bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Father and Adolescent Son Variables Related to Son's HIV Prevention
Authors: Glenn Betty L. , Demi Alice , Kimble Laura P.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fathers' influences and African American male adolescents' perceptions of self-efficacy to reduce high-risk sexual behavior. A convenience sample of 70 fathers was recruited from churches in a large metropolitan area in the South. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis indicated father-related factors and son-related factors were associated with 26.1% of the variance in son's self-efficacy to be abstinent. In the regression model greater son's perception of the communication of sexual standards and greater father's perception of his son's self-efficacy were significantly related to greater son's self-efficacy for abstinence. The second regression model with son's self-efficacy for safer sex as the criterion was not statistically significant. Data support the need for fathers to express confidence in their sons' ability to be abstinent or practice safer sex and to communicate with their sons regarding sexual issues and standards.
Women, disability, care: Good neighbours or uneasy bedfellows?
Authors: Beckett Clare
Published: July 2007

Disabled activists and feminist thinkers both lay claim to ownership of `care'. To the disabled people's movement, care is a necessity on the road to equal rights and citizenship. To women, care relationships are premised in capitalist economic and family relationships and can be both oppressive, and, conversely, sources of personal identity claims. The two perspectives are different, and conflict. Oppositional claims are sited in practical resource giving decisions, and state resources have implications for the individuals concerned. Resource relationships between the state and individuals affect both practical help given and the location of the resourced group to the wider society. I argue that these claims are fundamentally oppositional and result in oppression. The relationship, when mediated by provision of care, inevitably becomes disempowering. Care provision is a function of a welfare state, and care policy will effectively empower one or other group. This oppressive dyad can be altered by fundamental re-assessment of disabled theorization and feminist action, carried through into state provision and reflecting feminist perspectives of ethical care.
Independence or protection – does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse of people with learning disabilities in Cornwall
Authors: Fyson Rachel , Kitson Deborah
Published: July 2007

This commentary will use recent events in Cornwall to highlight the ongoing abuse of adults with learning disabilities in England. It will critically explore how two parallel policy agendas — namely, the promotion of choice and independence for adults with learning disabilities and the development of adult protection policies — have failed to connect, thus allowing abuse to continue to flourish. It will be argued that the abuse of people with learning disabilities can only be minimized by policies that reflect an understanding that choice and independence must necessarily be mediated by effective adult protection measures. Such protection needs to include not only an appropriate regulatory framework, access to justice and well-qualified staff, but also a more critical and reflective approach to the current orthodoxy that promotes choice and independence as the only acceptable goals for any person with a learning disability.
Mumpsimus and the Mything of the Individualistic Entrepreneur
Authors: Drakopoulou Dodd Sarah , Anderson Alistair R.
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this article is to explore the persistence, in the face of considerable evidence to the contrary, of the notion that entrepreneurship is a purely individualistic practice. It may be that taking account of the dynamics of social conditioning, social interaction and the embedding process is simply too complex to be used as a heuristic; instead the convenient myth of the romantic of the heroic individual holds sway.The methodological issue of an under-socialized concept of entrepreneurship is considered, showing how methodological individualism could easily arise in explanations that risk employing contradictory levels of analysis and explanation.To conceive the entrepreneur as an atomistic and isolated agent of change is to ignore the milieu that supports, drives, produces and receives the entrepreneurial process.The entrepreneurial agent encounters the social, may be shaped by it, but in turn, employs his or her agency to change the structure.
Multidisciplinary perspectives of music therapy in adult palliative care
Authors: O'Kelly Julian , Koffman Jonathan
Published: July 2007

Background: Music therapy aims to provide holistic support to individuals through the sensitive use of music by trained clinicians. A recent growth in music therapy posts in UK palliative care units has occurred despite a paucity of rigorous research. Study aim: To explore the role of music therapy within multidisciplinary palliative care teams, and guide the future development of the discipline. Design: In-depth qualitative interviews with 20 multidisciplinary colleagues of music therapists, based in five UK hospices. Results : Analysis of interview material revealed a number of themes relevant to the study aims. Music therapy was valued by most interviewees; however there exists some lack of understanding of the role of the music therapist, particularly amongst nurses. Emotional, physical, social, environmental, creative and spiritual benefits of music therapy were described, with some benefits perceived as synergistic, arising from collaborations with other disciplines. Interviewees found experiencing or witnessing music therapy is effective in developing an understanding of the discipline. Conclusion: Music therapy is an appropriate therapeutic intervention for meeting the holistic needs of palliative care service users. More understanding and integration of music therapy could be encouraged with collaborative work, educational workshops, and the utilization of environmentally focused techniques. The study merits further research to explore and develop these findings. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 235—241
Sensitivity and specificity of a two-question screening tool for depression in a specialist palliative care unit
Authors: Payne Ann , Barry Sandra , Creedon Brian , Stone Carol , Sweeney Catherine , O' Brien Tony , O' Sullivan Kathleen
Published: July 2007

Objectives: The primary objective in this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a two-item screening interview for depression versus the formal psychiatric interview, in the setting of a specialist palliative in-patient unit so that we may identify those individuals suffering from depressive disorder and therefore optimise their management in this often-complex population. Methods: A prospective sample of consecutive admissions ( n = 167) consented to partake in the study, and the screening interview was asked separately to the formal psychiatric interview. Results: The two-item questionnaire, achieved a sensitivity of 90.7% (95% CI 76.9—97.0) but a lower specificity of 67.7% (95% CI 58.7—75.7). The false positive rate was 32.3% (95% CI 24.3—41.3), but the false negative rate was found to be a low 9.3% (95% CI 3.0—23.1). A subgroup analysis of individuals with a past experience of depressive illness, ( n = 95), revealed that a significant number screened positive for depression by the screening test, 55.2% (16/29) compared to those with no background history of depression, 33.3% (22/66) ( P = 0.045). Conclusion: The high sensitivity and low false negative rate of the two-question screening tool will aid health professionals in identifying depression in the in-patient specialist palliative care unit. Individuals, who admit to a previous experience of depressive illness, are more likely to respond positively to the two-item questionnaire than those who report no prior history of depressive illness ( P = 0.045). Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 193—198
Patient evaluation of end-of-life care
Authors: de Vogel-Voogt Elsbeth , van der Heide Agnes , van Leeuwen Anna F , Visser Adriaan , van der Rijt Carin CD , van der Maas Paul J
Published: July 2007

The Dutch health care system is characterized by a strong emphasis on primary care. To get insight into the strengths and gaps in end-of-life care in the Netherlands, data are needed about use and patient evaluation of end-of-life care. We assessed the experiences of patients with end-of-life care during the last months of life. We followed 128 patients with incurable lung, breast, ovarian, colorectal or prostate cancer. At inclusion they were interviewed personally at home. During follow-up, every 6 months, we asked them to fill out a questionnaire on the end-of-life care they had received. One-hundred of them died during the research period. Eighty-seven of the deceased patients were able to fill out a questionnaire in the last 6 months of their lives. They reported that, on average, 4.2 disciplines were involved in their care. Most patients indicated to be satisfied with the care offered by their caregivers. Problems in end-of-life care concerned communication, difficulties in coordination, accessibility of end-of-life care and responding quickly to acute problems. We conclude that comprehensive and interdisciplinary end-of-life care may address patients' needs, but that it simultaneously is a challenge to optimal communication among disciplines and between caregivers and the patient. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 243—248
“It's Not What I Expected”
Authors: Spencer Renée
Published: July 2007

Although estimates are that only about half of youth mentoring relationships established through formal programs last beyond a few months, almost no attention has been paid to understanding mentoring relationship failures. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 adult and 11 adolescent male and female participants in a community-based one-to-one mentoring program whose relationships ended early. Line-by-line coding and a narrative approach to a thematic analysis of the interview transcripts yielded six salient factors that contributed to the demise of these mentoring relationships: (a) mentor or protégé abandonment, (b) perceived lack of protégé motivation, (c) unfulfilled expectations, (d) deficiencies in mentor relational skills, including the inability to bridge cultural divides, (e) family interference, and (f) inadequate agency support.
The Identity Formation Experiences of Church-Attending Rural Adolescents
Authors: Good Marie , Willoughby Teena
Published: July 2007

The purpose of this study was to access adolescents' voices regarding the impact of religiosity on everyday experiences of identity construction. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 adolescents ages 15–19 living in a rural community; half were regular and committed members of a local church, and the other half never attended church. We wanted to differentiate between the responses that were primarily related to rural culture, and those that were related to religion. Clear differences emerged between the church group and the control group with regard to role models, turning points, career goals, family goals, and commitment to Christian values. Results suggest that differences between urban and rural adolescents in identity-related domains (i.e., career, family) may be a product of religious rather than geographical factors.
“They Be Doing Illegal Things”
Authors: Schaefer-McDaniel Nicole
Published: July 2007

Neighborhood research, the body of work examining how the built environment affects residents, has been actively pursued across the social sciences in the past decade. Within this work, researchers focus mainly on adult residents and rely on crude census reports to measure the neighborhood space. As there are many problems associated with census data, researchers are currently surveying residents about their perceptions of their neighborhoods. Since young people are not recognized in this research agenda, this paper describes a qualitative study with 10 early adolescents in New York City, aged 11 to 13 years, and their perceptions of their neighborhoods. Results from this study serve as a foundation for quantitative work exploring the relationship between different neighborhood measurements and their association to adolescents' health.
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): An Insight Into the Diagnostic Errors From a Tertiary Care University Hospital
Authors: Prashanth L.K. , Taly A.B. , Sinha S. , Ravi V.
Published: July 2007

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive disease caused by wild-type measles virus leading to premature death. Early diagnosis may help in medical interventions and counseling. The aim of this study was to ascertain diagnostic errors and their possible causes. Retrospective case record analysis of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, evaluated over a 10-year period, was performed. The following data were analyzed: initial symptoms and diagnosis, interval between onset of symptoms to diagnosis, and implications of delayed diagnosis. Among the 307 patients evaluated, initial diagnosis by various health care professionals was other than subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in 242 patients (78.8%). These included seizures, absence seizures, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Schilder's disease, cerebral palsy, hemiparkinsonism, Wilson's disease, vasculitis, spinocerebellar ataxia, motor neuron disease, nutritional amblyopia, tapetoretinal degeneration, catatonic schizophrenia, and malingering, among others. The interval between precise diagnosis and first reported symptom was 6.2 ± 11.3 months (range, 0.2-96 months; median, 3 months). Forty-four patients (14.3%) who had symptoms for more than 1 year before the precise diagnosis had a protracted course as compared to the rest of the cohort ( P = .0001). Early and accurate diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis needs a high index of suspicion.
Association Analysis of γ2 Subunit of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Type A Receptor and Voltage-gated Sodium Channel Type II α-polypeptide Gene Mutation in Southern Chinese Children With Febrile Seizures
Authors: Xiumin Wang  , Meichun Xu  , Lizhong Du
Published: July 2007

We attempted to identify the prevalence of the R188W mutation of the SCN2A gene and the K289M mutation and single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 of the GABRG2 gene in children of southern China who have febrile seizures. Neither mutation was found in our subjects. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 AA genotype was overrepresented in the febrile-seizures group compared with controls (62.4% vs 29.0%). The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 A allele was higher in the febrile-seizures group ( P < .005). Compared with the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 CC genotype, the odds ratio for developing febrile seizures in individuals with the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 AA genotype was 4.05 ( P < .005). A new mutation of C-to-T transition was found at nucleotide 81719 of the GABRG2 gene in a 5-year-old boy, suggesting that the above mutations may not be the main disease mutations. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 A allele may predict susceptibility to febrile seizures.
Neurological Manifestations of Folate Transport Defect: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Sofer Yael , Harel Liora , Sharkia Mohamad , Amir Jacob , Schoenfeld Tommy , Straussberg Rachel
Published: July 2007

Folate is essential for normal brain development. This report describes a 15-month-old boy who presented with generalized and focal seizures and a decline in mental status. Laboratory tests revealed low folate levels in blood (1.13 nmol/L) and cerebrospinal fluid, accompanied by pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration confirmed the presence of megaloblastic anemia. Treatment with high-dose intravenous folinic acid led to normalization of cerebrospinal folate levels. These findings apparently indicate a defect in folic acid transport to the central nervous system. A clinical picture of developmental arrest, seizures, somnolence, and megaloblastic anemia should alert physicians to the possibility of folate deficiency.
Correlates of Head Circumference Growth in Infants Later Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Mraz Krista D. , Green James , Dumont-Mathieu Thyde , Makin Sarah , Fein Deborah
Published: July 2007

Previous research has demonstrated that children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder show an abnormal acceleration of head growth during the first year of life. This study attempts to replicate these findings and to determine whether overgrowth is associated with clinical outcome. Measurements of head circumference, body length, and body weight taken during the first 2 years of life were obtained from a sample of 35 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and compared to both national normative data (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and a control group of 37 healthy infants. Results demonstrated that compared to national averages, infants who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder had a significantly smaller head circumference at birth to 2 weeks and a significantly larger head circumference by 10 to 14 months. Children with autism spectrum disorder were also significantly longer and heavier beginning at 1 to 2 months. However, when overall length and weight were controlled, head circumference was not bigger in the autistic spectrum disorder group compared to local controls. Correlations between head circumference and clinical outcome were significant for 5 of the 30 clinical variables that were run, suggesting that there appears to be no simple or straightforward relationship between head circumference and clinical outcome. Smaller head circumference at birth to 2 weeks was associated with a greater number of symptoms related to social impairment and a greater total number of autism spectrum disorder symptoms based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition criteria. Larger head circumference at 15 to 25 months was also associated with a greater number of symptoms of social impairment. In addition, greater head circumference change during the first 2 years was associated with poorer performance on the visual reception subtest of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and a smaller number of stereotyped and repetitive behaviors and interests based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. These findings support previous findings of accelerated brain growth during the first year of life in autism spectrum disorder and question whether growth factors might contribute to both accelerated brain growth and overall body growth.
Gestational Age at Preterm Birth in Relation to Corpus Callosum and General Cognitive Outcome in Adolescents
Authors: Narberhaus Ana , Segarra Dolors , Caldú Xavier , Giménez Monica , Junqué Carme , Pueyo Roser , Botet Francesc
Published: July 2007

Prematurity is associated with corpus callosum abnormalities and low general cognitive functioning. The present study explores the specific relationship between gestational age, corpus callosum, and intelligence quotient (IQ) in a sample of preterm-born adolescents. Sixty-four adolescents born at a gestational age of 36 weeks or less were divided into 4 groups attending to their gestational age (GA) (group 1, ≤ 27; group 2, 28-30; group 3, 31-33; group 4, 34-36). These individuals were compared with 53 adolescents born at term and of similar age, gender, and sociocultural status. Individuals born at a gestational age of 27 or less (group 1) presented a generalized corpus callosum reduction in the posterior part (posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium) as well as in the anterior part (anterior midbody and genu), a reduced total white-matter volume, and a low Full-Scale IQ. Group 2 (GA between 28 and 30) also showed a low IQ, but corpus callosum reduction was only found in the splenium, without total white-matter volume reductions. Group 3 (GA between 31 and 33) did not present differences in corpus callosum size or a reduced total white- matter volume, but they showed a low Full-Scale IQ. Group 4 (GA between 34 and 36) did not show a smaller corpus callosum or a lower general cognitive performance. Specific significant correlations were found between corpus callosum subregions and gestational age. These results suggest the importance of gestational age in prematurity in relation to brain structural and functional outcome. Premature babies born at a gestational age of 27 weeks or less are the target group for long-term corpus callosum and white-matter anomalies and for a low IQ.
“How Much Brain Is Really Necessary?” A Case of Complex Cerebral Malformation and Its Clinical Course
Authors: Distelmaier Felix , Richter-Werkle Renate , Schaper Jörg , Messing-Juenger Martina , Mayatepek Ertan , Rosenbaum Thorsten
Published: July 2007

The clinical manifestations of cerebral malformations are complex and vary from mild retardation to massive disabilities. A review of the literature suggests that the developmental outcome in these patients depends on the extension, location, and combination of such anomalies. However, the authors present the encouraging clinical course of a girl with a complex cerebral malformation. Despite the severe imaging findings, at the present age of 34 months, the patient developed only a mild psychomotor retardation. This case illustrates that the morphological classification of cerebral malformations does not allow one to predict with certainty whether a child will develop impaired motor and/or higher cognitive functions.
Case Report: Seizures in a Child Caused by a Large Venous Angioma
Authors: Gümüs Ayten , Vefa Yildirim Selman , Kizilkiliç Osman , Cengiz Nurcan , Cemil Tuba
Published: July 2007

Cerebral venous angioma is a congenital anomaly of the medullary vein, the vessel that drains into the transparenchymal venous stem. This lesion is also referred to as a developmental venous anomaly. A few reports in the literature have documented developmental venous anomaly—related epilepsy, neurologic deficits, and intracranial hemorrhage. A 3-year-old boy was referred to our hospital after he sustained an afebrile, tonic-clonic, focal seizure of 15 minutes' duration that affected his right arm, leg, and eyebrow. Cerebral digital subtraction angiography showed a bilateral, large periventricular developmental venous anomaly. This report describes the clinical and radiologic findings for this large venous angioma that caused seizures in a child.
Congenital Myopathies in Israeli Families
Authors: Weiss Karin , Shapira Yehuda , Glick Benjamin , Lerman-Sagie Tally , Shahar Eli , Goez Helly , Kutai Miriam , Nevo Yoram
Published: July 2007

The clinical features of 37 patients from 32 Israeli families with congenital myopathies evaluated between 1983 and 2004 are described: 13 children were diagnosed with congenital fiber type disproportion, 10 had myotubular myopathy, 7 had nemaline myopathy, 5 had central core disease, 1 had actin myopathy, and 1 had multi-minicore disease. There were 7 families (22%) that had parental consanguinity, and 4 families (12%) had more than 1 patient with congenital myopathy. Of the patients, 31 (84%) presented with clinical symptoms before 4 months of age, and 6 children (16%) presented after 1 year of age. Thirteen children (35%) had a severe phenotype with chronic ventilatory dependence or mortality before the age of 11 years. Facial weakness was associated with a severe phenotype. There was a high rate of a severe clinical phenotype in patients with myotubular myopathy (60%) and in patients with nemaline myopathy (57%), whereas in patients with congenital fiber type disproportion and in patients with central core disease, the proportion of a severe phenotype was lower (23% and 0%, respectively).
Media, Civil Society, and the Rise of a Green Public Sphere in China
Authors: Yang Guobin , Calhoun Craig
Published: July 2007

Direct citizen voices are relatively absent from China's public arena and seldom influence government policymaking. In early 2004, however, public controversies surrounding dam building on the Nu River prompted the Chinese government to halt the proposed hydropower project. The occurrence of such public debates indicates the rise of a green public sphere of critical environmental discourse. Environmental nongovernmental organizations play a central role in producing this critical discourse. Mass media, the internet, and “alternative media” are the main channels of communication. The emergence of a green public sphere demonstrates the new dynamism of grass-roots political change.
Changes and Continuities in the Political Ecology of Popular Protest
Authors: Hung Ho-fung
Published: July 2007

This article will delve into the historical roots of Chinese environmentalism. A wave of recent research has unearthed numerous instances of Chinese state—society conflicts, as well as the ecological crisis precipitated by drastic population and commercial growth in 18th-century China. Based on a survey of protest events derived from archival sources, this contribution analyzes how the mounting ecological crisis and falling capacity of the Qing state in the 18th and 19th centuries generated changing forms of popular protests as responses to the “externalities of development.” It is found that when the Qing's regime capacity peaked in the early 18th century, most popular protests were peaceful and were resolved through compromises between officials and protesters. Amid the administrative breakdown in the 19th century, however, many protests escalated into violent confrontations, while others developed into “appeals to the capital” ( jingkong ), a litigation process that enabled local communities to seek the support of the central government in their struggle with predatory local officials. Remarkably, some repertoires and patterns of environmental protests in contemporary China can be traced back to the Qing times, which raises questions about whether today's environmental protests are completely novel, or whether certain continuities are inherent in the deep-seated tradition of state—society conflict and negotiation in China's late imperial history.
Perspectives of Time and Change
Authors: Ho Peter , Edmonds Richard Louis
Published: July 2007

China's burgeoning civil society has often been characterized as state-led or corporatist. However, these concepts fail to capture the current dynamics of Chinese social activism, as they cannot account for two of its critical features. First, the fact that the nature of Chinese state—society relations is not a matter of the former dictating the latter, but rather a kind of “negotiated symbiosis.” Second, the semiauthoritarian context necessitates that China's social activists develop a diffuse, and informal rather than formal, network of relations. This informal web of relations has yielded undeniable political as well as societal legitimacy. It is against this background that we put forward the concept of “embedded social activism.” Since its initial emergence, environmental activism has resourcefully adapted to, rather than opposed, the political conditions of its era. The hallmark, and in fact, the success of China's reforms lie in their strategy of incremental change. Therefore, we might view embedded environmentalism as a transient phase which is itself changing through time, a transitional feature of a burgeoning civil society in a semiauthoritarian context.
Social capital and health in European welfare regimes: a multilevel approach
Authors: Rostila Mikael
Published: July 2007

It has been suggested that welfare state characteristics are important for the creation of social trust and moreover that trust is related to health. However, the relationship between social capital and health has not previously been analysed from a welfare state perspective. This article therefore examines how welfare regimes, trust and self-rated health are related, primarily with multilevel logistic regressions. The findings suggest large variations in trust between European welfare regimes and a strong association between trust and health at population level. An association was also found between the post-socialist regime and individual health. This association persisted after adjustment for several confounders/mediators but turned non-significant after adjustment for contextual trust. This suggests that social trust might account for the association. The results further indicate that contexts with low trust, such as the post-socialist context, are somewhat more detrimental for the health of distrustful individuals. In overall terms, these findings suggest that contextual social trust could explain health differences between European welfare regimes.
Preferences or institutions? Work—family life opportunities in seven European countries
Authors: Kangas Olli , Rostgaard Tine
Published: July 2007

In her Work—Lifestyle Choices, Hakim argued that attitudinal factors like work—lifestyle preferences are more important than institutions or structures in explaining female employment. Our aim is to study whether we can substantiate Hakim's preference theory or whether we should lay more emphasis on institutional factors. We ask whether there are systematic differences in attitudes to work and family life as proposed by Hakim. To what extent do the attitudinal dimensions react to institutional variables such as day care and family leave possibilities? What are the relative roles of opinions on family life and working life and traditional sociological variables such as education, income and socio-economic status? How does a spouse's opinion affect women's choices (intra-family attitudinal consistency)? We utilize the International Social Survey Programme data from 2002 and combine it with indicators of the quality of child-care and parental-leave policies in Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Our findings suggest that opinions matter but they are constrained by opportunity structures which are not alike for all women across different countries; opportunities depend not only on structural factors but also on institutional factors, such as the availability of day care. In addition, the opinion of male partners seems to influence women's decisions about employment.
Outsourcing women's domestic labour: the Chèque Emploi-Service Universel in France
Authors: Windebank Jan
Published: July 2007

In France, the Chèque Emploi-Service Universel is the current policy tool with which the state subsidizes and supports the use of paid domestic services by households. Evaluations of this scheme and of its forerunners, the Chèque Emploi-Service and the Titre Emploi-Service , have been very positive both within France and at European Union level. This article questions this conclusion by assessing the extent to which the state-supported outsourcing of women's unpaid domestic labour helps to reduce the work—life conflict and time famine which they face. It demonstrates that the impact of these schemes is marginal both in terms of the range of households which benefit from them and in terms of the amount of relief gained by the women who purchase paid domestic services. Indeed, such schemes are shown to exacerbate the problem of the unequal gender division of domestic labour. This is because they reinforce the gender stereotyping surrounding domestic work by transferring it from more well-off to less well-off women. Consequently, the question of the redistribution of domestic tasks between men and women is side-stepped.
Deconstructing Dualisms: The Both/And Conceptual Orientation and its Variant Linguistic Form
Authors: Arner Jen , Falmagne Rachel Joffe
Published: July 2007

This article outlines the both/and conceptual orientation described by feminist sociologist Patricia Hill Collins and discusses the ways in which this orientation subverts and denies prevalent cultural dualisms. Three distinct characteristics of the both/and conceptual orientation are outlined: the preservation of distinctness between its aspects, the relative equivalence of weight granted to each, and the absence of tension between those aspects. A simpler linguistic variant is also introduced that does not necessarily entail these three important characteristics. Through examination of interview data, different uses and features of the both/and conceptual orientation are explored. Suggestions are made for the ways in which understanding this conceptual orientation can make visible sophisticated ways of reasoning that might otherwise be ignored or misinterpreted.
Improving the reliability of microprobe-based analyses of andesitic glasses for tephra correlation
Authors: Platz Thomas , Cronin Shane J. , Smith Ian E.M. , Turner Michael B. , Stewart Robert B.
Published: July 2007

Andesite tephras have not been used in tephrostratigraphic studies to the same extent as rhyolitic units because they are seen as being chemically more complex than the latter. They are particularly difficult to `fingerprint' owing to apparent heterogeneity in glass analyses from single andesitic layers. Using case study tephras from two andesite volcanoes in New Zealand, Mts Taranaki and Ruapehu, glass chemical heterogeneity is shown to be due predominantly to (1) differing particle types generated during closed-and open-vent phases of single eruption sequences, resulting in a broad range of glass compositions, and (2) contaminated glass microprobe analyses by various proportions of microlite phase(s). A simple evaluation procedure using least-squares mixing calculations is presented to classify glass data sets for hybrid analyses and to estimate the proportions of the main contaminant microlite phase. By employing particle morphology studies as well as the glass-analysis evaluation procedure, variations in andesitic glass compositions can be significantly reduced. Hence this approach shows promise for enabling the use of some andesitic tephras for tephrostratigraphic correlation. This may facilitate the addition of a new degree of resolution in tephrostratigraphic records.
Early-Holocene glacier fluctuations in Krundalen, south central Norway: palaeoglacier dynamics and palaeoclimate
Authors: Lukas Sven
Published: July 2007

Krundalen, a valley occupied by three eastern outlet glaciers of the Jostedalsbre ice cap, contains three groups of moraines, two of which are outside the dated neoglacial (`Little Ice Age', LIA) limits. Exposures in the outermost moraine ridge display three sedimentary units. Detailed sedimentological analyses reveal that the lower two units formed during a temporary stillstand of the ice margin inferred to have occurred because of a topographically controlled stabilization of the ice margin during glacier retreat following the Younger Dryas. A climatically controlled readvance during which the upper unit was deposited, partly eroding pre-existing sediments, followed. Continuation of this readvance led to the whole sequence being pushed up to form the present moraine. The sedimentological results including clast shape measurements imply a temperate glacier thermal regime at the time of moraine formation. The glacial palaeoenvironment was characterized by frequent oscillations and an abundant supply of glaciogenic sediment. The age of this landform can at present not be determined by numerical dating. However, the moraine is likely to have been formed in the early Holocene, during Jondal Event 2 (JE) from c. 10 550—10 450 cal. yr BP. The average equilibrium-line altitude lowering calculated for this event is c. 440 m, 340 m for the Erdalen Event 1 (EE, 10 100—10 050 cal. yr BP) moraines and c. 190 m for the LIA moraines farther upvalley. Precipitation calculated for these stages compared with present values is 160—175% (JE), 165—175% (EE) and 110% (LIA). Summer air temperatures were slightly higher than today's during the JE, much higher during the EE and are indistinguishable from present values during the LIA. The existence of a potential JE-equivalent and the extent of the EE are reported and used for glacier reconstruction for the first time in Krundalen. The sedimentological data implies that the JE did not simply consist of a single readvance but was more complex. It is argued that glacial sedimentology linked with methods of glacier reconstruction provides a powerful tool to gain insights into the dynamics and functioning of formerly glaciated areas.
Holocene sea-level change in the Severn Estuary, southwest England: a diatom-based sea-level transfer function for macrotidal settings
Authors: Hill Thomas C.B. , Woodland Wendy A. , Spencer Chris D. , Marriott Susan B.
Published: July 2007

The recent growth in the use of microfossil-based transfer functions in late-Quaternary sea-level reconstructions reflects their potential to accurately quantify palaeo sea-level changes. This study details the development of a diatom-based sea-level transfer function for the Severn Estuary, southwest England, a macrotidal setting that experiences the second highest tidal range in the world. This setting presents difficulties in representing the full tidal range from mean sea level (MSL) to highest astronomical tide (HAT). However, two separate transects were merged successfully and a statistically significant relationship between contemporary diatom assemblages and altitude (m O.D.) was established. A diatom-based transfer function for palaeoaltitude was developed using weighted averaging (WA), tolerance downweighted weighted averaging (WA-Tol) and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS). WA-Tol produced the lowest prediction errors for altitude and the transfer function was applied to a fossil diatom data set from Gordano Valley, a site adjacent to the Severn Estuary.
Holocene environmental changes in the Gallocanta lacustrine basin, Iberian Range, NE Spain
Authors: Luzón A. , Pérez A. , Mayayo M.J. , Soria A.R. , Sánchez Goñi M.F. , Roc A.C.
Published: July 2007

The sedimentological and palynological study of the Gallocanta lake sediments, in the NE of Spain, has allowed the Holocene environmental evolution of this lacustrine basin to be established, and several changes in the hydrological balance to be interpreted. The chronology of the sequence is based on new radiocarbon datings and 210Pb radiometric techniques. Ten facies have been characterized, which have been grouped into five sedimentary units: two (Units A and B) are interpreted as deposited in alluvial areas, and three (Units C, D and E) in lacustrine environments. Moreover five pollen zones have been established for this succession. From the stratigraphic correlation of the cores extracted in this lake, three stages in the basin evolution have been interpreted. Stage 1 was characterized by a broad development of alluvial fans during the Fullglacial or Lateglacial times. The sediments of this stage are lacking in pollen as they were exposed for most of the time. Stage 2 started around 10 100 yr BP and is characterized by the establishment of a brackish lake linked to a decrease in alluvial supplies and a more positive water balance. The maximum lake level would have been reached around 8010 yr BP coinciding with the relatively moist period of the beginning of the Holocene recorded in some Spanish lakes, although this dating would not match that of other areas of the Iberian Peninsula, in which the maximum lake levels have been recorded around 6000 yr BP. A sharp decrease in the lacustrine level has been registered at 3405 yr BP, which may be correlated to a change to more arid conditions. Nevertheless, the lake level recovered later. Stage 3 was linked to the development of an ephemeral shallow lake. An age of AD 1840 yr has been calculated for this palaeogeographical change. The data obtained suggest that the main vegetation changes during stage 2 were more related to climate variability, whereas during stage 3 the anthropogenic impact became more significant.
Century-scale Holocene processes as a source of natural selection pressure in human evolution: Holocene climate and the Human Genome Project
Authors: Smith Alison J.
Published: July 2007

As a result of research arising from the Human Genome Project, discovery of extremely recent evolutionary changes in the human genome show that positive selection pressure has occurred during the Holocene. Statistically estimated ages and confidence intervals are available for a number of these Holocene-age changes to the human genome. When these genetic age estimates are compared with independent dates from palaeoenvironmental and archaeological records, certain periods stand out as significant times for rapid human evolution, in concert with shifts in climate and environment. These coincident changes suggest that century-scale processes, including abrupt climate change, are a source of natural selection pressure on the human genome. Holocene researchers are uniquely placed to identify and constrain palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental sources of natural selection pressure on the human genome during the past 10 000 years. The Holocene palaeoclimatic, palaeoenvironmental and archaeological records are of key importance in fine-tuning the geneticists' confidence intervals for the observed changes in the human genome because they provide dating methods quite independent of the methodologies used in genetics. This latest information from the Human Genome Project opens a new avenue in Holocene research that will require a more interactive approach to the problem of how humans and the environment impact each other.
An Intergenerational Approach to Understanding Taiwanese American Adolescent Girls' and Their Mothers' Perceptions About Sexual Health
Authors: Kao Tsui-Sui Annie , Guthrie Barbara , Loveland-Cherry Carol
Published: July 2007

Taiwan-born mothers' perceptions of sexual health affect their Taiwanese American girls' sexual perceptions. Taiwanese American girls grow up balancing two different cultural influences (Taiwanese and American) while living in the majority society. The process of balancing two different cultures is called bicultural straddling. Four separate focus group interviews with two sets of mothers and daughters ( N = 20) were conducted to understand intergenerational transmission of thoughts, perceptions, values, and attitudes associated with sex-related taboos and their impact on sexual communication, safety, and sexual health of second-generation Taiwanese American girls. The findings suggest that mother—daughter relationships, particularly mothers' traditional cultural values, influence their daughters' decision-making process. A secondary finding suggests that these girls tend to experience mental strain if they decide to go against their mothers' advice. Implications are that maternal involvement should be increased and further studies conducted to understand mother-daughter relationships, their pattern of sexual-related communicating, and expectations.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Authors: Leder Sharon , Grinstead Linda Nicholson , Torres Elisa
Published: July 2007

The major purpose of this study was to identify predictors of grandparent caregiver health status. Additional purposes were to describe the physical and emotional health of grandparent caregivers and the perceived benefits of support group attendance. A convenience sample of 42 grandparents was recruited from support groups. Data were collected through telephone interviews. Grandparents who had higher parenting stress reported lower levels of physical, social, and mental health. Inverse correlations were present between life stress and mental health. Positive correlations were found between social support and physical health. No pattern emerged in a comparison of the health of caregiving grandparents and a normative sample. Emotional support was the primary benefit derived from support group attendance. There were modest inverse associations between the length of time the child had lived with the grandparent and six of the eight indicators of grandparent health.
Dynamics and Stability of Variable-pitch Milling
Authors: Olgac Nejat , Sipahi Rifat
Published: July 2007

The occurrence of the regenerative chatter phenomenon in the milling process is studied for cutters with non-uniform distribution (called variable-pitch cutters). The dynamic model of the process is developed and is evaluated from stability point of view. The mathematical characterization of the problem falls within a general class of delay differential equations (DDE) with multiple and rationally independent delays. The contribution of this paper is in the adoption of a mathematically novel and very recent paradigm to determine analytically the bounds of the stable versus unstable chatter. The novel paradigm is called the Cluster Treatment of Characteristic Roots, CTCR. The end result of CTCR provides a powerful tool to determine two important aspects of the process: (i) the pitch angle formation (i.e. the geometry) of the tool; (ii) the optimum cutting conditions (i.e. the depth of cut and the spindle speeds). This means that some process parameters as well as design features are considered via this procedure towards a consolidated optimization procedure. A set of case studies is also presented to demonstrate these capabilities.
Periodic Isolator Design Enhancement via Vibration Confinement through Eigenvector Assignment and Piezoelectric Circuitry
Authors: Wu T.Y. , Wang K.W.
Published: July 2007

The objective of this research is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing eigenvector assignment and piezoelectric circuitry for enhancing vibration isolation performance of periodic isolators. For a classical periodic structure, stop bands are created due to material discontinuity so that wave propagation of external excitation can be suppressed within the stop band frequency range. While effective, such a method cannot always create wide enough stop bands such that all disturbance frequencies are covered. In this study, the eigenvector assignment technique and piezoelectric circuitry are utilized to reduce the transmissibility of the isolator modes near the boundary of the stop bands, and therefore widen the effective frequency range of vibration suppression of the periodic isolator. The principle of eigenvector assignment is to alter the mode shapes of the system so that the modal components corresponding to the concerned coordinates are as small as possible. By applying the eigenvector assignment method on the spatially tailored periodic isolator structure, the response amplitude of the attenuated end (the end of the isolator designed to have small vibration) at resonant frequencies near the stop band can be reduced, which enhances the vibration isolation performance in the frequency range of interest. On the other hand, piezoelectric circuits connecting to the isolator structure increase the degrees of freedom of the integrated system, and enlarge the design space for achievable eigenvectors. The eigenvectors of this integrated system are selected such that the modal energy in the concerned coordinates is minimized by using the Rayleigh Principle. The integrated system with assigned eigenvectors will re-distribute vibratory energy of the complete electromechanical system. Small vibration at the attenuated end of the isolator is achieved since the energy is confined in the circuitry and other parts of the isolator. Numerical simulations are performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method on vibration confinement for isolator designs. An integrated closed-loop system with state estimator is developed to realistically implement the proposed algorithm. It is shown that with the piezoelectric circuitry and eigenvector assignment, the system energy is redistributed and confined in the unconcerned regions, which can greatly enhance the performance of the vibration isolation system.