bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consistency of Estimated Global Water Cycle Variations over the Satellite Era
Authors: Robertson F. R. , Bosilovich M. G. , Roberts J. B. , Reichle R. H. , Adler R. , Ricciardulli L. , Berg W. , Huffman G. J.
Published: April 2014

Motivated by the question of whether recent interannual to decadal climate variability and a possible “climate shift” may have affected the global water balance, we examine precipitation minus evaporation (P – E) variability integrated over the global oceans and global land for the period 1979–2010 from three points of view—remotely sensed retrievals and syntheses over the oceans, reanalysis vertically integrated moisture flux convergence (VMFC) over land, and land surface models (LSMs) forced with observations-based precipitation, radiation, and near-surface meteorology.

Over land, reanalysis VMFC and P − evapotranspiration (ET) from observationally forced LSMs agree on interannual variations (e.g., El Niño/La Niña events); however, reanalyses exhibit upward VMFC trends 3–4 times larger than P − ET trends of the LSMs. Experiments with other reanalyses using reduced observations show that upward VMFC trends in the full reanalyses are due largely to observing system changes interacting with assimilation model physics. The much smaller P − ET trend in the LSMs appears due to changes in frequency and amplitude of warm events after the 1997/98 El Niño, a result consistent with coolness in the eastern tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) after that date.

When integrated over the global oceans, E and especially P variations show consistent signals of El Niño/La Niña events. However, at scales longer than interannual there is considerable uncertainty especially in E. This results from differences among datasets in near-surface atmospheric specific humidity and wind speed used in bulk aerodynamic retrievals. The P variations, all relying substantially on passive microwave retrievals over ocean, also have uncertainties in decadal variability, but to a smaller degree.
Enhanced 2-h–8-day Oscillations Associated with Tropical Instability Waves
Authors: Jing Zhao , Wu Lixin , Wu Dexing , Qiu Bo
Published: April 2014

The westward South Equatorial Current (SEC) and eastward Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) is a marginally stable current system due to the strong vertical shear. The existence of wavelike motions may locally reduce the Richardson number enough to trigger instabilities. Here, velocity measurements from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array are used to examine the variability of oscillations within 0.125–12 cycles per day (cpd). It is found that the 0.125–12-cpd oscillations become more energetic in the presence of strong tropical instability waves (TIWs). The enhancement of shear variance is most pronounced around the EUC core (115 m), while prominent elevation of kinetic energy occurs around 85 m, where the EUC shear is strongest. Particularly, the energetic 0.125–12-cpd oscillations during strong TIW seasons do not cycle on a daily basis and are more evident during the southward phase of TIWs. The enhanced 0.125–12-cpd oscillations during strong TIW seasons can be ascribed neither to the changing background stratification nor to the vertical migration of EUC core at the corresponding time scales. Its strength is tightly correlated with the EUC shear and, to a lesser extent, the TIW shear. A partial correlation analysis suggests that the correlation to the TIW shear is mainly due to the association between EUC and TIW shear. The strength of the 0.125–12-cpd oscillations does not follow the variation of surface wind speed and wind curl, implying that they are not directly generated by surface wind forcing.
Radar Climatology of Tornadic and Nontornadic Vortices in High-Shear, Low-CAPE Environments in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States
Authors: Davis Jason M. , Parker Matthew D.
Published: April 2014

Tornadoes occurring in environments characterized by strong vertical wind shear [0–6-km bulk wind difference ≥35 knots (kt; 1 kt = 0.51 m s−1) (18 m s−1)] but low CAPE (<500 J kg−1) are an important challenge for forecasters, especially in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. In this study, 95 tornadic and 135 nontornadic vortices were tracked in high-shear, low-CAPE (HSLC) environments. Values of azimuthal shear were recorded along the vortex tracks, and operationally relevant radar reflectivity signatures were also manually identified in association with these vortices. Statistically significant differences in azimuthal shear were found between tornadic and nontornadic vortices within 60 km of the radar, particularly near the surface. Although there were significant differences between tornadic and nontornadic vortices from nonsupercells (primarily quasi-linear convective systems), this was not the case for supercellular vortices. Beyond 60 km from the radar, no statistically significant differences were found. Numerous reflectivity signatures were also studied, including hook echoes and weak-echo regions associated with supercell vortices, as well as rear-inflow notches, bowing segments, and forward-inflow notches associated with nonsupercell vortices. These signatures were found to have a high probability of detection close to the radar, but also a high false alarm rate, and were observed much less often >100 km from the radar. Overall, while azimuthal shear and radar reflectivity signatures show the potential for high probability of detection in close proximity to operational radars, high false alarm rates, and short lead times appear to be an unavoidable trade-off in HSLC environments.
a-Stratified Computerized Adaptive Testing in the Presence of Calibration Error
Authors: Cheng Ying , Patton Jeffrey M. , Shao Can
Published: April 2014

a-Stratified computerized adaptive testing with b-blocking (AST), as an alternative to the widely used maximum Fisher information (MFI) item selection method, can effectively balance item pool usage while providing accurate latent trait estimates in computerized adaptive testing (CAT). However, previous comparisons of these methods have treated item parameter estimates as if they are the true population parameter values. Consequently, capitalization on chance may occur. In this article, we examined the performance of the AST method under more realistic conditions where item parameter estimates instead of true parameter values are used in the CAT. Its performance was compared against that of the MFI method when the latter is used in conjunction with Sympson–Hetter or randomesque exposure control. Results indicate that the MFI method, even when combined with exposure control, is susceptible to capitalization on chance. This is particularly true when the calibration sample size is small. On the other hand, AST is more robust to capitalization on chance. Consistent with previous investigations using true item parameter values, AST yields much more balanced item pool usage, with a small loss in the precision of latent trait estimates. The loss is negligible when the test is as long as 40 items.
Summer Employment and Community Experiences of Transition-Age Youth with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Ditchman Nicole , Sun Ye , Trainor Audrey A. , Swedeen Beth , Owens Laura
Published: April 2014

Although early work experiences during high school represent one of the most consistent predictors of postschool employment for young adults with disabilities, little is known about how these adolescents might access these valuable transition experiences. This study examined the summer employment and community activities of 136 high school students with severe disabilities. The majority of youth was either not working (61.7%) or reported sheltered employment (11.1%). The most prominent predictors of summer employment status were holding a job during the spring semester and teacher expectations for employment. Recommendations for research and practice focus on increasing the capacity of schools, families, and communities to support the involvement of youth with severe disabilities in meaningful summer activities.
Commentary: Delivering Educational Services That Meet the Needs of All Students
Authors: Ferretti Ralph P. , Eisenman Laura T.
Published: April 2014

Federal policies intended to promote educational equity, especially through state accountability mechanisms, have mobilized efforts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Although these efforts have met with some success, achievement gaps remain. The authors argue that local cultures of teaching practices and decision making continue to be the primary influences on learning experiences, and that improving outcomes for children and youth with disabilities will require attention to the social and cultural factors that affect the interpretation of policy and impact local practices. While recognizing the many technical challenges to implementing effective practices and limited resources for meeting students' needs, the authors stress that progress towards the attainment of equitable outcomes will be grudging unless the limited financial and human resources are allocated in ways that recognize the diversity and complexity inherent in the development of all learners and the local educational institutions that serve them.
The Effects of an Intensive Shared Book-Reading Intervention for Preschool Children at Risk for Vocabulary Delay
Authors: Pollard-Durodola Sharolyn D. , Gonzalez Jorge E. , Simmons Deborah C. , Kwok Oiman , Taylor Aaron B. , Davis Matthew J. , Kim Minjung , Simmons Leslie
Published: April 2014

This study examined the effects of an intensive shared book-reading intervention on the vocabulary development of preschool children who were at risk for vocabulary delay. The participants were 125 children, who the researchers stratified by classroom and randomly assigned to one of two shared book-reading conditions (i.e., the experimental, Words of Oral Reading and Language Development [WORLD] intervention; or typical practice). Results on researcher-developed measures showed statistically and practically significant effects for the WORLD intervention with no differential effects for children with higher versus lower entry-level vocabulary knowledge. The researchers detected no statistically significant differences on standardized measures. Results suggest that a combination of instructional factors may be necessary to enhance the efficacy of shared book reading for children with early vocabulary difficulties.
Effects of Supplemental Reading Interventions in Authentic Contexts: A Comparison of Kindergarteners' Response
Authors: Simmons Deborah C. , Coyne Michael D. , Hagan-Burke Shanna , Kwok Oi-Man , Simmons Leslie , Johnson Caitlin , Zou Yuanyuan , Taylor Aaron B. , Mcalenney Athena Lentini , Ruby Maureen , Crevecoeur Yvel C.
Published: April 2014

This study compared the effects of 2 supplemental interventions on the beginning reading performance of kindergarteners identified as at risk of reading difficulty. Students (N = 206) were assigned randomly at the classroom level either to an explicit/systematic commercial program or to a school-designed practice intervention taught 30 min per day in small groups for approximately 100 sessions. Multilevel hierarchical linear analyses revealed statistically significant effects favoring the explicit/systematic intervention on alphabetic, phonemic, and untimed decoding skills with substantive effect sizes on all measures except word identification and passage comprehension. Group performance did not differ statistically on more advanced reading and spelling skills. Findings support the efficacy of both supplemental interventions and suggest the benefit of the more explicit/systematic intervention for children who are most at risk of reading difficulty.
Maternal Scaffolding of Analogy and Metacognition in the Early Pretence of Gifted Children
Authors: Morrissey Anne-Marie
Published: April 2014

This study investigated whether mothers of children assessed as having gifted/high IQ at 5 years were more likely to scaffold their children in analogical and metacognitive thinking during the infant/toddler period than mothers of children with more typical IQs. The researcher videotaped 21 children in monthly play sessions with their mothers, from the time that the children were 8 months old until they were 17 months old, and coded the mothers' verbalizations for scaffolding of analogical and metacognitive thinking. A psychologist assessed these children on the Stanford-Binet IV (Thorndike, 1986) and found ability levels ranging from average to high. Analysis showed that mothers of the children with high IQs introduced analogical and metacognitive scaffolding earlier than mothers of children with average IQs. The findings are consistent with a bidirectional model of gifted development in which mothers respond to support advanced development from infancy.
Smart RTI: A Next-Generation Approach to Multilevel Prevention
Authors: Fuchs Douglas , Fuchs Lynn S. , Compton Donald L.
Published: April 2014

During the past decade, responsiveness to intervention (RTI) has become popular among many practitioners as a means of transforming schooling into a multilevel prevention system. Popularity aside, its successful implementation requires ambitious intent, a comprehensive structure, and coordinated service delivery. An effective RTI also depends on building-based personnel with specialized expertise at all levels of the prevention system. Most agree on both its potential for strengthening schooling and its heavy demand on practitioners. In this article, we describe Smart RTI, which we define as making efficient use of school resources while maximizing students' opportunities for success. In light of findings from recent research, we discuss three important features of Smart RTI: (a) multistage screening to identify risk, (b) multistage assessment to determine appropriate levels of instruction, and (c) a role for special education that supports prevention.
Effects of a Tier 2 Supplemental Reading Intervention for At-Risk Fourth-Grade Students
Authors: Ritchey Kristen D. , Silverman Rebecca D. , Montanaro Elizabeth A. , Speece Deborah L. , Schatschneider Christopher
Published: April 2014

This study investigated a Tier 2 intervention in the context of a response-to-intervention (RTI) model for 123 fourth-grade students identified as having a high probability of reading failure. A randomized control trial was used to evaluate the effects of a 24-session multicomponent supplemental intervention targeting fluency and expository comprehension of science texts. Intervention students performed significantly higher on science knowledge and comprehension strategy knowledge and use, but not on word reading, fluency, or other measures of reading comprehension. Moderators of intervention effects were also examined; children at higher risk in the intervention condition appeared to benefit more in comparison to lower probability children in intervention and compared to higher probability children in the control condition.
The Effects of Mathematics Strategy Instruction for Children with Serious Problem-Solving Difficulties
Authors: Swanson H. Lee , Orosco Michael J. , Lussier Cathy M.
Published: April 2014

This study investigated the role of strategy instruction on solution accuracy in children with and without serious math difficulties (MD) in problem solving. Children's posttest solution accuracy was compared on standardized and experimental measures as a function of strategy conditions. Strategy conditions included curriculum materials that gradually increased the number of irrelevant propositions within word problems. Children in Grade 3 ( N = 193) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: materials + verbal strategies (e.g., underlining the question), materials + verbal + visual strategies, materials + visual strategies (e.g., correctly placing numbers in diagrams), materials only-no overt strategies, and an untreated control. Compared to children with MD in the control condition, posttest outcomes for children with MD on standardized measures improved significantly under verbal + visual conditions, whereas posttest scores on the experimental problem-solving measures improved under the materials-only condition. Those strategy conditions found least effective made substantial demands on children's working memory capacity. The authors discuss benefits and limitations of strategy instruction.
Unidentified Language Deficits in Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hollo Alexandra , Wehby Joseph H. , Oliver Regina M.
Published: April 2014

Low language proficiency and problem behavior often co-occur, yet language deficits are likely to be overlooked in children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to determine prevalence and severity of the problem. Across 22 studies, participants included 1,171 children ages 5–13 with formally identified EBD and no history of developmental, neurological, or language disorders. Results indicated prevalence of below-average language performance was 81%, 95% CI [76, 84]. The mean comprehensive language score was 76.33 [71, 82], which was significantly below average. Implications include the need to (a) require language screening for all students with EBD, (b) clarify the relationship between language and behavior, and (c) develop interventions to ameliorate the effects of these dual deficits.
Oral Reading Fluency Development for Children with Emotional Disturbance or Learning Disabilities
Authors: Wanzek Jeanne , Otaiba Stephanie Al , Petscher Yaacov
Published: April 2014

This study used a large statewide database to examine the oral reading fluency development of second- and third-grade students with emotional disturbance or learning disabilities and their general education peers. Oral reading fluency measures were administered to 185,367 students without disabilities (general education), 2,146 students identified with an emotional disturbance, and 10,339 students with a learning disability. Student status and growth trends were examined in a piecewise model at each grade level for the full sample as well as for a subsample with reading difficulties. Data suggested students with disabilities performed significantly below students without disabilities in initial status and growth. The authors also examined gender as a moderator of outcomes for each of the study groups.
Longitudinal Effects of ADHD in Children with Learning Disabilities or Emotional Disturbances
Authors: Wei Xin , Yu Jennifer W. , Shaver Debra
Published: April 2014

Despite the high prevalence of comorbidity between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD) or emotional disturbances (ED), few studies have examined the long-term effects of these comorbid relationships on student outcomes. We estimated the longitudinal academic, social, and behavioral outcomes in children with LD or ED comorbid with or without ADHD in a nationally representative sample of students receiving special education. We found that children with LD and ADHD had lower letter word identification scores, teacher-rated reading levels, and parent-reported social skills than children with LD alone. The differences between the two groups remained similar over time. Children with ED and ADHD had lower social skills and more classroom behavior problems and suspensions in schools than children with ED alone. Children with ED and ADHD also had slower growth in math calculation skills than children with ED alone over time. Implications for the education of children with comorbidity are discussed.
Detecting and Correcting Fractions Computation Error Patterns
Authors: Bottge Brian A. , Ma Xin , Gassaway Linda , Butler Mark , Toland Michael D.
Published: April 2014

This article describes a follow-up analysis of findings from a randomized study that tested the efficacy of a blended version of Enhanced Anchored Instruction (EAI) designed to improve both the computation and problem-solving performances of middle school students with disabilities. The goals of the secondary analysis were to track overall error patterns of students in computing with fractions and to compare the effects of EAI and Business As Usual (BAU) on making these errors. Results showed that students taught with EAI reduced their errors compared to students in BAU classrooms and that reducing the one common error led to improved performance. Error pattern analysis provided clues about how to modify instructional materials for improving computation with fractions.
The future of employment relations from the perspective of human resource management
Authors: Boxall Peter
Published: April 2014

This article defines ‘human resources’ as the overt talents and underlying characteristics that people possess, and identifies three agendas in human resource management: the individual, the organisational and the societal/global. The academic discipline of human resource management (HRM) has grown up around the second agenda: the needs of managers to hire, motivate and develop people with the talents that organisations need. Like the curate’s egg, it is of variable quality: a tension between ‘best-practicism’ and analytical thinking is still present in it. Research in industrial relations has been more helpful in describing the spread of employer behaviour and analysing the reasons for it. However, the growing emphasis in academic HRM on understanding the psychological and social processes inside the ‘black box’ of the firm is encouraging the study of mutuality and sustainability in employment relationships. This direction has the potential to make academic HRM more relevant at the societal level where we confront issues of underutilisation and overutilisation of human resources and where we have a mix of human resource philosophies that both help and harm society. The challenge is to build a theory of how organisations can meet their needs for profit and renewal while supporting employee fulfilment and well-being over the long-run.
The (claimed) growing irrelevance of employment relations
Authors: Meardi Guglielmo
Published: April 2014

The frequent claim that employment relations have become irrelevant is not new: it has been cyclically repeated over the last 40 years. What recent times have provided is critical cases where employment relations have been actively marginalised in the pursuit of an ideal neoclassic labour market: new market economies of Central Eastern Europe, recent reforms in crisis countries in Southern Europe and global competition on labour costs. The disastrous effects of these experiments confirm, in fact, the relevance of employment relations.
Redefining the Chinese Revolution
Authors: Bian Morris L.
Published: April 2014

In recent years, China scholars have often debated the meaning and definition of the Chinese Revolution. While some studies reveal discontinuity or radical and transformative change, others show continuity or gradual and evolutionary change. This article contributes to the debate by examining how the connective tissues in Guizhou’s regional economic institutions—the regional economic bureaucracy and regional state enterprises as well as enterprise organization, management, and incentive structures and mechanisms—emerged, grew, broke down, and were replaced over the period 1937 to 1957. Specifically, it focuses on the creation and expansion of Guizhou’s regional state enterprises, the transformation of enterprise authority structure, the transplantation of the Soviet economic accounting system, the appropriation of the Western accounting system, and the development of social service and welfare institutions. Drawing extensively on heretofore unavailable archival and published material, this study demonstrates that the changes in Guizhou’s regional economic institutions were both radical and transformative and gradual and evolutionary. In the process, Guizhou’s regional state enterprises came to be defined by bureaucratic enterprise governance, Chinese Communist Party control over enterprise employees, and distinctive enterprise management and incentive mechanisms.
Effective Nurse Communication With Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Mulder Bob C. , Lokhorst Anne Marike , Rutten Guy E. H. M. , van Woerkum Cees M. J.
Published: April 2014

Many type 2 diabetes mellitus patients have difficulties reaching optimal blood glucose control. With patients treated in primary care by nurses, nurse communication plays a pivotal role in supporting patient health. The twofold aim of the present review is to categorize common barriers to nurse–patient communication and to review potentially effective communication methods. Important communication barriers are lack of skills and self-efficacy, possibly because nurses work in a context where they have to perform biomedical examinations and then perform patient-centered counseling from a biopsychosocial approach. Training in patient-centered counseling does not seem helpful in overcoming this paradox. Rather, patient-centeredness should be regarded as a basic condition for counseling, whereby nurses and patients seek to cooperate and share responsibility based on trust. Nurses may be more successful when incorporating behavior change counseling based on psychological principles of self-regulation, for example, goal setting, incremental performance accomplishments, and action planning.
Esophageal duplication cyst
Authors: Bagheri Reza , Asnaashari Amir Mohammad Hashem , Afghani Reza
Published: April 2014

Esophageal duplication cyst is a rare congenital mediastinal cyst. Most of these cysts become symptomatic in childhood and only rare cases remain asymptomatic until adolescence. They may produce symptoms due to esophageal and respiratory system compression, rupture, and infection. A 25-year-old man presented with pulmonary infection and bronchiectasis that did not improve with medical treatment. A diagnosis of esophageal duplication cyst was made intraoperatively.
Phonological awareness and vocabulary performance of monolingual and bilingual preschool children with hearing loss
Authors: Lund Emily , Werfel Krystal L , Schuele C Melanie
Published: April 2014

This pilot study compared the phonological awareness skills and vocabulary performance of English monolingual and Spanish–English bilingual children with and without hearing loss. Preschool children with varying degrees of hearing loss ( n = 18) and preschool children without hearing loss ( n = 19) completed measures of phonological awareness and receptive and expressive vocabulary knowledge. On phonological awareness tasks, the performance of bilingual children with hearing loss was significantly higher than bilingual children with normal hearing, but not higher than either monolingual group of children. On norm-referenced vocabulary knowledge measures, the performance of monolingual and bilingual children with hearing loss was significantly lower than monolingual and bilingual children with normal hearing. Correlations for phonological awareness and vocabulary knowledge were found for both groups of children with normal hearing, but not children with hearing loss. This study represents preliminary evidence that children with hearing loss may develop phonological awareness differently than children with normal hearing and that language and educational experience are critical to understanding the phonological awareness performance in children with hearing loss.
CHIVA strategy in chronic venous disease treatment: instructions for users
Authors: Gianesini S , Occhionorelli S , Menegatti E , Zuolo M , Tessari M , Spath P , Ascanelli S , Zamboni P
Published: April 2014

Along the years, scientific clinical data have been collected concerning the possible saphenous flow restoration without any ablation and according with the CHIVA strategy. Moreover, in 2013 a Cochrane review highlighted the smaller recurrence risk following a CHIVA strategy rather than a saphenous stripping. Nevertheless, the saphenous sparing strategy surely remains a not-so-worldwide-spread and accepted therapeutic option, also because considered not so immediate and easy to perform. Aim of this paper is to provide an easily accessible guide to an everyday use of a saphenous sparing strategy for chronic venous disease, highlighting how even apparently too complicated reflux patterns classifications can be fastly and successfully managed and exploited for a hemodynamic correction.
The use of aprepitant in a case of refractory nausea and vomiting
Authors: Lowery Lucy , Andrew Inga , Gill Sarah , Lee Mark
Published: April 2014

Background:

This case report describes a patient whose refractory nausea and vomiting significantly improved with the use of aprepitant, a neurokinin receptor antagonist currently only licensed for short-term use in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Case presentation:

A patient with breast cancer and meningeal metastases had an 18-month history of nausea and vomiting refractory to a number of antiemetics commonly used in palliative care. The nausea and vomiting resolved after receiving two doses of the drug aprepitant.

Case management and outcome:

Maintenance antiemetic treatment with aprepitant was continued over a 5-month period with no recurrence of nausea and vomiting, and no observed side effects.

Conclusions:

Aprepitant has a potential role as an antiemetic for refractory symptoms within the palliative-care setting.
Optical strain gauge with high spatial resolution
Authors: Rodriguez-Cobo Luis , Cobo Adolfo , Lopez-Higuera Jose-Miguel
Published: April 2014

A technique to enhance the spatial resolution of typical fiber Bragg grating–based strain gauges has been experimentally verified in this study. Just analyzing the intensity of the reflection spectrum of a sampled fiber Bragg grating, its inner deformation profile has been obtained with a spatial resolution of [Formula: see text] L<1mm. The proposed method employs a synthesis algorithm to retrieve the longitudinal axis strain profile of a sampled fiber Bragg grating glued to an asymmetric plate. The achieved experimental results have been compared to the mechanical simulations of the employed plate, exhibiting a good response even without compensating the residual stress provoked during the installation process.
MRI Anatomy of the Tibial ACL Attachment and Proximal Epiphysis in a Large Population of Skeletally Immature Knees
Authors: Swami Vimarsha Gopal , Mabee Myles , Hui Catherine , Jaremko Jacob Lester
Published: April 2014

Background:

To aid in performing anatomic physeal-sparing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, it is important for surgeons to have reference data for the native ACL attachment positions and epiphyseal anatomy in skeletally immature knees.

Purpose:

To characterize anatomic parameters of the ACL tibial insertion and proximal tibial epiphysis at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a large population of skeletally immature knees.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The ACL tibial attachment site and proximal epiphysis were examined in 570 skeletally immature knees with an intact ACL (age, 6-15 years) using 1.5-T proton density–weighted sagittal MRI; also measured were the tibial anteroposterior diameter; anterior, central, and posterior ACL attachment positions; vertical height of the epiphysis; and maximum oblique epiphyseal depth extending from the ACL tibial attachment center to the tibial tuberosity.

Results:

In adolescents (11-15 years of age), the center of the ACL’s tibial attachment was 51.5% ± 5.7% of the anteroposterior diameter of the tibia, with no significant differences between sexes or age groups ( P > .05 in all cases). Mean vertical epiphyseal height was 15.9 ± 1.7 mm in the adolescent group, with significant differences between 11-year-olds (15.2 ± 1.5 mm) and 15-year-olds (16.6 ± 1.6 mm), P < .001, and between males (16.6 ± 1.5 mm) and females (14.8 ± 1.4), P < .001. Mean maximum oblique depth was 30.0 ± 5.3 mm, with a significant difference between 11-year-olds (26.7 ± 4.9 mm) and 15-year-olds (32.7 ± 5.1 mm), P < .001, and between males (29.7 ± 6.4 mm) and females (27.8 ± 5.2 mm), P < .001. The maximum oblique depth occurred at a mean angle of ~50°, and this angle did not change with age or sex. There was a significant moderate correlation ( r = 0.39, P < .001) between epiphyseal vertical height and maximum oblique depth.

Conclusion:

The center of the ACL tibial attachment was consistently near 51% of the anteroposterior diameter, regardless of age or sex. The vertical depth of the tibial epiphysis was ~16 mm in adolescents. Maximum oblique depth from ACL attachment was ~30 mm, occurring at a mean angle ~50° regardless of age or sex. The normative values for tibial ACL attachment and epiphyseal anatomy presented here may be helpful in selecting candidates for surgery and in planning surgical approaches for pediatric ACL reconstruction.
Comparing Language Use in the Writing of Developmental Generation 1.5, L1, and L2 Tertiary Students
Authors: Doolan Stephen M.
Published: April 2014

Developmental composition courses serve a sizable and growing number of Generation 1.5 students, or long-term U.S. resident language learners, and it is believed that language challenges may be part of Generation 1.5 writers’ difficulty in controlling the academic register. The current study investigates possible similarities and differences between Generation 1.5 students ( n = 149) and two other student groups: mainstream first language (L1) writers ( n = 203) and more traditional second language (L2) writers ( n = 55), thus determining the extent to which language-use variables distinguish Generation 1.5 texts from those of their classmates. Results indicate significant differences between Generation 1.5 and L2 students on holistic writing quality, word errors, word class errors, verb errors, total identified errors, and spoken features of language. Generation 1.5 and L1 texts significantly differed on academic features of language. Implications are presented, suggesting that developmental Generation 1.5 writing may be more similar to L1 writing than has been previously reported.
Two Methods of Hemodynamic and Volume Status Assessment in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Eiferman Daniel S. , Davido H. Tracy , Howard James M. , Gerckens Jennifer , Evans David C. , Cook Charles H. , Stawicki S. P. A.
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

The invasive nature and potential complications associated with pulmonary artery (PA) catheters (PACs) have prompted the pursuit of less invasive monitoring options. Before implementing new hemodynamic monitoring technologies, it is important to determine the interchangeability of these modalities. This study examines monitoring concordance between the PAC and the arterial waveform analysis (AWA) hemodynamic monitoring system.

Methods:

Critically ill patients undergoing hemodynamic monitoring with PAC were simultaneously equipped with the FloTrac AWA system (both from Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California). Data were concomitantly obtained for hemodynamic variables. Bland-Altman methodology was used to assess CO measurement bias and κ coefficent to show discrepancies in intravascular volume.

Results:

Significant measurement bias was observed in both CO and intravascular volume status between the 2 techniques (mean bias, −1.055 ± 0.263 liter/min, r = 0.481). There was near-complete lack of agreement regarding the need for intravenous volume administration (κ = 0.019) or the need for vasoactive agent administration (κ = 0.015).

Conclusions:

The lack of concordance between PAC and AWA in critically ill surgical patients undergoing active resuscitation raises doubts regarding the interchangeability and relative accuracy of these modalities in clinical use. Lack of awareness of these limitations can lead to errors in clinical decision making when managing critically ill patients.
Using Virtual Technology to Enhance Field Experiences for Pre-Service Special Education Teachers
Authors: Billingsley Glenna M. , Scheuermann Brenda K.
Published: April 2014

Teacher educators of pre-service teachers of students with special needs face challenges in providing the unique knowledge and skills required of highly qualified special education teachers. The emerging use of various forms of virtual technology, however, offers realistic solutions to these problems. This systematic review of literature examines 14 studies that utilized these virtual technologies to increase learning outcomes for pre-service special education teachers during field experiences or courses that prepared them for such experiences. Included studies examined the efficacy of learning from digital case studies, supervision via videoconferencing, audio-cued coaching, and participation in virtual reality activities. Results confirmed that these types of technologies can greatly enhance field-based learning opportunities for pre-service special education teachers.
Exploring optimum power unit of propulsion system for high altitude airship
Authors: Chen Shengqi , Song Bifeng , Wang Haifeng
Published: April 2014

Different schemes of a propulsion system have a distinguished influence on the overall performance of high altitude airship. There is an optimum power, called optimum power unit, to achieve the lowest propulsion system and energy system weight for a high altitude airship. The paper represents an optimization model of the optimum power unit for a high altitude airship. Firstly, the optimal Latin hypercube design method is applied to obtain the sample points of the distributed low power propulsion system. Secondly, the surrogate model, which is used to establish the optimization model, is obtained by responding surface method based on these sample points. The computational model of the energy system is obtained by the airship’s location and the working time. Finally, the multi-island genetic algorithm is used to find the optimum power unit for a typical high altitude airship. Furthermore, the optimization work under different typical power levels and diameters is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the optimum power unit design method. It has been found that the identical result validates the effectiveness of the optimum power unit design method.
Living Among the Affluent
Authors: Tay Louis , Morrison Mike , Diener Ed
Published: April 2014

This study examined whether national income can have effects on happiness, or subjective well-being (SWB), over and above those of personal income. To assess the incremental effects of national income on SWB, we conducted cross-sectional multilevel analysis on data from 838,151 individuals in 158 nations. Although greater personal income was consistently related to higher SWB, we found that national income was a boon to life satisfaction but a bane to daily feelings of well-being; individuals in richer nations experienced more worry and anger on average. We also found moderating effects: The income-SWB relationship was stronger at higher levels of national income. This result might be explained by cultural norms, as money is valued more in richer nations. The SWB of more residentially mobile individuals was less affected by national income. Overall, our results suggest that the wealth of the nation one resides in has consequences for one’s happiness.
Methylphenidate Blocks Effort-Induced Depletion of Regulatory Control in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Sripada Chandra , Kessler Daniel , Jonides John
Published: April 2014

A recent wave of studies—more than 100 conducted over the last decade—has shown that exerting effort at controlling impulses or behavioral tendencies leaves a person depleted and less able to engage in subsequent rounds of regulation. Regulatory depletion is thought to play an important role in everyday problems (e.g., excessive spending, overeating) as well as psychiatric conditions, but its neurophysiological basis is poorly understood. Using a placebo-controlled, double-blind design, we demonstrated that the psychostimulant methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin), a catecholamine reuptake blocker that increases dopamine and norepinephrine at the synaptic cleft, fully blocks effort-induced depletion of regulatory control. Spectral analysis of trial-by-trial reaction times revealed specificity of methylphenidate effects on regulatory depletion in the slow-4 frequency band. This band is associated with the operation of resting-state brain networks that produce mind wandering, which raises potential connections between our results and recent brain-network-based models of control over attention.
Body mass index and cancer screening: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Beeken Rebecca J , Wilson Rose , McDonald Laura , Wardle Jane
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Obesity is associated with an increased cancer incidence and mortality and therefore cancer screening is particularly important for obese individuals. However, some US studies find lower screening uptake in this group. This study explored whether rates of breast and colorectal screening in England are lower for obese than healthy weight individuals.

Setting

Data were from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).

Methods

We analysed data from adults who were eligible to have been invited to the UK national screening programmes for breast or colorectal cancer (CRC) in the last five years, and had been given the screening module in Wave 5 of ELSA (N = 1804 for CRC screening, N = 2401 for breast cancer screening). Weight and height were measured by a nurse at Wave 4 (two years earlier). Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of breast and CRC screening (ever) for participants in higher weight categories (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 25) compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI <25), controlling for socio-demographic variables.

Results

Of ELSA participants, 63% reported CRC screening, and 92% of the women reported breast cancer screening. Obesity was associated with lower CRC screening, but effects were strongest for class III obesity (BMI ≥40) (45% screened; OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.32–0.93, P = .029). There was no association between weight status and breast cancer screening.

Conclusion

Severe obesity appears to be a deterrent to CRC screening but not breast cancer screening. Targeted interventions may be required to promote CRC screening uptake in this group, which already has a heightened risk as a consequence of weight.
Do grades reflect the development of excellence in music students? The prognostic validity of entrance exams at universities of music
Authors: Wolf Anna , Kopiez Reinhard
Published: April 2014

For successful admission to universities of music, prospective students have to pass entrance exams which assess the quality of their music-making and, in some instances, their abilities in music theory and aural training. However, only very little is known about the validity of such grades and the skill development of expectant professional musicians. For the first time, the present study analyzes the long-term development of grades of students in a bachelor degree program ( N = 63) over a period of 3 years. As the grades were neither interval-scaled nor normally distributed, a logistic regression analysis was calculated to quantify the predictability of final grades in the main instrument and music theory based on the respective entrance exam grades. The prognostic validity was low for grades in both the main instrument and music theory/aural training (Nagelkerke R2 = .08 and .01). This result can be mainly attributed to two explanations: First, university grades are often inflated and subject to ceiling effects. Second, the curricula in music theory contain such variety that it is impossible to define what all students across the board learn. In order to better define expertise skill development in students, we suggest initiating regular competency-based assessments for professional musicians at a pre-collegiate and collegiate level.
Marketisation and the dual welfare state: Neoliberalism and inequality in Australia
Authors: Spies-Butcher Ben
Published: April 2014

Australian social policy has seen apparently contradictory developments over the period of economic restructuring. Social spending has increased based on a highly redistributive model while inequality has grown. This article explores the relationship between Australia’s experience of economic restructuring and the political dynamics of an emerging ‘dual welfare state’. Importantly, the article argues that Australian reformers did not reject the state per se, nor egalitarianism as an objective. Instead, reform sought to combine greater competition with compensation, generating larger inequalities in market incomes alongside growing social spending. The article explores how Labor combined neoclassical ideas about competition with a commitment to a ‘small state’ version of social democracy. This did moderate inequalities through the period of restructuring, but it also altered the dynamics of political contestation. The article provides two typologies to understand this political dynamic, arguing forms of marketisation opened the door to a political contest over the nature, rather than the extent, of public provision, while the model of targeting reinforced paternalist tendencies inherent in neoliberal reform.
Mixed-methods research: What’s in it for economists?
Authors: Jefferson Therese , Austen Siobhan , Sharp Rhonda , Ong Rachel , Lewin Gill , Adams Valerie
Published: April 2014

Empirical studies in economics traditionally use a limited range of methods, usually based on particular types of regression analysis. Increasingly, sophisticated regression techniques require the availability of appropriate data sets, often longitudinal and typically collected at a national level. This raises challenges for researchers seeking to investigate issues requiring data that are not typically included in regular large-scale data. It also raises questions of the adequacy of relying mainly or solely on regression analysis for investigating key issues of economic theory and policy. One way of addressing these issues is to employ a mixed-methods research framework to investigate important research questions. In this article, we provide an example of applying a mixed-methods design to investigate the employment decisions of mature age women working in the aged care sector. We outline the use of a coherent and robust framework to allow the integrated collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Drawing on particular examples from our analysis, we show how a mixed-methods approach facilitates richer insights, more finely grained understandings of causal relationships and identification of emergent issues. We conclude that mixed-methods research has the capacity to provide surprises and generate new insights through detailed exploratory data analysis.
Societal Factors Impacting Child Welfare
Authors: Auerbach Charles , Zeitlin Wendy , Augsberger Astraea , McGowan Brenda G. , Claiborne Nancy , Lawrence Catherine K.
Published: April 2014

Objective:

This research examines the psychometric properties of the Perceptions of Child Welfare Scale (PCWS). This instrument is designed to assess child welfare workers’ understanding of how society views their role and their work.

Methods:

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was utilized to analyze data on 538 child welfare workers.

Results:

The final model consisted of three latent variables with 14 indicators related to stigma, value, and respect (χ2 = 362.33, p = .00; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .09; 90% confidence interval [CI]: [.08, .09]; comparative fit index [CFI] = .96; Tucker–Lewis Index [TLI] = .95).

Discussion:

The way in which workers believe others view their work suggests an increasingly complex prototype for understanding workforce issues. Those wishing to examine societal factors related to child welfare workforce issues could use this validated instrument.