bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Electric Charge on Collisions between Cloud Droplets
Authors: Fletcher Neville H.
Published: September 2012

A simple model is presented for the calculation of the effect of electric charges on the collision and coalescence of cloud droplets, a topic that is of importance for coalescence-induced natural rainfall and for the possible effectiveness of techniques for increasing rainfall by injection of ions into the atmosphere. Whereas electric charges of opposite sign enhance the collision efficiency of cloud droplets, the effect when all droplets bear charges of the same sign depends strongly upon the droplet sizes and separations and upon the ratio of charges on each of a droplet pair. The conditions under which coalescence is increased exist for only a very small fraction of actual cloud structures.
The Leading, Interdecadal Eigenmode of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in a Realistic Ocean Model
Authors: Sévellec Florian , Fedorov Alexey V.
Published: September 2012

Variations in the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) are a major potential source of decadal and longer climate variability in the Atlantic. This study analyzes continuous integrations of tangent linear and adjoint versions of an ocean general circulation model [Océan Parallélisé (OPA)] and rigorously shows the existence of a weakly damped oscillatory eigenmode of the AMOC centered in the North Atlantic Ocean and controlled solely by linearized ocean dynamics. In this particular GCM, the mode period is roughly 24 years, its e-folding decay time scale is 40 years, and it is the least-damped oscillatory mode in the system. Its mechanism is related to the westward propagation of large-scale temperature anomalies in the northern Atlantic in the latitudinal band between 30° and 60°N. The westward propagation results from a competition among mean eastward zonal advection, equivalent anomalous westward advection caused by the mean meridional temperature gradient, and westward propagation typical of long baroclinic Rossby waves. The zonal structure of temperature anomalies alternates between a dipole (corresponding to an anomalous AMOC) and anomalies of one sign (yielding no changes in the AMOC). Further, it is shown that the system is nonnormal, which implies that the structure of the least-damped eigenmode of the tangent linear model is different from that of the adjoint model. The “adjoint” mode describes the sensitivity of the system (i.e., it gives the most efficient patterns for exciting the leading eigenmode). An idealized model is formulated to highlight the role of the background meridional temperature gradient in the North Atlantic for the mode mechanism and the system nonnormality.
Renalase, Hypertension, and Kidney — The Discussion Continues
Authors: Malyszko Jolanta , Malyszko Jacek S. , Rysz Jacek , Mysliwiec Michal , Tesar Vladimir , Levin-Iaina Nomy , Banach Maciej
Published: September 2012

Hypertension and cardiovascular complications are very common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Overactivation of sympathetic nervous system is also widely recognized in CKD. Renalase may play an important role in the control of blood pressure (BP) by its regulatory function of catecholamine metabolism. Renalase could be synthesized not only by the kidney but also by cardiomyocytes, liver, and adipose tissue. It probably exerts a hypotensive action, at least in animal models. Whether it metabolizes catecholamines remains to be proved. Another issue that remains to be resolved is the relationship between renalase and renal natriuresis and phosphaturia. In this review, the updated experimental and clinical data on renalase are presented and possible interactions with the endothelium are discussed. Renalase is “a new postulated therapeutic target.” Proof of concept studies are needed to define the pathophysiological link between the kidney, sympathetic tone, BP, and cardiovascular complications.
The Association of Retinol-Binding Protein 4 With Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity in Adolescents
Authors: Lin Chin-Jung , Chu Nain Feng , Hung Yi-Jen , Chang Jin-Biou , He Chih-Tsueng , Hsiao Fone-Ching , Hsieh Chang-Hsun
Published: September 2012

Objectives. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has a role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among adults. However, data among adolescents are limited, and the effects of gender and sex hormones on RBP4 are not well defined. Materials/Methods. A total of 1082 adolescents were enrolled and categorized based on their body mass index. Blood samples were collected, and biochemical characteristics, sex hormones, RBP4 concentrations, and IR were determined. Results. Testosterone and estradiol were not directly correlated with RBP4 concentrations in both genders. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), and testosterone levels were independently associated with RBP4 concentrations in boys; also, there was a trend of increasing RBP4 levels with the severity of obesity. Conclusion. Plasma RBP4 concentrations correlated with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors, predominantly evident in boys. Testosterone, FPG, and TG levels were independent predictors of RBP4 concentrations.
Proactive personality and job performance: The role of job crafting and work engagement
Authors: Bakker Arnold B , Tims Maria , Derks Daantje
Published: September 2012

The article examines the role of proactive personality in predicting work engagement and job performance. On the basis of the literature on proactive personality and the job demands–resources model, we hypothesized that employees with a proactive personality would be most likely to craft their own jobs, in order to stay engaged and perform well. Data were collected among 95 dyads of employees ( N = 190), who were working in various organizations. The results of structural equation modeling analyses offered strong support for the proposed model. Employees who were characterized by a proactive personality were most likely to craft their jobs (increase their structural and social job resources, and increase their job challenges); job crafting, in turn, was predictive of work engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption) and colleague-ratings of in-role performance. These findings suggest that, to the extent that employees proactively adjust their work environment, they manage to stay engaged and perform well.
HEMA Inhibits Interfacial Nano-layering of the Functional Monomer MDP
Authors: Yoshida Y. , Yoshihara K. , Hayakawa S. , Nagaoka N. , Okihara T. , Matsumoto T. , Minagi S. , Osaka A. , Van Landuyt K. , Van Meerbeek B.
Published: September 2012

Previous research showed that the functional monomer 10-methacryloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) ionically bonds to hydroxyapatite (HAp) and forms a nano- layered structure at the interface with HAp-based substrates. Such hydrophobic nano-layering is considered to contribute to the long-term durability of the bond to tooth tissue. However, dental adhesives are complex mixtures usually containing different monomers. This study investigated the effect of the monomer 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) on the chemical interaction of MDP with HAp by x-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). We examined the chemical interaction of 5 experimental MDP solutions with increasing concentrations of HEMA. XRD revealed that addition of HEMA inhibits nano-layering at the interface, while NMR confirmed that MDP remained adsorbed onto the HAp surface. QCM confirmed this adsorption of MDP to HAp, as well as revealed that the demineralization rate of HAp by MDP was reduced by HEMA. It was concluded that even though the adsorption of MDP to HAp was not hindered, addition of HEMA inhibited interfacial nano-layering. Potential consequences with regard to bond durability necessitate further research.
Football versus football: Effect of topic on /r/ realization in American and English sports fans
Authors: Love Jessica , Walker Abby
Published: September 2012

Can the topic of a conversation, when heavily associated with a particular dialect region, influence how a speaker realizes a linguistic variable? We interviewed fans of English Premier League soccer at a pub in Columbus, Ohio. Nine speakers of British English and eleven speakers of American English were interviewed about their favorite American football and English soccer teams. We present evidence that the soccer fans in this speech community produce variants more consistent with Standard American English when talking about American football than English soccer. Specifically, speakers were overall more /r/-ful (F3 values were lower in rhotic environments) when talking about their favorite American football team. Numeric trends in the data also suggest that exposure to both American and British English, being a fan of both sports, and task may mediate these effects.
Schmaus’s Functionalist Approach to the Explanation of Social Facts
Authors: Lizardo Omar
Published: September 2012

In this paper, I provide a critical examination of Warren Schmaus’s recently systematized “functionalist” approach to the study of collective representations. I examine both the logical and the conceptual viability of Schmaus’s brand of “functionalism” and the relation between his rational reconstruction and philosophical critique of Durkheim and the latter’s original set of proposals. I conclude that, due to its reliance on certain problematic philosophical theses, Schmaus’s functionalism ultimately falls short of providing a coherent alternative to the Durkhemian position or serving as a useful starting point from which to understand the origins of abstract categories in concrete experience.
The Articulation of an Independent Foreign Policy
Authors: Valiani Salimah
Published: September 2012

Canadian trade and investment in Latin America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, an element of British world hegemony and its particular form of free-trade imperialism, laid the groundwork for Canada’s first independent foreign policy toward Latin America. The Canadian state’s articulation of its interest in Latin America in the 1940s was associated with the end of British hegemony and the rise of the United States as the new world hegemon. It is apparent that Canada’s location as a wealthy though politically less powerful nation within the core of the capitalist world system dates to the late nineteenth century and that Canadian capitalists played a significant role in this articulation.

El comercio de Canadá y la inversión en América Latina en el siglo XX y principios del XIX, característico de la hegemonía mundial británica y de su forma particular de imperialismo del libre comercio, sentó las bases de la primera política exterior independiente de Canadá hacia América Latina. La articulación del Estado canadiense de su interés en América Latina en la década de 1940 estuvo asociada con el fin de la hegemonía británica y el surgimiento de los Estados Unidos como potencia hegemónica del nuevo mundo. Es evidente que la ubicación de Canadá como una nación rica, aunque políticamente menos potente, en el centro del sistema capitalista mundial se remonta a finales del siglo XIX y que los capitalistas canadienses tuvieron un papel importante en esta articulación.
Good Neighbors for Fair Housing
Authors: Geismer Lily
Published: September 2012

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a fair housing movement made up of white-collar professionals and housewives rapidly emerged in the Route 128 suburbs outside of Boston. The Boston network, which eventually included thirty-five hundred members and thirty-seven chapters, became the largest and most active example of a national phenomenon. Tracing the evolution of the fair housing movement complicates standard narratives of suburban politics, modern liberalism, and the civil rights movement. The movement’s combination of localized and legal tactics played a crucial role in creating the grassroots support and legal means to fight racial discrimination and came to shape state and federal housing policy. Yet its suburban-based and individualist political outlook imposed serious constraints on the efforts to eradicate the root causes of residential inequality and solidified larger patterns of spatial inequality in Massachusetts and the nation.
Two-Year Results of Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program Into an Urban, Underserved Community
Authors: Piatt Gretchen A. , Seidel Miriam C. , Chen Hsiang-Yu , Powell Robert O. , Zgibor Janice C.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the long-term effect of a Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB) program on weight, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in an urban, medically underserved community.

Methods

This study was a single-arm prospective intervention study that was designed to test the effectiveness of a community-based GLB intervention. In sum, 638 residents from 11 targeted neighborhoods were screened for body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 and metabolic syndrome. Eligible individuals took part in a 12-week GLB intervention (n = 105) that addressed weight loss and physical activity. Subjects were followed for 24 months.

Results

The probability of being at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease was significantly reduced by 25.7% over the long-term follow-up. Of the participants who lost at least 5% of their body weight following the intervention, 52.6% maintained the 5% weight loss at their last follow-up time, weighing about 20 lb less than they did at baseline.

Conclusion

Risk reduction and weight loss maintenance are possible following a GLB intervention and have substantial potential for future public health impact.
Atypical Leydig Cell Hyperplasia in Adult Rats with Low T and High LH Induced by Prenatal Di(n-butyl) Phthalate Exposure
Authors: Wakui Shin , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Mutou Tomoko , Shirai Masaru , Jutabha Promsuk , Anzai Naohiko , Wempe Michael F. , Kansaku Norio , Hano Hiroshi , Inomata Tomo , Endou Hitoshi
Published: September 2012

The present study describes atypical Leydig cell (LC) hyperplasia in 20-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats with low testosterone and high luteinizing hormone levels after prenatal administration of 100 mg/kg/day di( n-butyl) phthalate on days 12 to 21 postconception. Light microscopy revealed LC hyperplasia surrounded by severely degenerated seminiferous tubules. Aggregated LCs had large ovoid nuclei with nucleoli and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis showed expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and vimentin in many hyperplastic LCs. Electron microscopy revealed atypical nuclei, abundant free ribosomes, stripped rough endoplasmic reticulum, intermediate-size filaments, elongated cytoplasmic filopodia, atypical tight junctions, and cilia formations, but smooth endoplasmic reticulum was scarcely observed.
Efficacy of temporary positive expiratory pressure (TPEP) in patients with lung diseases and chronic mucus hypersecretion. The UNIKO® project: a multicentre randomized controlled trial
Authors: Venturelli Elena , Crisafulli Ernesto , DeBiase Assunta , Righi Daniela , Berrighi Daniele , Cavicchioli Pier Paolo , Vagheggini Guido , Dabrosca Francesco , Balbi Bruno , Paneroni Mara , Bianchi Luca , Vitacca Michele , Galimberti Vittoria , Zaurino Michele , Schiavoni Giorgio , Iattoni Andrea , Ambrosino Nicolino , Clini Enrico M
Published: September 2012

Objective:

To evaluate whether temporary positive expiratory pressure provides benefit in patients with lung diseases and chronic hypersecretion.

Design:

Single blind multicentre randomized trial.

Setting:

Five Italian rehabilitation centres.

Participants:

Ninety-eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or chronic bronchitis ( n=78), or bronchiectasis ( n=20), with a peak cough expiratory flow >150 l/min and sputum production >30 ml/day, randomly included into two treatment groups.

Interventions:

For 10 consecutive days, the active group performed twice a day 20-minute cycles of manually assisted breathing techniques in sequence with the addition of 15 minutes of temporary positive expiratory pressure, while the control group was treated by manually assisted breathing techniques alone.

Measures:

Within and between group changes of arterial oxygenation index, lung volumes and respiratory muscles strength were recorded at enrolment and after 3 and 10 treatment sessions. Pre-to-post treatment change of sputum volume and bronchial encumbrance (Δ-visual analog scale), sputum density and purulence were compared daily within the study period.

Results:

No significant changes were recorded for the oxygenation index, while dynamic lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength significantly ( P <0.05) improved in the active group. The group comparison analysis of the pre-to-post change showed that inspiratory capacity was significantly higher in the active than in the control group (+19.5% and +2.2%, P=0.044) at day 10. A greater improvement in Δ-visual analog scale was recorded in the active group at day 3 and 8.

Conclusions:

These preliminary data suggest that temporary positive expiratory pressure improves lung volumes and speeds up the improvement of bronchial encumbrance in patients with lung diseases and hypersecretion.
The Function of the Acromioclavicular and Coracoclavicular Ligaments in Shoulder Motion
Authors: Oki Satoshi , Matsumura Noboru , Iwamoto Wataru , Ikegami Hiroyasu , Kiriyama Yoshimori , Nakamura Toshiyasu , Toyama Yoshiaki , Nagura Takeo
Published: September 2012

Background:

Scapulothoracic dyskinesis is an important consequence of acromioclavicular joint dislocations. However, no reports have described changes in 3-dimensional motions of the scapula and clavicle with respect to the thorax caused by acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Hypothesis:

Sectioning of the acromioclavicular (AC) and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments affects scapular and clavicular motion in a whole-cadaver model.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

We evaluated shoulder girdle motion (scapula, clavicle, and humerus) relative to the thorax of 14 shoulders from 8 whole cadavers after sequential sectioning of the AC and CC ligaments (trapezoid and conoid ligaments). An electromagnetic tracking device measured 3-dimensional kinematics of the scapula and clavicle during humerothoracic elevation in the coronal and sagittal planes and adduction in the horizontal plane.

Results:

Sectioning of the AC ligament increased clavicular retraction during sagittal plane elevation and horizontal plane adduction. Sectioning of the trapezoid ligament decreased scapular external rotation during sagittal plane elevation and horizontal plane adduction. Sectioning of the conoid ligament decreased scapular posterior tilting during sagittal plane elevation and horizontal plane adduction. Acromioclavicular and CC ligament sectioning also delayed clavicular posterior rotation and increased clavicular upward rotation during coronal plane elevation.

Conclusion:

Our study revealed that AC and CC ligament disruption affected in vitro shoulder girdle kinematics in the whole-cadaver model.

Clinical Relevance:

The results of this cadaveric study revealed that AC and CC ligament disruption could cause dyskinesis of the scapula and clavicle. The kinematic changes could be a potential source of pain and dysfunction in the shoulder with AC joint dislocation, and therefore surgical reconstruction may be indicated in certain patients.
Teaching Race at Historically White Colleges and Universities: Identifying and Dismantling the Walls of Whiteness
Authors: Brunsma David L. , Brown Eric S. , Placier Peggy
Published: September 2012

In this article we outline the ‘walls of whiteness’ that make it difficult to teach the sociology of race and racism and make it difficult for students at historically white colleges and universities (HCWUs) to wrestle with these important issues. Most white students enter HWCUs surrounded by these walls – protecting them from attacks on white supremacy – that have multiple layers and therefore are even more difficult to penetrate; yet they must be penetrated. With a few exceptions, the institution of American higher education does not threaten those walls. Instead, college education often bolsters them through curricular and extracurricular experiences, residential and disciplinary isolation, institutional symbols, cultural reproduction, and everyday practices such as grading and classroom interactions. We identify these walls in this article and make suggestions regarding strategies to begin their dismantling.
Beyond the left–right cleavage: Exploring American political choice space
Authors: Hinich Melvin , Liu Xinsheng , Vedlitz Arnold , Lindsey Charles
Published: September 2012

Following spatial choice theory and MAP methodology, we employ the data drawn from recent nationwide public opinion surveys to probe the latent political choice space in American political competition. Our analyses demonstrate that, in addition to the traditional left–right ideology continuum, there is a second distinct dimension in American political choice space. More importantly, the results from our regression analyses suggest that the second dimension seems to be driven by a cleavage among different reform prospects, ranging from low-politics reformism, to politics-as-usual approach, to high-politics style of change.
Resource allocation when different candidates are stronger on different issues
Authors: Hummel Patrick
Published: September 2012

I present a model in which different candidates are stronger on different issues and an incumbent must decide how many resources to devote to each of two different issues. I derive conditions under which the incumbent has an incentive to devote an inefficiently high amount of resources to the issue in which the incumbent is weakest so that voters will be relatively more concerned about the issue on which the incumbent is strongest and be more inclined to vote for a candidate that is strong on that issue. I find that incumbents are especially likely to use an inefficient resource allocation if voters care a lot about the issue in which the incumbent is strongest before the election or they will care moderately about multiple issues after the election.
The influence of prefreezing temperature on pore structure in freeze-dried β-TCP scaffolds
Authors: Lin Liulan , Wang Zhikun , Zhou Liping , Hu Qingxi , Fang Minglun
Published: September 2012

A combined method of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffold production, which comprised negative mold and scaffold fabrication, was reported in this study. The negative mold structure was designed by computer and fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, while the TCP scaffold was produced by freeze-drying technology under different prefreezing temperatures of −10°C, −30°C, and −86°C and thermal treatment to get β-TCP. The scaffold structure was evaluated with X-ray, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), compressive mechanical testing, and microcomputerized tomography (micro-CT). The cell–scaffold interaction was studied by culturing dog bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on the scaffolds and assessing differentiated BMSC function by measuring cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The results showed good interconnectivity and good pore distribution with the pore size ranging from 50 to 250 µm and compressive modulus of 1.18 MPa at a prefreezing temperatures of −10°C. In vitro cell culture results indicated that the porous scaffolds were not toxic to bone cells. These results demonstrate that rapid prototyping and freeze-drying technologies for creating β-TCP scaffolds are promising for bone tissue engineering.
Grain Bank Survival and Longevity: Evidence from Orissa
Authors: Bhattamishra Ruchira
Published: September 2012

We examine the determinants of the likelihood and duration of grain bank survival using survey data from Orissa. The study is motivated by the fact that a large share of grain banks have ceased to function over time. It is also motivated by the fact that despite the high rate of failure, the Government of India and rural development non-governmental organisations are continuing to scale up their grain bank activities. We find that village characteristics appear to matter for both the likelihood and duration of grain bank survival, whereas grain bank member characteristics and grain bank institutional features largely do not appear to matter. The findings suggest the salience of programme placement for grain bank sustainability.

JEL Classification: O16, O18, Q18
Analytical solution on dosage of self-healing agents in cementitious materials: Long capsule model
Authors: Lv Zhong , Chen Huisu , Yuan Haifeng
Published: September 2012

Crack-repairing technology via embedded capsules with healing agents is becoming a promising approach to sustain the performance of cementitious materials. In this article, the practical crack patterns in cementitious materials caused by various mechanisms are simplified to be the linear cracks in two-dimensional plane and the planar cracks in three-dimensional space, respectively. Then, based on the assumption that the length of the capsules embedded is larger than the average spacing between the adjacent cracks, via the theory of geometrical probability, the analytical solutions on the exact dosage of capsules required are developed for the different types of crack pattern models in a probabilistic point of view. Furthermore, the reliability of these analytical solutions is verified via computer simulation.
Field distributions in cracked periodically layered electromagnetothermoelastic composites
Authors: Aboudi Jacob
Published: September 2012

A novel approach is employed for the prediction of stress, electrical, and magnetic fields generated by applying combined loadings on damaged composites that consist of periodic electromagnetothermoelastic layers. The damage may represent cavities and cracks and must be localized in the sense that its effect on the remote-loaded boundaries of the composite is negligible. This approach is based on the combined use of the representative cell method, the higher-order theory, and the high-fidelity generalized method of cells micromechanical model. In the framework of the representative cell method, the problem for a periodic composite that is discretized into numerous identical cells is reduced to a problem of a single cell in the discrete Fourier transform domain. In the framework of the higher-order theory, the resulting governing equations and interfacial conditions in the transform domain are solved by dividing the single cell into subcells and imposing the latter in an average (integral) sense. The high-fidelity generalized method of cells is utilized for the prediction of the proper far-field boundary conditions, which are based on the unperturbed effective properties of the composite. The inverse of the Fourier transform provides the real elastic field at any point of composite with localized effects. The damage existence is modeled by introducing fictitious unknown eigenfields that are computed by an iterative procedure. This modeling is verified by a comparison with five analytical solutions of cavities and cracks embedded in piezoelectric and electromagnetoelastic materials. Several applications of cracked layered composites are given.
Strengthening Foster Parent–Adolescent Relationships Through Filial Therapy
Authors: Capps Jennifer E.
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this article is to explore the application of filial therapy as a means of strengthening relationships between foster parents and adolescent foster children. Adolescents in foster care experience a number of placement disruptions and while a number of therapeutic interventions are implemented to assist adolescents in foster care, very few are aimed at strengthening the foster parent–foster child bond. Studies have repeatedly shown filial therapy as an effective method for strengthening parent–child relationships. Filial therapy is discussed as an intervention for improving the relationship between adolescents in foster care and their foster parents. A review of the literature is presented as well as a description of filial therapy and the adaptations necessary to implement filial therapy with adolescents and their foster parents.
Transitional Foster Youth’s Perceptions of Preparation to Act as Self-Advocates
Authors: Jones Jason , Gragg Janee Both
Published: September 2012

Foster youth face a number of challenges as they transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Emancipation for foster youth occurs between the ages of 18 and 22, during which those successful in this transition are required to make well thought out decisions and act in their own best interest. However, few foster youth have learned the skills necessary to act as self-advocates. This in-depth phenomenological study explored the perceptions of three emancipated foster youth who were judged to be more effective self-advocates than their peers, concerning how prepared they felt to act as self-advocates. Research findings highlight the fact that many emancipated foster youth are rarely taught self-advocacy skills explicitly but rather learn the skills themselves through trial and error or happenstance and suggest ways that therapists can make the process. Research findings also suggest that acting as a self-advocate may enhance the educational choices and familial relationships of transitional foster youth.
Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Southern Stephen
Published: September 2012

The Family Journal publishes special issues that address topics held to be of great importance by the members of the editorial board. This special issue on adoption and foster care explores the experiences of children and adults who have been affected by adoption or foster care. The authors discuss counseling implications and interventions.
Commentary on ‘Disability outcome measures in multiple sclerosis clinical trials’
Authors: Noble J Gareth , Osborne Lisa A , Jones Kerina H , Middleton Rod M , Ford David V
Published: September 2012

In order to fully understand and explore the effectiveness of any intervention for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS), it is important to have robust, valid, reliable, and universally applied measures. The recent article, ‘Disability outcome measures in multiple sclerosis clinical trials’ by Cohen, Reingold, Polman and Wolinsky (2012), explores this issue in regards to the effective measurement of MS-related disability, and the utilisation of patient-reported outcome measures, whilst highlighting the need for collaboration between the academic and clinical communities. Although it is important to examine disability measures, it is also equally important to recognise that physical function is only one aspect of a person’s experience; for example, quality of life and psychological well-being are also important aspects to assess. The application of e-health technologies and patient registers could be a useful method of gaining additional information, using patient-reported outcomes. This commentary explores these issues in relation to points raised by the Cohen et al. paper.
The omnicultural imperative
Authors: Moghaddam Fathali M
Published: September 2012

Globalization is taking place in unprecedented ways, with unprecedented consequences, including large-scale sudden contact between human groups. Sudden inter-group contact without adequate pre-adaptation is sometimes resulting in catastrophic evolution, with radicalization and terrorism arising as (dysfunctional) defense mechanisms among some groups experiencing threatened collective identities. The main traditional policies for managing relations between diverse groups, assimilation and multiculturalism, are critically reviewed and found wanting. Omniculturalism is considered as an alternative policy; in stage one, the omnicultural imperative demands that during interactions with others we give priority to human commonalities; in stage two, group-based differences are recognized. A cross-national survey shows support for omniculturalism within the United States, but less so among minority group members.
Collectivistic individualism: Transcending a traditional opposition
Authors: Omi Yasuhiro
Published: September 2012

Individualism is typically separated from its counterpart—collectivism. It is regarded as one of the most important characteristics of American people, comparing to collectivism of Eastern Asian people. However, such a simple dichotomy as individualism vs. collectivism is unproductive for psychology. An ethnographic study was performed at some schools in the United States from Japanese point of view. The result suggested that the dichotomy was too simple to understand American practices to socialize individualistic orientations. The study also fails to help in understanding cultural peculiarities of both the United States and Japan. The “American individualism” seemed to be salient in terms of guiding children to be selectively independent from peers, but not from parents—in contrast to the Japanese ways. Collectivistic aspects were also found in specific forms of social organization within schools in the United States. The “American collectivism” seemed to be salient in terms of promoting upward social mobility of the individualistic actor, and not viewed as a downward social trajectory or a repressive act against the individual.
The “other” truth of culture and omniculturalism
Authors: Tripathi Rama Charan , Mishra Ramesh Chandra
Published: September 2012

The paper engages with Jahoda’s (2012) and Moghaddam’s (2012) papers and examines Jahoda’s stand of not seeking to define culture because of the problems posed by the term. It is argued that clarification of a concept can be achieved through systematic analysis of definitions of a term and an acceptable definition can be co-constructed. Definitions are seen important where social policies are to be formulated. Moghaddam’s concept of “omniculturalism” is found problematic in addressing issues related to religious fundamentalism as it does not contest the policies and values of neo-liberalism enshrined in globalization. We suggest an alternate twin strategy that will first address problems of structural inequalities and injustice, followed by intergroup dialoguing involving various religious groups to deal with the processes that lead to creation of the other.
Information flow and influence in collective choice
Authors: Stasser Garold , Abele Susanne , Parsons Sandra Vaughan
Published: September 2012

If decision-relevant information is distributed among team members, the group is inclined to focus on common information and to neglect unique information. This classical finding is robust in experimental settings, in which the distribution of information is created by experimental design. The current paper examines information sharing when access to information is not restricted. We analyzed archival search and discussion data obtained from business executives completing a personnel selection exercise. Information popularity in the population from which groups were composed predicted both the number of group members accessing items during information searches and whether the group discussed the items. The number of group members who accessed an item predicted whether information was repeated during discussion, and repetition predicted which items were included on an executive summary. Moreover, cognitively central group members were more influential than cognitively peripheral members. One implication is that collective information search and discussion highlights information that is perceived as relevant in the population from which groups are composed.
Scientific inquiry on how groups decide: The Davisonian approach
Authors: Kerr Norbert L. , Tindale R. Scott
Published: September 2012

This special issue of GPIR is a tribute to the many contributions to the scientific study of group processes made by James H. Davis, who died on November 16, 2010. In this brief introductory piece, we will provide a bit of background on Jim’s life and work, describe his characteristic method of inquiry, which we might term the Davisonian approach, and preview the papers in this issue, each of which illustrate aspects of that Davisonian approach and make an original contribution to our understanding of group behavior.
A hitchhiker's view on spatial statistics and spatial econometrics for lattice data
Authors: Kauermann Göran , Haupt Harry , Kaufmann Nadeshda
Published: September 2012

Spatial statistics and spatial econometrics fill an impressive body of literature, clearly demonstrating the importance of the corresponding methods. Though the two fields are being referred to in the same breath, they differ substantially as they pursue quite different objectives and hence exhibit different interpretations. In this article we shed some light on the nature and relevance of those to demonstrate how the models can be employed with three data examples in a regional context. The discussion covers models for continuous responses and count data, real data examples and Monte Carlo simulations.
The Cox shared frailty model with log-skew-normal frailties
Authors: Callegaro A , Iacobelli S
Published: September 2012

Clustered survival data arise when groups of failure times share a common ingredient; typically, they refer to the same individual or individuals with a common factor. When the association between failure times within the same cluster is of interest, statistical methods called frailty models have been used. The frailty is an unobserved random component which affects the risk level, changing from cluster to cluster but shared by all observations within the same cluster. Various probability distributions have been proposed for the frailty term, with special emphasis on the gamma and log-normal distribution. Since adequate modelling of the frailty distribution is essential to properly investigate the dependence structure, we introduce a new class of frailty models with a flexible distribution form. Specifically, we adopt the skew-normal distribution for the log-transformed frailty, leading to an extension of the log-normal model. After presenting the methodology connected to this choice, we illustrate it with a case study of multiple myeloma patients with autologous stem cells transplantation.
Modeling and simulation of landmine and improvised explosive device detection with multiple loops
Authors: Johnson Darrell , Ali Ahad
Published: September 2012

There has been a significant amount of interest in landmine detection and, most recently, the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In this paper, current and recent papers are reviewed and explored. In addition, a model and simulation that incorporates multiple levels of detection is discussed and developed. One of the most critical points often discussed is locating and identifying concealed landmines and IEDs with a high degree of accuracy. Combining the warfighter-in-the-loop increases the accuracy of minefield detection. This concept can be applied with the addition of multiple methods, such as laser radar, metal detection, infrared imaging, ground-penetrating radar and acoustic methods. Papers on the modeling and simulation of these methods individually and fused are reviewed in this paper. A combination of methods at various levels of decision making can increase the overall accuracy of landmine detection and, more importantly, identifying false negatives (FNs). In this paper, simple modeling and simulation of landmine detection is presented by adding loops of detection systems and redundancies to increase the accuracy of detection and the effectiveness of the resources applied.
What Counts Most in the Lymph Node Count for Colorectal Cancer?
Authors: Fingerhut Abe
Published: September 2012

The adequate number of lymph nodes that should be examined to correctly stage colorectal cancer is still debated. Even though the guidelines state that 12 should be the minimum, there is ongoing concern that this might not be enough. Moreover, many studies have shown that this cut-off is far from universally obtained in many surgical series, whether via laparotomy or via laparoscopy. Arguments in favor of sticking to the cutoff value of 12 are weak: certainly, culling and examining as many lymph nodes as possible should increase the chances of correct staging and the consequent therapeutic consequences, decrease local recurrence and, perhaps, also increase survival (although this is not the direct consequence of gathering and examining as many lymph nodes as possible). Laparoscopy should be no different from open surgery: the same rational prevails for laparoscopic oncologic clearance to increase patient well-being and ensure good practice. What is most important, however, is to make surgeons and pathologists realize that this issue is important and that all of us should strive, in close collaboration, to achieve these goals, for the good of the patient, the person for whom the lymph node count counts most.
Three-Year Results of a Multicenter Prospective Study of Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication
Authors: Muls Vinciane , Eckardt Alexander J. , Marchese Michele , Bastens Boris , Buset Michel , Devière Jacques , Louis Hubert , Rajan Amin , Daniel Michael A. , Costamagna Guido
Published: September 2012

Background. To date, there are no long-term data on the use of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) for the treatment of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We sought to prospectively evaluate the long-term safety and durability of TIF in a multi-center setting. Methods. A longitudinal per protocol (PP) and a modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis at 1 and 3 years consisted of symptom evaluation using the GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, medication use, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and pH-metry. Results. Of 79 patients previously reported at 1 year, 12 were lost to follow-up, and 1 died from an unrelated cause. The remaining 66 patients were followed up and analyzed (mITT). Of 66 patients, 12 underwent revisional procedures, leaving 54 patients for PP analysis at a median of 3.1 years (range = 2.9-3.6). No adverse events related to TIF were reported at 2- or 3-year follow-up. On PP analysis, median GERD-HRQL score off proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) improved significantly to 4 (range 0-32) from both off (25 [13-38], P < .0001) and on (9 [0-22], P < .0001) PPIs. Discontinuation of daily PPIs was sustained in 61% (mITT) and 74% (PP) of patients. Of 11 patients with pH data at 3 years (PP), 9 (82%) remained normal. Based on mITT analysis, 9/23 (39%) remained normal at 3 years. Conclusions. The clinical outcomes at 3 years following TIF, patient satisfaction, healing of erosive esophagitis, and cessation of PPI medication support long-term safety and durability of the TIF procedure for those with initial treatment success. Although complete normalization of pH studies occurred in a minority of patients, successful cases showed long-term durability.
A Primer on Quantitized Data Analysis and Permutation Testing
Authors: Collingridge Dave S.
Published: September 2012

Quantitization refers to transforming qualitative data into numerical format. Approaches to quantitization include dichotomizing qualitative themes and counting qualitative codes. Statistical analysis of themes and code counts has the potential to produce valuable information for mixed methods researchers. Examples of quantitized statistical analysis are presented along with ways in which the results can provide useful insights. With regard to analyzing code counts, due to limitations associated with traditional parametric and nonparametric tests of significance, permutation testing is offered as a rigorous alternative. A detailed example of permutation testing using readily available resampling software is provided.
Fluoroquinolones in the treatment of bronchopulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hurley Matthew , Smyth Alan
Published: September 2012

Fluoroquinolones are commonly used to treat lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. These patients are susceptible to lung infection with common bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, but are also prone to infection by opportunistic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The good oral bioavailability and broad antimicrobial spectrum of activity, including antipseudomonal properties, make this class of antimicrobial attractive. We review the evidence assessing the use of fluoroquinolones in the context of preventing and eradicating early lung infection and in managing chronic lung infection and pulmonary exacerbations. The safety of fluoroquinolones and the use of newer agents in the class are also discussed.
Empowerment, Organizational Commitment, and Voice Behavior in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Raub Steffen , Robert Christopher
Published: September 2012

Employee empowerment is widely viewed as a promising approach to improve operating efficiency and customer service. But the most effective way to empower the staff is not always clear to hospitality managers, both in terms of what to do and what to avoid. Using data from 640 frontline service employees and their supervisors working in sixteen different properties of a multinational hotel chain in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region, this study tested a model of the relationships between empowering leadership, psychological empowerment, organizational commitment, and voice behavior. Results suggest that psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and both organizational commitment and voice behavior (defined as identifying problems and suggesting improvements). The study also found a particular pitfall for empowerment in high power distance cultures, in that the effects are much weaker for high power distance cultures. As the value of empowering leadership seems clear, multinational companies may wish to select employees and managers who are comfortable with an empowerment strategy, and make clear to all employees—particularly those on the frontline—that the organization will support them as they take more initiative.
Steps in the management of psoriatic arthritis: a guide for clinicians
Authors: Cuchacovich Raquel , Perez-Alamino Rodolfo , Garcia-Valladares Ignacio , Espinoza Luis R.
Published: September 2012

Psoriatic arthritis is a common systemic inflammatory disorder, which in addition to skin and nail involvement may be associated with peripheral and axial joint involvement, enthesitis, dactylitis, and important comorbidities – especially cardiovascular morbidity. Better insights into the involved pathogenic mechanisms have resulted in an improved therapeutic armamentarium, which targets key pathways in its pathogenesis. This has resulted in significant clinical responses to newer therapeutic agents, especially those directed at inhibition of tumor necrosis factor α. Biological therapy leads to significant levels of remission, improved quality of life, and retards or improves structural radiological damage.
Converging on harmony
Authors: Marsh Charles
Published: September 2012

A growing number of frameworks for envisioning and enacting public relations posit social harmony as a core goal of the discipline. Such frameworks include two-way symmetry, communitarianism, fully functioning society theory, Isocratean rhetoric, and aspects of the reflective paradigm. A goal of social harmony, however, has been challenged as being overly idealistic, utopian, and incongruous with the competitive nature of human beings and organizations. This article examines the evolutionary biological theories of Charles Darwin and Peter Kropotkin – in particular, Kropotkin’s theory of mutual aid – and details their conclusion that the processes of natural selection favor communities built upon cooperation rather than competition. The processes of evolution and natural selection thus provide a scientific foundation for a goal of social harmony within public relations frameworks.