bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence, Survival, and Risk Factors for Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Not Otherwise Specified and Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Recurrent Genetic Abnormalities: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database, 2001–2013
Authors: Song Xiaolu , Peng Ye , Wang Xiaogang , Chen Yirui , Jin Lai , Yang Tianxin , Qian Meihua , Ni Wanmao , Tong Xiangmin , Lan Jianping
Published: February 2018

Background/Aim: As the knowledgebase of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has grown, classification systems have moved to incorporate these new findings. Methods: We assessed 32,941 patients with AML whose records are contained in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Results: Half of all patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2013 did not have a World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Acute promyelocytic leukemia and acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis were associated with the longest leukemia-specific survival (110 and 115 months, respectively), and AML with minimal differentiation and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with the shortest (30 and 28 months, respectively). For patients in the WHO groups AML not otherwise specified (AML-NOS) and AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities (AML-RGA), the risk of death was greater for older patients and less for married patients. Black patients with any type of AML-NOS also had a higher risk of death. Patients whose case of AML did not receive a WHO classification were older and this group had a higher risk of death when compared to patients with a WHO type of AML-NOS. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the divergent outcomes of patients with AML and the importance of using the WHO classification system and demographic factors to gauge their prognosis.
Phosphate and Calcium Control in Short Frequent Hemodialysis with the NxStage System One Cycler: Mass Balance Studies and Comparison with Standard Thrice-Weekly Bicarbonate Dialysis
Authors: Brunati Chiara Carla Maria , Gervasi Francesca , Casati Costanza , Querques Maria Luisa , Montoli Alberto , Colussi Giacomo
Published: February 2018

Background: Short frequent dialysis with NxStage System One cycler (NSO) has become increasingly popular as home hemodialysis prescription. Short dialysis sessions with NSO might not allow adequate phosphate (P) removal. Methods: Single-session and weekly balances of P and calcium (Ca) were compared in 14 patients treated with NSO (6 sessions/week) and in 14 patients on standard bicarbonate dialysis (BHD). Results: NSO and BHD showed similar plasma P fall, with end-dialysis plasma P slightly lower in BHD (2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 2.7 ± 0.8 mg/dL, p < 0.02). Single-session P removal was lower in NSO, but weekly removal was higher (3,488 ± 1,181 mg vs. 2,634 ± 878, p < 0.003). Plasma Ca increase was lower in NSO, with similar PTH fall. Ca balance varied according to start plasma Ca, dialysate to blood Ca gradient and net ultrafiltration. Conclusions: short, frequent home hemodialysis with NSO, on a 6/week-based prescription, allows higher weekly P removal than BHD. With the dialysate Ca concentration in use (6 mg/dL), total plasma Ca and iCa concentration increase is lower in NSO.
Sarcoid-like paracoccidioidomycosis: case report
Authors: Athayde Carlos Arthur de Figueiredo , Nacif Caroline Cruz Barbosa , Lupi Omar , Lima Ricardo Barbosa , Lyra Marcelo Rosandiski , D’Acri Antônio Macedo , Martins Carlos José
Published: February 2018

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), which is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides spp, is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in immunocompetent individuals in Brazil. The fungus lives in the soil and usually infects the patient through inhalation of airborne propagules, the lungs being the portal of entry. In areas of larger endemicity, such as Brazil, the annual incidence reaches 3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Cutaneous lesions in PCM are frequent and ulcer or ulcerous-vegetative lesions are the commonest morphological type, followed by the infiltrative pattern. The histology shows a dermal granulomatous inflammation. Infiltrative PCM can be easily misdiagnosed, once clinical and histological similarities may occur specially with cutaneous sarcoidosis. We describe a case of cutaneous paracoccidioidomycosis misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis both in clinical examination and in the histopathological analysis. Further exams confirmed Paracoccidioides sp. as the causative agent through mycological cultures and Grocott’s stain. We believe this case may help physicians around the world to suspect and consider PCM as a differential diagnosis, especially if the patient has traveled to endemic area or the current therapy for sarcoidosis lacks clinical improvement.
Fistula between the right coronary artery and the branch of the pulmonary artery as an uncommon cause of syncope in elderly patients
Authors: Dutra Junior Valdir Borges , Rosa Andressa Stella Kuhn Correia da , Costa Bruna Polanski , Pasetto Camila Nunes Venâncio , Dalmas Gabriela Graça Soder , Marion Josiele Rossato , Lampert Melissa Agostini
Published: February 2018

Coronary artery fistulas are uncommon and are consist in direct connections from both arteries or just from one of them with other structure. When they have low output, they usually tend to communicate with any of the cardiac chambers or other adjacent cardiac vessels. However, communications with the pulmonary trunk are rare and underdiagnosed, since most of patients are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms related to the condition. In this report, we describe and discuss the case of a patient with a recurrent history of syncope, that started clinical follow-up in an ambulatory of geriatric and gerontology, whose investigation lead to the identification of an underlying cardiac cause as the etiology of the episodes.
High-Resolution Infrared Thermography of Esophageal Temperature During Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Daly Matthew G. , Melton Iain , Roper Graham , Lim Gary , Crozier Ian G.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has potential to cause esophageal thermal injury. Esophageal temperature monitoring during ablation is commonly used; however, it has not eliminated thermal injuries, possibly because conventional sensors have poor spatial sampling and response characteristics. To enhance understanding of temperature dynamics that may underlie esophageal injury, we tested a high-resolution, intrabody, infrared thermography catheter to continuously image esophageal temperatures during ablation.

Methods and Results:

Atrial fibrillation ablation patients were instrumented with a flexible, 9F infrared temperature catheter inserted nasally (n=8) or orally (n=8) into the esophagus adjacent to the left atrium. Ablation was performed while the infrared catheter continuously recorded surface temperatures from 7680 points per second circumferentially over a 6-cm length of esophagus. Physicians were blinded to temperature data. Endoscopy was performed within 24 hours to document esophageal injury. Thermal imaging showed that most patients (10/16) experienced ≥1 events where peak esophageal temperature was >40°C. Three patients experienced temperatures >50°C; and 1 experienced >60°C. Analysis of temperature data for each subject’s maximum thermal event revealed high gradients (2.3±1.4°C/mm) and rates of change (1.5±1.3°C/s) with an average length of esophageal involvement of 11.0±5.4 mm. Endoscopy identified 3 distinct thermal lesions, all in patients with temperatures >50°C; all resolved within 2 weeks.

Conclusions:

Infrared thermography provided dynamic, high-resolution mapping of esophageal temperatures during cardiac ablation. Esophageal thermal injury occurred with temperatures >50°C and was associated with large spatiotemporal gradients. Additional studies are warranted to determine the relationships between thermal parameters and esophageal injury.
Immunosuppressive Therapy Improves Both Short- and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Virus-Negative Nonfulminant Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Merken Jort , Hazebroek Mark , Van Paassen Pieter , Verdonschot Job , Van Empel Vanessa , Knackstedt Christian , Abdul Hamid Myrurgia , Seiler Michael , Kolb Julian , Hoermann Philipp , Ensinger Christian , Brunner-La Rocca Hans-Peter , Poelzl Gerhard , Heymans Stephane
Published: February 2018

Background:

Inflammatory cardiomyopathy (infl-CMP) is characterized by increased cardiac inflammation in the absence of viruses, ischemia, valvular disease, or other apparent causes. Studies addressing the efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with infl-CMP are sparse. This study retrospectively investigates whether immunosuppressive agents on top of heart failure therapy according to current guidelines improves cardiac function and long-term outcome in patients with infl-CMP.

Methods and Results:

Within the Innsbruck and Maastricht Cardiomyopathy Registry, a total of 209 patients fulfilled the criteria for infl-CMP using endomyocardial biopsy (≥14 infiltrating inflammatory cells/mm
2
). A total of 110 (53%) patients received immunosuppressive therapy and 99 (47%) did not. To correct for potential selection bias, 1:1 propensity score matching was used on all significant baseline parameters, resulting in a total of 90 patients per group. Baseline characteristics did not significantly differ between both patient groups, reflecting optimal propensity score matching. After a median follow-up of 31 (15–47) months, immunosuppressive therapy resulted in an improved long-term outcome (eg, heart transplantation–free survival) as compared with standard heart failure therapy alone (Log-rank
P
=0.043; hazard ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.17–0.92]) and in a significant larger increase of left ventricular ejection fraction after a mean of 12 months follow-up, as compared with patients receiving standard heart failure treatment only (12.2% versus 7.3%, respectively;
P
=0.036).

Conclusions:

To conclude, this study suggests that immunosuppressive therapy in infl-CMP patients results in an improved heart transplantation–free survival as compared with standard heart failure therapy alone, underscoring the urgent need for a large prospective multicenter trial.
Design and Rationale of the RIPCORD 2 Trial (Does Routine Pressure Wire Assessment Influence Management Strategy at Coronary Angiography for Diagnosis of Chest Pain?)
Authors: Elguindy Mostafa , Stables Rod , Nicholas Zoe , Kemp Ian , Curzen Nick
Published: February 2018

Background:

Investigation of anginal chest pain has traditionally involved either assessment of the coronary anatomy by angiography or noninvasive testing for reversible ischemia. Invasive pressure wire assessment at the time of angiography offers information on both anatomy and physiology. Fractional flow reserve–guided percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with lower resource utilization and improved clinical outcome compared with angiographic guidance alone. However, the value of routine fractional flow reserve of all major coronary vessels at the time of diagnostic angiography has not been established in a randomized trial despite persuasive observational data. A change in practice to routine fractional flow reserve assessment of all major vessels during diagnostic angiography would require evidence not just of clinical benefit but also of cost effectiveness. This randomized trial aims to test that strategy.

Methods and Results:

RIPCORD 2 (Does Routine Pressure Wire Assessment Influence Management Strategy at Coronary Angiography for Diagnosis of Chest Pain?) is an 1100 patient prospective, multicenter, randomized trial. Participants are randomized, after initial coronary angiography, and in equal proportion, to assessment and management according to (1) conventional angiography only or (2) additional routine pressure wire assessment in all epicardial vessels of sufficient size to be amenable to revascularization. The primary economic outcome measure will be a comparison of healthcare costs at 1 year. The primary quality-of-life outcome measure analysis will compare patient-reported quality-of-life scores at 1 year. Secondary outcome measures include clinical events at 1 year, management strategy (optimal medical therapy with or without revascularization), and angina status at 1 year according to Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina grade.

Conclusions:

The aim of the RIPCORD 2 trial is to assess whether a strategy of routine fractional flow reserve–guided assessment and management of all major coronary arteries will be associated with more effective resource utilization, improved quality of life, and better clinical outcome, compared with angiographic guidance alone.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02892903.
“I Speak Frankly Because You Are My Friend”: Leonid Ilich Brezhnev’s Personal Relationship with Richard M. Nixon
Authors: Raleigh Donald J.
Published: February 2018

Drawing on historian Frank Costigliola’s accent on the importance of “emotional belief” in understanding how statesmen formulate foreign policy, I apply this cultural approach to diplomacy in considering Soviet leader Leonid Ilich Brezhnev’s personal relationship with President Richard M. Nixon. Appreciating both the merits and difficulties in employing this “soft” methodology to diplomacy, I draw on recently published documents, memoirs, and available archival material to examine the evolution of Brezhnev’s relationship with Nixon at three summit meetings held in Moscow in 1972, in Washington in 1973, and, again in Moscow in 1974, weeks before Nixon’s resignation. I argue that Brezhnev’s emotional belief convinced him of the need to go beyond the evidence to cultivate a personal relationship with Nixon based at first on suspicion, then on cautious courting, and eventually on trust so that Brezhnev could achieve his aims of promoting the cause of peace.
Role of the South in the Development of International Environmental Law
Authors: Hassan Parvez
Published: February 2018

In the post-colonial era, the newly emerging and independent states of Asia and Africa, supported by the developing world in South America, questioned the validity and legitimacy of norms of international law. Those norms were perceived to serve only the interests of the developed Western nations and were alien to the aspirations of the developing countries. International law has evolved over time, with a willingness to accept the viewpoint of new participants in the global process in a variety of contexts. These include the international protection of human rights and international law regarding the permanent sovereignty of nations over their natural wealth and resources. The interests of developing countries have been assimilated, though the extent to which this is done varies. A central message advanced is that the ultimate integrity of international law is the commonality and synthesis of the interests of all states, rich and poor, agricultural and industrial. The continuing contribution of developing countries, through their participation in conferences, negotiation of treaties and soft law texts, adds immeasurable strength to the current state and future development of international environmental law.
Acrocordiella omanensis sp. nov. (Requienellaceae, Xylariales) from the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA SAJEEWA S. N. , HYDE KEVIN D. , PERERA REKHANI H. , AL-SADI ABDULLAH M.
Published: February 2018

Acrocordiella omanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from specimens on dead stem of Juniper sp. collected in Al Jabal al-Akhdar (Green Mountain), Sultanate of Oman. It strongly resembles Acrocordiella occulta, the type of the genus, in its similar asci and ascospore anatomy. It differs from A. occulta in having bell-shaped to cap-like clypeus around the ostiole and larger asci and ascospores. The combined large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacer sequences support the conclusions based on the morphological data.
Hydrography of the Gulf of Mexico Using Autonomous Floats
Authors: Hamilton Peter , Leben Robert , Bower Amy , Furey Heather , Pérez-Brunius Paula
Published: February 2018

Fourteen autonomous profiling floats, equipped with CTDs, were deployed in the deep eastern and western basins of the Gulf of Mexico over a four-year interval (July 2011–August 2015), producing a total of 706 casts. This is the first time since the early 1970s that there has been a comprehensive survey of water masses in the deep basins of the Gulf, with better vertical resolution than available from older ship-based surveys. Seven floats had 14-day cycles with parking depths of 1500 m, and the other half from the U.S. Argo program had varying cycle times. Maps of characteristic water masses, including Subtropical Underwater, Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), and North Atlantic Deep Water, showed gradients from east to west, consistent with their sources being within the Loop Current (LC) and the Yucatan Channel waters. Altimeter SSH was used to characterize profiles being in LC or LC eddy water or in cold eddies. The two-layer nature of the deep Gulf shows isotherms being deeper in the warm anticyclonic LC and LC eddies and shallower in the cold cyclones. Mixed layer depths have an average seasonal signal that shows maximum depths (~60 m) in January and a minimum in June–July (~20 m). Basin-mean steric heights from 0–50-m dynamic heights and altimeter SSH show a seasonal range of ~12 cm, with significant interannual variability. The translation of LC eddies across the western basin produces a region of low homogeneous potential vorticity centered over the deepest part of the western basin.
Simulating Radiative Fluxes through Southeastern Pacific Stratocumulus Clouds during VOCALS-REx
Authors: Verlinden Kathryn L. , de Szoeke Simon P.
Published: February 2018

Time series of solar and thermal infrared radiative flux profiles are simulated with the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model (RRTM) using a hierarchy of constraints from radar reflectivity and passive microwave cloud remote sensing measurements collected over a ship in the southeastern tropical Pacific Ocean (20°S) during the second leg of the Variability of American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study Regional Experiment (VOCALS-REx). Incorporating additional constraints results in simulations of physically consistent radiative profiles throughout the atmosphere, especially within the cloud, where they are difficult to observe precisely. Simulated surface radiative fluxes are compared with those observed on the ship and by aircraft.

Due to the strong Rayleigh scattering of drizzle drops compared to cloud droplets that absorb, emit, and scatter natural radiation, cloud radar reflectivity overestimates cloud liquid water content (LWC). As a result, clouds are optically too thick and transmission ratios are too low in simulations using radar LWC. Imposing a triangular (increasing linearly with height from zero at cloud base) LWC profile in agreement with microwave liquid water path (LWP) improves the simulation of the transmission ratio. Constraining the corresponding microphysical cloud effective radius to that retrieved from optical depth, LWP, and cloud thickness results in additional improvements to the simulations. Time series, averages, and composite diurnal cycles of radiative fluxes, heating rates, and cloud radiative forcing are presented.
Neapolitan Leopardi and the Naples of Mario Martone
Authors: Bini Daniela
Published: February 2018

To make a biopic of any writer is an effort almost inevitably doomed to failure. Filming the life of Leopardi was a hard challenge. During the study of Il giovane favoloso, however, something unexpected came up: Martone was not interested so much in the poet of Recanati, as in Leopardi's Neapolitan and final period. A great part of the film, in fact, deals with and also invents episodes of his and Antonio Ranieri’s life in Naples. Martone’s strong connection with Naples is apparent in the treatment of the city, from the camera shots to the use of colors and the intensity of the scenes. Watching the movie I realized that the film the director wanted to make was on Naples, as he had done in many of his earlier works. And Leopardi’s final period gave him a perfect excuse to do this. Il giovane favoloso ends with a dramatic scene of erupting Vesuvius while the voice of the poet recites his final canto “La ginestra.” But Martone’s dialogue with Leopardi had already started years before in “La salita”, an episode in the film I vesuviani. There the director describes the climb of mount Vesuvius that the mayor of Naples, interpreted by Tony Servillo, undertakes to reflect upon the changes his city has undergone, its corruption, and the compromises he has been forced to accept. It could be interpreted as the realization of the presumption and fallibility of humankind Leopardi so well portrayed in “La ginestra,” that is, as his prophecy.
‘Bound hand and foot and handed over to the caste Hindus’: Ambedkar, untouchability and the politics of Partition
Authors: Cháirez-Garza Jesús Francisco
Published: February 2018

This article examines B. R. Ambedkar’s dramatically shifting politics in the years prior to Partition. In 1940, he supported the creation of Pakistan. In 1946, he joined Winston Churchill in his demands to delay independence. Yet, in 1947, Ambedkar rejected Pakistan and joined the Nehru administration. Traditional narratives explain these changes as part of Ambedkar’s political pragmatism. It is believed that such pragmatism, along with Gandhi’s good faith, helped Ambedkar to secure a place in Nehru’s Cabinet. In contrast, I argue that Ambedkar changed his attitude towards Congress due to the political transformations elicited by Partition. Ambedkar approached Congress as a last resort to maintain a political space for Dalits in independent India. This, however, was unsuccessful. Partition not only saw the birth of two countries but also virtually eliminated the histories of resistance of political minorities that did not fall under the Hindu–Muslim binary, such as Dalits. In the case of Ambedkar, his past as a critic of Gandhi and Congress was erased in favour of the more palatable image of him as the father of the constitution. This essay reconfigures our understanding of Partition by showing how the promise of Pakistan shaped the way we remember Ambedkar.
Rethinking Majlis’ politics: Pre-1948 Muslim concerns in Hyderabad State
Authors: Moid M. A. , Suneetha A.
Published: February 2018

In the historiography of Hyderabad State, pre-1948 Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (Majlis) figures as a separatist, communal and fanatical political formation. For the nationalist, Hindu and left politics in this region, Majlis has long stood for the ‘other’, wherein concerns articulated by it get discredited. In this article, we argue that there is a need to rethink the Majlis’ political perspective and its articulation of Muslim concerns by placing them in the context of the momentous political developments in the first half of the twentieth century. Caught between the imminent decline of the Asaf Jahi kingdom and the arrival of democratic politics, the Majlis saw the necessity of popular will but also the dangers of majoritarianism during such transitions and fought against the threat of imminent minoritisation of Muslims in the Hyderabad State. This article draws on the Urdu writings on the Majlis and Bahadur Yar Jung’s speeches that have been rarely used in Telugu or English writings on this period.
Discretionary Powers of Governor—III: An Interpretation from Federal Perspective
Authors: Pankaj Ashok
Published: February 2018

This article examines the scope of discretionary powers of governor of a state in India from federal perspective and argues that they are against the principle of ‘cabinet responsibility’, an essential feature of parliamentary form of government that India intertwined with the federal constitution. These apparent anachronistic constitutional provisions were inherited from the Government of India Act, 1935, and retained with some modifications in the Constitution of Independent India as an institutional safeguard for the unity and integrity of Union of India that was formed by the merger of more than 500 princely states and a number of British administered provinces.

As against the intentions of the constitution makers, the use of discretionary powers by governors has remained short of constitutional propriety, and it has been a major source of tension in centre–state relations. This has been partly because of the scope of powers itself and partly because of political factors. This article adds to various attempts of defining the scope of discretionary powers of the governor. A governor, appointed on political considerations, flippantly sets aside norms, values and constitutional propriety, expected of him in exercise of his/her powers. The lack of tenurial security makes him susceptible to the pressure of the union government. Only through political consensus, a solution can be found out to resolve this tricky issue of Indian federalism.
Book Review: Romila Thapar, Indian Society and the Secular: Essays
Authors: Rai Dhananjay
Published: February 2018

Romila Thapar, Indian Society and the Secular: Essays. Gurgaon: Three Essays Collective, 2016, xiv + 286 pp., ₹500.
Refinement of in vivo optical imaging: Development of a real-time respiration monitoring system
Authors: Gomes Ana L , Gilchrist Stuart , Kersemans Veerle , Westcott Marcus , Smart Sean
Published: February 2018

In vivo optical imaging enables detection and quantification of light-emitting compounds from the whole body in small animals such as the mouse, but it typically requires the use of anaesthetics for subject immobilisation due to long exposure times. Excessively deep anaesthesia can result in unacceptably compromised physiology, whilst excessively light anaesthesia can result in animals waking up.

Here we report a respiratory monitoring setup for an in vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging device which simultaneously allows real-time adaptive control of anaesthesia depth in multiple animals to (i) potentially increase the consistency between animals, (ii) ensure animals are maintained within minimally intrusive, adequate anaesthetic plane and (iii) provide a valuable refinement strategy for a common challenge within animal-based research.
Emotional Well-Being and Public Health: Proposal for a Model National Initiative
Authors: Feller Sophie C. , Castillo Enrico G. , Greenberg Jared M. , Abascal Pilar , Van Horn Richard , Wells Kenneth B. ,   University of California, Los Angeles Community Translational Science Team
Published: February 2018

In 2011, the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council named mental and emotional well-being as 1 of 7 priority areas for the National Prevention Strategy. In this article, we discuss emotional well-being as a scientific concept and its relevance to public health. We review evidence that supports the association between emotional well-being and health. We propose a national emotional well-being initiative and describe its 6 components: systematic measurement of emotional well-being, identification of the drivers of emotional well-being, formation of partnerships with diverse stakeholders, implementation and dissemination of evidence-based interventions to promote emotional well-being and its drivers, development of public health messaging, and identification of and strategies to address disparities in emotional well-being and its drivers. Finally, we discuss ways in which a national emotional well-being initiative would complement current public health efforts and the potential challenges to such an initiative.
Multiple regression analysis of a woven fabric sound absorber
Authors: Tang Xiaoning , Kong Deyi , Yan Xiong
Published: February 2018

In this study, the effects of physical parameters on the acoustic absorption properties of woven fabrics were studied. The acoustic absorption properties of 24 kinds of woven fabrics with different structural parameters were measured and analyzed. Multiple linear regression models have been established to characterize the relationship between acoustic behavior and various physical parameters. It has been found that the acoustic absorption properties were mainly determined by the perforation ratio and air permeability. The decrease in perforation ratio and air permeability results in an increase of acoustic absorption properties of woven fabrics. Furthermore, three woven fabrics were used to validate the proposed multiple regression models. The established models could well predict the acoustic absorption properties of woven fabrics where the correlation coefficient is higher than 0.77 with air gaps of 1, 2, and 3 cm, respectively.
Supporting Mexican American Immigrant Students on the Border: A Case Study of Culturally Responsive Leadership in a Dual Language Elementary School
Authors: DeMatthews David E. , Izquierdo Elena
Published: February 2018

Mexican American students constitute the largest group of Latina/os in the United States and have been subjected to a number of educational and social injustices, particularly with relation to how their cultural and linguistic assets are viewed within public schools. This qualitative case study considers culturally responsive leadership in a Mexican American immigrant community and examines two primary research questions: (a) What principal actions support creating a culturally responsive school partly through dual language education; and (b) What leadership challenges arise in the development of a more culturally responsive school?
Diagnosing isolated hepatosplenic tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report
Authors: Dawani Om , Khan Raja Samir , Syed Mujtaba Jamal , Shehzad Abdul Moid , Alratoot Ahmed , Ahmed Muhammad Faizan
Published: February 2018

For many years, tuberculosis (TB) has been endemic in Pakistan; many rare and unusual presentations have been reported. There is a myriad of non-specific symptoms which always requires a high index of clinical suspicion for TB. World Health Organization data suggest that Pakistan ranks as the fifth highest country burdened with TB and has the fourth highest prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB globally. With an annual incidence of 277 cases per 100,000, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment is self-evident. We present a case where a strong suspicion of isolated hepatosplenic TB in an immunocompetent patient justified a directed approach.
Preliminary Analyses of Three Measures of Grace: Can They be Unified?
Authors: Bufford Rodger K. , Blackburn Amanda M. , Sisemore Timothy A. , Bassett Rodney L.
Published: February 2018

Grace is an interesting and potentially significant domain within positive psychology, but remains largely neglected. The present study examined the relationships among three known grace scales to evaluate the potential for creating a stronger single measure. It also explored their relationships to several other religious/spiritual measures to examine whether the three scales are measuring the same construct, to explore the implications for our understanding of grace, and to provide insights for further study. The three measures had moderately strong correlations with each other (r = .55 to .66), had similar relationships to other measures of religion/spirituality, and had distinct relationships to measures of psychological health and distress. This suggested that the three scales measure somewhat different constructs. Two grace scales showed significant negative skew, indicating ceiling problems. Differences in the underlying grace constructs, contamination by other concepts, or an underlying multidimensional structure for grace could account for these differences. Further study should better articulate the constructs underlying grace measures, address problems related to negative skew in responses, and clarify whether grace is multidimensional.
The Gratitude of Underprivileged Young People in Hong Kong: The Potential Role of Religious Mentors
Authors: Ng Eddie Chi Wai , Chan Charles C.
Published: February 2018

The factors that contribute to the development of gratitude in children and adolescents have yet to be determined fully; however, religion/spirituality are promising areas of investigation in the gratitude intervention research. In this study, 101 young people were recruited from a three-year faith-based mentorship program for a follow-up survey to investigate how adolescents’ gratitude is related to their interaction with Christian mentors. Path analysis not only showed the importance of mentors sharing their religious faith and personal life lessons in the development of gratitude, but also demonstrated that religious mentors’ influence on gratitude was entirely mediated through adolescents’ self-esteem, spirituality, and understanding of Christianity. The findings not only support that spiritual realm matters in gratitude development but also provide us with further insight into how gratitude emerges.
Divine Discrimination: Gender Harassment and Christian Justification
Authors: Muldoon Abigail L. , Wilson Midge
Published: February 2018

The present study investigated the relationship between gender harassment, or acts which convey demeaning attitudes about women, and college adjustment. Additionally, we explored whether Christian attribution, or the perception that the perpetrator was motivated by their Christian/Catholic beliefs to harass, moderated the relationship. Two hundred and twenty-three female-identified students attending a Catholic university in a large city completed the Gender Experiences Questionnaire (Leskinen & Cortina, 2014) and a separate measure of the specific dimension of sexuality policing, indicated whether they made a Christian attribution for experienced harassment, and completed the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (Baker & Siryk, 1989). Christian attribution was not found to moderate the relationship between gender harassment and college adjustment. However, it was found to moderate the relationship between sexuality policing and college adjustment by potentiating its negative effects at lower levels of harassment. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Attachment to Church Congregation: Contributions to Well-Being over and above Social Support
Authors: Freeze Tracy A.
Published: February 2018

Over the last three decades, research has established a strong link between attachment and well-being as well as social support and well-being. Past research found that attachment to church congregation predicted well-being over and above that predicted by attachment to God. However, it is unknown if attachment to church congregation predicts well-being over and above that predicted by social support. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if attachment to church congregation could explain a portion of the variance in negative affect, positive affect, satisfaction with life, and daily spiritual experiences, beyond that explained by religious social support and perceived social support. The data from 201 participants indicated that religious social support, perceived social support, and attachment to church congregation each predicted different aspects of well-being. Only negative affect was predicted by attachment to church congregation beyond that predicted by social support. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between attachment to church congregation, social support, and well-being.
The Christian in the Age of the ID
Authors: Hammes John A.
Published: February 2018

It is contended that today's society is in the throes of meaninglessness and valuelessness. Although-many historical, cultural, and psychological factors are involved, this paper concentrates on two hypotheses: (a) man needs to fulfill himself in all those aspects considered human, and (b) whatever aspect of human nature is most repressed or ignored in one age will be most apparent in the rebellion of the age following. These hypotheses are considered within a broad perspective of past history, followed by a discussion of three possible future directions. Finally, the challenge for the Christian is presented.
The Nature of Man and the Christian's Self-Esteem
Authors: Counts William M.
Published: February 2018

A great dilemma facing Christian psychotherapists is how to promote self-esteem without surrendering the Christian doctrine of the sinfulness of man. A healthy self-image and deep distrust of human nature seem antithetical. This article attempts to show that the frequently neglected Christian concept of man proves a valuable ally in building self-esteem and that the Christian doctrine of sin is not so undercutting to self-worth as supposed. In fact, the Christian concept proves far more consistent, helpful, and realistic than the views of contemporary psychologists.
The Assessment of Religiosity in Evangelical College Students and its Relationship to Prior Family Religious Involvement
Authors: Dodrill Carl , Bean Perry , Bostrom Stephen
Published: February 2018

The problems investigated in this paper are (a) the discovery of the relationships between the scales of religiosity developed by Glock and Stark (1970) and by Allport and Ross (1967), and (b) an examination of the relationship between the involvement of the S's family in religious activities and the religious orientation he subsequently adopted. College students with a religious orientation were employed. The results were that (a) a number of expected though far from perfect relationships were found between the two approaches to the assessment of religiosity, and (b) the scale used to assess family religious involvement was not predictive of the aspects of religiosity later measured. The implications of the study were discussed.
Role Conflict and Countertransference in the Pastor-Counselor
Authors: Wagner Maurice E.
Published: February 2018

The diverse responsibilities of the pastoral ministry place a great emotional demand on ministers. The conflict between the aggressive roles of preaching and administration and the more passive role of counseling is one of these frustrations. This article delineates several common emotions that hinder the pastor's ministry and suggests guidelines for overcoming their potentially destructive influences.
Contract Therapy: The Renegotiation of Marriage and the Family
Authors: Tweedie Donald
Published: February 2018

Contract therapy is proposed as a therapeutic procedure that can be utilized in the resolution of marital disharmony and family conflicts. The central thesis is that effective and efficient behavioral change may be brought about by explicit agreement of the members of a destructive marital dyad through the mediation of a third party negotiator. Central to this procedure is the assumption that persons are able and willing to change behavior in relationship when they perceive that the new behavior will obtain a new and better “deal.” Two typical negotiated contracts are presented: One with a three-member family and the other with a two-member family.
The Doctor, the Senior Citizen, and the Meaning of Life
Authors: Tournier Paul
Published: February 2018

Does life have any meaning? This is a question which all men ponder, especially during old age. It is a question which the doctor can help the patient answer, but frequently doctors avoid such philosophical questions because they do not know how to answer them. But our task as doctors and counselors is not to give concise replies or to preach to people. Neither should we avoid the patient's questions about life and values. We must, as Frankl has said, help people to find their own meaning to life and the best way to do this is through unhurried dialogue.
A Basis for the Development of Christian Psychology with a Few Initial Ideas
Authors: Koteskey Ronald L.
Published: February 2018

A basis was proposed upon which a uniquely Christian psychology can develop. The Christian doctrine of creation along with the idea of studying the created to learn about the Creator served as this basis; since man is created in God's image, psychologists stand in a unique position to learn more about God. Brief speculation was made on areas of study, definition, methods, and application.
Theological Implications of Fear: The Grasshopper Complex …
Authors: Morosco Robert E.
Published: February 2018

In the pages of Scripture the conception of human fear is both sternly prohibited and warmly encouraged. Fear in itself is neither sin nor piety; other factors make this determination. Because of the great importance of fear in the human psyche (both theologically and psychologically), this paper seeks to discover what gives fear its negative or positive quality. Through an analysis of fear in its component elements and stages of development, an attempt is made to derive the theological significance of fear—for discernment in biblical study and in personal-ecclesiastical applications.
Client Self-Determination in the Light of Evangelical Responsibility
Authors: Bellairs H. Jack
Published: February 2018

The client has a right to make his own choices concerning his life situation; the evangelical has a mandate to confront people with their sin. Do these two issues conflict in the practice of the evangelical counselor? This article deals with this concern and attempts to show that these are not mutually exclusive. The evangelical mandate does not violate the client's right of self-determination, nor does the counselor's respect for that right compromise his evangelical convictions.
Psychological Theories of Child Development: Implications for the Christian Family
Authors: Clouse Bonnidell
Published: February 2018

Three major groups of psychological theories represent contemporary currents of thought as to the nature of the developing child. The psychoanalytic perspective sees the newborn as being in a state of original sin with growth directed toward overcoming this irrational condition. Learning theory views the child as neither good nor bad and emphasizes the importance of modifying the environment to produce desirable changes in behavior. Cognitive theory looks at the child as basically good and in need of affirmation and support in order to realize his full potential. Each of these approaches is analyzed as it relates to a Christian consideration of the developing child.
Kierkegaard: On Guilt
Authors: Carr Charles
Published: February 2018

Guilt is a multivariate phenomenon which defies absolute categorization. Theologians speak of objective guilt, psychologists refer to guilt as feeling, and the variety of interpretations within these disciplines provides a frequently muddled understanding of the subject. It is therefore appropriate to pursue the study of guilt in a manner which clarifies its core components as a basis for depth insight. Soren Kierkegaard is especially helpful in this context since he offers precedents for the integrative analysis of guilt emanating from his loyalties to Christianity and accurate self-understanding.
Self-Concept Change in Ministers and Missionaries
Authors: Fleck J. Roland , McThomas Alan R. , Nielsen Lawrence F. , Shumaker Donald G.
Published: February 2018

41 and 39 Ss participating in two different 3 1/2 week seminars focusing on psychological and theological growth experiences were pre and post-tested with three personality scales: The Tennessee Self Concept Scale, Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, and Personal Orientation Inventory. The study attempted to measure Ss’ behavior change through pretest-posttest differences. A hypothesis of no significant measured change was supported in the results of two tests (Tennessee Self Concept Scale and Rokeach Dogmatism Scale). However, the Ss showed significant change on most of the 12 scales of the Personal Orientation Inventory. Further analysis on the first group revealed that a significant negative correlation (r = −.40, p<.01) existed between the Dogmatism Scale scores and change on the Total P scale of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. However, this initial finding is not supported by the second group data (r = −.10, p>.05).
Hazards to Effective Pastoral Counseling: Part One
Authors: Wagner Maurice E.
Published: February 2018

The contemporary pastor is doing more and more counseling. There is a very realistic need in our society for someone who understands how life should be put together for fulfillment in living. The pastor has answers from the Bible and insights derived from the doctrines of Scripture, and is constantly learning more about how God intended man to think and live. But the pastoral counselor is confronted with certain hazards which interfere with his effectiveness. Ten hazards are discussed and suggestions are offered which are intended to help the pastor avoid these dangers and counsel more effectively.
Disobedience, Rebellion and Defiance in the Believer as Exemplified in the Adolescent Stage of Life
Authors: Rook Rex L.
Published: February 2018

There are multiple causes of the variation of intensity of rebellion in adolescence. Included are the intra-psychic fantasies and defenses that distort and discolor the world to which the adolescent reacts. The processes of identification, projection, and introjection are explored as they relate to rebellion both in the adolescent and, in a more general context, to the believer in his relationship with God. The parent and the Christian leader need to respond to this rebellion by identifying with Christ so that the approach will not be one of domination and control, but one of understanding and forgiveness.
Psychological Dynamics in Christian Worship: A Beginning Inquiry
Authors: Ellens J. Harold
Published: February 2018

Worship is essentially a horizontal relationship between the human persons involved, not a vertical relationship with God. It is a human celebration of the historical datum that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” That celebration is not essentially sermon pedagogy nor mood inspiration. The purpose of worship is the achievement of emotional health and spiritual wholeness in the form of relief from destructive anxiety by means of celebration of God's grace. God is involved in two ways. It is His event in Christ which is celebrated and He is spectator to the celebration. Worship involves humans in two ways. It is our act of Christian relationship to each other and it is our experience and expression of celebrating God's nature and behavior. Typical worship reinforces pathologies of anxiety and self-deception. Worship which is genuine will heal humans of overriding guilt, crippling shame and severe anxiety. That is the purpose of worship in God's economy.
Reaction
Authors: Saucy Robert L.
Published: February 2018

It is closer to the biblical pattern of worship to view it as first and preeminently an act directed toward God. But this vertical worship of God is to have horizontal effects in the lives of the worshipers.
Social Status of Roles within the Christian Community
Authors: Koteskey Ronald L.
Published: February 2018

Two surveys were conducted among 213 college students to determine whether or not they would differentiate between the relative status of various Christian roles, and if so, what type of hierarchy of importance would result and how stable it would be. It was found that about 95% willingly rated the various Christian roles and that the ratings were quite stable across classification and major of student.