bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evidence-Based Medicine of Traumatic Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: A Systematic Review of Operative Management across 20 Years
Authors: Scheer Justin K. , Bakhsheshian Joshua , Fakurnejad Shayan , Oh Taemin , Dahdaleh Nader S. , Smith Zachary A. 
Published: November 2014

Study Design Systematic literature review. Objective The management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBF) remains challenging, and analyzing the levels of evidence (LOEs) for treatment practices can reform the decision-making process. However, no review has yet evaluated the operative management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures with particular attention placed on LOE from an established methodology. The objective of the present study was to characterize the literature evidence for TLBF, specifically for operative management. Methods A comprehensive search of the English literature over the past 20 years was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE). The inclusion criteria consisted of (1) traumatic burst fractures (2) in the thoracic or lumbar spine. Exclusion criteria included (1) osteoporotic burst fractures, (2) pathologic burst fractures, (3) cervical fractures, (4) biomechanical studies or those involving cadavers, and (5) computer-based studies. Studies were assigned an LOE and those meeting level 1 or 2 were included. Results From 1,138 abstracts, 272 studies met the criteria. Twenty-three studies (8.5%) met level 1 ( n = 4, 1.5%) or 2 ( n = 19, 7.0%) criteria. All 23 studies were reported. Conclusions The literature contains a high LOE to support the operative management of traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures. For patients who are neurologically intact, a high LOE demonstrated similar functional outcomes, lower complication rates, and less costs with conservative management when compared with surgical management. There is a high LOE for short- or long-segment pedicle instrumentation without fusion and less invasive (percutaneous and paraspinal) approaches. Furthermore, the posterior approaches are associated with lower complications as opposed to the anterior or combined approaches.
Community interpreting and translation in the Arab World
Authors: Taibi Mustapha 
Published: November 2014

Community interpreting and translation enable public service providers and users to communicate in situations where they do not share the same language. These professions are essential for social equity and egalitarian access to legal, health, education and other services. Many countries with significant numbers of migrants or autochthonous language minorities have developed more or less satisfactory services and standards in this burgeoning subfield of translation and interpreting. Instances can be identified of countries that have made significant progress (e.g., Australia, Canada and Sweden) as well as of those which started only recently (e.g., Spain and Italy). In Arab countries, however, one can hardly find a reference to this subfield of translation studies, although situations requiring such interpreting and translation services are numerous.
This paper describes and raises awareness of the status quo of community interpreting and translation in the Arab World. Three examples are focused on: Morocco as a country with a national language minority, the United Arab Emirates, as an affluent country hosting migrants, and Saudi Arabia, a country with a special religious position which hosts millions of pilgrims every year. The paper also includes recommendations based on migration and pilgrimage statistics and the experiences of the pioneering countries above.
Developing a method for cross-cultural dialogue with Chinese
Authors: Wyse Marion 
Published: November 2014

China is inviting foreigners into what was a closed society. Few are prepared for what they meet. This article hopes to help with an updated method of dialogue produced by Xiamen University’s doctoral class in Cultural Linguistics, using the “Dialogue Decalogue” of Dr. Leonard Swidler and the Harvard Negotiation Project as models developed in Mediterranean-based cultures.
After re-defining ‘negotiate’ and ‘dialogue’, the group examined the five preconditions and found little that matched Chinese assumptions. They then restated Swidler’s ten steps to include Chinese assumptions using linguistics and historical precedent.
The language barrier is formidable, and the habit of closing out ‘outsiders’ runs deep. The hermeneutic of suspicion must be applied to anything learned due to the tendency of a Chinese to say what s/he thinks the conversation partner wants to hear. This is viewed as non-productive by Mediterranean-based cultures.
Hydrocellular foam dressings promote wound healing associated with decrease in inflammation in rat periwound skin and granulation tissue, compared with hydrocolloid dressings
Authors: Yamane Takumi , Nakagami Gojiro , Yoshino Sawako , Shimura Mari , Kitamura Aya , Kobayashi-Hattori Kazuo , Oishi Yuichi , Nishijima Yoshimi , Minematsu Takeo , Sanada Hiromi 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The effects of modern dressings on inflammation, which represent the earliest phase of wound healing, are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of modern hydrocellular foam dressings (HCFs) on wound healing and on the gene expression levels of the inflammatory markers—interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10—in rat periwound skin and granulation tissue by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HCF absorbed significantly higher volume of water than hydrocolloid dressing (HCD) and increased the contraction of wounds. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils were massively infiltrated to the wound edge and boarded between granulation and dermis in the HCD group. IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the periwound skin around the wounds and granulation tissue covered with HCF. These findings suggest that HCF may promote wound healing along with decrease in inflammation by reducing gene expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10.
Guidance for the Knowledge and Skills Required for Antimicrobial Stewardship Leaders
Authors: Cosgrove Sara E. , Hermsen Elizabeth D. , Rybak Michael J. , File Thomas M. , Parker Sarah K. , Barlam Tamar F. 
Published: November 2014

Antimicrobial stewardship programs are increasingly recognized as critical in optimizing the use of antimicrobials. Consequently, more physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers are developing and implementing such programs in a variety of healthcare settings. The purpose of this guidance document is to outline the knowledge and skills that are needed to lead an antimicrobial stewardship program. It was developed by antimicrobial stewardship experts from organizations that are engaged in advancing the field of antimicrobial stewardship.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1444–1451
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Precursor Organisms in Southeastern Michigan
Authors: Albrecht Valerie S. , Zervos Marcus J. , Kaye Keith S. , Tosh Pritish K. , Arshad Samia , Hayakawa Kayoko , Kallen Alexander J. , McDougal Linda K. , Limbago Brandi M. , Guh Alice Y. 
Published: November 2014

We assessed for vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) precursor organisms in southeastern Michigan, an area known to have VRSA. The prevalence was 2.5% (pSK41-positive methicillin-resistant S. aureus, 2009–2011) and 1.5% (Inc18-positive vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, 2006–2013); Inc18 prevalence significantly decreased after 2009 (3.7% to 0.82%). Risk factors for pSK41 included intravenous vancomycin exposure.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1531–1534
To use or not to use? SDM utilisation in the development of LMS in South Africa
Authors: van Aswegen Kobus , Huisman Magda , Taylor Estelle 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study was to determine if Systems Development Methodologies (SDMs) are being utilised effectively in the development of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in South Africa. With e-learning being a critical component of modern educational systems, it has become essential to ensure that LMSs of a high standard are being developed. In the field of SDMs, much research has been done and the value of SDMs is proven and documented. To enhance the chances of developing LMSs of outstanding quality, it is crucial that SDMs are applied efficiently, as they can have a significant impact on the development process.

Design/methodology/approach
– A positivistic research approach was followed. By utilising a survey as the main research method, quantitative data were generated. By statistically analysing the dataset, meaningful results were obtained.

Findings
– This study shed some light on how LMS procurement and development is being done in South Africa and revealed that the use of open-source systems currently exceeds the use of proprietary systems. The results of the research showed that SDMs (e.g. Rapid Application Development) are being used effectively in the development of e-learning systems. Strong relationships exist between many of the SDM factors identified (e.g. performance expectancy and the perceived support of the methodology) and the quality and productivity of the development process. This, in turn, has a strong influence on the impact SDMs have on the quality of LMSs.

Originality/value
– The study made a contribution to the discipline of information systems and, more specifically, LMSs, by providing insights with regard to the factors affecting the use and effectiveness of SDMs in developing LMSs. As far as could be ascertained, this study generated the first empirical data on the procurement and development of LMSs in South Africa.
An active e-book to foster self-regulation in music education
Authors: Andrea Ludovico Luca , Rita Mangione Giuseppina 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this work is to analyze the concept of self-regulated learning and applying it to a web-based interface for music teaching.Design/methodology/approach– This work starts from a systematic review about music education and self-regulation during learning processes. Then, the paper identifies those meta-cognitive strategies that music students should adopt during their instrumental practice. The goal is applying such concepts to rethink the structure of a didactic e-book for instrumental music education. Thanks to the adoption of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1599 standard, the paper outlines a model of active e-book able to improve learners’ performances through proper cognitive and multi-modal scaffolds. In the last section, the design principles for an implementation will be proposed.Findings– This work applies theoretical research on self-regulated learning to the design and implementation of a working prototype.Research limitations/implications– A limitation is the lack of experimentation data, required to test the efficacy and effectiveness of the proposed e-book model and its impact on self-regulated music abilities. A validation strategy – e.g. based on scenarios – will be proposed in our future works, thanks to the support of music learning centres and focus groups composed by young Italian students.Originality/value– This work has been invited as an extension of the paper presented by the authors at EL2014 International Conference held in Lisbon. The previous work has been awarded as the best paper of the conference. In this extension, the authors provide further details about the proposed framework, highlighting in particular the implementation of scaffolds in the interface.
An investigation of secondary school students’ attitudes toward pedagogical use of ICT in learning in Ghana
Authors: Buabeng-Andoh Charles , Yidana Issifu 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to investigate secondary school students’ pedagogical use of information communication and technologies (ICT), their attitudes toward integration of ICT and the differences in their attitudes based on gender, school type and location.

Design/methodology/approach
– The data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis.

Findings
– The study revealed that students’ use of ICT to support their learning was low. Students mostly used ICT to communicate with peers. Students’ methods of assimilating knowledge were through teacher-centred teaching, even though they somewhat used ICT for collaborative and inquiry learning. Students in public schools perceived the use of ICT more valuable than students in private schools. Also, the study provided evidence that students in urban and rural schools differed in their attitudes in terms of perceived value and cost of ICT use, but no differences in attitude in terms of expectancy of success were found to exist among students in all locations.

Originality/value
– The study provided further evidence that the value of ICT positively related to students’ pedagogical use of ICT, but the effect was very limited. This implies that although students have positive attitudes toward the benefits of ICT in learning; many do not integrate the technology into their learning. Lastly, the study was able to provide additional evidence that perceived cost negatively related to students’ pedagogical use of technology, but the result was very small. This indicates that since many students do not utilize ICT in their learning they rarely encounter barriers or challenges when it comes to the integration of the technology into their studies.
Conservation of passively dispersed organisms in the context of habitat degradation and destruction
Authors: Teller Brittany J. , Miller Adam D. , Shea Katriona 
Published: November 2014

Summary

Passively dispersed species, such as many plant species, rely on abiotic forces to achieve movement. Despite the fact that such species form the base of many terrestrial and oceanic food webs, these species are often overlooked by conservation management plans because it is assumed that they are dispersed easily and widely, and therefore are relatively unthreatened by anthropogenic influences in comparison with poorly dispersing species.

To quantify the threat presented by habitat degradation and destruction to passively dispersed species, we present a theoretical population model of passively dispersed organisms that incorporates the effects of increased dispersal‐associated mortality. We examine how the effects of habitat degradation and destruction depend on species’ dispersal tactics, specifically: highly dispersive, highly retentive or spatially biased.

Contrary to prevailing intuition, highly dispersive species may suffer the strongest absolute negative demographic effects in the face of changes in human‐modified landscapes. These results suggest that passively dispersed organisms may be more threatened by landscape modification than previously thought, and should be more carefully considered in plans for conservation and management.

Synthesis and applications. Since passively dispersed species cannot choose their ultimate settling location, they are therefore less likely to arrive at suitable habitat in landscapes that are degraded or destroyed. If we do not understand the implications for population dynamics of demographic costs of dispersal in fragmented landscapes, we may fail to predict declines of apparently widespread species, including many wind‐dispersed plants and insects, benthic invertebrates and airborne microbes. Conservation and management plans should consider loss of propagules to unsuitable habitat for highly dispersive as well as poorly dispersive species, to avoid potential errors.
Unsophisticated Arbitrageurs and Market Efficiency: Overreacting to a History of Underreaction?
Authors: MILIAN JONATHAN A. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTPrior research has documented that arbitrage activity significantly reduces or eliminates stock market anomalies. However, if anomalies arise due to unsophisticated investors’ behavioral biases, then these same biases can also apply to unsophisticated arbitrageurs and thereby disrupt the arbitrage process. Consistent with a disruption in the arbitrage process for the post‐earnings announcement drift anomaly, I document that the historically positive autocorrelation in firms’ earnings announcement news has become significantly negative for firms with active exchange‐traded options. For these easy‐to‐arbitrage firms, the firms in the highest decile of prior earnings announcement abnormal return (prior earnings surprise), on average, underperform the firms in the lowest decile by 1.59% (1.43%) at their next earnings announcement. Additional analyses are consistent with investors learning about the post‐earnings announcement drift anomaly and overcompensating. This study suggests that unsophisticated attempts to profit from a well‐known anomaly can significantly reverse a previously documented stock return pattern.
Dynamic Characteristics of Signatures: Effects of Writer Style on Genuine and Simulated Signatures
Authors: Mohammed Linton , Found Bryan , Caligiuri Michael , Rogers Doug 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe aims of this study were to determine if computer‐measured dynamic features (duration, size, velocity, jerk, and pen pressure) differ between genuine and simulated signatures. Sixty subjects (3 equal groups of 3 signature styles) each provided 10 naturally written (genuine) signatures. Each of these subjects then provided 15 simulations of each of three model signatures. The genuine (N = 600) and simulated (N = 2700) signatures were collected using a digitizing tablet. MovAlyzeR® software was used to estimate kinematic parameters for each pen stroke. Stroke duration, velocity, and pen pressure were found to discriminate between genuine and simulated signatures regardless of the simulator's own style of signature or the style of signature being simulated. However, there was a significant interaction between style and condition for size and jerk (a measure of smoothness). The results of this study, based on quantitative analysis and dynamic handwriting features, indicate that the style of the simulator's own signature and the style of signature being simulated can impact the characteristics of handwriting movements for simulations. Writer style characteristics might therefore need to be taken into consideration as potentially significant when evaluating signature features with a view to forming opinions regarding authenticity.
Comparison of the Columnar‐Thin‐Film and Vacuum‐Metal‐Deposition Techniques to Develop Sebaceous Fingermarks on Nonporous Substrates,
Authors: Williams Stephanie F. , Pulsifer Drew P. , Shaler Robert C. , Ramotowski Robert S. , Brazelle Shelly , Lakhtakia Akhlesh 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBoth the columnar‐thin‐film (CTF) and the vacuum‐metal‐deposition (VMD) techniques for visualizing sebaceous fingermarks require the deposition of a material thereon in a vacuum chamber. Despite that similarity, there are many differences between the two techniques. The film deposited with the CTF technique has a columnar morphology, but the film deposited with the VMD technique comprises discrete islands. A split‐print methodology on a variety of fingermarked substrates was used to determine that the CTF technique is superior for developing fingermarks on clear sandwich bags and partial bloody fingermarks on stainless steel. Both techniques are similar in their ability to develop fingermarks on glass but the CTF technique yields higher contrast. The VMD technique is superior for developing fingermarks on white grocery bags and the smooth side of Gloss Finish Scotch Multitask™ tape. Neither technique worked well for fingermarks on black garbage bags.
The Accuracy of Handheld Pre‐Arrest Breath Test Instruments as a Predictor of the Evidential Breath Alcohol Test Results
Authors: Polissar Nayak L. , Suwanvijit Wassana , Gullberg Rod G. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractDrunk driving is a serious threat to public safety. All available and appropriate tools for curbing this threat should be employed to their full extent. The handheld pre‐arrest breath test instrument (PBT) is one tool for identifying the alcohol‐impaired driver and enforcing drunk driving legislation. A set of data was evaluated (n = 1779) where the PBT instrument was employed in drunk driving arrests to develop a multivariate predictive model. When maintained and operated by trained personnel, the PBT provides a reasonable estimate of the evidential test result within the relevant forensic range (95% prediction interval: ± 0.003 g/210 L). ROC analysis shows that a multivariate model for PBT prediction of the evidentiary alcohol concentration above versus below the legal limit of 0.08 g/210 L has excellent performance with an AUC of 0.96. These results would be of value in evidential hearings seeking to admit the PBT results in drunk driving trials.
An Investigation into the Effects of Force Applied During Deposition on Latent Fingermarks and Inked Fingerprints Using a Variable Force Fingerprint Sampler
Authors: Fieldhouse Sarah J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPhysical factors, including the magnitude of the force applied during fingermark deposition, may affect friction ridge surface area and clarity, and the quantity of residue transferred. Consistency between fingermarks may be required; for example, in research projects, yet differences between marks are likely to exist when physical factors are not controlled. Inked fingerprints and latent fingermarks were deposited at 1–10 N at 1 N increments using a variable force fingerprint sampler to control the force, angle of friction ridge and surface contact, and the duration of friction ridge and surface contact. Statistically significant differences existed between the length and width measurements of the inked prints (p ≤ 0.05), particularly at lower forces. Scanning electron microscopy and surface plot analysis demonstrated how differences in force applied during deposition affected ridge surface area, displacement of latent residue, and differences in the quantity of residue transferred. Consistency between inked prints was demonstrated at equivalent forces.