bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LITERARY RESPONSE AND THE SOCIAL PROCESS- An Analysis of Cultural and Political Beliefs among Malay Writers
Authors:   Tham Seong Chee
Published: June 2008

This paper is an attempt to explore the larger connections between literature and society principally in the context of modem Malay literature. / shall not go into the various theoretical considerations that relate to the concept of 'social process' rather / shall attempt a more practical approach by first sketching briefly the traditional Malay social system and the ideational system underlying it following which / shall discuss the literary response associated with the change andcontinuityof the traditional social system.
Utopias in Social Planning Utility in Four Southevst Asion Nations
Authors:   Chong Li Choy
Published: June 2008

This paper examines the role of utopias in social planning in the four Southeast Asian nations of Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Southeast Asian utopias are generally incomplete and are represented by vague though highly agreeable images of the future. Nevertheless they give direction to and help to legitimate social planning efforts. They are no mere "castles in the air" but represent future hopes for the mosses. They help to solicit mass participation and support for social planning efforts. They are symbolic of a brighter tomorrow in these nations. Even if they can never be achieved, Southeast Asian utopias gained sufficient merit as factors promoting social change through their impacts on various planned development efforts.
I was no Stranger in Vancouver - A Buddhist Evaluation
Authors: Gnanatilake Tissa
Published: June 2008

The sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches was held from 26th July till 10th August, 1933 at the British Columbia University in Vancouver, Canada. Representatives from more than 300 Christian Churches from over 100 countries participated at this meeting. Among this assembly of about 3,500 representatives were children, young people and the aged as well as persons from various stations in life. In addition to the delegates a special feature of the Assembly was the participation of representatives from other world religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, the foman Catholic Church, Islam and Judaism. Although the number of invited guests who participated was a small company in terms of numbers it may be said that they enjoyed an important place in the life of the Assembly. Among the representatives of other religions who participated in this Assembly there were about four of us who were Buddhists. I feel that I should place on record my feelings and valuable experience both as a Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhist who participated in the Assembly as well as a stranger who witnessed this event. I believe that this will be of use both to Sri Lanka Buddhists as well as Catholic and Christian friends who live with us.
II. Worksh ops
Authors: Pobee John S. , Bosch David J. , Bourdeaux Michael , McLaughlin Janice , Robert Dana L. , Thomas Norman , Fernandes Walter , Chirenje J. Mutero , Daneel M.L. , Dillon-Malone Clive , Gort J.D. , Becken Hans-Jürgen , West Charles C. , Idarous Nat , Kerr David , Dickson Kwesi A. , Kalilombe P.A. , Presler Titus
Published: June 2008

The workshop brought together some twenty persons from varied and diverse nations and political-economic circumstances - Ghana, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, West Germany and Zimbabwe. The workshop also reflected a number of Christian denominations - Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed, Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist. The gathering then was truly pluralistic and ecumenical. Such composition made for a rich encounter of varied and diverse understandings and approaches.
Liberative Ecumenism: Gateway To the Sharing of Religious Experience Today
Authors: Gort Jerald D.
Published: June 2008

This essay represents an attempt to discover a promising entrée to interreligious sharing of experience. It is argued that within the present context of global pluralization in the form of increasing religious division and ever widening economic-political disparities such sharing is of vital importance. Legitimate interreligious sharing, it is contended, must be understood in the trilateral sense of mutual participation, mutual accountability, and potential conversional movement. Moving vertically through the various levels of articulated religious experience there is no prior reason to assume that true sharing among people of differing faiths is impossible. Moving horizontally from the general to the specific, however, the gap between religions widens and interreligious sharing becomes relatively more difficult to achieve. An eminently promising means of bridging this gap and of discovering possible areas of overlap of religious experience is the practice of liberative ecumenism, i.e., interreligious cooperation on behalf of and with the poor.
Biblical Insights On New Creation and Mission in Power and Faith
Authors: Saaynwn Willem
Published: June 2008

The biblical story provides us with a powerful vision of new heavens and a new earth (Is 65:17-25; Rv 21). This vision inspires, but also torments us. As far as Christian mission is concerned, the following are some of the inspiring and tormenting dimensions to be considered:
Changes in the Relationships Between Third World Countries and First World Countries
Authors: Hinkelammert Franz J.
Published: June 2008

I wish to develop some theses on the changes in the relationship between Third World countries and First World countries, which have been strongly affected by the crisis of socialism in the Soviet Union and in the Eastern European countries. It is a profound change, which came about in the '80s but which had already been developing in the decades prior to that.
The Arts of Black Africa and the Project of a Cfmstian Art
Authors: Ndi Okalla Joseph-Marie
Published: June 2008

This essay is in honour and in memory of the late Prof. Dr. Engelbert MVENG Sf. Born in Cameroon on May 9, 1930, Fr. Mveng has been found murdered in Yaoundé on April 23, 1995 before he would turn 65 years old. In the last thirty years, he was professor at the University of Yaoundé/Cameroon, Department of History. As a historian and theologian, he has enormous contributions to African culture and history, especially in the realm of cultural and religious anthropology as well as in iconology, which have won a wide acclaim. The internationally renowned artistic work of Fr. Mveng which can be found in different churches, chapels and educational centers the world over, underlines the iconographic contribution of Africa to the world and to Christianity. See, for example: Our Lady of Africa in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth/Israel; the Jesuit Hekima College in Nairobi/Kenya; Uganda Martyrs Altar at Libermann, Douala/Cameroon; Our Lady of the Yaoundé Cathedral/Cameroon; the decoration of the chapel of the Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaoundé/Cameroon ... and various centers in Africa and in the United States ... I have presented the first version of this essay on the occasion of a visit of John Paul II to Cameroon. I enclose a selected bibliography of the writings of Fr. Engelbert Mveng.
Comparison of Two Raindrop Size Distribution Retrieval Algorithms for X-Band Dual Polarization Observations
Authors: Anagnostou Marios N. , Anagnostou Emmanouil N. , Vivekanandan Jothiram , Ogden Fred L.
Published: June 2008

In this study the authors evaluate two algorithms, the so-called beta (β) and constrained methods, proposed for retrieving the governing parameters of the “normalized” gamma drop size distribution (DSD) from dual-polarization radar measurements. The β method treats the drop axis ratio as a variable and computes drop shape and DSD parameters from radar reflectivity (ZH), differential reflectivity (ZDR), and specific differential phase shift (KDP). The constrained method assumes that the axis-ratio relation is fixed and computes DSD parameters from ZH, ZDR, and an empirical relation between the DSD slope and shape parameters. The two techniques are evaluated for polarimetric X-band radar observations by comparing retrieved DSD parameters with disdrometer observations and examining simulated radar parameters for consistency. Error effects on the β method and constrained method retrievals are analyzed. The β approach is found to be sensitive to errors in KDP and to be less consistent with observations. Large retrieved β values are found to be associated with large retrieved DSD shape parameters and small median drop diameters. The constrained method provides reasonable rain DSD retrievals that agree better with disdrometer observations.
Sensitivity of Land Surface Simulations to the Treatment of Vegetation Properties and the Implications for Seasonal Climate Prediction
Authors: Gao Xiang , Dirmeyer Paul A. , Guo Zhichang , Zhao Mei
Published: June 2008

A coupled land–atmosphere climate model is used to investigate the impact of vegetation parameters (leaf area index, absorbed radiation, and greenness fraction) on the simulation of surface fluxes and their potential role in improving climate forecasts. Ensemble simulations for 1986–95 have been conducted with specified observed sea surface temperatures. The vegetation impact is analyzed by comparing integrations with two different ways of specifying vegetation boundary conditions: observed interannually varying vegetation versus the climatological annual cycle. Parallel integrations are also implemented and analyzed for the land surface model in an uncoupled mode within the framework of the Second Global Soil Wetness Project (GSWP-2) for the same period. The sensitivity to vegetation anomalies in the coupled simulations appears to be relatively small. There appears to be only episodic and localized favorable impacts of vegetation variations on the skill of precipitation and temperature simulations. Impacts are sometimes manifested strictly through changes in land surface fluxes, and in other cases involve clear interactions with atmospheric processes. In general, interannual variations of vegetation tend to increase the temporal variability of radiation fluxes, soil evaporation, and canopy interception loss in terms of both spatial frequency and global mean. Over cohesive regions of significant and persistent vegetation anomalies, cumulative statistics do show a net response of surface fluxes, temperature, and precipitation with vegetation anomalies of ±20% corresponding to a precipitation response of about ±6%. However, in about half of these cases no significant response was found. The results presented here suggest that vegetation may be a useful element of the land surface for enhancing seasonal predictability, but its role in this model appears to be relatively minor. Improvement does not occur in all circumstances, and strong anomalies have the best chance of a positive impact on the simulation.
A Study of the Pharmacokinetic Interaction of Istradefylline, a Novel Therapeutic for Parkinson's Disease, and Atorvastatin
Authors: Rao N. , Dvorchik B. , Sussman N. , Wang H. , Yamamoto K. , Mori A. , Uchimura T. , Chaikin P.
Published: June 2008

The effect of steady‐state istradefylline, an agent for Parkinson's disease with P‐glycoprotein and CYP3A inhibitory activity, on the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and its metabolites was evaluated in healthy volunteers. A single 40‐mg dose of atorvastatin was administered to 20 subjects. After a 4‐day washout, subjects received a single 40‐mg atorvastatin dose following 40 mg istradefylline (n =16) or placebo (n =4) daily for 14 days. Plasma samples collected for 96 hours after atorvastatin administration, alone and in combination, were analyzed for atorvastatin, orthohydroxy atorvastatin, and parahydroxy atorvastatin. Istradefylline increased atorvastatin Cmax(53%), AUC0‐∞(54%), and t½ (27%); and increased AUC0‐∞for orthohydroxy atorvastatin (18%), but had no significant effect on its Cmaxor t½; and had minimal effect on parahydroxy atorvastatin AUC0‐∞. The lack of inhibition by istradefylline on metabolite systemic exposure, combined with increased atorvastatin systemic exposure, suggests a predominant P‐glycoprotein inhibitory effect of istradefylline.
From chemical documentation to chemoinformatics: 50 years of chemical information science
Authors: Willett Peter
Published: June 2008

This paper summarizes the historical development of the discipline that is now called `chemoinformatics'. It shows how this has evolved, principally as a result of technological developments in chemistry and biology during the past decade, from long-established techniques for the modelling and searching of chemical molecules. A total of 30 papers, the earliest dating back to 1957, are briefly summarized to highlight some of the key publications and to show the development of the discipline.
On the history of evaluation in IR
Authors: Robertson Stephen
Published: June 2008

This paper is a personal take on the history of evaluation experiments in information retrieval. It describes some of the early experiments that were formative in our understanding, and goes on to discuss the current dominance of TREC (the Text REtrieval Conference) and to assess its impact.
Bibliometrics to webometrics
Authors: Thelwall Mike
Published: June 2008

Bibliometrics has changed out of all recognition since 1958; becoming established as a field, being taught widely in library and information science schools, and being at the core of a number of science evaluation research groups around the world. This was all made possible by the work of Eugene Garfield and his Science Citation Index. This article reviews the distance that bibliometrics has travelled since 1958 by comparing early bibliometrics with current practice, and by giving an overview of a range of recent developments, such as patent analysis, national research evaluation exercises, visualization techniques, new applications, online citation indexes, and the creation of digital libraries. Webometrics, a modern, fast-growing offshoot of bibliometrics, is reviewed in detail. Finally, future prospects are discussed with regard to both bibliometrics and webometrics.
The sociological turn in information science
Authors: Cronin Blaise
Published: June 2008

This paper explores the history of `the social' in information science. It traces the influence of social scientific thinking on the development of the field's intellectual base. The continuing appropriation of both theoretical and methodological insights from domains such as social studies of science, science and technology studies, and socio-technical systems is discussed.
The last 50 years of knowledge organization: a journey through my personal archives
Authors: Dextre Clarke Stella G.
Published: June 2008

At the time when the Institute of Information Scientists was launched, well established principles of classification, especially faceted classification, provided an excellent springboard for developments in knowledge organization thereafter. The principles of thesaurus construction and use were worked out during the first two decades of the Institute's existence. Up until the end of the 1980s, most practical systems to exploit any of these vocabularies were held on cards, some of them highly ingenious. The subsequent arrival of the desktop computer, soon followed by the growth of networks providing access to an almost unimaginable quantity and variety of resources, has stimulated evolution of the knowledge organization schemes to exploit the technology available. Anecdotes of events and practical applications of controlled vocabularies illustrate this account of developments over the period.
The disparity in professional qualifications and progress in information handling: a European perspective
Authors: Mahon Barry
Published: June 2008

This paper is a personal view of the development of the role(s) of information professionals in the 50 years since IIS was founded. One of the justifications for the formation of IIS was that the then current professional bodies were not relevant to the needs of those employed in industrial information services. This paper reviews briefly the situation when IIS was formed, from the viewpoint of professional requirements and the developments since. The conclusion is drawn that today's information world, very different from that of 50 years ago, faces similar problems of a lack of suitable qualifications and a confusion in the roles of different actors in the field.
Smoother pebbles and the shoulders of giants: the developing foundations of information science
Authors: Bawden David
Published: June 2008

Some developments in the information science discipline over a period of 30 years are discussed, by selecting topics covered in the early issues of Journal of Information Science, and tracing their influence on subsequent developments, largely though by no means exclusively through JIS papers. Five main themes are covered: the information discipline per se; the foundations of that discipline; the nature of information; relations between discipline and profession; and education for information science. The continuing resonance of the writings of Farradane and Brookes is noted.
Fifty years of UK research in information science
Authors: Meadows Jack
Published: June 2008

An attempt is made to discern the main research themes in British information science over the past half-century. Within these themes, emphasis is placed on research in the UK that has had some impact on the international information science community. The major factors that have influenced information science research in the UK are also briefly considered.
The evolution of visual information retrieval
Authors: Enser Peter
Published: June 2008

This paper seeks to provide a brief overview of those developments which have taken the theory and practice of image and video retrieval into the digital age. Drawing on a voluminous literature, the context in which visual information retrieval takes place is followed by a consideration of the conceptual and practical challenges posed by the representation and recovery of visual material on the basis of its semantic content. An historical account of research endeavours in content-based retrieval, directed towards the automation of these operations in digital image scenarios, provides the main thrust of the paper. Finally, a look forwards locates visual information retrieval research within the wider context of content-based multimedia retrieval.
The information user: past, present and future
Authors: Wilson Tom
Published: June 2008

The emergence of research on various aspects of `information behaviour' is explored and its growth as a subject of academic research is documented. The origin of the field as a potential aid to the development of library and information services is noted, as is the transition from this status to that of a subject for research at PhD level and beyond. The development of the field has thus led to a division between the needs of academia for theoretically grounded work, and the needs of the field of practice for guidance for service development. There is, today, a disconnection between research and practice, to a significant extent: early research was undertaken by practitioners but today academic research dominates the scene. Suggestions are made as to how this disconnection can be repaired.
Information policies: yesterday, today, tomorrow
Authors: Orna Elizabeth
Published: June 2008

This article presents a brief history of the development of ideas about national and organizational information policies, from the first establishment of a UK Ministry of Information in the First World War to the present day. The issues and tensions that have characterized attempts to develop and implement policies on the national and organizational scale are discussed, with particular reference to: the power relations between the parties to them; the relative significance accorded to information technology and information content; the transition from formulating policy to acting on it; and the threats to the survival of those policies that get as far as implementation. In conclusion, the contribution to date of information science to the theory and practice of information policies is assessed, and suggestions are offered on directions for future efforts, in the light of the past of this interesting field.
Social software: fun and games, or business tools?
Authors: Warr Wendy A.
Published: June 2008

This is the era of social networking, collective intelligence, participation, collaborative creation, and borderless distribution. Every day we are bombarded with more publicity about collaborative environments, news feeds, blogs, wikis, podcasting, webcasting, folksonomies, social bookmarking, social citations, collaborative filtering, recommender systems, media sharing, massive multiplayer online games, virtual worlds, and mash-ups. This sort of anarchic environment appeals to the digital natives, but which of these so-called `Web 2.0' technologies are going to have a real business impact? This paper addresses the impact that issues such as quality control, security, privacy and bandwidth may have on the implementation of social networking in hide-bound, large organizations.
Health informatics: current issues and challenges
Authors: Bath Peter A.
Published: June 2008

Health informatics concerns the use of information and information and communication technologies within healthcare. Health informatics and information science need to take account of the unique aspects of health and medicine. The development of information systems and electronic records within health needs to consider the information needs and behaviour of all users. The sensitivity of personal health data raises ethical concerns for developing electronic records. E-health initiatives must actively involve users in the design, development, implementation and evaluation, and information science can contribute to understanding the needs and behaviour of user groups. Health informatics could make an important contribution to the ageing society and to reducing the digital divide and health divides within society. There is a need for an appropriate evidence base within health informatics to support future developments, and to ensure health informatics reaches its potential to improve the health and well-being of patients and the public.
Electronic scholarly publishing and open access
Authors: Oppenheim Charles
Published: June 2008

A review of recent developments in electronic publishing, with a focus on Open Access (OA) is provided. It describes the two main types of OA, i.e. the `gold' OA journal route and the `green' repository route, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the two, and the reactions of the publishing industry to these developments. Quality, cost and copyright issues are explored, as well as some of the business models of OA. It is noted that whilst so far there is no evidence that a shift to OA will lead to libraries cancelling subscriptions to toll-access journals, this may happen in the future, and that despite the apparently compelling reasons for authors to move to OA, so far few have shown themselves willing to do so. Conclusions about the future of scholarly publications are drawn.
Employment, Work Conditions, and the Home Environment in Single-Mother Families
Authors: Lleras Christy
Published: June 2008

This study investigates the impact of employment status and work conditions on the quality of the home environment provided by single mothers of preschool-age children. Multivariate analyses were conducted using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The results indicate that employment status is not a significant predictor of the quality of the home environment among single mothers of young children when family size and welfare use are controlled. Among single working mothers, several job conditions were related to the quality of the home environment. Single mothers who were employed part-time and in low-wage jobs had significantly poorer home environments. Single mothers who work nonstandard hours generally have poorer home environments, with the exception of rotating shifts. These findings highlight the importance of examining the effects of employment status and job conditions on within-group differences in the quality of the home environment among single-mother families.
It's the Gays' Fault
Authors: Goh Debbie
Published: June 2008

As homosexuality in Singapore is illegal and suffers from social stigmatization, the local media avoided the topic until recent acknowledgment by a top-ranking official of the presence of gays in Singapore opened the floodgates for media publicity. The flourishing underground gay scene triggered the international media to name Singapore as Asia's new “pink” capital. Although it acknowledges homosexuals, the Singapore government still does not condone their activity and public declaration of Singapore as a gay haven spooked the government, who sought a subtle approach to discipline and control the public behavior of homosexuals: through discourse about homosexuality in the national newspaper. Drawing from Foucault's repressive hypothesis on sexuality, this article examines news coverage of the government's blaming of homosexuals for the rise of HIV/AIDS cases in Singapore and argues that Singapore's national daily, in framing homosexuality as promiscuous and contrary to traditional values, served as a platform for the government to reestablish control and subvert homosexuality in Singapore.
Nonprofits, Funders, and Evaluation
Authors: Carman Joanne G.
Published: June 2008

This article examines the extent to which different types of funders are asking nonprofit organizations for evaluation and performance measurement data, and describes the many ways in which nonprofit organizations are responding to these requests. The picture that emerges is one that is decidedly mixed, illustrating a range of behaviors that challenges the current perception that most, if not all, funders are asking nonprofit organizations for more evaluation and performance measurement data. The data collected during this study show that only those nonprofit organizations that receive considerable funding from the federal government and the United Way are engaging in program evaluation and performance measurement, compared to nonprofit organizations that receive more funding from state and local governments, foundations, and other sources. Furthermore, the extent to which nonprofit organizations are subjected to external monitoring and descriptive reporting requirements also varies according to the type and amount of funding.
State High School Exit Examinations and NAEP Long-Term Trends in Reading and Mathematics, 1971-2004
Authors: Grodsky Eric , Warren John Robert , Kalogrides Demetra
Published: June 2008

In 23 states, members of the high school class of 2008 were required to pass a state high school exit examination (HSEE) to earn regular high school diplomas. Proponents of these policies claim that they improve student academic achievement, although critics argue that they reduce the quality of instruction without raising academic achievement. Using nationally representative data collected to facilitate the analysis of temporal achievement trends, the effects of minimum competency and more difficult state HSEEs on student achievement in mathematics and reading between 1971 and 2004 are evaluated. The potential disparate impacts of state HSEEs on the achievement of students by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and prior academic achievement are examined in this study. No evidence is found for any effects of state HSEEs on achievement in either reading or mathematics at the mean or at the 10th, 20th, 80th, or 90th percentiles of the achievement distribution.
An Experiential Theory of Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice
Authors: Burkhart Lisa , Hogan Nancy
Published: June 2008

Spiritual care has been recognized as integral to nursing care for centuries, as described by Florence Nightingale, and has been studied in both medicine and sociology. Health care institutions, particularly faith-based health systems, also have recognized the importance of spiritual care. Both qualitative and quantitative research support the importance of spirituality in patient health. Although the profession, health care institutions, and research support spiritual care, there is no empirically derived theoretical framework to guide research in spiritual assessment and spiritual care. We used focus group data from registered nurses who care for the chronically ill ( n = 25) in a large Midwestern academic health center to generate a grounded theory of spiritual care in nursing practice. What emerged from this study was a beginning theoretical framework to guide future spiritual care research.
The Experience of Posttraumatic Growth for People With Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Chun Sanghee , Lee Youngkhill
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the characteristics of posttraumatic growth for people with spinal cord injury. In this study, we intentionally selected people exhibiting evidence of posttraumatic growth to capture distinctive characteristics of the phenomenon. A thematic analysis was used to examine the narratives of life experiences before and after spinal cord injury. The three most salient themes of posttraumatic growth were identified: experience of meaningful family relationships, experience of meaningful engagement, and appreciation of life. Further investigation into the experience of posttraumatic growth is necessary in the future for a better understanding of the phenomena.
Certified Nurse Assistants Making Meaning of Direct Care
Authors: Pfefferle Susan G. , Weinberg Dana Beth
Published: June 2008

Using qualitative data from 87 focus groups with certified nurse assistants (CNAs) in 16 nursing homes in Massachusetts, we explore ways that CNAs make meaning of their work despite devaluations, such as lack of respect from management and residents, and the physical and emotional demands of such low-status work. CNAs' meaning making represents an effort to assert a positive identity rather than accept the stigmatization associated with their work. Assertions of the value help CNAs reconstitute their identities. Assertions of meaning, which depend upon providing good care to residents regardless of financial reward or management respect and support, make CNAs vulnerable to exploitation.
Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses
Authors: Watkins Rochelle E. , Cooke Feonagh C. , Donovan Robert J. , MacIntyre C. Raina , Itzwerth Ralf , Plant Aileen J.
Published: June 2008

Globally, governments and health authorities are preparing for pandemic influenza and producing resources to promote preparedness planning; however, there is little information available to inform the design of strategies to promote preparedness. Three focus groups were conducted to identify and to describe beliefs and perceptions about pandemic influenza and response planning among small and medium business owners and managers. Most participants were not concerned about the risk of pandemic influenza, and none had engaged in any planning for a pandemic. Findings show that participants were uncertain of the modes of transmission of pandemic influenza and what precautions could be taken prior to, or in the event of, a pandemic. Among the most important findings was participants' perceived inability to effectively prevent or control the spread of influenza within their workplace. These findings have important implications for the design of communication strategies to promote preparedness.
Women in Chronic Pain: Sense of Control and Encounters With Health Professionals
Authors: Skuladottir Hafdis , Halldorsdottir Sigridur
Published: June 2008

An evolving theory on “women's sense of control while in chronic pain and the results of the quality of their encounters with health professionals” is introduced in this article. According to the theory, the main challenge of women in chronic pain is to maintain a sense of control of self and the pain to avoid demoralization, which is seen as a potential threat for all women in chronic pain. To retain a sense of control, women are challenged to learn to live with the pain and cope with the unpredictability and incurability of the pain. They are challenged to find meaning in their suffering, to create personal space, and to be self-protective as well as to keep a positive self-image and self-esteem while trying to live a “normal” life in dignity in spite of the pain and warding off isolation and demoralization. Health professionals are seen as potentially powerful people in the lives of women in chronic pain. Empowerment or disempowerment from them greatly influences whether women in chronic pain are demoralized or not.
Older People in Transition From Illness to Health: Trajectories of Recovery
Authors: Godfrey Mary , Townsend Jean
Published: June 2008

Despite growing interest in the meaning of illness and recovery in older age, much of the research has focused on particular conditions, such as stroke; yet, illness in later life is considerably more diverse. In this article, we examine the experience of illness and process of recovery through interviews with 64 older people receiving intermediate care, a form of transitional care to support people between illness and resumption of everyday life routines. They describe four recovery trajectories generated from individuals' accounts of illness and their perspective on recovery: cure and restoration, adjusting to discontinuity and establishing markers of continuity, getting back and keeping going, and managing uncertainty. We conclude that several interacting factors shape the meaning of illness and the process of recovery in later life: prior circumstances, illness onset and trajectory, comorbid health problems, and cumulative loss in advanced older age.
Is Ricoeur's Notion of Narrative Identity Useful in Understanding Recovery in Drug Addicts?
Authors: Taïeb Olivier , Révah-Lévy Anne , Moro Marie Rose , Baubet Thierry
Published: June 2008

From Ricoeur's narrative theory, we argue that drug addicts may particularly need the help of literature, in a broad sense— fiction, history, and also specialized literature on addiction—to make their lives intelligible, to construct their identities, and to be able to change. Their need for this popular and professional literature concerns the numerous theories in the field of addiction. This literature is encountered indirectly by patients via interaction with professionals. It reflects attempts on the part of practitioners to find turning points in their patients' life stories, as in the mimesis circle described by Ricoeur. Our hypothesis is therefore explored in the light of certain sociological and psychiatric models that plot patients' lives, especially in the recovery period. The risks of a noncritical appropriation of this literature are discussed. Indeed, patients may hesitate between several identification models, loss of identity, and identity withdrawal.
Methodological Issues When Using the Draw and Write Technique With Children Aged 6 to 12 Years
Authors: Horstman Maire , Aldiss Susie , Richardson Alison , Gibson Faith
Published: June 2008

Researchers are responsible for using techniques that allow children to contribute their perspectives in a way that is most suited to their strengths and preferences. The draw and write technique is a method that needs to be used carefully and sensitively if children are to become active participants in revealing their world as they see it. In this article, we explore the issues for the child and researcher of using the draw and write technique as a participatory research methodology. Reflections on the technique are drawn from our experience of using it with children aged 6 to 12 years. This was part of a larger study undertaken to enable children aged 4 to 18 years with a diagnosis of cancer to give their views about hospital care. The participating children's verbal and artistic contributions illustrate how children are able to convey their opinions when there is an enabling climate created.
Gendered Portraits of Depression in Swedish Newspapers
Authors: Bengs Carita , Johansson Eva , Danielsson Ulla , Lehti Arja , Hammarström Anne
Published: June 2008

Mass media are influential mediators of information, knowledge, and narratives of health and illness. In this article, we report on an examination of personal accounts of illness as presented in three Swedish newspapers, focusing on the gendered representation of laypersons' experiences of depression. A database search identified all articles mentioning depression during the year 2002. Twenty six articles focusing on personal experiences of depression were then subjected to a qualitative content analysis. We identified four themes: displaying a successful facade, experiencing a cracking facade, losing and regaining control, and explaining the illness . We found both similarities and differences with regard to gendered experiences. The mediated accounts of depression both upheld and challenged traditional gender stereotypes. The women's stories were more detailed, relational, emotionally oriented, and embodied. The portrayal of men was less emotional and expressive, and described a more dramatic onset of depression, reflecting hegemonic patterns of masculinity.
Healthism: A New Conservatism?
Authors: Cheek Julianne
Published: June 2008

Health care is a space occupied, shaped, and colonized by a variety of players at a variety of times. Such players include health practitioners of different kinds; individuals referred to variously and even simultaneously as consumers/patients/clients/customers, depending on who is doing the speaking and in what contexts; families and significant others; managers; accountants; lawyers; educators; and researchers, as well as governments both local and national. Players move in and out of this space (or are allowed in or are moved out) all the time. They might find parts of themselves/their lives/their situations in this space, whereas other parts are not found there. Health care is indeed a contested and troubled space, one that is increasingly uncertain and ambiguous. In this article, I explore aspects of this uncertainty and ambiguity in current health care practice and what this might mean for individuals receiving the services and those providing and/or researching those services.
Integrating Multiple Health Behavior Theories Into Program Planning: The PER Worksheet
Authors: Langlois Marietta A. , Hallam Jeffrey S.
Published: June 2008

The foundation of a logic model or any theory-based planning model is the identification of the behavioral antecedents and the relationship of these variables to the target behavior. Applying theoretical concepts to specific behaviors and populations is often challenging for practitioners and program planning students. The challenge comes from the abstract definition of theoretical constructs, the duplication of similar constructs in multiple theories, and the need to combine multiple theories. To simplify the planning process when utilizing logic models and health behavior theory, we recommend the use of the PER Worksheet. The PER Worksheet is a planning tool that provides layman-term prompts for identifying health behavior antecedents. It encompasses five common health behavior theories—health belief model, theory of planned behavior, social cognitive theory, an ecological perspective, and transtheoretical model. The PER Worksheet is organized into three columns: P redisposing, E nabling, and R einforcing factors, terms of the PRECEDE/PROCEED model.
Star Power: Celebrity Advocacy and the Evolution of the Public Sphere
Authors: Thrall A. Trevor , Lollio-Fakhreddine Jaime , Berent Jon , Donnelly Lana , Herrin Wes , Paquette Zachary , Wenglinski Rebecca , Wyatt Amy
Published: June 2008

The standard view of celebrity advocacy focuses on the ability of celebrities to help causes make news and capture the public's attention. Drawing on an analysis of the advocacy efforts and news-making success of hundreds of celebrities, we argue, however, that the standard view of celebrity advocacy significantly overstates the news-making abilities of celebrities in the political arena. Our assessment of the celebrity advocacy tactics used by fifty-three environmental groups suggests that celebrities instead play a growing role as part of an emerging strategy for political advocacy. Spawned by the difficulty most groups have making news, and made possible by the evolution of technology and the public sphere, this new celebrity advocacy strategy represents one aspect of a broader shift in American politics being ushered in by the digital age.
Hematopoietic-specific Stat5-null mice display microcytic hypochromic anemia associated with reduced transferrin receptor gene expression
Authors: Zhu Bing-Mei , McLaughlin Sara K. , Na Risu , Liu Jie , Cui Yongzhi , Martin Cyril , Kimura Akiko , Robinson Gertraud W. , Andrews Nancy C. , Hennighausen Lothar
Published: June 2008

Iron is essential for all cells but is toxic in excess, so iron absorption and distribution are tightly regulated. Serum iron is bound to transferrin and enters erythroid cells primarily via receptor-mediated endocytosis of the transferrin receptor (Tfr1). Tfr1 is essential for developing erythrocytes and reduced Tfr1 expression is associated with anemia. The transcription factors STAT5A/B are activated by many cytokines, including erythropoietin. Stat5a/b−/− mice are severely anemic and die perinatally, but no link has been made to iron homeostasis. To study the function of STAT5A/B in vivo, we deleted the floxed Stat5a/b locus in hematopoietic cells with a Tie2-Cre transgene. These mice exhibited microcytic, hypochromic anemia, as did lethally irradiated mice that received a transplant of Stat5a/b−/− fetal liver cells. Flow cytometry and RNA analyses of erythroid cells from mutant mice revealed a 50% reduction in Tfr1 mRNA and protein. We detected STAT5A/B binding sites in the first intron of the Tfr1 gene and found that expression of constitutively active STAT5A in an erythroid cell line increased Tfr1 levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the binding of STAT5A/B to these sites. We conclude that STAT5A/B is an important regulator of iron update in erythroid progenitor cells via its control of Tfr1 transcription.
Graft-versus-host disease causes failure of donor hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis in interferon-γ receptor-deficient hosts
Authors: Delisle Jean-Sébastien , Gaboury Louis , Bélanger Marie-Pier , Tassé Éliane , Yagita Hideo , Perreault Claude
Published: June 2008

The immunopathologic condition known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) results from a type I T-cell process. However, a prototypical type I cytokine, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), can protect against several manifestations of GVHD in recipients of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–mismatched hematopoietic cells. We transplanted hematopoietic cells from C3H.SW donors in wild-type (wt) and IFN-γ-receptor–deficient (IFN-γRKO) MHC-matched C57BL/6 recipients. In IFN-γRKO recipients, host cells were unresponsive to IFN-γ, whereas wt donor cells were exposed to exceptionally high levels of IFN-γ. From an IFN-γ perspective, we could therefore evaluate the impact of a loss-of-function on host cells and gain-of-function on donor cells. We found that lack of IFN-γR prevented up-regulation of MHC proteins on host cells but did not mitigate damage to most target organs. Two salient phenotypes in IFN-γRKO recipients involved donor cells: lymphoid hypoplasia and hematopoietic failure. Lymphopenia was due to FasL-induced apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. Bone marrow aplasia resulted from a decreased proliferation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells that was associated with down-regulation of 2 genes negatively regulated by IFN-γ: Ccnd1 and Myc. We conclude that IFN-γ produced by alloreactive T cells may entail a severe graft-versus-graft reaction and could be responsible for cytopenias that are frequently observed in subjects with GVHD.
Quantitative trait loci associated with susceptibility to therapy-related acute murine promyelocytic leukemia in hCG-PML/RARA transgenic mice
Authors: Funk Ryan K. , Maxwell Taylor J. , Izumi Masayo , Edwin Deepa , Kreisel Friederike , Ley Timothy J. , Cheverud James M. , Graubert Timothy A.
Published: June 2008

Therapy-related acute myelogenous leukemia (t-AML) is an important late adverse effect of alkylator chemotherapy. Susceptibility to t-AML has a genetic component, yet specific genetic variants that influence susceptibility are poorly understood. We analyzed an F2 intercross (n = 282 mice) between mouse strains resistant or susceptible to t-AML induced by the alkylator ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to identify genes that regulate t-AML susceptibility. Each mouse carried the hCG-PML/RARA transgene, a well-characterized initiator of myeloid leukemia. In the absence of ENU treatment, transgenic F2 mice developed leukemia with higher incidence (79.4% vs 12.5%) and at earlier time points (108 days vs 234 days) than mice in the resistant background. ENU treatment of F2 mice further increased incidence (90.4%) and shortened median survival (171 vs 254 days). We genotyped F2 mice at 384 informative single nucleotide polymorphisms across the genome and performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Thirteen QTLs significantly associated with leukemia-free survival, spleen weight, or white blood cell count were identified on 8 chromosomes. These results suggest that susceptibility to ENU-induced leukemia in mice is a complex trait governed by genes at multiple loci. Improved understanding of genetic risk factors should lead to tailored treatment regimens that reduce risk for patients predisposed to t-AML.
Spi-B inhibits human plasma cell differentiation by repressing BLIMP1 and XBP-1 expression
Authors: Schmidlin Heike , Diehl Sean A. , Nagasawa Maho , Scheeren Ferenc A. , Schotte Remko , Uittenbogaart Christel H. , Spits Hergen , Blom Bianca
Published: June 2008

The terminal differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells is tightly regulated by a complex network of transcription factors. Here we evaluated the role of the Ets factor Spi-B during terminal differentiation of human B cells. All mature tonsil and peripheral blood B-cell subsets expressed Spi-B, with the exception of plasma cells. Overexpression of Spi-B in CD19+ B cells inhibited, similar to the known inhibitor BCL-6, the expression of plasma cell–associated surface markers and transcription factors as well as immunoglobulin production, ie, in vitro plasma cell differentiation. The arrest in B-cell differentiation enforced by Spi-B was independent of the transactivation domain, but dependent on the Ets-domain. By chromatin immunoprecipitation and assays using an inducible Spi-B construct BLIMP1 and XBP-1 were identified as direct target genes of Spi-B mediated repression. We propose a novel role for Spi-B in maintenance of germinal center and memory B cells by direct repression of major plasma cell factors and thereby plasma cell differentiation.