bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Concordance facilitates access in diabetes care—service provider perspectives of service improvement and cultural competency
Authors: Wilkinson E. , Randhawa G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAims  Inequalities between different ethnic groups in diabetes care and outcomes are well documented in the UK. This research sought to explore and understand how national and local policy interventions impacted upon access and the development of culturally competent diabetes services from the care provider perspective.Methods  This paper describes the care provider perspective of access to diabetes care in ethnically mixed populations from a thematic analysis of 14 semi‐structured interviews conducted with professionals, at three study sites, with different roles in the diabetes care pathway.Results  National policy level initiatives to improve quality have led to quality improvements at a practical level. These achievements, however, have been unable to address all aspects of care that service providers identified as important in facilitating access for all patient groups. Concordance emerged as a key process in improving access to care within local systems and barriers to this exist at different levels and are greater for some groups of patients compared with others.Conclusions  Concordance is a key concept that underpins access and cultural competency in diabetes service improvement. A focus on concordance at different levels within local systems may improve access to quality diabetes care for ethnic minority groups.
Marching to Different Tunes: Commitment and Culture as Mobilizing Mechanisms of Trade Unions and Community Organizations
Authors: Tapia Maite 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis study examines mobilizing mechanisms using a British community organization and a British trade union as exemplars. Although there has been substantial work on union revitalization on the one hand, and the emergence of alternative, community organizations on the other, no study has compared the challenges these organizations face in encouraging member mobilization. The findings illustrate how the trade union engages in a service‐driven culture, cultivating instrumental commitment between the members and the union. The community organization, in contrast, engages in a relational culture and exemplifies a form of social commitment between the members and the group. As a result, different types of commitment and organizational cultures help explain why sustained member mobilization within a trade union is harder to achieve than within a community organization.
Feature‐Preserving Displacement Mapping With Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Tessellation
Authors: Jang Hanyoung , Han JungHyun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractDisplacement mapping reconstructs a high‐frequency surface by adding geometric details encoded in the displacement map to the coarse base surface. In the context of hardware tessellation supported by GPUs, this paper aims at feature‐preserving surface reconstruction, and proposes the generation of a displacement map that displaces more vertices towards the higher‐frequency feature parts of the target mesh. In order to generate the feature‐preserving displacement map, surface features of the target mesh are estimated, and then the target mesh is parametrized and sampled using the features. At run time, the base surface is semi‐uniformly tessellated by hardware, and then the vertices of the tessellated mesh are displaced non‐uniformly along the 3‐D vectors stored in the displacement map. The experimental results show that the surfaces reconstructed by the proposed method are of a higher quality than those reconstructed by other methods.
Masculinities, ‘guy talk’ and ‘manning up’: a discourse analysis of how young men talk about sexual health
Authors: Knight Rod , Shoveller Jean A. , Oliffe John L. , Gilbert Mark , Frank Blye , Ogilvie Gina 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSexually transmitted infection testing rates among young men remain low, and their disengagement from sexual health services has been linked to enactments of masculinity that prohibit or truncate discussions of sexual health. Understanding how men align with multiple masculinities is therefore important for tailoring interventions that appropriately respond to their needs. We draw on 32 in‐depth interviews with 15–24‐year‐old men to explore the discourses that facilitate or shut down sexual health communication with peers and sex partners. We employ a critical discourse analysis to explore how men’s conversations about sexual health are constituted by masculine hierarchies (such as the ways in which masculinities influence men’s ability to construct or challenge and contest dominant discourses about sexual health). Men’s conversations about sexual health focused primarily around their sexual encounters – something frequently referred to as ‘guy talk’. Also described were situations whereby participants employed a discourse of ‘manning up’ to (i) exert power over others with disregard for potential repercussions and (ii) deploy power to affirm and reify their own hyper‐masculine identities, while using their personal (masculine) power to help others (who are subordinate in the social ordering of men). By better understanding how masculine discourses are employed by men, their sexual health needs can be advanced.
DOES FIRM AGGLOMERATION DRIVE PRODUCT INNOVATION AND RENEWAL? AN APPLICATION FOR BELGIUM
Authors: DE BEULE FILIP , VAN BEVEREN ILKE 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper uses data from the Community Innovation Survey for Belgium to evaluate to what extent firms located in sectors and regions characterised by high employment concentration innovate more. We analyse the innovative performance of Belgian firms and relate it to agglomeration measures, as well as to a number of control variables. Our findings show a positive impact of localisation and urbanisation economies on firm‐level innovation output, lending support to the hypothesis that firms can benefit from their location within regions/sectors characterised by high employment concentration. In an analysis of low, medium, and high‐tech manufacturing and service industries, localisation economies are shown to improve firms' innovativeness only for low‐tech manufacturing and service sectors, while urbanisation externalities are shown to matter more for high‐tech service sectors. This suggests that localisation economies can be an important source of competitiveness for low‐tech sectors, while urbanisation economies improve innovativeness of high‐tech service firms.
HYSTERESIS IN THE DYNAMICS OF EMPLOYMENT
Authors: Mota Paulo R. , Varejão José , Vasconcelos Paulo B. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we derive a micro model of employment demand with hysteresis whereby firms can adjust along an intensive (employment) and an extensive (hours of work) margin. A mechanism of aggregation over heterogeneous firms is used to generate the corresponding aggregate dynamics. Longitudinal micro monthly data on a representative sample of Portuguese manufacturing firms are used in the empirical analysis. Our results indicate that signs of hysteresis found at the micro level do not vanish completely by aggregation and that hysteresis is magnified by the existence of an additional margin of adjustment (the hours adjustment margin).
Social Networks, Segregation and Poverty in São Paulo
Authors: MARQUES EDUARDO 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe associations between segregation and urban poverty have been intensely scrutinized by the sociology and urban studies literatures. More recently, several studies have emphasized the importance of social networks for living conditions. Yet relatively few studies have tested the precise effects of social networks, and fewer still have focused on the joint effects of residential segregation and social networks on living conditions. This article explores the associations between networks, segregation and some of the most important dimensions of access to goods and services obtained in markets: escaping from social precariousness and obtaining monetary income. It is based on a study of the personal networks of 209 individuals living in situations of poverty in seven locales in the metropolitan area of São Paulo. Using network analysis and multivariate techniques, I show that relational settings strongly influence the access individuals have to markets, leading some individuals into worse living conditions and poverty. At the same time, although segregation plays an important role in poverty, its effects tend to be mediated by the networks in which individuals are embedded. Networks in this sense may enhance or mitigate the effects of isolation produced by space.RésuméLes associations entre ségrégation et pauvreté urbaine ont fait l'objet d'études sociologiques et urbaines nombreuses et poussées. Plus récemment, l'incidence des réseaux sociaux sur les conditions de vie a été mise en évidence. Pourtant, peu de travaux ont testé les effets précis de ces réseaux, et moins encore ont été consacrés aux effets combinés de la ségrégation résidentielle et des réseaux sociaux sur les conditions de vie. Cet article explore comment se combinent réseaux, ségrégation et certaines des dimensions essentielles de l'accès aux biens et services obtenus sur des marchés (échapper à la précarité sociale et se procurer un revenu monétaire). Il s'appuie sur une étude des réseaux personnels de 209 individus en situation de pauvreté dans sept endroits de la zone métropolitaine de São Paulo. Grâce à une analyse de réseaux et aux méthodes à plusieurs variables, il est montré que les contextes relationnels influencent fortement l'accès des individus aux marchés, provoquant une aggravation des conditions de vie et de la pauvreté chez certains. Parallèlement, même si la ségrégation pèse nettement sur la pauvreté, ses effets ont tendance àêtre modulés par les réseaux dont les individus font partie. Dans ce sens, les réseaux sont susceptibles de renforcer ou d'atténuer les conséquences de l'isolement d'origine spatiale.
Psoriasis prevalence among the 2009 AAD National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program participants
Authors: Lima X.T. , Minnillo R. , Spencer J.M. , Kimball A.B. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  Validated epidemiological estimates of the prevalence of skin diseases remain an unmet challenge. Most patients in many health care systems do not see dermatologists for skin problems. Assessments based on claims data or self‐report are likely to contain substantial misclassification. Population‐based in‐person dermatological exams have proven impractical because of the number of patients required. However, in the US, there is a large skin cancer screening program where volunteer dermatologists assess almost 100 000 people annually.Objective  To evaluate the utility of this program for the assessment of other diseases.Methods  Information concerning prior diagnosis of psoriasis, type of insurance and physician’s current assessment of psoriasis was captured as part of the American Academy of Dermatology National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program. A modified form was provided to a subset of participant sites. Overall and subgroup prevalence of psoriasis was analysed. Crude and adjusted results are presented for comparison to the US population.Results  Among the 2991 participants, 86% answered the self‐report psoriasis question. A previous diagnosis of psoriasis was reported by 5.1% of them. This proportion was greater than the prevalence of physician documented diagnosis of psoriasis (2.8%). Analyses with different assumptions to account for missing values and weighting based on US population estimates yielded prevalence values ranging from 1.2% to 3.4%.Conclusion  This project, although limited by missing data, is consistent with previous findings that psoriasis prevalence is between 2.2% and 4.6% in the US. It demonstrates the potential to evaluate prevalence of other skin conditions through existing national activities.
Reaction time as an indicator of stimulus‐response binding in affective judgment of visual stimuli1
Authors: KIMURA ATSUSHI , DAN IPPEITA , WATANABE NOBUYUKI , YAMADA HIROSHI , WADA YUJI 
Published: April 2012

AbstractConventional studies on affective meanings have been conducted using the semantic differential technique. Although it offers reasonably valid and reliable measures for the bindings between visual stimuli and affective responses, it is dependent on subjective rating. Thus, the present study examined whether the reaction time (RT) of affective judgments for visual stimuli (color, shape, and facial expression) can be an objective indicator of the strength of stimuli‐response bindings. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) RTs for judging Evaluation were longer regardless of stimulus type; (b) RTs for Activity were shorter regardless of stimulus type; and (c) RTs for Lightness and Sharpness depended on stimulus type. These phenomena are consistent with the findings of previous affective meaning studies, suggesting that the RTs for affective judgments can be useful indicators reflecting the strength of the bindings between stimulus properties and affective meanings across various target stimuli and rating scales.
Simulation of hydrology following various volumes of irrigation to soil with different depths to the water table
Authors: Huo Z. , Feng S. , Dai X. , Zheng Y. , Wang Y. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractVertical water fluxes at the water table and in the subsoil need to be quantified because of their significance for the supply of water to crops and the control of soil salinization in areas with shallow groundwater. A soil–water–atmosphere–plant (SWAP) model was calibrated using measured values of soil water content and the water fluxes at the water table. The measurements were taken in a field experiment where the depth to groundwater and the volume of irrigation water applied were controlled. The calibrated SWAP model was then used to simulate the soil water content and fluxes at the water table and in the subsoil under different irrigation and groundwater conditions. The predicted values provided a quantitative insight into specific terms in the water balance equation together with soil water fluxes in the subsoil that cannot be measured directly by field instruments. Crops utilized significant amounts of water from deeper soil layers and directly from groundwater, when the volume of irrigation decreased and the depth to the water table was <3.0 m. Depth to the water table significantly influenced water fluxes occurring in the soil profile over the period when evaporation dominated the hydrological cycle. Shallow groundwater is a very significant water resource for meeting the water requirement of crops. In practice, the frequency and quantity of irrigation need to be varied according to groundwater conditions.
Assessment of co‐blending water treatment residual with dairy manure to reduce phosphorus concentrations in run‐off in Northern Ireland
Authors: O’Rourke S. M. , Foy R. H. , Watson C. J. , Gordon A. , Doody D. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractLosses of phosphorus (P) to water that follow manure applications can be high while water treatment residuals (WTR) have an appreciable capacity to sorb soluble P which is an important risk factor in determining the susceptibility of manure P to run‐off losses. The objective of this study was to assess whether co‐blending WTR with dairy cow manure prior to surface application would reduce P concentrations in run‐off from grassland. An alum‐derived WTR was collected from a water treatment works (WTW), dried and characterized for its phosphorus sorption capacity (PSC) based on oxalate‐extractable Al and Fe. Multipoint P sorption isotherms were used to calculate the Langmuir P sorption maximum (Pmax) and equilibrium P concentration (EPC0). The WTR contained 170 g Alox/kg and 2.2 g Feox/kg with a nominal long‐term PSC of 118 g/kg. Following a 6 day incubation of WTR, the Langmuir Pmax was 82.6 g/kg and the EPC0 of 0.13 mg P/L. Laboratory incubations of manure co‐blended with WTR indicated that 144 g WTR/kg dry matter (DM) manure significantly lowered (P < 0.001) manure WSP by 71.5 ± 16.6% after 108 h, but lower WTR mixing rates of 72 and 36 g WTR/kg had no statistical effect on manure WSP. Results from a field experiment using simulated rain on 0.5‐m2 grassland plots showed no significant effect on run‐off P 2 days after applying 50 m3/ha of 6% DM manure co‐blended WTR at rates of 150 and 250 g WTR/kg.
Nonlethal sampling of DNA from critically endangered diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) using a single antenna
Authors: SUZUKI Gaku , INODA Toshio , KUBOTA Souichirou 
Published: April 2012

AbstractNonlethal DNA sampling is highly desirable in molecular genetic studies of protected and endangered species. To develop a demonstrably nonlethal method of obtaining DNA from endangered diving beetles (Dytiscus sharpi sharpi Wehncke, Cybister lewisianus Sharp and Cybister brevis Aubé), we amputated the antennae of these endangered diving beetles and investigated the impact of the amputation on reproductive behaviors, egg‐laying and lifespan. Diving beetles with either one or no antennae copulated without delay and laid eggs, comparable to the pairs of intact beetles under breeding conditions. The lifespan of antennae‐amputated D. sharpi sharpi was the same as that of the intact beetles. A single antenna was sufficient to allow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of a mitochondrial DNA gene, cytochrome‐c oxidase subunit I (COI), and the sequence of the COI gene could be determined directly. The PCR‐ready genomic DNA was available both in fresh antennae isolated from living beetles and in old antennae from whole beetles preserved for at least 5–6 years in pure ethanol. These results suggest that an antenna is a good sampling site for isolating genomic DNA from endangered diving beetles without sacrificing and disturbing reproductive behaviors such as mating and egg‐laying, or lifespan.
Social Dimensions of Individualistic Rationality
Authors: WITZTUM AMOS 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe re‐examine the introduction of social dimensions into the economic conception of individual rationality. Most contributions in this area adopt the rational utility maximizer by adding social aspects into the domain of the agent's consideration. Thus, an inconsistency is created between sociality and opportunism. We overcome this by employing the Weberian distinction between instrumental and expressive rationality. It does not require the increase in the domain of agent's considerations and it captures society in a richer way with heterogeneity of social attitudes both to society as a system and to its management.
Who Doesn't ValueEnglish? Debunking Myths AboutMexican Immigrants’ Attitudes Toward theEnglish Language*
Authors: Dowling Julie A. , Ellison Christopher G. , Leal David L. 
Published: April 2012

ObjectiveIn recent years, immigration has become a central focus of political scrutiny. Much of the negativity directed toward the largelyMexican immigrant population asserts that they do not wish to learnEnglish and acclimate to the dominant culture of theUnitedStates. Very little research, however, has explored howMexican immigrants orMexicanAmericans assess the value ofEnglish proficiency.MethodsUtilizing the Survey ofTexas Adults, we examine attitudes regarding the importance ofEnglish. We explore the attitudes ofMexican‐origin persons compared to other racial/ethnic groups, as well as explore within‐group differences based on citizenship, nativity, and language use.ResultsOur findings reveal the high importance thatSpanish speakers, as well as many non‐U.S. citizenMexican immigrants, place onEnglish proficiency. Furthermore, the results indicate thatSpanish speakers are actually most likely to stress the importance ofEnglish.ConclusionsOur research contradicts accounts of the largelySpanish‐speakingMexican immigrant population as not valuing theEnglish language. In so doing, our work contributes to larger scholarly efforts to better understand immigrants in general andMexican immigrants in particular.
How Religious Communities Affect Political Participation Among Latinos*
Authors: Djupe Paul A. , Neiheisel Jacob R. 
Published: April 2012

ObjectiveWe revisit several longstanding controversies in the study of how religion affects political participation among Latinos, examining the influence of religious affiliation, church attendance, and involvement in the “ancillary” activities of the church on three types of participation: voting, community problem solving, and contacting public officials.MethodsData from the 2001 U.S. Congregational Life Survey and hierarchical methods are used to test a comprehensive model of religious influence.ResultsWe find that involvement in church small groups and other church‐based activities that take place outside of the sanctuary hall consistently affect all political activities. Importantly, performing a leadership role within the church, or taking part in some other skill‐building activity only affects our nonelectoral form of participation for Latinos, but boosts participation across the board in the full sample.ConclusionsOur study lends some much‐needed empirical confirmation to associational theories of political participation, but also sounds a note of caution about the universal applicability of such theories.
America's Shifting Color Line? Reexamining Determinants of Latino Racial Self‐Identification*
Authors: Stokes‐Brown Atiya Kai 
Published: April 2012

ObjectivesLatinos are the nation's largest minority group and will double in size by 2050. Their size coupled with the fact that Latinos do not constitute a separate race raises questions about Latinos’ incorporation into the U.S. racial hierarchy. This article explores patterns of Latino racial identity formation, examining the determinants of racial identity.MethodsUsing the 2006 Latino National Survey, I estimate multinomial logit and ordered probit models of identification choices.ResultsLatino racial identity is strongly associated with several factors, including socioeconomic status, measures of perceived discrimination and commonality, and measures of acculturation/assimilation. Most Latinos have a broader, more complex understanding of race. Furthermore, some Latinos do believe that they occupy a unique position in the racial hierarchy.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the color line W. E. DuBois argued has long divided our nation may eventually shift.
The Voting Rights Act, Legislative Elections, and Southern Partisan Change: Conversion or Competition*
Authors: Forgette Richard , Garner Andrew , Winkle John 
Published: April 2012

ObjectiveHas the shift from a one‐party Democratic South to an (increasingly) Republican South been marked by partisan conversion or partisan competition of legislative district seats? That is, as Democratic incumbents retired, did the districts switch from uncontested Democratic incumbents to uncontested Republican seats (conversion), or did the two parties contest the district after the period of Democratic retirement (competition)?MethodWe analyze all state legislative elections since 1967 to explain southern partisan change. We report rates of uncontested legislative elections, and we model candidate entry in southern and nonsouthern legislative elections.ResultsOur findings support the conversion hypothesis implying that southern legislative districts are increasingly polarized along partisan and racial lines.ConclusionsDespite growing partisan parity within the southern electorate, southern state legislatures are increasingly composed of uncontested white Republicans and uncontested black Democrats. We discuss the implications of party‐based, racial polarization for the ongoing constitutional debate regarding the Voting Rights Act's Section 5.