bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Clinical Deterioration during Hospitalization following Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Lin Leng-Chieh , Lee Tsong-Hai , Chang Chien-Hung , Chang Yeu-Jhy , Liou Chia-Wei , Chang Ku-Chou , Lee Jiann-Der , Peng Tsung-Yi , Chung Jacky , Chen Shih-Che , Yang Jen-Tsung
Published: February 2012

Background/Aims: A number of risk factors for early worsening of neurological symptoms have been identified. We aimed to evaluate the influence of hemorheologic, biochemical, and metabolic factors on neurological deterioration during hospitalization following acute ischemic stroke and develop a model of neurological deterioration. Methods: Worsening of stroke was defined as a deleterious increase in NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≧4 points during hospitalization. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis and constructed a prediction model based on chart data of 2,398 patients admitted at five medical centers; 203 of the patients had worsening of stroke and 2,186 had not. Results: The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hemoglobin (odds ratio: 0.529) and albumin (odds ratio: 0.024) were significantly associated with stroke deterioration, as were the modified Rankin Scale on emergency department admission (odds ratio: 4.956) and length of hospitalization (odds ratio: 1.201). After adjusting for age, gender and NIHSS on emergency department admission, only hemoglobin (odds ratio: 0.894, 95% confidence interval: 0.814–0.981, p = 0.018) was associated with worsening. Conclusion: Hemoglobin and albumin were found to be risk factors for persistent neurological deterioration during hospitalization following acute ischemic stroke, suggesting that blood viscosity may be related to neurological deterioration.
Telmisartan Improves Cardiometabolic Profile in Obese Patients with Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Kubik Małgorzata , Chudek Jerzy , Adamczak Marcin , Wiecek Andrzej
Published: February 2012

Objective: There are several lines of evidence that telmisartan may improve cardiometabolic profile. The aim of the study was to estimate changes of insulin resistance and plasma concentrations of adipokines after long-term antihypertensive treatment with telmisartan in obese hypertensive patients. Methods: 34 previously untreated obese adults with arterial hypertension were enrolled. Glucose cellular uptake (M value) and the M to insulin ratio (M/I value) were measured by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique, body fat content (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method), as well as plasma concentrations of selected adipokines and cytokines were estimated before and after 6-month telmisartan therapy in 25 patients who completed the study. Results: Telmisartan therapy was followed by 14.2% decrease of systolic and by 19.6% decrease of diastolic blood pressure. Body fat mass did not change significantly. Both M and M/I values (by 24.4 and by 38.6%, respectively) as well as plasma levels of total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin (by 10.8 and by 23.5%, respectively) increased significantly. Plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C- reactive protein and interleukin-8 decreased significantly, while those of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α tended to decline. Conclusions: Telmisartan monotherapy improves cardiometabolic profile in obese hypertensive patients by improving insulin sensitivity and increasing of plasma adiponectin concentration, including its high-molecular-weight fraction, and by suppressing of microinflammation.
Sildenafil Treatment Prevents Glomerular Hypertension and Hyperfiltration in Rats with Renal Ablation
Authors: Tapia Edilia , Sanchez-Lozada Laura G. , Soto Virgilia , Manrique Andrés M. , Ortiz-Vega Karla M. , Santamaría José , Medina-Campos Omar N. , Cristóbal Magdalena , Avila-Casado Carmen , Pedraza-Chaverri José , Rodríguez-Iturbe Bernardo , Franco Martha
Published: February 2012

Background: Sildenafil treatment ameliorates progressive renal injury resulting from extensive renal ablation; however, modifications induced by sildenafil in the glomerular hemodynamic pathophysiology of the remnant kidney have not been investigated. Aim: To determine the effects of sildenafil in the glomerular microcirculation and their relation to histological damage in the renal ablation model. Methods: Micropuncture studies were performed 60 days after 5/6 nephrectomy in rats that received no treatment, sildenafil (5 mg/kg/day) and reserpine, hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide to maintain the blood pressure within normal levels. Sham-operated rats untreated and treated with sildenafil served as controls. Results: As expected, renal ablation induced systemic and glomerular hypertension, hyperfiltration, proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial inflammatory damage in the remnant kidney. Sildenafil treatment prevented single-nephron hyperfiltration and hypertension, suppressed renal arteriolar remodeling, ameliorated systemic hypertension and proteinuria, increased urinary excretion of cGMP and NO2–/NO3–, decreased oxidative stress and improved histological damage in the remnant kidney. Normalization blood pressure with reserpine, hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide did not modify glomerular hemodynamics, proteinuria or histological changes induced by renal ablation. Conclusions: Beneficial effects of sildenafil in the remnant kidney are associated with a reduction in the arteriolar remodeling, renal inflammatory changes and prevention of changes in the glomerular microcirculation.
Time Courses of Attentional Modulation in Neural Amplification and Synchronization Measured with Steady-state Visual-evoked Potentials
Authors: Kashiwase Yoshiyuki , Matsumiya Kazumichi , Kuriki Ichiro , Shioiri Satoshi
Published: February 2012

Endogenous attention modulates the amplitude and phase coherence of steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEPs). In efforts to decipher the neural mechanisms of attentional modulation, we compared the time course of attentional modulation of SSVEP amplitude (thought to reflect the magnitude of neural population activity) and phase coherence (thought to reflect neural response synchronization). We presented two stimuli flickering at different frequencies in the left and right visual hemifields and asked observers to shift their attention to either stimulus. Our results demonstrated that attention increased SSVEP phase coherence earlier than it increased SSVEP amplitude, with a positive correlation between the attentional modulations of SSVEP phase coherence and amplitude. Furthermore, the behavioral dynamics of attention shifts were more closely associated with changes in phase coherence than with changes in amplitude. These results are consistent with the possibility that attention increases neural response synchronization, which in turn leads to increased neural population activity.
The Nature of Affective Priming in Music and Speech
Authors: Goerlich Katharina Sophia , Witteman Jurriaan , Schiller Niels O. , Van Heuven Vincent J. , Aleman André , Martens Sander
Published: February 2012

The phenomenon of affective priming has caught scientific interest for over 30 years, yet the nature of the affective priming effect remains elusive. This study investigated the underlying mechanism of cross-modal affective priming and the influence of affective incongruence in music and speech on negativities in the N400 time-window. In Experiment 1, participants judged the valence of affective targets (affective categorization). We found that music and speech targets were evaluated faster when preceded by affectively congruent visual word primes, and vice versa. This affective priming effect was accompanied by a significantly larger N400-like effect following incongruent targets. In this experiment, both spreading of activation and response competition could underlie the affective priming effect. In Experiment 2, participants categorized the same affective targets based on nonaffective characteristics. However, as prime valence was irrelevant to the response dimension, affective priming effects could no longer be attributable to response competition. In Experiment 2, affective priming effects were observed neither at the behavioral nor electrophysiological level. The results of this study indicate that both affective music and speech prosody can prime the processing of visual words with emotional connotations, and vice versa. Affective incongruence seems to be associated with N400-like effects during evaluative categorization. The present data further suggest a role of response competition during the affective categorization of music, prosody, and words with emotional connotations.
Human Factors–Focused Reporting System for Improving Care Quality and Safety in Hospital Wards
Authors: Morag Ido , Gopher Daniel , Spillinger Avishag , Auerbach-Shpak Yael , Laufer Neri , Lavy Yuval , Milwidsky Ariel , Feigin Rivka-Rita , Pollack Shimon , Maza Itay , Azzam Zaher S. , Admi Hanna , Soudry Michael
Published: February 2012

Objective: The aim was to develop a reporting system for collecting human factors problem reports to establish a database to guide activities for improving health care quality and patient safety.

Background: The current error and incident report systems do not provide sufficient and adequate coverage of the factors contributing to impaired safety and care quality. They fail to examine the range of difficulties that clinical staff encounters in the conduct of daily work.

Method: A voluntary problem-reporting system was developed to be used by hospital wards’ clinicians and was tested in four wards of two hospitals in Israel. The system is based on human factors–formatted problem reports submitted by physicians and nurses on difficulties and hazards they confront in their daily work. Reports are grouped and evaluated by a team of human factor professionals.

Results: A total of 359 reports were collected in the wards during 12 weeks, as compared with a total of 200 incidents reports that were collected during a period of 5 years with the existing obligatory incident reporting system. In-depth observational studies conducted on the wards confirmed the ability of the new system to highlight major human factors problems, differentially identifying specific problems in each of the wards studied. Problems reported were directly related to general factors affecting care quality and patient safety.

Conclusion: Validation studies confirmed the reliability of the reporting system in pinpointing major problems per investigated unit according to its specific characteristics.

Application: This type of reporting system could fill an important information gap with the potential to be a cost-effective initial database source to guide human factors efforts to improve care quality, reduce errors, and increase patient safety.
Legal opportunity structure and social movement strategy in Northern Ireland and southern United States
Authors: De Fazio Gianluca
Published: February 2012

The Civil Rights Movements in the southern United States and Northern Ireland were able to mobilize African Americans and Irish Catholics respectively against minority discrimination. These movements initially displayed very similar goals and tactics, looking at courts to counter institutional discrimination, but in successive stages of contention their trajectories fundamentally diverged. While legal mobilization in the United States constituted one of the pillars of the civil rights strategy of contention, in Northern Ireland legal tactics were supplanted by a transgressive (and at times violent) repertoire of contention. To explain this discrepancy, this article relies on the concept of legal opportunity structure (LOS) as an analytical tool to investigate how a state’s legal structure affects social movement legal mobilization. Accessibility to courts, availability of justiciable rights and judiciary receptivity are identified as the three core dimensions of the LOS shaping its degree of openness/closure. The paired comparison of these movements reveal that a closed LOS may narrow down the array of tactical options available to social movements, redirecting activists’ efforts towards protest. Conversely, an open LOS may encourage legal mobilization as a viable tactical option and, under certain circumstances, even promote contentious activities.
Name and Ethnic Identity: Experiences of Korean Women in Japan
Authors: Aoki Kayoko
Published: February 2012

Koreans living in Japan, so-called Zainichi Koreans, were historically forced to use Japanese names during the annexation (1910–45) and have been using them until today. While most Zainichi Koreans use Japanese names in public, some use Korean names all the time or only when they associate with fellow Zainichi Koreans. Zainichi Korean women have been marginalized not only by the dominant group, the ethnic Japanese, but also by their own group. This paper explores experiences of Zainichi Korean women and examines how using Japanese or Korean names has impacted their identity. My research design utilized qualitative interviews, and was particularly inspired by feminist oral history. This study showed the need to be conscious about keeping harmony and not to stand out, especially when they use Korean names. At the same time, use of Korean names can foster their ethnic identity and help construction of intercultural identity.
Longitudinal and transverse strain sensitivity of embedded carbon fibre sensors
Authors: Christner Christian , Horoschenkoff Alexander , Rapp Helmut
Published: February 2012

Piezoresitivity describes the change in electrical resistance of a conductor due to an applied strain. Previous studies showed that certain ex-PAN carbon fibres exhibit an excellent linear piezoresistive behaviour. Besides the desired strain sensitivity, k l, in the longitudinal direction, carbon fibres show a strain sensitivity, k t, transverse to the fibre direction. An experimental method was developed to empirically characterize these electromechanical material properties. The strain sensitivities k l and k t of the investigated ex-PAN fibre (Torayca T300B) were determined by varying the ratio between longitudinal strain, ε l, and transverse strain, ε t, in uniaxial tensile tests and four-point bending tests. The results show a longitudinal strain sensitivity k l in the range of 1.72–1.78 and a transverse strain sensitivity k t in the range of 0.37–0.41.

This significant transverse strain sensitivity must be considered in the case of strain measurements with carbon fibre sensors. An approach for dealing with the high transverse strain sensitivity of carbon fibre sensors is proposed, which is appropriate for orthotropic as well as isotropic materials. The approach is based on transfer functions, which includes both strain sensitivities of the carbon fibre k l and k t. The transfer function of a biaxial carbon fibre sensors element with orthogonally aligned carbon fibre sensors is given and experimentally checked for validity. Furthermore, the transfer function of a right-angled triangle carbon fibre sensor element is given. These triangle carbon fibre sensor element allows the determination of the complete state of strain of a structure including the shear strain.
Perception and Bias in the Processing of Compound versus Phrasal Stress: Evidence from Event-related Brain Potentials
Authors: McCauley Stewart M , Hestvik Arild , Vogel Irene
Published: February 2012

Previous research using picture/word matching tasks has demonstrated a tendency to incorrectly interpret phrasally stressed strings as compounds. Using event-related potentials, we sought to determine whether this pattern stems from poor perceptual sensitivity to the compound/phrasal stress distinction, or from a post-perceptual bias in behavioral response selection. A secondary aim was to gain insight into the role played by contrastive stress patterns in online sentence comprehension. The behavioral results replicated previous findings of a preference for compounds, but the electrophysiological data suggested a robust sensitivity to both stress patterns. When incongruent with the context, both compound and phrasal stress elicited a sustained left-lateralized negativity. Moreover, incongruent compound stress elicited a centro-parietal negativity (N400), while incongruent phrasal stress elicited a late posterior positivity (P600). We conclude that the previous findings of a preference for compounds are due to response selection bias, and not a lack of perceptual sensitivity. The present results complement previous evidence for the immediate use of meter in semantic processing, as well as evidence for late interactions between prosodic and syntactic information.
A new kind of hydraulic proportional loading method for actuator testing based on the relief valve controlled cylinder
Authors: Wang Shou-kun , Wang Jun-zheng
Published: February 2012

A new kind of hydraulic proportional loading method based on the relief valve-controlled cylinder has been researched. The math model for the loading torque and the rotation angle has been deduced according to the loading principle, which proves their relationship is approximately linear within a certain rotation scale; the direction of the loading torque has also been analysed under different states of change valve. In order to reduce the rotary inertia and improve the dynamic performance, a connecting rod mechanism has also been designed to optimize the connection structure between the cylinder and the swing arm, accompanied with comparative analysis and simulation. Based on theory research, two sets of actual loading devices have been developed, which were certified by the loading experiments of a kind of electro-hydraulic actuator. Research and experiment results have proved that this hydraulic proportional loading method, with a simple control principle and easy engineering constructability, can supply approximately linear loading torque for actuator experiments within a ±90° scale, and the structure optimization by the connecting rod mechanism can eliminated overshoot and oscillation successfully.
The Meaning of Insulin to Hispanic Immigrants With Type 2 Diabetes and Their Families
Authors: Hu Jie , Amirehsani Karen A. , Wallace Debra C. , Letvak Susan
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of insulin among a sample of Hispanic immigrants with type 2 diabetes and their family members/significant others.

Method

Forty-three Hispanics with type 2 diabetes and their family members/significant others were recruited in the southeastern United States for a family-based intervention study on diabetes self-management. Focus groups were conducted in which participants with diabetes and family members were asked to describe their perceptions of insulin. The sessions were audiotaped and transcribed, translated from Spanish into English, and analyzed using standard content analysis. This article reports the findings as well as demographic information and hemoglobin A1C levels of participants.

Results

The meaning of insulin was described by both Hispanic immigrants with type 2 diabetes and their family members/significant others. Participants’ perceptions were categorized into three major themes: (1) negative perceptions of insulin therapy, (2) perceived barriers to insulin therapy, and (3) positive experiences with insulin emerged from qualitative data.

Conclusions

The Hispanic immigrants with diabetes and their family members/significant others in this study described perceptions and fears of insulin indicating a lack of understanding of the diabetes disease process and the progressive nature of diabetes. Strategies and further research are necessary to dispel negative perceptions and facilitate positive experiences with insulin for patients and family members/significant others.
The MIMIC Model as a Tool for Differential Bundle Functioning Detection
Authors: Finch W. Holmes
Published: February 2012

Increasingly, researchers interested in identifying potentially biased test items are encouraged to use a confirmatory, rather than exploratory, approach. One such method for confirmatory testing is rooted in differential bundle functioning (DBF), where hypotheses regarding potential differential item functioning (DIF) for sets of items (bundles) are developed based on the substantive nature of the items and expected differences in group performance. Most often, analyses of these bundles for DBF have been conducted using simultaneous item bias test (SIBTEST). The goal of the current study was to introduce an alternative methodology for DBF detection based on the multiple indicators multiple cause (MIMIC) model and to compare this alternative with the traditional SIBTEST-based approach using a Monte Carlo simulation study. The results of this study showed that the MIMIC model performed as well as SIBTEST in ideal conditions, and better when the reference and focal groups had different means on the primary latent trait being measured. In addition, the MIMIC model was more accurate at detecting the presence of DBF for two bundles simultaneously than was SIBTEST. The discussion focuses on recommendations for practitioners.
Masters of the Universe: Power and Elites in Organization Studies
Authors: Reed Michael I.
Published: February 2012

Elite analysis has re-emerged as a central theme in contemporary organization studies. This paper builds on recent contributions to this revitalized field by developing a distinctive theoretical approach and substantive agenda for the study of power relations and elite ruling in organization studies. By drawing on a realist/materialist ontology and a neo-Weberian analytical framework, the paper identifies the idea of ‘command situations’ as the key concept for identifying changing mechanisms and forms of elite domination and control in contemporary socio-political orders. Three case histories are subsequently discussed in order to provide illustrative examples of the way in which this analytical framework can enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between ‘institutional’ and ‘interstitial’ power as it shapes the emergence of hybrid governance regimes through which contemporary regimes of elite domination and rule become organized.
From Symbolic Violence to Economic Violence: The Globalizing of the Scottish Banking Elite
Authors: Kerr Ron , Robinson Sarah
Published: February 2012

The financial crisis has raised questions about the role of corporate elites in contemporary organizations. This article follows recent work on organizational elites that argues for critical sociological approaches to the study of such elites, using, for example, Bourdieu’s concept of field, and for studies of elites in contexts outside North America. Applying Bourdieusian concepts such as forms of violence, we look at the particular case of the Scottish banking elite, focusing on changing enactments of violence within that field, from symbolic violence to economic violence. We trace the movement of the Scottish banking elite from the national-traditional to the global and modernized and demonstrate how members of an elite field can operate in the field of power within their own organization and at the same time within a transorganizational field of peer competitors, thus illustrating how a specific national elite has been affected by neoliberal globalization and its crisis.
Turning experience into learning: Educational contributions of collaborative peer songwriting during music therapy training
Authors: Baker Felicity , Krout Robert
Published: February 2012

This article reports on a study of 21 Australian and United States (US) tertiary/university students involved in training to become professional music therapists. The study aimed to identify the learning outcomes – musical, professional, and personal – that occurred when students participated in collaborative peer songwriting experiences. Student dyads (and one triad) co-created two songs with peers related to their clinical experiences. After the study, participants provided written reflections on pre-determined questions to identify students’ perceived learning. A content analysis of their responses was undertaken by the authors and forwarded to students for verification. Analysis of student reflections revealed that students developed a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential of songwriting, including its capacity to express mixed emotions. Their professional skills were enhanced, particularly that of insight and reflection. Further, learning about the self was evident in their identification of their own strengths and weaknesses, the way they respond to stress, and how they can utilize songwriting as a tool for managing their emotional states. In addition to how these results relate to music therapist training, we outline how these findings relate to and may be applied within music teacher education training as well.
Use of a goal setting intervention to increase adherence to low back pain rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Coppack Russell J , Kristensen Jakob , Karageorghis Costas I
Published: February 2012

Objective:

To examine the effects of a goal setting intervention on self-efficacy, treatment efficacy, adherence and treatment outcome in patients undergoing low back pain rehabilitation.

Design:

A mixed-model 2 (time) × 3 (group) randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

A residential rehabilitation centre for military personnel.

Subjects:

UK military personnel volunteers ( N = 48); mean age was 32.9 (SD 7.9) with a diagnosis of non-specific low back pain.

Interventions:

Subjects were randomly assigned to either a goal setting experimental group (Exp, n = 16), therapist-led exercise therapy group (C1, n = 16) or non-therapist-led exercise therapy group (C2, n = 16). Treatment duration for all groups was three weeks.

Main measures:

Self-efficacy, treatment efficacy and treatment outcome were recorded before and after the treatment period. Adherence was rated during regularly scheduled treatment sessions using the Sports Injury Rehabilitation Adherence Scale (SIRAS). The Biering-Sørensen test was used as the primary measure of treatment outcome.

Results:

ANCOVA results showed that adherence scores were significantly higher in the experimental group (13.70 ± 1.58) compared with C2 (11.74 ± 1.35), ( P < 0.025). There was no significant difference for adherence between the experimental group and C1 ( P = 0.13). Self-efficacy was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to both C1 and C2 ( P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found for treatment efficacy. Treatment outcome did not differ significantly between the experimental and two control groups.

Conclusions:

The findings provide partial support for the use of goal setting to enhance adherence in clinical rehabilitation.
Modeling and design of a Hertzian contact: an info-gap approach
Authors: Ben-Haim Yakov
Published: February 2012

We illustrate the generic properties of info-gap robustness analysis by studying the design and data-based modeling of a Hertzian contact. We begin with an example of choosing the load and other operational parameters, to achieve a specified mechanical response, given uncertainty in the material properties of the system. We then study the updating of a mathematical model, based on data, given uncertain similarity of the measured system to the future operational system. We illustrate the universal trade-off between outcome quality and robustness to uncertainty, and we discuss the implications of this trade-off for modeling and design decisions.
“My Son Is Reliable”
Authors: Guttman Nurit
Published: February 2012

The high crash rates among teenage drivers are of great concern across nations. Parents’ involvement is known to help increase their young drivers’ driving safety. In particular, parents can place restrictions on their son’s/daughter’s driving (e.g., restrict night time driving), which can enable the young driver to gain driving experience in safer conditions. Yet little is known about what do parents think about parental responsibility regarding young drivers’ driving. This study aimed to address this question. It draws on both quantitative and qualitative data obtained through a phone survey of 906 Israeli parents of young drivers that included both open- and closed-ended items and 20 semistructured interviews with parents. The main findings were that parents tended to be optimistic about their own child’s driving compared with other young drivers and were relatively unconcerned about speeding. Whereas most parents thought restrictions regarding driving at night or talking on the phone should be placed on young drivers, most believed many parents do not enforce them. Most also believed many parents feel they are unable to influence young drivers’ driving. The exception, however, was they believed most parents restrict young drivers driving when they are tired. Two contrasting conceptions of parental responsibility were identified and presented as a model. Potential implications for road safety campaigns from a social norms perspective are discussed.
Defining Adult Experiences
Authors: Lowe Sarah R. , Dillon Colleen O. , Rhodes Jean E. , Zwiebach Liza
Published: February 2012

This study explored the roles and psychological experiences identified as defining adult moments using mixed methods with a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse sample of young adults both enrolled and not enrolled in college ( N = 726; ages 18-35). First, we evaluated results from a single survey item that asked participants to rate how adult they feel. Consistent with previous research, the majority of participants (56.9%) reported feeling “somewhat like an adult,” and older participants had significantly higher subjective adulthood, controlling for other demographic variables. Next, we analyzed responses from an open-ended question asking participants to describe instances in which they felt like an adult. Responses covered both traditional roles (e.g., marriage, childbearing; 36.1%) and nontraditional social roles and experiences (e.g., moving out of parent’s home, cohabitation; 55.6%). Although we found no differences by age and college status in the likelihood of citing a traditional or nontraditional role, participants who had achieved more traditional roles were more likely to cite them in their responses. In addition, responses were coded for psychological experiences, including responsibility for self (19.0%), responsibility for others (15.3%), self-regulation (31.1%), and reflected appraisals (5.1%). Older participants were significantly more likely to include self-regulation and reflected appraisals, whereas younger participants were more likely to include responsibility for self. College students were more likely than noncollege students to include self-regulation and reflected appraisals. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Modelling capabilities required for the double nosing process in the assembly of spherical plain bearings
Authors: Orsolini Alex , Booker Julian D
Published: February 2012

Double nosing is a cold forming process used in the assembly of spherical plain bearings. In order that future bearing product introductions are better facilitated using a virtual process model, with the aim of reducing extensive prototyping, testing and costly design and process changes, the modelling capabilities of pertinent analytical and computational approaches should be evaluated. For example, there are several existing analytical approaches that were developed for the prediction of the forming loads, an important consideration when assessing the capacity of the press machines and die design, but these are generally only valid for thin sections in nosing. In this paper, for a specific bearing size on the limit of a thin/thick section, the validity of the forming load predictions is assessed through a comparison with experimental data taken from a forming press, and in comparisons with two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) results. The modelling capabilities of the FEA approach are examined, including the evolution of maximum stresses in the bearing components, interface pressures on dies and temperature rises created during the double nosing cycle. The computational time to obtain the solutions and the validity of some key initial assumptions are discussed, including the selection of the coefficient of friction.
Integrating effect of forming in fatigue life prediction: review of present scenario and challenges
Authors: Hariharan Krishnaswamy , Prakash Raghu V
Published: February 2012

Plastic deformation of sheet metals during forming induces complex residual stresses in the component owing to its geometry and material anisotropy. The residual stresses affect the durability of the components. Fatigue life estimation incorporating the forming-induced residual stresses is limited. In the present work, the state-of-the-art in modelling sheet metal forming, residual stress estimation and fatigue life prediction are reviewed. The challenges in integrating the residual stress owing to forming and fatigue life prediction are brought out. The parameters influencing the sheet metal forming, residual stresses and fatigue are discussed to emphasize the complexity of the present problem.
Atmospheric pollution: influence on hospital admissions in paediatric rheumatic diseases
Authors: Vidotto JP , Pereira LAA , Braga ALF , Silva CA , Sallum AM , Campos LM , Martins LC , Farhat SCL
Published: February 2012

Objective: To investigate the lag structure effects from exposure to atmospheric pollution in acute outbursts in hospital admissions of paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs). Methods: Morbidity data were obtained from the Brazilian Hospital Information System in seven consecutive years, including admissions due to seven PRDs (juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, Henoch–Schönlein purpura, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis). Cases with secondary diagnosis of respiratory diseases were excluded. Daily concentrations of inhaled particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2) nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated. Generalized linear Poisson regression models controlling for short-term trend, seasonality, holidays, temperature and humidity were used. Lag structures and magnitude of air pollutants’ effects were adopted to estimate restricted polynomial distributed lag models. Results: The total number of admissions due to acute outbursts PRD was 1,821. The SO2 interquartile range (7.79 µg/m3) was associated with an increase of 1.98% (confidence interval 0.25–3.69) in the number of hospital admissions due to outcome studied after 14 days of exposure. This effect was maintained until day 17. Of note, the other pollutants, with the exception of O3, showed an increase in the number of hospital admissions from the second week. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate a delayed association between SO2 and PRD outburst, suggesting that oxidative stress reaction could trigger the inflammation of these diseases.
A comparison of power analysis methods for evaluating effects of a predictor on slopes in longitudinal designs with missing data
Authors: Wang Cuiling , Hall Charles B , Kim Mimi
Published: February 2012

In many longitudinal studies, evaluating the effect of a binary or continuous predictor variable on the rate of change of the outcome, i.e. slope, is often of primary interest. Sample size determination of these studies, however, is complicated by the expectation that missing data will occur due to missed visits, early drop out, and staggered entry. Despite the availability of methods for assessing power in longitudinal studies with missing data, the impact on power of the magnitude and distribution of missing data in the study population remain poorly understood. As a result, simple but erroneous alterations of the sample size formulae for complete/balanced data are commonly applied. These ‘naive’ approaches include the average sum of squares and average number of subjects methods. The goal of this article is to explore in greater detail the effect of missing data on study power and compare the performance of naive sample size methods to a correct maximum likelihood-based method using both mathematical and simulation-based approaches. Two different longitudinal aging studies are used to illustrate the methods.
Oil Politics and Indigenous Resistance in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Stetson George
Published: February 2012

In June of 2009, indigenous protest over the Peruvian government’s natural resource policies erupted, tragically, in a violent confrontation where 33 Peruvians lost their lives. Conflicts over natural resources are bound to increase, especially in developing countries, as governments development ambitions collide with indigenous peoples’ territorial claims. This article, within the context of Peru’s natural resource development agenda, examines the government’s hydrocarbon development policies against indigenous resistance and protest. Turning to an alternative theoretical framework, modernity/coloniality, I argue that the government’s development logic misrepresents indigenous perspectives on development, undermines indigenous territorial rights, and suppresses indigenous participation in Peru’s natural resource agenda. A more complex reading of indigenous perspectives reveals a more sustainable approach to development, one that does not reject modern development, but does challenge the Eurocentric predilections of development.
From Rio to Rio and Beyond
Authors: Andonova Liliana B. , Hoffmann Matthew J.
Published: February 2012

The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro unleashed new energy in environmental governance, engaging actors beyond the state and across scales, from local to global, from communities to large transnational networks. In this paper we argue that this expanded pluralism has contributed to a remarkable array of governance experimentation and innovations for the environment. The impact and legacy of Rio thus goes far beyond the formal agreements that emerged in 1992. We explore why Rio had this effect by examining the context within which Rio took place and the dynamics that it served to catalyze. We close by discussing the need to generate processes that lead to coordinated innovations. Such a reorganization of the global governance space could start a new legacy of collective wondering and multiple pathways to a greener future.
Struggling With Expectations and Changing Realities
Authors: Streck Charlotte
Published: February 2012

Although the UNFCCC sets a direction and defines a number of tools and mechanisms, it does not provide any clear strategy on how to solve the climate crisis. International climate negotiations do not formulate policies. Instead, they leave the international process up to national governments to decide on how to reduce emissions. International goals and pledges may provide policy makers with a direction, but they do not formulate recipes on how to generate energy and feed an increasing world population while protecting the global climate. The challenge is formidable, and time is running out. By the same token, climate finance and the institutional arrangements underpinning it are likely to remain decentralized and diverse. Although fragmentation poses the risk of inefficiencies and duplication of efforts, recent developments under the UNFCCC carry the promise that climate negotiations are able to adapt to changing realities and may provide a framework for country-driven and multistakeholder-driven climate policies.
Improving Personality Facet Scores With Multidimensional Computer Adaptive Testing
Authors: Makransky Guido , Mortensen Erik Lykke , Glas Cees A. W.
Published: February 2012

Narrowly defined personality facet scores are commonly reported and used for making decisions in clinical and organizational settings. Although these facets are typically related, scoring is usually carried out for a single facet at a time. This method can be ineffective and time consuming when personality tests contain many highly correlated facets. This article investigates the possibility of increasing the precision of the NEO PI-R facet scores by scoring items with multidimensional item response theory and by efficiently administering and scoring items with multidimensional computer adaptive testing (MCAT). The increase in the precision of personality facet scores is obtained from exploiting the correlations between the facets. Results indicate that the NEO PI-R could be substantially shorter without attenuating precision when the MCAT methodology is used. Furthermore, the study shows that the MCAT methodology is particularly appropriate for constructs that have many highly correlated facets.
Cost-effectiveness of fulvestrant 250 mg versus 500 mg in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer and disease progression after antiestrogen therapy
Authors: Newman Matthew J , Jones Laura T , Kraft Jacqueline M , Lee Andrea R , Lech Garrett M , Farrell Natalija M , Phantumvanit Victor , Edwards Roger A
Published: February 2012

Purpose:

To determine the cost-effectiveness of fulvestrant 250 mg compared to 500 mg in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer and disease progression after antiestrogen therapy.

Methods:

A Markov model was constructed to find the incremental cost-effectiveness of fulvestrant 250 mg monthly when compared with the 500 mg monthly in patients with progression after antiestrogen therapy. The model duration was 24 months. Clinical efficacy data inputs were derived from a phase III clinical trial demonstrating a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival in patients receiving 500 mg versus 250 mg. Cost data utilized were all relevant Ambulatory Payment Classification payment rates from the 2011 Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to test the model at various willingness to pay thresholds.

Results:

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio as determined by the Markov model was US$10,972 per month of progression-free survival for the 500 mg dose compared with the 250 mg dose. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, it was found that 500 mg monthly was cost-effective at and above the willingness to pay threshold of US$15,000 per month. A series of one-way sensitivity analyses showed this result is robust to geographical practice variations in costs of drug administration and physician examination.

Conclusion:

From a third party payer perspective, the value of fulvestrant 500 mg monthly is dependent on the willingness to pay threshold. Despite a labeling change for fulvestrant in September 2010, fulvestrant 250 mg monthly appears to be a viable option in the target population.
End-Stage Pulmonary Disease and Brachial Plexus Regional Anesthesia
Authors: Sanchez Maricela , Malhotra Nisha , Lin Ludwig
Published: February 2012

The authors present the challenging clinical scenario of managing a patient with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring anesthesia for a proximal humerus open reduction and internal fixation who likely would have failed to wean from mechanical ventilation if general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation had been chosen as the maintenance technique. They discuss the effects of general and regional anesthesia on respiratory physiology and describe the perioperative implications of severe pulmonary disease. They also review the various brachial plexus block options that could achieve a satisfactory outcome, with the objective of helping guide practitioners to a rational choice of anesthetic techniques when caring for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease.
Learning in practice: A first-year early childhood music teacher navigates the complexities of teaching
Authors: Gruenhagen Lisa M.
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this qualitative study was to contribute to the conversation on novice music teacher learning in communities and teacher learning in practice. Data is extracted from a larger study that focused on collaborative conversations as a means of professional development and support for early childhood music teacher learning in a community music school setting. This study focuses on the experiences, perceptions, and evolving practice of one of those teachers, a first-year early childhood music teacher who was learning how to teach music in practice and within a teacher learning community. Emerging themes included: structures and frameworks (processes and tools), building community (within classes and with children and colleagues), and collaboration (support, perspectives, validation, and vision). Implications are discussed and linked to suggestions for research to supplement current professional development practices in early childhood music education.
Social determinants of health: The role of neighbourhoods, psychological factors and health behaviours in predicting health outcomes for the urban poor in India
Authors: Kulkarni Mrinmoyi
Published: February 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of neighbourhoods, psychological characteristics and health behaviours on actual health outcomes and perceived health for a lower income urban Indian sample. A cross-sectional design was used with a community sample of 491 adults in two neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood and perceived stress played a role in predicitng risk of chronic conditions as well as perceived health. Positive emotional style was associated with decreased perception of poor health. Results support the importance of combining contextual as well as individual level characteristics in understanding health outcomes.
Early computed tomography scanning in multisystem trauma: The evidence
Authors: Hunt PAF , Smith CM , Oliver A
Published: February 2012

The utility of computed tomography as a radiological investigation following multisystem trauma is already well established in current practice. This article examines the existing evidence and rationale behind the use of early computed tomography scanning in the management of the multisystem trauma patient, with a particular emphasis on the use of ‘whole body’ computed tomography scanning as a component of their initial management in the Emergency Department.

The use of computed tomography has been shown to be superior to plain radiography for the detection of injuries in important body regions including the spine, thorax, abdomen and pelvis. Computed tomography scan of the head and cervical spine is also well established as the first investigation of choice for significant traumatic brain injury. The potential benefits of whole body computed tomography include reduced time to diagnosis and intervention, as well as significant improvements in clinical outcome and survival. Concerns regarding a whole body computed tomography approach relate to the increased ionising radiation dosage that patients will be exposed to, and perceived risks of the secondary transfer and scanning room environment itself. Potential barriers to the use of whole body computed tomography are also explored and discussed.

This article also presents a proposed clinical algorithm derived from the results of a recent Delphi study into whole body computed tomography following blunt multitrauma, along with conclusions and recommendations from the subject matter panel review process.