bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opting in and opting out: a grounded theory of nursing’s contribution to inpatient rehabilitation
Authors: Pryor Julie , Walker Annette , O'Connell Beverly , Worrall-Carter Linda
Published: November 2009

Aim: To develop a grounded theory of nursing’s contribution to patient rehabilitation from the perspective of nurses working in inpatient rehabilitation.

Design: Grounded theory method, informed by the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism, was used to guide data collection and analysis, and the development of a grounded theory.

Setting: Five inpatient rehabilitation units in Australia.

Participants: Thirty-five registered and 18 enrolled nurses participated in audio-taped interviews and/or were observed during periods of their everyday practice.

Findings: The analysis revealed a situation whereby nurses made decisions about when to ‘opt in’ and when to ‘opt out’ of inpatient rehabilitation. This occurred on two levels: with their interaction with patients and allied health professionals, and when faced with negative system issues that impacted on their ability to contribute to patient rehabilitation. The primary contribution nurses made to inpatient rehabilitation was working directly with patients, enabling them to self-care. Nurses coached patients when their decisions about ‘opting in’ and ‘opting out’ were based on assessment of the person in their particular context. In contrast, the nurses mostly distanced themselves from system-based problems, ‘opting out’ of addressing them. They did this not to make their working lives easier, but more manageable.

Conclusion: System-based problems impacted negatively on the nurses’ ability to deliver comprehensive rehabilitation care. As a consequence, some nurses felt unable to influence the care and they withdrew professionally to make their work lives more manageable.
The Effects of Ethics Institutionalization on Marketing Managers: The Mediating Role of Implicit Institutionalization and the Moderating Role of Socialization
Authors: Singhapakdi Anusorn , Sirgy M. Joseph , Lee Dong-Jin , Vitell Scott J.
Published: November 2009

Because of increasing ethical problems in business during the last two decades, many organizations have implicitly and/or explicitly institutionalized ethics. Implicit ethics institutionalization refers to a work climate where ethical behavior is either implied or understood to be crucial to the functioning of the firm (e.g., informal expectations that all employees demonstrate a high level of professionalism, honesty, and integrity). In contrast, explicit ethics institutionalization refers to the formal codification of ethical behavior in terms of policy manuals, orientation programs, and ethics committees. It has been argued that the upsurge of ethics institutionalization was a result of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines first approved by Congress in the early 1990s, which essentially provides for reduced penalties for organizations that demonstrate an adequate degree of ethics compliance. Specifically, the main objective of this research is to empirically demonstrate the direct and indirect effects of different forms of ethics institutionalization (implicit and explicit) on marketing managers’ behavioral responses, such as perceived importance of ethics, quality of work life (QWL), job satisfaction, esprit de corps, and organizational commitment. Demonstrating the significant effects of ethics institutionalization is important from a macromarketing perspective, because findings highlight the moral premise that institutionalizing ethics in the organization (thus benefiting society at large) is likely to influence employee behavioral responses that are traditionally related to the financial health of the organization.
A Brief History of Branding in China
Authors: Eckhardt Giana M. , Bengtsson Anders
Published: November 2009

In this article, the authors explore whether brands as they currently conceive of them existed in premodernity. They trace branding practices in China from 2700 BC to contemporary times and demonstrate that China has had a sophisticated brand infrastructure with a continuous history that has no known correspondence in any other part of the world. They review previous research on the history of branding and create a systematic overview of what is currently known about branding throughout history. From an historical analysis of branding practices and consumer culture in China, they find that premodern brands were important agents of consumer culture as early as the Song dynasty (960—1127). In China, brands emerged outside of a capitalist context and served primarily social functions. They chronicle the consumer culture of the time in China, and how brands developed out of it, demonstrating that brands can develop in varying ways.
Marketplace Vulnerability of Limited English Proficient Consumers: Opportunities to Increase Knowledge in Macromarketing
Authors: Adkins Natalie Ross , Jae Haeran
Published: November 2009

Important macromarketing issues in the twenty-first century include consumer vulnerability, consumer empowerment, immigration, and acculturation. In the United States, the absolute number and percentage of the foreign-born population continues to increase as does the number of people, indicating a non-English primary language spoken in their homes. This large, growing population segment with limited English language abilities faces higher chances of encountering marketplace imbalances. Accordingly, we expand the model of Baker, Gentry, and Rittenburg of consumer vulnerability to capture a dynamic, reflexive marketplace experienced by limited English proficient (LEP) consumers. The integration of a pivotal piece of acculturation research by Berry et al. drives the development of generalized systems diagrams depicting how LEP consumer vulnerability is enacted and facilitates increased understanding of the emergent phenomenon. Potential research questions are identified and organized using the framework of Layton and Grossbart to better position and inform future macromarketing and public policy research.
Entrepreneurship as Economic Detour?
Authors: Kornrich Sabino
Published: November 2009

Since the Civil Rights Movement, greater numbers of African Americans have moved into professional work but continue to have lower earnings than their White counterparts. One possible explanation for this difference is that Black professionals have lower earnings because they serve larger percentages of Blacks in their practices. However, little research has documented this hypothesized effect, particularly while controlling for specialization and other important earnings‐relevant characteristics. Additionally, little research has focused on why this effect occurs: Black clients may be less able to pay for costly services, or organizations may devalue work done by professionals when they serve Black clients. This article uses data on the earnings of Black and White doctors to test whether and how the proportion of Black patients influences earnings. It is found that the proportion of Black patients is significantly associated with lower earnings for entrepreneurial Black doctors, higher earnings for entrepreneurial White doctors, and has no association with the earnings of either Black or White doctors who work in nonentrepreneurial settings. Supplementary analysis shows that controlling for doctors’ reliance on Medicare and Medicaid revenues reduces the associations between patients’ racial composition and earnings to zero for both Black and White physicians. These findings suggest that there is little bias in organizational pay‐setting practices against positions that serve larger numbers of Black clients. Instead, disadvantage results from Black patients’ greater reliance on lower paying Medicare and Medicaid insurances and client segregation on the basis of race and class among physicians.
Stalled Progress?
Authors: Cohen Philip N. , Huffman Matt L. , Knauer Stefanie
Published: November 2009

Trends toward gender equality largely stalled in the 1990s, but the progress of women in management was mixed. Given the importance of managers as actors in the reproduction of inequality, and managerial positions as rewards in their own right, this study investigates the relative status of women in management over the past two decades, using U.S. Decennial Census data from 1980 to 2000. The authors find that women’s entry into management occupations slowed markedly in the 1990s. Furthermore, after decreasing in the 1980s, gender segregation among managers rebounded sharply upward in the 1990s. However, greater segregation coincided with a decreasing gender earnings gap, which largely resulted from narrowing gaps within integrated or male‐dominated managerial occupations. Finally, there remains a substantial earnings penalty for managers who work in female‐dominated occupations.
Does Unauthorized Status Reduce Exposure to Pesticides?
Authors: Kandel William A. , Donato Katharine M.
Published: November 2009

Ample scholarship suggests that unauthorized immigrants are more likely to face occupational hazards because their lack of legal status makes them more vulnerable to workplace abuse. Despite much research documenting how legal status affects wages, employment, and job stability, few studies have empirically analyzed impacts of legal status on the employment conditions of hired farmworkers. In this article we examine whether unauthorized farmworkers are more likely to handle pesticides and receive pesticide training. We use the National Agricultural Workers Survey, a data set that distinguishes between unauthorized, authorized, and citizen workers. Results from descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses suggest, contrary to expectation, that unauthorized legal status is associated with a reduced likelihood of handling pesticides or receiving training for pesticides. This finding is bolstered by results for control variables associated with unauthorized status, such as age and U.S. agricultural employment experience. Taken together, the results are consistent with labor market segmentation theory that suggests jobs encompassing occupational hazards are allocated to or held by more experienced workers who are better compensated for the risks they undertake.
Merciful Justice: Lessons From 50 Years of New York Death Penalty Commutations
Authors: Acker James R. , Harmon Talia , Rivera Craig
Published: November 2009

This article examines the reasons offered by seven New York governors in justification of their decisions to commute death sentences in 159 cases between 1920 and 1970. In doing so, it scrutinizes the common assertion that, in marked contrast to contemporary death penalty cases, merciful considerations once were bountiful in sparing condemned offenders from execution. An examination of the New York governors’ reasons for granting clemency and the legal context within which their decisions were made suggests that mercy accounted for few death sentence commutations during this time period and that other considerations predominated. To the extent that the New York experience resembles that of other states historically, the analysis suggests that the comparatively infrequent use of executive clemency in contemporary capital cases may owe more to the significant differences in death penalty laws and their administration during the different eras than to a diminished role for mercy.
A Gendered Assessment of the ‘‘Threat of Victimization’’: Examining Gender Differences in Fear of Crime, Perceived Risk, Avoidance, and Defensive Behaviors
Authors: May David C. , Rader Nicole E. , Goodrum Sarah
Published: November 2009

Rader has called for a change in how researchers study fear of crime, suggesting that fear of crime, perceptions of risk, and experiences with victimization are interrelated dimensions of the larger ‘‘threat of victimization’’ concept. In this study, the authors examine how each independent dimension affects additional theoretical dimensions of the ‘‘threat of victimization’’ and how these relationships vary by gender. Using data from residents of Kentucky, the authors estimate a series of multivariate linear and logistic regression models. The findings presented here suggest that gender differences do exist in the components of the threat of victimization and that many of the relationships in the Rader model are multifaceted, including the relationship between perceived risk, fear of crime, and avoidance and defensive behaviors. Implications of these findings for future research regarding predictors of the threat of victimization are discussed.
Neuromaturation and Adolescent Risk Taking: Why Development Is Not Determinism
Authors: Johnson Sara B. , Sudhinaraset May , Blum Robert Wm.
Published: November 2009

In the January 2009 issue of this journal, Males argues that adolescent brain science perpetuates the “myth of adolescent risk taking.” He contends that those who study adolescent neuromaturation are biological determinists who ignore the profound social and environmental forces that influence adolescent behavior to further their own agendas. Males mischaracterizes developmental research and misinterprets public health data. This article analyzes his argument and provides a response based on the evidence. There is significant cross-species evidence that adolescence serves an important developmental function on the road to full maturation and is not merely an oppressive social construction. Research on neuromaturation can help elucidate both the vulnerabilities and tremendous potential of the adolescent brain. It also provides the opportunity to examine the role of social environments in shaping developmental processes and to explore how reasoned understandings of adolescent brain and biological development are being used to inform interventions that scaffold adolescent vulnerabilities.
Repeat Victimization: A Study of Auto Theft in Atlantic City Using the WALLS Variables to Measure Environmental Indicators
Authors: Levy Marissa P. , Tartaro Christine
Published: November 2009

The study of the repeat victimization phenomenon is at the forefront of research in environmental criminology and situational crime prevention (SCP). This study utilizes a unique approach in that it compares data collected at two points in time as well as locations that experienced only one auto theft to those that experienced more than one. Five variables were measured at both points in time using the Watchers, Activity Nodes, Location, Lighting and Security indices (WALLS). Independent samples t tests were conducted for the WALLS variables while comparing data from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007. Findings indicate stability in the Watchers, Activity Nodes, and Lighting indices but statistically significant differences in the Watchers (day traffic variable) and Location and Security indices. The “Location” variable continues to be a significant predictor of repeat auto theft victimization. This suggests a need to closely examine the parking structures and street layout to determine how they can be altered to design out crime.
A Sheep in Wolf ’s Clothing or a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? Ohio Sex Offender Registration and the Role of Science
Authors: Gentry Sperber Kimberly , Lowenkamp Christopher T. , Carter David E. , Allman Randy
Published: November 2009

Many sex offender registration and notification procedures use an assignment process that places offenders into a lower, middle, or upper tier. This implies that the offenders on the lowest tier pose less risk than those on the highest tier; yet empirical testing of this assumption is lacking. As a first step to determining whether this approach correctly identifies the dangerousness of sex offenders, this study seeks to determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between a sex offender’s probability of reoffending and his registration and notification assignment in an Ohio sample of male sex offenders. Chi-square results showed no significant relationship between a sex offender’s probability of reoffending and his registration and notification assignment. Regression results demonstrated only two variables to be predictive of registration assignment—prior sex offenses and current first degree felony offense— while other variables shown to be correlated to sex offending were not predictive of registration assignment.
Synthesis and Characterization of Thioether and Pyridine-Bridged Aromatic Polyimides with High Refractive Indices and High Glass Transition Temperatures
Authors: Zhuo Li  , Liu Jin-Gang , Yang Shi-Yong
Published: November 2009

In this study, a novel aromatic diamine containing thioether and pyridine linkages, 2,6-bis[4-(4-aminophenylenesulfanyl)phenyl]-2-phenylpyridine (BASPP), was synthesized and characterized. The BASPP, along with several other sulfur-containing diamines, including 4,4′-( p-phenylenedisulfanyl) dianiline (2SPDA), 4,4′-bis( p-aminophenylsulfanyl)biphenyl (2SBPA), 4,4′-sulfonylbis[( p-phenylenesulfanyl)aniline] (BADPS), and 2,7-bis( p-aminophenylenesulfanyl)thianthrene (APTT) were polymerized with a sulfur-containing dianhydride, 4,4′-thiodiphthalic anhydride (TDPA), via a two-step polycondensation procedure to obtain five polyimides (PI-1 to PI-5). Flexible, tough, and transparent polyimide (PI) films with tensile strengths that ranged from 78.6 to 96.3 MPa were successfully cast from their poly(amic acid) (PAA) precursors. The PI films exhibited good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures ( T g values) as high as 265°C and 5% weight loss temperatures > 505 °C. The high sulfur contents and flexible thioether linkages endowed the PI films with refractive indices ( nav) as high as 1.7166 at 1310 nm and birefringence ( Δn) < 0.01. The PI-4, containing both pyridine and thioether moieties in the main chain, exhibited the best combined properties, including Tg of 265 °C, nav of 1.6966, Δn of 0.0078, and optical transmittance of 88% at 450 nm at the film thickness of 10 µ m.
New Blue-Photoluminescent Semi-Conducting Polymer Derived from Fluorinated Bisphenol A
Authors: Jaballah Nejmeddine , Hriz Khaled , Majdoub Mustapha , Jouini Mohamed , Fave Jean-Louis
Published: November 2009

A new confined p-phenylenevinylene (PPV)-type polymer (BPAF-PPV ) has been synthesized using Wittig condensation. The chemical structure of the polymer was well defined by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. BPAF-PPV contains oligomeric PPV units separated by hexafluoroisopropylidene groups in the main chain; it is fully soluble in common organic solvents and has a number-average molecular weight of 4570 g mol-1. Differential scanning calorimetry indicates that BPAF-PPV is amorphous and displays a glass transition temperature of 114 °C. The optical properties of the polymer were investigated by UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Its thin film showed a blue photoluminescence with a narrow emission spectrum. A high photoluminescence quantum efficiency of about 83% was determined in dilute solution. From the cyclic voltammetry analysis, the electrochemical bandgap was estimated to be 3.08 eV. A single-layer diode device of the configuration indium-tin oxide/ BPAF-PPV/aluminium has been fabricated and has a relatively low turn-on voltage of 3.0 V.
Flexible Skins for Morphing Aircraft Using Cellular Honeycomb Cores
Authors: Olympio Kingnidé R. , Gandhi Farhan
Published: November 2009

This study presents and examines the concept of flexible skins for morphing aircraft applications comprising of a cellular honeycomb core covered by a compliant face-sheet. The overall properties of the flexible skins are then largely governed by the characteristics of the cellular honeycomb core, which are in turn dependent on the cell parameters. The results of this study showed that the cellular cores could easily undergo global strains over 10 times greater than the virgin material of which they were built. The in-plane stiffness of the cellular cores is generally several orders of magnitude lower than the virgin material. Using cores that are thicker than isotropic sheet skins, the out-of-plane stiffness can be many times greater than the sheet skin for comparable mass (due to porosity of the cellular core). In general, honeycomb cores with positive cell angles (as opposed to auxetic cores) produce a higher out-of-plane stiffness. For cellular cores made from high-strain capable materials and undergoing large strains, geometric and material non-linearities need to be considered. When the cores are stretched along the principle axes they geometrically stiffen, thereby reducing the maximum global strains achievable. When material softening is considered, the forces required to deform the cellular core to large global strains are reduced.
Performance of Thin Piezoelectric Materials for Pyroelectric Energy Harvesting
Authors: Xie J. , Mane X.P. , Green C.W. , Mossi K.M. , Leang Kam K.
Published: November 2009

This article considers pyroelectric energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials such as PZT-5A, PMN-PT, PVDF, and thin-films. A model is developed to predict the power generation based on the temporal change in temperature of the material. The measured and predicted power measurements are compared, where the maximum power density of 0.36 μW/cm2 is calculated with PMN-PT. The predicted peak power density under similar boundary conditions for thin-film lead scandium tantalate is over 125 μW/cm2. The study concludes that the power density is highly dependent upon the surface area and the pyroelectric coefficient of the material, underlining the importance of maximizing these parameters.
So Why Do People Fight? Evolutionary Theory and the Causes of War
Authors: Gat Azar
Published: November 2009

The causes of war remain a strangely obscure subject in the discipline of International Relations. Although the subject is of cardinal significance, theories of International Relations address it only obliquely, and most scholars in the field recognize the lacuna only when their attention is drawn to it. While people have a good idea of the aims that may motivate states to go to war, an attempt at a strict definition of them is widely regarded as futile. This article seeks to show how the various causes of violence and war all come together and are explained within an integrated human motivational complex, shaped by evolution and natural selection. These interconnected causes of fighting — some of them confusedly singled out by various schools in IR theory, most notably within realism — include competition over resources and reproduction, the ensuing quest for dominance, the security dilemma and other prisoner’s dilemmas that emanate from the competition, kinship, identity, and ideas.
The Memory Politics of Becoming European: The East European Subalterns and the Collective Memory of Europe
Authors: Mälksoo Maria
Published: November 2009

The situation in collective memory studies that share a nexus with the discipline of International Relations (IR) is currently reflective of the traditionally West-centric writing of European history. This order of things has become increasingly challenged after the eastern enlargement of the European Union (EU). This article examines Poland’s and the Baltics’ recent attempts to enlarge the mnemonic vision of ‘the united Europe’ by placing their ‘subaltern pasts’ in contest with the conventionally Western European-bent understanding of the consequences of World War II in Europe. I argue that their endeavours to wrench the ‘European mnemonical map’ apart in order to become more congruent with the different historical experiences within the enlarged EU encapsulate the curious trademark of Polish and Baltic post-Cold War politics of becoming European: their combination of simultaneously seeking recognition from and resisting the hegemonic ‘core European’ narrative of what ‘Europe’ is all about.
Comic Plots as Conflict Resolution Strategy
Authors: Kuusisto Riikka
Published: November 2009

Recently, the ‘war stories’ of the leaders of the major Western powers — the United States, Britain and France — have adhered to two major plots: the heroic epic or the sad tragedy. The heroic script defines and explains conflicts in which the Western powers have wished to play an active role: the Persian Gulf (1990—1), Kosovo (1999) and the current war against terrorism. The tragic plot has been employed when they have ruled out forceful outside intervention, like in Bosnia (1992—5) and Rwanda (1994). Both scripts are highly problematic conflict resolution approaches: they point to black-and-white, aggressive denouements. An alternative is the comic plot: a story traditionally used in ordinary disagreements among friends, problems with ‘small foes’ and disputes with important rivals. Adopting a comic framework for most of the conflicts in the world would give the Western leaders more room to negotiate, to try out new ideas and to back down on unsuccessful strategies.
The Status of Women as a Standard of ‘Civilization’
Authors: Towns Ann
Published: November 2009

This article focuses on the status of women as a standard of civilization by examining its emergence in the 19th-century European ‘society of civilized states.’ More specifically, the article centers on expectations about the proper political role of women and how these operated as a standard to distinguish ‘civilized’ states from other societies. The article shows that the political exclusion of women — not their inclusion — became expected behavior for ‘advanced’ societies at this time. To statesmen and social scientists alike, evidence from ‘savage’ society and an uncivilized European past demonstrated that women could not contribute to human advancement if given a political role. To arrive at this claim, the article examines the understandings that had come into place to make the political exclusion of women possible and reasonable for European and European settler states.
World Politics and Organizational Fields: The Case of Transnational Sustainability Governance
Authors: Dingwerth Klaus , Pattberg Philipp
Published: November 2009

Transnational rule-making organizations have proliferated in the area of sustainability politics. In this article, we explore why these organizations share a set of core features that appear overly costly at first sight. We argue that norms that evolved out of the social interaction among transnational rule-making organizations account for this phenomenon. Thus, in the early 1990s, an organizational field of transnational rule-making has gradually developed in the field of environmental politics. Responding to a broader social discourse about global governance that stressed a need for innovative forms of cooperation among different societal sectors, this organizational field gained in legitimacy and strength. A set of commonly accepted core norms, the increasing density of interaction among the field’s members, and the success and legitimacy ascribed to the field’s key players by the outside world helped to solidify the organizational field until it eventually developed a ‘life of its own’.
External Conversations
Authors: Foulger Teresa S.
Published: November 2009

This article is a scholarly reflection of a novice researcher conducting an action research investigation as a professional developer working with a group of elementary teachers. By the third analysis cycle, the researcher-practitioner became overwhelmed due to the amount and variety of qualitative data, and to the additional complexities caused when situational context needed to be considered. When the researcher sought council from a colleague outside the research event, a new function emerged called External Conversations, based on a common action research procedure, the critical friend. The critical friend had knowledge and experiences in common with the professional developer, but did not have exposure to the action research setting. Because of the critical friend’s lack of contextual understanding, collaborative dialogue to make sense of the data increased the researcher’s ability to see the data within context. The External Conversation strengthened the data analysis because it addressed three dilemmas of action researchers in the field of education as identified by the literature and experienced in practice: isolation, accounting for tacit knowledge, and data overload. Although this process was time consuming, using an External Conversation within an action research investigation may strengthen a study, and could be especially supportive for novice researchers.
Learning through feedback in the field
Authors: Marquardt Arévalo Kristina , Ljung Magnus , Sriskandarajah Nadarajah
Published: November 2009

The article discusses an action research project conducted in the Upper Amazon region of Peru that focused on the working approach of a NGO partner called PRADERA. In its land management projects PRADERA’s working approach was characterized by a close collaboration with farmers. Its emphasis was on grasping the farmers’ perspective on agriculture, targeting of local institutions in the villages as natural arenas for learning, and including topics in their analysis such as culture and worldview; this is analyzed through the framework of a reflective learning organization. The organization’s capacity for learning is described as consisting of single-, double- and the possibility of triple-loop learning. During our collaboration with PRADERA, though we did not find established internal arrangements that could foster a triple-loop learning process, incipient signs were noted of space and potential which could favor deeper levels of learning. The importance of deeper levels of learning in the work of small highly action oriented NGOs such as PRADERA that act as a bridge between local farmers and the outside world, and how action research methodology can be a tool for developing reflectivity within such an organization, are discussed.
Voter Bias in the Associated Press College Football Poll
Authors: Coleman B. Jay , Gallo Andres , Mason Paul M. , Steagall Jeffrey W.
Published: November 2009

The authors investigate multiple biases in the individual weekly ballots submitted by the 65 voters in the Associated Press college football poll in 2007. Using censored Tobit modeling, they find evidence of bias toward teams (a) from the voter’s state, (b) in conferences represented in the voter’s state, (c) in selected Bowl Championship Series conferences, and (d) that played in televised games, particularly on relatively prominent networks. They also find evidence of inordinate bias toward simplistic performance measures—number of losses, and losing in the preceding week—even after controlling for performance using mean team strength derived from 16 so-called computer rankings.
The Effects of Higher Admission Standards on NCAA Student-Athletes: An Analysis of Proposition 16
Authors: Price Joshua A.
Published: November 2009

This study examines the effect of an increase in minimum admissions standards on college enrollment and graduation rates of student-athletes. In 1996, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enacted Proposition 16, which increased admission standards for freshmen student-athletes at Division I schools, in an effort to improve graduation rates. Results indicate that Proposition 16 increased graduation rates significantly for Black student-athletes, and had no significant impact on graduation rates for White student-athletes. Results also indicate that graduation rates declined for Black student-athletes at Division II schools, which may have been driven by students transferring to Division I. As a result of the higher admission standards, Division I schools changed recruiting patterns and relied less on freshmen student-athletes, particularly Black student-athletes, to fill scholarships. Even though fewer Black freshmen student-athletes enrolled in Division I schools, the overall number of Black student-athletes did not change, suggesting that a greater proportion of transfer students into Division I schools were Black.
Valuing Cricketers Using Hedonic Price Models
Authors: Karnik Ajit
Published: November 2009

This article is concerned with estimating hedonic price equations for cricketers. The 2008 auction in India for cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) of Twenty20 cricket has revealed the bids made for 75 players. Using the information on the bids, the author has estimated hedonic price equations. The author finds that the usual way of judging cricketers—in terms of runs scored and wickets taken—is reflected in the estimated equations. In addition, young players command a substantial premium over other players as do players from India and Australia. The author extends the analysis to evaluate the performance of players in the IPL tournament of 2008 and estimates the rates of return to the owners of the teams. The estimated models are checked for robustness by incorporating the results of the IPL Auction of 2009. The author finds that the models are robust to the inclusion of additional cricketers bought during the latest IPL auction.
Measuring the Performance of Nations at Beijing Summer Olympics Using Integer-Valued DEA Model
Authors: Jie Wu  , Zhixiang Zhou  , Liang Liang
Published: November 2009

A number of studies have used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the performance of the countries in Olympic Games. While the fact that numbers of three kinds of medal must only take integer values is ignored. This study discusses, by means of integer-valued DEA model, the performance of each country at 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. The model in the article considers two inputs (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita and population) and three outputs (number of gold, silver, and bronze medals won); the integrality constraints of three kinds of medal and the weight restrictions among three outputs are also included. The results for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games are analyzed, and integral output targets are also provided for poorly performing countries to use as benchmarks.
“Freedom’s Just Another Word for Nothin’ Left to Lose”: The Power of Poetry for Young, Nomadic Women of the Streets
Authors: Finley Susan
Published: November 2009

This article presents a street educator's experience of a poetry cooperative with female street youths as an example of performance pedagogy. Poetic voices of members of the cooperative are used to illustrate the pages of this special issue of CSCM in the text of this article and as they are scattered through the pagesof this special issue like graffiti on tunnel walls. In a coda to the article, the poetry collaborative is shown to be the catalyst for At Home At School (AHAS), a larger, ongoing performance pedagogy curriculum in use with homeless children and youths.
Some observations on structure of compound layer produced on steels by plasma nitrocarburising
Authors: Ruset C. , Grigore E.
Published: November 2009

In this paper the processes occurring at the plasma–cathode interface (carbon absorption and sputtering) which are responsible for the structure of the compound layer (CL) are discussed in conjunction with the ternary Fe–N–C phase diagram. The influence of the gas composition, including oxygen, on the development of the CL is also investigated. Based on the mechanisms of plasma nitrocarburising described in this paper a technique to produce CLs with a structure close to epsilon monophase was developed and applied to plain carbon steels.
Ceramic conversion treatment of zirconium alloys to combat corrosion wear
Authors: Ji R. , Li X. Y. , Dong H.
Published: November 2009

A series of ceramic conversion treatments have been conducted on Zr702 and Zr705 zirconium alloys by thermal oxidation at temperatures ranging from 400 to 700°C for 3–30 h. A wide range of material characterisation techniques were used to investigate the microstructure, composition, phase constituent, load bearing capacity and wear properties of the surface treated zirconium alloys. Experimental results show that after ceramic conversion treatments, the surfaces of Zr702 and Zr705 alloys can be converted to a ceramic layer consisting of α-ZrO2 and β-ZrO2; the optimal ceramic conversion treatment conditions for Zr702 and Zr705 alloys are 600°C/10 h and 600°C/3 h respectively; Zr705 alloy has a better response to ceramic conversion treatment than Zr702; and the wear resistance of the optimally treated zirconium alloys can be improved by more than 200 times. The wear mechanisms of both untreated and ceramic conversion treated zirconium alloys are discussed. The dominant wear mechanisms changed from severe adhesive wear for the untreated zirconium alloys to mild abrasive wear for the ceramic conversion treated materials.
Characterisation of dual S phase layer on plasma carbonitrided biomedical austenitic stainless steels
Authors: Li X. Y. , Buhagiar J. , Dong H.
Published: November 2009

Dual S phase layers without precipitates were formed on the surface of two biomedical austenitic stainless steels, ASTM F138 and ASTM F1586, by plasma surface alloying at 430°C with both nitrogen and carbon (i.e. carbonitriding). Systematic characterisation of the dual surface layers were conducted using cross-sectional TEM (XTEM), depth-profiling X-ray diffraction, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and electrochemical corrosion tests. The cross-sectional TEM studies have revealed that this dual S phase layer consists of a nitrogen rich S phase and a carbon rich S phase sublayer with crystal constant of a=0·384 and 0·373 nm respectively. Quantitative calculation based on glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy composition depth profiling indicated that more alloying species were absorbed during nitrocarburising than during nitriding or carburising. Based on the experimental results, the response of these two medical grade stainless steels to plasma carbonitriding is compared.
Characterisation, wear and corrosion testing of laser-deposited AISI 316 reinforced with ceramic particles
Authors: Betts J. C. , Mordike B. L. , Grech M.
Published: November 2009

Direct laser deposition was used to create tracks and surfaces using AISI 316 stainless steel powder blended with alumina, tungsten carbide or chromium carbide, with the aim to apply localised reinforcement to stainless steel components. Co-deposition of the powders was carried onto an AISI 316 stainless steel surface to evaluate parameters, and to produce specimens for metallography, EDX and XRD analysis and microhardness tests. Testing of the specimens produced using selected parameters included pin-on-disc wear tests, slurry pot erosion and corrosion testing. The alumina failed to produce a useful improvement to material properties. Tungsten carbide improved wear resistance by 260 times while erosion resistance was doubled; chromium carbide gave a maximum improvement of 88 time to sliding wear resistance, and a 2·3 times maximum improvement of erosion resistance. Chromium carbide-reinforced material furthermore performed well in corrosion tests. The deposition and testing of these materials is described and the outcome of the tests carried out is reported.
Production of nitrogen and carbon S phases in austenitic stainless steels by hybrid plasma surface alloying
Authors: Sun Y.
Published: November 2009

The discovery of the S phase phenomenon during low temperature nitriding of austenitic stainless steels by Tom Bell and others in the 1980s has stimulated significant international interest not only in the research but also in the industrial community. This has led to the intensive research on the S phase technology during the past two decades and the development and industrial acceptance of several important low temperature techniques to enhance the tribological and biological properties of austenitic stainless steels and related materials without compromising their corrosion resistance. These include low temperature nitriding by various methods, low temperature carburising and the hybrid surface alloying process combining nitriding and carburising. The present paper discusses the recent development in the hybrid plasma surface alloying process, which involves incorporating both nitrogen and carbon in the surface region of austenitic stainless steels to form a dual layer structure comprising a nitrogen S phase layer on top of a carbon S phase layer. This paper is presented to highlight the seminal contribution of Professor Tom Bell to the S phase technology.
Low temperature thermochemical treatments: Opening process window
Authors: Staines T.
Published: November 2009

This paper reviews the trends in low temperature thermochemical treatments highlighting the contribution made by Professor T. Bell and his many students and colleagues. It comments on the developments and discusses how these will continue to impact in the future.
Thirty-five years of collaboration with Tom on ferritic nitrocarburising
Authors: Kolozsvary Z.
Published: November 2009

Ferritic nitrocarburising was one of the main fields of interest for Professor Tom Bell. Working together for 35 years on joint research projects aimed at elucidating different aspects of nitriding and nitrocarburising processes. This article presents a few interesting aspects of plasma nitrocarburising plain carbon and low alloy steels, and also deals briefly with the role of oxygen in the process.
Environmental credentials of Tom Bell: Environmentally friendly heat treatment
Authors: Birch B. J.
Published: November 2009

Tom Bell's PhD was on the subject of quenched iron-nitrogen alloys, a system entirely analogous to the iron-carbon system. Even before he received his PhD, he started his career as a lecturer, specialising in the physical Metallurgy of Martensite and Bainite, the two main constituents responsible for hardening in heat treatment. However, his initiation into heat treatment on an industrial scale can be trace back to his appointment in 1970 as a Heat Treatment Fellow by the Heat Treatment Joint Committee for The Iron & Steel Institute, The Institute of Metals and The Institution of Metallurgists, funded by the British Steel Corporation.
Comparison of Affymetrix Gene Array with the Exon Array shows potential application for detection of transcript isoform variation
Authors: Ha Kevin CH , Coulombe-Huntington Jasmin , Majewski Jacek
Published: November 2009

Background

The emergence of isoform-sensitive microarrays has helped fuel in-depth studies of the human transcriptome. The Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST Array (Exon Array) has been previously shown to be effective in profiling gene expression at the isoform level. More recently, the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Array (Gene Array) has been released for measuring gene expression and interestingly contains a large subset of probes from the Exon Array. Here, we explore the potential of using Gene Array probes to assess expression variation at the sub-transcript level. Utilizing datasets of the high quality Microarray Quality Control (MAQC) RNA samples previously assayed on the Exon Array and Gene Array, we compare the expression measurements of the two platforms to determine the performance of the Gene Array in detecting isoform variations.

Results

Overall, we show that the Gene Array is comparable to the Exon Array in making gene expression calls. Moreover, to examine expression of different isoforms, we modify the Gene Array probe set definition file to enable summarization of probe intensity values at the exon level and show that the expression profiles between the two platforms are also highly correlated. Next, expression calls of previously known differentially spliced genes were compared and also show concordant results. Splicing index analysis, representing estimates of exon inclusion levels, shows a lower but good correlation between platforms. As the Gene Array contains a significant subset of probes from the Exon Array, we note that, in comparison, the Gene Array overlaps with fewer but still a high proportion of splicing events annotated in the Known Alt Events UCSC track, with abundant coverage of cassette exons. We discuss the ability of the Gene Array to detect alternative splicing and isoform variation and address its limitations.

Conclusion

The Gene Array is an effective expression profiling tool at gene and exon expression level, the latter made possible by probe set annotation modifications. We demonstrate that the Gene Array is capable of detecting alternative splicing and isoform variation. As expected, in comparison to the Exon Array, it is limited by reduced gene content coverage and is not able to detect as wide a range of alternative splicing events. However, for the events that can be monitored by both platforms, we estimate that the selectivity and sensitivity levels are comparable. We hope our findings will shed light on the potential extension of the Gene Array to detect alternative splicing. It should be particularly suitable for researchers primarily interested in gene expression analysis, but who may be willing to look for splicing and isoform differences within their dataset. However, we do not suggest it to be an equivalent substitute to the more comprehensive Exon Array.
The impact of renal insufficiency and anaemia on survival in patients with cardiovascular disease: a cohort study
Authors: Anderson Jocelyn , Glynn Liam G , Newell John , Iglesias Alberto A , Reddan Donal , Murphy Andrew W
Published: November 2009

Background

The simultaneous occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), kidney disease, and anaemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In the community setting, little data exists about the risk associated with milder levels of anaemia when it is present concurrently with CVD and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of CKD and anaemia in patients with CVD in the community and to examine whether the presence of anaemia was associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Methods

This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study and involved a random sample of 35 general practices in the West of Ireland. A practice-based sample of 1,609 patients with established cardiovascular disease was generated in 2000/2001 and followed for five years. The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Statistical analysis involved using one-way ANOVA and Chi-squared tests for baseline data and Cox proportional-hazards models for mortality data.

Results

Of the study sample of 617 patients with blood results, 33% (n = 203) had CKD while 6% (n = 37) had CKD and anaemia. The estimated risk of death from any cause, when compared to patients with cardiovascular disease only, was almost double (HR = 1.98, 95% CI 0.99 to 3.98) for patients with both CVD and CKD and was over 4 times greater (HR = 4.33, 95% CI 1.76 to 10.68) for patients with CVD, CKD and anaemia.

Conclusion

In patients with cardiovascular disease in the community, chronic kidney disease and anaemia occur commonly. The presence of chronic kidney disease carries an increased mortality risk which increases in an additive way with the addition of anaemia. These results suggest that early primary care diagnosis and management of this high risk group may be worthwhile.