bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value and Determinants of a Hypointense Infarct Core in T2-Weighted Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Acute Reperfused ST-Elevation–Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Eitel Ingo , Kubusch Konrad , Strohm Oliver , Desch Steffen , Mikami Yoko , de Waha Suzanne , Gutberlet Matthias , Schuler Gerhard , Friedrich Matthias G. , Thiele Holger
Published: April 2011

Background—

A hypointense core of infarcted myocardium in T2-weighted cardiovascular MRI (CMR) has been used as a noninvasive marker for intramyocardial hemorrhage. However, the clinical significance of such findings not yet been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate determinants and prognostic impact of a hypointense infarct core in T2-weighted CMR images, studied in patients after acute, reperfused ST-elevation–myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed 346 patients with ST-elevation–myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty <12 hours after symptoms onset. T2-weighted, contrast-enhanced CMR was used for assessment of the area at risk, myocardial salvage, infarct size, hypointense core in T2-weighted images, and late microvascular obstruction. Patients were categorized into 2 groups defined by the presence or absence of a hypointense core. The primary end point of the study was occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events defined as death, reinfarction, and congestive heart failure within 6 months after infarction. A hypointense core was present in 122 (35%) patients and was associated with larger infarcts, greater amount of microvascular obstruction, less myocardial salvage, and impaired left ventricular function (
P
<0.001, respectively). The presence of a hypointense core was a strong univariable predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 2.59; confidence interval, 1.27 to 5.27) and was significantly associated with an increased major adverse cardiovascular events rate (16.4% versus 7.0%,
P
=0.006) 6 months after infarction.

Conclusions—

A hypointense infarct core within the area at risk of reperfused infarcted myocardium in T2-weighted CMR is closely related to infarct size, microvascular obstruction, and impaired left ventricular function, with subsequent adverse clinical outcome.
Transcranial Doppler Detection of Cerebral Fat Emboli and Relation to Paradoxical Embolism
Authors: Forteza Alejandro M. , Koch Sebastian , Campo-Bustillo Iszet , Gutierrez Jose , Haussen Diogo C. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Romano Jose , Zych Gregory A. , Duncan Robert
Published: April 2011

Background—

The fat embolism syndrome is clinically characterized by dyspnea, skin petechiae, and neurological dysfunction. It is associated mainly with long bone fracture and bone marrow fat passage to the systemic circulation. An intracardiac right-to-left shunt (RLS) could allow larger fat particles to reach the systemic circulation. Transcranial Doppler can be a useful tool to detect both RLS and the fat particles reaching the brain.

Methods and Results—

We prospectively studied patients with femur shaft fracture with RLS evaluation, daily transcranial Doppler with embolus detection studies, and neurological examinations to evaluate the relation of RLS and microembolic signals to the development of fat embolism syndrome. Forty-two patients were included; 14 had an RLS detected. Seven patients developed neurological symptoms; all of them had a positive RLS (
P
=<0.001). The patients with an RLS showed higher counts and higher intensities of microembolic signals (
P
=<0.05 and
P
=<0.01, respectively) compared with those who did not have an RLS identified. The presence of high microembolic signal counts and intensities in patients with RLS was strongly predictive of the occurrence of neurological symptoms (odds ratio, 204; 95% confidence interval, 11 to 3724;
P
<0.001) with a positive predictive value of 86% and negative predictive value of 97%.

Conclusions—

In patients with long bone fractures, the presence of an RLS is associated with larger and more frequent microembolic signals to the brain detected by transcranial Doppler study and can predict the development of neurological symptoms.
Early Macrophage Recruitment and Alternative Activation Are Critical for the Later Development of Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Vergadi Eleni , Chang Mun Seog , Lee Changjin , Liang Olin D. , Liu Xianlan , Fernandez-Gonzalez Angeles , Mitsialis S. Alex , Kourembanas Stella
Published: April 2011

Background—

Lung inflammation precedes the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH); however, its role in the pathogenesis of HPH is poorly understood. We sought to characterize the hypoxic inflammatory response and to elucidate its role in the development of HPH. We also aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which heme oxygenase-1, an anti-inflammatory enzyme, is protective in HPH.

Methods and Results—

We generated bitransgenic mice that overexpress human heme oxygenase-1 under doxycycline control in an inducible, lung-specific manner. Hypoxic exposure of mice in the absence of doxycycline resulted in early transient accumulation of monocytes/macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage. Alveolar macrophages acquired an alternatively activated phenotype (M2) in response to hypoxia, characterized by the expression of found in inflammatory zone-1, arginase-1, and chitinase-3-like-3. A brief 2-day pulse of doxycycline delayed, but did not prevent, the peak of hypoxic inflammation, and could not protect against HPH. In contrast, a 7-day doxycycline treatment sustained high heme oxygenase-1 levels during the entire period of hypoxic inflammation, inhibited macrophage accumulation and activation, induced macrophage interleukin-10 expression, and prevented the development of HPH. Supernatants from hypoxic M2 macrophages promoted the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, whereas treatment with carbon monoxide, a heme oxygenase-1 enzymatic product, abrogated this effect.

Conclusions—

Early recruitment and alternative activation of macrophages in hypoxic lungs are critical for the later development of HPH. Heme oxygenase-1 may confer protection from HPH by effectively modifying the macrophage activation state in hypoxia.
Fk506 Binding Protein 12 Deficiency in Endothelial and Hematopoietic Cells Decreases Regulatory T Cells and Causes Hypertension
Authors: Chiasson Valorie L. , Talreja Deepa , Young Kristina J. , Chatterjee Piyali , Banes-Berceli Amy K. , Mitchell Brett M.
Published: April 2011

Patients treated with the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus (FK506), which binds FK506 binding protein 12 (FKBP12) and then inhibits the calcium-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, exhibit decreased regulatory T cells, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension; however, the mechanisms and whether altered T-cell polarization play a role are unknown. Tacrolimus treatment of mice for 1 week dose-dependently decreased splenic CD4
+
/FoxP3
+
(regulatory T cells), increased splenic CD4
+
/IL-17
+
(T-helper 17) cells, and caused endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. To determine the mechanisms, we crossed floxed FKBP12 mice with Tie2-Cre mice to generate offspring lacking FKBP12 in endothelial and hematopoietic cells only (FKBP12EC knockout [KO]). Given the role of FKBP12 in inhibiting transforming growth factor-β receptor activation, Tie2-Cre–mediated deletion of FKBP12 increased transforming growth factor-β receptor activation and SMAD2/3 signaling. FKBP12EC KO mice exhibited increased vascular expression of genes and proteins related to endothelial cell activation and inflammation. Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-6, interferon-γ, IL-17a, IL-21, and IL-23 were increased significantly, suggesting a T-helper 17 cell-mediated inflammatory state. Flow cytometry studies confirmed this, because splenic levels of CD4
+
/IL-17
+
cells were increased significantly, whereas CD4
+
/FoxP3
+
cells were decreased in FKBP12EC KO mice. Furthermore, spleens from FKBP12EC KO mice showed increased signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation, involved in T-helper 17 cell induction, and decreased signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation, involved in regulatory T-cell induction. FKBP12EC KO mice also exhibited endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. These data suggest that tacrolimus, through its activation of transforming growth factor-β receptors in endothelial and hematopoietic cells, may cause endothelial dysfunction and hypertension by activating endothelial cells, reducing regulatory T cells, and increasing T-helper 17 cell polarization and inflammation.
Notch3 Is Essential for Regulation of the Renal Vascular Tone
Authors: Boulos Nada , Helle Frank , Dussaule Jean-Claude , Placier Sandrine , Milliez Paul , Djudjaj Sonja , Guerrot Dominique , Joutel Anne , Ronco Pierre , Boffa Jean-Jacques , Chatziantoniou Christos
Published: April 2011

The Notch3 receptor participates in the development and maturation of vessels. Mutations of Notch3 in humans are associated with defective regulation of cerebral blood flow. To investigate the role of Notch3 in the regulation of renal hemodynamics, we used mice lacking expression of the Notch3 gene (Notch3−/− mice). Bolus injections of norepinephrine and angiotensin II increased renal vascular resistance and decreased renal blood flow in a dose-dependent manner in wild-type mice. In sharp contrast, renal vascular resistance of Notch3−/− mice varied little after boluses of norepinephrine and angiotensin II. Inversely, bradykinin and prostacyclin relaxed renal vasculature in wild-type mice. Both vasodilators had a negligible effect on renal vascular resistance of Notch3−/− mice. Afferent arterioles freshly isolated from Notch3−/− mice displayed decreased thickness of vascular wall compared with wild -type mice and showed a deficient contractile response to angiotensin II. To examine the physiopathological consequences of the above-described deficiency, hypertension was induced by continuous infusion of angiotensin II. Angiotensin II gradually increased blood pressure in both strains, but this increase was lesser in the Notch3−/− mice. Despite this blunted systemic effect, Notch3−/− mice displayed high mortality rates (65%) attributed to heart failure. In the kidney, the surviving Notch3−/− mice showed focal structural alterations characteristic of nephroangiosclerosis. These data show that Notch3 is necessary for the adaptive response of the renal vasculature to vasoactive systems. A deficiency in the expression of Notch3 could have important physiopathological consequences in the adaptation of the cardiac and renal function to chronic increase of blood pressure.
A Self-Organized Artificial Neural Network Architecture for Sensory Integration with Applications to Letter-Phoneme Integration
Authors: Jantvik Tamas , Gustafsson Lennart , Papliński Andrew P.
Published: April 2011

The multimodal self-organizing network (MMSON), an artificial neural network architecture carrying out sensory integration, is presented here. The architecture is designed using neurophysiological findings and imaging studies that pertain to sensory integration and consists of interconnected lattices of artificial neurons. In this artificial neural architecture, the degree of recognition of stimuli, that is, the perceived reliability of stimuli in the various subnetworks, is included in the computation. The MMSON's behavior is compared to aspects of brain function that deal with sensory integration. According to human behavioral studies, integration of signals from sensory receptors of different modalities enhances perception of objects and events and also reduces time to detection. In neocortex, integration takes place in bimodal and multimodal association areas and result, not only in feedback-mediated enhanced unimodal perception and shortened reaction time, but also in robust bimodal or multimodal percepts. Simulation data from the presented artificial neural network architecture show that it replicates these important psychological and neuroscientific characteristics of sensory integration.
Diffusive Information Accumulation by Minimal Recurrent Neural Models of Decision Making
Authors: Smith Philip L. , McKenzie Cameron R. L.
Published: April 2011

An important class of psychological models of decision making assumes that evidence is accumulated by a diffusion process to a response criterion. These models have successfully accounted for reaction time (RT) distributions and choice probabilities from a wide variety of experimental tasks. An outstanding theoretical problem is how the integration process that underlies diffusive evidence accumulation can be realized neurally. Wang ( 2001 , 2002 ) has suggested that long timescale neural integration may be implemented by persistent activity in reverberation loops. We analyze a simple recurrent decision making architecture and show that it leads to a diffusive accumulation process. The process has the form of a time-inhomogeneous Ornstein-Uhlenbeck velocity process with linearly increasing drift and diffusion coefficients. The resulting model predicts RT distributions and choice probabilities that closely approximate those found in behavioral data.
Online Variational Inference for State-Space Models with Point-Process Observations
Authors: Mangion Andrew Zammit , Yuan Ke , Kadirkamanathan Visakan , Niranjan Mahesan , Sanguinetti Guido
Published: April 2011

We present a variational Bayesian (VB) approach for the state and parameter inference of a state-space model with point-process observations, a physiologically plausible model for signal processing of spike data. We also give the derivation of a variational smoother, as well as an efficient online filtering algorithm, which can also be used to track changes in physiological parameters. The methods are assessed on simulated data, and results are compared to expectation-maximization, as well as Monte Carlo estimation techniques, in order to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed approach. The VB filter is further assessed on a data set of taste-response neural cells, showing that the proposed approach can effectively capture dynamical changes in neural responses in real time.
Quickly Generating Representative Samples from an RBM-Derived Process
Authors: Breuleux Olivier , Bengio Yoshua , Vincent Pascal
Published: April 2011

Two recently proposed learning algorithms, herding and fast persistent contrastive divergence (FPCD), share the following interesting characteristic: they exploit changes in the model parameters while sampling in order to escape modes and mix better during the sampling process that is part of the learning algorithm. We justify such approaches as ways to escape modes while keeping approximately the same asymptotic distribution of the Markov chain. In that spirit, we extend FPCD using an idea borrowed from Herding in order to obtain a pure sampling algorithm, which we call the rates-FPCD sampler. Interestingly, this sampler can improve the model as we collect more samples, since it optimizes a lower bound on the log likelihood of the training data. We provide empirical evidence that this new algorithm displays substantially better and more robust mixing than Gibbs sampling.
Car Racing in a Simulator: Validation and Assessment of Brake Pedal Stiffness
Authors: de Groot S. , Mulder M. , Wieringa P. A.
Published: April 2011

Car racing is a mentally and physically demanding sport. The track time available to train drivers and test car setups is limited. Race car simulators offer the possibility of safe, efficient, and standardized human-in-the-loop training and testing. We conducted a validation study of a race car simulator by correlating the fastest lap times of 13 drivers during training events in the simulator with their fastest lap times during real-world race events. The results showed that the overall correlation was .57 (p = .044). Next, the effect of brake pedal stiffness (soft: 5.8 N/mm vs. hard: 53.0 N/mm) on racing performance was investigated in the simulator. Brake pedal stiffness may have an important effect on drivers' lap times, but it is impractical to manipulate this variable on a race car during a real-world test session. Two independent experiments were conducted using different cars and tracks. In each experiment, participants (N = 6 in Experiment 1 and N = 9 in Experiment 2) drove alternately with the soft and hard pedal in eight 20-min sessions (Experiment 1) or six 15-min sessions (Experiment 2). Two hypotheses were tested: (1) the soft pedal yields faster cornering times for corners that include a long brake zone, and (2) the hard pedal yields more high-frequency brake forces. Experiments 1 and 2 confirmed the second hypothesis but not the first. Drivers were highly adaptable to brake pedal stiffness, and the stiff pedal elicited higher pedal forces and more high-frequent brake pedal inputs. It is concluded that the racing simulator is a valuable tool for driver assessment and for testing adoptations to the human–machine interface.
Feedback, Affordances, and Accelerators for Training Sports in Virtual Environments
Authors: Ruffaldi Emanuele , Bardy Benoît , Gopher Daniel , Bergamasco Massimo
Published: April 2011

The use of virtual environments (VE) for training sports is quite natural when considering strategic or cognitive aspects. Using VE for sensorimotor training is more challenging, in particular with the difficulty of transferring the task learned in the virtual world to the real. Of special concern for the successful transfer is the adequate combination of training experience protocols and the delivery modes of multimodal feedback. Analyzing feedback in terms of information exchange, this work discusses different feedback combinations and their application to virtual reality training of rowing skills.
Effects of Baseline Conditions on the Simulated Hydrologic Response to Projected Climate Change
Authors: Koczot Kathryn M. , Markstrom Steven L. , Hay Lauren E.
Published: April 2011

Changes in temperature and precipitation projected from five general circulation models, using one late-twentieth-century and three twenty-first-century emission scenarios, were downscaled to three different baseline conditions. Baseline conditions are periods of measured temperature and precipitation data selected to represent twentieth-century climate. The hydrologic effects of the climate projections are evaluated using the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), which is a watershed hydrology simulation model. The Almanor Catchment in the North Fork of the Feather River basin, California, is used as a case study.

Differences and similarities between PRMS simulations of hydrologic components (i.e., snowpack formation and melt, evapotranspiration, and streamflow) are examined, and results indicate that the selection of a specific time period used for baseline conditions has a substantial effect on some, but not all, hydrologic variables. This effect seems to be amplified in hydrologic variables, which accumulate over time, such as soil-moisture content. Results also indicate that uncertainty related to the selection of baseline conditions should be evaluated using a range of different baseline conditions. This is particularly important for studies in basins with highly variable climate, such as the Almanor Catchment.
Formation Mechanisms of the Extreme High Surface Air Temperature of 40.9°C Observed in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area: Considerations of Dynamic Foehn and Foehnlike Wind
Authors: Takane Yuya , Kusaka Hiroyuki
Published: April 2011

A record-breaking high surface air temperature in Japan of 40.9°C was observed on 16 August 2007 in Kumagaya, located 60 km northwest of central Tokyo. In this study, the formation mechanisms of this extreme high temperature event are statistically and numerically investigated using observational data and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The extreme event is caused by a combination of two particular factors: 1) Persistent sunshine and a lack of precipitation during the seven consecutive days preceding 16 August 2007 were seen in Kumagaya. This was the 12th-longest stretch of clear-sky days in July and August from 1998 up to 2008. Persistent clear-sky days allow the ground surface to dry out, which produces an increase in sensible heat flux from the ground surface. This contributes to the extreme event, and its mechanism is qualitatively supported by the results of sensitivity experiments of soil moisture on surface air temperature. 2) A foehnlike wind appears in the numerical simulation, which is caused by diabatic heating with subgrid-scale turbulent diffusion and sensible heat flux from the ground surface when this airflow passes in the mixed layer over the Chubu Mountains and the inland of the Tokyo metropolitan area. Backward trajectory analysis and Lagrangian energy budget analysis show that the foehnlike wind plays a more important role in the extreme event than the adiabatic dynamic foehn pointed out by previous studies.
Generation of High-Resolution Rain Fields in West Africa: Evaluation of Dynamic Interpolation Methods
Authors: Vischel T. , Quantin G. , Lebel T. , Viarre J. , Gosset M. , Cazenave F. , Panthou G.
Published: April 2011

High-resolution rain fields are a prerequisite to many hydrometeorological studies. For some applications, the required resolution may be as fine as 1 km in space and 5 min in time. At these scales, rainfall is strongly intermittent, variable in space, and correlated in time because of the propagation of the rainy systems. This paper compares two interpolation approaches to generate high-resolution rain fields from rain gauge measurements: (i) a classic interpolation technique that consists in interpolating independently the rain intensities at each time step (Eulerian kriging) and (ii) a simple dynamic interpolation technique that incorporates the propagation of the rainy systems (Lagrangian kriging). For this latter approach, three propagation models are tested. The different interpolation techniques are evaluated over three climatically contrasted areas in West Africa where a multiyear 5-min rainfall dataset has been collected during the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA) campaigns. The dynamic interpolation technique is shown to perform better than the classic approach for a majority of the rainy events. The performances of the three propagation models differ from one another, depending on the evaluation criteria used. One of them provides a satisfactory time of arrival of rainfall but slightly smooths the rain intensities. The two others reproduce well the rain intensities, but the time of arrival of the rain is sometimes delayed. The choice of an appropriate propagation algorithm will thus depend on the operational objectives underlying the rain field generation.
Comparison between the TOPAZ Airborne Ozone Lidar and In Situ Measurements during TexAQS 2006
Authors: Langford A. O. , Senff C. J. , Alvarez R. J. , Banta R. M. , Hardesty R. M. , Parrish D. D. , Ryerson T. B.
Published: April 2011

The NOAA airborne ozone lidar system [Tunable Optical Profiler for Aerosol and Ozone (TOPAZ)] is compared with the fast-response chemiluminescence sensor flown aboard the NOAA WP-3D during the 2006 Texas Air Quality Study (TexAQS). TOPAZ measurements made from the NOAA Twin Otter, flying at an altitude of ~3300 m MSL in the Houston, Texas, area on 31 August, and the Dallas, Texas, area on 13 September, show that the overall uncertainty in the 10-s (~600-m horizontal resolution) TOPAZ profiles is dominated by statistical uncertainties (1σ) of ~8 ppbv (6%–10%) at ranges of ~2300 m from the aircraft (~1000 m MSL), and ~11–27 ppbv (12%–30%) at ranges of ~2800 m (~500 m MSL). These uncertainties are substantially reduced by spatial averaging, and the averages of 11 profiles (of 110 s or 6.6-km horizontal resolution) at ~1000 m MSL are in excellent agreement (±2%) with the in situ measurements at ~500 m MSL. The TOPAZ measurements at lower altitudes on 31 August exhibit a negative bias of up to ~15%, however, when the lidar signals were strongly attenuated by very high ozone levels in the plume from the Houston Ship Channel. This bias appears to result from nonlinear behavior in the TOPAZ signal amplifiers, which is described in the companion paper by Alvarez et al. An empirical correction is presented.
Initial Ice Microparticle Sublimation Measurements from the Levitating Upper-Tropospheric Environmental Simulator (LUTES)
Authors: Magee Nathan , Spector Kayla , Lin Yi-Hsuan , Tong Corey , Beatty John
Published: April 2011

Initial ice particle sublimation data are presented from the new Levitating Upper-Tropospheric Environmental Simulator (LUTES) at The College of New Jersey. This experimental system mimics the conditions of a typical cirrus cloud in order to evaluate the phase-change kinetics of single ice particles. These ice particles are charged and then trapped in a levitating electrodynamic balance where they can be observed as they sublimate in a subsaturated atmosphere. Levitation and sublimation take place within a vacuum chamber, which is contained in a freezer at a temperature of −40° to −80°C and is capable of a reduced pressure of 10 mb. The sublimation rates of the ice particles are observed at a variety of temperature, humidity, and pressure conditions and are compared to sublimation rates predicted by particle-scale diffusion models. Initial measurements suggest that the diffusion models are capturing the essential sublimation behavior of the particles, but further measurements promise to inform lingering questions about the fundamental thermodynamics and surface processes of sublimating and growing ice particles under cirrus conditions.
Physical Processes Governing the Rapid Deepening Tail of Maritime Cyclogenesis
Authors: Roebber Paul J. , Schumann Melissa R.
Published: April 2011

The positively skewed distribution of maritime cyclone maximum deepening rates is investigated for cyclones as a class rather than through individual case study, using a series of experiments employing perpetual January simulations from the global version of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). The relative roles of latent heat release, baroclinic instability, and boundary layer friction in producing this tail behavior are elucidated. The experiments reveal that the strongest maritime storms are the result of the baroclinic dynamics of the relative few being preferentially enhanced through feedback with the available moisture. Strong baroclinic forcing, in the absence of this moisture availability and resultant latent heating, does not produce the skewed rapid deepening tail behavior. An increase in surface roughness and accompanying friction in the maritime region provides only a slight brake on cyclone development. The results support previous research that argued that the rapid deepening tail is evidence of a fundamentally distinct pattern of behavior characteristic of maritime cyclones compared to continental systems, and that this behavior is the result of process interactions (baroclinic dynamics and latent heat release) rather than the nature of the data.
Older people, pensions and poverty: An issue for social workers?
Authors: Foster Liam
Published: April 2011

Poverty is encountered by the majority of users of social services but is often overlooked in social work practice. This article explores the relationship between poverty in older age, pension receipt and the role of social policy formulation in the UK with particular reference to New Labour governance. It also briefly explores the EU context before considering the implications for social work.
Dementia care: A global concern and social work challenge
Authors: Kaplan Daniel B. , Berkman Barbara
Published: April 2011

The implications of global aging for professionals in the fields of health and aging cannot be ignored, particularly for those who confront disorders of dementia. This article reviews the care needs of individuals with dementia and their family members, and examines the state of readiness of the social work profession for responding to the needs of these individuals. The authors assess professional social work roles and the size and scope of the supportive evidence base for social work practices in dementia care, and suggest several important areas for research attention.
Factors used in the detection of elder financial abuse: A judgement and decision-making study of social workers and their managers
Authors: Davies Miranda , Harries Priscilla , Cairns Deborah , Stanley David , Gilhooly Mary , Gilhooly Kenneth , Notley Elizabeth , Gilbert Anthony , Penhale Bridget , Hennessy Catherine
Published: April 2011

Factors social workers use in practice to detect elder financial abuse are currently unknown. A critical incident technique was applied within a judgement analysis approach to elicit cue use. Only three factors were key to decision-making: who raises concern, the elder’s mental capacity and the nature of the financial anomaly occurring.
International policy on ageing and older persons: Implications for social work practice
Authors: Hokenstad Merl C. 'Terry' , Restorick Roberts Amy
Published: April 2011

The International Federation of Social Workers’ recent policy statement on ‘Ageing and Older Persons’ draws on the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and its implications for the social work profession. Principles from the policy statement are examined with recommendations for social work practice.
Exploring the community-based service delivery model: Elderly care in China
Authors: Qingwen Xu  , Chow Julian C.
Published: April 2011

In response to the rapidly growing need for social services among China’s population, particularly for older people, the government has begun to explore the community-based service delivery model. Using the recent developments in China’s care of older people as a case study example, this article documents the progress of community-based service delivery for the aged living in the community, and explores the community’s evolving role in China’s social service delivery system. China’s model — a horizontal—vertical mixed model — presents a new perspective of defining service delivery and community practice, which has various implications and broadens the view of Western social work practice.
Categories and their consequences: Understanding and supporting the caring relationships of older lesbian, gay and bisexual people
Authors: Cronin Ann , Ward Richard , Pugh Steve , King Andrew , Price Elizabeth
Published: April 2011

This article advocates incorporating biographical narratives into social work practice involving older lesbian, gay and bisexual service users. Offering a critique of ‘sexuality-blind’ conditions in current policy and practice, the discussion draws on qualitative data to illustrate the potential benefits of narrative approaches for both practitioners and service users.
Associations Between Academic and Motor Performance in a Heterogeneous Sample of Children With Learning Disabilities
Authors: Jelle Vuijk Pieter , Hartman Esther , Mombarg Remo , Scherder Erik , Visscher Chris
Published: April 2011

A heterogeneous sample of 137 school-aged children with learning disabilities (IQ > 80) attending special needs schools was examined on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). The results show that compared to the available norm scores, 52.6% of the children tested performed below the 15th percentile on manual dexterity, 40.9% on ball skills, and 33.7% on balance skills. Furthermore, after controlling for IQ, significant small to moderate partial correlations were found between spelling and mathematics and the MABC total score, as well as small to moderate correlations between mathematics and balance, between reading and ball skills, and between spelling and manual dexterity. The present findings are compared with previously reported results obtained in more homogenous groups, and based on the resultant relationships between academic performance and motor development, recommendations for future motor intervention studies are made.
Creating a Unified Business Elite: The Origins of the Chicago Central Area Committee
Authors: Rast Joel
Published: April 2011

This study examines the origins of the Chicago Central Area Committee, a downtown business group that formed in 1956 to provide a unified voice for business leaders in redevelopment planning for Chicago’s downtown area. Similar groups were established in cities around the country during the post—World War II era, providing the cohesive business leadership necessary for the formation of urban growth coalitions. While some studies have emphasized the role of economic conditions in the creation of downtown business groups, this study argues that political factors played a key role in the formation of the Central Area Committee. In particular, conflicts between downtown and neighborhood actors over redevelopment planning for the central area encouraged business elites to overcome their differences and mobilize around a common agenda. Business leaders united in part to seize control of a redevelopment program in which neighborhood actors played a significant role.
Social Inclusion Facilitates Risky Mating Behavior in Men
Authors: Sacco Donald F. , Brown Christina M. , Young Steven G. , Bernstein Michael J. , Hugenberg Kurt
Published: April 2011

Although past research has reliably established unique effects of social exclusion on human cognition and behavior, the current research focuses on the unique effects of social inclusion. Recent evidence indicates that social inclusion leads to enhanced prioritization of reproductive interests. The current study extends these findings by showing that the pursuit of these inclusion-induced reproductive goals occurs in sex-specific ways. Across three experiments, social inclusion led men, but not women, to endorse riskier, more aggressive mating strategies compared to control and socially excluded participants. Specifically, included men were more likely to endorse sexual aggression (Experiment 1), high-risk mate poaching behaviors (Experiment 2), and high-risk mate retention tactics (Experiment 3). These results demonstrate that the experience of social inclusion can affect sex-differentiated preferences for risky mating strategies.
Exploring Responsibility Rationales in Research and Development (R&D)
Authors: Doorn Neelke
Published: April 2011

The present article explores the rationales of scientists and engineers for distributing moral responsibilities related technology development. On the basis of a qualitative case study, it was investigated how the actors within a research network distribute responsibilities for these issues. Rawls’ Wide Reflective Equilibrium model was used as a descriptive framework. This study indicates that there is a correlation between the actors’ ethics position and their responsibility rationale. When discussing how to address ethical issues or how to distribute the responsibility for addressing them, actors with similar normative background theories referred to the same type of normative arguments. It was found that these deliberative processes could best be interpreted in terms of an interplay between different layers of morality. The case suggests that people seek coherence between these layers rather than work through them one-directionally. By distinguishing between rationales for distributing responsibilities and the actual distributions, possible sources of misunderstanding can be identified. The benefit from acknowledging these different rationales is that it enables actors to recognize the legitimacy of other people’s opinions, ultimately contributing to a responsibility distribution that is both complete and accepted by all as justified.
The Impact of Japanese Corporate Transnationalism on Men’s Involvement in Family Life and Relationships
Authors: Yasuike Akiko
Published: April 2011

This study examines the ways in which Japanese corporate transnationalism affects husbands’ involvement in family life and marital relationships primarily from a perspective of wives. It is based on interviews with 22 Japanese wives and 4 husbands. Studies of Japanese corporate transnationalism treat men as mere supervisors to local workers or representatives of corporations and pay little attention to their family relations. The study found that corporate transnationalism weakens the Japanese masculine corporate culture (which creates absent husbands and fathers) and consequently provides Japanese men an opportunity to consolidate family bonds and integrate themselves into family life, though not all men take advantage of this opportunity. Inasmuch as transnational corporate families are isolated from their friends and relatives in Japan, the degree and willingness of husbands’ involvement in family life has a substantial effect on the quality of marital relationships.
Fathers’ Involvement in Child Care and Perceptions of Parenting Skill Over the Transition to Parenthood
Authors: Barry Amy A. , Smith JuliAnna Z. , Deutsch Francine M. , Perry-Jenkins Maureen
Published: April 2011

This study explored first-time fathers’ perceived child care skill over the transition to parenthood, based on face-to-face interviews of 152 working-class, dual-earner couples. Analyses examined the associations among fathers’ perceived skill and prenatal perception of skill, child care involvement, mothers’ breastfeeding, maternal gatekeeping, mothers’ work hours, fathers’ depressive symptoms, and fathers’ beliefs about responding to a crying child. Involvement was also examined as a potential mediator between some predictors and perceived skill. Findings suggest that breastfeeding and depressive symptoms were not related to involvement or perceived skill. Maternal gatekeeping was unrelated to skill yet had a negative relationship with involvement, if only at 1-month postpartum. Early father involvement mediated the relationship between perceived skill before and after the birth only for fathers who supported prompt response to a crying child. Finally, involvement at 1 year mediated the positive relationship between mothers’ work hours and perceived skill at the same age.
The Geography of Deterrence
Authors: Nunn Samuel , Newby William
Published: April 2011

This article examines alcohol-impaired collision metrics around nine sobriety checkpoint locations in Indianapolis, Indiana, before and after implementation of 22 checkpoints, using a pre/post examination, a pre/post nonequivalent comparison group analysis, and an interrupted time series approach. Traffic safety officials used geographical information system (GIS) analysis to help select checkpoint locations amid high alcohol-related collision clusters, then analyzed possible checkpoint impacts. A post hoc analysis examined counts and rates of impaired collisions before and after checkpoint dates within the 2-mile radius zones around each checkpoint site and compared pre-to-post differences to two similar time-matched control areas without checkpoints. As a group, checkpoint zones showed significant though minor declines in pre-to-post collision counts, and no impairment rate change. Considered together, non-downtown checkpoint zones had more favorable impairment rates than comparison areas. After controlling for collision volume, monthly trend, and locational effects, the interrupted time series analysis found that for all checkpoints the count of impaired collisions in post-checkpoint periods was about 19% less than pre-checkpoint counts.
Effectiveness of a Psychosocial Intervention Model for Persons With Chronic Psychiatric Disorders in Long-Term Hospitalization
Authors: Elbaz-Haddad Merav , Savaya Riki
Published: April 2011

The article describes a psychosocial model of intervention with psychiatric patients in long-term hospitalization in a psychiatric ward in Israel and reports the findings of the evaluation conducted of its effectiveness. The model was aimed at maintaining or improving the patients' functioning in four main areas: personal hygiene, environmental maintenance, occupational competency, and social and recreational activities. For each patient, an individualized intervention program was designed and implemented by a personal case manager appointed from the ward’s clinical staff. The programs involved family and ward staff as well as the patients themselves. The evaluation, based on comparison of monthly data for 4 months before and 12 months during the intervention, showed significant improvement in all but two areas of functioning: social functioning and psychiatric status. The findings, although in need of confirmation in larger, representative samples of patients in Israel and elsewhere, hold promise for effective intervention with patients whose treatment today consists largely of medication.
Effects of Chemesthetic Stimuli, Age, and Genetic Taste Groups on Swallowing Apnea Duration
Authors: Plonk Drew P. , Butler Susan G. , Grace‐Martin Karen , Pelletier Cathy A.
Published: April 2011

Objective

This study tested the hypotheses that swallowing apnea duration (SAD) will increase given chemesthetic stimuli (ie, water < ethanol, acid, and carbonation), age (older > young), and genetic taste differences (supertasters > nontasters).

Study Design

Prospective group design.

Setting

University medical center.

Subjects and Methods

Eighty healthy adult women were identified as nontasters and supertasters, equally comprising 2 age groups: 18 to 35 years (n = 40) and 60+ years (n = 40). The KayPentax Swallowing Signals Lab was used to acquire SAD via nasal cannula during individually randomized swallows of 5 mL deionized water, 2.7% w/v citric acid, seltzer water, and 50:50 diluted ethanol/water. Data were analyzed using path analysis, with the mediator of chemesthetic perception, adjusted for repeated measures.

Results

Significant main effects of chemesthetic stimuli (P =. 002), age (P <. 001), and genetic taste differences (P =. 04) on SAD were found. Older women and supertasters had longer SADs than young women and nontasters. Post hoc analyses revealed ethanol and acid boluses elicited significantly longer SADs than water boluses did. There was no significant effect of chemesthetic perception (P >. 05).

Conclusion

SAD in healthy women increased with changes in chemesthetic stimuli, older age, and in supertasters versus nontasters. It is unclear at this stage if increased SAD is a helpful mechanistic change (potentially protective against aspiration) or a maladaptive change (associated with aspiration). Future research should use these chemesthetic changes in bolus properties to assess if increased SAD decreases aspiration in patients with dysphagia while accounting for genetic taste differences.
“Redemption for Our Anguished Racial History”: Race and the National Narrative in Commemorative Journalism About Barack Obama
Authors: Stiles Siobahn , Kitch Carolyn
Published: April 2011

This article considers how race was discussed in commemorative journalism produced after Barack Obama’s election and inauguration by major American newspapers, magazines, and television news. A discourse analysis of these commemorative media texts reveals competing—though often overlapping—narratives. Some celebrated Obama’s victory as a racial milestone, claiming it for African Americans past and present, yet another hurdle crossed in the continuing struggle for equality. Other commemorative texts either elided or marginalized racial issues, instead emphasizing diversity and democracy in a narrative of generalized American “freedom” and unity. The narrative in each text, however, was ultimately a tale imbued with nationalist ideology, emphasizing unity and progress at the expense of discussing issues related to contemporary racial inequality in America. Overall, although the coverage of this election demonstrated some change in racial representation, the overall discourse on race in America—and journalists’ thematic avoidance of racial issues—did not.
How Useful Are Psychometric Scores in Predicting Recidivism for Treated Sex Offenders?
Authors: Barnett Georgia D. , Wakeling Helen C. , Mandeville-Norden Rebecca , Rakestrow Janine
Published: April 2011

This study examined the relationship between psychometric test scores, psychometric test profiles, and sexual and/or violent reconviction. A sample of 3,402 convicted sexual offenders who attended a probation service–run sexual offender treatment programme in the community completed a battery of psychometric tests pre- and posttreatment. Using Cox regression, posttreatment scores on measures of self-esteem, an ability to relate to fictional characters, and recognition of risk factors were, individually, predictive of recidivism. When psychometric tests were grouped into dynamic risk domains, only the pretreatment scores of the domain labelled socioaffective functioning (SAF) predicted recidivism and added predictive power to a static risk assessment. The number of risk domains that were dysfunctional pretreatment also predicted recidivism outcome; however, this did not add predictive power to a static risk assessment tool. Possible explanations for the superiority of pre- over posttreatment scores in predicting reconviction are discussed, and directions for further research considered.
Methodological Considerations in the Evaluation of Offender Interventions
Authors: Hatcher Ruth M. , McGuire James , Bilby Charlotte A. L. , Palmer Emma J. , Hollin Clive R.
Published: April 2011

Attrition from offender interventions presents methodological problems when the effectiveness of the intervention is under evaluation. This article proposes a treatment-received (TR) design, which incorporates one-to-one matching on criminogenic variables. This design permits the comparison of completer, noncompleter, and nonstarter groups with their paired comparisons and, hence, allows a more accurate evaluation of program completion and noncompletion effects. A sample of 173 offenders, referred to one of two general offending behavior cognitive skills programs within community settings, was matched one-to-one by criminogenic variables to offenders from an appropriate comparison group. Reconviction analyses were undertaken using intention to treat (ITT) analysis, TR analysis using the full comparison group, and TR analysis using matched comparison groups. The ITT design found no impact of group membership on reconviction. The TR designs, however, provided evidence of moderate effects of completion: For every three completers, five of the matched comparison group members were reconvicted. The analysis also suggested a noncompletion effect: Noncompleters were twice as likely as their matched comparison group to be reconvicted.
The Effect on Reconviction of an Intervention for Drink-Driving Offenders in the Community
Authors: Palmer Emma J. , Hatcher Ruth M. , McGuire James , Bilby Charlotte A. L. , Hollin Clive R.
Published: April 2011

This study reports an evaluation of the Drink-Impaired Drivers program in the English and Welsh probation service. Participants were adult male offenders who had been convicted of a drink-driving offence and were serving community sentences. The 1-year drink-drive reconviction rates were compared for offenders who completed the program, offenders who started but did not complete the program, and a comparison group who were not allocated to the program. At 1-year follow-up, there was no reconviction among offenders who had completed the program. Multivariate analysis showed that the noncompleters had a significantly higher rate of reconviction than the completers and comparison group.
Co-Offending and the Diversification of Crime Types
Authors: Andresen Martin A. , Felson Marcus
Published: April 2011

There is theoretical and empirical support for co-offending being important not only for understanding current offending but also subsequent offending. The fundamental question is—why? In this article, an aggregate analysis is performed that begins to answer this question. Disaggregating solo- and co-offending by single year of age (12-29 years) and crime type in a largely metropolitan data set from British Columbia, Canada, 2002 to 2006, it is shown that the distribution of co-offences is significantly more varied than the distribution of solo offences. This more varied distribution of co-offences favors property crimes during youth but fades as offenders age.