bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematische Kompetenzen in der Grundschule
Authors: Winkelmann Henrik , Robitzsch Alexander , Stanat Petra , Köller Olaf
Published: January 2012

Zusammenfassung. Der vorliegende Beitrag geht der Frage nach, inwieweit sich unterschiedliche inhaltsbezogene und prozessbezogene mathematische Kompetenzen analytisch trennen lassen. Stichproben von N = 10328 und N = 6638 Schülerinnen und Schülern aus 3. und 4. Grundschulklassen bearbeiteten umfangreiche Itempools, die sich fünf inhaltsbezogenen Kompetenzen (Zahlen und Operationen, Raum und Form, Muster und Struktur, Größen und Messen sowie Daten, Häufigkeit und Wahrscheinlichkeit) und sechs prozessbezogenen Kompetenzen (Grundfertigkeiten, Problemlösen, Kommunizieren, Argumentieren, Modellieren sowie Darstellen) zuordnen lassen. Dimensionsanalysen belegen, dass ein Modell mit fünf inhaltsbezogenen Faktoren die Daten am besten abbildet. Die inhaltsbezogenen Skalen erweisen sich als hoch reliabel und Korrelationen mit anderen Instrumenten (z.B. DEMAT 3 und 4) belegen die hohe Validität. Analysen zum Zusammenhang mit Tests zur Erfassung kognitiver Grundfähigkeiten zeigen, dass mathematische Kompetenzen und kognitive Grundfähigkeiten jeweils distinkte Faktoren darstellen. Die Befunde werden im Hinblick auf die Frage diskutiert, welche Konstrukte mit Schulleistungstests erfasst werden.
Emerging earth science research opportunities at U.S. National Science Foundation
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2012

“The Earth sciences will become increasingly prominent in the 21st century as humanity confronts daunting challenges,” states a new report that identifies seven overarching and emerging research opportunities in the Earth sciences for the U.S. National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (NSF EAR). These challenges “are particularly poised for rapid progress during the next decade,” according to the report. New Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences, issued by a committee of the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies on 13 December, recommends broad areas of research “involving major dynamic geosystems that can only be fully quantified by interdisciplinary approaches” and that address evolving science requirements for programs supporting investigator‐driven disciplinary research, problem‐focused programs involving multidisciplinary research, and equipment‐oriented programs for new instrumentation and facilities.
Revised U.S. nutrient management standard
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2012

A newly revised National Nutrient Management Standard could have “a continental impact on how we use nutrients” on potentially hundreds of millions of acres of farmland in the United States, Dave White, chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS), said at a 13 December news briefing. NRCS uses the voluntary standard, which was last updated in 2006, to help producers better manage the application of nutrients—including fertilizers, animal manures, legumes, and crop cover—on agricultural land. Proper application of nitrogen and phosphorous is of particular concern, White said, adding that the new standard has an increased emphasis on the “four R's” of nutrient management: using the right amount of fertilizer and the right source, and applying the fertilizer in the right place at the right time. In addition, he said, the new standard emphasizes a number of technological tools for fertilizer and farmland management that have become available since the last update of the standards.
Honors
Authors: Anonymous
Published: January 2012

Several AGU members were among the winners of the New Zealand Prime Minister's Science Prizes, announced on 16 December. The top award, which is called the Prime Minister's Science Prize and includes $500,000, is being given to a team of scientists with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and with the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, led by Philip Boyd, director of the NIWA Center for Chemical and Physical Oceanography. Members of the team include Russell Frew, professor in the University of Otago chemistry department, and Keith Hunter, the university's pro‐vice‐chancellor of sciences. The scientists have carried out some of the largest experiments ever undertaken to better understand the role the ocean plays in influencing climate. “The work has positioned New Zealand as a leader in [the] debate about whether manipulating the oceans to remove carbon dioxide emission from the air could mitigate or solve global warming,” according to a press release.
Identifying best practices in short‐term eruption forecasting
Authors: Eichelberger John , Marzocchi Warner , Papale Paolo
Published: January 2012

Volcano Observatory Best Practices Workshop: Near‐Term Eruption Forecasting; Erice, Italy, 11–15 September 2011 Eighty volcanologists associated with volcano observatories in 27 countries gathered at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture in Italy to share experiences and develop synergy in shortterm forecasting of eruptions. The meeting was conducted under the aegis of the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO); sponsored by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI); and endorsed by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Louis J. Lanzerotti receives 2011 William Bowie Medal: Citation
Authors: Baker Daniel N. , Kennel Charles F.
Published: January 2012

Louis J. Lanzerotti was awarded the 2011 William Bowie Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 7 December 2011 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for “outstanding contributions to fundamental geophysics and for unselfish cooperation in research.”
Intensifying Pacific trade winds drive regional sea level trends
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: January 2012

Sea level in the western tropical Pacific Ocean has been increasing at a rate about 3 times the global average rate of sea level rise, as observed from satellite altimetry and tide gauges. Why are sea level trends so much different in this region? Previous studies have suggested that the high rate of sea level change in the western tropical Pacific is associated with the natural variation of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. However, using a general circulation model, Merrifield and Maltrud show that western tropical Pacific sea level trends are likely due to a gradual intensification of the Pacific trade winds in the past 2 decades. They also highlight other aspects of ocean circulation that have been altered in response to the intensifying trade winds. Some previous research has suggested that the trade wind intensification is a result of global warming, although that has yet to be verified. If that is the case, the authors conclude, the western tropical Pacific sea level trends will likely continue to be anomalously high. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL049576, 2011)
Density functional theory simulations of amorphous high-κ oxides on a compound semiconductor alloy: a-Al2O3/InGaAs(100)-(4×2), a-HfO2/InGaAs(100)-(4×2), and a-ZrO2/InGaAs(100)-(4×2)
Authors: Chagarov Evgueni A. , Kummel Andrew C.
Published: December 2011

The structural properties of a-Al2O3/In0.5Ga0.5As, a-HfO2/In0.5Ga0.5As, and a-ZrO2/In0.5Ga0.5As interfaces were investigated by density-functional theory (DFT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Realistic amorphous a-Al2O3, a-HfO2, and a-ZrO2 samples were generated using a hybrid classical-DFT MD “melt-and-quench” approach and tested against the experimental properties. For each stack type, two systems with different initial oxide cuts at the interfaces were investigated. All stacks were free of midgap states, but some had band-edge states which decreased the bandgaps by 0%–40%. The band-edge states were mainly produced by deformation, intermixing, and bond-breaking, thereby creating improperly bonded semiconductor atoms. The interfaces were dominated by metal-As and O−In/Ga bonds which passivated the clean surface dangling bonds. The valence band-edge states were mainly localized at improperly bonded As atoms, while conduction band-edge states were mainly localized at improperly bonded In and Ga atoms. The DFT-MD simulations show that electronically passive interfaces can be formed between high-κ oxides dielectrics and InGaAs if the processing does not induce defects because on a short time scale the interface spontaneously forms electrically passive bonds as opposed to bonds with midgap states.
Weak d magnetism in C and N doped ZnO
Authors: Pham Anh , Assadi M. H. N. , Zhang Y. B. , Yu A. B. , Li S.
Published: December 2011

We present an ab initio study of carbon and nitrogen substituting oxygen in zinc oxide structure. Detailed spin-polarized total-energy calculations of the various defect and dopant at different charge states and geometries indicate a non-zero spin magnetic moment only found from the CO-2 while NO shows no sign of localized magnetic moment. It is also revealed that CO has a tendency towards forming C2 complexes inside the ZnO structure with very weak antiferromagnetic spin arrangement. Furthermore, it was found that oxygen vacancy and hydrogen interstitial could not induce ferromagnetism in C doped ZnO.
Optic-microwave mixing velocimeter for superhigh velocity measurement
Authors: Weng Jidong , Wang Xiang , Tao Tianjiong , Liu Cangli , Tan Hua
Published: December 2011

The phenomenon that a light beam reflected off a moving object experiences a Doppler shift in its frequency underlies practical interferometric techniques for remote velocity measurements, such as velocity interferometer system for any reflector (VISAR), displacement interferometer system for any reflector (DISAR), and photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV). While VISAR velocimeters are often bewildered by the fringe loss upon high-acceleration dynamic process diagnosis, the optic-fiber velocimeters such as DISAR and PDV, on the other hand, are puzzled by high velocity measurement over 10 km/s, due to the demand for the high bandwidth digitizer. Here, we describe a new optic-microwave mixing velocimeter (OMV) for super-high velocity measurements. By using currently available commercial microwave products, we have constructed a simple, compact, and reliable OMV device, and have successfully obtained, with a digitizer of bandwidth 6 GH only, the precise velocity history of an aluminum flyer plate being accelerated up to 11.2 km/s in a three stage gas-gun experiment.
Joule heating and thermoelectric properties in short single-walled carbon nanotubes: Electron-phonon interaction effect
Authors: Jiang Jin-Wu , Wang Jian-Sheng
Published: December 2011

The electron-phonon interaction (EPI) effect in single-walled carbon nanotube is investigated by the nonequilibrium Green’s function approach within the Born approximation. Special attention is paid to the EPI induced Joule heating phenomenon and the thermoelectric properties in both metallic armchair (10, 10) tube and semiconductor zigzag (10, 0) tube. For Joule heat in the metallic (10, 10) tube, the theoretical results for the breakdown bias voltage is quite comparable with the experimental value. It is found that the Joule heat can be greatly enhanced by increasing the chemical potential, while the role of the temperature is not so important for Joule heat. In the zigzag (10, 0) tube, the Joule heat is smaller than the armchair tube, resulting from nonzero bandgap in the electron band structure. For the electronic conductance Ge and electron thermal conductance σel, the EPI has important effect at higher temperature or higher chemical potential. Compared with ballistic transport, there is an opposite tendency for Ge to decrease with increasing temperature after EPI is considered. This is due to the dominant effect of the electron phonon scattering mechanism in the electron transport in this situation. There is an interesting “electron-drag” phenomenon for the phonon thermal conductance in case of low temperature and high chemical potential, where phonons are dragged by electrons from low temperature region into high temperature region through EPI effect.
Percolation threshold and electrical conductivity of a two-phase composite containing randomly oriented ellipsoidal inclusions
Authors: Pan Y. , Weng G. J. , Meguid S. A. , Bao W. S. , Zhu Z.-H. , Hamouda A. M. S.
Published: December 2011

An explicit, analytical theory for the percolation threshold, percolation saturation, and effective conductivity of a two-component system involving randomly oriented ellipsoidal inclusions is proposed. The ellipsoids may take the shape of a needle, prolate or oblate spheroid, sphere, or disk. This theory is based upon consideration of Ponte Castañeda--Willis [P. Ponte Castañeda and J. R. Willis, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 43, 1919 (1995)] microstructure in conjunction with Hashin--Shtrikman [Z. Hashin and S. Shtrikman, J. Appl. Phys. 33, 3125 (1962)] upper bound. Two critical volume concentrations, c* and c**, that represent the respective percolation threshold at which the conductive network begins to develop, and the percolation saturation, are identified. During this very short range of concentration, the electrical conductivity of the composite is found to exhibit a very sharp increase, while over the entire range, the calcutilated conductivity exhibits the widely reported sigmoidal shape. Comparison with measurement on a multi-walled carbon nanotube/alumina composite indicates that the theory could capture the major features of the experimentally observed trends sufficiently well.
Wicking flow through microchannels
Authors: Mehrabian Hadi , Gao Peng , Feng James J.
Published: December 2011

We report numerical simulations of wicking through micropores of two types of geometries, axisymmetric tubes with contractions and expansions of the cross section, and two-dimensional planar channels with a Y-shaped bifurcation. The aim is to gain a detailed understanding of the interfacial dynamics in these geometries, with an emphasis on the motion of the three-phase contact line. We adopt a diffuse-interface formalism and use Cahn-Hilliard diffusion to model the moving contact line. The Stokes and Cahn-Hilliard equations are solved by finite elements with adaptive meshing. The results show that the liquid meniscus undergoes complex deformation during its passage through contraction and expansion. Pinning of the interface at protruding corners limits the angle of expansion into which wicking is allowed. For sufficiently strong contractions, the interface negotiates the concave corners, thanks to its diffusive nature. Capillary competition between branches downstream of a Y-shaped bifurcation may result in arrest of wicking in the wider branch. Spatial variation of wettability in one branch may lead to flow reversal in the other.
Numerical investigation of pulse-modulated atmospheric radio frequency discharges in helium under different duty cycles
Authors: Sun Jizhong , Wang Qi , Ding Zhengfen , Li Xuechun , Wang Dezhen
Published: December 2011

Experiments observed that the pulse duty cycle has effects on the plasma homogeneity in pulse-modulated radio frequency (rf) discharges. In this paper, pulse-modulated rf (13.56 MHz) helium discharges are theoretically investigated using a two dimensional fluid model. With the pulse period being fixed to 15 μs, it is found that when the pulse-on duration is over 4 μs, i.e., the duty cycle is larger than approximately 27%, the discharge transits from an inhomogeneous to a homogeneous mode in every specific part of each pulse cycle under currently-used simulation parameters. More quantitative analysis shows that the discharge becomes more homogeneous as the duty cycle is increased but does not reach complete homogeneity. Possible reasons for the homogeneity improvement are discussed.
Effect of asymmetric Schottky barrier on GaN-based metal-semiconductor-metal ultraviolet detector
Authors: Li Dabing , Sun Xiaojuan , Song Hang , Li Zhiming , Jiang Hong , Chen Yiren , Miao Guoqing , Shen Bo
Published: December 2011

An asymmetric Schottky barrier metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) ultraviolet (UV) detector with Ni/GaN/Au structure was designed and the effect of the asymmetric Schottky barrier on the detector response was investigated. This detector had response at 0 V bias and increased responsivity when a positive bias was applied to the Ni/GaN contact; however, the internal gain disappeared when a negative bias was applied to this point. This contrasts with a symmetric Ni/GaN/Ni Schottky barrier MSM UV detector which had no internal gain under positive/negative bias and almost no response at 0 V bias. The improved performance of the asymmetric Schottky barrier detector was because of the lower work function of Au causing reduction of Schottky barrier and hence enhancing a hole-accumulating and trapping process, which resulted in internal gain.
Plasma-based multistage virtual cathode radiation
Authors: Su Dong , Tang Changjian
Published: December 2011

A plasma-based multistage virtual cathode radiation is proposed. Multistage virtual cathode can be formed as an electron beam passes through a high dense ion background. The reflected electrons can be coupled with transverse magnetic wave, and electromagnetic radiation is detected. Unlike the traditional virtual cathode devices, the beam current can be decreased greatly due to the effect of ions, and single mode operation can be achieved by adjusting the beam density. Besides, the radiation frequency, which is proportional to the beam density, covers from 10 to 100 GHz. The output power flux density reaches a magnitude of GWm−2.
Experimental evidences for molecular origin of low-Q peak in neutron/x-ray scattering of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ionic liquids
Authors: Fujii Kenta , Kanzaki Ryo , Takamuku Toshiyuki , Kameda Yasuo , Kohara Shinji , Kanakubo Mitsuhiro , Shibayama Mitsuhiro , Ishiguro Shin-ichi , Umebayashi Yasuhiro
Published: December 2011

Short- and long-range liquid structures of [CnmIm+][TFSA−] with n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 have been studied by high-energy x-ray diffraction (HEXRD) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments with the aid of MD simulations. Observed x-ray structure factor, S(Q), for the ionic liquids with the alkyl-chain length n > 6 exhibited a characteristic peak in the low-Q range of 0.2–0.4 Å −1, indicating the heterogeneity of their ionic liquids. SANS profiles IH(Q) and ID(Q) for the normal and the alkyl group deuterated ionic liquids, respectively, showed significant peaks for n = 10 and 12 without no form factor component for large spherical or spheroidal aggregates like micelles in solution. The peaks for n = 10 and 12 evidently disappeared in the difference SANS profiles ΔI(Q) [=ID(Q) − IH(Q)], although that for n = 12 slightly remained. This suggests that the long-range correlations originated from the alkyl groups hardly contribute to the low-Q peak intensity in SANS. To reveal molecular origin of the low-Q peak, we introduce here a new function; x-ray structure factor intensity at a given Q as a function of r, SQpeak(r). The SQpeak(r) function suggests that the observed low-Q peak intensity depending on n is originated from liquid structures at two r-region of 5–8 and 8–15 Å for all ionic liquids examined except for n = 12. Atomistic MD simulations are consistent with the HEXRD and SANS experiments, and then we discussed the relationship between both variations of low-Q peak and real-space structure with lengthening the alkyl group of the CnmIm.
Single and dual band 77/95/110 GHz metamaterial absorbers on flexible polyimide substrate
Authors: Singh Pramod K. , Korolev Konstantin A. , Afsar Mohammed N. , Sonkusale Sameer
Published: December 2011

Ultra thin millimeter-wave absorbers on flexible polyimide substrate utilizing metamaterials are implemented for single and dual frequency bands in an emerging frequency spectrum of 77, 95, and 110 GHz. The dual band absorber is designed using a novel approach of imbedding high frequency resonator inside low frequency resonator capable of absorbing electromagnetic energy at both 77 and 110 GHz bands simultaneously. The total thickness of the absorber is just 126 μm (almost 1/20th of the wavelength). Measured peak absorptions for single frequency absorbers are 92, 94, and 99% at 77.2, 94.8, and 109.5 GHz, respectively, and for dual band absorber 92% at 77 GHz and 94% at 109.8 GHz.
Lake Whitefish in Lake Champlain after Commercial Fishery Closure and Ecosystem Changes
Authors: Herbst Seth J. , Marsden J. Ellen , Smith Stephen J.
Published: December 2011

Lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis were commercially fished in Lake Champlain until the 1913 fishery closure in U.S. waters. The only study of lake whitefish in the lake had been done in the 1930s. Our goals were to compare current biological parameters with historical information and to determine distribution and spatial differences in larval densities, with an emphasis on locating current spawning grounds, to gain insight on the current population in Lake Champlain. Adult lake whitefish (N = 545) were collected from 2006 to 2010 by using gill nets and trawls focused in the Main Lake. Larvae were collected extensively lakewide and intensively at Wilcox Cove and Rockwell Bay with an ichthyoplankton net. Population attributes (size, age, and sex composition; and growth, condition, and mortality) were typical of unexploited populations, as there was a wide range of length-classes (126–638 mm total length) and age-classes (1–26 years). Lake whitefish from the Main Lake had a high condition factor, and growth parameters were comparable with those of fish collected in the 1930s. Lake Champlain lake whitefish had greater asymptotic lengths than generally documented for the species. Larvae were found at sites throughout the Main Lake, and larval densities were among the highest recorded for the species (maximum = 2,558 larvae/1,000 m3); however, no lake whitefish were collected on the two historically documented spawning grounds. Lake whitefish in the Main Lake demonstrate characteristics of an unexploited population; however, evidence of spawning is absent or rare in portions of their historic range where habitat has been altered.

Received February 22, 2011; accepted August 24, 2011
Gfi1b negatively regulates Rag expression directly and via the repression of FoxO1
Authors: Schulz Danae , Vassen Lothar , Chow Kwan T. , McWhirter Sarah M. , Amin Rupesh H. , Möröy Tarik , Schlissel Mark S.
Published: December 2011

Precise regulation of Rag (recombination-activating gene) expression is crucial to prevent genomic instability caused by the generation of Rag-mediated DNA breaks. Although mechanisms of Rag activation have been well characterized, the mechanism by which Rag expression is down-regulated in early B cell development has not been fully elucidated. Using a complementary DNA library screen, we identified the transcriptional repressor Gfi1b as negative regulator of the Rag locus. Expression of Gfi1b causes repression of Rag1 and Rag2 in cell lines and primary mouse cells. Conversely, Gfi1b-deficient cell lines exhibit increased Rag expression, double-strand breaks and recombination, and cell cycle defects. In primary cells, transcription of Gfi1b inversely correlates with Rag transcription, and simultaneous inactivation of Gfi1 and Gfi1b leads to an increase in Rag transcription early in B cell development. In addition, deletion of Gfi1 and Gfi1b in vivo results in a severe block in B cell development. Gfi1b orchestrates Rag repression via a dual mechanism. Direct binding of Gfi1b to a site 5′ of the B cell–specific Erag enhancer results in epigenetic changes in the Rag locus, whereas indirect inhibition is achieved through repression of the trans-activator Foxo1. Together, our experiments show that Gfi family members are essential for normal B cell development and play an important role in modulating expression of the V(D)J recombinase.
Standards of Care: Medico-Legal Responsibilities
Authors: Aung Damian , Chandalia Prakhar
Published: December 2011

The threat of clinical negligence litigation remains a fear for all practising doctors and there has been a steady rise in the number of claims for negligence against GPs in recent years. Doctors have a statutory duty placed upon them to maintain and continuously improve clinical standards through clinical governance. Despite this, standards sometimes fall short and patients may turn to the courts for redress. The legal standard of care is currently a professionally based standard determined by the evidence provided by expert witnesses. The adoption of evidence-based guidelines in clinical practice has been increasing which helps to standardize care and reduce geographic variation. There may be a role for the use of guidelines in determining the legal standard of care, which could improve health care quality and reduce harm to patients.
Randomised clinical trial: pregabalin attenuates the development of acid‐induced oesophageal hypersensitivity in healthy volunteers – a placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Chua Y. C. , Ng K. S. , Sharma A. , Jafari J. , Surguy S. , Yazaki E. , Knowles C. H. , Aziz Q.
Published: December 2011

Background  Acid infusion in humans induces primary and secondary oesophageal hypersensitivity. The effects of pregabalin, a centrally‐acting modulator of voltage‐sensitive calcium channels, on development of acid‐induced oesophageal hypersensitivity remain unknown.

Aim  To study the effects of pregabalin on development of secondary oesophageal hypersensitivity in healthy humans.

Methods  Placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, randomised, cross‐over study of 15 healthy volunteers (six women, age 21–56 years). After oesophageal manometry, baseline pain thresholds (PTs) to proximal oesophageal electrical stimulation were determined using bipolar ring electrodes. A 30‐min infusion of HCl was performed in the distal oesophagus followed by PT measurements at 30 and 90 min. This protocol was repeated after administration of pregabalin (dosing schedule: 75 mg twice daily for 3 days then 150 mg twice daily for 1 day and then 150 mg on the morning of study) or placebo.

Results  T0 PTs were similar in patients after receiving placebo or pregabalin [mean (s.d.) 32.9 mA (20.5) vs. 34.1 (15.7), P = 0.42]. Pregabalin reduced development of acid‐induced hypersensitivity in the proximal oesophagus at 30 min [mean change in PT (C.I.) placebo −6.2 mA (−11.3 to +1.3) vs. pregabalin +0.20 mA (−2.7 to +3.3)] and 90 min [placebo −3.7 mA (−10.0 to +2.0) vs. pregabalin +0.7 mA (−4.7 to 7.3)] overall P = 0.001. Pregabalin reduced median visual analogue scale score for acid‐induced pain (1/10 vs. placebo 3/10, P = 0.027).

Conclusions  Pregabalin attenuates development of secondary hypersensitivity in the proximal oesophagus after distal oesophageal acidification; it may thus have a role in treatment of patients with proven oesophageal pain hypersensitivity.
A nursing educational intervention helped by One Touch UltraSmart™ improves monitoring and glycated haemoglobin levels in type I diabetic children
Authors: Aguilar María J , García Pedro A , González Emilio , Pérez María C , Padilla Carlos A
Published: January 2012

Objectives.  To improve the monitoring and control of glycated haemoglobin in insulin‐dependent children. This article describes an educational intervention for this purpose where One Touch UltraSmart™ Software was used to manage diabetes. The results showed that this intervention helped to reduce the levels of blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin to less than 7%.

Background.  Various research studies have been performed on the effective control of glycated haemoglobin values in diabetic children by means of technological devices. However, none of this research has evaluated the impact of an educational intervention in conjunction with the use of monitoring instruments such as One Touch UltraSmart.

Design.  We present an 18‐month longitudinal, analytical and observational study of 37 type 1 diabetic patients, 9–16 years of age. For each patient, initial and final values of glycated haemoglobin and the number of blood glucose controls were recorded.

Methodology.  For the purposes of our study seven educational workshops, attended by diabetic children and their parents, were conducted. In addition, participants were asked to complete a brief questionnaire so that information could be gathered regarding the eating and exercise habits of the patients.

Results.  This educational intervention using One Touch UltraSmart led to a statistically significant average reduction of glycated haemoglobin.

Conclusions.  Our research showed that the use of One Touch UltraSmart in the context of an educational intervention raised the awareness of the diabetic children and thus helped them to effectively control their disease and to fully understand the necessity of having good dietary and exercise habits.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It can be concluded that the educational intervention led to a significant improvement in the dietary habits of these patients and also helped them to exercise regularly, all of which has a positive impact on their health.
Phenotypic plasticity allows the Mediterranean parsley frog Pelodytes punctatus to exploit two temporal niches under continuous gene flow
Authors: JOURDAN‐PINEAU HELENE , DAVID PATRICE , CROCHET PIERRE‐ANDRE
Published: January 2012

Environmental changes, such as climate change, lead to the opening of new niches. In such situations, species that adapt to new niches can survive and/or expand their ranges. However, gene flow can hamper genetic adaptation to new environments. Alternatively, recent models have highlighted the importance of phenotypic plasticity in tracking environmental change. Here, we investigate whether phenotypic plasticity or genetic evolution (or both) allows an amphibian species to exploit two divergent climatic niches. In the Mediterranean region, the parsley frog Pelodytes punctatus breeds both in spring, as do most other species, and in autumn, a temporal niche not exploited by most other species, but which may become increasingly important with global warming. Conditions of development are dramatically different between the two seasons and deeply impact tadpole life‐history traits. To determine whether these temporal niches are exploited by two genetically differentiated subpopulations, or whether the bimodal phenology arises in a panmictic population displaying plastic life‐history traits, we use two complementary approaches. We measure both molecular genetic differentiation and quantitative‐trait differentiation between spring and autumn cohorts, using microsatellites and common garden experiments, respectively. Seasonal cohorts were not genetically differentiated and differences in tadpole life history between cohorts were not maintained in laboratory conditions. We conclude that phenotypic plasticity, rather than genetic adaptation, allows Parsley frog to exploit two contrasting temporal niches.
Effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine on low‐dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients
Authors: HONG J‐Y. , KIM W. O. , YOON Y. , CHOI Y. , KIM S‐H. , KIL H. K.
Published: January 2012

Background

Dexmedetomidine (DMT) has been shown to prolong spinal anaesthesia. We evaluated the effects of intravenous DMT on low‐dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients.

Methods

Fifty‐one elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate were randomized into two groups receiving either 1.0 μg/kg DMT (DMT group, n = 26) or normal saline (control group n = 25) intravenously prior to spinal anaesthesia with 1.2 ml of bupivacaine, 5 mg/ml.

Results

The mean time to two‐segment regression (39 min vs. 78 min for cold, 41 min vs. 61 min for pinprick) and that to motor regression (23 min vs. 46 min) were longer in the DMT group than in the control group. The atropine‐requiring bradycardia was more frequent in the DMT group than in the control group (24.0% vs. 3.8%). The median sedation scores (ranges) during surgery were 4 (2–6) in the DMT group and 2 (1–3) in the control group (P < 0.001). Two patients in the DMT group showed oxygen desaturation (peripheral oxygen saturation < 90%) during surgery. The duration of post‐operative care unit stay was longer in the DMT group than in the control group (58 min vs. 96 min). Post‐operative pain intensity was lower and the mean time to first request for post‐operative analgesia was longer in the DMT group compared to the control group (6.6 h vs. 2.1 h).

Conclusion

Intravenous DMT prolonged the duration of spinal anaesthesia and improved post‐operative analgesia. However, more profound sedation with desaturation was observed with more frequent bradycardia, and delayed recovery should be considered in elderly patients.
The Put' of Perekovka: Transforming Lives at Stalin's White Sea‐Baltic Canal
Authors: DRASKOCZY JULIE
Published: January 2012

As a highly propagandized Gulag project, the construction of Stalin's White Sea‐Baltic Canal (Belomorsko‐Baltiiskii kanal im. Stalina) produced a plethora of cultural products. While scholars have explored at length many of the official texts concerning the Canal, narratives written by the prisoners themselves remain largely unexamined. The present article uses unpublished, convict‐composed autobiographies and short stories from the period of the Canal's construction to explore the various approaches to and interpretations of perekovka (re‐forging), the ideological backbone of the Gulag project. These archival materials offer a fresh perspective on what has become one of the most infamous projects of the Soviet Gulag, and demonstrate how prisoner rhetoric often imitated official parlance. The notion of put' (pathway) is an essential component in these texts–not only as the road to socialist labor but also as the path to a life of crime, which further complicates the analysis of these texts while addressing Soviet self‐fashioning and the potential for identity construction through writing.
Gulag Tourism: Khrushchev's “Show” Prisons in the Cold War Context, 1954–59
Authors: HARDY JEFFREY S.
Published: January 2012

After Stalin's death, his heirs engaged in a substantive transformation of the Gulag that dramatically lowered the number of prisoners in the Soviet Union while placing heavy emphasis on re‐education rather than economic extraction. Meanwhile, however, the release and repatriation of foreigners from the Gulag in the 1950s resulted in a wave of bad publicity for the Soviet penal system, and by extension the Soviet system as a whole, just as it was beginning to reform. To counter negative press reports abroad, the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the mid‐ to late‐1950s led dozens of foreign delegations on tours of working penal institutions, especially Moscow's notorious Butyrka Prison and a corrective‐labor colony in the Moscow suburb of Kriukovo. The tours were closely managed, but they represented a sharp break from the 1937–53 era when virtually all discussion of Soviet imprisonment was kept secret. This paper, drawing on a variety of archival and published sources, analyzes in detail the tours themselves and the subsequent accounts published in the West as the Soviet Union attempted to demonstrate to the world, using the Gulag itself as evidence, the superiority of its social system. It argues that the institutions visited were not Potemkin villages and it was precisely this tangible genuineness that helps explain the favorable reports produced by visitors. Ultimately, however, these accounts could not overcome the Cold War narrative of the Gulag as both a system of slavery and a synecdoche for a larger system of slavery, the Soviet Union itself.
What Drives the Operating Performance of Privatised Firms?
Authors: García Laura Cabeza , Ansón Silvia Gómez
Published: January 2012

Using a panel data analysis of Spanish privatised firms, we study how different factors influence the operating performance of divested companies. The results show that it is not privatisation per se but other factors that matter. After controlling for possible sample selection bias related to government timing of divestments, we find that the greater the relinquishment of State control and the smaller the percentage of ownership held by managers and/or employees, the better the firms’ post‐privatisation performance. Moreover, privatisations that are accompanied by liberalisation programmes and occur during buoyant economic cycles turn out to be more successful.
Humans alter habitat selection of birds on ocean‐exposed sandy beaches
Authors: Meager Justin J. , Schlacher Thomas A. , Nielsen Tara
Published: January 2012

Aim  Resource‐selection functions (RSFs) can quantify and predict the density of animal populations across heterogeneous landscapes and are important conservation tools in areas subject to human disturbance. Sandy beach ecosystems have comparatively low habitat heterogeneity and structural relief in the intertidal zone, but intense human use. We aimed to develop predictive RSFs for birds on ocean‐exposed sandy beaches at two spatial scales, 25 ha (local scale) and 250 ha (landscape scale), and to test whether habitat selection of birds that commonly use the surf–beach–dune interface is influenced by the rates of human activities.

Location  Moreton and North Stradbroke Island, eastern Australia.

Methods  Avifauna and human activities were mapped on three sandy beaches covering 79 km of coastline for 15 months. Habitat characteristics of the surf–beach–dune interface were derived from remote sensing and ground surveys. RSFs were developed for 12 species of birds at two spatial scales: 25 ha (local scale) and 250 ha (landscape scale).

Results  At local (25 ha) and landscape scales (250 ha), dune dimensions and the extent and type of vegetation structure were important predictors of bird density. Adding the frequency of human activities improved the predictive power of RSFs, suggesting that habitat selection of birds on beaches is modified by human use of these environments. Human activities occurred mostly in the mid‐ to lower intertidal zone of the beach, overlapping closely with the preferred habitats of Silver Gulls (Larus novaehollandiae), Pied Oystercatchers (Haematopus longirostris), Red‐capped Plovers (Charadrius ruficapillus) and endangered Little Terns (Sternula albifrons).

Main conclusions  In addition to demonstrating the appropriateness of RSFs to the surf–beach–dune interface, our results stress the need for systematic conservation planning for these ecosystems, where ecological values have traditionally been subsidiary to the maintenance of sand budgets and erosion control.
III. ATTACHMENT AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE: CHARACTERISTICS AND CATCH UP
Authors: Bakermans‐Kranenburg Marian J. , Steele Howard , Zeanah Charles H. , Muhamedrahimov Rifkat J. , Vorria Panayiota , Dobrova‐Krol Natasha A. , Steele Miriam , van IJzendoorn Marinus H. , Juffer Femmie , Gunnar Megan R.
Published: December 2011

Attachment has been assessed in the extreme environment of orphanages, but an important issue to be addressed in this chapter is whether in addition to standard assessment procedures, such as the Strange Situation, the lack of a specific attachment in some institutionalized children should be taken into account given the limits to the development of stable relationships in institutionalized care. In addition, this chapter discusses disinhibited or indiscriminately friendly behavior that is often seen in institutionalized children. Enhanced caregiving quality alone appears to be insufficient to diminish indiscriminate behavior, at least in some children, as evidenced by the persistence of indiscriminate behavior in children adopted out of institutions into adoptive families. We suggest that the etiology and function of indiscriminate, “friendly” behavior may be different for institutionalized versus not‐institutionalized children. In the first case it may reflect a distortion or disruption of early attachment relationships; in the latter case it is likely to result from the lack of expected input in the form of contingent interactions with a stable caregiver in early life. We try to delineate infant and caregiver characteristics that are associated with secure attachment in institutional settings, given the inevitable fact that large numbers of infants worldwide are being raised, and will be raised, in contexts of institutional care. We conclude that much further study is needed of the development of children's attachments following adoption out of an institutional setting.
IX. RESEARCH, PRACTICE, AND POLICY PERSPECTIVES ON ISSUES OF CHILDREN WITHOUT PERMANENT PARENTAL CARE
Authors: McCall Robert B.
Published: December 2011

This chapter presents conclusions, trends, conceptual analyses, hypotheses, and speculations regarding some fundamental issues of research, practice, and policy that are largely unsettled or controversial. As such, the chapter is not a summary of Chapters I–VIII, but rather contains interpretations and opinions of the author intended to elevate the priority of certain issues, suggest hypotheses to be studied, and propose practice and policy steps to be considered.
Pulling the Levers: Transformational Leadership, Public Service Motivation, and Mission Valence
Authors: Wright Bradley E. , Moynihan Donald P. , Pandey Sanjay K.
Published: December 2011

This article contributes to our understanding of public service motivation and leadership by investigating ways in which organizational leaders can reinforce and even augment the potential effects of public service motivation on employees’ attraction to the organization’s mission (mission valence). The results contribute to two research questions. First, the findings provide new evidence on the sources of public service motivation. The authors find that transformational leadership is an organizational factor associated with higher public service motivation. Second, the article examines the relationship between transformational leadership and mission valence. The authors find that transformational leadership has an important indirect effect on mission valence through its influence on clarifying organizational goals and fostering public service motivation.
The Politics of Home: Dual Citizenship and the African Diaspora
Authors: Whitaker Beth Elise
Published: December 2011

In recent decades, more countries have started to recognize dual citizenship. Although overlooked in the literature, Africa is part of this trend with more than half of its governments now permitting their nationals to naturalize elsewhere while retaining home country rights. Why have some African countries embraced dual citizenship for emigrants, while others have not? We examine demographic, political, and economic data broadly across the continent and identify few clear patterns. We then explore the cases of Senegal, Ghana, and Kenya, finding that dual citizenship policies are driven as much by politics as they are by economic or security concerns.
Generation and Earnings Patterns among Chinese, Filipino, and Korean Americans in New York
Authors: Oh Sookhee , Min Pyong G.
Published: December 2011

By treating the 1.5 generation as a distinctive analytic category, this paper compares the effects of generational status on earnings among men of Chinese, Filipinos, and Korean descents in the New York metropolitan area. Our analyses of the 5 percent Public Use Microdata Sample data of the 2000 U.S. census show that all other background characteristics held equal, 1.5-generation Chinese and Filipino American workers make significantly higher earnings than second-generation workers. However, Korean American workers do not exhibit this 1.5-generation advantage. These findings support a segmented assimilation theory, the view that immigrant assimilation paths are not uniform across ethnic groups or generation status. Other findings suggest that bilingual ability would increase earnings only for the Chinese group.
The Settlement Country and Ethnic Identification of Children of Turkish Immigrants in Germany, France, and the Netherlands: What Role Do National Integration Policies Play?
Authors: Ersanilli Evelyn , Saharso Sawitri
Published: December 2011

Germany, France, and the Netherlands have pursued different types of integration policies. Using data from a mixed method study, this paper investigates whether and how these differences have affected the settlement country and ethnic identification of the children of Turkish immigrants. The results indicate that integration policies do not affect ethnic identification, but an inclusive policy has a positive impact on settlement country identification. Multicultural policies do not seem to have any effect. Despite processes of exclusion and self-exclusion in all three countries, our respondents have developed a strong connection to their settlement country and in particular to their place of residence.
Success on European Labor Markets: A Cross-national Comparison of Attainment between Immigrant and Majority Populations
Authors: Pichler Florian
Published: December 2011

Typical labor market outcomes vary considerably between majority and migrant populations. Drawing on scholarship from across the social sciences, we assess competing micro- and macro-level explanations of differential occupational attainment among immigrant groups across 28 countries. The analyses of occupational attainment are run separately for first- and second-generation migrants as well as children of mixed marriage and take into account their wider social and cultural background. Results from four rounds of the European Social Survey show that people with a migration background do not necessarily achieve a lower labor market success than the majority. However, human capital, social mobility, and cultural background explain these outcomes to different degrees, suggesting tailored pathways to labor market success for each group of migrants. We also find that occupational attainment varies considerably across countries, although this is hardly attributable to immigration policies. These and other findings are discussed in the light of previous studies on immigrant incorporation.
Migration Shocks: Integrating Lesotho's Retrenched Migrant Miners
Authors: Mensah Samuel N.-A. , Naidoo Vannie
Published: December 2011

This paper finds that the decline in the numbers of Basotho1 migrant mine workers since the 1990s was not market induced but rather a result of political and policy changes in South Africa. As a result of these changes, household income throughout rural Lesotho dropped significantly. As current migrant households generally do not have skilled workers or operate family businesses, the paper makes a case for training in skills and entrepreneurship as a means of utilizing Lesotho's comparative advantages to generate domestic employment and absorb retrenched and prospective migrant mine workers.