bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Intracranial and Sagittal Sinus Pressure in Normal and Hydrocephalic Dogs
Authors: Olivero W.C. , Rekate H.L. , Chizeck H.J. , Ko W. , McCormick J.M.
Published: March 2008

The relationship between intracranial and sagittal sinus pressure in normal and kaolin-induced hydrocephalic greyhounds was examined. In normal dogs there was an average 14 mm Hg pressure difference between the ventricles and the sagittal sinus. Elevations of intraventricular pressure were accompanied by small but consistent elevations in sagittal sinus pressure. In hydrocephalic dogs the average pressure differential was only 2 mm Hg. Also elevations of intraventricular pressure were accompanied by greater elevations in sagittal sinus pressures than those seen in normal dogs. The volume-buffering capacity of the sagittal sinus was decreased, and sinography revealed filling of unusual venous collaterals in hydrocephalic dogs – both suggesting an increased resistance to outflow in the sagittal sinus.
Effect of Maternal Cocaine Use on the Fetus and Newborn: Review of the Literature
Authors: Roland Elke H. , Volpe Joseph J.
Published: March 2008

The recent epidemic of cocaine abuse, especially among young individuals, has caused increasing concern about the potential hazards of prenatal cocaine exposure on the developing fetus and newborn. Although large-scale epidemiologic studies and long-term data are lacking, a review of the literature suggests strongly that the popular belief about the relative safety of cocaine is unfounded and that maternal cocaine abuse during pregnancy may be associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Neuroectodermal Appendages: The Human Tail Explained
Authors: Gaskill Sarah J. , Marlin Arthur E.
Published: March 2008

The human tail has been intermittently described in the literature since the early 1900s. These have typically been isolated cases presented primarily with intrigue and medical curiosity. Presented here is a series of 6 neuroectodermal appendages with a proposal for their etiological development. The material presented will support a theory of the superficial extension of a dermal sinus tract in the formation of neuroectodermal appendages. These are characterized by: a posterior localization in or near the midline, a tubular or ‘tail-like’ appearance, extension of the appendage into the spinal canal with attachment to neural elements, variable vertebral defects and occasionally an associated appendage which may appear as either a separate entity (probably due to breakage during development) or in connection with the posterior appendage. The appropriate evaluation and treatment of this entity will also be discussed.
Spinal Cord Injury without Radiographic Abnormality in Children
Authors: Osenbach Richard K. , Menezes Arnold H.
Published: March 2008

Between 1970 and 1988, 35% of children with traumatic myelopathy demonstrated spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA). Young children, especially children under 3 years were particularly vulnerable. Mechanisms of injury were age-specific and included flexion, hyperextension and longitudinal traction. Over 80% of injuries involved the cervical cord. Ninety-five percent of all severe injuries occurred in younger children. Neurologic recovery was directly dependent on the degree of initial neurologic injury. Management included dynamic films to exclude obvious fracture or instability, CT or polytomography to exclude occult fracture, and MRI or CT-myelography to exclude surgical lesions. Cervical immobilization is the cornerstone of therapy for prevention of recurrent episodes of SCIWORA.
Two Cases of Dandy-Walker Syndrome and Chronic Polyneuropathy
Authors: Riikonen R. , Lang H. , Kalimo H. , Röyttä M. , Donner M.
Published: March 2008

The paper describes a so far unreported combination of Dandy-Walker syndrome and chronic hereditary polyneuropathy in 2 boys. One of the boys has a de- and remyehnating motor and sensory polyneuropathy, with either an autosomal recessive mode of inheritence or a sporadic occurrence. The other has an autosomal dominant form of mild polyneuropathy with tomaculum formations in myelinated fibers, corresponding to hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies.
Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone and Transient Hypertension Associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Authors: Kaneko Kazunari , Shioya Takehiro , Yabuta Keijiro
Published: March 2008

A rare case with Guillain-Barré syndrome complicated by inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and hypertension was reported. This case showed clinically mild symptoms without respiratory muscle paralysis and had a complete neurological recovery. It should, therefore, be considered that the Guillain-Barré syndrome may cause SIADH and hypertension independent of the severity of the disease.
Axonal Transport of Horseradish Peroxidase in the Experimental Tethered Spinal Cord
Authors: Fuse Takaharu , Patrickson John W. , Yamada Shokei
Published: March 2008

There has been experimental evidence of the tethered cord syndrome being a gray matter disease resulting from excessive tensile force in the lumbosacral cord. Clinical findings also support this concept. This study was designed to elucidate the possibility of the involvement of the long tract in tethered cord. Long tract continuity was evaluated utilizing the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in fasciculus gracilis. There were no significant differences between the normal and experimental tethered cord in the number of labeled dorsal root ganglion cells of the lumbosacral cord. From this we conclude that involvement of the long sensory tract during steady state of severe cord traction at best is minimal. This study supports the hypothesis that tethered cord syndrome primarily is a gray matter disorder.
Acceleration of Cardiovascular Disease by a Dysfunctional Prostacyclin Receptor Mutation
Authors: Arehart Eric , Stitham Jeremiah , Asselbergs Folkert W. , Douville Karen , MacKenzie Todd , Fetalvero Kristina M. , Gleim Scott , Kasza Zsolt , Rao Yamini , Martel Laurie , Segel Sharon , Robb John , Kaplan Aaron , Simons Michael , Powell Richard J. , Moore Jason H. , Rimm Eric B. , Martin Kathleen A. , Hwa John
Published: March 2008

Recent increased adverse cardiovascular events observed with selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition led to the withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx) and valdecoxib (Bextra), but the mechanisms underlying these atherothrombotic events remain unclear. Prostacyclin is the major end product of cyclooxygenase-2 in vascular endothelium. Using a naturally occurring mutation in the prostacyclin receptor, we report for the first time that a deficiency in prostacyclin signaling through its G protein–coupled receptor contributes to atherothrombosis in human patients. We report that a prostacyclin receptor variant (R212C) is defective in adenylyl cyclase activation in both patient blood and in an in vitro COS-1 overexpression system. This promotes increased platelet aggregation, a hallmark of atherothrombosis. Our analysis of patients in 3 separate white cohorts reveals that this dysfunctional receptor is not likely an initiating factor in cardiovascular disease but that it accelerates the course of disease in those patients with the greatest risk factors. R212C was associated with cardiovascular disease only in the high cardiovascular risk cohort (n=980), with no association in the low-risk cohort (n=2293). In those at highest cardiovascular risk, both disease severity and adverse cardiovascular events were significantly increased with R212C when compared with age- and risk factor–matched normal allele patients. We conclude that for haploinsufficient mutants, such as the R212C, the enhanced atherothrombotic phenotype is likely dependent on the presence of existing atherosclerosis or injury (high risk factors), analogous to what has been observed in the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition studies or prostacyclin receptor knockout mice studies. Combining both biochemical and clinical approaches, we conclude that diminished prostacyclin receptor signaling may contribute, in part, to the underlying adverse cardiovascular outcomes observed with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition.
A Whole-Genome Scan for Stroke or Myocardial Infarction in Family Blood Pressure Program Families
Authors: Sherva Richard , Miller Michael B. , Pankow James S. , Hunt Steven C. , Boerwinkle Eric , Mosley Thomas H. , Weder Alan B. , Curb J. David , Luke Amy , Morrison Alanna C. , Fornage Myriam , Arnett Donna K.
Published: March 2008

Background and Purpose—

Atherothrombotic diseases, including stroke and myocardial infarction, share a common pathogenesis. Chromosomal regions have been linked to atherothrombotic diseases in family studies, and association studies have identified candidate gene polymorphisms that affect the risk of stroke and/or myocardial infarction. Using data from the Family Blood Pressure Program, we tested for chromosomal regions linked to the composite phenotype of stroke or myocardial infarction in a large set of hypertensive families.

Methods—

Nonparametric linkage analysis was implemented in MERLIN, which tests for excess allele-sharing among affected siblings. Empirical distributions based on gene dropping simulations were constructed for each test statistic, and the −log
10
of the associated probability values were compared.

Results—

Analyses were based on 9607 individuals in 226 black, 395 Hispanic, and 207 white families; 106 families had multiple affected individuals. Several regions showed linkage to stroke or myocardial infarction, most significantly in Hispanics on chromosomes 2p21 (−log
10
P
=3.0) and 7q21.1 (−log
10
P
=2.8), 9q32 in blacks and Hispanics (−log
10
P
=3.0), 11p13 in blacks (−log
10
P
=2.1), and 12q24.33 in whites (−log
10
P
=3.0).

Conclusions—

There is statistically significant evidence for loci affecting stroke or myocardial infarction on chromosomes 2, 9, and 12.
Trends in Usage of Alternative Antiplatelet Therapy After Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Hills Nancy K. , Johnston S. Claiborne
Published: March 2008

Background and Purpose—

The effects of alternative antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel and dipyridamole have been studied in clinical trials and heavily marketed. Because public data on their usage are limited, we examined trends in their prescription after stroke and transient ischemic attack to assess the impact of marketing and trial results.

Methods—

Between 2001 and 2005, 85 US hospitals prospectively enrolled all patients admitted with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack into a registry designed for quality improvement (Ethos). Data on rates of antiplatelet medication usage at discharge were examined over time, and trends were evaluated by the Mantel-Haenszel test.

Results—

Among 18 020 patients included during the 4-year period, 89% were discharged on antithrombotic medication. Between the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2004, prescription of clopidogrel-aspirin doubled (
P
<0.0001 for trend), coincident with publication of results from CURE and CREDO showing efficacy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Monotherapy with aspirin or clopidogrel decreased concomitantly, and use of dipyridamole-aspirin remained constant. After an increased bleeding risk was reported in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm of the MATCH trial, use of the combination decreased sharply from 31.5% in the first quarter of 2004 to 12.8% in the first quarter of 2005 (
P
<0.0001), while an increase was seen in the use of clopidogrel alone (7.6% to 12.8%,
P
=0.03) and dipyridamole-aspirin (7.4% to 20.2%,
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

Clopidogrel and dipyridamole-aspirin are used frequently after stroke or transient ischemic attack. Use of clopidogrel-aspirin was common in patients with recent ischemic stroke before the publication of MATCH, after which rates dramatically declined and use of dipyridamole-aspirin and clopidogrel alone increased.
Genome Screen to Detect Linkage to Intracranial Aneurysm Susceptibility Genes
Authors: Foroud Tatiana , Sauerbeck Laura , Brown Robert , Anderson Craig , Woo Daniel , Kleindorfer Dawn , Flaherty Matthew L. , Deka Ranjan , Hornung Richard , Meissner Irene , Bailey-Wilson Joan E. , Rouleau Guy , Connolly E. Sander , Lai Dongbing , Koller Daniel L. , Huston John , Broderick Joseph P. ,   the FIA Study Investigators
Published: March 2008

Background and Purpose—

Evidence supports a substantial genetic contribution to the risk of intracranial aneurysm (IA). The purpose of this study was to identify chromosomal regions likely to harbor genes that contribute to the risk of IA.

Methods—

Multiplex families having at least 2 individuals with “definite” or “probable” IA were ascertained through an international consortium. First-degree relatives of individuals with IA who were at increased risk of an IA because of a history of hypertension or present smoking were offered cerebral magnetic resonance angiography. A genome screen was completed using the Illumina 6K SNP system, and the resulting data from 192 families, containing 1155 genotyped individuals, were analyzed. Narrow and broad disease definitions were used when testing for linkage using multipoint model-independent methods. Ordered subset analysis was performed to test for a gene×smoking (pack-years) interaction.

Results—

The greatest evidence of linkage was found on chromosomes 4 (LOD=2.5; 156 cM), 7 (LOD=1.7; 183 cM), 8 (LOD=1.9; 70 cM), and 12 (LOD=1.6; 102 cM) using the broad disease definition. Using the average pack-years for the affected individuals in each family, the genes on chromosomes 4 (LOD=3.5;
P
=0.03), 7 (LOD=4.1;
P
=0.01) and 12 (LOD=3.6;
P
=0.02) all appear to be modulated by the degree of smoking in the affected members of the family. On chromosome 8, inclusion of smoking as a covariate did not significantly strengthen the linkage evidence, suggesting no interaction between the loci in this region and smoking.

Conclusions—

We have detected possible evidence of linkage to 4 chromosomal regions. There is potential evidence for a gene×smoking interaction with 3 of the loci.
Stroke Health and Risk Education (SHARE) Pilot Project
Authors: Zahuranec Darin B. , Morgenstern Lewis B. , Garcia Nelda M. , Conley Kathleen M. , Lisabeth Lynda D. , Rank Grace S. , Smith Melinda A. , Meurer William J. , Resnicow Ken , Brown Devin L.
Published: March 2008

Background and Purpose—

We performed a pilot project to assess the need for and feasibility of a church-based stroke risk reduction intervention in a predominantly Mexican American community.

Methods—

Participants were recruited after each mass on a single weekend from 2 Catholic churches in Corpus Christi, Texas. Questionnaires about personal stroke risk factors and interest in program participation were completed, and blood pressure screening was performed.

Results—

A total of 150 individuals participated (63% Mexican American, median age 62). A substantial majority (84%) were interested in being part of a long-term church-based health education project. Blood pressure was >139/89 mm Hg in 50 of 78 (64%) of individuals with a self-reported history of hypertension, and in 17 of 69 (25%) of individuals without known hypertension, with no ethnic differences in blood pressure. Mexican Americans were younger, had a higher BMI, and were more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.

Conclusions—

There is substantial burden of stroke risk factors in these predominantly Mexican American church communities. Church-based health interventions may be a way to reduce stroke in this at-risk population.
Fog Water Collection in a Subtropical Elfin Laurel Forest of the Garajonay National Park (Canary Islands): A Combined Approach Using Artificial Fog Catchers and a Physically Based Impaction Model
Authors: Ritter A. , Regalado C. M. , Aschan G.
Published: March 2008

Fog precipitation has long been assumed as an additional water source in the relic laurel ecosystems of the Canary Islands, located at 500–1400 m MSL. However, to what extent fog water can contribute to the laurel forest water balance is not yet clear. Combining data from artificial fog catchers and a physically based impaction model, the authors evaluated the potential contribution of fog water captured by needle-leafed Erica arborea L. trees in a selected watershed of the Garajonay National Park (La Gomera Island) for a 2-yr period (February 2003–January 2005). Fog water collection was measured with artificial catchers at four micrometeorological stations placed at 1145, 1185, 1230, and 1270 m MSL. Average fog water collection was only significant at the highest measurement site (one order of magnitude greater than at lower altitudes), totaling 496 L m−2 yr−1 during the 2-yr period. The average fog water yield in the first and second annual periods ranged between 0.2–5.0 and 0.1–2.1 L m−2 day−1, respectively. Rainfall exhibited seasonality, distinguishing between rainy and dry seasons, while fog water collection was distributed more evenly throughout the year. Regarding fog water captured by the vegetation, the impaction model predicted a significant amount of fog water potentially collected by a single E. arborea tree, on the order of 1810–2090 L yr−1. Taking tree population density into account, the yearly average water contribution to the soil surface by wind-driven fogs was 251–281 mm, whereas annual rainfall was 635 and 1088 mm, respectively. The hourly course of micrometeorological variables shows a 58% reduction in global radiation under foggy conditions and a concomitant 3°–6°C mean temperature decrease compared to fog-free periods. Thus, limiting evapotranspiration may also be a relevant effect of fog in this subtropical elfin cloud forest.
Render Unto Caesar That Which is Caesar's
Authors: Ish-Shalom Piki
Published: March 2008

Amitai Etzioni's book Security First proposes to reintroduce a sense of pragmatism into American foreign policy and encourage an attitude of “principled realism.” Etzioni argues that only thus will it be feasible to attain a global architecture that secures the Primacy of Life: the most fundamental human right and the basis for efforts to promote democracy internationally. Assisted by feminist and cosmopolitan criticisms of John Rawls's Law of Peoples , the author identifies certain flaws in Etzioni's scheme, mainly the abandonment of less well-off minorities and disempowered dissidents. Subsequently, and inspired by the ethics of care, the author sketches a remedy for the flaws, namely a division of global assignments between different sorts of entities, such as states, nongovernmental organizations, transnational social movements, and individuals. The author argues that in this manner, security and morality can be pursued, can be realized in concert and not abandoning the less well-off minorities and disempowered dissidents to their fate can be endeavored.
Etzioni in Southeast Asia
Authors: Dalpino Catharin
Published: March 2008

Amitai Etzioni's recommendation to U.S. policy makers to abandon democracy promotion in volatile Muslim societies and embrace moderate Muslims who may not support democracy but adhere to basic human rights standards may be applicable to certain Middle Eastern states. It parallels U.S. policy in the cold war, in which the criteria for regime support was anticommunism rather than democracy. However, Catharin Dalpino argues that this paradigm may not apply to Southeast Asia and that Etzioni's policy recommendations may indeed backfire in countries such as Indonesia. In that Muslim-majority country, the democratization process has provided leaders with mechanisms to curb the rise of political Islam. Recent studies show that this approach may be working, as Indonesian voters are moving away from religious identification as a determinant in voting behavior.
Internalized Heterosexism
Authors: Szymanski Dawn M. , Kashubeck-West Susan , Meyer Jill
Published: March 2008

This article provides an integrated critical review of the literature on internalized heterosexism/internalized homophobia (IH), its measurement, and its psychosocial correlates. It describes the psychometric properties of six published measures used to operationalize the construct of IH. It also critically reviews empirical studies on correlates of IH in the areas of sexual identity formation and the coming-out process; mental, psychosocial, and physical health; substance use; sexual risk-taking behavior; intimate relationships; parenting and family issues; gender roles and feminism; race and ethnicity; religion; career issues; and counselor—client interactions and treatment interventions. Last, it discusses limitations of the body of research and provides suggestions for future research throughout the review.
Dimensionality Assessment Using the Full-Information Item Bifactor Analysis for Graded Response Data
Authors: Immekus Jason C. , Imbrie P. K.
Published: March 2008

Dimensionality assessment using the full-information item bifactor model for graded response data is provided. The model applies to data in which each item relates to a general factor and one group factor. Specifically, alternative model specification within item response theory (IRT) is shown to test a scale's factor structure. For illustrative purposes, the bifactor model and competing IRT models were fit to the data of separate cohorts of incoming college students (Cohort 1, n = 1,490; Cohort 2, n = 1,533) to test the dimensionality of an adapted version of the State Metacognitive Inventory. Overall, the bifactor analysis did not strongly support distinct group factors after accounting for the general factor. Instead, results suggested conceptualizing the scale as unidimensional, indicating that scores should be based on the total scale, not subscales. Considerations related to the use of the bifactor IRT model are discussed.
Design of a Hybrid Composite Flywheel Multi-rim Rotor System using Geometric Scaling Factors
Authors: Ha Sung K. , Kim Jae H. , Han Young H.
Published: March 2008

The effects of geometric scaling on the static and dynamic behavior of a multi-rim hybrid press-fitted composite flywheel rotor are investigated and applied to its design procedure. It is verified that the stresses among the scaled multi-rim hybrid rotors remain the same as long as press-fit interferences are linearly scaled, curing temperature remains unchanged, and the rotational speed is inversely proportional. With the linearly scaled supporting stiffness of the scaled rotor and shaft, a relationship between inversely scaled critical speeds and rotational speeds remains unchanged. Double rim rotors of 5 kWh and 100 kWh energy storage are designed by scaling an optimized 0.5 kWh multi-rim rotor. Then, the rotors of 5 kWh were manufactured by wet-winding E-glass and T-700 fibers with a low-temperature cured epoxy system.
Rules That Matter: Political Institutions and the Diversity—Conflict Nexus
Authors: Schneider Gerald , Wiesehomeier Nina
Published: March 2008

One controversy in the study of civil war relates to the role that institutions play in ethnically diverse societies. `Constitutional engineers' advance various institutional arrangements, ranging from democracy in general to specific constitutional and electoral rules, as those mechanisms that help divided societies to resolve disputes peacefully. Political sociologists, by contrast, maintain that political institutions are largely an epiphenomenon. Synthesizing the two conflicting schools of thought, the authors examine how different institutions in conjunction with three forms of ethnic diversity — fractionalization, dominance and polarization — affect the risk of civil war. It is argued that groups perceive institutions as a constraint and that they consider the usage of political violence if they cannot achieve their goals peacefully. The examination of these conditional institutionalist hypotheses for the period between 1950 and 2000 shows, in accordance with recent theoretical work, that fractionalization can indeed be linked to low-intensity civil wars and that this effect is particularly strong in democracies in comparison to autocracies. Interacting the measures of diversity with different democratic institutions, the authors confirm that rules that encourage power-sharing lower the risk of war in diverse societies. The event-history models, moreover, show that the combination of fractionalization and majoritarian voting forebodes badly for the internal stability of a state. Within the set of democratic regimes studied in this article, presidential systems are the most war-prone institutional setting.
Consent or Conflict: Coevolution of Coordination and Networks
Authors: Buskens Vincent , Corten Rense , Weesie Jeroen
Published: March 2008

Societies are sometimes divided into groups that behave in different ways or have strongly opposing opinions. At other times, everyone seems to behave according to similar principles and opinions. It is likely that individual decisions on behavior or opinions are affected by social networks through influence and selection processes. However, the outcomes are not necessarily optimal for the society as a whole. Two types of problems might arise: (a) polarization of the society into two camps that do not reach consensus, possibly leading to conflict; (b) actors choosing suboptimal behavior, because changing behavior is too risky if done unilaterally. Simulations show that if a society is rather segregated initially, there exists a heightened probability that this situation will worsen. The effect of network density is twofold. First, density has a positive effect on reaching a uniform opinion and, therefore, decreases the likelihood of polarization. Second, density increases the likelihood that actors do not change their behavior, worsening the inefficiency of already suboptimal initial situations.
American Indians/Native Alaskans With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Whitfield Harold Wayne , Lloyd Rosalind
Published: March 2008

The researchers analyzed data from fiscal year 2006 and found that American Indians/Native Alaskans (AI/NA) with traumatic brain injury experienced similar functional limitations at application as did non-AI/NA. Fewer funds were expended on purchased services for AI/NA than for non-AI/NA. The wages of AI/NA were equitable to those of non-AI/NA at case closure. AI/NA spent less time in the federal—state vocational rehabilitation program than did non-AI/NA. There were no significant differences in educational attainment at case closure for AI/NA and non-AI/NA.
The Effects of Psychosocial Factors on Quality of Life Among Individuals With Chronic Pain
Authors: Lee Gloria K. , Chronister Julie , Bishop Malachy
Published: March 2008

This study investigated the psychosocial factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of 171 individuals with chronic pain. Participants completed a battery of self-rated inventories measuring three sets of predictor variables—demographic (age, gender, income, marital status), pain-specific (chronicity, severity, duration, frequency, pain impairment), and psychosocial (interference, social support, depression, coping)—and one criterion variable with five models (physical, psychological, social, environmental, total). Hierarchical multiple regression indicates that income predicts the psychological and environmental domains of QOL. Across all five models, 56% to 76% of the variance was accounted for with the three sets of variables. Demographics remained minimally predictive of all models. Pain impairment was predictive of all five models. Depression was predictive of all but physical QOL, and coping was predictive of all but physical and environmental QOL. The pain impairment variable and the two psychosocial variables (depression and coping) remained imperative in predicting QOL of individuals with chronic pain.
Modeling of Heat Transfer Measurement Unit for Cotton Plain Knitted Fabric using a Finite Element Method
Authors: Cimilli S. , Nergis F.B.U. , Candan C.
Published: March 2008

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the applicability of a finite element method (FEM) to textile problems, in particular to the heat transfer behavior of plain knitted cotton fabrics. For this purpose, a heat transfer measurement unit is initially set up for the experimental study. Then, a plain weft knitted fabric model is developed using CATIA and finally the model is imported into ANSYS Workbench for analysis. A comparison of the experimental measurements with the numerical solutions showed that the FEM model developed for the heat transfer measurement including plain knitted cotton fabric produces very promising results. It also has the potential to obtain effective heat conduction coefficients of fabrics from new fibers such as bamboo, soybean, chitosan, etc., some of which are not available in the literature at present.
Communities, Students, Schools, and School Crime
Authors: Chen Greg
Published: March 2008

This study investigates how community characteristics, student background, school climate, and zero-tolerance policies interact to affect school crime. The study articulates and fits a school crime model to 712 high schools participating in the 2000 School Survey on Crime and Safety, confirming that school location and student socioeconomic status have moderate effects on school crime. Much of the contextual effects are mediated via school climate. School climate reflected by school size, student mobility, and student misbehavior affect school safety in profound and predicted ways. Larger size and schools with higher student transience and misbehavior predict higher levels of criminal incidents. School security program is correlated with lower school crime; however, the effect is small and nonsignificant. Tough on crime policy is associated with higher level of school crime, controlling for community and school variables. Consequently, a positive school climate in combination with necessary security control is recommended to improve school safety and reduce school crimes.
Social-Psychological Influences on Opinion Expression in Face-to-Face and Computer-Mediated Communication
Authors: Ho Shirley S. , McLeod Douglas M.
Published: March 2008

This study used an experiment embedded within a Web-based survey to examine the influence of contextual (i.e., face-to-face vs. online chat room discussion) and social-psychological factors on individuals' willingness to express opinions. In this experiment, respondents were asked whether they would be willing to express an opinion if they were placed in a face-to-face discussion group in one condition and in an online chat room discussion group in the other condition. Results indicate that print news use, fear of isolation, communication apprehension, future opinion congruency, and communication setting significantly predict willingness to speak out. In addition, not only did fear of isolation have a negative main effect on opinion expression, but this effect was significantly attenuated by computer-mediated discussion. Findings suggest that computer-mediated communication may avoid some of the dysfunctional social-psychological influences found in face-to-face interactions and create a forum conducive for public deliberation.
Evaluation of Extinction as a Functional Treatment for Binge Eating
Authors: Bosch Amanda , Miltenberger Raymond G. , Gross Amy , Knudson Peter , Breitwieser Carrie Brower
Published: March 2008

Binge eating is a serious behavior problem exhibited by individuals diagnosed with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Binge eating is thought to be maintained by automatic negative reinforcement in the form of relief from negative emotional responding. Current treatments produce only moderate abstinence, perhaps because they do not attempt to alter the functional consequences of the behavior. Although extinction has been thought impossible with behaviors maintained by automatic negative reinforcement, this study evaluated the application of extinction with binge eating. Four women who reported engaging in binge eating at least twice per week participated. Participants listened to an audio tape recording of the covert verbal behavior associated with their negative emotional responding during the binge to prevent alleviation of the negative emotional responding, thus eliminating the reinforcer in an attempt to reduce the behavior. The procedure effectively reduced frequency of the binges when correctly implemented. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Changes in Women's Sexual Behavior Following Sexual Assault
Authors: Deliramich Aimee N. , Gray Matt J.
Published: March 2008

The present study examines changes in women's sexual activity and behavior following sexual assault and the relationship between alcohol abuse and postassault promiscuity. Although many researchers have focused on avoidance of sexual activity following an assault, some have suggested that women may exhibit an increase in sexual activity postassault. Such outcomes are not mutually exclusive possibilities but may instead reflect subtypes of sexual assault victims. A significant percentage of assault survivors did report increases in sexual activity following trauma. Assault survivors also reported increases in posttraumatic alcohol consumption relative to a comparison sample of motor vehicle accident survivors. In both groups, increases in posttraumatic alcohol usage predicted increases in posttraumatic sexual activity, suggesting that use of alcohol as a coping strategy may result in an increased likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior. If true, this maladaptive coping mechanism could help to account for some instances of revictimization.
Watching Children
Authors: Nelson Margaret K.
Published: March 2008

Popular culture today characterizes middle-class parents as being consumed with anxiety about their children. Drawing on more than 100 consumer reviews of baby monitors published on Epinions.com, the author examines how parents respond to that anxiety. Although Epinions.com reviewers are not representative of the population at large, they do represent married, well-educated women. The author demonstrates that in their discussions of monitors, parents normalize parental anxiety and that they depict the baby as both fragile (and thus in need of care) and mischievous (and thus in need of control). In addition, the author shows that as parents adapt to the anxieties associated with parenting by monitoring their babies, they gain some forms of freedom while accepting tethering and that they gain the new skills of interpretation through technology. In the conclusion, issues are raised about the links between parental monitoring of babies and increasing surveillance in contemporary society.
Diluting the Cesspool
Authors: Goodsell Todd L.
Published: March 2008

In recent years, the process of social change through improvement of residences in decaying neighborhoods—gentrification—has itself changed. Traditional families (married with children) and a broader spectrum of the social class spectrum are more likely to be involved. The present research takes an ethnographic perspective and considers the experiences and understandings of a set of families in one urban community as they attempt a variety of home improvement (do-it-yourself or DIY) projects. Although cultural and institutional representations of home improvement are found to be helpful, they frequently fail to capture the complexities of actual home improvement projects. The practical logic of home repair in this community involves leadership, responsiveness, continuing struggle, and compromise. To accomplish the work under circumstances in which ideals do not match reality, these families use humor, exchange, and trial and error. Their lives show that family, home, and community are inseparable in the everyday experience of home improvement.
Predicting the Emergence of Innovations from Technological Convergence: Lessons from the Twentieth Century
Authors: Schnaars Steven , Thomas Gloria , Irmak Caglar
Published: March 2008

This article takes a historical perspective to examine technological convergences that occurred throughout the twentieth century in an attempt to gain insights that may be helpful today. It analyzes five case histories where experts predicted that two or more existing technologies would converge to create an entirely new product and market. The cases are studied for their unique points of difference as well as for their commonalities. They lead to the conclusion that despite the confidence and enthusiasm in the forecasts, the convergences typically took decades longer than expected and often materialized in forms that bore little resemblance to the original predictions. Failures occurred for a variety of reasons, ranging from a lack of market acceptance to a waning of one of the original technologies prior to the convergence. The results have implications for businesses and consumers concerned with current predictions of new technological convergences.
Thermal and Moisture Adsorption Properties of Cyanate Ester Modified Epoxy Resin and Fiber-Glass Composites
Authors: Li Huang  , Chen Wang  , Yafei Lu
Published: March 2008

The moisture absorption and heat distortion temperature (HDT) of cyanate ester modified epoxy resin in various resin blend ratio and cure conditions were studied. The experimental results showed that the moisture concentrations of 180°C-cure products were lowest and the HDT of 200°C-cure products were highest in co-cure systems with cyanate ester's weight fraction of 30, 40, and 50%. If all of the samples were post-cured at 230°C for 4h, the moisture concentration and HDT of samples with the same content of cyanate ester in the blend were very approximate. This indicated that the post-curing temperature was an important factor affecting thermal properties and moisture absorption. Fourrier transform infrared (FT-IR) was used to analyze the structure of products and to discuss the change of moisture absorption and HDT. In addition, the order of the effect of every factor, cyanate ester content, accelerant (cobalt isocaprylate) content, cure time, and cure temperature, on moisture absorption and HDT, were found out by an orthogonal test. The optimal conditions for preparing lowest moisture concentration and highest HDT product were determined respectively. A dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA) was used to detect the changes of the glass transition temperature (Tg). All of the dynamic mechanical loss tangent cures of composite have two glass transition peaks. The shape of these two peaks changes with increasing immersing time, but the corresponding temperature of peak value changes little.
A Multiple Views Management System for Concurrent Engineering and PLM
Authors: Bouikni Nadjib , Rivest Louis , Desrochers Alain
Published: March 2008

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is an approach for controlling and exploiting product-related information throughout its lifecycle as needed by various business functions. Concurrent engineering (CE) integrates several disciplines contributing to product design. Both PLM and CE involve information sharing amongst disciplines having a specific point of view regarding the product. While each discipline exerts its own expertise and methods on the definition of the product and its related processes, information must remain consistent for all disciplines and throughout the evolution of the product definition. Therefore, being able to efficiently manage multiple views fulfilling the needs of multiple disciplines is an important issue. This article, proposes a multiple views generation mechanism incorporated in the product feature evolution validation (PFEV) model. The PFEV model is a dynamic workflow that controls the information flow needed to support a product definition evolution (PDE) while supporting its validation by all the disciplines involved. The model addresses two qualities of an information system: dispatching relevant PDE information to appropriate disciplines and providing this information according to specific views. With current CAD tool implementations, disciplines will not need all the information obtained from the numerical model, which often comes from files characterizing the geometry. Thus, each discipline must interpret the information characterizing the product by performing some filtering or adaptation in order to obtain what is relevant to its function. Two cases are associated with the views generation mechanism that corresponds to the elimination of not-useful explicit information and to the adaptation of implicit information, respectively. To accomplish this, three alternatives are distinguished to generate a view: create a new view, recuperate an existing view and update an existing view. The process used to create a new view is composed of three stages: selection of data element to be treated, selection of treatment parameters to be applied, selection and execution of views generation algorithm. The generated view is then saved in a table of views characterization, which is used to recuperate an existing view. Three reference elements (treatment parameters, views generation algorithm, and knowledge parameters) are saved when a new view is created. These elements are used for each update required for the existing view.
Sins of Commission? Understanding Membership Patterns on the United Nations Human Rights Commission
Authors: Edwards Martin S. , Scott Kevin M. , Allen Susan Hannah , Irvin Kate
Published: March 2008

A prominent liberal explanation for why states join international organizations is to advance norms that such organizations represent. The authors examine the patterns of membership on the now-defunct United Nations Human Rights Commission (now the UN Human Rights Council). In regions where democratic norms did not hold sway, members were elected to degrade human rights norms. Illiberal states sought seats to shield themselves or neighbors from censure by the Commission. As regions became more democratic, it became harder for states with poor records to be elected and easier for states with better human rights records to be elected.
Ecodevelopmental × Intrapersonal Risk
Authors: Prado Guillermo J. , Schwartz Seth J. , Maldonado-Molina Mildred , Huang Shi , Pantin Hilda M. , Lopez Barbara , Szapocznik Jose
Published: March 2008

Hispanic adolescents are a rapidly growing population and are highly vulnerable to substance abuse and HIV infection. Many interventions implemented thus far have been “one size fits all” models that deliver the same dosage and sequence of modules to all participants. To more effectively prevent substance use and HIV in Hispanic adolescents, different risk profiles must be considered. This study's purpose is to use intrapersonal and ecodevelopmental risk processes to identify Hispanic adolescent subgroups and to compare substance use rates and sexual behavior by risk subgroup. The results indicate that a larger proportion with high ecodevelopmental risk (irrespective of the intrapersonal risk for substance use) report lifetime and past 90-day cigarette and illicit drug use. In contrast, a larger proportion with high intrapersonal risk for unsafe sex (irrespective of ecodevelopmental risk) report early sex initiation and sexually transmitted disease incidence. Implications for intervention development are discussed in terms of these Hispanic adolescent subgroups.
Long-term patients' outcomes after intermediate care at a community hospital for elderly patients: 12-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Garåsen Helge , Windspoll Rolf , Johnsen Roar
Published: March 2008

Background: Developing a better understanding of if, and when, patients need care at a general hospital is an urgent challenge, as the proportion of general hospital beds being occupied by older patients is continuously increasing. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, of 142 patients aged 60 years or more admitted to a city general hospital due to acute illness or exacerbation of a chronic disease, 72 (intervention group) were randomized to intermediate care at a community hospital, and 70 (general hospital group) to further general hospital care. The patients were followed up for 12 months. The need for long-term home care and nursing homes, mortality and the number of admissions and days in general hospital for all diseases were monitored. Results: Thirty-five patients, 13 (18.1%) of the patients included in the intervention group and 22 (31.4%) in the general hospital group, died within 12 months (p=0.03). Patients in the intervention group were observed for a longer period of time than those in the general hospital group; 335.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 312.0—359.4) vs. 292.8 (95% CI 264.1—321.5) days (p=0.01). There were statistically no differences in the need for long-term primary-level care or in the number of admissions or days spent in general hospital beds. Conclusions: Intermediate care at the community hospital in Trondheim is an equal alternative to ordinary prolonged care at the city general hospital, as fewer patients were in need of community care services, and significantly fewer patients died during the 12-month follow-up time.
Youth Courts and Children's Rights: The Irish Experience
Authors: Kilkelly Ursula
Published: March 2008

The Irish youth justice system is currently undergoing substantial reform. When complete, the system will divert most first-time young offenders away from the courts via the Garda (police) Diversion Programme. Those who go to court may be offered the opportunity of a family conference directed by either the Health Service Executive or the Probation Service as an alternative to conviction, or if convicted, may receive one of a wide range of community sanctions designed to present an alternative to detention. However, reform of the Children Court, which is at the heart of the Irish system, is not part of this process despite difficulties with its operation and questions about the extent to which it meets international children's rights standards. This article highlights the problems faced by the Court and explains why, in addition to the reforms above, it is vital that the Court be overhauled both to address its effectiveness as the central agency in the youth justice system, but also to ensure that the rights of the young people before it are fully vindicated.
Education and self-management for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study of patients' views
Authors: Ockleford Elizabeth , Shaw Rachel L. , Willars Janet , Dixon-Woods Mary
Published: March 2008

Objectives: We explored the perceptions, views and experiences of diabetes education in people with type 2 diabetes who were participating in a UK randomized controlled trial of methods of education. The intervention arm of the trial was based on DESMOND, a structured programme of group education sessions aimed at enabling self-management of diabetes, while the standard arm was usual care from general practices.

Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 adult patients, of whom 19 had attended DESMOND education sessions and 17 had been randomized to receive usual care. Data analysis was based on the constant comparative method.

Results: Four principal orientations towards diabetes and its management were identified: `resisters', `identity resisters, consequence accepters', `identity accepters, consequence resisters' and `accepters'. Participants offered varying accounts of the degree of personal responsibility that needed to be assumed in response to the diagnosis. Preferences for different styles of education were also expressed, with many reporting that they enjoyed and benefited from group education, although some reported ambivalence or disappointment with their experiences of education. It was difficult to identify striking thematic differences between accounts of people on different arms of the trial, although there was some very tentative evidence that those who attended DESMOND were more accepting of a changed identity and its implications for their management of diabetes.

Discussion: No one single approach to education is likely to suit all people newly diagnosed with diabetes, although structured group education may suit many. This paper identifies varying orientations and preferences of people with diabetes towards forms of both education and self-management, which should be taken into account when planning approaches to education.