bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gendered tensions: engineering student's resistance to communication instruction
Authors: Sullivan Katie R. , Kedrowicz April A. 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to draw from the authors’ experiences, as women teaching Communication in a College of Engineering and mechanical engineering students’ evaluations, to highlight student resistance to both practices and bodies deemed “feminine.”Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine how the masculine discipline of engineering might construct a learning environment that is incompatible with feminist ideals. This is illuminated when engineering students are required to learn communication skills from female instructors.FindingsThe authors’ analysis suggests that students’ resistance to communication instruction is gendered. Students often constructed hierarchical relationships where communication was considered “soft” in relation to the “hard” science of engineering instead of integral to the discipline and profession. Students resisted by expressing a lack of utility of information, devaluing feedback and instruction, degrading communication teachers, and questioning their bodies.Originality/valueThe paper discusses implications of a gendered educational context and suggests ways interdisciplinary instruction can be utilized to enhance gender diversity.
Internal audit and financial reporting in the Spanish banking industry
Authors: Gras‐Gil Ester , Marin‐Hernandez Salvador , Garcia‐Perez de Lema Domingo 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between a firm's internal audit function (IAF) and the quality of its financial reporting. Since regulations on corporate governance were introduced, numerous national and international bodies have emphasized the fundamental role of the IAF in the financial reporting process, especially since it generally leads to higher quality reporting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses questionnaires sent to internal audit directors of Spanish banks.FindingsBanks with high quality financial reporting have greater collaboration between internal and external auditors in the annual audit. Greater involvement of internal audit in reviewing financial reporting leads to improved quality financial reporting.Research limitations/implicationsBesides the usual caveats of survey research, there are limitations to this study. First, the problem of response bias may exist. Second, the 66 per cent survey response rate may mean that respondents have larger or better‐developed internal audit functions, affording them more opportunity or motivation to respond to the survey. Hence, the results obtained through the survey may not be generalizable to non‐respondents.Practical implicationsThe findings are relevant for bank regulators, management, boards of directors, and investors. In the current discussion on transparency, integrity and quality of financial reporting, these findings help define the issues.Originality/valuePrevious empirical studies analyse the quality of financial reporting with actors in the corporate governance mosaic (board of directors, audit committee and external audit), but they do not do so directly with the IAF. This paper extends prior banking literature that analyses quality financial reporting along with other variables, but not internal audit.
Knowledge acquisition: the roles of perceived value of knowledge content and source
Authors: Pacharapha Tullawat , Vathanophas Ractham Vichita 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to propose the factors that increase or lessen an individual's tendencies to acquire knowledge from others and uncovers the difference between an expert and a novice in the knowledge domain.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a survey method and examined hypotheses by applying the structural equation model method. The unit of analysis was an individual.FindingsThe research illustrates that individual knowledge acquisition is influenced by the recipient's perceived value of knowledge content and knowledge source. The influence differs between those who are experts and those who are novices in the acquired knowledge domain.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were collected from organizations that were willing to participate in the study and not randomly selected; the possibility that the samples were atypical of a more general population exists. This study advances theoretical development by highlighting individual knowledge acquisition which fills the gap between two main knowledge management processes, i.e. knowledge transfer and knowledge application.Practical implicationsManagement interest in enhancing knowledge exchange should pay attention to value signals both from knowledge content and knowledge source that influence acquiring knowledge by recipients.Originality/valueBy revealing the value factors associated with individual knowledge acquisition and providing empirical evidence, the study contributes to richer understanding of what should be perceived by potential knowledge recipients in order to enhance their acquiring knowledge from others.
Further insights into Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Sims Rebecca , Gerrish Amy , Williams Julie 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to give further insights into Alzheimer's disease (AD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder which accounts for 60‐80 per cent of late‐onset dementia. AD is genetically complex where three genes are known to cause the early‐onset familial form of disease and ten genes have been identified to contribute to the risk of developing late‐onset sporadic AD.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the recently identified AD susceptibility loci and outlines the various hypotheses of how these loci and the pathways in which they function may elucidate the aetiology and pathogenesis of sporadic late‐onset AD.FindingsThe loci identified to increase susceptibility to sporadic AD are not random, but instead point to defects in specific biological processes and pathways that contribute to the development of the disease. These include impairments in: innate/adaptive immunity, specifically inflammation and the complement system; endocytosis/intracellualar trafficking, which includes the internalisation of material from the cell surface and the mechanisms by which molecules are transported; and lipid processing. High levels of lipids such as cholesterol have been associated with development of AD in later life.Originality/valueThe paper highlights that determining the function of the known susceptibility loci, and establishing how they increase risk for AD will aid in the development of new treatments.
Progress in diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bayer Antony 
Published: September 2012

PurposeKnowledge of Alzheimer's disease (AD), timely recognition and good management should be the norm in all health and social care settings. This paper seeks to focus on developments in diagnosis and treatment.Design/methodology/approachKey research papers and policy documents published in the last few years are reviewed, with an emphasis on those most relevant to Wales.FindingsThe number of people with AD is predicted to steadily increase over the next 40 years. Recent policy developments have recognised the importance of better identification and management of dementia and have proposed memory clinics as the core of new services for early diagnosis and identification. Newer biomarkers of AD enable diagnosis to be made more reliably and at a stage before the patient is demented (prodromal AD). Latest guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) now recommends that the use of anticholinesterase inhibitor drugs or memantine is considered in all patients with AD. There is active research into newer treatment approaches, notably the role of cognitive rehabilitation in early dementia and the use of potentially disease‐modifying drugs such as anti‐amyloid antibodies. Unfortunately, current research funding is inadequate and only a small minority of people with AD become involved with research.Originality/valueThe paper shows that, given the growing importance of AD, there is an urgent need to boost recruitment of people with dementia into research trials. There is also a need to address ethical considerations of diagnosing prodromal AD – this is important for both the person undergoing assessment and for society as a whole.
Developing early stage researchers
Authors: Golovushkina Elena , Milligan Colin 
Published: September 2012

PurposeEmployability has been the focus of much activity at both research and policy levels within higher education. Initially focused primarily on undergraduate students, in the past few years this area has broadened to include the employability of doctoral candidates discussed within a larger debate on development of researchers. Despite a strong focus on this aspect of researcher development, discourse in this area still lacks evidence of the views of postgraduate researchers themselves on the issues of employability. In an attempt to address this gap, this paper seeks to explore the perceptions of social science doctoral candidates on a range of employability‐related issues.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 full‐time doctoral candidates in different social science disciplines at a single UK university.FindingsThe paper presents the views of social science doctoral candidates on three aspects of employability: the concept of employability and its meaning for doctoral candidates; the way they perceive their own employability skills, knowledge and attitudes; and their awareness of labour market requirements. The study highlights the importance of original motivations, goals and expectations of doctoral candidates related to doing a PhD degree with their perceptions of employability and the skills, knowledge and attitudes they expect to develop.Originality/valueThe current paper helps to shed light on the ways doctoral candidates perceive employability and identify the gaps in their awareness of the skills, knowledge and attributes required by the labour market. Addressing an important aspect of doctoral education related to development of employability, the paper argues that in order for the researcher development initiatives to be successful there is a need to account for the role of “personal”, namely motivations, intentions and views of the participants of the learning process.
Advanced nursing roles: A systematic review
Authors: Jokiniemi Krista , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Kylmä Jari , Haatainen Kaisa 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIn this systematic literature review, we analyzed and synthesized the literature on one specialized advance practice nursing role in three countries for the purpose of describing and comparing these roles, as well as discussing whether an international consensus of the advance practice nursing definition is possible. A systematic search on CINAHL and PubMed Medline was conducted in 2011 to search the literature on the nurse consultant in the UK, the clinical nurse specialist in the USA, and the clinical nurse consultant in Australia. The studies (n = 42) were analyzed and combined using qualitative content analysis method. The roles of the nurse consultant, clinical nurse specialist, and clinical nurse consultant were similar. The variation in the roles appears to derive from organizational or individual choices, not the country in question. The study process comprised a synthesized representation of one specialized advance practice nursing role. More work is needed to further define the concept of the advance practice nursing, as well as its implementation on other cultures beyond this review. Based on this review, an international consensus regarding the definition of advance practice nursing and its subroles is possible.
Diagnostic accuracy of metronome‐paced tachypnea to detect dynamic hyperinflation
Authors: Lahaije Anke J. M. C. , Willems Laura M. , van Hees Hieronymus W. H. , Dekhuijzen P. N. Richard , van Helvoort Hanneke A. C. , Heijdra Yvonne F. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryIntroductionThis prospective study was carried out to investigate if metronome‐paced tachypnea (MPT) can serve as an accurate diagnostic tool to identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are susceptible to develop dynamic hyperinflation during exercise. Commonly, this is assessed by measuring change in inspiratory capacity (IC) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), which, however, is complex and laborious.MethodsFifty‐three patients with COPD (FEV1 58 ± 22%pred) and 20 age‐matched healthy subjects were characterized by lung function testing and performed CPET (reference standard) and MPT. The repeatability coefficient of IC (10·2%) was used as cut‐off to classify subjects as hyperinflators during CPET. Subsequently, dynamic hyperinflation was measured after MPT. With receiver operating characteristic analysis, the optimal cut‐off for MPT‐induced dynamic hyperinflation was determined and sensitivity and specificity of MPT to identify hyperinflators were evaluated.ResultsWith 10·2% decrease in IC as cut‐off for CPET‐induced dynamic hyperinflation, the optimal cut‐off for MPT was 11·1% decrease in IC. Using these cut‐offs, MPT had a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 85% to identify the subjects who hyperinflated during CPET.ConclusionsThe MPT test shows good overall accuracy to identify subjects who are susceptible to develop dynamic hyperinflation during CPET. Before considering the use of MPT as a screening tool for dynamic hyperinflation in COPD, sensitivity and specificity need further evaluation.
Birth Outcomes Associated with Receipt of Group Prenatal Care Among Low‐Income Hispanic Women
Authors: Tandon S. Darius , Colon Lucinda , Vega Patricia , Murphy Jeanne , Alonso Alina 
Published: September 2012

Introduction: Although Hispanic women in the United States have preterm birth and low‐birth‐weight rates comparable to non‐Hispanic white women, their rates fall short of 2010 Healthy People goals, with variability found across states. This study examined the effectiveness of the CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care model in reducing preterm birth and low‐birth‐weight rates for Hispanic women.Methods: Pregnant Hispanic women at less than or equal to 20 weeks, gestation initiating prenatal care between January 2008 to July 2009 at 2 Palm Beach County, Florida, public health clinics selected either group or traditional prenatal care. Data on neonatal birth weight and gestational age were obtained through abstraction of Palm Beach County Health Department medical records. Records were abstracted for 97% of CenteringPregnancy (n = 150) and 94% of traditional care (n = 66) participants.Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the percentage of women giving birth to preterm neonates (5% group prenatal care vs 13% traditional care; P= .04). There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of women having a low‐birth‐weight neonate when group and traditional care participants were compared.Discussion: The CenteringPregnancy model holds promise for improving the birth outcomes of Hispanic women. Future research should be conducted with larger sample sizes to replicate study findings using experimental designs and incorporating formal cost‐effectiveness analyses.
Titania Nanoparticle Suspension for Fabrication of Micrometer Feature Arrays via a Template‐Assisted Approach
Authors: Liang Yongxuan , Lu Kathy 
Published: September 2012

In this study, TiO2 nanoparticle suspensions are guided by templated molds to fabricate micrometer feature patterns and arrays. The effects of PEG with different molecular weights on suspension flowability and surface wettability between the PDMS molds and the TiO2 suspensions on pattern formation are investigated. PEG 400 is the most desirable dispersant. The suspensions have the best wetting on the mold surface with 3 wt% TX‐100 addition. Micrometer feature arrays with feature sizes ranging from 750 nm to 1.5 μm are obtained. Fundamental understanding, regarding suspension flowability, wetting, and the ability to make different feature sizes and shapes, is discussed.
Factors affecting farmers’ adoption of integrated rice–fish farming systems in the Mekong delta, Vietnam
Authors: Bosma Roel H. , Nhan Dang K. , Udo Henk M. J. , Kaymak Uzay 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis study investigated the determinants of the adoption of improved rice–fish farming systems in the Mekong delta to support policy making, agricultural land‐use planning and extension of integrated rice–fish farming. Recently these systems have been referred to as adaptations to climate change, while traditional rice–fish systems have often been abandoned. In 2006, we carried out surveys among 94 farmers either practising rice monoculture or having an improved rice–fish system. We analysed data among others with binary logistic regression and simulated adoption by using fuzzy logic. Per capita and per hectare incomes of households practising rice–fish systems were nearly double, while their farm size was 1.3 times larger than that of the rice monoculture farms. Households with larger homesteads, i.e. neighbouring irrigated fields and ponds, better access to financial capital and more know‐how of rice and fish culture and their integration, were more likely to adopt rice–fish systems. Previously identified drivers and factors for adoption, such as an appropriate agro‐ecological context and the farmer’s education and training level, were confirmed. Promoting rice–fish systems needs participatory extension and research approaches for sustainable agriculture strategies such as integrated pest management (IPM) in which farmers, trainers and researchers optimize technologies in constantly changing contexts.
Distributing Who Gets What and Why: Four Normative Approaches to Global Health
Authors: Brown Garrett Wallace 
Published: September 2012

AbstractWhen surveying policy documents on global health one is often struck by a general lack of theorizing about why we have moral duties to promote equitable global health initiatives and in regards to what prioritized values should represent the satisfaction of these moral duties. Although there is general agreement that current inequalities in global health provision exist, and agreement that some form of response is necessary, there is little consensus about what should be done to rectify this situation. The purpose of this article is to explore four normative arguments about why we might have global health responsibilities and to examine their relationship with distributive principles for the alleviation of global health inequalities. Through this examination it will be argued that current theorizing about global health rests on opposing ontological perspectives about what global health should prioritize and that these presuppositions result in distinctively antagonistic normative demands about how we should distribute, who gets what and why.Policy Implications Creating a more equitable distribution of global health requires policy makers to seriously rethink the key presuppositions, assumption and biases that underpin and perpetuate the inequalities involved with current global health policy. In rethinking global health policy – and if we believe reaching some level of health equity to be a morally important endeavor – then greater commitments to the distributive and deliberative properties of cosmopolitan developmental partnerships will be required. To this end, global health equity will require cosmopolitan commitments to individual health beyond state and civilizational boundaries, a renewed focus on the social determinants of health, key reforms to unjust global economic practices, and the reformation of global decision making toward more inclusive and deliberative governance formations.
Type I Interferon Induction during Influenza Virus Infection Increases Susceptibility to Secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection by Negative Regulation of γδ T Cells
Authors: Li Wenjing , Moltedo Bruno , Moran Thomas M. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

The majority of deaths following influenza virus infection result from secondary bacterial superinfection, most commonly caused by
Streptococcus pneumoniae
. Several models have been proposed to explain how primary respiratory viral infections exacerbate secondary bacterial disease, but the mechanistic explanations have been contradictory. In this study, mice were infected with
S. pneumoniae
at different days after primary influenza A (X31) virus infection. Our findings show that the induction of type I interferons (IFNs) during a primary nonlethal influenza virus infection is sufficient to promote a deadly
S. pneumoniae
secondary infection. Moreover, mice deficient in type I interferon receptor (IFNAR knockout [KO] mice) effectively cleared the secondary bacterial infection from their lungs, increased the recruitment of neutrophils, and demonstrated an enhanced innate expression of interleukin-17 (IL-17) relative to wild-type (WT) mice. Lung γδ T cells were responsible for almost all IL-17 production, and their function is compromised during secondary
S. pneumoniae
infection of WT but not IFNAR KO mice. Adoptive transfer of γδ T cells from IFNAR KO mice reduced the susceptibility to secondary
S. pneumoniae
infection in the lung of WT mice. Altogether, our study highlights the importance of type I interferon as a key master regulator that is exploited by opportunistic pathogens such as
S. pneumoniae
. Our findings may be utilized to design effective preventive and therapeutic strategies that may be beneficial for coinfected patients during influenza epidemics.
A comparison of individual versus community influences on youth smoking behaviours: a cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Adachi-Mejia Anna M , Carlos Heather A , Berke Ethan M , Tanski Susanne E , Sargent James D 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesTo compare individual with community risk factors for adolescent smoking.DesignA cross-sectional observational study with multivariate analysis.SettingNational telephone survey.Participants3646 US adolescents aged 13–18 years in 2007 recruited through a random digit-dial survey.Outcome measuresEver tried smoking and, among experimental smokers, smoking intensity (based on smoking in past 30 days).ResultsOne-third of participants (35.6%, N=1297) had tried smoking. After controlling for individual risk factors, neither tobacco outlet density nor proximity were associated with tried smoking or smoking intensity. Associations with trying smoking included age (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.23, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.31), lower socioeconomic status (AOR=0.82, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.91), sibling smoking (AOR=2.13, 95% CI 1.75 to 2.59), friend smoking (AOR=2.60, 95% CI 2.19 to 3.10 for some and AOR=7.01, 95% CI 5.05 to 9.74 for most), movie smoking exposure (AOR=2.66, 95% CI 1.95 to 3.63), team sports participation (AOR=0.69, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.89) and sensation seeking (AOR=7.72, 95% CI 5.26 to 11.34). Among experimental smokers, age (AOR=1.32, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.44), minority status (AOR=0.48, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.79 for Black; AOR=0.46, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.69 for Hispanic; AOR=0.53, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.85 for mixed race/other), friend smoking (AOR=3.37, 95% CI 2.37 to 4.81 for some; AOR=20.27, 95% CI 13.22 to 31.08 for most), team sports participation (AOR=0.38, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.55) and sensation seeking (AOR=6.57, 95% CI 3.71 to 11.64) were associated with smoking intensity.ConclusionsThe study suggests that interventions and policies to prevent and reduce youth smoking should focus on individual risk factors for smoking, including supporting participation in team sports, minimising exposure to movie smoking, addressing the social influence of friend smoking and addressing experience seeking among high sensation-seekers.