bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Trends in Research on Behavioral Development in the Federal Republic of Germany
Authors: Silbereisen Rainer K. , Schuhler Petra
Published: March 2006

The state and perspective of developmental psychology in the Federal Republic of Germany is analyzed with respect to (a) professional education, (b) resources for research, (c) actual fields of research, and (d) media of professional communication. Current trends of research were investigated by a combination of multi-category content analyses of national (and international) journal publications, and survey data with respect to research interests and planned studies of German developmentalists. Included among the main trends are: (a) an increasing emphasis on longitudinal studies, sometimes combined with short-term interventions; (b) a growing interest in studies representative of natural conditions; (c) although still relatively rare, some of the studies employ a developmental perspective not only for persons but also for relations between persons and changes in environmental factors; (d) areas of heaviest concentration are cognitive development, social as well as personality development, with a trend towards more molar concepts of action-regulating systems instead of small-range models; (e) a growing number of studies on youth and adolescence; (f) new efforts towards a systematic elaboration of the application perspectives of developmental psychology. Professional education as well as research in developmental psychology was highly influenced by a 6-year program from the Volkswagen foundation. As a result, one could observe an increase in quantity as well as an improvement in quality both of teaching and research. Two further steps are now being planned: (a) a post-graduate program, the first one in German psychology, will start in 1983; (b) further efforts to broaden symmetric international communication and cooperation will be undertaken.
Locus of Control as a Life-Span Developmental Process: Revision of the Construct
Authors: Steitz Jean A.
Published: March 2006

This paper critiques the theoretical foundation of the locus of control construct from a life-span developmental perspective. It is argued that the locus of control construct, as currently used, does not reflect a life-span developmental perspective due to its lack of congruence with basic principles of developmental interactionism. This incongruence is exemplified in three interrelated areas: (1) the meaning and representation of the "psychological situation", (2) the conceptualization and treatment of the time continuum (e.g. age), and (3) the nature and utilization of interactionism. Revision is advocated in order to increase the validity of the locus of control construct within a life-span developmental orientation. Revision is also advocated in order to increase the conceptual clarity of this popular yet elusive construct. The paper concludes with a discussion of suggested revisions which include a life-span concept of situations, the concept of qualitative changes in perceived control, and a transactional meaning to interactionism with a dialectic role for individuals.
The Advancement of Children's Verbal Referential Communication Skills: The Role of Metacognitive Guidance
Authors: Robinson E. J. , Robinson W. P.
Published: March 2006

36 children aged between 4-4 and 5-4 were assessed for both their understanding about the role of message ambiguity as a cause of communication failure, and their level of performance in verbal referential communication tasks. All children then took part in six half-hour sessions during which they practised listening and speaking in small groups, with the experimenter modelling appropriate behaviour on her turns. In addition, half the children received information about when and why listeners understood or failed to understand (metacognitive guidance) during the course of the sessions. Both groups improved in both performance and understanding in the immediate post-test and in a delayed post-test seven weeks later there was no sign of regression in understanding. The guidance group advanced more than the practice group in both performance and understanding (with the exception of those at the highest levels of understanding originally). Performance and understanding measures were significantly related to each other in the pre-test, and the relationship remained unchanged following intervention, with the exception of question-asking, which increased even among children who made no advances in understanding. The results were interpreted as suggesting that we can advance children's verbal communication skills not only by giving them information about communication, but also by treating them as though they understand that messages can be ambiguous and can cause communication failure.
Age as an Ambiguous Variable in Developmental Research: Some Epidemiological Considerations from Developmental Psychopathology
Authors: Rutter Michael
Published: March 2006

Intra-individual change in behaviour with age constitutes the essential element in developmental research but, unless age is broken down into its component parts, age is devoid of meaning. The issues involved are discussed from the perspective of epidemiology as applied to developmental psychopathology. Methodological concerns are discussed with respect to continuities and discontinuities in development (with special reference to the cumulative emergence of skills and variable consistency over the life span), secular trends, and the distinction between individual and groupaggregated age trends. The different components of chronological age are considered in terms of cognitive level, different types of biological maturity, and the duration of type of life experiences. The same components are discussed with respect to the issues involved in the study of differential effects of experiences according to their timing in the developmental sequence, and maturational delay.
A Critical Note on the Conception of Preconventional Morality: The Case of Stage 2 in Kohlberg's Theory
Authors: Keller Monika , Eckensberger Lutz H. , von Rosen Karin
Published: March 2006

In cross-cultural research the validity and universality of stages of preconventional reasoning in Kohlberg's theory of moral development has often been taken for granted, while in developmental research a growing bulk of evidence yields indications that the theoretical assumptions underlying preconventional morality may not be adequate to the data. In order to further clarify the problems raised by this research, data collected from Icelandic and German subjects about a Kohlberg dilemma were analysed. In order to probe the structure of stage 2 in particular, only those interview protocols were taken into account which were given stage 2 global scores in Kohlberg's Joe/Judy dilemma. Qualitative analyses of subjects' reasoning showed a substantial amount of arguments which could not be matched to criterion judgements in the standard scoring manual. Structurally these arguments could be interpreted in terms of stage 2 reasoning. With regard to content, however, they showed genuine normative and relationship concerns which do not fit the individualistic and instrumental exchange notion of stage 2. The findings evidence that there may be more variety in early moral reasoning than demonstrated by published research. An action-theoretical framework is proposed in order to achieve a reformulation of preconventional moral reasoning.
Transformations in Adolescents' Perceptions of Parents
Authors: Smollar Jacqueline , Youniss James
Published: March 2006

In this article, the connections between adolescents' perceptions of their relationships with parents and the concept of individuation are explored. Individuation is discussed with respect to its relevance for understanding the transformations that occur in parent-child relationships as the child moves through adolescence toward adulthood. It is proposed that individuation is a necessary process in the transition from childhood to adulthood since it allows the child to develop a self-identity that is separate from that of parents while at the same time to remain connected to parents as important sources of advice and psychological support. Some data are provided suggesting that the separation and connectedness that characterise the process of individuation are the product of a transformation in adolescents' perceptions of parents in which parents, who are seen in childhood as "allknowing" and "all powerful" beings are first de-idealised and then come to be appreciated as persons themselves. Finally, the value of the concept of individuation for understanding adolescence is proposed to lie in its focus on the child in the context of relationship with others rather than as a separate entity. This focus is seen as providing a basis for attending to the social context in the study of adolescence.
Social Functioning with Mother and Peers at 2 and 5 Years: The Influence of Attachment
Authors: Pierrehumbert Blaise , lannotti Ronald J. , Cummings E. Mark , Zahn-Waxler Carolyn
Published: March 2006

Patterns of social interactions and the relation of these patterns to quality of attachment to the mother were examined at 2 and 5 years. At 2 years, 49 children and their mothers were observed in three free-play sessions which included the child, his or her mother, and a familiar peer. At 5 years, 33 children returned for a fourth session of mother-child-peer. Analysis of the interactions within sessions indicated a "balanced" pattern in that interaction with one partner (mother) reduced opportunities for interaction with the other (peer). The quality of attachment to the mother at 2 years had an effect on social responsivity to both mother and peer; insecure attachment to the mother predicted decreased social responsivity to both mother and peer at 2 years. Mothers' patterns of social interactions with their children were examined in an effort to explain possible discontinuities in the relationship between attachment and responsivity. Implications for attachment theory and the assessment of attachment are discussed.
Responses to a Learning Task at 6 Months and I.Q. Test Performance During the Preschool Years
Authors: Farran Dale C. , Harber Lucy Ann
Published: March 2006

This research focused on 45 6-month-olds who were at risk for developmental delay due to poor socioeconomic circumstances, their responses to a learning task, and the subsequent prediction to performance on standardised tests during the preschool years. A rank classification for qualitative differences in learning proved preferable to a more complex behavioural count system. Task Rank was used to predict subsequent test performance on the Stanford Binet at 24, 36, and 48 months. Half the infants had been randomly assigned at birth to a day care intervention programme. Both Task Rank and the Bayley MDI at 6 months were good predictors of later test scores for the control group but not the day care intervention group. Responses to the learning task added significantly to the predictions obtained from the Bayley. These results suggest that tasks measured in infancy involving information processing in a novel situation are related to later functioning on standard assessment tests for children reared in less than optimal circumstances.
Hospitalization History and Differences in Self-Rated Pregnancy Risk
Authors: Gray Bobbe Ann
Published: March 2006

High-risk pregnancies affect a significant number of women each year. Limited information exists on how these women appraise the risk to their pregnancy. This descriptive study of expectant women who were medically categorized as high risk examined differences in women's self-appraisal of risk to themselves and their babies, based on hospitalization history, and differences among risk appraisals made by women and their health care providers. Women who were currently hospitalized had significantly lower self-appraised mother risk scores than both the women who were previously hospitalized and those never hospitalized. Women who were never hospitalized had significantly lower self-appraised baby risk scores than the women in both the currently and previously hospitalized groups. Women who were previously hospitalized scored highest on self-appraised risk to mother and risk to baby. Women reported significantly lower self-appraised risk to mother scores than their nurses.
Implementing the Research Budget
Authors: Rice Marti , Broome Marion E. , Habermann Barbara , Kang Duck-Hee , Davis Linda L.
Published: March 2006

Reworking a reduced budget after the award and monitoring and managing the budget once funds are received are critical to the success of a research project. Few resources are available to help principal investigators and research teams deal with these components of grant implementation. This article will address strategies and concerns related to the revision of the postaward budget and the implementation of the budget. Among the strategies discussed for the revision of the postaward budget are cost sharing, renegotiation with administration, and reallocation of funds. Also addressed are topics related to monitoring and managing the budget, including understanding budget guidelines, account management and documentation, tracking expenditures, and challenges in grant budget management.
Randomized Controlled Trial on Lifestyle Modification in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Cakir Hulya , Pinar Rukiye
Published: March 2006

The authors examined the effects of a comprehensive lifestyle modification intervention on blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients. A total of 70 participants were randomly placed into either a lifestyle intervention or a control group. Four education classes and individual counseling sessions were held for the intervention group. Participants in the control group were provided with routine outpatient services and were asked to maintain their usual lifestyle. Data were gathered at baseline and at the end of 6 months. At the end of 6 months, BP, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting lipids, apart from high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, significantly declined in the intervention group. Healthpromoting lifestyle scores of the intervention group had increased significantly compared to those of the control group. In conclusion, the results demonstrate the feasibility of comprehensive lifestyle modification and show its beneficial effects.
Perceived Parental Care and Supervision
Authors: Kiriakidis Stavros P.
Published: March 2006

This article focuses on the relations of two dimensions of perceived child-rearing practices, care and protection, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument and on cognitive representations of future offending in a sample of 152 young offenders. The relations of two different models, predictive of juvenile delinquency, are explored. Parental influences are thought to represent distal factors affecting juvenile delinquency, whereas cognitive representations, formulating the decisions of young offenders, are proximally related with juvenile delinquency. The focus of the research is the young offenders'intentions to reoffend, and it was found that intentions to reoffend in the future were predicted by attitudes toward offending and perceived behavioural control of future offending, whereas parental variables were redundant in predicting behavioural intentions of reoffending. Any effects of parental variables on behavioural intentions were mediated by the young offenders' attitudes toward offending.
The Terrorist Mind
Authors: Miller Laurence
Published: March 2006

Part I of this two-part article describes the major forms of domestic and foreign terrorism, the motivations of the perpetrators, and the psychological, social, and political forces that contribute to this most particular expression of violence. The article addresses the question of whether all terrorists are sick or evil and considers the possibility that some forms of terrorism, however odious their result, can be a rational response to a situation of perceived intolerable injustice. The article examines what motivates people to join terrorist groups and what may later move them to leave the terrorist lifestyle. Special consideration is given to the psychological and religious dynamics of suicide terrorism and what might motivate some people to give their lives for their cause. Finally, the article offers recommendations for a multipronged approach to dealing with this modern yet ageless scourge.
Meeting the Needs in Continuing Care of Facility-Based Residents Diagnosed With Dementia: Comparison of Ratings by Families, Direct Care Staff, and Other Staff
Authors: Milke Doris L. , Beck Charles H. M. , Danes Stefani
Published: March 2006

Effective facility-based continuing care of persons diagnosed with dementia requires trust and cooperation between the professional caregivers and the families of the residents. Miscommunications may affect many aspects of staff-family relationships. The knowledge and expectations of these groups, however, are typically quite different. The purpose of this study was to compare families, direct caregivers, and other staff and volunteers on their perception of the degree to which residents’ needs were being met. Although these groups agreed that the majority of needs were being met adequately, the groups did differ. Specifically, compared to families and other staff and volunteers, the direct caregivers were more critical of bedside care, their own professional training, and the work of others. Families, in contrast, were more critical of their loved ones’ limited opportunities for freedom of choice. The findings have value for the care of persons with dementia residing in care facilities.
Ageism: A Threat to “Aging Well” in the 21st Century
Authors: Angus Jocelyn , Reeve Patricia
Published: March 2006

At the beginning of the 21st century, the new mantra—“successful” and “resourceful” aging—is used interchangeably and intoned often unreflectively by a society eager to find ways to reduce aged-related losses. Yet despite numerous empirical studies and public health promotion strategies directed at ways of aging well, negative images of aging have an enduring vitality. This article examine sageism in a range of political, social, and cultural manifestos that have a productive role in encoding tacit assumptions and stereotypes about older people’s lives. Particular attention is given to the pervasive use of the concept of “dependency,” a stereotypic and productive ageist mechanism that continues to infiltrate what are arguably more inclusive strategies directed toward a global model of aging well. The authors explore some potential strategies to combat stereotypes and warn that aging well initiatives based on individualism and “self-responsibility” risk reproducing existing power relations that continue to inform ageist stereotypes.
The Perception of Depression in Long-Term-Care Residents: A Qualitative Study Using Residential Journaling
Authors: Pope Holly , Watkins Ken W. , Evans Alexandra E. , Hess Peg
Published: March 2006

Twenty-four residents in six assisted living facilities and one retirement community across three counties in South Carolina participated in a study to gain an understanding of older adults’ perception of depression in long-term-care (LTC) settings. Participants completed the Geriatric Depression Scale, Meaning Survey (MS), a journal, and a follow-up interview. Spiritual meaning regarding physical and mental health was self-reported from the MS. Five questions were included in the journals regarding emotional, physical, and social health. Results indicate that journaling may be an appropriate investigative tool for researchers, and LTC facilities’ efforts should be channeled to increase the availability and quality of mental health services to residents. Regular residential depression screenings, as well as the standardization of mental health care services within LTC facilities, should be an integral part of LTC.
Increasing Response Rates in Mail Surveys Without Increasing Error
Authors: Ziegler Stephen J.
Published: March 2006

Self-administered mail surveys remain one of the most common methods of collecting data in social science research. Not only are mail surveys cost-effective, they also enable researchers to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from elite policy makers as well as everyday citizens. However, no matter how well the research is designed or how interesting the questions are, it is all of little use if the population fails to respond. Accordingly, in an effort to increase response while decreasing the error associated with nonresponse, the following article argues for the careful integration of multiple contacts and endorsements when surveying elite policy makers. Such an approach is consistent with the Tailored Design Method and was used in a recent survey of chief prosecutors in four states. Response rates reached as high as 90% in one of the states, with an overall response rate of 76% across the four states.
This Isn’t CSI
Authors: Pratt Travis C. , Gaffney Michael J. , Lovrich Nicholas P. , Johnson Charles L.
Published: March 2006

The increasing application of forensic DNA analysis in the criminal justice system has led to considerable public debate. Such discussions typically center on either its use for identifying criminal offenders (and for exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted) or legal questions concerning the proper scope of DNA evidence collection. Currently missing from these debates is an accurate estimate of the national backlog of cases that might benefit from the application of forensic DNA analysis. The authors estimate this backlog using data gathered from a nationally representative sample of local law enforcement agencies and from the total population of both state and local crime laboratories. The authors document the primary barriers identified by these agencies to the expanded use of forensic DNA analysis in the processing of criminal cases. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications for the continued support of and increased access to forensic DNA testing by law enforcement agencies.
Political Culture and the Death Penalty
Authors: Fisher Patrick , Pratt Travis
Published: March 2006

Since the Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that the death penalty was not inherently unconstitutional, most states have adopted capital punishment statutes. Yet execution rates vary considerably from state to state. The objective of this work is to analyze the degree by which political culture is a determinant of states' implementation of capital punishment. This article finds that political culture, as measured by Daniel Elazar's prototype classifications of American political subcultures, is an important determinant of the adoption of death penalty statutes and the frequency of executions. Specifically, states that are characterized by a more traditionalistic political culture are more likely to have adopted a death penalty statute and to execute inmates more frequently. The link between political culture and the death penalty remains strong and stable even when controlling for a host of other factors that have been linked to the death penalty in prior research.
Mothers' Reentry into Family Life Following Incarceration
Authors: Arditti Joyce A. , Few April L.
Published: March 2006

The experiences of a group of mothers reentering the community after a period of incarceration are explored. The authors are particularly interested in how incarceration and subsequent reentry influence mothers' family relationships and primary risk and protective factors. Eighty-min interviews are conducted with 28 women probationers who had at least one minor child and had undergone incarceration at least 2 months prior to release. Descriptive analyses reveal that mental health risks characterize many mothers in this study, resource adequacy and parenting stress are significantly related, and family support is an important factor in successful reentry. It also appears that incarceration, even for short periods, is associated with shifts in family configuration on mothers' release by increasing the likelihood of divorce and decreasing the likelihood that mothers will reside with the father of at least one of their biological children. Implications for intervention and directions for future research are discussed.
Grounded Theory: An Exploration of Process and Procedure
Authors: Walker Diane , Myrick Florence
Published: March 2006

Grounded theory, as an evolving qualitative research method, is a product of its history as well as of its epistemology. Within the literature, there have been a number of discussions focusing on the differences between Glaser's (1978, 1992) and Strauss's (1987, 1990) versions of grounded theory. The purpose of this article is to add a level of depth and breadth to this discussion through specifically exploring the Glaser-Strauss debate by comparing the data analysis processes and procedures advocated by Glaser and by Strauss. To accomplish this task, the authors present the article in two sections. First, they provide relevant background information on grounded theory as a research method. Second, they pursue a more in-depth discussion of the positions of Glaser, using Glaser's work, and Strauss, using Strauss's and Strauss and Corbin's (1990) work, regarding the different phases of data analysis, specifically addressing the coding procedures, verification, and the issue of forcing versus emergence.
The Social Construction of Anemia in School Shelters for Indigenous Children in Mexico
Authors: Turnbull Bernardo , Martínez-Andrade Gloria , Klünder Miguel , Carranco Tania , Duque-López Ximena , Ramos-Hernández Rosa Isela , González-Unzaga Marco , Flores-Hernández Sergio , Martínez-Salgado Homero
Published: March 2006

Indigenous children in school shelters in Mexico suffer from anemia in spite of food that is subsidized, prepared, and served to them. Economically and biomedically centered strategies to reduce anemia have achieved only partial and short-term success. An interdisciplinary team investigated the food security system of the school shelters and collected data through interviews and participant observation. The analysis revealed that the children's nutrition depends on a frail chain of events in which a single link's failure can lead to nutritional insecurity. The authors conclude that the social actors involved in the process are mainly considering the economic aspects of nutrition, but anemia persists as a social construction of the faulty relationship between the institution that runs the shelters and the indigenous culture. The authors make suggestions for an intervention that empowers the community by involving it actively in solving the problem.
Illness Representations and Lived Experience in Early-Stage Dementia
Authors: Harman Guy , Clare Linda
Published: March 2006

The self-regulation model of illness behavior provides a framework for understanding how threats to self from chronic illness can be managed and proposes a significant role for illness representations. This framework can assist in illuminating the experience of developing dementia but has not previously been considered in this context. The authors conducted semistructured interviews with 9 people who had a diagnosis of early-stage dementia to explore illness representations and how these related to daily lived experience, using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Two overarching themes emerged: It will get worse, reflecting an understanding of dementia; and I want to be me, reflecting a desire to maintain sense of identity. Participants faced a number of personal and interpersonal dilemmas. The authors present a preliminary model of the way in which illness representations contribute to the lived experience of early-stage dementia
The Role of Neural Activity in Cortical Axon Branching
Authors: Uesaka Naofumi , Ruthazer Edward S. , Yamamoto Nobuhiko
Published: March 2006

Axonal branching is an important process for establishing the final pattern of connections between a neuron and its target cells. Cortical connections between upper-layer cells in the neocortex have provided insights into the cellular mechanisms by which electrical activity regulates neural connectivity, including branch formation. Recent evidence further indicates that spontaneous firing and synaptic transmission contribute to axonal branching of cortical neurons through postsynaptic activation.
Microtubule Transport in the Axon: Re-thinking a Potential Role for the Actin Cytoskeleton
Authors: Myers Kenneth A. , He Yan , Hasaka Thomas P. , Baas Peter W.
Published: March 2006

Microtubules are transported down the axon as short pieces by molecular motor proteins. One popular idea is that these microtubules are transported by forces generated against the actin cytoskeleton. The motor for such transport is thought to be cytoplasmic dynein. Here, the authors review this model and discuss recent studies that sought to test it. These studies suggest that the model is valid but incomplete. Microtubule transport is bidirectional and can utilize either actin filaments or longer microtubules as a substrate in the anterograde direction but only longer microtubules in the retrograde direction. Cytoplasmic dynein is one participating motor but not the only one. The authors speculate that the category of anterograde microtubule transport that involves actin filaments may have specialized functions. The relevant forces that transport short microtubules may also be crucial for the manner by which the longer immobile microtubules interact with actin filaments during events such as axonal retraction and growth cone turning.
The Primary Motor and Premotor Areas of the Human Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Chouinard Philippe A. , Paus Tomáš
Published: March 2006

Brodmann's cytoarchitectonic map of the human cortex designates area 4 as cortex in the anterior bank of the precentral sulcus and area 6 as cortex encompassing the precentral gyrus and the posterior portion of the superior frontal gyrus on both the lateral and medial surfaces of the brain. More than 70 years ago, Fulton proposed a functional distinction between these two areas, coining the terms primary motor areafor cortex in Brodmann area 4 and premotor areafor cortex in Brodmann area 6. The parcellation of the cortical motor system has subsequently become more complex. Several nonprimary motor areas have been identified in the brain of the macaque monkey, and associations between anatomy and function in the human brain are being tested continuously using brain mapping techniques. In the present review, the authors discuss the unique properties of the primary motor area (M1), the dorsal portion of the premotor cortex (PMd), and the ventral portion of the premotor cortex (PMv). They end this review by discussing how the premotor areas influence M1.
How Neurosecretory Vesicles Release Their Cargo
Authors: Scalettar Bethe A.
Published: March 2006

Neurons and related cell types often contain two major classes of neurosecretory vesicles, synaptic vesicles (SVs) and dense-core granules (DCGs), which store and release distinct cargo. SVs store and release classic neurotransmitters, which facilitate propagation of action potentials across the synaptic cleft, whereas DCGs transport, store, and release hormones, proteins, and neuropeptides, which facilitate neuronal survival, synaptic transmission, and learning. Over the past few years, there has been a major surge in our understanding of many of the key molecular mechanisms underlying cargo release from SVs and DCGs. This surge has been driven largely by the use of fluorescence microscopy (especially total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy) to visualize SVs or DCGs in living cells. This review highlights some of the recent insights into cargo release from neurosecretory vesicles provided by fluorescence microscopy, with emphasis on DCGs.
Young Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: Management in the Home
Authors: Holland Nancy J. , Northrop Dorothy E.
Published: March 2006

Multiple sclerosis (MS) strikes early in life and places heavy demands on the person with MS and his or her family—physically, emotionally, and financially. Comprehensive planning of home-based services, implemented by a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, is critical to management of the disease, prevention of complications, and promotion of optimal health and quality of life. Home-based services are an important strategy in cost containment, decreasing hospital admissions, and avoiding premature and expensive nursing home placement. This article describes MS and its management and explores the benefits of home services and coordination of care for people with MS within the framework of long-term care needs, clinical management of the disease, and caregiver and family issues.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Home Health as a Disease Management Strategy
Authors: Linden Ariel
Published: March 2006

Home health (HH) is considered by many to be complementary to existing disease management (DM) programs, or even suitable as a stand-alone DM intervention. The advantage is thought to be with the face-to-face interaction, in contrast to the standard DM telephonic interview. However, much of the literature appears to indicate that telecommunication is as successful as face-to-face contact (typically referred to as “usual care”) for administering health surveys, providing counseling, changing health behaviors, and monitoring physiologic functioning. Given the desire to expand into the area of DM, HH agencies will need to identify and demonstrate areas in which they have a clinical and competitive edge over traditional DM models. This article describes and provides examples of three research designs that may assist the HH industry in evaluating their effectiveness in delivering DM services: the randomized controlled trial, the regression-discontinuity design, and case-control matching on the propensity score.
Medical doctors and complementary and alternative medicine: the context of holistic practice
Authors: Winnick Terri A.
Published: March 2006

Consumers, health care financing, external and internal competition are factors identified in the medical literature as prompting change within medicine. I test these factors to determine if they also prompt regular doctors to define themselves as ‘holistic MDs’ and align themselves with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). State-level regression analyses on the number of MDs advertising in referral directories for CAM therapies find holistic practice a function of practice locale. The proportion of holistic MDs increases in states with an older population, where more patients survive despite serious disabilities, and where non-physician providers pose a competitive threat. Consumer demand, specialization and licensing do not significantly influence adoption of CAM treatments in these analyses. Health care financing has disparate effects. Indemnity insurance constrains holistic practice while HMO penetration enhances it. These results suggest that holistic practice may be an integral part of the regular profession's ongoing professionalization project.
Living with HIV and negotiating psychological discourse
Authors: Holt Martin , Stephenson Niamh
Published: March 2006

Since the introduction of antiretroviral drug treatments, there has been increased interest in the psychological aspects of living with HIV and a growth of related research and therapeutic literature. While there has been concern about the ‘remedicalization’ of HIV, there is apparently less concern about its ‘psychologization’. This article considers how the expansion of psychological discourse about HIV impacts on the lives of HIV-positive people in the era of contemporary treatments. Through analysis of group discussions with HIV-positive gay men, we examine how psychological strategies and terminology are adopted or reworked to cope with the uncertainties of living with HIV. We consider both the enabling and constraining effects of psychological modes of regulation, as they are taken up and reworked by HIV-positive people. Our analysis suggests a need for greater scrutiny of the ways in which psychological techniques are employed as solutions to the ambiguities of living with HIV.
The Representation of Taste Quality in the Mammalian Nervous System
Authors: Spector Alan C. , Travers Susan P.
Published: March 2006

The process by which the mammalian nervous system represents the features of a sapid stimulus that lead to a perception of taste quality has long been controversial. The labeled-line (sparse coding) view differs from the across-neuron pattern (ensemble) counterpoint in proposing that activity in a given class of neurons is necessary and sufficient to generate a specific taste perception. This article critically reviews molecular, electro-physiological, and behavioral findings that bear on the issue. In the peripheral gustatory system, the authors conclude that most qualities appear to be signaled by labeled lines; however, elements of both types of coding characterize signaling of sodium salts. Given the heterogeneity of neuronal tuning functions in the brain, the central coding mechanism is less clear. Both sparse coding and neuronal ensemble models remain viable possibilities. Furthermore, temporal patterns of discharge could contribute additional information. Ultimately, until specific classes of neurons can be selectively manipulated and perceptual consequences assessed, it will be difficult to go beyond mere correlation and conclusively discern the validity of these coding models.
The Perception of Motion in Chromatic Stimuli
Authors: Cropper Simon J. , Wuerger Sophie M.
Published: March 2006

The issue of whether there is a motion mechanism sensitive to purely chromatic stimuli has been pertinent for the past 30 or more years. The aim of this review is to examine why such different conclusions have been drawn in the literature and to reach some reconciliation. The review critically examines the behavioral evidence and concludes that there is a purely chromatic motion mechanism but that it is limited to the fovea. Examination of motion performance for chromatic and luminance stimuli provides convincing evidence that there are at least two different mechanisms for the two kinds of stimuli. The authors further argue that the chromatic mechanism may be at a particular disadvantage when the integration of multiple local motion signals is required. Finally, the authors present a descriptive model that may go some way toward explaining the reasons for the differences in collected data outlined in this article.
Auditory Processing in the Posterior Parietal Cortex
Authors: Cohen Yale E. , Russ Brian E. , Gifford Gordon W.
Published: March 2006

Goal-directed behavior can be characterized as a dynamic link between a sensory stimulus and a motor act. Neural correlates of many of the intermediate events of goal-directed behavior are found in the posterior parietal cortex. Although the parietal cortex’s role in guiding visual behaviors has received considerable attention, relatively little is known about its role in mediating auditory behaviors. Here, the authors review recent studies that have focused on how neurons in the lateral intraparietal area (area LIP) differentially process auditory and visual stimuli. These studies suggest that area LIP contains a modality-dependent representation that is highly dependent on behavioral context.
Carbocisteine inhibits rhinovirus infection in human tracheal epithelial cells
Authors: Yasuda H. , Yamaya M. , Sasaki T. , Inoue D. , Nakayama K. , Yamada M. , Asada M. , Yoshida M. , Suzuki T. , Nishimura H. , Sasaki H.
Published: March 2006

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a mucolytic drug, carbocisteine, on rhinovirus (RV) infection in the airways.

Human tracheal epithelial cells were infected with a major-group RV, RV14.

RV14 infection increased virus titres and the cytokine content of supernatants. Carbocisteine reduced supernatant virus titres, the amount of RV14 RNA in cells, cell susceptibility to RV infection and supernatant cytokine concentrations, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, after RV14 infection. Carbocisteine reduced the expression of mRNA encoding intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, the receptor for the major group of RVs. It also reduced the supernatant concentration of a soluble form of ICAM-1, the number and fluorescence intensity of acidic endosomes in the cells before RV infection, and nuclear factor-κB activation by RV14. Carbocisteine also reduced the supernatant virus titres of the minor group RV, RV2, although carbocisteine did not reduce the expression of mRNA encoding a low density lipoprotein receptor, the receptor for RV2.

These results suggest that carbocisteine inhibits rhinovirus 2 infection by blocking rhinovirus RNA entry into the endosomes, and inhibits rhinovirus 14 infection by the same mechanism as well as by reducing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels. Carbocisteine may modulate airway inflammation by reducing the production of cytokines in rhinovirus infection.
Religion and a rights-based approach to development
Authors: Tomalin Emma
Published: March 2006

This paper is concerned with the observation that rights-based approaches to development have tended to ignore the ways in which religion and culture shape understandings of human rights. Although religious traditions often act against the pursuit of human rights, there are also areas of overlap and consensus. The first part of the paper suggests that the absence of a research agenda within development studies on ‘religion and development’ has meant that a significant indigenous mechanism for pursuing rights has been overlooked. Drawing upon examples from India, the second part of my discussion then asks whether a language of social justice based upon the concept of duty is more appropriate than one based upon rights.
Functions of violence revisited: greed, pride and grievance in Sri Lanka’s civil war
Authors: Korf Benedikt
Published: March 2006

This paper revisits the rationalist conceptions of warlordism in civil wars, which has amounted into the greed hypothesis as opposed to grievance. This argument states that rebels are not motivated to generate public goods - the betterment of society - but seek private gain. Violence becomes a function to generate wealth. While initial studies focused on explaining why civil war breaks out in the first instance, there is now increasing interest in modelling violence and warlordism in ongoing civil war. In this paper, I sketch out and critically discuss the rationalist approaches in this so-called greed-grievance debate and will then concentrate on one particular aspect in the broader greed-grievance literature: the modelling of warlordism in ongoing civil warfare. A contextual model is suggested to explain the dynamics of violence in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict, which distinguishes extrinsic (‘greed’) and intrinsic (‘pride’) motivations.
Intracranial Pathology in Elders with Blunt Head Trauma
Authors: Rathlev Niels K. , Medzon Ron , Lowery Doug , Pollack Charles , Bracken Mark , Barest Glenn , Wolfson Allan B. , Hoffman Jerome R. , Mower William R.
Published: March 2006

Objectives:
To examine presentations and prevalence of head injury among elder victims of blunt trauma and to estimate the prevalence of occult injuries associated with a normal level of consciousness, absence of neurologic deficit, and no evidence of significant skull fracture.

Methods:
The study population consisted of all patients aged 65 years or older enrolled in the National Emergency X‐Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) II head injury cohort. The authors assessed the prevalence and patterns of intracranial injuries among this cohort and compared the prevalence of specific presenting signs and symptoms among injured and uninjured patients. An occult injury subcohort was also constructed, and injury prevalence was examined among this group.

Results:
A total of 1,934 elder patients were identified among the 13,326 subjects in NEXUS II (14.5%). Significant intracranial injury, defined as an injury that typically requires procedural intervention or is associated with persistent neurologic impairment or long‐term disability, was found in 178 elder patients (9.2%; 95% confidence interval = 8.0% to 10.6%) as compared with 697 individuals among 11,392 younger patients (6.1%; 95% confidence interval = 5.7% to 6.6%). Focal neurologic deficits were present in 55.8% of elder patients with injury. Prevalence of specific injuries among elder and younger patients, respectively, included the following: subdural hematoma, 4.4% and 2.4%; contusion, 4.0% and 3.2%; epidural hematoma, 0.5% and 1.0%; and depressed skull fracture, 0.2% and 0.5%. Forty‐two elder patients (2.2%) had an occult injury, compared with only 92 younger patients (0.8%).

Conclusions:
Elder patients with head trauma are at higher risk of developing a significant intracranial injury, including subdural and epidural hematoma. An occult presentation is also more common in elders.
Antibiotic Treatment of Acute Respiratory Infections in Acute Care Settings
Authors: Gonzales Ralph , Camargo Carlos A. , MacKenzie Thomas , Kersey Ayanna S. , Maselli Judith , Levin Sara K. , McCulloch Charles E. , Metlay Joshua P.
Published: March 2006

Objectives:
To examine the patterns of antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) in acute care settings.

Methods:
Chart reviews were performed retrospectively on a random sample of adult ARI visits to seven Veterans Affairs (VA) and seven non‐VA emergency departments (EDs) for the period of November 2003 to February 2004. Visits were limited to those discharged to home and those with primary diagnoses of antibiotic‐responsive (pneumonia, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis) and antibiotic‐nonresponsive conditions (acute bronchitis, nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection [URI]). Results are expressed as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results:
Of 2,270 ARI visits, 62% were for antibiotic‐nonresponsive diagnoses. Seventy‐two percent of acute bronchitis and 38% of URI visits were treated with antibiotics (p < 0.001). Stratified analyses show that antibiotic prescription rates were similar among attending‐only and housestaff‐associated visits for antibiotic‐responsive diagnoses (p = 0.11), and acute bronchitis (76% vs. 59%; p = 0.31). However, the antibiotic prescription rate for URIs was greater for attending‐only visits compared with housestaff‐associated visits (48% vs. 15%; p = 0.01). Antibiotic prescription rates for total ARIs varied between sites, ranging from 42% to 89%. Patient age, gender, race and ethnicity, smoking status, comorbidities, and clinical setting (VA vs. non‐VA) were not independently associated with antibiotic prescribing.

Conclusions:
Acute care settings are important targets for reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The mechanisms accounting for lower antibiotic prescription rates observed with housestaff‐associated visits merit further study.