bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does better e-readiness induce more use of e-government? Evidence from the Korean central e-government
Authors: Park Sangin , Choi Yeon-Tae , Bok Hong-Seok
Published: December 2013

The e-readiness indexes measured by accessibility and content have typically been employed in e-government website evaluations. We present empirical evidence from four e-readiness indexes (such as accessibility, e-information, e-petition and e-participation) and the clickstream website usage data of the Korean central government units from 2003 to 2005 to evaluate whether better e-readiness induces more use of e-government websites. We find that only the e-information index was significantly correlated with website usage, and the majority of usage variations were attributable to the unit-specific effects including the nature of each unit’s public service. Our findings also indicate that the accessibility index should not be considered a key factor to evaluate e-government websites any longer, and the traditional supply-side e-government content evaluations may provide misleading information on e-government evolution.

Points for practitioners

Traditional supply-side e-government evaluations may not reflect citizens’ actual needs and use of e-government services. The e-government deployment across different units should take account of each unit’s nature of public services.
When subordinates feel supported by managers: investigating the relationships between support, trust, commitment and outcomes
Authors: Paillé Pascal , Grima François , Bernardeau Denis
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between managers and their subordinates. The framework of social exchange theory was used in order to examine whether subordinates demonstrate effort at work and remain in exchange of support by their manager. Using a sample of employees ( N = 704) working for a provincial government in Canada, the results indicate that perceived supervisor support, trust in the supervisor reduce the likelihood that a public sector employee will leave their job or procrastinate at work, through commitment to their supervisor. The results are discussed in the light of public management research.

Points for practitioners

The ability of managers to create a healthy work environment based on the capacity to recognize the efforts of their subordinates requires the professionalization of the role by providing managers with greater autonomy to manage the resources at their disposal.
Direct control of cultural events as a means of leveraging the sustainable attractiveness of the territory? Analysis of the managerial conditions for success
Authors: Soldo Edina , Arnaud Charlène , Keramidas Olivier
Published: December 2013

One of the problems inherent to management within today’s devolved public authorities is the far-reaching change in their modes of action ( Divay and Mazouz, 2008 ). We observe in particular an ever-greater integration of cultural policies and actions in their strategies, prompted by the territories’ desire to secure their sustainable attractiveness. To achieve this strategic objective, an increasing number of territories are opting for the organization of events, particularly cultural, that are considered to be medium-term goals. This ambition to become a festive city boasting a rich programme of events marks a change in territorial management that is moving more and more towards project management and at the same time raises questions about the definition of the strategy around the event and its implementation within the organization and within the territory. The case of the ‘Picasso-Aix 2009’ season makes it possible here, through a unique and exemplary case study, to consider the managerial conditions that make it possible to maximize the potential of the cultural event as a means of leveraging the sustainable attractiveness of the territory.

Points for practitioners

This research highlights the risks of an ‘eventization’ of culture and territories and raises questions about the methods used to manage a cultural event at the intercommunal level (elements relating to the territorial strategy) that is produced under the direct control of the intercommunal departments (elements relating to internal management methods). More than a monograph to shed light on the issue, this article proposes a toolkit of generic key success factors on which practitioners can draw to build their portfolio of cultural events at territorial level and touches on strategic development as well as project management and stakeholders.
Auditing defence procurement contracts in the European context: an inter-country analysis
Authors: Aguado-Romero José , López-Hernández Antonio Manuel , Vera-Ríos Simón
Published: December 2013

The contract audit is an instrument facilitating the evaluation of prices offered and costs incurred in non-competitive defence contracts. In this study we analyse the degree of harmonization of contract auditing models among four European countries by means of a comparative analysis of the characteristics of contract auditing in these countries. We identify similarities and differences among the contract auditing models applied in these countries, and conclude that they do not present a high degree of harmonization of defence contract cost evaluation.

Points for practitioners

This comparative study highlights the similarities and differences among the audit models for defence contracts in four European countries (the UK, France, Spain and Norway). The authors present the main characteristics of each model and systematize the features inherent to a possible common model that could be achieved by harmonizing audit practices and the rules applicable to the corresponding cost calculations. Finally, the authors recommend further progress be made in harmonizing the audit practices applied in NATO countries for defence contracts.
The gap between theory and practice in social work
Authors: Al-Ma’seb Hend , Alkhurinej Anwar , Alduwaihi Mohammed
Published: December 2013

The gap between theory and practice in social work has been the subject of considerable debate over recent years. This study aims at exploring the reasons for the gap between theory and practice in Kuwait, and the most significant reason for this gap. A convenient sample of 342 participated from different institutions. The results showed that the major reasons for the gap were job challenges and requirements, followed by curriculum, job description, and self-development. Results also showed significant differences between gender, type of university, major of the participants, and the institutions in which the participants work.
The complex relationship with health: Rural and urban ‘poor’ women
Authors: Singh Shweta , Zhou Ru , Li Xiong , Tong Liping
Published: December 2013

Health and wealth are important to international social work discussions. This article examines the relationship between wealth indexes and the outcome of diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and BMI irregularities. It examines a construct of virtual neighborhoods in urban and rural populations of women. The data are drawn from the NFHS-3 (2007) and applies a hierarchical logistic regression analysis. It is found that women in mid-level neighborhoods in rural areas and poor neighborhoods in urban areas are most at-risk for negative health outcomes. Thus, women’s health outcomes and processes appear to be complicated due to poverty and neighborhood interaction.
Creative Problem-Solving Process Styles, Cognitive Work Demands, and Organizational Adaptability
Authors: Basadur Min , Gelade Garry , Basadur Tim
Published: December 2013

In this theoretical article, organizational adaptability is modeled as a four-stage creative problem-solving process, with each stage involving a different kind of cognitive activity. Individuals have different preferences for each stage and thus are said to have different creative problem-solving process “styles.” The Creative Problem Solving Profile (CPSP) assesses these styles and maps onto and interconnects directly with the four stages of this creative problem-solving process. Field research ( n = 6,091) is presented in which the psychometric properties of the CPSP are established and the distribution of styles in different occupations and at different organizational levels are examined. A concrete blueprint is provided for organizational leaders to follow to (a) increase organizational adaptability, (b) simplify and facilitate change management, and (c) address important organizational effectiveness issues at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Real-world application examples are shared and future research opportunities to expand the CPSP’s usefulness are suggested.
Parallel Organization
Authors: Hawk Thomas F. , Zand Dale E.
Published: December 2013

A parallel organization improves problem solving and decision making by liberating creative, rigorous inquiry blocked or unavailable in the formal organization. This article reports a study of a parallel organization unusual for its structure, size, and duration. Its outputs significantly affected a wide range of organizational policies in manufacturing, strategic planning, and human resources. Its structure, staffing, and process improved organizational practices, relationships, learning, and communication. The case provides a valuable extension and contrast to other cases and enlightens views of theory and practice.
Novel Fluoro-carbon Functional Monomer for Dental Bonding
Authors: Yoshihara K. , Yoshida Y. , Hayakawa S. , Nagaoka N. , Kamenoue S. , Okihara T. , Ogawa T. , Nakamura M. , Osaka A. , Van Meerbeek B.
Published: December 2013

Among several functional monomers, 10-methacryloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) bonded most effectively to hydroxyapatite (HAp). However, more hydrolysis-resistant functional monomers are needed to improve bond durability. Here, we investigated the adhesive potential of the novel fluoro-carbon functional monomer 6-methacryloxy-2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluorohexyl dihydrogen phosphate (MF8P; Kuraray Noritake Dental Inc., Tokyo, Japan) by studying its molecular interaction with powder HAp using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (1H MAS NMR) and with dentin using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and by characterizing its interface ultrastructure at dentin using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We further determined the dissolution rate of the MF8P_Ca salt, the hydrophobicity of MF8P, and the bond strength of an experimental MF8P-based adhesive to dentin. NMR confirmed chemical adsorption of MF8P onto HAp. XRD and TEM revealed MF8P_Ca salt formation and nano-layering at dentin. The MF8P_Ca salt was as stable as that of 10-MDP; MF8P was as hydrophobic as 10-MDP; a significantly higher bond strength was recorded for MF8P than for 10-MDP. In conclusion, MF8P chemically bonded to HAp. Despite its shorter size, MF8P possesses characteristics similar to those of 10-MDP, most likely to be associated with the strong chemical bond between fluorine and carbon. Since favorable bond strength to dentin was recorded, MF8P can be considered a good candidate functional monomer for bonding.
Morphological Awareness and Vocabulary Development Among Kindergarteners With Different Ability Levels
Authors: Ramirez Gloria , Walton Patrick , Roberts William
Published: December 2013

Our goal was to investigate the growth of vocabulary and morphological awareness over time in the context of an intervention for kindergartners with different ability levels in these skills. Participants in this exploratory study were 108 children from schools serving socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Results indicated that children significantly improved their morphological awareness skills and vocabulary over a period of 4 months ([Formula: see text] = .61 for morphological awareness and [Formula: see text] = .53 for vocabulary), with the greatest gains made by children who were initially low on these measures. Morphological awareness and vocabulary skills were reciprocally related; each made a unique contribution to growth in the other. The results suggest that it may be beneficial to combine instruction in vocabulary and morphological awareness and that kindergarten teachers can successfully do so with guidance.
Integrated Arts Teaching
Authors: Overland Corin T.
Published: December 2013

Classroom and arts educators frequently collaborate in the pursuit of common educational goals. Examples of sophisticated interdisciplinary teaching can be found in nearly every classroom, as when teachers use music to provide context for social movements, dancers to demonstrate various types of movement, or paintings to illustrate proportion. Tangible benefits produced by collaborative teaching with the arts have recently come to light, demonstrated through research and pilot programs. While there are many examples of collaborative educational models, integrated arts programs differ from other contemporary instructional models in that they receive explicit endorsement from the federal government. The May 2011 President’s Council on the Arts and Humanities report recommended that the field of integrated arts be expanded, more fully funded, and more deeply incorporated into curricula, research, and professional development. This article summarizes some recent research, offers examples of implementation, presents a review of the federal government’s role in promoting integrated arts, and provides suggestions incorporating integrated arts techniques in the classroom.
Promoting Metacognition in Music Classes
Authors: Benton Carol W.
Published: December 2013

Metacognition is a type of thinking in which learners think about their own cognitive processes. Because it transcends disciplines and grade levels, metacognition is useful in many educational settings and can be transferred from the music classroom to other subject areas. Music educators can promote metacognition by designing and implementing instructional strategies that encourage music students to engage in reflection, self-assessment, and think-aloud sessions. This article offers several instructional strategies for promoting metacognition and suggestions for reflective writing prompts and self-assessment rubrics. Also included are instructions and questions for think-aloud sessions with learning partners in music classes. Desired results of promoting metacognition among students include increased self-reliance and independent learning.
Creative Thinking in Music
Authors: Menard Elizabeth
Published: December 2013

Creativity can be experienced in many roles of musicianship: performing, improvising, and composing. Yet, activities that encourage creative thought in our music classrooms can be a challenge to implement. A strong music education curriculum for middle school general music is important; as this may be the last time we reach students who do not participate in band, orchestra, or choir. This article provides information on the development of a middle school general music curriculum model where creative thinking in music through music composition activities is the focus of instruction. Students with limited experience in music were given opportunities to explore and express musical ideas in their compositions. Music fundamentals were introduced following the composition experience. The composition experiences provided fertile ground for creative thinking in music, and students in the program were highly engaged in the music-learning process. The Webster Model of Creative Thinking in Music is examined to discover the keys to success in this model.
Three Local Arirang Songs as Models for Teaching Korean Music in the Classroom
Authors: Park Young Joo
Published: December 2013

This article provides guidance for music teachers who want to introduce Korean folk music to their students. It introduces Arirang—both a specific folk song and a category—and describes three different versions: the “Miryang Arirang,” the “Jindo Arirang,” and the “Gyeonggi Arirang.” The “Arirang” tune appears in many social contexts that can be shared with students; these examples show how well known the form has become worldwide. In addition, Arirang songs have rhythms and lyrics that lend themselves to being taught through a rich variety of listening and performing activities; they can also provide opportunities for student composition and improvisation. The article includes suggestions for presenting “Arirang” in the music classroom.
Tetanus is still a deadly disease: a report of six tetanus cases and reminder of our knowledge
Authors: Aksoy Mehmet , Celık Erkan Cem , Ahıskalıoglu Alı , Karakaya Muhammet Ahmet
Published: December 2013

We analysed the data in the medical records of six patients admitted for tetanus in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the anaesthesia department in the Medical Faculty of Ataturk University from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012. All patients received the generalized form of treatment for tetanus in the ICU. The average age of the patients was 65.33 ± 13.45 years. Treatment modalities were administered to the patients in accordance with the literature. Four patients died despite all therapeutic interventions and two patients were discharged uneventfully. All those who died had chronic disease and infected wounds on their head, but only one patient had an infected wound on his leg. The surviving patients had no chronic illnesses but did have injuries on their legs. The presence of chronic disease increases tetanus-related mortality. More information about the disease must be made available in order to make it preventable with regular vaccinations.
Is a Profile Worth a Thousand Words? How Online Support-Seeker’s Profile Features May Influence the Quality of Received Support Messages
Authors: Feng Bo , Li Siyue , Li Na
Published: December 2013

Although there is an increasing amount of research on support-seeking in cyberspace, very little is known about what features of online support-seeking can enhance the quality of received support. The present experiment examined how support-seekers’ use of cues to personal identity in their user profile can influence the level of person-centeredness and politeness in others’ responses to their support-seeking postings. Results showed that support-seekers whose user profile contained a portrait picture and a first name ID tended to receive higher person-centered and more polite support messages than support-seekers whose user profile did not contain those cues to personal identity.
The All-volunteer Force and Crime
Authors: Craig Jessica M. , Connell Nadine M.
Published: December 2013

Sampson and Laub’s age-graded theory of informal social control posits that social bonds created through marriage, military, and employment lead to a decrease of criminal behavior or desistance. Most research has focused primarily on the roles of marriage and employment in this process, ignoring the impact of military service on future offending behavior. However, recent US military involvement in the Middle East suggests that the effects of military experience on individuals should be reevaluated. Using data collected from a more recent sample of military-involved individuals, all of whom served in the All-volunteer Force, this study examines how participation in the military impacts offending and potential desistance. The results demonstrate that, overall, modern-day military involvement does not have the same protective effect on future offending as observed in World War II samples. Racial subgroup analyses, however, suggest that military involvement leads to a greater likelihood of desistance for minority service members.
Effects of Noncontingent Social Interaction on Immediate and Subsequent Engagement in Vocal and Motor Stereotypy in Children With Autism
Authors: Enloe Kimberley A. , Rapp John T.
Published: December 2013

This study evaluated the effects of noncontingent social interaction (SI) on immediate and subsequent engagement in vocal and motor stereotypy in three children with autism. During SI, a therapist delivered continuous interaction in the form of reading aloud from a Kindle™ e-reader. Results showed that when compared with a no-interaction baseline sequence, SI decreased immediate engagement vocal stereotypy for all three participants without increasing subsequent engagement for any participant. Furthermore, SI also increased immediate engagement in motor stereotypy for one participant, decreased immediate engagement in motor stereotypy for two participants, but did not increase subsequent engagement in motor stereotypy for any participant. Some clinical implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.
Social possible selves, self-regulation, and social goal progress in older adulthood
Authors: Ko Han-Jung , Mejía Shannon , Hooker Karen
Published: December 2013

Lifespan development involves setting and pursuing self-guided goals. This study examines how in the social domain, possible selves, a future-oriented self-concept, and self-regulation, including self-regulatory beliefs and intraindividual variability in self-regulatory behavior, relate to differences in overall daily social goal progress. An online older-adult sample worked towards a self-defined meaningful social goal over 100 days. Multilevel analysis showed that participants with social possible selves made higher overall daily goal progress, especially those with both hoped-for and feared possible selves, than those with possible selves in nonsocial domains. Self-regulatory beliefs were positively whereas variability was negatively associated with overall daily goal progress. The findings suggest that possible selves, in combination with two distinct self-regulatory constructs, significantly guide social goal progress.
Emotion understanding and reconciliation in overt and relational conflict scenarios among preschoolers
Authors: Liao Zongqing , Li Yan , Su Yanjie
Published: December 2013

This study examined emotion understanding and reconciliation in 47 (24 girls) 4–6-year-old preschool children. Participants first completed emotion recognition tasks and then answered questions regarding reconciliation tendencies and affective perspective-taking in a series of overt and relational aggressive conflict scenarios. Children’s teachers reported their overt aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behaviors in daily life. The results indicated that children’s emotion recognition ability was associated with their reconciliation tendency in both types of conflict scenarios. Furthermore, children’s affective perspective-taking in conflicts was associated with their reconciliation tendencies in the overt aggression conflict scenarios, but not in the relational aggression conflict scenarios. Additionally, we found that children’s affective perspective-taking in overt aggression conflict scenarios was associated with their daily prosocial behaviors. The results suggest that the ability of detecting and recognizing others’ emotions may facilitate conflict reconciliation and positive peer interactions.
Grateful and Sanctified
Authors: Brelsford Gina M. , Righi Sarah E.
Published: December 2013

This study tested links between gratitude and sanctification of the current parent–child relationship for 452 college students and 194 of their parents. Intrapersonal religiousness and spirituality have clear links to gratitude, but there is a dearth of studies that explore sanctification of the family context in relation to gratitude. The cognitive process of sanctifying a family relationship that hinges on perceiving the parent–child relationship as having significant spiritual qualities may have important implications for gratitude. Thus, sanctifying a family relationship may be a contributor to gratitude. To test this assumption, an incremental validity model was employed. Hierarchical regression analyses predicting college students’ and parents’ gratitude were conducted, but only parents’ reports of parent–child relationship sanctification through manifestation of God was significant after controlling for gender, parents’ general religiousness/spirituality, and parent–child relationship quality. A discussion ensues focused on relational spirituality and gratitude in a family context.
Understanding Addiction
Authors: Järvinen Margaretha
Published: December 2013

Based on qualitative interviews with adult children of alcoholics, this article analyzes three different ways of conceptualizing drinking problems: alcoholism as disease, alcoholism as volitional behavior, and alcoholism as a socially conditioned phenomenon. The interviewees (13 women, 12 men, average age 39 years) were recruited among employees at a large workplace who in a preceding survey had classified their parents as having “alcohol problems.” The analysis reveals a pattern in which adult children’s understandings of their parents’ drinking problems, in essence the ways they think alcoholism should be explained, are associated with the ways they describe their relationship to their parents and the hardships of their childhood. The article suggests that differences in childhood experiences may lead to different ways of understanding the phenomenon of alcoholism, just like differences in understandings of alcoholism may affect recollections of childhood experiences.
Computed Tomography Scans as an Objective Measure of Disease Severity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Likness Micah M. , Pallanch John F. , Sherris David A. , Kita Hirohito , Mashtare Terry L. , Ponikau Jens U.
Published: December 2013

Objectives

A truly objective method of measuring disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has only recently existed. We evaluated computed tomography (CT) scans of CRS patients using this novel objective 3D computerized system and compared results with a novel 2D computerized analysis of a single coronal slice through the osteomeatal complex (OMC) and subjective methods including Lund‐Mackay and Zinreich's modified Lund‐Mackay.

Study Design

Prospective multicenter study.

Setting

Two academic tertiary referral centers.

Subjects and Methods

Forty‐six adults with a diagnosis of CRS underwent CT examination and received an intramuscular triamcinolone injection, dosage weight dependent, followed by CT scan 4 to 5 weeks later. Recruitment lasted 21 months. Scans were evaluated with all 4 scoring methods over 5 months.

Results

The Lin's concordance class correlation (CCC) of the OMC method revealed the best correlation to the 3D volumetric computerized values (0.915), followed by the Zinreich (0.904) and Lund‐Mackay methods (0.824). Posttreatment results demonstrated that both the OMC (0.824) and Zinreich's (0.778) methods had strong agreement with the 3D volumetric methods and were very sensitive to change, whereas the Lund‐Mackay (0.545) had only moderate agreement.

Conclusion

Computerized CT analysis provides the most comprehensive, objective, and reproducible method of measuring disease severity and is very sensitive to change induced by treatment intervention. A 2D coronal image through the OMC provides a valid, user‐friendly method of assessing CRS and is representative of CRS severity in all sinuses. Zinreich's subjective method correlated well overall, but the Lund‐Mackay method lagged behind in disease representation and sensitivity to change.
Aspirations and contradictions
Authors: Nassimbeni Mary , Shabangu Joy
Published: December 2013

This paper presents findings from a study conducted in Swaziland on the role of the public library in the provision of HIV and AIDS information. Its findings resonate with the findings of other studies carried out in a number of public libraries in African countries, viz. the disappointingly low visibility of the efforts to intervene, and the failure of the librarians to leverage greater impact through partnerships with related agencies. It suggests that public libraries need to change their behaviour in order to resolve the disparity between espoused positions and actual impact. The paper concludes by giving an account of how an information centre was established in a rural area in response to the findings of the investigation which pointed out the disadvantages experienced by rural people as a result of the inefficacy of the information flows between the centre and the margins.
Can Streamlined Multicriteria Decision Analysis Be Used to Implement Shared Decision Making for Colorectal Cancer Screening?
Authors: Dolan James G. , Boohaker Emily , Allison Jeroan , Imperiale Thomas F.
Published: December 2013

Background. Current US colorectal cancer screening guidelines that call for shared decision making regarding the choice among several recommended screening options are difficult to implement. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is an established method well suited for supporting shared decision making. Our study goal was to determine whether a streamlined form of MCDA using rank-order–based judgments can accurately assess patients’ colorectal cancer screening priorities. Methods. We converted priorities for 4 decision criteria and 3 subcriteria regarding colorectal cancer screening obtained from 484 average-risk patients using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a prior study into rank-order–based priorities using rank order centroids. We compared the 2 sets of priorities using Spearman rank correlation and nonparametric Bland–Altman limits of agreement analysis. We assessed the differential impact of using the rank-order–based versus the AHP-based priorities on the results of a full MCDA comparing 3 currently recommended colorectal cancer screening strategies. Generalizability of the results was assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. Results. Correlations between the 2 sets of priorities for the 7 criteria ranged from 0.55 to 0.92. The proportions of differences between rank-order–based and AHP-based priorities that were more than ±0.15 ranged from 1% to 16%. Differences in the full MCDA results were minimal, and the relative rankings of the 3 screening options were identical more than 88% of the time. The Monte Carlo simulation results were similar. Conclusions. Rank-order–based MCDA could be a simple, practical way to guide individual decisions and assess population decision priorities regarding colorectal cancer screening strategies. Additional research is warranted to further explore the use of these methods for promoting shared decision making.
The Career Transition Process
Authors: Kim Seon-Joo
Published: December 2013

Today’s society, shaped by demographic changes and a global economy, has created different employment trends and work lives that result in adults’ engaging in postretirement second careers. This phenomenon is a common occurrence in rapidly aging societies like Korea. This qualitative study examined the postretirement career transition process of Korean middle-aged adults. In-depth interviews were held with nine individuals ranging from 48 to 65 years identified as postretirement workers following voluntary retirement from private and public sectors. Data analysis revealed four phases in the career transition process: experiencing disequilibrium in a previous career, reflecting on self and context, making new professional connections and changes, and committing to new careers. The career transition was also a process involving different modes of learning, leading to the conclusion that the career transition process is essentially a learning process in which individuals acquire new perspectives and meaning in a new role.
Infantile Onset Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2 (SCA2)
Authors: Singh Ankur , Faruq Mohammed , Mukerji Mitali , Dwivedi Manish Kumar , Pruthi Sumit , Kapoor Seema
Published: December 2013

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I is a heterogenous group of spinocerebellar ataxias with variable neurologic presentations, with age of onset varying from infancy to adulthood. Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I is composed mainly of 3 prevalent spinocerebellar ataxia types with different pathogenic loci, specifically spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (6p24-p23), spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (12q24.1), and spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (14q32.1). The shared pathogenic mutational event is the expansion of the CAG repeat that results in polyglutamine extended stretches in the encoded proteins. CAG repeat disorders generally show the phenomenon of anticipation, which is more often associated with paternal transmission. In this report, we describe a patient with infantile-onset spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (∼320 CAG repeat) who inherited the disease from his father (47 CAG repeats). We have summarized the clinical, neuroimaging, electroencephalographic (EEG), and molecular data of previous cases and attempt to highlight the most consistent findings. Our intent is to help treating clinicians to suspect this disorder and to offer timely genetic counseling for a currently potentially untreatable disorder.
Why New Cities Form
Authors: Rice Kathryn T. , Waldner Leora S. , Smith Russell M.
Published: December 2013

Municipal incorporation can have profound impacts on the urban and political geography of the regions in which they incorporate. These impacts and declines in the rate of municipal formation lead to the question of why municipalities incorporate. The authors synthesize an overview and analysis of the historical literature with a media literature review to construct a comprehensive classification system of theories that explain municipal incorporations. Twelve new micromotives such as eligibility for government grants and economic development are identified. Moreover, the review surprisingly reveals that spatial motives, in contrast to service motives, play the largest role in new municipal incorporations.
Democracy between Ethnos and Demos
Authors: Duvold Kjetil , Berglund Sten
Published: December 2013

Much of the political science literature suggests that a cohesive political community is advantageous—if not a precondition—for a stable democracy. Forging a cohesive community is obviously a more complex matter in a multi-ethnic setting. This article will consider the prospects of building political communities in the Baltic countries—three countries that, to various extents, struggle to balance ethnic pluralism, nation building, and democracy. The article examines the relationship between political community and democracy from a theoretical perspective, followed by an outline of the nation-building strategies taken by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania after re-establishing independence in the early 1990s. Drawing on survey data, we use territorial attachment to tap the sense of political community in the three countries. Notably, our figures disclose that most of the Russian-speaking minorities in Estonia and Latvia identify themselves as “Russians,” and not at all with the country they reside in. This suggests that the contested issue of citizenship rights in the two countries has not been particularly conducive for creating cohesive political communities. We then move to the political regime and set out to examine the character of regime support in the three countries. Can we envisage solid support for democracy and its institutions in the absence of a cohesive political community? As it appears, regime support is not contingent on territorial identity. Our data disclose that many Baltic inhabitants draw a clear distinction between their own experiences with different political systems and what they perceive as relevant regime options today.
Managing global engineering networks part I: Theoretical foundations and the unique nature of engineering
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Gregory Mike , Shi Yongjiang
Published: December 2013

Network concepts have been widely reported in the current literature on international engineering operations. However, a systematic view of the unique nature of engineering is missing, and its implications for the design and operations of global engineering networks are poorly understood. This article has been written to address the above-mentioned knowledge gaps by understanding how global leading companies effectively cope with the unique nature of engineering in their network operations. A theory-building approach based on the case study methods was adopted considering the contemporary nature of this study and the complexity of the research object. The first part of this article establishes a theoretical foundation for global engineering networks through discussing the intrinsic requirements of engineering operations, understanding the influence of the external business environments, and reviewing the relevant engineering network theories and practices. A preliminary framework was developed to bring together the key issues and suggest focusing areas of investigation in the case studies.
An investigation on effects of wire electrical discharge machining parameters on surface roughness of newly developed hybrid metal matrix composite
Authors: Lal Shyam , Kumar Sudhir , Khan ZA , Siddiquee AN
Published: December 2013

This article investigated the effect of wire electrical discharge machining process parameters such as pulse on time, pulse off time, pulse current and the wire drum speed on the surface roughness of machined hybrid metal matrix composite. The hybrid composite was prepared by inert gas–assisted electromagnetic stir casting process using 15 wt% Al2O3/SiC particulates (7.5% each) in metal matrix Al-7075 alloy. Taguchi method was used for parameter optimization, and the level of importance was determined using analysis of variance. The MINITAB15 software was used in the analysis. The results show that pulse on time, pulse current and pulse off time were significant parameters, whereas the wire drum speed had insignificant effect. In confirmation test, the average experimental value of surface roughness was within an error of 3.46% of the predicted value at the optimum level of process parameters.
Design and fabrication of a three-dimensional microfluidic device for blood separation using micro-injection moulding
Authors: Attia Usama M , Marson Silvia , Alcock Jeffrey R
Published: December 2013

Micro-manufacturing is a fast developing area due to the increasing demand for components and systems of high precision and small dimensions. A number of challenges are yet to be overcome before the full potential of such techniques is realised. Examples of such challenges include limitations in component geometry, material selection and suitability for mass production. Some micro-manufacturing techniques are still at early development stages, while other techniques are at higher stage of manufacturing readiness level but require adaptation in part design or manufacturing procedure to overcome such limitations. This article presents a case study, where the design of a micro-scale, biomedical device is adapted for functionality and manufacturability by a high-volume micro-fabrication technique. Investigations are described towards a disposable three-dimensional, polymer-based device for the separation of blood cells and plasma. The importance of attempting a three-dimensional device design and fabrication route was to take advantage of the high-throughput per unit volume that such systems can, in principle, allow. The importance of a micro-moulding fabrication route was to allow such blood-containing devices to be cheaply manufactured for disposability. Initial device tests showed separation efficiency up to approximately 80% with diluted blood samples. The produced prototype indicated that the process flow was suitable for high-volume fabrication of three-dimensional microfluidics.
Effect of tool wear in ultrasonic vibration-assisted micro-milling
Authors: Li Kuan-Ming , Wang Shang-Lan
Published: December 2013

This article presents an experimental study on how tool wear affects tool life, surface roughness, and burr formation in ultrasonic vibration-assisted micro-milling. Small amplitude of vibration (2 µm) is applied to the micro-tools to evaluate the cutting performance influenced by tool flank wear as the cutting lengths increase. Compared to conventional milling, lower tool wear and better surface quality are recorded when cutting speed is much less than the maximum vibration speed. It is found that the use of minimum quantity lubrication in ultrasonic vibration-assisted micro-milling can further improve cutting performance due to reduction in tool wear.
On the syntax-centric theories of human creativity
Authors: Brattico Pauli
Published: December 2013

This article criticizes recent attempts to explain creative thought as an off-shoot of syntactic mechanisms, such as recursion in language, and proposes an alternative. It agrees with the syntax-centric hypothesis on two fronts. First, it is claimed that a supramodal notion of creative thought, or what paleoarcheologists call human innovativeness, emerged in the human evolution in a sudden quantum transformation that occurred between 200,000–50,000 years ago. Second, it is argued that human innovativeness is linked with certain formal linguistic computations. Where it perceives weakness is in the claim that formal recursion by itself could transform a finite mind into an infinite one. A new hypothesis is proposed, according to which recursive symbol manipulation provides a controlled, volitional access to a more primitive, pre-existing creative non-discursive thought potential by means of non-veridical “wild” triggering.
Detection and neutralization of cobra venom using rabbit antiserum in experimental envenomated mice
Authors: Venkatesan C , Sarathi M , Balasubramanian G , Saravanan A , Vimal S , Madan N , Majeed S Abdul , Raj N Sundar , Hameed AS Sahul , babu V Sarath
Published: December 2013

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect the venom of Indian cobra ( Naja naja naja) in various tissues (brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, blood, kidneys, and tissue at the site of injection) of mice after cobra venom injected at different time intervals (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h intervals up to 24 h). Whole venom antiserum or individual venom protein antiserum (14, 29, 65, 72, and 99 kDa) could recognize N. n. naja venom by Western blotting and ELISA, and antibody titer was also assayed by ELISA. Antiserum raised against cobra venom in rabbit significantly neutralized the toxicity of venom-injected mice at different time intervals after treatment. The assay could detect N. n. naja venom levels up to 2.5 ng/ml of tissue homogenate, and the venom was detected up to 24 h after venom injection. Venom was detected in brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, tissue at the bite area, and blood. As observed in mice, tissue at the site of bite area showed the highest concentration of venom and the brain showed the least. Moderate amounts of venoms were found in liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Development of a simple, rapid, and species-specific diagnostic kit based on this ELISA technique useful to clinicians is discussed.
Female gender as a susceptibility factor for drug-induced liver injury
Authors: Amacher David E
Published: December 2013

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can involve all tissues and organs, but liver injuries are considered among the most serious. A number of prospective, multicenter studies have confirmed a higher risk of ADRs in general among female subjects compared to a male cohort. Although drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is infrequently encountered, the preponderance of evidence suggests that women appear to be more susceptible than men to fulminate hepatic/acute liver failure especially in response to some anti-infective drugs and to autoimmune-like hepatitis following exposure to certain other therapeutic drugs. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain this sex difference in susceptibility to DILI. Collectively, these hypotheses suggest three basic sex-dependent mechanisms that include differences in various aspects of drug pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics following the administration of certain drugs; specific hormonal effects or interactions with immunomodulating agents or signaling molecules; and differences in the adverse response of the immune system to some drugs, reactive drug metabolites, or drug-protein adducts. At the preclinical drug safety stage, there is a need for more research on hormonal effects on drug PK and for additional research on gender differences in aberrant immune responses that may lead to idiosyncratic DILI in some female patients. Because the detection of rare but serious hepatic ADRs requires the exposure of very large patient populations, pharmacovigilance networks will continue to play a key role in the postmarketing surveillance for their detection and reporting.
Inside the Mindful Mind
Authors: Teper Rimma , Segal Zindel V. , Inzlicht Michael
Published: December 2013

Although the psychological benefits of mindfulness training on emotion regulation are well-documented, the precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In the present account, we propose a new linkage between mindfulness and improved emotion regulation—one that highlights the role played by executive control. Specifically, we suggest that the present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance that is cultivated by mindfulness training is crucial in promoting executive control because it increases sensitivity to affective cues in the experiential field. This refined attunement and openness to subtle changes in affective states fosters executive control because it improves response to incipient affective cues that help signal the need for control. This, in turn, enhances emotion regulation. In presenting our model, we discuss how new findings in executive control can improve our understanding of how mindfulness increases the capacity for effective emotion regulation.
Multiple-Choice Questioning Is an Efficient Instructional Methodology That May Be Widely Implemented in Academic Courses to Improve Exam Performance
Authors: Glass Arnold L. , Sinha Neha
Published: December 2013

Distributed multiple-choice questioning during instruction improves exam performance in middle-school and college classes. Instructional multiple-choice questioning is effective whether done in class or online and improves performance on short-answer and free-recall exam questions as well as multiple-choice questions. It may improve performance on exam questions about facts not previously queried.
Emotional Experience Across Adulthood
Authors: Charles Susan T. , Luong Gloria
Published: December 2013

Strength and vulnerability integration (SAVI) is a theoretical model that predicts changes in emotional experience across adulthood. A growing number of studies find that as people age, they become more adept at using thoughts and behaviors to avoid or mitigate exposure to negative experiences. People gradually acquire this expertise over a lifetime of experiences and are more motivated to regulate their emotions because of perceptions of time left to live. SAVI further posits that aging is associated with physiological vulnerabilities that make regulating high levels of emotional arousal more difficult. In situations in which people experience high levels of distress, age differences that normally favor older adults in the use of emotion-regulation strategies will be attenuated (and may even be nullified or reversed), and the physiological consequences of sustained emotional arousal will be more costly for older adults. In this article, we describe SAVI and discuss recent studies supporting its predictions.