bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using the Mini-Mental State Examination to Screen for Delirium in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture
Authors: Ringdal G.I. , Ringdal K. , Juliebø V. , Wyller T.B. , Hjermstad M.J. , Loge J.H.
Published: February 2012

Background: The main aim of this paper was to examine the usefulness of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for screening delirium in elderly patients with hip fracture. Methods: The sample included 364 elderly patients with hip fracture admitted to two hospitals in Oslo. Delirium was assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) as an approximation of the gold standard, DSM-IV. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the MMSE scale, we used the Mokken nonparametric latent trait model for unidimensional scaling. Results: In total, 76 (21%) patients were diagnosed with delirium based on the CAM, and 141 (43%) had preexisting cognitive impairment. As a screening tool, the recommended MMSE cut-point of 24 showed an acceptable sensitivity of 88% with a specificity of 54%. The prediction of delirium, based on logistic regression on the MMSE total score and on the 5 items selected by the stepwise logistic regression procedure, gave clearly less acceptable results. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the MMSE may be useful in screening for delirium, but the high percentage of false positives shows that it does not have diagnostic potential in patients with hip fracture.
Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease Predict Higher Risk of Mortality in Patients with Primary Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Sood Puneet , Kumar Gagan , Nanchal Rahul , Sakhuja Ankit , Ahmad Shahryar , Ali Muhammad , Kumar Nilay , Ross Edward A.
Published: February 2012

Background: The outcome of gastrointestinal bleeding in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is difficult to discern from the literature. Many publications are small, single-center series or are from an era prior to advanced interventional endoscopy, widespread use of proton pump inhibitors or treatment for Helicobacter pylori infections. In this study, we quantify the role of CKD and ESRD as independent predictors of mortality in patients admitted to the hospital with a principal diagnosis of primary upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Methods: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample that contains data on approximately 8 million admissions in 1,000 hospitals chosen to approximate a 20% stratified sample of all US facilities. Patients discharged with the principal diagnosis of primary UGIB, CKD or ESRD were identified through the ninth revision of the International Classification of Diseases, clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. The outcome variables included frequency and in-hospital mortality of UGIB in CKD and ESRD patients as compared to non-CKD patients and were analyzed using logistic regression modeling. Results: In 2007, out of a total of 398,213 admissions with a diagnosis of primary UGIB, 35,985 were in CKD, 14,983 in ESRD, and 347,245 in non-renal disease groups. The OR for primary UGIB hospitalization in CKD and ESRD was 1.30 (95% CI 1.17–1.46) and 1.84 (95% CI 1.61–2.09), respectively. The corresponding all-cause mortality OR was 1.47 (95% CI 1.21–1.78) and 3.02 (95% CI 2.23–4.1), respectively. Conclusion: Patients with CKD or ESRD admitted with primary UGIB have up to three times higher risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality, warranting heightened vigilance by their clinicians.
Predictors of Periprocedural (Type IVa) Myocardial Infarction, as Assessed by Frequency-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Porto Italo , Di Vito Luca , Burzotta Francesco , Niccoli Giampaolo , Trani Carlo , Leone Antonio M. , Biasucci Luigi M. , Vergallo Rocco , Limbruno Ugo , Crea Filippo
Published: February 2012

Background—

Frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) is easily able to define both pre- and post-stenting features of the atherosclerotic plaque that can potentially be related to periprocedural complications. We sought to examine which FD-OCT-defined characteristics, assessed both before and after stent deployment, predicted periprocedural (type IVa) myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods and Results—

FD-OCT was performed before and after coronary stenting in 50 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for either non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) or stable angina. All patients underwent single-vessel stenting, and only drug-eluting stents were implanted. Troponin T was analyzed on admission, before PCI, and at 12 and 24 hours after PCI, and type IVa MI was defined in stable angina as a rise of at least 3× upper reference limit and in NSTEMI as a pre-PCI troponin T fall, followed by post-PCI troponin T rise >20%. Type IVa MI was diagnosed in 21 patients, while the remaining 29 represented the control group. FD-OCT analysis showed that thin-cap fibroatheroma (76.2% versus 41.4%;
P
=0.017) prior to PCI, intrastent thrombus (61.9% versus 20.7%;
P
=0.04), and intrastent dissection (61.9% versus 31%;
P
=0.03) after PCI were significantly more frequent in type IVa MI than in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed thin-cap fibroatheroma (OR 29.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 32.1), intrastent thrombus (OR 5.5, CI 1.2 to 24.9) and intrastent dissection (OR 5.3, CI 1.2 to 24.3) as independent predictors of type IVa MI.

Conclusions—

In conclusion, presence of thin-cap fibroatheroma at pre-PCI FD-OCT and of intrastent thrombus and intrastent dissection at post-PCI FD-OCT predict type IVa MI in a contemporary sample of patients treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents. Interestingly, 2 of the 3 predictors of type IVa MI were not apparent at pre-PCI FD-OCT.
Reduction from Cost-Sensitive Ordinal Ranking to Weighted Binary Classification
Authors: Lin Hsuan-Tien , Li Ling
Published: February 2012

We present a reduction framework from ordinal ranking to binary classification. The framework consists of three steps: extracting extended examples from the original examples, learning a binary classifier on the extended examples with any binary classification algorithm, and constructing a ranker from the binary classifier. Based on the framework, we show that a weighted 0/1 loss of the binary classifier upper-bounds the mislabeling cost of the ranker, both error-wise and regret-wise. Our framework allows not only the design of good ordinal ranking algorithms based on well-tuned binary classification approaches, but also the derivation of new generalization bounds for ordinal ranking from known bounds for binary classification. In addition, our framework unifies many existing ordinal ranking algorithms, such as perceptron ranking and support vector ordinal regression. When compared empirically on benchmark data sets, some of our newly designed algorithms enjoy advantages in terms of both training speed and generalization performance over existing algorithms. In addition, the newly designed algorithms lead to better cost-sensitive ordinal ranking performance, as well as improved listwise ranking performance.
Photopolymerization experiments and properties of some urethane/urea methacrylates tested in dental composites
Authors: Buruiana Tinca , Melinte Violeta , Jitaru Florentina , Aldea Horia , Buruiana Emil C.
Published: February 2012

Hydrophobic silyl-urea/urethane methacrylates (UHM-1, UHM-2) and a modified BisGMA derivative (BisGMA-UMA) were synthesized and used as photopolymerizable co-monomers in the preparation of dental composites, besides other urethane dimethacrylates containing oligoethylene oxide segments and carboxylic groups. The homo- and copolymerization behaviour of the synthesized monomers were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy using camphorquinone (CQ) and 4-(dimethylamino)-phenylacetic acid (DMPheAA) as a photoinitiating system, as well as by photo-DSC. The first hybrid monomethacrylate, N-(methacryloyloxyethyl-N’-diethoxymethylsilylpropyl)-urea showed the highest value for the maximum polymerization rate (0.117 s−1) followed by BisGMA analogue (0.085 s−1) and N-methacryloyloxyethyl-N’-bis(triethoxysilylpropylcarbamoyloxyethyl)-urea (0.069 s−1), whereas the degree of conversion decreased from 75.1% (UHM-2) to 41.6% (BisGMA-UMA). Polymerization shrinkage (PS) measured by picnometry for the mixture BisGMA-UMA/TEGDMA (4.78 vol.%) was lower than that exhibited of the control organic matrix BisGMA/TEGDMA (6.85 vol.%) at the same dilution. The addition of one of the obtained monomers into a mixture based on urethane oligomers led to a polymerization shrinkage varying between 8.33 and 6.97 vol.%. A number of properties of the composites formulated with our urethane methacrylates, a urethane dimethacrylate, BisGMA, and glass filler (Zr/Sr glass, quartz, and diatomite) were also determined including the surface damage caused by the Vickers indentation to establish their utility in dentistry.
Unpacking Cultural Differences in Alexithymia
Authors: Dere Jessica , Falk Carl F. , Ryder Andrew G.
Published: February 2012

The current study provides a cultural examination of alexithymia, a multifaceted personality construct that refers to a general deficit in the ability to identify and describe emotional states, and that has been linked to a number of psychiatric illnesses. Though this construct has been critiqued as heavily rooted in “Western” norms of emotional expression, it has not received much empirical attention from a cultural perspective. Recently, Ryder et al. (2008) found that higher levels of alexithymia among Chinese versus Euro-Canadian outpatients were explained by group differences in one component of alexithymia, externally oriented thinking (EOT); they proposed that Chinese cultural contexts may encourage EOT due to a greater emphasis on social relationships and interpersonal harmony rather than inner emotional experience. The current study examined the hypothesis that EOT is more strongly shaped by cultural values than are two other components of alexithymia, difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) and difficulty describing feelings (DDF). Euro-Canadian ( n = 271) and Chinese-Canadian ( n = 237) undergraduates completed measures of alexithymia and cultural values. Chinese-Canadians showed higher levels of EOT than Euro-Canadians ( p < .001). EOT, and not DIF or DDF, was predicted by Modernization and Euro-American values in both groups. Furthermore, cultural values mediated the effect of group membership on levels of EOT. These results suggest that cultural differences in alexithymia may be explained by culturally based variations in the importance placed on emotions, rather than deficits in emotional processing. The study also raises questions about the measurement and meaning of EOT, particularly from a cross-cultural perspective.
Contextualism as an Important Facet of Individualism-Collectivism
Authors: Owe Ellinor , Vignoles Vivian L. , Becker Maja , Brown Rupert , Smith Peter B. , Lee Spike W. S. , Easterbrook Matt , Gadre Tanuja , Zhang Xiao , Gheorghiu Mirona , Baguma Peter , Tatarko Alexander , Aldhafri Said , Zinkeng Martina , Schwartz Seth J. , Des Rosiers Sabrina E. , Villamar Juan A. , Mekonnen Kassahun Habtamu , Regalia Camillo , Manzi Claudia , Brambilla Maria , Kusdil Ersin , Çağ lar Selinay , Gavreliuc Alin , Martin Mariana , Jianxin Zhang , Lv Shaobo , Fischer Ronald , Milfont Taciano L. , Torres Ana , Camino Leoncio , Kreuzbauer Robert , Gausel Nicolay , Buitendach Johanna H. , Lemos Flávia Cristina Silveira , Fritsche Immo , Möller Bettina , Harb Charles , Valk Aune , Espinosa Agustín , Jaafar Jas Laile , Yuki Masaki , Ferreira M. Cristina , Chobthamkit Phatthanakit , Fülöp Márta , Chybicka Aneta , Wang Qian , Bond Michael Harris , González Roberto , Didier Nicolas , Carrasco Diego , Cadena Maria Paz , Lay Siugmin , Garðarsdóttir Ragna B. , Nizharadze George , Pyszczynski Tom , Kesebir Pelin , Herman Ginette , de Sauvage Isabelle , Courtois Marie , Bourguignon David , Özgen Emre , Güner Ülku E. , Yamakoğlu Nil , Abuhamdeh Sami , Mogaji Andrew , Macapagal Ma. Elizabeth J. , Koller Silvia H. , Amponsah Benjamin , Misra Girishwar , Kapur Preeti , Vargas Trujillo Elvia , Balanta Paola , Cendales Ayala Boris , Schweiger Gallo Inge , Prieto Gil Paula , Clemares Raquel Lorente , Campara Gabriella , Jalal Baland
Published: February 2012

Beliefs about personhood are understood to be a defining feature of individualism-collectivism (I-C), but they have been insufficiently explored, given the emphasis of research on values and self-construals. We propose the construct of contextualism, referring to beliefs about the importance of context in understanding people, as a facet of cultural collectivism. A brief measure was developed and refined across 19 nations (Study 1: N = 5,241), showing good psychometric properties for cross-cultural use and correlating well at the nation level with other supposed facets and indicators of I-C. In Study 2 ( N = 8,652), nation-level contextualism predicted ingroup favoritism, corruption, and differential trust of ingroup and outgroup members, while controlling for other facets of I-C, across 35 nations. We conclude that contextualism is an important part of cultural collectivism. This highlights the importance of beliefs alongside values and self-representations and contributes to a wider understanding of cultural processes.
The Simple View of Reading Redux
Authors: Tunmer William E. , Chapman James W.
Published: February 2012

This study investigated the hypothesis that the contributions of oral language comprehension ( C) and word recognition ( D) to reading comprehension ( R) in the simple view of reading (SVR) are not independent because a component of C (vocabulary knowledge) directly contributes to the variance in D. Three analysis procedures (hierarchical regression analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling) were used to analyze data obtained from a sample ( N = 122) of 7-year-old students who were administered tests of vocabulary knowledge, nonword reading, word recognition (two standardized tests), and parallel forms of listening and reading comprehension. Results from the regression analysis indicated that vocabulary made a contribution to R beyond that made by word recognition and listening comprehension; results from the exploratory factor analysis showed that two factors (Decoding and Linguistic Comprehension) were extracted, with vocabulary and listening comprehension loading highly on the Linguistic Comprehension factor; and results from structural equation modeling revealed that the latent construct, C, influenced R not only directly but also indirectly through the latent construct, D.
Cognitive Component of Componential Model of Reading Applied to Different Orthographies
Authors: Joshi R. Malatesha , Tao Sha , Aaron P. G. , Quiroz Blanca
Published: February 2012

Whether the simple view of reading (SVR) as incorporated in the componential model of reading (CMR) is applicable to other orthographies than English was explored in this study. Spanish, with transparent orthography and Chinese, with opaque orthography were selected because of their diverse characteristics. The first part reports a study of students from grades 2 and 3, whose home language and medium of instruction was Spanish, and were administered tests of decoding, listening, and reading comprehension. A comparison group of 49 children from Grade 2, 54 children from Grade 3, and 55 children from Grade 4, whose home language and instruction was English, were also administered tests of decoding, listening, and reading comprehension. Multiple regression analysis showed that approximately 60% of the variance in reading comprehension of Spanish participants and 50% of the variance in reading comprehension of English participants were explained by decoding and listening comprehension. Furthermore, the performance of third grade Spanish participants resembled that of fourth grade English-speaking participants. In the second study, 102 Chinese students from Grade 2 and 106 students from Grade 4 were administered tasks of Chinese character recognition, reading fluency, listening, and reading comprehension. Multiple regression analyses showed character recognition and listening comprehension accounted for 25% and 42% of the variance in Chinese reading comprehension at Grades 2 and 4 respectively. These results indicate that the simple view of reading is applicable to writing systems other than that of English.
Climate clashes? Weather variability, land pressure, and organized violence in Kenya, 1989–2004
Authors: Theisen Ole Magnus
Published: February 2012

The evidence of coming climate change has generated catastrophe-like statements of a future where a warmer, wetter, and wilder climate leads to a surge in migrant streams and gives rise to new wars. Although highly popular in policy circles, few of these claims are based on systematic evidence. Using a most-likely case design on Kenya 1989–2004, with new geographically disaggregated data on armed conflicts below the common civil conflict level, this study finds that climatic factors do influence the risk of conflicts and violent events. The effect is opposite to what should be expected from much of the international relations literature; rather, it supports the observations made by recent anthropological studies. Years with below average rainfall tend to have a peaceful effect on the following year and less robustly so for the current year as well. Little support is found for the notion that scarcity of farmland fuels violence in itself or in election years. More densely populated areas – not areas with a low land per capita ratio – run a higher risk of conflict. Election years systematically see more violence, however. The findings therefore support the notion that large-scale intergroup violence is driven by calculation and political gain rather than desperate scrambles for scarce land, pasture, and water resources.
Climate change and international water conflict in Central Asia
Authors: Bernauer Thomas , Siegfried Tobias
Published: February 2012

We engage in a critical assessment of the neo-malthusian claim that climatic changes can be an important source of international tensions, in the extreme even militarized interstate disputes. The most likely scenario is conflict over water allocation in international catchments shared by poorer, less democratic, and politically less stable countries, governed by weak international water management institutions, and exposed to severe climatic changes. The Syr Darya corresponds quite well to all these characteristics. If the neo-malthusian specter of conflict over water is empirically relevant, we should see signs of this in the Syr Darya. The riparian countries of the Aral Sea basin have experienced international disputes over water allocation ever since the USSR collapsed and, with it, existing water management institutions and funding. The worst such dispute concerns the Syr Darya, one of the two largest rivers in Central Asia. Based on hydrological data and other information we find that the only existing international water management institution in the Syr Darya has failed. Based on a coupled climate, land-ice and rainfall-runoff model for the Syr Darya, we then examine whether, in the absence of an effective international water allocation mechanism, climate change is likely to make existing international tensions over water allocation worse. We find that climate change-induced shifts in river runoff, to which the Uzbek part of the Syr Darya catchment is particularly vulnerable, and which could contribute to a deterioration of already strained Kyrgyz–Uzbek relations, are likely to set in only in the medium to long term. This leaves some time for the riparian countries to set up an effective international framework for water allocation and prevention of climate-induced geohazards. By implication, our findings suggest that a climate change-induced militarized interstate dispute over water resources in Central Asia is unlikely.
Does climate change drive land-use conflicts in the Sahel?
Authors: Benjaminsen Tor A , Alinon Koffi , Buhaug Halvard , Buseth Jill Tove
Published: February 2012

While climate change scenarios for the Sahel vary and are uncertain, the most popularized prediction says there will progressively be drier conditions with more erratic rainfall. According to some, an increase in violent conflicts over scarce resources should also be expected. This article investigates the climate–conflict nexus in detail, focusing on a distinct area at the heart of the Sahel, the inland delta of the Niger river in the Mopti region of Mali. Two complementary analytical approaches are applied. The first consists of collection and analysis of court data on land-use conflicts, 1992–2009, from the regional Court of Appeal in Mopti. A comparison of the conflict data with statistics on contemporaneous climatic conditions gives little substance to claims that climate variability is an important driver of these conflicts. Second, we carried out a qualitative analysis of one of the many land-use conflicts in the region. Again, we find that factors other than those directly related to environmental conditions and resource scarcity dominate as plausible explanations of the violent conflict. We argue that three structural factors are the main drivers behind these conflicts: agricultural encroachment that obstructed the mobility of herders and livestock, opportunistic behavior of rural actors as a consequence of an increasing political vacuum, and corruption and rent seeking among government officials.
Climate change, violent conflict and local institutions in Kenya’s drylands
Authors: Adano Wario R , Dietz Ton , Witsenburg Karen , Zaal Fred
Published: February 2012

Many regions that are endowed with scarce natural resources such as arable land and water, and which are remote from a central government, suffer from violence and ethnic strife. A number of studies have looked at the convergence of economic, political and ecological marginality in several African countries. However, there is limited empirical study on the role of violence in pastoral livelihoods across ecological and geographical locations. Yet, case studies focusing on livelihood and poverty issues could inform us about violent behaviour as collective action or as individual decisions, and to what extent such decisions are informed or explained by specific climatic conditions. Several case studies point out that violence is indeed an enacted behaviour, rooted in culture and an accepted form of interaction. This article critically discusses the relevance of geographical and climatic parameters in explaining the connection between poverty and violent conflicts in Kenya’s pastoral areas. These issues are considered vis-à-vis the role institutional arrangements play in preventing violent conflict over natural resources from occurring or getting out of hand. The article uses long-term historical data, archival information and a number of fieldwork sources. The results indicate that the context of violence does not deny its agency in explanation of conflicts, but the institutional set-up may ultimately explain the occurrence of the resource curse.
Climate change and the institutional resilience of international river basins
Authors: De Stefano Lucia , Duncan James , Dinar Shlomi , Stahl Kerstin , Strzepek Kenneth M , Wolf Aaron T
Published: February 2012

In the existing 276 international river basins, the increase in water variability projected by most climate change scenarios may present serious challenges to riparian states. This research maps the institutional resilience to water variability in transboundary basins and combines it with both historic and projected variability regimes, with the objective of identifying areas at potential risk of future hydropolitical tension. To do so, it combs existing international treaties for sources of institutional resilience and considers the coefficient of variation of runoff as a measure of past and future water variability. The study finds significant gaps in both the number of people and area covered by institutional stipulations to deal with variability in South America and Asia. At present, high potential risk for hydropolitical tensions associated with water variability is identified in 24 transboundary basins and seems to be concentrated mainly in northern and sub-Saharan Africa. By 2050, areas at greatest potential risk are more spatially dispersed and can be found in 61 international basins, and some of the potentially large impacts of climate change are projected to occur away from those areas currently under scrutiny. Understanding when and where to target capacity-building in transboundary river basins for greater resilience to change is critical. This study represents a step toward facilitating these efforts and informing further qualitative and quantitative research into the relationship between climate change, hydrological variability regimes, and institutional capacity for accommodating variability.
Climate change and security in the Israeli–Palestinian context
Authors: Feitelson Eran , Tamimi Abdelrahman , Rosenthal Gad
Published: February 2012

The Middle East is among the least stable and most fragile regions. It is not surprising, therefore, that concerns have been raised regarding the potential implications of climate change. This article critically examines the potential interactions between climate change and conflict in the Israeli–Palestinian case. Based on a review of the possible effects of climate change, water is identified as the main issue which may be affected, and it also has transboundary implications. We illustrate the potential implications of reduced freshwater availability by assessing the ability to supply normative domestic water needs under rapid population growth scenarios, including return of refugees. In addition, the ability to supply environmental needs and the needs of peripheral farmers under extremely reduced availability scenarios is examined. The normative domestic demand in Israel and the West Bank can be supplied on the basis of natural resources, though re-allocation of water from Israel to the Palestinians is necessary. The Gaza Strip cannot supply the normative domestic needs under any scenario and hence requires immediate augmentation, regardless of climate change. Desalination can supply Gaza’s needs and augment water resources in Israel and the West Bank, thereby partially decoupling domestic and agricultural use from climate. Thus, it is unlikely that climate change will directly affect the conflict. However, framing water as a security issue, along with the potential for furthering such securitization with reference to climate change, may adversely affect the readiness of the parties to take adaptive measures and lead them to rigidify their negotiating positions. Possible effects of climate change on other regional players, particularly Egypt and Jordan, may have indirect effects on the Israeli–Palestinian scene. But this hypothesis requires further study.
The Pharmacology and Therapeutic Use of Dabigatran Etexilate
Authors: Sarah Spinler
Published: February 2012

Dabigatran etexilate is an oral prodrug of dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, that provides the first available oral anticoagulant alternative to warfarin for reducing the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Although warfarin is effective, many patients with AF remain undertreated, primarily because of the management challenges associated with warfarin therapy. Dabigatran etexilate offers several potential advantages over warfarin, including fixed dosing, no requirement for blood coagulation monitoring, and reduced propensity for drug‐drug interactions. In a large phase 3 trial in patients with nonvalvular AF, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved dose of dabigatran etexilate (150 mg twice daily [bid]) was superior to warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism; major bleeding rates were similar. The most notable side effects of dabigatran etexilate are dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding. This review summarizes the clinical pharmacology and treatment considerations for dabigatran etexilate.
A Free-Recall Demonstration Versus a Lecture-Only Control
Authors: Balch William R.
Published: February 2012

On their first class day, introductory psychology students took a 14-question multiple-choice pretest on several principles of memory including primacy, recency, storage, retrieval, counterbalancing, and the free-recall method. I randomly preassigned students to come at one of two different times to the second class, 2 days later, when they either participated in a free-recall demonstration/debriefing or heard a lecture on comparable material. In the third class, five days later, they took a posttest identical to the pretest. On the posttest but not the pretest, students participating in the demonstration/debriefing significantly outperformed those hearing only the lecture.
The Effect and Implications of a “Self-Correcting” Assessment Procedure
Authors: Francis Alisha L. , Barnett Jerrold
Published: February 2012

We investigated Montepare’s (2005, 2007) self-correcting procedure for multiple-choice exams. Findings related to memory suggest this procedure should lead to improved retention by encouraging students to distribute the time spent reviewing the material. Results from a general psychology class ( n = 98) indicate that the benefits are not as definitive as expected. Students’ initial performance moderated the benefits of the procedure such that comprehensive final exam scores were significantly higher for the self-correcting condition when controlling for initial quiz performance, with a marginally significant interaction ( p = .06) between initial quiz scores and condition. The findings underscore the importance of using the scientist-educator model to evaluate pedagogical decisions while considering practical implications and return on investment.
Ethnic and Nationality Stereotypes in Everyday Language
Authors: Kite Mary E. , Whitley Bernard E.
Published: February 2012

The authors describe a demonstration of stereotype use in everyday language that focuses on common phrases reflecting stereotypic beliefs about ethnic groups or nationalities. The exercise encourages students’ discussion of stereotype use. Students read 13 common phrases from the English language and stated whether they had used each phrase and whether the meaning of the phrase is positive or negative. Evaluations of the exercise showed that it is effective for increasing awareness of stereotype use in everyday language. The authors provide suggested topics for class discussion.
Teaching Abnormal Psychology to Improve Attitudes Toward Mental Illness and Help-seeking
Authors: Kendra Matthew S. , Cattaneo Lauren B. , Mohr Jonathan J.
Published: February 2012

Abnormal psychology instructors often use traditional and personal methods to educate students about and improve student attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking. Data from abnormal psychology students ( N = 190) were used to determine if and how students’ attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking attitudes change over time. The study also examined whether stigma-related variables were influenced by student presentations about personal experiences with mental illness. With few exceptions, stigma-related variables did not change over time or in relation to student presentations. Implications for research and teaching to improve attitudes toward mental illness and professional help-seeking are discussed.
Bingo!
Authors: Vanags Thea , George Amanda M. , Grace Diana M. , Brown Patricia M.
Published: February 2012

Brain Bingo is a tutorial activity for helping undergraduate psychology students learn complex physiological terms. In two experiments, the authors tested pretest and posttest knowledge, and in Experiment 2, the authors tested retention after 5 weeks. In Experiment 1 ( n = 41), the experimental group (Brain Bingo) recalled more terms than the control group (standard tutorial activities). In Experiment 2 ( n = 107), control and experimental groups did the Brain Bingo activity, but only the experimental group received feedback during the activity. Both groups recalled more terms at posttest and follow-up than at pretest, and the experimental group outperformed the control group at both time points. Brain Bingo, particularly with feedback, is a useful activity for learning physiological terminology.
That Fierce Edge
Authors: Harris Amy
Published: February 2012

Using a combination of brief case studies and statistical analysis of probate disputes in eighteenth-century England, this article argues for an expanded interpretation of Georgian family life—an interpretation that understands the tugs and pulls of siblinghood. In the eighteenth century, emerging ideas about social equality based on idealized siblinghood tangled with engrained family hierarchies to produce messy, constantly shifting, sibling politics. Confronting competing social expectations that classified them as equals yet ranked them hierarchically by gender, birth order, and marital status, Georgian sisters and brothers fiercely wrestled over material and emotional investments from their parents and from one another. Sibling conflict was most common when reality sharply diverged from expectations of equality, such as between older sisters and younger brothers or between men and their brothers' widows.
Amending the Americans with Disabilities Act
Authors: Rush Christine Ledvinka
Published: February 2012

This research examines changing public human resources obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). During the first 12 years after ADA implementation, the U.S. Supreme Court issued several rulings that narrowly construed who qualified as disabled ( Albertson’s v. Kirkingburg; Murphy v. United Parcel Services; Sutton v. United Airlines; Toyota Motor Manufacturing v. Williams). In 2008, Congress responded to these judicial interpretations by specifically rejecting the Supreme Court’s analysis and unequivocally stating the intent to expand the scope of protection under the ADA. This interbranch dialog over ADA interpretation challenges public employers to predict responsibilities under shifting ADA requirements. Furthermore, analysis suggests that both the original statute and the 2008 Amendments Act suffer from a lack of clarity regarding who qualifies as disabled. Public human resource managers must evaluate how best to meet their ADA obligations in this climate of legal ambiguity and fiscal uncertainty.
Aluminum phosphide-induced genetic and oxidative damages in rats: attenuation by Laurus nobilis leaf extract
Authors: Türkez Hasan , Toğar Başak
Published: February 2012

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a colorless, flammable, liquefied pesticide that is commonly used to control insects, nematodes, weeds, and pathogens in crops, forests, ornamental nurseries, and wood products. Early investigations of AlP-poisoned mammalian cells led to the proposed involvement of oxidative damage in its toxicity mechanism. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Laurus nobilis (L) leaf extract (LNE) against AlP-induced genetic and oxidative damages in rats. Selected animals were assigned to four groups ( n = 6), namely, group A: control (only distilled water is injected); group B: AlP (4 mg kg−1 injected intraperitoneally (i.p.)); group C: LNE (200 mg kg−1 injected i.p.), and group D: AlP plus LNE, respectively. The experimental period lasted for 14 successive days. Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and micronucleus (MN) assay were used for monitoring genotoxic damage. In addition, biochemical parameters such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS) were examined in serum samples to determine oxidative damage. Our results indicated that AlP caused increase in CA and MN assay rates and alterations in TAC and TOS levels when compared with control group. On the contrary, LNE did not change the rates of both the analyzed cytogenetic end points and led to increase in TAC level. Moreover, we observed that LNE suppressed the genetic damage by AlP to bone marrow cells in vivo. Interestingly AlP-induced oxidative stress was also strongly reduced by LNE. The results of the present study indicated that the protective effect of LNE might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.
‘Anyone in my shoes will end up like me’: Female inmates’ discourse of responsibility for crime
Authors: Guo Jing-ying
Published: February 2012

Drawing on conversation analysis and Billig’s rhetorical strategy of particularization, this chapter examines how female inmates attribute responsibility for their crimes in the context of prison by focusing on how they orient interlocutors prior to narration of climactic moments of violence and violation. The findings indicate that different discursive strategies are used to enhance their orientations – not only for background information purposes in preparing interlocutors interactionally and emotionally for the following narration of criminal acts, but to diffuse or evade their responsibilities in implying that anyone in their shoes would end up like them – without flouting implicit rules prevalent in China’s prisons that inmates should explicitly ‘show admission of guilt and acceptance of the judgment’. The article concludes with a discussion of implications of such an attitude of ‘irresponsibility for their past’ for future directions of the talking program provided in China’s prisons.
Legitimation in corporate discourse: Oil corporations after Deepwater Horizon
Authors: Breeze Ruth
Published: February 2012

Despite growing interest in corporate discourse practices, linguists have rarely focused specifically on the discursive legitimation of institutional or corporate actors after perceived episodes of wrongdoing. This may be due to the fact that under normal conditions, legitimation may scarcely be perceptible, only reaching a significant pitch when a major crisis threatens the existence of the agents involved. Should such an event occur, then institutions will summon up a range of justificatory discursive strategies embodying ideological elements that will resonate with socially accepted ideas, feelings or desires. One case in which legitimation could clearly be perceived was that of the oil industry after the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. In the wake of the disaster, as the oil spread and the crisis appeared to be uncontrollable, public opinion turned against the oil industry. It comes as no surprise that the messages to shareholders published in the annual reports of oil corporations during the following year all make reference to the incident and attempt to legitimate both the individual companies and the sector as a whole, in the eyes of the public in general and the shareholders for whom the reports are intended. This article examines the discourses of legitimation used in these texts, focusing specifically on the roles assumed by the writer as scientist and environmentalist, as well as financial expert, and on the story-telling techniques used to present the events as a survivor narrative. It discusses ways in which these writers endeavour to engage readers’ solidarity, while also appealing to their interests as stakeholders. These discourses operate on an ideological level to underpin the workings of large corporations within the complex panorama of contemporary capitalism.
Sweden and the Seven Years War, 1757–1762: War, Debt and Politics
Authors: Winton Patrik
Published: February 2012

Sweden commenced military operations against Prussia in 1757, following Austria’s and France’s efforts to include Sweden in the anti-Prussian alliance. Swedish politicians hoped that the coalition would lead to a quick victory without having to get too involved in the fighting, but that Sweden still would be rewarded for its support. Swedish military action was thus primarily designed to show the allies that Sweden participated in the war. Despite the low intensity warfare that characterized the fighting, the war was still extremely expensive. The Swedish state used mostly internal borrowing to finance the war, which led to negative economic and political consequences such as inflation and popular discontent. By participating in the war, the Swedish state sought to strengthen its commercial situation worldwide while preserving its military position in the Baltic region.
A German Preference for a Medium-Range Battle? British Assumptions about German Naval Gunnery, 1914–1915
Authors: Seligmann Matthew
Published: February 2012

In several recent studies of the Royal Navy a theory has emerged about the development of British battle-fleet tactics. It is suggested that, in the period leading up to the battle of Jutland, the Admiralty possessed intelligence which indicated that the German naval leadership, if it sought to fight at all, wanted to engage at medium range, where its superior secondary batteries and heavier torpedo armament could be used to maximum advantage. Rather than seeking to frustrate this desire by manoeuvring to keep the battle at long range, the British, it has been argued, decided to accommodate to the German preference, but only with a view to using their superior main armament to unleash a concentrated five-minute pulse of fire at the approaching German vessels, before turning away. This article looks at one of the underpinnings of this argument, namely British intelligence on German gunnery. It shows that from the start of the First World War, if not earlier, the Admiralty had information that contested the idea that the Germans wanted a medium-range engagement. Not only was it discovered that the Germans had been practising long-range firing for some years, but, in addition, early wartime encounters with German vessels, for example at the battle of the Falkland Islands, showed that they had developed considerable proficiency in it. This quickly led the Royal Navy’s top leadership to the conclusion that engagements at maximum range rather than medium range might better reflect both German capabilities and intentions and that British tactics would need to take this into account. In the light of this finding, Grand Fleet Battle Orders, which have defied obvious explanation when it was assumed that the British naval leadership expected the Germans to seek a medium-range engagement, can now be put into a more logical context.
Postpartum Depression and Parental Self-Efficacy
Authors: Choi So Young , Kim Eun Jung , Ryu Eunjung , Chang Koung Oh , Park Myong Nam
Published: February 2012

Purpose: This study compared postpartum depression and parental self-efficacy between married immigrant women from Vietnam and native Korean mothers. Method: The participants were 72 native Korean mothers and 69 immigrant Vietnamese mothers living in a suburban city in South Korea. The instruments used were the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Parent Expectation Survey. Results: There were statistically significant differences in age, education, employment, income, husband’s age, and family structure between the two groups. Immigrant Vietnamese mothers experienced higher levels of postpartum depression ( t = −3.466, p = .001) and had lower parental self-efficacy ( t = 5.607, p < .001) than native Korea mothers. Postpartum depression was negatively correlated with parental self-efficacy in native Korean mothers ( r = −.349, p = .003), but there was no significant correlation in the immigrant Vietnamese mothers ( r = .011, p = .936). The mothers’ country of origin, whether immigrant or Korean, was a significant factor in postpartum depression (β = .338, p = .040; R2 = .091). The mothers’ country of origin had no effect on parental self-efficacy ( p = .957). Instead, significant differences were found for the age, education level, and family structure of the participant ( R2 = .036). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that postpartum depression was more prevalent among married immigrant women from Vietnam than among native Korean mothers. Accordingly, a postpartum depression intervention program for married immigrant women should be developed and implemented.
Psychometric Testing of the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale–Korean Version (CDSES-K)
Authors: Kim Chun-Ja , Chae Sun-Mi , Yoo Hyera
Published: February 2012

Purpose: To examine the validity and reliability of the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale–Korean Version (CDSES-K) in 380 Korean adults with three chronic diseases: arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension. Methods: The Korean translated CDSES-K was back-translated to ensure translation equivalency. A methodological research design was used with exploratory factor analysis for validity and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability. Results: The factor analysis identified eight CDSES-K factors explaining 72.5% of the total variance. The internal consistency reliability for the total instrument was high with Cronbach’s alpha of .93. Conclusion: The results support the cross-cultural applicability of the concepts underlying the CDSES-K and the self-efficacy transcends across cultures. Implications: The CDSES-K can be used not only to assess self-efficacy in Koreans with chronic diseases but also to examine the potential function of self-efficacy in improvement of self-management behaviors and enhanced health status of people with chronic diseases in a variety of clinical settings.
Using a Virtual Community to Enhance Cultural Awareness
Authors: Giddens Jean Foret , North Sarah , Carlson-Sabelli Linnea , Rogers Erin , Fogg Louis
Published: February 2012

Purpose: Cultural competence is an expectation of professional practice, yet effectively teaching this concept to nursing students is challenging. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of a virtual community as a teaching application to foster cultural awareness among nursing students. Method: This correlational study involved the collection of two surveys from 342 first-semester students from five baccalaureate nursing programs that used The Neighborhood virtual community during one semester. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Findings and Conclusions: Results suggest that use of the virtual community may have contributed to cultural awareness among student participants. There was a significant correlation between frequency of use and cultural awareness. Virtual communities may represent a useful teaching application for cultural competence in nursing education. Further research is needed to specifically test cultural competence education strategies using a virtual community platform.
That Baby Will Cost You
Authors: Faulkner Sandra L.
Published: February 2012

This personal narrative highlights an intended ambivalent pregnancy, speaking to Sotirin’s call for radical specificity in mother-writing. The author began writing in a creative nonfiction workshop from memory fragments, diary entries, interviews, and scholarly research recognizing the story contained secrets, omissions, places she can’t remember, and places that are still in shadow that ethically need to stay closed. The use of creative nonfiction frames the story as a series of marginalized discourses from a relational dialectics perspective, in particular ambivalence (vs. certainty), bodily knowledge (vs. medicalization, vs. middle-class pregnancy), and flux (vs. cost–benefit ratios). The problem is that these marginalized discourses are not well represented in the totalizing picture of the pregnant lady. The story works as a performance text to transform totalizing oppressive discourse into a restructured aesthetic moment.