bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cougar and jaguar habitat use and activity patterns in central Mexico
Authors: Monroy-Vilchis Octavio , Rodríguez-Soto Clarita , Zarco-González Martha , Urios Vicente
Published: June 2009

In this study the habitat use and activity patterns of the two of the largest cats of the Americas in central Mexico were studied. Three ways to detect felid presence were employed from August 2002 to May 2006: interviews, signs, and camera-traps. 478 records were obtained, from which 441 were from cougar and 37 from jaguar. These records included positive response in 118 of 140 interviews and 236 records of signs (mainly tracks and scats), and 124 photographs. Both felids preferred pine-oak forest habitats, with altitudes higher than 1800 m, distances between 3509 and 4377 m from roads, between 2329 and 4650 m from settlements, and distances to very steep slopes between 1048 and 2059 m, for jaguar, and for cougar lower than 1047 m. Jaguar activity was recorded mainly during nighttimes, between 0:00 and 6:00, whereas cougar was active between 4:00 and 6:00 and between 18:00 and 22:00 hours, avoiding the jaguar's principal activity period.
The effects of chronic administration of ghrelin on rat sperm quality and membrane integrity
Authors: Kheradmand Arash , Taati Majid , Babaei Homayoon
Published: June 2009

Although ghrelin acts as a modulator of feeding behavior and energy metabolism in the central nervous system, recent studies have implicated the peripheral actions of ghrelin in reproductive tissues. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of ghrelin on the motility, plasma membrane integrity and concentration of rat spermatozoa. 45-d male Wistar rats were scheduled for the study and were divided into control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, 1 nmol of ghrelin was administered as sc injection for 10 consecutive days or vehicle (physiological saline) to the control rats. Sperm collection was achieved by killing of the rats on days 15, 25 and 50 after first injection. Total sperm motility and forward progressive movement did not exhibit significant difference during the experiment, although, there was a tendency for greater motion rate on d 15 and 25 in the treated rats compared to the control group. Plasma membrane integrity (HOS-reacted spermatozoa) was significantly higher in the treated animals, especially on day 15 as well as day 25, because of possible antioxidant properties of ghrelin. This value was statistically higher on day 15 than that of day 25 (P <0.05). Likewise, there was a significant correlation between the FPM (P <0.0001, r = 0.79) and TSM (P <0.01, r = 0.52) with the HOS test percentage in the treatment group. It was not observed statistically difference in the sperm concentration between groups during all of the experimental days. In conclusion, chronic administration of ghrelin (similar to induced by energy deficiency such as fasting) increased the integrity of sperm membrane, however, the sperm motility and concentration did not display any alterations.
Field-based evidence of rose seed-infesting wasps Megastigmus aculeatus (Swederus) surviving bird gut passage
Authors: Hernández Ángel
Published: June 2009

The survival of fruit-infesting insects after bird ingestion and gut processing has been verified in very few cases, and little is known about its ecological significance. It has already been reported that the torymid wasp Megastigmus aculeatus (Swederus) survives passage through the digestive tract of frugivorous birds in the larval stage in rose seeds, but now, for the first time this has been demonstrated in hips consumed by birds in a natural environment, after collecting droppings in the field during winter and verifying wasp survival and emergence almost two years later. The rate of rose seed infestation was c.5% and the survival rate c.88%. The adult emergence rate was noticeably lower in droppings collected in early winter (54.5%) than late winter (87.5%), probably because the seeds collected in early winter were kept at room temperature (approximately 22° C) before those collected in late winter and the minimum time of exposure to low temperatures needed by the larvae to complete the diapause and continue morphogenesis had not elapsed. The results support the hypothesis that the role of frugivorous birds, particularly Turdus blackbirds and thrushes in Europe, could facilitate the dispersion of this torymid species as adult wasps have very limited flight capacity.
An investigation of factors influencing erythrocyte morphology of red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)
Authors: Davis Andrew , Milanovich Joseph , DeVore Jayna , Maerz John
Published: June 2009

Amphibians have long been known to display wide variation in erythrocyte morphology across species, but within species there has been little attention given to individual variation in red blood cell morphology. We captured 49 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) from central Pennsylvania, USA and used image analysis procedures to measure erythrocyte morphology (size and shape) on blood smears made from all individuals. We then statistically examined whether variation in snout-vent-length, sex, tail loss, or capture location influenced these cell variables. Only snout-vent-length affected erythrocyte size and shape, with increasing body sizes associated with increasing cell areas and increasingly rounder cells. Further, erythrocyte shape was also associated with a measure of body condition that was corrected for body size, such that individuals with high body condition scores had rounder cells. Given the oxygen-carrying role of erythrocytes in all vertebrates, we suspect this discovery is related to size-related changes in oxygen demand, since total oxygen consumption increases with body size in an allometric manner. While our results warrant further investigation to understand the mechanism, the association we found between cell roundness and both body size and condition nevertheless indicates this parameter could be used to assess the health state of plethodontid salamanders in future research, provided non-destructive sampling is employed. Our results also underscore the value of hematological investigations in the study of animal biology.
Biological observations on the common guitarfish Rhinobatos rhinobatos from İskenderun Bay (Turkey, Eastern Mediterranean)
Authors: Çek Şehriban , Başusta Nuri , Demirhan Sefa Ayhan , Karalar Murat
Published: June 2009

Histological examination of the gonads showed that spermatogenesis occurs in every male R. rhinobatos collected in autumn and winter months of the year. The testis was composed of lobes having numerous spermatocysts in a dorsoventral zonated arrangement. Present results suggest that since R. rhinobatos have a cystic mode of spermatogenesis it can be used as a model for biomedical and toxicological studies. Eight stages of maturation for females and seven stages of maturation for males were identified. Moreover, vitellogenic oocytes were consistently found in every female collected during the summer months. In vitellogenic oocytes, yolk is present as pleomorphic droplets and very often; small yolk droplets have a crystalline configuration. These data suggest that both sexes are reproductively active at different times of the year. Both, the right ovary/testis and the left ovary/testis were functional. Ripe oocytes in the ovaries were usually symmetrically distributed. The population consisted of aplacental viviparous individuals with lecithotrophic embryo development. Although, sex ratios of R. rhinobatos were not significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio (p>0.05), slightly female biased sex ration were recorded.
Changes in Defensive Functioning in Completed Psychoanalyses: the Penn Psychoanalytic Treatment Collection
Authors: Roy Carmella A. , Perry Christopher J. , Luborsky Lester , Banon Elisabeth
Published: June 2009

Theory predicts that patients completing psychoanalysis should improve in their dynamic functioning. The aim of this naturalistic study is to examine whether a sample of 17 subjects from the Penn Psychoanalytic Treatment Collection with completed, tape-recorded psychoanalyses demonstrated improvement in one dynamic aspect: their defense mechanisms. The pre-post effect size for the change in overall defensive functioning (ODF) of the sample was large (.76) and statistically significant ( p = .01). The percentage of subjects who improved in their ODF (71%) was similar to that found by others who studied the same sample using general functioning measures. These findings provide the first empirical evidence to support a trait-like change in dynamic personality functioning in patients who have undergone psychoanalysis. Randomized controlled studies with homogeneous samples are needed to further confirm these findings.
The Neurobiology of Personality Disorders: Implications for Psychoanalysis
Authors: Siever Larry J. , Weinstein Lissa N.
Published: June 2009

As advances in neuroscience have furthered our understanding of the role of brain circuitry, genetics, stress, and neuromodulators in the regulation of normal behavior and in the pathogenesis of psychopathology, an increasing appreciation of the role of neurobiology in individual differences in personality and their pathology in personality disorders has emerged. Individual differences in the regulation and organization of cognitive processes, affective reactivity, impulse/action patterns, and anxiety may in the extreme provide susceptibilities to personality disorders such as borderline and schizotypal personality disorder. A low threshold for impulsive aggression, as observed in borderline and antisocial personality disorders, may be related to excessive amygdala reactivity, reduced prefrontal inhibition, and diminished serotonergic facilitation of prefrontal controls. Affective instability may be mediated by excessive limbic reactivity in gabaminergic/glutamatergic/cholinergic circuits, resulting in an increased sensitivity or reactivity to environmental emotional stimuli as in borderline personality disorder and other cluster B personality disorders. Disturbances in cognitive organization and information processing may contribute to the detachment, desynchrony with the environment, and cognitive/perceptional distortions of cluster A or schizophrenia spectrum personality disorders. A low threshold for anxiety may contribute to the avoidant, dependent, and compulsive behaviors observed in cluster C personality disorders. These alterations in critical regulatory domains will influence how representations of self and others are internalized. Aspects of neurobiological functioning themselves become cognized through the medium of figurative language into an ongoing narrative of the self, one that can be transformed through the analytic process, allowing for the modulation of genetic/biological thresholds.
The Interpretive Process in the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of Borderline Personality Pathology
Authors: Caligor Eve , Diamond Diana , Yeomans Frank E. , Kernberg Otto F.
Published: June 2009

While all patients become more concrete in their psychological functioning in areas of conflict, especially in the setting of transference regression, in the treatment of patients with severe personality pathology this process poses a particular clinical challenge. In the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of patients with severe personality pathology in general, and borderline personality disorder in particular, the interpretive process serves multiple functions. This process comprises a series of steps or phases that can be viewed as moving the patient further away from a single, poorly elaborated, and concrete experience in the transference, which dominates and floods subjectivity, and toward more fully elaborated, complex, stable, and integrated representations of the analyst and of what he or she evokes in the patient's internal world.
Professional Governance and Public Control
Authors: Kuhlmann Ellen , Allsop Judith , Saks Mike
Published: June 2009

Governments across the western world face new demands to achieve greater efficiency and responsiveness in public services. The transformations are most radical and challenging in healthcare where both cost effectiveness and patient safety are major issues. Drawing on the National Health Service in the UK and the corporatist system in Germany, this article compares the dynamics of changing governance and public control in the context of different national and institutional arrangements. The analysis is based on studies carried out by each of the authors and secondary sources. The article addresses three issues: transformations in the governance of physicians who held a dominant position in healthcare; policies to promote the role of service users in defining the `public interest' and influencing the decisions of providers; and the professionalization and regulation of a broader range of health professions. The comparison between the two countries illustrates different institutional pathways to change and different conceptualizations of the `public interest' and how it is represented. This demonstrates that not only the government and service users, but also a variety of professional groups, in advancing their own professional projects, may still fundamentally shape the nature and form of public control and new governance practices.
New Public Management and New Professionalism across Nations and Contexts
Authors: Leicht Kevin T. , Walter Tony , Sainsaulieu Ivan , Davies Scott
Published: June 2009

The professions in the West are undergoing unprecedented calls for greater accountability and efficiency in service delivery. This article links these changes to recent developments in institutional theory that emphasize shifting salience of technical over symbolic organizational environments. The analysis of the adaptations to these changes in French and British healthcare, Canadian education and US managerial consulting suggest that country-specific responses to neoliberal institutional pressures are highly path dependent. The article concludes by suggesting a research program for the future study of the cross-national responses of professional groups to neoliberal economic and political ideologies.
A Cross-cultural Analysis of English Newspaper Editorials
Authors: Ansary Hasan , Babaii Esmat
Published: June 2009

■ It is true that analyses of English language texts dominate the literature. It is equally true that a flourishing field of Contrastive Rhetoric (CR) research has begun to address the way various text types and/or genres may differ across cultures and languages (see Connor 1996, 2003). Very much in line with these developments, this study was an attempt to first characterize the global and/or macro-rhetorical structure of English newspaper editorials and formulate what Halliday and Hasan (1989: 64) call `the Generic Structure Potential' (GSP) of a genre. Secondly, this study attempted to cross-examine whether there is significant macro-structural variation from one culture to another within the same genre. To this end, a total of 90 editorials culled from three English newspapers (30 editorials each) published in three different socio-cultural environments by native speakers of English ( The Washington Times), and non-native speakers ( The Iran News, and The Pakistan Today) were text-analyzed. The results of a GSP analysis of texts indicated that, in terms of the rhetorical elements of structure, there is `statistically' no significant difference (α = .05) between editorials written by (non-)native editorial writers, in whatever socio-cultural and socio-political context they are produced and disseminated. In plain words, results revealed that an `unmarked' English newspaper editorial, published either in Iran or Pakistan or the USA, typically consists of four obligatory and two optional generic rhetorical elements.
Nijinsky's images of homosexuality
Authors: Kolb Alexandra
Published: June 2009

Many choreographies created by the Ballets Russes defied and disrupted conventional gender norms, thus helping to redefine methods of sexual presentation on stage. Drawing on material from gender and queer theory, including Judith Butler's work, this interdisciplinary paper explores how the male dancer, notably Nijinsky, was used to portray three different types of homoerotic imagery. Fokine's Le Spectre de la rose, Nijinsky's choreography for L'Après-midi d'un faune, and Fokine's Legend of Joseph are analysed against the backdrop of early twentieth-century research in sexual science and the literary reception of the male dancer by German-speaking authors.
Bertolt Brecht and Béla Balázs
Authors: Petrie Graham
Published: June 2009

The sometimes parallel, sometimes conflicting careers of Bertolt Brecht and Béla Balázs are examined through the focus of their engagements with film and in the context of their experience of exile. Both were anti-fascist and at least nominally communist; yet neither was fully accepted by the communist governments of East Germany (in Brecht's case) and post-World War II Hungary (in the case of Balázs) and both were subjected to official criticism and censorship despite their attempts to conform to political orthodoxy.
An intellectual revolution
Authors: Allan Derek
Published: June 2009

Very little has been written in recent decades about the temporal nature of art. The two principal explanations provided by our Western cultural tradition are that art is timeless (`eternal') or that it belongs within the world of historical change. Neither account offers a plausible explanation of the world of art as we know it today, which contains large numbers of works which are self-evidently not timeless because they have been resurrected after long periods of oblivion with significances quite different from those which they originally held, and which also seem to have escaped history because, though long-forgotten, they have `come alive' again for us today. In his two key works on the theory of art, Les Voix du silence and La Métamorphose des dieux, André Malraux offers an entirely new account of the temporal nature of art based on the concept of metamorphosis. Unlike the traditional explanations, Malraux's account makes sense of the world of art as we now know it. He revolutionizes our understanding of the relationship between art and time.
Israeli School and Community Response to War Trauma
Authors: Abel Rachel M. , Friedman Howard A.
Published: June 2009

This article presents a review of literature focusing on mental health clinicians who have responded to war trauma in their work with children in Israeli schools. The review provides a brief introduction to the country's war history and inception of school psychological and counselling services. Within this framework, results of empirical research, methods of assessment and multisystemic interventions are reviewed. Research results acknowledge the school as a major source of social support and facilitator of recovery. Family cohesion and parent symptomatology are also significant predictors of stress and anxiety, especially in early childhood. Recommendations for clinical and school use are included.
Promoting High School Boys' Reading Engagement and Motivation
Authors: Atkinson Cathy
Published: June 2009

It can be difficult for school psychologists to become involved in research within their day-to-day role. This article details real world research undertaken in a single high school to identify and address mechanisms which were contributing to boys' literacy underachievement. In an attempt to promote reading engagement and motivation amongst high school boys, an affective reading intervention was delivered to Year 8 pupils in a single sex comprehensive school. The lack of desired outcomes prompted a systemic enquiry into boys' views and perceptions of reading in this context. Reported here are findings from focus group interviews with staff and pupils which suggest that factors that facilitated or inhibited boys' reading were the result of complex interactions between socio-cultural influences, peer pressures, gender perceptions and literacy preferences. A motivational model is proposed as a useful framework for helping schools explore how school-based literacy practices might facilitate reading development.
How Important Are Roles/Functions of School Psychologists and Who Should Substitute for Them in Their Absence?
Authors: Archwamety Teara , McFarland Max , Tangdhanakanond Kamonwan
Published: June 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare Thai and American college students on their perception of the importance of the various roles and functions of school psychologists, and who should assume those roles and functions in the absence of school psychologists. One hundred and eighty-one Thai college students and their 168 US counterparts participated in the present study. Each student rated the various roles/functions of a school psychologist and specified who should assume those roles/functions in the absence of a school psychologist. Results indicated that while Thai students rated the assessment role/function significantly higher ( p < 0.05) than their US counterparts, they rated the other roles/functions significantly lower ( p < 0.05) except for counselling ( p > 0.05). However, they differed significantly ( p < 0.05) on who should assume the counselling role in the absence of a school psychologist. Thai students expected their parents and older siblings, as well as their teachers, to fill the vacuum more than their US counterparts did.
Strength in Numbers or Less Is More? A Matter of Opinion and a Question of Taste
Authors: Spears Russell , Ellemers Naomi , Doosje Bertjan
Published: June 2009

Theory and research on attitudes and opinions assume that people generally prefer a state where their preferences are shared by the majority of relevant others. Other research points to the value that distinctiveness, or being in a minority, can have for both groups and individuals. The authors propose that a relatively neglected factor here concerns the nature of the preference, namely, whether the preference is a matter of opinion or a question of taste. The authors argue that different processes play a role in each of these cases, with the result that people like a majority to share their opinion but prefer to be part of a minority in matters of taste. Results of three experiments support this prediction and show that shared opinions reflect the perceived power of others' support, whereas shared tastes reflect distinctiveness from others.
Comparison of CAT Item Selection Criteria for Polytomous Items
Authors: Choi Seung W. , Swartz Richard J.
Published: June 2009

Item selection is a core component in computerized adaptive testing (CAT). Several studies have evaluated new and classical selection methods; however, the few that have applied such methods to the use of polytomous items have reported conflicting results. To clarify these discrepancies and further investigate selection method properties, six different selection methods are compared systematically. The results showed no clear benefit from more sophisticated selection criteria and showed one method previously believed to be superior—the maximum expected posterior weighted information (MEPWI)—to be mathematically equivalent to a simpler method, the maximum posterior weighted information (MPWI).
Review and Analysis of Laws Related to Strangulation in 50 States
Authors: Laughon Kathryn , Glass Nancy , Worrell Claude
Published: June 2009

Nonlethal strangulation of intimate partners has substantial direct health effects and is associated with an increased risk of later lethal violence by a partner or ex-intimate partner but can be difficult to prosecute under felony assault statutes. After review of state laws regarding assault, the authors identified 10 states with specific legislation related to strangulation as of March 2009 The authors examined the characteristics of these laws. They recommend that all states develop policies to improve prosecution of strangulation, include strangulation in their criminal codes, and use language that includes all potential victims.
Incorporating Cost in Power Analysis for Three-Level Cluster-Randomized Designs
Authors: Konstantopoulos Spyros
Published: June 2009

In experimental designs with nested structures, entire groups (such as schools) are often assigned to treatment conditions. Key aspects of the design in these cluster-randomized experiments involve knowledge of the intraclass correlation structure, the effect size, and the sample sizes necessary to achieve adequate power to detect the treatment effect. However, the units at each level of the hierarchy have a cost associated with them and thus researchers need to decide on sample sizes given a certain budget, when designing their studies. This article provides methods for computing power within an optimal design framework that incorporates costs of units in all three levels for three-level cluster-randomized balanced designs with two levels of nesting at the second and third level. The optimal sample sizes are a function of the variances at each level and the cost of each unit. Overall, larger effect sizes, smaller intraclass correlations at the second and third level, and lower cost of Level 3 and Level 2 units result in higher estimates of power.
The Cost-Effectiveness of an RCT to Establish Whether 5 or 10 Years of Bisphosphonate Treatment Is the Better Duration for Women With a Prior Fracture
Authors: Stevenson Matt D. , Oakley Jeremy E. , Lloyd Jones Myfawny , Brennan Alan , Compston Juliet E. , McCloskey Eugene V. , Selby Peter L.
Published: June 2009

Purpose. Five years of bisphosphonate treatment have proven efficacy in reducing fractures. Concerns exist that long-term bisphosphonate treatment may actually result in an increased number of fractures. This study evaluates, in the context of England and Wales, whether it is cost-effective to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and what sample size may be optimal to estimate the efficacy of bisphosphonates in fracture prevention beyond 5 years. Method. An osteoporosis model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of extending bisphosphonate treatment from 5 years to 10 years. Two scenarios were run. The 1st uses long-term efficacy data from published literature, and the 2nd uses distributions elicited from clinical experts. Results of a proposed RCT were simulated. The expected value of sample information technique was applied to calculate the expected net benefit of sampling from conducting such an RCT at varying levels of participants per arm and to compare this with proposed trial costs. Results. Without further information, the better duration of bisphosphonate treatment was estimated to be 5 years using the published data but 10 years using the elicited expert opinions, although in both cases uncertainty was substantial. The net benefit of sampling was consistently high when between 2000 and 5000 participants per arm were recruited. Conclusions. An RCT to evaluate the long-term efficacy of bisphosphonates in fracture prevention appears to be cost-effective for informing decision making in England and Wales.
Clinical Outcome Measures in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Authors: Montes Jacqueline , Gordon Andrew M. , Pandya Shree , De Vivo Darryl C. , Kaufmann Petra
Published: June 2009

Spinal muscular atrophy is one of the most devastating neurological diseases of childhood. Affected infants and children suffer from often severe muscle weakness caused by degeneration of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem. Identification of the causative genetic mutation in most cases has resulted in development of potential treatment strategies. To test these new drugs, clinically feasible outcomes are needed. Several different assessments, validated in spinal muscular atrophy or similar disorders, are being used by national and international research groups; however, their sensitivity to detect change is unknown. Acceptance of a few standardized, easily administered, and functionally meaningful outcomes, applicable to the phenotypic spectrum of spinal muscular atrophy, is needed. Consensus is imperative to facilitate collaboration and explore the ability of these measures to identify the therapeutic effect of disease-modifying agents. Following is an evidence-based review of available clinical outcome measures in spinal muscular atrophy.
From Apneic Spells to the Development of Hypertensive Hydrocephalus: A Case Report of Homocystinuria With Early Onset
Authors: Cerbo Rosa Maria , Cabano Rita , Lombardi Giuseppina , Bollani Lina , Colombo Roberto , Stronati Mauro
Published: June 2009

Homocystinuria represents a group of hereditary metabolic disorders characterized by an accumulation of homocysteine in the serum and an increased excretion of homocysteine in the urine. The infantile form is severe: the main clinical findings are neurologic signs, associated with hematological signs and bone alterations. Immediate restoration of plasma amino acids is the primary goal and early diagnosis is crucial not to delay the onset of possible treatment. We report a case of homocystinuria with early onset: an initial symptomatology was undervalued by the pediatrician with a delay in diagnosis. Despite the therapy, the patient developed tetraventricular hydrocephalus requiring ventricular drainage. In conclusion, we want to remember the necessity to perform a complete metabolic workup in a patient with clinical manifestations suggestive for homocystinuria, and the importance of early recognition of the signs and symptoms of hypertensive hydrocephalus, a possible complication of this condition.
Matching Donors and Nonprofits
Authors: Reinhardt Gina Yannitell
Published: June 2009

The topic of nonprofit reform has sparked a debate on the battle between efficiency and effectiveness. Why do ineffective nonprofits survive? Prospective donors favor applicants likely to fulfill donor priorities. Donors with limited time and energy look for signals that reveal recipients' true capabilities. Knowing this, recipients attempt to send the right signals to prospective donors. If the process of sending and reading signals is efficient, funding decisions will tend toward an optimal outcome in which only effective agencies survive. What signals do donors consider the most helpful? Are organizations that send such signals receiving the highest payoffs? What is the financial yield of each signal to recipients? This article uses a signaling game to sharpen our understanding of nonprofit fundraising and derive the conditions under which signals will be credible. Interview and survey evidence gathered in Brazil indicate that signals of accessibility, reliability, and credibility attract the highest payoffs.
Successful and Failed Screening Mechanisms in the Two Gulf Wars
Authors: Verdier Daniel
Published: June 2009

The article addresses the question of how status-quo states can identify revisionist threats. After recasting the question within the collective security and social learning literatures, the article presents and models a new mechanism for the collective identification of threats — screening. It then identifies several conditions for the existence of screening mechanisms, among which states' mutual dependence on one another's support to enforce threats and promises, and restricted opportunities for moral hazard. The model's predictions are then tested on two most similar cases — the two Gulf wars — with collective learning taking place during the former but not the latter. The paired comparison suggests that rather than being misinformed or irrational, Saddam, in 2003, was not offered the kinds of incentives that would have led him to reveal the truth about the state of Iraq's nuclear weapons program.
Outside in-group and out-group identities? Constructing male solidarity and female exclusion in UK builders' talk
Authors: Baxter Judith , Wallace Kieran
Published: June 2009

This article examines the spoken interactions of a group of British construction workers to discover whether it is possible to identify a distinctive `builders' discourse'. Given that builders work for a mostly all-male profession (Curjao, 2006), we ask whether the ways in which male builders converse with each other while `on the job' can be held in any way responsible for the under-representation of women within this major occupational sector in the UK. This article reports on a case study of the conversations of three white, working-class, male builders, which took place while travelling in a truck between different building sites. This forms part of a larger ethnographic study of builders' discourse in different work locations. The analysis shows that male builders are highly collaborative in constructing narratives of in-group and out-group identities (Duszak, 2002; Tajfel, 1978). Various other male groups are demonized in these conversations: Polish immigrant builders, rude clients and rival builders. However, there is almost no reference to women. The article concludes that women are viewed as so unthreatening to male ascendancy in the building industry that they do not even feature within the `out-group'.
Occidentalism and accountability: constructing culture and cultural difference in majority Greek talk about the minority in Western Thrace
Authors: Bozatzis Nikos
Published: June 2009

Drawing upon the notion of occidentalism, developed within cultural theory and critical ethnography, this article explores ways in which explicit and/or implicit assumptions about the West and Western self are implicated, in their conversational mobilization, to accountability management. The data analysed come from a study in Western Thrace (Greece), which included interviews and focus group with majority Greek educators about the Muslim minority historically residing in the region. The analysis presented employs tools from critical discursive social psychology. Building upon discourse analytic treatments within social psychology on the mobilization of national categories and accountability management in talk, it is argued that the banal indexicalization of national categories in talk opens the space for a critical interrogation of the banal indexicalization of an occidentalist cultural imagery that posits a hierarchical distinction between cultures of the West and the Rest.
The representation of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in British newspapers during the Balkan conflict (1999) and the British general election (2005)
Authors: KhosraviNik Majid
Published: June 2009

This article is a CDA investigation into the representation of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants during two major events: the Balkan conflict in 1999 and the British general election in 2005 as reflected in British newspapers. The article is part of a larger project on the representation of these groups of people between 1996 and 2006 in British newspapers. The study shows that while there are major similarities in the micro-linguistic categories used in representations of these groups in these two periods, e.g. the metaphors, the overall communicated messages are not similar and the macro-structural contexts behind the processes of interpretation of these discourses play a determining role in transferring certain `meanings'. The research also shows that while newspapers have different strategies in their representations due to their political standpoints, in some important ways they all contribute to a similar construction of these people.
Income Disparity and Growth
Authors: Thomas Vinod
Published: June 2009

Rapid economic growth over the past decade was the main driver of poverty reduction. However, due to the global market turmoil, growth in recent times has slowed and ground may be lost in poverty reduction. An important question for the sustainability of growth is: Has the world become more equal or unequal with globalisation? The evidence on trends in inequality is dependent on the normative judgments and measurements used. However, there has been rising inequality within countries. The greater the degree of income inequality, the lower the impact of growth on poverty reduction. This makes growth, equality of income and poverty reduction important considerations when formulating development strategies. Reform of trade, productivity, and human capital have had positive implications for growth, employment, and equality. Trade liberalisation has proven to both increase growth and reduce inequality. Education inequality is closely related to increasing growth and reducing poverty. Jobs are the most sustainable way to reduce poverty. Complementary measures are also needed to ensure that financial reforms take place, labour markets function well, there is free movement of people and goods and services and natural resources are used in a sustainable way.
Nuclear, Engaged, and Non-Aligned
Authors: Mitra Subrata K.
Published: June 2009

When analysed in terms of the exacting norms of international-relations theories such as neo-realism, constructivism and liberalism, India's foreign policy over the past six decades comes across as contradictory and incoherent. These infelicities, internal inconsistencies and sparks of idealism give Indian policy, as a whole, an appearance of a mystical otherness, as distinguished from the hard-nosed realism currently in favour. This article questions this impression of Indian exceptionalism. It attempts to understand its inner logic in terms of an analytical tool box, which combines the key explanatory factors of the leading schools of international politics and adds some further assumptions specific to the Indian context and culture. The article draws on the insights of this hybrid model to examine the evolution of India's foreign policy from Independence to the present day, starting with the foundational years under the stewardship of Jawaharlal Nehru and his successors, the ambivalent relationship with the United States leading to the current nuclear deal. On the basis of the insights gleaned from this retrospective, the article makes a case for a fresh evaluation of the original concept of non-alignment in the light of the state of contemporary international politics, and visualize it as a suitable norm for the orderly conduct of politics in the world we live in.
The Conflict in the Caucasus
Authors: Heine Jorge
Published: June 2009

The war between Russia and Georgia (RGW) from 8–12 August 2008 triggered different interpretations. Although initially Western discourse and media coverage took at face value Georgia's version of the unfolding of the war, subsequent evidence has disproved the latter. Russia only reacted to an unprovoked attack on South Ossetia in the middle of the night, which caused hundreds of civilian deaths as well as those of many Russian peacekeepers. Much of the initial argument about Russia embarking on a ‘new Cold War’ does not, therefore, stand up to scrutiny. By examining the war and the developments that led to it—as well as the behaviour of Russia, the United States, the European Union and NATO—this article argues that, far from opening a new Cold War, the RGW may have been a turning point, but in a very different direction. It indicates the end of the ‘unipolar moment’ and the beginning of a new era in the international system, in which the imperative for recognition and respect of newly emerging or resurgent powers has come into its own.
Striving to Promote Shared Values
Authors: Dutt Sagarika
Published: June 2009

UNESCO was established in 1945 to contribute to peace and security by promoting intellectual collaboration among nations. Its work in the fields of education, science, culture and communication is firmly based on shared values such as justice, equity and respect for human rights, cultural diversity, pluralism and democratic principles, as reiterated in the latest Medium Term Strategy, 2008–13. These values also underpin UNESCO's efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, a UN initiative. From its inception, UNESCO has considered its role to be an ethical one and this is reflected in various UNESCO Declarations and Conventions. Drawing inspiration from UNESCO's response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, which stresses the importance of a global and inclusive vision of development, this article argues that in a world characterized by inequality, on the one hand, and global interdependence, on the other, a more concerted effort is needed to inculcate a global commitment to a just world order as a precondition to a dialogue among civilizations.
Comparing Child, Parent, and Family Characteristics in Usual Care and Empirically Supported Treatment Research Samples for Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Authors: Baker-Ericzén Mary J. , Hurlburt Michael S. , Brookman-Frazee Lauren , Jenkins Melissa M. , Hough Richard L.
Published: June 2009

This study compared data from 34 research trials of five empirically supported treatments (ESTs) with one large usual care (UC) sample on child, parent, and family characteristics for children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Large variations were found within and across ESTs on sample characteristics during the past two decades. Most parent and family characteristics were not reported in EST studies. Statistical comparisons between UC and EST samples revealed that occurrences of child demographics and symptom severity levels were similar, but occurrences of most parent and family characteristics were different, with higher rates of problems for the UC sample. Results indicate that UC clients have complex needs, with multiple child, parent, and family issues. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of acknowledging parent and family contextual variables in implementation efforts.
Association Between Adult Romantic Attachment Styles and Family-of-Origin Expressive Atmosphere
Authors: Smith Shannon D. , Ng Kok-Mun
Published: June 2009

This study examined the associations between attachment quality and perceived family-of-origin expressive atmosphere (FOEA) in a convenience sample of 279 participants. Multivariate analysis of variance (MAN-OVA) was used to examine the associations between attachment style and FOEA, and hierarchical regression was used to analyze FOEA as a predictor for attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Categorically, secure and dismissing individuals reported higher levels of FOEA than preoccupied and fearful ones. Dimensionally, FOEA predicted significant anxiety and avoidance. Findings in this study support the proposition of the family as a secure base for attachment formation.
Parent—Child Relationship and Mother's Sexual Assault History
Authors: Reid-Cunningham Allison Ruby
Published: June 2009

Although there is clinical conjecture regarding the effects of maternal trauma on parent— child relationships, research is scarce and this area remains to be explored. In a domestic violence sample, there was significant reduction in quality of parent—child relationships when the mother had experienced sexual assault or rape during adulthood. There was no correlation between the mother's history of childhood sexual assault or rape and parent—child relationship. Survivors of sexual assault may be best served through interventions that utilize relational models. Family-based interventions may be particularly effective in addressing problems in parent—child relationships stemming from the mother's trauma history.
Future HIV Vaccine Acceptability Among Young Adults in South Africa
Authors: Sayles Jennifer N. , Macphail Catherine L. , Newman Peter A. , Cunningham William E.
Published: June 2009

Developing and disseminating a preventive HIV vaccine is a primary scientific and public health objective. However, little is known about HIV vaccine acceptability in the high-prevalence setting of South Africa— where young adults are likely to be targeted in early dissemination efforts. This study reports on six focus groups ( n = 42) conducted in 2007 with South Africans aged 18 to 24 years. A deductive framework approach is used to identify key motivators and barriers to future HIV vaccine uptake. Participants identify HIV testing, HIV stigma, mistrust of the health care system, and concerns about sexual disinhibition as barriers to vaccine uptake. For women, family members and friends are strong motivators for vaccine uptake, whereas men are more likely to see vaccines as an opportunity to stop using HIV prevention strategies such as condoms and partner reduction. Implications of these findings for developing HIV vaccine dissemination strategies and policy in South Africa are discussed.
Conflicting Identities and Power Between Communities of Practice: The Case of IT Outsourcing
Authors: Hong Jacky F. L. , O Fiona K. H.
Published: June 2009

Previous studies of communities of practice had often emphasized the ease with which members are able to participate in the collective learning process through joint practices within a particular community. However, nothing much has been done to reveal the difficulties and problems of learning between different communities due to different and sometimes conflicting identities and power inequalities. This article reports a failed experience of a tertiary institution to outsource its information technology (IT) department. By highlighting the social conflicts experienced by the in-house IT technicians in coordinating with the outsourcing staff, we argue that the received unitary, managerialist viewpoints of communities of practice somehow neglect the broader social context and micro-political factors of learning. This neglect underestimates the critical challenges of resolving the social tensions caused by multiple identities and embedded power differentials across different communities of practice.
All in the Family: Integrating Attachment and Family Systems Theories
Authors: Crittenden Patricia McKinsey , Dallos Rudi
Published: June 2009

This article brings together ideas from attachment and systemic family therapy. There is both growing interest among systemic practitioners in the conceptual and empirical base of attachment theory and also the need for attachment theory to expand dyadic patterning to include its context in family functioning. We propose the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) as being the most compatible and useful variant of attachment theory. With its emphasis on the functional nature of behavior, a dynamic view of development and change, and a focus on multiple attachments and representational systems, the DMM fits systemic concepts well. We propose that many apparent discrepancies between the theories will disappear if careful distinctions are made between observed behavior, functional explanations, and attributions. We conclude with theory-based recommendations for selecting treatment strategies. Several case examples that are theory based, counterintuitive, and tied to disorders that are difficult to treat are offered to give substance to our ideas.
Contact and Truth: The Unfolding Predicament in Adoption and Fostering
Authors: Loxterkamp Lorne
Published: June 2009

It is now time to examine the crystallizing results of the social experiment of contact, direct and indirect, and to scrutinize the arguments supporting the predominant conviction that the benefits of regular contact are certain. Many adopted and fostered children who have suffered maltreatment at the hands of their birth parents have regular face-to-face meetings with them as well as routine communication in the form of cards or letters. It is commonly maintained that contact has to be beneficial because it is necessarily in the child's best interests in the long run, if not also immediately. But the predicament emerging from such cases of early maltreatment is that contact, the very thing that is meant to provide a remedy for harm, can itself be harmful and the likely cause of enduring emotional and psychological damage, even when it appears to be going well or well enough. Three recent cases seen in a clinical setting illustrate the experiences of children tormented by the effects of contact that is suffused with mendacity.