bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why do people vote? Rationality or emotion
Authors: Wang Ching-Hsing
Published: July 2013

This study aims to examine the effects of rationality and emotion on voter turnout. By applying the empirical implications of a theoretical models framework, I outline the relationship between rationality, emotion, and turnout and propose two hypotheses about the effects of party differential and emotion differential on turnout. The empirical test using data from American National Election Studies 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 shows that both party differential and emotion differential exert significantly positive effects on turnout, which confirms that individual turnout decision is a function of both rationality and emotion. However, this study suggests that rationality plays a more important and consistent role in individual turnout decision than emotion, because the effect of emotion on turnout might be built on the appearance of charismatic candidates.
Birth Parents’ Portrayals in Children’s Adoption Literature
Authors: Jerome Kelly , Sweeney Kathryn A.
Published: July 2013

Few studies have systematically analyzed adoption-themed books for children or how birth parents are depicted. This article analyzes 104 books in English designated for children aged 4 to 8 years that are focused on adoption to understand how birth parents are portrayed. Findings indicate that birth parents are often represented with stereotypical, value-based, and cultural perceptions, resulting in an inability to care for children as the reasons or choices for adoption placement. As parents rely on books to develop narratives and to socialize children, the lack of accurate depictions of birth parents and the structural barriers they face has implications for adoptee understanding of adoption and for adoptee adjustment and identity.
The Effect of Fatherhood on Employment Hours
Authors: Weinshenker Matthew
Published: July 2013

Drawing on the life course paradigm, I assess how the effect of fatherhood on employment hours varies by age of becoming a parent and time elapsed since the birth. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth–1979 Cohort from 1979 to 2002 ( N = 28,514 observations), separate effects are estimated based on fathers’ marital status and coresidence with own children. Only unmarried men who became fathers before 24 years work longer hours immediately after a first birth, but in the long run, most early fathers work fewer hours as a result of parenthood. Over time, unmarried but coresident men who became fathers between 24 and 29 years increase their hours, as do married, coresident men who delayed fatherhood until 30 years or older. However, the latter increase is moderated by support for egalitarian gender roles. The findings shed light on the contemporary transition to adulthood and on men’s work–family balance.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass in congenital absence of pericardium
Authors: Reddy C Sukesh Kumar , Ali Syed Nasheed , Raamaanuhadaasudu C Kodhandapani , Parimi Srinivas S , Reddy T Ramakrishna , Reddy Vijay Kumar
Published: July 2013

Off-pump coronary artery bypass involves precise manipulations for proper positioning the heart without causing hemodynamic compromise. Pericardial stay sutures exerting appropriate traction play an important role in off-pump surgery. We report a rare case in which a congenital pericardial defect was discovered after sternotomy in a patient undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass.
Use of subclavian steal in treating chronic total subclavian artery occlusion
Authors: Goel Pravin K , Moorthy Nagaraja
Published: July 2013

Endovascular treatment is a well-established option for subclavian artery stenosis. However, total occlusion of the proximal subclavian artery remains a challenge, posing difficulties of nonvisualization of distal vessels, access site issues, and deployment of vertebral embolism protection devices. A 65-year-old man with chronic total occlusion of the ostial left subclavian artery, underwent successful endovascular stenting in which the subclavian steal phenomenon was utilized as a roadmap to cross the occlusion.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults: experience from the Middle East
Authors: Sajjad Mohammad , Osman Ahmed , Mohsen Salah , Alanazi Mosleh , Ugurlucan Murat , Canver Charles
Published: July 2013

Background:

The literature reports conflicting results for survival after extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support, and survival differs in pediatric and adult patients. We present our institutional experience of adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support.

Methods:

From January 2007 to December 2009, 19 adult patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support after cardiac surgery or catheter interventions. It was provided on an emergency basis to 11 patients, urgently to 5, and electively to 3. Indications included post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock, post-cardiotomy acute respiratory failure, emergency cardiac resuscitation, and post-percutaneous coronary intervention cardiogenic shock. The mean duration of support was 4 days (range, 1–11 days).

Results:

Seven (36.84%) patients could be weaned off extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support; one (14.28%) of them survived to hospital discharge and the other 6 (85.71%) died in hospital. Twelve (63.15%) patients could not be weaned off and died while still on extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support. Overall 30-day hospital mortality was 94.73%, and survival to discharge was 5.26%.

Conclusion:

Our institutional experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support for cardiac indications in adult patients indicates poor survival. It significantly increased costs by delaying imminent death and prolonging stay in the intensive care unit.
Determinants of renal replacement therapy after adult cardiac surgery
Authors: Muralidhar Kanchi , Bhagyashri Kakade , Guptha Ratan , Hegde Nitin , Ahmed Isthiaq , Vincent Lloyd
Published: July 2013

Background:

Acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy after cardiac surgery develops in 1%–5% of patients, and is strongly associated with perioperative morbidity and mortality. The prognostic risk factors for development acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy are identified in this study.

Methods:

2585 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery during a 1-year period (November 2010 to October 2011) were studied. The patients who developed acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy were compared with matched controls. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the predictors of acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy.

Results:

44 patients developed acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy following cardiac surgery. On multivariate logistic analysis, the following factors independently predicted acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy ( p < 0.05): preoperative critical state, pre-existing renal dysfunction, preoperative diastolic dysfunction, and combined cardiac surgery.

Conclusion:

The risk of acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy can be fairly accurately predicted and quantified on the basis of available preoperative and intraoperative data. These predictors may be used by physicians to estimate the risk and target high-risk groups for interventions that prevent, reduce, or ameliorate the occurrence of renal failure needing acute renal replacement therapy.
External carotid-to-subclavian artery bypass in stent grafting of thoracic aorta
Authors: Shimura Shinichiro , Yamaguchi Masaomi , Cho Yasunori , Aki Akira , Furuya Hidekazu , Ueda Toshihiko
Published: July 2013

Background

A bypass between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery has been made in some patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair that covers the orifice of the left subclavian artery. However, complications associated with temporary occlusion of the left common carotid artery are reportedly not uncommon.

Methods

Between January 2009 and September 2011, left external carotid-to-left subclavian artery bypass was made using a polytetrafluoroethylene graft in 15 patients undergoing a thoracic endovascular aortic repair that covered the orifice of the left subclavian artery. Adverse effects associated with the procedure were assessed, and patency of the bypass graft was determined by contrast-enhanced computed tomography before discharge and at least once during follow-up.

Results

All patients were discharged without any brain complications. All 15 bypass grafts were patent prior to discharge and during the follow-up period. One patient suffered temporary left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy postoperatively. No other sequelae were associated with left external carotid-to-left subclavian artery bypass.

Conclusion

Left external carotid-to-left subclavian artery bypass is a promising procedure in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair that covers the orifice of the left subclavian artery.
Pulmonary metastasectomy and repeat metastasectomy for soft-tissue sarcoma
Authors: Toussi Mehdi Seilanian , Bagheri Reza , Dayani Mahdieh , Anvari Kazem , Sheibani Shima
Published: July 2013

Background

For patients with lung metastases from soft-tissue sarcoma, pulmonary metastasectomy is considered to be the only chance of possible cure. In this survey, we analyzed some potential prognostic factors affecting the outcome in these patients.

Patients and methods

34 patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for soft-tissue sarcoma from April 1996 to April 2007, were enrolled in our study. The median follow-up period was 26 months. Survival curves, factors affecting the outcome, and treatment success rate were evaluated.

Results

Complete resection was achieved in 88.2% of patients. There was no perioperative mortality. The median overall survival and median disease-free survival were 42 and 27 months, respectively. Incomplete resection and bilateral lung metastases had significant adverse effects on overall survival. Shorter disease-free interval (<18 months) was a significant predictor of survival on multivariate analysis. Metastasectomy was attempted in 12 cases of whom 50% remained disease-free to the end of follow-up.

Conclusion

Complete resection is the most important defining factor of success rate and survival. Patients with bilateral lung metastases or a shorter disease-free interval have significantly lower success rates. Repeat metastasectomy is curative in many patients.
Cardiac echinococcosis
Authors: Birincioglu Cemal Levent , Kervan Umit , Tufekcioglu Omac , Ozen Anil , Bardakci Hasmet , Kucuker Seref Alp , Saritas Ahmet
Published: July 2013

Objective

Cardiac echinococcosis is an extremely rare disease, seen worldwide. Some clinical characteristics are unknown, and treatment modalities are unclear.

Methods

41 patients diagnosed with cardiac or pericardial echinococcosis underwent surgery. We evaluated the patients echocardiographically in 8 different categories: cardiac echinococcosis lesions located within the heart, imaging appearance of each lesion, activity of the cysts, mode of cardiac echinococcosis, and number of cardiac lesions per patient. The surgical technique was reevaluated according to the intraoperative echocardiographic findings, especially according to the mode of the lesion.

Results

The hydatid cysts were located in the ventricular wall in 34 cases, the right atrium in 2, the noncoronary sinus Valsalva of the aorta in 1, between the aorta and the pulmonary bifurcation in 1, and in the pericardium alone in 4 cases. In 1 case, septal rupture occurred and the patient died. Relapse was seen in 1 patient who was operated on due to multiple ventricular and pericardial cysts; this patient underwent a second operation 6 years and 8 months after the initial surgery.

Conclusion

Recent echocardiographic developments and application of intraoperative echocardiography enables a detailed classification for extirpation, and allows successful treatment.
Transposition of great arteries and partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
Authors: Talwar Sachin , Rajashekar Palleti , Reddy Veeram Arun , Choudhary Shiv Kumar , Airan Balram
Published: July 2013

We describe the technical aspects of performing an atrial switch operation in a 4-year-old boy with d-transposition of the great arteries and partial anomalous drainage of the left-sided pulmonary veins. The rarity of the condition is discussed.
Bridging the digital divide through ICT
Authors: Kaba Adboulaye , Said Raed
Published: July 2013

Bridging the gap of the digital divide can play an important role in education, employment and economic growth of any country. The present study attempts to examine and analyze the digital divide status of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries compared with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other Arab countries. It uses 19 indicators of four factors adapted from The Global Information Technology Report 2009–2010 to measure the digital divide. Findings of the study indicated that GCC countries have a better ICT infrastructure than the ASEAN and other Arab countries. Similarly, the results of the study revealed that GCC nations have more ICT users than the ASEAN and other Arab countries. However, the study found no significant differences among these groups of countries in regard to government support and usage of ICT. Findings of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) show that, across the three groups of countries, the influence of ICT infrastructure is consistently significant in narrowing the digital divide. The regression results also prove a significant relationship between government support for ICT and government usage of ICT.
IT outsourcing and impacts in Thailand’s financial institutions
Authors: Wongsaroj Rachchabhorn , Krairit Donyaprueth , Khang Do Ba
Published: July 2013

Information technology outsourcing (ITO) studies have been the focus of researchers for decades. One topic has been the factors and impact of ITO on organizations. Inconclusive findings about relationships between the levels of ITO and ITO success demands further exploration on this issue. In Thailand, the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) reported that the financial and banking industry has the highest spending on computer services primarily by outsourcing the core banking and service management system. Nonetheless, research on ITO in Thailand’s financial industry has been limited. This study is among the first to empirically investigate the relationship between the levels of ITO, defined as the percentage of IT activities and components selected to be outsourced, and ITO success, defined by the benefits received from outsourcing in Thailand. A three-pronged approach is used in this study. It began with a comprehensive literature review. This was followed by in-depth expert interviews with representatives from financial institutions, academia, and outsource vendors, all of who offered opinions that shaped the development of the research model. A survey was then carried out with 428 IT personnel from the Thai financial sector. The results were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Contrary to previous researches, this study found that internal uncertainty and internal IT skills were two factors that do not affect the levels of ITO, while transaction costs and specific assets do. In addition, it was found that levels of ITO have impacts on ITO success. In a real world application, this study focuses on the different levels of ITO implementation among Thailand’s top five banks and their effects on ITO success. The findings increase researchers’ understanding regarding the factors that affect the levels of ITO and suggest that practitioners must consider the levels of ITO, in addition to other factors, when making ITO decisions. The framework can help practitioners optimize ITO practice for successful ITO outcomes.
Sensationalizing death? Graphic disaster images in the tabloid and broadsheet press
Authors: Hanusch Folker
Published: July 2013

Debates over the extent of graphic imagery of death in newspapers often suffer from generalized assertions that are based on inadequate or incomplete empirical evidence. Newspapers are believed to display death in very graphic ways, with particularly the tabloid press assumedly leading a race to the bottom. This article reports the results of a study of tabloid and broadsheet images of death from the 2010 Haiti earthquake in eight Western European and North American countries. It shows that, far from omnipresent, graphic images of death are relatively rare. While tabloids overall display a larger percentage of graphic images, this was not the case everywhere, with particularly the UK, Canada and the US displaying strong similarities between tabloids and broadsheets. In Austria, Germany, Norway and Switzerland, on the other hand, there were distinct differences between the two types. The article argues that different extents of tabloidization may account for these differences.
Palliative care for Parkinson’s disease: A summary of the evidence and future directions
Authors: Richfield Edward W , Jones Edward JS , Alty Jane E
Published: July 2013

Background:

Parkinson’s disease is a common, life-limiting, neurodegenerative condition. Despite calls for improved access to palliative care for people with Parkinson’s disease, services have been slow in developing. Obstacles include poor understanding and recognition of palliative care needs, the role for specialist palliative care services and an agreed structure for sustainable palliative care provision.

Aim:

To summarise the evidence base for palliative care in Parkinson’s disease, linking current understanding with implications for clinical practice and identifying areas for future research.

What is known:

Convention recognises a final ‘palliative phase’ in Parkinson’s disease, while qualitative studies suggest the presence of palliative care need in Parkinson’s disease from diagnosis. Clinical tools to quantify palliative symptom burden exist and have helped to identify targets for intervention. Dementia is highly prevalent and influences many aspects of palliative care in Parkinson’s disease, with particular implications for end-of-life care and advance care planning.

Implications for clinical practice:

The ‘palliative phase’ represents a poor entry point for consideration of palliative care need in Parkinson’s disease. An alternative, integrated model of care, promoting collaboration between specialist palliative and neurological services, is discussed, along with some specific palliative interventions.

What is unknown:

Limited evidence exists regarding timing of palliative interventions, triggers for specialist referral and management of terminal care.

Implications for future research:

Research examining access to palliative care and management of terminal symptoms will assist development of sustainable, integrated palliative care services for Parkinson’s disease.
Antiproliferative effects of γ-secretase inhibitor, a Notch signalling inhibitor, in multiple myeloma cells and its molecular mechanism of action
Authors: Hu Jiasheng , Zhu Xiongpeng , Lu Quanyi
Published: July 2013

Objectives

To investigate the effects of γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), a Notch signalling inhibitor, on the proliferation of multiple myeloma cells in vitro and its molecular mechanism of action.

Methods

RPMI 8226 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of GSI (0–20 µmol/l) for 24–72 h. Proliferation was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Cell-cycle analysis was performed on RPMI 8226 cells treated with 0–10 µmol/l GSI for 48 h using flow cytometry. Expression of Notch signalling proteins (Notch1, Jagged 1 and Jagged 2), Bcl-2 and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) was determined using Western blotting in RPMI 8226 cells treated with various concentrations of GSI for various time periods.

Results

GSI inhibited proliferation of RPMI 8226 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by inducing G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest. GSI-mediated antiproliferative effects were associated with significant reductions in the expression of Notch1, Jagged1, Jagged2, p-Akt and Bcl-2.

Conclusion

Inhibition of the Notch signalling pathway by GSI may be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Special Needs Diversionary Program in Reducing Reoffending Among Mentally Ill Youthful Offenders
Authors: Jeong Seokjin , Lee Byung Hyun , Martin Julie H.
Published: July 2013

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health intervention for youthful offenders, specifically the Special Needs Diversionary Program (SNDP) by comparing the treatment group with the control group. The sample consisted of 328 mentally ill youths: 168 youths participated in the SNDP and 160 youths in other court-ordered programs. To examine the empirical relationships among the covariates, the current study uses a two-step approach: (a) logistic regression; and (b) Cox Proportional-Hazards Regression. The findings reveal that participation in the SNDP was strongly associated with reduced recidivism compared with nonparticipation in the SNDP among mentally ill youthful offenders throughout the 12-month follow-up. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
New approaches to optimize strain behavior of Al6082 during equal channel angular pressing
Authors: Ebrahimi Mahmood , Rajabifar Bahram , Djavanroodi Faramarz
Published: July 2013

Equal channel angular pressing is one of the attractive methods of severe plastic deformation techniques to fabricate ultrafine grained materials. In this study, eight different equal channel angular pressing configurations including the punch shape, sample preform and die geometry have been analyzed using finite element method to achieve materials with the high effective strain magnitude, better strain distribution uniformity and less required pressing force. The results show that the combination of punch shape and back slant specimen is the most efficient modification as compared to the conventional equal channel angular pressing process. Furthermore, investigations on various die channel and sample slant angles indicate that the configuration of punch shape and back slant sample with the die channel angle of 75° and sample slant angle of 30° is the optimum condition. Finally, experimental work has been performed to validate the results.
Batten Disease
Authors: Dolisca Sarah-Bianca , Mehta Mitali , Pearce David A. , Mink Jonathan W. , Maria Bernard L.
Published: July 2013

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, collectively the most common neurodegenerative disorders of childhood, are primarily caused by an autosomal recessive genetic mutation leading to a lysosomal storage disease. Clinically, these diseases manifest at varying ages of onset, and associated symptoms include cognitive decline, movement disorders, seizures, and retinopathy. The underlying cell biology and biochemistry that cause the clinical phenotypes of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are still being elaborated. The 2012 Neurobiology of Disease in Children Symposium, held in conjunction with the 41st Annual Meeting of the Child Neurology Society, aimed to (1) provide a survey of the currently accepted forms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses and their associated genetic mutations and clinical phenotypes; (2) highlight the specific pathology of Batten disease; (3) discuss the contemporary understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to pathology; and (4) introduce strategies that are being translated from bench to bedside as potential therapeutics.
Seizure Susceptibility, Phenotype, and Resultant Growth Delay in the nclf and mnd Mouse Models of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
Authors: Kriscenski-Perry Elizabeth , Kovács Attila D. , Pearce David A.
Published: July 2013

We examined flurothyl gas–induced seizure latencies and phenotype in 2 mouse models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: the nclf ( Cln6 mutant) variant late-infantile model and the mnd ( Cln8 mutant) Northern epilepsy model. Mnd mice on postnatal days 35 to 42 had increased latency to loss of posture compared with wild-type controls. Nclf, mnd, and wild-type mice on postnatal days 21 days to 25 displayed similar latency profiles during repeated seizure induction (kindling) and retesting; seizure phenotypes were different, however. Kindled wild-type mice reexposed to flurothyl after a 28-day recovery displayed brainstem generalized seizures exclusively. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses mutants demonstrated a lack of brainstem seizures at retesting after 28 days. Repeated induction of generalized seizures delayed weight gain in both nclf and mnd mice compared with wild-type mice. These and our previous results suggest that abnormal seizure-related neuronal connectivity and/or plasticity are shared characteristics of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses.
New proposal for bogie-mounted sensors using energy harvesting and wireless communications
Authors: Ortiz Javier , Monje Pedro M , Zabala Nerea , Arsuaga Mikel , Etxaniz Josu , Aranguren Gerardo
Published: July 2013

The goal of the research presented in this paper is to design and incorporate new technologies into railway bogie-mounted sensors. It is often impossible to connect the mounted systems to physical wires due to their location in an inaccessible position or the distance to the energy source. Therefore, another power source must be used to solve this problem. Energy harvesting technology is an increasingly popular solution that extracts energy from the ambient environment and transforms it into electrical energy. Using piezoelectric transducers, it is possible to transform the vibrations experienced by the bogie into energy that can be used to power the sensors. A prototype with multiple piezoelectric transducers has been designed, built and subjected to tests to validate the technology. The experimental results for all of the different configurations tested and levels of energy collected are presented.
Encephalitis in primary HIV infection: challenges in diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Helleberg M , Kirk O
Published: July 2013

Summary

We report a case of primary HIV encephalitis, which initially presented as acute psychosis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was suggestive of vasculitis and multiple infarctions, whereas a brain biopsy after six weeks of symptoms showed HIV encephalitis with microglial nodules, but no signs of vasculitis. We review previous reported cases and radiological findings in HIV encephalitis and discuss the role of antiretroviral therapy and steroids in its management.
A statistical model of breast cancer tumour growth with estimation of screening sensitivity as a function of mammographic density
Authors: Abrahamsson Linda , Humphreys Keith
Published: July 2013

Understanding screening sensitivity and tumour progression is important for designing and evaluating screening programmes for breast cancer. Several approaches for estimating tumour growth rates have been described, some of which simultaneously estimate (mammography) screening sensitivity. None of the continuous tumour growth modelling approaches has incorporated mammographic density, although it is known to have a profound influence on mammographic screening sensitivity. We describe a new approach for estimating breast cancer tumour growth which builds on recently described continuous tumour growth models and estimates mammographic screening sensitivity as a function of tumour size and mammographic density.
Point success rate for patient therapeutic response prediction by continuous biomarker scores
Authors: Ma Zhenjun , Kim Youngchul , Hu Feifang , Lee Jae K
Published: July 2013

Various predictive diagnostic tests are highly demanded to guide optimal treatments for individual patients, as individual patients with the same disease such as cancer frequently exhibit dramatically different therapeutic responses to multiple available treatment options. A large number of clinical trials have thus been performed to test the predictive ability and utility of various therapeutic biomarker tests. However, in these trial designs the conventional optimization criteria such as positive predictive value or negative predictive value cannot reflect each patient’s true chance of success associated with continuous predictive biomarker scores. We have developed a novel statistical concept, point success rate (PSR), to overcome deficiencies in these conventional methods for optimizing biomarker-based clinical trials. We demonstrate statistical superiority as well as clinical improvement by a PSR-based treatment selection both with simulated and breast cancer patient data.
Hecamede: Homeric nurse of the battle-wounded in the Trojan War
Authors: Balanika Alexia P , Baltas Christos S
Published: July 2013

The Homeric epics present the 10-year lasting Trojan War, offering the description of battle wounds and medical care of injuries. Hecamede is referred by the Homer as a battlefield nurse who had knowledge of the treatment of bleeding battle wounds.
Geoffrey Layton Slack OBE (Mil), CBE, TD, BDS DDS, FDSRCS, FDS Glas, FFDRCSI, Dip Bact (1912–1991)
Authors: Gelbier Stanley
Published: July 2013

It is with some pride that the author worked in Geoffrey Slack’s department from 1963 to 1967 and even retained a working relationship with him after that time. Slack was Professor of Dental Surgery (1959–1976) and later Professor of Community Dental Health (1976–1977) at The London Hospital Medical College, within the University of London. The change in titles came about as a result of recognition of his contribution to developments in public health and community dental care and services, for many of which he was directly responsible. He was Dental Dean from 1965 until 1969. Upon retirement in 1977 he became Emeritus Professor. In addition, he was Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 1974 to 1977.
Member Awareness of Expertise, Information Sharing, Information Weighting, and Group Decision Making
Authors: Baumann Michael R. , Bonner Bryan L.
Published: July 2013

One of a group’s most valuable resources is the expertise of its members. How this expertise is (or is not) used has a major impact on group performance. However, determining expertise is often difficult. Thus the issue of how many group members need to be aware of expertise before the benefits of recognition accrue is of great importance. For example, do all members have to be aware of expertise prior to discussion for the group to benefit, or is a subset of members sufficient? If a subset is sufficient, how large must it be? To address these questions, we manipulated the number of group members possessing foreknowledge of member expertise. We then analyzed perceived expertise, information sharing, information weighting, and group decision making using a series of planned contrasts representing common social combination models. Discussion of unique information followed a majority wins model (i.e., a shift occurred when greater than half of members were made aware of expertise prior to discussion). For weighting of unique information, several models, including majority wins, fit when examining regression-based estimates of weighting whereas only the majority wins model fit when examining self-reported weighting. None of the models tested adequately explained rated expertise.
Why motor simulation cannot explain affordance perception
Authors: Declerck Gunnar
Published: July 2013

According to several authors in psychology and neurosciences, our ability to perceive affordances is subtended by motor simulation mechanisms. Such mechanisms provide dynamic representations of feasible actions, thus enabling to scale the surrounding structures on the behavioural repertoire and capacities supported by our body. This attractive hypothesis has been taken up in robotics, to build intelligent systems able to determine in advance whether a given action would be successful given the current state of the environment and their own skills. Several arguments, however, suggest that the motor simulation framework is not sufficient to explain affordance perception: (1) it rests on a misunderstanding of what affordances are: not actions that are currently feasible, but actions that are possible; (2) it is computationally unrealistic: motor simulation is too costly in terms of computational resources to explain how one can access prospectively to actions that are potentiated by surrounding structures; (3) it only covers the part of the perceptual field within the scope of our attention, but the affordances we perceive do not reduce to the object or state of affairs our attention is focused on at time t; and (4) it can only work if a first layer of affordances is available: motor simulation cannot explain affordance perception, because its very functioning presupposes such perception. Other mechanisms must consequently be hypothesized.
Youth Actuarial Risk Assessment Tool (Y-ARAT)
Authors: van der Put Claudia E.
Published: July 2013

Estimating the risk for recidivism is important for many areas of the criminal justice system. In the present study, the Youth Actuarial Risk Assessment Tool (Y-ARAT) was developed for juvenile offenders based solely on police records, with the aim to estimate the risk of general recidivism among large groups of juvenile offenders by police officers without clinical expertise. On the basis of the Y-ARAT, juvenile offenders are classified into five risk groups based on (combinations of) 10 variables including different types of incidents in which the juvenile was a suspect, total number of incidents in which the juvenile was a suspect, total number of other incidents, total number of incidents in which co-occupants at the youth’s address were suspects, gender, and age at first incident. The Y-ARAT was developed on a sample of 2,501 juvenile offenders and validated on another sample of 2,499 juvenile offenders, showing moderate predictive accuracy (area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve = .73), with little variation between the construction and validation sample. The predictive accuracy of the Y-ARAT was considered sufficient to justify its use as a screening instrument for the police.
The Relation of Poor Emotional Awareness and Externalizing Behavior Among Children With ADHD
Authors: Factor Perry I. , Rosen Paul J. , Reyes Rachel A.
Published: July 2013

Objective: Children with ADHD often demonstrate poor emotional self-awareness and higher levels of externalizing behavior problems relative to unaffected children. This study examined the relation of deficient emotional self-awareness to externalizing behavior problems in children with ADHD, and the role of emotional reactivity in this relationship. Method: Fifty-one 8- to 12-year-old children with ADHD and their parents completed measures of the children’s emotional and behavioral functioning, as well as a diagnostic structured interview. Results: Logistic regression suggested that more impaired emotional self-awareness was strongly associated with the diagnosis of a comorbid externalizing disorder. Hierarchical regression analyses strongly supported the relation of poor emotional awareness to reactivity-driven externalizing behavior, but not to proactive externalizing behavior. These effects were evident across reporters. Conclusion: This study suggested that poor emotional self-awareness is significantly linked to externalizing problems in children with ADHD, and that dysregulated emotional reactivity plays an important role in this relationship.
Meta-analysis and meta-regression of telehealth programmes for patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Xiang Rui , Li Lin , Liu Sheena Xin
Published: July 2013

To assess the effectiveness of telehealth used for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, we searched for peer-reviewed, randomized controlled trials published between 2001 and 2012. A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were 26 studies (79%) which concerned tele-monitoring and 7 (21%) which concerned case management or nurse administered telephone-based management. There were 7530 patients in all, with an average age of 69 years. A meta-analysis showed that telehealth programmes had significant overall effectiveness in reducing all-cause mortality (Fixed effect model risk ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.88), CHF-related hospitalization (Random effect model risk ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.85) and CHF-related length of stay (Random effect model mean difference -1.41 days, 95% CI -2.43 to -0.39). In addition, telehealth programmes showed significantly greater effectiveness in reducing mortality and hospitalizations among patients with higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) categories. With age and NYHA held constant, recording questionnaire (symptoms) data could reduce the mortality risk by 34% and the risk of CHF-related hospitalization by 15%; adding a pulse (heart rate) detector could reduce the mortality risk by 40% and the risk of CHF-related hospitalization by 43%. Finally, telehealth programmes showed a tapering effect on mortality reduction: the longer the follow-up period, the less effective they were on decreasing mortality. In conclusion, telehealth programmes demonstrated clinical effectiveness in patients with CHF compared with usual care.
Measuring outcomes in outpatient child psychiatry: Reliable improvement, deterioration, and clinically significant improvement
Authors: Murphy J Michael , Blais Mark , Baer Lee , McCarthy Alyssa , Kamin Hayley , Masek Bruce , Jellinek Michael
Published: July 2013

Given the increasing interest in demonstrating effectiveness in psychiatric treatment, the current paper seeks to advance outcome measurement in child psychiatry by demonstrating how more informative analytic strategies can be used to evaluate treatment in a real world setting using a brief, standardized parent-report measure. Questionnaires were obtained at intake for 1294 patients. Of these, 695 patients entered treatment and 531 (74%) had complete forms at intake and follow-up. Using this sample, we analyzed the data to determine effect sizes, rates of reliable improvement and deterioration, and rates of clinically significant improvement. Findings highlighted the utility of these approaches for evaluating treatment outcomes. Further suggestions for improving outcome measurement and evaluation are provided.
Dancing the thesis, writing on the body
Authors: Mills Dana
Published: July 2013

This article explores the connection between dance and politics through reflection on the process of writing a thesis about those two fields. Similarities and differences in the educational and disciplinary processes of academic practice and dance training are brought out, while focusing on the technique developed by Martha Graham: in particular the concepts of contraction and release are discussed in terms of their significance for training in academic practice in the humanities. Thinking of dance as a critically reflective practice is argued to have significant possibilities for our conception of a different way of doing politics while focusing on human rights as an affirmative concept.
A retrospective review of the average period of ship ownership with implications for the potential payback period for retrofitted equipment
Authors: Stott Paul
Published: July 2013

Knowledge of the behaviour of ship operators relating to their investment in retrofitted equipment or systems is of fundamental importance to those engaged in designing and developing products. Evaluation of product offerings is often undertaken on the basis of return on investment over its full life but this may not be convincing to buyers for existing ships who may only expect to own the ship to which the equipment is fitted for a limited period, not its full life. Knowledge of the typical period of ship ownership then becomes important to enable a realistic payback period to be taken into account in the evaluation of developments. While many involved in shipping will give an anecdotal opinion of the typical length of ship ownership, there is an absence of research to give any precision to such anecdotal opinions or even to confirm them. This article uses secondary sources to present a retrospective analysis of the average period of ship ownership for that portion of the fleet that was approaching the end of its economic life at the time the study was undertaken. The results question the widely held view of speculation being the prime motivator in ship sale and purchase. The pattern of behaviour of owners is found to vary significantly between the first and subsequent owners, with the first owner keeping the vessel for considerably longer than subsequent owners and with the influence of speculation increasing as the owner number increases. Rational values are proposed for what constituted short term and long term in relation to ownership periods for the vessels reviewed, and further analysis is recommended to investigate how these values may vary as the market changes.
Witnessing the pain of suffering: Exploring the relationship between media representations, public understandings and policy responses to filicide-suicide
Authors: Walklate Sandra , Petrie Stephanie
Published: July 2013

This paper is concerned to map the phenomenon of filicide-suicide as it has been reported in academic research and the newspapers. It is focused on the findings of an exploratory investigation of newspaper reporting on these events in Britain and Eire between 1991 and 2011 and is concerned to address the potential relationship between this reporting behaviour and wider public understanding of these events. In so doing the paper falls into three parts. The first part presents an analysis of what is known about filicide-suicide: the academic narrative. The second part presents the findings of the empirical investigation referred to above: the media narrative. The third part explores the possible interconnection between these two narratives and the policy and professional context of responding to child abuse in the United Kingdom: the policy narrative. In the light of this analysis the paper considers what can be done about such family tragedies and the way in which we witness and make sense of them.
The properties of microparticles from RAW 264.7 macrophage cells undergoing in vitro activation or apoptosis
Authors: Spencer Diane M , Gauley Julie , Pisetsky David S
Published: July 2013

Microparticles (MPs) are small, membrane-bound vesicles that arise from dead and dying cells, and display pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic activity. As shown previously, the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line can release MPs following stimulation with LPS or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)], ligands of TLR4 and TLR3 respectively. To determine the relationship of these MPs to those released during apoptosis, the nucleic acid content of MPs from cultures stimulated with LPS or poly (I:C) was compared with the nucleic acid content of MPs from untreated cells or cells induced to undergo apoptosis by treatment with etoposide or staurosporine (STS). As results of these studies showed, MPs from activated, apoptotic and untreated cells had features in common, as demonstrated by binding of the nucleic acid dyes SYTO 13 and propidium iodide; molecular mass of DNA; and binding of monoclonal anti-DNA and anti-nucleosome Abs. While MPs from the different culture conditions all contained ribosomal RNA, ribosomal RNA from MPs from STS-treated cells showed cleavage and degradation. Taken together, these studies indicate that the nucleic acid content of MPs from activated and apoptotic cells have important similarities, suggesting that events during TLR activation may lead to apoptosis and subsequent MP release.
Is ESPN Really the Women’s Sports Network? A Content Analysis of ESPN’s Internet Coverage of the Australian Open
Authors: Coche Roxane
Published: July 2013

A major topic of analysis in sport has been the gender gap and hegemonic masculinity that have historically been present in the media. Following Cunningham’s rationale of analyzing sports that are as gender equal as possible, this current study examines the coverage of the Australian Open on ESPN’s website. The findings reveal that although ESPN emphasized the men’s game quantitatively, it did not give it more prominence proportionally. On one hand, despite having journalists on-site to cover the women’s tournament and despite not being limited by airtime, ESPN.com frames the men’s game as more important than the women’s game in the amount of coverage dedicated to each gender. On the other hand, there is no gender difference in terms of production value, which is in striking opposition to the previous literature about gender media coverage in sport.
Multiple major morbidities and increased mortality during long-term follow-up after recovery from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Deford Cassandra C. , Reese Jessica A. , Schwartz Lauren H. , Perdue Jedidiah J. , Kremer Hovinga Johanna A. , Lämmle Bernhard , Terrell Deirdra R. , Vesely Sara K. , George James N.
Published: July 2013

Key Points

After recovering from TTP, the prevalence of hypertension, depression, and systemic lupus erythematosus and risk of death are increased. TTP may be a more chronic disorder rather than a disorder of acute episodes and complete recovery.
A randomised controlled trial of the use of aromatherapy and hand massage to reduce disruptive behaviour in people with dementia
Authors: Fu Chieh-Yu , Moyle Wendy , Cooke Marie
Published: July 2013

Background

Aromatherapy and hand massage therapies have been reported to have some benefit for people with dementia who display behavioural symptoms; however there are a number of limitations of reported studies. The aim is to investigate the effect of aromatherapy (3% lavender oil spray) with and without hand massage on disruptive behaviour in people with dementia living in long-term care.

Methods

In a single blinded randomised controlled trial 67 people with a diagnosis of dementia and a history of disruptive behaviour, from three long-term care facilities were recruited and randomised using a random number table into three groups: (1) Combination (aromatherapy and hand massage) (n = 22), (2) Aromatherapy (n = 23), (3) Placebo control (water spray) (n = 22). The intervention was given twice daily for six weeks. Data on residents’ behaviour (CMAI) and cognition (MMSE) were collected before, during and after the intervention.

Results

Despite a downward trend in behaviours displayed not one of the interventions significantly reduced disruptive behaviour.

Conclusions

Further large-scale placebo controlled studies are required where antipsychotic medication is controlled and a comparison of the methods of application of aromatherapy are investigated.

Trial registration

ACTRN12612000917831
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using reducing agents obtained from natural sources (Rumex hymenosepalus extracts)
Authors: Rodríguez-León Ericka , Iñiguez-Palomares Ramón , Navarro Rosa Elena , Herrera-Urbina Ronaldo , Tánori Judith , Iñiguez-Palomares Claudia , Maldonado Amir
Published: July 2013

We have synthesized silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solutions using extracts ofRumex hymenosepalus, a plant widely found in a large region in North America, as reducing agent. This plant is known to be rich in antioxidant molecules which we use as reducing agents. Silver nanoparticles grow in a single-step method, at room temperature, and with no addition of external energy. The nanoparticles have been characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, as a function of the ratio of silver ions to reducing agent molecules. The nanoparticle diameters are in the range of 2 to 40 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and fast Fourier transform analysis show that two kinds of crystal structures are obtained: face-centered cubic and hexagonal.