bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The minimum sit-to-stand height test: reliability, responsiveness and relationship to leg muscle strength
Authors: Schurr Karl , Sherrington Catherine , Wallbank Geraldine , Pamphlett Patricia , Olivetti Lynette 
Published: January 2012

Objective: To determine the reliability of the minimum sit-to-stand height test, its responsiveness and its relationship to leg muscle strength among rehabilitation unit inpatients and outpatients. Design: Reliability study using two measurers and two test occasions. Secondary analysis of data from two clinical trials. Setting: Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services in three public hospitals. Subjects: Eighteen hospital patients and five others participated in the reliability study. Sevety-two rehabilitation unit inpatients and 80 outpatients participated in the clinical trials. Methods: The minimum sit-to-stand height test was assessed using a standard procedure. For the reliability study, a second tester repeated the minimum sit-to-stand height test on the same day. In the inpatient clinical trial the measures were repeated two weeks later. In the outpatient trial the measures were repeated five weeks later. Knee extensor muscle strength was assessed in the clinical trials using a hand-held dynamometer. Results: The reliability for the minimum sit-to-stand height test was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.96). The standard error of measurement was 34 mm. Responsiveness was moderate in the inpatient trial (effect size: 0.53) but small in the outpatient trial (effect size: 0.16). A small proportion (8–17%) of variability in minimum sit-to-stand height test was explained by knee extensor muscle strength. Conclusions: The minimum sit-to-stand height test has excellent reliability and moderate responsiveness in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Responsiveness in an outpatient rehabilitation setting requires further investigation. Performance is influenced by factors other than knee extensor muscle strength.
Nonresponse versus Measurement Error
Authors: Hox Joop J. , de Leeuw Edith D. , Chang Hsuan-Tzu 
Published: January 2012

Non-réponse versus erreur de mesure – Doit-on insister auprès des répondants réticents ? : Pour augmenter les taux de réponse, les enquêteurs intensifient leurs efforts pour amener les personnes échantillonnées parmi les répondants. La question est de savoir si les répondants « réticents » fournissent des réponses de qualité moindre que les répondants « impatients ». Nous définissons les répondants impatients comme des personnes qui répondent au premier envoi d'une enquête postale, et les répondants réticents comme des personnes qui répondent plus tardivement. Nous avons utilisé une analyse multitrait-multiméthode (MTMM) qui permet la séparation statistique de la variance de fond ou de trait, la variance de méthode et la variance d'erreur. Les résultats montrent que la structure de mesure ne diffère pas entre les répondants impatients et réticents. Il n'y avait également aucune différence systématique dans les estimations de la fiabilité et la validité des deux groupes. To increase response rates, survey researchers intensify their efforts to bring sampled persons into the respondent pool. The question is whether or not “reluctant” survey respondents provide answers of lower quality than “eager” respondents. We define eager respondents as persons who respond to the first round of a mail survey, and reluctant respondents as persons who respond in later rounds. We used a multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) design, which allows statistical separation of substantive or trait variance, method variance, and error variance. The results show that the measurement structure does not differ between eager and reluctant respondents. There was also no systematic difference in the reliability and validity estimates for both groups.
Le choix de la langue dans le logiciel Alceste - Exemple du traitement d’une base de données bibliographiques
Authors: Dalud-Vincent Monique , Normand Romuald 
Published: January 2012

The Choice of Language for the Alceste Software-Example of the Analysis of a Bibliographic Data Base: Using Alceste requires a priori choosing a language. This choice is crucial since the analysis is based on the use of a dictionary of the language used, but it is problematic when the corpus is a bibliography of references in English, French and German. In this paper, we show, for a largely bilingual (English and French) bibliography, with 5,000 references, the variations in the software results when you change the settings. L’utilisation d’Alceste nécessite un paramétrage a priori de la langue. Ce choix est essentiel dans la mesure où l’analyse est basée sur l’utilisation d’un dictionnaire de la langue retenue, mais il est délicat lorsque le corpus à analyser est une bibliographie comprenant des références en anglais, en français, en allemand. Dans cet article, nous montrons, à partir d’une bibliographie essentiellement bilingue (anglais et français) comptant 5.000 références, les variations obtenues au niveau des résultats du logiciel quand on change le paramétrage.
Transfer of Variables between Different Data Sets, or Taking “Previous Research” Seriously
Authors: Todosijević Bojan 
Published: January 2012

Transfer de variables entre différentes bases de données, ou prendre au sérieux “des recherches précédentes" : Tenant compte de deux enquêtes méthodologiquement similaires, une question non posée dans une enquête pourrait être considérée comme un cas particulier du problème des données manquantes. Ainsi, le transfert des données entre des bases de données (« appariement statistique » ou « fusion de données ») pourrait être obtenu en appliquant les procédures bayésiennes d’imputation multiple des valeurs manquantes. Afin de s’attaquer au problème de l’indépendance conditionnelle créé par cette approche, un ensemble de données simulées pourrait servir comme « troisième ensemble de données » qui transmet l’information sur la relation entre les variables qui ne sont pas ordinairement observés. Ce document présente un modèle de transfert de données entre des bases de données différentes, basé sur l’approche de l’imputation multiple (IM). Les résultats montrent que l’appariement statistique fondé sur les principes MI peut être un outil de recherche utile. Ce travail est fondé sur une prise en compte sérieuse « des recherches précédentes ». Given two methodologically similar surveys, a question not asked in one survey could be seen as a special case of the missing data problem. Hence, the transfer of data across data sets (“statistical matching” or “data fusion”) could be achieved applying the procedures for Bayesian multiple imputation of missing values. To tackle the problem of conditional independence, which this approach creates, a simulated data set could serve as the “third data set” that conveys information about the relationship between variables not commonly observed. This paper presents a model for transferring data between different data sets based on multiple imputation (MI) approach. The results show that statistical matching based on MI principles can be a useful research tool. The entire enterprise is interpreted in the sense of taking the “previous research” into account seriously.
Supplemental Application of Configural Frequency Analysis to Free Sorting Data
Authors: Harloff Joachim 
Published: January 2012

Application supplémentaire de l'analyse de fréquence configurale pour le tri libre des données : L'intention de cet article est de démarrer une discussion à propos de cet outil simple et supplémentaire pour analyser des tris libres de données. Des caractéristiques communes des tris de données et de leur pertinence pour les analyses de fréquence configurale sont discutées, en relations avec l'analyse des données descriptive et confirmatoire. La taille d'échantillon pour le tri de cartes est re-examinée pour l'analyse descriptive. L'échantillon nécessaire dépend d'une certaine mesure du domaine spécifié. Le nombre moyen de différentes configurations rencontrées dépend du nombre de tris recueillies, le nombre d'éléments inclus dans le domaine et les caractéristiques du domaine. Un test simple et exact de signification est proposé pour tester les hypothèses de fréquences configurales de tri libre et flou de données. This paper analyses the application of Configural Frequency Analysis (CFA) to free sorting data. It is intended to start a discussion about this simple supplementary analysis tool for free sorting data. Common features of sorting data and their relevance for CFA are discussed, in its approach to using both descriptive and confirmatory data analysis. Sample size requirements of card sorting are also revisited for descriptive analysis. The sample required to some extent depends on the specified domain. The average number of different configurations encountered depends on the number of sortings collected, the number of items included in the domain and the qualities of the domain. A simple exact significance test is proposed for hypothesis testing of configural frequencies in free fuzzy sorting data.
Understanding Sequencing in Social Network Communications
Authors: Mo Guang Ying , Wellman Barry 
Published: January 2012

Comprendre le séquençage dans les communications dans un réseau social :Le séquençage est un processus décisionnel indispensable dans la circulation de l'information. Cette note de recherche propose la conceptualisation de séquençage pour comprendre comment et pourquoi les expéditeurs d'information « priorisent » certains membres du réseau pendant qu'ils communiquent avec d'autres. Nous examinons l'utilité de cette conceptualisation avec les données recueillies à partir de GRAND, un réseau académique. Le concept de séquençage permet aux chercheurs d'explorer les processus décisionnels qui surviennent avant le flux d'information et de lier le comportement des individus au contexte social. Sequencing is an indispensable decision-making process during information flows. This paper proposes the conceptualization of sequencing to understand how and why information senders prioritize some network members when they communicate with others. We examine the usefulness of this conceptualization with data collected from GRAND, a scholarly network. The concept of sequencing enables researchers to explore the decision-making process that occurs prior to information flows and link individuals’behavior to the social context.
Activin A and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ueland Thor , Aukrust Pål , Aakhus Svend , Smith Camilla , Endresen Knut , Birkeland Kåre I , Gullestad Lars , Johansen Odd Erik 
Published: January 2012

Background: Silent coronary artery disease is a frequent complication of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Based on its multiple roles in inflammation, atherogenesis and glucose homeostasis, we hypothesised that activin A could be related to coronary atherosclerosis in T2DM. Methods: Activin A and follistatin were measured in 102 patients with T2DM and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Coronary angiography was performed in a sub-population of patients and associations with activin A were examined using multiple linear regression. Results: Serum activin A and the activin A/follistatin ratio were increased in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with healthy volunteers and the elevated activin A was associated with the severity of coronary atherosclerotic burden as determined by the proportion of ≥2 vessel disease ( p = 0.035) after multivariable-adjusted trend analysis. No significant association between presence of CAD or extent score and activin A was observed. Conclusion: In patients with T2DM, increased activin A may reflect chronic underlying pathophysiological processes involved in development of cardiovascular disease.
From “Creeping Independence” to Reluctant Realism? China-Taiwan Relations under the DPP
Authors: Kang Jun Young 
Published: January 2012

The rise to power of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan was a landmark event in the history of cross-Strait relations. As the old but familiar competition between the Chinese Communist Party(CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) has shifted to a new but uncertain one between the CCP and the DPP, Beijing may well find that their divergent political stance, together with the apparent lack of previous contacts and mutual understanding, could make it harder to find a common ground between the two. At issue is a long list of major disputes that the DPP has inherited, such as the “one China” issue, the “one country, two systems” unification formula, and a possible use of force. Unlike former President Lee Teng-hui who in the eyes of Beijing has pursued “creeping independence, the Chen presidency—notwithstanding his party's political platform for Taiwan's independence—has reluctant realism as his modus operandi in the face of domestic political realities and China's reactions. This article throws some light on the changing contexts, major trends, and recent developments in PRC-Taiwan relations with an emphasis on what the DPP rule could bring to bear on the relationship. Section one offers a synopsis of the PRC-Taiwan ties in the 1990s, that is between the CCP and the KMT. Section two illuminates the DPP's positions on some salient issues in the cross-Strait relationship, while section three addresses major factors that affect the current and likely future courses of action on both sides. Finally, the concluding section analyzes the prospects and parameters of change in the cross-Strait relationship, with an eye on their policy implications.
Korea's Trade Intensity with Her Major Trading Countries in the Manufacturing Sector: Its Changes over the Last Decade
Authors: Kim Seung Jin 
Published: January 2012

It was found that Korea's trade intensity with the USA decreased from 2.87 in 1993 to 2.39 in 2004 due to decrease in Korea's special country bias with the USA from 3.06 in 1993 to 2.26 in 2004 even if Korea's trade complementarity with the USA increased from 0.94 in 1993 to 1.06 in 2004. Therefore Korea's special country bias with the USA should be enhanced by increasing capital movements and reducing discriminatory tariffs and other import restrictions between Korea and the USA. Korea's trade intensity with Japan was found to have decreased from 8.37 in 1993 to 8.11 in 2004 due to decrease in Korea's trade complementarity with Japan from 1.05 in 1993 to 0.88 in 2004 even if Korea's special country bias with Japan increased from 7.95 in 1993 to 9.20 in 2004. Therefore Korea's special country bias with Japan should be enhanced further by increasing capital movements and reducing discriminatory tariffs and other import restrictions between Korea and Japan. It was also found that Korea's trade intensity with China increased from 5.96 in 1993 to 10.39 in 2004 due to (a) increase in Korea's special country bias with China from 6.99 in 1993 to 9.58 in 2004 and (b) increase in Korea's trade complementarity with China from 0.85 in 1993 to 1.08 in 2004. Therefore Korea's special country bias with China should be enhanced further by increasing capital movements and reducing discriminatory tariffs and other import restrictions between Korea and China.
Development and Prospect of the CRTA in WTO system
Authors: Kim Bongchul 
Published: January 2012

RTAs represent both a challenge and an opportunity for the WTO system. Many issues are emerging regarding the linkages or the conflicts between RTAs and the WTO in different legal aspects. Furthermore, RTAs and the WTO rules have reciprocal influence on each other in various ways. Therefore, it is required to harmonise RTAs and WTO rules. The main objective of this paper is related to these issues. It researches the development of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (CRTA) and detects the problems of the RTAs regulations by the CRTA. The inability of the CRTA of the WTO to come to decisions on whether RTAs satisfy Article XXIV of the GATT is a problem in the first place. In the absence of such determination, transparency is important, as this helps mobilise domestic and regional groups who are negatively affected by RTA policies. Although it is not perfect, the improvement of the Transparency Mechanism with Doha Round negotiations made important progress in multilateral surveillance of the WTO on RTAs.
Watch Out, Ministers! You are Not Immune under the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
Authors: Choi Young-Ran 
Published: January 2012

Recently the United State Supreme Court made a decision on whether the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) should apply to a foreign official. In a U.S court, a civil action was brought by some victims of human rights violations, such as torture and extrajudicial killings in Somalia, commanded by a former Somalian government official who was Defense Minister at the time of such violations. The foreign official claimed immunity from the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts under the FSIA which grants immunity, with exceptions, to a foreign state including “agency or instrumentality of a foreign state.” He contended that since he was a high-ranking government official, he could be categorized as an “agency or instrumentality of a foreign state,” and subsequently, he is immune as a foreign state The Supreme Court rejected his claim, denying the application of the FSIA to the immunity of foreign officials. The Court's main argument is that an “agency or instrumentality” under the FSIA means an “entity” which includes a legal person, not a natural person. Thus, the immunity issue of a foreign official cannot be analyzed by the FSIA, but by the common law such as case laws. This decision is quite meaningful since it clearly sets up the scope of the FSIA by distinguishing immunity for a foreign state from that for foreign officials. With this new decision, the Court abrogated precedents of lower courts which have allowed or discussed immunity of foreign officials under the FSIA. Although this decision left open some important questions, such as whether a former foreign official can be immune if he acted within his official capacity, whether human right violations can be regarded as acts committed within or outside the scope of official capacity, whether such human right violations may be subject to exceptions to immunity, etc., the decision at least primarily may prevent a foreign official from simply raising his immunity defense under the FSIA. Consequently, it is expected that immunity of foreign officials will be scrutinized, by applying the well-recognized common law including international law. This paper takes a glance at the FSIA from its legislative history to rules on immunity for a foreign state to find out whether the FSIA may apply to foreign officials, and then reviews backgrounds and discussions of this case from lower courts to the Supreme Court.
Conjugation of lymphoma idiotype to CD40 antibody enhances lymphoma vaccine immunogenicity and antitumor effects in mice
Authors: Carlring Jennifer , Szabo Marika J. , Dickinson Robert , De Leenheer Evy , Heath Andrew W. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPersonalized immunotherapy of lymphoma based on tumor idiotype (Id) has shown anti-idiotype humoral immune responses in 40%-50% and cellular immune responses in 50%-75% of follicular lymphoma patients, indicating that this therapy can be clinically successful. We have developed a novel vaccine against lymphoma consisting of an anti-CD40 Ab (ADX40) chemically conjugated to the tumor idiotype A20 and tested it in a murine lymphoma model. BALB/c mice were immunized with 2 doses of immunogen alone or in conjunction with additional adjuvants before tumor challenge. ADX40-Id vaccination resulted in significantly retarded tumor growth and reduced mouse morbidity. Moreover, similar mouse survival was obtained with 2 injections of ADX40-Id as with 8 injections using the standard therapy of keyhole limpet hemocyanin Id + GM-CSF. Co-administration of ADX40-Id with 3-O-deacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid A further significantly enhanced vaccine efficacy, resulting in an increased overall survival. Anti-Id–specific Abs were detected at elevated levels after ADX40-Id immunization; however, in vivo depletion of CD4 and/or CD8 T cells before challenge showed that CD8 effector T cells were the major mediators of tumor protection. The results of the present study show that the ADX40-Id conjugate vaccine is a potential candidate as a stand-alone vaccine or in combination with currently licensed adjuvants for lymphoma immunotherapy.
Romiplostim administration shows reduced megakaryocyte response-capacity and increased myelofibrosis in a mouse model of MYH9-RD
Authors: Léon Catherine , Evert Katja , Dombrowski Frank , Pertuy Fabien , Eckly Anita , Laeuffer Patricia , Gachet Christian , Greinacher Andreas 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Macrothrombocytopenia in MYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) results from defects in nonmuscular myosin-IIA function. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (eltrombopag; romiplostim) seem to improve hemostasis, but little is known about their biologic effects in MYH9-RD. We administered romiplostim to Myh9−/− mice (100 μg/kg, every 3 days, during 1 month). MKs increased to similar numbers in Myh9−/− and wild-type (WT) mice (with an increase in immature MKs), but Myh9−/− platelet count response was much less (2.5-fold vs 8-fold increase). A strong increase in MK nuclei emboli in the lung, in WT and Myh9−/− mice, indicates increased transmigration of MKs from the BM. Prolonged (but not acute) treatment with romiplostim decreased expression of GPIb-IX-V complex and GPVI, but not of GPIIbIIIa, and bleeding time increased in WT mice. Microcirculation was not altered by the increased number of large platelets in any of the assessed organs, but in Myh9−/− mice a much stronger increase in BM reticulin fibers was present after 4 weeks of romiplostim treatment vs WT mice. These data further encourage short-term use of thrombopoietic agents in patients with MYH9-RDs; however, myelofibrosis has to be considered as a potential severe adverse effect during longer treatment. Reduction of GPIbIX/GPVI expression by romiplostim requires further studies.