bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A fast and accurate approximation for planar pose graph optimization
Authors: Carlone Luca , Aragues Rosario , Castellanos José A. , Bona Basilio
Published: May 2014

This work investigates the pose graph optimization problem, which arises in maximum likelihood approaches to simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). State-of-the-art approaches have been demonstrated to be very efficient in medium- and large-sized scenarios; however, their convergence to the maximum likelihood estimate heavily relies on the quality of the initial guess. We show that, in planar scenarios, pose graph optimization has a very peculiar structure. The problem of estimating robot orientations from relative orientation measurements is a quadratic optimization problem (after computing suitable regularization terms); moreover, given robot orientations, the overall optimization problem becomes quadratic. We exploit these observations to design an approximation of the maximum likelihood estimate, which does not require the availability of an initial guess. The approximation, named LAGO (Linear Approximation for pose Graph Optimization), can be used as a stand-alone tool or can bootstrap state-of-the-art techniques, reducing the risk of being trapped in local minima. We provide analytical results on existence and sub-optimality of LAGO, and we discuss the factors influencing its quality. Experimental results demonstrate that LAGO is accurate in common SLAM problems. Moreover, it is remarkably faster than state-of-the-art techniques, and is able to solve very large-scale problems in a few seconds.
The conditional impact of military intervention on internal armed conflict outcomes
Authors: Sullivan Patricia L. , Karreth Johannes
Published: May 2014

Previous studies of internal armed conflict outcomes have found evidence that rebel-biased military intervention increases the likelihood of rebel victory, but little indication that pro-government interventions improve the odds of government victory. Our argument, grounded in a theory of the utility and limitations of military force in civil wars, anticipates that armed intervention increases the probability of victory for the supported side only when that belligerent’s primary challenge is a lack of conventional war-fighting capacity. Empirical analyses of internal armed conflicts from 1945 to 2010 support these expectations. Direct interventions in support of opposition movements have substantively large, robust effects on conflict outcomes. In contrast, government-biased interventions are only effective in increasing the odds of an outcome favorable to the government when the fighting capacity of rebel forces matches or exceeds that of the state.
A Pilot Study for Evaluation of Hypotonia in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Soucy Elizabeth A. , Wessel Lauren E. , Gao Feng , Albers Anne C. , Gutmann David H. , Dunn Courtney M.
Published: May 2014

There are currently no objective criteria to evaluate pediatric hypotonia. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify diagnostic criteria for assessing hypotonia in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. Fifty-five subjects between the ages of 1 and 7 years with a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1 were evaluated. A physical therapist recorded a subjective tone assessment and objective tone metrics, including ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension, hip abduction, triceps fat percentage, grip strength, and head lag during a pull-to-sit test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the presence of head lag paired with increased hip range of motion was a significant predictor of hypotonia. The presence of head lag on a pull-to-sit test paired with increased hip range of motion is an accurate predictor of hypotonia in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. These objective measures should be prospectively evaluated in other pediatric populations for their ability to predict hypotonia.
Carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels support central nervous system-derived tumor-cell chemotactic migration: Comparison with conventional extracellular matrix macromolecules
Authors: Singh Tanya , Kothapalli Chandrasekhar , Varma Devika , Nicoll Steven B , Vazquez Maribel
Published: May 2014

The local microenvironment plays an important role in maintaining the dynamics of the extracellular matrix and the cell–extracellular matrix relationship. The extracellular matrix is a complex network of macromolecules with distinct mechanical and biochemical characteristics. Disruptions in extracellular matrix homeostasis are associated with the onset of cancer. The extracellular matrix becomes highly disorganized, and the cell–matrix relationship changes, resulting in altered cell-signaling processes and metastasis. Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors in the United States. In order to gain a better understanding of the interplay between cell–extracellular matrix interactions and cell-migratory responses in tumors, eight different matrix macromolecule formulations were investigated using a medulloblastoma-derived cell line: poly-d-lysine, matrigel, laminin, collagen 1, fibronectin, a 10% blend of laminin–collagen 1, a 20% blend of laminin–collagen 1, and a cellulose-derived hydrogel, carboxymethylcellulose. Over time, the average changes in cell morphology were quantified in 2D and 3D, as was migration in the presence and absence of the chemoattractant, epidermal growth factor. Data revealed that carboxymethylcellulose allowed for a cell–extracellular matrix relationship typically believed to be present in tumors, with cells exhibiting a rounded, amoeboid morphology consistent with chemotactic migration, while the other matrices promoted an elongated cell shape as well as both haptotactic and chemotactic motile processes. Therefore, carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels may serve as effective platforms for investigating central nervous system-derived tumor-cell migration in response to soluble factors.
Effects of foaming through leaching on the electrical behavior of polystyrene/carbon nanotube composites
Authors: TabkhPaz Majid , Parmar Kaushik , Ali Anam Mohammed , Park Simon
Published: May 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of foaming on the electrical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced polystyrene (PS). A pseudo-three-dimensional (3D) model based on random walk simulation was developed for predicting the electrical properties of CNT nanocomposites. The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of foamed PS/CNT composites was also studied through a network analyzer, measuring the EMI SE of specimens through reflection and absorption mechanisms. Six types of nanocomposites, including foamed and nonfoamed PS/CNT composites with a CNT loading of 2.1 vol% and different void contents, were manufactured using compression molding and leaching techniques. To realize the effects of foaming on the electrical conductivity of PS/CNT composites, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses were carried out and compared with the pseudo-3D model. We also found that foaming via the leaching method improved the EMI shielding properties of the composites up to 24%.
Older Women Discuss Planning for Future Care Needs
Authors: Girling Laura M. , Morgan Leslie A.
Published: May 2014

Objective: This study expands upon existing narrative data concerning health care preparation by developing a multi-theme framework of plans for future care needs. Method: Inductive content analysis was conducted on 185 interviews with European American and African American older women. Results: An explanatory framework emerged of five themes, describing varied approaches to planning for future care needs: (a) Autonomous Care Planners, (b) Externally Reliant Planners, (c) Aware of Preference, (d) Wishful Thinkers, and (e) Avoidant. A distinct group included women performing only end-of-life planning. Barriers to planning included low-perceived vulnerability, financial constraints, being uninformed of needed actions, and fear of burdening. Discussion: Although the majority undertook active steps to prepare for future care needs, many missed key steps or achievement of planning goals recommended by experts. Findings may be applied to long-term care planning research by providing added, rich detail on how aging women construct their options, make choices, and address this important area for future well-being.
Waist Circumference and Health-Related Quality of Life by Sex in the Korean Elderly
Authors: So Eun Sun
Published: May 2014

Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of differential degrees of obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQL) by sex in the Korean elderly. Method: We analyzed data on those aged between 65 and 74 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) using multiple regression analysis. Results: Compared with the lowest waist circumference (WC) quintile, the women in the fourth and fifth quintiles demonstrated significantly lower unadjusted HRQL but not the men in any quintiles. Whereas higher WC quintiles impaired mobility, usual activities, and pain/discomfort in women, the fourth WC quintile improved usual activities in men. After adjustment, only the women of the highest WC quintile reported impaired mobility. Discussion: Extreme obesity worsens mobility, and comorbidity in combination with obesity worsens HRQL in elderly women. Monitoring and controlling comorbidity and maintaining adequate WC decreases the risks of lowered HRQL in Korean elderly women.
Use of Quality Indicators in Nursing Homes in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Ibrahim Joseph E. , Chadwick Liam , MacPhail Aleece , McAuliffe Linda , Koch Susan , Wells Yvonne
Published: May 2014

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the use of mandated quality indicators (QIs) in public sector nursing homes by describing their adherence to established principles of measurement and whether nursing homes respond to QI data to improve care. Method: Data were collected from a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study using a confidential survey questionnaire distributed electronically to senior staff in all public sector nursing homes in Victoria, Australia. Results: Staff from 113 of 196 facilities completed the survey (58%). Adherence to principles of measurement was suboptimal, with variation in applying QI definitions and infrequent random audits of data ( n = 54, 48%). QI data triggered reviews of individual residents (62%-79%), staff practice (44%-65%), and systems of care (45%-55%). Most facilities (58%-75%) reported that beneficial changes in care occurred as a result of using QIs. Discussion: QI performance data are positively received and used to improve care. Standardization of data collection, analysis, and reporting should strengthen the program’s utility.
Synthesis and properties of a novel high-temperature diphenyl sulfone-based phthalonitrile polymer
Authors: Peng Xuegang , Sheng Haitong , Guo Hui , Naito Kimiyoshi , Yu Xiaoyan , Ding Huili , Qu Xiongwei , Zhang Qingxin
Published: May 2014

A novel high-temperature diphenyl sulfone-based phthalonitrile polymer is prepared from bis-[4-(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)phenyl]sulfone (BDS) monomer synthesized with high yield by a simple nucleophilic displacement of a nitro-substituent from 4-nitrophthalonitrile (NPN). The structure of BDS polymer is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Curing behavior of BDS monomer with 1,3-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene (APB) is recorded by differential scanning calorimetry. The properties of BDS polymer are evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile test. The results reveal that the BDS polymer exhibits excellent thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities, high glass temperature ( Tg = 337°C), and outstanding mechanical properties (Young’s modulus: 4.02 GPa and tensile strength: 64.16 MPa). Additionally, the BDS polymer exhibits high flame retardance and low water uptake.
Shades of Red
Authors: Foster Jason , Helms Mills Jean , Mills Albert J.
Published: May 2014

Textbooks are an important element in teaching management in higher education because of their assumed ability to disseminate key theories and debates in a seemingly objective fashion. However, a number of studies have questioned not only the scientific character of the textbook but also of management theory itself. More recent studies suggest that dominant notions of management theory in North America were shaped by the Cold War context. In this article, we examine the influence of sociopolitical context on the development of management textbooks in North America. In seeking a more nuanced approach to sociopolitical context that takes into account cross-cultural differences, we undertook a critical hermeneutic analysis on two sets of Cold War–era textbooks, one from the United States and another from Canada. We looked for important differences in how Cold War narratives are reproduced. Canadian textbooks were more likely to legitimize noncapitalist forms of organization, to allow for a more positive role for government, and to discuss communism and socialism more seriously and thoroughly. We argue that these differences are attributable to the divergent political context found in Canada during the Cold War era. The significance of this article is to recognize that discourses change geographically on a scale much smaller than anticipated.
Hidden Markov models of eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) alarm calls
Authors: Simmons B Alexander , McRae Thaddeus R
Published: May 2014

Eastern gray squirrels produce alarm calls—vocalizations used in the presence of danger that influence the behavior of some receivers. This influence is possible because the alarm calls’ rate, duration, and structure contain information about the threat and the caller. Gray squirrels’ mix of different structural call types (kuks and quaas) could contain information on potential internal influences within the squirrel. Hidden Markov models (HMMs) are ideal tools to investigate whether hidden states explain the frequencies of kuks versus quaas throughout an alarm call sequence. In this study, we compare the ability of an iid (independent and identically distributed) model and two- to six-state HMMs to represent observed sequences of kukking, quaaing, and periods of silence. Audio recordings of 44 gray squirrels were collected and the first 30 s of each alarm call sequence was coded based on spectrograms. A number of HMMs were fitted, and the overall fit of the observed sequences to each model was assessed using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and Monte Carlo methods. The five-state HMM fit the observed call frequencies better than the other models, suggesting that the squirrels’ alarm calling sequences are influenced by a more complex temporal sequencing of acoustic units.
Multiple Family Group Service Model for Children With Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Authors: Chacko Anil , Gopalan Geetha , Franco Lydia , Dean-Assael Kara , Jackson Jerrold , Marcus Sue , Hoagwood Kimberly , McKay Mary
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of a multiple family group (MFG) service delivery model compared with services as usual (SAU) in improving the functioning of youth with oppositional defiant/conduct disorder in families residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. Participants included 320 youth aged 7 to 11 and their families who were referred to participating outpatient clinics. Participants were assigned to the MFG or the SAU condition, with parent report of child oppositional behavior, social competence, and level of youth impairment as primary outcomes at post-treatment. Family engagement to MFG was measured by attendance to each group session. Caregivers of youth in the MFG service delivery model condition reported significant improvement in youth oppositional behavior and social competence compared with youth in the SAU condition. Impairment improved over time for both groups with no difference between treatment conditions. The MFG led to greater percentage of youth with clinically significant improvements in oppositional behavior. Attendance to the MFG was high, given the high-risk nature of the study population. The MFG service delivery model offers an efficient and engaging format to implement evidence-based approaches to improving functioning of youth with oppositional defiant and/or conduct disorder in families from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
Measuring Teacher Implementation of the BEST in CLASS Intervention Program and Corollary Child Outcomes
Authors: Conroy Maureen A. , Sutherland Kevin S. , Algina James J. , Wilson Reynolds E. , Martinez Jose R. , Whalon Kelly J.
Published: May 2014

This study is part of a larger randomized efficacy trial examining the impact of Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Training: Competent Learners Achieving School Success ( BEST in CLASS), a Tier 2 intervention that targets the prevention of emotional/behavioral disorders in young, high risk children. In this investigation, we examined teachers’ implementation and maintenance of instructional practices in early childhood classrooms and the corollary relationships between teacher implementation of the specific instructional practices associated with BEST in CLASS and child engagement and problem behaviors. Fifty-three teachers (26 in treatment and 27 in comparison) and 130 preschool-aged children (66 in treatment and 64 in comparison) participated. Findings indicated that teachers’ who received training and coaching in the BEST in CLASS intervention increased their use of specific instructional practices in comparison with teachers in the control condition. In addition, children whose teachers’ received the BEST in CLASS intervention demonstrated increased engagement and a decrease in problem behaviors in comparison with those children who were in the control group. Positive teacher–child interactions increased and negative teacher–child interactions decreased in the intervention group in comparison with the control group. Results are discussed in relation to measuring teachers’ implementation of instructional practices and implementation science.
Are There Any New Pharmacologic Therapies on the Horizon to Better Treat Hypertension? A State-of-the-Art Paper
Authors: Habib Gabriel B. , Basra Sukhdeep S.
Published: May 2014

Hypertension is the most important cardiovascular risk factor. We have witnessed a significant improvement in hypertension treatment and control and an impressive growth in the pharmacologic options available to clinicians and hypertension specialists. With up to a third of patients with hypertension not at the recommended goal blood pressures, it is critically important to develop novel therapeutic approaches to better treat hypertension. This review will explore the ever-expanding horizon of antihypertensive treatment and will focus on 2 major areas of drug development. First, we will review novel targets for pharmacologic treatment and novel molecules and classes of drugs in various phases of development and recognize the limitations we face in their transition from research and development to clinical practice. Then, we will discuss an expanding array of combination strategies to better treat hypertension with the goal of minimizing the burden of cardiovascular and renal complications of hypertension.
From FUS to Pandora syndrome
Authors: Tony Buffington C A , Westropp Jodi L , Chew Dennis J
Published: May 2014

New concepts:

Ideas about the causes of lower urinary tract signs (LUTS) in cats have changed significantly in the past 40 years. Recent research is challenging the conventional view that the bladder is always the perpetrator of LUTS, and suggests that the bladder can also be one victim of a systemic process associated with a sensitized central stress response system.

Aim:

In this article the authors provide their perspective on the implications of these findings for the diagnosis and treatment of cats with LUTS, provide some historical context, and suggest ways that the veterinary profession might work together to better understand the disorders underlying these signs, and possibly reduce their prevalence.
Feline dermatophytosis
Authors: Newbury Sandra , Moriello Karen A
Published: May 2014

Practical relevance:

Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is the most important infectious and contagious skin disease of cats in shelters. Its importance relates to the fact that it can affect all cats, but tends to affect those which would otherwise have good chances for adoption. Although many diseases in shelters fit this description, dermatophytosis is of particular significance because of associated public health concerns.

Clinical challenges:

Disease management in animal shelters is challenging because new animals are frequently entering the population, numerous animals are often housed together, and resources are almost always limited.

Global relevance:

Outbreaks of dermatophytosis occur worldwide and no animal shelter is completely shielded from possible introduction of the disease into the population.

Audience:

This article offers a flexible stepwise approach to dealing with a known or suspected outbreak of dermatophytosis in an animal shelter. It is based on the authors’ experiences spanning more than a decade of responses and/or consultations. While primarily aimed at veterinarians involved in shelter medicine, the principles largely apply to other group-housing situations, such as catteries and breeding establishments.

Aims:

The goals in dealing with a potential dermatophytosis outbreak are to ascertain if the ‘outbreak’ is actually an outbreak, to develop a shelter-specific outbreak management plan and to implement a long-term plan to prevent recurrences.
Feline dermatophytosis
Authors: Moriello Karen
Published: May 2014

Practical relevance:

Dermatophytosis (ringworm) is a superficial fungal skin disease of cats that, depending on the geographic region and practice caseload, may be encountered uncommonly through to commonly. This is a self-curing disease in an immunocompetent cat.

Global importance:

Dermatophytosis is prevalent worldwide and is one of a number of zoonotic skin diseases that cat owners are at risk of contracting.

Clinical challenges:

Dermatophytosis causes non-specific signs of hair loss, erythema and scaling, making it a differential diagnosis for many skin diseases of cats. The fact that this disease is infectious and contagious, and does not have any one classic clinical presentation, makes knowledge of diagnostic tools important in detection. The veterinarian’s role is in early disease recognition and institution of appropriate therapy to hasten resolution of the disease.

Aim:

The focus of this article is to provide an update and review of the most pertinent aspects that may be helpful in the management of dermatophytosis in any single or multiple cat situation.

Evidence base:

Where appropriate, evidence from the literature is used to supplement a summary of the author’s clinical experience and research in feline dermatophytosis.
Polyostotic hyperostosis in a domestic shorthair cat
Authors: Fawcett Anne , Malik Richard , Rolfe Howlett C , McDonald Michelle M , Culvenor John , Pool Roy , Allan Graeme S
Published: May 2014

Clinical presentation:

An 11-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented for investigation of weight loss and inappetence. On physical examination there was palpable enlargement and thickening of many bones, and this finding was confirmed radiographically.

Proposed diagnosis:

Based on clinical, radiological and histopathological findings, a polyostotic bone disease, best described as generalised idiopathic hyperostosis, was diagnosed. This condition has not been reported in cats previously. Canine and human diseases with similarities to this presentation are discussed.
Measurement of Acute Pain in Infants
Authors: Hatfield Linda A. , Ely Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2014

Background:

The use of non-validated pain measurement tools to assess infant pain represents a serious iatrogenic threat to the developing neonatal nervous system. One partial explanation for this practice may be the contradictory empirical data from studies that use newborn pain management tools constructed for infants of different developmental stages or exposed to different environmental stressors.

Purpose:

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence regarding the physiologic and behavioral variables that accurately assess and measure acute pain response in infants.

Methodology:

A literature search was conducted using PUBMED and CINAHL and the search terms infant, neonate/neonatal, newborn, pain, assessment, and measurement to identify peer-reviewed studies that examined the validity and reliability of behavioral and physiological variables used for investigation of infant pain. Ten articles were identified for critical review. Principal findings: Strong evidence supports the use of the behavioral variables of facial expressions and body movements and the physiologic variables of heart rate and oxygen saturation to assess acute pain in infants.

Conclusion:

It is incumbent upon researchers and clinical nurses to ensure the validity, reliability, and feasibility of pain measures, so that the outcomes of their investigations and interventions will be developmentally appropriate and effective pain management therapies.
Comparison of Renal Function Indicators According to Hydration Volume in Patients Receiving Intravenous Acyclovir With CNS Infection
Authors: Kim Sanghee , Byun Youngsoon
Published: May 2014

Purpose:

We aimed to compare the changes in renal function indicators as a function of hydration volume in patients treated with acyclovir for suspected herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

Method:

We obtained data from 216 acyclovir-treated patients hospitalized between 2007 and 2012 for suspected HSV infection. Intravenous hydration volume and renal function indicators (serum creatinine [sCr], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], glutamate oxaloacetate transferase, glutamate pyruvate transferase, and uric acid levels; estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]; and urine pH) were compared among the patients. The indicators were assessed before acyclovir infusion and after 3 days of acyclovir infusion.

Results:

Before acyclovir infusion, all the indicators were within normal ranges in all groups (hydration volume lower than 2 L/day, higher than 2 L/day, and without hydration). After acyclovir infusion for 3 days, the groups without hydration and with a volume lower than 2 L/day showed increased sCr (2.22 ± 0.51 and 1.70 ± 0.35 mg/dl, respectively), BUN levels (28.33 ± 0.57 and 22.14 ± 7.95 mg/dl, respectively), and glutamate oxaloacetate transferase (48.00 ± 2.65 IU/L, without hydration) and eGFRs lower than the normal range (53.03 ± 3.05 and 59.66 ± 10.25 ml/min, respectively; p < .001 for all parameters). The renal function indicators were within normal limits in the group with a hydration volume higher than 2 L/day.

Conclusions:

Renal function indicators in acyclovir-treated patients varied according to hydration volume. Health care providers should consider whether the hydration volume in each patient receiving intravenous acyclovir is sufficient for preventing nephropathy.
Fetal Response to Live and Recorded Maternal Speech
Authors: Krueger Charlene A. , Cave Emily C. , Garvan Cynthia
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the fetal response to live and recorded maternal speech following a lengthy history of exposure to a passage spoken by the mother. Participants comprised a convenience sample of 21 pregnant women. The women recited an assigned passage (nursery rhyme) twice daily from 28 to 34 weeks’ gestational age (GA), and their fetuses were tested at 34 weeks’ GA. During testing, fetal heart rate and movement were measured in response to two different formats of the assigned passage: maternal live voicing and a recording of the mother speaking the passage. The fetal cardiac response varied depending upon the format; however, fetal movement did not. A minimal cardiac deceleration occurred in response to live voicing compared to a cardiac acceleration in response to the recorded format. This is the first study to show differences in the fetal cardiac response to a passage spoken live compared to a recording of the passage following a lengthy history of controlled fetal exposure to the multimodal characteristics of maternal speech. Given the differential response to a live voicing compared to a recorded format, future study that incorporates lengthier exposure to the multimodal characteristics of maternal speech may be warranted.
A preliminary study of the contribution of telemicroscopy to the diagnosis and management of skin tumours in teledermatology
Authors: Şenel Engin , Sabancılar Emine , Mansuroğlu Cem , Demir Emre
Published: May 2014

Dermatology images can be acquired using a miniature handheld digital microscope at magnifications of 10- to 30-fold. We investigated the contribution of telemicroscopy to the reliability and accuracy of teledermatology for skin tumours. In a retrospective study of the reliability of diagnosis and management plans, two dermatologists compared teledermatology with face-to-face assessment. We also measured the accuracy of diagnosis by comparing teledermatology with histopathological examination. Two dermatologists evaluated the clinical images and information for 120 randomly sorted cases and recorded a diagnosis and a management plan for each case. Two months later, the same dermatologists re-evaluated the cases and suggested a new diagnosis and management plan for each case. The reliability of teledermatology diagnosis was not significantly different from face-to-face examination; it was significantly increased with the addition of microscopic images ( P < 0.001). The reliability of teledermatology management plans was not significantly different from face-to-face examination; it was significantly increased with the addition of the microscopic images ( P < 0.001). The accuracy of teledermatology was significantly increased with microscopic images ( P = 0.05). Telemicroscopy appears to be a useful adjunct to teledermatology with a digital camera. Future studies with different magnifications should be performed to detect the optimum magnification for telemicroscopy.
The association of media exposure and media literacy with adolescent alcohol and tobacco use
Authors: Chang Fong-ching , Miao Nae-fang , Lee Ching-mei , Chen Ping-hung , Chiu Chiung-hui , Lee Shu-ching
Published: May 2014

This study examined the relationship of media exposure and media literacy to alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents in Taiwan. A total of 2992 10th-grade students recruited from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan, completed a questionnaire in 2010. The multivariable analysis results indicated that the students with higher alcohol and tobacco media exposure were more likely to use alcohol and tobacco and have intentions to drink and smoke, while students with higher media literacy were less likely to use alcohol and have intentions to drink and smoke.
Hypnotherapy for disability-related pain: A meta-analysis
Authors: Bowker Emma , Dorstyn Diana
Published: May 2014

Hypnotherapy can address the biopsychosocial aspects of disability-related pain, although the available evidence is limited in quality and quantity. Meta-analytic techniques were utilised to evaluate 10 controlled studies. Hypnotherapy produced significant short-term improvements in fatigue, pain experience and affect. However, a lack of significance was noted at 3- to 6-month follow-up. A beneficial effect size ( dw = 0.53; confidence interval = 0.28–0.84) in comparison to control conditions was reported, although comparability with other cognitive-behavioural treatments could not be confirmed across the few studies reporting this data ( dw = 0.06; confidence interval = −0.33 to 0.45). The findings highlight the need for further controlled and longitudinal research in this area.
Lifestyle and treatment adherence among overweight adolescents
Authors: Sousa Pedro , Gaspar Pedro , Fonseca Helena , Gaspar Filomena
Published: May 2014

This study evaluated the influence of overweight adolescents’ lifestyle on the adherence to weight control, and identifies their predictors. Participants were 94 adolescents, aged 12–18 years, attending a Paediatric Obesity Clinic. Lifestyle was assessed using the “Adolescent Lifestyle Profile” and treatment adherence through the “Therapeutic Adherence to Weight Control Questionnaire.” Adherence to weight control was associated with various lifestyle domains. Several predictors were identified for lifestyle and adherence to weight control among overweight adolescents. A broad array of inter-correlations and predictors were identified and should be taken into account when designing adolescent weight control interventions.
The European crisis and a political critique of capitalism
Authors: Blokker Paul
Published: May 2014

The European crisis has provoked widespread critique of capitalist arrangements in most if not all countries in Europe. But to what extent do contemporary social protest and critique indicate a revival of critical capacity? The range of criticisms against the existing capitalist system raised by various social movements is seen as ineffectual and fragmented. Such observations are mirrored in sociological analyses of the critique of capitalism. A distinct type of critique of capitalism has, however, not been explicitly conceptualized. This political critique, denouncing the depoliticization and the erosion of autonomy resulting from capitalist arrangements, indicates the crucial role of the political in formulating common projects. The article will, first, briefly discuss Boltanski and Chiapello’s historical identification of forms of critique of capitalism as well as the contemporary relevance of these. In a second step, it will conceptualize and in a way recuperate a political critique of capitalism. In a third step, it will show that the contours of a critique that explicitly refers to the political is available in the contemporary European context, not least in claims made by movements that pursue a ‘Europe of the Commons’ and an ‘alternative Europe’.
The future of the European Union
Authors: Deutschmann Christoph
Published: May 2014

This article develops an assessment of the present-day European crisis management, referring to Wolfgang Streeck’s recent interpretation of the European ‘consolidation state’ as an attempt to install a ‘Hayekian’ regime of liberalized transnational markets. This article arrives at a diagnosis different from Streeck’s: if there has been a ‘Hayekian’ regime, it had already developed after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973 and the subsequent dismantling of capital controls in the USA and Europe. As it appeared in the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the ultimate practical test of the Hayekian vision was dramatically negative. European crisis management, as it is still largely occupied with the imperative to maintain the solvency of troubled Euro states vis-à-vis the capital markets, is not following a Hayekian script. Rather, it is confronted with the challenge of removing the debris of the collapse of the former Hayekian regime, taking the form of zombie banks and large uncovered capital claims. To master this challenge, not only intact European institutions and transnational cooperation in Europe would be required, but also much more democratic pressure from below.
The EU in search of its people
Authors: Eder Klaus
Published: May 2014

The article argues that the ‘crisis of Europe’, triggered by market and governance dysfunctionalities (summarized as the Euro crisis), represents a ‘critical moment’ in the evolution of a European society. This society so far does not offer much resistance to such critical moments which is due to its incapacity to form a demos capable of acting together. The existing European society – and this is the basic claim – is nothing but the sum of individuals living in ‘sub-European’ (mainly national) groups. The evolution triggered by this critical situation opens pathways to turn these peoples of Europe into something more than being a sum of peoples governed by supranational bureaucracies. To decipher such processes a model is presented using Hirschman’s idea of exit, voice and loyalty as mechanisms to generate social ties. Two points arise as crucial. The first is the observation that national societies which continue to provide foundational claims for people have turned into interest groups in the context of the European Union. This undermines not only the ontological nationalism still dominating the self-presentation of national societies in Europe, but it also offers evolutionary paths towards a society beyond national foundational claims in Europe. Yet it also provokes reactive processes such as the return to the self-contained nation (or even ethnic group). This is the core of the crisis of Europe. The systemic crises of the state and the market in Europe are speeding up an evolutionary process of people-making, the outcome of which could be either the regression to a people with foundational identities or to a people without foundational identities. The latter will be described as a postnational society, which would make an emerging European society the first really modern society.
The tourist gaze and “Family Treasure Trails” in museums
Authors: Larsen Jonas , Svabo Connie
Published: May 2014

Museums are largely neglected in the tourist research literature. This is even more striking given that they are arguably designed for gazing. There is little doubt that “graying” of the Western population adds to the number and range of museums. And yet, even in adult museums, there will be children who are “dragged along.” Museums are increasingly aware of such conflicts and dilemmas. Many museums offer printed booklets with “treasure trails.” They afford a trail through the museum that forms a treasure hunt for specific objects and correct answers to questions related to the objects. This article draws attention to this overlooked, mundane technology and gives it its deserved share of the limelight. We are concerned with exploring ethnographically how trails are designed and especially used by young families in museums for gazing. The article gives insight into how children, broadly speaking, learn to gaze within museums as well as small-scale negotiations and conflicts between families gazing. So we are concerned with how family trails affect the museum visit.
“Invest In Your Love”: Romantic desires, YouTube videos, and the online marketing of Tahiti
Authors: Kahn Miriam
Published: May 2014

In this article, I explore the relationship between evolving technologies of image production, different kinds of desire, and how Tahiti is marketed as a tourist destination. I focus the discussion on an award-winning online contest, “Invest In Your Love,” which Tahiti Tourisme North America launched to encourage tourism in the wake of the 2008 worldwide economic crisis. Little has changed over the centuries in the dominant Western image of Tahiti as an exotic paradise, although how that paradise is interpreted is influenced by personal and historical situations. What has changed, however, is that viewers can now manipulate the images to express their personal perceptions, dreams, and desires. By encouraging viewers to create their own image of paradise, and to engage in imaginary travel and self-transformation, the “Invest In Your Love” contest cleverly played with blurring boundaries between various categories as well as kinds of desire. This was seen not only between categories such as producer and consumer, here and there, and private dreams and public videos, but also between love and money, and professing love for one’s partner and love for a brand. I explore these contemporary trends and the entanglements between categories by bringing together ideas and perspectives from two fields not usually joined in conversation; namely, cultural anthropology, and brand marketing.
Local sensitivity to non-ignorability in joint models
Authors: Viviani Sara , Rizopoulos Dimitris , Alfó Marco
Published: May 2014

This article deals with the analysis of sensitivity to the non-ignorability of the dropout process in joint models (JMs). We investigate the behaviour of the maximum likelihood estimates for the longitudinal process in a neighbourhood of ignorability through the Index of Local Sensitivity to Non Ignorability (ISNI). Some concerns may arise since the ISNI is an absolute measure of change in parameter estimates induced by departures from the MAR assumption; for this reason, we introduce a relative index based on the ratio between the ISNI and a measure of its variability under the MAR assumption, highlighting potential interpretation and drawbacks of this approach. The local sensitivity of the JM and the performance of the relative index are discussed in a simulation study, by varying the number of repeated measurements per individual and the random effect covariance structure. The approach is also applied to a benchmark dataset on Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC).
Evaluation of the Organizational Cultural Competence of a Community Health Center
Authors: Cherner Rebecca , Olavarria Marcela , Young Marta , Aubry Tim , Marchant Christina
Published: May 2014

Cultural competence is an important component of client-centered care in health promotion and community health services, especially considering the changing demographics of North America. Although a number of tools for evaluating cultural competence have been developed, few studies have reported on the results of organizational cultural competence evaluations in health care or social services settings. This article aims to fill this gap by providing a description of a cultural competence evaluation of a community health center serving a diverse population. Data collection included reviewing documents, and surveying staff, management, and the Board of Directors. The organization fully met 28 of 53 standards of cultural competence, partially met 21 standards, and did not meet 2 standards, and 2 standards could not be assessed due to missing information. The advantages and lessons learned from this organizational cultural competence evaluation are discussed.
Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Health
Authors: Moya Eva M. , Chávez-Baray Silvia , Martinez Omar
Published: May 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV), which describes physical and/or sexual assault of a spouse or sexually intimate companion, is a common health care issue across the globe. However, existing health outcomes studies are limited. Additionally, no study to our knowledge has specifically focused on the relationship between IPV and sexual health among Latina immigrants in southwestern United States. Through the use of photovoice methodology and a community-based participatory research approach, we assessed these types of relationships drawing on data gathered from 22 Latina survivors of IPV and 20 community stakeholders in El Paso, Texas. Participants identified two major themes: the different expressions of domestic violence and the need for access to sexual and reproductive health services. Community stakeholders and participants identified practical and achievable recommendations and actions including the development of a promotora training program on IPV and sexual health. This assessment extends beyond HIV and STI risk behaviors and highlights disease prevention within a wellness and health promotion framework.
Religious Involvement and Health-Related Behaviors Among Black Seventh-Day Adventists in Canada
Authors: McKenzie Monica M. , Modeste Naomi N. , Marshak Helen Hopp , Wilson Colwick
Published: May 2014

Background. Most studies that involve Black Seventh-Day Adventists (SDAs) have been conducted in the United States. We sought to examine the association between religious involvement and lifestyle practices among Black SDAs in Canada. Method. A convenience sample of 509 Black SDA church members 18 years and older completed a self-administered questionnaire, assessing religious involvement and seven lifestyle practices promoted by the SDA church: diet, physical activity, water intake, exposure to sunlight, alcohol use, caffeine and tobacco use, and rest. Results. Compliance with lifestyle practices ranged from a low of 10% meeting fitness guidelines to a high of 99% abstaining from tobacco products. Religious involvement and lifestyle were positively related ( rs = .11, p < .05). Multivariate analyses indicated that private religious practice ( β = .16, p =.003), importance of the health principles ( β = .17, p = .003), and acceptance of health principles ( β = .65, p = .00001) significantly predicted the number of behaviors practiced. Conclusion. Greater religious involvement is associated with positive lifestyle practices but is not an independent predictor of lifestyle practices for Black Canadian SDAs.
Using Community Mapping to Understand Family Planning Behavior
Authors: White Darcy , Stephenson Rob
Published: May 2014

Traditional approaches to researching family planning in developing countries utilize surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, or some combination thereof. However, these methods are limited in their ability to measure community-level influences on family planning behavior. In this article, we assess the benefits of applying community mapping, a participatory research technique, to understand social and cultural influences on family planning in rural Ethiopia and Kenya. In gender-segregated focus groups, participants collaboratively created a map of their district or zone, which they subsequently used to anchor discussion of local supports, barriers, and targets for change. Qualitative analysis of the transcripts revealed that community mapping is a powerful tool with which to understand community-level factors that influence family planning. By facilitating reflection on and discussion of local assets and issues, the mapping exercise identifies relevant factors from the perspective of community members and defines priority points for intervention.
How Women Engage Homegrown Terrorism
Authors: González Alessandra L. , Freilich Joshua D. , Chermak Steven M.
Published: May 2014

U.S. Extremist Crime Database (ECDB) Study data of homicides by far-right extremists and arsons and bombings by environmental and animal rights extremists suggest that compared with men, relationships are catalysts for women’s involvement in domestic terrorism; recruitment and opportunity differ by ideology and are not always effective in victimizing their intended hate group. We suggest an inter-disciplinary approach that considers criminological principles of strain theory along with sociological emphasis on gendered social networks and the strength of weak ties.
An Exploratory Study of Trauma and Religious Factors in Predicting Drinking Outcomes in African American Sexual Assault Survivors
Authors: Adofoli Grace , Ullman Sarah E.
Published: May 2014

In this exploratory study, we examined the relationships between religious factors, trauma histories, and life satisfaction and alcohol-related outcomes in adult sexual assault survivors. A mail survey was administered to a community sample of African American survivors ( N = 836) in the Chicago metropolitan area. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that for non-religious women, interpersonal trauma was related to greater frequency of heavy drinking. For moderately religious women, interpersonal and contextual traumas were related to more frequent heavy drinking. For highly religious women, religious coping was related to less frequent heavy drinking. Implications are drawn for research and treatment of female survivors.