bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-perceived usefulness and practical obstacles of patient-held records for cancer patients in Japan: OPTIM study
Authors: Komura Kazue , Yamagishi Akemi , Akizuki Nobuya , Kawagoe Shohei , Kato Masashi , Morita Tatsuya , Eguchi Kenji
Published: December 2011

Background:

Although the use of a patient-held record (PHR) for cancer patients has been introduced in many settings, little is known about the role of the PHR in palliative care settings and use in Asian cultures.

Aim:

This study investigated the patient-perceived usefulness and practical obstacles of using the PHR specifically designed for palliative care patients.

Design:

This study adopted a qualitative design based on semi-structured interviews and content analysis.

Setting/participants:

Fifty cancer patients were recruited from two regions in Japan. They used the PHR for more than three months, and then were asked to participate in a face-to-face interview.

Results:

The content analysis revealed the following patient-perceived usefulness of the PHR: (1) increase in patient–staff communication; (2) increase in patient–family communication; (3) increase in patient–patient communication; (4) increase in understanding of medical conditions and treatments; and (5) facilitating end-of-life care discussion. The practical obstacles to using the PHR were also indicated: (1) the lack of adequate instruction about the role of the PHR; (2) undervaluing the role of the PHR and sharing information by medical professionals; (3) patients’ unwillingness to participate in decision making; (4) concerns about privacy; (5) burdensome nature of self-reporting; and (6) patients’ preference for their own ways of recording.

Conclusions:

The PHR can be helpful in facilitating communication, understanding medical conditions and treatments, and facilitating end-of-life care discussion; however, for wide-spread implementation, resolving the obstacles related to both patients and health-care professionals is required.
The Effect of Hypermobility on the Incidence of Injuries in Elite-Level Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Konopinski Matt D. , Jones Gareth J. , Johnson Mark I.
Published: December 2011

Background: A recent meta-analysis found that generalized joint hypermobility is a risk factor for knee injuries during contact sports. The effect of hypermobility on the incidence of injuries in elite-level professional soccer players is not known.

Purpose: To compare the incidence of injury between hypermobile and nonhypermobile elite-level male professional soccer players.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: Fifty-four players from an English Premier League soccer club were assessed for hypermobility, using the 9-point Beighton scale (threshold, 4 points or above), at the start of the 2009-2010 season. Time-loss injuries and individual exposure times were recorded during all club training sessions and matches throughout the entire season.

Results: Mean ± standard deviation incidence of injuries was 11.52 ± 11.39 injuries/1000 h, and the prevalence of hypermobility was 33.3% (18 of 54 players). There were 133 injuries during 13 897.5 hours of exposure. During the season, hypermobile participants had a higher incidence of injuries (mean [95% confidence interval] difference, 15.65 [9.18-22.13] injuries/1000 h; P = .001) and were more likely to experience at least 1 injury, a reinjury, and a severe injury compared with nonhypermobile participants. There were 9 severe knee injuries in hypermobile participants, of which 6 were cartilage injuries.

Conclusion: There was an increased incidence of injury in hypermobile elite-level professional soccer players from an English Premier League club, resulting in more missed days from training and match play. These findings suggest a need for routine screening for hypermobility in professional soccer.
Biomechanical Effects of Arthroscopic Capsulorrhaphy in Line With the Fibers of the Anterior Band of the Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament
Authors: Shapiro Todd A. , Gupta Akash , McGarry Michelle H. , Tibone James E. , Lee Thay Q.
Published: December 2011

Background: There is no consensus as to the amount and direction of capsular plication necessary to correct anterior shoulder instability without overconstraining the joint.

Hypothesis: An arthroscopic capsulorrhaphy in line with the fibers of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) in an anterior laxity model will restore glenohumeral kinematics to normal.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Six cadaveric specimens were tested in both the scapular and coronal plane in 3 conditions: intact, anterior instability, and plicated. The anterior instability model was created by stretching the shoulder 20% beyond the physiological external rotational range of motion, and plication was achieved by performing a 10-mm arthroscopic plication in line with the fibers of the anterior band of the IGHL.

Results: Stretching significantly increased the rotational range of motion, while plication restored it back to that of the intact condition ( P < .05). There were few significant changes in humeral head apex position across all 3 testing conditions. Plication significantly reduced anterior translation compared with the stretched condition ( P < .05). Stretching and plication both significantly reduced contact area relative to the intact condition ( P < .05). There were no significant differences between any of the 3 conditions for contact pressure and only few significant differences between the conditions for contact peak pressure.

Conclusion: A 10-mm capsular plication in line with the fibers of the anterior band of the IGHL effectively reduces capsular laxity without overconstraining the joint.

Clinical Relevance: The fibers of the anterior band of the IGHL provide a useful arthroscopic anatomic landmark for the direction of anterior capsulorrhaphy.
Experimental and numerical helicopter pilot characterization for aeroelastic rotorcraft–pilot coupling analysis
Authors: Masarati Pierangelo , Quaranta Giuseppe , Jump Michael
Published: December 2011

Pilot–vehicle interaction represents a critical aspect of aircraft design. Very low-frequency, voluntary although unintentional interaction has been extensively investigated in fixed and rotary wing aeromechanics. Higher frequency, involuntary and thus passive interaction received similar attention in fixed wing aeromechanics, but not as much for rotary wing. The results of an experimental campaign for the characterization of the passive behaviour of rotorcraft pilots' biomechanics are presented. A flight simulator has been used to excite human subjects. The accelerations of their limbs and the motion induced by the vibrations of the limbs in the control inceptors have been recorded. The vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions have been independently excited, while measuring the motion of the arm directly involved in the control inceptor mostly affected by motion in each direction, namely the left and the right arms for the collective and the cyclic sticks, respectively. The frequency domain response has been evaluated; resulting noteworthy behaviour is discussed, addressing its relevance in modelling the passive behaviour of pilots within the bioaeroservoelastic rotorcraft analysis. The measurements of human body impedance, under realistic cockpit motion, are used to identify the direct transfer functions between the motion of the seat and the controls inadvertently fed back into the rotorcraft.
Development of design methodology for a synthetic jet actuator array for flow separation control applications
Authors: Jabbal Mark , Liddle Stephen , Potts Jonathan , Crowther William
Published: December 2011

This article documents the development of synthetic jet actuator array hardware to augment high-lift system effectiveness in a wind tunnel model. The study involved the design, manufacture and bench test of a synthetic jet actuator array based on an inclined actuator configuration to reduce volume installation requirements without a loss in jet velocity relative to a non-inclined baseline model; incorporation of proper synthetic jet actuator systems wiring and internal synthetic jet actuator chamber pressure-sensing for actuator health monitoring. The peak velocity obtained from the inclined synthetic jet actuator array was 100 m/s, which favourably compares to the baseline array (∼90 m/s), while reducing the usable depth requirements by 50%. The final outcome of this study has been to apply the design lessons learned to develop a methodology for designing a synthetic jet actuator array with the constraints of using piezoelectric-based actuator technology for flow separation control applications.
Comparison of different methods for estimating muscle forces in human movement
Authors: Lin Yi-Chung , Dorn Tim W , Schache Anthony G , Pandy Marcus G
Published: December 2011

The aim of this study was to compare muscle-force estimates derived for human locomotion using three different methods commonly reported in the literature: static optimisation (SO), computed muscle control (CMC) and neuromusculoskeletal tracking (NMT). In contrast with SO, CMC and NMT calculate muscle forces dynamically by including muscle activation dynamics. Furthermore, NMT utilises a time-dependent performance criterion, wherein a single optimisation problem is solved over the entire time interval of the task. Each of these methods was used in conjunction with musculoskeletal modelling and experimental gait data to determine lower-limb muscle forces for self-selected speeds of walking and running. Correlation analyses were performed for each muscle to quantify differences between the various muscle-force solutions. The patterns of muscle loading predicted by the three methods were similar for both walking and running. The correlation coefficient between any two sets of muscle-force solutions ranged from 0.46 to 0.99 ( p < 0.001 for all muscles). These results suggest that the robustness and efficiency of static optimisation make it the most attractive method for estimating muscle forces in human locomotion.
Development of a realistic human airway model
Authors: Lizal Frantisek , Elcner Jakub , Hopke Philip K , Jedelsky Jan , Jicha Miroslav
Published: December 2011

Numerous models of human lungs with various levels of idealization have been reported in the literature; consequently, results acquired using these models are difficult to compare to in vivo measurements. We have developed a set of model components based on realistic geometries, which permits the analysis of the effects of subsequent model simplification. A realistic digital upper airway geometry except for the lack of an oral cavity has been created which proved suitable both for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and for the fabrication of physical models. Subsequently, an oral cavity was added to the tracheobronchial geometry. The airway geometry including the oral cavity was adjusted to enable fabrication of a semi-realistic model. Five physical models were created based on these three digital geometries. Two optically transparent models, one with and one without the oral cavity, were constructed for flow velocity measurements, two realistic segmented models, one with and one without the oral cavity, were constructed for particle deposition measurements, and a semi-realistic model with glass cylindrical airways was developed for optical measurements of flow velocity and in situ particle size measurements. One-dimensional phase doppler anemometry measurements were made and compared to the CFD calculations for this model and good agreement was obtained.
Inter-speaker speech variability assessment using statistical deformable models from 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance images
Authors: Vasconcelos Maria JM , Ventura Sandra MR , Freitas Diamantino RS , Tavares João Manuel RS
Published: December 2011

The morphological and dynamic characterisation of the vocal tract during speech production has been gaining greater attention due to the motivation of the latest improvements in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging; namely, with the use of higher magnetic fields, such as 3.0 Tesla. In this work, the automatic study of the vocal tract from 3.0 Tesla MR images was assessed through the application of statistical deformable models. Therefore, the primary goal focused on the analysis of the shape of the vocal tract during the articulation of European Portuguese sounds, followed by the evaluation of the results concerning the automatic segmentation, i.e. identification of the vocal tract in new MR images. In what concerns speech production, this is the first attempt to automatically characterise and reconstruct the vocal tract shape of 3.0 Tesla MR images by using deformable models; particularly, by using active and appearance shape models. The achieved results clearly evidence the adequacy and advantage of the automatic analysis of the 3.0 Tesla MR images of these deformable models in order to extract the vocal tract shape and assess the involved articulatory movements. These achievements are mostly required, for example, for a better knowledge of speech production, mainly of patients suffering from articulatory disorders, and to build enhanced speech synthesizer models.
On Assets and Debt in the Psychology of Perceived Wealth
Authors: Sussman Abigail B. , Shafir Eldar
Published: December 2011

We studied the perception of wealth as a function of varying levels of assets and debt. We found that with total wealth held constant, people with positive net worth feel and are seen as wealthier when they have lower debt (despite having fewer assets). In contrast, people with equal but negative net worth feel and are considered wealthier when they have greater assets (despite having larger debt). This pattern persists in the perception of both the self and others. We explore consequences for the willingness to borrow and lend and briefly discuss the policy implications of these findings.
Confessions That Corrupt
Authors: Kassin Saul M. , Bogart Daniel , Kerner Jacqueline
Published: December 2011

Basic psychology research suggests the possibility that confessions—a potent form of incrimination—may taint other evidence, thereby creating an appearance of corroboration. To determine if this laboratory-based phenomenon is supported in the high-stakes world of actual cases, we conducted an archival analysis of DNA exoneration cases from the Innocence Project case files. Results were consistent with the corruption hypothesis: Multiple evidence errors were significantly more likely to exist in false-confession cases than in eyewitness cases; in order of frequency, false confessions were accompanied by invalid or improper forensic science, eyewitness identifications, and snitches and informants; and in cases containing multiple errors, confessions were most likely to have been obtained first. We believe that these findings underestimate the problem and have important implications for the law concerning pretrial corroboration requirements and the principle of “harmless error” on appeal.
Efficient second-order minimization combined with fuzzy control-based visual tracking of a moving face
Authors: Hanh Le Duc , Lin Chyi-Yeu , Lin Chi-Ying , Hashimoto Koichi
Published: December 2011

This paper presents a visual feedback control system that is based on an efficient second-order minimization algorithm and can be used to track a moving face. This study aims to control a camera installed at the end of a three-degree-of-freedom robot arm and fix its orientation with respect to a moving face so that the face remains at a constant position in the image. In this work, the efficient second-order minimization algorithm is used to feed back the orientation of the two-dimensional human face. Then, an intelligent fuzzy algorithm is utilized by the tracking system to allow it to both track and become synchronized with the movement of the face. In addition, a Kalman filter is implemented to create an improved performance of the prediction of the position of the face. The applied control scheme is tested in tracking experiments on a moving face performed using a robot system with a camera installed on its end-effecter and the proposed scheme is shown to be an effective approach to the considered problem.
Media framing of complex issues: The case of endangered languages
Authors: Rivenburgh Nancy K.
Published: December 2011

This study investigates how media frame a global trend that is complex in nature, emergent in terms of scientific understanding, and has public policy implications: the rapid disappearance of languages. It analyzes how English-language media from 15 western, industrialized countries frame the causes and implications of endangered languages over 35 years (1971–2006) – a time period notable for growing, interdisciplinary concerns over the potential negative impacts of losing the world’s linguistic diversity. The results reveal a media discourse characterized by three complementary frames that are sympathetic to the plight of endangered languages, but that present the problem, its cause, and societal implications in a logical structure that would promote public complacency.
Classroom Instruction
Authors: Wolery Mark , Hemmeter Mary Louise
Published: December 2011

In this article, the authors focus on issues of instruction in classrooms. Initially, a brief definitional and historic section is presented. This is followed by a discussion of four assumptions about the current state of affairs: (a) evidence-based practices should be identified and used, (b) children’s phase of performance should dictate practice selection, (c) naturalistic procedures should be used, and (d) play is a defensible curricular domain. Three challenges (instructional, experimental, and resources) are noted.
Information transfer and antipredator maneuvers in schooling herring
Authors: Marras Stefano , Batty Robert S , Domenici Paolo
Published: December 2011

Schooling behavior in fish has been recognized to confer antipredator advantages. However, the mechanisms that lead to various patterns of escape maneuvers in fish schools are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of startle stimulus characteristics (distance and orientation) on the escape maneuvers of schools of a highly gregarious fish species, the Atlantic herring Clupea harengus. We quantified information transfer of the onset of startle responses by analyzing the speed of the waves of their propagation ( Uw = 6.7 ± 1.6 m/s; mean ± SD). Uw was found to be positively correlated with the number of early responders (i.e., individuals reacting with a latency <50 ms). In addition, we identified the rules determining two different evading maneuvers: highly aligned maneuvers (i.e., all individuals oriented in a relatively uniform direction) and “split” maneuvers (i.e., individuals escaping with low directional uniformity). The pattern of escape maneuvers was dependent on stimulus direction (αs). Lateral stimulation (30° < αs < 120°) elicits highly aligned maneuvers away from the stimulus, while frontal stimulations (αs < 30°) causes split maneuvers, which are followed by realignment about 1 s after stimulation. These simple rules suggest that certain stimulus characteristics are important factors determining the variability of antipredator maneuvers observable in schooling fish.
Is Acanthosis Nigricans a Reliable Indicator for Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Children and Adolescents?
Authors: Abraham Cilymol , Rozmus Cathy L.
Published: December 2011

Obesity and type 2 diabetes is becoming a major health problem affecting children and adolescents in the United States. This article reviews the current literature examining the association between the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) and risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese children and adolescents. Ethnicity, family history of diabetes, and emergence of obesity are contributing factors for development of hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance, and ensuing visible changes on skin which is known as the AN. The purpose of this review was to assess the validity of AN as an early indicator of T2DM. Nineteen articles that were published from 1994 to 2010 were included for this review and reported an association between AN, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia. Nurses and advanced nurse practitioners working with children and adolescents have a tremendous role in identifying the risk factors, counseling, role modeling, and referring them to available community resources to promote healthy living. Early initiatives focusing on lifestyle changes may halt the progress, chronicity, and burden of T2DM in children and adolescents.
A Descriptive Study of Office Disciplinary Referrals in High Schools
Authors: Flannery K. Brigid , Fenning Pamela , McGrath Kato Mimi , Bohanon Hank
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this paper is to share descriptive data about Office Discipline Referrals (ODRs) in a sample of 112 high schools that used the School-wide Information System (SWIS) database to collect discipline data during the 2005-2006 academic year. The findings were that tardies, defiance/disrespect and skip/truancy were the most common types of ODRs generated at the high school level. Those in the freshman class were the most likely of all students to receive an ODR, and the majority of those students who generated multiple referrals requiring intensive behavior supports (e.g., 6 or more ODRs), did so by mid-winter of the academic year.
Socioeconomic Status and Child Development
Authors: Letourneau Nicole Lyn , Duffett-Leger Linda , Levac Leah , Watson Barry , Young-Morris Catherine
Published: December 2011

Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is widely accepted to have deleterious effects on the well-being and development of children and adolescents. However, rigorous meta-analytic methods have not been applied to determine the degree to which SES supports or limits children’s and adolescents behavioural, cognitive and language development. While SES is largely determined by combinations of variables such as parental education level, marital status, and income, SES may also interact with other variables mediating or moderating the influence of SES on children’s behavior and cognitive development. Thus, the objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of research on the relationship between composite measures of SES and developmental outcomes for children and adolescents between the ages of birth to 19 years of age. The results revealed very small to small, but significant effects of SES on aspects of the three outcome variables of literacy and language, aggression, and internalizing behaviours including depression. Many other factors come in to play that may better explain the small, but significant relationship between SES and development. Given the small observed associations, policy makers and programmers may focus interventions on family and community factors that contribute to child and adolescent developmental outcomes across the socioeconomic spectrum.
Balancing Technology With Face-to-Face Interaction
Authors: Horton-Deutsch Sara , McNelis Angela M. , Day Pamela O’Haver
Published: December 2011

In 2008, we created a program that incorporated pedagogical approaches to support distance education for graduate psychiatric mental health nursing students in Indiana and adjacent states. This narrative provides a brief description of the five initiatives we originally proposed, our experiences with them, and future plans as our program continues to evolve.
General and Victim-Specific Empathy
Authors: Brown Sarah , Harkins Leigh , Beech Anthony R.
Published: December 2011

An empathy-related component has been included in most sex offender treatment programs since the 1980s; however, research linking empathy to sexual offending and/or to treatment outcome has produced mixed findings. This study examined the relationship between victim specific empathy, general empathy, and overall treatment change (determined by responses on a battery of psychometric tests) with static risk (Risk Matrix 2000 [RM 2000]) and sexual offense reconviction data in a sample of 105 offenders who completed treatment while in prison or in the community in England and Wales and followed up for an average period of more than 10 years. Victim-specific empathy improved from pretreatment to posttreatment and related to overall treatment change. A small group of offenders, whose victim empathy scores deteriorated from pretreatment to posttreatment, had higher rates of sexual recidivism compared with the rest of the sample. In contrast, neither were any reliable pretreatment to posttreatment changes noted on general empathy scores, except for an indication on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Personal Distress Scale, nor was any relationship found to sexual recidivism. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to treatment goals and sexual recidivism.
MBA imaginaries: Projections of internationalization
Authors: Elliott Carole , Robinson Sarah
Published: December 2011

In analysing four UK Business Schools’ webpages and student interviews, this article explores instances of MBA internationalization through the lens of the social imaginary: that is, the way in which people imagine their social existence and ambitions and means they employ to reinforce and achieve these. Using as heuristics three suggested MBA imaginary types, the ‘managerial’, ‘international managerial’ and ‘cosmopolitan’ as part of a four-stage hermeneutic analysis, distinctive approaches to internationalization at each institution are identified. However, the analysis also reveals that webpages portray mixed messages which do not necessarily support each school’s distinct approach in terms of students’ learning, pedagogy or curriculum. We suggest that the use of these MBA imaginaries and their accompanying forms of international capital could act as a framework to inform the development and projection of international MBA pedagogy and curricula.
Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr as platforms of alternative journalism: The social media account of the 2010 Toronto G20 protests
Authors: Poell Thomas , Borra Erik
Published: December 2011

This article examines the appropriation of social media as platforms of alternative journalism by the protestors of the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto, Canada. The Toronto Community Mobilization Network, the network that coordinated the protests, urged participants to broadcast news using Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr. This particular use of social media is studied in the light of the history and theory of alternative journalism. Analyzing a set of 11,556 tweets, 222 videos, and 3,338 photos, the article assesses user participation in social media protest reporting, as well as the resulting protest accounts. The findings suggest that social media did not facilitate the crowd-sourcing of alternative reporting, except to some extent for Twitter. As with many previous alternative journalistic efforts, reporting was dominated by a relatively small number of users. In turn, the resulting account itself had a strong event-oriented focus, mirroring often-criticized mainstream protest reporting practices.
Different roles, different content? A four-country comparison of the role conceptions and reporting style of political journalists
Authors: van Dalen Arjen , de Vreese Claes H , Albæk Erik
Published: December 2011

The relation between journalistic role conceptions and news content is central for the understanding of differences in journalistic cultures. Previous research has shown that the professional roles of individual journalists can influence their behaviour and that occupational socialization leads to similar role conceptions within countries. This article therefore studies the relation between cross-national differences in role conceptions and news content. A survey among political journalists in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain ( N = 425), combined with a content analysis of political coverage in these countries ( N = 1,035 newspaper articles) shows that role conceptions vary more across countries than within countries. Spanish political journalists see their role as more sacerdotal and partisan than their colleagues in northern Europe, while British journalists are most entertainment oriented. These differences in role conceptions are reflected in the reporting style of political news.
The ‘miracle’ of Fatima: Media framing and the regeneration of a Dublin housing estate
Authors: Conway Brian , Corcoran Mary P , Cahill Lynne M
Published: December 2011

This article examines media coverage of one local authority housing estate in Dublin with a difficult past. Fatima Mansions was built between 1949 and 1951 as part of a government policy to re-house the city’s poor. The estate enjoyed a relatively unremarkable history up until the 1970s. A heroin problem developed in the estate in the 1980s and contributed to its negative media construction, such that by the end of the 1990s the estate was widely viewed as being in crisis. Beginning in the early 2000s and recently completed, a major regeneration project has seen the estate transformed with the potential finally to dislodge the negative stereotyping embedded in the estate’s past. An empirical analysis of two media spaces that represented this change process shows how the media tuned into the change agenda promoted by local residents, in the process widening its frame of reference and allowing for representations with a more positive valence. The article argues that media representations of social problems may not be authoritative and media agenda-setting is more provisional and open ended than is commonly assumed.
The Employee Engagement Landscape and HRD
Authors: Shuck Brad , Reio Thomas G.
Published: December 2011

The Problem.

Employee engagement strategies are widely applied in practice, yet the construct remains underdeveloped in the human resource development (HRD) literature. This underdevelopment in the HRD scholarly community, combined with high levels of interest in the HRD practitioner community, highlights the need for closing the gap in theory, scholarship, and practice. To develop and support possible engagement-related interventions, HRD researchers and practitioners must be at the forefront of the emerging engagement conversation.

The Solution.

This article provides a definition and framework of employee engagement within the context of HRD, specifically in the areas of theory, scholarship, and practice. In addition, this article provides an overview of articles related to the latest thinking, research, and strategy development for generating employee engagement in practice found within this special issue.

The Stakeholders.

The intended audience for this article includes HRD scholars, scholar-practitioners, and practitioners interested in the development and use of employee engagement as an organizational performance and workplace culture -building strategy.
Antecedents to Employee Engagement
Authors: Wollard Karen Kelly , Shuck Brad
Published: December 2011

The Problem.

Employee engagement is an emerging concept in the HRD literature, with demonstrated organizational benefits; yet little is known about its antecedents. The purpose of this article is to explore conceptual and empirically driven antecedents as well as differentiate the two perspectives.

The Solution.

As a result of a structured literature review method, 42 antecedents were grouped by application at the individual and organizational level.

The Stakeholders.

HRD researchers seeking to conduct original research in organizations, and practitioners interested in creating greater levels of engagement in their organizations will find the discussion and implications sections and the index tool valuable.
The Assessment of a Multinational Using the Employee Work Passion Model
Authors: Nimon Kim , Zigarmi Drea
Published: December 2011

The Problem.

The current state of employee engagement literature highlights the need for theoretical models and comprehensive constructs that can be practically applied. Without such models and constructs, it is difficult for scholar practitioners to determine how to use the concept of engagement to diagnose and monitor organizational issues.

The Solution.

This article describes a process of assessing employee engagement using an operational definition supported by a social-cognitive model and instrumentation that considers both the job and the organizational factors that influence employee engagement. As such, the process reported addresses key limitations typically found in employee engagement literature.

The Stakeholders.

The intended audience for this article includes scholar practitioners interested in the assessment of and interventions associated with employee engagement.
Wealth, Stereotypes, and Issues of Prestige
Authors: Martinez Melissa Ann
Published: December 2011

Utilizing the notion of community cultural wealth, this study focuses on the various forms of capital that Mexican American students from the South Texas Border draw upon within their community to navigate the college choice process. Findings indicate that neighbors, church members, and in one case, a physician, served as sources of social capital, while students drew upon resistant and aspirational capital to deal with racial and ethnic stereotypes and negative perceptions of local/regional universities.
The Role of Early Pubertal Development in the Relationship Between General Strain and Juvenile Crime
Authors: Jackson Dylan B.
Published: December 2011

Agnew’s general strain (1992) theory postulates that negative relationships and negative life events can give rise to delinquency by way of negative emotions, such as anger. However, the factors that might condition the effects of general strain on juvenile delinquency remain unclear. As a result, Agnew et al. (2002) have advocated continued efforts to identify factors that moderate one’s response to strainful experiences. Using data from a national sample of adolescents, the present study responds to their request by examining how the effects of general strain on offending vary according to youths’ level of physical development. The findings suggest that advanced pubertal development may significantly increase the effects of general strain on delinquent outcomes and that these effects may differ by gender. The implications of this conclusion for criminological theory, future research, and policy are discussed.
The Transformative Effects of International Education at an HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa
Authors: Dass-Brailsford Priscilla , Serrano Adriana
Published: December 2011

In recent years, more psychology programs are offering study abroad courses. These courses have the additional benefit of increasing student cultural competence. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of international education on a group of graduate students in psychology who participated in a 5-week travel abroad program to South Africa. Using a small convenience sample, a qualitative research design was used to explore student perceptions of engaging in clinical work in a cross-cultural setting. The study is framed within multicultural education and transformative learning theory, both of which inform the findings. Several themes that were categorized as personal, professional, community, social/cultural, and political emerged from in-depth individual interviews with participants. They reported a deeper cultural understanding of self and others with a stronger appreciation and respect of the uniqueness of individuals and their worldviews and the importance of validating these cultural differences. Participants reported that direct contact with others who were culturally different helped them develop key clinical skills of compassion and empathy. Overall most participants found that the international experience was ‘life-changing’ and provided them with opportunities to transcend the limits of regular classroom instruction. Some students were inspired to make meaningful changes in their lives when they returned to the U.S. by increasing their involvement in community activities that provided services to the disenfranchised. Although not generalizable because of the small sample, this study demonstrates that international education can engages students in active learning and provide them with opportunities for practical application of knowledge.
Learning for Change
Authors: Erichsen Elizabeth Anne
Published: December 2011

This qualitative study examines how international graduate students have made sense of their experiences and how they have personally changed during their time in the United States. The qualitative methodology aimed to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of these international students and to capture and represent their meaning making and their learning journeys. Data were collected from multiple semistructured, in-depth interviews and analyzed qualitatively following the guidelines of interpretive interactionism ( Denzin, 2001 ). The international students’ learning and personal change were represented through the emerging learning themes of disjuncture, getting lost, liminality, and redefinition. Conceptually, it is argued that the experience of studying as an international student engenders deeply reflective learning and influences shifting conceptions of self. Transformative learning within an international context is about integration and finding connection (adaptation and perspectival shift) but also about differentiation and reinventing oneself within a new context (identity development).
Sim TRACT™
Authors: Gum Lyn , Greenhill Jennene , Dix Kerry
Published: December 2011

Ideally, debriefing will encourage learners to critically reflect in a supportive peer learning environment. Currently, the debriefing process lacks a conceptual framework to guide both facilitators and learners. Transformative learning theory provides a process for critical reflection which promotes learners to engage in critical discourse and share their knowledge and assumptions. The purpose of the article is to (1) explore the extent to which the simulation and debriefing process reflects transformative learning, as described by Mezirow; and (2) introduce a reflective conceptual framework for postsimulation debriefing. A qualitative study explored 16 health professionals’ perceptions of simulation sessions, in particular the postsimulation debriefing process. The article discusses three key themes: self-reflexivity, connectedness, and social context in relation to postsimulation debriefing. Authors explain how the debriefing process can reflect transformative learning which can assist participants to translate learning into practice. Following this, the authors propose a reflective conceptual framework for debriefing. The Sim TRACT™ model can equip educators with effective debriefing skills and encourage transformative learning to take place.
Changes in Electrical Perception Threshold Within the First 6 Months After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: van Hedel Hubertus J. A. , Kumru Hatice , Röhrich Frank , Galen Sujay
Published: December 2011

Objective. To assess the reliability of the electrical perception threshold (EPT) in healthy participants and its responsiveness in patients for 6 months after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods. The reliability of EPT measures was assessed in 15 healthy volunteers (from C3 to S2). EPT measures were assessed in 37 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after SCI. EPT was determined in dermatomes at, above, and below the neurological level of lesion. Reliability was quantified with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and responsiveness with the standardized response mean (SRM). Dermatomes were classified as having normal or pathological sensory perception, based on both light touch (LT) and EPT testing. The percentage of agreement between LT and EPT classifications was determined. Results. The ICCs varied considerably between dermatomes (0.00 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.86). Overall, EPTs changed little within the first 6 months after SCI, resulting in small SRM values. Agreement between classifications according to EPT or LT testing varied from 30% to 100%. The least agreement was observed in the first segment below the lesion. Conclusion. Future studies must note that the reliability of EPT differs between dermatomes in healthy participants. Furthermore, at and below the level of the lesion, spontaneous recovery of sensory perception is poor within the first 6 months after SCI. Based on subgroup analyses, if a translational trial aims to improve sensory perception around the level of the lesion, sensory-incomplete tetraplegic patients could be included. These patients show poor spontaneous recovery, and the EPT may detect subtle changes in perception.
Understanding the Change in Male and Female Intimate Partner Homicide Over Time
Authors: Reckdenwald Amy , Parker Karen F.
Published: December 2011

Research on intimate partner homicide has increased along with public awareness and policy responses toward domestic violence. The current study addresses the decline in gender-specific intimate partner homicides during a time marked by significant transformations in domestic violence legislation, including the enactment of the 1994 Violence Against Women’s Act. In an attempt to account for changes in intimate partner homicide during this time period, we examine the exposure reducing potential of domesticity, domestic violence resources, and females’ economic status, while also acknowledging their possible backlash/retaliation effects when accounting for inequalities in the economic statuses of males and females. By incorporating a pooled time-series design to model change, our research reveals changes between 1990 and 2000 in key theoretical predictors of domesticity, domestic violence resources, and economic deprivation significantly influence the trends in male-victim intimate partner homicide, but not female-victim intimate partner homicide for a large sample of 178 urban cities.
Fatherhood, Smoking, and Secondhand Smoke in North America
Authors: White Cameron , Oliffe John L. , Bottorff Joan L.
Published: December 2011

In the context of concerns about the effects of secondhand smoke on fetal health and the health of children, North American health promotion interventions have focused on reducing tobacco consumption among women to a greater extent than men. This is problematic when the health effects of men’s secondhand smoke in family environments are considered. This article examines this gendered phenomenon in terms of a history of cigarette consumption that positions smoking as masculine. Furthermore, it demonstrates the value of addressing men’s smoking using a gendered methodology, with an emphasis on fatherhood as an expression of masculine identity. Garnering health promotion programs to promote a culture of masculinity that is less individualistic, and defined in terms of responsibility and care for others, in addition to the self, has the potential to render men’s smoking problematic and challenge the historic linkages between smoking and masculinity.
How Does Health Information Influence African American Men’s Health Behavior?
Authors: Griffith Derek M. , Ellis Katrina R. , Ober Allen Julie
Published: December 2011

Few researchers have examined where African American men obtain, process, and use health information. A thematic analysis of data from eighteen exploratory focus groups conducted with 154 urban African American men aged 32 years and older revealed that men received health information from a variety of sources, including health professionals, media, and members of their social networks. At times, information raised their awareness of health issues, but trust in the source of the information influenced how this information was perceived. Medical professionals were the most common source of health information, but family members were the most trusted source of health information. Health problems and social support increased men’s motivation to use health information in order to improve their health and healthy behaviors. These findings illustrate that it is critical to identify factors that influence what information men choose to believe and follow or decide to ignore.
Series solutions for magnetohydrodynamic flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid and heat transfer in coaxial porous cylinder with slip conditions
Authors: Ellahi Rahmat , Zeeshan Ahmed , Vafai Kambiz , Rahman Hafiz U
Published: December 2011

A study on the flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid between two coaxial cylinders is made. Two types of series solutions are constructed by choosing constant and variable viscosity. The effects of heat transfer analysis on nanoparticles in the presence of magnetohydrodynamics, porosity and partial slip are also examined. To drive the solutions of nonlinear boundary value problems, we have used a recently developed method, the optimal homotopic asymptotic method, which has been proved an effective technique for solving nonlinear equations. Comparison with existing, documented results through reduction of emerging parameters reveals that the presented series solutions are correct. The solution valid for the no-slip condition for all values of the non-Newtonian parameters can be derived as special case of the present analysis. Finally, the influence of pertinent parameters on velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration is discussed and illustrated in graphical form.
Enhancement of the acute phase response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in steers supplemented with chromium
Authors: Burdick Nicole C , Bernhard Bryan C , Carroll Jeffery A , Rathmann Ryan J , Johnson Bradley J
Published: December 2011

The study examined the effect of chromium supplementation on the response of steers to an LPS challenge. Steers received a premix that added 0 (control; n = 10) or 0.2 mg/kg of chromium ( n = 10) to the total diet on a dry matter basis for 56 d. Steers were fitted with jugular catheters and rectal temperature (RT) recording devices on d 52. Blood samples were collected and sickness behavior scores assigned to each steer relative to an LPS challenge (0.5 µg/kg) on d 55. Pre-LPS RT were greater in chromium-supplemented than in control steers. Post-LPS RT increased in both treatments, with control steers producing a greater change in RT than chromium-supplemented steers. Sickness behavior scores were greater in control than in chromium-supplemented steers post-LPS ( P = 0.03). Cortisol concentrations did not differ between treatments pre-LPS. Post-LPS cortisol concentrations increased but did not differ due to treatment. Concentrations of IL-4 increased post-LPS but were not affected by treatment pre- or post-LPS. Treatment did not affect pre-LPS TNF-α or IFN-γ. Post-LPS TNF-α and IFN-γ increased in both treatments, with chromium-supplemented steers producing greater TNF-α ( P = 0.005) and IFN-γ ( P = 0.004) than control steers. Pre-LPS IL-6 was greater ( P = 0.027) in chromium-supplemented steers than in control steers. Post-LPS IL-6 increased in both treatments and was greater ( P < 0.001) in chromium-supplemented than in control steers. These data suggest that chromium supplementation enhances the acute phase response of steers to an LPS challenge, which may expedite recovery.