bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-Term and Long-Term Risk of Incident Ischemic Stroke After Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Thacker Evan L. , Wiggins Kerri L. , Rice Kenneth M. , Longstreth W.T. , Bis Joshua C. , Dublin Sascha , Smith Nicholas L. , Heckbert Susan R. , Psaty Bruce M.
Published: December 2009

Background and Purpose—

The relative risk of ischemic stroke associated with transient ischemic attack (TIA) is not well defined because most studies of stroke after TIA did not include comparison groups. We sought to estimate short-term and long-term relative risks of ischemic stroke associated with clinically diagnosed TIA.

Methods—

We used data from a population-based case-control study. Cases were hypertensive men and women and postmenopausal women, ages 30 to 79, with incident ischemic stroke. Control subjects were sampled within strata of age, sex, hypertension status, and calendar year. The index date was the stroke date for cases and a random date for control subjects. Clinically diagnosed TIA was ascertained from medical records. We used logistic regression to calculate ORs.

Results—

The study included 1914 stroke cases and 9874 control subjects. Clinically diagnosed TIA was present in 215 (11.2%) cases and 252 (2.5%) control subjects. Analyses focused on the most recent TIA before the index date. For TIA <1 month before the index date, the adjusted OR for stroke was 30.4 (95% CI, 10.4 to 89.4); for TIA 1 to 3 months before the index date, it was 18.9 (8.58 to 41.6); for TIA 4 to 6 months before the index date, it was 3.16 (1.27 to 7.82); and for TIA >5 years before the index date, it was 1.87 (1.22 to 2.85).

Conclusions—

The relative risk of ischemic stroke was high for TIA diagnosed within the past 3 months and moderately high for TIA diagnosed >5 years in the past compared with no history of clinically diagnosed TIA.
Induced Miscarriage in Early Mālikī and Hanafī Fiqh
Authors: Eich Thomas
Published: December 2009

This article traces the manner in which Mālikī and Hanafī jurists in the first six centuries AH arrived at their respective legal assessments of induced miscarriage. Each madhhab developed its own interpretation of embryogenesis, based on Q. 5:95 and Q. 65:4, and, therefore, its own distinctive position on induced miscarriage: The Mālikīs hold for legal relevance from the moment of conception, while the Hanafīs hold for legal relevance at a later stage of embryological development. This difference was also caused by different opinions on ways to legally establish that a miscarriage was induced. Finally, the question of ensoulment, which became widespread in Islamic legal reasoning on induced miscarriage only after the 2nd/8th century, was linked to the Hanafī position that induced miscarriage is not punishable until the 120th day following conception.
Notes on the Term Mutawātir and its Reception in Hadīth Criticism
Authors: Hansu Hüseyin
Published: December 2009

In the Islamic theory of knowledge, reports about past events are accepted as the most important source of religious knowledge. They are classified as mutawātir and āhād according to their epistemic value. Mutawātir reports are used by theologians and jurists to establish the truth of prophecy and the validity of all transmitted knowledge. This category of reports was not compiled in specific collections by the hadīth scholars, since they were widely known and commonly accepted as sound. Outside the mutawātir category, however, hadīth scholars did collect the āhād hadīths that serve as the basis of religious practice. Beginning in the 9th/15th century, some hadīth experts tried to apply the usūlī understanding of tawātur to hadīths that were considered to be āhād. These new attempts led to some vagueness and ambiguities in the scholarly understanding of the concept. In this essay, I argue that the classification of reports as either mutawātir or āhād began as an epistemological exercise in the fields of theology (kalām) and legal methodology (usūl al-fiqh); and I outline the process by which the concept of mutawātir was applied to the hadīth corpus and the problems to which this gave rise.
Groundwork of the Moral Law: A New Look at the Qur'ān and the Genesis of Sharī'a
Authors: Hallaq Wael
Published: December 2009

By reevaluating modernist assumptions in Islamicist scholarship and in Western moral and legal philosophy, I arrive at the conclusion that the Qur'ān was a source of Islamic law since the early Meccan period, when the Prophet Muhammad began to receive the Revelation. This conclusion, supported by extensive evidence from the Qur'ān itself, compels a modification in the standard narrative about the genesis of Islamic law.
Beyond State and Peasant: The Egalitarian Import of Juristic Revisions of Agrarian and Administrative Contracts in the Early Mamlūk Period
Authors: Ibrahim Bilal
Published: December 2009

In this article I argue that Shāfi'ī and Hanbalī jurists forged an agricultural policy beginning in the early Mamlūk period that aimed at securing the rights of peasants. They did so by introducing radical and systematic changes in the doctrines of their schools, applying the highest categories of legal reasoning (ijtihād). An analysis of Shāfi'ī and Hanbalī legal texts reveals that jurists advanced new interpretations of contracts of sharecropping and iqtā' that systematically promoted the interests of landless peasants over the elite. The legal revisions were predicated on developments in the land assignment/taxation system of the early 8th/14th century. Ultimately, the jurists' strategy exploited state innovations in the interest of advancing social and economic objectives that were independent of any centralized political authority or state institution.
Policy Uncertainty in Hybrid Regimes: Evidence From Firm-Level Surveys
Authors: Kenyon Thomas , Naoi Megumi
Published: December 2009

Cross-national surveys suggest that regulatory and policy uncertainty is an important constraint on investment in developing countries. Yet there has been little direct empirical investigation of the sources of this uncertainty. This article presents evidence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between firms’ perceptions of policy uncertainty and political regime type. Firms in hybrid regimes report higher levels of concern over policy uncertainty than those in either more authoritarian regimes or liberal established democracies. The authors argue that the explanation lies with a combination of polarized political competition and limited access to credible information and test their theory using survey data of around 10,000 firms from the World Bank—European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey from 27 postcommunist countries and five Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Methodologically, the authors propose a means of controlling for reporting and suppression biases in these surveys when an anchoring vignette is not available.
The Effect of Active Versus Passive Training Strategies on Improving Older Drivers’ Scanning in Intersections
Authors: Romoser Matthew R. E. , Fisher Donald L.
Published: December 2009

Objective: This study aimed (a) to determine whether older drivers looked less often for potential threats while turning than younger drivers and (b) to compare the effectiveness of active and passive training on older drivers’ performance and evaluation of their driving skills in intersections. Background: Age-related declines in vision, physical abilities, psychomotor coordination, and cognition combine to make it less likely that older drivers will look for potential threats during a turn. Research suggests that active training should be an effective means of improving older drivers’ performance and self-awareness. Method: In Experiment 1, younger and older participants drove a series of virtual intersection scenarios, were shown video replays, and were provided feedback. In Experiment 2, older drivers were assigned to one of three cohorts: active simulator training, passive classroom training, or no training. Pre- and posttraining simulator and field drives assessed training effectiveness. Results: In Experiment 1, older drivers looked less often during turns than younger drivers. Customized feedback was successful in altering drivers’ perception of their abilities. In Experiment 2, active training increased a driver’s probability of looking for a threat during a turn by nearly 100% in both posttraining simulator and field drives. Those receiving passive training or no training showed no improvement. Conclusion: Compared with passive training, active training is a more effective strategy for increasing older drivers’ likelihood of looking for threats during a turn. Application: The results of this research can guide the development of programs that could reduce intersection crashes among older drivers.
Institutional explanations for managers’ attitudes towards telehomeworking
Authors: Peters Pascale , Heusinkveld Stefan
Published: December 2009

Building on recent research that stresses the important role of managers in the adoption process of telehomeworking, or telecommuting, this study examines the influence of the institutional context on managers’ attitude formation. Drawing on large-scale survey data from 96 CEOs and 380 HR managers in Dutch organizations, we show that normative and mimetic pressures affect managers’ beliefs, which are reflected in their perceptions of the relative (dis)advantage of telehomeworking. We also find that the perceived improvements of work outcomes and perceived social costs/benefits vary among managers from different ‘occupational communities’. CEOs’ beliefs are more susceptible to mimetic pressures, while HR managers’ attitudes towards telehomeworking are positively fed by pressures from their occupational community. These findings support the view that current debates on work—life initiatives’ diffusion and organizational changes in relation to these initiatives should pay much more attention to the importance of the institutional environment and managers’ subcultures.
Impacts of the Financial and Economic Crisis on Tourism in Asia
Authors: Song Haiyan , Lin Shanshan
Published: December 2009

The purpose of this study is to forecast inbound tourism to Asia and outbound tourism from Asia by considering the possible impacts of the current financial and economic crisis. The autoregressive distributed lag model is used to calculate the interval demand elasticities, which are then used to generate interval forecasts for inbound tourism to and outbound tourism from Asia. Interval forecasts reduce the risk of complete forecasting failure arising from the uncertainties associated with the crisis. The forecast results suggest that the financial and economic crisis will have a negative impact on both inbound and outbound tourism in Asia but the demand will rebound from 2010.
Impacts of the World Recession and Economic Crisis on Tourism: Forecasts and Potential Risks
Authors: Smeral Egon
Published: December 2009

In the face of the world recession, this article concentrates on analyzing and forecasting demand for outbound traveling in Australia, Canada, United States, Japan, and the EU-15 countries in terms of tourism imports at constant prices and exchange rates. Drawing on an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of the global recession and its impact on tourism demand for outbound traveling, the article develops forecasts for the period from 2009 to 2010. For 2010, two scenarios are created to project demand for foreign travel. The study is rounded off by a discussion of forecast uncertainties and open questions.
Impacts of the World Recession and Economic Crisis on Tourism: North America
Authors: Ritchie J. R. Brent , Amaya Molinar Carlos Mario , Frechtling Douglas C.
Published: December 2009

This article has been prepared as part of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism’s initiative to provide a better understanding of the impact that the economic crisis of 2008-2009 has had, is having, and will have on the well-being and performance of the global tourism industry. More specifically, it seeks to serve as an information “backgrounder” for the North American components of the study. As such, it provides a concise assessment of the current and evolving status of the tourism sector in each of the three countries in North America. Information on Canada was drawn from data provided by Statistics Canada, the country’s centralized government-funded statistical agency, as well as information bulletins issued by the Canadian Tourism Commission. Information on Mexico was drawn from a number of official reports prepared by several government agencies. Information on tourism in the United States was assembled primarily from available data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis from their U.S. Travel and Tourism Satellite Account system. In summary, the present backgrounder reveals that tourism in Canada and the United States has been, and is being, affected by the current economic crisis, and it appears likely that it will be further affected in the near future. In contrast, tourism in Mexico has been affected more directly and to a much greater extent by the swine flu pandemic, exchange rates, and weather conditions than by the economic crisis itself.
“The Superorganic,” or Kroeber’s Hidden Agenda
Authors: Verdon Michel
Published: December 2009

Kroeber’s “The Superorganic” (1917) stands as the first extreme statement of cultural holism. Some have compared it to Durkheim, the majority to Boas; some have denied any evolutionary message, others read in it a theory of “emergent evolution” arising from his transcendental holism. What was it, exactly? When understood as part of a trilogy comprising two other articles (one from 1915, the other from 1919), it emerged that his extreme brand of cultural holism was a necessary tool to carry out a relatively hidden evolutionary agenda. This led me to rethink his evolutionism, to deny that he was a cultural determinist, to understand this part of his anthropology in terms of “epistemological obstacles” (Bachelard 1938), and show that it reemerges in Appadurai’s understanding of globalization (1996).
SEMModComp: An R Package for Calculating Likelihood Ratio Tests for Mean and Covariance Structure Models
Authors: Levy Roy
Published: December 2009

SEMModComp, a software package for conducting likelihood ratio tests for mean and covariance structure modeling is described. The package is written in R and freely available for download or on request.
A Structural Equation Model Using Fluency-Based Early Literacy Measures to Predict Emerging Reading Ability in Kindergarten
Authors: Burke Mack D. , Hagan-Burke Shanna , Zou Yuanyuan , Kwok Oiman
Published: December 2009

The reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has initiated changes that are affecting early literacy assessment, and it has prompted the growing use of measures that incorporate phonological and alphabetic fluency. However, the question of how phonological and alphabetic fluency can inhibit (or promote) reading acquisition in kindergarten has received sparse attention. This study investigated phonological and alphabetic fluency as a predictor of emerging reading ability in kindergarten. Results indicated that a three-construct structural equation model could be developed. Moreover, an alphabetic construct, as formed from sublexical fluency measures administered at the middle of kindergarten, fully mediated the relationship between phonological fluency and end-of-year emerging reading ability. Implications are discussed in the context of reading acquisition.
Does Tax Increment Financing Deliver on Its Promise of Jobs? The Impact of Tax Increment Financing on Municipal Employment Growth
Authors: Byrne Paul F.
Published: December 2009

Increasingly, municipal leaders justify their use of tax increment financing (TIF) by touting its role in improving municipal employment. However, empirical studies on TIF have primarily examined TIF’s impact on property values, ignoring the claim that serves as the primary justification for its use. This article addresses the claim by examining the impact of TIF adoption on municipal employment growth in Illinois, looking for both general impact and impact specific to the type of development supported. Results find no general impact of TIF use on employment. However, findings suggest that TIF districts supporting industrial development may have a positive effect on municipal employment, whereas TIF districts supporting retail development have a negative effect on municipal employment. These results are consistent with industrial TIF districts capturing employment that would have otherwise occurred outside of the adopting municipality and retail TIF districts shifting employment within the municipality to more labor-efficient retailers within the TIF district.
Idea Cellular’s Acquisition of Spice Telecom
Authors: Srinivasan R.
Published: December 2009

The case discusses the antecedents before the merger between Idea Cellular Ltd and Spice Telecom. It describes the evolution, fast growth and structure of the Indian mobile telecommunications industry; provides a brief profile of the firms involved; describes the merger/deal and highlights the issues involved (especially regulatory) in completing the merger. Idea Cellular Ltd., part of the diversified Aditya V. Birla Group, had announced its intent to acquire Spice Telecom, an independent mobile services company that was operating in two circles—Punjab and Karnataka, but held licenses in multiple circles. As part of the deal, TMI (a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia) swapped its stake in Spice Telecom to acquire stake in Idea Cellular. However, the regulator, Department of Telecommunications (DOT) raised objections on the merger citing the revised M&A guidelines that restricted a company from owning more than a 10 per cent stake in two licenses in the same circles. This case provides learners with opportunities to (a) appreciate the complementarities of the M&A intent of all the firms involved and (b) analyze the deal structure and critically evaluate the options before the two companies in addressing the DOT objections.
Wal-Mart’s Environmental Strategy
Authors: Nandagopal R. , R.N. Ajith Sankar
Published: December 2009

The case looks into the evolution of environmental strategy at Wal-Mart. From being an organization that was the target of extensive public criticism due to a number of its corporate policies, Wal-Mart emerged as one of the most talked about green organizations of the world. The case tries to explain the green initiatives undertaken by the company that resulted in the company gaining acclaim. The case explains the impact of Wal-Mart’s green strategy and also factors like leadership and strategy alignment that contributed to its success.
Polo Lounge—The Restaurant in a Colonial Setting
Authors: Butt Arif N. , Hemani Shezeen
Published: December 2009

The case study focuses on the start-up decision of the entrepreneurial venture pursued by (two women’ Hina Khar and Aasma Ramday. The young women entrepreneurs are confident about their idea to open a restaurant and also have adequate resources to pursue their venture. However, they are apprehensive regarding their lack of experience in managing a restaurant business. Furthermore, they are also concerned about the fact that the restaurant is based on a novel concept and will be located away from the hub of the main eateries in the city. Therefore, prior to finalizing their decision, the two entrepreneurs want to ensure that all risk factors are meticulously analyzed and a thorough business plan is formulated to minimize the risks inherent in the new venture.
Evaluating Innovations in the Delivery and Organization of Endoscopy Services in England and Wales
Authors: Rapport Frances , Jerzembek Gabi , Seagrove Anne , Hutchings Hayley , Russell Ian , Cheung Wai-Yee , Williams John G.
Published: December 2009

This article presents four focus groups conducted with health professionals, part of a mixed-method evaluation of modernization of endoscopy services in England catalyzed by the UK National Health Service Modernisation Agency. Transcripts were analyzed adapting van Manen’s “sententious” or “wholistic” approach to thematic analysis. Seven analysts worked to distil lengthy transcripts into summative paragraphs to capture the essentiality of text. Five major themes emerged: lack of senior management understanding and appropriate management systems, inadequate resources, loss of personal autonomy and erosion of professionalism, barriers and facilitators to change, and differences between English and Welsh units—the Welsh perspective . Achieving long-lasting, positive effects of modernization within complex systems demands senior management to actively support innovations, consider staff morale, and provide appropriate levels of funding. However, although professional morale was low, ambition to improve services was strong. The methodological framework offered a comprehensive and applicable approach to data analysis, and our analysis approach was inclusive and collaborative, with far-reaching possibilities for experimental studies and large-scale, mixed-method studies, including trials.
Research With Vulnerable Families Caring for Children With Life-Limiting Conditions
Authors: Stevens Michael M. , Lord Bruce A. , Proctor Marie-Thérèse , Nagy Sue , O'Riordan Elizabeth
Published: December 2009

Methodological challenges associated with sensitive research, such as research with vulnerable families, have been well described, but there are few examples of how such challenges have been addressed in specific projects. To help address this gap, we describe how we designed and conducted a qualitative study of 91 members of 29 families caring for children or young people with life-limiting conditions. Although some issues associated with researching sensitive topics were anticipated, others were encountered that were not expected. We discuss insights gained from this study in relation to factors that influence effectiveness of recruitment, the quality of data collection, and the safety of participants and researchers.
Male and Female College Students’ College Majors
Authors: Larson Lisa M. , Wu Tsui-Feng , Bailey Donna C. , Borgen Fred H. , Gasser Courtney E.
Published: December 2009

The first purpose was to determine if overall gender differences in basic confidence as measured by the Expanded Skills Confidence Inventory (ESCI) and basic interests as measured by the 2005 Strong Interest Inventory (SII) would be present within eight college major families. As expected, anticipated overall gender differences in confidence and interests concerning realistic and conventional activities were visible within the major families as well. The second purpose was to determine whether basic domains of confidence and interests would differentially discriminate among the eight major families differentially for 171 male and 176 female college students. When confidence and interests were examined separately, the set of confidence predictors and the set of interest predictors significantly differentiated among college majors for both men and women. When confidence and interests were combined together as two sets of predictors, the hit rate was a significant improvement over the hit rate for the confidence set of predictors alone for both women and men. As anticipated, group centroids and structure matrices varied across men and women.
Individualism-Collectivism
Authors: Hartung Paul J. , Fouad Nadya A. , Leong Frederick T. L. , Hardin Erin E.
Published: December 2009

Individualism-collectivism (IC) constitutes a cultural variable thought to influence a wide variety of variables including career planning and decision making. To examine this possibility, college students (216 women, 106 men, 64% racial-ethnic minorities) responded to measures of IC, occupational plans, and work values. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results indicated significant main effects for gender and race. Men, more so than women, endorsed vertical individualism (VI)—a cultural pattern characterized by independence and dominance—and intrinsic work values. African Americans expressed more fit of their occupational plans with personal goals and endorsed extrinsic work values more than did European Americans. A hypothesized inverse relationship between collectivism and consistency of occupational plans with personal goals was not supported. Hypothesized positive relationships between collectivism and work values stressing relationship and interdependence were supported, whereas expected inverse relationships between collectivism and work values emphasizing independence and personal gain were not supported. Findings are discussed in terms of acculturation issues, career assessment implications, and future research directions.
Specific and Diversive Career Exploration During Late Adolescence
Authors: Porfeli Erik J. , Skorikov Vladimir B.
Published: December 2009

The exploration literature suggests that career exploration may be separated into two distinct forms. Diversive career exploration involves learning broadly about the world of work and the self, whereas specific career exploration involves an in-depth investigation focused on aligning one’s perceptions of self and career prospects. The goal of the current study was to validate the structure of career exploration over time as being composed of diversive and specific forms. The study was conducted on a diverse sample of 308 college and work-bound youth, 19—22 years old, who were assessed annually three times. Structural equation modeling was used to test a longitudinal measurement model and the structural relationships corresponding to the noted distinction between the forms of exploration. Associations between exploration and several additional indicators of career development were further assessed. The results support the theoretically derived distinction between diversive and specific career exploration and demonstrate that they are differentially linked to career indecision, confidence, and planning. Implications for research and practice are offered in light of the results.
Emotional Intelligence and Decisional Conflict Styles
Authors: Di Fabio Annamaria , Blustein David L.
Published: December 2009

This study assessed the relationship between emotional intelligence and decisional conflict styles. Five hundred and twenty-eight Italian high school students (median age = 18; SD = .76) were given the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (MDMQ) and the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory: short (Bar-On EQ-i:S). The Intrapersonal dimension of emotional intelligence emerged as the best inverse predictor of nonadaptive styles, whereas the Adaptability dimension was the best predictor of the adaptive style of vigilance; the Interpersonal dimension of emotional intelligence was associated with the nonadaptive styles. The results provide an in-depth look at the relationship between the emotional intelligence construct and the decisional conflict styles, yielding new areas of research, assessment, and intervention.
Vocational Interests and Prospective College Majors Among Youth of Color in Poverty
Authors: Diemer Matthew A. , Wang Qiu , Smith Aaron V.
Published: December 2009

A clear sense of vocational interests may facilitate high school students’ capacity to connect current interests to congruent educational and occupational environments. This is particularly important for youth who experience external constraints on career development and college attendance. This study examined how well vocational interests, operationalized as greater differentiation and strength of interests, predict congruent prospective college majors among high school—aged youth of color in poverty. Multiple regression analyses suggested that vocational interests significantly predicted congruent majors for samples of American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/ Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, and Latino/Latina youth. This study suggests that vocational interests may help marginalized youth connect disparate phases of their work lives, extends previous scholarship by examining high school—aged and marginalized youth, and informs vocational and postsecondary counseling and guidance.
Effects of Bisphosphonate Administration on the Bone Mass in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients Under Treatment With Steroids
Authors: Nomura Shosaku , Kurata Yoshiyuki , Tomiyama Yoshiaki , Takubo Takayuki , Hasegawa Minoru , Saigo Katsuyasu , Nishikawa Masakatsu , Higasa Satoshi , Maeda Yasuhiro , Hayashi Kunio
Published: December 2009

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired hemorrhage condition involving accelerated platelet consumption caused by antiplatelet autoantibodies. Although various therapeutic strategies are used to treat patients with ITP, the standard treatment method is steroid therapy. The most important problem with steroid administration may be a prolonged use tendency in many cases, because there are many refractory chronic patients. To elucidate the effects of glucocorticoid on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with ITP, we retrospectively evaluated the relationship between BMD and the total dose of glucocorticoid or the mean daily dose given. We observed decreased BMD in 66.7% of the patients with ITP to whom glucocorticoid was given, although normal bone BMD was observed in 28.6% of patients with ITP treated without steroids. The mean level of BMD was markedly decreased in steroid-treated patients compared with nonsteroid-treated patients (P < .01). The relationship between BMD and the total dose of glucocorticoid (P = .023) or the mean daily dose revealed a negative correlation (P = .022). Administration of bisphosphonate revealed a significant increase in bone mass in patients at 6 and 12 months after the start of bisphosphonate treatment, despite the aggravation of thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis was observed in patients with ITP, similar to situation seen in patients with other diseases. Bisphosphonate may be an effective agent for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in patients with ITP scheduled to receive long-term steroid treatment.
Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) Antigen and Activity Assay in Patients With Primary Hypothyroidism
Authors: Ermantas Nilay , Guldiken Sibel , Demir Muzaffer , Tugrul Armagan
Published: December 2009

Hypothyroidism causes a tendency for cardiovascular diseases. It was recently shown that thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) attenuates fibrinolysis and also fibrin-plasminogen interaction by the removal of lysine and arginine residues from fibrin monomers. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of overt hypothyroidism on the levels of TAFI antigen (TAFI Ag) and TAFI activity (TAFIa). Thirty-one overt primary hypothyroid patients and age- and gender-matched 25 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with L-thyroxine after the collection of blood samples. Thyroid functions were reevaluated following the achievement of euthyroid status. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor Ag, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity was assessed with the chromogenic assay. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor Ag (1.63% ± 0.42% vs 1.32% ± 0.36%, P < .01) and TAFIa (14.2 ± 4.12 vs 11.6 ± 3.49 μg/mL, P < .05) levels were elevated in hypothyroid patient compared to controls. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and t-PA levels were not significantly different between both groups. In hypothyroid patients, TAFI Ag levels were correlated with free T4 (r = -.373, P < .05) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (r = .748, P < .001). Regression analysis showed that TSH levels were predictors of TAFI Ag levels (P < .001, β =.671, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.008-0.017). Following L-thyroxine treatment, TAFI Ag (1.63% ± 0.42%, 1.34% ± 0.33%, P < .05) and TAFIa (14.2 ± 4.12 μg/mL, 12.0 ± 2.77 μg/mL, P < .05) levels were significantly decreased, but t-PA and PAI-1 levels remained unchanged. This results point out that the fibrinolytic activity was decreased in hypothyroid patients, and therefore the achievement of euthyroid status is important in ameliorating the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Plantar Vein Thrombosis due to Busy Night Duty on Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Geiger Carolin , Rademacher Antje , Chappell Daniel , Sadeghi-Azandaryani Mojtaba , Heyn Jens
Published: December 2009

A 32-year-old woman with severe foot pain came to our emergency department after a busy night duty in hospital followed by an extended sleep period. Physical examination revealed a discrete swelling of the medial aspect of the right foot and a painful plantar arch during digital examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with intravenous gadolinium showed filling defects in the lateral plantar vein. Doppler sonography displayed noncompressible structures in the plantar veins without flow signals, suggesting a plantar vein thrombosis. Therapy was initiated with low-molecular-weight heparin in combination with customized elastic bandages for the lower leg. Follow-up sonography 6 weeks later showed complete patency of the plantar veins. To our knowledge, we present the first case of isolated plantar vein thrombosis independent of trauma, surgery, or malignant disease, most probably caused by a busy night duty on the intensive care unit (ICU) followed by a prolonged sleeping period.
A Retrospective Chart Review of Dietary Diversity and Feeding Behavior of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Before and After Admission to a Day-Treatment Program
Authors: Sharp William G. , Jaquess David L. , Morton Jane F. , Miles Aida G.
Published: December 2009

The nutritional status and mealtime performance among a group of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were examined before and after admission to an intensive feeding day-treatment program. Treatment involved escape extinction, reinforcement, and stimulus fading procedures. Outcomes focused on dietary diversity and mealtime performance, including acceptance, swallowing, and disruptive mealtime behaviors. Upon admission, participants exhibited severely restricted diets, low rates of acceptance and swallowing, and high rates of disruptive mealtime behavior. Following treatment, significant improvements regarding food variety, consumption, and appropriate mealtime behavior were demonstrated. Gains were maintained after caregiver training was conducted and caregivers were introduced as the primary feeders.
Anesthesia and the Microcirculation
Authors: Turek Zdenek , Sykora Roman , Matejovic Martin , Cerny Vladimir
Published: December 2009

There is increasing evidence that the microcirculation and its regulation are severely compromised during many pathological conditions, such as hemorrhage, sepsis, or trauma. The effects of anesthetic agents on macrohemodynamics were investigated intensively in the last several decades. Research regarding modern anesthetics and anesthesia techniques has increased knowledge regarding the nonanesthetic effects of anesthetic agents, including those on organ perfusion and the microcirculation. Alterations in microvascular reactivity, nitric oxide pathways, and cytokine release are presumably the main mechanisms of anesthetic-induced tissue perfusion changes. This review summarizes current methods of microcirculatory status assessment and current knowledge regarding the microcirculatory effects of intravenous and potent volatile anesthetics and anesthesia-related techniques under both normal and pathophysiological conditions.
Inhibitory Effect of n-butanol Fraction ofMoringa oleiferaLam. Seeds on Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation in a Guinea Pig Model of Asthma
Authors: Mahajan Shailaja G. , Banerjee Aryamitra , Chauhan Bhupendrasinh F. , Padh Harish , Nivsarkar Manish , Mehta Anita A.
Published: December 2009

Moringaceae, which belongs to the Moringa oleifera Lam. family, is a well-known herb used in Asian medicine as an antiallergic drug. In the present study, the efficacy of the n-butanol extract of the seeds of the plant (MONB) is examined against ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in guinea pigs. The test drugs (MONB or dexamethasone) are administered orally prior to challenge with aerosolized 0.5% ovalbumin. During the experimental period, bronchoconstriction tests are performed, and lung function parameters are measured. The blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are collected to assess cellular content, and serum is used for cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4, and interleukin-6) assays. Histamine assays of lung tissue are performed using lung tissue homogenate. The results suggest that in ovalbumin-sensitized model control animals, tidal volume is decreased, respiration rate is increased, and both the total and differential cell counts in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are increased significantly compared with nonsensitized controls. MONB treatment shows improvement in all parameters except bronchoalveolar lavage tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-4. Moreover, MONB treatment demonstrates protection against acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. These results indicate that MONB has an inhibitory effect on airway inflammation. Thus, MONB possesses an antiasthmatic property through modulation of the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalances.
Neurobehavioral Effects of Cyclohexane in Rat and Human
Authors: Lammers J. H. C. M. , Emmen H. H. , Muijser H. , Hoogendijk E. M. G. , McKee R. H. , Owen D. E. , Kulig B. M.
Published: December 2009

The neurobehavioral effects of inhaled cyclohexane in rats and humans are investigated to define relationships between internal doses and acute central nervous system effects. Rats are exposed for 3 consecutive days at target concentrations of 0, 1.4, 8, and 28 g/m3, 8 h/d. Measurements include standardized observational measures, spontaneous motor activity assessments, and learned visual discrimination performance. Cyclohexane concentrations in blood and brain are measured to assess internal exposure. Human volunteers are exposed for 4 hours to 86 or 860 mg/m3 in 2 test sessions. Neurobehavioral effects are measured using a computerized neurobehavioral test battery. In rats, there are slight reductions in psychomotor speed in the high-exposure group but minimal central nervous system effects. In humans, there are no significant treatment-related effects at the levels tested.
Chronic Exposure to Arsenic in Tap Water Reduces Acetylcholine-induced Relaxation in the Aorta and Increases Oxidative Stress in Female Rats
Authors: Cifuentes Fredi , Bravo Jaime , Norambuena Milton , Stegen Susana , Ayavire Alejandra , Palacios Javier
Published: December 2009

The aim of this work is to determine whether consuming tap water containing arsenic (20 μg/L) alters oxidative stress levels in female rats and changes vascular response. Whereas nitric oxide produces complete relaxation, arsenic (7 months of exposure) impairs the acetylcholine-induced endothelial relaxation in the rat aorta compared with control rats. Arsenic exposure results in a marked elevation in reactive oxygen species in blood, and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity, which is a sensitive biomarker for arsenic toxicity and oxidative stress, is significantly decreased in erythrocytes from 7-month-old rats. Diastolic blood pressure increases significantly in 7-month-old arsenic-treated versus control rats. The percentage of change in peripheral resistance increases. The results indicate that chronic environmental exposure to low levels of arsenic alters the release of vasoactive substances, causes changes in oxidative stress, and increases blood pressure in female rats.
Single- and Repeated-Dose Oral Toxicity Studies of Citicoline Free-Base (Choline Cytidine 5′-Pyrophosphate) in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Schauss A. G. , Somfai-Relle S. , Financsek I. , Glavits R. , Parent S. C. , Endres J. R. , Varga T. , Szücs Z. , Clewell A.
Published: December 2009

The dietary supplement Citicoline free-base (choline cytidine 5′-pyrophosphate) was toxicologically evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats using oral gavage. In an acute 14-day study, 2000 mg/kg was well tolerated. In a 90-day study, 100, 350, and 1000 mg/kg/day doses resulted in no mortality. In males, slight significant increases in serum creatinine (350 and 1000 mg/kg/day), and decreases in urine volume (all treated groups) were observed. In females, slight significant increases in total white blood cell and absolute lymphocyte counts (1000 mg/kg/day), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (100 and 350, but not 1000 mg/kg/day) were noted. A dose-related increase in renal tubular mineralization, without degenerative or inflammatory reaction, was found in females (all treated groups) and two males (1000 mg/kg/day). Renal mineralization in rats (especially females) is influenced by calcium:phosphorus ratios in the diet. A high level of citicoline consumption resulted in increased phosphorus intake in the rats, and likely explains this result.
2,2-bis(4-Chlorophenyl)Acetic Acid (DDA), a Water-Soluble Urine Biomarker of DDT Metabolism in Humans
Authors: Chen Zhenshan , Maartens Francois , Vega Helen , Kunene Simon , Gumede Jonathan , Krieger Robert I.
Published: December 2009

DDT metabolism in humans yields DDA as the principal urinary metabolite and potential exposure biomarker. A method for DDA analysis in human urine was developed using pentafluorobenzyl bromide and diisopropylethyl amine. Dried hexane extracts were reacted for 1 hour at room temperature. The stable DDA-pentafluorobenzyl-ester derivative was analyzed by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC-ECD) and confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in selective ion monitoring mode. The limit of detection for DDA was 0.1 μg/L urine by GC-ECD and 2 μg/L urine by GC-MS, with a relative standard deviation of 12%. Urine specimens from DDT applicators in Swaziland and South Africa were analyzed to evaluate the method. The mean DDA levels during the spray season and post season were 59 and 11 μg/L, respectively. These results must be interpreted cautiously because different groups of workers provided urine specimens in each case. The DDA urinalysis may be a feasible monitoring strategy for low-level occupational and residential DDT exposure assessment in antimalaria campaigns.
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract and Piper Methysticum Root Extract
Authors: Robinson Valerie , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Andersen F. Alan
Published: December 2009

Piper methysticum leaf/root/stem extract is the cosmetic ingredient name for a material derived from the leaves, roots, and stems of the Piper methysticum G. Forster plant, commonly known as kava kava. This and other kava-derived ingredients are used as skin-conditioning agents at concentrations from 0.0001% to 0.1%. The Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer advisory in 2002 expressing concern about liver damage in individuals who have ingested kava products. The available oral toxicity data support the concern about liver damage on ingestion but do not resolve the question, for example, whether these ingredients would be substantially absorbed through the skin. Other data needs are described, including toxicology data for yangonin, methysticin, and kavain, which may be present in kava-derived ingredients. Accordingly, the available data are insufficient to support the safety of these ingredients in cosmetics.
Getting a Discount or Sharing the Cost: The Influence of Regulatory Fit on Consumer Response to Service Pricing Schemes
Authors: Daryanto Ahmad , de Ruyter Ko , Wetzels Martin
Published: December 2009

This research examines the regulatory fit effect on perceived value and buying intentions in the context of private health insurance decisions. The so-called value-from-fit effect is assessed in conjunction with the effect of risk perceptions. Value-from-fit results from the interaction effect between regulatory focus concerns (discount vs. cost-sharing policies) and message framing (gain vs. loss). The results show that the fit effect on buying intentions is fully mediated by the perceived value of a health insurance policy and that perceived value functions as partial mediator of the effect of risk perceptions. The relative strength of the regulatory fit effect in explaining customer perceived value is small compared with the impact of perceived risk. The findings suggest that if health insurance providers wish to offer a premium discount, communicating the policy by emphasizing the benefits consumers attain from purchasing a deductible policy (i.e., getting the discount) may enhance the value of the policy. On the other hand, positioning a premium copayment policy can be more effectively done by emphasizing the costs associated with not choosing this policy.
Empirical Profiles of Service Recovery Systems: The Maturity Perspective
Authors: Smith Jeffery S. , Karwan Kirk R.
Published: December 2009

This paper presents an important new means of analyzing service recovery efforts from an operational systems maturity perspective. Specifically, seven dimensions that measure the structure of a service recovery system are used to derive a set of service recovery system profiles. The dimensions and profiles are constructed using data obtained from 158 practicing service managers on their organizations’ approaches to correcting service failures. Cluster analysis is used to develop three distinct system profiles: recoverers, followers, and laggards. Additional analyses indicate that significant differences in the utilization of specific recovery practices, recovery outcomes, recovery performance, and organizational characteristics are associated with these groups.The results suggest that the systematic development of service recovery systems may follow a logical path as an organization matures in its approach to dealing with service failures. Additionally, it is apparent that mature firms exhibit a more advanced and integrated system, employ a wider range of techniques for recovery, and demonstrate superior performance. The results also point to a need to more fully understand the relative importance of service recovery structural dimensions to successful firms.
Service Design for Experience-Centric Services
Authors: Zomerdijk Leonieke G. , Voss Christopher A.
Published: December 2009

Service organizations are increasingly managing customer experiences to promote differentiation and customer loyalty. This article examines the design of experience-centric services, particularly the design of their context. Drawing on relevant literature in service and experience design, the authors develop a theory-based set of propositions for experience design.The propositions are then investigated empirically by means of 17 case studies of design agencies, consulting firms, and experience-centric service providers in different industries. Strong support was found for the designing of “customer journeys” and “touchpoints,” for sensory design, and for the designing of a dramatic structure of events. In addition, the engagement of employees, the management of fellow customers, and the close coupling of backstage employees and frontstage activities represent promising new frontiers in experience design. By identifying the current design practices of leaders in experience design, this study both informs this practice and presents a unique perspective on the design of service delivery systems.