bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Communicative Functions to Prosodic Forms
Authors: Kohler Klaus J.
Published: October 2013

This is a proposal in favour of proceeding from communicative function to linguistic form, rather than the reverse, for an insightful account of how humans communicate by speech in languages. A functional framework is developed that encompasses argumentation structures, declarative and interrogative functions, and expressive intensification. Such a function orientation can become a powerful tool in comparative prosodic research across the world's languages. The potential of this approach is shown by comparing the prosodic form of Mandarin Chinese data collected in functionally contextualized scenarios with corresponding data from English and German.
The Tonal Space of Contrastive Five Level Tones
Authors: Kuang Jianjing
Published: October 2013

Multiple-level tone contrasts are typologically disfavoured because they violate the dispersion principles of maximizing perceptual distance and minimizing articulatory effort. This study investigates the tonal dispersion of a multiple-level tone system by exploring the cues used in producing and perceiving the five level tones of Black Miao. Both production and perception experiments show that non-modal phonations are very important cues for these tonal contrasts. Non-modal phonations significantly contribute to the dispersion of the five level tones in two ways: either by enhancing pitch contrasts or by providing an additional contrastive cue. Benefiting from more than one cue, the level tones T11, T33 and T55 are well distinguished in the tonal space; by contrast, the level tones T22 and T44, only contrasting in pitch, are the most confusable tones. The tonal registers model proposed in this article sheds light on the different uses of non-modal phonations across languages.
Danish Stød: Laryngealization or Tone
Authors: Grønnum Nina , Vazquez-Larruscaín Miguel , Basbøll Hans
Published: October 2013

In the light of previous acoustic analyses of Danish stød and Danish intonation, we discuss two different phonological theories. In one, stød is an autonomous laryngeal syllable prosody. In the other, stød is the phonetic manifestation of an HL tonal pattern compressed within one syllable. The tonal representation is found to be contradicted by the phonetic reality, and it cannot account for the structurally determined alternation between non-stød and stød in inflection and derivation, nor for latent stød or stød in compounds. Furthermore, stød patterns are largely constant across regional varieties of Danish, but tonal patterns over the relevant structural domains are highly variable. Thus, stød may occur on any kind of tonal configuration, anywhere in the speaker's pitch range, a variability which is hard to reconcile with a fixed HL representation.
Altered Activity of the Primary Visual Area during Gaze Processing in Individuals with High-Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Magnetoencephalography Study
Authors: Hasegawa Naoya , Kitamura Hideaki , Murakami Hiroatsu , Kameyama Shigeki , Sasagawa Mutsuo , Egawa Jun , Tamura Ryu , Endo Taro , Someya Toshiyuki
Published: October 2013

Background: Individuals with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate an impaired ability to infer the mental states of others from their gaze. Thus, investigating the relationship between ASD and eye gaze processing is crucial for understanding the neural basis of social impairments seen in individuals with ASD. In addition, characteristics of ASD are observed in more comprehensive visual perception tasks. These visual characteristics of ASD have been well-explained in terms of the atypical relationship between high- and low-level gaze processing in ASD. Method: We studied neural activity during gaze processing in individuals with ASD using magnetoencephalography, with a focus on the relationship between high- and low-level gaze processing both temporally and spatially. Minimum Current Estimate analysis was applied to perform source analysis of magnetic responses to gaze stimuli. Results: The source analysis showed that later activity in the primary visual area (V1) was affected by gaze direction only in the ASD group. Conversely, the right posterior superior temporal sulcus, which is a brain region that processes gaze as a social signal, in the typically developed group showed a tendency toward greater activation during direct compared with averted gaze processing. Conclusion: These results suggest that later activity in V1 relating to gaze processing is altered or possibly enhanced in high-functioning individuals with ASD, which may underpin the social cognitive impairments in these individuals.
Acute Intracerebroventricular Inositol Does Not Reverse the Effect of Chronic Lithium Treatment in the Forced Swim Test
Authors: Toker L. , Kara N. , Hadas I. , Einat H. , Bersudsky Y. , Belmaker R.H. , Agam G.
Published: October 2013

Background: Lithium has numerous biochemical effects but it is difficult to dissect which of these is responsible for its therapeutic action in bipolar disorder. In the current study we aimed to address one of the major hypotheses, the inositol depletion hypothesis. This hypothesis postulates that lithium's mood-stabilizing effect is mediated by the depletion of brain inositol levels and the subsequent effect on cellular signaling. Methods: We studied whether acute intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of myo-inositol could reverse the antidepressant-like effect of chronic lithium treatment in the forced swim test (FST). Results: In contrast with our prediction, acute myo-inositol administration did not reverse the effect of chronic lithium to decrease immobility in the FST. Conclusions: The results of the present study are limited due to the following: (1) inositol was given acutely while possible events downstream of inositol depletion might require a longer period and (2) ICV inositol may not have reached those areas of the brain involved in the FST.
Health Economic Analysis on a Psychosocial Intervention for Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia
Authors: Dahlrup Beth , Nordell Eva , Steen Carlsson Katarina , Elmståhl Sölve
Published: October 2013

Background/Aims: Psychosocial intervention has shown positive effects on the caregivers' burden and satisfaction. The aims of this study were to describe the cost and cost-effectiveness of such an intervention. Methods: We analyzed resource use and costs of formal care for 308 persons with dementia and their caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: The costs of home help services were lower in the subgroup of spouse caregivers in the intervention group and the cost of nursing home placement was lower in the intervention group. While the person with dementia lived at home, caregivers in the intervention group reported a higher HRQoL (p < 0.01). After the person with dementia had moved to a nursing home, spouses in the control group had a lower HRQoL (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The result can be interpreted as a positive effect of the intervention focusing on the identified specific needs of the family caregivers.
Clinical and Echocardiographic Predictors of Cardiorenal Syndrome Type I in Patients with Acute Ischemic Right Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Tandon Rohit , Mohan Bishav , Chhabra Shibba Takkar , Aslam Naved , Wander Gurpreet Singh
Published: October 2013

Background: In current cardiology practice, the importance of acute cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in determining the outcome of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is well recognized. Certain groups of ACS patients are at higher risk of developing CRS. Data on the association between right ventricular (RV) functions and CRS after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are scarce. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the relation between RV function and the development of CRS in patients presenting with inferior wall AMI and RV involvement. Patients and Methods: Patients with inferior wall AMI with RV involvement underwent echocardiography at admission to assess RV function. RV functions were quantified according to RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and RV outflow tract fractional shortening (RVOTFS). The patients were followed up until discharge from hospital. All patients who developed CRS were included in group I, all patients who did not develop CRS were included in group II (controls). Multivariate analysis was carried out to determine the significance of the echocardiographic and clinical parameters in predicting the development of CRS in these patients. Results: In our study, a history of diabetes mellitus, cardiogenic shock at admission, and RVFAC and TAPSE could significantly predict the development of CRS in patients presenting with inferior wall AMI and RV involvement. Conclusions: RV functions provide strong prognostic information regarding the development of CRS in patients of inferior wall AMI with RV involvement.
High Tau Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid Predict Rapid Decline and Increased Dementia Mortality in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Degerman Gunnarsson M. , Lannfelt L. , Ingelsson M. , Basun H. , Kilander L.
Published: October 2013

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid β42 (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) are useful as predictors of conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, results are contradictory as to whether these biomarkers reflect the future rate of clinical decline. Methods: This is a retrospective study on 196 patients with AD [mild/moderate AD (n = 72) or AD-MCI (n = 124) at baseline] with a follow-up period of 2-9 years' duration (median 6 years). Lumbar punctures were performed at baseline as a part of the diagnostic procedure. Results: We found an increased risk of rapid cognitive decline defined as a drop in the Mini-Mental State Examination score of ≥4 points/year in patients with CSF t-tau concentrations above the median (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.53-7.16) and CSF p-tau above the median (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.21-5.26). Patients with CSF t-tau in the highest quartile had a higher risk of dying in severe dementia (HR 4.67, 95% CI 1.16-18.82). Conclusions: In this large AD cohort, we found an association between high levels of CSF t-tau and p-tau and a more aggressive course of the disease, measured as a rapid cognitive decline and a higher risk of dying in severe dementia.
Early Relapse of Unresectable Gallbladder Cancer after Discontinuation of Gemcitabine Monotherapy Administered for 5 Years in a Patient Who Had Complete Response to the Treatment
Authors: Suyama Koichi , Ikeda Masafumi , Suzuki Eiichiro , Kojima Motohiro , Mitsunaga Shuichi , Shimizu Satoshi , Ohno Izumi , Takahashi Hideaki , Okuyama Hiroyuki , Kuwahara Akiko , Okusaka Takuji , Furuse Junji
Published: October 2013

The tumor shrinkage effect of gemcitabine is considered to be limited in cases of advanced gallbladder cancer, and there are few reports of complete response to gemcitabine therapy in patients with this cancer. Therefore, the treatment continuation strategy in these patients, after a complete response has been achieved, still remains to be established. Here, we present the case of a 77-year-old patient with unresectable gallbladder cancer, who after showing complete response to gemcitabine monotherapy administered for 5 years, showed early relapse within only 11 months of discontinuation of the drug. Thus, it is necessary to establish a suitable treatment continuation strategy for patients who show complete response to gemcitabine treatment.
Prognostic significance of residual venous obstruction in patients with treated unprovoked deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Ageno Walter , Antonucci Emilia , Cosmi Benilde , Kovacs Michael J. , Gal Grégoire Le , Ockelford Paul , Poli Daniela , Prandoni Paolo , Rodger Marc , Saccullo Giorgia , Siragusa Sergio , Young Laura , Bonzini Matteo , Caprioli Monica , Dentali Francesco , Iorio Alfonso , Douketis James D. , Donadini Marco P.
Published: October 2013

Residual venous obstruction (RVO) could improve the stratification of the risk of recurrence after unprovoked deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but results from clinical studies and study-level meta-analyses are conflicting. It was the objective of this analysis to determine if RVO is a valid predictor of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with a first unprovoked DVT who had received at least three months of anticoagulant therapy. Individual patient data were obtained from the datasets of original studies, after a systematic search of electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library), supplemented by manual reviewing of the reference lists and contacting content experts. A multivariate, shared-frailty Cox model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for recurrent VTE, including, as covariates: RVO; age; sex; anticoagulation duration before RVO assessment; and anticoagulation continuation after RVO assessment. A total of 2,527 patients from 10 prospective studies were included. RVO was found in 1,380 patients (55.1%) after a median of six months from a first unprovoked DVT. Recurrent VTE occurred in 399 patients (15.8%) during a median follow-up of 23.3 months. After multivariate Cox analysis, RVO was independently associated with recurrent VTE (HR = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.65). The association was stronger if RVO was detected early, i.e. at three months after DVT (HR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.11–4.25), but non-significant if detected later, i.e. >6 months (HR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.87–1.61). In conclusion, after a first unprovoked DVT, RVO is a weak overall predictor of recurrent VTE. The association is stronger if RVO is detected at an earlier time (3 months) after thrombosis.
Mortality Among High-Risk Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Admitted to US Teaching-Intensive Hospitals in July
Authors: Jena Anupam B. , Sun Eric C. , Romley John A.
Published: October 2013

Background—

Studies of whether inpatient mortality in US teaching hospitals rises in July as a result of organizational disruption and relative inexperience of new physicians (July effect) find small and mixed results, perhaps because study populations primarily include low-risk inpatients whose mortality outcomes are unlikely to exhibit a July effect.

Methods and Results—

Using the US Nationwide Inpatient sample, we estimated difference-in-difference models of mortality, percutaneous coronary intervention rates, and bleeding complication rates, for high- and low-risk patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to 98 teaching-intensive and 1353 non–teaching-intensive hospitals during May and July 2002 to 2008. Among patients in the top quartile of predicted acute myocardial infarction mortality (high risk), adjusted mortality was lower in May than July in teaching-intensive hospitals (18.8% in May, 22.7% in July,
P
<0.01), but similar in non–teaching-intensive hospitals (22.5% in May, 22.8% in July,
P
=0.70). Among patients in the lowest three quartiles of predicted acute myocardial infarction mortality (low risk), adjusted mortality was similar in May and July in both teaching-intensive hospitals (2.1% in May, 1.9% in July,
P
=0.45) and non–teaching-intensive hospitals (2.7% in May, 2.8% in July,
P
=0.21). Differences in percutaneous coronary intervention and bleeding complication rates could not explain the observed July mortality effect among high risk patients.

Conclusions—

High-risk acute myocardial infarction patients experience similar mortality in teaching- and non–teaching-intensive hospitals in July, but lower mortality in teaching-intensive hospitals in May. Low-risk patients experience no such July effect in teaching-intensive hospitals.
Compulsory Religious Education in Turkey
Authors: Çınar Özgür H.
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The question of religious education has been debated in Turkey since the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. However, with Turkey’s commencement of the accession process towards becoming a full member of the European Union, this debate has intensified and after the judgment in the Hasan and Eylem Zengin case at the European Court of Human Rights in 2007, obligations arising from international law have become more impellent.
The Right to Establish and Maintain Places of Worship in Turkey
Authors: Yıldırım Mine
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The protection of the right to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places of worship in Turkey serves as a good illustration of the nature of de jure and de facto restrictions in contrast to what appears to be a general recognition of the right to freedom to worship. The protection of the right to establish and maintain places of worship in the Turkish legal system appears to be restricted in three key areas, namely: (i) planning regulations; (ii) permission of public authority; and (iii) legal personality. Turkey must take necessary measures to bring its legislation and practice in line with international human rights obligations.
Political Engagement Principles as the Basis for New Regional Self-Determination Processes in Europe
Authors: Ordeix Enric , Ginesta Xavier
Published: October 2013

The U.S. presidential campaign in 2008 signified a change on the paradigm of how the political parties deal with local communities. This means that grassroots techniques arose as a key factor for the triumph of Barack H. Obama. After the election, European political parties—even social movements—also adapted some strategies inspired by the U.S. presidential campaigns. The main objective of this article is to analyze how these grassroots techniques have been adapted in a specific scenario: the process of self-determination of Catalonia, an Autonomous Community of Spain that claims to be an independent country after the failing of Estado de las Autonomías (state of autonomies) model. Our method is to explore the parameters that drove the Obama’s first presidential campaign and how they have been applied into the self-determination campaign of Catalonia, such as the creation of local opinion platforms, media spin doctoring, social networking, and the social involvement of foreign actors. We realized that the social commitment with the self-determination process by regional community organizations has had a stronger leadership than the political parties. As a result, we state that political spin doctors in Catalonia could neither drive nor control the framing process of the last parliamentary regional campaign.
Reviewing Reviews of Research in Educational Leadership
Authors: Hallinger Philip
Published: October 2013

Purpose: Reviews of research play a critical but underappreciated role in knowledge production and accumulation. Yet, until relatively recently, limited attention has been given to the “methodology” of conducting reviews of research. This observation also applies in educational leadership and management where reviews of research have charted intellectual progress since the field’s inception in the 1950s and 1960s. This paper was framed as a “methodological review of reviews of research” in educational leadership and management. Method: The author analyzed 38 reviews of research in educational leadership published in nine international refereed journals over the past 52 years. The author applies a conceptual framework and analytical rubric for conducting systematic reviews of research in analyzing this sample of research reviews. Data analysis focuses on describing methodological characteristics, illuminating patterns of strength and weakness in review methods, and identifying a set of exemplary reviews. Findings: Despite publication of a number of “exemplary reviews,” there remains considerable room for improvement in the methodology of conducting systematic reviews of research in educational leadership and management. The study identified a tendency for research reviews in this field to omit key information concerning the rationale and nature of the studies included in the reviews, methods of data collection, extraction, evaluation and analysis, and how these choices impacted interpretation of the findings. Implications: This comprehensive set of 38 published review articles tracks the historical development of the field and, by itself, represents a rich harvest from the study. Within this historical corpus of reviews, the study identified a subset of “exemplary reviews” that can serve as useful models for future scholarship. Finally, by identifying patterns of methodological strength and weakness among the reviews as a group, the report offers empirically grounded recommendations for strengthening future reviews of research in educational leadership and management.
Investigation of particle size and reinforcement content on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of A356-Al2O3 composite fabricated by vortex method
Authors: Akbari M Karbalaei , Baharvandi HR , Mirzaee O
Published: October 2013

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of alumina particle size and its amount on relative density, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of [Formula: see text] composite. To manufacture micro and nano-composites, alumina particles with various sizes of 50 µm, 10 µm, and 20 nm were separately milled with aluminum powders, and subsequently different volume fractions of milled powders were injected by argon gas into molten alloy and incorporated into A356 matrix by a mechanical stirrer (vortex method). Composites were fabricated at various casting temperatures, viz. 750, 800, and 900℃. Microstructural characterizations revealed that the dendrite size of the Aluminum matrix nano composite (AMNCs) is smaller than that of the non-reinforced alloy. The Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs revealed that the [Formula: see text] particles were surrounded by silicon eutectic and inclined to move toward inter-dendritic regions. Nano-particles were dispersed uniformly in the matrix when the volume fraction of nano-particles in the composite was less than 3.5 vol.%. The porosity content of the composites increased with increasing volume fraction and decreasing particle size. Also, hardness and tensile strength of the composites improved with decreasing particle size and increasing reinforcement content. The significant improvements in hardness and tensile strength were respectively attained in the nano-composites, reinforced with 1.5 and 2.5 vol.% [Formula: see text] nano-particles. Alumina particle cracking was observed in the fracture surface of the micro-composites. Agglomerated nano-particles were observed on dendrites in the fracture surface of nano-composites.
Fabrication of SiO2 covered ZrO2 electrospun fibres with controllable structure and their novel high-performance composites with outstanding thermal, mechanical and dielectric properties
Authors: Qin Dake , Liang Guozheng , Gu Aijuan , Yuan Li
Published: October 2013

New ceramic electrospun fibres, SiO2 nano-particles covered ZrO2 fibres (SiO2@ZrO2), are facilely fabricated, which have many hydroxyl groups on the surfaces, and their diameters and chemistries are controllable. Based on this, novel SiO2@ZrO2/cyanate ester composites with desirable interfacial adhesion were prepared, completely overcoming the drawback of ZrO2/cyanate ester composites; moreover, the SiO2@ZrO2/cyanate ester composites show much higher storage moduli and glass transition temperatures as well as lower dielectric constants and losses than ZrO2/cyanate ester composites. These interesting results originate from the double effects of the unique structure of SiO2@ZrO2 fibres. Specifically, the active groups on the surfaces of SiO2@ZrO2 fibres bring the chemical bonding with the matrix, while SiO2 particles on the ZrO2 fibres provide physical interlocking between the matrix and fibres. These attractive properties of SiO2@ZrO2/cyanate ester composites suggest that the method proposed herein is effective to prepare electrospun fibres with unique and controllable structure as well as high-performance ceramic/polymer composites.
Interactions of the Tooth and Bone during Development
Authors: Alfaqeeh S.A. , Gaete M. , Tucker A.S.
Published: October 2013

The tooth works as a functional unit with its surrounding bony socket, the alveolar bone. The growth of the tooth and alveolar bone is co-ordinated so that a studied distance always separates the 2, known as the tooth-bone interface (TBI). Lack of mineralization, a crucial feature of the TBI, creates the space for the developing tooth to grow and the soft tissues of the periodontium to develop. We have investigated the interactions between the tooth and its surrounding bone during development, focusing on the impact of the developing alveolar bone on the development of the mouse first molar (M1). During development, TRAP-positive osteoclasts are found to line the TBI as bone starts to be deposited around the tooth, removing the bone as the tooth expands. An enhancement of osteoclastogenesis through RANK-RANKL signaling results in an expansion of the TBI, showing that osteoclasts are essential for defining the size of this region. Isolation of the M1 from the surrounding mesenchyme and alveolar bone leads to an expansion of the tooth germ, driven by increased proliferation, indicating that, during normal development, the growth of the tooth germ is constrained by the surrounding tissues.
Randomized Control Trial of Composite Cuspal Restorations
Authors: Fennis W.M. , Kuijs R.H. , Roeters F.J. , Creugers N.H. , Kreulen C.M.
Published: October 2013

The objective of this randomized control trial was to compare the five-year clinical performance of direct and indirect resin composite restorations replacing cusps. In 157 patients, 176 restorations were made to restore maxillary premolars with Class II cavities and one missing cusp. Ninety-two direct and 84 indirect resin composite restorations were placed by two operators, following a strict protocol. Treatment technique and operator were assigned randomly. Follow-up period was at least 4.5 yrs. Survival rates were determined with time to reparable failure and complete failure as endpoints. Kaplan-Meier five-year survival rates were 86.6% (SE 0.27%) for reparable failure and 87.2% (SE 0.27%) for complete failure. Differences between survival rates of direct and indirect restorations [89.9% (SE 0.34%) vs. 83.2% (SE 0.42%) for reparable failure and 91.2% (SE 0.32%) vs. 83.2% (SE 0.42%) for complete failure] were not statistically significant ( p = .23 for reparable failure; p = .15 for complete failure). Mode of failure was predominantly adhesive. The results suggest that direct and indirect techniques provide comparable results over the long term (trial registration number: ISRCTN29200848).
Contribution of Mesenchymal Proliferation in Tooth Root Morphogenesis
Authors: Sohn W.-J. , Choi M.-A. , Yamamoto H. , Lee S. , Lee Y. , Jung J.-K. , Jin M.-U. , An C.-H. , Jung H.-S. , Suh J.-Y. , Shin H.-I. , Kim J.-Y.
Published: October 2013

In mouse tooth development, the roots of the first lower molar develop after crown formation to form 2 cylindrical roots by post-natal day 5. This study compared the morphogenesis and cellular events of the mesial-root-forming (MRF) and bifurcation-forming (BF) regions, located in the mesial and center of the first lower molar, to better define the developmental mechanisms involved in multi-rooted tooth formation. We found that the mesenchyme in the MRF showed relatively higher proliferation than the bifurcation region. This suggested that spatially regulated mesenchymal proliferation is required for creating cylindrical root structure. The mechanism may involve the mesenchyme forming a physical barrier to epithelial invagination of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath. To test these ideas, we cultured roots in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors of microtubule and actin polymerization, nocodazole and cytochalasin-D. Cytochalasin D also inhibits proliferation in epithelium and mesenchyme. Both drugs resulted in altered morphological changes in the tooth root structures. In particular, the nocodazole- and cytochalasin-D-treated specimens showed a loss of root diameter and formation of a single-root, respectively. Immunolocalization and three-dimensional reconstruction results confirmed these mesenchymal cellular events, with higher proliferation in MRF in multi-rooted tooth formation.
Gender Differences in Reading Impairment and in the Identification of Impaired Readers
Authors: Quinn Jamie M. , Wagner Richard K.
Published: October 2013

Reading impairment is more common in males, but the magnitude and origin of this gender difference are debated. In a large-scale study of reading impairment among 491,103 beginning second-graders, gender differences increased with greater severity of reading impairment, peaking at a ratio of 2.4:1 for a broad measure of fluency and a ratio of 1.6:1 for a narrow measure of decoding. Results from three tests indicate that gender differences in reading impairment are attributable primarily to male vulnerability rather than ascertainment bias. Correspondence between identification as an impaired reader by our study criteria and school identification as learning disabled was poor overall and worse for girls: Only 1 out of 4 boys and 1 out of 7 girls identified as reading impaired in our study was school identified as learning disabled.
A Synthesis of Mathematical and Cognitive Performances of Students With Mathematics Learning Disabilities
Authors: Shin Mikyung , Bryant Diane Pedrotty
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this study was to synthesize the findings from 23 articles that compared the mathematical and cognitive performances of students with mathematics learning disabilities (LD) to (a) students with LD in mathematics and reading, (b) age- or grade-matched students with no LD, and (c) mathematical-ability-matched younger students with no LD. Overall results revealed that students with mathematics LD exhibited higher word problem-solving abilities and no significant group differences on working memory, long-term memory, and metacognition measures compared to students with LD in mathematics and reading. Findings also revealed students with mathematics LD demonstrated significantly lower performance compared to age- or grade-matched students with no LD on both mathematical and cognitive measures. Comparison between students with mathematics LD and younger students with no LD revealed mixed outcomes on mathematical measures and generally no significant group differences on cognitive measures.
Performance of Children With Developmental Dyslexia on Two Skill Learning Tasks—Serial Reaction Time and Tower of Hanoi Puzzle
Authors: Vakil Eli , Lowe Michal , Goldfus Carol
Published: October 2013

Among the various theories proposed to explain developmental dyslexia (DD), the theory of specific procedural learning difficulties has gained certain support and is the framework for the current research. This theory claims that an inability to achieve skill automaticity explains the difficulties experienced by individuals with DD. Previous research on automaticity and DD has exhibited methodological issues such as a failure to test a range of skills. The current study broadens previous findings by delineating various reading skills correlated with several aspects of skill acquisition. Furthermore, the study utilizes two nonverbal tasks that reflect distinct types of skills: Serial Reaction Time (SRT) and the Tower of Hanoi Puzzle (TOHP). A total of 53 children aged 11 to 13 participated in the study, of whom 23 were children with DD and 30 were controls. Participants completed a test battery that consisted of reading tests, the SRT, and the TOHP. Results show no differences in learning rate between individuals with or without DD, although individuals with DD performed both tasks at a slower rate. Correlations were identified between a number of reading measures and measures of skill acquisition, expressed primarily in individuals with DD. Implications are examined in the discussion.
Identifying optimal mitigation strategies for responding to a mild influenza epidemic
Authors: Yarmand Hamed , Ivy Julie S , Roberts Stephen D
Published: October 2013

Mathematical models have been developed to simulate influenza epidemics to help public health officials evaluate different control policies. In these models, often severe influenza epidemics with a considerable mortality rate are considered. However, as was the case for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, some of the influenza epidemics are mild with insignificant mortality rates. In the case of a mild epidemic, the cost of different control policies becomes an important decision factor in addition to disease-related outcomes such as the attack rate.

We develop a continuous-time simulation model for the spread of a mild influenza epidemic based on the SEIR model (an epidemiological model with four classes: susceptible, exposed, infective, and recovered) which includes different interventions. To determine the epidemic mitigation policy with the minimum cost, we also develop an optimization model with two decision variables, vaccination and self-isolation fractions, and an upper-bound constraint for the attack rate. We use this model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different mitigation policies. Furthermore, we integrate the simulation and optimization models to identify the optimal mitigation policy. Finally, we conduct sensitivity analysis on the key input parameters to ensure robust results.

The optimal policy depends on the target population and, as our results show, in general is a combination of vaccination and self-isolation. Further, for low (high) levels of intervention, vaccination (self-isolation) is incrementally more cost-effective. Therefore, public health officials should concentrate on vaccination at the beginning of the epidemic. However, if the epidemic continues to spread, they should promote self-isolation as a more effective intervention.
Urban Poverty, Structural Violence and Welfare Provision for 100 Families in Auckland
Authors: Hodgetts Darrin , Chamberlain Kerry , Groot Shiloh , Tankel Yardena
Published: October 2013

Socioeconomic inequalities are increasing in many OECD countries, as are punitive welfare reforms that pathologise ‘the poor’. This article draws on the accounts of 100 families in Auckland to consider the impacts of increased social stratification and structural violence on their interactions with a government welfare agency. Each family was recruited through a food bank and was matched with a social worker who used a range of interview, mapping and drawing exercises to document their experiences of adversity over a one-year period. The analysis sheds new light on how institutionalised and abusive relations with these families manifest in spatially located urban interactions. It is argued that poverty is misrecognised at the institutional level and that this nurtures structural violence in service provision interactions.
The Emotional Experience of First-time Teaching
Authors: Meanwell Emily , Kleiner Sibyl
Published: October 2013

Teaching for the first time can be a challenging but rewarding experience. For first-time graduate student instructors, however, it also officially marks the transition from student to teacher—a process that can be both transformational and emotion-laden. In this article, we use content analysis of 86 first-time sociology graduate student instructors’ reflections on their first semester teaching to explore the emotional aspects of first-time college teaching, an aspect that has received little attention in the existing literature. We describe the range of emotions—both positive and negative—first-time instructors highlighted in these written reflections, as well as their discussions of emotional highs and lows, emotional surprises, connections to pedagogical strategies, and the role of formal and informal departmental support in dealing with the emotional aspects of teaching. We conclude with the implications of these findings for graduate student teacher training and preparation programs and directions for future research.
Which Criminogenic Need Changes Are Most Important in Promoting Desistance From Crime and Substance Use?
Authors: Wooditch Alese , Tang Liansheng Larry , Taxman Faye S.
Published: October 2013

Andrews and Bonta identified the following criminogenic needs as important to reducing offending: substance use, antisocial cognition, antisocial associates, family and marital relations, employment, and leisure and recreational activities. This study examines dynamic criminogenic need changes across a 12-month period and identifies which need changes are the best predictors of criminal offending and illicit drug use among a sample of drug-involved probationers who participated in an intervention ( N = 251). Probationers had significant changes in several need areas, and treatment participation moderated some changes. Probationers who had reductions in criminally involved family members they associate with, improved work performance, and decreased alcohol use had the greatest reductions in offending. Those who increased time spent engaged in leisure and recreational activities were less likely to self-report subsequent drug use. These findings suggest that certain dynamic need changes may be more important than others, and designing interventions to impact these needs might improve outcomes.
Sex Differences in the Predictors of Prisoner Misconduct
Authors: Steiner Benjamin , Wooldredge John
Published: October 2013

This study involved a comparison of the influences on inmate misconduct among female and male inmates. Data were collected from over 5,500 inmates housed in 46 facilities in Ohio and Kentucky (570 women and 5,059 men), and the relative effects of these inmates’ background characteristics and confinement experiences were examined for sex-specific samples. The magnitudes of effects were then compared across the two groups. Findings revealed that background characteristics (e.g., age) and confinement experiences (e.g., involvement in education/vocational program) influence women’s and men’s odds of misconduct. Equality of coefficient tests revealed only three differences in the magnitude of these effects across the analyses of the sex-specific samples, suggesting there are far more similarities than differences in the predictors of misconduct among men versus women.
The State, Unions, and Work Reorganization
Authors: Mello e Silva Leonardo
Published: October 2013

The state and the unions are the main institutions of corporate governance in Brazil’s emerging economy. The human-resource management policies of firms rely on changes in labor law and labor market regulations rather than on managerial models. The legal measures taken by the past two administrations, including profit-related pay and the hour bank, all aim at flexibility and labor market deregulation. The current reforms of Brazilian labor law apparently fit, in a contradictory way, long-standing banners of the “new unionism” such as decentralized negotiations and anticorporatist procedures. Neoliberal policies have disrupted old labor allegiances, leaving the unions more vulnerable than ever.

El estado y los sindicatos son las principales instituciones de gobierno corporativista en la emergente economía brasileña. Las políticas de administración de recursos humanos de las empresas depende más de cambios en la ley laboral y de la regulación del mercado de trabajo que de modelos de gestión empresarial. Las medidas legales tomadas por las dos últimas administraciones, incluyendo las políticas de salarios atados a las ganancias y el banco de horas, todos apuntan a la flexibilidad y desregulación del mercado de trabajo. Aparentemente las actuales reformas de la ley laboral brasileña caben, en forma contradictoria, en lemas establecidos del “nuevo sindicalismo” como son negociaciones descentralizadas y procedimientos anti-corporativos. Las antiguas lealtades laborales, ahora quebrantadas por la política neoliberal, deja a los sindicatos más vulnerables que nunca.
Fluid Movement and Fluid Social Cognition
Authors: Slepian Michael L. , Weisbuch Max , Pauker Kristin , Bastian Brock , Ambady Nalini
Published: October 2013

Rigid social categorization can lead to negative social consequences such as stereotyping and prejudice. The authors hypothesized that bodily experiences of fluidity would promote fluidity in social-categorical thinking. Across a series of experiments, fluid movements compared with nonfluid movements led to more fluid lay theories of social categories, more fluidity in social categorization, and consequences of fluid social-categorical thinking, decreased stereotype endorsement, and increased concern for social inequalities. The role of sensorimotor states in fluid social cognition, with consequences for social judgment and behavior, is discussed.
The Family Questionnaire
Authors: Scholte Evert , Van der Ploeg Jan
Published: October 2013

Efforts to improve the quality of life of children cannot be considered in isolation from the family. In this study, a short family questionnaire (FQ) is presented that clinicians, researchers, and policy makers can use to assess the quality of family functioning. Measured family characteristics are responsiveness, communication, organization, social network, and partner relationship. A total of 2,450 parents (2,011 mothers and 439 fathers) completed the FQ. Confirmatory factor analysis reveals a robust comparative fit index of 0.98 and RMSEA of 0.04. Internal consistency ranges from 0.83 to 0.97, test–retest reliability from 0.77 to 0.91 and mother–father concordance from 0.64 to 0.74. An estimated 11% of all Dutch families are neutral or negative about their total family functioning. The conclusions are that the results support the reliability and validity of the FQ, and that the majority of Dutch parents perceived the quality of their family functioning positively.
How do educational administrators in Pakistan seek information? A survey
Authors: Shafique Farzana , Mahmood Khalid
Published: October 2013

The study aims at probing the information seeking behavior of educational administrators in Pakistan. It also explores their administrative responsibilities for which they usually seek information, their use of the Internet, their preferences for format of reading material and language, etc. and the problems they face while seeking information. To achieve these objectives, a review of related literature, a questionnaire survey and personal interviews within Punjab province and Islamabad Capital Territory in Pakistan were carried out. In total, 297 (99 percent) responses were received and analyzed quantitatively. Recommendations and conclusions are also drawn in the light of findings of the study. The study reveals that educational administrators’ information needs and seeking behavior largely depend on the type of job and the level of decision making they are involved with. Most of the findings of the study correspond with the reviewed literature. The results of the study can be useful to design information services and facilities for educational administrators, not only in Pakistan but in other developing countries of the world as well.
Socioeconomic Status, Comorbidity, Activity Limitation, and Healthy Life Expectancy in Older Men and Women
Authors: Yang Suwen , Hoshi Tanji , Wang Shuo , Nakayama Naoko , Kong Fanlei
Published: October 2013

This study aimed to explore the structural contributions of socioeconomic status (SES), comorbidity, and activity limitation to the healthy life expectancy (HALE) of Japanese suburban elderly. A questionnaire survey was distributed to all residents aged 65 years and older in Tama City, Tokyo, in 2001; a follow-up study was conducted in 2004; and individual vital status data from the municipal residents’ registry were tracked until 2007. In all, 7,905 respondents were included for analysis. Data analysis was performed by structural equation modeling (SEM). The data were well fit by the models, and HALE was found to be well explained by SES, comorbidity, and activity limitation ( R2 = .59 for men and R2 = .71 for women). In conclusion, elderly people with higher SES were more likely to live longer with good self-rated health, via living with less chronic diseases and better performance in daily living activities, especially for elderly women.
Public Agency Hiring, Minimum Qualifications, and Experience
Authors: Dougherty George W. , Van Gelder Meagan
Published: October 2013

Public administrators engage all aspects of a community and need to be skillful in working with elected officials, citizens, business groups, and government employees who make things happen. Minimum qualifications, which act as a primary screening device for applicants and hiring agencies, are based in part on assumptions of the value of education and experience, but those assumptions deserve more consideration given their role in agency staffing. This paper sheds light on the value of hiring new employees with substantial public sector experience versus those with little or no work history. We use a two-stage qualitative study that asks managers what benefits and characteristics they expect when hiring experienced individuals. We subsequently test those assumptions by giving in-service and preservice public affairs graduate students a realistic problem to solve in an area where none have experience. Their responses highlight the validity of assumptions behind minimum qualifications and differences one might expect when hiring experienced individuals or novices.
Whistle Where You Work? The Ineffectiveness of the Federal Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Promise of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012
Authors: Peffer Shelley L. , Bocheko Aleksandr , Del Valle Rita E. , Osmani Allmir , Peyton Shawn , Roman Edna
Published: October 2013

The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) of 1989 was enacted to provide protection to employees who report wrongdoing on the part of their employers. This study analyzed whether the provisions in the WPA actually protect federal government employees from retaliation by their federal government employers. The research focused on a legal analysis of federal employee WPA claims litigated in federal court. Furthermore, within those cases, the claims were separated by issues—national security, environmental issues, and government ethics—to get a fuller understanding of WPA issues. The findings of the analysis suggested that the WPA did not provide adequate protections for employees. Out of 151 appellate cases that were identified and reviewed in the study, 79% of cases were ruled in favor of defendants—federal agencies. Out of 142 cases involving government ethics and administration issues, 79% of cases were lost by employees. In issues involving the environment, 100% of cases resulted in a loss for employees. Out of four cases involving national security, 75% were lost by federal employees. The results lead to the conclusion that either the WPA as written or the manner in which courts are interpreting the WPA is not consistent with the intent of the legislation—to protect employees. The article further analyses the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) of 2012 and whether it cures the defects in the WPA. The analysis shows that the WPEA may not live up to its promise.