bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hundred Years of Latency
Authors: Knight Rona
Published: April 2014

A focus on the latency phase is used to illustrate how theory and developmental research have influenced our psychoanalytic views of development over the past hundred years. Beginning with Freud’s psychosexual theory and his conception of latency, an historical overview of the major psychoanalytic contributions bearing on this developmental period over the past century is presented. Recent longitudinal research in latency supports a nonlinear dynamic systems approach to development. This approach obliges us to reconsider our linear theories and how we think about and work with our patients.
The African Scholar in the Western Academy
Authors: Dei (Nana Sefa Atweneboah I) George J. Sefa
Published: April 2014

In this essay, I push the discursive envelope on what it means to speak of a particular space, location, and position of the “Black Scholar” in the (Western) academy and its colonial satellites globally. The Black Scholar is not about racializing the identity of Blackness (or Black subject as simply an intellectual of Black identity) nor a pursuit for “an essential Black subject.” Rather, it is about an appreciation of the interface of critical (Black) scholarship and creative intellectual thought and practice that goes back through time as a counterpoint and challenge to dominant ideologies, including “ideologies of the authentic.” It is argued that the Black Scholar is fundamentally about an intellectual praxis informed by an African sense of history, culture, identity, community knowledge, and political work to bring about change in the lives of African peoples.
Bringing Race Relations Into the Restorative Justice Debate
Authors: Gavrielides Theo
Published: April 2014

Restorative justice was reborn in the 1970s with a promise to provide a better sense and experience of justice, especially for those who are let down the most by the criminal justice system. And yet, despite well-evidenced disproportionality and race inequality issues within criminal justice institutions, restorative justice research and practice within the context of race are almost nonexistent. This article aims to unravel this paradox while looking at the scant extant literature to explore the alternative and more personalized restorative justice vision of “the other” and cultural differences. An expansive conceptual model that is aligned with the integrative nature of restorative justice is then posited for further pilots and research. The article warns that if restorative justice continues to ignore the challenges raised within a race equality context, the power structures inherent within our current structural framework of criminal justice will lead to its demise.
Doing voices: Reading language as craft in black British poetry
Authors: Gilmour Rachael
Published: April 2014

This article offers a detailed exploration and comparative reading of two poems published roughly 20 years apart: John Agard’s “Listen Mr Oxford Don” (1985), and Daljit Nagra’s “Kabba Questions the Ontology of Representation, the Catch-22 for ‘Black’ Writers…” (2007). The former poem is well-known, being regarded by a range of scholars as the acme of (and often, shorthand for) self-reflexively dialogic black British voice poetry, as it emerged in the 1980s, that plays off the friction between writing and speech. The latter is a complex and satirical take on poetic convention and canonicity — including the legacies of 1980s black British poetry — that exploits a tension between written poetic convention and artifice on the one hand, and the idea of the voiced poem as conveying “presence” or “authenticity” on the other. Both poems direct us towards a structuring paradox in which the embodied immediacy of human voice is mediated through the graphic conventions of written poetry. Reading these poems together, the essay considers on the one hand, how ideas about poetic form, language, and voice emerge out of particular historical junctures; and on the other, how such attentiveness to context can help us to develop techniques of a postcolonial “close reading”, eschewing totalizing formulae or summative evaluations of linguistic dissidence.
Fiber deformation as a result of fluid injection: modeling and validation in the case of saturated permeability measurements in through thickness direction
Authors: Klunker Florian , Danzi Mario , Ermanni Paolo
Published: April 2014

The knowledge of the through thickness permeability is important for the design of modern liquid composite molding processes. In through thickness permeability measurements, the textile undergoes flow-induced compaction, changing the distribution of fiber volume content. As a consequence, results of permeability measurements show a dependency on the applied injection pressure, further denoted as apparent permeability. In the study presented in this paper, saturated permeability measurements were conducted for different fiber volume contents, varying the injection pressure. At the lowest fiber volume content used, the apparent permeability strongly varied with pressure. With increasing fiber volume content the dependency on injection pressure decreased, but it was not negligible. We used a simulation model for coupling of flow and fiber deformation in liquid composite molding in order to predict the apparent permeability in saturated through thickness permeability measurements. The input data for the simulation model were determined by measurements of saturated permeability, using a very low injection pressure, and textile compaction properties. With the proposed methodology, a good agreement of simulation and experimental results was achieved.
Relational Self Versus Collective Self
Authors: Mamat Marhaba , Huang Wei , Shang Rui , Zhang Tianyang , Li Hao , Wang Yao , Luo Wei , Wu Yanhong
Published: April 2014

Although differences between independent and interdependent self-construals have been extensively investigated, few studies have considered intra-cultural variability in self-construal in China. In the present research, we aimed at exploring ethnic group differences in interdependent self-construal. We first compared self-reported importance of the private self, relational self, and collective self between the Uyghur and the Han—two ethnic groups in China. The results show that the Han viewed the collective self to be less important than the private self and the relational self, while the Uyghur exhibited a different pattern, rating the collective self as more important than the private self and the relational self (Study 1). Three follow-up self-referential memory experiments provided further support for the difference in interdependent self-construal between the Han and the Uyghur. Specifically, only the Han participants exhibited significantly better memories of mother-referenced information than famous-person-referenced information (Study 2). In contrast, only the Uyghur participants exhibited significantly better memories of group-referenced information (Studies 3 and 4). These marked ethnic differences in interdependent self-construal suggest that the Han privilege the relational self and the Uyghur the collective self, thus highlighting the intra-cultural variability of interdependent self-construal in Chinese populations.
Oral Biology in Middle Age
Authors: Scannapieco F.A.
Published: April 2014

In 1960, the first Department of Oral Biology in the United States dedicated to the conduct of research, graduate biomedical research education, and the provision of basic oral science education for the DDS curriculum was established at the University at Buffalo. In 1963, the Department organized the first PhD Program in Oral Biology in the United States. This PhD program has produced a large cadre of oral health researchers, many of whom have gone on to make major contributions to dental research and education. This article provides a brief history of the program, the context within which the program was organized and developed, and a description of some of the many faculty, students, and fellows associated with the program. Additionally, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this program, a symposium, entitled “The Oral Microbiome, Immunity and Chronic Disease”, was held on June 12-14, 2013, in Buffalo, New York. The proceedings are published online in Advances in Dental Research (2014, Vol. 26).
Novel Inflammatory Pathways in Periodontitis
Authors: Hajishengallis G. , Sahingur S.E.
Published: April 2014

New insights into the biological mechanisms involved in modulating periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss are paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies for periodontitis. The neutrophil adhesion cascade for transmigration in response to infection or inflammation is a key paradigm in immunity. Developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) is one of several newly identified endogenous inhibitors of the leukocyte adhesion cascade. Del-1 competes with intercellular adhesion mole-cule-1 (ICAM-1) on endothelial cells for binding to the LFA-1 integrin on neutrophils, thereby regulating neutrophil recruitment and local inflammation. In animal periodontitis models, Del-1 deficiency resulted in severe inflammation and alveolar bone loss, but local treatment with recombinant Del-1 prevented neutrophil infiltration and bone loss. The expression of Del-1 is inhibited by the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17. Nucleic-acid-receptor-mediated inflammatory responses may be important in periodontal disease pathogenesis. Bacterial nucleic acids released during inflammation are detected by host microbial DNA sensors, e.g., Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9), leading to the activation of pro- and/or anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. DNA from periodontitis-associated bacteria induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human macrophage-like cells through the TLR-9 and NF-κB signaling pathways, but had less effect on human osteoblasts. Inhibition of TLR-9 signaling in human macrophages reduced cytokine production in response to P. gingivalis DNA. Differential expression of a polymorphic site in the TLR-9 gene promoter region and increased TLR-9 gene and protein expression were reported in chronic periodontitis. Further research to confirm that periodontal bacterial DNA contributes to destructive inflammation in vivo could provide alternative therapeutic targets to control periodontitis.
Periodontal Disease, Atherosclerosis, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, and Head-and-Neck Cancer
Authors: Han Y.W. , Houcken W. , Loos B.G. , Schenkein H.A. , Tezal M.
Published: April 2014

Interrelationships between periodontal infection and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and head-and-neck cancer have become increasingly appreciated in recent years. Periodontitis is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and, experimentally, with measures of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. Periodontal therapy may reduce atherosclerotic changes and improve endothe-lial function. Preliminary findings suggest a role for the genetic locus ANRIL in the pathobiology of both CVD and periodontitis. Periodontal pathogens induce anticardiolipin in periodontitis patients by molecular mimicry of the serum protein ß-2 glyco-proteinI. These antibodies have biological and pathological activities consistent with those reported for other infection-induced antiphospholipid antibodies. Anticardiolipin may explain some of the observed associations between periodontitis and systemic conditions such as CVD and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The oral commensal Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) becomes pathogenic on migration to extra-oral sites. Fn infection of the fetal-placental unit has been linked to pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, stillbirth, and earlyonset neonatal sepsis. Reagents aimed at inhibiting or resolving inflammatory responses may be used to treat or prevent pregnancy complications due to bacterial infection. Chronic periodontitis may be independently associated with head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through direct toxic effects of bacteria and their products, and/or through indirect effects of inflammation. Additionally, chronic periodontitis may facilitate the acquisition and persistence of oral HPV infection, a recently emerged risk factor for HNSCC.
Alveolar Bone Loss: Mechanisms, Potential Therapeutic Targets, and Interventions
Authors: Intini G. , Katsuragi Y. , Kirkwood K.L. , Yang S.
Published: April 2014

This article reviews recent research into mechanisms underlying bone resorption and highlights avenues of investigation that may generate new therapies to combat alveolar bone loss in periodontitis. Several proteins, signaling pathways, stem cells, and dietary supplements are discussed as they relate to peri-odontal bone loss and regeneration. RGS12 is a crucial protein that mediates osteoclastogenesis and bone destruction, and a potential therapeutic target. RGS12 likely regulates osteoclast differentiation through regulating calcium influx to control the calcium oscillation-NFATc1 pathway. A working model for RGS10 and RGS12 in the regulation of Ca2+ oscillations during osteoclast differentiation is proposed. Initiation of inflammation depends on host cell-microbe interactions, including the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Oral p38 inhibitors reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone destruction in a rat periodontitis model but showed unsatisfactory safety profiles. The p38 substrate MK2 is a more specific therapeutic target with potentially superior tolerability. Furthermore, MKP-1 shows anti-inflammatory activity, reducing inflammatory cytokine biosynthesis and bone resorption. Multipotent skeletal stem cell (SSC) populations exist within the bone marrow and periosteum of long bones. These bone-marrow-derived SSCs and periosteum-derived SSCs have shown therapeutic potential in several applications, including bone and periodontal regeneration. The existence of craniofacial bone-specific SSCs is suggested based on existing studies. The effects of calcium, vitamin D, and soy isoflavone supplementation on alveolar and skeletal bone loss in post-menopausal women were investigated. Supplementation resulted in stabilization of forearm bone mass density and a reduced rate of alveolar bone loss over 1 yr, compared with placebo. Periodontal attachment levels were also well-maintained and alveolar bone loss suppressed during 24 wk of supplementation.
Factors Associated With Forensic Nurses Offering HIV nPEP Status Post Sexual Assault
Authors: Draughon Jessica E. , Hauda William E. , Price Bonnie , Rotolo Sue , Austin Kim Wieczorek , Sheridan Daniel J.
Published: April 2014

Nonoccupational, postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is offered inconsistently to patients who have been sexually assaulted. This may be due to Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) programs utilizing diverse nPEP protocols and HIV risk assessment algorithms. This study examines factors associated with FNEs offering nPEP to patients following sexual assault at two FNE programs in urban settings. Offering nPEP is mostly driven by site-specific protocol. At Site 1, in addition to open anal or open genital wounds, the presence of injury to the head or face was associated with FNEs offering nPEP (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 64.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.12, 1942.37]). At Site 2, patients assaulted by someone of Other race/ethnicity (non-White, non-African American) were 86% less likely to be offered nPEP (AOR 0.14, 95% CI = [.03, .72]) than patients assaulted by Whites. In addition to following site-specific protocols, future research should further explore the mechanisms influencing clinician decision making.
Correlates of Self-Reported Incarceration Among Homeless Gay and Bisexual Stimulant-Using Young Adults
Authors: Nyamathi Adeline , Reback Cathy J. , Salem Benissa E. , Zhang Sheldon , Shoptaw Steven , Branson Catherine M. , Leake Barbara
Published: April 2014

Gay and bisexual (G/B) homeless adults face multiple challenges in life which may place them at high risk for incarceration. Yet, little is known about this understudied population in terms of risk for incarceration. Baseline data collected from a longitudinal study between October 2009 and March 2012 in Hollywood, California, explored correlates of self-reported incarceration among G/B homeless stimulant-using adults ( N = 353). Findings revealed older age, less education, having children, as well as a history of injection drug use and being born in the United States were positively associated with incarceration. Moreover, having poor social support and having received hepatitis information were also correlated with a history of incarceration. Our findings help us gain a greater awareness of homeless G/B adults who may be at greater risk for incarceration, which may be used by health care providers to design targeted interventions for this underserved population.
Aortic valve replacement in a patient with left ventricular noncompaction
Authors: Hirose Tomoaki , Kawata Tetsuji , Hamada Yoshihiro , Tabayashi Nobuoki , Abe Takehisa , Taniguchi Shigeki
Published: April 2014

Left ventricular noncompaction is a rare cardiac pathology that results from an arrest in endomyocardial development in early embryogenesis. With great advances in imaging modalities, this pathological entity has been noted not only in the pediatric population but also in adults. Herein we report the case of a 62-year-old woman who successfully underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation complicated by left ventricular noncompaction.
Confusing Relative Risk with Absolute Risk Is Associated with More Enthusiastic Beliefs about the Value of Cancer Screening
Authors: Caverly Tanner J. , Prochazka Allan V. , Binswanger Ingrid A. , Kutner Jean S. , Matlock Daniel D.
Published: April 2014

Background. Reviews of how data are presented in medical literature document that the benefit from an intervention is often exaggerated relative to the harm (e.g., relative risk for benefit and absolute risk for harm). Such mismatched presentations may create unwarranted enthusiasm, especially among those who misinterpret the statistics presented. The objective was to determine whether misinterpretation of risk data predicts enthusiasm for cancer screening. Methods. The authors administered a survey with 14 items assessing beliefs about cancer screening and 6 items measuring data interpretation ability. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association between data interpretation and enthusiasm for cancer screening, with adjustment for gender and year graduated from medical school. Results. Eighty-eight of 139 physicians at a state-wide professional meeting returned completed surveys (63% response rate). Lower data interpretation scores were associated with higher enthusiasm for cancer screening scores ( P = 0.004) in the adjusted primary analysis. Confusing relative risk with absolute risk appeared to drive the overall association. Conclusions. Biased presentations of risk data could affect general beliefs about the value of cancer screening, especially among physicians who uncritically accept mismatched presentations of data.
Having Many Choice Options Seems Like a Great Idea, But . . .
Authors: Ackerman David S. , Gross Barbara L. , Sawhney Celly Kirti
Published: April 2014

Many educators today emphasize student engagement and self-regulated learning, including giving students choices. However, research suggests that too much choice can have negative consequences such as feelings of stress and regret. An experimental design wherein students were offered different numbers of choice options when previewing, as in a syllabus or other course description, a major class project in a hypothetical Retailing Management course, examined the effects of within-course choice on perceptions of the course. The results indicate that, before they are required to engage in the course choices and make an actual decision, students prefer to have more choice. This is evidenced by their perceptions of the course’s desirability and value to their future careers, perceptions of the quality and fairness of the course instructor, and emotional reactions to the level of choice. However, when required to engage in the choice, students responded more positively to having fewer choices. Likewise, students not as interested in marketing responded more positively to having less choice. These results are more in line with findings from past research, showing that more choice can have a negative effect.
The effects of dimethyl 3,3′-dithiobispropionimidate di-hydrochloride cross-linking of collagen and gelatin coating on porous spherical biphasic calcium phosphate granules
Authors: Kim Yang-Hee , Son So-Ra , Sarkar Swapan Kumar , Lee Byong-Taek
Published: April 2014

Collagen- and gelatin-coated porous spherical granule was prepared by slurry dripping process using biphasic calcium phosphate powder. The coating was stabilized by cross-linking with dimethyl 3,3′-dithiobispropionimidate di-hydrogenchloride (DTBP). Afer DTBP cross-linking, the nanostructure of collagen- and gelatin-coated surfaces was changed from smooth to fibrous and net-like structure. Excellent cross-linking of the coating was seen as indicated by the differential scanning calorimetry thermogram and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra. After cross-linking the relative intensities of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy peaks were decreased and amide bands were shifted to the left. The interaction of gelatin with DTBP cross-linking agent was stronger than that with collagen according to differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results. The compressive strength of the granular bone substitutes increased significantly after the coating process and gelatin coated biphasic calcium phosphate granules showed highest value at 3.68 MPa after cross-linking. Porosity was greater than 63% and did not change significantly with coating. Biocompatibility investigation by in vitro and in vivo showed that the coating improved the cell proliferation marginally. However, the cross-linking process did not jeopardize the excellent biocompatibility of collagen and gelatin. The in vivo study confirms better bone formation behavior of the cross-linked gelatin and collagen coated samples investigated for 8 weeks in vivo.
Aromatherapy Hand Massage for Older Adults With Chronic Pain Living in Long-Term Care
Authors: Cino Kathleen
Published: April 2014

Purpose: Older adults living in long-term care experience high rates of chronic pain. Concerns with pharmacologic management have spurred alternative approaches. The purpose of this study was to examine a nursing intervention for older adults with chronic pain. Design: This prospective, randomized control trial compared the effect of aromatherapy M technique hand massage, M technique without aromatherapy, and nurse presence on chronic pain. Chronic pain was measured with the Geriatric Multidimensional Pain and Illness Inventory factors, pain and suffering, life interference, and emotional distress and the Iowa Pain Thermometer, a pain intensity scale. Method: Three groups of 39 to 40 participants recruited from seven long-term care facilities participated twice weekly for 4 weeks. Analysis included multivariate analysis of variance and analysis of variance. Findings: Participants experienced decreased levels of chronic pain intensity. Group membership had a significant effect on the Geriatric Multidimensional Pain Inventory Pain and Suffering scores; Iowa Pain Thermometer scores differed significantly within groups. Conclusions: M technique hand massage with or without aromatherapy significantly decreased chronic pain intensity compared to nurse presence visits. M technique hand massage is a safe, simple, but effective intervention. Caregivers using it could improve chronic pain management in this population.
I Gave at the Campus
Authors: Freeland Robert E. , Spenner Kenneth I. , McCalmon Grace
Published: April 2014

This study examined the determinants of student contributions to their senior gift campaign while currently enrolled at a university and whether student giving predicted young alumni giving patterns after graduation. Determinants of student giving were largely consistent with those of alumni giving, although parental support was found to be an important difference. Financial aid in the form of parental support and scholarships, but not loans or grants, increased the likelihood of student giving. College experiences including group participation and positive subjective evaluation also increased the likelihood of giving. Student giving was then found to be a strong predictor of future donation patterns of young alumni. Students who did not contribute to the senior gift campaign despite repeated, in-person solicitations from peers were less likely to donate after graduation.
Predicting the hardness of carbon nanotube reinforced copper matrix nanocomposites using two adaptive fuzzy inference system identifiers
Authors: Sahraei Abolfazl Alizadeh , Fathi Alireza , Mozaffari Ahmad , Besharati Givi Mohamad Kazem , Pashaei Mohammad Hadi
Published: April 2014

The paper deals with devising two different fuzzy inference systems to predict the hardness of copper/carbon nanotube nanocomposite. These composites are outstanding candidates for thermal management applications in electronic packaging due to the high conductivity of copper. Knowing the extraordinary properties of carbon nanotubes, it seems that copper-based composites reinforced with small amount of carbon nanotubes, resulted in improved mechanical properties. Hence, carbon nanotube reinforced copper matrix nanocomposites are fabricated by hot-press sintering of high energy ball milled copper/carbon nanotube powders. Different milling factors are investigated. Finally the Vickers hardness of sintered nanocomposites is reported. To simulate a predictive framework for current case study, two different machine learning algorithms are engaged. The first learning algorithm is the classic least square optimization method, which provides the requirements for fast adaption of the consequent parts of fuzzy inference system. The second method learning algorithm uses the rudiments of neural computing through layering the fuzzy inference system and using back-propagation optimization algorithm. Based on the experiments, the authors realize that the adopted fuzzy systems can effectively extract the knowledge required for predicting the hardness of copper/carbon nanotube nanocomposite.
Determination of the influence of home delivery of HIV therapy on virological outcomes and adherence
Authors: Castelino Sheena , Miah Hamida , Auyeung Vivian , Vogt Florian
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the change in the mode of supply of HIV medicines to a homecare model was associated with any change in adherence and patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records of 100 patients who received supplies from a clinic-based hospital HIV pharmacy and 100 patients who were started on home delivery over a three-month period and were followed up over six months. Data on patient demographics, type of HIV drug regimen, HIV viral load, CD4% and adherence status were analysed. The mode of delivery had no significant effect on CD4% ( p > 0.05), HIV viral load status ( p > 0.05) or adherence status ( p > 0.05). There was a significant increase in CD4% over time for both groups ( p < 0.01). This study suggests that expanding home delivery as a model of care in London HIV clinics is safe and does not affect adherence and patient outcomes as indicated by HIV viral load and CD4%.
Developments in International Relations
Authors: Chatterji Rakhahari
Published: April 2014

This article offers a concise, though not exhaustive, intellectual history of International Relations (IR) as a formal academic discipline. It begins with the backdrop of the discipline’s emergence in the aftermath of World War I, and a critical account of the ‘first wave’ of theoretical activity, that is, idealism. This entailed a sharp onslaught in the form of the rise of realism which arguably transformed IR into an ‘American’ discipline which, the author feels, was good for neither realism nor IR as a discipline. This brings us to the methodological debate—known as the second great debate in IR—between the traditionalists and the behavioralists, and the author asks if it was only a ‘phoney war’. The period between the 1960s and early 1990s witnessed a bewildering multiplicity of theoretical developments and analytical concerns which ranged from game theory and decision-making models; through integration theory and ‘world society’ approaches; to the birth of neo- or structural realism. Meanwhile, the Marxist school of IR focused on the vital issue of the relations between the weak and strong in international politics—left unaddressed by the ‘American discipline’—and stimulated the literature on dependency and world system. The final sections of the article deal with the post-positivist tradition in IR (which sparked off the ‘third debate’) and the level-of-analysis problem (which highlighted the issue of macro- and micro perspectives in the study of IR). It concludes with the observation that this phenomenal diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches poses a major obstacle to agreeing on any grand definition of discipline of IR.
Book Review: Deborah Brautigam, The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of Africa in China
Authors: Dasgupta Mousumi
Published: April 2014

Deborah Brautigam, The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of Africa in China. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 397. Rs 1478.
Environmental Cost of Using Top-soil for Brick-Making
Authors: Kathuria Vinish , Balasubramanian R.
Published: April 2014

Increased urbanisation and industrialisation in developing countries has created a huge demand for construction activities, which in turn has resulted in the fast growth of the brick-making industry. Unfortunately, brick-kilns are mostly situated on fertile agricultural land, as brick manufacturers need silty clay loam to silty clay soils with good drainage conditions. This article quantifies the agricultural impacts of top-soil removal for brick-making using a productivity change and replacement cost approaches, for Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. To compute the cost, a survey of 100 farmers each was carried out in two regions—in the north (Chennai) and in the south (Tuticorin). Besides, 60 soil samples—30 from each region—were analysed from both types of fields—leased land for brick-making and virgin fields. The crop yield loss due to top-soil removal is found to be much less than expected due to more fertile soil in the region. In the long run, however, the opportunity cost of selling top-soil for brick-making is likely to increase as good quality soils for agriculture become more and more scarce.
The Association of Market Competition With Hospital Charges, Length of Stay, and Quality Outcomes for Patients With Joint Diseases
Authors: Kim Sun Jung , Park Eun-Cheol , Yoo Ki-Bong , Kwon Jeoung A , Kim Tae Hyun
Published: April 2014

This study investigated the association of market competition with hospital charges, length of stay, and quality outcomes. A total of 279,847 patients from 851 hospitals were analyzed. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index was used as a measure of hospital market competition level. Our results suggest that hospitals in less competitive markets charged more on charge per admission, possibly by increasing the length of stays, however, hospitals in more competitive markets charged more for daily services by providing more intensive services while reducing the length of stays, thereby reducing the overall charge per admission. Quality outcomes measured by mortality within 30 days of admission and readmission within 30 days of discharge were better for surgical procedures within competitive areas. Continued government monitoring of hospital response to market competition level is recommended in order to determine whether changes in hospitals’ strategies influence the long-term outcomes of services performance and health care spending.
Bupropion and Escitalopram During Lactation
Authors: Neuman Gal , Colantonio David , Delaney Sarah , Szynkaruk Mark , Ito Shinya
Published: April 2014

Objective: To report a case of seizure-like symptoms in an infant exposed to bupropion and escitalopram through breastfeeding. Case Summary: A 6.5-month-old female infant, breastfed by a mother treated with bupropion XL 150 mg/d and escitalopram 10 mg/d for depression, presented to our hospital with severe emesis and tonic seizure-like symptoms. The symptoms resolved with supportive therapy. Urine toxicology screen in the infant revealed bupropion and escitalopram. Bupropion, and its active metabolite, hydroxybupropion, were analyzed and quantified both in the infant’s serum and in the breast milk. Diagnostic workup for seizure etiologies was otherwise negative. After being asymptomatic for 48 hours, her discharge diagnosis was adverse events associated with bupropion and escitalopram in lactation. An objective causality assessment (Naranjo assessment) revealed that this adverse effect was probable. Discussion: The adverse events in our case were associated with serum concentrations of bupropion and hydroxybupropion that are lower than the reported therapeutic range, perhaps suggesting that infants, compared with adults, may have a higher susceptibility to the epileptogenic effects of bupropion and/or hydroxybupropion. Furthermore, although we do not have escitalopram serum concentrations, this drug interaction may have had a contributing role in this case, possibly because of cytochrome P4502D6 inhibition by bupropion and metabolites. Conclusion: As the number of reproductive-aged women requiring polytherapy to control their depression is increasing, further research is needed to establish the safety of combined antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and bupropion, during lactation.
Probable Association of an Attack of Bilateral Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma With Duloxetine
Authors: Shifera Amde Selassie , Leoncavallo Anthony , Sherwood Mark
Published: April 2014

Objective: To report a patient who had an attack of bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) probably associated with the use of duloxetine. Case Summary: The case reported here involves an 81-year-old Caucasian woman whose past ocular history was unremarkable except for high hyperopia and cataract. The patient developed ocular symptoms 2 days after starting duloxetine, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) and was diagnosed with acute ACG. The elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was successfully lowered with medical treatment, and the patient was advised to discontinue duloxetine. She subsequently underwent laser iridotomy in both eyes, and her IOP remained adequately controlled. A score of 6 was obtained using the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, suggesting duloxetine as the probable cause of the attack of ACG in this patient. Discussion: There are a few previous reports of acute ACG associated with venlafaxine, another member of the class of SNRIs. In addition, there are several reports of ACG associated with members of the related class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—namely, fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, citalopram, and escitalopram. The mechanism responsible for the precipitation of ACG by members of these 2 classes of drugs is likely a result of mydriasis caused by their adrenergic effects, weak anticholinergic activities, or the increased levels of serotonin. Conclusion: Because the SNRIs, including duloxetine, and SSRIs are commonly used in the management of depression or chronic pain, caution is warranted with the use of these drugs in patients with risk factors for ACG.
Selecting Null Distributions When Calculating rwg
Authors: Meyer Rustin D. , Mumford Troy V. , Burrus Carla J. , Campion Michael A. , James Lawrence R.
Published: April 2014

rwg is a common metric used to quantify interrater agreement in the organizational sciences. Finn developed rwg but based it on the assumption that raters’ deviations from their true perceptions are influenced by random chance only. James, Demaree, and Wolf extended Finn’s work by describing procedures to account for the additional influence of response biases. We demonstrate that organizational scientists have relied largely on Finn’s procedures, at least in part because of a lack of specific guidance regarding the conditions under which various response biases might be present. In an effort to address this gap in the literature, we introduce the concept of target-irrelevant, nonrandom forces (those aspects of the research context that are likely to lead to response biases), then describe how the familiar “5Ws and an H” framework (i.e., who, what, when, where, why, and how) can be used to identify these biases a priori. It is our hope that this system will permit those who calculate rwg to account for the effects of response biases in a manner that is simultaneously rigorous, consistent, and transparent.
Analysis of main journal vibration of internal combustion engine by systematic method considering oil film forces
Authors: Meng Fanming , Li Qiang
Published: April 2014

Influences of system parameters of the piston-crankshaft system in an internal combustion engine on the main journal vibration are investigated with the proposed systematic method considering oil film forces. In doing so, oil film forces of the lubricated piston pack and main journal were solved and then incorporated into the dynamic equations for the components in the system, through which the system parameter influences on the main journal vibration are simulated, and further verified. The numerical results show that there exists an optimal rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to keep the main journal stable. Moreover, the varied ratio of the connecting-rod length to piston diameter, unbalance mass of crankshaft, and damping coefficient of the main journal can change the main journal’s stability, and its vibration amplitude.
Laboratory test to evaluate the effect of contaminants on road skid resistance
Authors: Do MT , Cerezo V , Zahouani H
Published: April 2014

The effect of contaminants has been overlooked and yet plays a significant role in driver safety and road maintenance. A laboratory test method is developed to reproduce the deposit of contaminant particles on the road surface and measure the friction coefficient on dry and wet-contaminated surfaces. It simulates in this way the variation of skid resistance of the road surface due to contaminants during a dry period–precipitation event and the washoff effect of the rain. Protocols are described with respect to the contaminant collection on site and the subsequent preparation in the laboratory, the spreading of contaminant particles on the road specimen and their compaction to simulate the effect of the traffic, the wetting of the test surface to simulate precipitations, and the friction measurement. Values of friction coefficient on clean and dirty dry surfaces as well as during the surface wetting (simulation of precipitations) are plotted. Comparison with the literature shows that the developed test method reproduces remarkably well qualitative graphs used to highlight the loss of skid resistance with time during a rain preceded by a long dry period. The effect of contaminant concentrations and traffic is shown. Explanations are given in terms of the masking of the road surface microtexture; they are supported by visual observation of the road surface before and after the contaminant deposit.
Effect of a Home Intervention Program on Pediatric Asthma in an Environmental Justice Community
Authors: Shani Zalika , Scott Richard G. , Schofield Lynne Steuerle , Johnson John H. , Williams Ellen R. , Hampton Janiene , Ramprasad Vatsala
Published: April 2014

Asthma prevalence rates are at an all-time high in the United States with over 25 million persons diagnosed with asthma. African Americans and other minorities have higher asthma prevalence and higher exposure to environmental factors that worsen asthma as compared to Caucasians. This article describes the evaluation of an inner-city home-based asthma education and environmental remediation program that addressed both indoor and outdoor triggers through collaboration between a health system and local environmental justice organization. The program enrolled 132 children older than 2.5 years and centers on a 4- to 6-week intervention with peer counselors using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Asthma Home Environment Checklist and the You Can Control Asthma curriculum. Families receive asthma-friendly environmental home kits. Peer counselors reinforce key asthma management messages and facilitate the completion of Asthma Action Plans. The environmental justice community partner organized block cleanups to reduce outdoor triggers. The evaluation used a pretest–posttest design to assess changes in client behavior and asthma symptoms. Data were collected at baseline and during a 6-month postintervention period. Participants saw enhanced conditions on asthma severity and control. The improvement was greatest for children whose asthma was considered “severe” based on the validated Asthma Control Test. Other positive results include the following: greater completion of Asthma Action Plans, significant reduction in the number of emergency room visits ( p = .006), and substantial decreases in school absenteeism ( p = .008) and use of rescue medications ( p = .049). The evaluation suggests that the program was effective in improving asthma self-management in a high-risk population living within an environmental justice community.
Sharing a Different Voice
Authors: Douglas Kitrina , Carless David
Published: April 2014

Through three stories, we hope to reveal how sometimes contradictory or unrecognizable aspects of our lives, selves, and stories can create tensions in the collaborative writing endeavor. We begin with a story that illuminates some of the narrative tensions that surface during a decade of writing collaboratively. In an effort to navigate these tensions, we explore two further stories in dialogue as a way to reveal how dominant narratives shape our lives and the stories we might tell. One aim of sharing these stories is to reveal how problematic ways of being are often inseparable from one’s cultural legacy. Making previously obscured narratives visible paves the way for imaginary leaps that are necessary for change. We hope these insights are useful for other writers and collaborators and those who seek caring, responsive, and nurturing writing relationships yet realize this journey can be problematic.
Love, Peace, and Soooooul
Authors: Weems Mary E. , Callier Durell M. , Boylorn Robin M.
Published: April 2014

The Fire This Time (TFTT), a Black writers’ collaboration which uses multiple genres of writing as our method is grounded in what Don Cornelius used to call Love, Peace, and Soul. Love, because our love for writing and the complexities and challenges of the Black experience, coupled with a passion for connecting with other Black scholars in ways that have the potential for making a difference in the world, is at the heart of this work. Peace, because through collaborative engagement with our experiences, we are reaching a deeper spiritual understanding of ourselves leading to a greater sense of inner peace, as well as how sharing our critical reflections, poems, and stories will help others make meaning out of the importance of peace in their own lives. Soul, because our souls bear witness to what it means to Black, and alive in a racist, sexist, homophobic society, from lenses informed by our race as well as our different genders, ages, and sexual orientations. This article will share the origin of TFTT, and excerpts we will construct from the larger body of work to give the reader a sense of what happens when Black scholars write to and with each other on a monthly basis.
Telehealth-Based Therapy Connecting Rural Mandarin-Speaking Traumatized Clients With a Mandarin-Speaking Therapist
Authors: Zheng Ping , Gray Matt J.
Published: April 2014

Although empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression have been available for some time, many Mandarin-speaking Chinese immigrants who seek treatment do not receive such services due to living in rural areas. Fortunately, advances in videoconferencing-based technologies are improving rural trauma survivors’ access to remote specialty clinics. Presently, little is known about feasibility and efficacy of psychotherapy provided through distance technologies for clients unable to access local services in their native languages. The present two case studies attempt to partially address this void by providing an account of treatment implemented via videoconferencing with two Mandarin-speaking women from a small Wyoming town. Not only was therapy effective in reducing the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms for both clients, but treatment gains were also maintained for 4 months following therapy. Connecting and effectively treating two Mandarin-speaking clients using telehealth compellingly demonstrated innovations to expand services and tailor treatments.
Analysis of Brain Functional Changes in High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Authors: Ozekes Serhat , Erguzel Turker , Sayar Gokben Hizli , Tarhan Nevzat
Published: April 2014

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, and is associated with significant improvements in clinical symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD). The effect of rTMS treatment on the brain can be evaluated by cordance, a quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) method that extracts information from absolute and relative power of EEG spectra. In this study, to analyze brain functional changes, pre- and post-rTMS, QEEG data were collected from 6 frontal electrodes (Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, F7, and F8) in 2 slow bands (delta and theta) for 55 MDD subjects. To examine brain changes, cordance scores were determined, using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). High-frequency rTMS was associated with cordance decrease in left frontal and right prefrontal regions in both delta and theta for nonresponders; it was associated with cordance increase in all right and left frontal electrodes, except F8, for responders.