bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From states to polities: Reconceptualizing sovereignty through Inuit governance
Authors: Shadian Jessica
Published: May 2010

This article engages the ongoing theoretical debates in IR through a re-examination of sovereignty as traditionally understood. Despite a growing theoretical turn in IR towards more general investigations of institutions, much uncertainty and ambiguity as to how to best incorporate new issues and actors which transcend traditional state-centred politics remains. How can IR theory sufficiently take into account ‘other’ political actors which are neither NGOs nor states and cannot easily be categorized according to traditional dichotomies? Rather than concluding that sovereignty is in a state of demise, this political inquiry deconstructs and abstracts sovereignty from its Westphalian limitations. Instead, sovereignty is relocated from bounded state territories to the process of collective political identity and institution construction. Throughout this process, the power or importance of physical territory does not disappear but rather becomes subsumed under ongoing political contestation over the symbolic meanings of physical space more generally.
Bilateralism or multilateralism? The political economy of avoiding international double taxation
Authors: Rixen Thomas
Published: May 2010

Why do states cooperate bilaterally or multilaterally? This article addresses the issue using the example of international double tax avoidance. It is argued that double tax avoidance exhibits the strategic structure of a coordination game with a distributive conflict. The distribution of tax revenues depends on the asymmetry of investment flows between treaty partners. Since investment flows are defined dyadically, bilateral bargaining can best accommodate countries’ concerns for the distribution of tax revenues and other economic benefits connected to the tax base. Moreover, because there are no serious externality problems with bilateral agreement, this solution is also viable. At the same time, there is a need for a multilateral organization to disseminate information and shared practices in the form of a model convention that provides a focal point for bilateral negotiations. This solution minimizes transaction costs. Since agreements are self-enforcing in coordination games there is no need for third-party enforcement. Instead, the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) is a device to address problems of incomplete contracting.
Alienation and its discontents
Authors: Egerton Frazer
Published: May 2010

Terrorism, and particularly its militant Salafist form, remains an oft-discussed but often poorly understood phenomenon. There is an ever-expanding body of literature on militant Salafism in the West. A great deal of this offers some manner of alienation as an explanation as to why a path of militancy was pursued. This article explores what explanatory value alienation is felt to offer such accounts. It then considers some of the considerable problems that face these claims, difficulties that seriously undermine the usefulness of alienation as a concept that helps us to understand militancy.
Sample Size Determination for Health Psychology Interventions with Binomially Distributed Outcomes
Authors: Hittner James B. , May Kim , Silver N. Clayton
Published: May 2010

Health intervention outcomes are often assessed as binomially distributed variables. In designing such interventions it is important to model the pre-intervention rate of the target behavior when performing sample size calculations. Unfortunately, the majority of sample size programs model post-intervention outcomes only, which results in exaggerated sample size estimates. An exception is Yoo and Spoth’s (1993) conditional binomial method of sample size determination. This approach explicitly models pre-intervention behavior by focusing on baserate-adjusted post-intervention outcomes, and always results in smaller sample size estimates than conventional approaches. Advantages of the conditional binomial method are discussed and user-friendly software is presented.
The Effectiveness of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model in Promoting Adherence in CABG Patients
Authors: Zarani Fariba , Besharat Mohammad Ali , Sadeghian Saeed , Sarami Gholamreza
Published: May 2010

This study tested the efficacy of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) skills model-based intervention to promote adherence among patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery, and evaluated the relationship of psychological variables with adherence. A total of 152 CABG patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or to a standard care control group. Participants completed pretest measures and were reassessed one and three months later. Findings revealed that the intervention group was significantly more adherent, which showed support for the effectiveness of the IMB-based intervention. Furthermore, psychological factors played an important role in patient adherence.
Beliefs and Perceived Norms Concerning Body Image among African-American and Latino Teenagers
Authors: Barroso Cristina S. , Peters Ronald Joseph , Johnson Regina Jones , Kelder Steven H. , Jefferson Troy
Published: May 2010

Focus groups, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior, examined the beliefs and perceived norms regarding body image in a sample of urban African-American and Latino teenagers ( N = 83, 18—19 years old) from Texas. Cultural eating (behavioral belief) explained the acceptance and tolerance of overweight. Popularity of hip-hop fashion and limited income explicated peer and familial normative beliefs, respectively. Thinness equated HIV infection in African-Americans (parental normative belief). Barriers to healthy eating and active living (control beliefs) included willpower, laziness, fast food, and excessive work. Findings can guide the development and implementation of culturally appropriate obesity interventions for African-American and Latino adolescents.
Efficacy of a Communication and Stress Management Training on Medical Residents’ Self-efficacy, Stress to Communicate and Burnout
Authors: Bragard Isabelle , Etienne Anne-Marie , Merckaert Isabelle , Libert Yves , Razavi Darius
Published: May 2010

This is a longitudinal randomized controlled study investigating the efficacy of a communication and stress management skills training programme on medical residents’ self-efficacy to communicate and to manage stress in interviews, stress to communicate in interviews, and burnout. Ninety-six medical residents participated. Results showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy and decrease in stress to communicate. No changes were noted in burnout. Results of this training may encourage its compulsory organization in the medical curriculum. Further research is required to examine whether a programme associating person-directed and organization-directed interventions could have an impact on residents’ burnout.
Women’s Depressive Symptoms during the Transition to Motherhood
Authors: Gauthier Lysanne , Guay Frédéric , Senécal Caroline , Pierce Tamarha
Published: May 2010

This study investigates the longitudinal pattern of reciprocal relations between mothers’ perceived satisfaction of their needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy and depressive symptoms during the transition to motherhood. Participants were 331 women assessed during their pregnancy and two and five months after delivery. Results based on structural equation modeling provide some support for the effect of perceived needs satisfaction on subsequent depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. In addition, it appears that prior postpartum depressive symptoms account for subsequent psychological needs satisfaction. Discussion centers on the theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of the results.
From the stage to the grave
Authors: Hope Donna P.
Published: May 2010

This article examines the production of celebrity in Jamaica through riotously festive funeral ceremonies, known as bling/dancehall funerals in Jamaica. It highlights the riotous energy of the dancehall body and the glare of media attention that explodes during the production of the funeral rites of prominent dancehall actors like Arnett Gardens Don, and leader of the Black Roses Crew, William ‘Willie Haggart’ Moore, and Black Roses Crew member and Master Dancer Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy. The discussions herein grapple with Turner’s exploration of the cultural function of celebrity and his definition of celebrity. In addition, the article tackles the classed hierarchies of power that undergird social life in Jamaica and thus locates bling/dancehall funerals within the socio-cultural sphere.
Action Observation Improves Freezing of Gait in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Pelosin Elisa , Avanzino Laura , Bove Marco , Stramesi Paola , Nieuwboer Alice , Abbruzzese Giovanni
Published: May 2010

Background. Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling impairment for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and may not respond to medications. The effectiveness of physical therapy for FOG is debatable. Action observation strategies to overcome FOG may enhance physical training. Objective. To assess whether action observation, combined with practicing the observed actions, may reduce FOG episodes. Methods. Twenty patients with PD entered a single-blind trial and were randomly assigned to the experimental (Action) or control (Landscape) groups. Those in the Action group watched video clips showing specific movements and strategies to circumvent FOG episodes, whereas those in the Landscape group watched video clips of static pictures showing different landscapes. All patients underwent identical physical therapy training, 3 sessions a week for 4 weeks. Results. The FOG Questionnaire score and the number of FOG episodes were significantly reduced in both groups after the training period. At follow-up examination (4 weeks after the end of the intervention), a significant reduction in the number of FOG episodes was observed only in the Action group. Motor performance (walking and balance) and quality-of-life assessments were significantly improved in both groups at the end of training and at follow-up. Conclusions. Our results suggest that action observation has a positive additional effect on recovery of walking ability in PD patients with FOG. Further studies on the combination of observation and imitation to supplement a physical training program may result in an innovative rehabilitative approach for FOG.
Trusting the Avatar
Authors: Smith Jonas H.
Published: May 2010

Playing online entails far more than dragon-slaying, identity experimentation, communication, and elaborate synchronized aggression. Letting other players affect your experience means placing yourself—if ever so slightly—at their mercy. In other words, you need to trust them, evoking a concept that has divided philosophers for millennia. This article describes how trust is an important factor in multiplayer gaming, how it can be approached theoretically, and how it may be favorably affected by game design.
When the Game Is Not Enough: Motivations and Practices Among Computer Game Modding Culture
Authors: Sotamaa Olli
Published: May 2010

The actual meanings computer game modders attach to their actions and practices remain heavily underresearched. This article takes a look at the attitudes and everyday practices of the people who make game modifications, with special focus on the forms and consequences of collaboration between hobbyists. The case discussed in the article is the shooter-game Operation Flashpoint (OFP) and the modding scene around it. The article proposes that there is no such thing as an average computer game modder. It is suggested that the distinctions can be drawn based on the objective of projects (missions, add-ons, mods), modder motivations (playing, hacking, researching, self-expression, cooperation), and notions on the ownership and potential commercialization of their work. Given the forecasts concerning the growing significance of player-made content, this study can offer some down-to-earth findings from the long established tradition of game modding.
Digital Games and Escapism
Authors: Calleja Gordon
Published: May 2010

Digital games are often viewed as being inherently escapist on two counts. First, they are the shining proponents of cutting edge virtuality, embodying the alluring unreality of something erroneously conceived of existing on the other side of a screen. A second reason for associating games with escapism relates to a common perception of play and games as opposite of seriousness and work and somehow set apart from the ordinary, everyday life. The paper discusses the nature of escapism and relates it to the above theoretical issues which contribute to a view of digital games as inherently escapist. The paper proposes a renewed view on digital games and escapism that takes into account their distinctive qualities and their role in everyday life.
Lost on a Desert Island: The Sims 2 Castaway as Convergence Text
Authors: MacCallum-Stewart Esther
Published: May 2010

This article looks at a genre of games that most frequently appears on the Nintendo DS and discusses how they use multiple techniques drawn from several different sources to gain popularity. The desert island simulation blends a series of familiar game genres with those of popular television, specifically serial television, to produce a genre that deliberately appeals to non-traditional users (although this definition relies more on preconceptions than actuality, as games continue to develop in scope). This article examines the techniques that these games use, including the shrewd marketing tools of the DS, the ways in which the games borrow from existing games genres, how they draw the player into a narrative web through a reconstruction of player agency, and the linkage with serial television. By specifically examining The Sims 2 Castaway (S2C, 2007), this article discusses how the changing of ludic objectives during these games influences player expectation and how this is increasingly reflected in other texts such as long-haul television series. These developments indicate not only an evolving canon within games but argue for their growing influence elsewhere in cultural production.
Embodied Metaphors: Exposing Informatic Control Through First-Person Shooters
Authors: Rush Jeff
Published: May 2010

This article argues that the game player’s epiphany when regaining control after an aporia is similar to the metaphorical awareness of the connection between representation and meaning in other art forms. The player may experience what the article calls an embodied metaphor, a heightened sense of the linkage between two different orders of reality, real physical gesture and its on-screen representation. Beyond the aesthetic, this metaphor may also increase the player’s sensitivity to broader informatic or protocological control outside of the game world, a concept Alexander Galloway develops from Gilles Deleuze’s Societies of Control. The embodied metaphor attaches a kinetic materiality to the abstractions of contemporary informatic organization, making them, at least momentarily, concrete and tangible.
Never Too Old to Play: The Appeal of Digital Games to an Older Audience
Authors: De Schutter Bob
Published: May 2010

This study aimed to explore the use of digital games among older adults and provide a set of ‘‘benchmark data’’ with respect to the uses and gratifications of these players. To find out who these older players of digital games are, what games they prefer, and what playing motives they have, an exploratory survey was administered among 124 individuals aged between 45 and 85 years old. The results of this survey confirm that the majority of the older digital game audience exists of solitary players with a particular fondness for casual PC games. The most popular playing motive among the respondents was challenge, while social interaction proved to be the most important predictor for the time that respondents invested in playing digital games.
Game Scenes: Theorizing Digital Game Audiences
Authors: Gosling Victoria K. , Crawford Garry
Published: May 2010

This article develops and expands on earlier work of the authors, which posits the idea of considering gamers as a (media) audience—enabling parallels to be drawn with wider literatures and debates on audience research and media fan cultures. In particular, drawing on some illustrative examples from qualitative research (funded by the British Academy) into the everyday lives of gamers, this article suggests that the concept of ‘‘scene’’ (borrowed most notably from music fan studies) allows us to understand how gaming and game-related narratives are located within the ordinary and everyday lives of gamers but take on greater significance within certain physical locations.
The Game Body: Toward a Phenomenology of Contemporary Video Gaming
Authors: Crick Timothy
Published: May 2010

Synthesizing research in philosophy and phenomenology, this article offers a sympathetic critique of Vivian Sobchack’s view of digital moving images. Focusing on contemporary first- and third-player video games, it examines how digital imagery inscribes bodily dimensions onto a nonindexical world and the different ways in which we inhabit cinematic and electronic space. More specifically, it draws upon the writings of Maurice Merleau-Ponty to build a phenomenological model of bodies in digital imagery and argues that video gaming is a fully embodied, sensuous, carnal activity.
Narrative Structures in Computer and Video Games: Part 2: Emotions, Structures, and Archetypes
Authors: Ip Barry
Published: May 2010

This second of two articles concludes the examination of narrative in computer and video games. Where appropriate, results are schematically and chronologically presented to illustrate the unique nature of interactive narrative. Despite modern advances in games technology and design, the findings reveal notable gaps in areas such as the use of back stories, cut scenes, narrative structure and content, emotions, and archetypes, all of which may be expanded to offer richer and potentially more believable narratives. The findings from both essays draw attention to three salient aspects warranting greater efforts during the future development of interactive narrative: temporal, depth, and depiction.
Pathways to Politics: How Media System Characteristics Can Influence Socioeconomic Gaps in Political Participation
Authors: Shehata Adam
Published: May 2010

This article addresses a key democratic question that has not been fully answered by political communication research: How do the news media influence gaps in participation between socioeconomic groups? The main purpose is to develop and propose an institutional framework for analyzing how the news media influence participation gaps in different countries. It is argued that past research on media malaise and mobilization effects has not paid attention to the joint influence of two media system characteristics: (1) the strength of media institutions with respect to influencing political participation and (2) the distinctiveness of their population base. European Social Survey data from four democratic corporatist countries are used to analyze both these dimensions of the institutional framework. The results indicate that newspapers and television news might have different influences on participation gaps in these countries, and the findings are discussed in light of the specific media system characteristics of democratic corporatist countries. Finally, some suggestions for future cross-national comparative research based on the proposed institutional framework are discussed.
Danse Macabre: Politicians, Journalists, and the Complicated Rumba of Relationships
Authors: Ross Karen
Published: May 2010

This study aimed to explore the ways politicians characterize and think about the relationships they sustain with journalists, using a case study approach that focuses on the views and attitudes of New Zealand MPs towards members of the Press Gallery and, to a lesser extent, their local and regional news media. Undertaken over a twenty-four-month period, with two fieldwork phases, 62 of 121 MPs were interviewed. The broad findings suggest that MPs are relatively sanguine about their media relationships, recognizing their symbiotic nature, but clear differences emerged in terms of the complexity and friendliness of these relationships. Those differences can be accounted for primarily by way of personal style and preferences, on one hand, and party status and position, on the other: factors such as gender (either of the politician or the journalist) were not significant as determinants of difference, although women were more likely to characterize their relationships as “friendly” compared with men, who tended to use more neutral language such as “collegial.”
Investigation of Collagen Transplants Seeded with Human Autologous Chondrocytes at the Time of Transplantation
Authors: Zwickl Hannes , Niculescu-Morzsa Eugenia , Nehrer Stefan
Published: May 2010

Objective: The treatment of cartilage defects with matrix-embedded autologous chondrocytes is a promising method to support the repair process. In this study we gathered quality parameters of collagen I matrices and embedded autologous chondrocytes at the time of transplantation We determined number, morphology, and distribution of matrix-embedded chondrocytes as well as their synthesis performance concerning sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) and collagen 1A1 and 2A1 mRNA levels. Results: Chondrocytes were equidistantly distributed in the collagen matrices, and cell numbers ranged from 6 to 34 × 104 cells/g wet weight. Significant amounts of sGAG were detected in all of the investigated transplants but did not correlate with the number of cells within the respective transplants. Moreover, collagen I mRNA levels exceeded that of collagen II up to 17-fold. Collagen I and II ratio and sGAG amounts indicated significant interindividual differences of chondrocytes. The variation of transplant-associated sGAG levels could be attributed to the differential biosynthesis performance of chondrocytes. Conclusions: These results confirm the vitality and the chondrocytic phenotype of matrix-embedded cells (CaRes®) with respect to sGAG synthesis. However, chondrocytes showed collagen I mRNA expression partially far exceeding that of collagen II, indicating a rather dedifferentiated cellular status. In addition, sGAG synthesis performance of different patients’ chondrocytes varied significantly. Nevertheless, a 2-year clinical study of chondrocyte-seeded collagen matrices as investigated in this work delivered promising results. However, future studies are planned to determine markers for the regenerative potential of donor chondrocytes.
Repression of Id2 expression by Gfi-1 is required for B-cell and myeloid development
Authors: Li Huajie , Ji Ming , Klarmann Kimberly D. , Keller Jonathan R.
Published: May 2010

The development of mature blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells requires coordinated activities of transcriptional networks. Transcriptional repressor growth factor independence 1 (Gfi-1) is required for the development of B cells, T cells, neutrophils, and for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cell function. However, the mechanisms by which Gfi-1 regulates hematopoiesis and how Gfi-1 integrates into transcriptional networks remain unclear. Here, we provide evidence that Id2 is a transcriptional target of Gfi-1, and repression of Id2 by Gfi-1 is required for B-cell and myeloid development. Gfi-1 binds to 3 conserved regions in the Id2 promoter and represses Id2 promoter activity in transient reporter assays. Increased Id2 expression was observed in multipotent progenitors, myeloid progenitors, T-cell progenitors, and B-cell progenitors in Gfi-1−/− mice. Knockdown of Id2 expression or heterozygosity at the Id2 locus partially rescues the B-cell and myeloid development but not the T-cell development in Gfi-1−/− mice. These studies demonstrate a role of Id2 in mediating Gfi-1 functions in B-cell and myeloid development and provide a direct link between Gfi-1 and the B-cell transcriptional network by its ability to repress Id2 expression.
Death induction by CD99 ligation in TEL/AML1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and normal B cell precursors
Authors: Husak Zvenyslava , Printz Dieter , Schumich Angela , Pötschger Ulrike , Dworzak Michael N
Published: May 2010

Results suggest that CD99 may play a physiologic role in the clonal deletion processes necessary for B-lymphoid selection.

Our study was performed to examine the role of CD99 in normal and leukemia BCPs. CD99 is strongly expressed by certain pediatric cancers including BCP-ALL. Modulation of the antigen in ETs and T cells induces apoptosis, hence implicating CD99 as a potential target for anti-cancer therapy. However, nothing is known about these aspects in BCPs. We investigated BCP-ALL cases and normal BCP cells from pediatric BM for CD99 protein and RNA expression as well as for effects of CD99 modulation by mAb. Immunophenotypes, recovery, apoptosis, and aggregation were assessed. Flow cytometry, light microscopy, and qRT-PCR were used in our experiments. An association of CD99 expression levels with the cytogenetic background of pediatric BCP-ALLs was found. Highest CD99 levels were observed in hyperdiploid, followed by TEL/AML1 and random karyotype leukemias. CD99 ligation moderately induced cell death only in TEL/AML1 cases. Stroma cell contact mitigated this effect. Very immature normal BCPs were the most sensitive to CD99-mediated death induction. Type I CD99 mRNA was the main isoform in ALLs and was expressed differentially during BCP maturation. Our data suggest that clinical targeting of CD99 may be effective in BCP-ALL-bearing TEL/AML1 but also may elicit negative effects on normal B-lymphopoiesis. We consider our results as an indication that CD99 may play a physiologic role in the clonal deletion processes necessary for B-lymphoid selection.
Role of STK in mouse liver macrophage and endothelial cell responsiveness during acute endotoxemia
Authors: Laskin Debra L , Chen Li , Hankey Pamela A , Laskin Jeffrey D
Published: May 2010

Hepatic macrophages and endothelial cells express STK which may function to down-regulate endotoxin-induced inflammatory responses in the liver.

Acute endotoxemia is associated with excessive production of proinflammatory mediators by hepatic macrophages and endothelial cells, which have been implicated in liver injury and sepsis. In these studies, we analyzed the role of MSP and its receptor STK in regulating the activity of these cells. Acute endotoxemia, induced by administration of LPS (3 mg/kg) to mice, resulted in increased expression of STK mRNA and protein in liver macrophages and endothelial cells, an effect that was dependent on TLR-4. This was correlated with decreased MSP and increased pro-MSP in serum. In Kupffer cells, but not endothelial cells, MSP suppressed LPS-induced NOS-2 expression, with no effect on COX-2. LPS treatment of mice caused a rapid (within 3 h) increase in the proinflammatory proteins NOS-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α, as well as TREM-1 and TREM-3 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in liver macropahges and endothelial cells. Whereas LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory proteins was unchanged in STK−/− mice, IL-10 expression was reduced significantly. Enzymes mediating eicosanoid biosynthesis including COX-2 and mPGES-1 also increased in macrophages and endothelial cells after LPS administration. In STK−/− mice treated with LPS, mPGES-1 expression increased, although COX-2 expression was reduced. LPS-induced up-regulation of SOD was also reduced in STK−/− mice in liver macrophages and endothelial cells. These data suggest that MSP/STK signaling plays a role in up-regulating macrophage and endothelial cell anti-inflammatory activity during hepatic inflammatory responses. This may be important in protecting the liver from tissue injury.
INDEXING POLITICAL Persuasion: VARIATION IN THEIRAQVOWELS
Authors: Hall-Lew Lauren , Coppock Elizabeth , Starr Rebecca L.
Published: May 2010

To determine whether phonological variables are a potential resource for the expression of political identity, this article examines the second vowel of Iraq. In addition to being part of a politically significant place-name, Iraq is particularly well-suited to index political identity due in part to the ideological association between the “foreign (a)” variable with correctness and educatedness in U.S. English (Boberg 1997). Specifically, Iraq's second vowel appears to index political conservatism when produced as /æ/ and political liberalism when produced as /a:/. Results from an analysis of the U.S. House of Representatives show that Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to use /æ/, even controlling for regional accent.
Can a health forecasting service offer COPD patients a novel way to manage their condition?
Authors: Marno Penny , Chalder Melanie , Laing-Morton Tish , Levy Mark , Sachon Patrick , Halpin David
Published: May 2010

Objectives:

The UK Meteorological Office (Met Office) has developed a health forecasting service for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, combining a rule-based model predicting risk based on environmental conditions with an anticipatory care intervention providing information on self-management and warnings via an interactive telephone call. Our aim was to explore the acceptability and utility of such a service to patients with COPD and its perceived impact on their behaviour and disease management.

Methods:

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of service users drawn from 189 general practices in England, Scotland and Wales at the end of the winter of 2007/8.

Results:

Completed questionnaires were received from 3288 COPD patients, representing a response rate of 40%. Eighty-five percent of those returning a questionnaire reported at least one exacerbation during the study period and 8% had been admitted to hospital on one occasion or more. The majority of respondents deemed the information pack (comprising a booklet and thermometers) useful while the automated calls were generally said to be convenient, easy to understand and reassuring. Those less satisfied with the service felt they were already sufficiently aware of the prevailing weather conditions or felt more detailed information was needed. Most benefit was reported by those patients who were willing to be pro-active in the management of their condition, with the service encouraging 36% of respondents to seek a repeat prescription, 28% to reread their information pack and 12% to consult their GP for worsening of symptoms.

Conclusions:

Patients found the automated interactive calling, combined with a health risk forecast, both viable and useful, welcoming the information and tools it offered. In many cases, it added to patients’ understanding of their illness and promoted better self-management. Future research should focus on the potential impact of the service in terms of health outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Patient opinion
Authors: Wright Kath , Light Kate , Stirk Lisa
Published: May 2010

A number of websites now offer patients the opportunity to give their opinion on the quality of the health services they have received. These comments and criticisms can offer a valuable alternative source of information to that provided by quantitative websites. Patient views and experiences can also provide the impetus for providers to improve the quality of their services. This edition of ‘What's on the web’ collects together and compares some of these websites.

If you would like to alert readers to useful web pages or suggest topics for this column, please send details to:
Getting a Bonus: Social Networks, Performance, and Reward Among Commercial Bankers
Authors: Mizruchi Mark S. , Stearns Linda Brewster , Fleischer Anne
Published: May 2010

Research on the effects of social networks on individual status attainment has exploded in recent years, but the results remain equivocal, varying across network structures, types of ties, and outcome variables. The focus in this literature has been on two primary outcomes: performance benefits and rewards (including promotion and compensation). These two types of outcomes have often been conflated, however, despite the fact that high levels of one do not guarantee high levels of the other. We examined the effects of job performance, network tie strength, and network structures on the size of the year-end bonuses received by 71 relationship officers in a major, multinational commercial bank. We found that in networks based on information acquisition, both strong ties and sparse networks are positively associated with high bonuses, as is the combination of the two. In networks based on approval and support for one's deals, neither tie strength nor density predicts bonus size, but the benefits of strong ties increase as network density increases. Our results demonstrate the importance of distinguishing networks based on collegial relations from those based on authority, as well as the importance of distinguishing the network factors that improve performance from those that generate favorable evaluations independent of performance.
Location, Decentralization, and Knowledge Sources for Innovation
Authors: Leiponen Aija , Helfat Constance E.
Published: May 2010

When firms seek to innovate, they must decide where to locate their innovation activity. This location choice requires firms to make a simultaneous choice about the organizational structure of innovation activity: almost by definition, multiple locations per firm imply some degree of decentralization. We compare predictions of the knowledge-based view with the predictions of organizational economics regarding the location and decentralization of R&D. Using firm-level data on R&D locations in Finland, we examine the conditions under which firms with multiple R&D locations also have greater innovation output. Our results indicate that multilocation of R&D activity is positively associated with imitative innovation output and is strongly correlated with greater external knowledge sourcing. We also find that the positive association between multiple R&D locations and innovative output does not apply to new-to-the-market innovations. The results are consistent with the interpretation that multilocation of R&D enables firms to access a broad set of external sources of knowledge in pursuit of imitative rather than new-to-the market innovation. Moreover, these findings imply heterogeneity in R&D strategies between firms pursuing new-to-the-market innovation and firms pursuing imitative innovation. It is thus important to distinguish between new-to-the-market and imitative innovations, because their determinants may differ.
Decision making on ambiguous stimuli such as prosody by subjects suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, alcohol dependence, and without psychiatric diagnosis
Authors: Fabiańczyk Karol
Published: May 2010

The aim of this study is the empirical verification of the Bayesian approach applied to the description of the decision‐making process with regard to prosodic stimuli in different psychopathological states. Using the Bayesian formalism, the interpretation of a disturbance in internal representation of the contextual information in schizophrenia was given. The results obtained satisfied the formula derived from Bayes' theorem in all tested except a schizophrenic group. Results were interpreted as reflecting cognitive flexibility, and discussed in the context of social adaptation. Although the investigation was based on psychopathological grounds, the results may be applied to the functioning of working memory in general.
He‐said–she‐said: Contrast effects in credibility assessments and possible threats to fundamental principles of criminal law
Authors: Connolly Deborah A. , Gordon Heidi M.
Published: May 2010

Purpose. Some criminal trials turn on evaluations of credibility of the complainant and the accused. When credibility is based on how a witness testifies, an evaluation of one party should not influence an evaluation of the other party. If credibility evaluations are bidirectional, fundamental principles of criminal law may be offended.

Methods. Six hundred and thirty seven undergraduates read a vignette that described a sexual assault (SA) or a motor vehicle accident (MVA). Karen, the complainant in the SA case and bystander witness in the MVA case, was described as 5, 13, or 20 years old. The vignette was a summary of the police investigation and, in three conditions, the trial. Trial information was manipulated in one of three ways: no information concerning how Karen testified, Karen's testimony was described positively (pro‐prosecution), or described negatively (anti‐prosecution). Participants then rated the perceived credibility of Karen and the accused (Bob) and the probability that Bob was guilty.

Results. Karen was viewed more positively in the pro‐prosecution condition and more negatively in the anti‐prosecution. When Karen was judged to be less credible, Bob was rated as more credible and less likely to be guilty. When Karen was seen as more credible, Bob was viewed as more likely to be guilty.

Conclusions. This bidirectional effect that the manner in which the prosecution witness testified affected perceptions of the accused and probability of guilt, in certain circumstances, may compromise fundamental principles of criminal law and be a reversible error. We offer possible solutions for future empirical testing.
Ruthenium release from fuel in accident conditions
Authors: Brillant Guillaume , Marchetto C. , Plumecocq W.
Published: May 2010

During a hypothetical nuclear power plant accident, fission products may be released from the fuel matrix and then reach the containment building and the environment. Ruthenium is a very hazardous fission product that can be highly and rapidly released in some accident scenarios. The impact of the atmosphere redox properties, temperature, and fuel burn-up on the ruthenium release is discussed. In order to improve the evaluation of the radiological impact by accident codes, a model of the ruthenium release from fuel is proposed using thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. In addition, a model of fuel oxidation under air is described. Finally, these models have been integrated in the ASTEC accident code and validation calculations have been performed on several experimental tests.
First-Principles Calculation of Electronic Excitations in Solids with SPEX
Authors: Schindlmayr Arno , Friedrich Christoph , Sasioglu Ersoy , Blügel Stefan
Published: May 2010

We describe the software package SPEX, which allows first-principles calculations of quasiparticle and collective electronic excitations in solids using techniques from many-body perturbation theory. The implementation is based on the full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method, which treats core and valence electrons on an equal footing and can be applied to a wide range of materials, including transition metals and rare earths. After a discussion of essential features that contribute to the high numerical efficiency of the code, we present illustrative results for quasiparticle band structures calculated within the GW approximation for the electronic self-energy, electron-energy-loss spectra with inter- and intraband transitions as well as local-field effects, and spin-wave spectra of itinerant ferromagnets. In all cases the inclusion of many-body correlation terms leads to very good quantitative agreement with experimental spectroscopies.
Adaptive Methods in Quantum Chemistry
Authors: Flad Heinz-Jürgen , Rohwedder Thorsten , Schneider Reinhold
Published: May 2010

In this article, we summarize the results of our numerical analysis for various adaptive schemes in electronic structure calculations. Starting from a general form of iterative schemes used in quantum chemistry, we discuss miscellaneous features which are of importance when passing to an adaptive version of an algorithm in order to provide rigorous estimates. The key features are maintainance of convergence under small perturbations while keeping control of the computational complexity.As a prototype for correlation methods, we consider the configuration interaction (CI) method and discuss a quasi-optimal algorithm for computation of the ground state energy. Our analysis of the coupled cluster method shows that various properties of the CI method can be transferred hereunto as well. First numerical examples demonstrate the potential of the coupled cluster residual, measured in a norm on the dual space, as an error estimator. These studies are supplemented by our result for the best N-term approximation of electron-pair correlations by wavelets.For Hartree-Fock and Kohn-Sham methods, we discuss our results of the convergence analysis for a direct minimization scheme, the best N-term approximation of orbitals and s
*-compressibility of the Fock operator which altogether may serve as a basis for an adaptive version of these methods.
Security, the State, and the Citizen: The Changing Architecture of Crime Control
Authors: Zedner Lucia
Published: May 2010

Citizenship has become a buzz word of political discourse and policy formation. Recent formulations convey the message that rights are contingent on earning membership in a political community and carry corresponding responsibilities. Acquiring citizenship entails a more rigorous process of validation and conformity with prescribed norms. The notion of probationary citizenship (developed in respect of immigrants) is extended to all those whose standing as full citizens is in doubt. Citizenship comes to be used as a means of policing and a tool of the criminal law. Assertion of the state's duty to provide security for bona fide citizens provides the rationale for measures that are preemptive, exclusionary, and pay scant regard to procedural proprieties. They create a caste of outlaws and aliens whose status renders them suspect aside from any wrongdoing; whose interests are compromised in the name of protecting the public; and who must requalify to enjoy full citizenship. One means of resisting these trends is adherence to a liberal model of the criminal law and assertion of due process protections as security rights for all individuals against the state.
Superposição de atribuições e autonomia técnica entre enfermeiras da Estratégia Saúde da Família
Authors: Feliciano Katia Virginia de Oliveira , Kovacs Maria Helena , Sarinho Silvia Wanick
Published: May 2010

OBJETIVO: Compreender como enfermeiras da Estratégia Saúde da Família vivem a superposição de atribuições e construção da autonomia técnica. PROCEDIMENTOS METODOLÓGICOS: Pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 22 enfermeiras em Recife, PE, entre agosto de 2005 e novembro de 2006. A partir de avaliação da gerência (acesso geográfico, conflitos na equipe, entre equipe e distrito, entre equipe e comunidade e violência pública na área), em cada um dos seis distritos sanitários foram selecionadas quatro equipes. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os principais temas no roteiro referiram-se a expectativas e relevância do trabalho, organização e processo de trabalho e sentimentos sobre as práticas. Os resultados foram interpretados sob a perspectiva do burnout. ANÁLISE DOS RESULTADOS: Foi recorrente a opinião das enfermeiras sobre número excessivo de famílias, suporte organizacional insuficiente e pressões advindas de demandas insatisfeitas dos usuários. A sobreposição de assistência e administração provocou sobrecarga, gerando ansiedade, impotência, frustração e sentimento de ser injustiçada na divisão de tarefas na equipe. A dimensão clínica da prática motivou insegurança de natureza técnica e ética, além de satisfação pelo poder e prestígio conquistados pela categoria profissional. A formação médica especializada representou um obstáculo para concretizar a interdependência da autonomia e responsabilidade. Foram relatados estresse, insatisfação, adoecimento físico e mental, reconhecimento da relevância do trabalho e importância do próprio desempenho e baixo envolvimento laboral. CONCLUSÕES: Diante da falta de expectativa de mudanças em curto prazo, a sobreposição de baixa realização profissional e esgotamento provocam atitudes negativas, indicando a importância da promoção da saúde para ampliar a possibilidade de interferência e mudança nas condições de trabalho.
Chemical treatment of post-harvest Marandu grass seed residues with different moisture contents
Authors: Roth Marcella de Toledo Piza , Reis Ricardo Andrade , Resende Flávio Dutra de , Siqueira Gustavo Rezende , Pires Aureliano José Vieira , Bertipaglia Liandra Maria Abaker
Published: May 2010

The objective of this was to evaluate the effect of chemical treatments with urea (3 or 5% DM) and anhydrous ammonia (3% DM) applied to the post-harvest hay residues of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu that contained different moisture contents (15, 25 or 30%). A randomized block design was used with eight treatments and four replications (defined as the bale layers within the hay stacks). The hay treated with 3% anhydrous ammonia and 15% moisture content reduced the levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from 84.3 to 79.1% and increased the in vitro digestibility of the dry matter (DM) from 37.3 to 55.5% compared to the control group. The variation in the moisture content did not significantly alter the action of ammonia, with mean values of 77.6% NDF and 57.3% in vitro digestibility of DM. The hay with 5% urea reduces the NDF content from 84.3 to 79.6% compared to the untreated hay, so the hay moisture content has to be increased to 30% to achieve a greater effect on the DM digestibility, which subsequently increases by 12 percentage units.
Enhanced LH action in transgenic female mice expressing hCGβ-subunit induces pituitary prolactinomas; the role of high progesterone levels
Authors: Ahtiainen Petteri , Sharp Victoria , Rulli Susana B , Rivero-Müller Adolfo , Mamaeva Veronika , Röyttä Matias , Huhtaniemi Ilpo
Published: May 2010

The etiology of pituitary adenomas remains largely unknown, with the exception of involvement of estrogens in the formation of prolactinomas. We have examined the molecular pathogenesis of prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas in transgenic female mice expressing the human choriongonadotropin (hCG) β-subunit. The LH/CG bioactivity is elevated in the mice, with consequent highly stimulated ovarian progesterone (P4) production, in the face of normal estrogen secretion. Curiously, despite normal estrogen levels, large prolactinomas developed in these mice, and we provide here several lines of evidence that the elevated P4 levels are involved in the growth of these estrogen-dependent tumors. The antiprogestin mifepristone inhibited tumor growth, and combined postgonadectomy estradiol/P4 treatment was more effective than estrogen alone in inducing tumor growth. Evidence for direct growth-promoting effect of P4 was obtained from cultures of primary mouse pituitary cells and rat somatomammotroph GH3 cells. The mouse tumors and cultured cells revealed stimulation of the cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase 4/retinoblastoma protein/transcription factor E2F1 pathway in the growth response to P4. If extrapolated to humans, and given the importance of endogenous P4 and synthetic progestins in female reproductive functions and their pharmacotherapy, it is relevant to revisit the potential role of these hormones in the origin and growth of prolactinomas.