bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Personality and Intelligence in Assortative Mating
Authors: Escorial Sergio , Martín-Buro Carmen
Published: June 2012

Assortative mating is the individuals' tendency to mate with those who are similar to them in some variables, at a higher rate than would be expected from random. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of assortative mating through the Big Five model of personality and two measures of intelligence using Spanish samples. The sample consisted of 244 Spanish couples. It was divided into two groups according to relationship time. The effect of age, educational level and socioeconomic status was controlled. The results showed strong assortative mating for intelligence and moderate for personality. The strongest correlations for Personality were found in Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.
Screening Utility of the Social Anxiety Screening Scale in Spanish Speaking Adolescents
Authors: Piqueras José Antonio , Olivares José , Hidalgo María Dolores
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to analyse the screening utility of the Social Anxiety Screening Scale (SASS/EDAS) in a sample of 227 adolescents with social anxiety disorder and 156 without it (14-17 years). Results showed that the EDAS subscales (Avoidance, Distress and Interference) scores were reliable in terms of internal consistency (α > .80). All the subscales discriminated between adolescents with and without the disorder. They also showed a positive and significant correlation with other empirically validated measures of social anxiety. The three subscales indicated relevant sensitivity (69.16-84.14%), specificity (63.46-66.03%) and areas under the curve (.74-.81%). Binary logistic regression analyses indicated the adequate predictive utility of EDAS subscales, with the Distress subscale as the best diagnostic predictor. The data provide empirical evidence of the usefulness of EDAS as a screener for adolescent social anxiety disorder in terms of reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness.
About the Dark and Bright Sides of Self-efficacy: Workaholism and Work Engagement
Authors: Líbano Mario Del , Llorens Susana , Salanova Marisa , Schaufeli Wilmar B.
Published: June 2012

Taking theResources-Experiences-Demands Model (RED Model)by Salanova and colleagues as our starting point, we tested how work self-efficacy relates positively to negative (i.e., work overload and work-family conflict) and positive outcomes (i.e., job satisfaction and organizational commitment), through the mediating role of workaholism (health impairmentprocess) and work engagement (motivationalprocess). In a sample of 386 administrative staff from a Spanish University (65% women), Structural Equation Modeling provided full evidence for the research model. In addition, Multivariate Analyses of Variance showed that self-efficacy was only related positively to one of the two dimensions of workaholism, namely, working excessively. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical contributions in terms of theRED Model.
The Use of a Screening Device to Assess Psychopathy in Young Offenders
Authors: Silva Teresa , Genovés Vicente Garrido , Latorre M. José López
Published: June 2012

The aim of this research was to determine to what extent a psychopath screening device (the APSD) is useful in forensic assessments to predict general and violent offending. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was done and 238 young people serving a sentence were assessed. The gold standard instrument used to measure psychopathy was the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV; Forth, Kosson & Hare, 2003). The results indicate that the association found between the screening device scores and several indicators of risk is low if compared with those obtained with the PCL:YV, suggesting that it is less useful as a tool in order to predict offending or violent offences. However, an Area Under the Curve of .784 and a validity index of 62.5 support its use as a screening device or as a preliminary approach to assess psychopathy in this population. The usefulness of this instrument to make assessments with young people in the forensic setting is discussed.
Psychosocial Predictors of Relapse in Cocaine-Dependent Patients in Treatment
Authors: Sánchez-Hervás Emilio , Gómez Francisco J. Santonja , Villa Roberto Secades , García-Fernández Gloria , García-Rodríguez Olaya , Romaguera Francisco Zacarés
Published: June 2012

Relapses in cocaine abusers in treatment are an important problem. The majority of patients are incapable of sustaining abstinence over any length of time. To identify the factors associated to relapses risk in the cocaine use can be an optimal choice to improve the treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to analyze relapse-risk factors in cocaine-dependent patients on treatment. Participants were 102 patients who had begun outpatient treatment at a public health center in Spain. Some functional areas and cocaine use are evaluated for a period of six months. A structural equations model was used to identify possible predictive variables. The results show that social-family environment and economic-employment situation were associated with greater risk of relapse. Likewise, the social-family environment was related to severity of addiction. It is concluded that the incorporation of family intervention strategies and vocational/employment counseling may help to reduce relapse rates in cocaine addicts receiving treatment.
Personality, Emotions and Coping Styles: Predictive Value for the Evolution of Cancer Patients
Authors: Cardenal Violeta , Cerezo Mª Victoria , Martínez Joaquina , Ortiz-Tallo Margarita , Blanca Mª José
Published: June 2012

This study had a twofold goal: to define differences in psychological aspects between cancer patients and a control group and to explore the predictive value of such aspects for the evolution of the disease two years later. Firstly, personality, anxiety, anger and depression were assessed in both groups. Results oft-analyses revealed significant group differences. In personality, cancer patients had higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness than the control group. In emotional variables, cancer patients had higher levels of anxiety and some aspects of anger, but there were no group differences in depression levels. Secondly, applying a quasi-prospective design, the predictive value of personality, emotions and coping styles for the evolution of cancer (favourable or unfavourable) was explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression. A four-predictor logistic model was fitted: Anger Expression-In, Resignation, Self-blame and Conscientiousness, indicating that the higher Anger Expression-in, Resignation, and Self-blame scores together with a lower Conscientiousness score, the more likely it is for patients' cancer to evolve unfavourably. These results indicate the crucial role of psychological aspects for the evolution of the disease and the need to include such aspects in the design of clinical interventions.
The Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire (MFE): Internal Consistency and Reliability
Authors: Carrasco Pedro Montejo , Peña Mercedes Montenegro , Sueiro Manuel J.
Published: June 2012

The Memory Failures of Everyday Questionnaire (MFE) is one of the most widely-used instruments to assess memory failures in daily life. The original scale has nine response options, making it difficult to apply; we created a three-point scale (0-1-2) with response choices that make it easier to administer. We examined the two versions' equivalence in a sample of 193 participants between 19 and 64 years of age. The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the version we propose were also computed in a sample of 113 people. Several indicators attest to the two forms' equivalence: the correlation between the items' means (r = .94; p < .001) and the order of the items' frequencies (r = .92; p < .001). However, the correlation between global scores on the two forms was not very high (r = .67; p < .001). The results indicate this new version has adequate reliability and internal consistency (rxx' = .83; p < .001; α = .83; p < .001) equivalent to those of the MFE 1-9. The MFE 0-2 provides a brief, simple evaluation, so we recommend it for use in clinical practice as well as research.
Brazilian-Portuguese Empathy Quotient: Evidences of its Construct Validity and Reliability
Authors: Gouveia Valdiney V. , Milfont Taciano L. , Gouveia Rildésia S. V. , Neto Julio Rique , Galvão Lilian
Published: June 2012

Empathy is the ability to read other's mind and understand their intentions. This paper examines the psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of a short form of the empathy quotient (EQ, 15 items). The EQ-15 was administered to 237 participants from the general population from João Pessoa, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the tripartite model with cognitive, emotional and social empathy factors. In line with other studies, gender differences were only observed for the first two factors, with female participants scoring higher on both, which suggests that the social factor might not constitute a truly dimension of empathy. Strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity was only observed for the cognitive factor. The poor psychometric parameters of the emotional and social factors are argued to reflect the complexity and contrasting ideas of their items. The possibility of elaborating specific items for the emotional and social factors is also discussed.
Cross-Cultural Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the CES-D in Spanish and Mexican Dementia Caregivers
Authors: Losada Andrés , Villareal Mª de los Ángeles , Nuevo Roberto , Márquez-González María , Salazar Bertha C. , Romero-Moreno Rosa , Carrillo Ana L. , Fernández-Fernández Virginia
Published: June 2012

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) is the most frequently used scale for measuring depressive symptomatology in caregiving research. The aim of this study is to test its construct structure and measurement equivalence between caregivers from two Spanish-speaking countries. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with 595 female dementia caregivers from Madrid, Spain, and from Coahuila, Mexico. The structure of the CES-D was analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA, respectively). Measurement invariance across samples was analyzed comparing a baseline model with a more restrictive model. Significant differences between means were found for 7 items. The results of the EFA clearly supported a four-factor solution. The CFA for the whole sample with the four factors revealed high and statistically significant loading coefficients for all items (except item number 4). When equality constraints were imposed to test for the invariance between countries, the change in chi-square was significant, indicating that complete invariance could not be assumed. Significant between-countries differences were found for three of the four latent factor mean scores. Although the results provide general support for the original four-factor structure, caution should be exercised on reporting comparisons of depression scores between Spanish-speaking countries.
Spanish Adaptation of the Scale of Psychological Empowerment in the Workplace
Authors: Albar Maria-Jesús , García-Ramírez Manuel , Jiménez Ana María López , Garrido Rocío
Published: June 2012

The objective of this study is to adapt and translate into Spanish Spreitzer's Psychological Empowerment Scale (1995a). A process of translation and reverse-translation was applied to the scale's items, whose psychometric properties were then examined using a sample of 272 professional nurses at public hospitals in the province of Seville. The data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The significance of the factor loadings demonstrated the need to create a new model eliminating one item. The 11-item model was shown to possess adequate construct validity and internal consistency. The results confirm the original, four-factor structure obtained by Spreitzer, with the exception of item 10, and support the utilization of the Spanish version of this scale in the workplace. Future research should more extensively investigate its construct validity, and test the nomological network of the operationalized construct within the field of psychological well-being and in the context of the workplace.
The Spanish Validation of Level of Expressed Emotion Scale for Relatives of People with Eating Disorders
Authors: Sepúlveda Ana R. , Anastasiadou Dimitra , del Río Ana María , Graell Montserrat
Published: June 2012

Expressed emotion (EE) is considered a general predictor of poor outcome across a range of conditions, including eating disorders, and is valuable in measuring the effect of family interventions. There are no self-report questionnaires validated in Spanish to measure EE among relatives of patients with a psychiatric condition. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Level of Expressed Emotion scale (LEE) among relatives of eating disorder patients. A cross-sectional study of 270 relatives of patients with an eating disorder was conducted to examine the factor structure, reliability and validity of the LEE scale. Results indicated that the LEE-S (Spanish version) did not correspond to the a priori subscales described in the original version. The refined 45-item LEE-S scale consisted of four factors which explained 25.5% of variance in EE for relatives. Reliability was acceptable (α ranged from .73 to .86). The discriminant validity of the subscales was moderately supported by correlations with psychological distress (GHQ-12; rho = .34) and specific caregiving experience (EDSIS; rho = .39). The LEE-S instrument has adequate psychometric properties and may be of value to assess families at risk of a negative emotional climate at home.
Changing the General Factor of Personality and the c-fos Gene Expression with Methylphenidate and Self-Regulation Therapy
Authors: Micó Joan C. , Amigó Salvador , Caselles Antonio
Published: June 2012

A deepening in the biological nature of the general factor of personality (GFP) is suggested: the activation level of the stress system is here represented by the gene expression of c-fos. The results of a single case experimental design are reported. A model of four coupled differential equations that explains the human personality dynamics as a consequence of a single stimulant drug intake has been fitted to psychological and biological experimental data. The stimulant-drug conditioning and its adaptation to the considered mathematical model is also studied for both kinds of measures. The dynamics of the c-fos expression presents a similar pattern to the dynamics of the psychological measures of personality assessed by the GFP-FAS (Five-Adjective Scale of the General Factor of Personality) as a consequence of a single dose of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). The model predicts similar dynamic patterns for both psychological and biological measures. This study proves that describing mathematically the dynamics of the effects of a stimulant drug as well as the effects of a conditioning method on psychological or subjective variables and on gene expression is possible. It verifies the existence of biological mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the General Factor of Personality (GFP).
Long-Term Outcome of 73 Zweymüller Total Hip Prostheses with a Screw Cup in Patients under 50 Years of Age
Authors: Busch Vincentius J.J.F. , Pouw Martin H. , Laumen Armand M.R.P. , van Susante Job L.C. , Vervest Antonius M.J.S.
Published: June 2012

Total hip arthroplasty in young patients is associated with high failure rates and the best option for this demanding group of patients remains controversial. We report the long-term results of 73 consecutive Zweymüller total hip arthroplasties with a titanium threaded cup and a polyethylene insert in 67 patients aged under 50 years at the time of surgery (mean 43 years, range 23–49). Independent assessment was performed clinically and radiographically, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine survival for different end-points. Three hips were revised for septic loosening, three cups for aseptic loosening and one hip because of a periprosthetic fracture. Three patients (3 hips) died and seven patients (8 hips) were lost to radiographic follow-up without any reoperation. The mean follow-up was 17.5 (15–21) years and the mean HHS was 90 (52–100). Survival with an end-point of revision for any reason was 89% (95% C.I. 85–93) and of revision for aseptic loosening was 94% (C.I. 95–99) at 17 years. Zweymüller total hip arthroplasty with a titanium threaded cup and a polyethylene insert showed good long-term results, even in this group of young patients.
Pragmatist Resources for Experimental Philosophy: Inquiry in Place of Intuition
Authors: Koopman Colin
Published: June 2012

Recent attention given to the upstart movement of experimental philosophy is much deserved. But now that experimental philosophy is beginning to enter a stage of maturity, it is time to consider its relation to other philosophical traditions that have issued similar assaults against ingrained and potentially misguided philosophical habits. Experimental philosophy is widely known for rejecting a philosophical reliance on intuitions as evidence in philosophical argument. In this it shares much with another branch of empiricist philosophy, namely, pragmatism. Taking Kwame Anthony Appiah's forthright and cautious endorsement of experimental philosophy as my model, I show that experimental philosophy and pragmatist philosophy share more than adherents of either philosophical method have yet to allow. I then use this comparison to show how the new experimentalisms could benefit from a rereading of century-old pragmatist insights about philosophical methodology.
Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Tapioca Starch by Plasticizers, Inorganic Fillers and Agrowaste-Based Fillers
Authors: Azwar Edwin , Hakkarainen Minna
Published: June 2012

Mechanical properties of tapioca starch-based films were tuned by different additives and additive combinations. The additives included plasticizers (glycerol, sorbitol, and citric acid), inorganic fillers (halloysite and kaolin), and agrowaste-based fillers (milled wood flour and rice bran). In addition, new biobased additives were prepared from wood flour and rice bran through liquefaction reaction. Through different additive combinations, starch-based materials with significant differences in tensile properties were designed. Addition of halloysite nanoclay resulted in materials with improved tensile strength at break and rather low strain at break. The effect of kaolin on tensile strength was highly dependent on the used plasticizer. However, in most combinations the addition of kaolin resulted in materials with intermediate tensile strength and strain at break values. The addition of milled wood flour and rice bran improved the tensile strength, while the addition of liquefied fillers especially liquefied rice bran increased the strain at break indicating that liquefied rice bran could have potential as a plasticizer for starch blends.
Transthoracic Echocardiography in Children and Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Koestenberger Martin
Published: June 2012

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the first-line tool for diagnosis and followup of pediatric and young adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Appropriate use of TTE can reduce the need for more invasive modalities, such as cardiac catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. New echocardiographic techniques have emerged more recently: tissue Doppler imaging, tissue tracking (strain and strain rate), vector velocity imaging (VVI), myocardial performance index, myocardial acceleration during isovolumic acceleration (IVA), the ratio of systolic to diastolic duration (S/D ratio), and two dimensional measurements of systolic right ventricular (RV) function (e.g., tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, TAPSE). These may become valuable indicators of ventricular performance, compliance, and disease progression. In addition, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography when performed for the assessment of valvular function, device position, and ventricular volumes is being integrated into routine clinical care. In this paper, the potential use and limitations of these new echocardiographic techniques in patients with CHD are discussed. A particular focus is on the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function in conditions associated with increased right ventricular volume (e.g., pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot repair) or pressure (e.g., pulmonary hypertension) in children and young adults.
Eradication Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Its Importance and Possible Relationship in Preventing the Development of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Roesler Bruna Maria , Costa Sandra Cecília Botelho , Zeitune José Murilo Robilotta
Published: June 2012

Helicobacter pylori is the most important carcinogen for gastric adenocarcinoma. Bacterial virulence factors are essential players in modulating the immune response involved in the initiation of carcinogenesis in the stomach; host genetic factors contribute to the regulation of the inflammatory response and to the aggravation of mucosal damage. In terms of environmental factors, salt intake and smoking contribute to the development of lesions. Various therapeutic schemes are proposed to eradicate H. pylori infection, which could potentially prevent gastric cancer, offering the greatest benefit if performed before premalignant changes of the gastric mucosa have occurred.
Starting, Strengthening and Managing Institutional Repositories
Authors: Nabe Jonathan A
Published: June 2012

Over the past decade, the U.S. has experienced an explosion in the number of institutional repositories (IRs), from just more than 20 in 2002 to approximately 400 active repositories as of August, 2011. For any institution seeking to implement a repository, Jonathan Nabe has written an informative and practical manual, divided into two parts. Part I provides guidelines for starting and managing an IR, while Part II shares seven cases of actual IR implementations. Nabe starts with the premise that all IRs need to begin with a plan which includes the key ingredients of staff, funding and platform. In addition, he stresses that librarians are the most logical choice for managing an IR because librarians are well-versed in sharing information, seeking input and gathering feedback, and, in academic institutions, have established contacts within the faculty and staff.
The Accessibility Quotient: A New Measure of Open Access
Authors: Willmott Mathew A , Dunn Katharine H , Duranceau Ellen Finnie
Published: June 2012

INTRODUCTION The Accessibility Quotient (AQ), a new measure for assisting authors and librarians in assessing and characterizing the degree of accessibility for a group of papers, is proposed and described. The AQ offers a concise measure that assesses the accessibility of peer-reviewed research produced by an individual or group, by incorporating data on open availability to readers worldwide, the degree of financial barrier to access, and journal quality. The paper reports on the context for developing this measure, how the AQ is calculated, how it can be used in faculty outreach, and why it is a useful lens to use in assessing progress towards more open access to research. METHODS Journal articles published in 2009 and 2010 by faculty members from one department in each of MIT’s five schools were examined. The AQ was calculated using economist Ted Bergstrom’s Relative Price Index to assess affordability and quality, and data from SHERPA/RoMEO to assess the right to share the peer-reviewed version of an article. RESULTS The results show that 2009 and 2010 publications by the Media Lab and Physics have the potential to be more open than those of Sloan (Management), Mechanical Engineering, and Linguistics & Philosophy. DISCUSSION Appropriate interpretation and applications of the AQ are discussed and some limitations of the measure are examined, with suggestions for future studies which may improve the accuracy and relevance of the AQ. CONCLUSION The AQ offers a concise assessment of accessibility for authors, departments, disciplines, or universities who wish to characterize or understand the degree of access to their research output, capturing additional dimensions of accessibility that matter to faculty.
Open Access Publishing Practices in a Complex Environment: Conditions, Barriers, and Bases of Power
Authors: Reinsfelder Thomas L
Published: June 2012

The system of scholarly communication is a complex environment made up of various stakeholders including not only researchers, librarians, and publishers, but also academic administrators. This paper examines conditions each group faces while also noting barriers preventing movement toward open access. To further analyze interrelationships and interdependencies among groups, a discussion is presented using French & Raven’s bases of power to describe how members of each stakeholder group exert some degree of power upon all other groups while at the same time being influenced, either directly or indirectly, by external forces. A better understanding of the many existing interactions and dependencies can help those who work within this system navigate ongoing changes while more successfully positioning their organizations for the future.
Point & Counterpoint Is CC BY the Best Open Access License?
Authors: Graf Klaus , Thatcher Sanford
Published: June 2012

The only aim of scholarly communication should be the widest possible distribution of knowledge and scholarly results. In order for this to be possible, published research—which scholars give away for free to publishers—should be open access. And in this context, “gratis” open access (free to access) isn’t enough; only “libre” open access, which removes permission barriers, allows the widest distribution of knowledge.
What is in a Name? Introducing the Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication
Authors: Gilman Isaac , Ramirez Marisa
Published: June 2012

Video Credit: Defining Scholarly Communication, created/owned by the contributors and produced by Kathryn Pope and Vin Aliberto, Center for Digital Research and Scholarship, Columbia University Libraries/Information Services. CC-BY.
Comparison of Severity of Illness Scores to Physician Clinical Judgment for Potential Use in Pediatric Critical Care Triage
Authors: Sweney Jill S. , Poss W. Bradley , Grissom Colin K. , Keenan Heather T.
Published: June 2012

Objective:A pediatric triage tool is needed during times of resource scarcity to optimize critical care utilization. This study compares the modified sequential organ failure assessment score (M-SOFA), the Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) score, the Pediatric Risk of Admission Score II (PRISA-II), and physician judgment to predict the need for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) interventions.

Methods:This retrospective cohort study evaluates three illness severity scores for all non-neonatal pediatric patients transported and admitted to a single center in 2006. The outcome of interest was receipt of a PICU intervention (mechanical ventilation, acute dialysis, depressed consciousness, or persistent hypotension). Predictive ability was assessed using receiver operating curves (ROCs).

Results:Of 752 patients admitted to the hospital, 287 received a PICU intervention. Median scores for all tools were significantly higher for children receiving an intervention than for those who did not. ROCs showed PEWS had the least discriminatory ability, followed by PRISA-II and pediatric M-SOFA. No value of the pediatric M-SOFA produced both positive and negative predictive values better than clinician judgment.

Conclusions:No score had a clinically acceptable discriminate ability to predict patients who required a PICU intervention from those who did not. Physician judgment outperformed all three triage scores.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:126–130)
Regional Variation in Critical Care Evacuation Needs for Children After a Mass Casualty Incident
Authors: Kanter Robert K.
Published: June 2012

Objectives: To determine the ability of five New York statewide regions to accommodate 30 children needing critical care after a hypothetical mass casualty incident (MCI) and the duration to complete an evacuation to facilities in other regions if the surge exceeded local capacity.

Methods: A quantitative model evaluated pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) vacancies for MCI patients, based on data on existing resources, historical average occupancy, and evidence on early discharges and transfers in a public health emergency. Evacuation of patients exceeding local capacity to the nearest PICU center with vacancies was modeled in discrete event chronological simulations for three scenarios in each region: pediatric critical care transport teams were considered to originate from other PICU hospitals statewide, using (1) ground ambulances or (2) helicopters, and (3) noncritical care teams were considered to originate from the local MCI region using ground ambulances. Chronology of key events was modeled.

Results: Across five regions, the number of children needing evacuation would vary from 0 to 23. The New York City (NYC) metropolitan area could accommodate all patients. The region closest to NYC could evacuate all excess patients to PICU hospitals in NYC within 12 hours using statewide critical care teams traveling by ground ambulance. Helicopters and local noncritical care teams would not shorten the evacuation. For other statewide regions, evacuation of excess patients by statewide critical care teams traveling by ground ambulance would require up to nearly 26 hours. Helicopter transport would reduce evacuation time by 40%-44%, while local noncritical care teams traveling by ground would reduce evacuation time by 16%-34%.

Conclusions: The present study provides a quantitative, evidence-based approach to estimate regional pediatric critical care evacuation needs after an MCI. Large metropolitan areas with many PICU beds would be better able to accommodate patients in a local MCI, and would serve as a crucial resource if an MCI occurred in a smaller community. Regions near a metropolitan area could be rapidly served by critical care transport teams traveling by ground ambulance. Regions distant from a metropolitan area might benefit from helicopter transport. Using local noncritical care transport teams would involve shorter delays and less expert care during evacuation.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:146–149)
Adequacy of Pediatric Triage
Authors: Debono Pharrah , Debattista Juanita , Attard-Montalto Simon , Pace David
Published: June 2012

Objective:To assess the adequacy of the pediatric triage system in an acute care general hospital.

Methods:All children younger than 14 years of age who presented with a primary medical condition to the accident and emergency department (ED) during January to March 2009 were recruited. Suitability of the triage system was assessed according to the vital parameters taken and the priority code assigned. Triage workload was assessed from the number of children presenting to ED and the timing of presentation.

Results:Of 2269 children presenting to ED, 1617 (71.3%) were younger than 5 years, and 883 (38.9%) were younger than 2 years. Only 0.26% (6/2269) had four vital parameters crucial for priority assignment measured, and 19.3% (437/2269) had at least one parameter measured. A priority code was assigned to 10% (225/2269).

Conclusions:Our study revealed inadequacies in the pediatric triage system. A simple and objective triage system that is based on the measurement of crucial vital parameters and on prompt recognition of warning signs and symptoms to correctly identify high-risk groups has been introduced to ensure appropriate and effective triage of sick children.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:151–154)
Two‐Step, One‐Pot Synthesis of Inosine, Guanosine, and 2′‐Deoxyguanosine O6‐Ethers via Intermediate O6‐(Benzotriazol‐1‐yl) Derivatives
Authors: Kokatla Hari Prasad , Lakshman Mahesh K.
Published: June 2012

A simple method for the etherification at the O6‐position of silyl‐protected inosine, guanosine, and 2′‐deoxyguanosine is described. Typically, a THF solution of the silylated nucleoside is treated with 1H‐benzotriazol‐1‐yloxy‐tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP) and Cs2CO3 under a nitrogen atmosphere. Conversion to the O6‐(benzotriazol‐1‐yl) ethers occurs within about 10 min for inosine, and within about 60 min for guanosine and 2′‐deoxyguanosine. Then, for reaction with alcohols, the reaction mixture is evaporated and the O6‐(benzotriazol‐1‐yl) ether is treated with Cs2CO3 and an appropriate alcohol, at room temperature. On the other hand, for reaction with phenols, Cs2CO3 and the appropriate phenol are added to the reaction mixture without evaporation, and the reaction is carried out at 70°C. Subsequently, workup, isolation, and purification lead to the requisite O6‐alkyl or O6‐aryl ethers in good to excellent yields. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 49:1.26.1‐1.26.16. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using the KEGG Database Resource
Authors: Tanabe Mao , Kanehisa Minoru
Published: June 2012

KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) is a bioinformatics resource for understanding the functions and utilities of cells and organisms from both high‐level and genomic perspectives. It is a self‐sufficient, integrated resource consisting of genomic, chemical, and network information, with cross‐references to numerous outside databases. The genomic and chemical information is a complete set of building blocks (genes and molecules) and the network information includes molecular wiring diagrams (interaction/reaction networks) and hierarchical classifications (relation networks) to represent high‐level functions. This unit describes protocols for using KEGG, focusing on molecular network information in KEGG PATHWAY, KEGG BRITE, and KEGG MODULE, perturbed molecular networks in KEGG DISEASE and KEGG DRUG, molecular building block information in KEGG GENES and KEGG LIGAND, and a mechanism for linking genomes to molecular networks in KEGG ORTHOLOGY (KO). All of these many protocols enable the user to take advantage of the full breadth of the functionality provided by KEGG. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 38:1.12.1‐1.12.43. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using the Reactome Database
Authors: Haw Robin , Stein Lincoln
Published: June 2012

There is considerable interest in the bioinformatics community in creating pathway databases. The Reactome project (a collaboration between the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York University Medical Center, and the European Bioinformatics Institute) is one such pathway database and collects structured information on all the biological pathways and processes in the human. It is an expert‐authored and peer‐reviewed, curated collection of well‐documented molecular reactions that span the gamut from simple intermediate metabolism to signaling pathways and complex cellular events. This information is supplemented with likely orthologous molecular reactions in mouse, rat, zebrafish, worm, and other model organisms. This unit describes how to use the Reactome database to learn the steps of a biological pathway; navigate and browse through the Reactome database; identify the pathways in which a molecule of interest is involved; use the Pathway and Expression analysis tools to search the database for and visualize possible connections within user‐supplied experimental data set and Reactome pathways; and the Species Comparison tool to compare human and model organism pathways. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 38:8.7.1‐8.7.23. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using Cloud Computing Infrastructure with CloudBioLinux, CloudMan, and Galaxy
Authors: Afgan Enis , Chapman Brad , Jadan Margita , Franke Vedran , Taylor James
Published: June 2012

Cloud computing has revolutionized availability and access to computing and storage resources, making it possible to provision a large computational infrastructure with only a few clicks in a Web browser. However, those resources are typically provided in the form of low‐level infrastructure components that need to be procured and configured before use. In this unit, we demonstrate how to utilize cloud computing resources to perform open‐ended bioinformatic analyses, with fully automated management of the underlying cloud infrastructure. By combining three projects, CloudBioLinux, CloudMan, and Galaxy, into a cohesive unit, we have enabled researchers to gain access to more than 100 preconfigured bioinformatics tools and gigabytes of reference genomes on top of the flexible cloud computing infrastructure. The protocol demonstrates how to set up the available infrastructure and how to use the tools via a graphical desktop interface, a parallel command‐line interface, and the Web‐based Galaxy interface. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 38:11.9.1‐11.9.20. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dysregulated Negative Emotional Reactivity as a Predictor of Chronic Peer Victimization in Childhood
Authors: Rosen Paul J. , Milich Richard , Harris Monica J.
Published: June 2012

This study examined the relations of dysregulated negative emotional reactivity, emotional distress, and chronic peer victimization in childhood. A model was proposed whereby dysregulated reactivity was directly and indirectly related to concurrent peer victimization through victimization‐related emotional distress. The model further proposed that dysregulated reactivity directly incrementally predicted longitudinal peer victimization above and beyond the effect of concurrent victimization. Two hundred thirteen 9‐ to 13‐year‐old children and their parents completed measures of dysregulated reactivity and victimization experiences at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up. Children also related narratives of personal victimization experiences at baseline that were coded to assess victimization‐related emotional distress. Model testing strongly supported the direct association of dysregulated reactivity with concurrent victimization and incremental predictive effects of dysregulated reactivity on peer victimization over time. Model testing also provided support for an indirect effect of dysregulated reactivity on concurrent peer victimization through victimization‐related emotional distress. This study demonstrated the powerful role that dysregulated negative emotional reactivity plays in the development of chronic peer victimization over time. Aggr. Behav. 38:414‐427, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modulation of Dendritic Cells by Lipid Grafted Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules
Authors: De Temmerman Marie‐Luce , Rejman Joanna , Lucas Bart , Vandenbroucke Roosmarijn E. , Libert Claude , Demeester Jo , De Smedt Stefaan C.
Published: June 2012

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules are fabricated by layer‐by‐layer deposition of dextran sulfate and poly‐L‐arginine layers at the surface of calcium carbonate template microparticles followed by core removal to produce hollow microcapsules. In the context of vaccination, these biodegradable LbL capsules emerge as promising antigen carriers and are believed to have potential for the co‐delivery of antigens and immunomodulators associated within the same particle to enhance and steer the type of immune response. To this end, it is shown that LbL microcapsules can be functionalized at their surface with lipid layers containing immunopotentiators of lipid nature. The potency of the different lipid modified microcapsules to activate dendritic cells (DCs) is demonstrated by increased expression levels of the migration marker CCR7 and the maturation markers CD40 and CD86. Additionally, the DCs cytokine secretion profile is evaluated. The findings reveal that the lipid grafted microcapsules are superior to non‐modified microcapsules in DC activation and suggest their potential as immune modulating antigen delivery systems.
Highly Porous and Preferentially Oriented {100} Platinum Nanowires and Thin Films
Authors: Ponrouch Alexandre , Garbarino Sébastien , Bertin Erwan , Andrei Carmen , Botton Gianluigi A. , Guay Daniel
Published: June 2012

Highly {100} oriented Pt deposits were prepared by electrodeposition from a 10 mM HCl, 100 mM KCl and Na2PtCl6.xH2O electrolyte. The deposits were prepared in the form of thin films and array of nanowires. A qualitative assessment of the proportion of {100} oriented Pt surfaces was obtained through X‐ray diffraction measurements and cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M H2SO4. The effect of the deposition potential, Edep, temperature of the electrolyte, Tdep, platinum salt concentration [Na2PtCl6.xH2O], and nature of the substrate were investigated. It was shown that the proportion of {100} oriented Pt surfaces reaches a maximum for Edep = ‐0.35 V vs SCE. Moreover, this proportion increases steadily as Tdep and [Na2PtCl6.xH2O] are decreased from 75 to 25 °C and from 2.5 to 0.25 mM, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy micrographs indicate that the more oriented samples are made of pine tree‐like structures that are effectively single crystals, and that the growth facets appear to be close to the {001} plane. This observation also clearly indicates that the plane exposed during the CV experiment is also {001}. As suggested by these micrographs, the films and nanowires are highly porous and roughness factors as large as 1000 were obtained on highly {100} oriented Pt nanowires. The predominance of {100} facets is attributed to their energetically favoured growth in the presence of hydrogen, and is shown to be significantly enhanced when the mass transport of Pt4+ is limited. Due to the predominance of {100} facets, the normalized electrocatalytic activity (μA cm−2Pt) for the electro‐oxidation of hydrazine and ammonia is higher than non‐oriented polycrystalline Pt by a factor of 4 and 2.7, respectively.
Nanoarchitecture Multi‐Structural Cathode Materials for High Capacity Lithium Batteries
Authors: Wang Dapeng , Belharouak Ilias , Zhou Guangwen , Amine Khalil
Published: June 2012

Lithium‐rich composite cathodes have been extensively investigated for lithium‐ion batteries. Nanoarchitecture hydroxide precursor for these cathodes with two levels of particle agglomeration (1–2 μm and 10 μm) is produced using a co‐precipitation method. Transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction confirm that the precursor is a composite comprising transition metal hydroxides and Mn3O4. Cathode materials synthesized based on the precursor are “layered (R$ \bar 3 $m)‐layered (C2/m)‐spinel (Fd$ \bar 3 $m)” composite phase. The electrochemical performance of lithium cells utilizing this material as the cathode is determined to be excellent. Both the layered‐layered‐spinel composite structure and the nanoarchitecture morphology contribute to the electrochemical performance advantage of this material over other cathode materials.
Phosphorous Pentasulfide as a Novel Additive for High‐Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Lin Zhan , Liu Zengcai , Fu Wujun , Dudney Nancy J. , Liang Chengdu
Published: June 2012

Lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries suffer from rapid capacity decay and low energy efficiency because of the low solubility of lithium sulfide (Li2S) in organic solvents and the intrinsic polysulfide shuttle phenomenon. Here, a novel additive, phosphorus pentasulfide (P2S5) in organic electrolyte, is reported to boost the cycling performance of Li‐S batteries. The function of the additive is two‐fold: 1) P2S5 promotes the dissolution of Li2S and alleviates the loss of capacity caused by the precipitation of Li2S and 2) P2S5 passivates the surface of lithium metal and therefore eliminates the polysulfide shuttle phenomenon. A Li‐S test cell demonstrates a high reversible capacity of 900–1350 mAh g−1 and a high coulombic efficiency of ≥90% for at least 40 stable cycles at 0.1 C.
Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Planar and Microwire‐Array Si|GaP Electrodes
Authors: Strandwitz Nicholas C. , Turner‐Evans Daniel B. , Tamboli Adele C. , Chen Christopher T. , Atwater Harry A. , Lewis Nathan S.
Published: June 2012

Gallium phosphide exhibits a short diffusion length relative to its optical absorption length, and is thus a candidate for use in wire array geometries that allow light absorption to be decoupled from minority carrier collection. Herein is reported the photoanodic performance of heteroepitaxially grown gallium phosphide on planar and microwire‐array Si substrates. The n‐GaP|n‐Si heterojunction results in a favorable conduction band alignment for electron collection in the silicon. A conformal electrochemical contact to the outer GaP layer is produced using the ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc+/Fc) redox couple in acetonitrile. Photovoltages of ∼750 mV under 1 sun illumination are observed and are attributed to the barrier formed at the (Fc+/Fc)|n‐GaP junction. The short‐circuit current densities of the composite microwire‐arrays are similar to those observed using single‐crystal n‐GaP photoelectrodes. Spectral response measurements along with a finite‐difference‐time‐domain optical model indicate that the minority carrier diffusion length in the GaP is ∼80 nm. Solid‐state current–voltage measurements show that shunting occurs through thin GaP layers that are present near the base of the microwire‐arrays. The results provide guidance for further studies of 3D multi‐junction photoelectrochemical cells.
Active MnOx Electrocatalysts Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition for Oxygen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Authors: Pickrahn Katie L. , Park Sang Wook , Gorlin Yelena , Lee Han‐Bo‐Ram , Jaramillo Thomas F. , Bent Stacey F.
Published: June 2012

The ability to deposit conformal catalytic thin films enables opportunities to achieve complex nanostructured designs for catalysis. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is capable of creating conformal thin films over complex substrates. Here, ALD‐MnOx on glassy carbon is investigated as a catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), two reactions that are of growing interest due to their many applications in alternative energy technologies. The films are characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ellipsometry, and cyclic voltammetry. The as‐deposited films consist of Mn(II)O, which is shown to be a poor catalyst for the ORR, but highly active for the OER. By controllably annealing the samples, Mn2O3 catalysts with good activity for both the ORR and OER are synthesized. Hypotheses are presented to explain the large difference in the activity between the MnO and Mn2O3 catalysts for the ORR, but similar activity for the OER, including the effects of surface oxidation under experimental conditions. These catalysts synthesized though ALD compare favorably to the best MnOx catalysts in the literature, demonstrating a viable way to produce highly active, conformal thin films from earth‐abundant materials for the ORR and the OER.