bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upper ocean response to two collocated typhoons
Authors: Baranowski D. B. , Flatau P. J. , Chen S. , Black P. G.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. The atmospheric wind stress forcing and the oceanic response are examined for the period between 15 September 2008 and 6 October 2008, during which two typhoons, Hagupit and Jangmi passed through the same region of the Western Pacific at Saffir–Simpson intensity categories one and three, respectively. A three-dimensional oceanic mixed layer model is compared against the remote sensing observations as well as high repetition Argo float data. Numerical model simulations suggested that magnitude of the cooling caused by the second typhoon, Jangmi, would have been significantly larger if the ocean had not already been influenced by the first typhoon, Hagupit. It is estimated that the temperature anomaly behind Jangmi would have been about 0.4 °C larger in both cold wake and left side of the track. The numerical simulations suggest that the magnitude and position of Jangmi's cold wake depends on the precursor state of the ocean as well as lag between typhoons. Based on sensitivity experiments we show that temperature anomaly difference between "single typhoon" and "two typhoons" as well as magnitude of the cooling strongly depends on the value of inertial current decay time parameter. Thus, the magnitude of the observed cooling depends also on the amount of kinetic energy in the upper ocean. This paper indicates that studies of ocean-atmosphere tropical cyclone interaction will benefit from denser, high repetition Argo float measurements.
Estágio atual do conhecimento a cerca do minério laterítico de níquel no Brasil e no mundo
Authors: Oliveira Sonia Maria Barros de
Published: December 2013

Este trabalho trata do "estado da arte" referente aos depósitos de níquel laterítico no Brasil e no mundo. São abordados aspectos referentes à características gerais dos depósitos e, principalmente, ao estudo das fases portadoras de níquel.
Moving Beyond Surrogate Endpoints in Cell Therapy Trials for Heart Disease
Authors: Malliaras Konstantinos , Marbán Eduardo
Published: November 2013

Cell therapy for heart disease began clinically more than a decade ago. Since then, numerous trials have been performed, but the studies have been underpowered, focusing primarily on low-risk patients with a recent myocardial infarction. Many data have accumulated on surrogate endpoints such as ejection fraction, but few clinical conclusions can be drawn from such studies. We argue here that the time is right for targeting larger and/or higher-risk populations for whom there is some expectation of being able to influence mortality or rehospitalization.
Efficacy of two Phlebiopsis gigantea formulations in preventing Heterobasidion irregulare colonization of red pine stumps in eastern Canada
Authors: Dumas Michael T. , Laflamme Gaston
Published: December 2013

Heterobasidion irregulare is the scientific name for the North American fungal species that was previously known as H. annosum (P-type) and Fomes annosus. In eastern Canada, the pathogen is found mainly in red pine plantations in southern Ontario and Quebec, where it causes tree mortality. There is no registered control method currently available for this disease in Canada. Phlebiopsis gigantea is a saprophytic basidiomycete successfully used and registered as a biological control agent in several European countries. In order to register a control product in Canada, its efficacy must be demonstrated under field conditions. Trials were performed with two Canadian isolates of P. gigantea in four red pine plantations in Ontario. The mean diameters of treated stumps ranged from 29 to 35 cm. After 2 mo, all 238 stumps treated were free of disease, while 12% of the 120 untreated stumps were colonized by the pathogen. The two formulations without P. gigantea did not prevent the colonization of the stumps by either P. gigantea or H. irregulare. These results show that the two Canadian isolates of P. gigantea can prevent colonization of red pine stumps by H. irregulare and provide support for the registration of P. gigantea as a biocontrol agent in eastern Canada.
La représentation sociale de l’Afrique dans le discours missionnaire canadien-français (1900-1968)
Authors: Desautels Éric
Published: December 2013

Par leurs récits, les missionnaires catholiques canadiens-français envoyés en Afrique ont transmis une représentation sociale de l’Afrique dès le tournant du xxe siècle. Si cette représentation était initialement basée sur une interprétation culturelle occidentale des croyances et des rites africains, elle a progressivement évolué jusque dans les années 1960. En parallèle aux conflits mondiaux et au développement d’une sphère internationale, les tensions liées à la colonisation et à la décolonisation ont joué un rôle important dans l’évolution du discours missionnaire sur l’Afrique. Les mouvements nationalistes africains et québécois ont transformé les fondements de la vocation missionnaire et du rapport à l’autre. D’une représentation basée sur l’exotisme et l’inconnu avant la Révolution tranquille, l’imaginaire collectif québécois sur l’Afrique est graduellement passé à une représentation caractérisée par la pauvreté, la souffrance et la misère.
Desemmascarar el càncer: Centenars de malalties, un sol nom
Authors: Macip Salvador
Published: November 2013

Tothom té una idea més o menys clara del que representa un càncer: un conjunt de cèl·lules que es divideixen sense control. Darrera aquesta imatge simplista s’amaga un dels problemes de salut més complexes i més greus que existeixen. És gràcies als avenços biomèdics dels últims vint anys que finalment estem reconeixent les grans diferències que hi ha entre els tipus de càncers coneguts, un descobriment que resultarà clau per a dissenyar teràpies més efectives en un futur proper.
Vacunas y evolución: ¿Por qué es importante entender la diversidad genética de los patógenos?
Authors: Comas Espadas Iñaki
Published: November 2013

Desde el punto de vista de las intervenciones en salud pública no hay mejor arma que aquella que permite prevenir la transmisión o aparición de la enfermedad. Dentro del campo de las enfermedades infecciosas las vacunas se han convertido en esa arma y han permitido controlar muchas de ellas. Hoy en día hay un gran número de enfermedades infecciosas emergentes para las que no existen vacunas o enfermedades olvidadas que están reemergiendo. Nuevas vacunas se están desarrollando para atacar a los patógenos que están relacionados con ellas. Sin embargo, y a pesar de la importancia del diseño de una buena vacuna, la diversidad genética de los patógenos no se ha tenido siempre en cuenta. El estudio de dicha diversidad puede darnos indicaciones de cómo el patógeno se adapta a la presión del sistema inmune y qué parte de la respuesta inmune es beneficiosa para el hospedador y qué parte para el patógeno. Entender dicha relación permitirá predecir cuán eficaz y universal puede ser una vacuna y ayudará a diseñarlas mejor.
Darwin y la mejora genética animal: evolución aplicada a la producción animal
Authors: Toro Ibáñez Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2013

Darwin reflexionó sobre la potencialidad de la selección natural comparándola con los efectos que han conseguido los seres humanos con la selección artificial. En este trabajo se analiza cómo, aunque la similitud entre ambas es visible, existen también importantes diferencias. Asimismo se presentan dos ejemplos de aplicaciones de la teoría evolutiva: la posible importancia de la selección sexual en la introducción de peces transgénicos y la selección de caracteres sociales en el contexto de una mejora genética respetuosa con el bienestar animal.
HIV among men who have sex with men in Malawi: elucidating HIV prevalence and correlates of infection to inform HIV prevention
Authors: Wirtz Andrea L , Jumbe Vincent , Trapence Gift , Kamba Dunker , Umar Eric , Ketende Sosthenes , Berry Mark , Strömdahl Susanne , Beyrer Chris , Baral Stefan D
Published: December 2013

Introduction

There are limited data characterizing the burden of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malawi. Epidemiologic research and access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services have been traditionally limited in Malawi by criminalization and stigmatization of same‐sex practices. To inform the development of a comprehensive HIV prevention intervention for Malawian MSM, we conducted a community‐led assessment of HIV prevalence and correlates of infection.

Methods

From April 2011 to March 2012, 338 MSM were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study in Blantyre, Malawi. Participants were recruited by respondent‐driven sampling methods (RDS), reaching 19 waves. Trained staff administered the socio‐behavioural survey and HIV and syphilis voluntary counselling and testing.

Results

Crude HIV and syphilis prevalence estimates were 15.4% (RDS‐weighted 12.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.3–17.8) and 5.3% (RDS‐weighted 4.4%, 95% CI: 3.1–7.6), respectively. Ninety per cent (90.4%, unweighted) of HIV infections were reported as being previously undiagnosed. Participants were predominantly gay‐identified (60.8%) or bisexually identified (36.3%); 50.7% reported recent concurrent relationships. Approximately half reported consistent condom use (always or almost always) with casual male partners, and proportions were relatively uniform across partner types and genders. The prevalence of perceived and experienced stigma exceeded 20% for almost all variables, 11.4% ever experienced physical violence and 7% were ever raped. Current age >25 years (RDS‐weighted adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.9, 95% CI: 1.2–12.7), single marital status (RDS‐weighted AOR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.8) and age of first sex with a man <16 years (RDS‐weighted AOR: 4.3, 95% CI: 1.2–15.0) were independently associated with HIV infection.

Conclusions

Results demonstrate that MSM represent an underserved, at‐risk population for HIV services in Malawi and merit comprehensive HIV prevention services. Results provide a number of priorities for research and prevention programmes for MSM, including providing access to and encouraging regular confidential HIV testing and counselling, and risk reduction counselling related to anal intercourse. Other targets include the provision of condoms and compatible lubricants, HIV prevention information, and HIV and sexually transmitted infection treatment and adherence support. Addressing multiple levels of HIV risk, including structural factors, may help to ensure that programmes have sufficient coverage to impact this HIV epidemic among MSM.
Men who have sex with men sensitivity training reduces homoprejudice and increases knowledge among Kenyan healthcare providers in coastal Kenya
Authors: van der Elst Elise M , Smith Adrian D , Gichuru Evanson , Wahome Elizabeth , Musyoki Helgar , Muraguri Nicolas , Fegan Greg , Duby Zoe , Bekker Linda‐Gail , Bender Bonnie , Graham Susan M , Operario Don , Sanders Eduard J
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Healthcare workers (HCWs) in Africa typically receive little or no training in the healthcare needs of men who have sex with men (MSM), limiting the effectiveness and reach of population‐based HIV control measures among this group. We assessed the effect of a web‐based, self‐directed sensitivity training on MSM for HCWs (www.marps‐africa.org), combined with facilitated group discussions on knowledge and homophobic attitudes among HCWs in four districts of coastal Kenya.

Methods

We trained four district “AIDS coordinators” to provide a two‐day training to local HCWs working at antiretroviral therapy‐providing facilities in coastal Kenya. Self‐directed learning supported by group discussions focused on MSM sexual risk practices, HIV prevention and healthcare needs. Knowledge was assessed prior to training, immediately after training and three months after training. The Homophobia Scale assessed homophobic attitudes and was measured before and three months after training.

Results

Seventy‐four HCWs (68% female; 74% clinical officers or nurses; 84% working in government facilities) from 49 health facilities were trained, of whom 71 (96%) completed all measures. At baseline, few HCWs reported any prior training on MSM anal sexual practices, and most HCWs had limited knowledge of MSM sexual health needs. Homophobic attitudes were most pronounced among HCWs who were male, under 30 years of age, and working in clinical roles or government facilities. Three months after training, more HCWs had adequate knowledge compared to baseline (49% vs. 13%, McNemar's test p<0.001); this was most pronounced in those with clinical or administrative roles and in those from governmental health providers. Compared to baseline, homophobic attitudes had decreased significantly three months after training, particularly among HCWs with high homophobia scores at baseline, and there was some evidence of correlation between improvements in knowledge and reduction in homophobic sentiment.

Conclusions

Scaling up MSM sensitivity training for African HCWs is likely to be a timely, effective and practical means to improve relevant sexual health knowledge and reduce personal homophobic sentiment among HCWs involved in HIV prevention, testing and care in sub‐Saharan Africa.
A cross‐sectional assessment of the burden of HIV and associated individual‐ and structural‐level characteristics among men who have sex with men in Swaziland
Authors: Baral Stefan D , Ketende Sosthenes , Mnisi Zandile , Mabuza Xolile , Grosso Ashley , Sithole Bhekie , Maziya Sibusiso , Kerrigan Deanna L , Green Jessica L , Kennedy Caitlin E , Adams Darrin
Published: December 2013

Introduction

Similar to other Southern African countries, Swaziland has been severely affected by HIV, with over a quarter of its reproductive‐age adults estimated to be living with the virus, equating to an estimate of 170,000 people living with HIV. The last several years have witnessed an increase in the understanding of the potential vulnerabilities among men who have sex with men (MSM) in neighbouring countries with similarly widespread HIV epidemics. To date, there are no data characterizing the burden of HIV and the HIV prevention, treatment and care needs of MSM in Swaziland.

Methods

In 2011, 324 men who reported sex with another man in the last 12 months were accrued using respondent‐driven sampling (RDS). Participants completed HIV testing using Swazi national guidelines as well as structured survey instruments administered by trained staff, including modules on demographics, individual‐level behavioural and biological risk factors, social and structural characteristics and uptake of HIV services. Population and individual weights were computed separately for each variable with a data‐smoothing algorithm. The weights were used to estimate RDS‐adjusted univariate estimates with 95% bootstrapped confidence intervals (BCIs). Crude and RDS‐adjusted bivariate and multivariate analyses were completed with HIV as the dependent variable.

Results

Overall, HIV prevalence was 17.6% (n=50/284), although it was strongly correlated with age in bivariate‐ [odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% BCI 1.15–1.21] and multivariate‐adjusted analyses (adjusted OR 1.24, 95% BCI 1.14–1.35) for each additional year of age. Nearly, 70.8% (n=34/48) were unaware of their status of living with HIV. Condom use with all sexual partners and condom‐compatible‐lubricant use with men were reported by 1.3% (95% CI 0.0–9.7).

Conclusions

Although the epidemic in Swaziland is driven by high‐risk heterosexual transmission, the burden of HIV and the HIV prevention, treatment and care needs of MSM have been understudied. The data presented here suggest that these men have specific HIV acquisition and transmission risks that differ from those of other reproductive‐age adults. The scale‐up in HIV services over the past decade has likely had limited benefit for MSM, potentially resulting in a scenario where epidemics of HIV among MSM expand in the context of slowing epidemics in the general population, a reality observed in most of the world.
The Utility of Direct-Current as Compared to Frequency Domain Measurements in Spectrally-Constrained Diffuse Optical Tomography toward Cancer Imaging
Authors: Xu Guan , Piao Daqing , Dehghani Hamid
Published: December 2013

This work investigates, by means of analytical and simulation studies, the performance of spectrally-constrained image reconstruction in Continuous-Wave or Direct-Current (DC) and Frequency Domain (FD) near-infrared optical tomography. A recent analytic approach for estimating the accuracy of target recovery and the level of background artifact for optical tomography at single wavelength, based on the analysis of parametric reconstruction uncertainty level (PRUL), is extended to spectrally-constrained optical tomography. The analytical model is implemented to rank three sets of wavelengths that had been used as spectral prior in an independent experimental study. Subsequent simulation appraises the recovery of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb), water (H2O), scattering amplitude ( A), and scattering power ( b) using DC-only, DC-excluded FD, and DC-included FD, based on the three sets of wavelengths as the spectral prior. The simulation results support the analytic ranking of the performance of the three sets of spectral priors, and generally agree with the performance outcome of DC-only versus that of DC-excluded FD and DC-included FD. Specifically, this study indicate that: 1) the rank of overall quality of chromophore recovery is Hb, H2O, and HbO from the highest to lowest; and in the scattering part the A is always better recovered than b. This outcome does suggest that the DC-only information gives rise to unique solution to the image reconstruction routine under the given spectral prior. 2) DC-information is not-redundant in FD-reconstruction, as the artifact levels of DC-included FD reconstruction are always lower than those of DC-excluded FD. 3) The artifact level as represented by the noise-to-contrast-ratio is almost always the lowest in DC-only, leading to generally better resolution of multiple targets of identical contrasts over the background than in FD. However, the FD could outperform DC in the recovery of scattering properties including both A and b when the spectral prior is less optimal, implying the benefit of phase-information in scattering recovery in the context of spectrally-constrained optical tomography.
Imaging Tumor Vascularization for Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
Authors: Heijblom M. , Klaase J. M. , van den Engh F. M. , van Leeuwen T. G. , Steenbergen W. , Manohar S.
Published: December 2013

Breast cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in western women. Current screening and diagnostic imaging modalities, like x-ray mammography and ultrasonography, focus on morphological changes of breast tissue. However, these techniques still miss some cancers and often falsely detect cancer. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting the disease can probably be improved by focusing on the consequences of tumor angiogenesis: the increased microvessel density with altered vascular characteristics. In this review, various techniques for imaging breast tumor vasculature are discussed. Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is the most-used imaging modality in this field. It has a proven high sensitivity, but a low specificity and cannot be applied in all women. Moreover, it has problems with detecting ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). On the contrary, contrast enhanced digital mammography can detect DCIS, but requires the use of ionizing radiation. Contrast enhanced ultrasound provides real-time information about true intravascular blood volume and flow. However, this technique still has difficulties with discriminating benign from malignant tissue. Moreover, these three imaging modalities all require the injection of contrast agents. Two relatively new techniques that do not use external contrast agents are diffuse optical imaging and photoacoustic imaging. Both visualize the increased concentration of hemoglobin in malignant tissue and thereby provide a high intrinsic contrast.
Predictors of performance of students in biochemistry in a doctor of chiropractic curriculum
Authors: Shaw Kathy , Rabatsky Ali , Dishman Veronica , Meseke Christopher
Published: December 2013

Objective

This study investigated the effect of completion of course prerequisites, undergraduate grade point average (GPA), undergraduate degree, and study habits on the performance of students in the biochemistry course at Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida.

Methods

Students self-reported information regarding academic preparation at the beginning of the semester using a questionnaire. Final exam grade and final course grade were noted and used as measures of performance. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine if number of prerequisites completed, undergraduate GPA, undergraduate degree, hours spent studying in undergraduate study, and hours spent studying in the first quarter of the chiropractic program were associated significantly with the biochemistry final exam grade or the final grade for the biochemistry course.

Results

The number of prerequisites completed, undergraduate degree, hours spent studying in undergraduate study, and hours spent studying in the first quarter of the chiropractic program did not significantly affect the biochemistry final exam grade or the final grade for the biochemistry course, but undergraduate GPA did. Subsequent univariate analysis and Tukey's post hoc comparisons revealed that students with an undergraduate GPA in the 3.5 to 3.99 range earned significantly higher final course grades than students with an undergraduate GPA in the 2.5 to 2.99 range.

Conclusion

No single variable was determined to be a factor that determines student success in biochemistry. The interrelationship between the factors examined warrants further investigation to understand fully how to predict the success of a student in the biochemistry course.
Studies on Sono-Chemical Biodiesel Production Using Smoke Deposited Nano MgO Catalyst
Authors: Sivakumar P. , Sankaranarayanan S. , Renganathan S. , Sivakumar P.
Published: December 2013

The comprehensive study of smoke deposited nano sized MgO as a catalyst for biodiesel production was investigated. The transesterification reaction was studied under constant ultrasonic mixing for different parameters like catalyst quantity, methanol oil molar ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time. An excellent result of conversion was obtained at 1.5 wt% catalyst; 5:1 methanol oil molar ratio at 55°C, a conversion of 98.7% was achieved after 45 min. The conversion was three to five times higher than those are reported for laboratory MgO in literature. This was mainly due to the enhancement of surface area of the catalyst and the activity of ultrasonic waves. Catalyst is easily recovered and reused up to eight times with easy regeneration steps. © 2013 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic Activity of Polyaniline Modified TiO2 and Clay-TiO2 Composites
Authors: Sandhya K. P. , Haridas Suja , Sugunan S.
Published: December 2013

Sonochemical synthesis of Titania, Titania-Polyaniline, and Clay-Titania-Polyaniline composites were car-ried out. The composite systems were characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. Photocatalytic activity was tested selecting some common dyes as substrates. Composites exhibited higher activity for the degradation of dyes under visible light in most of the cases. © 2013 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Rapid Inactivation of Proteins by Knocksideways
Authors: Robinson Margaret S. , Hirst Jennifer
Published: December 2013

The knocksideways system inactivates proteins by using a small molecule to trap them onto mitochondria. It is typically ∼3 to 4 orders of magnitude faster than a knockdown. To get the best results out of a knocksideways, five parameters need to be optimized: the bait, the prey, the small molecule, the cell or organism, and the assay. Curr. Protoc. Cell Biol. 61:15.20.1‐15.20.7. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Challenge of Media Research Ethics
Authors: Healey Kevin
Published: December 2013

This chapter provides an overview of basic theoretical and logistical issues related to the ethical conduct of media research. A brief opening section places media studies within the broader history of research ethics, including the formation of professional codes and ethics review boards. The body of the chapter explores key concepts such as privacy, deception, and informed consent through a handful of exemplary case studies. Cases highlight issues associated with common methods including survey, experiment, ethnography, content analysis, historical and policy research. Special attention is given to the ways that emerging media technologies and contemporary critical/cultural approaches raise fundamental questions about established ethical frameworks.
Doing Survey Research in Media Studies
Authors: Mishra Suman
Published: December 2013

Survey research is a widely used methodology for collecting quantitative data and is particularly useful for conducting research in communication and media studies. This essay provides an overview of survey methodology, its historical background, and its uses in communication and media studies. It explains some of the basic concepts in survey design such as sample, sampling procedures, questionnaire design, and modes of distribution of questionnaires. It also provides a guideline for conducting survey research and discusses some of the unique challenges faced by survey researchers both within a single country and internationally when conducting cross‐cultural survey research. The chapter concludes with a discussion of ethical issues in survey research.
The Interview
Authors: Robinson Sue
Published: December 2013

The interview in qualitative inquiry extends to surveying, one‐on‐one in‐depth investigation, impromptu ethnographic meetings, formal focus groups, and free‐form dialogue, depending on the nature of the research puzzle. Researchers have called interviewing “an unfolding interpersonal drama,” “a marriage with hidden truths,” “a narrative practice,” and “an unfolding story.” At its heart, the interview entails an investigation into individual motivations, interpersonal and communal relationships, life engagement, as well as civic, familial, and other kinds of problems and resolutions. The interview's execution is both art and science, with the end result an unveiling of meaning construction, information processing, and knowledge documentation. This chapter describes the dynamics of the interview, including guidelines for building question templates (or not), navigating university institutional review boards, accessing informants, collecting the information, and then analyzing the data.
Oral History Interviews
Authors: Conway Mike
Published: December 2013

This chapter focuses on oral history as a method that allows scholars to record and preserve the thoughts and remembrances of people and groups that may previously not have been heard. It is an empowering method, as it demands a personal connection with the subject and the realization that the interview is a collaborative process. The chapter starts with a discussion of the history of oral history as a research method, which started as an added element in historical research and evolved into the central component in memory studies. It also provides practical information for conducting oral history interviews, from working with a university's human subjects committee, finding subjects, recording audio or video, to strategies on how best to tap into those important memories. Finally, it explores analytic strategies for incorporating the interviews into academic research.
Between‐Subjects Experimental Design and Analysis
Authors: Bissell Kim
Published: December 2013

Media effects and media studies researchers have recently been forced to determine the most effective way to measure the media's influence on individuals or groups. While thousands of media effects studies exist, the study design employed has varied. Between‐subjects experimental design is increasingly becoming one of the most statistically valid ways to determine the effect of stimuli on a target population because every participant is only exposed to the treatment or stimulus once. This design allows researchers to make comparisons between groups based on each group's response to the stimulus material or treatment. This chapter provides a case study of a between‐subjects experimental design using a sample of 601 children who participated in an experiment designed to measure weight stigmatization and bias following exposure to one image of an overweight or thin individual. Finally, the chapter discusses the advances and disadvantages to the design in this case and proposes directions for future research.
Using a Mixed Approach to Content Analysis
Authors: Neumann Rico , Coe Kevin
Published: December 2013

This chapter demonstrates the process and utility of an approach to content analysis that blends computer‐assisted content analysis (CCA) with traditional manual coding. It does so in the context of modern presidential rhetoric, shedding light on presidents' use of apologetic rhetoric in their public communications to audiences abroad over the past eight decades. We outline the steps that are necessary to undertake a mixed approach to content analysis, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such a method. We argue that although CCA represents a useful tool to process large quantities of text, its use can sometimes obscure important nuances in the discourse. Conducting a complementary manual coding can highlight many of these nuances, making the mixed approach a fruitful technique in many cases.
Lessons Learned from a Research Saga
Authors: Lombard Matthew
Published: December 2013

A team of researchers led by the author developed, designed, conducted, and reported a large‐scale content analysis of the structural features of television. The project was unusually ambitious and, by necessity, creative. The chapter describes some of the key decisions and challenges the team faced along the way and the unexpected afterlife of the original project. The author concludes with advice for content analysis and for other researchers based on lessons learned from the experience.
Text‐Based Approaches to Qualitative Research
Authors: McKinnon Sara
Published: December 2013

This chapter provides an overview of the research process of text‐based qualitative research. The chapter not only explains what it means to work with texts in a qualitative manner, but outlines the various options researchers have at their disposal in trying to answer the research questions that most interest them, including rhetorical methods, discourse analysis approaches, and ethnographic methods. The chapter also provides readers with a step‐by‐step overview of the process of doing text‐based qualitative research, ending with a discussion of ethical considerations in qualitatively analyzing texts.
Analyzing Text
Authors: Fürsich Elfriede
Published: December 2013

This chapter demonstrates how to conduct a textual analysis. I employ textual analysis through a cultural critical lens and illustrate this method with an analysis of food reviews. First, the method is defined and central theoretical tenets are explained. Then I outline the methodological process of this qualitative method from searching for a topic, establishing a theoretical background, selecting data, and presenting evidence to building a line of argument. As an example, I analyze newspaper food reviews of ethnic restaurants. This analysis is embedded in three theoretical contexts: the role of media in creating national identity; the essentializing contradictions of authenticity and culture; and the problematic “us versus them” dichotomies of international journalism.
Cultural History and Media Studies
Authors: Popp Richard K.
Published: December 2013

Understanding meaning making and its capacities to shape social experience is difficult enough in the present. Yet interpretation poses particularly thorny questions when researchers are interested in describing social worlds and patterns of thought that years ago dissipated into the past. Historians have argued fiercely about these challenges and scholars in media studies stand to benefit from eavesdropping on these historiographical debates. For one, they can help us clarify our conceptions of media and culture. And second, they offer insight into how theories of culture can be translated into historical projects. Taking readers through the primary ways that culture has been operationalized in recent historiography, sections examine symbolic anthropology, critical theory, cultural studies, discourse, identity, and recent calls for a more cultural materialist approach. The chapter closes by examining a number of cultural materialist frameworks that might be especially useful to media scholars.
Historical Approaches to Media Studies
Authors: Hampton Mark
Published: December 2013

In recent decades, media history has become increasingly prominent, with scholarship emerging from a wide variety of disciplines. This chapter examines the methodological issues involved in conducting historical research in media studies. Using Adrian Bingham'sFamily Newspapers?and Laura Beers'sYour Britainas case studies, it explains such topics as historical context, locating primary sources, and the production and reception of media texts. In addition, it outlines the wide variety of historical approaches that can be employed, including textual analysis, policy history, institutional history, and biography.
The Methodology of Online News Analysis
Authors: Sjøvaag Helle , Stavelin Eirik
Published: December 2013

This chapter describes a new method for analyzing online news employing both human and computer coding and based on a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative measures. The chapter illustrates how the method was used to perform a content analysis of the full online news output of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) for the year 2009 (n = 74430). It explains how the approach was developed, describes the problems we encountered along the way, and provides a rationale for further use of the method. We conclude that our work demonstrates that methodologies designed for measuring broadcast news do not suffice in the ephemeral online news environment. Thus, online research methods need to be redesigned to account for medium‐specific news features on the Internet.
Clicks and Bricks
Authors: Spina‐Caza Lillian C.
Published: December 2013

The study of virtual play activity as it unfolds on the Internet, in video games, and with mobile technology use, is still in its nascent stages and is in and of itself experimental by nature. Thus, it is important that researchers begin to think about, question, and test new research methods – or extend traditional methods – for the purposes of understanding the effects new media are likely to have on human development. This chapter discusses two early observation studies of Internet and video game play that inspired a third, multimethod field experiment aimed at contributing a theoretical model for exploring the effects of moving activity from physical to virtual environments. All three provide strategies and methods for how the study of new media technology might benefit from a more elaborate research design.
Exploring the Effects ofTVand Movie Music on Childhood
Authors: Porta Amparo
Published: December 2013

In recent years the relations between childhood and the mass media have been the subject of an increasing number of studies conducted by researchers from the fields of communication and education. Their link with cultural diversity, heritage, habitat, and identity has made them the focus of psychological, multicultural, and critical pedagogic studies. The aim of this chapter is to determine how childhood is affected by one of the poles of the audiovisual binomial, namely, the music present in movies and television, which is included as their soundtrack. The article explores several descriptive paths from a semiotic approach, analyzing both the contents and the music in order to answer two questions: What is listened to in children's TV programs and movies? And what is that music like? Finally, some soundtracks are examined with the aim of discovering the effects of this everyday music that, through movies and TV, speaks to the child about the Other and his or her cultural dominance and values.
Latino Diasporas and the Media
Authors: Retis Jéssica
Published: December 2013

This chapter analyzes the challenges and opportunities encountered when applying a transnationalism approach to the analysis and understanding of international migration contexts. Critical perspectives such as the political economy of the media, cultural studies, urban studies, and media practices in everyday life are useful approaches to incorporate in an interdisciplinary understanding of Latino diasporas and the media. Findings from a variety of research projects on media production, distribution, and consumption indicate that these performances are influenced by diverse variables such as the stage of immigration processes, generational and new technologies gaps, and social environments in the city of origin and destiny. Communication and information practices are transformed and reconstructed in the vicinity of Latino diasporas. The conjunction of quantitative and qualitative methods facilitates a better understanding of these complex social processes.
Discordance of Global Estimates by Patients and Their Physicians in Usual Care of Many Rheumatic Diseases: Association With 5 Scores on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) That Are Not Found on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)
Authors: Castrejón Isabel , Yazici Yusuf , Samuels Jonathan , Luta George , Pincus Theodore
Published: December 2013

Objective

To analyze discordance between global estimates by patients (PATGL) and their physicians (DOCGL) according to demographic and self‐report variables on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) in patients with many rheumatic diseases seen in usual care.

Methods

Each patient completed an MDHAQ at each visit, which includes scores for physical function, pain, and PATGL, each found on the traditional Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and scores for sleep quality, anxiety, depression, self‐report joint count, and fatigue, which are not found on the HAQ. A random visit of 980 patients with any rheumatic diagnosis was analyzed in 3 categories: PATGL=DOCGL (within 2 of 10 units), PATGL>DOCGL (by ≥2 of 10 units), and DOCGL>PATGL (by ≥2 of 10 units), using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression models.

Results

Patients included 145 with rheumatoid arthritis, 57 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 173 with osteoarthritis, 348 with other inflammatory diseases, and 257 with other noninflammatory diseases. Overall, PATGL=DOCGL in 509 (52%), PATGL>DOCGL in 371 (38%), and DOCGL>PATGL in 100 (10%). PATGL>DOCGL was associated significantly with older age, female sex, low formal education, Hispanic ethnicity, not working, high MDHAQ physical function and pain scores, and high scores for fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, depression, and self‐report joint count, which are not available on the HAQ. Pain and fatigue were significant in a final multinomial logistic regression; the other variables may raise awareness of discordance to clinicians.

Conclusion

Global estimates of patients indicated significantly poorer status than estimates of their physicians in 38% of 980 patients with rheumatic conditions, and were associated with demographic and MDHAQ scores, 5 of which are not available on the HAQ.
Evidence of Oxygen Ferromagnetism in ZnO Based Materials
Authors: Guglieri Clara , Céspedes Eva , Espinosa Ana , Laguna‐Marco María Ángeles , Carmona Noemi , Takeda Yukiharu , Okane Tetsuo , Nakamura Tetsuya , García‐Hernández Mar , García Miguel Ángel , Chaboy Jesús
Published: December 2013

Discoveries of room‐temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) in semiconductors hold great promise in future spintronics technologies. Unfortunately, this ferromagnetism remains poorly understood and the debate concerning the nature, carrier‐mediated versus defect‐mediated, of this ferromagnetism in semiconducting oxides is still open. Here, by using X‐ray absorption (XAS) and X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), it is demonstrated that the oxygen ions have a ferromagnetic response in different ZnO‐based compounds showing RTFM behavior: ZnO nanoparticles capped with organic molecules and ZnO/ZnS heterostructures. These results demonstrate the intrinsic occurrence of RTFM in these systems, and point out that it is not related to the metallic cation but it relays on the conduction band of the semiconductor.
25th Anniversary Article: What Can Be Done with the Langmuir‐Blodgett Method? Recent Developments and its Critical Role in Materials Science
Authors: Ariga Katsuhiko , Yamauchi Yusuke , Mori Taizo , Hill Jonathan P.
Published: December 2013

The Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) technique is known as an elegant method for fabrication of well‐defined layered structures with molecular level precision. Since its discovery the LB method has made an indispensable contribution to surface science, physical chemistry, materials chemistry and nanotechnology. However, recent trends in research might suggest the decline of the LB method as alternate methods for film fabrication such as layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly have emerged. Is LB film technology obsolete? This review is presented in order to challenge this preposterous question. In this review, we summarize recent research on LB and related methods including (i) advanced design for LB films, (ii) LB film as a medium for supramolecular chemistry, (iii) LB technique for nanofabrication and (iv) LB involving advanced nanomaterials. Finally, a comparison between LB and LbL techniques is made. The latter reveals the crucial role played by LB techniques in basic surface science, current advanced material sciences and nanotechnologies.
Guest‐Adaptable and Water‐Stable Peptide‐Based Porous Materials by Imidazolate Side Chain Control
Authors: Katsoulidis Alexandros P. , Park Kyo Sung , Antypov Dmytro , Martí‐Gastaldo Carlos , Miller Gary J. , Warren John E. , Robertson Craig M. , Blanc Frédéric , Darling George R. , Berry Neil G. , Purton John A. , Adams Dave J. , Rosseinsky Matthew J.
Published: December 2013

The peptide‐based porous 3D framework, ZnCar, has been synthesized from Zn2+ and the natural dipeptide carnosine (β‐alanyl‐L‐histidine). Unlike previous extended peptide networks, the imidazole side chain of the histidine residue is deprotonated to afford Zn–imidazolate chains, with bonding similar to the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) family of porous materials. ZnCar exhibits permanent microporosity with a surface area of 448 m2 g−1, and its pores are 1D channels with 5 Å openings and a characteristic chiral shape. This compound is chemically stable in organic solvents and water. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the ZnCar framework adapts to MeOH and H2O guests because of the torsional flexibility of the main His‐β‐Ala chain, while retaining the rigidity conferred by the Zn–imidazolate chains. The conformation adopted by carnosine is driven by the H bonds formed both to other dipeptides and to the guests, permitting the observed structural transformations.
Stereoselektive Synthese siliciumstereogener Aminomethoxysilane: ein einfacher Zugang zu hoch enantiomerenangereicherten Siloxanen
Authors: Bauer Jonathan O. , Strohmann Carsten
Published: December 2013

Eine Route zur Synthese N,O‐funktionalisierter siliciumstereogener Organosilane mit sehr guten optischen Reinheiten wurde entwickelt. Untersuchungen zur Stereokonvergenz und Konfigurationsstabilität eines Aminomethoxysilans lassen auf einen mehrstufigen, kinetisch kontrollierten Substitutionsmechanismus schließen. Der selektive Austausch der Si‐N‐ gegen eine zweite Si‐O‐Bindung bildet die Grundlage für den kontrollierten Aufbau chiraler Siloxaneinheiten mit unterschiedlichen Sauerstofffunktionen. Folgereaktionen der chiralen Aminomethoxysilane mit Hydroxygruppen stützen einen allgemeingültigen Inversionsmechanismus am asymmetrisch substituierten Siliciumatom N,O‐funktionalisierter Organosilane.
Probing Distance‐Dependent Plasmon‐Enhanced Near‐Infrared Fluorescence Using Polyelectrolyte Multilayers as Dielectric Spacers
Authors: Gandra Naveen , Portz Christopher , Tian Limei , Tang Rui , Xu Baogang , Achilefu Samuel , Singamaneni Srikanth
Published: December 2013

Owing to their applications in biodetection and molecular bioimaging, near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes are being extensively investigated. Most of the existing NIR dyes exhibit poor quantum yield, which hinders their translation to preclinical and clinical settings. Plasmonic nanostructures are known to act as tiny antennae for efficiently focusing the electromagnetic field into nanoscale volumes. The fluorescence emission from NIR dyes can be enhanced by more than thousand times by precisely placing them in proximity to gold nanorods. We have employed polyelectrolyte multilayers fabricated using layer‐by‐layer assembly as dielectric spacers for precisely tuning the distance between gold nanorods and NIR dyes. The aspect ratio of the gold nanorods was tuned to match the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance wavelength with the absorption maximum of the NIR dye to maximize the plasmonically enhanced fluorescence. The design criteria derived from this study lays the groundwork for ultrabright fluorescence bullets for in vitro and in vivo molecular bioimaging.
Selective Hydrosilation of CO2 to a Bis(silylacetal) Using an Anilido Bipyridyl‐Ligated Organoscandium Catalyst
Authors: LeBlanc Francis A. , Piers Warren E. , Parvez Masood
Published: December 2013

A rigid anilido bipyridyl ligand has been designed for use in an organoscandium‐based carbon dioxide hydrosilation catalyst. Ligand attachment by alkane elimination results in metalation of an aryl CH bond in a 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl group installed on the pyridyl unit, thus rendering the ligand tetradentate. Insertion of CO2 into the newly formed ScC bond leads to a κ1 carboxylate which, when treated with the borane B(C6F5)3, becomes hemilabile. In addition to activating the catalyst, the k1 carboxylate effectively sequesters free B(C6F5)3 and the ensemble is able to effectively hydrosilate CO2, in the presence of excess Et3SiH, almost exclusively to R3SiOCH2OSiR3. A maximum turnover number of about 3400 (conversion of silane) is observed. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the sequestration of free B(C6F5)3 by the hemilabile carboxylate contributes to the selectivity observed and prevents over reduction to methane.
Highly Luminescent Thin Films of the Dense Framework 3∞[EuIm2] with Switchable Transparency Formed by Scanning Femtosecond‐Pulse Laser Deposition
Authors: Fischer Dieter , Meyer Larissa V. , Jansen Martin , Müller‐Buschbaum Klaus
Published: December 2013

Highly luminescent switchable thin films of the dense framework 3∞[EuIm2] were deposited by a scanning laser ablation technique using a femtosecond laser. The films can be controlled in terms of film thickness and amount of material deposited such that the material properties of the bulk material are retained on the nanometer scale. Polycrystalline films are formed that can be switched between transparent at visible light and nontransparent at UV light due to the intrinsic luminescence of the hybrid material, expanding the concept of smart films. The new femtosecond pulsed laser deposition method also provides a novel approach for coatings with framework compounds and coordination polymers.