bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ways of Assessing the Security of Organization Information Systems through SWOT Analysis
Authors: Rehak David , Grasseova Monika
Published: November 2011

The chapter is focused mainly on assessing the factors of the external environment in the area of security of information systems in the organization through SWOT analysis. At first the method is characterized from the viewpoint of its purpose and nature. The emphasis is laid on the principles of SWOT analysis, the possible use of methods and tools, and also the most common problems occurring during the implementation of the analysis. The recommended methodical procedure for the implementation of SWOT analysis is described in another part of the chapter with individual phases and particular activities, which are appropriate to be carried out within these phases. The main part of the chapter is focused on the ways of semi-quantitative assessment of threats to the area of information systems of the organization, while evaluating their risks, and the assessment of opportunities, while evaluating their benefits. Both cases include a detailed description of procedure leading to an objective outcome during the classification of identified threats and opportunities according to the set criteria.
E-Readiness in IT/IS Implementation
Authors: Altameem Ayman , Zairi Mohamed
Published: November 2011

This study is an attempt to bridge the gap in the existing literature by exploring the critical factors that affect IT adoption through a comprehensive benchmarking analysis, using secondary cases. The IT adoption in 100 organizations indicated in the literature, were scrutinized in all the cases analyzed in order to arrive at the most critical factors affecting IT adoption, as well as their degree of criticality. The study identifies twenty-four critical factors that must be carefully considered in IT adoption to attain successful outcomes.
Socrates and Descartes Meet the E*Trade Baby
Authors: Winsor Denise L. , Blake Sally
Published: November 2011

Personal Epistemology is the study of an individual’s beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing (Hofer & Pintrich, 1997). The study of epistemology has been debated for centuries from Socrates to Descartes; it was later revived in the field of educational psychology by William Perry (1970). Technology plays a significant role in all aspects of children’s life today, and this role will only increase in the future. The potential benefits of technology for young children’s learning and development are well documented (Wright & Shade 1994). Therefore, parents and teachers of young children have a responsibility to critically examine the impact of technology on children and be prepared to use technology to benefit children. When it comes to technology the generation gap is undeniable; what does this gap mean for teaching and learning in early childhood? Further, what does it mean for teachers and parents while our youngest learners tip the scale as their worlds are enmeshed with information, communication, and media technology? Does the E*Trade baby represent our future children?
Using Technology in the World of Play
Authors: Casey Laura Baylot , Reeves Kay C. , Conner Elisabeth C.
Published: November 2011

Child development experts have been raising alarms about the increasingly didactic and test-driven path of early childhood education as many programs eliminate play from their schedules. This limits the potential of technology use in play which is a natural combination for young children as play technologies become globally accepted as leisure time and learning activities. Play and technology both have their unique place in society and are often thought of as two separate entities. However, in today’s technology driven world, the separateness of the two is no longer as apparent as the two are beginning to blend. This blend is exciting but leaves educators with questions. Specifically, questions related to the following: (a) How do educators ensure that the child is challenged in every developmental domain and (b) How do educators create and facilitate opportunities for exposure to the traditional stages of play while also making sure that the child stays abreast of the latest and greatest technological advances? This chapter begins with the history of play and walks the reader to the issues educators are facing when technology and play merge.
Supporting Mathematics for Young Children through Technology
Authors: Powell Angeline , Ray Beverly B.
Published: November 2011

We owe a debt to our children. We have failed to prepare our students for global competiveness, especially in mathematics. As educators, we need to think about how we can support all learners at all levels, but perhaps we should begin in the early childhood years and concentrate on mathematics. This chapter is about technology in mathematics in the early childhood years. We write this because we believe that technology can be appropriately used in mathematics in the early years. We note however, that technology, like teacher quality, has profound and systemic problems with equity. We also acknowledge that technology for technology’s sake is not appropriate, particularly during the early years. We are taking responsibility for our debt, as we outline use of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards in conjunction with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) as a framework for mathematics in the early years. We view technology as one means of supporting those standards.
Learning, Growing, and Connecting in Sickness and in Health
Authors: Boles Jessika C. , Winsor Denise L.
Published: November 2011

Even though parenting may have originated out of evolutionary necessity, parenting today has taken on many different meanings related to the larger social and cultural contexts in which it is situated. One of the dominant forces impacting parenting across the most recent decades is technology, which has allowed the easy access and transmission of information via the internet, enabled long-distance communications, and provided an additional medium for education and entertainment for even very young children. Although technology maintains a seemingly universal presence in the lives of parents and their children, it is used in different ways according to the individual circumstances that each family faces on a day-to-day basis. This chapter will explore the various ways in which typically developing children, children with disabilities, and children with chronic illnesses and their parents utilize technology to access information, acquire social support, and achieve parental and developmental goals. Technology offers a valuable resource for meeting the needs of parents and young children of all abilities
XML Similarity Detection and Measures
Authors: Madria Sanjay Kumar , Viyanon Waraporn
Published: November 2011

XML similarity detection plays an important role in facilitating many applications such as data integration, document classification/clustering, querying, and change management. In this chapter, we present an overview on XML document syntactic and semantic similarity/distance measures along with existing research related to XML similarity detection. The measures are classified into two main categories: structural similarity, and structural and content similarity. We review similarity detection approaches proposed in the literature and discuss some of the challenges and future directions for research on XML similarity detection and related fields.
A Component-Based Framework for the Integration and Exploration of XML Sources
Authors: De Meo Pasquale , Nocera Antonino , Ursino Domenico
Published: November 2011

Handling the interoperability issues in multiple, heterogeneous XML sources is central in XML data management and mining. In this chapter, we present a framework for the intensional integration and exploration of XML sources. Specifically, we propose a three-layer framework aimed at extracting interschema knowledge from the available sources, constructing a hierarchy based on the extracted knowledge to represent the sources at different abstraction levels, and finally organizing and exploring the sources through the constructed hierarchy. We also describe possible implementations of each of the three layers, focusing on the extraction of intensional interschema properties, the intensional integration of XML sources, and the clustering of XML schemas. In order to better handle the complexity of its activities, the proposed framework has been designed by means of the layers architecture patterns and the component-based development paradigm.
Matching XML Documents at Structural and Conceptual Level using Subtree Patterns
Authors: Pan Qi Hua , Hadzic Fedja , Dillon Tharam S.
Published: November 2011

Knowledge matching is an important problem for many emerging applications in many areas including scientific knowledge management, ontology matching, e-commerce, and enterprise application integration. Matching the concepts of heterogeneous knowledge representations is very challenging due to the difficulty of taking contextual information into account and detecting complex matches. In this chapter, we describe a knowledge matching approach that uses subtree patterns to utilize structural information for matching at the conceptual and structural level. Initially, the algorithm does not take any syntactic information into account, but rather forms candidate mappings according to their structural/contextual relationships in the knowledge structures, which are then validated using online dictionaries and string similarity measures. The approach will then automatically extract the knowledge structure that is shared among all the matched knowledge representations. Experimental evaluation is performed on a number of real world XML schemas, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Geographical Map Annotation with Significant Tags available from Social Networks
Authors: Roglia Elena , Meo Rosa , Ponassi Enrico
Published: November 2011

In this chapter we describe how to extract relevant information on a geographical area from information that users share and provide by means of their mobiles or personal digital assistants, thanks to Web 2.0 applications such as OpenStreetMap, Geonames, Flickr, and GoogleMaps. These Web 2.0 applications represent, store, and process information in an XML format. We analyze and use this information to enrich the content of the cartographic map of a given geographical area with up-to-date information. In addition we provide a characterization of the map by selection of the annotations that differentiate the given map from the surrounding areas. This occurs by means of statistical tests on the annotations frequency in the different geographical areas. We present the results of an experimental section in which we show that the content characterization is meaningful, statistically significant, and usefully concise.
Research and Practices on Open Innovation
Authors: Rahman Hakikur , Ramos Isabel
Published: November 2011

Innovation has become a recognized driver of economic prosperity of a country through sustained growth of its entrepreneurships. Moreover, recently coined term open innovation is increasingly taking a lead in enterprise management in terms of sustained profitability. Foci of researchers and practitioners are revolving around innovation methods, processes, and strategies. This chapter seeks to find out open innovation researches and practices that are being carried out circumscribing development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through a longitudinal study. Along this context the study is investigating into researches that are being carried out by leading researchers and research houses across the globe, and at the same time, it also investigates open innovation practices that are being carried out for the development of SMEs. Before its conclusion, the chapter attempts to develop a framework for future research practices.
A Structural Model for the Design and Implementation of Open Innovation
Authors: Heim Matthew C.
Published: November 2011

With the recent developments of open innovation as a formal management discipline, many organizations today are struggling to form effective internal competencies that can be leveraged to generate measured success. Many companies are using a trial-and-error approach that too often leads to unnecessary cost overruns and even failure. The model presented in this chapter provides readers with a simple, yet elegant structure necessary for the design and implementation of a successful open innovation program. The chapter explores the leading causes of failure in a new open innovation program, and offers guidelines and criteria that open innovation leaders and practitioners can use to avoid these pitfalls, and to establish a program that generates tangible returns, while motivating participants to achieve more desirable innovative behaviors.
Global Innovators
Authors: Girling Robert
Published: November 2011

Innovation is vital to sustain and advance current activities or it can be vital to growing new businesses. The challenge for organizations operating in a global environment is to meet the evolution of the marketplace, social needs, and the needs of society. Open innovation allows organizations to draw from the global pool of knowledge to design products and business modes that provide value while meeting social needs. This chapter looks at several SMEs that are social innovators drawing on a range of technologies to create products and services or to commercialize existing products in a new way in order to meet pressing social needs round the world.
Innovating Elite Undergraduate Education through Quality Continuous Improvement
Authors: Vat Kam Hou
Published: November 2011

This chapter investigates a mechanism of organizational innovation serving to make sense of a maturing university community involving educational executives, academic staff, and students in the occasion of a new campus development, starting in the year 2009 and realizing in the year 2013, under the auspices of a national policy benefiting the long-term development of higher education in the Macau Special Administrative Region (Macau SAR) of China. It is understood that the university as a public institution should not be operated like a business enterprise, running on profit-making initiatives; yet, without the enterprising context, the transformation of the existing infrastructure could hardly be innovated effectively, especially regarding the productivity of its staff, both academic and administrative. As a university with a staff count of less than 1000 and a history of close to thirty years, the University of Macau (UM) is ready to steward an elite undergraduate education marked by a quality learning experience that could become her branding value in the immediate future. The question is how innovatively UM could scale up in this opportunistic growth to excel for the local community. This case study is aimed to investigate from the perspective of a learning enterprise, a reflective way of forward thinking to record the author’s observation and interpretation of what is entailed in this process of upbringing a relatively young university in this age-old city, Macau, famous for its rich heritage of East (Chinese) meeting West (Europeans – Portuguese). Of specific interest is the proper context of open innovation in university governance for organizational transformation. The chapter examines the accountability framework for undergraduate curriculum reform and by treating the electronic transformation (e-transformation) as one of the open innovation strategies, the chapter explores the e-transformation of the university environment, based on holistic concerns of the campus community. The challenge is to identify the organizational context of innovation, which lies in the realm of electronic governance (e-governance), referring mainly to the decisions that define expectations, enable empowerment, and verify performance of the systems in support of community engagement and shared responsibilities in campus development, providing a sense-making perspective to interpret what is entailed in the organizational innovation of the university in this precious occasion of campus relocation. In practice, the lessons learned behind the e-transformation of the learning enterprise should benefit all walks of our local community, including the community of the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Open Innovation Strategies in SMEs
Authors: Rahman Hakikur , Ramos Isabel
Published: November 2011

Open innovation in entrepreneurships already finds its acceptance at all levels of the business industry for adding value to the business. The value could be in the form of economic gain or enhancement of knowledge leading to a sustained financial base. Open innovation adopts various strategies to accomplish the task for enhancing the value gain. Varying by size, nature, pattern, or characteristics of the firm various strategies are being adopted by enterprises. Though largely known to be familiar in corporate business houses, in recent years open innovation is also becoming increasingly familiar in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the trend is rapidly increasing. However, despite the potency of open innovation strategies, most of the enterprises are yet to find a sustained business model, especially for the SMEs working at the periphery of that value chain. This forms the basis of the current study. This chapter is trying to formulate a business model incorporating partnership approach from academia, research houses, intermediaries, and other stakeholders.
Cases Illustrating Risks and Crisis Management
Authors: Yiannaki Simona Mihai
Published: November 2011

Undoubtedly, the nature of the relationships between business and risk factors in one country or another does not fit exactly into a “model” nor does it have a pure placebo effect. Yet, models’ simplicity may appeal to managers and regulators in understanding important business risks and crisis related phenomena. Backed by this idea, this research underpins a comparative study on SMEs handling risk and crisis management according to a new tailored model of a balance scorecard. This new model of a risk and crisis management aims at improving both SMEs management adaptation and performance across all of crisis’ stages, something not attempted so far in the literature. The application of such a ‘balanced-scorecard’ comes from the author’s experience as a banker financing various SMEs industries, as a bank consultant on risk management as well as primarily from the results of a survey performed on a sample of 48 Romanian and Cypriot SMEs, equal-proportionally selected from the area of trading, manufacturing, and services. The results of this case study show, coincidently or not, that there is a significant improvement of the financial performance of the SMEs that employed this model compared to those that did not. The monitoring period: 11/2009-06/2010 was employed as a representative one for the latest global financial crisis which affected the entire European Union region, as well.
Apache Sustained Competitive Advantage in the Web Server Industry
Authors: Santos Carlos D. , Gonçalves Márcio A. , Kon Fabio
Published: November 2011

Open source communities such as the ones responsible for Linux and Apache became well known for producing, with volunteer labor innovating over the Internet, high-quality software that has been widely adopted by organizations. In the web server market, Apache has dominated in terms of market share for over 15 years, outperforming corporations and research institutions. The resource-based view (RBV) of firms posits that an organization outperforms its competitors because it has valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable, and non-substitutable resources. Accordingly, one concludes that Apache possesses such resources to sustain its competitive advantage. However, one does not know what those resources are. This chapter is an effort to locate them, answering the question: “What resources enable Apache to outperform its for-profit competitors consistently?” This research draws on the RBV to develop a series of propositions about Apache’s internal resources and organizational capabilities. For each proposition developed, methods for their empirical validation are proposed, and future research directions are provided.
Innovation 2.0
Authors: Sánchez Luis Angel Galindo
Published: November 2011

This chapter describes a new sustainable business model, Innovation 2.0, led and deployed by the author, with the goal of increasing the innovation level at the telco service portfolio for the end-user, thank to the convergence of Internet and Telco worlds and the ‘fresh’ and ‘effervescent’ proposals created by start-ups. This model, created by Win Win Consultants, a Spanish company leader in marketing and strategy issues, under the premises of fairness for the different players, requires an open-minded view of the businesses and, in fact, is a model for open innovation in telcos, which traditionally tend to address innovation from a prism more reactive than proactive. The model proposed has been deployed in Telefonica with very good results, deploying 12 commercial services, which have generated more than 10 Millions € incomes and 8 Millions of savings in investments. Innovation 2.0 is a sustainable model, finding a balance for all parties in a win-win basis and constitutes an appropriate model for the twenty-first century telcos.
Open Innovation in France
Authors: Ritchie Rachael J. , Culver Keith C.
Published: November 2011

France has long been associated with a state-directed “dirigiste” model of linear R&D focussed on large programmes such as development of the TGV high-speed train. Contemporary France has, however, largely left the state-centered model behind, introducing a range of devices since the turn of the 21st century aimed at opening French innovation to international and cross-sectoral collaboration for increased productivity and national competitiveness. This case study traces the opening of the French innovation system and the way one new academic, industrial and government collaboration aims to make use of new features of the system to accelerate development of an eco-innovation cluster focussed on cities of the future.
NOP Receptor Ligands as Potential Agents for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Gavioli Elaine C. , Romão Pedro R. T.
Published: November 2011

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a seventeen-amino acid peptide that is the endogenous ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor (NOP). Various immune cells express the precursor protein and secrete N/OFQ as well as display binding sites for this peptide. The functional capacity of NOP receptor was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo studies by the ability of N/OFQ to induce chemotaxis of immune cells, to regulate the expression of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, and to control cellular and humoral immunity. In this context, N/OFQ could modulate the outcome of some inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis and autoimmune pathologies by mechanisms not clearly elucidated yet. In fact, human body fluid revealed increased levels of N/OFQ under sepsis, arthritis, and Parkinson's diagnose. Preclinical studies pointed to the blockade of NOP receptor signaling as successful in treating these experimental conditions. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to investigate the potential of NOP ligands in treating inflammatory diseases.
Oxidative Stress in Hypertensive Patients Induces an Increased Contractility in Vein Grafts Independent of Endothelial Function
Authors: Joo Turoni Claudio , Marañón Rodrigo , Karbiner Maria , Muntaner Juan , Proto Víctor , Peral de Bruno María
Published: November 2011

Objective. To evaluate the impact of oxidative stress on vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictors and on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in saphenous vein (SV) graft with endothelial dysfunction from hypertensive patients (HT).Methods. Endothelial function, vascular reactivity, oxidative state, nitrites and NO release were studied in isolated SV rings from HT and normotensive patients (NT). Only rings with endothelial dysfunction were used.Results. HT rings presented a hyperreactivity to vasoconstrictors that was reverted by diphenylene iodonium (DPI). In NT, no effect of DPI was obtained, but Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) increased the contractile response. NO was present in SV rings without endothelial function. Nitrites were higher in NT than in HT (1066.1 ± 86.3 pmol/mg;n=11versus 487.8 ± 51.6;n=23;P<0.01) and inhibited by nNOS inhibitor. L-arginine reversed this effect. Antioxidant agents increased nitrites and NO contents only in HT. The anti-nNOS-stained area by immunohistochemistry was higher in NT than HT. HT showed an elevation of oxidative state.Conclusions. Extraendothelial NO counter-regulates contractility in SV. However, this action could be altered in hypertensive situations by an increased oxidative stress or a decreased ability of nNOS to produce NO. Further studies should be performed to evaluate the implication of these results in graft patency rates.
The Ongoing Challenge of Hematopoietic Stem Cell-Based Gene Therapy forβ-Thalassemia
Authors: Drakopoulou Ekati , Papanikolaou Eleni , Anagnou Nicholas P.
Published: November 2011

β-thalassemia is characterized by reduced or absence ofβ-globin production, resulting in anemia. Current therapies include blood transfusion combined with iron chelation. BM transplantation, although curative, is restricted by the matched donor limitation. Gene therapy, on the other hand, is promising, and its success lies primarily on designing efficient globin vectors that can effectively and stably transduce HSCs. The major breakthrough inβ-thalassemia gene therapy occurred a decade ago with the development of globin LVs. Since then, researchers focused on designing efficient and safe vectors, which can successfully deliver the therapeutic transgene, demonstrating no insertional mutagenesis. Furthermore, as human HSCs have intrinsic barriers to HIV-1 infection, attention is drawn towards theirex vivomanipulation, aiming to achieve higher yield of genetically modified HSCs. This paper presents the current status of gene therapy forβ-thalassemia, its success and limitations, and the novel promising strategies available involving the therapeutic role of HSCs.
US and MDCT Findings in a Caudal Blind Ending Bifid Ureter with Calculi
Authors: Ustuner Evren , Dusunceli Atman Ebru , Yagci Cemil , Tokatli Zafer Nida , Uzun Caglar
Published: November 2011

Herein we present a rare ureteric duplication anomaly; blind ending bifid ureter with calculi which is asymptomatic unless complicated by infection, reflux, calculi or malignancy. The diagnosis is often missed at intravenous urography (IVU) and US because the ipsilateral ureter and kidney are grossly normal. In this case the diagnosis was established with ultrasound (US) and mainly with multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) imaging using multiplanar reformats and 3-D reconstructions which were unique to this case. MDCT scans not only revealed the exact diagnosis and anatomic relationships but also ruled out other pathologies included in the differential diagnosis as well, such as ureter and bladder diverticula.
Homotopy Classification of Projections in the Corona Algebra of a Non-simple C*-algebra
Authors: Brown Lawrence G. , Lee Hyun Ho
Published: November 2011

We study projections in the corona algebra of C(X) ⊗ K, where K is the C*-algebra of compact operators on a separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space and X = [0, 1], [0,∞), (−∞,∞), or [0, 1]/﹛0, 1﹜. Using BDF's essential codimension, we determine conditions for a projection in the corona algebra to be liftable to a projection in the multiplier algebra. We also determine the conditions for two projections to be equal in K0, Murray-von Neumann equivalent, unitarily equivalent, or homotopic. In light of these characterizations, we construct examples showing that the equivalence notions above are all distinct.
Tropical intersection products on smooth varieties
Authors: Allermann Lars
Published: November 2011

In analogy to [AR07,Chapter9], ee define an intersection product of tropical cycles on tropical linear spaces

L^n_k

, i.e. on tropical fans of the type

\mathrm{max}\{0,x_1,...,x_n\}^{n-k} \cdot ℝ^n

. Afterwards we use this result to obtain an intersection product of cycles on every smooth tropical variety, i.e. on every tropical variety that arises from gluing such tropical linear spaces. In contrast to classical algebraic geometry these products always yield well-defined cycles, not cycle classes only. Using these intersection products we are able to define the pull-back of a tropical cycle along a morphism between smooth tropical varieties. In the present article we stick to the definitions, notions and concepts introduced in [AR07].
A Controlled Trial of a Quit and Win Contest
Authors: Hahn Ellen J. , Rayens Mary Kay , Warnick Todd A. , Chirila Costel , Rasnake Robert T. , Paul Todd P. , Christie Dawn
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To evaluate the impact of a state-of-the-art Quit and Win contest on tobacco quit rates at 3, 6, and 12 months after the 30-day quit period.

Design.

Quasi-experimental with a volunteer sample of 494 Quit and Win contest registrants (treatment group) and 512 randomly selected tobacco users not exposed to the promotional media campaign (control group). Intervention included a 30-day quit period to be eligible for large cash prizes; provider advice via weekly mailings; online and telephone quit assistance; media campaign; and community support.

Setting.

Community-based intervention in Kentucky.

Subjects.

A total of 1006 adult tobacco users.

Measures.

Quit rates were measured using 7-day point prevalence for tobacco use. Urine cotinine measurements confirmed self-reported quitting.

Results.

Treatment group participants were significantly more likely than controls to experience quitting during the 1-year follow-up, as determined by both self-report and urine confirmation. After adjusting for baseline differences in demographics, tobacco use, and stage of change, those in the treatment group had 2.6 times the odds of reporting quitting in the postintervention period and 5.3 times the odds of experiencing quitting confirmed by urine cotinine, relative to controls. Women, minorities, and low-income tobacco users had equal odds of quitting as men, whites, and those with higher incomes.

Conclusions.

That the contest was minimally intensive and yielded a relatively high quit rate demonstrates the potential effectiveness of the intervention.
Is Stress Management Training a Useful Addition to Physician Advice and Nicotine Replacement Therapy during Smoking Cessation in Women? Results of a Randomized Trial
Authors: D'Angelo Monika E. Slovinec , Reid Robert D. , Hotz Stephen , Irvine Jane , Segal Roanne J. , Blanchard Chris M. , Pipe Andrew
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To determine whether a stress management (SM) program could improve cessation rates when added to usual care (UC) among women attempting to quit smoking.

Design.

Randomized controlled trial conducted during a 12-month period.

Setting.

Smoking cessation clinics located within two tertiary care centers in Ottawa, Ontario.

Subjects.

A total of 332 women smokers 19 years or older who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day were recruited via advertisements.

Intervention.

Either UC (physician advice and nicotine replacement therapy) or UC plus an eight-session group SM training program (coping skills development relevant to smoking-specific and generic stressors).

Measures.

Point prevalence abstinence 2 and 12 months after study intake. A secondary outcome of interest was change in perceived stress during the intervention period.

Results.

On an intent-to-treat basis, the addition of SM to UC had no incremental effect on 2-or 12-month abstinence rates. Abstinence rates at 2 months were 26.2% vs. 31.7% in the UC and SM groups, respectively (p = .59). At 12 months, the rates were 18.5% vs. 20.7% (p = .86). When quit rates were compared including only participants who demonstrated adequate adherence to the intervention protocol, there was a significant difference between the UC and SM groups at 2 months (34.9% vs. 48.7%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–3.42; p = .04) but not at 12 months (23.0% vs. 28.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, .64–2.41; p = .53). There was a significant reduction in perceived stress from preintervention to postintervention; however, this decrease was not moderated by group assignment.

Conclusion.

The addition of SM in our setting neither increased abstinence rates nor reduced perceived stress over and above UC in women motivated to quit smoking. Poor attendance at the SM intervention undermined its effectiveness.
Change in Self-Efficacy following a Single Strength Training Session Predicts Sedentary Older Adults' Subsequent Motivation to Join a Strength Training Program
Authors: Latimer Amy E. , Ginis Kathleen A. Martin
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To determine whether performance accomplishment and perceived exertion predict change in self-efficacy following a single strength training session and whether change in self-efficacy predicts subsequent motivation to join a strength training program.

Methods.

Fifty-nine sedentary older adults participated in a single strength training session at a seniors' exercise center, completed measures of perceived exertion and self-efficacy, and received a voucher for a free fitness consultation.

Results.

Regression analyses indicated that perceived exertion predicted change in self-efficacy. In turn, greater change in self-efficacy was associated with a greater likelihood of using the voucher for a fitness consultation.

Discussion.

Sedentary older adults can be motivated toward joining a strength training program after an initial strength training session that required low exertion. Practitioners could increase strength training initiation by providing such experiences.
A Systematic Review of Mammography Educational Interventions for Low-Income Women
Authors: Bailey Tatiana M. , Delva Jorge , Gretebeck Kimberlee , Siefert Kristine , Ismail Amid
Published: November 2011

Objective.

We conducted a systematic review to examine the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing mammography screening among low-income women.

Data Sources.

Bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the ISI Web of Science, were searched for relevant articles.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.

Randomized, community-based trials targeting low-income women and published between January 1980 and March 2003 were included.

Data Extraction.

The search yielded 242 studies; 24 met all inclusion criteria.

Data Synthesis.

Three studies used mammography vans, three used low-cost vouchers or provided free mammograms, three used home visits, one used community education alone, one provided referrals, five incorporated multiple intervention strategies, two used phone calls, one used videos and print material, and five used primarily print material.

Results.

Of nine studies that reduced barriers to care via mammography vans, cost vouchers, or home visits, eight showed statistically significant increases in mammography screening. Seven of the eight studies that used peer educators had significant increases in screening, as did four of the five studies that used multiple (intervention) components.

Conclusions.

Interventions that used peer educators, incorporated multiple intervention strategies, or provided easy access via vans, cost vouchers, or home visits were effective in increasing screenings. Mailed letter or telephone reminders were not effective in trials involving low-income women, which is contrary to findings from middle/upper-income studies.
Access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy as Part of a Statewide Tobacco Telephone Helpline
Authors: An Lawrence C. , Schillo Barbara A. , Kavanaugh Annette , Luxenberg Michael G. , Joseph Anne M. , McAfee Tim
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To describe change in Minnesota's QUITPLAN helpline operations following provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to multisession counseling enrollees.

Methods.

NRT access began September 2002. Call volume is reported from September 2001 to May 2003 (pre-NRT = 2734, post-NRT = 12,536). A survey administered at 2 weeks assesses self-reported connection to services (response rate 80%, n = 538/670, pre-NRT vs. 67%, n = 400/595, post-NRT, p < .001).

Results.

Provision of NRT was followed by an increase in call volume (439 ± 229 calls/month January through May pre-NRT vs. 1292 ± 308 calls/month January through May post-NRT, p = .001). Enrollment in multisession counseling increased (17.4% pre-NRT vs. 75.3% post-NRT, p < .001). Among survey respondents, connection to services was not changed (83.8% pre-NRT vs. 88.0% post-NRT, p = .072). At 2 weeks, more respondents who enrolled in multisession counseling reported having a follow-up call scheduled (43.9% pre-NRT vs. 64.1% post-NRT, p = .001).

Conclusions.

This is an observational study. Providing NRT as part of a statewide helpline may increase recruitment and encourage callers to enroll in multisession counseling.
State and Community Tobacco-Control Programs and Smoking-Cessation Rates among Adult Smokers: What Can we Learn from the COMMIT Intervention Cohort?
Authors: Hyland Andrew , Li Qiang , Bauer Joseph E. , Giovino Gary A. , Bauer Ursula , Cummings K. Michael
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To assess the long-term effect of a randomized community-based trial of smoking cessation and to examine the effect of exposure to large state-based tobacco-control programs on smoking cessation.

Design.

Longitudinal tobacco-use telephone surveys conducted in 1988, 1993, and 2001.

Setting and Participants.

Baseline smokers (6603) from 20 communities in 9 states completed a survey in 2001 (35% of the original sample).

Intervention.

The Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) intervention was a randomized community-based smoking-cessation intervention between 1988 and 1993. In addition, cohort data were used to evaluate quasi-experimental differences in the strength of state-level tobacco control programs and policies.

Measures.

Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare quit rates among those who were exposed to community- or state-level tobacco-control programming and those who were not between 1988 and 2001.

Results.

Quit rates were higher in the COMMIT intervention communities during the period when the trial was funded (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.19) but were no different than comparison communities 8 years later after funding stopped. Quit rates were highest in those communities in states with both strong tobacco-control policies and aggressive tobacco-control programs, such as California and Massachusetts (RR = 1.44) compared with those communities in states that had little tobacco-control activity, such as Iowa, New Mexico, and North Carolina.

Conclusions.

The findings suggest that well-funded tobacco-control programming coupled with tobacco-control policies may be associated with increases in cessation rates.
Obesogenic Influences in Public Housing: A Mixed-Method Analysis
Authors: Regan Gail , Lee Rebecca E. , Booth Katie , Reese-Smith Jacqueline
Published: November 2011

Background.

Obesity prevalence is higher among those who live in impoverished environments. This investigation identified obesogenic factors in urban neighborhoods surrounding public housing developments (HDs).

Design.

Cross-sectional quantitative survey data from 14 HD neighborhoods and qualitative interviews of the HD managers.

Setting.

Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Subjects.

Environmental data were collected from HDs and surrounding neighborhoods, an area enclosed by an 800-m radius line drawn from the HD centroid. Qualitative data were collected from all 14 HD managers.

Measures.

HDs were rated by a brief environmental audit. HD managers were assessed in a structured 45- to 60-minute interview about neighborhood factors influencing resident obesity.

Results.

The properties were typically modern and well maintained; however, there were few physical activity (PA) resources and food sources on site. Most HD managers cited the availability of PA resources near the HD; however, there was wide variability in the type and accessibility of the resources. Only two HDs had a store that sold groceries within one block. Interviews identified fast food restaurants as common food sources, with few other food sources available.

Discussion.

Data suggested that although strides have been made to increase safety and comfort in public housing, there remains poor access to PA resources and healthful food sources. Interventions and policies should consider access to PA resources and food sources.
Assessing the Structure of Smoking Cessation Care in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Sherman Scott E. , Yano Elizabeth M. , York Laura S. , Lanto Andy B. , Chernof Bruce A. , Mittman Brian S.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

National smoking cessation practice guidelines offer recommendations regarding the processes and structure of care. Facilities routinely measure the processes of care but not the structure of care. This pilot study assessed the structure of smoking cessation care at Veterans Health Administration facilities.

Methods.

Key informants at 18 sites completed a brief checklist survey adapted from national smoking cessation guidelines. Responses were compared with detailed site surveys.

Results.

Guideline adherence was seen in identifying smokers and treating inpatient smokers. Areas of low adherence include offering incentives and defining staff responsibilities. The checklist survey showed poor correspondence with the detailed survey, with low agreement on systematic screening (kappa = .21) and higher agreement on primary care prescribing authority (kappa = .53).

Discussion.

This pilot survey provides a potential rapid method for assessing adherence to systems recommendations from the national smoking cessation guidelines. The relatively low agreement with a more detailed survey suggests that the two surveys may have been measuring different aspects of smoking cessation care.
Application of the Transtheoretical Model to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Di Noia Jennifer , Schinke Steven P. , Prochaska James O. , Contento Isobel R.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To examine the application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to fruit and vegetable consumption among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents.

Methods.

Scales for measuring decisional balance, situational self-efficacy, and processes of change for fruit and vegetable consumption were developed and pretested with 57 economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents. The scales and measures for assessing stages of change, demographic variables, and fruit and vegetable consumption were administered to a separate sample of 262 participants. t-tests for independent samples and analysis of variance were used to examine differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption across stages of change.

Results.

Two-factor solutions for decisional balance and processes of change and a three-factor solution for situational self-efficacy provided the best fit to the data. Alpha coefficients of reliability for the scales ranged from .77 (experiential change processes) to .91 (pros). Participants in action-maintenance stages evidenced higher pros, self-efficacy, and fruit and vegetable consumption and significantly lower cons than did participants in precontemplation and contemplation-preparation stages. Also, participants in action-maintenance stages used processes of change more frequently than did those in precontemplation-contemplation-preparation stages. The use of experiential and behavioral processes within these stages did not differ significantly, as posited.

Discussion.

Observed differences in TTM variables and fruit and vegetable consumption by stage of change in this sample of economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents were consistent with theory and previous applications of the model to fruit and vegetable consumption in adults. With replication studies, the TTM may be appropriate for designing interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among this population.
Sun Care Advertising in Popular U.S. Magazines
Authors: Lee Eric T. , O'Riordan David , Swetter Susan M. , Demierre Marie-France , Brooks Katie , Geller Alan C.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

We assessed the placement of magazine advertising for sun care products to lay the groundwork for broader promotion to more diverse and high-risk demographic groups.

Methods.

We reviewed 579 issues of 24 magazines published between the months of May and September from 1997 to 2002. We conducted a cover-to-cover review of top-selling magazines for men, women, teens, parents, travelers, and outdoor recreation users. We determined if there were any advertisements for the following sun care products: sun tanning lotions containing sun protection factor (SPF), sunless tanners without SPF, sunscreen with SPF, moisturizers with SPF, or cosmetics with SPF (which include sunless tanners containing SPF).

Results.

Sun care products, including sunscreens, were advertised primarily in women's magazines (77%). Nearly two thirds of all sun care products advertised were either for cosmetics (38%) or moisturizers (26%) containing SPF, followed by ads for sunscreen sold as a stand-alone product (19%). None of the ads contained all of the recommendations for safe use of sunscreen: a minimum SPF of 15, both UVA and UVB protection, reapplication instructions, and an adequate application coverage of 2 milligrams per square centimeter.

Discussion.

Magazine advertising to men, travelers, outdoor recreation users, and parents/ families (totaling a circulation of 41 million readers) during this six-year period were far fewer than those for women, despite high rates of excessive sun exposure in these groups.
The Association of Two Productivity Measures with Health Risks and Medical Conditions in an Australian Employee Population
Authors: Musich Shirley , Hook Dan , Baaner Stephanie , Edington Dee W.
Published: November 2011

Purpose.

To investigate the impact of health on job performance using two measures of productivity loss: (1) a self-reported measure of health-related presenteeism and (2) an objective measure of absenteeism.

Design.

A cross-sectional survey using a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) to evaluate self-reported presenteeism and the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions.

Setting and Subjects.

Employees (n = 224) of a private insurance provider in Australia.

Measures.

A Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) questionnaire was used to evaluate self-reported presenteeism on different aspects of job demands and to assess the prevalence of 12 health risks and eight medical conditions. Illness absent hours were obtained from company administrative records.

Results.

Increased presenteeism was significantly associated with high stress, life dissatisfaction, and back pain, while increased illness absenteeism was significantly associated with overweight, poor perception of health, and diabetes. Excess presenteeism associated with excess health risks (productivity loss among those with medium- or high-risk status compared to those with low-risk status) was independently calculated at 19.0% for presenteeism and 12.8% for illness absenteeism.

Conclusions.

This study demonstrates an association between health metrics and self-reported work impairment (presenteeism) and measured absenteeism. The study provides a first indication of the potential benefits of health promotion programming to Australian employees in improving health and to the corporation in minimizing health-related productivity loss.