bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Economic Determinants of Professional Sports Franchise Values
Authors: Alexander Donald L. , Kern William
Published: April 2004

This article examines the effect of team nomenclature, team relocation, and new stadiums on franchise values for the four major professional sports. The results indicate that market size, team performance, and the presence of a new facility increase a team’s franchise value, as many would expect. Moreover, the authors find that the use of a regional identity increases franchise value in Major League Baseball (MLB) but not in the other professional sports. The authors believe this may reflect the fact that the other sports have institutional arrangements that minimize any differences among the various teams, unlike MLB.
Stars at the Gate
Authors: Berri David J. , Schmidt Martin B. , Brook Stacey L.
Published: April 2004

Investigations into the level of competitive balance within the four major North American professional team sports leagues suggest that the National Basketball Association (NBA) exhibits the lowest level of competitive balance. Given the role competitive balance plays in maintaining consumer demand, the authors examine the role the star attractions of the NBA play in promoting fan interest. The evidence presented suggests the choice of functional form alters the significance of the relationships uncovered. Specifically, the significance of star power is only uncovered in a multiplicative model rather than in the commonly employed linear form. Additional empirical results are reported in the text.
Competition and Pay for National Hockey League Players Born in Québec
Authors: Curme Michael A. , Daugherty Greg M.
Published: April 2004

Prior studies have suggested that salary discrimination may exist in the National Hockey League. In particular, it has been argued that Canadian NHL teams located outside of Québec discriminate against French Canadian players. The small number of French Canadian players along with the large number of teams located outside of English Canada, however, suggest that discrimination of this form should be observed much less frequently as players’ tenure in the league increases due to the greater likelihood of realizing unrestricted free agency. Although we find evidence that players born inQuébec suffer an earnings penalty on Canadian NHL teams located outside of Québec, it is not clear that the penalty is eliminated by free agency, which raises questions about the source of the pay gap.
A Reexamination of the Efficiency of the Betting Market on National Hockey League Games
Authors: Gandar John M. , Zuber Richard A. , Johnson R. Stafford
Published: April 2004

A recent paper byWoodland andWoodland examines the efficiency of odds betting on professional hockey games, finding that actual returns on underdog bets consistently exceed expected returns and evidence of a reverse favorite-longshot bias. This article corrects the Woodland and Woodland calculation of bookmaker commissions for unchanged money lines. The authors’ revision substantially lowers the commission and thus is potentially important for tests of efficiency. The article also examines the impact of changes in money lines, which further reduce commissions but raise actual returns. The impact of these revisions on tests of efficiency is examined using the Woodland and Woodland sample. In general, the authors show that their revised no line change test statistic is a more stringent test of efficiency than either the Woodland andWoodland test statistic or any reasonable line change test statistic. However, the authors’ revised test statistics continue to find the inefficiency documented by Woodland and Woodland.
Competitive Balance and Revenue Sharing
Authors: KÉsenne Stefan
Published: April 2004

In this article, a distinction is made between two types of competitive imbalances, the good and the bad ones. Because it is mainly the bad type of competitive imbalance that worries us most, that is, the large-market clubs dominating the small-market clubs, it can be shown that the competitive balance in a win-maximizing league is always worse than in a profit-maximizing league. Also, revenue sharing that aims to cure the good type of imbalance, that is, a small-market club dominating the league, might not have the desirable effect if the criterion for sharing is the budget of the clubs.
The Case for Baseball's Special Antitrust Immunity
Authors: Roberts Gary R.
Published: April 2004

In this article, the author argues that if one assumes that the public interest equates with maximizing consumer utility, then baseball's historic judicially-created antitrust immunity is in the public interest. Despite Major League Baseball's natural monopoly market power, applying anticonspiracy principles to this inherently wholly-integrated business would produce a form of irrational, ad hoc regulation by judges and juries that would create inefficiency and uncertainty without on balance enhancing consumer welfare. For base-ball's minor leagues, applying antitrust laws would most likely lead to the elimination of many teams and the concentration of those remaining in fewer areas. Given that the minor league product is consumed by entire communities instead of only by those who buy tickets, this would significantly diminish consumer welfare. Thus, the public interest is best served by maintaining baseball's antitrust “exemption.”
(How Much) is the Law to Blame for Baseball's Turbulent Labor Relations?
Authors: Covington Robert N.
Published: April 2004

Three bodies of law have had significant impact on labor relations in professional sports including baseball. The first, antitrust law, was not available in baseball until 1998. Players in the National Football League used antitrust law effectively against owners in the 1980s, but it is now available only to players outside a formal collective bargaining relationship. The second, National Labor Relations Act, has been used by both owners and player unions to achieve specific objectives, but doctrines developed under the statute have contributed to posturing and to crisis bargaining. The third, a specialized contract law developed for interpreting and enforcing collective bargaining agreements, has generally worked fairly well in professional sports, particularly the principles encouraging the use of arbitration.
The Economics of Baseball Contraction
Authors: Noll Roger G.
Published: April 2004

In the fall of 2001, Commissioner Bud Selig announced that two teams would be eliminated from Major League Baseball. After ensuing litigation and collective bargaining, contraction has been postponed until 2007 but remains a possibility. This article examines the economics of contraction of teams in a sports league, first developing the basic welfare economics of expansion and contraction and then investigating whether the private incentives of existing teams lead to inefficient contraction decisions. The core finding is that, using financial information from the 2001 season, all teams in Major League Baseball probably generate positive net social benefits, but the existing teams will benefit by approximately $1 billion from the elimination of the two weakest teams.
Owner Objectives and Competitive Balance
Authors: Fort Rodney , Quirk James
Published: April 2004

A growing literature on leagues composed of owners maximizing winning percentage shows that particular league rules have different impacts compared with leagues composed of profit-maximizing owners. But the underlying question of how to distinguish between the two types of leagues has received no treatment. In this article, we show that the two types of leagues can be distinguished in the talent market. A league of winning-percentage-maximizing owners will have higher talent costs and greater demand for talent. But, and perhaps more important, the level of competitive balance between the two types of leagues is indeterminate. In addition, a new policy instrument is suggested, namely, nudging owners toward one or the other objective, depending upon the particular locations of the demand for talent if owners pursue profits or winning percentage.
Generation of Health Care Policy: Using Evidence to Implement Change for a Nurse-Midwifery Practice
Authors: Ament Lynette
Published: April 2004

This article examines how a certified nursemidwifery practice used evidence-based practice data from 2000 to 2001 to influence health care policy in a managed care environment. Managed care has assumed an integral role in our ability to care for women and families. It affects not only our ability to directly provide care but also indirectly to provide care. Managed care is driving local, state, and federal policies. Health care policies can be changed through improved outcomes, cost-effective care, and good consumer relations.
Active State-Level Engagement with the Nursing Shortage: A Study of Five Midwestern States
Authors: Cooksey Judith A. , McLaughlin Wendy , Russinof Hollis , Martinez Louise I. , Gordon Cynthia
Published: April 2004

This study explores state-level efforts from 1999 through mid-2003 to address the nursing shortage in five midwestern states (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska). The authors conducted interviews with 25 representative nurse leaders and others involved with state initiatives; this firsthand perspective provided useful insights on the interplay of various factors within states. For example, taskforce groups appointed to study the shortage were seen to evolve into broad-based and influential nursing coalitions. These coalitions advocated for establishing permanent state nursing centers to collect and analyze nurse workforce data and to improve nurse recruitment, retention, and the nurse practice environment. Expansion of educational programs faced barriers (nurse faculty shortages, limited clinical education sites) that were not readily amenable to solutions, in part because of state funding crises. This study illustrates how strategies are evolving in these states while highlighting the role of collaboration, creativity, and flexibility in solving this critical problem.
Lead, Link, and Learn: A Policy / Research Fellowship Program in Aging
Authors: Algase Donna L. , Beel-Bates Cynthia , Ziemba Rosemary
Published: April 2004

The active involvement of nurses in the policy and political process is a professional responsibility. This article describes a fellowship program aimed at building the necessary competence for such activity in the context of aging health policy. The purposes of and strategies used in the fellowship program are described, including the fellow selection process, the issue selection process, and the design and conceptual framework of the program. Outcomes are described in terms of skill development of fellows, reflections of faculty, and effect on increasing fellows’ interest in gerontological nursing and aging policy.
Narrowcasting in the New World Information Order
Authors: Smith-Shomade Beretta E.
Published: April 2004

Narrowcasting is heralded as a viable prescription for global understanding. However, the author questions whether an actual space exists for the representation of marginalized groups. Narrowcasting combined with internet interactivity are currently promoted as important parts of the five hundred-channel environment—an environment that allows viewers to supersede consumerism as they become producers. The economic and social ramifications of this representation, presently inscribed within a subscriber base and computer/modem access, provide a viable platform for questioning global rhetoric. As a case study to this sociopolitical quandary, the author looks at the U.S.-based cable station Black Entertainment Television and internet usage aimed at marginalized groups. By examining these areas and the historical moment in which they proliferate, she offers particular examples of how this new media and its ideas of representation calculate the audience’s role and pander to the future.
Knowledge Sharing in Organizations: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Ipe Minu
Published: April 2004

Knowledge is now being seen as the most important strategic resource in organizations, and the management of this knowledge is considered critical to organizational success. If organizations have to capitalize on the knowledge they possess, they have to understand how knowledge is created, shared, and used within the organization. Knowledge exists and is shared at different levels in organizations. This article examines knowledge sharing at the most basic level; namely, between individuals in organizations. Based on a review of existing literature in this area, this article presents a model that identifies factors that most significantly influence knowledge sharing at this level.
Using Functional Assessment and Experimental Functional Analysis to Individualize Treatment for Adolescents in a Residential Care Setting
Authors: Field Clinton E. , Nash Heather M. , Handwerk Michael L. , Friman Patrick C.
Published: April 2004

This case study describes the use of functional assessment in combination with experimental functional analysis as methods for informing and evaluating individualized treatment in a large residential treatment setting for adolescents. The case of John, a normally developed 12-year-old male, illustrates how functional information can be used to derive a simple treatment that can be effective in modifying previously intractable and highly disruptive behavior. Challenges associated with maintenance of treatment over time are described in relation to John’s follow-up status. Finally, recommendations are made about the utility of functional methodologies within residential care settings and the need for ongoing experimental evaluation testing limits of such methodologies.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Trichotillomania, Targeting Perfectionism
Authors: PÉLissier Marie-Claude , O’Connor Kieron
Published: April 2004

Trichotillomania or hair pulling has been considered mainly as a tensionreducing habit. However, other cognitive, emotional, and situational factors have been identified as important in the development andmaintenance of this disorder. The present case study applied habit reversal techniques, with the addition of a cognitive modification of perfectionist beliefs and style of action, in the treatment of a 23-year-old woman. During an 18-week period, her hair-pulling behavior decreased from a mean of 24 hairs pulled each day to 1 hair pulled overall in a week. A 1.5-year follow-up showed that the client suffered a small relapse during a period of 2 weeks. A self-imposed return to cognitive and behavioral techniques eliminated further pulling. This single case report raises the possibility that perfectionismmay be an important target for cognitive-behavioral treatment intervention in habit disorders such as trichotillomania.
Fearful Appraisals and Behavioral Responses of a Patient with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Authors: Schwartz Steven M. , Janeck Amy S. , Deaner Stephanie L.
Published: April 2004

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is an effective treatment device for potentially malignant arrhythmias, including those leading to sudden cardiac death. However, some patients develop a variety of adjustment problems to the ICD. Clinical behavioral scientists have conceptualized ICD adjustment problems using principles of classical conditioning (i.e., cardiophobia), the learned helplessness paradigm of depression, and cognitive-behavioral models of panic. This case study likens ICD adjustment problems to a cognitive-behavioral model of panic and chest pain illustrating the limits of thesemodels in terms of howType I/Type II threat appraisal by the patient serves as a significant barrier to full symptomresolution. This case study supports the need formodifications in suchmodels and related interventions as they relate to the presence of real comorbid risk factors.
The Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Social Phobia
Authors: Feeney Sharon L.
Published: April 2004

Mary is a 35-year-old, married, Caucasian female who presented for treatment with complaints of anxiety and panic when in the following situations: writing in front of others, one-to-one situations atwork, and going to the doctor. When in these situations, she feared that she would exhibit symptoms of anxiety and would thus be humiliated and embarrassed. Because of this fear, she had avoided these situations formany years or otherwise endured themwith great anxiety. Marywas diagnosedwith social phobia and was seen for 31 sessions of individual, cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment involved self-monitoring, cognitive restructuring, muscle relaxation, breathing retraining, and graduated exposure. At termination, Mary no longermet criteria for social phobia and demonstrated improvements in many areas including lowered subjective experience of anxiety, decreased avoidance, and decreased physiology associated with anxiety. This case is presented as an example of the use of cognitive-behavioral principles in the treatment of social phobia.
Treatment of Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa Using Manualized Family-Based Treatment
Authors: Krautter Tonja H. , Lock James
Published: April 2004

This article reports on the treatment of an adolescent girl with anorexia nervosa using a manualized family therapy approach. The therapy used proceeds through three phases. The first phase encourages parents to take charge of refeeding their daughter while separating the illness from the patient. The second phase promotes the adolescent once again eating on her own, and the third phase aims at general adolescent issues that have been affected by anorexia nervosa. The family therapy reported on her has been shown to be effective in clinical trials and this case illustrates the basic therapeutic processes and outcomes that can be expected.
Ameliorating the Effects of Violent Behavior in a Mother With Brain Injury
Authors: Ducharme Joseph M. , Davidson Amy
Published: April 2004

Following a brain injury, individuals often suffer a broad range of debilitating sequelae, including cognitive deficits, mood disorders, impulsivity, and poor anger management. In this study, amotherwho suffered a severe brain injury at the age of 10 exhibited frequent episodes of violent behavior following the injury and into adulthood. Child welfare authorities and family members were concerned about the safety of her two children. She was therefore referred for parent training to assist her inmanaging the problembehavior of her children. The authors employed errorless compliance training, a success-based, noncoercive parent training strategy, to teach the mother how to gain child cooperation without physical intervention. Although the mother required extensive support in implementing the strategy due to cognitive and emotional difficulties, she was able to effect substantial changes in the compliance of both children. Errorless compliance training appears well suited to parents with cognitive, emotional, and impulse-control difficulties who may be predisposed to maltreatment.
Behavioral Treatment of Trichotillomania
Authors: Michael Kurt D.
Published: April 2004

Once considered a rare clinical condition, trichotillomania is now recognized as a psychological disorder that is more prevalent than previously thought. The behavioral treatment of a 21-year old college woman with a longstanding history of chronic hair pulling is described in this case study. The extent of the trichotillomania was measured during an 11-day baseline period (self-monitoring, photographs) followed by 4 months of behavioral treatment including prominent components of habit-reversal training. The results of the interventionwere suggestive of a substantial reduction in hair pulling incidents, hair regrowth in the affected parts of her scalp, and self-reported improvements in mood, anxiety, and self-esteem. Limitations of these data are reviewed and recommendations for clinicians who intend on treating trichotillomania are provided.
The Role of Ultrasound in Lower Extremity Wound Management
Authors: Collins Carol , Mani Raj
Published: April 2004

Imaging and hemodynamic information are essential in determining the etiology of lower extremity wounds. Ultra- sound offers a noninvasive method of studying vessel walls and measuring blood flow, thereby providing reliable diagnostic data. This article reviews the role of ultrasound in the management of the lower extremity wound.
The Unilateral Swollen Lower Limb: Etiology, Investigation, and Management
Authors: Easterbrook J. , Walker M. A.
Published: April 2004

The swollen lower limb, a common finding in routine clinical practice, is clinically challenging. The cause underlying this problem is often multifactorial, and its management may involve different specialties. It is important, though difficult, to avoid unnecessary and expensive investigations. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the management of this problem by addressing the common causes, methods of assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic options.
Shared Community-Hospital Care of Leg Ulcers Using an Electronic Record and Telemedicine
Authors: Dodds S. R.
Published: April 2004

The majority of leg ulcer care is provided by community nurses who should have access to specialist hospital assessment and treatment. A shared electronic care record (ECR) has been developed that includes color digital images and structured clinical information. Patients are referred electronically to a one-stop hospital clinic with direct access to duplex ultrasound where a definitive management plan is made and the patient attends hospital again only for further investigations (eg, biopsy) or definitive treatment (eg, angioplasty, bypass, venous surgery, or skin graft). Ulcer size is measured from the images and automatically plotted over time to show the response to treatment. The system is secure, is easy to install, and has minimal operating costs. The community nurses easily master the new skills required and are enthusiastic about the benefits of this powerful communication, training, audit, and research tool. Technical and practical feasibility has been demonstrated, and initial clinical results are impressive.
Leg Ulcers of Unusual Causes
Authors: Chakrabarty Arun , Phillips Tania
Published: April 2004

In this review, unusual causes of leg ulcers are examined with an emphasis on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and epidemiology. Cutaneous ulcers due to malignancy of unusual leg ulcers with hematologic disorders, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, calciphylaxis, Buerger’s disease, and pyoderma gangrenosumare discussed.
Leg Ulcers and Pain: A Review
Authors: Cooper Susan M. , Hofman Deborah , Burge Susan M.
Published: April 2004

Leg ulcers are a common health problem. Ulcers of any etiology including venous ulcers may be very painful, but until recently, health professionals have not been good at recognizing or managing this type of pain. It is important to clarify the type, severity, and frequency of pain and to anticipate pain at dressing changes. The measurement of pain by the use of pain scales is very useful, particularly in assessing the efficacy of an intervention. Neuropathic pain and unusually painful ulcerations are discussed in this article.
Ulcerated Necrobiosis Lipoidica: A Combined Treatment Approach with Dermatosurgery and PUVA
Authors: Köstler Erich , Wollina Uwe
Published: April 2004

Ulcerated necrobiosis lipoidica is one of the differential diagnoses in leg ulcers. The diagnosis is confirmed by histopathology. The authors report on a 68-year-old female patient with a history of chronic venous insufficiency who developed a chronic leg ulcer that did not respond to good ulcer care and compression bandaging. Skin biopsies revealed necrobiosis lipoidica. The patient was recently discovered to have diabetes mellitus that was treated orally by ascarose. Phlebosurgery and mesh grafting were performed, and the patient was given pentoxyfiline, dapsone, and clofazimine, but none of these treatments was successful. Therefore, topical PUVA therapy was introduced that resulted in partial remission and stabilizing of the residual pathology. Based on these experiences, the use of surgical methods alone is questionable.
Small Fiber Neuropathy in Diabetes: Clinical Consequence and Assessment
Authors: Quattrini C. , Jeziorska M. , Malik R. A.
Published: April 2004

Recent findings have shed new light on the role of peripheral nerves in the skin and have established a modern concept of cutaneous neurobiology. There is bidirectional rather than unidirectional (conveying information from the periphery) signaling between central and peripheral nerves and the endocrine and immune systems. This interaction is mediated principally by cutaneous small nerve fibers and will influence a variety of physiologic and pathophysiologic functions central to wound healing, which include cellular development, growth, differentiation, immunity, vasoregulation, and leukocyte recruitment. Thus, disease of the small fibers in diabetic patients is frequent and may have a considerable impact on the predisposition and subsequent wound-healing response to foot ulceration. The authors review the basic pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and current methods to evaluate somatic and autonomic nerve fiber dysfunction and damage.
Involvement of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Authors: Drummond Peter D.
Published: April 2004

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) occasionally develops as a complication of limb trauma. Sympathetic neurotransmitter release is compromised in the affected limb of at least a subgroup of patients throughout the course of the disorder, whereas signs of sympathetic deficit (a warm flushed limb) often evolve into signs of sympathetic overactivity (a cool moist limb) due to the development of adrenergic supersensitivity. Cross-talk between sympathetic neurotransmitters and the sensory neurons that signal pain appears to contribute to CRPS in a subgroup of patients. In addition, sympathetic activity may retard normal healing by aggravating the vascular disturbances associated with inflammation. Sympathetic dysfunction seems to originate from within the central nervous system in patients without peripheral nerve injury, possibly in association with chronic activation of the “defeat” response associated with inhibitory opioid-mediated pain modulation. Fatigue of this inhibitory process may unmask a facilitatory influence of arousal on nociceptive transmission in the thalamus and cortex that contributes to stress-induced pain.
Chronic Nonhealing Ulcer of the Lower Limb with Mixed Arterio-Venous Pathology
Authors: Vijayaraghavan K. S. , Ayyappan M. K. , Ganesh Shankar , Bhattacharya Kaushik
Published: April 2004

Chronic wounds in which arterial and venous pathology coexist are relatively uncommon. The authors report a case of a diabetic lady who presented with claudication pain and a chronic nonhealing lower extremity wound of more than 6 months. In these patients, it is mandatory to treat the arterial insufficiency first, and it is also important to avoid compression bandaging, which is advised for venous ulcers.
Mistletoe and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Model for the Phase I Study of Botanicals and Botanical-Drug Interactions in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Mansky Patrick J. , Grem Jean , Wallerstedt Dawn B. , Monahan Brian P. , Blackman Marc R.
Published: April 2004

Plant extracts of the European mistletoe (MTE), Viscum album, the most widely used cancer treatment in Germany, have been used in European countries as sole intervention or as adjunct to conventional cancer therapies for more than 80years. Preclinical data suggest immunostimulatory and cytotoxic effects of MTE. While the clinical efficacy of MTE in cancer is being investigated, toxicity and potential interactions of MTE with standard chemotherapeutic agents are unknown. Gemcitabine is an approved antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent effective as single agent in patients with solid tumors (ST). The documented metabolism and pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine make this agent well suited for the study of botanical-chemotherapy drug interactions (BDIA) in cancer. Based on reports of altered drug metabolism associated with botanical preparations, research into BDIA has intensified. The phase I, 2-stage, dose-escalation study outlined here will test MTE with gemcitabine as a paradigm for the phase I investigation of botanical-drug combination treatments in patients with advanced ST. The protocol including the following components has been reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute Institutional Review Board (IRB), the National Naval Medical Center IRB, and the Navy Clinical Investigation Program (study 02-074): (1) use of a standardized MTE, approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational use; (2) independent verification of key MTE components considered biologically active; (3) identification of contaminants and adulterants; (4) pharmacokinetics of gemcitabine and its principal metabolites before and upon exposure to MTE; (5) safety and toxicity data collection; (6) assays of plasma ML antibody production in vivo; and (7) pharmacodynamic studies of the botanical-drug combination.
Patient Responses to Cytoluminescent Therapy ® for Cancer: An Investigative Report of Early Experiences and Adverse Effects of an Unconventional Form of Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Moss Ralph W.
Published: April 2004

Cytoluminescent Therapy ®(CLT) is an unconventional form of photodynamic therapy (PDT), utilizing a secondgeneration chlorophyll-derived photosensitizing agent and whole-body illumination. Starting in late 2002, CLT was administered in Ireland to 48 patients. Illumination with lasers and light-emitting diodes followed the administration of an initial bolus IV. After returning home, patients continued self-administered treatment using oral agent activated by infrared lamps. CLT proponents claimed that these procedures were beneficial to patients with advanced cancer. An organization devoted to making information on alternative therapies available to the public was engaged to contact these CLT patients and assess the outcome. In informal contacts, patients reported that initial side effects were generally mild and transient. However, especially after commencing self-treatment, many reported unanticipated effects, including fatigue and general weakness, increased pain, cough, dyspnea, diminished appetite and weight loss, tissue necrosis, and other major symptoms. At a minimum of 6 months after initial CLT, no patient has reported an objective response, and some have complained of deterioration on the home treatment. There have been 17 deaths among the 48, with a mean survival after initial treatment among decedents of 4.2 months. CLT, in this group, was a qualified failure, with a high incidence of aftereffects. The mode of action of these aftereffects has yet to be explored. In the future, CLT should be administered to patients only in carefully managed medical facilities, by fully trained and licensed professionals, under the supervision of relevant regulatory agencies, and with meticulous follow-up care.
Managing Social Conflict in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research: The Case of Antineoplastons
Authors: Hammer Mitchell R. , Jonas Wayne B.
Published: April 2004

From December 1991 to December 1995, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiated phase II clinical trials of A10 and AS2-1 (antineoplastons) infusions in patients with diagnosed primary malignant brain tumors. Four years and more than a million dollars later, these studies were stopped before it was possible to determine the effectiveness of antineoplastons. Both NCI and Dr Burzynski, the developer of antineoplastons, accused one another of attempting to undermine the project. In an effort to determine why this study failed to be completed, the director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), who sponsored the study, commissioned a detailed analysis of the conflicts that led to the study’s closure. The intent was to understand the social dynamics surrounding this failed study and to develop a method for managing and possibly preventing such failures in the future. This clinical trial was extremely complex and comprehensive. It involved hundreds of memoranda, letters, and telephone and fax correspondence among a wide number of parties over a 4-year period. All correspondence and other documents from the OAM as well as documentation from NCI were thoroughly examined. In addition, in-depth interviews with key individuals involved in the antineoplaston study were completed and incorporated into the analysis. At least 10 areas of conflict emerged from the analysis including issues around production, quality, and delivery of antineoplastons; commencement of the trial; the role of Dr Burzynski in the trial; types and combinations of cancers; choice of clinical investigators; need for communication; criteria for patient selection and treatment; and evaluation. Each of these issues clearly represented a difference of opinion between the 2 main parties around scientific protocols. Yet contention around these substantive, “scientific” disagreements reflected conflict in attunement (trust, power, and affiliation) between Dr Burzynski and NCI. This article summarizes the findings from this case study.
From Freshman to Graduate: Recruiting and Retaining Minority Students
Authors: Hobson-Horton Lisa D. , Owens Lula
Published: April 2004

The purpose of this research project was to identify methods to retain minority teacher education candidates and identify curricular and environmental factors that affect recruitment and retention of minority teacher education candidates and student teachers. Because of the low enrollment of minority students in the department in comparison to the number of minority teachers in the state, the researchers desired to ascertain why students choose to remain or leave the department. Focus groups were conducted with minority students to collect information on retention factors.
Hispanic Students’ Reading Situations and Problems
Authors: Sanchez Kathryn S. , Bledsoe Luellen M. , Sumabat Carmela , Ye Renmin
Published: April 2004

This study discusses the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills objective-level reading scores of more than 50,000 Hispanic students by comparing ethnicity, gender, grade, and academic programs. The results revealed that reading scores were low for Hispanic students, and means were below passing levels, especially in word meaning and summarization. Hispanic students’ English-version scores at lower grade levels were higher than the Spanish version. Tenth graders did fairly well in all six objectives. Female students scored higher than males did on all six objectives for all grade levels.
Globalization and Educational Reform: The Challenges Ahead
Authors: Tierney William G.
Published: April 2004

This article addresses three goals that pertain to globalization and its impact on public policy in general and Hispanic higher education in particular. First, the author defines globalization as it relates to education. Then, he considers what globalization suggests with regard to the public good. Finally, four implications are suggested about how globalization frames Hispanic higher education. The purpose of this article is to suggest that the structural and cultural actions that we provide in response to a call for help is circumscribed by the pervasive nature of globalization.
Making College Happen: The College Experiences of First-Generation Latino Students
Authors: Saunders Marisa , Serna Irene
Published: April 2004

This article documents the experiences of a group of first-generation Latino college students who enrolled in 4-year institutions immediately after high school graduation. Students form part of a research intervention program that focuses on disrupting social reproduction by increasing college access and persistence for underrepresented youth. In particular, this article explores the long-term effects of a college access/intervention program by examining how a group of first-generation Latino college students navigate the transition from high school to college, maintain a capacity to access academic and social support while in college, and sustain a college-going identity. The experiences of these first-generation Latino college students are situated within social/cultural capital theory, social reproduction theory, and critical theory. Analysis of a longitudinal database focuses on students’ proclivity to mobilize support around academic, financial, personal, and family issues while embedded within the college milieu.
Neighborhood Planning: Uses of Oral History
Authors: Thomas June Manning
Published: April 2004

Neighborhood planning for community improvement in America’s distressed central cities is particularly difficult because the physical environment may have daunting problems and the social environment may appear unapproachable. Oral history as a technique can help access information from those “at the margins” of society who live in distressed neighborhoods. This article analyzes the potential benefits of oral histories for neighborhood planning. It also analyzes interviews conducted with board members of two Detroit community organizations to glean lessons about the importance of residents’ personal experiences within the neighborhoods. The author suggests that collecting such historical insights could become a productive part of neighborhood planning.
Styrene Block Copolymer Modified Food Wrap Film
Authors: Maris Catherine , Modic Michael
Published: April 2004

Stretch wrapping film has been used for over 30 years to protect and preserve food from moisture, dirt, and abrasion. These films allow increased food shelf lives and give the package an appealing smooth and shiny appearance. Styrenic block copolymers can be blended with polypropylene and co-extruded with ethylene vinyl acetate to form multi-layer structures suitable for food wrap applications. These films offer an excellent balance of properties combined with a low density.
Influence of Resin Molecular Weight on the Moisture Permeability of HDPE Blown Films
Authors: Godshall David , Wilkes Garth
Published: April 2004

A set of high density polyethylene (HDPE) blown films was produced from five resins of varying molecular weight under identical processing conditions. Film morphology was characterized in terms of crystalline content using refractometry as well as quantification of crystalline phase orientation through the application of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) linear dichroism. Additional insight into film structure was gained through the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) was observed to increase with resin molecular weight. The enhanced permeability of the higher molecular weight films was associated with slightly lower crystalline content and greater crystalline orientation relative to the lower molecular weight films. Due to the small differences in morphology and permeation behavior noted, the effect of orientation on WVTR performance between the films studied was only significant for the most highly oriented film.
Antimicrobial and Barrier Properties of LDPE Films Containing Imazalil and EDTA
Authors: Vartiainen Jari , Skytta Eija , Ahvenainen-Rantala Raija , Enqvist Jouni
Published: April 2004

Imazalil and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) were incorporated into low-density polyethylene (LDPE) aimed at producing antimicrobial packaging films for foodstuffs. Moulded plates (thickness 2mm) containing 5% of EDTA inhibited Bacillus subtilis, whereas 0.05–0.25% of imazalil had strong activity against Aspergillus niger. Further tests for antimicrobial activity, migration and oxygen and water vapor barrier properties were carried out using biaxially stretched LDPE films containing different combinations of both substances. The addition of imazalil and EDTA increased the oxygen transmission rates and water vapor permeabilities, although the effects with imazalil films were not as significant. Transparency of the EDTA containing films decreased rapidly as a function of added EDTA, whereas imazalil films were optically faultless. Total migration into 3% acetic acid and 10% ethanol was below 4 mg/dm2. Although imazalil retained its activity against A. niger on a high level (inhibition zones >30 mm), the activity of EDTA was gone. None of the samples inhibited Escherichia coli.
Utilizing Quantitative and Qualitative Infrared Analysis for Multilayer Films in the Production Area
Authors: Rintoul Sandy , Cobranchi Scott
Published: April 2004

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has been used in research and quality control laboratories to determine the amount of various polymers in particular specimens. This paper demonstrates that fixed filter infrared analyzers can be useful in a manufacturing process for measuring the thickness of individual plastic layers in the production of multilayer films. These fixed filter analyzers also make it possible to be sure that the proper surface of a multilayer film is being treated or laminated.
Monochorionic/Monoamniotic Twin Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Mathis Kathy A.
Published: April 2004

A twin ectopic pregnancy is rare. A monochorionic, monoamniotic twin pregnancy is also rare. The authors present a case of an ectopic monochorionic, monoamniotic twin pregnancy diagnosed by the presence of a single yolk sac. The characteristics and diagnosis of monoamniotic twin pregnancies during the first trimester are discussed.
The Horizontal Angle of the Middle Cerebral Artery from the Middle TCD Temporal Window
Authors: Jarquin-Valdivia Adrian A. , Mitsky Nina N.
Published: April 2004

Transcranial Doppler (TCD)is a common test used for cerebrovascular diseases. Typically, TCDs are done blindly, with no angle correction for any of the intracranial arteries. The authors measured the angle of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), as seen from the middle temporal sono-graphic window, on computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain. The head CT scans of 100 random adult patients were studied. The angles were measured once on each side by two blinded readers, with 200 measurements per reader, for a total of 400 measured angles. The mean angle of the MCA, as seen from the middle temporal window, is 33.9 degrees. There was no statistical difference between readers. When interrogating the MCA with TCD via the middle temporal sonographic window, it seems appropriate to use a 30-degree angle correction. More research needs to be done to determine the clinical utility of this finding.
The Provenance of Ideas: Constructing a Scientific Bibliography
Authors: Dempsey Richard
Published: April 2004

In preliterate times, information was transmitted orally from person to person. The usefulness of this information relied on the accuracy and completeness of its transmission. The way to verify the quality of the material (and therefore its usefulness) was to obtain it from a speaker or speakers whose accuracy was personally known to the listener or whose reliability was vouched for by other knowledgeable sources. When published scientific and medical journals came into being, similar safeguards were adopted, summarized in the form of the bibliography. The role of the journal is to provide an environment for the dissemination of ideas while giving the reader reasonable assurance that the material is genuine, correct, and uninfluenced by the author's financial interests. The purpose of the scientific journal bibliography is to document the author s sources of information while establishing its validity and trustworthiness to the reader
The Role of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Fryns Syndrome
Authors: Saliani Patricia , Epstein Sylvia , Cohen Daniel
Published: April 2004

Fryns syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by craniofacial, thoracic, limb, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This case demonstrates the role of sonography in detecting this entity in a fetus that demonstrated normal maternal serum screening and amniocentesis. In this case, there was no family history of this defect, the parents were not consanguineous, and an autopsy was unavailable.
Heterotopic Thyroid
Authors: Auckland Amanda K.
Published: April 2004

Heterotopia of the thyroid gland is veryuncommon. Ectopic thyroid results from embryologicaberration characterized by the existence ofthyroid tissue in a site other than its usual locationanterior to the trachea. Ectopic thyroid tissue isusually found along the path of initial descent ofthe thyroid, representing a failure of the thyroidto descend completely. Thyroid ectopia mayalso be found in locations other than the typicalpathway of embryologic descent. It is importantto consider ectopic thyroid as a differentialdiagnosis when a mass is discovered in the neck,chest, or, rarely, other locations.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonographers
Authors: Brown Grahame , Baker Joan
Published: April 2004

The historical perspective of the problem ofwork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD)is outlined to understand why a newbiopsychosocial paradigm is required. The availableepidemiologic evidence is reviewed, and theclinical problem underlying the chronic pain thatmany sonographers experience is identified. Problem solving is broken down into identifyingobstacles to recovery. Causation is multifactorial, and therefore management must bemultimodal. A case that had a good outcome ispresented. New industry standards (May 2003)for the prevention of WRULD in sonographersare cited.
Familial Autosomal Dominant Brachydactyly Using 3D Surface Rendering and Multiplanar Reconstruction
Authors: Hill Donald S. , Drew Deborah , Menihan Susan
Published: April 2004

This case report demonstrates a normal fetuswith familial autosomal dominantbrachydactyly. The sonographic examination used 3Dsurface rendering and multiplanarreconstruction. The mother had a personal as well as familyhistory of the inherited anomaly.
Effect of nitrogen addition on formation of secondary austenite in duplex stainless steel weld metals and resultant properties
Authors: Muthupandi V. , Bala Srinivasan P. , Seshadri S. K. , Sundaresan S.
Published: April 2004

The gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding process is widely employed for fabricating duplex stainless steel (DSS) components. The microstructural phase balance is disturbed in DSS welds owing to the thermal cycles associated with welding and the desired phase balance is generally achieved either through control of heat input or by altering the composition. In GTA welding, the phase balance is obtained either via the use of nickel fortified fillers or by introduction of nitrogen. Control of ferrite in the welds is essential, since metastable ferrite may transform to secondary austenite during multiple pass welding. The present work describes the influence of nitrogen on the phase balance of DSS welds and also its controlling effect on the secondary austenite formation in multiple pass welds. It was observed that neither the nitrogen addition nor the secondary austenite formation influenced the hardness of the welds, but formation of secondary austenite led to a deterioration in corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of welds containing secondary austenite (SA) was observed to be inferior to that of SA free weld metals.