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Reflective
Terms modified by Reflective Selected AbstractsFlexible Silk,Inorganic Nanocomposites: From Transparent to Highly ReflectiveADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Eugenia Kharlampieva Abstract A novel type of all-natural, biocompatible, and very robust nanoscale free-standing biohybrids are reported. They are obtained by integrating a silk fibroin matrix with functional inorganic nanoplatelets using a spin-assisted layer-by-layer assembly. The organized assembly of the silk fibroin with clay (montmorillonite) nanosheets results in highly transparent nanoscale films with significantly enhanced mechanical properties, including strength, toughness, and elastic modulus, as compared to those for the pristine silk nanomaterials. Moreover, replacing clay nanoplatelets with a highly reflective Langmuir monolayer of densely packed silver nanoplates causes a similar enhancement of the mechanical properties, but in contrast to the materials above, highly reflective, mirror-like, nanoscale flexible films are created. This strategy offers a new perspective for the fabrication of robust all-natural flexible nanocomposites with exceptional mechanical properties important for biomedical applications, such as reinforced tissue engineering. On the other hand, the ability to convert silk-based nanoscale films into mirror-like biocompatible flexible films can be intriguing for prospective photonics and optical exploitation of these nanobiohybrids. [source] Is the Coronary Sinus Really Reflective of Left Atrial Activation?JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 6 2001JEFFREY E. OLGIN M.D. [source] ,Resisting Creativity, Creating the New'.CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2006A Deleuzian Perspective on Creativity Create/Innovate or die. This is the taken-for-granted ,truth' in the social, political and economic context in which we currently live. In fact, so accepted is this mantra that criticism seems foolish; mere evidence of the entrenched conservatism that needs to be challenged. This article posits an alternative view of creativity, drawing in particular on the thinking of the philosopher Gilles Deleuze. The writing of Deleuze is used to explore our understanding of creativity, in terms of what ,creativity' is (and what it is not), and the destructive (and sometimes pointless) nature of creativity. In doing so it is hoped that this article challenges clichéd representations of ,creativity', the typical ,creativity is wonderful and we need a lot more of it . . .' type arguments and assist scholars to become more creative (or at least more reflective) in their own practice. [source] Multiple Conceptualizations of Small Business Web Use and Benefit*DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 3 2003Kurt A. Pflughoeft ABSTRACT Small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy and there is anecdotal evidence that use of the Web is beneficial to such businesses. There is, however, little systematic analysis of the conditions that lead to successful use of and thereby benefits from the Web for small businesses. Based on the innovation adoption, organizations, and information systems (IS) implementation literature, we identify a set of variables that are related to adoption, use, and benefits of information technology (IT), with particular emphasis on small businesses. These variables are reflective of an organization's contextual characteristics, its IT infrastructure, Web use, and Web benefits. Since the extant research does not suggest a single theoretical model for Web use and benefits in the context of small businesses, we adopt a modeling approach and explore the relationships between "context-IT-use-benefit" (CIUB) through three models,partial-mediator, reduced partial-mediator, and mediator. These models posit that the extent of Web use by small businesses and the associated benefits are driven by organizations' contextual characteristics and their IT infrastructure. They differ in the endogeneity/exogeneity of the extent of IT sophistication, and in the direct/mediated effects of organizational context. We examine whether the relationships between variables identified in the literature hold within the context of these models using two samples of small businesses with national coverage, including various sizes, and representing several industry sectors. The results show that the evidence for patterns of relationships is similar across the two independent samples for two of these models. We highlight the relationships within the reduced partial-mediator and mediator models for which conclusive evidence are given by both samples. Implications for small business managers and providers of Web-based technologies are discussed. [source] Ten-year follow-up study of PTSD diagnosis, symptom severity and psychosocial indices in aging holocaust survivorsACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2009R. Yehuda Objective:, We performed a longitudinal study of holocaust survivors with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by assessing symptoms and other measures at two intervals, approximately 10 years apart. Method:, The original cohort consisted of 63 community-dwelling subjects, of whom 40 were available for follow-up. Results:, There was a general diminution in PTSD symptom severity over time. However, in 10% of the subjects (n = 4), new instances of delayed onset PTSD developed between time 1 and time 2. Self-report ratings at both assessments revealed a worsening of trauma-related symptoms over time in persons without PTSD at time 1, but an improvement in those with PTSD at time 1. Conclusion:, The findings suggest that a nuanced characterization of PTSD trajectory over time is more reflective of PTSD symptomatology than simple diagnostic status at one time. The possibility of delayed onset trajectory complicates any simplistic overall trajectory summarizing the longitudinal course of PTSD. [source] Baseline cognition, behavior, and motor skills in children with new-onset, idiopathic epilepsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 1 2010VIKRAM V BHISE Aim, Epilepsy is associated with difficulties in cognition and behavior in children. These problems have been attributed to genetics, ongoing seizures, psychosocial issues, underlying abnormality of the brain, and/or antiepileptic drugs. In a previous study, we found baseline cognitive differences between children with partial versus generalized and convulsive versus non-convulsive seizures. Measures in that study focused primarily on IQ scores. In the present study, we assessed baseline function with respect to new learning, attention, and memory, thus providing a more comprehensive profile than our previous study. Method, We examined 57 children (42 females, 15 males), aged 6 to 17 years (mean 10y 1mo, SD 2y 9mo), with new-onset, idiopathic epilepsy, using tests of cognitive function reflective of new learning, memory, and attention. Seizures were classified as generalized convulsive (n=5), generalized non-convulsive (n=18), or focal (n=34). Focal seizures were divided into unilateral versus bilateral independent foci, and presence versus absence of secondary generalization. Results, Attention was a particular area of weakness across all groups. The Vocabulary score of an intelligence screen was higher for the focal seizure groups (p=0.012), primarily because of a difference between the unilateral focal and the primary generalized groups (p<0.047). Children with generalized, non-convulsive seizures performed significantly worse than the focal group on a measure of short-term auditory memory (p=0.019). All groups performed poorly on a test of visual,motor speed. Interpretation, These findings suggest intrinsic abnormalities in children with new-onset, idiopathic epilepsy at baseline. [source] Energy efficiency in gait, activity, participation, and health status in children with cerebral palsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2008Claire Kerr BSc (Hons) Physio PhD The aim of the study was to establish if a relationship exists between the energy efficiency of gait, and measures of activity limitation, participation restriction, and health status in a representative sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Secondary aims were to investigate potential differences between clinical subtypes and gross motor classification, and to explore other relationships between the measures under investigation. A longitudinal study of a representative sample of 184 children with ambulant CP was conducted (112 males, 72 females; 94 had unilateral spastic C P, 84 had bilateral spastic C P, and six had non-spastic forms; age range 4-17y; Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I, n=57; Level II, n=91; Level III, n=22; and Level IV, n=14); energy efficiency (oxygen cost) during gait, activity limitation, participation restriction, and health status were recorded. Energy efficiency during gait was shown to correlate significantly with activity limitations; no relationship between energy efficiency during gait was found with either participation restriction or health status. With the exception of psychosocial health, all other measures showed significant differences by clinical subtype and gross motor classification. The energy efficiency of walking is not reflective of participation restriction or health status. Thus, therapies leading to improved energy efficiency may not necessarily lead to improved participation or general health. [source] The effects of green tree retention and subsequent prescribed burning on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in boreal pine-dominated forestsECOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2006Petri Martikainen We studied how two methods to promote biodiversity in managed forests, i.e. green tree retention and prescribed fire, affect the assemblages of carabid beetles. Our experiment consisted of 24 study sites, each 3,5 ha in size, which had been prepared according to factorial design. Each of the eight treatment combinations determined by the two factors explored , tree retention level (0, 10, 50 m3/ha,1 and uncut controls) and prescribed use of fire (yes/no) , was replicated three times. We sampled carabids using pitfall traps one year after the treatments. Significantly more individuals were caught in most of the burned sites, but this difference was partially reflective of the trap-catches of Pterostichus adstrictus. The fire did not increase no. of P. adstrictus in the uncut sites as much as in the other sites. Species richness was significantly affected by both factors, being higher in the burned than in the unburned sites and in the harvested than in the unharvested sites. Many species were concentrated in the groups of retention trees in the burned sites, but only a few were in the unburned sites. The species turnover was greater in the burned than in the unburned sites, as indicated by the NMDS ordinations. Greater numbers of smaller sized species and proportion of brachypterous species were present in the burned sites. Fire-favored species, and also the majority of other species that prefer open habitats were more abundantly caught in the burned sites than in the unburned sites. Dead wood or logging waste around the traps did not correlate with the occurrence of species. We conclude that carabids are well adapted to disturbances, and that frequent use of prescribed fire is essential for the maintenance of natural assemblages of carabid beetles in the boreal forest. Small retention tree groups can not maintain assemblages of uncut forest, but they can be important by providing food, shelter and breeding sites for many species, particularly in the burned sites. [source] MANAGING EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE GLOBALIZED WORLD: A DEWEYAN PERSPECTIVEEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 4 2009Maura Striano In the globalization scenarios we currently face, educational systems are challenged by different and sometimes competing pressures and requests. These call for a deep transformation of the organization, role, and social function of educational systems. Within this context, the very concept of education has come to be understood in different ways, which sometimes distort its moral and social value. In this essay, Maura Striano contends that from a Deweyan perspective, educational transformation must be seen as strictly connected to social change, and education should be understood as a process that facilitates and supports social growth and development. In order to be effective and fruitful, Striano suggests, this transformation must occur from the inside of educational systems and can only be brought about by reflective and inquiry-based inner processes if it is to have a sound moral and social impact within the changing framework of the globalized world. That education shares in the confusion of transition, and in the demand for reorganization, is a source of encouragement and not of despair. It proves how integrally the school is bound up with the entire movement of modern life. ,John Dewey, The Educational Situation [source] A New Optically Reflective Thin Layer Electrode (ORTLE) Window: Gold on a Thin Porous Alumina Film Used to Observe the Onset of Water ReductionELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 1-2 2004Abstract The fabrication and unique characteristics of a new type of thin layer electrode, an optically reflective thin layer electrode (ORTLE), are described. The electrode was fabricated by the anodization of a thin layer of aluminum sputtered onto a plain glass microscope slide to create a 750,nm-thick porous alumina film. A thin film of gold was then sputtered atop the porous and transparent alumina film. The gold layer remained porous to allow solution into the pores but was optically thick and reflective. Reflectance measurements made through the microscope slide did not interrogate the bulk solution, but show spectral features that shift with the optical properties of the material filling the pores of the alumina film. A simple series of experiments, in which the potential of the ORTLE was stepped negatively to various values in an aqueous sodium sulfate solution, shows that interference fringes shift measurably in the ORTLE spectrum at potentials several hundred millivolts positive of the potential at which gas evolution was visible to the naked eye. [source] Visiting America: notes from an alcohol-focused study tour made in 1961ADDICTION, Issue 12 2008Griffith Edwards ABSTRACT Aims This paper has as its focus a study tour made by the author in 1961. Diary notes are used to capture a historical moment in the evolution of alcohol studies. The paper will argue for the continuing value today of such experiences in support of career development and the building of ,the field'. Data sources Diary notes and personal recollection. Findings The United States was at the time more active than the United Kingdom in its response to alcohol problems. There was, however, a disjunction between the elite American research world and the world of action, which was not informed greatly by research. For the most part, treatment services and prevention strategies seemed driven by opinion rather than by evidence. But at the level of serious scientific endeavour there was opportunity to meet influential figures including Seldon Bacon, Morris Chafetz, Milton Gross, Ebbe Curtis Hoff, Harris Isbell, E. M. Jellinek, Mark Keller, Benjamin Kissen, Robert Strauss, Wolf Schmidt and Abraham Wikler, who generously made their time available. Conclusions These diary notes provide a snapshot of a field of endeavour at a critical stage of transition from uninformed assumptions towards establishment of a research base which can inform public action. The visit was of tangible value to the visitor in several different identified ways. Such an experience is inevitably time-bound and personal, but there are general conclusions to be drawn as to the benefits which will be derived from early travel opportunities in a field such as alcohol studies, which is all too easily culture-bound in its horizons and assumptions. Alcohol science needs to be more reflective on its history and the mechanisms that help to make it happen. [source] Variations in ,-Hexachlorocyclohexane enantiomer ratios in relation to microbial activity in a temperate estuaryENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2003Tiruponithura V. Padma Abstract Changes in the enantiomer ratios (ERs) of chiral pollutants in the environment are often considered evidence of biological alteration despite the lack of data on causal or mechanistic relationships between microbial parameters and ER values. Enantiomer ratios that deviate from 1:1 in the environment provide evidence for the preferential microbial degradation of one enantiomer, whereas ER values equal to 1 provide no evidence for microbial degradation and may mistakenly be interpreted as evidence that biodegradation is not important. In an attempt to link biological and geochemical information related to enantioselective processes, we measured the ERs of the chiral pesticide ,-hexachlorocyclohexane (,-HCH) and bacterial activity (normalized to abundance) in surface waters of the York River (VA, USA) bimonthly throughout one year. Despite lower overall ,-HCH concentrations, ,-HCH ER values were unexpectedly close to 1:1 in the freshwater region of the estuary with the highest bacterial activity. In contrast, ER values were nonracemic (ER , 1) and ,-HCH concentrations were significantly higher in the higher salinity region of the estuary, where bacterial activity was lower. Examination of these data may indicate that racemic environmental ER values are not necessarily reflective of a lack of biodegradation or recent input into the environment, and that nonenantioselective biodegradation may be important in certain areas. [source] Using regional exposure criteria and upstream reference data to characterize spatial and temporal exposures to chemical contaminants,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2000Susan M. Cormier Abstract Analyses of biomarkers in fish were used to evaluate exposures among locations and across time. Two types of references were used for comparison, an upstream reference sample remote from known point sources and regional exposure criteria derived from a baseline of fish from reference sites throughout Ohio, USA. Liver, bile, and blood were sampled from white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) collected during 1993 and 1996 in the Ottawa River near Lima, Ohio. Levels of exposure were measured for petroleum by naphthalene-type metabolites, combustion by-products by benzo[a]pyrene-type metabolites, coplanar organic compounds by ethoxyresorufin- O -deethylase (EROD) activity, and urea by blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. The four biomarkers analyzed proved effective in determining differences between reference and polluted sampling sites, between geographically close (<0.5 km) sites, and between sampling years at sites common in both years. Calculated exposure criteria levels of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bile metabolites were found to be a conservative approximation of levels from a designated reference site and could thereby permit comparison of biomarker levels of fish from the Ottawa River to a regional reference level. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bile metabolite and EROD activity levels were more reflective of spatial patterns of contamination than BUN, although all biomarkers indicated differences overtime. Biomarkers from white suckers seemed to be more responsive in detecting changes in contaminant levels than the same biomarkers from common carp. Lower levels in 1996 of all biomarkers at many sites suggested lower exposures than in 1993 and could be indicative of some improvement over the period. [source] 5.3 Global challenges in research and strategic planningEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2002Bruce J. Baum Health sciences research is experiencing dramatic progress. How can dental schools throughout the world best make these research advances relevant for dental students, as well as providing them with the means to assess and utilize the research advances that will occur in the future? This complex question presents a critical challenge to the dental educational community. Research is clearly integral to the mission of dental education. By providing dental students with active learning strategies, dental educators can inculcate the ability for independent scientific thinking and thereby develop reflective as well as technically competent practitioners. However, there is a shortage of well-trained individuals to fill faculty and research positions in certain parts of the world. Global networks for mutual information exchange are imperative to overcome resource limitations in individual institutions, as is dedicated funding for research in the dental educational setting. [source] Automatic and controlled processes in behavioural control: Implications for personality psychologyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2010Philip J. Corr Abstract This paper highlights a number of unresolved theoretical issues that, it is argued, continue to impede the construction of a viable model of behavioural control in personality psychology. It is contended that, in order to integrate motivation, emotion, cognition and conscious experience within a coherent framework, two major issues need to be recognised: (a) the relationship between automatic (reflexive) and controlled (reflective) processing and (b) the lateness of controlled processing (including the generation of conscious awareness),phenomenally, such processing seems to ,control' behaviour, but experimentally it can be shown to postdate the behaviour it represents. The implications of these two major issues are outlined, centred on the need to integrate theoretical perspectives within personality psychology, as well as the greater unification of personality psychology with general psychology. A model of behavioural control is sketched, formulated around the concept of the behavioural inhibition system (BIS), which accounts for: (a) why certain stimuli are extracted for controlled processing (i.e. those that are not ,going to plan', as detected by an error mechanism) and (b) the function of controlled processing (including conscious awareness) in terms of adjusting the cybernetic weights of automatic processes (which are always in control of immediate behaviour) which, then, influence future automatically controlled behaviour. The relevance of this model is illustrated in relation to a number of topics in personality psychology, as well related issues of free-will and difficult-to-control behaviours. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The current status of investigative dermatology IIEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Stephen I. Katz Abstract:, Major advances in skin biology and skin diseases are heralding new and more specific forms of treatment that are based on better characterization of pathological mechanisms involved in the individual diseases. The advances that we have seen are being made by dermatologists, skin biologists, and others who have come to appreciate the skin as an organ that is reflective of many important systemic mechanisms. In this commentary, I identify some of what I feel are the most important advances that will be the basis for many future studies. [source] A new approach to prioritizing marine fish and shellfish populations for conservationFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 4 2001Einar Eg Nielsen Abstract There has been increasing awareness of the vulnerability of marine organisms to population extirpation and species extinction. While very few documented cases of species extinction exist in the marine environment, it is anticipated that managers will face the dilemma of prioritizing populations of marine fish and shellfish for protection in the near future. Current prioritization procedures have been developed from salmonid models with the intent of applying them to all marine organisms, and in some cases to freshwater and terrestrial taxa. In this review we provide evidence for the relevance of such a process for marine species and further suggest five broad categories of marine organisms that have distinctive traits influencing their genetic structure. The current prioritization models have been adapted to account for each of these species groups. Emphasis is placed on ,Classical Marine Species' which represent the opposite end of the continuum from the salmon model, displaying high within-population genetic variance. From this category, three cod (Gadus morhua) stocks were selected to evaluate a revised scheme developed specifically for ,Classical Marine Species' that includes performance measures such as (i) reduction in number of spawning populations; (ii) reduction of Ne : Nc (ratio of effective to census population size); (iii) changes in life-history traits; (iv) critical density for spawning success; and (v) patchy vs. continuous distribution pattern. When the salmonid scheme was applied, the cod examples were allocated low values, indicating that they were not under threat. However, when the revised scheme was applied, all three cod stocks were allocated high values, indicating that the revised scheme was more reflective of the particular life-history traits of this category of organisms. [source] Flexible Silk,Inorganic Nanocomposites: From Transparent to Highly ReflectiveADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Eugenia Kharlampieva Abstract A novel type of all-natural, biocompatible, and very robust nanoscale free-standing biohybrids are reported. They are obtained by integrating a silk fibroin matrix with functional inorganic nanoplatelets using a spin-assisted layer-by-layer assembly. The organized assembly of the silk fibroin with clay (montmorillonite) nanosheets results in highly transparent nanoscale films with significantly enhanced mechanical properties, including strength, toughness, and elastic modulus, as compared to those for the pristine silk nanomaterials. Moreover, replacing clay nanoplatelets with a highly reflective Langmuir monolayer of densely packed silver nanoplates causes a similar enhancement of the mechanical properties, but in contrast to the materials above, highly reflective, mirror-like, nanoscale flexible films are created. This strategy offers a new perspective for the fabrication of robust all-natural flexible nanocomposites with exceptional mechanical properties important for biomedical applications, such as reinforced tissue engineering. On the other hand, the ability to convert silk-based nanoscale films into mirror-like biocompatible flexible films can be intriguing for prospective photonics and optical exploitation of these nanobiohybrids. [source] Neuronal cell adhesion molecule deletion induces a cognitive and behavioral phenotype reflective of impulsivityGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2008L. D. Matzel Cell adhesion molecules, such as neuronal cell adhesion molecule (Nr-CAM), mediate cell,cell interactions in both the developing and mature nervous system. Neuronal cell adhesion molecule is believed to play a critical role in cell adhesion and migration, axonal growth, guidance, target recognition and synapse formation. Here, wild-type, heterozygous and Nr-CAM null mice were assessed on a battery of five learning tasks (Lashley maze, odor discrimination, passive avoidance, spatial water maze and fear conditioning) previously developed to characterize the general learning abilities of laboratory mice. Additionally, all animals were tested on 10 measures of sensory/motor function, emotionality and stress reactivity. We report that the Nr-CAM deletion had no impact on four of the learning tasks (fear conditioning, spatial water maze, Lashley maze and odor discrimination). However, Nr-CAM null mice exhibited impaired performance on a task that required animals to suppress movement (passive avoidance). Although Nr-CAM mutants expressed normal levels of general activity and body weights, they did exhibit an increased propensity to enter stressful areas of novel environments (the center of an open field and the lighted side of a dark/light box), exhibited higher sensitivity to pain (hot plate) and were more sensitive to the aversive effects of foot shock (shock-induced freezing). This behavioral phenotype suggests that Nr-CAM does not play a central role in the regulation of general cognitive abilities but may have a critical function in regulating impulsivity and possibly an animal's susceptibility to drug abuse and addiction. [source] Consuming the transnational family: Indonesian migrant domestic workers to Saudi ArabiaGLOBAL NETWORKS, Issue 1 2006RACHEL SILVEY In this article, which is based on field work in a migrant-sending community in West Java, I focus on migrant women's narratives of transnational migration and employment as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. I contribute to the literature on gender and transnational migration by exploring migrants' consumption desires and practices as reflective not only of commoditized exchange but also of affect and sentiment. In addition, I show in detail how religion and class inflect low-income women's narrations of morally appropriate mothering practices. In conclusion, I suggest that interpreting these debates from the ground up can contribute towards understanding the larger struggles animating the Indonesian state's contemporary relationships with women and Islam. [source] Hyaluronan and its receptors in mucoepidermoid carcinomaHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 2 2006Richard O. Wein MD Abstract Background. Hyaluronan (HA) is a prominent extracellular matrix component undergoing continuous production and degradation. Increased HA levels have been described in a variety of tumors. The objective of this study was to examine the staining patterns of HA and two of its associated receptors (CD44 and HARE) in relation to the metastatic potential of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MC). Immunohistochemical staining of preserved surgical specimens was used. Methods. Tissues from 12 patients with a histologic diagnosis of salivary MC (10 parotid, one submandibular gland, one minor salivary gland) were studied. Half (six of 12) of the patients had regional metastases. Tumor, normal salivary tissue, and regional lymph nodes were stained for HA, CD44, and HARE expression. Specimens were graded for staining intensity and a percent of the specimen stained. Results. Normal salivary tissue did not demonstrate epithelial cell surface HA expression, whereas HA was expressed on tumor cells and in regional lymph nodes containing metastases. These differences were both significant using Student's t test (p < .00002, and p < .0022, respectively). Tumors with positive nodes tended to have greater cell surface HA. Decreased expression or downregulation of HARE was also noted in involved lymph nodes. No differences in CD44 expression were seen between primary specimens and lymph nodes. The observed staining patterns for CD44 and HARE were not reflective of the metastatic potential of the primary MC. Conclusions. Increased HA expression was seen on mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells compared with adjacent normal salivary gland epithelium. This observation may assist in explaining the development of regional metastasis in these tumors. We did not identify specific HA, CD44, or HARE staining patterns in primary lesions that were predictive of regional metastases. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: XXX,XXX, 2005 [source] The role of reflection in the library and information sector: a systematic reviewHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007Maria J Grant Objectives:,To systematically review published literature on the role of reflection in the library and information science sector. To identify examples of good practice and to investigate the reported contribution, if any, of reflection by library and information workers as part of their professional practice. Methods:,Free text searches (reflective or reflection* or reflexion*) were conducted for English language papers on the Library and Information Science Abstracts (lisa) bibliographic database in two phases; in March 2004 for literature dating from 1969 to 2003 and between 2004 and 2006 in January 2006. Thirteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Results:,Two categories of reflection exist: analytical and non-analytical. These focus on events in the recent and distant past. Non-analytical reflective accounts generally adopt a retrospective tone in reporting on multiple events over a number of decades. In contrast, analytical accounts of reflection focused on single events and attempt to understand the relationship between past experiences and how this might impact on future practice. Conclusion:,From the examples of reflective practice identified, greatest personal and professional benefit is reported when time is given to considering the implications of past events on future practice, that is, analytical reflection. [source] Improved In vitro Model Systems for Gastrointestinal Infection by Choice of Cell Line, pH, Microaerobic Conditions, and Optimization of Culture ConditionsHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2007Sara K. Lindén Abstract Background:, Commonly used in vitro infection cultures do not mimic the human gastrointestinal tract with regard to pH and microaerobic conditions. Furthermore, despite the importance of mucin,Helicobacter interactions, the cell lines used have not been selected for appropriate mucin expression. To make in vitro studies more applicable to human disease, we have developed coculture methods taking these factors into account. Materials and methods:, Nine human gastrointestinal epithelial cell lines (MKN1, MKN7, MKN28, MKN45, KATO3, HFE145, PCAA/C11 Caco-2, and LS513) were investigated. Expression and glycosylation of mucins (MUC1, 2, 3, 4, 5AC, 5B, 6, 12, 13, and 16) were determined by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the effect of microaerobic conditions and acidic pH on cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis. Results:, Microaerobic culture, which is more physiological for the bacteria, did not adversely affect mammalian cell viability, proliferation, or induce apoptosis The cell lines varied in mucin expression, with MKN7 and MKN45 being most similar to gastric mucosa and Caco-2 and LS513 to intestinal mucosa, although none exactly matched normal mucosa. However, changes in culture conditions did not cause major changes in the mucin expression within cell lines. Conclusions:, Culture conditions mimicking the natural environment and allowing the bacterial cells to thrive had no effect on cell viability or apoptosis, and very little influence on mucin expression of human gastrointestinal cells. Thus, it is feasible, using the simple methods we present here, to substantially improve bacterial,mammalian cell in vitro coculture studies to make them more reflective of human infection. [source] Introduction: Why Reflect Collectively on Capacities for Change?,IDS BULLETIN, Issue 3 2010Peter Clarke ,Capacity development' implies a promise of growing self-reliance, national ownership and sustainability, yet practice seems consistently to fall short of this emancipatory promise. This introduction argues for a reframing of capacity development for emancipatory social change. Articles in this IDS Bulletin show how understanding and practice must engage with complexity, appreciate the importance of specific culture and context, and continually address the role of power in shaping relationships, understandings and practices. Values and leadership are fundamental drivers of capacity development processes. This IDS Bulletin argues against a deficit approach based on linear causal logic and replicable ,best practice'. Instead, practitioners are encouraged to develop a detailed understanding of the culture and dynamics of specific contexts, to detect energies for positive change and work to connect and facilitate them. Learning is at the centre of the approach. Capacity development is understood as a collective process of learning in action for social change. Support for capacity development processes demands a critical development practice that implies mutual learning, with an emphasis on reflective and experiential approaches. However, this reframing implies enormous challenges for development practice, and therefore considerable personal and organisational commitment. [source] The Pearls and Perils of Identifying PotentialINDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2009ROB SILZER Organizations today are increasingly focused on talent as a strategic asset and a competitive advantage for achieving business success. As a result, most major organizations have recognized the need for and outlined a formal process to identify and assess high-potential talent. There is, however, little agreement within or between organizations on the definition and components of the concept of potential. The existing definitions and models of potential are often narrowly focused on only a few select factors and give little attention to the broad spectrum of potential talent in an organization. This article introduces a new integrated model of potential that incorporates previous literature and current assessment practice regarding high potentials, provides a coherent structure of potential, and is reflective of a variety of different talent pools. The model provides a useful method for answering the key question,Potential for what? Three key components of potential are described by the model: (a) foundational dimensions, (b) growth dimensions, and (c) career dimensions. Implications for assisting organizations in more effectively managing their high potential talent for strategic business objectives are discussed. [source] Supervision and training in child care: Does reflective supervision foster caregiver insightfulness?,INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Elita Amini Virmani The goal of this study was to explore the effects of reflective and traditional supervision and training on caregiver insightfulness. Caregiver insightfulness, or caregiver ability to understand "motives underlying the child's behavior in a complete, open, and accepting way" (D. Oppenheim, D. Goldsmith, & N. Koren-Karie, 2004, p. 352) was assessed at two time points with 21 new caregivers at two university-based childcare sites. Trends suggest that caregiver insightfulness was relatively stable while increased levels of components of caregiver insightfulness over a period of approximately 2.5 months were positively associated with reflective supervision and training. These findings suggest that encouraging caregivers to reflect on their interactions with the children in their care fosters caregivers' ability to see from the child's perspective in an open and accepting way. [source] Requesting patterns for serum calcium concentration in patients on long-term lithium therapyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009B. J. Jones Summary Aim:, Long-term lithium therapy is associated with hypercalcaemia in 10,60% of patients, but unlike creatinine and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), monitoring by general practitioners of serum calcium for patients on lithium is not a requirement of the Qualities and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of 2004. We aimed to assess requesting patterns for serum calcium in patients on long-term lithium therapy and subsequent diagnosis of hypercalcaemia. Methods:, We identified 100 patients on long-term lithium therapy, as indicated by regular monitoring of lithium levels in our laboratory for at least 1 year. We determined how many of these patients had had serum calcium analysed, noting the assay date, concentration, source of request and clinical details stated. Results:, Forty-three out of hundred patients had serum calcium analysed during the course of their treatment including 28 in the previous 15 months. Twenty-one patients had serum calcium analysed by their GP, including 12 in the previous 15 months. Hypercalcaemia was diagnosed in five patients (11.6%). Conclusion:, A significant proportion of patients in whom calcium was checked developed hypercalcaemia on lithium therapy. However, only 12% of the patients had serum calcium requested by their GP in the previous 15 months, which compares unfavourably with TSH and creatinine, for which monitoring approaches 100%. We recommend that serum calcium be checked every 15 months along with creatinine and TSH. This might be achieved by incorporating appropriate targets into the QOF, or by reflective or reflex adding-on of calcium to lithium specimens from patients who have not had calcium analysed in the previous 15 months. [source] Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in Latinos in the United StatesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue S3 2007Margarita Alegria PhD Abstract Objective: To present national estimates and correlates of lifetime and 12-month DSM-IV eating disorders for Latinos. Method: Data come from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), a national epidemiological household survey of Latinos in the United States. Results: Latinos have elevated rates of any binge eating and binge eating disorder but low prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The US born and those living a greater percentage of their lifetime in the US evidenced higher risk for certain eating disorders while severe obesity and low levels of education were significant correlates. Rates of treatment utilization were exceedingly low. Conclusion: Standard eating disorder criteria may not be appropriate for understanding psychological morbidity of eating disorders for Latinos, particularly less acculturated Latinos, due to cultural differences in the presentation of eating disorder symptoms. Criteria for disturbed eating patterns that are more reflective of the illness experience of Latinos should be developed. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Multinationality and performance: A synthetic review and research agendaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 2 2007Lei Li This paper provides a reflective and synthetic review of the literature on the relationship between a firm's multinationality and performance. It revisits the main theories and demonstrates a gradual shift from the traditionally equilibrium-oriented theorization to the recent dynamics-oriented perspectives. It also examines the current status of empirical inquiry and identifies some important voids. The following areas are highlighted for further conceptual development and empirical investigation: (1) conceptual refinement and measurement of multinationality as a construct; (2) cost-efficiency implications of multinationality; (3) impact of internationalization motivations on both multinationality and performance; (4) two-way relationships between multinationality and performance; and (5) moderating roles of important external and internal contextual factors. [source] The influence of HIV/AIDS on the practice of primary care nurses in Jordan: Rhetoric and realityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2005Hani Nawafleh PhD(Cand) The role of nurses in raising community awareness about HIV/AIDS is well-reported. However, little is known about the practice of Jordanian nurses and the role they play in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. This interpretive ethnographic study sought to illuminate the role of primary care nurses and examine the influence of HIV/AIDS on their practice. The study was undertaken in Jordan in three rural and three urban primary health-care centres. Data collection included participant observation, key informant interviews and document analysis. These data informed the development of descriptive ethnographic accounts that allowed for the subsequent identification of common and divergent themes reflective of factors recognized as influencing the practice of the nurse participants. The findings indicate that the rhetoric offered by all levels of administration and endorsed in policy is not reflective of the reality of practice. Poor resources and educational preparation, a limited nursing skill mix and access to professional development, lack of nursing leadership and role models, cultural beliefs and geographic isolation are factors that reduced the capacity of the primary care nurses to raise awareness and, therefore, influence the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||