bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of audio–visual expectancies on stereoacuity
Authors: Zannoli Marina , Mamassian Pascal
Published: November 2012

Because of greater attenuation of high frequencies, a distant sound carries more low frequencies. As the distance between the listener and a sound source increases, the sound is therefore perceived as having a lower pitch. In the present study, we investigated whether there pre-exists a relationship between depth, as it is perceived by the visual system, and pitch. To do so, we measured stereoacuity (the smallest detectable depth difference that can be seen from binocular disparity). Two lines were presented sequentially at a different depth. Each line was presented along with a beep that lasted as long as the presentation of the line. The two beeps could either have the same pitch or a different pitch associated with the two depths. When the pitch was different, the high pitch could either be associated with the near (congruent with the hypothesis) or the far (incongruent) line. Five participants were asked to determine which line was nearer and instructed not to pay attention to the sound. Results showed no significant difference between the congruent and incongruent sound conditions. However, sensitivity was much better in the two different-pitch conditions compared to the same-pitch condition. In addition, we found no difference between the same-pitch condition and a control condition in which no sound was presented. To conclude, our results suggest that a difference in pitch can improve stereacuity, independent of the frequency content of the sound.
The size of the ventriloquist effect is modulated by emotional valence
Authors: Maiworm Mario , Bellantoni Marina , Spence Charles , Roeder Brigitte
Published: November 2012

It is currently unknown to what extent the integration of inputs from different modalities are subject to the influence of attention, emotion, and/or motivation. The ventriloquist effect is widely assumed to be an automatic, crossmodal phenomenon, normally shifting the perceived location of an auditory stimulus toward a concurrently-presented visual stimulus. The present study examined whether audiovisual binding, as indicated by the magnitude of the ventriloquist effect, is influenced by threatening auditory stimuli presented prior to the ventriloquist experiment. Syllables spoken in a fearful voice were presented from one of eight loudspeakers while syllables spoken in a neutral voice were presented from the other seven locations. Subsequently, participants had to localize pure tones while trying to ignore concurrent light flashes (both of which were emotionally neutral). A reliable ventriloquist effect was observed. The emotional stimulus manipulation resulted in a reduced ventriloquist effect in both hemifields, as compared to a control group exposed to a similar attention-capturing but non-emotional manipulation. These results suggest that the emotional system is capable of influencing crossmodal binding processes which have heretofore been considered as being automatic.
Electrophysiological correlates of tactile and visual perception during goal-directed movement
Authors: Juravle Georgiana , Heed Tobias , Spence Charles , Roeder Brigitte
Published: November 2012

Tactile information arriving at our sensory receptors is differentially processed over the various temporal phases of goal-directed movements. By using event-related potentials (ERPs), we investigated the neuronal correlates of tactile information processing during movement. Participants performed goal-directed reaches for an object placed centrally on the table in front of them. Tactile and visual stimuli were presented in separate trials during the different phases of the movement (i.e., preparation, execution, and post-movement). These stimuli were independently delivered to either the moving or the resting hand. In a control condition, the participants only performed the movement, while omission (movement-only) ERPs were recorded. Participants were told to ignore the presence or absence of any sensory events and solely concentrate on the execution of the movement. The results highlighted enhanced ERPs between 80 and 200 ms after tactile stimulation, and between 100 and 250 ms after visual stimulation. These modulations were greatest over the execution phase of the goal-directed movement, they were effector-based (i.e., significantly more negative for stimuli presented at the moving hand), and modality-independent (i.e., similar ERP enhancements were observed for both tactile and visual stimuli). The enhanced processing of sensory information over the execution phase of the movement suggests that incoming sensory information may be used for a potential adjustment of the current motor plan. Moreover, these results indicate a tight interaction between attentional mechanisms and the sensorimotor system.
Temporal integration in sound localization via head rotation
Authors: Macpherson Ewan A. , Kim Janet
Published: November 2012

Information about a sound source’s location in the front/back dimension is present in the relation between head rotation and the resulting changes in interaural time- or level-difference cues. The use of such dynamic cues for localization requires the auditory system to have access to an accurate representation of the orientation and motion of the head in space. We measured, in active and passive rotation conditions, and as a function of head-rotation angle and velocity, normally hearing human listeners’ ability to localize front and rear sources of a low-frequency (0.5–1 kHz) noise band that was not accurately localizable in the absence of head motion. Targets were presented while the head was in motion at velocities of 50–400°/s (active neck rotation) or 25–100°/s (whole-body passive rotation), and were gated on and off as the head passed through a variable-width spatial window. Accuracy increased as window width was increased, which provided access to larger interaural cue changes, but decreased as head-turn velocity increased, which reduced the duration of the stimuli. For both active and passive rotation, these effects were almost exactly reciprocal, such that performance was related primarily to the duration of the stimulus, with ∼100 ms duration required for 75% correct front/back discrimination regardless of the cue-change magnitude or mode of rotation. The efficacy of the dynamic auditory cues in the passive rotation condition suggests that vestibular input is sufficient to inform the auditory system about head motion.
Multisensory integration enhances coordination: The necessity of a phasing matching between cross-modal events and movements
Authors: Zelic Gregory , Mottet Denis , Lagarde Julien
Published: November 2012

Recent research revealed what substrates may subserve the fascinating capacity of the brain to put together different senses, from single cell to extending networks (see for review, Driver and Noesselt, 2008; Ghazanfar and Schroeder, 2006; Sperdin et al., 2010; Stein and Stanford, 2008), and lead to interesting behavioral benefits in response to cross-modal events such as shorter reaction times, easier detections or more precise synchronization (Diederich and Colonius, 2004; Elliott et al., 2010). But what happens when a combination of multisensory perception and action is required? This is a key issue, since the organization of movements in space–time in harmony with our surrounding environment is the basis of our everdaylife. Surprisingly enough, little is known about how different senses and movement are combined dynamically. Coordination skills allow to test the effectiveness of such a combination, since external events have been shown to stabilize the coordination performance when adequately tuned (Fink et al., 2000). We then tested the modulation of the capacity of participants to produce an anti-symmetric rhythmic bimanual coordination while synchronizing with audio–tactile versus audio and tactile metronomes pacing the coordination from low to high rates of motion. Three condition of metronome structure found to stabilize the anti-symmetric mode have been handled: Simple, Double and Lateralized. We found redundant signal effects for Lateralized metronomes, but not for Simple and Double metronomes, rather explained by neural audio–tactile interactions than by a simple statistical redundancy. These results reflect the effective cortical cooperation between components in charge of the audio–tactile integration and ones sustaining the anti-symmetric coordination pattern. We will discuss the apparent necessity for cross-modal events to match the phasing of movements to greater stabilize the coordination.
“Rodnik”: A Source of Inspiration
Authors: Oser Jesco
Published: November 2012

Abstract

The article discusses the history of Princess Mariia Tenishevaʼs workshops at Talashkino which, in the early 1900s, played a significant role in Russia’s Arts and Crafts movement. Recently discovered photographs of the interior of “Rodnik,” the store in Moscow that marketed Talashkino wares from 1903 to 1906, were the occasion to shed more light on Tenisheva’s attempt to revive popular craft traditions by creating artist-designed and hand manufactured goods for daily use.
Sculpture at the “Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings ‘0.10’ (Zero-Ten)”
Authors: Lodder Christina
Published: November 2012

Abstract

This article explores the “Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings ‘0.10’” (1915) as a key moment when Russian painters began to work seriously in three dimensions, exploring the nature of materials, questioning the relationship between art and reality, and ultimately laying the foundation for the subsequent emergence of the Constructivist movement. The exhibition revealed an important strand in Russian creative thinking and practice concerning sculpture and the nature of artistic materials.
The Challenger: Vadim Sidur and His Art
Authors: Glants Musya
Published: November 2012

Abstract

This article introduces the art of the Russian sculptor Vadim Abramovich Sidur (1924-86), whose innovative sculptural style contrasted the canons of Socialist Realism. Different periods in Sidur’s work are united by universal themes: love and violence, death and birth, the horror of war and its deadly effects on human life. His sculptural heritage is a symbolic reflection of the troubling reality of people whose existence is blighted by hatred and oppression in different forms and shapes. His work combines an apparent lack of emotion with an inner emotional strength that is highly expressive.
Strategic Monuments: Zurab Tsereteli’s Gift Sculptures to the United States in the Eras of Détente, Perestroika, and Anti-Terrorism, 1979-2006
Authors: Woodburn Stephen M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Best known for transforming the look of Moscow in the 1990s, sculptor and artist Zurab Tsereteli has also donated gift monuments abroad to coincide with diplomatic initiatives of the Soviet Union and Russia. This article examines Tsereteli’s gift monuments to the United States, spanning from the era of détente in the late-1970s to the brief window of anti-terrorist solidarity after 11 September 2001. The monuments are located mostly in or near New York City, although the unfortunate Columbus monument still awaits a permanent home (contrary to rumor, however, it did not return to Moscow as Peter the Great). While the motives and intentions informing the gifts provide the initial footing for the reception of the works, they fade to obscurity as the monuments accrue a legacy within the host community over time.
Indirect FDI
Authors: Kalotay Kálmán
Published: November 2012

This article analyses indirect FDI, denoting investment projects, in which the ultimate owner is different from the immediate investor. Reasons for the existence of this type of investment projects can be mostly corporate strategies and tax considerations. The development impact of indirect FDI is not necessarily negative; however it varies by the key types of indirect FDI (delegation of power to regional headquarters, nearshoring, concealed investment, and round tripping). It also depends on how the project money is transhipped: through an affiliate abroad, or through a special purpose entity. Government polices may influence largely the extent and development impact of indirect FDI, especially through tax policies. The phenomenon deserves more attention in the future, as currently indirect FDI is an under-researched topic.
Philosophical Considerations about Equity in Higher Education
Authors: Bull Barry L.
Published: November 2012

The principle of equity traditionally means that equals should be treated equally and unequals should be treated unequally. Applied to higher education, that principle implies that institutions should grant access to aspiring students based on their demonstrated motivation and ability to take advantage of such education. However, neither a standard inherent-desert nor a social-value argument succeed in providing a moral justification for the equity principle for access to higher education. Therefore, it is argued that the principle of equality in access to higher education, according to which no aspiring student may be denied such access, is more morally justified than the principle of equity in access.
Militia Training and State Control in Republican Hu’nan
Authors: McCord Edward A.
Published: November 2012

Abstract

This study of Hunan province during China’s Nanjing decade (1927-1937) shows how militia training could play a key role in the extension of state control both over local militia and through militia into local society. Provincial authorities in Hunan used an argument for the need to increase the efficacy of militia through more rigorous military training to justify an activist intervention in local militia organizations. This training goal then provided a means of extending increased state control over militia as provincial personnel were dispatched to “supervise” local militia training, as local militia leaders were evaluated on the basis of their ability to provide this training, and as training content was expanded to include political indoctrination as well as military skills. Meanwhile the government strengthened ties with local militia officers through extended training programs in the provincial capital or in army units. While many of these efforts focused on standing militia forces and their officers, training programs were also instituted for the mass membership of lower-level “volunteer corps.” More than just political indoctrination, the regimentation instilled by regular training programs also worked to increase the state’s control over the lives of its citizens.
Individual and Contextual Constraints on Ideological Labels in Latin America
Authors: Zechmeister Elizabeth J. , Corral Margarita
Published: November 2012

Ideological labels are theoretically useful tools with which individuals comprehend, discuss, and engage in politics. Their actual significance, however, varies. We assess how select individual and contextual factors systematically affect individuals’ use and understandings of the classic left–right dimension in Latin America. Using data from the 2010 AmericasBarometer survey, we show that although education, political interest, and political sophistication help citizens place themselves on the ideological continuum, context also matters such that polarization (positively), fragmentation (negatively), and volatility (negatively) affect left–right response. Our analyses further demonstrate that, generally speaking, placements on the left–right scale are linked to individuals’ stances on economic, democratic, religious, and social issues, but context matters in important ways here as well. In short, ideological labels in Latin America hold important potential for orienting citizens within the political arena, but their utility is constrained in important ways at both the individual and contextual levels.
“Engendering” Politics
Authors: Barnes Tiffany D. , Burchard Stephanie M.
Published: November 2012

Globally, there is a significant gender gap in political engagement between men and women; however, this gender gap varies both across countries and within countries over time. Previous research has argued that the inclusion of women in elite political positions encourages women’s political engagement at the citizen level—by augmenting women’s symbolic representation—and can reduce this gender gap. Using Afrobarometer data from 20 African countries across four waves of surveys from 1999 to 2008, we employ an interactive multilevel model that controls for the sex of the respondent, the percentage of women in the legislature, and the interaction of these two variables. We find that as women’s descriptive representation increases, the political engagement gender gap diminishes. This finding is robust across several measures of political engagement. Our findings suggest that the incorporation of women into political institutions encourages the political engagement of women at the citizen level.
Residential Mobility and Local Civic Engagement in Japan and the United States
Authors: Schoppa Leonard
Published: November 2012

What drives differences across countries in levels of civic engagement? Both the United States and Japan have been described as having high levels of civic engagement, but a variety of measures show that the type of involvement that is most common varies. Americans join and contribute to national political groups, but membership in PTAs and volunteer firefighting units is low and declining. Japanese participate at a much lower level in national advocacy organizations, but they join local neighborhood associations at very high rates, participate extensively in PTAs, and volunteer to clean up neighborhood parks. This article seeks to unravel why Japanese have such high rates of local civic engagement by examining how parents and volunteers have mobilized to maintain high rates of walking to and from school during a period in which walk-to-school rates have plummeted in the United States. The higher rate of Japanese local engagement in this area, I argue, is motivated by housing markets that limit residential mobility to much lower levels than in the United States. High cost of residential “exit” in Japan drives citizens to exercise “voice” to maintain the safety and walkability of their neighborhoods.
Organizational Cross-Cultural Competence
Authors: van Driel Marinus , Gabrenya William K.
Published: November 2012

The present study was designed to assess the viability of developing quantitative measures of cross-cultural competence as an emergent organizational-level construct using samples of military organizations. Cross-cultural competence has predominantly been discussed as an individual-level construct but has not been extensively assessed as an organizational-level phenomenon. A synthesis of the cross-cultural competence, organizational intelligence, and multilevel analysis literatures was used to construct a theoretical basis for organizational cross-cultural competence and the development of quantitative measures of the construct. Based on this synthesis, three strategies were identified for assessing cross-cultural competence at the organizational level of analysis. Three studies were conducted to test these three strategies, each of which was supported empirically through the successful generation of interpretable organization-level scales and subscales. In a fourth study, each of the organization-level measures developed in Studies 1, 2, and 3 was found to be related to organization-level indices of organizational climate, perceived organization effectiveness, and cohesion.
The Confirmation and Disconfirmation of Expectancies in Computer-Mediated Communication
Authors: Tong Stephanie Tom , Walther Joseph B.
Published: November 2012

This research addresses three important issues regarding interpersonal expectancy effects and communication across various modalities. The phenomena of behavioral confirmation and disconfirmation were tested in an original experiment involving 148 participants using computer-mediated communication (CMC). First, this study tested a boundary condition asserted by previous theorists about whether or not confirmation and disconfirmation could occur in communication channels without nonverbal communication. Secondly, it shed light on an important causal variable of perceived malleability of interpersonal expectancies in a novel, simultaneous test of confirmation and disconfirmation. Lastly, it verified the hyperpersonal model of CMC by demonstrating behavioral confirmation, and extended the model by specifying when disconfirmation occurs online.
The good, the bad and the perfect: Criticizing engagement practice
Authors: Irwin Alan , Jensen Torben Elgaard , Jones Kevin E
Published: November 2012

Criticism seems to be a recurring and significant characteristic of public engagement exercises – as reflected both in general political discussion and in the academic literature on public engagement with science. This article suggests that rather than being a distraction from the main business of ‘technical democracy’, criticism lies at the heart of public engagement and in that way should be seen not simply as an unwelcome and unanticipated by-product but rather as a key constituent. Taking inspiration from previous science and technology studies’ treatments of ‘bottom line’ moves and also from Boltanski and Thévenot’s sociology of critical capacity, this article adopts an approach to radical critique that explores its ‘dynamic-yet-patterned’ character. Building upon a ‘translation’ model, but also a framework taken from the martial arts, a reconstruction is offered of one empirical study of lay membership on scientific advisory committees. Conclusions are drawn concerning not only the analysis of critical dialogue around engagement but also the implications for democratic practice.
Stalking of Psychiatrists
Authors: Mastronardi Vincenzo M. , Pomilla Antonella , Ricci Serafino , D’Argenio Alberto
Published: November 2012

Research has indicated that medical doctors and paramedics are at higher risk of being stalked than the general population. In particular, mental health care professionals alone represent one third of the victims of harassment. Because of the lack of studies in this specific sector, especially in Italy, in this study, we examined the stalking of psychiatrists by their patients, considering gender differences and the incidence of stalking in private practice and public mental health clinics in Rome. We found that the rate of stalking in private mental health settings is higher than that in public settings and that the perpetrators of stalking are mainly women who mostly target mental health professionals working in private practice. Implications of the findings are noted and discussed.
Secondary chronic cluster headache treated by posterior hypothalamic deep brain stimulation: First reported case
Authors: Messina Giuseppe , Rizzi Michele , Cordella Roberto , Caraceni Augusto , Zecca Ernesto , Bussone Gennaro , Franzini Angelo , Leone Massimo
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the posterior hypothalamus (pHyp) has been reported as an effective treatment for primary, drug-refractory and chronic cluster headache (CCH). We here describe the use of such a procedure for the treatment of secondary CCH due to a neoplasm affecting the soft tissues of the right hemiface.

Methods

A 27-year-old man affected by infiltrating angiomyolipoma of the right hemiface who subsequently developed drug refractory homolateral CCH underwent DBS of the right pHyp region at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta.

Results

After surgery, the patient presented a significant reduction in frequency of pain bouts. However, because of a subsequent infection, the entire system was removed. After re-implantation of the system, successful outcome was observed at 2 years follow-up.

Discussion

This brief report shows the feasibility of pHyp DBS in secondary drug-refractory CCH syndromes; future reports are needed in order to confirm our positive result.
The Tunisian diaspora: Between ‘digital riots’ and Web activism
Authors: Graziano Teresa
Published: November 2012

This article deals with the increasing connections among the Tunisian diaspora and its homeland provided by a widespread use of the social Web. The main aim is to evaluate to what extent the Tunisian diaspora has contributed to a wider diffusion of cyberactivism concerning legitimate claims for democracy and human rights, considered as one of the main driving forces behind the 2011 revolution. After introducing some epistemological and methodological issues related to the study of the Web, the article deepens the history of Tunisian migrants’ online activism in order to grasp connections with the later configuration of the cyberdissidence in their homeland. The last section is dedicated to interpretation of the graphs in order to compare the research hypotheses with the results stemming from the e-Diasporas project methodology.
Integrating Information
Authors: Solé Isabel , Miras Mariana , Castells Núria , Espino Sandra , Minguela Marta
Published: November 2012

The case study reported here explores the processes involved in producing a written synthesis of three history texts and their possible relation to the characteristics of the texts produced and the degree of comprehension achieved following the task. The processes carried out by 10 final-year compulsory education students (15 and 16 years old) to produce their syntheses, including the integrations they verbalized while performing the task, were examined in detail with a double-analysis system. The results revealed a tendency for the students who engaged in more elaborative patterns to make more integrations and produce better texts. These students seemed to benefit more from the task in terms of comprehension. Conversely, the students who followed a more reproductive pattern by and large copied ideas from the source texts and achieved low levels of comprehension.
The Creation of Sentencing Decisions
Authors: Huck Jennifer L. , Lee Daniel R.
Published: November 2012

Judicial sentencing decision research most often examines the legal, defendant, and judicial characteristics that predict incarceration and sentence length decisions. Often ignored are the social worlds of the courtroom and judge in how these relate to sentencing decision processes and outcomes. The general framework of symbolic interactionism, through the theories of expectation states and situated identity, provides a foundation to understand the social processes of sentencing. A self-report survey administered to Wisconsin Circuit Court judges ( n = 74) gathered information about these social processes that might be used to predict sentencing patterns. The results strengthen the position that judges’ decisions are not outside of social pressures, and judges develop sentencing decisions that align with the viewpoints of others as well as interpretations of the legal code.
Exploring Novice Teachers’ Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Teacher Unionism
Authors: Pogodzinski Ben , Jones Nathan
Published: November 2012

The distinct needs and interests of novice teachers are not always reflected in the priorities of teacher unions, which may impact novice teachers’ attachment to teacher unionism. Using survey data from teachers, we examined novice teachers’ involvement in their unions and their desire for union involvement in their work lives compared to their veteran colleagues’. Finally we explored how novices’ union beliefs and involvement varied by characteristics of their organizational context. Our findings suggest that teacher unions need to more fully address the needs and interests of novice teachers as well as the organizational factors that influence their evaluation of unionism.
Private Sector Contracting and Democratic Accountability
Authors: DiMartino Catherine , Scott Janelle
Published: November 2012

Public officials are increasingly contracting with the private sector for a range of educational services. With much of the focus on private sector accountability on cost-effectiveness and student performance, less attention has been given to shifts in democratic accountability. Drawing on data from the state of New York, one of the most active contracting contexts, the authors examine how contracting poses challenges to democratic accountability and provide suggestions for how policy makers engaging with private sector providers might better attend to the broader public purposes of schooling.
Mathematical representation of the normal proximal human femur: Application in planning of cam hip surgery
Authors: Masjedi Milad , Harris Simon J , Davda Kinner , Cobb Justin P
Published: November 2012

Precise modelling of the proximal femur can be used for detecting and planning corrective surgery for subjects with deformed femurs using robotic technology or navigation systems. In this study, the proximal femoral geometry has been modelled mathematically. It is hypothesised that it is possible to fit a quadratic surface or combinations of them onto different bone surfaces with a relatively good fit. Forty-six computed tomography datasets of normal proximal femora were segmented. A least-squares fitting algorithm was used to fit a quadratic surface on the femoral head and neck such that the sum of distances between a set of points on the femoral neck and the quadratic surface was minimised. Furthermore, the position of the head–neck articular margin was also measured. The femoral neck was found to be represented as a good fit to a hyperboloid with an average root mean-squared error of 1.0 ± 0.13 mm while the shape of the femoral articular margin was a reproducible sinusoidal wave form with two peaks. The mathematical description in this study can be used for planning corrective surgery for subjects with cam-type femoroacetabular impingement.
Maximum likelihood estimation of time to first event in the presence of data gaps and multiple events
Authors: Green Cynthia L , Brownie Cavell , Boos Dennis D , Lu Jye-Chyi , Krucoff Mitchell W
Published: November 2012

We propose a novel likelihood method for analyzing time-to-event data when multiple events and multiple missing data intervals are possible prior to the first observed event for a given subject. This research is motivated by data obtained from a heart monitor used to track the recovery process of subjects experiencing an acute myocardial infarction. The time to first recovery, T1, is defined as the time when the ST-segment deviation first falls below 50% of the previous peak level. Estimation of T1 is complicated by data gaps during monitoring and the possibility that subjects can experience more than one recovery. If gaps occur prior to the first observed event, T, the first observed recovery may not be the subject’s first recovery. We propose a parametric gap likelihood function conditional on the gap locations to estimate T1. Standard failure time methods that do not fully utilize the data are compared to the gap likelihood method by analyzing data from an actual study and by simulation. The proposed gap likelihood method is shown to be more efficient and less biased than interval censoring and more efficient than right censoring if data gaps occur early in the monitoring process or are short in duration.
Moral sensitivity relating to the application of the code of ethics
Authors: Kim Yong-Soon , Kang Se-Won , Ahn Jeong-Ah
Published: November 2012

This study investigated the clinical application of the 2006 Third Revised Korean Nurses’ Code of Ethics and the moral sensitivity of nurses. A total of 303 clinical nurses in South Korea participated in the survey in May and June 2011. As instruments of this study, we used the 15 statements of the Korean Nurses’ Code of Ethics and Korean Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire. The mean score for application was 3.77 ± 0.59 (out of 5), and the mean score for moral sensitivity was 5.14 ± 0.55 (out of 7). The correlation coefficient ( r) of the application and moral sensitivity was 0.336 ( p < 0.001). Nurses who scored high on moral sensitivity also scored high on application ( t = −5.018, p < 0.001). In clinical settings, educational programmes to develop the moral sensitivity of nurses are necessary for improving the application of the code of ethics.
‘Working behind the scenes’ An ethical view of mental health nursing and first-episode psychosis
Authors: Moe Cathrine , Kvig Erling I , Brinchmann Beate , Brinchmann Berit S
Published: November 2012

The aim of this study was to explore and reflect upon mental health nursing and first-episode psychosis. Seven multidisciplinary focus group interviews were conducted, and data analysis was influenced by a grounded theory approach. The core category was found to be a process named ‘working behind the scenes’. It is presented along with three subcategories: ‘keeping the patient in mind’, ‘invisible care’ and ‘invisible network contact’. Findings are illuminated with the ethical principles of respect for autonomy and paternalism. Nursing care is dynamic, and clinical work moves along continuums between autonomy and paternalism and between ethical reflective and non-reflective practice. ‘Working behind the scenes’ is considered to be in a paternalistic area, containing an ethical reflection. Treating and caring for individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis demands an ethical awareness and great vigilance by nurses. The study is a contribution to reflection upon everyday nursing practice, and the conclusion concerns the importance of making invisible work visible.
A Stochastic Model for Early Identification of Infectious Disease Epidemics With Application to Measles Cases in Bangladesh
Authors: Sharmin Sifat , Rayhan Md. Israt
Published: November 2012

In this article, a stochastic modeling approach was employed for the detection of epidemics in advance that was based on a negative binomial model with 2 components: an endemic component and an epidemic component. This study used monthly measles cases from January 2000 to August 2009 collected from the Expanded Program on Immunization, Bangladesh. General optimization routines provided the maximum likelihood estimates with corresponding standard errors. The negative binomial model with both seasonal endemic and epidemic components was shown to provide adequate fit with no measles epidemic during September 2008 to August 2009.
Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Thai Women in Construction-Related Work
Authors: Hanklang Suda , Kaewboonchoo Orawan , Silpasuwan Pimpan , Mungarndee Suriyaphun S.
Published: November 2012

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms and its risk factors among women rebar workers. A simple random sampling method was used and data were collected by face-to-face interview and ergonomic assessment from February to March 2011. A total of 272 women rebar workers with at least 6 months’ job experience participated in this study. The findings revealed that 57.7% of workers reported musculoskeletal disorder symptoms with low back and shoulders as the most common body parts affected (46.0%). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated 2 variables that are significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders: prolonged working hours (adjusted odds ratio = 7.63; 95% confidence interval = 2.06-28.31) and awkward posture (adjusted odds ratio = 43.79; 95% confidence interval = 17.09-112.20). The high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among women rebar workers suggests that an appropriate ergonomic workstation design and ergonomic training for women rebar workers are necessary.
Leishmania amastigotes in the central nervous system of a naturally infected dog
Authors: Márquez Merce , Pedregosa José Raúl , López Jesús , Marco-Salazar Paola , Fondevila Dolors , Pumarola Martí
Published: November 2012

A 4-year-old male Labrador Retriever dog was presented with a 10-day history of tetraplegia, depression, and absent postural reflexes. The cerebrospinal fluid was positive for Leishmania spp. DNA. At necropsy, a 2-cm long mass was observed adhered to C7 and C8 left spinal nerves. Microscopically, nerve fiber destruction together with mixed inflammatory infiltration was observed in the spinal nerves. Cervical spinal cord sections showed multifocal, diffuse granulomatous inflammation in the white matter. In the brain, perivascular infiltrates were observed in some areas together with subtle pallor of the parenchyma. Immunohistochemistry for Leishmania infantum confirmed the presence of amastigotes in the spinal nerves, spinal cord, brain parenchyma, and choroid plexuses. The current study describes the presence of Leishmania amastigotes in nervous tissue inciting radiculoneuritis, myelitis, and mild meningoencephalitis, suggesting a likely route by which L. infantum amastigotes reach and affect the central nervous system parenchyma.
Failed States and Connections to Terrorist Activity
Authors: Plummer Chelli
Published: November 2012

A strong connection has been drawn between failed and/or failing states and terrorism. Not all failed/failing states promote equal amounts of terrorism. This article compares failed states that promote high degrees of terrorism with those that promote low degrees of terrorism by using a twofold approach. First, ordinary lease square regression is used to examine the aspects of state failure in relation to terrorism and second, a comparison is drawn between failed states that promote high degrees of terrorism with those that promote low degrees of terrorism in a case study analysis of Somalia and the Ivory Coast. The results suggest that the relationship between state failure and terrorism is more complex than a simple linear causal process and that examination of the processes involved in state failure are integral in understanding why some states experience high levels of terrorist activity while others do not.
Policing in Northern Ireland
Authors: Hays R. Allen
Published: November 2012

This article explores the recent struggles of Northern Ireland to create a legitimate police force that is viewed as responsive to the needs of both the Catholic/nationalist community and the Protestant/unionist community. Three types of legitimacy are explored: democratic legitimacy through popular control, professional legitimacy of trained public officials, and legitimacy through responsive implementation. Based on 102 qualitative interviews with community leaders and key actors within the process of police governance and community relations conducted between 2007 and 2010, this article concludes that progress has been made in establishing all three types of legitimacy but that the remaining deep sectarian divisions within the society, combined with recent economic difficulties, present serious challenges to police/community partnerships that will enhance the legitimacy of the police.
Perceived Fairness of Differential Customer Treatment
Authors: Mayser Sabine , von Wangenheim Florian
Published: November 2012

Following the principles of relationship marketing, many service providers treat customers differently based on their profitability. We investigate consumers’ fairness perceptions of such differential customer treatment in two major service economies, the United States and Germany. Applying the concept of distributive justice to differential customer treatment, we find that consumers’ preference for the principle of equity versus the principle of equality predicts fairness perceptions in both countries. We also find that consumers’ reactions to nonpreferred treatment are more intense than their reactions to preferred treatment. That is, results indicate that not only does customers’ understanding of distributive justice have an influence, but also the principle of loss aversion comes into play when differential customer treatment is examined from the consumers’ perspective. We also investigate differences between U.S. and German consumers and find that U.S. consumers perceive differential customer treatment as less unfair. Though rather critical of differential treatment at large, we also find that German consumers report reacting more positively when preferred. Although fairness is an issue, results overall show that most service providers should not refrain from differential customer treatment. Because, generally, consumers do not seek complete equality and like to be preferred, service providers applying differential treatment need to clearly communicate the equity principle and to make sure to treat their best customers preferred—without treating other customers badly. We also recommend including customers' fairness perceptions as a key performance indicator in firms' market research plans and considering regional adjustments rather than standardized practices when applying differential treatment strategies in different countries.
Mood of the Material
Authors: Blair Carole , Balthrop V. William , Michel Neil
Published: November 2012

This essay explores the commemorative site of Fleury-devant-Douaumont (Fleury), a village destroyed during the battle of Verdun in 1916. We argue that Fleury offers a creative rhetoric of imagining otherwise by rendering a doubled demand on the imagination. It provokes visitors to attend to the fact of war’s overwhelming destructiveness. And simultaneously, it urges them to imagine the counterfactual, the “not having happened”—Fleury as a tiny and vibrant community as it would have been in the absence of war. In doing so, Fleury’s rhetoric opposes itself to a stance that sanitizes, justifies, or glorifies war.
Exploring the Validity and Statistical Utility of a Racism Scale Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Smith William Pastor
Published: November 2012

The primary purpose of this two-phased study was to examine the structural validity and statistical utility of a racism scale specific to Black men who have sex with men (MSM) who resided in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and Baltimore, Maryland. Phase I involved pretesting a 10-item racism measure with 20 Black MSM. Based on pretest findings, the scale was adapted into a 21-item racism scale for use in collecting data on 166 respondents in Phase II. Exploratory factor analysis of the 21-item racism scale resulted in a 19-item, two-factor solution. The two factors or subscales were the following: General Racism and Relationships and Racism. Confirmatory factor analysis was used in testing construct validity of the factored racism scale. Specifically, the two racism factors were combined with three homophobia factors into a confirmatory factor analysis model. Based on a summary of the fit indices, both comparative and incremental were equal to .90, suggesting an adequate convergence of the racism and homophobia dimensions into a single social oppression construct. Statistical utility of the two racism subscales was demonstrated when regression analysis revealed that the gay-identified men versus bisexual-identified men in the sample were more likely to experience increased racism within the context of intimate relationships and less likely to be exposed to repeated experiences of general racism. Overall, the findings in this study highlight the importance of continuing to explore the psychometric properties of a racism scale that accounts for the unique psychosocial concerns experienced by Black MSM.
Surgery for Severe Obesity
Authors: Kushner Robert F. , Neff Lisa M.
Published: November 2012

Bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for patients with severe obesity, producing improvements in many comorbid conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and dyslipidemia. The loss of body weight and resolution of comorbidities have been more recently found to be the result of functional and metabolic changes produced by the surgical procedures. Nonetheless, bariatric surgery is still considered to be a tool that is supported by health behaviors characteristic of all weight loss programs—that is, adoption of healthy eating patterns, engagement in robust physical activity, and implementation of constructive coping strategies. In addition, patients who undergo bariatric surgery face challenges that are particular to this population, including adjustment to rapid and significant reduction in body weight, forced alterations in eating behavior, and risk of alcohol misuse. This state-of-the-art review focuses on the research and resultant recommendations regarding lifestyle management for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
Quantitative modeling of organizational resilience for Dutch emergency response safety regions
Authors: van Trijp John MP , Ulieru Mihaela , van Gelder Pieter HAJM
Published: November 2012

Resilience is an important concept to determine how well a Dutch Emergency Response Safety Region behaves under stress. The main objective of this study is to determine the intrinsic value of “resilience” for Dutch Emergency Response Safety Regions. In this study it is concluded that the concept of “resilience” can be best described by the generic approach “operational resilience”. A large scale survey among safety stakeholders in The Netherlands was conducted where the following items describing operational resilience were explored: situation awareness ( awa); management of keystone vulnerabilities ( kv); adaptive capacity ( ac) and quality ( q). Results show resilience of an emergency response organization can be described by a unique dynamic operational resilience f( Rero) UV factor. A simplified approach of unique dynamic operational resilience is suggested by using a quick scan method to speed up the process of assessment.
Mediated public diplomacy: Satellite TV news in the Arab world and perception effects
Authors: Fahmy Shahira , Wanta Wayne , Nisbet Erik C
Published: November 2012

Using Entman’s work on mediated public diplomacy, the authors conducted an Arabic-language online survey of news consumers on Arab websites, including one US-funded media outlet. They examined factors leading to gaps in exposure and perceptions of credibility for three Arab news outlets. Specifically, they examined variables that differentiated between exposure to and perceived credibility regarding the three satellite news media – al-Jazeera, al-Arabiya, and al-Hurra. Results showed that issue importance and attitudes toward the United States were significant predictors of exposure gaps between the US-funded network and other Arab media. Exposure gaps were also powerful predictors of perceived credibility.
Complicated Acute Pyelonephritis With Extrarenal Manifestations
Authors: Megremis Stylianos , Chatziioannou Maria , Lydakis Charalampos , Sfakianaki Evaggelia
Published: November 2012

The sonographic features of extrarenal manifestations of complicated acute pyelonephritis (APN) have rarely been reported. A case of severe APN in a young woman is presented with the imaging workup done exclusively by conventional sonography using color and power Doppler. Discussion places a focus on the imaging spectrum and clinical significance of the extrarenal manifestations. The hepatobiliary findings of APN appear to signify accompanying sepsis and gravity of the condition, and gallbladder wall thickening must not be misdiagnosed as acute cholecystitis.