bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morning Cortisol Levels and Perceived Stress in Irregular Shift Workers Compared with Regular Daytime Workers
Authors: Lindholm Harri , Ahlberg Jari , Sinisalo Juha , Hublin Christer , Hirvonen Ari , Partinen Markku , Sarna Seppo , Savolainen Aslak
Published: June 2012

The 24/7 work environment and irregular shifts may markedly enhance the psychological pressure of media work. Changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reflect adaptation to stress. We analysed the correlation between subjective stress, sleep, salivary cortisol, and melatonin hormones among Finnish media workers with regular daytime work (RDW) and with irregular shift work (ISW) while controlling confounders. From 874 employees with regular daytime work or with irregular shift work, 70 employees from both groups were randomly selected. The final number of employees with a complete salivary cortisol profile was 66 in the RDW group and 65 in the ISW group. Five saliva samples were gathered from each subject before and during a working day. The salivary cortisol level of the sample taken 60 minutes after awakening (T1) was compared to the salivary cortisol level taken immediately after awakening (T0, T1/T0 ratio). The ratio was higher in the ISW group than in RDW group. Irregular shift work (P<0.001), severe stress (P<0.05), and less sleep (P<0.05) were independently associated with an augmented cortisol response after awakening. A stressful work environment and irregular shift work enhance cortisol excretion after waking. In the long run, this may become detrimental to health.
Analysis of the Meiotic Segregation in Intergeneric Hybrids of Tilapias
Authors: Bezault Etienne , Rognon Xavier , Clota Frederic , Gharbi Karim , Baroiller Jean-Francois , Chevassus Bernard
Published: June 2012

Tilapia species exhibit a large ecological diversity and an important propensity to interspecific hybridisation. This has been shown in the wild and used in aquaculture. However, despite its important evolutionary implications, few studies have focused on the analysis of hybrid genomes and their meiotic segregation. Intergeneric hybrids betweenOreochromis niloticusandSarotherodon melanotheron, two species highly differentiated genetically, ecologically, and behaviourally, were produced experimentally. The meiotic segregation of these hybrids was analysed in reciprocal second generation hybrid (F2) and backcross families and compared to the meiosis of both parental species, using a panel of 30 microsatellite markers. Hybrid meioses showed segregation in accordance to Mendelian expectations, independent from sex and the direction of crosses. In addition, we observed a conservation of linkage associations between markers, which suggests a relatively similar genome structure between the two parental species and the apparent lack of postzygotic incompatibility, despite their important divergence. These results provide genomics insights into the relative ease of hybridisation within cichlid species when prezygotic barriers are disrupted. Overall our results support the hypothesis that hybridisation may have played an important role in the evolution and diversification of cichlids.
Rapid Recovery from Chronic PRCA by MSC Infusion in Patient after Major ABO-Mismatched alloSCT
Authors: Sergeevicheva Vera , Kruchkova Irina , Chernykh Elena , Shevela Ekaterina , Kulagin Alexander , Gilevich Andrey , Lisukov Igor , Sergeevichev David , Kozlov Vladimir
Published: June 2012

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare complication in recipients of allogenic stem cell from ABO incompatible donors. It is characterized by reticulocytopenia and by an absence of red cell cell precursors in the bone marrow. Despite close isohemagglutinins monitoring and standard immunosupressive treatment in these patients prolong PRCA are still associated with severe transfusion dependence. We report the case of a 31 yr old male patient who underwent HLA-matched ABO-mismatched allo-SCT and developed resistance PRCA despite conventional immunosupressive therapy and prophylaxis cotrasplantation of bone marrow derived MSC at day 0. He responded dramatically to therapy with adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells from HSC donors and continued to be transfusion-independent and AML-disease free. This method of the PRCA therapy of deserves further investigation.
Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma in Mastoid and Middle Ear in a 3-Year-Old Girl: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Vegari Saman , Hemati Alireza , Baybordi Hosein , Davarimajd Leila , Chatrbahr Ghasem
Published: June 2012

Introduction. The most common sarcoma of childhood is rhabdomyosarcoma, approximately 35% of all paediatric rhabdomyosarcomas occur in the head and neck.Case Report. A 3-year-old girl referred to our clinic due to serosanguineous purulent discharge from her right ear. After paraclinical and pathologic evaluation it was diagnosed as embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma.Conclusions. In all children with mastoiditis, especially in young children, rhabdomyosarcoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Effects of Endurance and Resistance Training on Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Acetylcholine Receptor at Slow and Fast Twitch Skeletal Muscles and Sciatic Nerve in Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Parnow Abdolhossein , Gharakhanlou Reza , Gorginkaraji Zeinab , Rajabi Somayeh , Eslami Rasoul , Hedayati Mahdi , Mahdian Reza
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of endurance and resistance training (ET and RT) on CGRP and AChRs at slow and fast twitch muscles and sciatic nerve in rats. Twenty-five male rats were randomly assigned into three groups including sedentary (SED), endurance training (ET), and resistance training (RT). Animals of ET exercised for 12 weeks, five times/week, and 60 min/day at 30 m/min. Animals of RT were housed in metal cage with 2 m high wire-mesh tower, with water bottles set at the top. 48 h after the last session of training protocol, animals were anaesthetized. The right sciatic nerves were removed; then, Soleus (SOL) and Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were excised and immediately snap frozen in liquid nitrogen. All frozen tissues were stored at −80°C. Results showed that, after both ET and RT, CGRP content as well as AChR content of SOL and TA muscles significantly increased. But there was no significant difference among groups at sciatic nerve’ CGRP content. In conclusion, data demonstrate that ET and RT lead to changes of CGRP and AChR content of ST and FT muscles. The changes indicate to the importance of neuromuscular activity.
Infectious Mimicry Complicates Diagnosis in Hemophagocytic Syndrome Caused by Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Peluso Michael J. , Chia David , Sheen Whitney , Hutchinson Christoph , Barakat Lydia
Published: June 2012

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) arises secondary to genetic, rheumatologic, neoplastic, and infectious causes. We discuss a patient whose presentation was consistent with systemic infection but was discovered to have HPS of unknown etiology. The presenting symptoms, as well as unremarkable malignancy and rheumatologic workups, led to the pursuit of an infectious cause, but the patient was ultimately discovered to have an occult anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). This case demonstrates the diagnostic challenges that result from infectious mimicry in the context of HPS—first, in distinguishing noninfectious HPS from the systemic inflammation that can result from a widespread infectious process, second, in the identification of the precipitating cause of HPS. While evidence of these challenges has been suggested by the limited literature on HPS and ALCL, our case illustrates the diagnostic dilemma that arises when tissue biopsy does not quickly reveal an etiology. It is important that all physicians be aware that HPS can mimic infection and be prepared to redirect the workup when an infectious etiology for HPS cannot be identified.
Eye Shape and Retinal Topography in Owls (Aves: Strigiformes)
Authors: Lisney Thomas J. , Iwaniuk Andrew N. , Bandet Mischa V. , Wylie Douglas R.
Published: June 2012

The eyes of vertebrates show adaptations to the visual environments in which they evolve. For example, eye shape is associated with activity pattern, while retinal topography is related to the symmetry or ‘openness’ of the habitat of a species. Although these relationships are well documented in many vertebrates including birds, the extent to which they hold true for species within the same avian order is not well understood. Owls (Strigiformes) represent an ideal group for the study of interspecific variation in the avian visual system because they are one of very few avian orders to contain species that vary in both activity pattern and habitat preference. Here, we examined interspecific variation in eye shape and retinal topography in nine species of owl. Eye shape (the ratio of corneal diameter to eye axial length) differed among species, with nocturnal species having relatively larger corneal diameters than diurnal species. All the owl species have an area of high retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density in the temporal retina and a visual streak of increased cell density extending across the central retina from temporal to nasal. However, the organization and degree of elongation of the visual streak varied considerably among species and this variation was quantified using H:V ratios. Species that live in open habitats and/or that are more diurnally active have well-defined, elongated visual streaks and high H:V ratios (3.88–2.33). In contrast, most nocturnal and/or forest-dwelling owls have a poorly defined visual streak, a more radially symmetrical arrangement of RGCs and lower H:V ratios (1.77–1.27). The results of a hierarchical cluster analysis indicate that the apparent interspecific variation is associated with activity pattern and habitat as opposed to the phylogenetic relationships among species. In seven species, the presence of a fovea was confirmed and it is suggested that all strigid owls may possess a fovea, whereas the tytonid barn owl (Tyto alba) does not. A size-frequency analysis of cell soma area indicates that a number of different RGC classes are represented in owls, including a population of large RGCs (cell soma area >150 µm2) that resemble the giant RGCs reported in other vertebrates. In conclusion, eye shape and retinal topography in owls vary among species and this variation is associated with different activity patterns and habitat preferences, thereby supporting similar observations in other vertebrates.
Use of Milrinone to Treat Cardiac Dysfunction in Infants with Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Review of Six Patients
Authors: Patel Neil
Published: June 2012

Background: Pulmonary hypertension and secondary cardiac dysfunction are important contributors of morbidity and mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Milrinone, a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor, may be useful in this setting for its combined actions as a pulmonary vasodilator and to improve systolic and diastolic function. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of milrinone on cardiac function and pulmonary artery pressure in infants with CDH. Methods: A retrospective review of echocardiograms performed on infants with CDH who received milrinone was performed. Tissue Doppler imaging velocities were used to assess systolic and diastolic function. Pulmonary artery pressure was assessed from the pattern and velocity of ductal shunting. Results: Six infants with CDH and severe pulmonary hypertension were identified. Systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities were reduced in the right ventricle (RV) and interventricular septum (IVS) at baseline. In the 72 h after commencement of milrinone, there was a significant increase in early diastolic myocardial velocities in the RV, accompanied by increasing systolic velocities in the RV and IVS. Oxygenation index was significantly reduced, blood pressure unchanged, and ductal shunt velocity minimally altered over the same time period. Conclusions: Milrinone use was associated with an improvement in systolic and diastolic function in the RV, corresponding to an improvement in clinical status.
Integrating Iterative Crossover Capability in Orthogonal Neighborhoods for Scheduling Resource-Constrained Projects
Authors: Zamani Reza
Published: June 2012

An effective hybrid evolutionary search method is presented which integrates a genetic algorithm with a local search. Whereas its genetic algorithm improves the solutions obtained by its local search, its local search component utilizes a synergy between two neighborhood schemes in diversifying the pool used by the genetic algorithm. Through the integration of these two searches, the crossover operators further enhance the solutions that are initially local optimal for both neighborhood schemes; and the employed local search provides fresh solutions for the pool whenever needed. The joint endeavor of its local search mechanism and its genetic algorithm component has made the method both robust and effective. The local search component examines unvisited regions of search space and consequently diversifies the search; and the genetic algorithm component recombines essential pieces of information existing in several high-quality solutions and intensifies the search. It is through striking such a balance between diversification and intensification that the method exploits the structure of search space and produces superb solutions. The method has been implemented as a procedure for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem. The computational experiments on 2,040 benchmark instances indicate that the procedure is very effective.
Corresponding across Religious Borders: Al-Bājī’s Response to a Missionary Letter from France
Authors: Cucarella >Diego Sarrió
Published: June 2012

Abstract

“I have examined, O monk, the letter coming from you, the friendship therein proffered, the advice which you offer, and the intention which you disclose.” With these words begins the reply written by the eminent Andalusian Mālikī scholar Abū l-Walīd Sulaymān al-Bājī (d. 1081) to a letter received at the Muslim court of Saragossa from an unidentified ‘monk of France’ inviting the ruler to convert to Christianity. This letter, if authentic, is the earliest extant record of a Christian mission to Muslims in the West. After introducing al-Bājī and situating him in the socio-political and religious circumstances of the time, this article offers a review of past scholarship relating to this correspondence, which has mostly focused on the authenticity of the Christian letter and the possible identification of its author. It is argued in favor of the authenticity of the exchange, offering reasons for it. The article then turns to al-Bājī’s text, seeking to draw from it what it can tell us about him and how he viewed Christians and Christianity.
Vanquish the Haughty and Spare the Subjected: A Study of Bernard of Clairvaux’s Position on Muslims and Jews
Authors: Kroemer James
Published: June 2012

Abstract

The Jews and the Muslims drew the attention of the twelfth Century Cistercian abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, and his words and actions had consequences for both communities. Despite his many demeaning comments about Jews and Judaism, he defended Jews from Crusader attacks, and he believed that Jews would convert to Christianity prior to the end of the world. On the other hand, he promoted the Second Crusade for the purpose of defending Jerusalem from Muslim invasion. He had no interest in converting Muslims to Christianity, only killing them if they continued their threat on the Holy Land. A close examination of Bernard’s writings reveals that his position on Jews and Muslims was not merely a reflection of church policy, but a means to advance his personal spiritual desire of union with God.
Neu entdeckte Traktate des (Ps.-)Amphilochius von Ikonium in Unzialschrift
Authors: Albrecht Felix
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Codex Bodleianus Auct. T. 4. 21 (Misc. 259) is a 12th-century manuscript written in large part on palimpsested parchment. It contains, inter alia, hitherto unknown treatises of (Ps.-)Amphilochius Iconiensis as underlying scripture (scriptio inferior). In 2011 the author discovered these treatises during a research stay at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The (Ps.-)Amphilochius sections are written in a clear uncial script from the 8th-9th century. A complete edition of the manuscript’s scriptiones inferiores together with a codicological analysis and a palaeographical description is in preparation.
Indigenous Children’s Rights: A Sociological Perspective on Boarding Schools and Transracial Adoption
Authors: Engel Madeline H. , Phillips Norma Kolko , DellaCava Frances A.
Published: June 2012

A sociological analysis of policies related to boarding schools and transracial adoption of indigenous children in Canada, the U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand, between the 1860s and the 1980s, demonstrates the similarity of the outcome of these programmes. While undertaken in the name of protection and/or acculturation, these policies and programmes resulted in trauma to the children, their families, and their cultures, as well as in abuses that were in violation of children’s rights as defined by international organizations, in particular the United Nations. Examination of the profound consequences of boarding schools and transracial adoption during this historical period can serve as a guide to humane, effective, and culturally sensitive child welfare policies.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau vitaliste : La moralisation de l’hygiène médicale entre régime diététique et éthique alimentaire
Authors: Menin Marco
Published: June 2012

The historiographical prejudice that sees in Jean-Jacques Rousseau an implacable opponent of scientific knowledge has long prevented an objective evaluation of the important influence that medical thought exerted over his philosophy. The aim of this paper is to show not only Rousseau’s familiarity with the most important expressions of eighteenth-century medical literature, but also his willingness to incorporate some medical suggestions in his philosophical and literary production. In the first part of this article, I try to show how Rousseau’s sensibility theory presupposes precise medical ideals, related to Montpellier School of vitalism. In the second part, I stress how Rousseau’s philosophy of alimentation (which has clear anthropological and political implications) can be regarded as a genuine application of an ambition typical of vitalism : to use medical hygiene, also and above all, for moral purpose.
Natural Right in Hobbes and Kant
Authors: Williams Howard
Published: June 2012

Both Hobbes and Kant tackle the issue of natural right in a radical and controversial way. They both present systematic, secular theories of natural law in a highly religious age. Whereas Hobbes transforms natural right by placing the rational individual bent on self-preservation at the centre of political philosophy, Kant transforms natural right by putting the metaphysical presuppositions of his critical philosophy at the heart of his reasoning on politics. Neither attempts to provide an orthodox view of natural right as directly or indirectly derived from God’s commands, although subsequent to their philosophical deduction as natural rights or laws both do not entirely repudiate the idea that these rights or laws can be portrayed as having divine support.
The Protection of Human Rights in Uganda: Public Awareness and Perceptions
Authors: Mubangizi John Cantius
Published: June 2012

This article analyzes the results of a research study in Uganda aimed at determining the level of public awareness and the perceptions regarding the protection and enjoyment of such rights. The survey sought information on public knowledge or awareness of the bill of rights, violation or protection of various types of rights, and awareness and perceptions regarding human rights institutions. It was found that although human rights violations still abound in Uganda, there is a high level of public awareness of the Constitution and the human rights it contains, that human rights violations take place more in the rural areas than in urban areas and that Ugandans blame the government for most of these human rights violations. The article concludes that there are still several challenges facing the promotion and protection of human rights in Uganda and that any attempts to address these challenges must take advantage of the opportunities offered by the constitutional framework.
The Constitutional Protection of Socio-Economic Rights in Selected African Countries: A Comparative Evaluation
Authors: Mubangizi John Cantius
Published: June 2012

This article evaluates the extent to which a few selected African countries have incorporated socio-economic rights in their constitutions, the mechanisms through which such rights are realised, the challenges such realisation entails and the approach taken by the courts and other human rights institutions in those countries towards the realisation and enforcement of those rights. The survey examines South Africa, Namibia, Uganda and Ghana. Apart from the logical geographical spread, all these countries enacted their present constitutions around the same time (1990 to 1996) in an attempt to transform themselves into democratic societies. In a sense, these countries can be seen as transitional societies, emerging as they have done, from long periods of apartheid and foreign domination or autocratic dictatorships. The latter is true for Uganda and Ghana while the former refers to South Africa and Namibia. The article concludes that South Africa has not only made the most advanced constitutional provision for socio-economic rights, it has also taken the lead in the judicial enforcement of such rights, an experience from which the other countries in the survey can learn.
The Emerging Role of the Constitutional Value of Ubuntu for Informal Social Security in South Africa
Authors: Tshoose Clarence I.
Published: June 2012

This paper explores the significance of the African value of ubuntu within the context of social protection. The paper argues that ubuntu as a constitutional value plays a crucial role in supporting the existence of informal social security in South Africa. It concludes by reflecting the overarching potential that the traditional African value has for influencing the social protection and enhancing family solidarity in the South African context.
Armed Conflicts in Africa and Western Complicity: A Disincentive for African Union's Cooperation with the ICC
Authors: Eberechi Ifeonu
Published: June 2012

Intrinsic in the concept of international justice for violations of international humanitarian law is the requirement of cooperation by states and, to a large extent, regional bodies with the International Criminal Court (ICC). Unlike domestic courts, the ICC is not endowed with law enforcement power nor could such power be imputed to it as part of its functions. It is against this background that the on-going crisis of corporation between the ICC and the African Union (AU) following the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for international crime portends a far reaching implication for the administration of international criminal accountability. As part of a broader diagnosis of the reasons for the AU's opposition, this paper, while discussing armed conflicts in Africa, which provides the fillip for gross human rights violations in the region, exposes the contributions of the West. It concludes that an effective enforcement of international justice in the region must include an inquiry into the role of international actors and Western powers in promoting and exacerbating the situation.
Violence in Kenya: Any Role for the ICC in the Quest for Accountability?
Authors: Nmaju Mba Chidi
Published: June 2012

This article examines the violence that broke out in Kenya after the 2007 presidential elections. After weeks of fighting and the establishment of a coalition government made up of the incumbent president and the leader of the opposition, relative calm returned to the country. However, the government has been slow to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Post Election Violence (Waki Commission). One key suggestion the Waki Commission made was to call upon the Kenyan government to establish an independent Special Tribunal made up of domestic and international jurists to prosecute those responsible for the crimes committed during the violence. At the time of writing, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II had been assigned the matter to determine whether the Office of the Prosecutor could initiate investigations. This article argues that the crimes committed in Kenya during the post election violence do not meet the ICC threshold on jurisdiction and gravity, and do not have the essential legal attributes of genocide and crimes against humanity. However, the manner in which the ICC handles this situation has the potential to influence the way future crimes are tried; thus the ICC must ensure that impunity does not prevail over accountability.
Claiming histories beyond nations: Situating global history
Authors: Balachandran G.
Published: June 2012

History is conventionally imagined and narrated in the context of the nation, relating its stories and shaped by its imaginaries. To the extent the latter are selectively re-encoded into seemingly wider scales or spaces of historical narration, projects such as global history may be said to be oxymorons. Historians in the post-colonial world have also long been aware of the nation’s shadow even in purportedly transnational projects emanating from the North, yet many remain similarly in thrall to the nation. In surveying the various levels at which histories have attempted to be narrated purportedly beyond the boundaries of nations, this article argues for a more consciously layered awareness of our multiple historical locations. Life unfolds at multiple levels and spaces between which exist complex overlays, tensions, conflicts and connections. Besides the conventions and expediencies of scholarship, often in practice historians too, will feel impelled to privilege one or another level or locus for their stories. However it is important to be aware of the reasons and limitations of such choices, and that no level or locus of analysis can credibly claim to subsume all others, or render them redundant.
Recovery of Graded Response Model Parameters
Authors: Kieftenbeld Vincent , Natesan Prathiba
Published: June 2012

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods enable a fully Bayesian approach to parameter estimation of item response models. In this simulation study, the authors compared the recovery of graded response model parameters using marginal maximum likelihood (MML) and Gibbs sampling (MCMC) under various latent trait distributions, test lengths, and sample sizes. Sample size and test length explained the largest amount of variance in item and person parameter estimates, respectively. There was little difference in item parameter recovery between MML and MCMC in samples with 300 or more respondents. MCMC recovered some item threshold parameters better in samples with 75 or 150 respondents. Bias in threshold parameter estimates depended on the generating value and the type of threshold. Person parameters were comparable between MCMC and MML/expected a posteriori for all test lengths.
Narratives of Menstrual Product Consumption
Authors: Davidson Anna
Published: June 2012

The environmental and social costs of consumer societies have increasingly been recognized. Achieving sustainable household consumption requires an understanding of the underlying roots of current consumption levels. Using the case study of menstrual care practices, different theoretical frameworks—or narratives—for understanding household consumption are evaluated. The author argues that theories of consumption that focus on individual choice based on assessments of convenience or cleanliness, or only on cultural imperatives need to be expanded to take account of the wider political–economic context. Using commoditization theory helps explain not only why mass-produced, disposable menstrual products are dominant in free market societies but also why certain theories of consumption are more prevalent.
Grandpa Wen
Authors: Xu Bin
Published: June 2012

This article remedies the divide in the theory of cultural performance between contingent strategy and cultural structure by bringing scene back in. Scene fuses components of performance and links local performance to macrolevel cultural structures and historical events. I theorize two conceptual elements: scene-act ratio and event-scene link. A scene creates an emotive context that demands consistent and timely performance; features of macrolevel events shape the emotive context of the scene. The two concepts can be deployed to explain variation in performance effectiveness. The theory is illustrated in a comparative study of Chinese leaders’ empathetic performance in disasters.
Shanghai’s alternative futures: The World Expo, citizen intellectuals, and China’s new civil society
Authors: Callahan William A.
Published: June 2012

Civil society seems to be a dead issue in China because its formal aspects of mobilization and institutionalization are so tightly regulated by the party-state. This article looks to activities in and around the Shanghai World Expo (2010) to rethink the meaning of civil society and political action in China. Through an analysis of the Expo’s national, theme, and corporate pavilions, it shows how Beijing is planning a harmonious future for China and the world. Yet alongside this unified future, it examines how Shanghai’s citizen intellectuals – filmmaker Jia Zhangke, artist Cai Guoqiang, and blogger Han Han – are creating alternative futures. This multiple decentralized view of the future is an integral part of building alternative notions of civil society in China. The article thus has two goals: (1) to contrast official constructions of a unified harmonious future with citizen intellectuals’ multilayered views of Shanghai’s past-present-future; and (2) to explore how citizen intellectuals are creating a new civil society that can build alternative futures.
China’s new development model: Analysing Chinese prospects in technology innovation
Authors: Crookes Paul Irwin
Published: June 2012

This article examines China’s innovation strategy as a key part of its economic development policy to achieve the next stage of the country’s domestic market modernization. The news that China now possesses the world’s fastest supercomputer appears to confirm the country’s inexorable journey from the world’s manufacturer and assembly hub to leading global innovator. However, this article presents an examination of broader-based innovation metrics which casts a different light on China’s position, showing that much work still remains to be done in order to lift domestic innovative activity to world-class levels. The country is certainly a challenger, but does not yet appear to have become a leader. The article draws on the latest research data of China’s innovative capabilities and links these to empirical assessments of the country’s information and communications technology sector to illustrate current strengths and weaknesses. In conclusion, it is argued that key inhibitors remain in the context of creating commercially sustainable competitive advantage in science and technology, and that the strengthening of moves towards nationalist innovation strategies may be counterproductive as China embarks on a critical phase of its engagement with the global research and development community.
Those who are in the gutter look at the stars? Explaining perceptions of labour market opportunities among European young adults
Authors: Reeskens Tim , Oorschot Wim van
Published: June 2012

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008, youth unemployment has risen worldwide. In cross-national perspective, research on youth employment has thus far paid attention to the transition from school to work, but underemphasized the importance of the social psychology of labour market entrance. In this article, European young adults’ perceptions of the first-job opportunities in their country are analysed. The result of a multilevel regression analysis on the 2008 wave of the European Social Survey (ESS) shows that differences across countries can mainly be explained by the public’s perceptions of levels of unemployment, and public spending on education. At the individual level, youth in a precarious socioeconomic situation have a rather pessimistic view on these opportunities. Moreover, women perceive the opportunities as less positive than men while young people of foreign origin have, contrary to the expectations, a more positive outlook on the chances for young people.
A job, a dream or a trap? Multiple meanings for encore careers
Authors: Simpson Mary , Richardson Margaret , Zorn Theodore E
Published: June 2012

Governments and activists are interested in the ageing workforce, as both a problem and, potentially, an asset. Terms such as ‘positive ageing’ and ‘successful ageing’ are increasingly used rhetorically to (re)frame the working lives of elders, and demand careful examination. A recent entry in the discursive re-construction of work in later life is ‘encore careers’, which highlights retirement as a time when individuals choose to use their wealth of experience, engaging in work that matters and makes meaningful contributions to society. This article reports on a study that used a multiple perspectives approach to analyse the discourse of elders engaged in encore careers and managers who work with them.
It’s the end of ideology as we know it
Authors: Hatemi Peter K , Eaves Lindon , McDermott Rose
Published: June 2012

Scholars have long focused on socio-psychological attachment, elite discourse, and rational action to explain the nature and structure of ideologies. Recently genetic and neurobiological influences have also emerged as predictors of ideological preferences. So far however, there has been little synthesis of these findings into the larger discourse on the structures and manifestations of ideology. The few studies which do include genetic sources of information imply that culture is merely a passenger on a genetic foundation. Here, we test this assumption and in doing so offer a foundation for merging social, psychological, rational, and biological theories of attitude formation and structure. Utilizing a genetically informative sample, we find striking differences between the genetic and environmental factor structures of inter-related attitudes that form ideologies. The structure imposed by social influences corresponds to recognized definitions of liberalism and conservatism on a left–right continuum; however, the genetic factor structure combines liberal attitudes toward sex and reproduction with conservative attitudes toward punishment, defense and immigration. That is, the structure imposed on social and political attitudes by the social environment is a cultural veneer laid on a potentially divergent underlying structure of genetic differences. Our findings should encourage a new understanding of ideology that encompasses genetic, individual, and cultural mechanisms that operates in both conflict and concert depending on local and temporal contexts.
Gene–environment interactions related to body mass: School policies and social context as environmental moderators
Authors: Boardman Jason D , Roettger Michael E , Domingue Benjamin W , McQueen Matthew B , Haberstick Brett C , Harris Kathleen Mullan
Published: June 2012

This paper highlights the role of institutional resources and policies, whose origins lie in political processes, in shaping the genetic etiology of body mass among a national sample of adolescents. Using data from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we decompose the variance of body mass into environmental and genetic components. We then examine the extent to which the genetic influences on body mass are different across the 134 schools in the study. Taking advantage of school differences in both health-related policies and social norms regarding body size, we examine how institutional resources and policies alter the relative impact of genetic influences on body mass. For the entire sample, we estimate a heritability of .82, with the remaining .18 due to unique environmental factors. However, we also show variation about this estimate and provide evidence suggesting that social norms and institutional policies often mask genetic vulnerabilities to increased weight. Empirically, we demonstrate that more restrictive school policies and policies designed to curb weight gain are also associated with decreases in the proportion of variance in body mass that is due to additive genetic influences.
Oppositional culture and educational opportunity
Authors: Lewis Christopher
Published: June 2012

The most common lay explanation for the racial gap in educational achievement in the US is the ‘oppositional culture hypothesis’, which holds that Black students tend to undervalue education and stigmatize their high-achieving peers, accusing them of ‘acting White’. Many believe that, insofar as this hypothesis is true, Black underachievement is unproblematic from the perspective of justice, because Black students are simply not taking the fair opportunities presented to them. This article offers a systematic critique of the normative aspects of this view and some conceptual clarifications regarding the nature of opportunity.
Environmental Hazards and Risk Assessment in Primary Care
Authors: Moffett Daphne B.
Published: June 2012

Environmental health is often considered the oldest public health practice; yet, in many respects, particularly in relation to chemical exposure and impact, we know very little about the span of consequences. According to the World Health Organization, environmental hazards are responsible for 23% of the total burden of disease worldwide. Environmental and occupational diseases frequently manifest as common medical problems or have nonspecific symptoms; yet consideration of environmental factors rarely enters into the clinician’s history taking or diagnosis.
Process for immune defect and chromosomal translocation during early thymocyte development lacking ATM
Authors: Isoda Takeshi , Takagi Masatoshi , Piao Jinhua , Nakagama Shun , Sato Masaki , Masuda Kyoko , Ikawa Tomokatsu , Azuma Miyuki , Morio Tomohiro , Kawamoto Hiroshi , Mizutani Shuki
Published: June 2012

Immune defect in ataxia telangiectasia patients has been attributed to either the failure of V(D)J recombination or class-switch recombination, and the chromosomal translocation in their lymphoma often involves the TCR gene. The ATM-deficient mouse exhibits fewer CD4 and CD8 single-positive T cells because of a failure to develop from the CD4+CD8+ double-positive phase to the single-positive phase. Although the occurrence of chromosome 14 translocations involving TCR-δ gene in ATM-deficient lymphomas suggests that these are early events in T-cell development, a thorough analysis focusing on early T-cell development has never been performed. Here we demonstrate that ATM-deficient mouse thymocytes are perturbed in passing through the β- or γδ-selection checkpoint, leading in part to the developmental failure of T cells. Detailed karyotype analysis using the in vitro thymocyte development system revealed that RAG-mediated TCR-α/δ locus breaks occur and are left unrepaired during the troublesome β- or γδ-selection checkpoints. By getting through these selection checkpoints, some of the clones with random or nonrandom chromosomal translocations involving TCR-α/δ locus are selected and accumulate. Thus, our study visualized the first step of multistep evolutions toward lymphomagenesis in ATM-deficient thymocytes associated with T-lymphopenia and immunodeficiency.
Globally optimized finite-difference extrapolator for strongly VTI media
Authors: Zhang Jin-Hai , Yao Zhen-Xing
Published: June 2012

Implicit finite-difference (FD) migration is unconditionally stable and is popular in handling strong velocity variations, but its extension to strongly transversely anisotropic media with vertical symmetric axis media is difficult. Traditional local optimizations generate the optimized coefficients for each pair of Thomsen anisotropy parameters independently, which can degrade results substantially for large anisotropy variations and lead to a huge table. We developed an implicit FD method using the analytic Taylor-series expansion and used a global optimization scheme to improve its accuracy for wide phase angles. We first extended the number of the constant coefficients; then we relaxed the coefficient of the time-delay extrapolation term by tuning a small factor such that error is less than 0.1%. Finally, we optimized the constant coefficients using a simulated annealing algorithm by constraining that all the error functions on a fine grid of the whole anisotropic region did not exceed 0.5% simultaneously. The extended number of the constant coefficients and the relaxed coefficient greatly enhanced the flexibility of matching the dispersion relation and significantly improved the ability of handling strong anisotropy over a much wider range. Compared with traditional local optimization, our scheme does not need any table and table lookup. For each order of the FD method, only one group of optimized coefficients is enough to handle strong variations in velocity and anisotropy. More importantly, our global optimization scheme guarantees the accuracy for various possible ranges of anisotropy parameters, no matter how strong the anisotropy is. For the globally optimized second-order FD method, the accurate phase angle is up to 58°, and the increase is about 18°–22°. For the globally optimized fourth-order FD method, the accurate phase angle is up to 77°, and the increase is about 22°–27°.
Endoscopic solutions for stricturing Crohn's disease
Authors: Szmola Richard , Rácz Károly , Tulassay Zsolt , Miheller Pál
Published: June 2012

Intestinal stenosis is a frequent and oftentimes recurring problem in patients with Crohn's disease, accompanied by a high-risk for bowel resection and subsequent short bowel syndrome. Medical therapy has not proven successful, and even the most conservative surgical options are hampered by a definite mortality rate (and high recurrence rates) without doubt. Technical improvements in endoscopic devices over recent years have created an operative subspecialty (therapeutic endoscopy) that can be applied to several gastrointestinal diseases. Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) for Crohn's disease has been developed to prevent or delay the need for surgical resection. The endoscopy-assisted dilatation is a safe and effective treatment modality for uncomplicated, short Crohn's strictures, and therefore should be offered to Crohn's disease patients. Here, we briefly review the current knowledge on hydrostatic balloon dilatation and present a relevant case from our clinical practice.
A Scoping Review of the Photovoice Method: Implications for Occupational Therapy Research
Authors: Lal Shalini , Jarus Tal , Suto Melinda J.
Published: June 2012

Background. Photovoice is a participatory action research method combining photography and group work to give people an opportunity to record and reflect on their daily lives.

Purpose. To review the use of Photovoice in health research and consider the implications for occupational therapy research.

Methods. Literature review, guided by a scoping framework, reveals the purposes, rationales and populations with whom Photovoice has been used.

Findings. From 351 documents retrieved, 191 original studies were surveyed; 68% were peer-reviewed. The majority of studies (76%) occurred within the public health domain and a smaller percentage (24%) with individuals experiencing a specific illness and/or disability, with very few (2%) documented in the occupational therapy literature.

Implications. Photovoice provides a useful framework to apply a participant-centred research approach on occupational participation. It is important to consider and further examine ethical and methodological issues related to stigma, physical and cognitive capacities, mobility and technical accessibility related to using this method.
Is Task Autonomy Beneficial for Creativity? Prior Task Experience and Self-Control as Boundary Conditions
Authors: Chang Jin Wook , Huang Devin Wende , Choi Jin Nam
Published: June 2012

In this study we elaborate on the autonomy–creativity relationship by identifying potential boundary conditions. Specifically, we hypothesized that when task autonomy is provided people's reactions are shaped by the level of their prior experience or skills and by whether or not
they have previously worked on a task autonomously. We further hypothesized that self-control would moderate the autonomy–creativity link. The analysis of data collected from 148 individuals who completed 2 sets of creativity tasks under different task conditions revealed that task autonomy
reduces creative performance when there is no prior task-relevant experience. Individuals with high self-control showed similar levels of creativity regardless of the level of task autonomy. In contrast, those with low self-control performed more creatively under a no autonomy condition than
under an autonomy condition. Our findings highlight the need for considering various boundary conditions when considering changes in the effects of task autonomy on creativity.
The Effect of Personality Traits on Public Service Motivation: Evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Jang Chyi-Lu
Published: June 2012

The relationship between the Big Five personality traits (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and public service motivation (PSM) was examined using a questionnaire survey of 277 public servants employed by 3 local governments in Taiwan. Regression analysis results indicated that extraversion
was positively related to attraction to policy making, but negatively associated with self-sacrifice. Agreeableness was positively correlated to compassion. Conscientiousness was positively related to commitment to the public interest, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Neuroticism was negatively
associated with commitment to the public interest and compassion, but positively with attraction to policy making. Openness to experience was positively correlated with all dimensions of PSM. In summary, personality traits can function as strong predictors of public service motivation.
Differences in Level of Sport Commitment Among College Dance Sport Competitors
Authors: Chu Angel Yin , Wang Chien-Hsin
Published: June 2012

We investigated potential differences in the levels of sport commitment and its associated antecedents on the basis of sport experience, level of participation, and participation method with 127 individuals competing in the 2010 National College Dance Sport (ballroom dancing) Championship
in Taipei, Taiwan. Participants completed the Sport Commitment Scale for Adult Dance Sport Competitors, derived from Wilson's Exercise Commitment Scale (ECS; Wilson et al., 2004). We found that there were significant differences according to sport experience, level of participation, and participation
method in relation to enjoyment, involvement alternatives, involvement opportunities, social support, social constraints, and personal investment.
Associations Between Personality Traits and Experiential Gratification in an Online Gaming Context
Authors: Park Jowon , Lee Guiohk
Published: June 2012

We explored how personality traits are associated with experiential gratification in an online gaming context by applying Pine and Gilmore's (1998) experience economy framework. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis validated the hypothesis that the experience economy framework
would be a reliable and valid construct in measuring online gamers' sense of experiential gratification. Furthermore, a regression analysis substantiated the influence of personality traits on the experiential gratification of online game players.