bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Do People Stop Treating Contaminated Drinking Water With Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS)?
Authors: Tamas Andrea , Mosler Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2011

Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) is a simple method designed to treat microbiologically contaminated drinking water at household level. This article characterizes relapse behavior in comparison with continued SODIS use after a 7-month nonpromotion period. In addition, different subtypes among relapsers and continuers were assumed to diverge mainly in their intention to use SODIS and their degree of cognition intensity. Data were taken from a longitudinal SODIS promotion study. Cluster analyses were applied to find subtypes among 166 relapsers and 123 continuers. Overall relapsers have lower values for all psychological variables compared to overall continuers. A low-value and a high-value relapser subtype as well as a low-value and a high-value continuer subtype were found. Low-value relapsers differ from high-value relapsers in one central belief (taste), in affective connotation, social norms, and dissonance. Interestingly, high-value relapsers have values almost as high as low-value continuers, differing only in their degree of habit. Only high-value continuers seem to be stable and did not show a decrease in critical habit variables over time. The different subtypes are placed along the behavior change process, and possible interventions for each type are highlighted.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Aqueous Extract ofFicus Deltoidea
Authors: Zakaria Z. A. , Hussain M. K. , Mohamad A. S. , Abdullah F. C. , Sulaiman M. R.
Published: January 2011

Ficus deltoidea (Family Moraceae) leaves have been used traditionally by the Malays to treat ailments such as wounds, sores, and rheumatism. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of F. deltoidea leaf (FDA) using acute and chronic inflammatory models. FDA, in the doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, was administered intraperitoneally in rats ( n = 6) before the animals were subjected to the carrageenan-induced paw edema test, cotton pellet-induced granuloma test, and formalin test. The first two tests represent acute and chronic models of inflammation, respectively. The first and second phases of the formalin test represent neurogenic pain and inflammatory-mediated pain, respectively; thus, only the second phase was measured in the present study. Results showed that FDA exerted significant ( p < .05) anti-inflammatory activity in all assays, with dose–response effects seen in the paw edema and formalin tests. In conclusion, the leaf of F. deltoidea possesses anti-inflammatory activity against acute and chronic inflammatory responses and against pain-associated inflammatory response. These findings justify the traditional uses of F. deltoidea leaves for treatment of inflammatory-mediated ailments.
Insufficient Sleep in Young Patients With Diabetes and Their Families
Authors: Estrada Carmela L. , Danielson Kirstie K. , Drum Melinda L. , Lipton Rebecca B.
Published: January 2011

Objective: We examined sleep in families of individuals with type 1 diabetes and the relationship of sleep with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Methods: Probands with type 1 diabetes diagnosed before age 18 and first- and second-degree relatives were included ( n = 323). Demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables, and self-reported sleep duration and napping were assessed. Results: On average, adults (≥20 years) slept 7.5 ( SD 1.5) hr, whereas children (5–11 years) and adolescents (12–19 years) slept 9.8 ( SD 1.1) and 8.5 ( SD 1.9) hr, respectively ( p < .01). Based on national recommendations, 40.9% of participants slept insufficiently, particularly young people (vs. adults, p < .01). In age-group stratified analysis, there were no significant associations of insufficient sleep or sleep duration with obesity, diabetes status, or insulin resistance after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, and gender. In all, 42% of participants reported napping regularly (≥1/week), with adolescents significantly more likely to do so (vs. adults, odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, p < .01). Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics also had higher odds of regular napping (vs. non-Hispanic Whites, OR = 3.74, p < .01 and OR = 2.52, p = .03, respectively). In adjusted analysis, leaner (vs. obese) adolescents, whether measured by body mass index, percentage body fat, or waist circumference, were significantly more likely to nap regularly. Conclusions: We found that insufficient sleep was significantly more likely in children and adolescents compared with adults in families with type 1 diabetes. Lower adiposity was associated with regular napping in adolescents. The high prevalence of insufficient sleep in young patients with type 1 diabetes and their relatives detected in the current study may have significant health consequences.
Stress in Migrant Farmworkers During Premigration
Authors: Clingerman Evelyn M. , Brown Adama
Published: January 2011

Purpose: This study explored the relationship between migrant farmworker (MFW) stress and salivary cortisol (sC) in a sample of MFWs prior to migration. Sample: The sample, 40 ( N = 14 male, 26 female) adult MFWs residing in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, primarily comprised middle-aged immigrants with a middle-school education. Design: This pilot feasibility study included a self-report farmworker stress inventory and five serial sC specimens in 24 hr. Results: The sC measures reflected an expected diurnal pattern. Lower total cortisol (area under the curve with respect to ground) was significantly associated with greater waist circumference ( r = –.63, p ≤ .01). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that participants who perceived high levels of farmworker stress exhibited a significant change in sC over time; F(2.14, 72.65) = 43.90, p < .001. High- and low-perceived-stress groups differed significantly in the trajectory of changes in sC over the five time points. Conclusion: MFWs experienced significant levels of stress during premigration. Their sC responses varied significantly by level of perceived farmworker stress. Lower perceived stress may reflect blunting of the sC response pattern.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition changes the metabolic response to neuroglucopenic stress
Authors: Carvalho Miranda Paulo Augusto , Simões e Silva Ana Cristina , de Oliveira Longo Junia Ribeiro , Magalhães Madureira Marcos , Bastos Fóscolo Rodrigo , Campos Machado Lucas José , Vilas Boas Walkíria Wingester , dos Santos Robson Augusto , Celso Coimbra Candido , Ribeiro-Oliveira Antônio
Published: January 2011

Neuroglucopenia induced by 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) activates hypothalamic glucoreceptors leading to increased hepatic glucose production and insulin inhibition. This response is similar to what is observed with intravenous injection of angiotensin II (Ang II). However, the involvement of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on neuroglucopenia has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chronic enalapril treatment on plasma glucose, insulin and lipid levels in response to neuroglucopenia. Male Holtzman rats (120—170 g) were chronically treated with enalapril (10 mg/kg per day) in the drinking water for two weeks. On the day of experiment the animals received an i.v. enalapril final dose one hour before the neuroglucopenic stress by 2DG infusion (500 mg/kg), and blood samples were drawn before and 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 minutes following infusion. The hyperglycaemic response to 2DG was not significantly changed by enalapril treatment. The enalapril-treated group exhibited a peak of plasma insulin higher than controls. Plasma triglyceride showed a significant increase only in the enalapril group after neuroglucopenic stress ( p < 0.05).These data show that chronic enalapril treatment changes insulin and triglyceride responses to neuroglucopenia, suggesting an effect on glucose-induced insulin secretion and the storage of triglycerides.
The Coproduction of Outcomes: An Integrated Assessment of Youth and Program Effects on Recidivism
Authors: Sullivan Christopher J. , Latessa Edward
Published: January 2011

In recent decades, states and communities have begun to utilize diversion programs as a means of preventing the unnecessary penetration of youth into the juvenile justice system and redirecting limited resources. Many of these diversion programs revolve around formal community-based programming. The authors utilize a large sample of youth (n = 4,325) nested in justice and treatment-related programs (n = 72) in order to jointly investigate the likelihood of recidivism based on youth risk and program characteristics. The analysis indicates that individual risk has a substantial effect on later recidivism, which is relatively constant across different programs. Programs do vary in their overall levels of recidivism. Measures of program type and integrity show few significant effects, however. Discussion of the results focuses on the general utility of such policies and the importance of considering the interaction between youth and programs in the production of key outcomes.
HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Discrimination: A Study of Health Care Providers in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahsan Ullah A.K.M.
Published: January 2011

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are stigmatized and looked at negatively by people at large. Stigma, discrimination, and prejudice extend its reach to people associated with HIV-positive people such as health providers, hospital staff, as well as family member and friends. Studies demonstrate that, in low-income countries, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, health providers’ views toward the HIV-positive individuals is not very much different from the general population. The study has been qualitative in nature and conducted among health providers such as physicians and nurses attached to different hospitals. The study was conducted from March 2005 to May 2007. The study shows that 80% of the nurses and 90% of the physicians’ behavior with the HIV-positive individuals were discriminatory. They talk to their patients standing far from them. The interview revealed that the spouses of the physicians and nurses in charge of the HIV-positive individuals put pressure to stop serving the patient or even quit the job. The notion that HIV is only transmitted through sexual activities is prevalent among them. Interestingly, although the physicians know well about the routes of transmission, they do not believe it by heart. Therefore, their fear of being infected makes them discriminate against the HIV-positive individuals. HIV-related stigma remains a barrier to effectively fighting this pandemic. Fear of discrimination often prevents people from seeking treatment publicly. There are evidences that they were evicted from home by their families and rejected by their friends and colleagues. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS can extend into the next generation, placing an emotional burden on them.
Individual, life events, family and socio-economic factors associated with young people with intellectual disability and with and without behavioural/emotional problems
Authors: Taggart L. , Taylor D. , McCrum-Gardner E.
Published: February 2011

The aim of this study was to compare a range of individual, life events, family and socio-economic factors associated with young people with intellectual disabilities and with and without behavioural/emotional problems. Teachers in 16 schools in one region of the UK completed a postal questionnaire on 249 young people with intellectual disabilities aged between 11 and 19 years. There were two groups: 155 young people with behavioural/emotional issues, and 94 without. Using a binary logistic regression analysis, a number of individual, life events, family and socio-economic risk factors were found to be significantly associated with emotional/behavioural problems. The results are discussed alongside findings from other studies. The importance of a multidimensional assessment is highlighted, as well as the interdependent nature of the risk factors.
Carer satisfaction with telephone consultations in a community intellectual disability unit
Authors: Bains Harinder , Bonell Enrique , Speight Peter
Published: February 2011

This paper reports on a survey of carer satisfaction with telephone consultations with doctors in a community service for people with intellectual disability (also known as learning disability in the UK health services). A 10-item anonymized carer satisfaction questionnaire was sent out following telephone consultations over a 4 week period with questions about suitability, effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of telephone consultations. Out of 13 questionnaires sent, 11 were returned. There was a high level of satisfaction with accessibility, effectiveness and suitability. Similar numbers felt that telephone consultations were an efficient use of time. However more than one-third of carers said they would have preferred a face-to-face consultation with the doctor. Telephone consultations, although routine practice in psychiatry, need further research to establish them as a viable alternative to face-to-face consultations.
Non-verbal communication between nurses and people with an intellectual disability: a review of the literature
Authors: Martin Anne-Marie , O'Connor-Fenelon Maureen , Lyons Rosemary
Published: February 2011

This article critically synthesizes current literature regarding communication between nurses and people with an intellectual disability who communicate non-verbally. The unique context of communication between the intellectual disability nurse and people with intellectual disability and the review aims and strategies are outlined. Communication as a concept is explored in depth. Communication between the intellectual disability nurse and the person with an intellectual disability is then comprehensively examined in light of existing literature. Issues including knowledge of the person with intellectual disability, mismatch of communication ability, and knowledge of communication arose as predominant themes. A critical review of the importance of communication in nursing practice follows. The paucity of literature relating to intellectual disability nursing and non-verbal communication clearly indicates a need for research.
Bourdieu’s Rationalist Science of Science: Some Promises and Limitations
Authors: Sismondo Sergio
Published: February 2011

At several points over his career, Pierre Bourdieu articulated a framework for a sociology of science, derived mostly from a priori reasoning about scientific actors in competition for capital. This article offers a brief overview of Bourdieu’s framework, placing it in the context of dominant trends in Science and Technology Studies. Bourdieu provides an excellent justification for the project of the sociology of science, and some starting points for analysis. However, his framework suffers from his commitment to a vague evolutionary epistemology, and from his correlative and surprising neglect of science’s habituses, with their particular practices, boundaries, and political economies. To be productive, Bourdieu’s sociology of science would have to abandon its narrow rationalism and embrace the material complexity of the sciences.
Finger zone II flexor tendon repair in children (5–10 years of age) using three ‘figure of eight’ sutures followed by immediate active mobilization
Authors: Al-Qattan Mohammad M.
Published: February 2011

For children between 5–10 years of age with zone II flexor tendon lacerations, the literature recommends a modified early mobilization programme under the supervision of a hand therapist but the fingers are immobilized between physiotherapy sessions. We report on a series of children between 5–10 years of age with flexor tendon lacerations (n = 54 fingers) in zone II repaired with a six-strand core suture (three separate ‘figure of eight’ sutures) and actively mobilized immediately after surgery similar to adult rehabilitation programmes with no immobilization between the physiotherapy sessions. The average follow-up for the study group was 13 months (range 7–25 months). There were no ruptures. The final outcome was excellent in 46 fingers (85%) and good in the remaining eight fingers (15%) using the Strickland–Glogovac criteria.
Salvianolic acid B and Tanshinone IIA attenuate myocardial ischemia injury in mice by NO production through multiple pathways
Authors: Pan Chunshui , Lou Lixia , Huo Yingqing , Singh Gurbakhshish , Chen Meng , Zhang Dongmei , Wu Aiming , Zhao Mingjing , Wang Shuoren , Li Jian
Published: February 2011

Objective: Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) has been widely used for the treatment of cardiac and cerebrovascular disease throughout history. The objective of this study is to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying Danshen’s cardiac protective effects to support its clinical evidence.

Methods and Results: Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) are two of the major components in Danshen. We observed that Sal B and Tan IIA have cardioprotective effects in an in vivo myocardial infarction model of C57 mice, have vasodilator action in a ex vivo micro-artery system through the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway and are involved in the regulation of the L-arginine/eNOS/NO pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Both Sal B and Tan IIA inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and infarction sizes and improved cardiac function at 4 weeks after induction of infarction. Furthermore, an eNOS inhibitor (L-NAME) obliterated the observed effects. Sal B and Tan IIA mediated vasodilatation in mice coronaries ex vivo, the effect of which was decreased with either L-NAME or PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). In addition, Sal B and Tan IIA-induced vasodilatation was observed ex vivo in the microvessels of eNOS-/- mice. Sal B and Tan IIA also stimulated eNOS phosphorylation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in the HUVEC culture, which was diminished by LY294002. In addition, Sal B and Tan IIA were found to stimulate the phosphorylation of AMPK (Thr172) and Akt (Ser473), while compound C significantly decreased the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) mediated by both. Finally, Sal B and Tan IIA were found to increase NO production, induce [3H]-L-arginine uptake and increase the CAT-1 and CAT-2B mRNA levels in HUVEC culture.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that both Sal B and Tan IIA have cardioprotective function in certain levels through multiple targets related with NO production, such as eNOS phosphorylation, L-arginine uptake and CAT expression, which may have major clinical implications.
Neutrophil survival and c-kit+-progenitor proliferation in Staphylococcus aureus–infected skin wounds promote resolution
Authors: Kim Min-Ho , Granick Jennifer L. , Kwok Cindy , Walker Naomi J. , Borjesson Dori L. , Curry Fitz-Roy E. , Miller Lloyd S. , Simon Scott I.
Published: January 2011

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are critical for the formation, maintenance, and resolution of bacterial abscesses. However, the mechanisms that regulate PMN survival and proliferation during the evolution of an abscess are not well defined. Using a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus abscess formation within a cutaneous wound, combined with real-time imaging of genetically tagged PMNs, we observed that a high bacterial burden elicited a sustained mobilization of PMNs from the bone marrow to the infected wound, where their lifespan was markedly extended. A continuous rise in wound PMN number, which was not accounted for by trafficking from the bone marrow or by prolonged survival, was correlated with the homing of c-kit+-progenitor cells from the blood to the wound, where they proliferated and formed mature PMNs. Furthermore, by blocking their recruitment with an antibody to c-kit, which severely limited the proliferation of mature PMNs in the wound and shortened mouse survival, we confirmed that progenitor cells are not only important contributors to PMN expansion in the wound, but are also functionally important for immune protection. We conclude that the abscess environment provides a niche capable of regulating PMN survival and local proliferation of bone marrow–derived c-kit+-progenitor cells.
Phase III Trial of Vandetanib Compared With Erlotinib in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Natale Ronald B. , Thongprasert Sumitra , Greco F. Anthony , Thomas Michael , Tsai Chun-Ming , Sunpaweravong Patrapim , Ferry David , Mulatero Clive , Whorf Robert , Thompson Joyce , Barlesi Fabrice , Langmuir Peter , Gogov Sven , Rowbottom Jacqui A. , Goss Glenwood D.
Published: February 2011

Purpose

Vandetanib is a once-daily oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. This phase III study assessed the efficacy of vandetanib versus erlotinib in unselected patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after treatment failure with one to two prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens.

Patients and Methods

One thousand two hundred forty patients were randomly assigned to receive vandetanib 300 mg/d (n = 623) or erlotinib 150 mg/d (n = 617). The primary objective was to show superiority in progression-free survival (PFS) for vandetanib versus erlotinib. If the difference did not reach statistical significance for superiority, a noninferiority analysis was conducted.

Results

There was no significant improvement in PFS for patients treated with vandetanib versus erlotinib (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; 95.22% CI, 0.87 to 1.10; P = .721); median PFS was 2.6 months for vandetanib and 2.0 months for erlotinib. There was also no significant difference for the secondary end points of overall survival (HR, 1.01; P = .830), objective response rate (both 12%), and time to deterioration of symptoms for pain (HR, 0.92; P = .289), dyspnea (HR, 1.07; P = .407), and cough (HR, 0.94; P = .455). Both agents showed equivalent PFS and overall survival in a preplanned noninferiority analysis. Adverse events (AEs; any grade) more frequent with vandetanib than erlotinib included diarrhea (50% v 38%, respectively) and hypertension (16% v 2%, respectively); rash was more frequent with erlotinib than vandetanib (38% v 28%, respectively). The overall incidence of grade ≥ 3 AEs was also higher with vandetanib than erlotinib (50% v 40%, respectively).

Conclusion

In patients with previously treated advanced NSCLC, vandetanib showed antitumor activity but did not demonstrate an efficacy advantage compared with erlotinib. There was a higher incidence of some AEs with vandetanib.
Governments' and Terrorists' Defense and Attack in a T-Period Game
Authors: Hausken Kjell , Zhuang Jun
Published: January 2011

We analyze how a government allocates its resources between attacking to downgrade a terrorist's resources and defending against a terrorist attack. Analogously, the terrorist allocates its resources between attacking a government's asset and defending its own resources. A two-stage game is considered where the government moves first and the terrorist moves second. We show that (a) when the terrorist's resources are low, the government attacks the terrorist's resources sufficiently to deter the terrorist from attacking and does not defend; (b) when the terrorist's resources are high, both the government and terrorist defend and attack. We analyze T periods of the two-stage game between two myopic players. First we assume no linkages between periods. We show that after an attack the government may enjoy incoming resources, which deter the terrorist for some periods. Between periods the terrorist's resources may change because of arithmetically and geometrically changing incoming funds. We allow the government's and the terrorist's resources to be determined randomly in each time period. We also allow the government's resources in one period to depend on the terrorist's attacks in earlier time periods for three dynamics, where the terrorist's resources are drawn from a normal distribution or change arithmetically or geometrically.
A New Goodness-of-Fit Test for Event Forecasting and Its Application to Credit Defaults
Authors: Blöchlinger Andreas , Leippold Markus
Published: January 2011

We develop a new goodness-of-fit test for validating the performance of probability forecasts. Our test statistic is particularly powerful under sparseness and dependence in the observed data. To build our test statistic, we start from a formal definition of calibrated forecasts, which we operationalize by introducing two components. The first component tests the level of the estimated probabilities; the second validates the shape, measuring the differentiation between high and low probability events. After constructing test statistics for both level and shape, we provide a global goodness-of-fit statistic, which is asymptotically χ2distributed. In a simulation exercise, we find that our approach is correctly sized and more powerful than alternative statistics. In particular, our shape statistic is significantly more powerful than the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Under independence, our global test has significantly greater power than the popular Hosmer–Lemeshow's χ2test. Moreover, even under dependence, our global test remains correctly sized and consistent. As a timely and important empirical application of our method, we study the validation of a forecasting model for credit default events.

This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.
A Model of Probabilistic Choice Satisfying First-Order Stochastic Dominance
Authors: Blavatskyy Pavlo R.
Published: January 2011

This paper presents a new model of probabilistic binary choice under risk. In this model, a decision maker always satisfies first-order stochastic dominance. If neither lottery stochastically dominates the other alternative, a decision maker chooses in a probabilistic manner. The proposed model is derived from four standard axioms (completeness, weak stochastic transitivity, continuity, and common consequence independence) and two relatively new axioms. The proposed model provides a better fit to experimental data than do existing models. The baseline model can be extended to other domains such as modeling variable consumer demand.

This paper was accepted by Peter Wakker, decision analysis.
Reference-Point Formation and Updating
Authors: Baucells Manel , Weber Martin , Welfens Frank
Published: January 2011

Reference-dependent preferences have been well accepted in decision sciences, experimental economics, behavioral finance, and marketing. However, we still know very little about how decision makers form and update their reference points given a sequence of information. Our paper provides some novel experiments in a financial context to advance the understanding of reference-point formation over time. Our subjects' reference price is best described as a combination of the first and the last price of the time series, with intermediate prices receiving smaller and nondecaying weights. Hence, reference prices are not recursive. We provide a parsimonious formula to predict the reference points, which we test out-of-sample. The fit of the model is reasonably good.

This paper was accepted by George Wu, decision analysis.
Search Engine Advertising: Channel Substitution When Pricing Ads to Context
Authors: Goldfarb Avi , Tucker Catherine
Published: January 2011

We explore substitution patterns across advertising platforms. Using data on the advertising prices paid by lawyers for 139 Google search terms in 195 locations, we exploit a natural experiment in “ambulance-chaser” regulations across states. When lawyers cannot contact clients by mail, advertising prices per click for search engine advertisements are 5%–7% higher. Therefore, online advertising substitutes for offline advertising. This substitution toward online advertising is strongest in markets with fewer customers, suggesting that the relationship between the online and offline media is mediated by the marketers' need to target their communications.

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Evaluating Heuristics Used When Designing Product Costing Systems
Authors: Balakrishnan Ramji , Hansen Stephen , Labro Eva
Published: January 2011

The academic and practitioner literature justifies firms' use of product costs in product pricing and capacity planning decisions as heuristics to address an otherwise intractable problem. However, product costs are the output of a cost reporting system, which itself is the outcome of heuristic design choices. In particular, because of informational limitations, when designing cost systems firms use simple rules of thumb to group resources into cost pools and to select drivers used to allocate the pooled costs to products. Using simulations, we examine how popular choices in costing system design influence the error in reported costs. Taking information needs into account, we offer alternative ways to translate the vague guidance in the literature to implementable methods. Specifically, we compare size-based rules for forming cost pools with more informationally demanding correlation-based rules and develop a blended method that performs well in terms of accuracy. In addition, our analysis suggests that significant gains can be made from using a composite driver rather than selecting a driver based on the consumption pattern for the largest resource only, especially when combined with correlation-based rules to group resources. We vary properties of the underlying cost structure (such as the skewness in resource costs, the traceability of resources to products, the sharing of resources across products, and the variance in resource consumption patterns) to address the generalizability of our findings and to show when different heuristics might be preferred.

This paper was accepted by Stefan Reichelstein, accounting.
Short- and long-term mortality following primary total hip replacement for osteoarthritis
Authors: Pedersen A. B. , Baron J. A. , Overgaard S. , Johnsen S. P.
Published: February 2011

We evaluated the short-term of 0 to 90 days and the longer term, up to 12.7 years, mortality for patients undergoing primary total hip replacement (THR) in Denmark in comparison to the general population. Through the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Registry we identified all primary THRs undertaken for osteoarthritis between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2006. Each patient (n = 44 558) was matched at the time of surgery with three people from the general population (n = 133 674). We estimated mortality rates and mortality rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals for THR patients compared with the general population. There was a one-month period of increased mortality immediately after surgery among THR patients, but overall short-term mortality (0 to 90 days) was significantly lower (mortality rate ratio 0.8; 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 0.9). However, THR surgery was associated with increased short-term mortality in subjects under 60 years old, and among THR patients without comorbidity. Long-term mortality was lower among THR patients than in controls (mortality rate ratio 0.7; 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 0.7).

Overall, THR was associated with lower short- and long-term mortality among patients with osteoarthritis. Younger patients and patients without comorbidity before surgery may also experience increased mortality after THR surgery, although the absolute risk of death is small.
Gitelman’s syndrome
Authors: Quinlan C. S. , Walsh J. C. , Moran A.-M. , Moran C. , O’Rourke S. K.
Published: February 2011

We describe a case of bilateral weakness of the lower limbs, sensory disturbance and intermittent urinary incontinence, secondary to untreated Gitelman’s syndrome, in a 42-year-old female who was referred with presumed cauda equina syndrome. On examination, the power of both legs was uniformly reduced, and the perianal and lower-limb sensation was altered. However, MRI of the lumbar spine was normal. Measurements of serum and urinary potassium were low and blood gas analysis revealed metabolic alkalosis. Her symptoms resolved following potassium replacement.

We emphasise the importance of measurement of the plasma and urinary levels of electrolytes in the investigation of patients with paralysis of the lower limbs and suggest that they, together with blood gas analysis, allow the exclusion of unusual causes of muscle weakness resulting from metabolic disorders such as metabolic alkalosis.
Adverse events during biological therapy – focusing on dermatological side-effects
Authors: Nagy Gabriella , Lukács Katalin , Sziray Ágnes , Fazekas Katalin , Florián Ágnes , Tamási László , Károlyi Zsuzsánna
Published: January 2011

Biological response modifiers, especially tumour necrosis factor inhibitors have been proved to be very effective in the treatment of various immune mediated rheumatological, gastroenterological and dermatological diseases in the last 15 years. With their increasing use, the incidence of their adverse effects are more precisely defined. The aim of this cohort study was to analyse the adverse effects occurred within the study period in patients receiving biological therapy for rheumatological and dermatological autoimmune diseases. Methods: 324 patients within a 3 years study period were treated with biological response modifiers (adalimumab: 92, etanercept: 107, infliximab: 125). The primary diagnoses were rheumotoid arthritis (n = 174), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 60), psoriatic arthritis (n = 11), and psoriasis vulgaris (79). Results: Hypersensitive reactions were observed in 11 of the patients (3.4%), 7 of which were serious and needed treatment termination. Infections constituted the majority of side effects, which were localised to skin in 10 (3.1%) and to respiratory tract in 9 (2.8%). However, most of these were mild or moderate reactions. Malignant skin tumour developed in 1 case (0.3%) only. Drug induced inflammatory disorders occurred in some cases: onset of new psoriasis was observed in 1 and flares of the existing disease were detected in additional three. Lichenoid exanthema developed in one. (n = 5, 1.5%) Conclusion: The use of TNF-α blockers may provoke a broad spectrum of dermatological side effects. Our results suggest that the majority of these are infectious and inflammatory disorders, the latter may relatively often appear as drug induced psoriasis. The occurrence of malignancies was very low in our series. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 212–220.
Genetic background of inherited multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. Mutations ofPROP1gene in Hungary
Authors: Halász Zita
Published: January 2011

In this work I analysed the outcome of growth hormone replacement treatment in patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and examined diseased-causing mutations of pituitary transcription factor genes which may underlie this disorder. The results showed that after treatment for a longer than 7-year period with a growth hormone preparation available under well-controlled distribution, the mean height of children with growth hormone deficiency reached the normal national reference range adjusted for age and sex. After establishment of clinical criteria for screening PROP1 gene mutations, I performed mutational analysis of all coding exons of this gene in 35 patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. With these studies, diseases-causing PROP1 gene mutations were detected in 15 of the 35 patients (43%). It was also found that more than 80% of mutant alleles were accounted for by those containing the 150delA and 301-302delGA mutations of the PROP1 gene. Importantly, these findings indicated a high relevance of mutational ”hot spots” of the PROP1 gene in Hungarian patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and they also offered an opportunity for the development of rational and cost-effective screening strategy. When clinical and hormonal findings of patients with and without PROP1 gene mutations were compared, results showed that growth hormone deficiency was diagnosed at earlier age of life in patients with PROP1 gene mutations, but the severity of growth retardation at the time of diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency or the age of patients at the time of manifestation of other pituitary hormone deficiencies (TSH, LH, FSH and ACTH) were similar in the two groups of patients. In 15 patients inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency who had no PROP1 gene mutations, exon 6 of the POU1F1 gene containing a mutational ”hot spot” was also examined but no mutations were found. Thus, these results do not support a significant role of the mutational ”hot spot” of the POU1F1 gene in Hungarian patients with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. Finally, I introduced a method for the detection of mutations of the PITX2 gene, a pituitary transcription factor that plays a role not only in pituitary development and differentiation but also in the lateralization of organs. With the use of this method, I performed mutational analysis of all coding exons of this gene in an exceptionally unique patient who had both situs inversus totalis and inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, but no mutation was found. Thus, the findings in this patient failed to indicate that mutation of the PITX2 gene is involved in the pathomechanism of situs inversus totalis associated with inherited form of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 221–232.
Which New Literacies? Dialogue and Performance in Youth Writing
Authors: Gallagher Kathleen , Ntelioglou Burcu Yaman
Published: February 2011

Measurements of literacy learning in schools, the authors argue, have settled into static and individualized understandings of what should be the most invigorating and social aspect of schooling for youth. By contrast, this article explores the place of aesthetic, dialogic, and performative forms of literacy in the adolescent classroom by excavating ethnographic data from an urban multicultural high school. Close examination of student writing, field notes, and teacher interviews illustrates how the space of the drama classroom creates a laboratory for experimentation with many forms of “new literacies” through rich engagements with the lives inside and the worlds beyond the classroom. The authors reason that drama pedagogies are both creative and critical forms of literacy that offer empirical weight to newer theories of literacy and lead to new modes of theorizing the multiple acts of literacy in schools.
Building Reading Fluency in a Learning‐Disabled Middle School Reader
Authors: Morris Darrell , Gaffney Meghan
Published: February 2011

This case study describes a year‐long, tutorial intervention with a disfluent eighth‐grade reader. Focused instruction, including guided reading at the appropriate instructional level (4th grade), repeated readings, and home tape‐recorder readings, led the student to improve his reading rate by 33% (75 wpm to 100 wpm). Formative and summative evidence is provided, along with both pedagogical and process‐related explanations for the intervention's success. Finally, the student's improvement is contextualized in the reality of him entering ninth‐grade reading at a fourth‐grade level.
Plate-strengthened deep reinforced concrete coupling beams
Authors: Su R. K. L. , Cheng B.
Published: January 2011

Many old reinforced concrete buildings in developed countries need to be strengthened due to the aging of construction materials, changes in functional use or new design loading requirements. In the present study, a series of experiments were conducted attempting to retrofit deep reinforced concrete coupling beams using a bolted steel plate. In addition to the control specimen, the other specimens were bolted with a steel plate on the side face to improve the shear strength and inelastic behaviour. A mechanical device was added to two specimens to restrain plate buckling. The study revealed that adding an external plate is an effective way to improve the shear capacity, energy dissipation and rotation deformability of deep reinforced concrete coupling beams. Moreover, the plate buckling-restrained specimen with a sufficient number of bolts in the anchor regions had a more stable response and better inelastic performance under reversed cyclic loads. These findings can help designers to a better understanding of this type of composite coupling beam.
Forensic engineering of structures with durability problems
Authors: Holický Milan
Published: January 2011

Forensic assessment of structural durability can be efficiently based on the probabilistic approach provided in the newly developing international standard ISO ‘General principles on the design of structures for durability'. Although this document provides a significant basis of durability assessment, its operational use in forensic practice requires additional information on the theoretical models of basic variables and durability criteria. It appears that the durability criteria essential for the forensic structural assessment should be differentiated taking into account the character of the considered limit state, consequences of its infringement, costs of structural improvements, time of the expected intervention and the discount rate. It is shown that the methods of probabilistic optimisation provide valuable data that are useful for specifying the target reliability levels and adequate durability criteria. An example of a reinforced concrete member exposed to carbonation illustrates the general principles. It is shown that the predicted service life depends significantly on the specified reliability level. The optimum reliability level and a corresponding concrete cover, assuring the minimum total cost, increases with increasing costs owing to the durability failure, and with decreasing intervention time and discount rate.
Masonry bell towers: dynamic considerations
Authors: Ivorra Salvador , Pallarés Francisco J. , Adam Jose M.
Published: January 2011

The building of masonry bell towers was customary in Europe until the beginning of the twentieth century. At the present time, most of the work carried out on these structures involves either conservation or rehabilitation, owing to their considerable historical value. One of the forces that can have an influence on the behaviour of a bell tower is that caused by the turning/oscillation of the bells themselves. This is a dynamic force and may interact with the tower's natural frequencies. This paper describes the effect of bell-ringing on masonry towers. The towers are classified and a series of data are offered to characterise their behaviour. Finally, a procedure is described that permits an assessment to be made of this type of structure.
Reliability analysis of shear strengthening externally bonded FRP models
Authors: Lima João L. , Barros Joaquim António
Published: January 2011

This work presents a statistically oriented study aiming to assess the reliability of some of the most well-known design models available for the prediction of the contribution of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems applied according to the externally bonded reinforcing (EBR) technique for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Relevant data were collected from experimental programmes carried out in recent years in the context of shear strengthening with FRP, and an extended database was obtained. Using these data, the performance of different design guidelines was appraised by means of comparing the contribution of the FRP shear systems predicted by analytical formulations with those registered experimentally. In general, the obtained results were not very promising, since a large scatter of the design safety factor was observed and, for some cases, the contribution of the FRP systems predicted by the design models was highly unconservative. This may be of serious concern as these formulations may be currently used in design practice.
A Phenomenological Study of University Students' Grieving Experiences
Authors: Seah Chi How , Wilson Anne
Published: January 2011

Grief can be a significant life transition, crisis, or transformative experience faced by many university students. Despite the prevalence and significance of death losses for university students, the topics of death, grief, and bereavement are seldom discussed in the student services and thanatology literature. The current study aims to understand the lived experience of grief for university students. This research is grounded in the Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with six bereaved university students. Thematic analysis using Van Manen's methodology identified ten strategies that bereaved students used to manage their grief and study. This phenomenological interpretation offers some suggestions for university staff to support bereaved students.
The Inhospitable Hospital
Authors: Renzenbrink Irene
Published: January 2011

Personal illness narratives are used here to highlight deficiencies in hospital care and to challenge hospitals to become more hospitable and less like factories for treating illnesses. An alienating hospital environment where staff focus on technical tasks and functions can drive patients and family members into a state of deep isolation and disconnectedness just when they need compassion and understanding. It is also suggested that hospital staff may actually benefit from learning to relate to patients at an emotional level and that compassion fatigue and burn out are more likely to develop when staff maintain their distance. Acute health care still has much to learn from models of hospice and palliative care that recognize the personhood of both patients and staff.
Youth Suicide: Knowledge and Attitudes from Secondary Students' Perspectives—A Hong Kong Based Study
Authors: Mak Mui Hing June
Published: January 2011

Suicide has been the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 in Hong Kong since 1999. A Chinese-language Facebook group named “I Need To Practise Killing Myself” was exposed and found 188 young people had signed up for a mass suicide attempt on December 21, 2009 (Lau, 2009, p. 2). This raises an alarm about the disturbance of some young people's emotional and mental health. This study aims to evaluate knowledge and attitudes about death and death-related issues among secondary students in Hong Kong. This article will focus on the findings relating to secondary students' knowledge and attitudes toward suicide and related issues. Thirty secondary students were interviewed. Poor school performance, poor family relationship, and poor boy-girl relationships are the three main risk factors for youth suicide. Unexpectedly, one-fifth of participants have suicidal ideation at various stages of their lives and some had exposure to suicide attempts and deaths. Some implications for enhancing their mental health and preventing youth suicide are suggested.
Suicide Survivor Support Groups: Comings and Goings, Part I
Authors: Feigelman Beverly , Feigelman William
Published: January 2011

This two-part report examines important aspects of survivor of suicide support groups: some of the motivating factors attracting survivors to join these groups and why many withdraw as time after a loss passes. From a variety of data sources, including survey data collected from 462 parents losing a child to suicide, participant observation data (collected over a 7-year period from more than 200 suicide survivors observed at monthly group meetings) and from follow-up interviews with 24 respondents withdrawing from groups, we investigate the above questions. In this first part, we focus on motivating factors leading suicide-bereaved individuals to participate in support groups and explore several hypotheses associated with participation: conventional religious involvements, family size differences, perceived grief and psychological distress, and help received from bereavement professionals. The present study did not confirm the research-based expectation that support group members would be more distressed than their less active counterparts.