bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Globalization, decision making and taboo in nursing
Authors: Keighley T.
Published: May 2012

KEIGHLEY T. (2012) Globalization, decision making and taboo in nursing. International Nursing Review59, 181–186

This paper is a reflection on the representation of nurses and their practice at a global level. In considering the International Council of Nurses (ICN) conference in Malta (2011), it is clear that certain assumptions have been made about nurses and their practice which assume that globalization is under way for the whole of the profession and that the assumptions can be applied equally around the world. These assumptions appear in many ways to be implicit rather than explicit. The implicitness of the assumptions is examined against the particular decision‐making processes adopted by the ICN. An attempt is then made to identify another base for the ongoing global work of the ICN. This involves the exploration of taboo (that which is forbidden because it is either holy or unclean) as a way of examining why nursing is not properly valued, despite years of international representation. The paper concludes with some thoughts on how such a new approach interfaces with the possibilities held out by new information technologies.
Nurses' potential to lead in non‐communicable disease global crisis
Authors: DeCola P. , Benton D. , Peterson C. , Matebeni D.
Published: May 2012

DECOLA P., BENTON D., PETERSON C., & MATEBENI D. (2012) Nurses' potential to lead in non‐communicable disease global crisis. International Nursing Review59, 321–330

Background:  The incidence and projected rise of non‐communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant global public health threat. Nurses as health educators are well positioned to support health promotion and prevention efforts. The intent was to understand nurses' interest, challenges and enabling factors in carrying out this important role in addressing the NCD crisis.

Method:  A stratified representative survey of 1600 nurses in eight countries was conducted to better understand how nurses perceive their role in addressing risk factors associated with NCDs, as well as the types of supports required in order to facilitate this work. The study also explores nurses' changing views of the profession and their practice environment. The structured survey was administered via telephone and face‐to‐face interviews composed primarily of multiple choice closed‐ended questions.

Results:  Key findings included that 95% of nurses wanted to use their knowledge, skills and time to educate individuals on the threat and prevention of NCDs. They expressed their belief that they should be spending significantly more time, on average almost twice the amount as they currently are able to devote, on preventing the development or escalation of NCDs. However, nurses' potential to do this is diluted by heavy workloads; over one third reported that their workload had worsened over the last 5 years, and 95% of nurses are experiencing time pressures. Nurses believe these constraints, almost unanimously (98%), keep them from being able to spend more time with patients in an educational capacity.

Conclusions:  Nurses are interested in spending more time addressing NCD prevention, but workload, time constraints and their perception towards the job of nursing hinder them from achieving their potential. Unhealthy lifestyle choices are a risk factor for NCDs; through awareness and education, positive behaviour change is possible. Research has demonstrated that nurses are effective at supporting individuals to make behaviour change, administering disease management programmes and enabling self‐care as well as self‐management. Practice environment issues that prevent nurses from fully reaching their potential in addressing the NCD crisis need to be addressed.
Ethnic Land Rights in Western Ghana: Landlord–Stranger Relations in the Democratic Era
Authors: Boone Catherine , Duku Dennis Kwame
Published: May 2012

InCitizen and Subject(1996), Mahmood Mamdani denounced the ‘bifurcated nature’ of the African state which, in his account, imposed ethnic hierarchy and chiefly despotism on rural dwellers while reserving democratic citizenship for the urban minority. Have twenty years of ‘decentralized democracy’ in many countries washed away these distinctions? This article takes up this issue in an analysis of the politics of land allocation and landlord–stranger relations in Western Ghana. An analysis of historical trajectories, and our own field observations and interviews in two Western Region districts, suggest that at the local level, the bifurcated character of political authority that was identified by Mamdani persists in the domain of economic rights. The record also shows that state policies and institutions, rather than working to chip away at ethnic hierarchy and chiefly authority, work at least in part to reproduce these features of the local political economy. In both non‐democratic and democratic eras, Ghana's central government has played an important role in shoring up chiefly and ethnic privilege in the land domain. These local hierarchies influence the practical meaning of democracy and economic liberalization for rural citizens, and should be explored more systematically in future studies of democratic and electoral politics in Ghana and elsewhere.
Culturally motivated lexis in New Zealand English
Authors: GRANT LYNN E
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT:  This study uses corpus and media data to investigate cultural scripts in both spoken and written New Zealand English (NZE). The distinctiveness of words can be said to lie on a continuum, with some words being used exclusively in New Zealand and others used elsewhere but used more frequently in New Zealand. One aspect that makes New Zealand English distinct from the English of other former British colonies is the number of loan words borrowed from the indigenous Maori language. Data from the one million word written and one million word spoken Wellington (NZ) corpus and ICE‐NZ corpus, as well as from newspapers and magazines, is used to show what aspects of the lexicon reflect both the culture and attitude of the users.
Focus particles in Indian English and other varieties
Authors: PARVIAINEN HANNA
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT: This paper studies the Indian English use of clause‐final focus particlesalsoandonlyin sentences such as ‘He doesn't listen only’ (ICE‐IND) in order to see if this use has spread to Singapore, Philippine or Hong Kong English. The data for these Asian varieties was obtained from the International Corpus of English and the British and American varieties were added for point of reference. Although the main focus of this quantitative study is on the syntactic analysis of the data, some semantic aspects are also discussed. The results suggest that the Indian English way of placing focus particles in a clause‐final position could be a local innovation which has today spread to Singapore, Philippine and possibly to Hong Kong English. In addition, the data was analysed for all subcategories of ICE, which reveals that the frequencies for this use correlate positively with the level of informality of the speech situation in all four Asian varieties, whereas the results for British English suggest the opposite. Thus, the results indicate that clause‐final focus particles have acquired some additional uses, especially in spoken Indian English, and that these features have now spread to other English varieties spoken in Southeast Asia. The paper suggests that the cause for this can be found from the centuries‐old role that India has had as a cultural force in the Southeast Asian region.
RAMSEY TAXES MEET PRICE RIGIDITY
Authors: TEO WING LEONG , YANG C. C.
Published: May 2012

‘Ramsey taxes’ are commodity taxes that minimize deadweight loss. Evidence has shown dramatic differences in the extent of price rigidity across goods: while the prices of some goods change frequently, the prices of other goods seldom change. This paper examines Ramsey taxes in the presence of heterogeneous price rigidity. We find that, to minimize deadweight loss, lower (higher) tax rates should be imposed on goods with rigid prices if their relative prices are too high (low) relative to the would‐be situation of no price stickiness. Intuitively, Ramsey taxes remedy the relative price distortion caused by the price rigidity of some goods. We calibrate our model to data from Taiwan and the USA, showing a significant cut in welfare cost if Ramsey rather than uniform taxes are applied.
FOREIGN THREATS, TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS AND THE RISE AND DECLINE OF IMPERIAL CHINA
Authors: CHAN KENNETH S. , LAFFARGUE JEAN‐PIERRE
Published: May 2012

This paper addresses why technological progress occurred off‐and‐on in Imperial China but came to a standstill at around the time of the European Renaissance, leading to the decline of Imperial China. We suggest that the threat of war could have induced innovative activities as well as the accumulation of public capital, which led to the development of a modern sector in Imperial China. Using numerical simulation, we find a stagnated equilibrium in an agrarian economy under low threats of war and another with a high level of technological knowledge, public capital and a vibrant modern sector under strong threats. Long periods of peace would have the opposite effect. Some supportive historical evidence from urbanization is provided.
Health‐related quality of life and cost‐effectiveness of treatment in subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Malmivaara K. , Juvela S. , Hernesniemi J. , Lappalainen J. , Siironen J.
Published: May 2012

Background

Treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) demands high healthcare resource utilization. Case fatality and disability remain as common outcomes ofSAH. The purpose of this study was to perform a treatment cost‐effectiveness analysis of patients withSAH.

Methods

We performed a long‐term follow‐up of theSAHpatients treated in our institution over a 3‐year period starting February 1998. Outcome 10 years after theSAHand treatment costs were evaluated. The health‐related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol (EQ‐5D) questionnaire and visual‐analogue scale (VAS). The cost of a quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) was calculated.

Results

Median follow‐up time of the 178 patients was 10.8 years. Overall mortality rate was 24%. Of the 43 non‐survivors, 42% died within 6 months. For the 135 survivors, the medianEQ‐5D index value was 1.00, which is similar to that for normal population. The medianVASvalue was 80, which is comparable to normal population's value. Of the survivors, 88% (119/135) were able to live at home and 63% (85/135) returned to work afterSAH. The cost of neurosurgical treatment for oneQALYwas 1700€.

Conclusion

Long‐term outcome of survivors after aneurysmalSAHwas relatively good: most of them lived at home, 63% had returned to work and 36% were still working. The quality of life index of the survivors was similar to that of normal populations, and the survivors were as satisfied with their health as people in general are. Cost of neurosurgical treatment and cost of aQALYgained were acceptable.
Productive Efficiency and Territorial Externalities in Small and Medium‐Sized Industrial Firms: A Dynamic Analysis of the District Effect
Authors: HERNANDEZ‐SANCHO FRANCESC , SOLER‐MARCO VICENT , SALA‐GARRIDO RAMÓN , ALMENAR‐LLONGO VICENT
Published: May 2012

A series of works have analysed differential behaviour in terms of productive efficiency between companies inside a hypothetical industrial district and those outside the district. This objective has been addressed using measures of technical efficiency. The results obtained provide valuable information for quantifying the district effect at a given moment in time. However, constant changes in the market and business behaviour mean that it is worthwhile studying the business district effect from a dynamic point of view. In this study, we provide this new vision through the use of Malmquist productivity indices. This methodology enables us to analyse possible differential evolutions by comparing the productive efficiency of companies inside and outside a district over a period of time. An empirical application has been made on a set of small and medium‐sized Spanish ceramic producers during the period of economic expansion between 1996 and 2007.
Shaping the Rural–Urban Symbiosis: Density, Dispersal, Remoteness, and Town Size in South‐East Australia
Authors: GRIFFIN TREVOR L. C. , SMAILES PETER J. , ARGENT NEIL M.
Published: May 2012

Within the context of economic and social change in rural Australia, this paper identifies four structural dimensions of non‐metropolitan communities that are shown to influence a range of areal and socio‐demographic characteristics. The analysis shows that such influence is essentially maintained whether the social catchments forming the database are subdivided by State or by an equivalent number of landscape types. Also, although the dimensions influence both the urban and dispersed elements of the communities, the strength of the relationships is substantially greater if those elements are considered as a symbiotic whole. Throughout, net rural local density (as opposed to gross density) is shown to be a consistently important dimension of rural communities in relatively sparsely settled lands such as those of south‐eastern Australia, supported by the important subsidiary influence of relative settlement dispersal and town size. The paper concludes with a discussion of the processes involved in the impact of those structural dimensions upon rural society.
Poverty, Innovation Capacity, and State Economic Development in the Knowledge Economy: Evidence from the U.S.
Authors: HALL JEREMY L. , HOWELL‐MORONEY MICHAEL E.
Published: May 2012

We examine poverty's effect in two ways. First, we study the relationship between poverty and capacity for innovation in the U.S. states; second, we study the combined effects of poverty and innovation capacity on U.S. state economic output and employment. Because many of the relationships among poverty, innovation capacity and economic performance are simultaneous, we employ the Arellano Bond Difference GMM estimator to estimate various models using panel data (1980–1999). The findings reveal a negative indirect effect of socio‐economic need (poverty) on human and U.S. state and local financial innovation capacity, though there is no empirical link between poverty and federal financial capacity. We find no statistically significant evidence of the contemporaneous effect of poverty on state economic performance, holding innovation capacity constant. This suggests that poverty primarily affects state economic performance indirectly through reduction of innovation capacity. Overall, our findings suggest that U.S. officials ought to be concerned about the role poverty plays in diminishing their state economies' capacity to innovate.
Town versus Gown: The Effect of a College on Housing Prices and the Tax Base
Authors: VANDEGRIFT DONALD , LOCKSHISS AMANDA , LAHR MICHAEL
Published: May 2012

The analysis reported here suggests that the presence of a college is associated with house prices that are about 2.7 percent higher. However, the effect is caused only by 4‐year colleges, and the primary source of the effect is the degree to which the college is residential. Interestingly, the size of the college as measured by enrollment has no effect on house prices. While the results indicate that municipalities with a community college have a tax base that is 11.6 percent higher, evidence to support the claim that colleges cause the tax base increase is weak. Finally, neither the size of the college (measured by enrollment) nor the degree to which the college is residential has an impact on the tax base.
Resource Flows and the Decomposition of Regional Inequality in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Metropolitan Region, 1990–2004
Authors: LI YUHENG
Published: May 2012

This paper introduces a new way of decomposing regional inequality. It divides the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei metropolitan region into three sets of districts in terms of the urban–rural resource flows: urban, peri‐urban, and peripheral areas. Unlike the administrative divisions, these three sets of districts show how resource flows and agglomerates at the regional level. The paper decomposes regional inequality according to the three sets of districts. The paper's findings show that regional inequality decreased between 1990 and 1994, after which it remained steady. The study, for the first time, brings peri‐urban areas into a regional decomposition analysis, and contributes to the understanding of urban–rural resource flows and inequality changes at the regional level.
Counterproductive Work Behavior Among Chinese Knowledge Workers
Authors: Peng He
Published: May 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and antecedents of Chinese knowledge workers’ counterproductive work behavior (CWB) by using a self‐developed indigenous scale. The paper consisted of two studies. Study 1 developed an indigenous measure of knowledge workers’ CWB. Study 2 investigated the frequencies and antecedents of Chinese knowledge workers’ CWB using the indigenous measure with a sample of 366 participants. The results showed that CWB among Chinese knowledge workers was rather prevalent. The results also showed that personality variables (i.e., agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and locus of control) were more important than other variables (e.g., demographic and job characteristics) in predicting CWB.
Don't You Know Me Well Enough Yet? Comparing Reactions of Internal and External Candidates to Employment Testing
Authors: Giumetti Gary W. , Sinar Evan F.
Published: May 2012

Employment tests, once primarily focused on screening external applicants, are increasingly used for decisions involving internal candidates (e.g., promotions or lateral transfers). The current study examines differences between internal and external candidates in reactions to an online selection test. Results indicate that internal candidates perceived a general lack of advance information regarding the assessment. However, they were considerably more likely to recommend the organization to others as compared with external candidates. Candidate status also moderated several reactions–outcomes relationships. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for organizations and directions for future research on internal candidate reactions are proposed.
Military Capacity and Civil Adjustment: Assessments of the ‘re‐usable’ peacekeeping soldier for development of a selection system
Authors: Bäccman Charlotte , Berggren Anders W. , Norlander Torsten
Published: May 2012

This study investigated whether ‘re‐usable’ soldiers, that is, those who performed well during operations (military capacity), and were able to readjust postdeployment (civil adjustment), could be identified at predeployment. Participants were 364 UN peacekeeping soldiers. Three hypotheses were posed: the selection system for conscripts cannot identify soldiers with low military capacity (H: 1); the selection system for conscripts cannot identify soldiers with poor civil adjustment after deployment (H: 2); and the two aspects of ‘re‐usability’ (military capacity and civil adjustment) would be intertwined (H: 3). Results showed that the selection system for conscripts was unable to identify soldiers' military capacity and civil adjustment. Results also showed that these two aspects were unrelated, and did not interact. Indications on possible consequences and improvements are discussed.
Cross‐cultural Examination of Applicant Reactions to Selection Methods: United States and Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Thu G. , Truxillo Donald M. , Erdogan Berrin , Bauer Talya N.
Published: May 2012

The current study explored the differences in applicant reactions to various selection methods in the United States and in Vietnam, an emerging economy that has been generally ignored in the selection and assessment literatures. College students (n = 376) from the United States and Vietnam rated the favorability of 10 selection methods and indicated the bases for their reactions on eight process fairness dimensions. Results showed that interviews and work sample tests were perceived most favorably, while personal contacts and graphology were perceived least favorably in both countries. Face validity of the selection methods was found to be the strongest predictor of process favorability in both countries. In addition, the results indicated substantial differences between the two countries in terms of the perceived interpersonal warmth of selection methods and a perceived employer's right to obtain information using the selection methods. Implications of the findings for multinational corporations and future research directions are discussed.
Do Applicants Fake Their Personality Questionnaire Responses and How Successful are Their Attempts? A Case of Military Pilot Cadet Selection
Authors: Galić Zvonimir , Jerneić Željko , Kovačić Maja Parmač
Published: May 2012

This paper presents the results of three interrelated studies investigating the occurrence of response distortion on personality questionnaires within selection and the success of applicants in faking situations. In Study 1, comparison of the Big Five personality scores obtained from applicants in a military pilot cadet selection procedure with participants responding honestly, faking good, and faking an ideal candidate revealed that applicants responded more desirable than participants responding honestly but less desirable than respondents under fake instructions. The occurrence of faking within the military pilot selection process was replicated in Study 2 using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and another comparison group. Finally, in Study 3, comparison of personality profiles obtained in selection and ‘fake job’ situations with experts' estimates indicated that participants were partially successful in faking the desirable profile.
Investigating the potential value of individual parameters of histological grading systems in a sheep model of cartilage damage: the Modified Mankin method
Authors: Moody Hayley R. , Heard Bryan J. , Frank Cyril B. , Shrive Nigel G. , Oloyede Adekunle O.
Published: May 2012

A total histological grade does not necessarily distinguish between different manifestations of cartilage damage or degeneration. An accurate and reliable histological assessment method is required to separate normal and pathological tissue within a joint during treatment of degenerative joint conditions and to sub‐classify the latter in meaningful ways. The Modified Mankin method may be adaptable for this purpose. We investigated how much detail may be lost by assigning one composite score/grade to represent different degenerative components of the osteoarthritic condition. We used four ovine injury models (sham surgery, anterior cruciate ligament/medial collateral ligament instability, simulated anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and meniscal removal) to induce different degrees and potentially ‘types’ (mechanisms) of osteoarthritis. Articular cartilage was systematically harvested, prepared for histological examination and graded in a blinded fashion using a Modified Mankin grading method. Results showed that the possible permutations of cartilage damage were significant and far more varied than the current intended use that histological grading systems allow. Of 1352 cartilage specimens graded, 234 different manifestations of potential histological damage were observed across 23 potential individual grades of the Modified Mankin grading method. The results presented here show that current composite histological grading may contain additional information that could potentially discern different stages or mechanisms of cartilage damage and degeneration in a sheep model. This approach may be applicable to other grading systems.
Test–retest reliability of an fMRI paradigm for studies of cardiovascular reactivity
Authors: Sheu Lei K. , Jennings J. Richard , Gianaros Peter J.
Published: May 2012

We examined the reliability of measures of fMRI, subjective, and cardiovascular reactions to standardized versions of a Stroop color‐word task and a multisource interference task. A sample of 14 men and 12 women (30–49 years old) completed the tasks on two occasions, separated by a median of 88 days. The reliability of fMRI BOLD signal changes in brain areas engaged by the tasks was moderate, and aggregating fMRI BOLD signal changes across the tasks improved test–retest reliability metrics. These metrics included voxel‐wise intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and overlap ratio statistics. Task‐aggregated ratings of subjective arousal, valence, and control, as well as cardiovascular reactions evoked by the tasks showed ICCs of 0.57 to 0.87 (ps < .001), indicating moderate‐to‐strong reliability. These findings support using these tasks as a battery for fMRI studies of cardiovascular reactivity.
Adoption of Diagnostic Technology and Variation in Caesarean Section Rates: A Test of the Practice Style Hypothesis in Norway
Authors: Grytten Jostein , Monkerud Lars , Sørensen Rune
Published: May 2012

Objective

To examine whether the introduction of advanced diagnostic technology in maternity care has led to less variation in type of delivery between hospitals in Norway.

Data Sources

The Medical Birth Registry of Norway provided detailed medical information for 1.7 million deliveries from 1967 to 2005. Information about diagnostic technology was collected directly from the maternity units.

Study Design

The data were analyzed using a two‐level binary logistic model with Caesarean section as the outcome measure. Level one contained variables that characterized the health status of the mother and child. Hospitals are level two. A heterogeneous variance structure was specified for the hospital level, where the error variance was allowed to vary according to the following types of diagnostic technology: two‐dimensional ultrasound, cardiotocography, ST waveform analysis, and fetal blood analyses.

Principal Finding

There was a marked variation in Caesarean section rates between hospitals up to 1973. After this the variation diminished markedly. This was due to the introduction of ultrasound and cardiotocography.

Conclusion

Diagnostic technology reduced clinical uncertainty about the diagnosis of risk factors of the mother and child during delivery, and variation in type of delivery between hospitals was reduced accordingly. The results support the practice style hypothesis.
Cost Savings from Assertive Community Treatment Services in an Era of Declining Psychiatric Inpatient Use
Authors: Slade Eric P. , McCarthy John F. , Valenstein Marcia , Visnic Stephanie , Dixon Lisa B.
Published: May 2012

Objective

To assess, during a period of decreasing psychiatric inpatient utilization, cost savings from Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs for individuals with severe mental illnesses.

Data Source

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) national administrative data for entrants into ACT programs.

Study Design

An observational study of the effects of ACT enrollment on mental health inpatient utilization and costs in the first 12 months following enrollment. ACT enrollees (N = 2010) were propensity score matched to ACT‐eligible non‐enrollees (N = 4020). An instrumental variables generalized linear regression approach was used to estimate enrollment effects.

Results

Instrumental variables estimates indicate that between FY2001 and FY2004, entry into ACT resulted in a net increase of $4529 in VA costs. Trends in inpatient use among ACT program entrants suggest this effect remained stable after FY2004. However, eligibility for ACT declined 37 percent, because fewer patients met an eligibility standard based on high prior psychiatric inpatient use.

Conclusions

Savings from ACT programs depend on new enrollees' intensity of psychiatric inpatient utilization prior to entering the ACT program. Although a program eligibility standard based on prior psychiatric inpatient use helped to sustain the savings from VA ACT programs, over time, it also resulted in an unintended narrowing of program eligibility.
Physical Activity as a Protective Factor in Relapse Following Smoking Cessation in Participants with a Depressive Disorder
Authors: Bernard Paquito , Ninot Gregory , Guillaume Sebastien , Fond Guillaume , Courtet Philippe , Christine Picot Marie , Quantin Xavier
Published: May 2012

The factors predicting smoking abstinence in depressive smokers, and the role of physical activity in precessation, were investigated. One hundred thirty‐three smokers with current major depressive disorders (score ≥10 on the Depression subscale of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were recruited from a large prospective cohort of smokers (n = 1,119). Over a maximum period of 3 years, regression modeling, adjusted for potential confounders, showed that physical activity was associated with relapse (relapse rate = 0.54, 95% confidence interval = 0.34–0.85, p = .008). Also, antidepressants, anxiolytics, level of education, and number of attempts to quit were associated with relapse. The protective role of physical activity on relapse rate could be a modifiable factor in smoking cessation for smokers with depressive disorders. (Am J Addict 2012;00:1–8)
The Obsessive–Compulsive Cocaine Scale (OCCS): A Pilot Study of a New Questionnaire for Assessing Cocaine Craving
Authors: Vorspan Florence , Bellais Laetitia , Romo Lucia , Bloch Vanessa , Neira Ramon , Lépine Jean‐Pierre
Published: May 2012

This study aimed to develop a scale (Obsessive–Compulsive Cocaine Scale [OCCS]) for measuring cocaine craving based on the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). We tested the scale on 116 French‐speaking cocaine users. The scale was reliable (Cronbach's α= 0.93). It was significantly correlated with a visual analogue scale of craving (r = 0.641, p < .001) and discriminated between cocaine‐dependant subjects (score 36 ± 11) and abusers (score 17 ±
9, p < .001). Prospective tests on a sample of 20 subjects showed that the OCCS score changed over 3 weeks of treatment and was significantly correlated with the visual analogue scale of craving (r = 0.492, p = .038). Principal component analysis identified three factors: resistance, intensity, and interference. The OCCS questionnaire could be used to repeatedly assess cocaine craving in prospective studies in cocaine addicts. (Am J Addict 2012;00:1–7)
Risk of Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage in Low‐Risk Childbearing Women in New Zealand: Exploring the Effect of Place of Birth and Comparing Third Stage Management of Labor
Authors: Davis Deborah , Baddock Sally , Pairman Sally , Hunter Marion , Benn Cheryl , Anderson Jacqui , Dixon Lesley , Herbison Peter
Published: May 2012

Background

Primary postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity internationally. Research comparing physiological (expectant) and active management of the third stage of labor favors active management, although studies to date have focused on childbirth within hospital settings, and the skill levels of birth attendants in facilitating physiological third stage of labor have been questioned. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of place of birth on the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and the effect of mode of management of the third stage of labor on severe postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods

Data for 16,210 low‐risk women giving birth in 2006 and 2007 were extracted from the New Zealand College of Midwives research database. Modes of third stage management and volume of blood lost were compared with results adjusted for age, parity, ethnicity, smoking, length of labor, mode of birth, episiotomy, perineal trauma, and newborn birthweight greater than 4,000 g.

Results

In total, 1.32 percent of this low‐risk cohort experienced an estimated blood loss greater than 1,000 mL. Place of birth was not found to be associated with risk of blood loss greater than 1,000 mL. More women experienced blood loss greater than 1,000 mL in the active management of labor group for all planned birth places. In this low‐risk cohort, those women receiving active management of third stage of labor had a twofold risk (RR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.39–3.22) of losing more than 1,000 mL blood compared with those expelling their placenta physiologically.

Conclusions

Planned place of birth does not influence the risk of blood loss greater than 1,000 mL. In this low‐risk group active management of labor was associated with a twofold increase in blood loss greater than 1,000 mL compared with physiological management. (BIRTH 39:2 June 2012)
Satisfaction with a Modified Form of In‐Hospital Birth Center Care Compared with Standard Maternity Care
Authors: Tingstig Charlotta , Gottvall Karin , Grunewald Charlotta , Waldenström Ulla
Published: May 2012

Background

For safety reasons an in‐hospital birth center was replaced by a modified form of birth center care with the same medical guidelines and equipment as in standard care. The aim of this study was to investigate women's and men's satisfaction with modified care compared with standard care.

Methods

Women in both groups gave birth from July 2007 to July 2008. The same medical low‐risk criteria during pregnancy applied to both groups. Of those invited to the study, 547 (82.7%) women in modified birth center care and 445 (66.7%) men returned a questionnaire posted 2 months after the birth, and 786 (71.6%) women and 639 (58.2%) men in standard care. Odds ratios (ORs) for being satisfied were calculated with 95 percent confidence intervals (CIs) and adjusted for possible confounders. We also explored the effects of different components of care on overall satisfaction.

Results

Adjusted ORs for being satisfied overall were approximately doubled in the modified birth center group compared with the standard care group: antenatal care—OR: 2.1 (95% CI: 1.6–2.7) in women and OR: 2.2 (95% CI: 1.5–2.8) in men; intrapartum care—OR: 2.2 (95% CI: 1.7–2.9) in women and OR: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3–2.4) in men; and postpartum care—OR: 1.7 in women (95% CI: 1.4–2.2) and OR: 2.1 (95% CI: 1.6–2.8) in men. Important explanations of these differences included perception of the midwife as being more supportive, the presence of a calmer environment and atmosphere (intrapartum), and the option for fathers to stay overnight (postpartum).

Conclusion

In‐hospital birth center with medical equipment on site increased overall satisfaction with all episodes of care compared with standard care. (BIRTH 39:2 June 2012)
Persistent Dose‐Dependent Changes in Brain Structure in Young Adults with Low‐to‐Moderate Alcohol Exposure In Utero
Authors: Eckstrand Kristen L. , Ding Zhaohua , Dodge Neil C. , Cowan Ronald L. , Jacobson Joseph L. , Jacobson Sandra W. , Avison Malcolm J.
Published: May 2012

Background

Many children with heavy exposure to alcohol in utero display characteristic alterations in brain size and structure. However, the long‐term effects of low‐to‐moderate alcohol exposure on these outcomes are unknown.

Methods

Using voxel‐based morphometry and region‐of‐interest analyses, we examined the influence of lower doses of alcohol on gray and white matter composition in a prospectively recruited, homogeneous, well‐characterized cohort of alcohol‐exposed (n = 11, age 19.5 ± 0.3 years) and control (n = 9, age 19.6 ± 0.5 years) young adults. A large proportion of the exposed individuals were born to mothers whose alcohol consumption during pregnancy was in the low‐to‐moderate range.

Results

There were no differences in total brain volume or total gray or white matter volume between the exposed and control groups. However, gray matter volume was reduced in alcohol‐exposed individuals in several areas previously reported to be affected by high levels of exposure, including the left cingulate gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyri, right middle temporal gyrus, and right caudate nucleus. Notably, this gray matter loss was dose dependent, with higher exposure producing more substantial losses.

Conclusions

These results indicate that even at low doses, alcohol exposure during pregnancy impacts brain development and that these effects persist into young adulthood.
Ethanol Enhances Human Hyperpolarization‐Activated Cyclic Nucleotide‐Gated Currents
Authors: Chen Yongjun , Wu Pan , Fan Xinrong , Chen Hui , Yang Jing , Song Tao , Huang Congxin
Published: May 2012

Background

There is a clear association between excessive ethanol (
EtOH
) consumption and the risk of sudden cardiac death. The hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) current, I
f, is known to contribute to spontaneous pacemaker activity of sinoatrial (SA) node cells. However, the exact mechanisms of
EtOH
on arrhythmia induction are not well understood.

Methods

The preparations of SA node were excised from rabbit heart, transmembrane potentials were recorded by standard glass microelectrode technique, and a whole‐cell patch clamp technique was used to record I
f in enzymatically isolated rabbit SA node pacemaker cells. Human HCN2 (hHCN2) and HCN4 channels were heterologously expressed in
Xenopus oocytes and studied using 2‐electrode voltage clamp technique.

Results

Superfusion of
EtOH
increased the spontaneous firing frequency of SA node cells in a reversible fashion. Treatment with ivabradine irreversibly depressed basal firing frequency and markedly attenuated the enhancement effect of
EtOH
on firing. The stimulatory effects of
EtOH
on I
f were concentration‐dependent in the range of 1 to 100 mM, with an average EC
50 value of 20.81 ± 6.71 mM and Hill coefficient of 1.19 ± 0.10. Furthermore,
EtOH
reversibly enhanced the HCN currents in a concentration‐dependent fashion with an EC
50 value of 18.41 ± 2.75 mM for the HCN2 channel and 21.98 ± 3.54 mM for the HCN4 channel, which was accompanied by the acceleration of activation and deactivation kinetics. In addition,
EtOH
, at both moderate and high doses, caused a shift in the voltage dependence of hHCN4 channel activation to more depolarizing potentials. However, superfusion of high, not moderate, concentration of
EtOH
caused a shift in the voltage dependence of hHCN2 channel activation to more hyperpolarizing potentials.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into the molecular interaction of
EtOH
and the hHCN channels, which may shed light on elucidating the potentially proarrhythmic mechanism of
EtOH
.
The Role of Technology in Teaching Languages for Specific Purposes Courses
Authors: ARNÓ–MACIÀ ELISABET
Published: May 2012

Within the integration of technology into language education, special attention needs to be paid to languages for specific purposes (LSP), drawing on developments in computer‐assisted language learning and applied linguistics, on the one hand, and on the pervasive use of technology in academic and professional communication, on the other. From a definition of LSP centered on learner need, specificity of activities and materials, and teacher and learner profiles, this article examines how technology has transformed LSP teaching and learning. Through technology, LSP teachers and researchers can access discipline‐specific materials and situations and compile corpora of specialized texts. Computer‐mediated communication provides learning tools and a gateway to the discourse community. Technology also provides opportunities for collaborating, creating virtual environments and online courses, and fostering learner autonomy. These applications are examined within the current LSP scenario, paying attention to conditions and challenges for implementation, as well as to the roles of teachers and learners. This article also points to areas that merit further analysis from an LSP perspective, such as the use of different technologies and modes for effective learning, the analysis of specialized texts, and the integration into LSP of emerging technologies that have made their way into social uses.
Languages for Specific Purposes Curriculum in the Context of Chinese‐Language Flagship Programs
Authors: SPRING MADELINE K.
Published: May 2012

This article offers an overview of how the Language Flagship Program integrates languages for specific purposes (LSP) components into its broader mission of having students graduate with Superior Level linguistic proficiency and cultural competence, thus being well equipped to function as global professionals in the major of their choice. Turning to Chinese Flagship programs, with particular emphasis on one specific Flagship Center, the article describes the LSP‐focused curricular design, which involves content‐based course instruction, domain‐specific mentoring, and a range of extracurricular activities that enhance the learning environment. The final stage of the program involves a capstone year‐long experience in China, comprised of direct enrollment in content courses, followed by an internship in the student's specific major area of study. Throughout this 2‐ to 4‐year undergraduate program, LSP is integral to pedagogical design and implementation, and similarly to student success.
Languages for Specific Purposes Curriculum Creation and Implementation in Service to the U.S. Community
Authors: LEAR DARCY
Published: May 2012

Community service learning (CSL) is a type of experiential learning that blends specific course content with real‐world applications and ties them together through structured reflection. It is an ideal pedagogy for 21st‐century language for specific purposes (LSP) programs. This article frames that argument around sociocultural theory, moves to a discussion of existing models, materials, and research, and describes the relevance of CSL and LSP to the contexts of higher education, communities beyond campus, and professional workplaces. Challenges to the implementation of CSL and LSP programs include resistance to interdisciplinary work, increasing dependence on income‐generating models, and historical lack of campus–community engagement. The article concludes with a description of current needs and priorities, such as the development of models and standards for CSL and LSP, as well as an agenda for advancing the disciplines within institutions of higher education.
The Innovation Value Chain in New Technology‐Based Firms: Evidence from theU.K.
Authors: Ganotakis Panagiotis , Love James H.
Published: May 2012

Innovation is central to the survival and growth of firms, and ultimately to the health of the economies of which they are part. A clear understanding both of the processes by which firms perform innovation and the benefits which flow from innovation in terms of productivity and growth is therefore essential. This paper demonstrates the use of a conceptual framework and modeling tool, the innovation value chain (IVC), and shows how theIVCapproach helps to highlight strengths and weaknesses in the innovation performance of a key group of firms—new technology‐based firms. The value of theIVCis demonstrated in showing the key interrelationships in the whole process of innovation from sourcing knowledge through product and process innovation to performance in terms of the growth and productivity outcomes of different types of innovation. The use of theIVChighlights key complementarities, such as that between internalR&D, externalR&D, and other external sources of knowledge. Other important relationships are also highlighted. Skill resources matter throughout theIVC, being positively associated with external knowledge linkages and innovation success, and also having a direct influence on growth independent of the effect on innovation. A key benefit of theIVCapproach is therefore its ability to highlight the roles of different factors at various stages of the knowledge–innovation–performance nexus, and to show their indirect as well as direct impact. This in turn permits both managerial and policy implications to be drawn.
Determinants of New Product Development Team Performance: A Meta‐analytic Review
Authors: Sivasubramaniam Nagaraj , Liebowitz S. Jay , Lackman Conway L.
Published: May 2012

New product development (NPD) has become a critical determinant of firm performance. There is a considerable body of research examining the factors that influence a firm's ability to successfully develop and introduce new products. Vital to this success is the creation and management of NPD teams. While the evidence for the use of NPD teams and the factors that determine their success is accumulating, there is still a lack of clarity on the team‐level variables that are most impactful on NPD success. This meta‐analytic study examines the effects of NPD team characteristics on three different measures of success: effectiveness (market success), efficiency (meeting budgets and schedules), and speed‐to‐market, requiring incorporation of a broader set of team variables than previous studies in order to capture more factors explaining NPD outcomes. Unlike a typical empirical study that considered no more than two team variables to predict NPD performance, this study combines research spanning eight team variables including team input variables (team tenure, functional diversity, team ability, and team leadership) and team process variables (internal and external team communication, group cohesiveness, and goal clarity). Results from 38 studies were aggregated to estimate the meta‐analytic effect sizes for each of the variables. Using the meta‐analytic results, a path analytic model of NPD success was estimated to isolate the unique effects of team characteristics on NPD effectiveness and efficiency. Results indicate that team leadership, team ability, external communication, goal clarity, and group cohesiveness are the critical determinants of NPD team performance. NPD teams with considerable experience and led by a transformational leader are more successful at developing new products. Effective boundary spanning within and outside the organization and a shared understanding of project objectives are paramount to success. Group cohesiveness is also an important predictor of NPD outcomes confirming the importance of esprit de corps within the team. The findings provide product development managers with a blueprint for creating high‐performance NPD teams.
New Service Development: An Analysis of 27 Years of Research*
Authors: Papastathopoulou Paulina , Hultink Erik Jan
Published: May 2012

This study examines the state of the art in new service development (NSD) research published in the period between 1982, when the first NSD article appeared in an academic journal, and 2008. First, a multisource search was conducted, which resulted in the identification of 145 NSD‐related articles. Then, a content analysis was performed of these articles using multiple classifier variables with regard to general publication characteristics, focus of the research, and the research methodology that was employed. By examining the results, a number of developments in and patterns of scholarly research in NSD are revealed. More specifically, it appears that the greatest attention in the early writings was on a narrow set of NSD topics like critical success factors and the NSD process, which were predominantly investigated through large‐scale surveys with single respondents in the U.S., Canadian, and U.K. financial services industry. The analytical techniques that were used at that time were rather simple. In contrast, in recent NSD works there is an expansion of research topics (such as customer involvement and the organization of NSD) that are increasingly investigated in high‐tech service industries in Europe through qualitative research designs. Also, multiple respondent studies have started to appear in NSD investigations, while analytical techniques have also become more advanced. This pattern clearly uncovers signs of increasing maturation for the NSD discipline. In addition, some underresearched areas are identified, leading to suggestions for future research into this growing and important field.