bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The attitudes and nutritional knowledge of 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds in Merseyside and Northern Ireland
Authors: Frobisher Clare , Jepson Margaret , Maxwell Sheila M. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractSchool is a major area for providing young people with nutritional knowledge and skills. In Northern Ireland home economics (HE) is taught to 11‐ to 12‐year‐olds. The 1988 Education Reform Act introduced the national curriculum and HE as a subject was effectively abolished in English schools, and key stage 3 pupils in England are taught nutrition in Science, Design and Technology and in the cross curricular theme of health education. The aim of the study was to compare the attitudes and nutritional knowledge of children in Merseyside, England (M) and Northern Ireland (NI). A questionnaire was designed, which examined attitudes to aspects of healthy eating and tested the subject's knowledge, practical and theoretical, on nutrition and healthy eating. Subjects aged 11–12 years were recruited (M: 541, NI: 128). The majority ‘understood and knew what to eat to have a healthy diet’, ‘liked the taste of healthy food’ and considered that ‘there were healthy foods at home’. However, a significantly greater number in Merseyside agreed that ‘their health will be affected in the future by what they eat now’ (M: 71%, NI: 54%, P < 0.01) and agreed that ‘they enjoyed cooking’ (M: 76%, NI: 56%, P < 0.01). Whereas more from Northern Ireland agreed that ‘they do not know what foods to eat to have a healthy diet’ (M: 14%, NI: 30%, P < 0.01), ‘that healthy eating involved “dieting” ’ (M: 29%, NI: 59%, P < 0.01) and agreed that ‘there are no healthy food choices at school’ (M: 23% NI: 42%, P < 0.01). More subjects from Merseyside disagreed that ‘healthy eating is a waste of time’ (M: 87%, NI: 77%, P < 0.01). The mean knowledge scores (correct answers) from Merseyside were significantly greater than from Northern Ireland (total score: M: 51%, NI: 43%P < 0.05; practical score: M: 58%, NI: 49%P < 0.05, theory score: M: 38%, NI: 31%, P < 0.05). The results indicate that the healthy food message seems to have been better learnt by children in Merseyside but results of surveys in Merseyside into eating habits suggest that many have not put this knowledge into practice.
An experimental investigation of the Egyptian consumers’ attitudes towards surrealism in advertising
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed M. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis study investigates Egyptian consumers’ attitudes towards surrealism in advertising held by a sample of 976 participants. An experimental approach was taken to establish the interaction between Surreal advertisements and product category attitudes. This interaction was found to be statistically significant. A 2 × 2 anova was conducted to evaluate the effect of sex on attitudes towards surrealism in advertising. The results indicated a significant interaction between advertisement type and sex. However, the impact of surrealism in advertisements on persuasion, as measured by consumers’ attitudes towards the advertisement and brand, was not found to be moderated by consumers’ social class/income. These results lend strong support to the advertisement adaptation hypothesis and suggest that advertisements produced in one country cannot be standardized or directly translated for use in another, particularly if they are culturally different.
Repertoire of strategies used by French Canadian mothers living in Montreal to pressure their 10‐year‐old children to eat
Authors: Marquis Marie , Claveau Dominique 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis study is concerned with mothers’ use of strategies directed toward their 10‐year‐old children to pressure them to eat. The objective is to document the repertoire of strategies and their context of use. This child‐feeding practice is of interest because of its impact on the child's opportunities for the development of self‐control based on responsiveness to hunger and satiety cues. A total of 24 interviews and one focus group were conducted with French Canadian mothers. Data analyses reveal four major themes associated with the contexts in which pressure to eat were used: food purchasing, food preparation, meal service, food consumption. Strategies related to the context of food purchasing stress the importance of children's influence on family decisions. The strategies used at the time of preparation of meals illustrate the burden of tasks a mother takes on to ensure that her child consumes a particular food. With regard to meal service, very few strategies take into account the appetite of the child. Finally, the variety of strategies deployed at the time of consumption of foods supports the importance of informing parents of the undesirable effect of techniques associated with forcing the child to eat. Avenues for future research are presented.
Looking to the future: a new career education programme
Authors: Ogawa Ikuko , Okada Miyuki 
Published: April 2005

AbstractA new programme of general family and consumer science for all high school students that can contribute to career education was proposed. The programme had three sessions: ‘single life’, ‘family life’ and ‘retired life’ from the typical three main life stages. Students were challenged to think about their future with regard to real life issues such as housing, location, budgeting time and finances, and family issues. Students were able to consider their future life concretely and specifically from various viewpoints after taking part in this programme. Students also found value in home economics education in developing life skills and knowledge, in considering their actual life and in considering their future life.
Pre‐professionals’ perceptions of home economics in Finland
Authors: Turkki Kaija 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis article focuses on some new frameworks that have been under discussion in developing the university studies in the field of home economics or family and consumer sciences in Finland. The empirical data were derived from students’ contributions during their university studies in the degree programme for home economics teachers at the Master's level. The aim of this research is to find out students’ present understanding of home economics and its challenges to complete its different functions. All students are at the level of advanced studies (mainly fourth year), and the number of students is 34. The data were collected by essays using SWOT analysis as a method. Students produced a very rich and multisided data that can be analysed in diverse ways and for many purposes. In general, one can say that most students have a very realistic and positive view of their studies. They can analyse them in diverse ways and reveal important qualifications. They are aware of the various challenges which face us in both the present and future societies. Students’ views are critical and they posed several questions outside the course material. They introduced examples from their working experiences and from studies in other departments and education institutes. The empowerment elements were recognized but these should be used more efficiently in attaining further progress in the field. New frameworks and approaches developed in Finland seems to be relevant in the current situations society finds itself.
The Economic Payout Model for Service Guarantees
Authors: Baker Tim , Collier David A. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTService guarantees consist of a promise to a customer (marketing), the delivery of a service to the customer (operations), and actions to appease the customer when service failures happen (recovery). A part of recovery involves offering the customer an economic and/or noneconomic payout when things go wrong. When the economic payout is too high or low, the impact on the organization and the customer is usually negative. Therefore, determining the size of the economic payout is of critical strategic and tactical importance in businesses. Yet, no systematic quantitative methods are found in the literature to help managers determine the economic payout for service failures. The current ways an economic payout is determined are management judgment, the consensus of customer focus groups, competitive benchmarking, and the use of simple expected value methods. In this article, we define the Economic Payout Model for Service Guarantees (EPMSG) that provides an optimal service guarantee economic payout under certain conditions. The EPMSG and its objective function considers customer revenue over the short‐ and long‐term, the cost of creating and providing the service, the cost of recovery, the probability of a service failure, and the probability of customer retention as a function of economic payout. A numerical example is provided of how EPMSG works. Customer retention probability distributions are examined assuming normal and gamma distributions. We end the article by describing the theoretical contributions, model limitations, managerial implications, and opportunities for future research.
A Model for Evaluating Organizational Competencies: An Application in the Context of a Quality Management Initiative*
Authors: Escrig‐Tena Ana Belén , Bou‐Llusar Juan Carlos 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTDespite the important contributions made by the Competency‐Based Perspective (CBP) to strategic thought, certain issues on the operational definition of the theoretical concepts that characterize this approach remain unresolved, thus limiting its empirical application. In addressing this issue, the present study puts forward a procedure for measuring the competencies that can be developed in association with a Quality Management (QM) initiative and analyzes the reliability and validity of the resulting scale. This procedure could be transferred to studies that aim to carry out an empirical analysis based on the theoretical position of the CBP.
Decision Support by Interval SMART/SWING—Incorporating Imprecision in the SMART and SWING Methods
Authors: Mustajoki Jyri , Hämäläinen Raimo P. , Salo Ahti 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTInterval judgments are a way of handling preferential and informational imprecision in multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA). In this article, we study the use of intervals in the simple multiattribute rating technique (SMART) and SWING weighting methods. We generalize the methods by allowing the reference attribute to be any attribute, not just the most or the least important one, and by allowing the decision maker to reply with intervals to the weight ratio questions to account for his/her judgmental imprecision. We also study the practical and procedural implications of using imprecision intervals in these methods. These include, for example, how to select the reference attribute to identify as many dominated alternatives as possible. Based on the results of a simulation study, we suggest guidelines for how to carry out the weighting process in practice. Computer support can be used to make the process visual and interactive. We describe the WINPRE software for interval SMART/SWING, preference assessment by imprecise ratio statements (PAIRS), and preference programming. The use of interval SMART/SWING is illustrated by a job selection example.
Using the End‐User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) Instrument to Measure Satisfaction with a Web Site
Authors: Abdinnour‐Helm Sue F. , Chaparro Barbara S. , Farmer Steven M. 
Published: April 2005

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to revise and revalidate the End‐User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) instrument to measure satisfaction with a Web site from a usability perspective. This study is especially important given the increased significance of the Web and the uniqueness of the Web as a computing environment. A total of 176 students participated in a lab simulation that involved a usability evaluation of the Lands' End Web site (http://www.landsend.com). Students were asked to complete a set of tasks, record their answers, and then complete the EUCS instrument. Confirmatory factor analysis and invariance analyses were conducted to test the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the revised EUCS. The results show that the EUCS is a valid and robust instrument in the Web environment but that one of the subfactors, timeliness, will need further refinement in the future. Usability practitioners can use the EUCS to measure end‐user satisfaction with a Web site and use the feedback for improving Web‐site design. We describe a case study of an actual usability application that utilized the revised EUCS effectively to support the design of building supply Web sites involving two types of end users, homeowners and contractors. We also propose a typology that researchers can use as a starting point to judge when it is necessary to revalidate an instrument like the EUCS. Finally, we discuss the limitations of our study and present avenues for future research.
Atrial Pacing Should Be Used More Frequently in Sinus Node Disease
Authors: TRIPP IAN G. , ARMSTRONG GUY P. , STEWART JAMES T. , HOOD MARGARET A. , SMITH WARREN M. 
Published: April 2005

Background: Single lead atrial (AAI(R)) pacing for sick sinus syndrome provides physiological pacing and is less expensive than a dual chamber system. Compared with ventricular‐based pacing, it maintains the normal cardiac depolarization sequence, is associated with less atrial fibrillation and heart failure, and avoids pacemaker syndrome. We sought whether it is possible to select patients for AAI(R) pacing with a low likelihood of subsequent ventricular pacing, and whether this approach was cost‐effective.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of AAI(R) pacemaker implantations. Patients requiring a further procedure for insertion of a ventricular lead (for DDD(R) or VVI(R) pacing) were compared with those who remained atrially paced.
Results: 2.7% (117 of 4,366) of implants were AAI(R), compared with less than 1% overall for New Zealand and Australia. During follow‐up of 3.5 (2.3, 7.7) years, insertion of a ventricular lead was required in 14 (12%), and was more likely in those with pre‐existing PR interval >0.20 seconds (odds ratio 7.8, P = 0.003) or left bundle branch block (LBBB, odds ratio 17, P = 0.037). Right bundle branch block, left anterior fascicular block, or history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were not more frequent in the group requiring ventricular pacing, and preimplantation Wenckebach point was not different. The most efficient strategy was initial AAIR implantation in all except those with LBBB or PR interval >0.20 seconds. Compared with routine DDDR implantation, cost was reduced by 20%, with a 1.4% annual incidence of further procedures.
Conclusion: AAIR is the appropriate pacing choice for sick sinus syndrome without LBBB or PR interval >0.20 seconds.
Transcoronary Ablation of Septal Hypertrophy Does Not Alter ICD Intervention Rates in High Risk Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Authors: LAWRENZ THORSTEN , OBERGASSEL LUDGER , LIEDER FRANK , LEUNER CHRISTIAN , STRUNK‐MUELLER CLAUDIA , MEYER DOROTHEE , VILSENDORF ZU , BEER GERALD , KUHN HORST 
Published: April 2005

Introduction: Transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH) is safe and effectively reduces the intraventricular gradient in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). To analyze the potential of anti‐ and proarrhythmic effects of TASH, we studied the discharge rates of implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in patients with HOCM who are at a high risk for sudden cardiac death.
Methods: ICD and TASH were performed in 15 patients. Indications for ICD‐implantation were secondary prevention in nine patients after resuscitation from cardiac arrest with documented ventricular fibrillation (n = 7) or sustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 2) and primary prevention in 6 patients with a family history of sudden deaths, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, and/or syncope. All the patients had severe symptoms due to HOCM (NYHA functional class = 2.9).
Results: During a mean follow‐up time of 41 ± 22.7 months following the TASH procedure, 4 patients had episodes of appropriate discharges (8% per year). The discharge rate in the secondary prevention group was 10% per year and 5% in the group with primary prophylactic implants. Three patients died during follow‐up (one each of pulmonary embolism, stroke, and sudden death).
Conclusion: In conclusion, on the basis of ICD‐discharge rates in HOCM‐patients at high risk for sudden death, there is no evidence for an unfavorable arrhythmogenic effect of TASH. The efficacy of ICD treatment for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in HOCM could be confirmed, however, mortality is high in this cohort of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients.
Cardiac Resynchronization Induces Favorable Neurohumoral Changes
Authors: EROL‐YILMAZ AYTEN , VERBERNE HEIN J. , SCHRAMA TIM A. , HRUDOVA JANA , DE WINTER ROBBERT J. , VAN ECK‐SMIT BERTHE L.F. , DE BRUIN RIANNE , BAX JEROEN J. , SCHALIJ MARTIN J. , WILDE ARTHUR A. , TUKKIE RAYMOND 
Published: April 2005

Aim: The aim of this article is to examine whether cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) induces improvements in the neurohumoral system.
Methods and Results: Thirteen patients with HF (left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <35%) were included. Before and after 6 months of CRT, myocardial 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I‐MIBG) uptake indices, used as an index of neural norepinephrine reuptake and retention, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, used as an index of LV end‐diastolic pressure, NYHA classification and echocardiographic indices were assessed. Six months of CRT resulted in significant improvement in (1) NYHA classification and reduction in QRS width (P < 0.001), (2) decrease of LV end‐diastolic diameter (P = 0.005), LV end‐systolic diameter (P = 0.005), septal to lateral delay (P = 0.01) and mitral regurgitation (MR, P = 0.04), (3) delayed 123I‐MIBG heart/mediastinum ratios improved (P = 0.03) and 123I‐MIBG washout decreased (P = 0.001), and (4) BNP levels decreased (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Parallel to significant functional improvement and echocardiographic reverse remodeling and resynchronization, our data indicate that CRT induces favorable changes in the neurohumoral system.
Rate‐Dependent AV Delay Optimization in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: SCHARF CHRISTOPH , LI PENG , MUNTWYLER JÖRG , CHUGH AMAN , ORAL HAKAN , PELOSI FRANK , MORADY FRED , ARMSTRONG WILLIAM F. 
Published: April 2005

Background: During cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), cardiac performance is dependent on an optimized atrioventricular delay (AVD). However, the optimal AVD at different heart rates has not been defined yet during CRT.
Method: The effects of an increase in heart rate by pacing or physical exercise on optimal AVD were studied in 36 patients with biventricular pacemakers/defibrillators. The velocity time integral (VTI) in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was measured with pulsed Doppler either at three different paced heart rates in the supine position or in seated position before and after physical exercise.
Results: The baseline AVD was optimized to 99 ± 19 ms in the supine and 84 ± 22 ms in the seated position. When the heart rate was increased by DDD pacing, there was a positive linear relationship between an increase in heart rate, in AVD and in VTI (LVOT‐VTI + 0.047 cm/s per 10 beats per minute (bpm) heart rate increase per 20 ms increase in AVD, P = 0.007). A similar but more pronounced relationship was found after physical exercise in the seated position (LVOT‐VTI + 0.146 cm/s per 10 bpm heart rate increase per 20 ms increase of AVD, P = 0.013). This effect was observed in patients with and without AV block and mitral regurgitation.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the systolic performance of the dilated ventricle, which depends on an elevated preload, is critically affected by the appropriate timing of the AVD during exercise. In contrast to normal pacemaker patients, in CRT the relatively short baseline AVD should be prolonged at increased heart rates. Further studies with other means of measuring exercise cardiac performance are needed to confirm these unexpected findings.
A Comparative Study of the Action of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate and Dexamethasone Acetate in Steroid‐Eluting Pacemaker Leads
Authors: SINGARAYAR SURESH , KISTLER PETER M. , DE WINTER CHANTAL , MOND HARRY 
Published: April 2005

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize acute and medium‐term pacemaker lead performance with the two most commonly used glucocorticosteroids: dexamethasone sodium phosphate and dexamethasone acetate.
Methods: Forty sets of atrial and ventricular passive‐fixation leads containing either dexamethasone sodium phosphate or dexamethasone acetate were implanted as dual chamber pacemakers. Randomization was equally distributed to both arms of the study. Stimulation thresholds, lead impedance, and sensing were measured on the day of implant, day 1, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months following the implant.
Results: For the dexamethasone sodium phosphate arm, the atrial stimulation thresholds were 0.9 ± 0.1 V at implant and 0.8 ± 0.1 V at 6 months, and in the ventricle 0.5 ± 0.1 V at implant and 0.6 ± 0.1 V at 6 months. In the dexamethasone acetate arm, the atrial stimulation thresholds were 0.7 ± 0.1 V at implant and at 6 months, and in the ventricle 0.5 ± 0.1 V at implant and at 6 months. There were no significant differences between dexamethasone sodium phosphate or dexamethasone acetate leads for stimulation thresholds at any of the intervals of follow‐up. P‐ and R‐wave sensing were similarly maintained over the duration of follow‐up with no significant differences between groups at any of the intervals of follow‐up. Pacing lead impedance showed a trend towards lower values in the dexamethasone acetate arm, which only reached statistical significance at 3 months and beyond for ventricular leads.
Conclusions: Leads containing dexamethasone sodium phosphate and dexamethasone acetate demonstrate equivalent and excellent acute and medium‐term pacemaker lead performance characteristics.
Photooxidized Polysilane Binders for Low Temperature Fabrication of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Soeda Kuniko , Kosugi Daishi , Kado Takashi , Hayase Shuzi 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
Photooxidized polysilanes were evaluated as binders connecting nano-TiO2 particles for low temperature baking process. Both of Jsc and Voc increased after TiO2 nanoparticles (P25) were connected with photooxidized polysilanes. The amount of dyes adsorbed on TiO2 layers, TiO2 flat band potentials, electron diffusion co-efficient, electron life time were measured. The increases in the Jsc and Voc were associated with increases in electron diffusion coefficients and electron life time in TiO2 layers.
Bifunctional Fe3O4/CdS Nanocomposites Synthesized by Surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Authors: An Lijuan , Li Zhaoqiang , Wang Zheng , Zhang Junhu , Yang Bai 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
This paper described the fabrication of a new Fe3O4/CdS nanocomposite. PCd(MA)2 was firstly polymerized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and then the formation of CdS nanoparticles took place in situ when S2− ions were released by thioacetamide upon heating. The nanocomposites were characterized by XPS, TEM, and UV–vis. The PL and magnetic properties were also studied.
Thermolysis and Photolysis of Stable Se-Nitrososelenols
Authors: Shimada Keiichi , Goto Kei , Kawashima Takayuki 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
The thermal reactivity and photoreactivity of Se-nitrososelenols have been elucidated by using stable compounds protected by bowl-type substituents. Thermolysis of Se-nitrososelenol 1 afforded diselenide 3, the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallography, while tetraselenide 13 was obtained as the major product in photolysis of 1.