including experiences of racism in the neighbourhood, perceived tolerance in the neighbourhood, perceived neighbourhood cohesion, trust in other neighbourhood residents and perceived neighbourhood safety). Staged multivariate logistic regression models led to a final model where trust in people in the neighbourhood and perceived safety in the neighbourhood were significant predictors of neighbourhood satisfaction. Experience of racism in the neighbourhood was a significant predictor in earlier steps in the model, but did not remain significant. Understanding factors contributing towards Aboriginal residents’ satisfaction with living in neighbourhoods is important in informing neighbourhood-based policies and programmes to enhance the well-being of Aboriginal residents in Australian cities.
A Spatial Hedonic Analysis of the Value of Urban Land Cover in the Multifamily Housing Market in Los Angeles, CA
Authors: Li Wei , Saphores Jean-Daniel
Published: December 2011

Little appears to be known about the value of urban green spaces (tree canopy cover and grassy areas) in a Mediterranean climate, or in relation to multifamily buildings. This study starts addressing this gap by quantifying the impact of urban green spaces on the value of 1197 multifamily buildings sold in 2003/04 in Los Angeles, California. To assess the robustness of the results, a spatial Durbin model is contrasted with a geographically weighted regression model and an extensive sensitivity analysis is conducted. It is found that increases in grassy areas either on the parcels of multifamily buildings or in their vicinity (200 metres outward from each parcel boundary) would typically not enhance their value and neither would more parcel tree canopy cover (TCC); by contrast, most multifamily properties would benefit from an increase in vicinity TCC. These results have implications for tree planting programmes that rely heavily on private property owners.
Between ‘surface illusionism’ and ‘awful depth’: Reflections on the poetological and generic ambivalence of W. G. Sebald’s Logis in einem Landhaus
Authors: Albes Claudia
Published: December 2011

Within W. G. Sebald’s oeuvre, Logis in einem Landhaus ( LieL, 1998), a collection of essays on five writers who wrote in Swabian-Alemanic or Swiss (French/German) and Jan Peter Tripp, the illusionist painter from the Allgäu, has a multiply ambivalent position. Although the essays can be characterized as Dichterporträts that are rounded off by a more conventional art-historical study, the former have clear generic affinities with biography, the literary-critical essay, literary history and autobiography. As such, they oscillate between the depiction of what is known on the one hand and critical reflection on the other. Sebald said that beneath the apparently realistic surface of Tripp’s visual work there lay concealed ‘an awful depth’ ( LieL: 181), and his portraits have the same ambivalence about them: carefully arranged collections of well-known fragments that recall individual writers conceal dizzying reflections about the nature of (auto)biography, literary criticism and literary history.
‘The contrarieties that are in our yearnings’: Allegorical, nostalgic and transcendent spaces in the work of W. G. Sebald
Authors: Johannsen Anja K.
Published: December 2011

Sebald’s biomorphic depictions of cities involve the conjunction of Nature and History within the broader topoi of ineluctable decline and omnipresent decay. But Sebald’s pessimistic narratives are made bearable – all too bearable even – because they point beyond themselves: either backwards, in a gesture of nostalgia, towards a past that is idealized and lost, or outwards, in a gesture of transcendence, towards a post-human, anorganic world that is encapsulated in the image of pristine frozen landscapes. Because these two vanishing points are absent from the Jerusalem episode of ‘Ambrose Adelwarth’, Adelwarth’s travel diary, with its disgusting, expressionistoid depictions of decay and decline, is almost unique within Sebald’s prose fiction because it involves a decisive break with his normal narrative mode. Here then, for reasons that I shall explain, Sebald is disobeying his own aesthetic strictures and allowing the monstrous and horrific − ‘myth’ or the ‘mythological’, as he called it in Der Mythus der Zerstörung im Werk Döblins ( MZ) − to occupy the foreground of his narrative.
The ‘solitary mallard’: On Sebald and translation
Authors: Wolff Lynn L.
Published: December 2011

Using theories of translation, this essay defines and distinguishes between the multiple levels of translation in W. G. Sebald’s fictional works and examines how they present different challenges to the translator. I shall begin by discussing problems of textual translation such as Sebald’s syntax, style, tone and deployment of specialized terminology. I shall then discuss questions of intra- and intertextual translation, and the complicating factor of Sebald’s use of intermediality. Third, I shall consider the issue of metaphorical translation, conceptualized as the root of representation, because it is the overarching concern of all Sebald’s writing. Also using comments made by Sebald’s translators and his own changes and ‘corrections’ to their translations, this essay considers how these levels of translation further elucidate both the specificity of Sebald’s poetics and the particularity of the literary discourse to enact, thematize and reflect upon processes of translation that occur when capturing experience in writing.
Sebald’s dissertation, University of Fribourg
Authors: Sebald W. G.
Published: December 2011

Sebald argues that all the aesthetic and moral flaws of Carl Sternheim’s writings come from the failure of his attempt, as a Jew, to assimilate into Wilhelmine society, which was nominally Christian. As a result, his satirical writings have a profoundly ambivalent relationship with Wilhelmine Germany and this ambivalence is also to be found in the language of his literary oeuvre.
From ‘community corrections' to ‘probation and parole’ in Western Australia
Authors: Harker Heather , Worrall Anne
Published: December 2011

Geographically, Western Australia (WA) is one of the largest and most sparsely populated single jurisdictions in the world. Although much of the work of Community Corrections Officers (CCO) in metropolitan Perth is easily recognizable to offender managers in England and Wales, the state’s Indigenous citizens, many living in remote communities, are hugely over-represented in its prisons and pose particular challenges in respect of community supervision. The de-professionalization of CCO training and their supposed inter-changeability with prison officers led to a service that was in danger of ‘losing its way’ and whose performance was comparing unfavourably with that of other Australian states. This article traces the recent history of the post-Mahoney Report Department of Corrective Services, culminating in a return to the title of ‘Probation and Parole’, and asks whether the lessons learned in WA following this re-professionalizing process might be relevant to other jurisdictions.
Probation in America: Armed, private and unaffordable?
Authors: Teague Michael
Published: December 2011

While America is renowned for its enormous prison industrial complex, less academic attention has been paid to the state of probation intervention. The probation population has long been rising more swiftly than the prison population, and one in 45 adults in the USA is now subject to community supervision. This article explores the development of American probation and considers a series of key contextual issues, including the fragmented nature of the US probation system and the philosophies which underpin it, supervision fees, privatization, and the arming of probation officers, in order to illuminate how the community corrections system functions. The Justice Reinvestment initiative is also considered, and the impact of budgetary pressures upon probation is taken into account.
Optimal trajectories for time-critical street scenarios using discretized terminal manifolds
Authors: Werling Moritz , Kammel Sören , Ziegler Julius , Gröll Lutz
Published: December 2011

This paper deals with the trajectory generation problem faced by an autonomous vehicle in moving traffic. Being given the predicted motion of the traffic flow, the proposed semi-reactive planning strategy realizes all required long-term maneuver tasks (lane-changing, merging, distance-keeping, velocity-keeping, precise stopping, etc.) while providing short-term collision avoidance. The key to comfortable, human-like as well as physically feasible trajectories is the combined optimization of the lateral and longitudinal movements in street-relative coordinates with carefully chosen cost functionals and terminal state sets (manifolds). The performance of the approach is demonstrated in simulated traffic scenarios.
iSAM2: Incremental smoothing and mapping using the Bayes tree
Authors: Kaess Michael , Johannsson Hordur , Roberts Richard , Ila Viorela , Leonard John J , Dellaert Frank
Published: December 2011

We present a novel data structure, the Bayes tree, that provides an algorithmic foundation enabling a better understanding of existing graphical model inference algorithms and their connection to sparse matrix factorization methods. Similar to a clique tree, a Bayes tree encodes a factored probability density, but unlike the clique tree it is directed and maps more naturally to the square root information matrix of the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem. In this paper, we highlight three insights provided by our new data structure. First, the Bayes tree provides a better understanding of the matrix factorization in terms of probability densities. Second, we show how the fairly abstract updates to a matrix factorization translate to a simple editing of the Bayes tree and its conditional densities. Third, we apply the Bayes tree to obtain a completely novel algorithm for sparse nonlinear incremental optimization, named iSAM2, which achieves improvements in efficiency through incremental variable re-ordering and fluid relinearization, eliminating the need for periodic batch steps. We analyze various properties of iSAM2 in detail, and show on a range of real and simulated datasets that our algorithm compares favorably with other recent mapping algorithms in both quality and efficiency.
An empirical study of normative dissociation in musical and non-musical everyday life experiences
Authors: Herbert Ruth
Published: December 2011

Dissociative experiences involving music have received little research attention outside the field of ethnomusicology. This paper examines the psychological characteristics of normative dissociation (detachment) across musical and non-musical experiences in ‘real world’, everyday settings. It draws upon a subset of data arising from an empirical project designed to compare transformative shifts of consciousness, with and without music in daily life, and the ways in which use of music may facilitate the processes of dissociation and absorption. Twenty participants kept unstructured diaries for two weeks, recording free descriptions of involving experiences of any kind as soon as possible after their occurrence. All descriptions were subsequently subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Results suggest that dissociative experiences are a familiar occurrence in everyday life. Diary entries highlight an established practice of actively sought detachment from self, surroundings or activity, suggesting that, together with absorption, the processes of derealization (altered perception of surroundings) and depersonalization (detachment from self) constitute common means of self-regulation in daily life. Music emerges as a particularly versatile facilitator of dissociative experience because of its semantic ambiguity, portability, and the variety of ways in which it may mediate perception, so facilitating an altered relationship to self and environment.
Self-Perceived Role and Function of Christian Prison Chaplains and Buddhist Volunteers in Hong Kong Prisons
Authors: Chui Wing Hong , Cheng Kevin Kwok-yin
Published: December 2011

Although there have been a handful of studies examining the work of chaplains and prison volunteers in a Western setting, few have endeavored to conduct research into the experiences of religious workers in Asian penitentiaries. To fill this gap, this article reports on exploratory research examining the work of a selected group of religious workers in Hong Kong prisons. A total of 17 religious workers were interviewed: 10 prison chaplains and 7 Buddhist volunteers who paid regular prison visits. Qualitative findings generated from in-depth interviews present three themes: the range of religious activities performed, the importance of religion for the rehabilitation of inmates, and the hope of continued religious support to prisoners after discharge. The significance of this research is that it sheds light on the understudied work of prison chaplains and volunteers in Hong Kong and portrays the difference between the works of the Christian ministry and Buddhist volunteers.
Working With Denial in Convicted Sexual Offenders
Authors: Blagden Nicholas , Winder Belinda , Gregson Mick , Thorne Karen
Published: December 2011

Denial in sexual offenders represents the first barrier to successful treatment a clinician is likely to face. However, there is currently no research focusing on the experiences of treatment professionals who treat and manage deniers. This study aimed to bridge this research gap and to gain an insight into the perspectives and experiences of professionals who treat and manage sex offenders in denial. The purpose was to ascertain their views on whether deniers are amenable to treatment, whether they should be offered treatment (as presently they are excluded from sex offender programmes), and what they believe may work with this population. A qualitative methodology was used, and treatment professionals were interviewed using semistructured interviews at a HM Prison in England. The main findings indicated that participants viewed denial as a barrier to treatment and that categorical deniers should be excluded from treatment. Implications for treatment are discussed, and it is concluded that viewing denial as a barrier to treatment impedes constructive work with offenders. It is argued that denial as an organising principle for treatment needs rethinking and that admittance may not be required for personal reform.
The Prevalence of Elder Self-Neglect in a Community-Dwelling Population
Authors: Dong XinQi , Simon Melissa A. , Mosqueda Laura , Evans Denis A.
Published: December 2011

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of self-neglect and its specific behaviors in a community-dwelling population of older adults. Method: A population-based cohort study conducted between 2007 and 2010 rated participant’s personal and home environment, particularly with regard to hoarding, personal hygiene, house in need of repair, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate utility. Prevalence estimates were presented across health-related variables of health status, physical function, and cognitive function. Results: There were 4,627 older adults (1,645 men and 2,982 women). Prevalence of self-neglect in older adults increased with lower health status in both men (4.7% in very good/excellent health, 7.9% in good health, and 14.9% in fair/poor health) and women (4.5% in very good/excellent health, 7.9% in good health, and 10.6% in fair/poor health). For those with ≥3 Katz impairments, the prevalence of self-neglect in older adults was 12.8% in men and 13.8% in women. For those with MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) ≤20, the prevalence of self-neglect in older adults was 18.8% in men and 13.6% in women. Discussion: Self-neglect was clearly prevalent among older adults, especially among those with lower health status and physical and cognitive function.
Online Health Information Seeking
Authors: Miller Lisa M. Soederberg , Bell Robert A.
Published: December 2011

Objectives: The Internet holds great potential to support information gathering and decision making surrounding health education and self-care. Older adults, however, underutilize the Internet for health information searches relative to younger adults. The goal of the present study was to examine age differences in the role of trust and ease of search in predicting whether or not individuals use (adopters) or do notuse (nonadopters) the Internet to search for health information. Method: We used logistic regressions todetermine whether there were age differences in the extent to which trust and ease of search predicted online health information searches within a nationally-representative sample of 3796 adults from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Results: Adopters were more trusting of Internet health informationthan nonadopters. However, a significant age by trust interaction indicated that this difference increased in magnitude with age, a pattern that held even after controlling for demographic and health variables. Conclusions: Older adults may benefit from special instructions designed to boost Internet trust, for example, learning how to distinguish between high and low quality health-related websites.
Frailty as a Predictor of Falls in Older Mexican Americans
Authors: Samper-Ternent Rafael , Karmarkar Amol , Graham James , Reistetter Tim , Ottenbacher Ken
Published: December 2011

Objective: Examine the relationship between frailty and falls. Method: A total of 847 Mexican Americans from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly were evaluated. The outcome variable was fall occurrence. Some predictor variables included were frailty, sociodemographic variables, functional and health status, and prior falls. Results: Those who fell were more likely to be women, not married, had prior falls, more functional problems and poorer health. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) for falls was 1.9 for nonfrail individuals and 3.2 for frail individuals. Prefrail individuals had 1.36 higher odds of falls (95% CI [1.11, 1.67]), individuals with prior falls had 1.26 higher odds of falls (95% CI [1.15, 1.37]), and those with poor balance had 1.49 higher odds of falls (95% CI [1.15, 1.95]) over the 2 years ( p < .01). Discussion: Frailty increases the odds of falls in older Mexican Americans. Interventions tailored to reduce fall incidence and improve health care quality for older Mexican Americans are needed.
Comparison of ISO Standard and TKR patient axial force profiles during the stance phase of gait
Authors: Lundberg Hannah J , Ngai Valentina , Wimmer Markus A
Published: December 2011

Preclinical endurance testing of total knee replacements (TKRs) is performed using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) load and motion protocols. The standards are based on data from normal subjects and may not sufficiently mimic in vivo implant conditions. In this study, a mathematical model was used to calculate the axial force profile of 30 TKR patients with two current implant types, 22 with NexGen and eight with Miller-Galante II Cruciate-Retaining TKRs, and statistically compare the axial force specified by the ISO standard to the TKR patients. Significant differences were found between the axial forces of both groups of TKR patients and the ISO standard at local maxima and minima points in the first half of stance. The force impulse (area under the axial force curve, representing cumulative loading) was smaller for the ISO standard than the TKR patients, but only for those with NexGen implants. Waveform analysis using the coefficient of multiple correlation showed that the ISO and TKR patient axial force profiles were similar. The combined effect of ISO standard compressive load and motion differences from TKR patients could explain some of the differences between the wear scars on retrieved tibial components and those tested in total joint simulators.
A combination therapy to treat second-degree anti-Ro/La-related congenital heart block. A strategy to avoid stable third-degree heart block?
Authors: Ruffatti A , Milanesi O , Chiandetti L , Cerutti A , Gervasi MT , De Silvestro G , Pengo V , Punzi L
Published: December 2011

While mainly based on the use of fluorinated steroids, there is no standard management of anti-Ro/La-related congenital heart block (CHB). This is a report concerning two consecutive cases of anti-Ro/La-related second-degree block treated with betamethasone (4 mg/day), weekly plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs; 1 g/kg) administered every 15 days, a therapy that was begun shortly after CHB was detected and continued until delivery. The newborns were also treated with IVIG (1 g/kg) soon after birth and continued fortnightly until the anti-Ro/La antibody levels became undetectable. In both cases second-degree AV block reverted to a stable sinus rhythm with a first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Moreover, there was no recurrence of CHB when therapy was suspended, as confirmed by a 29 month and an eight month follow-up, respectively.
A case of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Ito I , Nishida M , Morioka S , Nozaki T , Imamura T , Morimoto A , Akioka S , Sugimoto T , Hamaoka K , Hosoi H
Published: December 2011

We report on an 11-year-old girl who developed steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS) at the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and clinical and renal histological findings suggested that her NS would be associated with SLE-related podocytopathy. Although initial treatment with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone was ineffective, following treatment with cyclosporine and an angiotensin receptor blocker was effective for her nephrotic proteinuria. She had developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was started instead of cyclosporine. At present, 45 months after the onset, she is in remission of both NS and SLE. This case indicates that NS associated with SLE-related podocytopathy should be included in the spectrum of glomerulopathy accompanying SLE, also in the pediatric population.
Analysis of 15 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus manifesting with negative immunofluorescence anti-nuclear antibodies after treatment
Authors: Song L-J , Ding F , Liu H-X , Shu Q , Yu X , Li J , Li X-F
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) manifesting with negative immunofluorescence anti-nuclear antibodies (IFANA) after treatment for the better understanding of negative conversion of IFANA. Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory data of hospitalized SLE patients between March 2006 and May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen cases with negative IFANA were identified in 960 patients. All of the 15 patients were severe, 11 patients manifested with nephritic range proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, 8 patients were complicated with severe infection and all of the patients had been treated with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant. Anti-ENA antibodies were positive in 4 of 15 patients. Eight patients died after average 1-year follow-up. Collectively, negative IFANA is mainly attributed to nephritic-range proteinuria; and large-dose glucocorticoid, immunosuppressant and severe infection are also important factors for negative IFANA. Antinuclear antibody can be detected in some SLE patients with negative IFANA by changing the detection method and titer. Negative conversion of IFANA often indicates unfavorable prognosis for severe patients.
Inequality in Access to Health Care in Cambodia
Authors: Hong Rathavuth , Them Rathnita
Published: December 2011

Cambodia faces major challenges in its effort to provide access to health care for all. Although there is a sharp improvement in health and health care in Cambodia, 6 in 10 women still deliver at home assisted by unskilled birth attendants. This practice is associated with higher maternal and infant deaths. This article analyzes the 2005 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey data to examine the relationship between socioeconomic inequality and deliveries at home assisted by unskilled birth attendants. It is evident that babies in poorer households are significantly more likely to be delivered at home by an unskilled birth attendant than those in wealthier households. Moreover, delivery at home by an unskilled attendant is associated with mothers who have no education, live in a rural residence, and are farmers, and with higher birth order children. Results from this analysis demonstrate that socioeconomic inequality is still a major factor contributing to ill health in Cambodia.
Attempted Suicide in Shanghai Districts
Authors: Shan Huaihai , Wu Yi , Chen Shengqi , Leng Yanan , Qu Zhengwan , Ballinari Pietro , Michel Konrad
Published: December 2011

This is a pilot study whose objective was to collect data on attempted suicide in 5 districts of Shanghai and to test the feasibility of introducing an ongoing monitoring of attempted suicide. Data on a total of 363 cases were collected. The mean age of the patients was 33 years, 67% being female. Ingesting drugs or other chemical substances was the main method used for self-harm. Reasons for attempted suicide in these districts of Shanghai often appear to be related to family conflicts and unemployment. In spite of methodological limitations, the recorded data allow some preliminary conclusions regarding the characteristics of patients in districts of Shanghai admitted after a suicide attempt. Continuous monitoring of attempted suicide in this urban area of China should be established and data collection improved to raise awareness in health professionals and to develop preventive measures geared toward the needs of these patients.
A GIS-Based Assessment of Environmental Influences on Allergy Development in Children
Authors: Lam Agnes , Wong Gary W. K. , Poon Chin Man , Lee Shui Shan
Published: December 2011

This study aims to assess potential environmental influences on allergy development in children. Based on a parent-completed questionnaire survey administered in Hong Kong in 2003 in accordance with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood protocol, the prevalence and incidence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis of 508 preschool children aged 4 to 6 years in Yuen Long District were determined and a range of indoor and outdoor environmental factors were assessed. Exposure to moisture and mold in the first year of life increased the risk of asthma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40-4.68) and rhinoconjunctivitis (aOR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.15-3.80). Current maternal smoking was also associated with a higher prevalence of asthma (aOR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.04-3.84). No association was observed between outdoor traffic-related air pollutants and the prevalence of the allergic conditions. Indoor home environments had a stronger influence on allergy development, whereas exposure to traffic-related external environment gave a variable effect, the significance of which would be difficult to be substantiated.
Targeting Individual Empowerment to Raise Leaders for Local Oral Health Promotion in Japan
Authors: Aizawa Fumie , Kishi Mitsuo , Aizawa Yuzuru , Hirata Soichiro , Ishii Takuo , Yonemitsu Masami
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of human resources for health promotion advocacy in a rural community. A 16-item questionnaire was sent to 1000 residents of a rural Japanese town. Items concerned demographics, participation in organizational activities, awareness of volunteer activities, and willingness to participate in community-based oral health activities. Responses were measured on a 5-point scale. The response rate was 57.4%. To reveal potential factors from the distribution of responses, a principal component analysis was performed, and 4 components were extracted. The components were interpreted as “Municipality initiative,” “Personal initiative,” “Worth volunteering,” and “Internal health locus of control (HLC),” respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis using the above components stratified by gender and age- group revealed that potential leaders in oral health activities in Japan are presently participating in social activities of their own accord and highly value volunteer activity. Target groups are senior males and middle-aged females.
What Is the Association Between Maternal Age and Neonatal Mortality? An Analysis of the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Kamal S. M. Mostafa
Published: December 2011

This study aims to investigate the effect of adolescent motherhood on neonatal mortality in Bangladesh using data from the nationally representative 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to assess the relationship between neonatal mortality and sociodemographic contextual factors focusing on maternal age, in particular, adolescent and adult motherhood. The statistical analyses yielded quantitatively important and reliable estimates of neonatal death. The sequential multivariate logistic regression analyses yielded significantly increased risk of neonatal mortality among children of adolescent mothers than of adult mothers. Maternal education, religion, birth rank, and antenatal care seeking are also important determinants of neonatal death. Programs should aim to support girls to stay in schooling for a longer period to be higher educated. Delaying the age at first marriage may be also a valuable strategy to promote and improve infants’ health and survival status.
Impact of Hypertension-Related Comorbidity on Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Lee Myung Hee , So Eun Sun
Published: December 2011

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the most prevalent comorbid chronic diseases in hypertensives on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the general representative Korean population using the EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D) and to assess this impact by sex and after controlling for sociodemographic factors. The effects of hypertension and comorbidity on HRQOL were examined using multiple linear regression models with Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. In a total of 5736 adults, the prevalence of hypertension alone was 20.8%, and the prevalence rates of hypertension comorbid with diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and musculoskeletal (MS) disease were 9.5%, 3.8%, and 33.5%, respectively. Females with hypertension and other comorbidity showed worse HRQOL scores, with the exception of hypertension and CVD, where males scored worse for HRQOL. After adjustment, subjects with comorbid DM, CVD, or MS experienced EQ-5D scores decreasing by 0.01, 0.09, and 0.05, respectively. Since comorbidity impairs HRQOL in hypertensives, health providers should consider comorbid diseases in hypertensives when developing methods of intervention to effectively manage hypertension.
Optimization of magneto-mechanical energy scavenger for automotive tire
Authors: Tornincasa Stefano , Repetto Maurizio , Bonisoli Elvio , Di Monaco Francesco
Published: December 2011

This article presents multidisciplinary optimization methods applied to the design and performance evaluation of a magneto-mechanical energy scavenger for automotive wireless tire sensors. Optimal performance strictly depends on source characteristics, volume, weight and power density targets, energy scavenger typology, technological and manufacturing capabilities, optimization and reliability of performance, environment requirements, and so on. Thus an optimization study has been conducted on equivalent viscous damping due to strong magneto-electrical-mechanical coupling. To do this, an optimization tool has been developed that maximizes the power output in specific working conditions by varying the number and size of coils.
Understanding Qualitative Metasynthesis
Authors: Erwin Elizabeth J. , Brotherson Mary Jane , Summers Jean Ann
Published: December 2011

Qualitative metasynthesis is an intentional and coherent approach to analyzing data across qualitative studies. It is a process that enables researchers to identify a specific research question and then search for, select, appraise, summarize, and combine qualitative evidence to address the research question. This process uses rigorous qualitative methods to synthesize existing qualitative studies to construct greater meaning through an interpretative process. The purpose of this article is to describe qualitative metasynthesis as an innovative research approach for the field of early childhood intervention. Although this is not a new research approach in other fields, the authors suggest that it can offer a promising practice in the field of early childhood intervention. In this article, the authors explore how qualitative metasynthesis can be a practical and effective approach of inquiry as they continue to broaden their understanding about young children with disabilities and their families.
The Contribution Falls Have to Increasing Risk of Nursing Home Placement in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Spoelstra Sandra Lee , Given Barbara , You Mei , Given Charles W.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: To determine whether a fall, as an adverse event in combination with other risk factors, influences nursing home placement (NHP). Method: A retrospective longitudinal study of 6,515 high-risk, community-dwelling, dually eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) participants in a waiver program during 2002-2007 are examined. Data are obtained from the Minimum Data Set—Home Care linked with Medicaid claim files. The authors fit multiple factors to a logistic curve, using generalized linear modeling to predict increased risk of NHP when a fall occurred. Results: Prior NHP and an increased rate of falls (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.52, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.25-1.84) and prior NHP and the same rate of falls (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.26-1.91) both increased NHP. Conclusion An adverse event such as a fall and prior NHP is a strong predictor of future NHP and should be taken into consideration while developing care plans for community-dwelling older adults.
On the principle of virtual power in continuum mechanics
Authors: Lidström P
Published: December 2011

The principle of virtual power and its equivalence to the Euler laws expressing the global balance of momentum and moment of momentum is demonstrated. The demonstration includes bodies subjected to jump discontinuities (shocks) and external and internal constraints.
Vehicular Homicide in France in the Equine Era
Authors: Whitt Hugh P. , Tietjen Grant E.
Published: December 2011

Contrary to what would be expected from Norbert Elias, whose theory of the civilizing process links criminal violence to impulsivity, data from the Comptes généraux de l’administration de la justice criminelle en France show that rates of homicide due to imprudence in controlling a horse or cart increased with modernization across départements early in the nineteenth century. Drawing on work by Elias and others, we suggest an interpretation based on traffic congestion and changes in the social construction of time as Western societies became more modernized and urbanized.