bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Corporate Environmental Reporting on the Internet
Authors: Rodríguez Bolívar Manuel Pedro
Published: August 2007

Extant literature has noted that traditional paper-based reporting is becoming less timely and less useful to decision makers. Stakeholder pressure is making companies use communication channels other than paper-based reporting, such as the Internet. This article seeks to contribute to the literature by analyzing the extent to which firms are using the Internet to communicate their corporate environmental reporting as a transparency information policy to manage corporate legitimacy. Because utility and resource industries are considered sensitive industries with regard to their impact on the natural environment, these firms are expected to offer corporate environmental reporting on the Web to cope with prevailing stakeholders pressures. This article also explores the environmental online disclosures made by Spanish publicly listed companies. Although sample firms practice corporate environmental reporting on the Web, results indicate differences between sample industries' Internet disclosures and the lack of a standardized framework for corporate environmental reporting.
The relationship between trust, attachment, and antisocial work behaviors
Authors: Thau Stefan , Crossley Craig , Bennett Rebecca J. , Sczesny Sabine
Published: August 2007

Three studies tested hypotheses derived from an integrative social exchange — attachment model suggesting that employees' trust in an organization or its authorities predicts antisocial work behaviors, which should be mediated by the extent to which employees feel attached to the organization and/or its members. Study 1 showed that perceptions of workgroup cohesion mediate the relationship between trust in senior management and antisocial work behaviors. Study 2 suggested that intentions to stay with the organization mediate the relationship between trust in supervisor and antisocial work behaviors. Study 3 found that the relationship between trust in organization and antisocial work behaviors was partially mediated by perceptions of workgroup cohesion. In sum, results provide converging evidence that trust relates to antisocial behaviors indirectly, through feelings of attachment to the organization and its members.
Making career choice: A study of Chinese managers
Authors: Wong Amy Lai Yu
Published: August 2007

Compared with the extensive research on managerial careers in the West, little has emerged from China and South-East Asia. This exploratory study used Schein's concept of Career Anchors to investigate how 117 Taiwanese managers made their initial career choice and the values which shaped their subsequent careers. The findings indicate how cultural specificity and political dynamics impacted on the managers' career experience. The Taiwanese subjects valued independence, a balanced lifestyle and entrepreneurial opportunities. The findings further indicate how career pathways can be of an individual's own making, embracing life in its broadest aspects and not exclusively forged within organizations. The study sheds light on the field of vocational choice and adjustment within the Chinese context.
Effects of movement imagery and electromyography-triggered feedback on arm—hand function in stroke patients in the subacute phase
Authors: Hemmen B. , Seelen H.A.M.
Published: August 2007

Objective: To investigate the effects of movement imagery-assisted electromyography (EMG)-triggered feedback (focused on paretic wrist dorsiflexors) on the arm—hand function of stroke patients.

Design: Single-blinded, longitudinal, multicentre randomized controlled trial. Measurements were performed (on average) 54 days post stroke (baseline), three months later (post training) and at 12 months post baseline.

Setting: Two rehabilitation centres.

Subjects: Twenty-seven patients with a first-ever, ischaemic, subacute stroke.

Interventions: A reference group received conventional electrostimulation, while the experimental group received arm—hand function training based on EMG-triggered feedback combined with movement imagery. Both groups were trained for three months, 5 days/week, 30 minutes/day, in addition to their therapy as usual.

Main measures: Arm—hand function was evaluated using the upper extremity-related part of the Brunnstrom Fugl-Meyer test and the Action Research Arm test.

Results: During training, Brunnstrom Fugl-Meyer scores improved 8.7 points and Action Research Arm scores by 19.4 points ( P < 0.0001) in both groups relative to baseline results, rising to 13.3 and 28.4 points respectively at one year follow-up ( P < 0.0001). No between-group differences were found at any time.

Conclusions: EMG-triggered feedback stimulation did not lead to more arm—hand function improvement relative to conventional electrostimulation. However, in contrast to many clinical reports, a significant improvement was still observed in both groups nine months after treatment ceased.
The Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS): reliability, validity and acceptability in people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kayes Nicola M. , McPherson Kathryn M. , Taylor Denise , Schluter Philip J. , Wilson Bobbie-Jo K. , Kolt Gregory S.
Published: August 2007

Objective: To explore the test—retest reliability and construct validity of the standardized Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS) and its acceptability to people with multiple sclerosis.

Design: Participants completed the PADS twice with seven days between repeated measures, while also wearing an Actical accelerometer. Semi-structured interview questions were used to explore the acceptability of the PADS.

Subjects: Thirty participants were recruited from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Auckland, New Zealand. Mean age of participants was 54 years (range 27–76)..

Main Measuress: Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS) and Actical accelerometer.

Results: A wide range of standardized PADS scores were recorded at each time-point (ranges 6.7-83.3 and 6.7-87.4). While standardized PADS scores between time-points had a high intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88, 0.98), Bland–Altman 95% limits of agreement (–17.4, 17.4) were modest. Accelerometer activity counts were not accurately predicted by standardized PADS scores (wide 95% prediction intervals). Participants reported the PADS was easy to understand and complete, enabling them to give an accurate picture of their physical activity.

Conclusions: The PADS appears to be a potentially appropriate measure of activity for people with multiple sclerosis, particularly in terms of the wide range of activities it covers and its ability to detect varying levels of physical activity. We suggest the test–retest reliability and validity of the PADS could be improved with some minor revisions.
Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the clinical trunk muscle endurance tests in low back pain
Authors: Massoud Arab Amir , Salavati Mahyar , Ebrahimi Ismaeil , Ebrahim Mousavi Mohammad
Published: August 2007

Objective: To describe the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of five clinical tests used to measure trunk muscle endurance in low back pain.

Design: A cross-sectional non-experimental design.

Setting: Orthopaedic and physical therapy departments of four hospitals and outpatient physical therapy clinics, Tehran, Iran.

Subjects: Convenience sample of 200 subjects participated in this study. Subjects were categorized into four groups: men without low back pain ( N = 50, mean (SD) age = 38 (12) years), women without low back pain ( N = 50, mean (SD) age = 43 (11) years), men with low back pain ( N = 50, mean (SD) age = 39 (12) years) and women with low back pain ( N = 50, mean (SD) age = 43 (12) years).

Main measures: Five clinical static endurance tests of trunk muscles such as: Sorensen test, prone isometric chest raise test, prone double straight-leg raise test, supine isometric chest raise test and supine double straight-leg raise test were measured in each group.

Results: The result of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis revealed that in a separate analysis of data for men and women, among all tests, the prone double straight-leg raise test had the highest sensitivity, specificity and predictive value in low back pain compared with other performed tests.

Conclusions: It seems that the prone double straight-leg raise test has more sensitivity, specificity and predictive value in low back pain than other tests and could be used as a useful clinical method for testing the spinal muscle endurance to predict the probability of the occurrence of low back pain.
Predictors for persistent neck/shoulder pain, medical care-seeking due to neck/shoulder pain and sickness absence
Authors: Grooten Wilhelmus Johannes Andreas
Published: August 2007

Objective: To determine whether symptoms and clinical signs can predict persistent neck/shoulder pain, future medical care-seeking and sickness absence.

Design: A population-based cohort was followed prospectively over a 5—6 year period.

Setting: Subjects from the district of Norrtälje (Sweden).

Subjects: Subjects with self-rated neck/shoulder pain were included ( n = 1471).

Main measures: Cox regression analyses were used to test the predictive value of single and combinations of symptoms and clinical signs obtained with questionnaires and simple tests concerning persistent neck/shoulder pain, future medical care-seeking and sickness absence.

Results: Several symptoms and clinical signs were associated with the outcomes of interest: the relative risk (RR) for persistent neck/shoulder pain was 1.38 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14—1.52) for subjects with pain for over three months at baseline and concerning future medical care-seeking RR was 2.10 (95% CI 1.73—2.54) for subjects who had previously sought medical care. An episode of sickness absence during the year of enrolment increased the risk for future sickness absence (RR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.95—3.00). Having five or seven concurrent symptoms and clinical signs was common and more strongly associated with persistent pain (RR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.39 — 2.27) and future medical care-seeking (RR = 4.51, 95% CI 2.54—9.94), respectively, but not concerning sickness absence.

Conclusion: By simply counting the number of concurrent symptoms and clinical signs, it is possible to predict persistent neck/shoulder pain and future medical care-seeking, but not sickness absence.
Family-centred care in family-specific teams
Authors: Nijhuis B.J.G. , Reinders-Messelink H.A. , de Blécourt A.C.E. , Hitters W.M.G.C. , Groothoff J.W. , Nakken H. , Postema K.
Published: August 2007

Objective: To evaluate the perceptions and views of parents and rehabilitation and special education professionals on the family-centredness of care delivered and received.

Design: Descriptive study with comparison of ratings in family-specific teams.

Setting: Five paediatric facilities in the Netherlands.

Subjects: Parents of children with cerebral palsy and professionals providing their children's rehabilitation and educational services.

Main measures: The Dutch Measure of Processes of Care for families (MPOC-NL) and the Measure of Processes of Care for service providers (MPOC-SP). Data were collected and analysed per family.

Results: In total 38 MPOC-NLs and 204 MPOC-SPs were returned. The family-specific team analysis of importance ratings yielded significant differences ( P < 0.05) on all domains between parents, rehabilitation professionals and special education professionals. For Enabling and partnership ( P < 0.01) and Specific information about the child ( P < 0.01), parents considered the behaviours to be significantly more important than rehabilitation professionals. The problem-score analyses showed that in all domains a considerable number of parents (19—38%) did not receive the care they deemed important.

Conclusion: Family-specific analyses of MPOC importance ratings revealed differences in attitudes towards importance of specific care behaviours of team members, which subsequently may have caused the relatively high incidence of parents not receiving the care they deemed important. This underscores the need to explore and attune opinions on what constitutes proper service delivery.
Special Section: Pleasure in Mind
Authors: McIlwain Doris
Published: August 2007

After a brief introduction to Silvan Tomkins, the man and his work, the interdisciplinary reach of Tomkins' theory of affect is demonstrated here in a collection of articles illustrating how affective engagement intertwines inner and outer reality. Susan Best rescues the `pleasure in looking' from renunciation, consolation or a voyeuristic, suspect visual pleasure, and revitalizes aesthetics using Tomkins' conceptualization of affects, interest and joy. These affects suspend the viewer between objectification and identification, as interest leaves the art as object, while joy renders it a source of communion. Adam Frank demonstrates how lingering unspoken affective memory—bodily memory—uncannily shapes our negotiations with the environment, via skills or taboos: skills which remain as phantom `nervy guesses' as to where a lost limb might have been; or taboos on looking limiting our visual pleasure. Doris McIlwain rezones pleasure, renews the promise of drive theory and maps how even transient affective states (or gaps in affective experience) become enduring personality dispositions promoting cascading developmental constraints regarding what we can feel about, and do to, ourselves and others.
Special Section: Phantoms Limn
Authors: Frank Adam
Published: August 2007

This article translates aspects of Freud's analysis of uncanny experiences and feelings using Silvan Tomkins' writing on the taboos on looking and phantom limb phenomenon. Centering on a poem by Emily Dickinson that has often been read in terms of the return of the repressed, the article argues that Dickinson's poem may be better understood using the idea of the sudden return or quickening of old, forgotten and overwritten visceral or kinesthetic theories. The article suggests that both Dickinson's poem and Freud's essay register peculiar experiences conditioned by photography as the graphic reproduction of facial affect, and proposes Tomkins' affect theory as a tool for better describing these media conditions.
Grounding a Critical Psychoanalysis in Frameworks of Power
Authors: Guilfoyle Michael
Published: August 2007

This article outlines two frameworks of power to explore the relationship between consulting room practices of psychoanalysis and societal networks of power. First, focus falls on Habermas's view of Freudian psychoanalysis as an emancipatory practice. Despite Habermas's problematic rationalistic interpretation of classical analysis, he may have been correct in noting that it attempts to stand in external relation to the systems of power that it seeks to address. This is a problematic grounding for critique, which may lead to idealism and authoritarianism. The second framework is an internalist Foucauldian one, which proposes that the analyst cannot avoid participation in societal power dynamics even in the consulting room. This framework is preferred, but must take account of Habermas's charge that Foucault's position succumbs to relativism. Following some reworking, the internalist approach is used to generate three principles for critical activity in relation to which classical and other psychoanalytic practices are examined.
Hallucinating Consistency
Authors: Elbers Nieke , Geraerts Elke , van Heerden Jaap
Published: August 2007

Top-down processes like heuristics and gap filling create consistency in normal perception. Sometimes top-down processes cause illusory perceptions. Top-down processes are also involved in the creation of hallucinations, experienced in phenomena like sensory deprivation and phantom limbs. Moreover, it has been argued that the left hemisphere is important in the creation of hallucinations, since it also creates consistency. The influence of the left hemisphere in creating hallucinations is evidenced by an experiment concerning anosognosia (denial of illness). In schizophrenia, top-down processes and the left hemisphere both seem to be involved in the creation of hallucinations. It is argued that hallucinations are instigated for creating consistency and thereby have a functional character.
The zero-inflated negative binomial regression model with correction for misclassification: an example in caries research
Authors: Mwalili Samuel M , Lesaffre Emmanuel , Declerck Dominique
Published: August 2007

Zero-inflated models for count data are becoming quite popular nowadays and are found in many application areas, such as medicine, economics, biology, sociology and so on. However, in practice these counts are often prone to measurement error which in this case boils down to misclassification. Methods to deal with misclassification of counts have been suggested recently, but only for the binomial model and the Poisson model. Here we look at a more complex model, that is, the zero-inflated negative binomial, and illustrate how correction for misclassification can be achieved. Our approach is illustrated on the dmft-index which is a popular measure for caries experience in caries research. An extra problem was the fact that several dental examiners were involved in scoring caries experience. Using our example, we illustrate how a non-differential misclassification process for each examiner can lead to differential misclassification overall.
Optimal designs for clinical trials with second-order polynomial treatment effects
Authors: Winkens Bjorn , Schouten Hubert J. A. , van Breukelen Gerard J. P. , Berger Martijn P. F.
Published: August 2007

The effect of adding intermediate measures on the efficiency of treatment effect estimation is considered for a second-order polynomial treatment effect, equidistant time-points, different covariance structures and two optimality criteria, assuming either a fixed sample size or a fixed budget. The benefit of adding intermediate measures (at the expense of subjects) depends strongly on the assumed covariance structure and is hardly affected by the two used optimality criteria ( Ds or c). For a fixed sample size, the increase in efficiency by adding intermediate measures is large for a compound symmetric structure and small for a first-order auto-regressive structure. For a first-order auto-regressive structure with measurement error, the results depend on the covariance parameter values. For a fixed budget and linear cost function, the design with only three measures per subject is often highly efficient. If the structure resembles compound symmetry and the cost per subject is eight or more times larger than the cost per repeated measure, however, more than three measures are required to obtain highly efficient treatment effect estimators. If the covariance structure is unknown, the optimal design based on a first-order auto-regressive structure with measurement error is preferable in terms of robustness against misspecification of the covariance structure. Given a design with three repeated measures and a second-order polynomial treatment effect, equidistant time-points are either optimal ( Ds- ) or highly efficient ( c-optimality criterion). The results are illustrated by a practical example.
A Bayesian approach to assess interaction between known risk factors: the risk of lung cancer from exposure to asbestos and smoking
Authors: Wraith D. , Mengersen K.
Published: August 2007

We review the literature on the combined effect of asbestos exposure and smoking on lung cancer, and explore a Bayesian approach to assess evidence of interaction. Previous approaches have focussed on separate tests for an additive or multiplicative relation. We extend these approaches by exploring the strength of evidence for either relation using approaches which allow the data to choose between both models. We then compare the different approaches.
A general approach to evaluating agreement between two observers or methods of measurement from quantitative data with replicated measurements
Authors: Haber Michael , Barnhart Huiman X
Published: August 2007

We present a general approach to the definition and estimation of coefficients for evaluating agreement between two fixed methods of measurements or human observers. The measured variable is assumed to be continuous with a finite second moment. No other distributional assumptions are made. We introduce the term `disagreement function' for the function of the observations that is used to quantify the extent of disagreement between the two measurements made on the same subject. The proposed inter-methods agreement coefficients compare the disagreement between measurements made by different methods on the same subject to the corresponding disagreement between replicated measurements made by the same method. Therefore, the new coefficients require data with replications readings.

We propose inter-methods agreement coefficients for two practical situations involving two methods that have a measurement error: 1) comparison of a new method to a gold standard (or a reference method), and 2) comparison of two methods where neither method is considered a gold standard. We consider three disagreement functions based on the differences between two measurements: 1 ) the mean squared difference, 2) the mean absolute difference and 3 ) the mean relative difference. We then derive non-parametric estimates for the various agreement coefficients. Our approach is illustrated using data from a study comparing systolic blood pressure measurements by a human observer and an automatic monitor. The performance of the new estimates is assessed via stochastic simulations.
Modeling influenza incidence for the purpose of on-line monitoring
Authors: Andersson Eva , Bock David , Frisén Marianne
Published: August 2007

We describe and discuss statistical models of Swedish influenza data, with special focus on aspects which are important in on-line monitoring. Earlier suggested statistical models are reviewed and the possibility of using them to describe the variation in influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory diagnoses (LDI) is discussed. Exponential functions were found to work better than earlier suggested models for describing the influenza incidence. However, the parameters of the estimated functions varied considerably between years. For monitoring purposes we need models which focus on stable indicators of the change at the outbreak and at the peak.

For outbreak detection we focus on ILI data. Instead of a parametric estimate of the baseline (which could be very uncertain), we suggest a model utilizing the monotonicity property of a rise in the incidence. For ILI data at the outbreak, Poisson distributions can be used as a first approximation.

To confirm that the peak has occurred and the decline has started, we focus on LDI data. A Gaussian distribution is a reasonable approximation near the peak. In view of the variability of the shape of the peak, we suggest that a detection system use the monotonicity properties of a peak.
Relative efficiency of unequal cluster sizes for variance component estimation in cluster randomized and multicentre trials
Authors: van Breukelen Gerard JP , Candel Math JJM , Berger Martijn PF
Published: August 2007

Cluster randomized and multicentre trials evaluate the effect of a treatment on persons nested within clusters, for instance patients within clinics or pupils within schools. Although equal sample sizes per cluster are generally optimal for parameter estimation, they are rarely feasible. This paper addresses the relative efficiency (RE) of unequal versus equal cluster sizes for estimating variance components in cluster randomized trials and in multicentre trials with person randomization within centres, assuming a quantitative outcome. Starting from maximum likelihood estimation, the RE is investigated numerically for a range of cluster size distributions. An approximate formula is presented for computing the RE as a function of the mean and variance of cluster sizes and the intraclass correlation. The accuracy of this approximation is checked and found to be good. It is concluded that the loss of efficiency for variance component estimation due to variation of cluster sizes rarely exceeds 20% and can be compensated by sampling 25% more clusters.
A review of modern multiple hypothesis testing, with particular attention to the false discovery proportion
Authors: Farcomeni Alessio
Published: August 2007

In the last decade a growing amount of statistical research has been devoted to multiple testing, motivated by a variety of applications in medicine, bioinformatics, genomics, brain imaging, etc. Research in this area is focused on developing powerful procedures even when the number of tests is very large. This paper attempts to review research in modern multiple hypothesis testing with particular attention to the false discovery proportion, loosely defined as the number of false rejections divided by the number of rejections. We review the main ideas, stepwise and augmentation procedures; and resampling based testing. We also discuss the problem of dependence among the test statistics. Simulations make a comparison between the procedures and with Bayesian methods. We illustrate the procedures in applications in DNA microarray data analysis. Finally, few possibilities for further research are highlighted.
Efficacy studies of malaria treatments in Africa: efficient estimation with missing indicators of failure
Authors: Machekano RN , Dorsey G. , Hubbard A.
Published: August 2007

The effect of missing data in causal inference problems is widely recognized. In malaria drug ef“cacy studies, it is often dif“cult to distinguish between new and old infections after treatment, resulting in indeterminate outcomes. Methods that adjust for possible bias from missing data include a variety of imputation procedures (extreme case analysis, hot-deck, single and multiple imputation), weighting methods, and likelihood based methods (data augmentation, EM procedures and their extensions). In this article, we focus our discussion on multiple imputation and two weighting procedures (the inverse probability weighted and the doubly robust (DR) extension), comparing the methods' applicability to the ef“cient estimation of malaria treatment effects. Simulation studies indicate that DR estimators are generally preferable because they offer protection to misspeci“cation of either the outcome model or the missingness model. We apply the methods to analyze malaria ef“cacy studies from Uganda.
Explaining Habits in a New Context the Case of Travel-Mode Choice
Authors: Davidov Eldad
Published: August 2007

It is often assumed that habits constitute an important component in human behavior. However, since the beginning of the century many sociologists have overlooked their role in explaining behavior. In this article we are testing empirically the completeness of an economic model made by Stigler and Becker to explain the effect of habit on behavior in a new context. According to the model habits are economically efficient in many cases. However, when an individual is faced with a permanent change in the environment, behavior is not determined by habits, but by the amount invested in information on the best options. We collected data from a field experiment on travel-mode choice with an intervention program to change the behavior of people moving to a new town. The intervention included information on available public transportation. Habit was measured by the subject's judgments of the likelihood that using public transport will take place in different kinds of situations. Theory was confirmed by the empirical data: there was no effect of habits on behavior in the new context. People in the intervention group used public transportation more often. However, search for information prior to the move had no effect. Some socio-economic variables had an additional effect on behavior in contrast to theory. People with a car at their disposal and those with higher education used the car more often.
The Social Exchange Heuristic: Managing Errors in Social Exchange
Authors: Yamagishi Toshio , Terai Shigeru , Kiyonari Toko , Mifune Nobuhiro , Kanazawa Satoshi
Published: August 2007

We extend the logic of Haselton and Buss's (2000) error management theory to the domain of social exchange and propose that a psychological mechanism, referred to as the social exchange heuristic (SEH), produces certain cognitive biases that affect how individuals manage these errors. We predicted that the SEH would remain dormant in individuals who failed to realize that they were in a situation that involved social exchange. In the first experiment ( n = 78), PD players who had a chance, before they played the game, to think both about the nature of the game they were playing and about their partner's choice were less cooperative compared to players of the standard one-shot PDG. In the second experiment ( n = 105), PD players were again less cooperative when they made their decision before they were matched with a particular partner than after they had been matched with a partner. Results strongly suggest the operation of a SEH.
The Time Relevance of Social Capital
Authors: Rhee Mooweon
Published: August 2007

This article examines how the time relevance of social capital from social networks affects upward mobility. An analysis of survey data from 229 employees in a high-technology workplace shows that the effects of position-related networks (measured by network size and density) on promotion are affected by the temporal distribution of ties (measured by whether a tie was formed before or after an employee's positional change), while the effects of person-related networks are insensitive to temporal effects. The results support a necessary emphasis on the time-contingent value of social capital. I conclude with a discussion of the implications of the findings for organization theories and network theories.
Profiling Virtual Employees
Authors: Merriman Kimberly K. , Schmidt Stuart M. , Dunlap-Hinkler Denise
Published: August 2007

Leaders in the age of virtual work require an understanding of how this affects their employees' relations with management. From a survey of employees working in a variety of virtual and conventional settings, an empirical profile of employee-manager relationships was completed using a multidimensional measure of virtual status. The profile identified distinct virtual characteristics for two types of virtual employment relationships—free agents and regular core employees who work virtually—and contrasting characteristics for conventional employment relationships. Further analysis of the identified groups suggests that trust in one's manager and perceived managerial support differ across types of employment relationships. Specifically, the findings indicate lower levels of trust and support within virtual as compared to conventional relationships, and lower levels of trust within free-agent versus regular-employee virtual relationships. Implications for future research and management practice are discussed.
Falling Over Ourselves to Follow the Leader
Authors: Kotlyar Igor , Karakowsky Leonard
Published: August 2007

Recently, there has been growing interest in more fully examining the situational conditions under which the positive effects of charismatic or transformational leadership are actually achieved. The positive impact of transformational leadership on follower performance has received wide support in the literature. However, much less is known about the impact of transformational leadership on team performance. Although a number of authors have attempted to connect transformational leadership with higher levels of team performance, there has been little effort to delineate the relationship between transformational leadership and teamwork processes or skill sets. This article offers a conceptual examination of the potential link between transformational leadership behavior and the generation of dysfunctional team conflict. Although traditionally praised as a powerful and superior form of leadership style, we suggest that transformational leaders have the potential to unwittingly ignite disproportionately high levels of affective team conflict.
Explanations for States Adopting Limits on Educational Spending
Authors: Husted Thomas A. , Kenny Lawrence W.
Published: August 2007

It is not obvious why voters choose to constrain themselves by imposing term limits on politicians or spending limits when they can throw an official out of office if he or she spends too much or makes other decisions that displease them. Between 1976 and 1983, voters in nearly a third of the states adopted spending limits on school districts. This paper tests a number of untested hypotheses about why some states adopt spending limits and others do not. The novel results suggest that spending limits are adopted in states in which (1) voters can easily place initiatives on the ballot, (2) house prices are outstripping income, (3) the electoral mechanism is less effective in getting rid of politicians who selected the wrong tax rates, (4) there is excessive state spending due to common-pool problems found in large legislatures, and (5) schools are less efficient due to little competition among school districts.
Audit Uncertainty, Bayesian Updating, and Tax Evasion
Authors: Snow Arthur , Warren Ronald S.
Published: August 2007

We extend the standard, one-period model of tax evasion to an inter-temporal framework in which an expected-utility-maximizing taxpayer updates expectations about the probability of a future audit based on past audit experience. This framework provides a theoretical grounding for the empirical evidence indicating that tax evasion is affected by taxpayers' perceptions of audit probabilities and is influenced by taxpayers' prior audit experience. We show that for a variety of risk preferences, Bayesian updating increases present and expected future tax evasion and reduces tax payments, inclusive of expected fines. These findings call into question the usefulness of Internal Revenue Service secrecy about audit probabilities for raising taxpayer compliance and expected tax revenue.
Tax Evasion and the Cost of Public Sector Activities
Authors: Levaggi Rosella
Published: August 2007

This article examines the effects of tax evasion on the cost of goods and services in an environment where input prices are homogenously taxed but evasion is intersectorially differentiated. Tax evasion raises the relative cost of producing goods and services in the sectors where evasion is more difficult. Such an effect adds a potentially important but so far neglected element to the relative cost of goods and services produced by the public sector. The general equilibrium analysis presented in this article shows the perverse effects of tax evasion, which reduces total production (and hence total wealth) even in a model where because of the absence of redistributive effects, tax evasion is simply fiscal illusion.
Brain Activity Associated With Stimulation Therapy of the Visual Borderzone in Hemianopic Stroke Patients
Authors: Marshall Randolph S. , Ferrera John J. , Barnes Anna , Xian Zhang  , O'Brien Katherine A. , Chmayssani Mohamad , Hirsch Joy , Lazar Ronald M.
Published: August 2007

Background and objective. Visual restoration therapy is a home-based treatment program intended to expand visual fields of hemianopic patients through repetitive stimulation of the borderzone adjacent to the blind field. We hypothesized that the training itself would induce visual field location-specific changes in the brain's response to stimuli, a phenomenon demonstrated in animal experiments but never in humans with brain injury. Methods. Six chronic right hemianopic patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)—responding to stimuli in the trained visual borderzone versus the nontrained seeing field before and after 1 month of visual restoration therapy. Spatially normalized fMRI time-series data were analyzed in a fixed-effects group analysis comparing blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activity in the borderzone versus seeing location at baseline and at 1 month. Percent BOLD change was measured to determine each condition's contribution to the time-by-condition interaction. Results. There was a significant time by condition interaction manifested as increased BOLD activity for borderzone detection relative to seeing detection after the first month of therapy, which correlated with a relative improvement in response times in the borderzone location out-of-scanner. The right inferior and lateral temporal, right dorsolateral frontal, bilateral anterior cingulate, and bilateral basal ganglia showed the greatest response. Conclusion. Visual restoration therapy appears to induce an alteration in brain activity associated with a shift of attention from the nontrained seeing field to the trained borderzone. The effect appears to be mediated by the anterior cingulate and dorsolateral frontal cortex in conjunction with other higher order visual areas in the occipitotemporal and middle temporal regions. Demonstration of a visual field—specific training effect on brain activity provides an important starting point for understanding the potential for visual therapy in hemianopia.
Microarray amplification bias: loss of 30% differentially expressed genes due to long probe – poly(A)-tail distances
Authors: Boelens Mirjam C , te Meerman Gerard J , Gibcus Johan H , Blokzijl Tjasso , Boezen H Marike , Timens Wim , Postma Dirkje S , Groen Harry JM , van den Berg Anke
Published: August 2007

Background

Laser microdissection microscopy has become a rising tool to assess gene expression profiles of pure cell populations. Given the low yield of RNA, a second round of amplification is usually mandatory to yield sufficient amplified-RNA for microarray approaches. Since amplification induces truncation of RNA molecules, we studied the impact of a second round of amplification on identification of differentially expressed genes in relation to the probe – poly(A)-tail distances.

Results

Disagreement was observed between gene expression profiles acquired after a second round of amplification compared to a single round. Thirty percent of the differentially expressed genes identified after one round of amplification were not detected after two rounds. These inconsistent genes have a significant longer probe – poly(A)-tail distance. qRT-PCR on unamplified RNA confirmed differential expression of genes with a probe – poly(A)-tail distance >500 nucleotides appearing only after one round of amplification.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate a marked loss of 30% of truly differentially expressed genes after a second round of amplification. Therefore, we strongly recommend improvement of amplification procedures and importance of microarray probe design to allow detection of all differentially expressed genes in case of limited amounts of RNA.
Validation of rice genome sequence by optical mapping
Authors: Zhou Shiguo , Bechner Michael C , Place Michael , Churas Chris P , Pape Louise , Leong Sally A , Runnheim Rod , Forrest Dan K , Goldstein Steve , Livny Miron , Schwartz David C
Published: August 2007

Background

Rice feeds much of the world, and possesses the simplest genome analyzed to date within the grass family, making it an economically relevant model system for other cereal crops. Although the rice genome is sequenced, validation and gap closing efforts require purely independent means for accurate finishing of sequence build data.

Results

To facilitate ongoing sequencing finishing and validation efforts, we have constructed a whole-genome SwaI optical restriction map of the rice genome. The physical map consists of 14 contigs, covering 12 chromosomes, with a total genome size of 382.17 Mb; this value is about 11% smaller than original estimates. 9 of the 14 optical map contigs are without gaps, covering chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 10, and 12 in their entirety – including centromeres and telomeres. Alignments between optical andin silicorestriction maps constructed from IRGSP (International Rice Genome Sequencing Project) and TIGR (The Institute for Genomic Research) genome sequence sources are comprehensive and informative, evidenced by map coverage across virtually all published gaps, discovery of new ones, and characterization of sequence misassemblies; all totalling ~14 Mb. Furthermore, since optical maps are ordered restriction maps, identified discordances are pinpointed on a reliable physical scaffold providing an independent resource for closure of gaps and rectification of misassemblies.

Conclusion

Analysis of sequence and optical mapping data effectively validates genome sequence assemblies constructed from large, repeat-rich genomes. Given this conclusion we envision new applications of such single molecule analysis that will merge advantages offered by high-resolution optical maps with inexpensive, but short sequence reads generated by emerging sequencing platforms. Lastly, map construction techniques presented here points the way to new types of comparative genome analysis that would focus on discernment of structural differences revealed by optical maps constructed from a broad range of rice subspecies and varieties.
Success of microvascular surgery; repair mesenteric injury and prevent short bowel syndrome: a case report
Authors: Aydin Unal , Unalp Omer V , Yazici Pinar , Guler Adem
Published: August 2007

Background

Superior mesenteric injury is a rare entity but when it occurs, short bowel syndrome is one of the uninvited results of the emergency surgical procedures.

Case presentation

We present a 19-year-old boy with blunt abdominal trauma which caused serious mesenteric injury. Because ultrasound revealed free intraabdominal fluid, he underwent emergency laparotomy. Adequate vascularization of approximately 20 cm of proximal jejunal segment and approximately 20 cm of terminal ileum was observed. Nevertheless, the mesentery of the rest of the small intestine segments was ruptured completely. We performed an end-to-end anastomosis between a distal branch of the superior mesenteric artery in the mesentery of the ileal segment and a branch of the superior mesenteric artery using separate sutures of 7.0 monofilament polypropylene. The patient's gastrointestinal passage returned to normal on the postoperative day 2. He recovered without any complication and was discharged from hospital on the postoperative day seven.

Discussion

In this case report, we emphasize the importance of preservation of injured mesenteric artery due to abdominal trauma which could have resulted in short bowel syndrome.
Analysis of the geographic distribution of HFRS in Liaoning Province between 2000 and 2005
Authors: Lin Hualiang , Liu Qiyong , Guo Junqiao , Zhang Jibo , Wang Jinfeng , Chen Huaxin
Published: August 2007

Background

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic in Liaoning Province, China, and this province was the most serious area affected by HFRS during 2004 to 2005. In this study, we conducted a spatial analysis of HFRS cases with the objective to determine the distribution of HFRS cases and to identify key areas for future public health planning and resource allocation in Liaoning Province.

Methods

The annual average incidence at the county level was calculated using HFRS cases reported between 2000 and 2005 in Liaoning Province. GIS-based spatial analyses were conducted to detect spatial distribution and clustering of HFRS incidence at the county level, and the difference of relative humidity and forestation between the cluster areas and non-cluster areas was analyzed.

Results

Spatial distribution of HFRS cases in Liaoning Province from 2000 to 2005 was mapped at the county level to show crude incidence, excess hazard, and spatial smoothed incidence. Spatial cluster analysis suggested 16 and 41 counties were at increased risk for HFRS (p < 0.01) with the maximum spatial cluster sizes at ≤ 50% and ≤ 30% of the total population, respectively, and the analysis showed relative humidity and forestation in the cluster areas were significantly higher than in other areas.

Conclusion

Some clustering of HFRS cases in Liaoning Province may be etiologically linked. There was strong evidence some HFRS cases in Liaoning Province formed clusters, but the mechanism underlying it remains unknown. In this study we found the clustering was consistent with the relative humidity and amount of forestation, and showed data indicating there may be some significant relationships.
Microbial proteomics: a mass spectrometry primer for biologists
Authors: Graham Robert LJ , Graham Ciaren , McMullan Geoff
Published: August 2007

It is now more than 10 years since the publication of the first microbial genome sequence and science is now moving towards a post genomic era with transcriptomics and proteomics offering insights into cellular processes and function. The ability to assess the entire protein network of a cell at a given spatial or temporal point will have a profound effect upon microbial science as the function of proteins is inextricably linked to phenotype. Whilst such a situation is still beyond current technologies rapid advances in mass spectrometry, bioinformatics and protein separation technologies have produced a step change in our current proteomic capabilities. Subsequently a small, but steadily growing, number of groups are taking advantage of this cutting edge technology to discover more about the physiology and metabolism of microorganisms. From this research it will be possible to move towards a systems biology understanding of a microorganism. Where upon researchers can build a comprehensive cellular map for each microorganism that links an accurately annotated genome sequence to gene expression data, at a transcriptomic and proteomic level.

In order for microbiologists to embrace the potential that proteomics offers, an understanding of a variety of analytical tools is required. The aim of this review is to provide a basic overview of mass spectrometry (MS) and its application to protein identification. In addition we will describe how the protein complexity of microbial samples can be reduced by gel-based and gel-free methodologies prior to analysis by MS. Finally in order to illustrate the power of microbial proteomics a case study of its current application within the Bacilliaceae is given together with a description of the emerging discipline of metaproteomics.
An apricot story: view through a keyhole
Authors: Samdani Tushar , Singhal Tarun , Balakrishnan Santosh , Hussain Abdulzahra , Grandy-Smith Starlene , El-Hasani Shamsi
Published: August 2007

Background

Very few cases of small bowel obstruction due to ingested fruits have been described in literature, and most of these have managed by a laparotomy. Laparoscopic assisted surgery can effectively deal with such impacted foreign bodies, thereby avoiding a formal laparotomy.

Case presentation

A 75 years old lady was admitted via the Accident and Emergency to the surgical ward with a three-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. Investigations were suggestive of acute small bowel obstruction. On laparoscopy, there was an area of sudden change in calibre of small bowel with dilated proximal and collapsed distal segment in distal jejunum. A foreign body, dried undigested apricot, was extracted by mini-laparotomy.

Discussion

Small bowel obstruction is a frequent cause of emergency surgery, and aetiology may include food bolus obstruction. Diagnosis is usually confirmed intra-operatively. Foreign body impacted in small bowel can be removed by open or laparoscopic methods.

Conclusion

Generally, laparotomy is performed for diagnosis and management in acute bowel obstruction, but with increasing expertise, laparoscopy can be equally effective with all the other advantages of minimal access approach.