bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Iterative EnKF for Strongly Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Sakov Pavel , Oliver Dean S. , Bertino Laurent
Published: February 2012

The study considers an iterative formulation of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) for strongly nonlinear systems in the perfect-model framework. In the first part, a scheme is introduced that is similar to the ensemble randomized maximal likelihood (EnRML) filter by Gu and Oliver. The two new elements in the scheme are the use of the ensemble square root filter instead of the traditional (perturbed observations) EnKF and rescaling of the ensemble anomalies with the ensemble transform matrix from the previous iteration instead of estimating sensitivities between the ensemble observations and ensemble anomalies at the start of the assimilation cycle by linear regression. A simple modification turns the scheme into an ensemble formulation of the iterative extended Kalman filter. The two versions of the algorithm are referred to as the iterative EnKF (IEnKF) and the iterative extended Kalman filter (IEKF).

In the second part, the performance of the IEnKF and IEKF is tested in five numerical experiments: two with the 3-element Lorenz model and three with the 40-element Lorenz model. Both the IEnKF and IEKF show a considerable advantage over the EnKF in strongly nonlinear systems when the quality or density of observations are sufficient to constrain the model to the regime of mainly linear propagation of the ensemble anomalies as well as constraining the fast-growing modes, with a much smaller advantage otherwise.

The IEnKF and IEKF can potentially be used with large-scale models, and can represent a robust and scalable alternative to particle filter (PF) and hybrid PF–EnKF schemes in strongly nonlinear systems.
Synthetic Aperture Radar Remote Sensing of Shear-Driven Atmospheric Internal Gravity Waves in the Vicinity of a Warm Front
Authors: Swales Dustin J. , Young George S. , Sikora Todd D. , Winstead Nathaniel S. , Shirer Hampton N.
Published: February 2012

The synthetic aperture radar ocean surface signature of atmospheric internal gravity waves in the vicinity of a synoptic-scale warm front is examined via a classic Kelvin–Helmholtz velocity profile with a rigid lower boundary and a sloping interface. The horizontal distance that the waves extend from the surface warm front is consistent with a bifurcation along the warm frontal inversion from unstable to neutral solutions. Similarity theories are derived for the wave span and the location of maximum growth rate relative to the surface front position. The theoretical maximum wave growth rate is demonstrated to occur near this bifurcation point and, hence, to explain the observed pattern of wave amplitude. Finally, a wave crest-tracing procedure is developed to explain the observed acute orientation of waves with respect to the surface warm front.
The Influence of Shallow Convection on Tropical Cyclone Track Forecasts
Authors: Torn Ryan D. , Davis Christopher A.
Published: February 2012

Accurate tropical cyclone (TC) track forecasts depend on having skillful numerical model predictions of the environmental wind field. Given that wind and temperature are related through thermal wind balance, structural errors in the processes that determine the tropical temperature profile, such as shallow convection, can therefore lead to biases in TC position. This paper evaluates the influence of shallow convection on Advanced Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (AHW) TC track forecasts by cycling an ensemble data assimilation during a 1-month period in 2008 where cumulus convection is parameterized on the coarse-resolution domain using the Kain–Fritsch scheme or the modified Tiedtke scheme, which contains a more appropriate treatment of oceanic shallow convection. Short-term forecasts with the Kain–Fritsch scheme are characterized by a 1-K, 700-hPa temperature bias over much of the western Atlantic Ocean, which is attributed to a lack of shallow convection within that scheme. In turn, the horizontal gradients in this temperature bias are associated with wind biases in the region where multiple TCs move during this period. By contrast, the Tiedtke scheme does not suffer from this temperature bias, thus the wind biases are smaller. AHW forecasts initialized from the data assimilation system that uses the Tiedtke scheme have track errors that are up to 25% smaller than forecasts initialized from the data assimilation system that uses Kain–Fritsch.
Measurement Models for Reasoned Action Theory
Authors: Hennessy Michael , Bleakley Amy , Fishbein Martin
Published: February 2012

Quantitative researchers distinguish between causal and effect indicators. What are the analytic problems when both types of measures are present in a quantitative reasoned action analysis? To answer this question, the authors use data from a longitudinal study to estimate the association between two constructs central to reasoned action theory: behavioral beliefs and attitudes toward the behavior. The belief items are causal indicators that define a latent variable index while the attitude items are effect indicators that reflect the operation of a latent variable scale. The authors identify the issues when effect and causal indicators are present in a single analysis and conclude that both types of indicators can be incorporated into analyses of data based on the reasoned action approach.
A Reasoned Action Approach to HIV Prevention for Persons with Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Blank Michael B. , Hennessy Michael
Published: February 2012

There is confusion regarding reason and rational thought as a precondition for interventions designed using a reasoned action approach. To test their feasibility, two interventions were developed for use with persons with mental illnesses, using the reasoned action model. Preventing AIDS through Health (PATH) was delivered one-on-one by case managers to persons with mental illnesses who were HIV sero-negative, and another (PATH PLUS) was delivered by nurses to persons with mental illness who were sero-positive. Using these data, this article examines the utility of a reasoned action approach to HIV prevention among persons with a variety of serious mental illnesses. It appears that a reasoned action approach is useful for persons with severe mental illnesses and may be a useful strategy for changing intentions and behavior among this population. This has implications for further research on the role of nonnormative belief systems in predicting behavior.
Beliefs Underlying Eating Better and Moving More
Authors: Middlestadt Susan E.
Published: February 2012

The reasoned action approach has been used to identify the determinants of a behavior to be modified by social and behavioral interventions. Information on the specific beliefs underlying behavioral decisions is vital to intervention design. More attention is needed on the salient belief elicitation—a critical step in a theory-based formative research process. This article considers the methodological issues involved in conducting a salient belief elicitation with special attention to an elicitation that allows the comparison of results across several behaviors and priority groups. The author uses the behaviors underlying overweight and obesity as her central example. To support the development of interventions to improve cardiovascular health and to explore methods for a comparative analysis of salient belief elicitations, semistructured interviews were conducted with 243 adults from two rural and two urban worksites in Indiana and 344 students from three middle schools in rural Indiana. Content and frequency analyses identified the modal salient beliefs underlying several eating and physical activity behaviors. Illustrative results are presented, and recommendations for salient belief elicitation are discussed.
Use of sand coating to improve bonding between GFRP bars and concrete
Authors: Arias Juan Pablo Morales , Vazquez Analía , Escobar Mariano M
Published: February 2012

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars are currently used to reinforce concrete in an attempt to overcome the corrosion issue encountered with ordinary steel. Different types of surface treatment were applied to the smooth rods in order to enhance bonding with concrete. Experimental results show that using bars coated with coarse sand notably improve the bond strength. The influence of granulometry sand, rebar diameter, length embedded, and concrete strength are analyzed. Rebars coated with finer sand lead to a stronger chemical adhesion with concrete. However, the effect of friction and interlocking forces produced by coarse sand prevails over the chemical adhesion in the pull-out test.
Basic Auditory Processing Deficits in Dyslexia
Authors: Hämäläinen Jarmo A. , Salminen Hanne K. , Leppänen Paavo H. T.
Published: February 2012

A review of research that uses behavioral, electroencephalographic, and/or magnetoencephalographic methods to investigate auditory processing deficits in individuals with dyslexia is presented. Findings show that measures of frequency, rise time, and duration discrimination as well as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation detection were most often impaired in individuals with dyslexia. Less consistent findings were found for intensity and gap perception. Additional factors that mediate auditory processing deficits in individuals with dyslexia and their implications are discussed.
Sovereign Address
Authors: Wingrove Elizabeth
Published: February 2012

This essay explores letter writing in late ancien régime France as a means of political contestation. Drawing from Rancière’s notion of “illegitimate speakers,” I retrace the story of an obscure Bastille prisoner, Geneviève Gravelle, whose letters to the king and the French public reveal the simultaneously political, literary, and aesthetic barriers impeding such illegitimate speech and the strategies used in attempting to overcome them. Attending to the historical-poetic context in which Gravelle’s letters were composed and circulated, I elaborate, first, a politics of voice that highlights the uncertain and multiply mediated processes on which political speech depends, and second, a politics of reading and writing in which sovereignty is both challenged and impersonated through the epistolary form.
A New Thiopurine S‐Methyltransferase Haplotype Associated With Intolerance to Azathioprine
Authors: Colleoni Lara , Kapetis Dimos , Maggi Lorenzo , Camera Giorgia , Canioni Eleonora , Cavalcante Paola , Kerlero de Rosbo Nicole , Baggi Fulvio , Antozzi Carlo , Confalonieri Paolo , Mantegazza Renato , Bernasconi Pia
Published: February 2012

The authors have analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms in the thiopurine S‐methyltransferase (TPMT) gene in the context of efficacy and toxicity of azathioprine (AZA) to determine possible genotype‐phenotype correlations between TPMT allelic variants and response to AZA treatment in 76 Italian patients with myasthenia gravis. They confirm known intronic and exonic TPMT polymorphisms that do not correlate with AZA responses and demonstrate a novel intronic polymorphism in a patient intolerant to AZA. Most importantly, they show that of the 22 AZA‐intolerant patients, all 5 who carried mutations of the intolerance‐linked haplotype TPMT*3A also carried the intronic T140+114A (rs3931660), all 3 mutations being part of a new haplotype designated TMPT*3E. TPMT*3E was not observed in unresponsive or responsive patients. The association of TPMT*3E with AZA intolerance and its frequency must be ascertained in larger, ethnically different cohorts. Nevertheless, in view of the highly significant association (Psim = 0.0026) between TPMT*3E and AZA intolerance in the study, this new haplotype should be taken into consideration in pharmacogenetic profiling for AZA.
Rates of cyber victimization and bullying among male Australian primary and high school students
Authors: Sakellariou Tass , Carroll Annemaree , Houghton Stephen
Published: February 2012

The prevalence and nature of electronic forms of bullying (cyberbullying) was investigated among 1,530 primary and secondary school aged male students (Years 6 to 12; 9-18 years, chronologically) in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. Findings revealed that victimization via the Internet was the most common form of cyberbullying with 11.5 percent of students reporting at least one experience of it during the school year. A significant main effect was found, with junior secondary school students (Years 8 to 10) the most likely to be victimized in this manner. With regard to the cyberbullying of others, the Internet was again the most commonly employed method, with 8.5 percent of students reporting using it. A main effect was evident between year levels for all four forms of cyberbullying investigated. The transmission of electronic images was the least reported form of cyberbullying experienced (4.8 percent) and the least frequently perpetrated form of cyberbullying (3.7 percent), which is less than the only other study conducted reporting such data. These findings are discussed in the light of the relatively limited cyberbullying research undertaken to date.
An Empirical Evaluation of the Slip Correction in the Four Parameter Logistic Models With Computerized Adaptive Testing
Authors: Yen Yung-Chin , Ho Rong-Guey , Laio Wen-Wei , Chen Li-Ju , Kuo Ching-Chin
Published: February 2012

In a selected response test, aberrant responses such as careless errors and lucky guesses might cause error in ability estimation because these responses do not actually reflect the knowledge that examinees possess. In a computerized adaptive test (CAT), these aberrant responses could further cause serious estimation error due to dynamic item administration. To enhance the robust performance of CAT against aberrant responses, Barton and Lord proposed the four-parameter logistic (4PL) item response theory (IRT) model. However, most studies relevant to the 4PL IRT model were conducted based on simulation experiments. This study attempts to investigate the performance of the 4PL IRT model as a slip-correction mechanism with an empirical experiment. The results showed that the 4PL IRT model could not only reduce the problematic underestimation of the examinees’ ability introduced by careless mistakes in practical situations but also improve measurement efficiency.
Why Stakeholders Ignore Firm Misconduct
Authors: Barnett Michael L.
Published: February 2012

This article explains inconsistency in stakeholder punishment for firm misconduct. It does so by developing a cognitive view of the process by which stakeholders allocate their limited attention. This cognitive view outlines individual and situational factors that produce variation in a stakeholder’s likelihood of noticing that an act of misconduct has occurred, in how the stakeholder will assess misconduct if he or she does notice it, and in the stakeholder’s decision to punish a firm if he or she judges it to have engaged in misconduct. In sum, this process suggests that as stakeholder attention varies across each step of this process, misconduct often will not result in punishment. This suggests limits on the ability to deter firm misconduct through social control.
Pathways of Passion
Authors: Murnieks Charles Y. , Mosakowski Elaine , Cardon Melissa S.
Published: February 2012

This study examines the role of passion among entrepreneurs. In particular, the authors integrate identity theory with the literature surrounding passion to investigate the possible pathways through which entrepreneurial identities might influence passion, as well as the relationship between entrepreneurs’ passion and behavior. Structural equation modeling of responses from 221 entrepreneurs suggests that passion rises and falls in connection with entrepreneurial identity centrality and, furthermore, that passion is associated with individual entrepreneurial behavior and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. This research provides a starting point for investigating the factors that may impact the development of entrepreneurs’ passion as well as the specific mechanisms through which passion energizes entrepreneurial action.
Employee Popularity Mediates the Relationship Between Political Skill and Workplace Interpersonal Mistreatment
Authors: Cullen Kristin L. , Fan Jinyan , Liu Cong
Published: February 2012

Interpersonal mistreatment is a common and often devastating occurrence in the workplace. Although victim characteristics are an important determinant of who is targeted, research examining the link between target characteristics and interpersonal mistreatment is limited. Researchers have not considered employees’ interpersonal style as an antecedent of the mistreatment they experience from others. Further, very few studies have attempted to understand the mediating processes underlying the relationships between victim characteristics and workplace interpersonal mistreatment. The current study addresses these needs by examining employee popularity as a mediator of the relationship between political skill and two forms of interpersonal mistreatment: workplace interpersonal conflict and workplace ostracism. Results indicate that the political skill–interpersonal mistreatment relationships were mediated by employee popularity.
Reliability issues regarding the beginning, middle and end of continuous emotion ratings to music
Authors: Schubert Emery
Published: February 2012

Continuous self-reported emotion expressed by four pieces of music were collected on a two-dimensional (valence and arousal) emotion space in a repeated measures (test-retest conditions) design. Initial orientation time (IOT), test-retest reliability and afterglow were examined. Median IOT was 8 seconds. Valence ratings took up to 25 (median 4), and for arousal up to 35 (median 12) seconds. Slower tempi seemed to require longer IOT. Test-retest reliability examined correlation coefficients, and compared periods of sample-by-sample good agreement in response between Test and Retest condition. About 80% of responses were reliable in both the Test and Retest conditions regardless of response dimension. Pearson correlations demonstrated better test-retest reliability for arousal responses than for valence. Retest condition ratings were within 8% of Test condition rating within participant. Average standard deviations for ratings collapsed across dimension, stimulus and conditions was 12.2% of the ratings scale range. Afterglow effects – large outliers in spread of scores just after the end of a piece – were identified. The reliability of continuous emotional response is therefore considered to be quite good, but caution must be taken as to how to deal with the opening and ending of continuous emotional response data.
Richard Hyman: An assessment of his Industrial Relations: A Marxist Introduction
Authors: Gall Gregor
Published: February 2012

Richard Hyman’s Industrial Relations: A Marxist Introduction is a seminal work in the study of labour unions, the employment relationship and industrial relations within Britain and western capitalist societies, and extant radical and Marxist approaches to the analysis of those selfsame topics. This article is both an appreciation and a critique of it, assessing its strengths and contribution, its longevity of salience and influence, and its weaknesses.
¡Indígnate!: The 2011 popular protests and the limits to democracy in Spain
Authors: Charnock Greig , Purcell Thomas , Ribera-Fumaz Ramon
Published: February 2012

We are the unemployed, the poorly remunerated, the subcontracted, the precarious, the young … we want change and a dignified future. We are fed up with antisocial reforms, those that leave us unemployed, those with which the bankers that have provoked the crisis raise our mortgages or take our homes, those laws that they impose upon us that limit our liberty for the benefit of the powerful. We blame the political economic and economic powers for our precarious situation and we demand a change of direction. ¡Democracia Real YA! website, 2011

Thus explains one of the principal organisations behind the ‘movement of the indignant’ that has re-awakened popular political consciousness in Spain since 15 May 2011. 1 From its origins in a network of activists utilising new social media to coordinate a series of protest marches in cities across Spain, the ‘15-M’ movement has since staged camp-outs in several main city squares, and in the space of a month mobilised 40,000 protestors in Madrid and 80,000 in Barcelona to march against high unemployment, the policies and conduct of Spain’s political class, and to demand ‘real democracy NOW!’ As an important case of potential interest to Capital & Class readers in its own right, but also as one example of contemporary European mass movements like that of the aganaktismenoi in Greece, this report explains the motives and actions of los indignados, while also contextualising it within a critical materialist analysis of the political economy of Spain since the mid-20th century. It concludes with some open questions about the limits to the movement itself and its demands for real democracy and systemic change.
Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes After Arthroscopic Repair of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears Using a Suture Bridge Technique
Authors: Kim Jung Ryul , Cho Yong Suk , Ryu Keun Jung , Kim Jae Hwa
Published: February 2012

Background: High retear rates of arthroscopic massive rotator cuff repair have been reported with relatively satisfactory functional outcomes.

Purpose: To assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of an arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears using a suture bridge technique. We also aimed to explore the various factors that may affect retears.

Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Sixty-six patients included in the study were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of retears on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. We evaluated the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain during motions, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the absolute and relative Constant scores (mean follow-up, 25.4 months).

Results: Twenty-eight of the 66 patients (42.4%) in this study had a retear. At the final follow-up visit, pain VAS, UCLA score, and absolute and relative Constant scores in the completely healed group were significantly superior to those in the retear group, with 2, 29.5, 76.0, and 95.2 points and 4, 26.0, 70.6, and 87.3 points, respectively ( P < .05). From univariate analysis, the preoperative mean acromiohumeral distance, extent of retraction, and degree of fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus were significantly different between the completely healed (7.83 mm, 2.97 cm, 1.74, and 0.71, respectively) and the retear group (6.36 mm, 3.97 cm, 2.54, and 2.07, respectively; P < .05). From multivariate logistic regression analysis, the preoperative degree of fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus and extent of retraction were the 2 most important factors associated with retears.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears using a suture bridge technique has a relatively high retear rate, and these structural failures appear to have a significant difference in clinical outcomes compared with the healed group. Degree of fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus and extent of retraction are the 2 most important factors associated with a retear. Orthopaedic surgeons should predict the possibility of retear before surgery and counsel patients about their expected functional results.
Arthroscopic Debridement Versus Refixation of the Acetabular Labrum Associated With Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Larson Christopher M. , Giveans M. Russell , Stone Rebecca M.
Published: February 2012

Background: The acetabular labrum provides a sealing function and a degree of hip joint stability. Limited, short-term follow-up studies suggest that labral refixation/preservation leads to superior outcomes compared with labral debridement/excision.

Purpose: To compare the results of labral refixation versus focal labral excision/debridement in a cohort of patients who underwent arthroscopic correction of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: We reported on patients who underwent labral debridement/focal labral excision during a period before the development of labral repair techniques. Patients with labral tears thought to be repairable with our current arthroscopic technique were compared with a cohort of patients who underwent labral refixation. To better match the 2 groups, only patients with labral pincer- or combined-type FAI were included. In the first 44 hips, the labrum was focally excised/debrided (group 1); in the next 50 hips, the labrum was refixed (group 2). Outcomes were measured with the modified Harris Hip Score (HHS), Short Form 12 (SF-12), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs were obtained to evaluate bony resection.

Results: The mean age was 32 years in group 1 and 28 years in group 2 with a mean follow-up of 42 months (range, 24-72 months). Preoperative mean subjective outcome scores were not significantly different between groups. At a mean 3.5 years’ follow-up, subjective outcomes were significantly improved ( P < .01) for both groups compared with preoperative scores. The HHS ( P = .001), SF-12 ( P = .041), and VAS pain scores ( P = .004) were all significantly better for the refixation group compared with the debridement group at the most recent follow-up. At a mean 3.5 years’ follow-up, good to excellent results were noted in 68% of the focal excision/debridement group and 92% of the refixation group ( P = .004).

Conclusion: Although other factors may have influenced these results, labral refixation compared with an earlier cohort of focal labral excision/debridement resulted in better HHS, SF-12, and VAS pain outcomes and a greater percentage of good to excellent results at a mean 3.5-year follow-up.
Distribution of Bone Mineral Density at Osteochondral Donor Sites in the Patellofemoral Joint Among Baseball Players and Controls
Authors: Nishida Kinya , Iwasaki Norimasa , Fujisaki Kazuhiro , Funakoshi Tadanao , Kamishima Tamotsu , Tadano Shigeru , Minami Akio
Published: February 2012

Background: To theoretically minimize complications of osteochondral graft harvest from the knee, grafts should be obtained from the site of lowest stress distribution across the joint.

Hypothesis: Long-term stress distribution over the patellofemoral (PF) joint surface is not equal in athletes.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Measurement of subchondral bone density can determine long-term resultant stress acting on an articular surface in living joints. Our analysis was performed using computed tomography (CT) image data obtained from bilateral knees of 10 college baseball fielders (fielder group) and 10 college baseball pitchers (pitcher group) and 2 control groups, including 10 college soccer players (soccer group) and 10 nonathletes (nonathlete group). The distribution pattern of subchondral bone density throughout the articular surface of the PF joint was assessed using the CT osteoabsorptiometry method. The quantitative analysis focused on the location of the low-density area at the articular surface to assess potential osteochondral donor sites.

Results: All participants in the pitcher and fielder groups demonstrated a low-density area widely distributed in the proximal part of the lateral trochlea. On the other hand, a high-density area was located in the distal part of the lateral notch, of the medial notch, and of the medial trochlea. No apparent differences in the distribution pattern were found between the baseball groups and the control groups.

Conclusion: Our analysis, based on CT osteoabsorptiometry, indicates that the proximal lateral trochlea of the distal femur has the highest percentage area of low bone density at the PF joint level in donor knees of baseball players, soccer players, and nonathlete controls.

Clinical Relevance: From a biomechanical viewpoint, the proximal lateral trochlea is the optimal site for harvesting osteochondral grafts in performing mosaicplasty for baseball players. This selection for the donor site may minimize postoperative PF joint symptoms.
Prediction of the Graft Size of 4-Stranded Semitendinosus Tendon and 4-Stranded Gracilis Tendon for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Xie Guoming , Huangfu Xiaoqiao , Zhao Jinzhong
Published: February 2012

Background: Little information is available regarding parameters that would enable a surgeon to predict the size and length of 4-stranded semitendinosus (ST) and 4-stranded gracilis tendon (GT) grafts.

Purpose: To evaluate whether certain preoperative anthropometric data enable prediction of the size of 4-stranded ST and GT autograft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Study Design: Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: This study involved 235 Chinese Han patients who underwent double-bundle ACL reconstruction with 4-stranded autogenous ST and GT grafts. Preoperatively, the authors recorded height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, age, and sports activity. During surgery, the usable length of the ST and GT and the diameter of the 4-stranded grafts made of ST and GT were measured. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine relationships between anthropometric measurements and the length and diameter of intraoperatively measured ST and GT grafts.

Results: Strongest correlations for ST and GT length and GT graft diameter were height and weight. The strongest correlations for ST graft diameter were gender and weight. Body mass index had only moderate correlations with ST and GT graft size. Self-reported activity level was not correlated. Women had significantly smaller GT and ST graft diameters and shorter tendon lengths than did men. Semitendinosus graft size was significantly larger and longer than was the GT graft (7.4 ± 0.7 mm vs 5.9 ± 0.6 mm and 279.9 ± 20.8 mm vs 251.5 ± 20.8 mm, respectively). Simple regression analysis demonstrated that height, weight, and BMI can be used to predict ST and GT autograft length and diameter.

Conclusion: Several preoperative anthropometric measurements showed correlation with the length of the ST and GT and diameter of 4-stranded ST and GT grafts. The current data may provide surgeons with important preoperative information about size of ST and GT grafts and would be useful for patient counseling and alternative graft source planning.
Lethality, accumulation and toxicokinetics of aluminum in some tissues of male albino rats
Authors: Rawy Sayed M , Morsy Gamal M , Elshibani Majda M
Published: February 2012

In the present work, the lethality percentiles including median lethal doses (LD50), accumulation, distribution and toxicokinetics of aluminum in the liver, kidney, intestine, brain and serum of male albino rats, following a single oral administration were studied throughout 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. The estimated LD50 at 24 h was 3.45 g Al/kg body weight (b.wt.). The utilized dose of Al was 1/50 LD50 (0.07 g Al/kg b.wt.). Aluminum residues, in Al-treated rats, were significantly decreased in response to the experimental periods and were negatively correlated with time. In addition, the hepatic, renal, intestinal, brain and serum Al contents were significantly higher than the corresponding controls at all experimental periods, except the brain that showed significant depletion when compared with its corresponding control after 28 days. Kinetically, the highest average of Al area under concentration − time curves (AUCtotal, μg/g day) and area under moment concentration − time curves (AUMCtotal, µg/g day2) recorded in the brain followed by kidney, serum, intestine and liver. The longest elimination half-life time ( t1/2, day) and the mean residence time (MRT, day) were recorded in the brain followed by the liver, kidney, serum and intestine. On the other hand, the slowest clearance rates (Cls, L/day) of Al, in order, were recorded in brain, kidney, serum, intestine and the liver. The elimination rate constant ( Lz, day−1) of Al from the brain was less than that in the intestine and serum was less than that in the liver and kidney. The computed maximum concentrations ( Cmax) of Al in the intestine > kidney > serum > brain > liver were recorded after 3, 3.8, 2.2, 5.4 and 3.8 days, respectively. The computed starting concentration ( C0, μg) of Al in serum was higher than its level in the intestine followed by the brain, kidney and liver.
Effect of geometric parameters on the spray cone angle in the pressure swirl injector
Authors: Liu Juan , Zhang Xin-Qiao , Li Qing-Lian , Wang Zhen-Guo
Published: February 2012

Spray cone angle affects the droplet distribution after atomization and is one of the main targets of coaxial gas–liquid injector optimization. Experimental measurements and numerical modeling (volume of fluid method) were used to investigate the effects of geometric parameters on the spray cone angle in pressure swirl injectors. The non-dimensional impact factor, η, is defined to examine the influence of each parameter on the spray cone angle. Except for the atomizer constant, the most important parameters influencing the spray cone angle are the divergent angle at the injector exit, the diameter, and the length of the swirl chamber. Raising the divergent angle at the injector exit reduces spray cone angle, because it increases axial velocity and decreases tangential velocity. Meanwhile, the acceleration of the radial component declines due to the lower pressure differential force. The Malvern diffraction laser system was used to measure the droplet sizes. An empirical formula, which gives the relationship between the Sauter mean diameter and the geometric parameters, Ds/ d0, L0/ d0, and divergent angle, θ, was deduced based on Lefebvre’s theory.
Protective effects of thymoquinone on vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats
Authors: Basarslan F , Yilmaz N , Ates S , Ozgur T , Tutanc M , Motor VK , Arica V , Yilmaz C , Inci M , Buyukbas S
Published: February 2012

Aim: Oxidative stress has been implicated as a potential responsible mechanism in the pathogenesis of vancomycin (VCM)-induced renal toxicity. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of thymoquinone (TQ) against VCM-induced nephrotoxicity by tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters and histological changes in rats. Materials and methods: Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into four groups consisting of seven rats per group. The groups had normal saline (control group), VCM, VCM and TQ and TQ, respectively. VCM was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 200 mg/kg and continued at 12-h intervals for 7 days. TQ was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg and continued at 24 h intervals for 8 days. Animals were killed and blood samples were analyzed for the levels of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Kidney specimens were analyzed for levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as for histopathological changes. Results: We found that the levels of serum BUN, Cr and kidney tissue MDA were increased in the VCM group. Activities of SOD and GSH-Px in kidney tissue were decreased. TQ administration ameliorated significantly these changes. Conclusion: These results indicate that the TQ produces a protective mechanism against VCM-induced nephrotoxicity and suggest a role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis.
Protective effect of curcumin, silymarin and N-acetylcysteine on antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity assessed in an in vitro model
Authors: Singh M , Sasi P , Gupta V H , Rai G , Amarapurkar D N , Wangikar P P
Published: February 2012

Tuberculosis (TB) is highly endemic in India. The first-line anti-TB therapy (ATT) involving isoniazid (INH), rifampicin and pyrazinamide causes hepatotoxicity in approximately 11.5% of Indian patients. Studies have shown that ATT-induced hepatotoxicity is primarily due to oxidative stress caused by the drugs and metabolites. Herbal drugs with antioxidative properties have been tested in animal studies and clinical trials for the management of hepatotoxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of curcumin (CUR), silymarin (SILY) and N-acetylcysteine ( N-ACET) on hepatotoxicity by ATT drugs using an in vitro model of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). HepG2 cells were treated with ATT drugs alone or along with CUR, SILY or N-ACET for a 48-h duration. The cells were monitored for viability, morphology, respiring mitochondria and cell cycle. Our results suggest that the presence of hepatoprotective drugs during treatment of HepG2 cells with ATT drugs lowers the hepatotoxic effect of the latter. This is observed in terms of (a) increased cell viability, (b) healthy-looking cell morphology as revealed by phase contrast microscopy, (c) active respiring cells as observed with confocal microscopy upon staining with a mitochondrial membrane-specific dye, MitoTracker® Red, and reduction in the sub-G1 peak in cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. Our results suggest that these hepatoprotective drugs need to be further explored as potential adjuvant therapy along with ATT drugs.
Assessing Stakeholder Perceptions of Workplace Accommodations Barriers
Authors: Moon Nathan W. , Baker Paul M. A.
Published: February 2012

This article presents the findings from research to identify key barriers and opportunities in the provision of workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities in the United States. Using the policy Delphi method, a multiround, iterative polling technique used to assess key stakeholder perceptions, the study probed on five areas: awareness, policy/regulatory, economic, technology, and social. For each of these areas, the Delphi panel was asked to comment on the reliability of forecasts, importance of issues, desirability of goals, and finally, the feasibility of policy options. The Delphi study concluded with a set of 22 policy options to address barriers to the provision of workplace accommodations. Many of these options take a collaborative approach, but they emphasize involvement of federal agencies such as the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Class Action Lawsuits and Consent Decrees in Special Education
Authors: Rostetter David , Arndt Katrina
Published: February 2012

This article presents an analysis of the cost and effectiveness of seven class action lawsuits in special education brought against school districts. Commonalities and differences in the cases are identified as are characteristics that contribute to successful resolution. Common pitfalls that create barriers to progress are identified. Recommendations for attorneys, school staff, and parents are provided to improve the outcomes of such cases and perhaps avoid them.
The Prospect of Losing Benefits and the Work Decisions of Participants in Disability Programs
Authors: Gettens John , Henry Alexis D. , Laszlo Aniko , Himmelstein Jay
Published: February 2012

Participants in public disability programs face the loss of benefits if they work and earn at substantial levels. Policy makers, researchers, and advocates have suggested that the prospect of benefit loss is, at least in part, an explanation for the low levels of earnings and work participation among disability program participants; however, research on the actual effects is very limited. The authors estimate the prospect of benefit loss effects on work participation and earnings of participants in four disability programs using a unique survey. The findings strongly suggest that the prospect of benefit loss decreases earnings and work participation among disability program participants. Unexpectedly, the authors found little variation in the size of the prospect of benefit loss effects across programs even though there is substantial cross-program variation in the actual benefit loss that occurs with work participation and increased earnings.
Hydrodynamics and energy dissipation in a ferrofluid damper
Authors: Yang Wenming , Li Decai , Feng Zhenhua
Published: February 2012

A ferrofluid damper with a simple structure is proposed. Hydrodynamics and energy dissipation in the damper are studied theoretically and experimentally. This is applied to the study of damping of a cantilever whose free extremity is installed with the ferrofluid damper. The dependences of the decrement of the oscillations on the geometrical characteristics of the damper are described by a theoretical model and are shown to predict the experimental result well under some conditions.
Metaphor as the Foundation of Organizational Studies
Authors: Jermier John M. , Forbes Linda C.
Published: February 2012

This article is the first part of a Citation Classics and Foundational Works feature focused on metaphor and organizational studies. The second part of the feature is a personal reflection by Gareth Morgan on the genesis and impact of his pathbreaking book, Images of Organization ( IO). In this article, we summarize the nature of the contributions made by IO, sketch ways in which the book has prompted and served as a touchstone for new research on metaphor and organization, and discuss the application of contemporary metaphorical analysis to the problems of theory development, research methods, and puzzle solving facing scholars interested in sustainability studies and research on organizations and the natural environment (ONE). We illustrate how early research that fostered ONE scholarship is marked by the use of particularly powerful metaphorical language and attention to poetic technique as well as rigorous science. We suggest how ONE research (and organizational studies in general) can benefit from studying IO and related literature on metaphorical analysis.
Working Memory in ADHD
Authors: Alloway Tracy P. , Cockcroft Kate
Published: February 2012

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the following issues: (a) Do students with ADHD have a pervasive pattern of impaired working memory skills across verbal and visuospatial domains? (b) is there evidence for a similar pattern of deficits across U.K. and South African students? and (c) which working memory tasks can effectively identify students with ADHD from TD peers? Method: Four groups of children participated in the study: students with ADHD and TD from the United Kingdom and students with ADHD and TD from South Africa. Results: There were several key findings. First, the students with ADHD in South Africa performed significantly worse than the other groups (ADHD-United Kingdom, TD-United Kingdom, and TD-South Africa) in verbal and visuospatial short-term memory measures. Next, students with ADHD in the United Kingdom and South Africa exhibited working memory deficits extended to the visuospatial domain. This pattern was consistent with previous research in developmental populations (Alloway et al., 2006) and in adult samples (Kane et al., 2004; Park et al., 2002). A related finding was that the memory deficits in the students with ADHD (in the United Kingdom and South Africa) were significantly worse than their TD counterparts even when IQ and age were statistically accounted. These persistent deficits fit well accumulating evidence of the importance of working memory in learning. Conclusion: Practical implications for education will be discussed in the context of appropriate diagnosis and support in the classroom.
A Controlled Trial of a Cognitive Skills Program for Personality-Disordered Offenders
Authors: Young Susan , Hopkin Gareth , Perkins Derek , Farr Catherine , Doidge Amie , Gudjonsson Gisli
Published: February 2012

Objective: There is a need to find effective treatments for individuals with antisocial and borderline personality disorder who are known to be difficult to engage and treat. Many of these individuals share considerable overlap with symptoms of ADHD, hence this study aimed to evaluate the Reasoning and Rehabilitation ADHD program (R&R2 ADHD) among patients with severe personality disorder. Method: A total of 31 males detained in a “dangerous and severe personality disorder” unit completed questionnaires at baseline and post treatment to assess social problem solving, violent attitudes, anger, ADHD symptoms, emotional control, and social functioning. A total of 16 patients participated in the group condition, and their scores were compared with 15 waiting-list controls who received treatment as usual. Results: In all, 76% of group participants completed the program. In contrast to controls, they showed significant improvements in scores with mainly medium effect sizes. Conclusion: R&R2 ADHD was effective in a small sample of severely personality-disordered offenders.
Depression among the urban poor in Peninsular Malaysia: A community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Tan Kok Leong , Yadav Hematram
Published: February 2012

This community based cross-sectional study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression among urban poor in Peninsular Malaysia. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to determine the presence or absence of depression. The prevalence of depression among the urban poor was 12.3%. Factors significantly associated with depression included respondents under 25 years old, male gender, living in the area for less than four years and those who do not exercise regularly. It is important to identify individuals with depression and its associated factors early because depression can severely affect the quality of life.
Lateralized goal framing: How selective presentation impacts message effectiveness
Authors: McCormick Michael , Seta John J
Published: February 2012

We tested whether framing a message as a gain or loss would alter its effectiveness by using a dichotic listening procedure to selectively present a health related message to the left or right hemisphere. A significant goal framing effect (losses > gains) was found when right, but not left, hemisphere processing was initially enhanced. The results support the position that the contextual processing style of the right hemisphere is especially sensitive to the associative implications of the frame. We discussed the implications of these findings for goal framing research, and the valence hypothesis. We also discussed how these findings converge with prior valence framing research and how they can be of potential use to health care providers.
Tourism research in and about Tibet: Employing a system for reviewing regional tourism studies
Authors: Wu Mao-Ying , Pearce Philip L
Published: February 2012

This study reviews tourism research in and about Tibet, China. The work uses a bibliometric approach and seeks to compare domestic tourism research with a Tibetan focus to the overall Chinese efforts in tourism study. International scholarly activities pertaining to Tibet were also considered. The approach follows Hsu et al. (2010) and offers a model for assessing tourism studies in many developing regions and destinations. Key topics for analysis included such factors as time lines, disciplinary approaches, study themes, data collection techniques, tools of analysis, and authorship patterns. In the Tibetan case a pragmatic, macro-level and applied approach to research was identified. Opportunities exist for more small-scale studies of tourism businesses, further analysis of the politics inherent in tourism strategies, more work on the tourism issues in the main destination of Lhasa, better national and international cooperation and the application of more refined statistical and interpretive techniques.