bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are mastery and ability goals both adaptive? Evaluation, initial goal construction and the quality of task engagement
Authors: Butler Ruth
Published: August 2006

Aims. The aims of this research were to examine the predictions that (a) the kind of evaluation pupils anticipate will influence their initial achievement goals and, as a result, the quality and consequences of task engagement; and (b) initial mastery goals will promote new learning and intrinsic motivation and initial ability goals will promote entity beliefs that ability is fixed.

Sample. Participants were 312 secondary school pupils at ages 13–15.

Methods. Pupils expected to receive normative evaluation, temporal evaluation (scores over time) or no evaluation. Mastery and ability goals were measured before pupils worked on challenging problems; intrinsic motivation and entity beliefs were measured after task completion.

Results. Anticipation of temporal evaluation enhanced initial mastery goals, anticipation of normative evaluation enhanced ability goals and the no‐evaluation condition undermined both. Anticipation of temporal evaluation enhanced new learning (strategy acquisition and performance gains) and intrinsic motivation both directly and by enhancing initial mastery goals; anticipation of normative evaluation enhanced entity beliefs by enhancing ability goals.

Conclusions. Results confirmed that evaluation conveys potent cues as to the goals of activity. They also challenged claims that both mastery and ability goals can be adaptive by demonstrating that these were differentially associated with positive versus negative processes and outcomes. Results have theoretical and applied implications for understanding and improving evaluative practices and student motivation.
Influences on cognitive engagement: Epistemological beliefs and need for closure
Authors: DeBacker Teresa K. , Crowson H. Michael
Published: August 2006

Background. Research indicates that achievement goals influence cognitive engagement, which, in turn, influences academic achievement. We believe that there are other individual difference variables in the realm of personal epistemology that may also directly or indirectly influence cognitive engagement; specifically, epistemological beliefs and epistemological motives (e.g. need for closure).

Aims. This study proposed and tested a conceptual model of relationships among epistemological variables (epistemological beliefs and need for closure), achievement goals (mastery, performance‐approach, performance‐avoidance) and cognitive engagement.

Sample. Two hundred and fifty‐nine students attending university in the US volunteered to participate in the study. Students represented a variety of academic disciplines and ranged from 18 to 58 years.

Methods. The participants completed three paper‐and‐pencil surveys: the Epistemological Beliefs Inventory; the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Experiences Inventory (a measure of need for closure); and the Approaches to Learning Survey (a measure of achievement goals and cognitive engagement).

Results. Structural equation modelling supported the model in general, although not all proposed paths were significant. Correlational analyses further indicated that epistemological beliefs and need for closure are both potentially important variables for understanding learners' treatment of knowledge in instructional settings.

Conclusions. There are individual differences in epistemological beliefs and motives that may influence the goals students pursue in learning settings and the nature of their cognitive engagement.
Expecting the best for students: Teacher expectations and academic outcomes
Authors: Rubie‐Davies Christine , Hattie John , Hamilton Richard
Published: August 2006

Background. Research into teacher expectations has shown that these have an effect on student achievement. Some researchers have explored the impact of various student characteristics on teachers' expectations. One attribute of interest is ethnicity.

Aims. This study aimed to explore differences in teachers' expectations and judgments of student reading performance for Maori, Pacific Island, Asian and New Zealand European students. A further objective was to compare teacher expectations and judgments with actual student achievement.

Sample. The participants were 540 students of 21 primary teachers in Auckland schools. Of these students, 261 were New Zealand European, 88 were Maori, 97 were Pacific Island and 94 were Asian.

Methods. At the beginning of the year, the teachers completed a survey related to their expectations for their students' achievement in reading and, at the end of the year, they judged the reading levels their students had actually achieved. The survey data were compared with running record data.

Results. Teachers' expectations for students in reading were significantly higher than actual achievement for all ethnic groups other than Maori. Maori students' achievement was similar to that of the other groups at the beginning of the year but, by the end of the year, they had made the least gains of all groups.

Conclusions. Sustaining expectation effects are one explanation for Maori students' limited progress. For Pacific Island, Asian and New Zealand European students, positive self‐fulfilling prophecies may be operating. Future research could investigate the learning opportunities provided to these ethnic groups and the relationship of these to teachers' expectations.
Effects of cueing and collaboration on the acquisition of complex legal skills
Authors: Hummel Hans G. K. , Paas Fred , Koper Rob
Published: August 2006

Background. To overcome the teacher bandwidth problem in supporting large groups of students, both automated process support (cueing) and face‐to‐face feedback by peers during small group work (collaboration) can be provided to students.

Aim. The purpose of this experimental study was to examine whether a multimedia practical containing cueing could be effectively combined with peer feedback to support the acquisition of the complex skill of preparing a plea in court.

Sample. In the context of a regular court practical, 50 junior law students at a Dutch university individually studied a multimedia practical and participated in small group discussions about intermediate learning outcomes of the practical.

Method. The study examined the effects of cueing and collaboration on training outcomes and transfer pleas, and on cognitive activity during collaboration, by combining the multimedia practical and small group collaboration to support the complex task of preparing a plea in court.

Results. Both cueing and collaboration positively influence training outcomes, with participants without cueing benefiting most from additional collaboration. Transfer plea scores reveal a positive effect of collaboration but a negative effect of cueing. Analysis of discussions during small group collaboration reveals a negative effect of cueing on the level of cognitive activity.

Conclusion. Peer feedback during small group work indeed appears to be a feasible option to be combined with or (partially) substitute individualized cueing when training complex learning tasks.
Book Reviews
Authors: Smith Leslie
Published: August 2006

Education for thinking
Mothers' thoughts about their children: Links between mind‐mindedness and emotional availability
Authors: Lok Sarah Mary , McMahon Catherine Anne
Published: August 2006

Maternal mind‐mindedness (MM) and emotional availability (EA) were examined in 89 middle‐class mothers and their 4‐year‐old children. Each mother‐child dyad was videotaped in their home during a 20‐minute play interaction and aspects of EA (sensitivity, structuring, intrusiveness, and hostility) were assessed using the EA scales (Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1998). Meins, Fernyhough, Russell, and Clark‐Carter's (1998) maternal interview was used to measure MM and the proportion of mental comments was calculated. Mothers who used a higher proportion of mental comments tended to demonstrate less hostility during interaction with their child. The findings are discussed in relation to the need to consider other interactional variables, in addition to maternal sensitivity, when examining how parental representations are transmitted to children.
Production of basic emotions by children with congenital blindness: Evidence for the embodiment of theory of mind
Authors: Roch‐Levecq Anne‐Catherine
Published: August 2006

Children with congenital blindness are delayed in understanding other people's minds. The present study examined whether this delay was related to a more primitive form of inter‐subjectivity by which infants draw correspondence between parental mirroring of the infant's display and proprioceptive sensations. Twenty children with congenital blindness and 20 typically‐developing sighted children aged between 4 and 12 years were administered a series of tasks examining false belief and emotion understanding and production. The blind children scored lower on the false belief tasks and did not convey emotions facially to adult observers as accurately as sighted participants. The adults' ratings of the children's expressions were correlated with the children's scores on the false belief tasks. It is suggested that understanding people's minds might be anchored in primitive embodied forms of relatedness.
The meaning of infants' looks: Information seeking and comfort seeking?
Authors: Striano Tricia , Vaish Amrisha , Benigno Joann P.
Published: August 2006

In two studies, the reason that infants in a novel situation look to adults was assessed. In Study 1, 10‐ and 13‐month‐old infants encountered a visual cliff that was deep (56 cm) or ambiguous (20 cm). Infants crossed the ambiguous cliff reliably faster than the deep cliff, and the first looks to mother of infants in the deep cliff condition were longer than those of infants in the ambiguous cliff condition. In Study 2, infants on an ambiguous cliff were tested either in a condition in which the mother was looking at the cliff (face plus voice) or away from the cliff (voice only) while encouraging the infants to cross. Infants' crossing times and looks to mother did not differ as a function of condition. In the two other conditions, infants' looks to mother and duration to cross were assessed when no cues were provided (no cues) or when the mother was providing information to an adult (talk to adult). Compared with the number of infants in the face plus voice and voice only conditions, the number of infants who became fussy in the no cues and talk to adult conditions was reliably greater. Those infants who crossed the cliff in the no cues and talk to adult conditions crossed as fast as infants in the other two conditions. The discussion focuses on the meaning of infants' first looks and on infants' understanding of cues that are intended for them versus for someone else.
Resolving threats to the therapeutic alliance in cognitive analytic therapy of borderline personality disorder: A task analysis
Authors: Bennett Dawn , Parry Glenys , Ryle Anthony
Published: August 2006

Background. Alliance ruptures and premature drop out from psychotherapy are very common with patients who have a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, limiting the clinical effectiveness of treatment.

Aim. To test and refine a model of how therapists successfully resolve threats to the therapeutic alliance involving enactment of problematic relationship patterns in the cognitive analytic therapy of borderline personality disorder.

Method. Task analysis (Greenberg, 1984a) of 107 enactments from 66 sessions in four good outcome cases, compared with 35 enactments from 16 sessions in two poor outcome cases. This systematically compares a rational model of process with empirically coded transcripts of therapy sessions where independent raters have identified an alliance threat event.

Results. The process stages of the rational model were observed, and 20 refinements were made, including a new process stage, heuristic principles and ‘when–then’ steps. Therapists were found to cycle between stages. Therapists in good outcome cases recognized the majority of these enactments and focused attention to them in contrast to poor outcome cases where therapists usually failed to notice or draw attention to the alliance threat and did not adhere to the model.

Conclusion. Competent resolution of alliance‐threatening events is crucially dependent on therapists' ability to recognize them, and secondarily on their adherence to the principles in the refined model. The model is consistent with prior research and can be used in supervision and quality improvement strategies.
Measuring interrelating within couples: The Couple's Relating to Each Other Questionnaires (CREOQ)
Authors: Birtchnell John , Voortman Stijn , DeJong Cor , Gordon Deidre
Published: August 2006

The Couple's Relating to Each Other Questionnaires (CREOQ) are a set of four questionnaires for measuring negative forms of interrelating within couples. They enable each partner to rate his/her relating to the other and the other's relating to him/her. They are based upon the theoretical structure called the interpersonal octagon, and each questionnaire has eight scales. They are usually accompanied by a brief, single‐scale questionnaire called the US (us as a couple), by which each partner rates the quality of the relationship. The set of questionnaires was administered to 130 English couples from the community, 157 English couples seeking couple therapy and 89 Dutch community couples. The Dutch couples were also invited to rate themselves and their partners according to the items of the revised interpersonal checklist (ICL‐R). The mean scores for the US and for most of the scales of the four CREOQ were significantly higher in the couple therapy sample. The internal reliabilities of the Dutch sample were generally lower than those of the English sample. Correlations were examined between the 10 ICL‐R scales and the 8 CREOQ ones. Some agreement emerged, and for the ICL‐R, there appeared to be one close, one distant, four upper and two lower scales.
Repetitive skin‐cutting: Parental bonding, personality and gender
Authors: Marchetto M. J.
Published: August 2006

Objectives. This study examines (a) the extent to which repetitive skin‐cutting is most prevalent among women and those with a history of trauma; and (b) among those skin‐cutters without a history of trauma, the extent to which borderline personality disorder (BPD) features as a primary diagnosis and whether disturbed parental bonding might be associated with this form of self‐harm.

Method. Details of gender and reported experiences of trauma were recorded for a large, consecutive sample of skin‐cutters (N =517) who attended a general hospital. Psychiatric diagnoses and parental bonding instrument (PBI) scores were obtained for a subsample of skin‐cutters (N =81) and comparison group participants without experiences of trauma.

Results. No gender differences were observed among skin‐cutters, most of whom reported experiences of trauma. BPD was recorded for a minority of those skin‐cutters without a history of trauma. PBI scores discriminated between non‐BPD skin cutters and non‐BPD comparison participants without a history of trauma.

Conclusions. Although these results provide further confirmation of a potential association between prior trauma and repetitive skin‐cutting, they rigorously challenge the validity of reported gender differences for this behaviour. Further, this study has identified that repetitive skin‐cutting can arise independently of BPD and prior trauma. Clinical implications of these results and suggested directions for future research are discussed.
Borderline personality disorder features: The role of self‐discrepancies and self‐complexity
Authors: Parker Alexandra G. , Boldero Jennifer M. , Bell Richard C.
Published: August 2006

Objectives  Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves disordered self‐conceptions, along with dysphoria and anxiety. The present study examined the role of actual‐ideal (AI) and actual‐ought (AO) self‐discrepancies, and self‐complexity as predictors of borderline personality features in a student population.

Method  AI and AO self‐discrepancy magnitudes across all self‐domains were assessed, along with self‐complexity, idiographically and nomothetically. Borderline personality features were assessed using subscales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI‐2).

Results  Both AI and AO self‐discrepancies were directly related to BPD personality features, in that those with larger self‐discrepancies of both types reported more features. Self‐complexity had no direct relationship to BPD personality features; rather, it moderated the relationship between AI, but not AO, self‐discrepancies and BPD personality features. For individuals low in self‐complexity, a stronger relationship between AI self‐discrepancies and BPD personality features existed.

Conclusions  This study is novel in its consideration of the impact of features of the self‐system on BPD personality features. It highlights the important role that AO self‐discrepancies, and the combined role of AI self‐discrepancies and self‐complexity, have in increasing vulnerability to BPD. The findings suggest that different pathways might be involved in the vulnerability to BPD, depending on self‐discrepancy type and level of self‐complexity.
The Supreme Court in a Common Law Tradition: The Democratic Legitimacy of Judicial Review in Light of American Legal Realism
Authors: Hwang Shu-Perng
Published: August 2006

The democratic legitimacy of judicial review, especially the proper role of the Supreme Court in a democratic system, is a constantly debated issue in American constitutional law. While many theories or arguments focus their attention on the so-called countermajoritarian difficulty of judicial review, the viewpoint of American Legal Realism deserves special attention, since it conceives of democracy not merely as majority rule, but rather as government based on what the people really want, which then must be investigated not only in legislation, but in judicial process. Therefore, it strongly argues for the connection between judicial decisions and concrete social experience and in consequence focuses its attention particularly on the Supreme Court's investigation of empirical social science, which it believes will improve that court's legal reasoning on democratic grounds and in this way reinforce the democratic legitimacy of the court's decision. Thus conceived, Legal Realism regards common law as a specific way to realize democracy, and accordingly provides a framework for the proper role of the Supreme Court. In this view, Legal Realism plays an important role in the American constitutional history not only because it methodologically stands against Formalism, but because it provides a different model for explaining and supporting the democratic legitimacy of judicial review of the US Supreme Court within its common law background.
Cellular Networks of Human Thymic Medullary Stromas Coordinated by p53-Related Transcription Factors
Authors: Ichimiya Shingo , Kojima Takashi
Published: August 2006

The final elimination step of self-reactive T cells occurs in the medulla of the thymus where a complex framework provided by stromal cells supports an optimal milieu for their selection. Here we present evidence that tight junctions (TJs) widely join medullary stromal cells of the human thymus. Occludin (OCLN) and claudin-1 (CLDN-1) of TJ-associated molecules were dominantly expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and CLDN-4 and CLDN-7 were also localized in some mTECs near Hassall's corpuscles. Interestingly, p53-like transcription factors were found to upregulate OCLN and CLDN-1 in human TEC lines, as recently suggested in the regulation of mTEC function. Furthermore, dendritic cells (DCs) of the medulla, with a major role for selection of thymocytes, expressed CLDN-1 and OCLN as well, implying that the interposition of DCs within the mTEC scaffold is also helped by TJs. Analysis of freeze-fracture replicas of the thymus revealed TJ strand structures in the vicinity of gap junction plaques through which small molecules might move, as implied by dye-transfer analysis of a medullary cell line. Thus, it is thought that p53-like molecules regulate TJ-associated interactions of medullary stromal cells and that this mechanism might be associated with an intercellular communication network, probably for preserving the medullary niches.
A Simulator Study of TKR Kinematics Using Modeled Soft-Tissue Constraint: Virtual Soft-Tissue Control for Knee Simulation
Authors: White BF , D'Lima D , Drueding AC , Cox J , Carignan FJ
Published: August 2006

The clinical relevance of knee simulation relies on the accurate reproduction of in vivo TKR kinematics. Current generation force-control knee simulators use mechanical springs to simulate the knee's soft-tissue constraint. Because the constraint provided by the soft tissue is complex in nature, with nonlinear force displacement characteristics and axis coupled behavior, it is difficult or impossible to model this behavior with mechanical springs. This paper describes a virtual soft-tissue control methodology, which provides enhanced modeling of the knee's soft tissue. TKR kinematics were evaluated for a posteriorly stabilized prosthetic device using a range of plausible soft-tissue models derived from the literature. The device was exercised with the standard ISO force-control waveforms while varying the constraint model to compare several different soft-tissue models. Kinematic and kinetic data were taken and tracking performance analyzed for several different constraint models.
Experiences in Using Ultrasonic Testing of Bearing Steel for Demanding Applications
Authors: Trojahn W , Janser K , Roesch O
Published: August 2006

The demands on modern machine parts, i.e., bearings, are increasing constantly. To ensure that highly clean steel is used, a number of different test methods are commonly used. In the field of test methods the ultrasonic immersion testing has reached a dominant position. This paper will give a short comparison of the ASTM E 588-03 and the SEP 1927 standards and will point out some experiences the authors have made using ultrasonic testing as a tool to increase steel cleanliness and using ultrasonic testing and blue fracture testing as complementary test methods. To be able to use ultrasonic testing as a powerful tool, a number of side aspects like the geometry of the test piece, the structure of it, or the frequency of the used ultrasonic-probe are important. This will be demonstrated by showing results from testing and incoming inspection.
An Investigation of Specimen Geometry Effects on the Fracture Behavior of a Polytetrafluoroethylene Polymer
Authors: Joyce JA , Joyce PJ
Published: August 2006

Recent interest by the U.S. Navy in metal filled polymers for weapons applications has resulted in a desire to characterize interactions between polymer properties associated with strain rate sensitivity, pressure sensitivity, failure mechanisms, damage mechanisms, spall strength, crystalline response to shock loading, and dynamic fracture mechanics as well as the effects of loading the polymer with various metal fillers [1]. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an important structural polymer that in the “7C” derivative is used for gaskets, bearing pads, piston rings, and diaphragms and when 5μm aluminum spheres are added, has important ballistic properties. Prior work [2–4] evaluated the fracture toughness of PTFE and aluminum filled PTFE over a range of temperatures and loading rates using compact tension (C(T)) specimens and the normalization method [5–7] described in Annex A15 of ASTM E 1820. Moreover, prior work [3] has shown that filling the PTFE with 10 to 25 % aluminum 5μm spheres can increase stiffness and strength while the effect on toughness can be either positive or negative depending on the loading rate and test temperature. The overall effect on fracture toughness properties derived from adding the aluminum spheres to the PTFE is small and for that reason the unfilled PTFE material was used here to study the effects of geometry on fracture toughness in this material. The normalization method was initially chosen for this project because of the scarcity and cost of specimen material, especially the filled, reactive material, the many different test conditions to be investigated, and the inadequacy of alternative methods. It was quite fortunate that the normalization method was used initially to characterize this polymer since the fracture toughness resistance curves of this material often contains ductile instabilities or “pop-ins” which would not have been well characterized by multispecimen methods. The objective of this work is to compare the fracture toughness measurements obtained from C(T) and precracked Charpy (SE(B)) specimens tested under similar test conditions. A comparison is also made between J-R curves obtained using the single specimen normalization method and the “Basic” or multispecimen procedure. A limited study of the effects of side grooving on the crack extension and on the resulting J-R curves is included here.
Verification of Analytical Models in a Fracture Mechanics Based Approach to Modeling Fretting Fatigue
Authors: Prost-Domasky SA , Brooks CL , Young N
Published: August 2006

A fracture mechanics-based approach which uses Mode I Stress Intensity Factor (SIFs) to estimate the influence of fretting fatigue loads (which can consist of normal and shear contact loads, as well as bulk or far-field loads) has been proposed by Rooke and Jones (“Stress Intensity Factors in Fretting Fatigue,” Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1979, pp. 1–6), who proposed a cracking scenario in which a single edge crack propagates to failure under the influence of the contact and bulk stress damage drivers. A major shortcoming of this approach is that the underlying analytical method and closed form integral equations assume that the single edge crack propagates into a semi-infinite domain or half-space. Significant differences in the stress states for finite width domains have been postulated by Fellows et al. (“Contact Stresses in a Moderately Then Strip (with Particular Reference to Fretting Experiments,” Wear, Vol. 185, 1995, pp. 235–238) among others. SIFs can be roughly correlated with stress; therefore variations in the stress states normally result in variations in the SIFs. Variations in the SIFs due to shear and normal contact loads, and due to finite width effects are quantitatively evaluated with the finite element method (FEM). Results with the finite element approach are compared to those using the Rooke and Jones method, as well as other results from the open literature.
Ignition of Metals at High Temperatures in Oxygen
Authors: Slockers MJ , Robles-Culbreth R
Published: August 2006

Material flammability is thought to increase with increasing oxygen concentration, increasing pressure, and increasing temperature. Interest in the effects of increasing pressure and increasing sample temperature on the flammability of metals led to an industry-sponsored program for heated promoted combustion testing of metals. In this paper, the results of heated promoted combustion tests from the industry-sponsored 98-1 program are reported. Thirteen materials were tested as heated 3.2-mm (1/8-in.) diameter rods in an enriched oxygen, elevated pressure environment. Tests were performed in 100 % oxygen, and the temperature of the sample rods varied between 260 and 1093°C with test pressures ranging from 0.2 to 2.8 MPa. The test materials were 316 stainless steel, Incology® 800 HT, Hastelloy® C-276, Hastelloy C-22, Inconel® Filler Metal 601, Inconel Filler Metal 617, Haynes® 230, Haynes 214, Hastelloy X, 310 stainless steel, alonized Haynes 230, 304 stainless steel, and alonized Incoloy 800 HT.
Proactive Mitigation of PCTFE-Related Ignition Hazards in Oxygen Systems: II. Testing of Inventoried “At-Risk” PCTFE Parts and Hazard Analyses of Corresponding Ground Service Equipment at the Kennedy Space Center
Authors: Waller JM , Murray KA , Staveland AR , Faughnan PD , Tyre D , Smith SR , Gallus T , Newton BE , Hshieh FY , Beeson HD
Published: August 2006

Revelations of excessive property variation in polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) semifinished and finished parts led to concerns that leaks or part failure could occur in service, possibly leading to catastrophic component or system failure by flow friction and/or kindling chain mechanisms. Such concerns led to the issuances of an internal Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Problem Advisory and a Government-Industry Data Exchange Program Materials Advisory on PCTFE. The advisories led to an engineering analysis review of PCTFE-containing ground support equipment used in “at-risk” high-pressure oxygen and air systems at KSC Representative PCTFE replacement parts used in “at-risk” systems were removed from inventory and tested. Tests included determination of (1) dimensional stability by thermomechanical analysis and metrology, (2) percent crystallinity by specific gravity, and (3) the effect of annealing on engineering tolerances. While dimensional instability was determined not to be a major issue in existing inventories, establishing traceability back to the semifinished article (starting rod or sheet stock) was often not possible. Percent crystallinity varied widely depending on part origin and thickness. Annealing was found to lead occasionally to out-of-tolerance parts. The pneumatic impact ignition threshold of PCTFE in enriched air was also determined at pressures up to 41.4 MPa. Results show that ignition does not occur at ambient oxygen concentrations. Last, hazard analyses were performed on “at-risk” systems. Two problematic designs were discovered, but based on operational histories, a recommendation was made to redesign or repair and replace on a noninterference basis.
Intravenous Injection of Pharmaceutical Tablets Presenting as Multiple Pulmonary Nodules and Declining Pulmonary Function in an Adolescent With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Smith Kelly J. , Elidemir Okan , Dishop Megan K. , Eldin Karen W. , Tatevian Nina , Moore Robert H.
Published: August 2006

Here we present the unusual case of an adolescent with cystic fibrosis presenting with declining pulmonary function and diffuse micronodular pulmonary disease. This case illustrates the radiographic and pathologic findings associated with the intravenous injection and pulmonary arterial embolization of insoluble pharmaceutical-tablet constituents. The number of first-time users reporting nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers is increasing dramatically, especially in adolescents. Recognition of both the diagnostic imaging features and histologic features on lung biopsy are critical steps for early diagnosis, intervention, and potential prevention of sudden death in these at-risk patients.
Comparing Patients Seen in Pediatric Resident Continuity Clinics and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Practices: A Study From the Continuity Research Network
Authors: Serwint Janet R. , Thoma Kathleen A. , Dabrow Sharon M. , Hunt Lynn E. , Barratt Michelle S. , Shope Timothy R. , Darden Paul M. ,   for the CORNET Investigators
Published: August 2006

OBJECTIVES. The goal was to compare visit data from Continuity Research Network practices with data for a nationally representative sample of pediatric visits in practice settings from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

METHODS. A cross-sectional study comparing data for Continuity Research Network practice visits during a 1-week period in 2002 with data from the 2000 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was performed. Continuity Research Network and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data were derived from 30 patient visits per practice site for patients <22 years of age, with the primary care providers being residents and practicing pediatricians, respectively.

RESULTS. Eighteen Continuity Research Network practices reported on 540 visits, compared with 32 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey physicians reporting on 792 visits. Continuity Research Network patients were more likely to be black non-Hispanic or Hispanic/Latino and to have public insurance. The top 5 reasons for visits were the same for Continuity Research Network and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey visits, although the orders varied slightly. These 5 reasons accounted for 58% of Continuity Research Network visits and 49% of National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey visits. Continuity Research Network visits were more likely to result in patient instructions to return at a specific time (78% vs 52%).

CONCLUSIONS. Residents in Continuity Research Network practices provide care to more underserved patients but evaluate problems that are similar to those observed in office practices; the Continuity Research Network practices thus provide important training experiences for residents who will serve both minority and nonminority children.
A Staging System for Infantile Krabbe Disease to Predict Outcome After Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Authors: Escolar Maria L. , Poe Michele D. , Martin Holly R. , Kurtzberg Joanne
Published: August 2006

OBJECTIVE. Infantile Krabbe disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder that leads to rapid demyelination, dysmyelination, and death in the first 2 years of life, is responsive to treatment with umbilical cord blood transplantation provided that the patient is treated in the first weeks of life. At present, family history is the only way to identify patients that are asymptomatic with most patients being diagnosed after onset of symptoms. We hypothesized that a staging system based on clinical indicators and neurophysiological and neuroimaging measures can predict posttreatment variation in patients diagnosed with infantile Krabbe disease.

METHODS. A retrospective review of pretransplant clinical indicators and neurodevelopmental, brain imaging and neurophysiological measures was performed in 42 patients being considered for treatment with umbilical cord blood transplantation. Based on these evaluations, an expert system approach was used to develop a staging system for infantile Krabbe disease. Another set of analyses in the subset of patients who were transplanted (n = 29) evaluated the association between pretransplant stage of disease and posttransplant neurodevelopmental outcomes.

RESULTS. A staging algorithm for infants with infantile Krabbe disease was developed and tested for predicting neurodevelopmental outcome after umbilical cord blood transplantation. Standard neurophysiological and neuroimaging tests were not useful in the staging algorithm. Clinical indicators were found to best classify stage of disease. Pretransplant stage was found to be predictive of neurodevelopmental outcome.

CONCLUSIONS. We conclude that the clinical staging system based solely on signs and symptoms of disease can be used to predict outcomes after umbilical cord blood transplantation. This staging system can be used prospectively to guide physicians unfamiliar with the disorder in evaluating, monitoring, and counseling families about treatment outcomes. The staging will be useful for both patients diagnosed with infantile Krabbe disease because of clinical symptoms and those identified through neonatal screening programs.
Immediately Loaded Blade Implant Retrieved From a Man After a 20-year Loading Period: A Histologic and Histomorphometric Case Report
Authors: Stefano Danilo Di , Iezzi Giovanna , Scarano Antonio , Perrotti Vittoria , Piattelli Adriano
Published: August 2006

Immediate loading of root-form dental implants has shown promising results and offers treatment cost and convenience advantages to patients. Although blade implants have been immediately loaded for over 2 decades, the ability of this implant design to achieve osseointegration has been debated. The aim of the present study was to histologically evaluate the peri-implant tissues of an immediately loaded blade implant retrieved for abutment fracture after a 20-year loading period. Histologic samples were prepared and examined by light microscope. Compact, cortical, mature bone with well-formed osteons was present at the interface of the implant. Bone-to-implant contact was 51% ± 6%. The histologic data showed that osseointegration was obtained in an immediately loaded blade implant inserted into the mandible, and that mineralized tissues were maintained at the interface over a long period (20 years).
Rationale for Choices of Occlusal Schemes for Complete Dentures Supported by Implants
Authors: Nikolopoulou Fotoula , Ktena-Agapitou Pagona
Published: August 2006

This review of occlusal considerations for implant-supported complete dentures reflects the majority opinion of authors according to clinical observations and research-documented evidence. Occlusal concepts are presented for the implant-supported complete dentures regarding analysis of loads applied to dental implants, location and number of implants, occlusal materials, and occlusal scheme.
Preservation of the Gingival Architecture With the Scalloped Implant Design: A Clinical Report
Authors: Khatami Amir H. , Al-Ajmi Mohammed , Kleinman Alejandro
Published: August 2006

Replacing the missing maxillary anterior teeth with dental implants and maintaining the soft tissue structure and alveolar profile is an esthetic challenge for the restorative dentist. This clinical report describes the immediate provisional placement and prosthetic rehabilitation of 2 missing maxillary central incisors with scalloped dental implants.
Histomorphometric Evaluation of Six Dental Implant Surfaces After Early Loading in Augmented Human Sinuses
Authors: Todisco Marzio , Trisi Paolo
Published: August 2006

This study investigated the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and osteoconductive capacity (OC) of 6 different implant surfaces after early loading in humans. Two implants with different surfaces were placed side-by-side in the grafted (n = 5) and nongrafted (n = 1) sinuses of 3 volunteers. Single-tooth restorations were delivered 60 days later. After 6 months of full occlusal loading, implants were retrieved in block sections for histomorphometric analysis. One implant (acid etched) placed in grafted bone failed when loaded. There were no other complications. In grafted bone, the microtextured surface achieved the highest BIC value (94.08%), followed by the oxidized (77.32%), hydroxyapatite (HA) (74.51%), sandblasted and acid-etched (51.85%), and titanium plasma-sprayed (TPS) (41.48%) surfaces. In native bone, the acid-etched surface achieved a higher BIC value (69.03%) than the HA surface (59.03%). The highest OC value in grafted bone was exhibited by the microtextured surface (34.31%), followed by the HA (28.62%), sandblasted and acid-etched (25.08%), oxidized (17.55%), and TPS (−20.47%) surfaces. The HA surface exhibited a higher OC value (30.39%) in native bone compared with the acid-etched surface (24.0%). As a whole, highest BIC and OC values were exhibited by the microtextured surface, and lowest values were exhibited by the TPS surface. All other surfaces demonstrated excellent BIC (>50%) but varied in OC (range = 17.55%–28.62%). These findings are tempered by the limited scope and sample size of the study and should be considered preliminary. More research is needed to determine the impact of implant surface texture on BIC and OC.
A review of the biology and ecology of Florida beggarweed (Desmodium tortuosum)
Authors: Webster Theodore M. , Cardina John
Published: August 2006

Florida beggarweed is native to the Western Hemisphere but is naturalized around the world. During the last century, the mechanization of agriculture has transitioned Florida beggarweed from an important forage component to a weed of significance in the coastal plain of the southeast United States. This herbaceous annual is naturalized and found in fields and disturbed areas throughout the southern United States. The characteristics that made Florida beggarweed a good forage crop also make it a formidable weed. This review describes the importance of Florida beggarweed as a weed in the southern United States and the taxonomy of this species and details the distribution throughout the world and within the United States. The ecology of Florida beggarweed and its interactions with crop plants, insects, nematodes, and plant pathogens also are summarized. Finally, management of Florida beggarweed in agricultural systems using cultural practices and herbicides is reviewed.
Analytical fatigue assessment of riveted rail bridges
Authors: Imam B. , Righiniotis T. D. , Chryssanthopoulos M. K. , Bell B.
Published: August 2006

As some of the older riveted railway bridges are close to or have even exceeded their theoretical fatigue lives, it is desirable to develop a comprehensive fatigue assessment methodology for fatigue-critical details. The aim of this study was to present damage and fatigue life estimates for the riveted connections of a typical riveted UK railway bridge through finite-element analyses. In particular, the effect of connection fixity and assumed fatigue detail classification, the effect of the simultaneous passage of two trains over the bridge, the effect of a reduced Young's modulus for the bridge material and the effect of dynamic amplification are studied under different loading scenarios. A historical load model was developed in order to represent bridge rail traffic between 1900 and 1970. The BS 5400 medium traffic trains were used to represent the bridge traffic from 1970 onwards. It was found that the connection damage is axle-dominated and is affected by the parameters mentioned above. The fully-fixed stringer-to-cross-girder connections were found to be the most fatigue-critical details. The damage accumulation rate was found to be small in the pre-1970 period under the historical load model but showed a considerable increase with the introduction of the BS 5400 trains (post-1970).
Developments in the use of GPS for bridge monitoring
Authors: Brown C. J. , Roberts G. W. , Meng X.
Published: August 2006

This paper informs engineers about the role and potential use of the global positioning system (GPS) in monitoring large structures, particularly bridges. It gives the briefest introduction to GPS and its different applications. GPS technology for the investigation of structures is described, along with some of the trials that have recently been completed. Outstanding issues for future research are identified.
Innovations in concrete arch bridge design
Authors: Radić J. , Šavor Z. , Kindij A.
Published: August 2006

Innovation in the design and construction of large-span arch bridges was investigated by considering buildability, maintainability and durability factors and their interaction at the design stage in terms of their effects on quality of construction and whole-life costs. In this study the utilisation of innovative composite arch ribs was examined and comparisons were made with concrete and steel arch ribs. A parametric study of a new composite arch rib was performed for a two-hinged arch in the span range 300–1000 m. The arch cross-section comprised three steel trusses interconnected by concrete slabs in composite action with the top and bottom truss chords. The results appeared promising for the span range 300–600 m in comparison with the steel arch and therefore the composite arch rib was tested in a new Croatian arch bridge carrying the highway over the Krka river. The fixed arch has a 204 m span and a rise of 52·0 m with a rise-to-span ratio of f/l=0·25.
Briefing: Restoration of Bersted Crossing footbridge, Bognor Regis, UK
Authors: Macfarlane A.
Published: August 2006

Bersted Crossing footbridge is a good example of a wrought iron, lattice girder railway structure from the end of the Victorian era. The poor aesthetic condition of the bridge led to public perception that it required replacement. A sympathetic restoration scheme taking into account the unmodified nature of the wrought iron was shown to be economical and was carried with no disruption to train services. The work received a commendation as part of the 2005 Historic Bridge and Infrastructure awards. This briefing article describes the background to the structure and the work that took place to restore it.
Detecting Causal Nonlinear Exposure-Response Relations in Epidemiological Data
Authors: Cox Louis Anthony
Published: August 2006

The possibility of hormesis in individual dose-response relations undermines traditional epidemiological criteria and tests for causal relations between exposure and response variables. Non-monotonic exposure-response relations in a large population may lack aggregate consistency, strength, biological gradient, and other hallmarks of traditional causal relations. For example, a u-shaped or n-shaped curve may exhibit zero correlation between dose and response. Thus, possible hormesis requires new ways to detect potentially causal exposure-response relations. This paper introduces information-theoretic criteria for identifying potential causality in epidemiological data that may contain nonmonotonic or threshold dose-response nonlinearities. Roughly, exposure variable X is a potential cause of response variable Y if and only if: (a) X is INFORMATIVE about Y (i.e., the mutual information between X and Y, I(X; Y), measured in bits, is positive. This provides the required generalization of statistical association measures for monotonic relations); (b) UNCONFOUNDED: X provides information about Y that cannot be removed by conditioning on other variables. (c) PREDICTIVE: Past values of X are informative about future values of Y, even after conditioning on past values of Y; (d) CAUSAL ORDERING: Y is conditionally independent of the parents of X, given X. These criteria yield practical algorithms for detecting potential causation in cohort, case-control, and time series data sets. We illustrate them by identifying potential causes of campylobacteriosis, a food-borne bacterial infectious diarrheal illness, in a recent case-control data set. In contrast to previous analyses, our information-theoretic approach identifies a hitherto unnoticed, highly statistically significant, hormetic (U-shaped) relation between recent fast food consumption and women's risk of campylobacteriosis. We also discuss the application of the new information-theoretic criteria in resolving ambiguities and apparent contradictions due to confounding and information redundancy or overlap among variables in epidemiological data sets.
Radon Treatment Controversy
Authors: Zdrojewicz Zygmunt , Strzelczyk Jadwiga (Jodi)
Published: August 2006

In spite of long traditions, treatments utilizing radon-rich air or water have not been unequivocally embraced by modern medicine. The objective of this work is to examine factors that contribute to this continuing controversy. While the exact mechanism of radon's effect on human body is not completely understood, recent advances in radiobiology offer new insights into biochemical processes occurring at low-level exposures to ionizing radiation. Medical evidence and patients' testimonials regarding effectiveness of radon spa treatments of various ailments, most notably rheumatoid arthritis are accumulating worldwide. They challenge the premise of the Linear-No-Threshold (LNT) theory that the dose-effect response is the same per unit dose regardless of the total dose. Historically, such inference overshadowed scientific inquiries into the low-dose region and lead to a popular belief that no amount of radiation can be good. Fortunately, the LNT theory, which lacks any scientific basis, did not remain unchallenged. As the reviewed literature suggests, a paradigm shift, reflected in the consideration of hormetic effects at low-doses, is gaining momentum in the scientific community worldwide. The impetus comes from significant evidence of adaptive and stimulatory effects of low-levels of radiation on human immune system.