bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the supporting websites for the use of instructional games in K‐12 settings
Authors: Kebritchi Mansureh , Hirumi Atsusi , Kappers Wendi , Henry Renee
Published: May 2008

This paper identifies resources to be included in a website designed to facilitate the integration of instructional games in K‐12 settings. Guidelines and supporting components are based on a survey of K‐12 educators who are integrating games, an analysis of existing instructional game websites, and summaries of literature on the use of educational software in K‐12 settings and teacher technology training. The results indicate that educators face three main challenges when integrating games, including: (1) curriculum integration, (2) technical and logistical requirements, and (3) teacher training. To overcome these challenges, K‐12 educators should be provided with: (1) curriculum resources, (2) game technical information and support, and (3) communication tools. Websites designed to facilitate the use of instructional games should be designed with appropriate structures (ie, grid, web, hierarchy) to optimise organisation and simplicity. In addition, the websites should include teacher training that (1) apply a teacher training model, (2) address National Educational Technology Standards, (3) present contents in small doses, (4) make training and information as accessible as possible, and (5) model and mentor the use of instructional games.
Paper‐based and computer‐based concept mappings: The effects on computer achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude
Authors: Erdogan Yavuz
Published: May 2008

The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of paper‐based and computer‐based concept mappings on computer hardware achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude of the eight grade secondary school students. The students were randomly allocated to three groups and were given instruction on computer hardware. The teaching methods used for each group were the conventional method, paper‐based concept mapping and computer‐based concept mapping. At the end of a 4‐week instruction, posttests were administered to assess computer hardware achievement, computer anxiety and computer attitude of the students. The findings indicate that paper‐based and computer‐based concept mapping strategies produce better results than the conventional method. However, the effects of paper‐based and computer‐based concept mapping strategies were not significantly different.
Examining barriers in technology‐enhanced problem‐based learning: Using a performance support systems approach
Authors: Park Sung Hee , Ertmer Peggy A.
Published: May 2008

This study focused on the barriers that middle school teachers faced when implementing technology‐enhanced problem‐based learning (PBL) in their classrooms. Using a human performance‐based model, we interviewed teachers, administrators, university faculty and technical support staff to determine the perceived importance of multiple barriers to the implementation of technology‐enhanced PBL. Twenty‐one teachers, two school administrators and a project manager, two faculty members, and two technical support staff participated in the study. Interview data were supported by surveys, classroom observations and researchers' reflective journals. Results suggested that lack of a clear, shared vision was the primary barrier. Additional barriers included lack of knowledge and skills, unclear expectations and insufficient feedback. Recommendations to support teachers' efforts to integrate technology‐enhanced problem‐based learning are presented.
Drawing the EBA (Everything but Arms) map: Least Developed Country classification and the case of EBA sugar
Authors: Lincoln David
Published: May 2008

Offering the world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) unhindered access to European markets for all exports other than arms, the European Union's Everything but Arms programme is the most favourable of its preferential trade arrangements. This paper discusses the classification of LDCs and focuses on the geography of LDC sugar trade to suggest unintended consequences of the EBA programme in creating new country configurations in the global South.
Visibly in trouble: Northern Rock, a post‐mortem on a financial crisis
Authors: Hallsworth Alan G , Skinner Frank
Published: May 2008

Here we seek to spatialise aspects of the Northern Rock Bank crisis of 2007 by marrying two radically different approaches. We combine a discussion of financial lending practices with an articulation of herd behaviour in conditions of uncertainty. Both were part of the still‐unfolding picture of a traumatic episode in the geography of finance but also convey lessons on the behaviour of society in situations of shortage.
Response of a Reptile Guild to Forest Harvesting
Authors: TODD BRIAN D. , ANDREWS KIMBERLY M.
Published: May 2008

Abstract:  Despite the growing concern over reptile population declines, the effects of modern industrial silviculture on reptiles have been understudied, particularly for diminutive and often overlooked species such as small‐bodied snakes. We created 4 replicated forest‐management landscapes to determine the response of small snakes to forest harvesting in the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. We divided the replicated landscapes into 4 treatments that represented a range of disturbed habitats: clearcut with coarse woody debris removed; clearcut with coarse woody debris retained; thinned pine stand; and control (unharvested second‐growth planted pines). Canopy cover and ground litter were significantly reduced in clearcuts, intermediate in thinned forests, and highest in unharvested controls. Bare soil, maximum air temperatures, and understory vegetation all increased with increasing habitat disturbance. Concomitantly, we observed significantly reduced relative abundance of all 6 study species (scarletsnake[Cemophora coccinea], ring‐neck snake[Diadophis punctatus], scarlet kingsnake[Lampropeltis triangulum], red‐bellied snake[Storeria occipitomaculata], southeastern crowned snake[Tantilla coronata], and smooth earthsnake[Virginia valeriae]) in clearcuts compared with unharvested or thinned pine stands. In contrast, the greatest relative snake abundance occurred in thinned forest stands. Our results demonstrate that at least one form of forest harvesting is compatible with maintaining snake populations. Our results also highlight the importance of open‐canopy structure and ground litter to small snakes in southeastern forests and the negative consequences of forest clearcutting for small snakes.
Subpopulation Triage: How to Allocate Conservation Effort among Populations
Authors: McDONALD‐MADDEN EVE , BAXTER PETER W.J. , POSSINGHAM HUGH P.
Published: May 2008

Abstract: Threatened species often exist in a small number of isolated subpopulations. Given limitations on conservation spending, managers must choose from strategies that range from managing just one subpopulation and risking all other subpopulations to managing all subpopulations equally and poorly, thereby risking the loss of all subpopulations. We took an economic approach to this problem in an effort to discover a simple rule of thumb for optimally allocating conservation effort among subpopulations. This rule was derived by maximizing the expected number of extant subpopulations remaining givennsubpopulations are actually managed. We also derived a spatiotemporally optimized strategy through stochastic dynamic programming. The rule of thumb suggested that more subpopulations should be managed if the budget increases or if the cost of reducing local extinction probabilities decreases. The rule performed well against the exact optimal strategy that was the result of the stochastic dynamic program and much better than other simple strategies (e.g., always manage one extant subpopulation or half of the remaining subpopulation). We applied our approach to the allocation of funds in 2 contrasting case studies: reduction of poaching of Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and habitat acquisition for San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica). For our estimated annual budget for Sumatran tiger management, the mean time to extinction was about 32 years. For our estimated annual management budget for kit foxes in the San Joaquin Valley, the mean time to extinction was approximately 24 years. Our framework allows managers to deal with the important question of how to allocate scarce conservation resources among subpopulations of any threatened species.
The Contribution of Habitat Loss to Changes in Body Size, Allometry, and Bilateral Asymmetry in TwoEleutherodactylusFrogs from Puerto Rico
Authors: DELGADO‐ACEVEDO JOHANNA , RESTREPO CARLA
Published: May 2008

Abstract: Amphibian populations have been declining worldwide and the exact mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. We examined environmentally induced phenotypic changes that may reflect ongoing stresses on individuals and therefore their ability to persist in increasingly changing landscapes. Specifically, we evaluated the contribution of habitat loss on the size, allometry, and levels of fluctuating asymmetry ofEleutherodactylus antillensisandE. coqui, 2 common species that are endemic to Puerto Rico. We x‐rayed frogs collected at 9 sites that differed in the amount of forest cover and measured their snout‐vent, radio‐ulna, femur, and tibio‐fibula lengths.E. antillensisandE. coquiwere smaller in the highly disturbed (≤20% forest cover) than in the intermediately (20–70% forest cover) and little‐disturbed (≥70% forest cover) landscapes. InE. antillensisbut not inE. coqui, the slope and intercept of the curves relating snout‐vent length with the length of the 3 bones differed with degree of forest cover, suggesting an effect of habitat loss on body shape. InE. antillensisandE. coqui, differences between right and left sides corresponded to true fluctuating asymmetry; however, only the radio‐ulna length ofE. coquishowed a trend toward an increase in fluctuating asymmetry with habitat loss. Because body size scales with a variety of physiological, life history, and ecological traits, conservation programs aimed at monitoring morphological changes in amphibians may help in understanding the mechanisms that contribute to their persistence in changing environments.
Coral Reef Habitats as Surrogates of Species, Ecological Functions, and Ecosystem Services
Authors: MUMBY PETER J. , BROAD KENNETH , BRUMBAUGH DANIEL R. , DAHLGREN CRAIG, P. , HARBORNE ALASTAIR R. , HASTINGS ALAN , HOLMES KATHERINE E. , KAPPEL CARRIE V. , MICHELI FIORENZA , SANCHIRICO JAMES N.
Published: May 2008

Abstract:  Habitat maps are often the core spatially consistent data set on which marine reserve networks are designed, but their efficacy as surrogates for species richness and applicability to other conservation measures is poorly understood. Combining an analysis of field survey data, literature review, and expert assessment by a multidisciplinary working group, we examined the degree to which Caribbean coastal habitats provide useful planning information on 4 conservation measures: species richness, the ecological functions of fish species, ecosystem processes, and ecosystem services. Approximately one‐quarter to one‐third of benthic invertebrate species and fish species (disaggregated by life phase; hereafter fish species) occurred in a single habitat, and Montastraea‐dominated forereefs consistently had the highest richness of all species, processes, and services. All 11 habitats were needed to represent all 277 fish species in the seascape, although reducing the conservation target to 95% of species approximately halved the number of habitats required to ensure representation. Species accumulation indices (SAIs) were used to compare the efficacy of surrogates and revealed that fish species were a more appropriate surrogate of benthic species (SAI = 71%) than benthic species were for fishes (SAI = 42%). Species of reef fishes were also distributed more widely across the seascape than invertebrates and therefore their use as a surrogate simultaneously included mangroves, sea grass, and coral reef habitats. Functional classes of fishes served as effective surrogates of fish and benthic species which, given their ease to survey, makes them a particularly useful measure for conservation planning. Ecosystem processes and services exhibited great redundancy among habitats and were ineffective as surrogates of species. Therefore, processes and services in this case were generally unsuitable for a complementarity‐based approach to reserve design. In contrast, the representation of species or functional classes ensured inclusion of all processes and services in the reserve network.
Thai American Women's Perceptions Regarding Mammography Participation
Authors: Clark Mary Jo , Natipagon‐Shah Bulaporn
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To identify the factors influencing mammography screening among Thai immigrant women in Southern California.

Background: Asian women have lower mammography screening rates than other U.S. women (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2007), and only 53% of Thai women in Los Angeles had a mammogram in the prior 2 years (Thai Community Development Center, 2004).

Design: A phenomenological approach was used to elicit Thai immigrant women's perceptions of the reasons for screening participation. Phenomenology is an appropriate means of describing screening as experienced by members of a population for which there is little information. Focus groups were used to collect data to provide a group perspective.

Sample: Thai women over 40 years of age in 2 Southern California counties were recruited at a local temple and a social services agency.

Measurement: Participants were asked about mammography participation and to describe the factors that influenced screening for themselves, family members, and friends. Thematic analysis identified major themes.

Results: Factors influencing mammography screening included knowledge, encouragement, health consciousness, physical factors, fear, cultural factors, social responsibilities, and logistical barriers.

Conclusions: Participants identified factors amenable to nursing intervention that may influence mammography screening in this population. Further study is needed to determine the prevalence of these factors.
Testing the Senior Exercise Self‐efficacy Project (SESEP) for Use with Urban Dwelling Minority Older Adults
Authors: Resnick Barbara , Luisi Daria , Vogel Amanda
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT Objectives:To test the feasibility and effectiveness of the Senior Exercise Self‐efficacy Project (SESEP).

Design:A feasibility study using a randomized control trial.

Sample:The total sample included 166 persons, with a mean age of 73 years (SD=8.2 years), the majority of whom were female (81%), African American (72%), unmarried (86%), had at least a high school education (64%), and were retired (77%). There were 100 participants in the intervention group and 66 in the comparison group.

Methods:The SESEP was a combined physical activity and efficacy‐enhancing intervention for community‐dwelling minority older adults. The primary outcomes included self‐efficacy, outcome expectations, exercise, and overall physical activity, and the secondary outcomes were mental and physical health‐related quality of life, depressive symptoms, pain, fear of falling, mobility, and chair rise time. Data were collected at baseline and following the 12‐week intervention.

Results:There were statistically significant improvements in outcome expectations (p=.02), time spent in exercise (p=.04), and depressive symptoms (p=.02). Overall, there was a 77% rate of participation in classes.

Conclusion:Although there was good participation in the SESEP among minority older adults, the primary outcomes were only minimally supported and there was even less support for the secondary outcomes.
Relationships Between Nurse‐ and Physician‐to‐Population Ratios and State Health Rankings
Authors: Bigbee Jeri L.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between nurse‐to‐population ratios and population health, as indicated by state health ranking, and to compare the findings with physician‐to‐population ratios.

Design: Secondary analysis correlational design.

Sample: The sample consisted of all 50 states in the United States. Data sources included the United Health Foundation's 2006 state health rankings, the 2004 National Sample Survey for Registered Nurses, and the U.S. Health Workforce Profile from the New York Center for Health Workforce Studies.

Results: Significant relationships between nurse‐to‐population ratio and overall state health ranking (ρ=−.446, p=.001) and 11 of the 18 components of that ranking were found. Significant components included motor vehicle death rate, high school graduation rate, violent crime rate, infectious disease rate, percentage of children in poverty, percentage of uninsured residents, immunization rate, adequacy of prenatal care, number of poor mental health days, number of poor physical health days, and premature death rate, with higher nurse‐to‐population ratios associated with higher health rankings. Specialty (public health and school) nurse‐to‐population ratios were not as strongly related to state health ranking. Physician‐to‐population ratios were also significantly related to state health ranking, but were associated with different components than nurses.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater nurses per capita may be uniquely associated with healthier communities; however, further multivariate research is needed.
Anomalous Therapies and Public Health: A Utilitarian Bioethical Response
Authors: Smith Kevin R.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
A utilitarian approach is used to evaluate the ethics of incorporating unscientific anomalous therapies within health care and related settings. This paper argues that incorporation of anomalous therapy methods into health care systems is highly problematic, and should be avoided on ethical grounds. The ethical responses open to various bodies and individuals are discussed, including legislative bodies, public health care providers, the medical research community, medical providers, individual agents, and international bodies. It is argued that a moral imperative exists to act against the inclusion of anomalous therapy methods in health care systems.
The Best of Public Health Nursing, Circa 1941
Authors: Abrams Sarah E.
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Public health nursing was the term Lillian Wald used to describe the work of nurses whose role it was to address both the immediate impact of sickness and the underlying relationship between poverty, social disadvantage, environmental hazards, and disease. The nature and content of American public health nursing of the 1930s are reflected in exemplars from Marguerite Wales's 1941 book, The Public Health Nurse in Action. Nurses' roles as educators, caregivers, and case managers overcoming barriers emerge from the tales. These vignettes illustrate the organic relationships that existed between nurses and communities. Nurses' understanding of the nature and influence of environmental, psychological and social factors on health behavior was essential to effective public health work. Their stories help us interpret the meaning of nursing at a moment in time. They also reflect the values of the founders of Henry Street Nursing Service and supervisors of public and voluntary agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada who selected and edited them for instructive purposes. Reading collections of such narratives also helps us to appreciate the difficulty of negotiating complex needs, and may provide greater appreciation for the work of our predecessors as well as our own.
Rebound Abdominal Pain: Noncephalic Pain in Abdominal Migraine is Exacerbated by Medication Overuse
Authors: Newman Lawrence C. , Newman Eric B.
Published: May 2008

Abdominal migraine usually has its onset during childhood or adolescence and resolves in adulthood, often being replaced by typical migraine headaches. Rarely, migraine headache and recurrent abdominal pain coexist in some patients during adulthood. We report a patient who developed abdominal migraine without headaches beginning for the first time at the age of 22 years. The abdominal symptoms increased in frequency coincident with medication overuse and resolved after the overuse was treated. Analgesic overuse may cause a worsening of noncephalic pain in patients with extra‐cephalic variants of migraine.
Association Between Migraine and Headache Attributed to Stroke: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Nardi Katiuscia , Parnetti Lucilla , Pieri Maria L. , Eusebi Paolo , Calabresi Paolo , Sarchielli Paola
Published: May 2008

Background.— Several studies were carried out to investigate the occurrence of headache attributed to acute stroke in patients with a lifetime history of migraine.

Methods.— In a case–control series of 96 acute stroke patients with a lifetime history of migraine (M+) and 96 stroke patients without (M−), ischemic stroke patients only, without secondary infarction, were selected. The headache attributed to acute ischemic stroke was then analyzed.

Results.— (M+) patients complained of headache more often than (M−) patients (P < .0001), mainly in the 24 hours before stroke onset (P < .0001). Migraine‐like features of headache were recognized in a greater proportion of cases in the (M+) patient group with ischemic stroke (P < .018). A preferential brainstem location of ischemic stroke in (M+) patients emerged compared with (M−) patients (P = .014).

Discussion.— The high prevalence of headache attributed to stroke in (M+) patients, in a relevant proportion of cases presenting as a sentinel headache, suggests that cerebral ischemia lowers the threshold for head pain more easily in these “susceptible” patients. The most frequent involvement of the brainstem in (M+) patients with ischemic infarction concurs with recent reports that emphasized a greater headache frequency when cerebral infarctions are localized in this structure or deep brain gray matter.
The risk of paradoxical levetiracetam effect is increased in mentally retarded patients
Authors: Szűcs Anna , Clemens Zsófia , Jakus Rita , Rásonyi György , Fabó Daniel , Holló András , Barcs Gábor , Kelemen Anna , Janszky József
Published: May 2008

Summary

Purpose:Incidental paradoxical antiepileptic effect of levetiracetam has been described. The aim of the present study was to identify the epilepsy patients at risk.

Methods:We performed a retrospective analysis in 207 patients treated with levetiracetam. This entailed evaluation of patient notes and patient interviews. A paradoxical effect was defined as an increased seizure frequency or the experience of more severe seizures including generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS) within 1 month after starting levetiracetam (LEV).

Results:Thirty patients (14%) experienced a paradoxical effect. Eight of them (4%) developed de novo GTCS. We could not demonstrate any association between the paradoxical effect of levetiracetam and type of epilepsy or the antiepileptic comedication used. However we found that the paradoxical effect developed preferentially (p < 0.001) in mentally retarded patients.

Conclusion:Because there is an increased risk of worsening epilepsy when starting levetiracetam treatment of mentally retarded epileptic patients, there is a need for caution and close observation during the first weeks of therapy.
Vigabatrin in the treatment of childhood epilepsy: A retrospective chart review of efficacy and safety profile
Authors: Camposano Susana E. , Major Philippe , Halpern Elkan , Thiele Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2008

Summary

Purpose: To review the efficacy, cognitive outcome and safety profile in children treated with vigabatrin (VGB) for infantile spasms (IS) and partial epilepsies related to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and other etiologies.

Methods: Retrospective review of children followed in the Pediatric Epilepsy Program of Massachusetts General Hospital for Children between May 2001 and March 2006 who were treated with VGB.

Results: Eighty‐four children were treated with VGB, 68 of them were treated for IS, and 59 were treated for partial seizures (PS). Etiology (TSC or other) was the only predictive factor for IS control with VGB (p < 0.0003). IS control was achieved in 73% of children with TSC and 27% of children with other etiologies (combined 56%). Partial onset seizures were controlled in 34% of all children, (17% seizure free,17%reduction in seizure frequency >
50%
) and no predictive factor was found. Shorter time from seizure onset to VGB treatment (p < 0.027) and longer total time on VGB (p < 0.045) was associated with better IQ‐
developmental quotient (
DQ) outcome in children treated for IS, but not with IS control. Adverse events were seen in 13%. Electroretinogram and/or behavioral visual field (VF) testing was done in 52%
. VGB was discontinued in one case due to abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) findings.

Conclusion: We confirm the efficacy of VGB in the treatment of IS and PS in an American population. VGB may improve cognitive outcome in the absence of complete IS control, but this finding is of uncertain clinical significance. VGB was well tolerated, and ophthalmologic side effects were uncommon.
Severe autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy associated with psychiatric disorders and intellectual disability
Authors: Derry Christopher P. , Heron Sarah E. , Phillips Fiona , Howell Stephen , MacMahon Jacinta , Phillips Hilary A. , Duncan John S. , Mulley John C. , Berkovic Samuel F. , Scheffer Ingrid E.
Published: May 2008

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is a relatively benign epilepsy syndrome with few comorbidities. Here we describe two families with unusually severe ADNFLE, with associated psychiatric, behavioral, and cognitive features. Detailed clinical data on 17 affected individuals were obtained, and genotyping of microsatellite markers, linkage analysis, and sequencing of candidate genes was performed. The severe ADNFLE phenotype in these families was often refractory to treatment, with status epilepticus occurring in 24% of subjects. Psychiatric or behavioral disorders occurred in 53%, with intellectual disability in 24%, and developmental regression in two individuals. No mutations were identified in α4, α2, or β2 nAChR subunits. In one family there was evidence of linkage to a region of 15q24 without nAChR subunit genes. In conclusion, severe ADNFLE has significant medical, psychiatric, and intellectual morbidity. The molecular basis of severe ADNFLE is unknown but may involve non‐nAChR‐related mechanisms.
A comparison of emotional and cognitive intelligences in people with and without temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Walpole Pete , Isaac Claire L. , Reynders Hazel J.
Published: May 2008

Summary

Medial temporal lobe structures have been hypothesized to be important in emotional intelligence (EI) and social cognition. There is some evidence associating temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with impairments in social cognition. This study aimed to establish whether TLE is also associated with deficits in EI. Sixteen patients with TLE and 14 controls without epilepsy matched for age and current intelligence quotient were compared on measures of EI, recognition of facial expressions of emotion, and distress. Results indicated that patients with TLE showed both impaired EI and impaired recognition of facial expressions. They also reported greater psychological distress, which correlated negatively with EI. It is suggested that some of the psychosocial problems experienced by patients with TLE can be conceptualized as the consequences of deficits in EI, possibly resulting from epilepsy‐related disruption to medial temporal lobe functioning.
Immediate Obturator Stabilization Using Mini Dental Implants
Authors: Bohle Gregory C. , Mitcherling William W. , Mitcherling John J. , Johnson Robert M. , Bohle III George C.
Published: May 2008

Edentulous patients with maxillary defects face a more challenging oral rehabilitation process than dentate patients. With the use of mini dental implants (MDIs), it is now possible to immediately increase obturator retention and stability. Implant patients can have a retentive obturator that enhances the overall efficacy of the prosthesis both in comfort and function.
Implant Planning and Placement Using Optical Scanning and Cone Beam CT Technology
Authors: Van Der Zel Jef M.
Published: May 2008

There is a growing interest in minimally invasive implant therapy as a standard prosthodontic treatment, providing complete restoration of occlusal function. A new treatment method (CADDIMA), which combines both computerized tomographic (CT) and optical laser‐scan data for planning and design of surgical guides, implant abutments, and prosthetic devices, is described. Imaging using a “NewTom 3G” cone beam CT scanner and a modified laser triangulation scanner “D200c” is discussed, as are impression and surgical guide fabrication, which allow for flapless, precise implant placement and an accurate provisional prosthesis. The new approach gives the operator full control over the design of the implant prosthesis for planning of proper occlusal relations and shows promise for further evaluation.
Students' Perceptions of Prosthodontics in a PBL Hybrid Curriculum
Authors: Sukotjo Cortino , Thammasitboon Kewalin , Howell Howard , Karimbux Nadeem
Published: May 2008

Purpose: A survey was distributed to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) predoctoral student classes of 2005 and 2006 to assess their perceptions regarding preclinical prosthodontics laboratory exercises. Prosthodontics curriculum clock hours, prosthodontics teaching participation, and plans for specialization were also analyzed. We hypothesized that reduced hours and perceived stress in the prosthodontics curriculum might impact students' choice of specialty at HSDM

Materials and Methods: HSDM preclinical prosthodontics clock hours were compared with national means from published data. A survey was distributed to the HSDM classes of 2005 and 2006 (n = 70) at the end of their preclinical prosthodontics laboratory exercises, prior to students seeing their first patient in the clinics.

Results: A 100% response rate was achieved. Results from this study show that HSDM preclinical prosthodontics clock hours are on average shorter than other schools. The majority of the students felt stressed during the laboratory exercises, and they felt they did not gain adequate knowledge from the lectures, resulting in low self‐esteem (confidence) in treating patients in the clinic. Despite this perception, HSDM students do just as well, if not better, than other students, as judged by external and internal outcome measures. Graduate prosthodontics specialization is still a specialty of choice among the graduates when compared to national data.

Conclusions: The shortened preclinical didactic and laboratory exercises in prosthodontics at HSDM affect student anxiety, but not their didactic and clinical performances or their decisions in choosing their graduate program. Problem‐based learning (PBL) tutorials help the students to integrate preclinical and clinical knowledge and skills in prosthodontics.
Cross‐validation of the Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale in Brazilian Children
Authors: Alves Marta M. O. , Carvalho Paulo R. A. , Wagner Mario B. , Castoldi Alan , Becker Michele M. , Silva Cláudia C.
Published: May 2008

▪ Abstract

Objective: To validate CHIPPS (Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale) in Brazilian children.

Background: Cross‐validation is needed in order to apply this scale in a different language and culture.

Methods: We applied a Portuguese version of CHIPPS to 100 children aged 0 to 5 years. The scale was translated and tested for inter‐rater reliability, internal consistency, and construct, content, and concurrent validity. The children's behavior was videotaped before, during and after a procedure in a primary care unit. Three observers then rated pain behavior from videotapes.

Results: The scale showed excellent inter‐rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.89) and a very good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. The positive correlation between CHIPPS and Modified Behavior Pain Scale supports concurrent (criterion) validity (Spearman coefficient 0.70 before and 0.81 after vaccinations). Construct validity was determined by comparing the scores of each child before vaccination (without pain) and during the procedure (experiencing pain), and the difference in pain scores was statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed rank test;P < 0.001). Content validity (by expert review) was very good.

Conclusions: Based on the results obtained, we can infer that CHIPPS is a valid and reliable tool for Brazilian children aged 0 to 5 years old. ▪
Lodged Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial Lead: A Case Report
Authors: Park Chan Hong , Huh Billy
Published: May 2008

▪ Abstract:  We present a case report in which spinal cord stimulator trial lead became lodged in the posterior lumbar soft tissue. The lead could not be removed even with moderate force or with spine in the flexed position. Radiologic evaluation revealed that edge of metallic lead was wedged into the soft tissue. We were able to remove the lead only after placing the patient in an extreme tuck position (knee‐to‐chest); thus possibly avoiding surgical intervention. ▪
COMMENTARY: Silver Bullet Junkies and the Codifiers That Love Them: Behavioral Roots Behind a Legacy of Bad Modeling and Use
Authors: Bendoly Elliot , Speier Cheri
Published: May 2008

As research continues to evolve, it is important to look back with a critical eye on its impact on practice and what is guiding its trajectory into the future. In this work we discuss some of the key behavioral drivers that taken as a whole have made for a less than ideal relationship between research, model development, and use/reliance in practice. From a general public‐good perspective, there is an obvious need for academics to take on a greater role of responsibility when it comes to both research and curriculum in an effort to avoid some of the failings that our past work has inevitably encouraged to date.
The Effects of Process and Outcome Similarity on Users' Evaluations of Decision Aids*
Authors: Al‐Natour Sameh , Benbasat Izak , Cenfetelli Ronald T.
Published: May 2008

Decision aids (DA) used in online shopping contexts have been shown to improve users' product choices. Given that previous research (e.g.,Byrne & Griffitt, 1973) has demonstrated the positive effects of perceived similarity on an individual's evaluation of others, this study investigates the effects of users' perceived similarity with a DA on their evaluations of that DA. More specifically, we investigate the effect of users' perceptions of the similarity between their own decision process and that followed by the DA to arrive at a recommendation (decision process similarity), as well as the similarity between the recommendations made by the DA and users' initial choices (outcome similarity), on their evaluations of the DA's usefulness and trustworthiness. The results of this study show that perceived process similarity exerts positive and significant effects on users' perceptions of the DA's usefulness and trustworthiness. However, the effects of perceived outcome similarity on trust are completely mediated by perceived process similarity. It is also observed that the level of the user's domain knowledge moderates the effects of perceived decision process similarity on both perceived usefulness and trustworthiness. These results have implications for DA design. It is important that designers consider the process by which users make decisions for themselves and align the DA's decision process with those of the user's, especially for the novice user. The full mediation of the effect of outcome similarity on trust by process similarity highlights how a similar decision process can mitigate some of the negative effects of outcome dissimilarity.
Judgmental Adjustments of Previously Adjusted Forecasts*
Authors: Önkal Dilek , Gönül M. Sinan , Lawrence Michael
Published: May 2008

Forecasts are important components of information systems. They provide a means for knowledge sharing and thus have significant decision‐making impact. In many organizations, it is quite common for forecast users to receive predictions that have previously been adjusted by providers or other users of forecasts. Current work investigates some of the factors that may influence the size and propensity of further adjustments on already‐adjusted forecasts. Two studies are reported that focus on the potential effects of adjustment framing (Study 1) and the availability of explanations and/or original forecasts alongside the adjusted forecasts (Study 2). Study 1 provides evidence that the interval forecasts that are labeled as “adjusted” are modified less than the so‐called “original/unadjusted” predictions. Study 2 suggests that the provision of original forecasts and the presence of explanations accompanying the adjusted forecasts serve as significant factors shaping the size and propensity of further modifications. Findings of both studies highlight the importance of forecasting format and user perceptions with critical organizational repercussions.
Information Technology Project Escalation: A Process Model*
Authors: Mähring Magnus , Keil Mark
Published: May 2008

Information technology (IT) a common and costly problem. While much is known about the factors that promote escalation behavior, little is known about the actual escalation process. This article uses an in‐depth case study to construct a process model of escalation, consisting of three phases: drift, unsuccessful incremental adaptation, and rationalized continuation. Each phase encompasses several within‐phase escalation catalysts and the model also identifies triggering conditions that promote transition from one phase to the next: project framing (antecedent condition), problem emergence, increased problem visibility, and imminent threat to project continuation (triggering the outcome deescalation). The results show that escalation is not necessarily the result of collective belief in the infallibility of a project. Rather, escalation results from continued unsuccessful coping with problems that arise during a project. Furthermore, the results suggest that the seeds of escalation are sown early: the very manner in which a project is framed contributes to whether or not the project will become prone to escalation. As problems ensue, repeated mismatches between attempted remedies and underlying problems contribute to fueling the escalation process. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Blurring Firm Boundaries: The Role of Venture Capital in Strategic Alliances
Authors: LINDSEY LAURA
Published: May 2008

This study documents a new value‐added role of venture capitalists and addresses important questions about how resources are combined to create firms. As part of the nexus of contracts surrounding a firm, strategic alliances can be viewed as relational contracts that blur firm boundaries. This paper provides evidence that alliances are more frequent among companies sharing a common venture capitalist. The effect is concentrated in alliances in which contracting problems are more pronounced, consistent with venture capitalists utilizing informational and other advantages in providing resources to firms. Further, these alliances improve the probability of exit for venture‐backed firms.
Bank Loans, Bonds, and Information Monopolies across the Business Cycle
Authors: SANTOS JOÃO A. C. , WINTON ANDREW
Published: May 2008

Theory suggests that banks' private information about borrowers lets them hold up borrowers for higher interest rates. Since hold‐up power increases with borrower risk, banks with exploitable information should be able to raise their rates in recessions by more than is justified by borrower risk alone. We test this hypothesis by comparing the pricing of loans for bank‐dependent borrowers with the pricing of loans for borrowers with access to public debt markets, controlling for risk factors. Loan spreads rise in recessions, but firms with public debt market access pay lower spreads and their spreads rise significantly less in recessions.
Attracting Attention: Cheap Managerial Talk and Costly Market Monitoring
Authors: ALMAZAN ANDRES , BANERJI SANJAY , MOTTA ADOLFO DE
Published: May 2008

We provide a theory of informal communication—cheap talk—between firms and capital markets that incorporates the role of agency conflicts between managers and shareholders. The analysis suggests that a policy of discretionary disclosure that encourages managers to attract the market's attention when the firm is substantially undervalued can create shareholder value. The theory also relates the credibility of managerial announcements to the use of stock‐based compensation, the presence of informed trading, and the liquidity of the stock. Our results are consistent with the existence of positive announcement effects produced by apparently innocuous corporate events (e.g., stock dividends, name changes).
More Than Words: Quantifying Language to Measure Firms' Fundamentals
Authors: TETLOCK PAUL C. , SAAR‐TSECHANSKY MAYTAL , MACSKASSY SOFUS
Published: May 2008

We examine whether a simple quantitative measure of language can be used to predict individual firms' accounting earnings and stock returns. Our three main findings are: (1) the fraction of negative words in firm‐specific news stories forecasts low firm earnings; (2) firms' stock prices briefly underreact to the information embedded in negative words; and (3) the earnings and return predictability from negative words is largest for the stories that focus on fundamentals. Together these findings suggest that linguistic media content captures otherwise hard‐to‐quantify aspects of firms' fundamentals, which investors quickly incorporate into stock prices.
Neighbors Matter: Causal Community Effects and Stock Market Participation
Authors: BROWN JEFFREY R. , IVKOVIĆ ZORAN , SMITH PAUL A. , WEISBENNER SCOTT
Published: May 2008

This paper establishes a causal relation between an individual's decision whether to own stocks and average stock market participation of the individual's community. We instrument for the average ownership of an individual's community with lagged average ownership of the states in which one's nonnative neighbors were born. Combining this instrumental variables approach with controls for individual and community fixed effects, a broad set of time‐varying individual and community controls, and state‐year effects rules out alternative explanations. To further establish that word‐of‐mouth communication drives this causal effect, we show that the results are stronger in more sociable communities.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Upregulates Cardiac Autonomic Control
Authors: CHA YONG‐MEI , OH JAE , MIYAZAKI CHINAMI , HAYES DAVID L. , REA ROBERT F. , SHEN WIN‐KUANG , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J. , KEMP BRAD J. , HODGE DAVID O. , CHEN PENG‐SHENG , CHAREONTHAITAWEE PANITHAYA
Published: May 2008

Objective: To determine the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on sympathetic nervous function in heart failure (HF).

Background: Neurohormonal dysregulation and cardiac autonomic dysfunction are associated with HF and contribute to HF progression and its poor prognosis. We hypothesized that mechanical resynchronization improves cardiac sympathetic function in HF.

Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients receiving CRT for advanced cardiomyopathy and 10 controls were included in this prospective study. NYHA class, 6‐minute walk distance, echocardiographic parameters, plasma norepinephrine (NE) were assessed at baseline, 3‐month and 6‐month follow‐up. Cardiac sympathetic function was determined by 123iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I‐MIBG) scintigraphy and 24‐hour ambulatory electrocardiography.

Results: Along with improvement in NYHA class (3.1 ± 0.3 to 2.1 ± 0.4, P < 0.001) and LVEF (23 ± 6% to 33 ± 12%, P < 0.001), delayed heart/mediastinum (H/M) 123I‐MIBG ratio increased significantly (1.8 ± 0.7 to 2.1 ± 0.6, P = 0.04) while the H/M 123I‐MIBG washout rate decreased significantly (54 ± 25% to 34 ± 24%, P = 0.01) from baseline to 6‐month follow‐up. The heart rate variability (HRV) measured in SD of normal‐to‐normal intervals also increased significantly from baseline (82 ± 30 ms) to follow‐up (111 ± 32 ms, P = 0.04). The improvement in NYHA after CRT was significantly associated with baseline 123I‐MIBG H/M washout rate (r = 0.65, P = 0.03). The improvement in LVESV index was associated with baseline 123I‐MIBG delayed H/M ratio (r =−0.67, P = 0.02) and H/M washout rate (r = 0.65, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: After CRT, improvements in cardiac symptoms and LV function were accompanied by rebalanced cardiac autonomic control as measured by 123I‐MIBG and HRV.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy in Patients with Prior Coronary Revascularization in the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD‐HeFT)
Authors: AL‐KHATIB SANA M , HELLKAMP ANNE S. , LEE KERRY L , ANDERSON JILL , POOLE JEANNE E. , MARK DANIEL B. , BARDY GUST H. ,   for the scd‐heft investigators
Published: May 2008

Introduction: We conducted this study to examine the effect of the ICD on the outcomes of patients with prior coronary revascularization enrolled in the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD‐HeFT) and to assess the association of time from coronary revascularization to enrollment with death and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Methods and Results: We included in this analysis patients with ischemic heart disease not randomized to the amiodarone arm. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of prior CABG and of prior PCI with each outcome. Interactions between randomized treatment and each revascularization type and time were tested in each model. Of the 882 patients who met these inclusion criteria, 255 (29%) had no prior revascularization, 178 (20%) had prior PCI only, 284 (32%) had prior CABG only, and 165 (19%) had prior PCI and CABG. There was no significant difference in ICD benefit across the revascularization subgroups (all P > 0.1). There was a trend toward improved survival with an ICD in patients who had their CABG > 2 years before randomization (HR [CI]= 0.71 [0.49, 1.04]) that was not observed in patients who had their CABG ≤ 2 years before randomization (HR [CI]= 1.40 [0.61, 3.24]).

Conclusion: In SCD‐HeFT, there was no significant difference in ICD benefit across the revascularization subgroups. Patients who had their CABG > 2 years before randomization showed a trend toward improved survival with an ICD that was not observed in patients who had their CABG ≤ 2 years before randomization.