bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Approaches to Candida and Oral Mycotic Infections
Authors: McCullough M. , Patton L.L. , Coogan M. , Fidel P.L. , Komesu M. , Ghannoum M. , Leigh J.E.
Published: March 2011

This workshop reviewed aspects of the following: oral fungal disease in HIV-infected patients and the predictive value of oral mucosal disease in HIV progression; the role of the oral biofilms in mucosal disease; microbial virulence factors and the pseudomembranous oral mucosal disease process; the role that oral mucosal disease may have in HIV transmission; and the available topical antifungal treatment. This article summarizes the ensuing discussions and raises pertinent problems and potential research directions associated with oral fungal disease in HIV-infected patients, including the frequency of oral candidosis, the role of the intraoral biofilm in the development of oral mucosal disease, and host-pathogen interactions, as well as the development of the fetal oral mucosa, neonatal nutrition, and the role of oral candidosis in this setting. Finally, discussions are summarized on the use of inexpensive effective antifungal mouthwashes in resource-poor countries, the potential stigmata that may be associated with their use, as well as novel topical medications that may have clinical applicability in managing oral candidal infections in HIV-infected patients.
Qualitative Differences in Learning Disabilities Across Postsecondary Institutions
Authors: Weis Robert , Sykes Lauryn , Unadkat Devanshi
Published: March 2011

Many college students receiving accommodations for specific learning disability (SLD) do not meet objective criteria for the disorder. Furthermore, whether students meet criteria depends on the diagnostic decision model used by their clinician. The authors examined whether the relationship between diagnostic model and likelihood of meeting objective criteria is moderated by students’ postsecondary institution. They administered a comprehensive psychoeducational battery to 98 undergraduates receiving accommodations for SLD at 2-year public colleges, 4-year public universities, and 4-year private colleges. Most 4-year public university students failed to meet objective criteria for SLD. In contrast, most 4-year private college students met objective criteria based on significant ability–achievement discrepancies, and most 2-year public college students met objective criteria based on normative deficits in achievement and cognitive processing. Students who met objective criteria also differed significantly in degree of academic impairment. The authors’ findings indicate qualitative differences in SLD across postsecondary settings and have implications for the identification and mitigation of SLD in college students.
Specific Reading Difficulties in Chinese, English, or Both
Authors: McBride-Chang Catherine , Liu Phil D. , Wong Terry , Wong Anita , Shu Hua
Published: March 2011

What are the longitudinal cognitive profiles of Hong Kong Chinese children with specific reading difficulties in Chinese only, in English only, or both? A total of 16 poor readers each of Chinese (PC) and English (PE) and 8 poor readers of both orthographies (PB) were compared to a control sample (C) of 16 children; all were drawn from a statistically representative sample of 154 Hong Kong Chinese children tested at ages 5 to 9 years. PE and PB children’s mothers had lower education levels than did the other groups. With children’s ages and mothers’ education levels statistically controlled, the PE, PC, and PB groups were significantly lower than the C group on phonological awareness. The PB and PE groups also scored significantly lower than the others on English vocabulary across years, whereas the PC and PB groups were significantly poorer than the C and PE groups on morphological awareness across years. Finally, the PB group was significantly slower than the other groups on speed naming at every age tested, underscoring the potential importance of automaticity in reading across orthographies. Findings highlight the need to consider the issue of how to identify reading difficulties in a second language.
Speaking Rate Affects the Perception of Duration as a Suprasegmental Lexical-stress Cue
Authors: Reinisch Eva , Jesse Alexandra , McQueen James M.
Published: March 2011

Three categorization experiments investigated whether the speaking rate of a preceding sentence influences durational cues to the perception of suprasegmental lexical-stress patterns. Dutch two-syllable word fragments had to be judged as coming from one of two longer words that matched the fragment segmentally but differed in lexical stress placement. Word pairs contrasted primary stress on either the first versus the second syllable or the first versus the third syllable. Duration of the initial or the second syllable of the fragments and rate of the preceding context (fast vs. slow) were manipulated. Listeners used speaking rate to decide about the degree of stress on initial syllables whether the syllables’ absolute durations were informative about stress (Experiment 1a) or not (Experiment 1b). Rate effects on the second syllable were visible only when the initial syllable was ambiguous in duration with respect to the preceding rate context (Experiment 2). Absolute second syllable durations contributed little to stress perception (Experiment 3). These results suggest that speaking rate is used to disambiguate words and that rate-modulated stress cues are more important on initial than non-initial syllables. Speaking rate affects perception of suprasegmental information.
Environmental Movements in Iran
Authors: Fadaee Simin
Published: March 2011

Social movements have been considered by many sociologists as agents of social transformation. Emergence, dynamics and development of social movements not only signal major transformations of societies; but, social movements are indicators of societal conditions, and capable of influencing social and political structures as well. By presenting the case of environmentalism in Iran, this article is seeking to provide an insight into the life of the Iranian social movements. Further, by implementing the new social movement theory in the Iranian context, it contributes to a better understanding of non-western social movements. The article first, establishes the fact that the emerged collective action around environmental issues in Iran can be regarded as a social movement. Second, it introduces the characteristics of environmentalism in Iran. Finally, it examines the relevance of the new social movement theory of Alaine Touraine, and Alberto Melucci in relation to the environmental movements of Iran.
Pathways Analysis of Molecular Markers in Chronic Sinusitis with Polyps
Authors: Platt Michael P. , Soler Zachary , Metson Ralph , Stankovic Konstantina M.
Published: March 2011

Objective

To perform a comprehensive molecular pathways analysis of genes identified through genome‐wide expression profiling and the published literature for chronic sinusitis with polyps.

Study Design

Molecular pathways analysis.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Methods

A molecular pathways analysis of gene biomarkers discovered through hypothesis‐driven and high‐throughput molecular studies was performed. Genes identified with a PubMed literature search were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis software to identify central molecules implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis with polyps. The central pathways were then compared with those identified through genome‐wide expression profiling of ethmoid polyps.

Results

A total of 97 molecules were investigated with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis based on 55 studies that evaluated differences in gene expression (39), genetic variation (12), or proteomics (4). The analysis revealed 9 statistically significant molecular networks containing central nodes that included transcription factors, protein kinases, cytokines, and growth factors/receptors. The highest scoring networks implicated nuclear factor kappa‐B, tumor necrosis factor, and mitogen‐activated protein kinases. The majority of pathways in the literature review analysis overlapped with those identified through a single genome‐wide expression study.

Conclusions

Chronic sinusitis with polyps is a complex disease with suspected contribution of multiple genetic and environmental factors. The search for causative genes has led to the discovery of numerous candidates. Pathways analysis applied to these candidate genes identified common central molecules that are likely to be key mediators of the disease process. Novel therapies targeting these molecules may be applicable for the treatment of chronic sinusitis with polyps.
Effects of Tympanomeatal Blunting on Sound Transfer Function
Authors: Mullin David P. , Ge Xianxi , Jackson Ron L. , Liu Jianzhong , Pfannenstiel Travis J. , Balough Ben J.
Published: March 2011

Objective

(1) To measure the peak‐to‐peak displacement of the round window membrane (RWM) prior to blunting procedure. (2) To evaluate the impact of blunting the anterior tympanomeatal angle (ATA) on middle ear sound transfer function.

Study Design

Basic science study.

Setting

Cadaveric temporal bone research laboratory.

Subjects and Methods

Six fresh human temporal bones were prepared using a mastoidectomy and facial recess approach. Baseline RWM peak‐to‐peak displacements were obtained by single‐point laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) at 90‐dB sound pressure level over a spectrum of 250 to 8000 Hz. Temporalis muscle was harvested and then fashioned into a graft for each temporal bone, mimicking ATA blunting. RWM displacement responses with the blunted ATA were measured using the LDV to judge the impact on middle ear transfer function.

Results

For each of the 6 temporal bones, the average displacement decreased across all sound frequencies with the ATA blunting when compared with baseline (no blunting). Baseline velocity measurements for all sound signals averaged 4.5 × 10−3 ± 1.892 × 10−3 (mean ± SEM) mm/s, while measurements averaged 2.2 ± 6.62 × 10−4 mm/s with blunting of the ATA (P <. 001). This amounted to a 52% decrease in velocity of the RWM following blunting of the ATA.

Conclusion

Blunting of the ATA decreases the sound transfer function of the tympanic membrane and middle ear. Prevention of blunting at the ATA during tympanoplasty should be emphasized.
Incidence of External Auditory Canal Exostoses in Competitive Surfers in Japan
Authors: Nakanishi Haruka , Tono Tetsuya , Kawano Hirokazu
Published: March 2011

Objective

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence and severity of external auditory canal exostoses in a population of competitive surfers in Japan. The authors used a “surfing index,” the product of the period (years) as an active surfer and the frequency (number of surfing days per week), to predict external auditory exostoses formation.

Study design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

A total of 5 surfing competitions that were held in Miyazaki, Japan.

Materials and Methods

The ear canals of 373 surfers with an average age of 33.1 years (range, 11‐80 years) were examined with an otoscope. The severity of exostosis was classified into 4 groups, ranging from grade 0 to 3, according to otoscopic findings. Subjects also completed a questionnaire detailing their surfing habits.

Results

There was a 59.8% overall prevalence of exostoses in 373 surfers. The incidences of grade 1, 2, and 3 exostoses were 118 (31.6%), 71 (19.0%), and 34 (9.1%), respectively. The prevalences of grade 2 and 3 exostoses were higher in surfers with a surfing index of more than 20 (P <. 0001).

Conclusions

The authors determined that a positive association exists between the surfing index and the severity of exostoses. The findings suggest that it is possible to assume the likelihood of exostosis formation from the surfing index, and this may be of help to spread awareness of exostosis among surfers.
An Epidemiologic Study of Snoring and All‐Cause Mortality
Authors: Rich Jeremy , Raviv Ayelette , Raviv Nataly , Brietzke Scott E.
Published: March 2011

Objective

Snoring is a common problem that is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, it is suggested that snoring may itself be harmful. Patients with objectively measured snoring were matched against a mortality database and associations were explored.

Study Design

Database study.

Setting

Community‐based use of a portable sleep study device.

Subjects and Methods

More than 77,000 patients who underwent a portable sleep study (SNAP Test, SNAP Labs Inc, Wheeling, Illinois) with a detailed, acoustical snoring analysis were matched to the Social Security Death Master File to establish mortality (1653 deaths matched). Snoring indices to include amount (snoring events per hour), volume (dB), and palatal versus nonpalatal snoring were correlated to mortality using stepwise multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis.

Results

As expected, increasing age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76‐1.93; P <. 001), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.18‐1.28; P <. 001), and male sex (OR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.2‐1.56; P <. 001) were associated with increased all‐cause mortality. The presence of increasing OSAS confounded the relationship between snoring and mortality. For patients without OSAS (apnea–hypopnea index [AHI] < 5) and with a BMI < 30 (n = 5955), increasing snoring was associated with an age‐ and sex‐adjusted increase in mortality (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.32; P =. 034). For all patients, increasing nonpalatal snoring was associated with an increase in mortality (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09‐1.35; P <. 001) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and AHI. Survival analysis produced identical results to logistic regression.

Conclusion

In patients without OSAS and with a BMI less than 30, increasing snoring was associated with a significant increase in all‐cause mortality. Nonpalatal snoring is associated with an increase in observed all‐cause mortality controlling for age, sex, BMI, and AHI.
Swallowing Function following Postchemoradiotherapy Neck Dissection
Authors: Chapuy Claudia I. , Annino Donald J. , Snavely Anna , Li Yi , Tishler Roy B. , Norris Charles M. , Haddad Robert I. , Goguen Laura A.
Published: March 2011

Objective

This study assesses swallowing function following chemoradiotherapy and neck dissection in head and neck cancer patients and investigates clinical, treatment, and neck dissection factors associated with dysphagia.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Subjects and Methods

Eighty‐eight patients undergoing neck dissection after chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer were reviewed. Dysphagia outcome measures included weight loss, diet, gastrostomy tube (GT) dependency, and video swallow findings of aspiration or stenosis. In addition, the researchers created a Diet/GT Scale, with scores ranging from 1 to 5. Univariate and multivariate analysis of clinical, treatment, or neck dissection factors potentially associated with dysphagia outcome measures was undertaken.

Results

Peak mean weight loss was 17% at 6 months after chemoradiotherapy. At 12 months, a soft/regular diet was taken by 78 of 88 patients (89%), and only 1 of 88 patients (1%) was nil per os. Gastrostomy tube dependence at 6, 12, and 24 months was 53%, 25%, and 10%, respectively. The Diet/GT score was 5 (gastrostomy tube removed and soft/regular diet) for 47% at 6 months, 74% at 12 months, and 89% at 24 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that higher tumor stage was associated with a lower Diet/GT score at 12 months (P =. 02) and gastrostomy dependence at 12 months (P =. 01) and 24 months (P =. 04).

Conclusion

Despite the addition of neck dissection to chemoradiotherapy, nearly all patients took a soft or regular diet and reached a Diet/GT score of 5, and only 1% remained nil per os. A higher tumor stage is associated with a lower Diet/GT score and gastrostomy tube dependency beyond 12 months.
Adenoidectomy Technique in the United Kingdom and Postoperative Hemorrhage
Authors: Lowe David , Brown Peter , Yung Matthew
Published: March 2011

Objective

To investigate the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage and its risk factors after adenotonsillectomy.

Study Design

A prospective cohort study as part of the National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit.

Setting

National Health Service and private hospitals in England and Northern Ireland.

Subjects and Methods

National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit methodology was followed with a nonrandomized prospective observational cohort methodology and data collection.

Results

A total of 33,921 patients underwent tonsillectomy; of these, 9900 underwent adjunctive adenoidectomy. Traditional curette adenoidectomy (without any diathermy use at all) was performed in 6871 patients. Suction diathermy technique was used in 1489 patients. Hemorrhage rates were calculated for these main adenoidectomy technique groups and compared by calculation of risk ratios. Both early and late hemorrhage rates for suction diathermy were found to be 0.07% (n = 1 in each case). In the traditional curette group, these rates were 0.3% (n = 19) and 0.2% (n = 14), respectively. The risk ratio for hemorrhage overall was 3.6 for curette adenoidectomy compared with suction diathermy (95% confidence interval, 0.86‐14.9; P =. 06). The data suggest comparable hemorrhage rates in both adenoidectomy technique groups and fail to demonstrate diathermy usage as a risk factor for hemorrhage following adenoidectomy despite a clear interaction between diathermy usage and subsequent hemorrhage in tonsillectomy.

Conclusion

Use of suction diathermy in adenoidectomy appears to have a similar safety profile to conventional techniques and may offer additional benefits over traditional adenoid curettage. Further clinical and laboratory‐based research into the complex interaction between diathermy usage and both adenoid and tonsillar tissue is warranted.
Links from Teacher Beliefs to Peer Victimization and Bystander Intervention
Authors: Hektner Joel M. , Swenson Christopher A.
Published: March 2011

In an attempt to explicate how cultural norms within a school could impact bullying, the current study assessed potential mediators of the relationship between teacher beliefs about bullying and actual peer victimization and inclinations of students to intervene when they witness bullying. Participants were 340 third through eighth graders and 66 of their teachers. Results showed that teachers with stronger beliefs that bullying is normative were less likely to intervene to stop bullying, and lack of intervention was in turn related to higher levels of peer victimization in their school. Furthermore, the beliefs of teachers that victims should assert themselves were linked to lower levels of peer empathy for victims, which in turn made peers less inclined to intervene. Teacher intervention and peer empathy, as mediators, were linked to student levels of victimization and willingness to intervene both between-school-grade cohorts and within-grade cohorts at an individual perceptual level.
Advancing a Reflexive International Relations
Authors: Eagleton-Pierce Matthew
Published: March 2011

This article advances a call for greater reflexivity in International Relations (IR) to uncover various intellectual and political biases that may obscure the research process. Inspired by existing reflexive practices in IR and, in particular, Pierre Bourdieu’s use of such a method, it argues that reflexivity matters for enhancing ethically grounded research, in terms of not only the choice of subjects to study, but also how specific problems are treated, and hence what kind of results can be expected. However, the argument also goes beyond the appeal to autobiographical reflexivity to embrace other dimensions. This includes attention to institutional forces that shape the agency of the scholar and, in turn, the complex relationship between the academy and the wider political world. In the most ambitious sense, the potential for reflexivity can also be conceived collectively in terms of activist intellectuals who seek to reward reflexive practices through dialogue and political intervention. The social space of international trade politics is taken as an empirical example.
Commentary: Diversity and Minority Faculty Perception of Institutional Climate of Planning Schools—Results from the Climate Survey
Authors: Wubneh Mulatu
Published: March 2011

This article analyzes the subjective perception and personal experiences of minority faculty in planning schools/programs with regard to racial/ethnic discrimination—whether minority faculty feel welcome and how much such experiences affect their work. The study is based on a climate survey conducted in 2009. While a majority (about 60 percent) of the faculty felt welcome, another 40 percent expressed that they have experienced and/or observed discrimination and have been subjected to offensive conduct. What can institutions such as the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) do to improve the climate? The study identifies strategies and programs that ACSP can consider to help member institutions develop effective initiatives.
Where Do Planners Belong? Assessing the Relationship between Planning and Design in American Universities
Authors: Anselin Luc , Nasar Jack L. , Talen Emily
Published: March 2011

This article assesses the performance of U.S. planning programs relative to their administrative location in design versus nondesign units. We use both archival data to compare program rankings between design and nondesign units and a survey of a random sample of faculty (108 at 61 accredited programs). The archival data show a higher publication performance of programs in nondesign units. The survey finds that faculty respondents from nondesign locations have more favorable evaluations of their programs than do respondents from design locations. Administrators and faculty differ: while faculty in design units score their programs dramatically lower, administrators have a moderate difference in the reverse direction.
Framing Large-Scale Projects: Barcelona Forum and the Challenge of Balancing Local and Global Needs
Authors: Majoor Stan
Published: March 2011

Large-scale projects form important milestones in the development agenda of cities. Although their initial rhetoric framing often claims that global and local needs will be balanced, these projects are often criticized for not fulfilling this promise. This article presents a case study of the Forum, a project with ambitious balanced rhetoric frames in Barcelona. We conclude that a lack of sustainable framing in different governance domains hampered their conversion into reality. “Speed” and “urgency” developed instead as an important action frame, fostering an investment agenda focusing on competitiveness, the development of a high-end service sector, and further enhancement of tourism. This proved unsuitable for facilitating participatory processes and strategic debates about the future of the city.
Risk and Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children With Epilepsy: A Community-Based Study
Authors: Berg Anne T. , Plioplys Sigita , Tuchman Roberto
Published: March 2011

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders for children with epilepsy in the general population is unknown. In a prospective community-based study of newly diagnosed childhood epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder was determined from parental interviews, medical records, and expert reviews by a child psychiatrist. A total of 28 (5%) participants had autism spectrum disorders. West syndrome (prevalence ratio = 4.53, P = .002) and intellectual impairment (prevalence ratio = 4.34, P = .002) were independently associated with autism spectrum disorder. Absent West syndrome, male gender was associated with autism spectrum disorder (prevalence ratio = 3.71, P = .02). For participants with overall normal cognitive abilities, 2.2% had autism spectrum disorder, which is substantially higher than estimates from the general population (0.5%-0.9%). In addition to West syndrome, which has repeatedly been shown to have a special relationship with autism spectrum disorder, the most important determinants of autism spectrum disorder in the general population (intellectual impairment and male sex) are also important in young people with epilepsy.
Mondini Malformation Associated With Diastematomyelia and Presenting With Recurrent Meningitis
Authors: Masri Amira , Bakri Faris G. , Birkenhäger Ralf , Alassaf Abeer , Musharbash Awni F. , Haroun Azmy , Zak Imad
Published: March 2011

The authors report the case of 5-year-old girl who presented with 4 episodes of recurrent meningitis. Her initial workup revealed a lumbosacral dermoid sinus associated with diastematomyelia and a tethered cord. Therefore, a surgical repair to correct the anomaly was performed. However, another episode of meningitis occurred after surgery, and a subsequent temporal bone scan revealed the presence of left Mondini dysplasia. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of Mondini dysplasia in association with diastematomyelia.
Reaching and Writing Movements: Sensitive and Reliable Tools to Measure Genetic Dystonia in Children
Authors: Casellato Claudia , Zorzi Giovanna , Pedrocchi Alessandra , Ferrigno Giancarlo , Nardocci Nardo
Published: March 2011

The aim of this study was to provide a quantitative assessment of pure dystonia in a group of children. Kinematic and muscular characteristics of unconstrained movements of the upper limb, reaching and writing, were investigated. During reaching, the distinguishing factors of dystonic movement were reduced velocity, loss of muscular activation focalization, and impairment of rest-movement modulation. Muscular parameters were able to linearly discriminate the different levels of severity. These results support the hypothesis that basal ganglia dysfunction is responsible for compromising the motor activity focusing. The handwriting movement revealed that the kinematic coordination was altered depending on dystonia severity scores. The 2 protocols revealed themselves feasible and sensitive for detecting even local and subclinical signs. Hence, this work provides a contribution toward a reliable assessment of pure dystonia, crucial for clinical characterization of patients and evaluation of the different treatment options.
Tissue response to chitosan/γ-PGA polyelectrolyte complex using a rat model
Authors: Ching Ting Tsao  , Chih Hao Chang  , Yu Yung Lin  , Ming Fung Wu  , Jin Lin Han  , Kuo Huang Hsieh
Published: March 2011

In this study, the in vivo soft tissue response of chitosan/γ-poly(glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) using a rat model was assessed using chitosan as a cationic polyelectrolyte and γ-PGA as an anionic polyelectrolyte; four groups of chitosan/γ-PGA PECs were synthesized according to the molar ratio of amine groups of chitosan to the carboxylic acid groups of γ-PGA. Different soft tissue responses to chitosan/γ-PGA PEC were observed between the epithelium and the muscle. In the epithelium, the wound dressed with chitosan/γ-PGA PEC healed faster than the control, with chitosan attracting polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells and γ-PGA creating a hydrophilic environment. In the muscle, a quantitative evaluation of the tissue response revealed that different degradation phenomena were evoked by different compositions of chitosan/γ-PGA PEC. After implantation for 28 days, the chitosan/γ-PGA PEC with chitosan dominating showed extensive surface erosion and superficial fragmentation surrounded by inflammatory cells, while chitosan/γ-PGA PECs with γ-PGA dominating elicited minimal degradation. These results confirm that the degradation of PECs can be controlled by tailoring the chitosan/γ-PGA PECs for different purposes. It appears that different local tissue conditions in muscle and epithelium may be involved in this difference.
The Impact of National Culture on CEO Compensation and Salary Gaps Between CEOs and Manufacturing Workers
Authors: Grenness Tor
Published: March 2011

This article explores the results of a cross-national study of the salaries of managers and subordinates from 25 countries. To explain the cross-national differences in salary gaps and CEO pay, a cultural approach is taken, and country scores for three of the cultural dimensions developed by Hofstede are used as explanatory variables. The results of correlation and regression analyses demonstrate that the dimension of Power Distance is positively correlated and the dimension of Individualism is negatively correlated with salary gaps. For CEO pay, the results are less significant. The overall conclusion is that culture as a variable seems to explain much of the differences in pay and remuneration across countries.
Benchmarking for Executive Incentive Pay: The Importance of Performance Standards
Authors: Ericson Richard N.
Published: March 2011

Large amounts of executive compensation hinge on pre-set performance goals. This heightens the level of precision and confidence needed when companies and their boards address the key tasks of incentive design, testing, calibration and administration. Compensation committees often spend a great deal of time making sure they have proper market benchmarks for the level of executive pay. But business performance standards often have a large impact on executive compensation, and should receive significant attention from the committee. This article reviews the relative importance of performance standards and sets out a range of methods that can be used to set and manage them.
An Evaluation of Diabetes-Related Measures of Control After 6 Months of Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Intervention
Authors: Cripps Rebecca J. , Gourley Eric S. , Johnson Wendy , Cassidy Regina , Morgan Timothy C. , Venugopal Dharapuram , McFarland M. Shawn
Published: March 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist management regarding the percentages of patients meeting American Diabetes Association (ADA) treatment goals for diabetes and specific Veterans Health Administration (VA) performance measures individually and in combination after 6 months of intervention. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the electronic medical record of all new patients seen between October 1, 2007 and March 31, 2009, with an A1c >7%. Primary objectives included the percentages of patients meeting ADA treatment goals individually and in combination after 6 months in addition to the percentage meeting the 3 VA performance goals individually and in combination. Results: One-hundred and ninety-seven patients met inclusion criteria. There were 6% of patients who met all ADA goals and 79% who met all VA performance measure goals at study end. Individual goal analyses revealed 43% of patients at a goal A1c of <7%, 55% of patients were at low-density lipoprotein (LDL) goal, 45% of patients at systolic blood pressure (SBP) goal, and 51% of patients at diastolic blood pressure (DBP) goal. Evaluation for VA performance measures showed that 91% patients at goal for A1c, 55% at LDL goal, 70% at systolic BP goal, and 87% met diastolic BP goal. Conclusions: Six months of pharmacist intervention resulted in improvement in patients achieving ADA and VA performance measure goals individually and in combination.
A Needs Assessment for Development and Provision of Medication Therapy Management Services in New York City
Authors: Shah Bupendra , Chawla Sweta
Published: March 2011

Objectives: To (1) assess the current extent of medication therapy management (MTM) provision in NYC; (2) investigate New York City pharmacists' attitudes, efforts, interest, and challenges in providing MTM; and 3) examine factors influencing pharmacist interest in providing MTM. Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized to survey New York City pharmacists attending a continuing education program. The survey questionnaire contained items pertaining to the extent of MTM currently provided by the pharmacists, attitudes, efforts, and interest in providing MTM and challenges to provision of MTM. Results: A total of 93 out of 123 attendees (73.81%) completed the survey. Pharmacists provided an average of 1.65 (±0.36) MTM services as defined by the APhA and NACDS framework. Pharmacists had slightly positive attitudes toward provision of MTM and were very interested in providing some MTM services. There was a positive correlation between pharmacist attitude toward MTM and interest in providing MTM ( r = .31, P = .016). Of all the 6 challenges to provision of MTM listed in the survey, respondents indicated that additional time to be spent with patients and additional pharmacists would be the most difficult to overcome. Conclusions: This study serves as an assessment of the needs of New York City pharmacists with regard to provision of MTM services.
Building Critical Reflection Skills for Lifelong Learning in the Emergent Landscape of a National Registration and Accreditation Scheme
Authors: McKauge Leigh , Stupans Ieva , Owen Susanne M. , Ryan Greg , Woulfe Jim
Published: March 2011

In 2010 many of the health disciplines in Australia will be involved in national registration and accreditation, to ensure a more sustainable and flexible health workforce for the future. To this end, in each of the health professions, there is an increasing emphasis on reflective practice and lifelong learning to maintain practice competency. This research focuses on academic teaching and learning in the Pharmacy undergraduate curriculum to develop an indicator tool of graduate practice skills before the student enters the practice internship year. The Graduated Descriptors Competency Tool was developed by means of state, territory, and national stakeholder collaboration. The aim of the project was to assist the scaffolding processes around undergraduate practice teaching and learning. Students on experiential placements have used the tool to demonstrate their current practice skills and the learning required to attain competency during their internship year. Students are guided to develop critical reflection skills for deep understanding and insight into the continued learning and professional development required to maintain long-term health care expertise.
Reconceptualising employer associations under evolving employment relations
Authors: Barry Michael , Wilkinson Adrian
Published: March 2011

The decline of institutional industrial relations has led to a major reassessment of the way that traditional industrial relations actors operate. Yet, the debate about institutional change has been characteristically asymmetrical in as much as some institutional actors have figured extensively while others have been much less prominent. Historically, employer coordination has not captured the attention of the industrial relations community and there are relatively few contemporary studies of the activities of employer associations. The purpose of this article is to review and critique the literature on employer associations and explain how the traditional concept of countervailing power can be developed to reconceptualise employer coordination. We then argue for a research agenda to re-examine employer associations in light of ongoing changes to employment relations systems that require these bodies to revise the ways that they coordinate employer interests.
Workblogging in a Facebook age
Authors: Schoneboom Abigail
Published: March 2011

In keeping with this journal’s recent attempt to revive worker narratives as a means of understanding social questions, this research note reflects on the significance of workblogging as a window on the labour process. The article reflects on the impact of emerging social networking tools such as Facebook, as well as factors such as increased surveillance and blog searchability, on how and where workplace stories are told. It assesses some of the problems of conducting research in a rapidly changing blogosphere and argues that researchers must sustain trusting relationships with bloggers, as well as staying abreast of emerging social networking practices, in order not to lose sight of these important recalcitrant voices.
Dirty Liberals!
Authors: Helzer Erik G. , Pizarro David A.
Published: March 2011

Many moral codes place a special emphasis on bodily purity, and manipulations that directly target bodily purity have been shown to influence a variety of moral judgments. Across two studies, we demonstrated that reminders of physical purity influence specific moral judgments regarding behaviors in the sexual domain as well as broad political attitudes. In Study 1, individuals in a public setting who were given a reminder of physical cleansing reported being more politically conservative than did individuals who were not given such a reminder. In Study 2, individuals reminded of physical cleansing in the laboratory demonstrated harsher moral judgments toward violations of sexual purity and were more likely to report being politically conservative than control participants. Together, these experiments provide further evidence of a deep link between physical purity and moral judgment, and they offer preliminary evidence that manipulations of physical purity can influence general (and putatively stable) political attitudes.
A Double Dissociation of Implicit and Explicit Memory in Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Gopie Nigel , Craik Fergus I.M. , Hasher Lynn
Published: March 2011

This study examined whether age-related differences in cognition influence later memory for irrelevant, or distracting, information. In Experiments 1 and 2, older adults had greater implicit memory for irrelevant information than younger adults did. When explicit memory was assessed, however, the pattern of results reversed: Younger adults performed better than older adults on an explicit memory test for the previously irrelevant information, and older adults performed less well than they had on the implicit test. Experiment 3 investigated whether this differential pattern was attributable to an age-related decline in encoding resources, by reducing the encoding resources of younger adults with a secondary task; their performance perfectly simulated the pattern shown by the older adults in the first two experiments. Both older and younger adults may remember irrelevant information, but they remember it in different ways because of age-related changes in how information is processed at encoding and utilized at retrieval.
‘We don’t do public libraries like we used to’: Attitudes to public library buildings in the UK at the start of the 21st century
Authors: Black Alistair
Published: March 2011

Although the quality, performance and future of public library services in the UK is a matter of debate, there is little doubt that in recent years, despite claims relating to the emergence of a cyber-society, interest in library buildings and the library as ‘place’ has been intense, almost matching that seen during the Carnegie era of mass public library building in the early 20th century. Tapping into this renewed enthusiasm for the library built form, this article analyses evidence collected by the Mass-Observation Archive (MOA) in response to a request for written commentary on public library buildings, an investigation commissioned by the author. The MOA contains evidence, stretching back to the 1930s, of the British public’s daily lives and attitudes. The Archive’s data-collection method takes the form of essay-style contributions, varying from a few sentences to thousands of words, submitted from anonymous volunteer correspondents. A total of 180 essays (from 121 women and 59 men) were received, and all were read and analysed for the purpose of this study. Analysis focused on the tension between old and new styles of library design. It was found that while some people prefer public library buildings to retain their historic style and feel, others demand contemporary designs like those employed in recent years for new, ‘flagship’ buildings in Norwich, Peckham, Brighton and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A third category of opinion expressed a taste for the provision of up-to-date facilities and interior decoration in historic settings. A fourth strain of thought — the essence of which might be described as ‘libraryness’ — played down the importance of style, whether old or new, foregrounding the importance of services and collections. The second half of the article offers a discussion that places the MOA evidence in the context of an assessments of, and commentaries on, recent public library design.
How to communicate with a machine: On reading a public library’s OPAC
Authors: Saarti Jarmo , Raivio Jouko
Published: March 2011

This article presents a reading of the user interface in one public library system. Its aim is to find out the frames and competences required and used in the communication between the computer and the patron. The authors see the computer as a text that is to be read by the user who wants to search for information from the library. The transition from the traditional library to the digital library has meant that the communication process has changed radically. It seems that library systems are planned mainly for the advanced user, i.e. for librarians or individuals with a librarian’s skills. Some suggestions on how to improve this situation are given.
Mobilink—Pricing under Competition
Authors: Ahmad Farid , Haque Ehsan ul
Published: March 2011

Mobilink management needs to come up with a response to the entry of Telenor in the Pakistani cellular phone market. Contrary to Mobilink’s expectations and hopes, Telenor entered the market with a lower, and much simpler, pricing strategy. Mobilink being the dominant player (63 per cent market share) needs to think through its options. As a large player, responding too aggressively to this lower price (by a multinational with deep pockets) could lead to a long-term price war in which Mobilink stands to lose the most. On the other hand, a weak response might send the wrong signals not only to Telenor but also to other entrants in the wing. The managers have a variety of pricing options to choose from. Each of them entails different costs based on expected customer response.
Classroom-Based Functional Behavioral Assessment
Authors: Allday R. Allan , Nelson J. Ron , Russel Caroline S.
Published: March 2011

Functional behavioral assessments (FBA) have been mandated for use in schools since the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997. Prior to this time, FBA were under-utilized in schools because of the complexity of the process. Translating this tool into an applied use in the schools has proven challenging to practicing teachers. We examined data-based and practical articles related to key components of FBA, including data collection, hypothesis development, brief functional analysis, and behavior intervention plan development and how these components are utilized and disseminated.Computer database searches returned 45 articles related to teacher involvement in the FBA process. Results suggest that each component is being disseminated in both data-based and practical articles to varying degrees; however, there remains a gap in the research-to-practice application of FBA.
The Influence of Precedent on State Supreme Courts
Authors: Kassow Benjamin , Songer Donald R. , Fix Michael P.
Published: March 2011

Studies of policy making by courts need to examine the actual policy adopted in the majority opinion rather than studying votes. The authors examine the responsiveness of state supreme courts to precedents announced by the US Supreme Court by examining their treatment of the precedents in their opinions, testing the utility of precedent vitality versus the impact of ideological preferences. They find that the vitality of Supreme Court precedent is a strong predictor of the way in which the precedent is treated by state courts, even after controlling for ideological distance and institutional features of state court systems.
Flavor Release of the Tomato Flavor Enhancer, 2-Isobutylthiazole, from Whey Protein Stabilized Model Dressings
Authors: Christiansen K.F. , Olsen E. , Vegarud G. , Langsrud T. , Lea P. , Haugen J.E. , Egelandsdal B.
Published: March 2011

A tomato flavor enhancer, 2-isobutylthiazole (IBT), was added (5 mg/kg) to dressings emulsified with either a whey protein concentrate-80 (WPC-80), a WPC-80 hydrolysate or β-lactoglobulin at high pressure (70 MPa) at either 20 or 75 °C. The short (2-4 min), high-temperature treatment left the proteins essentially unchanged. IBT addition gave a dominant, green tomato flavor that masked the intrinsic odor of the WPC-80 hydrolysate but enhanced bitter flavor. The sensory IBT odor intensity was determined by oil level (5-30%) and pH; pH 4.0 gave higher IBT odor than pH 6.5. The green (IBT) odor release correlated with the sensory viscosity (p = 0.001) and with instrumentally determined complex modulus (p = 0.001), but not to the dressings’ microstructure. The presence of small (<<1.5 µm) oil particles that were difficult to identify from images may explain why no correlation between green odor and microstructure was found. Headspace analysis significantly detected differences in the release of IBT from the different protein types: WPC-80 dressings released the most and β-lactoglobulin the least amounts of IBT into headspace. As this difference in release of IBT among proteins could not be verified by sensory analysis, it may bear no relevance for perception.
To T or Not to T: A Ballpark Assessment of the Costs and Benefits of Urban Rail Transportation
Authors: Cervero Robert , Guerra Erick
Published: March 2011

The debate over the costs and benefits of rail passenger transit is lively, deep, and often ideological. As with most polemical debates, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of extreme views. Some rail systems have benefits that outweigh their costs, while others do not. Applying a commonly used transit-fare price elasticity to 24 of the largest light and heavy rail systems in the United States and Puerto Rico, assuming a linear demand curve, and accounting for a counterfactual scenario, we find that just over half of the systems have net social benefits. Although Los Angeles’ rail system does not “pass” our back-of-the-envelope cost—benefit analysis, as the network expands, it will begin to mimic the regional spatial coverage and connectivity of its chief competitor—the auto-freeway system—and approach the fare recovery rates of other large, dense American cities.
Extended contact effects as a function of closeness of relationship with ingroup contacts
Authors: Tausch Nicole , Hewstone Miles , Schmid Katharina , Hughes Joanne , Cairns Ed
Published: March 2011

Using survey data from Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland ( N = 428), the authors examined the effects of extended contact via different types of ingroup contacts (neighbors, work colleagues, friends, and family members) and tested whether closeness to ingroup contacts moderated the effects of extended contact on outgroup trust. Results demonstrated that extended contact effects varied as a function of the relationship to ingroup contacts, and that extended contact interacted with closeness ratings in predicting outgroup trust. Consistent with hypotheses, extended contacts via more intimate ingroup relationships (i.e., friends and family) were overall more strongly related to outgroup trust than extended contacts via less intimate ingroup relations (i.e., neighbors and work colleagues). Moreover, within each level of intimacy extended contact was related to outgroup trust only at high, and not at low, levels of rated closeness to ingroup contacts. The theoretical contributions, limitations and practical implications of these findings are discussed.