bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term musical group interaction has a positive influence on empathy in children
Authors: Rabinowitch Tal-Chen , Cross Ian , Burnard Pamela
Published: April 2012

Musical group interaction (MGI) is a complex social setting requiring certain cognitive skills that may also elicit shared psychological states. We argue that many MGI-specific features may also be important for emotional empathy, the ability to experience another person’s emotional state. We thus hypothesized that long-term repeated participation in MGI could help enhance a capacity for emotional empathy even outside of the musical context, through a familiarization with and refinement of MGI empathy-promoting musical components (EPMCs). We tested this hypothesis by designing an MGI programme for primary school children consisting of interactive musical games implementing various EPMCs. We ran the programme for an entire school year and compared the emotional empathy of MGI children to control children using existing and novel measures of empathy before and after the programme. Our results support our hypothesis: MGI children showed higher emotional empathy scores after the study compared to its beginning, and higher scores than control children at the end of the study. These findings shed new light on the emotional processes involved in musical interaction and highlight the remarkable potential of MGI for promoting positive social-emotional capacities such as empathy.
Assessing Women’s Negative Commentary on Their Own Bodies
Authors: Engeln-Maddox Renee , Salk Rachel H. , Miller Steven A.
Published: April 2012

Our article details the development of the self-report Negative Body Talk (NBT) scale and five studies (all conducted with samples of U.S. undergraduate women) supporting the psychometric soundness of scores on this measure. The NBT scale measures women’s tendency to engage in negatively valenced commentary about the weight and shape of their own bodies (including upward comparisons that comprise implicit negative commentary) when speaking with others. Two subscales were identified using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The body concerns subscale assesses women’s tendency to make comments expressing worries over the size/shape of their bodies. The body comparison subscale assesses women’s tendency to vocalize unfavorable comparisons of their body with the bodies of other women. Scores on the NBT scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and moderate test–retest reliability with these samples of U.S. college women. Evidence of convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity is presented. The NBT scale may be useful in the growing body of research examining how the social norm of women expressing body dissatisfaction in conversation with others both reflects and fuels body image disturbance in women.
Courtship and the Remarrying Man in Late-Victorian England
Authors: King Steven , Shephard Mark
Published: April 2012

The remarrying man has attracted relatively little historiographical attention, both absolutely and particularly for the nineteenth century. Their motivations for marriage and experiences of courtship have been subsumed into wide generalizations, such as the sense that men with children had to remarry in order to evidence their masculinity and to obtain care for their children. This article challenges such generalizations. Focusing on the detailed courtship letters of a remarrying man and his bride, it provides a detailed anatomization of the courtship process. The article draws particular lessons—for instance that personality mattered and that the giving of gifts played a different role in the courtships of remarrying men than was the case in first marriages—but concentrates on the more general issues that arise from the single case study. These include the sense that accumulated history acutely shaped the courtship strategies and experiences of remarrying men and their potential brides, that there was generally little discussion of the economics of the “match” in the case of remarrying men, and that the issue of prior children was surprisingly unimportant to the conduct of a courtship. The article thus has fundamental lessons for our understanding of nineteenth-century remarriage.
Kinship, Property, and Identity
Authors: Steensel Arie van
Published: April 2012

The practices of marriage and inheritance and the representation of kinship among the medieval nobility are often studied separately, despite the argument that changes in conceptions of kinship accompanied the evolution of family structures, property transmission systems, and political organization. This article combines the practical and ideological aspects of kinship by analyzing its meaning for the nobility in late-medieval Zeeland. It demonstrates that the variety in power, wealth, and status among the noble families resulted in different reproductive strategies according to their standing and objectives. Regional institutions and property structures had a great impact on aristocratic family strategies in Zeeland, but did not result in different family structures or conceptions of lineage compared to the surrounding principalities.
Marriage Market, Social Status, and Cultural Patterns
Authors: Losada Leandro
Published: April 2012

This article examines the marriage market of Argentine traditional families in the period spanning from 1900 to 1940, based on a sample of 550 marriages and the analysis of their social and cultural patterns. The timeframe chosen includes the period of greatest splendor of these families in Argentine society (roughly between the year 1900 and the mid-1910s) as well as the years that saw the demise of their influence (the 1920s and 1930s). The aim is to shed light on the relationship between marriage patterns and the rise and fall of traditional elites, an issue that has so far been neglected by Argentine historiography.
Living Arrangement Preferences of Elderly People in Taiwan as Affected by Family Resources and Social Participation
Authors: Chen Yen-Jong , Chen Ching-Yi
Published: April 2012

This article investigates living arrangement preferences of elderly people in Taiwan, including coresidence with family (their children or spouse), coresidence with spouse only, living alone, and living in an institution. The authors consider the effects of three factors: the elderly persons’ health situation, their family resources, and their social participation, such as community workshops or political activities. Accordingly, the authors propose empirical logit models based on the well-developed discrete choice theory. Empirical results reveal that (1) elderly people with higher socioeconomic status, prefer either independent living arrangements or coresidence with their children, (2) elderly people with more family resources, such as large family size, prefer to coreside with their children, and (3) elderly people with adequate social support and/or contact networks prefer independent living arrangements.
Outcome of Nonoperative Treatment for Humeral Medial Epicondylar Fragmentation Before Epiphyseal Closure in Young Baseball Players
Authors: Harada Mikio , Takahara Masatoshi , Hirayama Tomoyuki , Sasaki Junya , Mura Nariyuki , Ogino Toshihiko
Published: April 2012

Background:

Nonoperative treatment for humeral medial epicondylar fragmentation in baseball players, involving prohibition and limitation of throwing, has been reported to give good results. However, in some cases, such nonoperative treatment fails to yield an acceptable outcome.

Hypothesis:

In nonoperative treatment for patients with medial epicondylar fragmentation, achievement of bone union of the fragmentation provides better clinical outcomes compared with those of patients with delayed bone union or nonunion.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Fifty-five young baseball players with medial epicondylar fragmentation before epiphyseal closure, aged between 9 and 13 years (mean, 11.0 years), participated in this study. They belonged to baseball teams in a youth league and underwent nonoperative treatment involving prohibition of throwing for an average of 2.0 months and subsequent limitation of throwing for an average of 1.8 months. We investigated whether achievement of bone union of the fragmentation was associated with better clinical outcomes.

Results:

Bone union was achieved in 40 (73%) of 55 participants at 6 months after initial presentation, 31 (76%) of 41 participants at 1 year, and 32 (94%) of 34 participants at 2 years. Elbow pain was present in 7 participants (17%) at 1 year after initial presentation and in 6 participants (18%) at 2 years. At 1 year after initial presentation, statistical analysis showed that most participants with elbow pain had significant fragmentation ( P = .0055). At 2 years after initial presentation, there was no significant relationship between elbow pain and medial epicondylar fragmentation ( P = .32). Statistical analysis also showed that, at both 6 months and 1 year after initial presentation, bone union was significantly delayed in most participants who had not accepted nonoperative treatment and consequently resumed throwing vigorously before bone union.

Conclusion:

At 1 year after initial presentation, bone union of the medial epicondylar fragmentation was correlated with a decreased prevalence of elbow pain. At 6 months and 1 year after initial presentation, delayed bone union of the medial epicondylar fragmentation was associated with resumption of throwing at maximum strength before bone union had occurred.
Theorizing Criminal Justice Evaluation and Research
Authors: Cooper Jonathon A. , Worrall John L.
Published: April 2012

Theories of the criminal justice process continue to develop and mature, as do theories of crime; however, less need has been perceived for theory in evidence-based policy evaluations. The authors argue that more emphasis should be placed in criminal justice and criminology on theoretically robust evaluation research, as doing so can help bridge the divide between two divided disciplines. Examples are provided to illustrate how the gap between criminological and criminal justice theory can be bridged with theory-based evaluation. The authors also highlight resources available to researchers who take us up on our call.
Design and quality assurance for solid recovered fuel
Authors: Lorber Karl E , Sarc Renato , Aldrian Alexia
Published: April 2012

This contribution describes the processing and the quality assurance of solid recovered fuel (SRF) that is increasingly used in a wide range of co-incineration plants. As an example, the preparation of municipal, commercial and industrial wastes for recovering of two different specifications of waste fuels (i.e. primary burner fuel and hot disc fuel used in cement industry) is reported and the multiple stage processing scheme used in SRF production is presented as well as the quality of SRF obtained. It will be shown, that removing of metals and sorting out of unwanted inert materials like stones, glass and concrete only after disintegration of the waste matrix during several crushing and separation steps can be carried out efficiently. In the following chapters, the quality assurance of SRF is demonstrated and described by using two different scenarios (i.e. different sizes of waste streams with different particle sizes, delivered to a cement plant by walking floor trucks). Based on CEN/TS-guidelines for SRF as well as national norms (ÖNORM), two sampling procedures and sample preparation schemes are elaborated for the scenarios and own practical experiences in quality assessment of heterogeneous waste fuels are reported. Finally, references are given on new, innovative laboratory equipment like cutting mills with attached cyclones and a mobile, hand-sized XRF-instrument for fast identification of extraneous materials removed from the laboratory sample prior to chemical analysis.
The Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale–Junior Form
Authors: Flett Gordon L. , Coulter Lisa-Marie , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: April 2012

This study assessed the psychometric characteristics and correlates of the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale–Junior Form (PSPS-JR). The PSPS-JR was designed for use with children and adolescents, but its psychometric properties and applications among early adolescents have not been investigated. The PSPS-JR has three subscales assessing the perfectionistic self-promotion (i.e., the need to appear perfect), the need to avoid displaying imperfections, and the need to avoid disclosing imperfections to others. A sample of 88 adolescents in Grades 7 and 8 completed the PSPS-JR, the Child–Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale for Children, and a three-factor measure of social anxiety. Psychometric analyses indicated that two of the PSPS-JR subscales had acceptable levels of internal consistency, but the nondisclosure of imperfection subscale had relatively low internal consistency. Significant links were found between the PSPS-JR subscales and trait perfectionism and dysfunctional attitudes, thus attesting to the concurrent validity of this new measure. Finally, perfectionistic self-presentation was associated robustly with all three social anxiety factors and predicted unique variance in social anxiety, above and beyond trait perfectionism. The findings support the continued use of the PSPS-JR and the assessment of individual differences in perfectionistic self-presentation among early adolescents.
Phonological Segmentation Assessment Is Not Enough
Authors: Kilpatrick David A.
Published: April 2012

Despite extensive research on phonological awareness and reading, there has been little effort to study practical questions that would assist practitioners regarding the choice and interpretation of the phonological awareness tests available to them. This study examined the relationship between decoding (real and pseudowords) and three phonological awareness tests (segmentation, blending, and manipulation) taken from the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) with an unselected population of first grade ( n = 67) and second grade ( n = 49) students. Segmentation displayed the weakest correlation with reading and accounted for no statistical variance in reading beyond what was found in the blending test. It also failed to account for a substantial amount of variance in reading that is captured by the manipulation test. Despite its popularity in educational contexts, phonological segmentation may be less useful than phonological manipulation or blending in assessing the phonological substrates of reading at these grade levels.
Neuropsychological Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Turley Matthew R. , Obrzut John E.
Published: April 2012

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect people of all ages but the literature is lacking on children and adolescents who experience PTSD. The consequences of this disorder extend beyond the basic symptoms by which it is defined. Neuroanatomically, the brains of children with PTSD have been found to be abnormally symmetrical in several structures, resulting in abnormal functioning. Neuropsychological assessment reveals that children and adolescents with the PTSD syndrome have significant deficits in memory, attention, executive functioning, and in overall verbal intelligence that needs to be discriminated from other syndromes with similar deficits, for example, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This review presents the research findings with regard to these deficits in learning and behaviour that school psychologists encounter with students who experience PTSD. Implications for the practice of school psychology and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Marketing Nationalism in the Absence of State
Authors: Kaplan Danny , Hirsch Orit
Published: April 2012

Following privatization reforms in Israeli media, we explore local and global factors beyond the state that may promote national identifications. In an ethnographic study of commercial Radio Haifa during and after the 2006 Lebanon War, we describe how the local radio replaced state and military functions in the home front as local residents came under attack by Hezbollah rockets. The radio station gave warning of incoming rockets, guided residents during their stay in shelters, engineered the collective mood, and promoted civic welfare. By subscribing to a Zionist-heroic discourse, the station attained legitimacy and commercial success and transformed into a player in the national field, well beyond its regional mandate. Against claims that global-commercial pressures undermine both state structures and national sentiments, this study suggests that commercial and peripheral actors present new ways for promoting nationalism in lieu of the state.
Parametric investigation of load-induced structure remodeling in the proximal femur
Authors: Marzban Ali , Canavan Paul , Warner Grant , Vaziri Ashkan , Nayeb-Hashemi Hamid
Published: April 2012

The process of adaptive bone remodeling can be simulated with a self-optimizing finite element method. The basic remodeling rules attempt to obtain a constant value for the strain energy per unit bone mass, by adapting density. The precise solution is dependent on the loads, initial conditions, and the parameters of the remodeling rule. While there are several investigations on developing algorithms leading to the bone density distribution in the proximal femur, these algorithms often require a large number of iterations. The aim of this study was to develop a more efficient adaptive bone remodeling algorithm, and to identify how the bone density distribution of the proximal femur was affected by parameters that govern the remodeling process. The forces at different phases of the gait cycle were applied as boundary conditions. The bone density distributions from these forces were averaged to estimate the density distribution in the proximal femur. The effect of varying the initial bone density, spatial influence function, non-linear order of the adaptive algorithm, and the influence range on the converged solution were investigated. The proposed procedure was shown to converge in a fewer number of iterations and requiring less computational time, while still generating a realistic bone density distribution. It was also shown that varying the identified parameters within reasonable upper and lower bounds had very little impact on the qualitative form of the converged solution. In contrast, the convergence rate was affected to a greater degree by variation of these parameters. In all cases, the solutions obtained are comparable with the actual density in the proximal femur, as measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans.
The limits to wind power and the cost of standby generation
Authors: Thomas P J
Published: April 2012

Based on general considerations and a relatively small amount of easily available UK data, it is shown that the electricity grid should be able to absorb wind power’s full output up to a wind penetration of about 17.5 per cent. This is demonstrated not to constitute a hard limit, however, and almost all wind power’s output can be absorbed up to a penetration of about 50 per cent, a much larger fraction than has been acknowledged generally hitherto. Thus, the theoretical limits to wind power are rather wide. However, the analysis does not attempt to account for the practical difficulties imposed on the standby generators needed to match supply to demand in the presence of intermittent wind power. The intermittency of wind means that wind power generators need to provide standby generation if they are to contribute to maintaining the continuity of electric power supply that is prized so highly in all modern civilizations. The Declaration Obligation Model (DOM) has been introduced based on the notion that in return for a guarantee from the grid to purchase all the wind power that wind farms can produce at all times, each wind power operator will make a declaration that he will supply an amount of power sent out equal to the maximum continuous rating of his wind farm. A substantial offset for the cost of the standby generation is provided by the fact that the DOM allows for the recovery of revenue from the standby generators selling the shortfall of electricity when wind power operators are unable to meet their obligations from their wind turbines. The cost of this back-up generation is understood most easily by calculating the ‘standby premium’, the fractional additional cost of wind energy needed to cover the necessary level of back-up capacity. The cost of standby emerges as relatively modest. For today’s costs for wind power and gas generation, the standby premium is about 12 per cent for offshore wind and 16 per cent for onshore, if gas generation provides the standby plant. Wind power will become competitive with general power production when the fuel cost per MWh associated with general generation has risen to match the levelized cost of constructing and operating the wind turbines without standby. This prompts the notion of wind power as a fuel-saving adjunct to general power production rather than as a wholly independent source of energy.
Male versus female lupus: a comparison of ethnicity, clinical features, serology and outcome over a 30 year period
Authors: Renau AI , Isenberg DA
Published: April 2012

Objective: To review the differences between male and female lupus patients with respect to clinical features, serology and outcome over a thirty year period. Material and methods: An observational study of all SLE patients seen at University College of London Hospital between 1976 and 2005 was performed. Demographic, clinical and serological data and outcome were retrospectively collected from hospital records or questionnaires and reviewed. Comparisons between continuous variables were made using the Kruskal–Wallis test and Student’s t-test. Chi-square test or Fisher´s exact test were used for categorical variables when it was appropriate. Results: A total of 484 patients (439 females and 45 males) were identified between 1976 and 2005. Their mean age at diagnosis was 29.3 years (SD 12.6) with no significant differences between men and women. There were no significant differences between the number of men and women diagnosed over the different decades or in the mean age at diagnosis. Female gender was significantly associated with the presence of oral ulcers (29.2% vs. 13.3%, p < 0.05) and Ig M ACA (9.9% vs. 0%, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the comparison of other variables. With respect to outcome, although renal failure and death were higher in females (6.8% vs. 4.4% and 13.2% vs. 6.6% respectively), no statistically significant differences were found. Cardiovascular disease was the commonest cause of death in men. Conclusion: Over this thirty year follow-up period, relatively few differences have emerged comparing the frequencies of clinical and serological features or outcome in male and female lupus patients.
Response: Epistemological Issues of Social Work Science as a Translational Action Science
Authors: Göppner Hans-Jürgen
Published: April 2012

A science-based practice should be caring, there is no dissent about this. But why a social work science? Until now “things are fine,” and practice seems to be getting on very well without it!? It is claimed that there is no alternative in its own interest. Social work needs social work science because of the epistemological issues linked to the central question: how can we know what works? And it is vital for social work academics for acquiring a profile and justification in their theory building to establish it as a modern translational action science. So, practitioners and academics need an anchor point from outside for the justification of its helping strategies: a social work science tailored as a translational action science. In this article (a) the implications of the usual practice-governed thinking are demonstrated and (b) proposals are made for framing social work science for a more reliable support of the practitioner’s actions, aiming at the client’s well-being.
“We Are All Friends Here”
Authors: Costas Jana
Published: April 2012

This article explores normative control in a culture of friendship. In-depth qualitative data gathered at a management consultancy firm reveal how management seeks to foster informal, intimate, and apparently egalitarian relations with employees. This is conceptualized as a culture of friendship, indicative of broader trends toward individuality, choice, and antiauthoritarianism. Through a comparison with family culture, the paper develops how in a culture of friendship, despite the emphasis on freedom, openness, and spontaneity, normative control is accentuated and extended, involving certain paradoxes and reinforcing control circles.
Cross-Cultural Knowledge Sharing for Competitive Advantage
Authors: Gale Jeffrey , Vance Charles M.
Published: April 2012

The contemporary business organization functions in a global economy operating in multiple country environments and with competitive advantage based largely on the ability to develop and manage knowledge. In this interview, Nigel Holden, a prominent expert and contributor to both cross-cultural management and knowledge management, explores his current views of the relationship between the two in the modern multinational company. Calling for a move beyond what he characterizes as a superficial approach for developing a global perspective in Western business education, he focuses on the “art” of cocreating a common cognitive and emotional ground to facilitate sharing of knowledge between individuals and in networks with different cultures in different contexts. In this, he explores the role of tacit knowledge and, particularly, language itself as a knowledge management metaphor and an influence on knowledge transfer. Finally, he elaborates on the challenge of enabling knowledge flows across cultural barriers in international firms.
The Skewed Few
Authors: Baum Joel A. C.
Published: April 2012

We tend to reify a few high-impact journals as top-tier, articles that appear in them as high quality (often without regard to their individual impact), and the small number of authors (and their institutions) who publish in them frequently as distinguished (and elite). Although such praise is warranted at times, the author hopes to encourage some skepticism in its granting and direct greater attention to “the many” authors, articles, and journals not found among “the few.”
Multiprofessional Interventions to Improve Patient Adherence to Cardiovascular Medications
Authors: Mansoor Sarab M. , Krass Ines , Aslani Parisa
Published: April 2012

Background:

Poor adherence to medications is a significant health care issue, particularly among cardiovascular patients. A variety of interventions have been tested by researchers in an effort to identify the most effective approach to improving adherence. Interventions delivered by multiple health care professionals (HCPs) may have an impact on improving adherence to medications in patients with chronic conditions, although the evidence to support this is still limited.

Objective:

To investigate the impact of interventions delivered by HCPs within a multiprofessional team to improve patients’ adherence to cardiovascular disease medications in community settings.

Search strategy:

The search strategy involved the use of the following data bases: Google scholar, PubMed, Medline, Cinahl, Embase, IPA, and Cochrane Library, from 1994 to 2010. Search was restricted to articles published in English.

Selection criteria:

Cluster randomized trials, controlled randomized clinical trials, prospective randomized trials, and nonrandomized studies were included. We considered any intervention designed to enhance adherence to medication directed by more than 1 HCP.

Results:

We included 17 studies testing 3 different types of interventions directed by more than 1 HCP. The HCPs received a variety of training via educational lectures or interactive workshops. Informational, behavioral, and combined interventions were delivered to cardiovascular patients. The majority of studies using only informational interventions or a combination of behavioral and informational interventions showed improvements in clinical outcomes (ie, blood pressure and total cholesterol lowering). However, only 2 studies measured improvements in adherence but the results were not significant. In contrast, all interventions based on the behavior change strategies improved both clinical outcomes and adherence to medication.

Conclusions:

Behavioral interventions delivered by a multiprofessional team appear to offer the best opportunity to improve clinical outcomes through improvements in adherence. However, whether interventions delivered by a multiprofessional team are more clinically effective than those delivered by a single HCP remain to be tested.
Sudden death possibly related to lenalidomide given for cardiac and muscle AL amyloidosis secondary to light chain deposition disease
Authors: Finsterer Josef , Höftberger Romana , Stöllberger Claudia , Wöhrer Adelheid , Regele Heinz
Published: April 2012

Objectives:

Restrictive cardiomyopathy due to AL amyloidosis has not been reported as the cause of sudden death. The risk of sudden death in AL amyloidosis may be further increased by potentially cardiotoxic medication, as in the following case.

Case report:

In a 69-year-old female, AL amyloidosis from light-chain deposition disease manifested as gastrointestinal pseudo-obstruction, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and secondary myopathy. AL amyloidosis was histologically confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy and muscle biopsy. One month after initiation of steroids and lenalidomide the patient suddenly died during sleep. It is speculated that sudden death was due to restrictive cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxicity of lenalidomide, pulmonary embolism, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy syndrome or stroke. The possible causes of sudden death are discussed.

Conclusions:

This case shows that AL amyloidosis from light-chain deposition disease may predominantly affect the intestines, myocardium and the skeletal muscle and that lenalidomide may have a beneficial effect on the amyloidosis but should be given with caution for its potential arrhythmogenic and thrombogenic side-effects.
Health Care Access and Health Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: McKirnan David J. , Du Bois Steve N. , Alvy Lisa M. , Jones Kyle
Published: April 2012

Men who have sex with men (MSM) appear to experience barriers to health care compared with general population men. This report examines individual differences in health care access within a diverse sample of urban MSM ( N = 871). The authors examined demographic differences in health care access and the relation between access and health-related attitudes, health behaviors, and HIV transmission risk. They operationalized health care access in terms of three indicators: perceived barriers, insurance status, and recent medical visit. Twenty-seven percent ( n = 227) of MSM reported zero or one health care access indicator. African American and Latino race/ethnicity, lower income, and HIV-unknown status were associated with limited health care access. Limited health care access was related to health care attitudes (mistrust in the health care system and difficulty disclosing MSM status to providers), general health behaviors (smoking, never being HIV-tested, and drug abuse), and sexual risk–related variables (low self-efficacy for sexual safety, consistent drug use during sex, and HIV transmission risk). Overall, among MSM, less health care access relates to several adverse psychological constructs and health behaviors. Researchers and public health officials should address limited health care access, and its consequences, in this population.
Diet and Exercise Adherence and Practices Among Medically Underserved Patients With Chronic Disease
Authors: Orzech Kathryn M. , Vivian James , Huebner Torres Cristina , Armin Julie , Shaw Susan J.
Published: April 2012

Many factors interact to create barriers to dietary and exercise plan adherence among medically underserved patients with chronic disease, but aspects related to culture and ethnicity are underexamined in the literature. Using both qualitative ( n = 71) and quantitative ( n = 297) data collected in a 4-year, multimethod study among patients with hypertension and/or diabetes, the authors explored differences in self-reported adherence to diet and exercise plans and self-reported daily diet and exercise practices across four ethnic groups—Whites, Blacks, Vietnamese, and Latinos—at a primary health care center in Massachusetts. Adherence to diet and exercise plans differed across ethnic groups even after controlling for key sociodemographic variables, with Vietnamese participants reporting the highest adherence. Food and exercise options were shaped by economic constraints as well as ethnic and cultural familiarity with certain foods and types of activity. These findings indicate that health care providers should consider ethnicity and economic status together to increase effectiveness in encouraging diverse populations with chronic disease to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Effectiveness of a National Media Campaign to Promote Parent–Child Communication About Sex
Authors: Davis Kevin C. , Evans W. Douglas , Kamyab Kian
Published: April 2012

Background. Although there is debate on the effectiveness of youth-focused abstinence education programs, research confirms that parents can influence their children’s decisions about sexual behavior. To leverage parent-based approaches to adolescent sexual health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Parents Speak Up National Campaign (PSUNC) to encourage parent–child communication about sex. Previous experimental studies have found the campaign to be efficacious in increasing parent–child communication. But to date, the actual reach of the campaign and its real-world effectiveness in promoting parent–child communication has not been established. The present study addresses this gap. Method. The authors surveyed 1,804 parents of 10- to14-year-old children from the nationally representative Knowledge Networks online panel. The survey included questions about parents’ awareness of PSUNC ads and parent–child communication behaviors. The authors also analyzed market-level data on campaign gross rating points, a measure of market-level intensity of PSUNC advertising in the United States. Multivariate regressions were used to examine the association between PSUNC exposure and a three-item scale for parent–child communication. Results. Overall, 59.4% of parents in the sample reported awareness of PSUNC. The authors found that higher market-level PSUNC gross rating points were associated with increased parent–child communication. Similar relationships were observed between self-reported awareness of PSUNC and increased frequency of communication and recommendations to wait. These associations were particularly strong among mothers. Conclusions. This study provides the first field-based data on the real-world reach and effectiveness of PSUNC among parents. The data support earlier experimental trials of PSUNC, showing that the campaign is associated with greater parent–child communication, primarily among mothers. Further research may be needed to develop additional messages for fathers.
Analgesia after feline ovariohysterectomy under midazolam-medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia with buprenorphine or butorphanol, and carprofen or meloxicam: a prospective, randomised clinical trial
Authors: Polson Sally , Taylor Polly M , Yates David
Published: April 2012

One hundred female cats undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy under midazolam-medetomidine-ketamine anaesthesia were included in a blinded, randomised, prospective clinical study to compare postoperative analgesia produced by four analgesic drug combinations given preoperatively (n = 25 per group). A secondary aim was to assess the effects in kittens and pregnant animals. Buprenorphine 180 µg/m2 or butorphanol 6 mg/m2 were given with either carprofen 4 mg/kg (groups BUPC and BUTC, respectively) or meloxicam 0.3 mg/kg (groups BUPM or BUTM, respectively). Medetomidine was not antagonised. A simple, descriptive scale (SDS; 0–4), a dynamic and interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS; 0–100 mm) and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MT; 2.5-mm diameter probe) were used to evaluate postoperative pain. All pain scores were low (DIVAS <10 mm, SDS <2 and MT >10 N) and there were no significant differences between the groups. It was concluded that all protocols provided adequate analgesia and when used with midazolam-medetomidine-ketamine are effective for routine feline ovariohysterectomy.
A qualitative exploration into young children’s perspectives and understandings of emotional difficulties in other children
Authors: Dixon Clare , Murray Craig , Daiches Anna
Published: April 2012

Research into children’s perspectives and understandings of emotional difficulties is limited and methodologically varied. In this paper we explore young children’s perspectives and understandings of emotional difficulties in their peers. We conducted five focus groups involving a total of 25 children. The children, aged eight and nine, were presented with vignettes representing peers experiencing emotional difficulties, and invited to discuss their perspectives on possible causes. We also explored their emotional and behavioural reactions to the vignette characters.

Using interpretative phenomenological analysis we identified three themes: Searching for an Explanation; Empathy versus Blame; and Consequences and Solutions. The children drew on their own emotional experiences in their sense-making, and the extent to which they held the character responsible for their behaviour was particularly important in influencing their responses towards the characters.
Between strategic nostalgia and banal nomadism: Explorations of transnational subjectivity among Arab audiences
Authors: Georgiou Myria
Published: April 2012

This article discusses a bipolar and highly politicized set of positions adopted by Arab speakers in Europe, as they attempt to define the meanings and limits of their subjectivity, especially through their media consumption. The article draws from focus group research in three European capital cities: London, Madrid and Nicosia. Findings show that media consumption among Arabic-speaking audiences takes a political twist and contributes to blurring the boundaries between citizenship and identity. In trying to find a place between different cultural spaces and also between (or beyond) conflicting political spheres, participants adopt a number of strategic positions. This article focuses on two of the most often recurring ones, referred to as strategic nostalgia and banal nomadism. I argue that these positions represent discursive versions of a transnational strategy to manage presence and visibility within the tense and contradictory ideological environments they occupy.
Phineas Gage revisited: Modern management of large-calibre penetrating brain injury
Authors: Mitchell BD , Fox BD , Humphries WE , Jalali A , Gopinath S
Published: April 2012

We present the case of a 19-year-old man who suffered a penetrating injury to the brain with a large-calibre steel industrial prybar approximately 1 m long and 2.5 cm wide that was retained in his cranium. The management of this type of injury is discussed, based on our experience with penetrating brain injuries with large-calibre retained objects, from initial presentation to surgical removal of the object to post-operative care. Additionally, given the similarities of the injuries suffered by our patient with those of Phineas Gage, we discuss the extensive lessons learned in treating this type of large-calibre injury.
Journalism, ideology and linguistics: The paradox of Chomsky’s linguistic legacy and his ‘propaganda model’
Authors: Lukin Annabelle
Published: April 2012

A central reason why news discourse is an object of academic research is its potential and actual role in establishing and maintaining ideology. News can do this because it is made of language and other semiotic modalities (Hasan, 1996a). This article considers the media coverage of the 2003 ‘Coalition’ invasion of Iraq, in light of the contradictions between the assumptions about discourse in the ‘propaganda model’ (Herman and Chomksy, 2002[1988]), and the nature of language in the Chomskyan tradition. The propaganda model is predicated on language being social and semiotic, two aspects of language absent in Chomsky’s linguistic theory. Paradoxically, linguistic description in the Chomskyan tradition cannot be recruited to analysing the news discourse identified by Chomsky and Herman, over 20 years ago, as the medium for the establishment and reinforcement of deep and consequential ideologies, which are as powerful today as they have ever been.
Ginkgo May Sensitize Ovarian Cancer Cells to Cisplatin
Authors: Jiang Wei , Cong Qing , Wang Yisheng , Ye Bin , Xu Congjian
Published: April 2012

Ginkgolide B (GB), the primary active component of Ginkgo biloba extracts, may have antitumor properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects and possible mechanisms of GB in ovarian cancer cells. In this study, human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and CAOV3) were treated with different concentrations of GB alone or in combination with Cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (CDDP). An MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was performed to determine cell viability. The apoptosis rates of cells were measured by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of apoptosis-associated and proliferation-associated proteins was detected by Western blot. The cytotoxicity of GB was analyzed using a lactate dehydrogenase assay. Treatment with 100 µM GB for 3 days significantly inhibited SKOV3 and CAOV3 cell proliferation by 57.3% and 63.1% compared with control cells, respectively, as determined by MTT assay. Similarly, the apoptotic cell population was increased when treated with GB in a dose-dependent manner both in SKOV3 and CAOV3 cells. These effects were characterized by the upregulation of p21, p27, cleaved capase-3, and cleaved caspase-8 and downregulation of cyclin D1. In addition, a combined treatment of low concentrations of GB and CDDP showed an additive effect on the inhibition of SKOV3 cell proliferation. Furthermore, GB had significantly less cytotoxicity than CDDP in normal human ovarian surface epithelial cells. This study suggests that GB can be proposed as an effective antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing agent with interesting translational application in ovarian cancers, used in addition to conventional chemotherapy.
Increased Mindfulness Is Related to Improved Stress and Mood Following Participation in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in Individuals With Cancer
Authors: Garland Sheila N. , Tamagawa Rie , Todd Sarah C. , Speca Michael , Carlson Linda E.
Published: April 2012

Background. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has demonstrated efficacy for alleviating cancer-related distress. Although theorized to be the means by which people improve, it is yet to be determined whether outcomes are related to the development or enhancement of mindfulness among participants. This study examined the effect of participation in an MBSR program on levels of mindfulness in a heterogeneous sample of individuals with cancer, and if these changes were related to improvements in stress and mood outcomes. Methods. In all, 268 individuals with cancer completed self-report assessments of stress and mood disturbances before and after participation in an 8-week MBSR program. Of these, 177 participants completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and 91 participants completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, at both time points. Results. Levels of mindfulness on both measures increased significantly over the course of the program. These were accompanied by significant reductions in mood disturbance (55%) and symptoms of stress (29%). Increases in mindfulness accounted for a significant percentage of the reductions in mood disturbance (21%) and symptoms of stress (14%). Being aware of the present moment and refraining from judging inner experience were the 2 most important mindfulness skills for improvements of psychological functioning among cancer patients. Conclusions. These results add to a growing literature measuring the impact of mindfulness and its relationship to improved psychological health. Moreover, specific mindfulness skills may be important in supporting these improvements.
Lactobacillus casei Extract Induces Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer by Inhibiting NF-κB and mTOR-Mediated Signaling
Authors: Hwang Jeong Won , Baek Young-Mi , Yang Kyeong Eun , Yoo Hwa-Seung , Cho Chong-Kwan , Lee Yeon-Weol , Park Junsoo , Eom Chi-Yong , Lee Zee-Won , Choi Jong-Soon , Jang Ik-Soon
Published: April 2012

Lactobacillus casei extract (LBX) has been reported to prevent gastric cancer, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The proliferation and cell death of gastric cancer KATO3 cells were examined after treatment with LBX for various times and at various doses. LBX inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells and induced apoptosis by inactivating NF-κB promoter activity. Apoptosis induced by LBX, however, is not directly associated with the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Immunoblot analysis revealed that LBX decreased the expressions of NF-κB and IκB. The reduced NF-κB levels led to the decreased phosphorylation of mTOR signaling components, such as PI3K, Akt, and p70S6 kinase. These results showed for the first time that LBX induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by inhibiting NF-κB and mTOR-mediated signaling.
Fatal Basilar Artery Occlusion Under Dabigatran Occurring 13 Days After Femoral Embolectomy
Authors: Stöllberger Claudia , Reiter Markus , Schäffl-Doweik Lilian , Finsterer Josef
Published: April 2012

A male with atrial fibrillation for 30 years underwent embolectomy in his right leg at age 78 years. Postoperatively, he received enoxaparin 60 mg/twice a day (bid), and on day 5, phenprocoumon was started. The patient’s son, a general practitioner, changed phenprocoumon to dabigatran 110 mg/bid on day 8. Pain in his left calf induced readmission after 5 days. International normalized ratio was 2.5 and d-dimer was 20 μg/mL. Dabigatran was stopped and dalteparin 5000 International Units/bid and 40 μg alprostadil infusions were started. After 8 hours, he became comatose due to basilar artery occlusion and eventually died. This tragic case raises the issue of postoperative use of dabigatran, a recently introduced thrombin inhibitor.
The Use of Endografts to Create an Endoluminal Femoropopliteal Bypass After Failed Above-Knee Femoropopliteal Open Bypass Surgery
Authors: Lensvelt M. M. A. , Wikkeling O. R. M. , Oostayen J. A. Van , Roukema J. G. , Zeebregts C. J. , Reijnen M. M. P. J.
Published: April 2012

Redo femoropopliteal bypass surgery is associated with increased morbidity and related to a poorer outcome than primary procedures. Endografts might provide an alternative, avoiding dissection of a previously operated groin. Patients treated with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents for superficial femoral artery occlusive disease between February 2009 and September 2011 were prospectively gathered. Demographics, clinical status, procedural aspects, and follow-up were retrieved. Seventy-four patients were included of which 5 (7%) were treated before with a femoropopliteal bypass. Indication for intervention was Rutherford category 3 in all patients and the median ankle–brachial index (ABI) was 0.68. Technical success was achieved in all cases. The postoperative course was uneventful in all and the ABI increased to 0.95. After a follow-up period of 18 months, 4 of 5 endografts remained patent. The use of endografts after failed femoropopliteal bypass surgery is feasible and safe and could be used to avoid or minimize a difficult and hazardous dissection of a previously operated area.