bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reflection through web discussions: assessing nursing students' work‐based learning
Authors: Hulkari Kirsti , Mahlamäki‐Kultanen Seija
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate evidence for the use of web discussion in the assessment of work‐based learning in practical nurse education. The paper seeks to investigate what kind of conclusions can be drawn from the students’ learning and learning processes, especially from their ability to reflect by analysing web discussions.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered in an action research project in a vocational secondary level institution. The data consists of 26 web discussions among student groups and their teachers' qualitative, evaluative reports, 26 altogether. The data were coded inductively with the NVivo 1.3 qualitative data analysis software. The analysis followed the principles of hierarchical coding. The purpose was to study how the processes of vocational growth, learning and reflection can be detected in the web discussion.

Findings

The paper finds that web discussion provides valuable information about the learning processes of students. It is a valid measure for the ability to reflective thinking and a useful method to develop reflection skills. Web discussion is feasible, but not an adequate assessment form of work‐based learning all alone. It serves best the assessment needs of the final phases of studying.

Research limitations/implications

The research was conducted in practical nurse education where communication and reflection are critical. More detailed research is needed from other vocational sectors.

Practical implications

The research findings suggest the use of web discussion as one valuable solution for the assessment of students’ competence gained through work‐based learning.

Originality/value

The paper is based on original data.
Barrier impact on organizational learning within complex organizations
Authors: McLaughlin Stephen , Paton Robert A. , Macbeth Douglas K.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the manner in which employees access, create and share information and knowledge within a complex supply chain with a view to better understanding how to identify and manage barriers which may inhibit such exchanges.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review combined with an in‐depth case study analysis identified a range of potential transfer barriers. These in turn were examined in terms of their consistency of impact by an end‐to‐end process survey conducted within an IBM facility.

Findings

Barrier impact cannot be assumed to be uniform across the core processes of the organization. Process performance will be impacted upon in different ways and subject to varying degrees of influence by the transfer barriers. Barrier identification and management must take place at a process rather than at the organizational level.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based, in the main, on an extensive single company study. Although significant in terms of influencing both knowledge and information systems design and management the study/findings have still to be fully replicated across a range of public and private organizations.

Originality/value

The deployment of generic information technology and business systems needs to be questioned if they have been designed and implemented to satisfy organizational rather than process needs.
Beyond strategy: management style for the knowledge economy
Authors: Sparrow Oliver
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the need for a new style of management to enable companies and organisations to better face the future.

Design/methodology/approach

Draws on analysis carried out within the Challenge Forum in recent projects.

Findings

Companies face an increasing number of “engines of change” which present a more complex environment than the past. Management strategy of the past – to focus on core activities, to outsource, to re‐engineer, to simplify – has left most organisations without the capacity to deal with the growing complexity they face. The article outlines a management approach designed to understand this complexity and enable the organisation to take advantage.

Originality/value

Builds on developments in management thinking and provides an outline for a new management style in the knowledge economy.
Work and depression in economic organizations: the need for action
Authors: Gray Harry
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to raise concerns about how depression in the work place is too often overlooked and to identify what needs to be done to benefit individuals and organizations affected.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper defines the contexts, drivers and consequences of depression at work and goes on to identify some of the actions that need to be taken to support individuals and limit the impact on organizations and society.

Findings

There is a need for much better identification and care around depressions at work than is the case. Not only should GPs be more aware of depression as a work related issue, but organizations should note that much of their dysfunctionality is caused by depressed workers. It is proposed that serious attention be given to providing systematic and universal support by both employers and the NHS to deal with this great personal and economic matter.

Practical implications

The paper should lead to further action by all the players in this aspect of the labor market.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to raise the profile of an issue, depression, that is not talked about sufficiently but that has huge personal and organizational impacts. The reader is invited to consider the suggestions for action within their own organizations.
Information systems development: where does knowledge lie and how does learning occur?
Authors: Boateng Richard , Hinson Robert
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to delineate a road map for development and learning in organizations using information systems as a key trigger.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper using arguments from the information systems development (ISD) literature.

Findings

The authors show that there are two knowledge sources, external and internal; and the interaction of these diverse knowledge sources is needed for the effective utilization of information systems as a development and learning tool in organizations.

Originality/value

The authors recommend that organizations should seek to learn during ISD processes as well as learning from the project outcome.
Ownership structure and underwriter spread: evidence from Japanese IPO firms
Authors: Suzuki Katsushi
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between the level of underwriter spread and ownership structure by using data from Japanese IPO firms that are issued during the years 1997‐2002.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses regression analysis to determine the effect of the ownership structure (board, bank, affiliated venture capital firms) on underwriter spread and on the post‐issue operating performance of IPO firms.

Findings

This paper finds several results that are in contrast with previous studies. The ownership by board members is positively associated with the level of gross spread but is not associated with post‐issue operating performance. The presence of a commercial bank in the ownership structure of IPO firms decreases the gross spread and increases the post‐issue operating performance of IPO firms. Issuers pay a lower underwriting fee as the ownership share of the lead underwriter‐affiliated VC increases, unlike that of other VCs.

Originality/value

The results of this paper, supporting certification and monitoring hypotheses, contribute to academic research. Most previous studies do not support certification effects.
The initial and long‐run returns of Japanese venture capital‐backed and non‐venture capital‐backed IPOs
Authors: Kirkulak Berna
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine initial and long‐run returns of Japanese IPOs in particular venture capital (VC)‐backed and non‐VC‐backed. The main research focus is on the performance of VC‐backed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a comprehensive long‐run performance analysis. As such, it provides evidence using two performance methods: cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) and buy‐and‐hold return (BHARs). This paper uses updated data from 1998 through 2001 and presents a deeper understanding for the long‐run returns of Japanese IPOs.

Findings

The findings show that there is no statistically significant difference in the initial returns of VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed companies. The evidence is inconsistent with the VC certification hypothesis that venture capitalists certify the true value of the firm and therefore reduce underpricing. Further, Japanese IPOs underperform in the long‐run. The fads hypothesis is applicable to explain the poor long‐run performance. The results suggest that although VC‐backed companies have high initial returns, they perform significantly worse over a three‐year time horizon than non‐VC‐backed companies.

Research limitations/implications

An examination of the lock‐up agreements is necessary to understand negative returns. The results of this paper provide a good starting point for such a study.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the stock returns of VC‐backed and non‐VC‐backed companies. It is hoped that investors and academics will benefit from the outcome of the current paper.

Originality/value

To date, there is no comprehensive study on the Japanese IPO market applying both CAR and BHAR long‐run measurements. This paper applies both measurements. Further, this is the first study of the long‐run performance of Japanese firms going public in Mothers and in Hercules stock markets.
Firms as credit suppliers: an empirical study of Spanish firms
Authors: María Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Olga
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purposes of the study are to: contribute evidence on the role played by ordinary commercial firms in providing finance to other firms by granting trade credit to customers; and test some theories about the motives of small and medium‐sized firms in extending such trade credit.

Design/methodology/approach

The Generalised Method of Moments is applied to an unbalanced panel of small and medium‐sized firms in the Canary Islands (Spain). Analysis of data from a unique database is used to obtain consistent estimations and to test some proposed hypotheses about the determinants of extending trade credit.

Findings

The study finds that: firms with greater access to financial markets can serve as a credit channel for clients that have difficulties in obtaining institutional financing (thus supporting the theory of financial advantage with respect to trade credit); firms can reduce transaction costs through financing clients (thus confirming that “transaction motives” are significant in granting trade credit); and that trade credit between firms known to each other reduces problems associated with information asymmetry in financial arrangements.

Research limitations/implications

The findings represent correlated inferences, rather than proven causal relationships. Moreover, some results are interpretive in nature; more detailed data and analyses could assist in investigating the relationships noted here.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the scarce empirical literature about the motives for granting trade credit by small and medium‐sized firms. This is also the first study to analyse this behaviour from a dataset of firms in the Canary Islands (Spain).
The uses and potential of biometrics in health care
Authors: Chandra Ashish , Durand Roger , Weaver Samantha
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the utilization, attitudes, and concerns of health care consumers and providers about biometrics.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were analyzed from a survey of 324 adult subjects, including 167 “health care consumers” and 157 “healthcare providers.”

Findings

Health care providers were found more accepting of biometric technologies than consumers, a finding that seems to follow from more familiarity and experience with those technologies. Feelings about the potential uses and limitations of biometrics were found to be more differentiated among providers than consumers. Yet, concerns about privacy and the need for information limits were identifiable as important feelings among providers and consumers alike. Finally, demographic characteristics only weakly to modestly distinguished concerns about privacy and confidentiality among health care consumers and providers.

Research limitations/implications

The findings reported here suggest the need for additional research into the types of biometrics adopted in diverse health care settings and into the nature of innovators or early adopters.

Practical implications

If biometrics is to gain acceptance, there seems to be a need for different promotion strategies for providers and consumers. Also, concerns for personal privacy will need to be considered.

Originality/value

This paper fills an important gap in understanding the uses, feelings, and concerns about biometrics among health care consumers and providers.
Management history in other places
Authors: Lamond David
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper has been written to promote a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary approach to the themes of management and business, especially in the exploration of the history of management and business.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper incorporates a critical, comparative review of papers related to the scholarly communications in the Journal of Management History that have been published in other discipline‐based journals.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that, when it comes to scholarly consideration the subject matter can and indeed must be examined from multiple perspectives. This is not a new finding but one that reaffirms the importance of the multidisciplinary engagement and interactivity of business and management scholars, including when history is that subject matter.

Originality/value

Rather than being focussed on examining articles published within what might be called the “management history” literature, this paper has sought relevant articles outside that mainstream literature base, as a way of better understanding the interconnectedness of these different considerations.
A study of out‐sourcing versus in‐sourcing tasks within a project value chain
Authors: McKenna David , Walker Derek H.T.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a case of in‐sourcing a key resource verses using the standard mode of operation of utilizing an established out‐sourcing firm. The studied organisation is a large telecommunication firm in North America. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how a new approach to the organisational procurement decision making process to facilitate competitive advantage was influenced by simplicity rather than simple cost reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

Single illustrative case study testing the usefulness of the composite out‐sourcing decision framework decision making framework together with a clear focus on total value adding elements of service delivery.

Findings

The analysis that in‐sourcing critical tasks or processes are advantageous to the case study organization as well as to the smaller internal department that it directly impacts.

Research limitations/implications

When undertaking business projects or programs of projects, there are many cases where business processes may be outsourced or sub‐contracted. While out‐sourcing does, and will in the future, play a large role in cost reduction and giving the buying firm the ability to focus on core competencies, there is still the niche market to in‐source critical tasks and retain critical resources. Decisions need to be based on value contribution rather than simple cost reduction.

Originality/value

This paper's value has been to illustrate some frameworks, tools and techniques used to explain how a particular insourcing/outsourcing decision was undertaken in a business project context and it explains the rationale behind decisions being made.
The Egyptian mortgage practice
Authors: Hassanein Amr A.G. , El‐Barkouky Mohamed M.G.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the current mortgage system in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The institutional and regulatory structures of two international mortgage systems, namely: the USA and the Malaysian were examined through an extensive literature survey. On the other hand, data on the Egyptian mortgage system were collected, analyzed, then compared to both practices.

Findings

The results identified several limitations in the Egyptian mortgage practice such as: inefficient procedures of property registration; absence of an efficient mortgage secondary market; relatively high‐mortgage lending rates; non‐existence of various types of mortgage instruments and lack of credit enhancement tools.

Research limitations/implications

The study presented several recommendations for improving the existing mortgage practice, among which were: realizing a proper secondary market and lowering mortgage lending rates.

Practical implications

By 2002, a sharp decline was experienced in the sales of housing units due to the various credit restrictions adopted by banks, coupled with high‐interest rates in relatively short amortizing periods. Accordingly, home finance process was held up, as the purchasing power of low‐ and middle‐income homebuyers was not sufficient to buy homes with such provisions. This situation imposed the need for a long‐term housing financing mechanism that would directly retrieve the residential construction sector.

Originality/value

This research was innovative in the sense that it directed the Egyptian Government's attention to the existence of Cagamas in Malaysia and accordingly, the first liquidity facility company in Egypt was established in June 2006.
Gli1contributes to the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer through matrix metalloproteinase‐9 activation
Authors: Nagai Shuntaro , Nakamura Masafumi , Yanai Kosuke , Wada Junji , Akiyoshi Takashi , Nakashima Hiroshi , Ohuchida Kenoki , Sato Norihiro , Tanaka Masao , Katano Mitsuo
Published: April 2008

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has been reported to be associated with the growth of pancreatic cancer, but its role in the invasive phenotype is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the role of the Hh pathway in pancreatic cancer cell invasiveness using a Matrigel invasion assay. Blockade of the Hh pathway by cyclopamine inhibited pancreatic cancer cell invasion in association with a decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9. By contrast, activation of the Hh pathway by the addition of exogenous Sonic hedgehog increased cell invasion and MMP‐9 expression. Stable transfection of pancreatic cancer cells with Gli1 increased their invasiveness, which was associated with activation of MMP‐9. We also showed that inhibition of MMP‐9 by small interfering RNA blocked the increased invasiveness of Gli1‐transfected cells. Furthermore, inhibition of Gli1 by small interfering RNA suppressed the invasiveness and MMP‐9 expression of pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that members of the Hh pathway, especially Gli1, play an important role in the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells through the regulation of MMP‐9 expression. (Cancer Sci2008; 99: 1377–1384)
Working memory and multi‐tasking in paranoid schizophrenia with and without comorbid substance use disorder
Authors: Thoma Patrizia , Daum Irene
Published: April 2008

Aims  Addiction is a frequent comorbid disorder in schizophrenia and associated with poor outcome. The present study sought to determine whether addicted and non‐addicted schizophrenic patients are impaired differentially on the executive abilities of working memory and multi‐tasking which are relevant for maintaining abstinence.

Design  Comparisons of executive performance in clinical and control groups.

Setting  In‐patient setting.

Participants  The cognitive profile of schizophrenic patients with and without comorbid substance abuse disorder was compared with that of patients suffering from major depression or alcoholism and healthy participants.

Measurements  A range of cognitive tasks was used to assess: (i) the ability to update continuously context information in working memory and to use it for action selection; and (ii) the capacity to divide attention between different sensory input channels and to coordinate verbal and manual responses.

Findings  Single‐diagnosis schizophrenic patients showed pronounced impairments on measures of online maintenance and use of context information. Their ability to coordinate different sensory input channels (divided attention) was also impaired. Addicted schizophrenics showed evidence of impaired sensory input management and of reduced context sensitivity, when age differences were controlled.

Conclusions  The present study indicates severe working memory and multi‐tasking deficits in schizophrenia which are, however, not exacerbated by comorbid addiction.
Social cognition in alcoholism: a link to prefrontal cortex dysfunction?
Authors: Uekermann Jennifer , Daum Irene
Published: April 2008

Aims Alcoholism is associated with a range of cognitive deficits. These deficits might be explained by the ‘frontal lobe hypothesis’ which suggests a specific vulnerability of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. Social cognition is thought to be processed in the PFC, but so far only few studies have addressed the issue of social cognition deficits in alcoholism. This review aims to evaluate the deficits in social cognition in alcoholic patients. In addition an outline for future perspectives is given.

Methods Medline and Psyclit searches were performed for a 30‐year period (1977–2007).

Results Alcoholism is associated clearly with social cognition impairments which include emotional face and prosody perception problems, theory of mind deficits and humour processing difficulties.

Conclusions In summary, the social cognition impairments are consistent with the frontal lobe hypothesis of alcoholism. Future studies should focus on (i) the delineation of the basic cognitive processes which underlie social cognition deficits; and (ii) their relevance as predictors of treatment outcome in alcoholism.
The role of national policies intended to regulate adolescent smoking in explaining the prevalence of daily smoking: a study of adolescents from 27 European countries
Authors: Schnohr Christina W. , Kreiner Svend , Rasmussen Mette , Due Pernille , Currie Candace , Diderichsen Finn
Published: April 2008

Aims  This study seeks to examine whether contextual factors influence adolescents' daily smoking. A focus was placed on three modifiable policies operating at a national level, non‐smoking policy at educational facilities, price and minimum age for buying tobacco.

Design  This study is based on a merged data set consisting of the 2001/02 Health Behavior in School‐aged Children (HBSC) study and national‐level data collected from the 2003 WHO European Tobacco Control Database and the World Development Indicators Database. HBSC is an international study including adolescents from 32 countries in Europe, Israel and North America. Data were analysed with multi‐level hierarchical regression models.

Findings  The study found large differences in the prevalence of daily smoking among adolescents, and also large differences between boys and girls within some countries. The study found that smoking bans in schools were associated with lower odds ratios of daily smoking, which was the one positive association in the study. The study found no association between cigarette prices and adolescent daily smoking prevalence, and also the somewhat unexpected finding that having an age limit for allowing adolescents to purchase tobacco was associated with an increased risk of daily smoking.

Conclusions  There was an association between mandatory national bans on smoking and lower smoking prevalence. This should be confirmed by studies that examine whether mandatory bans are more rigorously implemented than voluntary bans. If this association is causal, introducing mandatory bans may reduce adolescent smoking prevalence. The findings that price was unrelated to smoking prevalence undermine findings elsewhere that adolescent smokers are more price‐sensitive than adult smokers, but longitudinal studies are needed.
The joint association of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking with hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes
Authors: Valencia‐Martín José Lorenzo , Galán Iñaki , Rodríguez‐Artalejo Fernando
Published: April 2008

Background  Previous studies on alcohol‐related road safety have not assessed the joint impact of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking.

Aim  To examine the joint and separate association of average volume of alcohol and binge drinking with hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes.

Methods  Data were drawn from telephone interviews conducted in the period 2000–2005, with 12 037 individuals representative of the population aged 18–64 years in the Madrid region, Spain. The threshold between average moderate and heavy volumes was 40 g of alcohol/day in men and 24 g/day in women. Binge drinking was defined as intake of ≥ 80 g of alcohol in men and ≥ 60 g in women, during any drinking occasion in the preceding 30 days. Individuals were classified into the following categories: (i) non‐drinkers; (ii) moderate drinkers with no binge drinking (MDNB); (iii) moderate drinkers with binge drinking (MDB); (iv) heavy drinkers with no binge drinking (HDNB); and (v) heavy drinkers with binge drinking (HDB). Analyses were performed using logistic regression, with adjustment for sex, age and educational level.

Findings  Frequency of inadequate seat‐belt use increased progressively across categories of alcohol consumption, with odds ratio (OR) 1 in non‐drinkers, 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.33] in MDNB, 1.69 (1.41–2.03) in MDB, 1.68 (1.24–2.29) in HDNB and 2.41 (1.83–3.18) in HDB (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with MDNB, alcohol‐impaired driving was also more frequent in MDB (OR 7.43; 95% CI: 5.52–10.00), HDNB (OR 7.31; 95% CI: 4.37–12.25) and in HDB (OR 15.50; 95% CI: 10.62–22.61). Lastly, compared with non‐drinkers, frequency of traffic crashes increased progressively across categories of alcohol consumption (P for trend = 0.028), although it only reached statistical significance in HDB (OR 2.01; 95% CI: 1.00–4.09).

Conclusions  Self‐reported average volume of alcohol and binge drinking are both associated with self‐reported hazardous driving behaviour and traffic crashes. The strength of the association is greater when average heavy consumption and binge drinking occur jointly.
The cost‐effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for out‐patients in treatment for depression
Authors: Barnett Paul G. , Wong Wynnie , Hall Sharon
Published: April 2008

Aims Smoking cessation programs are highly cost‐effective. The cost‐effectiveness of programs for psychiatric patients may be affected by differences in cost, efficacy, survival and quality of life. We evaluated cost‐effectiveness of a program for smokers being treated for depression.

Design A randomized trial compared brief contact to a stepped smoking cessation program in 322 cigarette smoking mental health out‐patients. We determined the intervention's direct cost. Because smoking cessation may affect short‐term use of mental health care, we used administrative databases and self‐report to find mental health‐care cost.

Findings The 163 individuals randomized to stepped care received an average of $346 of smoking cessation services, including $221 for computer‐mediated assessments of readiness to quit, and $124 for counseling, nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion. The cessation program was used by 53 participants. Total cost of smoking cessation and mental health services was $4805 in the stepped care group and $4173 in the brief‐contact care group (not significantly different). After 18 months of follow‐up, the stepped care group had 5.5% greater abstinence from smoking. Smoking cessation services cost $6204 per successful quit. Cessation services and mental health care cost was $11 496 per successful quit.

Conclusion If smoking cessation yields 1.2 years additional life, the cessation services cost $5170 per life‐year, and cessation services and mental health care cost $9580 per life‐year. Even if quitting does not increase survival of depressed individuals as well as in other smokers, the stepped care intervention is likely to be regarded as cost‐effective.
Parental smoking and smoking experimentation in childhood increase the risk of being a smoker 20 years later: the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study
Authors: Paul Seana L. , Blizzard Leigh , Patton George C. , Dwyer Terry , Venn Alison
Published: April 2008

Aims  To examine the long‐term effects of childhood smoking experimentation and exposure to parental smoking on adult smoking risk.

Methods  Data were from a 20‐year follow‐up of 9–15‐year‐olds who completed questionnaires in the 1985 Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey (n = 6559). The relative risks (RR) of adult current smoking in 2004–05 for childhood exposure to smoking experimentation (never, a few puffs, < 10 cigarettes, > 10 cigarettes) and parental smoking (none, father, mother, both parents) in 1985, with adjustment for confounders, were estimated by log binomial modelling. Analyses were stratified by age (9–13 and 14–15 years) and sex.

Findings  Participation at follow‐up was 54% (n = 3559). Childhood smoking experimentation increased the risk of being a current smoker particularly for 14–15‐year‐old experimenters of more than 10 cigarettes [males, RR 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74–4.25; females, RR 6.39, 95% CI 2.85–14.33]. Parental smoking was associated with adult current smoking risk, particularly for 9–13‐year‐olds with two smoking parents (males, RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–1.96; females, RR 1.99, 95% CI 1.52–2.61) and older males with smoking mothers (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.22–2.73). Parental smoking was not associated with childhood smoking experimentation.

Conclusions  These findings suggest that any childhood smoking experimentation increases the risk of being a smoker 20 years later. As exposure to parental smoking predicted current smoking, parents should be aware of the association between their own smoking behaviour and that of their children.
Comparison of food mixing ability among mandibulectomy patients
Authors: KADOTA C. , SUMITA Y. I. , WANG Y. , OTOMARU T. , MUKOHYAMA H. , FUEKI K. , IGARASHI Y. , TANIGUCHI H.
Published: April 2008

Summary  Many papers have been published on surgical mandibulectomy and reconstruction. However, only a few reports refer to masticatory function after prosthodontic treatment in mandibulectomy patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the masticatory function of mandibulectomy patients. Twenty‐three subjects (10 males and 13 females, with an average age of 63 years) participated in this study: 11 subjects who had undergone unilateral marginal mandibulectomy, six subjects with unilateral segmental mandibulectomy with reconstruction and six subjects with hemimandibulectomy without reconstruction. Mixing Ability Index (MAI) was used to measure masticatory function on the non‐defect side and on the defect side with a prosthesis installed. Comparisons were carried out among the marginal, segmental and hemimandibular groups and between the non‐defect side and the defect side. Consequently, our study indicates these results. On the non‐defect side, a significant difference was found between the marginal and the segmental groups, and between the marginal and the hemimandibular groups. In the marginal and the segmental groups, a significant difference was found between the non‐defect and the defect sides. In conclusion, our study suggests that MAI is an adequate tool to study the masticatory function in mandibulectomy patients, the masticatory function of the mandibulectomy patients is more impaired than that of the ordinary removable partial denture patients, and that surgical intervention affects the masticatory function on not only the defect side but also the non‐defect side in mandibulectomy patients.
Relationship between dental implant stability determined by resonance frequency analysis measurements and peri‐implant vertical defects: an in vitro study
Authors: TÖZÜM T. F. , TURKYILMAZ I. , McGLUMPHY E. A.
Published: April 2008

Summary  Resonance frequency (RF) analysis is a non‐invasive and objective technique developed for implantology, where it measures the stability of the implant in the bone socket. A limited number of studies were performed to compare different stability measurement devices. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the implant stability and peri‐implant vertical defect by using the new wireless RF analyser. Micro‐textured rough‐surfaced implants with diameters of 3·7 and 4·8 mm and with a length of 12 mm were used. The peak insertion torque was recorded with the help of the torque control system only during the implant placement. The peri‐implant defects were created in millimetre increments ranging between 0 and 5 mm to the same extent on all implants. The RF analysis values were measured by using the RF analyser. Significant correlation was found between insertion torque (44·3 ± 3 N cm) and implant stability quotient (ISQ) (all implants: r = 0·76, 3·7 mm diameter: r = 0·65, 4·8 mm diameter: r = 0·80). For 3·7 × 12‐mm2 implants, the mean ISQ values were 72·6 ± 2·4, 69·8 ± 2, 67·2 ± 1·8, 64·3 ± 1·9, 61·2 ± 2 and 57·2 ± 2·5 when peri‐implant vertical defects were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm; and the corresponding values were 76·5 ± 2·2, 74·5 ± 2·2, 72·3 ± 2, 70 ± 1·9, 67 ± 1·9 and 63·4 ± 2·3, respectively, for 4·8 × 12‐mm2 implants. All values were significantly different when compared with each other. The wireless RF analyser seems to be a suitable and reliable device to determine the implant stability. Peri‐implant bone loss simulated by using acrylic models may result with a decrease in ISQ values for osseo‐integrated implants measured by the RF analyser.
Relationships between implant stability, image‐based measures and nitric oxide levels
Authors: GÜNCÜ G. N. , TÖZÜM T. F. , GÜNCÜ M. B. , YAMALIK N.
Published: April 2008

Summary  For monitoring of dental implants, practitioners seem to use simultaneously a variety of image‐based and laboratory measurements. This longitudinal study was conducted to analyse the possible relationships between nitric oxide (NO) content of peri‐implant sulcus fluid (PISF), marginal bone levels and implant stability in terms of resonance frequency analysis (RFA) at immediately (IL) and conventionally (CL) loaded mandibular molar dental implants from the same individuals. Dental implants were placed in 10 patients who had first molar loss bilaterally in the mandibular area. One site of the patient was determined as IL and the other site was CL. PISF samples, marginal bone level and RFA were taken for all dental implants during a 12‐month follow‐up period. For both types of loading, there were no significant changes at implant stability (ISQ) and PISF volume during the whole study period. The lowest total nitrite levels were observed at the end of 12 months. Marginal bone gain of 0·22 and 0·09 mm was noticed between 6 and 12 months in IL and CL groups, respectively. During the study period, negative correlation was noted between radiographic bone level and ISQ at both IL and CL sites; however, this correlation reached a significant level only at 6 months in CL implant group (P = 0·015). Although not significant, marginal bone loss seems to have a negative relationship with the implant stability values regardless of the mode of loading. NO metabolism around IL and CL dental implants may not demonstrate a significantly different pattern.
The fundamental parameters of the roAp star α Circini
Authors: Bruntt H. , North J. R. , Cunha M. , Brandão I. M. , Elkin V. G. , Kurtz D. W. , Davis J. , Bedding T. R. , Jacob A. P. , Owens S. M. , Robertson J. G. , Tango W. J. , Gameiro J. F. , Ireland M. J. , Tuthill P. G.
Published: April 2008

We have used the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer to measure the angular diameter of α Cir. This is the first detailed interferometric study of a rapidly oscillating A (roAp) star, α Cir being the brightest member of its class. We used the new and more accurate Hipparcos parallax to determine the radius to be 1.967 ± 0.066 R⊙. We have constrained the bolometric flux from calibrated spectra to determine an effective temperature of 7420 ± 170 K. This is the first direct determination of the temperature of an roAp star. Our temperature is at the low end of previous estimates, which span over 1000 K and were based on either photometric indices or spectroscopic methods. In addition, we have analysed two high-quality spectra of α Cir, obtained at different rotational phases and we find evidence for the presence of spots. In both spectra we find nearly solar abundances of C, O, Si, Ca and Fe, high abundance of Cr and Mn, while Co, Y, Nd and Eu are overabundant by about 1 dex. The results reported here provide important observational constraints for future studies of the atmospheric structure and pulsation of α Cir.
Dispersal and population structure of a New World predator, the army ant Eciton burchellii
Authors: BERGHOFF S. M. , KRONAUER D. J. C. , EDWARDS K. J. , FRANKS N. R.
Published: April 2008

The army ant Eciton burchellii is probably the most important arthropod predator in the Neotropics, and many animal species depend upon it. Sex‐biased dispersal with winged males and permanently wingless queens may render this species especially sensitive to habitat fragmentation and natural barriers, which might have severe impacts on population structure and lead to population decline. Using nuclear microsatellite markers and mitochondrial sequences, we investigated genetic differentiation in a fragmented population in the Panama Canal area. While nuclear markers showed little differentiation between subpopulations (FST = 0.017), mitochondrial differentiation was maximal in some cases (ΦST = 1). This suggests that, while females are not capable of crossing barriers such as large rivers, flying males are able to promote nuclear gene flow between the studied forest patches. Consistent with this interpretation, we did not find any evidence for inbreeding or genetic deterioration on Barro Colorado Island over the last 90 years since its formation.
Adaptive topography of fluctuating selection in a Mendelian population
Authors: LANDE R.
Published: April 2008

An adaptive topography is derived for a large randomly mating diploid population under weak density‐independent selection in a fluctuating environment. Assuming a stationary distribution of environmental states with no temporal autocorrelation, a diffusion approximation for population size and allele frequency,p, reveals that the expected change inpinvolves the gradient with respect topof the stochastic intrinsic rate of increase (the density‐independent long‐run growth rate),, whereris the mean Malthusian fitness in the average environment andis the environmental variance in population growth rate. The expected relative fitness of a genotype is its Malthusian fitness in the average environment minus the covariance of its fitness with population growth rate. The influence of fitness correlation between genotypes is illustrated by an analysis of the Haldane–Jayakar model of fluctuating selection on a single diallelic locus, and on two loci with additive effects on a quantitative character.
Neurocognition in first‐degree healthy relatives (siblings) of bipolar affective disorder patients
Authors: Trivedi Jitendra K. , Goel Dishanter , Dhyani Mohan , Sharma Sachin , Singh Anand P. , Sinha Pramod K. , Tandon Rajul
Published: April 2008

Aim:  Cognitive deficits have been presupposed to be endophenotypic markers in bipolar disorder, but few studies have ascertained the cognitive deficits in healthy relatives of bipolar disorder patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the cognitive functions of first‐degree relatives of patients with bipolar disorder and compare them with healthy controls.

Methods:  Ten first‐degree apparently healthy relatives of patients with bipolar disorder were compared with 10 age‐ and education‐matched control subjects on computer‐based cognitive tests.

Results:  As compared to the control group, the relatives group performed significantly poorly on tests for executive function and vigilance, while on the test for working memory the performance was not significantly different on most of the parameters.

Conclusions:  Executive functioning and vigilance could be potential markers of the endophenotype in bipolar patients.
Enhanced activation in the extrastriate body area by goal‐directed actions
Authors: Takahashi Hidehiko , Shibuya Tomohisa , Kato Motoichiro , Sassa Takeshi , Koeda Michihiko , Yahata Noriaki , Suhara Tetsuya , Okubo Yoshiro
Published: April 2008

Aim:  Neuroimaging studies on biological motion have established the view that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) is involved in detecting intention of others. Those studies have consistently reported other regions such as body‐selective extrastriate body area (EBA) and motion‐sensitive middle temporal, in close proximity to pSTS. Whether EBA responds only to static body parts or has a more extended role as part of a system for inferring intention of others has remained an elusive issue. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of EBA in processing goal‐directed actions.

Methods:  Twelve healthy volunteers participated in the present study. Using sports‐related motions as visual stimuli, brain activations were examined during observation of goal‐directed actions and non‐goal‐directed actions on functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Results:  Compared to non‐goal‐directed actions, goal‐directed actions produced greater activations in EBA along with the mirror neuron system.

Conclusions:  EBA might contribute to understanding others' actions by representing the dynamic aspects of human motions.
Characteristics of fatigue in panic disorder patients
Authors: Kaiya Hisanobu , Sugaya Nagisa , Iwasa Reiko , Tochigi Mamoru
Published: April 2008

It was suggested that fatigue is one of characteristics of panic disorder. Fatigue was assessed in 360 patients with panic disorder using the Japanese version of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI‐J). The scores for general fatigue and reduced activity were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls. These tendencies were also observed in men when the subject group was differentiated according to sex, but not in women. In contrast, the trend for higher score for physical fatigue was observed only in the female patients. Thus, the present study suggests that the characteristics of fatigue vary with sex in panic disorder.
Political Asylum and Sovereignty-Sharing in Europe
Authors: Sicakkan Hakan G.
Published: April 2008

In focusing on the relationships between asylum recognition rates and the different institutional arrangements through which European states share or preserve their sovereignty, this article seeks to show how sovereignty-sharing affects the right to political asylum in practice. After a qualitative overview of variations in sovereignty-sharing forms, the article presents the results from a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between legal and institutional frames of asylum decision-making in 17 West European countries (EU-15, Norway and Switzerland) and the asylum recognition rates in these countries. The article ends with a brief assessment of the significance of the results for a potential policy change in the European Union.
Hemostats, sealants, and adhesives: components of the surgical toolbox
Authors: Spotnitz William D. , Burks Sandra
Published: April 2008

The surgical toolbox is expanding, and newer products are being developed to improve results. Reducing blood loss so that bloodless surgery can be performed may help minimize morbidity and length of stay. As patients, hospital administrators, and government regulators desire less invasive procedures, the surgical technical challenge is increasing. More operations are being performed through minimally invasive incisions with laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic approaches. In this setting, tools that can reduce bleeding by causing blood to clot, sealing vessels, or gluing tissues are gaining an increasing importance. Thus, hemostats, sealants, and adhesives are becoming a more important element of surgical practice. This review is designed to facilitate the reader's basic knowledge of these tools so that informed choices are made for controlling bleeding in specific clinical situations. Such information is useful for all members of the operative team. The team includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, and nurses as well as hematologists and other medical specialists who may be involved in the perioperative care of surgical patients. An understanding of these therapeutic options may also be helpful to the transfusion service. In some cases, these materials may be stored in the blood bank, and their appropriate use may reduce demand for other transfusion components. The product classification used in this review includes hemostats as represented by product categories that include mechanical agents, active agents, flowables, and fibrin sealants; sealants as represented by fibrin sealants and polyethylene glycol hydrogels; and adhesives as represented by cyanoacrylates and albumin cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde. Only those agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and presently available (February 2008) for sale in the United States are discussed in this review.
Microstructural Evolution in Clay‐Based Ceramics II: Ternary and Quaternary Mixtures of Clay, Flux, and Quartz Filler
Authors: Tarvornpanich Tarnkamol , Souza Guilherme P. , Lee William E.
Published: April 2008

The complex microstructural evolution in mixtures of kaolinite clay, quartz, nepheline syenite, and soda–lime–silica (SLS) glass has been revisited. Detailed descriptions of reactions leading to dense whiteware bodies backed by semi‐quantitative X‐ray diffraction analysis reveal that ternary mixtures containing nepheline syenite differ from those containing SLS glass, as new crystalline phases develop inside and at the interfaces among SLS glass particles and decomposed clay and quartz. In SLS glass‐fluxed mixtures, tridymite formation was hindered and cristobalite formed at ≥750°C followed by wollastonite at ≥800°C. Albite and plagioclase formed from interaction between clay and molten SLS glass above 800°C. Wollastonite was not present ≥1100°C, leaving only cristobalite in the surrounding regions. Quartz partially dissolves at temperatures ≥1000°C after interacting with molten SLS glass. In quaternary mixtures containing 6.25 wt% SLS glass and 17.25 wt% nepheline syenite fluxes, formation of types II and III secondary mullite was more pronounced than in the fully SLS glass‐fluxed mixture. The more fluid liquid from nepheline syenite enhances the growth kinetics of mullite. The body fired at the optimum firing temperature (1100°C) has a microstructure containing primary type I and secondary types II and III mullites, remnant cristobalite, plagioclase, and partially dissolved quartz embedded in the glassy phase. Providing a roadmap for microstructural design in clay‐based systems may have significant commercial impact in the emerging technology of use of waste materials in clay‐based ceramics.