bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Vocal Fold Injury Location on Vibratory Parameters in Excised Canine Larynges
Authors: Krausert Christopher R. , Ying Di , Choi Seong Hee , Hoffman Matthew R. , Jiang Jack J.
Published: October 2012

Objective

To investigate the effect of vocal fold injury location on vibratory amplitude and lateral phase difference.

Study Design

Repeated measures with each excised canine larynx serving as own control.

Setting

Basic science study conducted in university laboratory.

Methods

Vocal fold vibration of excised canine larynges was recorded with a high‐speed camera before and after inducing vocal fold injury at 1 of 5 locations: anterior, middle, posterior, medial, or superior. Medial and superior injuries were created within the middle third of the vocal fold. Five larynges were used for each of the 5 injury locations. Kymography was performed at the midpoint of the vocal folds for each video. Pre‐ and postinjury vibratory amplitude and lateral phase difference were compared for each location.

Results

The anterior and medial injuries produced consistent decreases in vibratory amplitude. Middle and posterior injuries might slightly decrease amplitude. Superior injuries seemed to have no effect on amplitude. Anterior and medial injuries induced phase asymmetry between the right and left vocal folds. Middle injuries appeared to affect phase difference slightly, whereas posterior and superior injuries had no effect.

Conclusion

Injury to the anterior or medial portions of the vocal fold may be most likely to cause abnormal vocal fold vibration. Using caution in these locations during phonosurgery may favor superior postoperative vocal outcomes.
The return of class war conservatism? Housing under the UK Coalition Government
Authors: Hodkinson Stuart , Robbins Glyn
Published: October 2012

The May 2010 election of a Conservative-dominated UK coalition government unleashed an unprecedented austerity drive under the auspices of ‘deficit reduction’ in the wake of the global financial crisis. This article focuses on housing policy to show how the ‘cuts’ are being used as an ideological cover for a far-reaching, market-driven restructuring of social welfare policy that amounts to a return of what Ralph Miliband called ‘class war conservatism’. We revisit the main ideological contours and materialist drivers of Thatcherism as a hegemonic strategy, discussing the central role played by housing privatization in the neoliberal project that was continued, but not completed, by New Labour. We then discuss the Coalition’s assault on the housing welfare safety net it inherited, arguing this has rapidly shut down alternative directions for housing and represents a strategic intervention designed to unblock and expand the market, complete the residualization of social housing and draw people into an ever more economically precarious housing experience in order to boost capitalist interests.
Strong but insecure: Examining the prevalence and correlates of insecure attachment bonds with attachment figures
Authors: Milyavskaya Marina , Lydon John E.
Published: October 2012

This study examined whether people can be insecurely attached to figures who are actively sought out (and not just desired) to fulfill attachment functions and whether this has negative consequences for psychological well-being. A total of 122 participants rated 3–15 relational targets on measures including the extent to which the target fulfills important attachment functions and the attachment style characterizing the relationship. Participants also completed general measures of well-being and attachment style. We specifically focused on targets who could be classified as attachment figures based on the WHOTO and examined the attachment style characterizing these relationships. Results show that a significant proportion of attachment bonds can be characterized by insecurity, which has consequences both for the extent to which these attachment figures can fulfill important attachment functions and for overall well-being. The discussion considers the implications of these results for attachment priming research and the distinction between attachment strength and security.
A preliminary randomized controlled study on the effectiveness of vestibular-specific neuromuscular training in children with hearing impairment
Authors: Rajendran Venkadesan , Roy Finita Glory , Jeevanantham Deepa
Published: October 2012

Objective:

To determine the effectiveness of vestibular-specific neuromuscular training on motor skills, balance and health-related quality of life in children with hearing impairment.

Design:

Controlled, randomized, preliminary study.

Setting:

Rehabilitation school for children with hearing impairment.

Subjects and intervention:

Twenty-three children with mean age of 7.5–8.1 years with hearing impairment were randomized to either the intervention or the control group. Children in the experimental group ( n = 11) participated in vestibular-specific neuromuscular training for six weeks and the children in the control group continued their regular activities followed at school.

Outcome measures:

Measurement of motor skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-2), postural control (Pediatric Reach Test, One Leg Standing Balance Test and postural sway meter) and health-related quality of life (PedsQL Generic Core Scale).

Results:

Following intervention, the scores of motor skills (Test of Gross Motor Development P = 0.02; throw for distance P = 0.042; kick for distance P = 0.08; jump for distance P = 0.001; 15-yard dash P = 0.001), postural control measures (Pediatric Reach Test P = 0.001; One Leg Standing Test P = 0.03; and anteroposterior sway (eyes open P = 0.007, eyes closed P = 0.03); mediolateral sway (eyes open P = 0.014, eyes closed P = 0.017) and health-related quality of life ( P = 0.01) improved significantly in the experimental group and not in the control group.

Conclusion:

The findings of the study suggest that vestibular-specific neuromuscular training programme may improve the motor skills, balance and health-related quality of life in children with hearing impairment.
Social and Identity Development in an After-School Program
Authors: Jones Jeffrey N. , Deutsch Nancy L.
Published: October 2012

The negotiation of complex social settings and the creation of an integrated identity are major tasks of adolescence. Institutions such as after-school programs can influence social-emotional development through organizational and interpersonal practices, and prosocial growth can be encouraged through the alignment of supportive structures with developmental needs. This qualitative study explores the developmental and environmental fit of an urban after-school program for its participants. Using participant-observation and interviews, we explore how youths’ experiences in this setting are congruent with the developmental needs of pre-, early, and midadolescence. We find that program activities and relationships shift as youth mature to provide levels of support congruent with youths’ changing social-emotional and self-representation needs. These shifts provide contexts aligned with contemporary theories of adolescent development.
Addressing Criminality in Childhood
Authors: Nee Claire , Ellis Tom , Morris Paul , Wilson Amy
Published: October 2012

The responsivity principle is the third element of the now well-established risk–need–responsivity (RNR) model of offender rehabilitation. Accruing evidence suggests it is often sacrificed in intervention programs. We aim to demonstrate the central importance of this principle when designing offender interventions by describing the results of a successful, highly responsive intervention for very young children (aged 7 upward) who have offended. A small slice of the offending population as a whole, child offenders are nevertheless tomorrow’s serious, violent, and prolific lawbreakers, yet little is understood about what reduces their risk. Recent developments on responsivity are reviewed, before presenting the evaluation indicating significant and sustained drops in risk of recidivism. In-program factors such as the nature and dosage of interventions are examined, alongside outcome data. The article discusses how RNR and other models might apply to this particularly young and underresearched age group.
Perceived Stress, External Locus of Control, and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment Among Female Inmates With or Without a History of Sexual Abuse
Authors: Asberg Kia , Renk Kimberly
Published: October 2012

Given the growing number of women who are incarcerated across the United States, the current study investigated the relationships among female inmates’ perceptions of their own stress, external locus of control (LOC), social support adequacy, and various aspects of psychological functioning. Generally, female inmates with a self-reported history of childhood sexual abuse did not differ from their nonabused counterparts on the variables of interest. Results suggested that female inmates’ perceptions of higher stress, a higher degree of external LOC, and inadequate social support correlated with greater symptoms of depression and hopelessness as well as lower self-esteem. In regression analyses, stress and social support were significant predictors for depression and anxiety. In contrast, stress was the only significant predictor of hopelessness and self-esteem. Finally, none of the predictors examined here was significant in the prediction of traumatic stress. Overall, findings suggested the importance of stress and social support in the prediction of female inmates’ adjustment, specifically their symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Framing the riots
Authors: Cavanagh Allison , Dennis Alex
Published: October 2012

An analysis of commentary on the UK’s August 2011 riots reveals shifts in the way the media and politicians now construe concepts of youth, race, criminality and deprivation. By comparing the response to these events with that which followed the riots of 1981, these changes can be clarified and illuminated. This analysis reveals that discussions of ‘social problems’ exploited by ‘infiltrators’ (1981) have been replaced by notions of ‘pure criminality’ and ‘mob rule’. The implications of these changes for contemporary protest, and some ways in which the riots and other forms of protest can be related, are drawn out.
Social media, riots, and revolutions
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: October 2012

This article analyses the mass media’s claims about the role of social media in the 2011 UK riots and the Arab Spring, arguing that social media has become a new fetishism of technology that distracts from the contradictions of capitalism underlying contemporary societal changes and conflicts. Understanding contemporary capitalism, its contradictions and the role of the media requires a dialectical and critical analysis.
Crisis and critique
Authors: Holloway John
Published: October 2012

Critique is the opening of categories that are closed, to reveal the antagonism within them, to reveal the crisis that they conceal. The understanding of critique as the unmasking of domination is reactionary claptrap.
Interstitial revolution: On the explosive fusion of negativity and hope
Authors: Dinerstein Ana Cecilia
Published: October 2012

This article offers a comprehensive review of John Holloway’s Crack Capitalism by situating it within the wider body of his work spanning the last two decades. The article reflects on the significance of Holloway’s argument that revolution must be conceived as an interstitial process, suggesting that this latest volume offers both a more grounded analysis of capitalism and an exploration of the poetry of ‘cracks’ that rupture the capitalist ‘synthesis’. Holloway effectively articulates Adorno’s negative dialectics with Bloch’s principle of hope, pointing to the necessity of rejecting what-is and opening outwards to what-is-not-yet.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Remnant Preservation
Authors: Hong Lei , Li Xu , Zhang Hui , Liu Xin , Zhang Jin , Shen Jie Wei , Feng Hua
Published: October 2012

Background:

Efforts still need to be made to improve the technique for surgical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Several reports have claimed that ACLR with the remnant preservation technique can obtain satisfactory clinical results.

Purpose:

To compare the short-term clinical outcome of remnant-preserving ACLR with standard ACLR.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A prospective, randomized controlled study was performed in 90 consecutive patients who underwent ACLR with the remnant preservation technique (study group, n = 45) or the standard technique (control group, n = 45) with the use of a 4-strand allograft. The Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) grade, stability assessments (Lachman test, pivot-shift test, and KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side differences), synovial coverage of the graft, and proprioception measurements were evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up.

Results:

All consecutive patients who were screened for eligibility between August 2008 and April 2010 were enrolled and followed clinically. There were 39 patients in the study group and 41 in the control group who were followed for at least 2 years (mean follow-up, 25.7 months). At the last follow-up, the median Lysholm score was 99 in the study group and 95 in the control group ( P = .07). The IKDC grade was A or B in 38 patients in the study group and 40 patients in the control group ( P = .548). Lachman test results were negative in 38 patients in the study group and 40 patients in the control group ( P = .862), and the pivot-shift test result was negative in 37 patients in the study group and 36 patients in the control group ( P = .523). The mean KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference averaged 1.6 ± 1.7 mm in the study group and 1.8 ± 1.8 mm in the control group ( P = .694). Second-look arthroscopy was performed to evaluate synovial coverage of the graft. Normal or nearly normal synovial coverage, graded as A or B, was 71.4% (20/28) in the study group and 70.4% (19/27) in the control group ( P = .966). The passive angle reproduction test result at 15° was 3.6° ± 1.8° in the study group and 3.9° ± 2.2° in the control group ( P = .739).

Conclusion:

This short-term study showed that, in terms of stability, synovial coverage, and proprioception recovery, remnant preservation ACLR using an allograft had no evident advantages in clinical outcome over the standard technique.
Monitoring ambient air pollutants and apply Woods’ model in the prediction seasonal dry deposition at Chang-Hua (urban) and Kao-Mei (wetland) county, Taiwan
Authors: Fang Guor-Cheng , Chang Chia-Ying
Published: October 2012

The main purpose for this study was to monitor ambient air particles and metallic elements (Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb) in total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration and dry deposition. In addition, the calculated/measured dry deposition flux ratios of ambient air particles and metallic elements (Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb) were evaluated using Woods’ model at urban and wetland areas for the 2009–2010 period. The results indicated that the mean highest concentrations of metallic elements Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu and Pb in TSP were found in Chang-Hua (urban) sampling site. And as for the two characteristic sampling sites, the Woods’ model exhibits better dry deposition of particulates of 18 µm particle size than the rest of the other particle sizes at any sampling site in this study. The average calculated/measured flux ratios for two seasons (summer and fall) by using Woods model at 2.5, 10 and 18 µm particles sizes were also studied. The results indicated that the average calculated/measured flux ratios orders for two seasons of various particles sizes were all displayed as Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > particle. And these calculated/measured flux ratios orders were Fe > Mn > Cu > Zn > Cr > Pb > particle and were Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > particle > Pb, during spring and winter seasons, respectively. Finally, in the spring and summer seasons of Gao-Mei (wetland) sampling site, the average calculated/measured flux ratios using Woods’ model was found to be 2.5, 10 and 18 µm, showing the order of the calculated/measured flux ratios to be Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cr > Pb > particle. And the calculated/measured flux ratio orders were Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > particle > Pb and were Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Cr > particle > Pb for fall and winter season, respectively.
N-Acetyl cysteine and erdosteine treatment in acetaminophen-induced liver damage
Authors: Saritas Ayhan , Kandis Hayati , Baltaci Davut , Yildirim Umran , Kaya Halil , Karakus Ali , Colakoglu Serdar , Memisogullari Ramazan , Kara Ismail Hamdi
Published: October 2012

Objective:

This study is aimed to investigate the efficacy of erdosteine usage in acetaminophen-induced liver damage and to compare it with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in the treatment and prevention of liver toxicity due to overdose of acetaminophen.

Methods:

The rats were separated into the following six groups of seven rats each: control group; acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally); acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally) + erdosteine (150 mg/kg/day, orally); acetaminophen (1 g/kg, orally) + NAC (140 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 70 mg/kg, orally); NAC (140 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 70 mg/kg, orally); erdosteine (150 mg/kg/kg, orally), subsequently. In all the groups, potential liver injuries were evaluated using biochemical and hematological analyses, oxidant–antioxidant parameters and histopathological parameters.

Results:

In acetaminophen-treated group, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total oxidant status (TOS) in the blood, prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) were significantly increased when compared with controls. However, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased in group treated with acetaminophen, when compared with control group. Levels of AST, ALT and TOS, PT and INR were decreased in groups treated with NAC and erdosteine after acetaminophen administration, but the levels of TAC and GSH were increased. Histopathological improvements were observed in the groups treated with NAC and erdosteine after acetaminophen administration.

Conclusion:

The present study demonstrated that, in the prevention of liver damage induced by acetaminophen intoxication, an early treatment with a single dose of erdosteine was beneficial instead of NAC administration.
From the “Greenhouse” to Reality
Authors: Enosh Guy , Buchbinder Eli , Smith Levi Nechemia , Shafir Orly
Published: October 2012

Beit-Hatikva (BH) is a special unit within the Israeli prison system, and houses violent men who were sentenced to prison time for domestic violence. The goal of BH is to bring about behavioral and identity changes. The study explores the lived experiences of BH graduates. Twelve BH graduates were interviewed using an in-depth qualitative interview, at least one year following their release from prison. Interviewees were asked about meaningful experiences they underwent following their release from prison. Going out to the reality of life outside of BH, the graduates encounter narratives that challenge the BH narrative of changed identity and transformation. Focusing on their past, their stigma as ex-convicts, and disregarding their past normative achievements, this external and challenging societal narrative attempts to draw the graduate back into old patterns of thinking and behaving, challenging them to face temptations, provocations, expectations, and assumptions of social reality.
The Court Impact Scale
Authors: Cattaneo Lauren Bennett , Dunn Jessica L. , Chapman Aliya R.
Published: October 2012

The court system is a central part of the societal response to intimate partner violence (IPV), and is a frequently used source of help for victims. The concept of therapeutic jurisprudence suggests that the court should be evaluated not just for its potential effect on recidivism, but for its impact on the well-being of all those who participate in it, and IPV scholars suggest that empowerment is a key component of any therapeutic intervention for victims. Research in these areas is limited by the lack of a standard method for examining victim experience in the court system. This article describes the development and piloting of a 23-item measure designed to address this gap. The pilot sample included 157 victims of IPV seeking civil protection orders (CPOs). Exploratory factor analysis yielded 5 factors: Negative Impact, Positive Impact, Fear, Validation, and Network Impact. Validation was most strongly correlated with global satisfaction with the court process. Implications and applications for work in therapeutic jurisprudence and empowerment are discussed.
Improvement in thermomechanical properties of injection molded nano-modified hybrid biocomposite
Authors: Kaiser Mohammad Rejaul , Anuar Hazleen , Razak Shamsul Bahri Abdul
Published: October 2012

Biopolymers and their composites are one of the best alternatives for replacing petroleum-based plastic commodities. The main drawback of biopolymer is its high cost that restricts its applications; however, biopolymers filled with natural fibers are able to reduce cost but suffer lower impact strength and fracture toughness. Nanoclay which has a very high aspect ratio shows a significant effect on mechanical and thermal properties. This article concentrates on hybridization of nanoclay and natural fibers. Mechanical properties show that with the addition of nanoclay, impact strength increases more than 50%; however, other mechanical properties are also increased, which are proved by fractography analysis. Thermal analysis shows that hybrid biocomposite exhibits higher storage modulus, decomposition temperature and higher percentage of crystallinity. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirms formation of new bond between nanoclay and polymer matrix which is the main reason for improving thermal and mechanical properties of the hybrid biocomposite.
Children’s participation and intergenerational dialogue: Bringing adults back into the analysis
Authors: Wyness Michael
Published: October 2012

Within the field of children’s participation there has been a shift from adults mediating children’s worlds to children themselves becoming the sole interpreters of their own standpoints. In the process this has sometimes led to the marginalisation of adults’ perspectives on and contributions to children’s participation. In this article the author argues that analyses of children’s participatory roles need to take account of the form and nature of children’s relationships with adults. Drawing on the notion of intergenerational dialogue the article explores a range of political and global themes that highlight the participatory roles of children and their interdependence on adults.
Vehicle roll and pitch angle estimation using a cost-effective six-dimensional inertial measurement unit
Authors: Oh Jiwon , Choi Seibum B
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this paper is to estimate accurately the vehicle attitudes, i.e. the vehicle roll and pitch angles. It is assumed that a set of data obtained from a low-price six-dimensional inertial measurement unit is available. This includes the linear acceleration of the vehicle and the angular rates of all axes. In addition, the observer exploits the data from the wheel speed sensors, and the steering-wheel angle, which are already available for recent production cars. Using the above, based on the combination of the velocity kinematics and pseudointegration of the angle kinematics, a novel scheme for reference angle selection dependent on the cornering-stiffness adaptation is adopted to observe the angles. The stability of each component of the proposed observer is investigated, and a set of assessments to confirm the performance of the entire system is arranged via experiments using a real production sport utility vehicle.
Feeling Blue or Turquoise? Emotional Differentiation in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Demiralp Emre , Thompson Renee J. , Mata Jutta , Jaeggi Susanne M. , Buschkuehl Martin , Barrett Lisa Feldman , Ellsworth Phoebe C. , Demiralp Metin , Hernandez-Garcia Luis , Deldin Patricia J. , Gotlib Ian H. , Jonides John
Published: October 2012

Some individuals have very specific and differentiated emotional experiences, such as anger, shame, excitement, and happiness, whereas others have more general affective experiences of pleasure or discomfort that are not as highly differentiated. Considering that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) have cognitive deficits for negative information, we predicted that people with MDD would have less differentiated negative emotional experiences than would healthy people. To test this hypothesis, we assessed participants’ emotional experiences using a 7-day experience-sampling protocol. Depression was assessed using structured clinical interviews and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. As predicted, individuals with MDD had less differentiated emotional experiences than did healthy participants, but only for negative emotions. These differences were above and beyond the effects of emotional intensity and variability.
A 7000 year record of paleohurricane activity from a coastal wetland in Belize
Authors: McCloskey Terrence A , Liu Kam-biu
Published: October 2012

Sedimentary paleotempestological studies have documented that tropical cyclone activity levels in the North Atlantic have been characterized by significant fluctuations since at least the mid Holocene, with activity regimes typically lasting from several centuries to > 2000 years. These activity-level estimates are based on site-specific hurricane strike histories derived from proxy records of overwash events attributed to landfalling major hurricanes. Here we present a 7000 year composite record from two adjacent wetland sites in coastal Belize, Central America that records both tropical cyclone-generated storm surges and large precipitation events. Although overall sensitivity appears to decrease over time, this record displays clear evidence of continuous oscillation between distinctly different activity regimes, with active and quiet periods each covering ~ 50% of the record. Active periods occur during ~200–600 BP, 1450–2600 BP, 3200–4200 BP, 4750–5450 BP, 5750–6050 BP, and 6700–6900 BP. This activity pattern does not match regional records from the northern Gulf of Mexico, the northern Caribbean or the Atlantic coast of the USA, thereby supporting the view that activity patterns are temporally variable throughout the North Atlantic, and that hyperactivity does not occur simultaneously across the entire basin.
A minimal net reclassification improvement to assess predictions of intensive care mortality
Authors: Redondo Yacine Tandjaoui Lambiotte , Lambert Jérôme , Chevret Sylvie
Published: October 2012

Objective

In assessing the improved discrimination of a new prognostic score, the “Net Reclassification Improvement” from reclassification methods appears of interest. We propose a measure that takes into account improvements in predicted probabilities to assess and allows testing the additional predictive ability of a new scoring system Y compared to a reference score X.

Study design and settings

To assess and test the improvement in mortality prediction of (X + Y) compared to X, we defined a minimal net reclassification improvement that restricted improvements in predicted probabilities according to some positive threshold δ. Both absolute and relative improvements were considered. A simulation study was performed to assess its performances in a range of practical situations. We then applied our measures to real intensive care unit data.

Results

Expectedly, minimal net reclassification improvement increased with the effect size of Y and decreased with the value of δ. Using relative improvements allowed erasing the influence of the population mortality. For given effect sizes of X and Y, the difference in all measures of reclassification decreased when a correlation between X and Y was introduced.

Conclusion

Reclassification methods, particularly the minimal net reclassification improvement, seem to be clinically relevant when used with continuous clinical data with no known threshold.
Tree-based identification of subgroups for time-varying covariate survival data
Authors: Bertolet Marnie , Brooks Maria M , Bittner Vera
Published: October 2012

Classification and regression tree analyses identify subsets of a sample that differ on an outcome. Discrimination of subsets is performed using recursive binary splitting on a set of covariates, allowing for interactions of variable subgroups not easily captured in standard model building techniques. Using classification and regression tree with epidemiological data can be problematic as there is often a need to adjust for potential confounders and to account for time-varying covariates in the context of right-censored survival data. While classification and regression tree variations exist individually for survival analysis, time-varying covariates and incorporating possible confounders, examples of classification and regression tree using all three together are lacking. We propose a method to identify subsets of time-varying covariate risk factors that affect survival while adjusting for possible confounders. The technique is demonstrated on data from the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes clinical trial to find combinations of modifiable time-varying cardiac risk factors (e.g. smoking status, blood pressure, lipid levels and HbA1c level) that are associated with time-to-event clinical outcomes.
Design effects for sample size computation in three-level designs
Authors: Cunningham Tina D , Johnson Robert E
Published: October 2012

Experiments with multiple nested levels where randomization can take place at any level bring challenges to the computation of sample sizes. Formulas derived under simple single-level experiments must be adjusted using multiplicative factors or design effects. In this work, we take a unified approach to finding the design effects in terms of intracluster correlations and present formulas to compute sample sizes of different levels. Equal cluster sample sizes and homogeneous within cluster variances are assumed.
Modeling clinical outcome using multiple correlated functional biomarkers: A Bayesian approach
Authors: Long Qi , Zhang Xiaoxi , Zhao Yize , Johnson Brent A , Bostick Roberd M
Published: October 2012

In some biomedical studies, biomarkers are measured repeatedly along some spatial structure or over time and are subject to measurement error. In these studies, it is often of interest to evaluate associations between a clinical endpoint and these biomarkers (also known as functional biomarkers). There are potentially two levels of correlation in such data, namely, between repeated measurements of a biomarker from the same subject and between multiple biomarkers from the same subject; none of the existing methods accounts for correlation between multiple functional biomarkers. We propose a Bayesian approach to model a clinical outcome of interest (e.g. risk for colorectal cancer) in the presence of multiple functional biomarkers while accounting for potential correlation. Our simulations show that the proposed approach achieves good performance in finite samples under various settings. In the presence of substantial or moderate correlation, the proposed approach outperforms an existing approach that does not account for correlation. The proposed approach is applied to a study of biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms and our results show that the risk for colorectal cancer is associated with two functional biomarkers, APC and TGF-α, in particular, with their values in the region between the proliferating and differentiating zones of colorectal crypts.
Iterated combination-based paired permutation tests to determine shape effects of chemotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer
Authors: Alfieri Rita , Bonnini Stefano , Brombin Chiara , Castoro Carlo , Salmaso Luigi
Published: October 2012

The nonparametric combination of dependent permutation tests method is a useful general tool when a testing problem can be broken down into a set of different k > 1 partial tests. These partial tests, after adjustment of p-values to control for multiplicity, can be marginally analyzed, but jointly considered they can provide information on an overall hypothesis, which might represent the true goal of the testing problem. On the one hand, independence among the partial tests is usually an unrealistic assumption; on the other, even when the underlying dependence relations are known quite often they are difficult to cope with properly. Therefore this combination must be achieved nonparametrically, by implicitly taking into account the dependence structure of tests without explicitly describing it. An important property of the tests based on nonparametric combination methodology, when the number of response variables is high compared to the sample sizes, consists in the finite sample consistency. A practical problem involves choosing the most suitable combining function for each specific testing problem given that the final result can be affected by this crucial choice. The purpose of this article is to present an nonparametric combination solution based on the iterated combination of partial tests, evaluate its power behavior using a Monte Carlo simulation study and apply it to a real medical problem, namely the evaluation of the effects of chemotherapy on the shape of esophageal tumors. R code has been implemented to carry out the analyses.
A Bayesian semiparametric approach with change points for spatial ordinal data
Authors: Cai Bo , Lawson Andrew B , McDermott Suzanne , Aelion C Marjorie
Published: October 2012

The change-point model has drawn much attention over the past few decades. It can accommodate the jump process, which allows for changes of the effects before and after the change point. Intellectual disability is a long-term disability that impacts performance in cognitive aspects of life and usually has its onset prior to birth. Among many potential causes, soil chemical exposures are associated with the risk of intellectual disability in children. Motivated by a study for soil metal effects on intellectual disability, we propose a Bayesian hierarchical spatial model with change points for spatial ordinal data to detect the unknown threshold effects. The spatial continuous latent variable underlying the spatial ordinal outcome is modeled by the multivariate Gaussian process, which captures spatial variation and is centered at the nonlinear mean. The mean function is modeled by using the penalized smoothing splines for some covariates with unknown change points and the linear regression for the others. Some identifiability constraints are used to define the latent variable. A simulation example is presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach with the competing models. A retrospective cohort study for intellectual disability in South Carolina is used as an illustration.
Culture, Politics and Identity: Critical Readings on Gender in Southeast Asia
Authors: Sarmento Clara
Published: October 2012

This article discusses some critical readings of theoretical texts on gender in Southeast Asian countries, where the intersections of past and present, of the global and the local, capitalism, post-colonialism and post-modernism define the guidelines to explore the negotiation and evolution of gender concepts. Gender issues are located not only within structures of symbolic meaning, but also in relation to the historical and political forces that have marked a plurality of post-colonial contexts, where local notions about gender (in)equality and complementarity are constantly evolving.

This article claims that the previously silenced narratives of non-Western women must be given a new role and status, in a modern transnational, interdisciplinary cultural grid. Narratives of everyday common life create spaces of empathy, and consequently, projects of action and research will be conducted in order to obtain concrete and useful results. However, many narratives of the everyday practice are actually stories of violence, a type of discourse generated by extreme poverty, substantial inequality and daily contact with terror. In addition, this article also analyses the role played by female characters in the building of the nation’s narrative, both in colonial and post-colonial times, with its enduring stereotypes, dichotomies and metaphors of power.
Social Representations of HIV/AIDS in Johannesburg, South Africa and Their Bearing on Risk-taking Sexual Behaviour
Authors: Howard-Payne Lynlee
Published: October 2012

Considering the uniquely South African psychosocial context, where lay and expert responses to the AIDS pandemic have thwarted or improved efforts to contain the spread of HIV infection, this study sought to investigate how perceptions of risk and resulting risk-taking sexual behaviour, regarding HIV transmission and prevention, are mediated by the manner in which HIV is socially represented (as a means of human social communication). Thus, this article presents the findings of an exploratory South African study that engaged with the social representations of HIV/AIDS amongst undergraduate students from a large university in Johannesburg, South Africa, by highlighting the bearing of these social representations in shaping responses to the risk culture of the HIV pandemic. Thirty participants completed 13 open-ended items for ‘The Perceptions of Risk and Behaviours regarding HIV Questionnaire’, which were thematically analysed to produce social representation themes (such as HIV/AIDS being punishment for sexual immorality, AIDS as an evil perpetrator and the vulnerable ‘other’, to mention a few) that are used to create a base system of communication about HIV/AIDS, which are relied on when mediating responses to the assessed threat of HIV infection.
Weather and Age-Gender Effects on the Projection of Future Emergency Ambulance Demand in Hong Kong
Authors: Lai Poh-Chin , Wong Ho-Ting
Published: October 2012

An accurate projection for ambulance demand is essential to enable better resource planning for the future that strives to either maintain current levels of services or reconsider future standards and expectations. More than 2 million cases of emergency room attendance in 2008 were obtained from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority to project the demand for its ambulance services in 2036. The projection of ambulance demand in 2036 was computed in consideration of changes in the age-gender structure between 2008 and 2036. The quadratic relation between average daily temperature and daily ambulance demand in 2036 was further explored by including and excluding age-gender demographic changes. Without accounting for changes in the age-gender structure, the 2036 ambulance demand for age groups of 65 and above were consistently underestimated (by 38%-65%), whereas those of younger age groups were overestimated (by 6%-37%). Moreover, changes in the 2008 to 2036 age-gender structure also shift upward and emphasize relationships between average daily temperature and daily ambulance demand at both ends of the quadratic U-shaped curve. Our study reveals a potential societal implication of ageing population on the demand for ambulance services.
Fusion welding of nickel–titanium and 304 stainless steel tubes: Part II: tungsten inert gas welding
Authors: Fox Gordon , Hahnlen Ryan , Dapino Marcelo J
Published: October 2012

Shape memory nickel–titanium is attractive for lightweight actuators as it can generate large blocking stresses and high recovery strains through solid-state operation. A key challenge is the integration of the nickel–titanium components into systems; this alloy is difficult and expensive to machine and challenging to weld to itself and other materials. In this research, we join nickel–titanium and 304 stainless steel tubes of 9.53 mm (0.375 in) in diameter through tungsten inert gas welding. By joining nickel–titanium to a common structural material that is easily machined and readily welded to other materials, the system integration challenges are greatly reduced. The joints prepared in this study were subjected to optical microscopic inspection, hardness mapping, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mechanical testing, and failure surface analysis via scanning electron microscopy. The affected zone from welding is approximately 125 µm (0.005 in) wide including partially mixed zones with a maximum hardness of 817 HV and a possible heat-affected zone of 1–2 µm (39–79 µin) wide. The maximum average ultimate torsional strength is 415 MPa (60.2 x 103 lbf/in2). Implementation of this joining method is demonstrated in the construction of a solid-state torsional actuator that can lift a weight of 2.3 kg (5 lb) to a distance of 610 mm (24 in). The laser and TIG welding processes are compared.
Optimal design of control valves in magnetorheological fluid dampers using a nondimensional analytical method
Authors: Zhu Xiaocong , Jing Xingjian , Cheng Li
Published: October 2012

The magnetorheological control valve is a key element in magnetorheological dampers to achieve controllable damping characteristics in practice. The optimal design of magnetorheological control valves with an annular flow structure in two configurations of coil wire placements is investigated using a nondimensional analytical method. The achievable performances of the magnetorheological control valve are formulated in terms of several important nondimensional design parameters, which are defined based on the analytical models considering both mechanical flow characteristics and magnetic flux conservation in magnetorheological fluids and valve materials with a clear understanding and convenient specification in optimization. The design method first identifies a few optimal internal parameters through maximizing a single-objective function with predefined constraints. This can avoid empirical difficulty or uncertainty in weight selection in conventional multiobjective optimization methods and guarantee the worst-case performance. Then, the inherent sensitivity of the achievable performance with respect to external parameters is analyzed to provide practical instructions for appropriate design of the magnetorheological control valve. Finally, the analytical optimal results are verified by a finite element analysis, and a comparison is conducted to illustrate the excellent performance of a vibration isolation system employing the optimally designed magnetorheological control valve.
Nursery Rhymes in Music and Language Literacy
Authors: Cardany Audrey Berger
Published: October 2012

Nursery rhymes have been a part of childhood for centuries. Spanning the generations, children and adults continue to delight in their poetry and melodies. Educators consider these rhymes traditional literature for music and language instruction. Within this article, the author includes a brief historical discussion of nursery rhymes and writes contemporary music lessons for young children using traditional English verse.
Aspirin-Induced Microscopic Surface Changes Stimulate Thrombopoiesis in Rat Megakaryocytes
Authors: Kazama Itsuro , Maruyama Yoshio , Nakamichi Satoshi
Published: October 2012

During the process of thrombopoiesis, invaginations of the plasma membrane occur in megakaryocytes. Since acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), the most commonly used anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug, interacts with the lipid bilayers of the plasma membranes, this drug would affect the process of thrombopoiesis. In the present study, employing a standard patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique, we examined the effects of aspirin on delayed rectifier K+-channel (Kv1.3) currents and the membrane capacitance in megakaryocytes. Using confocal imaging of di-8-butyl-amino-naphthyl-ethylene-pyridinium-propyl-sulfonate (di-8-ANEPPS) staining, we also monitored the membrane invaginations in megakaryocytes. Aspirin suppressed both the peak and the pulse-end currents with a significant increase in the membrane capacitance. Massive di-8-ANEPPS staining after treatment with aspirin demonstrated the impaired membrane micro-architecture of megakaryocytes. This study demonstrated for the first time that aspirin induces microscopic surface changes in megakaryocytes. Such surface changes were thought to stimulate thrombopoiesis in megakaryocytes as detected by the increase in the membrane invaginations.
Red Cell Distribution Width and Mean Platelet Volume in Amyloidosis
Authors: Erdem Emre , Erdem Dilek , Dilek Melda , Kaya Coşkun , Karataş Ahmet , Kut Engin , Çoban Murat , Cengiz Kuddusi , Arık Nurol , Akpolat Tekin
Published: October 2012

We aimed to determine whether red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) values differ between patients with reactive amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis due to chronic inflammatory disease and in healthy participants. In this study, 33 patients with AA amyloidosis and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), RDW, platelet count (PLT), and MPV levels were retrospectively obtained from our computerized patient database. We found RDW, ESR, and PLT levels to be significantly higher in patients with AA amyloidosis compared with the controls ( P < .0001). Mean platelet volume was significantly lower in patients with amyloidosis ( P < .0001). Inflammatory diseases such as AA amyloidosis may demonstrate low MPV and high RDW levels.
Does Severity of Physical Neglect Moderate the Impact of an Efficacious Preventive Intervention for Maltreated Children in Foster Care?
Authors: Taussig Heather N. , Culhane Sara E. , Garrido Edward , Knudtson Michael D. , Petrenko Christie L. M.
Published: October 2012

Physically neglected youth are at increased risk of mental health problems, but there are few interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms for this vulnerable population. The Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program, which consists of mentoring and skills groups, was developed for preadolescent youth in foster care. In a published randomized controlled trial with 156 youth, FHF demonstrated positive impacts on mental health functioning. The current study sought to determine whether FHF might be particularly effective in ameliorating the impact of neglectful family environments. Because it was not possible to isolate a neglected-only subgroup, as most children with physical neglect histories had experienced other types of maltreatment, we tested the hypothesis that intervention effects would be stronger among children with more severe physical neglect. Findings did not support this hypothesis, however, as severity of physical neglect did not significantly moderate the impact of the intervention on psychosocial outcomes.
Media Storytelling, Curriculum, and the Next 100 Years
Authors: Lipschultz Jeremy Harris
Published: October 2012

Journalism as an academic field in the United States has frequently changed and grown through new professions and new industries coming under its umbrella (sometimes but not always driven by technological and/or economic changes) and academic developments such as cultural studies and media studies. But journalism is still rooted in good storytelling, and social scientific and other academic approaches are, and should be, oriented toward developing, testing, and refining theory. Educators, researchers, and practitioners must collaborate more.
Can Culture Explain Culture?
Authors: Horrigmo Aase Marthe J.
Published: October 2012

This article argues that cultural explanations can help explain local policy choices. Drawing on the New Political Culture theory, the article combines three models of cultural change to explain the level of spending on cultural policies in Norwegian municipalities. In total, 430 municipalities are studied, and the results show that cultural change variables improve the understanding of local policy choices. The finding here indicates that some elements of the New Political Culture, like women’s participation, seem to be able to travel without losing their content. However, to fully be able to comprehend the level of cultural change in the Nordic context, better measures are needed.