bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of a Patellar Realignment Brace on Patients with Patellar Subluxation and Dislocation
Authors: Muhle Claus , Brinkmann Gisbert , Skaf Abdalla , Heller Martin , Resnick Donald
Published: July 2017

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of a patellar realignment brace on patients with patellar subluxation or dislocation. Twenty-one patients (24 patellofemoral joints) with clinical evidence of patellar subluxation (N 16) or dislocation (N 5) were examined with the joint inside a positioning device to allow active-motion, kinematic magnetic resonance imaging. To analyze the patellar tracking pattern, the same imaging parameters (patellar tilt angle, bisect offset, and lateral patellar displacement) and section locations were used before and after application of a patellar realignment brace. No statistically significant differences were found in any of the three parameters for the patellofemoral relationships before or after wearing the patellar brace. The results indicated no stabilizing effect of the tested brace in patients with patellar subluxation or dislocation during active joint motion.
Risk Factors Associated With Alpine Skiing Injuries In Children
Authors: Goulet Claude , Régnier Guy , Grimard Guy , Valois Pierre , Villeneuve Paul
Published: July 2017

We investigated the relative contribution of four risk factors to the occurrence of injuries among alpine skiers aged 12 years and younger (3 to 12 years old; mean age, 9.43 years). The risk factors selected were deficient binding adjustment, absence of formal training, low skill level, and use of rented equipment. A group of injured skiers (N 41) and a control group of uninjured skiers (N 313) were recruited among young skiers at one major alpine ski center in the Québec City, Canada, area during the 1995 to 1996 season. No significant group differences were found for mean age or sex distribution. The adjusted odds ratios for injury were 7.54 (95% confidence interval [2.57, 22.15]) for skiers in the low level of skill category relative to highly skilled skiers, 7.14 (2.59, 19.87) for skiers who rented their ski equipment compared with skiers who owned their equipment, and 2.11 (1.02, 4.33) for skiers with ill-adjusted bindings compared with skiers with better-adjusted bindings. Only formal training did not meet the 0.05 significance level for entry into the model; this is probably because of methodologic limitations. Implications of these results for the development of a prevention program aimed at young skiers are discussed.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Incidence Among Male and Female Professional Alpine Skiers
Authors: Viola Randall W. , Steadman J. Richard , Mair Scott D. , Briggs Karen K. , Sterett William I.
Published: July 2017

A retrospective review of anterior cruciate ligament injuries among professional alpine skiers was performed to compare sex-related differences in injury incidence. We screened 7155 ski patrollers or instructors (4537 men and 2618 women) for knee injuries before each ski season between 1991 and 1997. Screening involved a ski history questionnaire, a knee injury history questionnaire, and a knee physical examination. Any patient with an equivocal Lachman or pivot shift test was evaluated by KT-1000 arthrometry and excluded from the study if the manual maximum side-to-side difference was 3 mm or more. Thus, the study population was limited to subjects with intact anterior cruciate ligaments. Skiers injured during the study were identified through mandatory workers' compensation claims. Each injured skier was reevaluated using an injury questionnaire and physical examination. The men skied an average of 110 days per year (499,070 skier-days) and the women skied an average of 87 days per year (227,766 skier-days). Thirty-one skiing-related anterior cruciate ligament injuries were diagnosed, 21 in men and 10 in women. The incidence of ACL disruption was 4.2 injuries per 100,000 skier-days in men and 4.4 injuries per 100,000 skier-days in women. These data suggest that the incidences of anterior cruciate ligament injuries among male and female professional alpine skiers are similar.
Children's Persistence with Methylphenidate Therapy: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Miller Anton R , Lalonde Christopher E , McGrail Kimberlyn M
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To examine persistence with methylphenidate (MPH) therapy among children and youth in the general population.

Method:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of longitudinally organized, individual-specific anonymous data from linked prescription and health databases covering the population of British Columbia for 1990 through 1996. No prescriptions being filled for 4 months indicated cessation of one bout of therapy.

Results:

Among 16 945 identified MPH patients aged 19 years or under, overall duration of therapy was 584 days, and the average number of prescriptions received was 6.6. One-third of patients received 2 or fewer prescriptions, while 18% followed a chronic, continuous course. Among patients receiving more than 2 prescriptions, 50% of discrete therapy bouts lasted 4 months or less, and one-third of cases had multiple bouts of therapy (range 2 to 6 bouts). Younger age (that is, children aged 0 to 8 years, vs those aged 10 to 19 years), male sex, and receipt of initial prescription from a psychiatrist were associated with greater persistence.

Conclusions:

Enormous variability in persistence with MPH therapy and often-occurring low rates of persistence raises questions about the diligence with which MPH patients are selected, prepared, and followed in the general population. Special attention to the needs of older children and to the needs of girls is required, and discontinuities during children's therapy courses require explication.
One-Year Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorder in Ontarians 15 to 64 Years of Age
Authors: Offord David R , Boyle Michael H , Campbell Dugal , Goering Paula , Lin Elizabeth , Wong Maria , Racine Yvonne A
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To present the one-year prevalence of 14 psychiatric disorders in a community sample of Ontarians aged 15 to 64 years.

Method:

Data on psychiatric disorders were collected on 9953 respondents using the University of Michigan revision of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (UM-CIDI). DSM-III-R criteria were used to define the psychiatric disorders.

Results:

Almost 1 in 5 Ontarians (18.6%) had one or more of the disorders measured in the survey. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, 1 in 4 was affected. The distribution of individual disorders varied by sex and age.

Conclusion:

Because of the immense burden of suffering associated with psychiatric disorders, clinical and research efforts in this area should receive high priority within the health budget.
Factors Affecting Medical Students' Selection of Canadian Psychiatric Residency Programs: Part II—Some Contemporary Issues
Authors: Leverette John , Massabki Albert , Peterson Heather
Published: July 2017

Objective:

The presence of a national cohort of trainees entering psychiatric residency allowed an assessment of contemporary factors influencing their particular program choices. Factors of specific interest included the effect on program choice of relationships with significant others and government attitudes to fiscal restraint, mental health care reform, and licensure.

Method:

A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 110 trainees identified in the 16 Canadian university departments of psychiatry who began training in July 1994.

Results:

While a committed relationship was a primary determinant of program choice, government policies attempting to influence patterns of care had little effect.

Conclusion:

A strong commitment to undergraduate teaching will improve the attractiveness of psychiatry as a career. This must include exposure of students to teachers who mentor practice patterns attuned to provincial mental health reforms, since government initiatives alone, developed to promote desired transitions in psychiatric care, will not influence training program choice.
The Application of the Boder Test of Reading-Spelling Patterns To the Assessment of Learning Disabilities in French Immersion Poor Readers
Authors: Wiss Corrinne A. , Burnett Wendy
Published: July 2017

The Boder Test of Reading-Spelling Patterns (Boder & Jarrico, 1982) is a widely used method for screening and defining reading problems at the level of the word. In order to apply this method in another language, in this case French, criteria for determining what constitutes a good phonetic equivalent for a misspelled word are required. It is essential to know which errors differentiate good and poor readers since errors that are commonly made by good readers are not diagnostic. This paper reports guidelines which have been developed by analyzing spelling errors in a sample of good and poor French immersion readers. These criteria for good phonetic equivalents can be applied, along with the method outlined in the Boder test manual, and used as an assessment tool for screening decoding and encoding problems in French immersion children. When used in conjunction with the English test, the assessment provides bilingual comparisons and guidelines for remedial programming.
A Transition Program Based on the Learning Characteristics of Grade 9 Students
Authors: Lynne Beal A.
Published: July 2017

This article describes a primary prevention program that was implemented for grade 9 students in a multicultural high school in Toronto. The goal of the program was to determine the learning styles of the grade 9 class as a whole and to encourage teachers to better meet students' needs in the regular classes. Students with needs that could not be met through the regular classroom curriculum were identified early and referred to resource staff in the school for secondary prevention programs. The learning styles of grade 9 students were determined through a group-administered learning styles inventory, writing samples, and estimates of students' academic skill levels provided by their grade 8 teachers. Teachers attempted to prevent students from failing by selecting materials and texts at suitable reading levels, providing remediation within the curriculum, teaching study skills, and reporting to parents. Inservice training was provided for teachers to enable them to use these primary prevention strategies in their classrooms.
External Validity of Attention Deficit Disorder without Hyperactivity: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Stewart Garth A.
Published: July 2017

The research evidence for the external validity of Attention Deficit Disorder without Hyperactivity as separate from Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity is examined. The history of the association between these two diagnoses is summarized, as is the clinical significance of examining this issue. Research on the behavioral characteristics, family history, psychiatric comorbidity, test performance, treatment response, physiological and neuroanatomical correlates of these two groups is reviewed. It is concluded that the evidence supporting the external validity of Attention Deficit Disorder without Hyperactivity as a distinct clinical entity is lacking, although psychophysiological research is emerging as a promising area of research in this regard.
Peer Counseling or Peer Support—There is a Difference
Authors: Carter Stephen P. , Janzen Henry L.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a peer helping program in a high school setting. Opinions were obtained from students, staff, peer support members, their parents, and their “clients.” A large sample was obtained for the general student survey (204 students, or 73% of the student population). The results validated the basic assumptions on which peer helping programs are founded, namely, that students most often seek out other students for help with problems and that students are thought to be capable of providing help for their peers. The results indicate that although students have confidence in one another for helping, few students said they would seek help with a problem from a peer counselor. It is thought that existing peer counseling programs are perhaps too small to adequately represent all peer groups within the school and that attempts should be made to expand membership in the program in order to reach more students. It was also indicated that students have greater confidence in a peer's ability for helping with school and relationship problems, whereas less confidence was shown for dealing with problems of a more serious nature such as suicide, death, and pregnancy. This point emphasizes the difference between peer counseling and “professional” counseling programs. It is proposed that for peer helping programs to grow the distinction between support and counseling become clear in the minds of those running the program and that alternate methods for program selection and training need to be explored.
Perfectionism and Job Stress in Teachers
Authors: Flett Gordon L. , Hewitt Paul L. , Hallett C. Jayne
Published: July 2017

The present research examined the association between dimensions of perfectionism and indices of job stress and perceptions of organizational support in teachers. A sample of 62 teachers completed measures of self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism as assessed by the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. In addition, subjects completed the Teacher Stress Inventory and the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Measures of job satisfaction, job expectancy, and absenteeism were also obtained. The results indicated a pervasive positive association between socially prescribed perfectionism and various indices of teacher stress, including the intensity and frequency of professional distress, emotional manifestations, and physiological manifestations. A significant association was also detected between socially prescribed perfectionism and low job satisfaction. Self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism dimensions were not correlated significantly with the measures of teacher stress. It is concluded that social expectations of perfectionism are highly relevant to an understanding of teacher stress. The results are discussed in terms of the practical implications of these data and directions for future research.
Childhood Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Schools
Authors: Motta Robert W.
Published: July 2017

There has been a growing research and clinical interest in children who meet the criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). An increase in family violence, violence in schools, and a variety of other stressors is suspected of leading to the characteristic PTSD symptoms of reexperiencing the trauma, psychological numbing, and increased states of arousal. School psychologists and other school personnel can be of benefit to children and parents by being made aware of the nature of this disorder and by actively coordinating assessments and interventions. Research on childhood PTSD is presented along with methods of assessment and a review of individual and group interventions. Suggestions are made regarding the school psychologist's role in actively coordinating services through outside agencies, in the school, and at home.
Validation of a WISC-III Short-Form for the Identification of Canadian Gifted Students
Authors: Mark Robert , Beal A. Lynne , Dumont Ron
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of scores obtained from the Dumont/Faro short-form in identifying children who score in the gifted range on the complete administration of the WISC-III. The findings showed that of the 29 children identified as gifted based on their WISC-III Full Scale scores, 20 children were correctly identified as gifted, and the 9 others were identified as potentially gifted, when the short-form was employed. Moreover, only 5 of the 129 children who were identified as not gifted according to their full Scale scores were misidentified as gifted according to the short-form. In general these results suggest that, because of the brief nature of the short-form, use of this form in place of the complete WISC-III administration could reduce, by nearly half, the amount of time normally devoted to screening for giftedness. Step-by-step recommendations for employing the short-form are provided
A Spatial Analysis of Criminal Effort: Auto Theft in Newark, New Jersey
Authors: Potchak Marissa C. , McGloin Jean M. , Zgoba Kristen M.
Published: July 2017

Advancements in mappingtec hnology have prompted researchers to focus on the environmental characteristics related to crime. The use of any analytical procedure, however, will be most informative when guided by a legitimate theory of crime causation. Accordingly, this article draws on insights from rational choice theory to examine the effect of criminal effort—operationalized as distance traveled to a criminal opportunity—on auto theft incidents in Newark, New Jersey, duringthe year 2000. Mappingsoftware (a) allowed the measurement of distance traveled between offender residences and points of theft and (b) provided a visual display of a multilayered opportunity structure. A final map combiningthese two key characteristics provided an exploratory analysis of criminal effort and its role in the criminal decision process.
Fighting Asses: British Procurement of Cypriot Mules and Their Condition and Treatment in Macedonia
Authors: Varnava Andrekos
Published: July 2017

This article explores how mules were procured in Cyprus for the Salonica campaign and how they were treated by Cypriot muleteers in the British army in Macedonia. Cyprus provides an ideal case since over 6,000 mules were recruited for the Salonica campaign, presenting a sizeable sample for analysis of recruitment strategies and practices. Equally, since over 12,000 Cypriot muleteers served in the British army in Salonica and later in Istanbul during and after the Great War (from July 1916 to April 1920), the focus on the treatment of mules by Cypriot muleteers offers a significant sample. This article contributes to the growing historiography on the role of equines and their treatment and condition in the Great War. It argues that Cypriot mules were procured in significant numbers and became important to British supply and logistics in Salonica. Cypriot muleteers treated their mules relatively well, and therefore mules in Salonica, although overworked, were generally in reasonable condition.
Doing Both Harm and Good: The Nature, Dynamics and Implications of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) Interventions in Odi, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Authors: Akinyoade Demola
Published: July 2017

The article examined the nature, dynamics and implications of the interactions of interventions and project contexts. It emphasised the centrality of the resources of interventions in driving the mutual, bi-directional impacts of both interventions and project context. Using a grounded theory (GT) research approach, the study investigated the interactions of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) interventions in Odi community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A peace and conflict impact theory that emerged offers eight concepts: resource-status of intervention, black hole of interactions (Bhis), likely deprivation, malevolent charity–beggar relationship, oppressiveness and divisiveness of intervention, local capacities for peace (LCP) and federal government presence as a theoretical explanation of the phenomena. It argues that the resource-status the interventions enjoy compels competition from actors at various levels, in a socio-political and cultural space characterised by bad governance and endemic corruption. The competition begins with shady deals among influential actors as they appropriate the resources, constituting Bhis. The combined effects of the resource-status of intervention, Bhis and bad governance and endemic corruption provide sufficient conditions for spirals of negative impacts—likely deprivation, the malevolent charity–beggar relationship, oppressiveness and divisiveness of intervention—down the intervention programming stages. Thus, the potential positive impacts of the interventions are significantly reduced. However, the LCP and federal government presence that the interventions represent cushion the effect of the negative impacts.
Riding with the Devils: China’s Role in the Cambodian and Sri Lankan Conflicts
Authors: Hein Patrick
Published: July 2017

Cambodia and Sri Lanka are two tiny states where China has no major strategic stakes. Yet China has been a key regime ally to both regimes at a critical moment during the alleged genocides of 1975–1979 in Cambodia and of 2009 in Sri Lanka. While the failure of Western interventionist peace-building models has been widely discussed, the patterns and outcomes of Chinese non-intervention have not. How did China’s scrupulous respect for non-intervention affect the alleged genocides? The article supports the viewpoint that Chinese non-interference in both states was built on the notion that the building of an independent nation was a top priority in securing sovereignty, order and unity. Hence, China focused on bilateral military aid and economic development, whilst shielding both governments from external scrutiny and international accountability during and after the alleged genocides. China has since made efforts to address and resolve national conflicts through concerted United Nations (UN) procedures and mechanisms.
Soviet Union: Archie Brown and Michael Kaser Eds.: The Soviet Union Since the Fall of Khrushchev, (Second edition), Macmillan, 1978, xiv, 351p., £ 4.95.
Authors: Mukerjee Hiren
Published: July 2017

SOVIET UNION: TARIQ ALI: Inside the Revolution: 1968 and After, Radha Krishna, 1978, xxxv, 218p., Rs. 35.
Micro-Dependency: The Cuban Factor in Southern Africa
Authors: Mazrui Ali A.
Published: July 2017

We accept the proposition that the worst kind of dependency lies in North-South interaction. But emphasizing this dimension should not go to the extent of ignoring other dimensions. It is simply not true that all forms of international dependency concern interactions between the Northern Hemisphere and the South, or between industrialism and sources of raw materials. There are important forms of dependency among industrialized nations themselves. Increasingly, there are also forms of dependency between one country in the Third World and another; or between one region of the Third World and another. Dependency is a form of political castration.

For the purposes of this essay, dependency between one country in the Northern Hemisphere and another or between one industrialized state and another, is categorized as macro-dependency. This involves variations in power within the upper stratum of the world system. Macro-dependency is thus upper-horizontal, involving variations in affluence among the affluent, or degree of might among the mighty.

Micro-dependency for our purposes here concerns variations of technical development among the under-developed, or relative influence among the weak, or degrees of power among those that are basically exploited. The dependency of some West African countries upon Nigeria, or of some of the Gulf States upon Iran or Saudi Arabia, are cases of micro-dependency. We shall return to this level more fully later, but let us first begin with the phenomenon of macro-dependency.
The “Islamic Bomb” and India's National Security
Authors: Ray Aswini K.
Published: July 2017

The periodic “bomb” debate has again been launched in India, predictably, as always, spearheaded by a section of sophisticated military-strategists. As in the mid-sixties, this time again the debate has been triggered off by a strategic perception of external threat: earlier, as a fall-out of the Lop Nor explosion, and now of the anticipated “Islamic Bomb”. This paper attempts, firstly, to question the adequacy of the military-strategic approach to provide the basis for a viable concept of national security; it argues the case for the primacy of the political and economic component of any concept of national security for meaningful policy-prescriptions, especially for underdeveloped post-colonial societies. It also pleads for the importance of political and diplomatic responses to meet any such threats to India's national security as may be posed by the “Islamic Bomb.”
Political Economy of Western Aid to the Third World: A Structural Reinterpretation
Authors: Varshney Ashutosh
Published: July 2017

The problem of economic aid requires a comprehensive reassessment. Apart from the shortcomings of the existing studies, a few other developments, having their origins in the seventies, have made this imperative. Firstly, consequent upon the intensified theme of transfer of resources under the demand for a new international economic order and the increasing vulnerability of the international credit structure, the issue of aid has reentered the core of the development debate. The Brandt Commission Report as well as some other development documents have amply recognized this.1 Secondly, the discipline of international relations has witnessed a paradigm shift towards political economy,2 bringing along some new methodological insights which can be used to overcome the limitations of the available studies.3 Of the many such approaches offered,4 the structural approach has been found to be exceedingly useful particularly with regard to problems like trade, technology and private capital.5 Aid so far has escaped its application. This paper seeks to fill this gap by attempting a two-fold reconstruction, theoretical and empirical.
The Information Revolution: Issues of Transborder Data Flows
Authors: Mohan C. Raja , Mohan C. Vishnu
Published: July 2017

The international debate on information and communication became intense and acrimonious by the end of the 1970 s. The publication of the Macbride Commission Report in 1980 was the high water-mark in this debate.1 Throughout the 1970 s, the developing countries had been pressing for a new world order on information and communication as part of their struggle for a new international economic order. In the Third World, the public debate in general has been limited to issues of imbalances in the flow of international news dominated by the big four international news agencies (AP, Reuter, AFP and UPI), the efforts of the non-aligned countries to create a newspool, etc. However, the rapid strides in the field of microelectronics and its marriage to the developments in space technology has posed a number of intractable problems before the Third World, besides the issue of newsflow. The most important international fallout of the new developments in technology is the issue of transborder data flows (TDF).2 The international legal, political and economic implications of data flows across national frontiers are increasingly acquiring greater significance.
The Future of the American Party System
Authors: Gilmour C. Edwin
Published: July 2017

A central theme of contemporary literature on American political parties—a theme with a broad consensus that is uncommon in the discipline—is that the party system of the United States is in transition due to significant changes within the past two decades that distinguish the operation of today's party system from what it was before 1960. However, consensus is lacking as to the implications of these changes for the future status of the American party system.

This paper has four broad objectives: 1. to review briefly the phenomenon of party re-alignment in American history as a useful perspective on the present party era; 2. to identify and discuss significant alterations in the party system since 1960 ; 3. to note various scenarios in the literature concerning the future of the parly system in ‘the United States and 4. to hazard a personal assessment of the scenarios as to their plausibility and probability.
Super Powers and the Changing International System: A Third World Perspective
Authors: Jayaramu P.S.
Published: July 2017

In any analysis of the role that the Super Powers—the United States and the Soviet Union—would play in the international system in the 1980s and beyond, one has to be careful of the fact that the projections that can be made cannot bear the stamp of definitiveness and are therefore debateable. Consciousness of this limitation notwithstanding, this paper attempts such an analysis. It is the belief of this writer that any projection of the Super Powers' role in the future has its roots in an understanding of the role they played in the past and are playing at present.
Discovery of the Sea-Route to India
Authors: Prasad Amba
Published: July 2017

Vasco da Gama's name has figured in all history books, whether they relate to World, European,1 Asian or Indian history,2 as a great sailor and adventurer. He has been solely credited with the honour of having discovered the sea-route from Europe to India via the Cape of Good Hope. At the same time, the name of another great sailor—Ibn Majid—who actually piloted Vasco da Gama's ship from Malindi on the east coast of Africa to Calicut in India, has been ignored. His name has gone unnoticed due to several reasons. In the first place there is a general lack of information about his career and achievements. Secondly, the euro-centric approach sees all progress in history, science and art from the high pedestal built by the European scholars for Western civilization.3 And lastly, the Arab historians held back the true facts about Ibn Majid being the pilot of Vasco da Gama's ship. This article attempts to piece together the evidence collected from various sources in Europe, Africa and India.
Are Tsunami Survivors Satisfied with the Provision and Quality of Healthcare they Received?
Authors: Wickramasinghe WAKK , Widanapathirana NDW , Vijayabandara GDVD , Karunathilake IM
Published: July 2017

The objective of this study is to evaluate the perceptions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in tsunami relief camps on provision and quality of health care services, during the aftermath of the disaster. A randomly selected health administrative area in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka is selected. Two approaches using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study assessed the perceptions of IDPs regarding on provision and quality of health care facilities, using an interviewer administered questionnaire (survey) in 200 family units. In-depth interviews were conducted with IDPs and relevant health authorities. A majority (88%) of the people was satisfied with the immediate medical assistance. However 48% of IDPs and authorities felt that frequency of visits paid by medical teams have decreased over time. Fifty-three percent were dissatisfied with the toilet facilities provided. A majority was satisfied with health education (82%) and supply of drinking water (80%). Tsunami survivors felt that health services provided during the intermediate phase was unsatisfactory compared to the immediate phase. We recommend attention to ensuring ongoing access to health care and to improving the sanitary facilities in the camps. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(Special Issue): 35–39.
A Tsunami Related Tetanus Epidemic in Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Jeremijenko A , Mclaws ML , Kosasih H
Published: July 2017

In January 2005, a tetanus epidemic was discovered amongst survivors of the Boxing Day Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia. Our aim was to describe the extent of the tetanus outbreak in tsunami survivors admitted and describe the case outcomes from one hospital. All clinicians were instructed to report suspected cases to a centralised organisation using a standardised data collection tool. Active case finding was carried out by a trained team that visited hospital wards in Aceh. Of the 106 cases, 79% was above 25 years old (the median age was 40 years) and 62% was male. The mortality rate in Aceh was 19% and that of in follow up cases was 17%. Fifteen of the follow-up cases were admitted with severe tetanus associated with superficial wounds, three of whom had a history of immersion. Supplies to treat the tetanus cases in this epidemic were initially limited as disaster relief agencies were not prepared for the resultant tetanus epidemic. The mortality rate of 17%, was significantly less than was usual for tetanus in adults (>50%) and children (80%) in underdeveloped countries. To reduce mortality and morbidity, rapid disaster relief organisations should include supplies for vaccination and treatment of tetanus cases and consider early tracheotomy for severe cases. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(Special Issue): 40–44.
Human Rights and Mass Disaster: Lessons from the 2004 Tsunami1
Authors: Weinstein HM , Fletcher LE , Stover E
Published: July 2017

This paper describes the results of an investigation into how the December, 2004 tsunami and its aftermath affected the human rights of the survivors. Teams of researchers interviewed survivors, government officials, representatives of international and local non-governmental organisations, UN officials, the military, police, and other key informants in India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia, and Thailand. We also analysed newspaper articles, reports released by governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and private humanitarian aid groups, and we examined the laws and policies related to survivors’ welfare in the affected countries. We found worsening of prior human rights violations, inequities in aid distribution, lack of accountability and impunity, poor coordination of aid, lack of community participation in reconstruction, including coastal redevelopment. Corruption and pre-existing conflict negatively impact humanitarian interventions. We make recommendations to international agencies, states, and local health service providers. A human rights framework offers significant protection to survivors and should play a critical role in disaster response. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(Special Issue): 52–59.
Crisis into Opportunity: Setting up Community Mental Health Services in Post-Tsunami Aceh
Authors: Jones LM , Ghani HA , Mohanraj A , Morrison S , Smith P , Stube D , Gm J Asare
Published: July 2017

The Asian Tsunami killed more than 130,000 people and made 400,000 homeless in Aceh, an area in Indonesia already affected by over thirty years of conflict. This paper examines an approach taken by an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) to address emergency mental health and psychosocial needs in an integrated way, by providing a continuum of care incorporating psychosocial support for the wider community and clinical services for the more severely affected. The model included outreach to the indigenous system. Psychosocial activities were developed in partnership with the local communities. Community-based clinical mental health services were established by identifying and building locally-based capacity at the primary health care level, and potentially sustainable services were established in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. By December 2005, four hundred and eighty three patients had been seen. More than one third suffered from serious mental disorders that predated the Tsunami. Thus, crisis provided an opportunity to address longstanding community mental health needs. The lessons learned from this approach are also discussed. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(Special Issue): 60–68.
Santé et habitat : réflexion à propos d'une tentative d'approche multiple et sectorielle
Authors: De Spiegelaere Myriam
Published: July 2017

La nécessité d'une approche intersectorielle « santéhabitat » fait l'objet d'un consensus tant pour la population que pour les intervenants de terrain et les décideurs politiques. L'auteur analyse les processus d'articulation des différents secteurs impliqués dans six projets spécifiques santé/habitat, développés au niveau régional ou local dans la région de Bruxelles-Capitale. La question de l'intersectorialité se pose différemment au niveau local et régional. Elle se pose aussi très différemment selon le modèle conceptuel sous-jacent au projet. Trois modèles conceptuels, reflets des processus de connaissance et/ou d'intervention du secteur à l'initiative du projet, ont été identifiés. Chacun de ces modèles se caractérise par une délimitation spécifique des champs de la santé et de l'habitat et des articulations particulières entre ces champs et d'autres aspects de la vie. Le secteur initiateur d'un projet impose son modèle, sa logique et son expertise, ce qui entraîne des difficultés pour impliquer de manière active les autres secteurs concernés. L'articulation d'approches verticales, spécialisées, et d'approches généralistes ou globales se réduit trop souvent à l'intégration d'aspects spécialisés dans l'action généraliste. L'analyse des différents projets montre l'absence de prise en compte de la globalité et de la complexité des interactions entre les multiples aspects de la vie par les acteurs spécialistes, ici environnementaux, dans l'articulation avec d'autres secteurs. Enfin, le maintien dans le temps d'approches globales et multiples est hypothéqué par la non-reconnaissance et l'absence de financement des interventions portant sur de multiples aspects de la vie.
Evaluation of health promotion effectiveness: a political debate and/or a technical exercise?
Authors: Akerman Marco , Arroyo Hiram , Jones Catherine M. , O'Neill Michel , Roca Angel , Wallerstein Nina
Published: July 2017

This article summarizes the points of view of professionals from different nationalities, working in diverse organizations and dealing with concepts and activities related to health promotion effectiveness evaluation. This collection of views came from a panel presentation and dialogue held during the First Brazilian Seminar on Effectiveness in Health Promotion. Four professionals working in evaluation and health promotion - two from the United States, one from French Canada and another representing an international professional organization — facilitated by one Brazilian and one Puerto Rican moderator, had an informal dialogue with the audience. Four questions about how these professionals perceive evaluation in health promotion were asked to initiate the dialogue. The panelists deliberated five aspects of health promotion evaluation, asking: “how”, “how much”, “what for”, “with whom” and “why.” Professionals working in developing countries (in this case, Brazil) and those dealing with indigenous communities (in developed countries) tended to put more emphasis on “what for?”, “with whom?” and “why?” regarding initiatives to evaluate effectiveness of health promotion. Questions associated with “how?” and “how much?” were more often mentioned by professionals working for international or governmental agencies. A 90-minute dialogue among panelists with a clearly Brazilian bias, was not sufficient to produce conclusions on the predominant character of international evaluation efforts of effectiveness. Nevertheless, this debate framed the five aspects of evaluation into a value perspective. The questions, “what for?”, “with whom?”, “why?”, “how?” and “how much?” are linked to a political or technical presumptions that could be orchestrated in evaluations of health promotion effectiveness. (Promotion & Education, 2007, Supplement (1): pp13-15)
Flexible Work Options within the Organisational System
Authors: Albion Majella J. , Chee Munli
Published: July 2017

The availability of flexible work options provides an opportunity for individuals to shape their careers in order to optimise their work and life goals. This study takes a systems theory approach to examine how the use of flexible work options influences relationships and interactions in the workplace. The Flexible Work Options Questionnaire (Albion, 2004) and the Voice Climate Survey (Langford, 2002) were administered online to 108 employees (70 females, 38 males) from a chartered accounting firm in Australia. Results suggest positive outcomes for organisations providing support for the use of flexible work options for employees wanting to make career choices that balance the demands of work and non-work roles.
The Contribution of Barry Commoner to the Renewal of the Italian Left
Authors: Berlinguer Giovanni
Published: July 2017

Barry Commoner had a strong positive influence on the ideas and policies of the Italian left since the 1970s. His books were translated, and he was frequently present in the environmental movement His criticism of the “Soviet model” found a favorable echo in the Italian Communist Party, whose autonomy had grown in the post-war period, and helped to include new ideas in its policy. Nowadays, left or center-left parties and alliances, often including “green” forces, lead the governments in thirteen out of fifteen countries belonging to the European Union, as a result of democratic elections. This is a result of both a strong tradition and of a renewal of strategies and programs to which Barry Commoner contributed with his ideas and his political courage.
Workers and Occupational Safety and Health Professionals: Developing the Relationship
Authors: Lax Michael B.
Published: July 2017

The occupational safety and health movement has been transformed from a struggle emphasizing workplace democracy to a de-politicized technical debate. Professionals involved in occupational safety and health (OSH) are continuously urged to keep “politics” out of their work. However, “politics,” defined as the participation in knowledge production and decision-making that profoundly affects working life, is inherent to the work of OSH professionals. These professionals function within specified roles largely created and shaped to meet the needs of the corporate class. In this context, there is a need for professionals who are explicitly allied to workers struggling for health and safety. However, there are powerful constraints to the development of this alliance, including professionals’ need for jobs, job security, and credibility. Additionally, many professionals seeking an alliance with workers remain under the sway of hegemonic myths that limit their ability to function as worker allies. These myths include non-recognition of class power and its effects on workplace health, a view of OSH as purely a technical issue, and a failure to recognize how OSH knowledge is shaped by its political/economic context. Ideas for developing an alternative praxis are offered.
The Role of Dornase Alfa in the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Cramer Gena W , Bosso John A , Maldonado Wanda T , Guévremont Chantal
Published: July 2017

Objective

To review the current utility and proper role of dornase alfa (recombinant human DNase or rhDNase), which has been approved for use in cystic fibrosis. Several aspects related to these issues are addressed including the drug's mechanism of action, administration and dosing, and clinical safety and efficacy. We also critically examine the agent's role in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and consider the controversies involved with its use.

data source

A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify pertinent literature, including review articles and clinical trials.

Study Selection

Studies examining the efficacy and safety of dornase alfa in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Data Extraction

Results from published, prospective, randomized trials are presented and critiqued.

Data Synthesis

Production of viscous respiratory secretions is a hallmark phenomenon of cystic fibrosis, leading to a variety of symptoms. Dornase alfa targets this symptom and decreases the viscosity of these secretions. Clinical trials have indicated a small but statistically significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. Enhancement in a patient's dyspnea and quality of life has varied between the trials, with few of the studies noting no statistically significant improvement. Adverse reactions are minimal and did not result in any patient withdrawals from the trials. A positive impact on infection rates, length of hospitalization, and need for intravenous antibiotic therapy was noted in one trial. However, reports of similar results have not yet been published, and thus the clinical significance or impact of this phenomenon is not fully understood. Moreover, results of more long-term use and in patients whose conditions are less stable have yet to undergo the scrutiny of peer/editorial review. Administration of the drug, which must be maintained continuously, is relatively expensive.

Conclusions

Dornase alfa appears to produce small but sustained improvements in lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis. It may also slow the progression of pulmonary disease. Infection rates appear to be reduced, which may well have important long-term consequences. However, evidence to date has not clarified the most appropriate use of dornase alfa in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Whether quality of life is affected in a meaningful and measurable way is yet to be clarified. A trial of the drug in patients with cystic fibrosis who have obvious lung disease is reasonable, but continued treatment should be based on clear clinical response. Therefore, questions about the drug's exact role in the overall management of cystic fibrosis remain to be answered. Although benefits received may not prove to be cost-effective, long-term effects on disease progression may well justify use of this agent.
Seniors Plan Senior Housing
Authors: Lang Carroll L.
Published: July 2017

Consistent with current thinking a building developer with his architect presented plans for a senior housing development to a group of senior citizens to obtain their approval. The group was so critical of the plans, their recommendations made such sense that the original plans were scrapped. A Housing Conference sought their recommendations. The housing needs requested by senior citizens were found to differ significantly from local building codes, HEW and HUD regulations.
Finding a Cinderella Fit for Females and other Neglected Persons
Authors: Middendorf Lorna
Published: July 2017

Some of the many elements influencing fit in the clothing system are examined in this paper. The general ways that government, industry and consumers have tried to achieve good fit in apparel are outlined. The goal of universal good fit probably will not be achieved with present resources. There is a clear and compelling need for an accurate, representative, and up-to-date measurement description of our population and for a rational, apparel-fit system.
Analyzing Training Device Effectiveness in Cases Where Test Data is Inconclusive
Authors: Klein George C. , Kane John J. , Chinn Althea A. , Jukes Angela O.
Published: July 2017

Budgetary and time constraints continue to turn the trainer toward the use of simulative devices in designing training programs. Sophisticated devices engineered to simulate often complex man-machine interfaces usually are major investments for the Government Agency or Corporation who use them. How can the user ensure that the device is, in fact, worth the investment? The obvious answer to the question is to conduct prototype testing using representative students to measure the degree of Training Transfer. Testing requires a further substantial investment, however, in terms of both time and money. In many cases, proper test data is just not available. Can device effectiveness be measured when marginal test data or no test data at all exists? The authors, through four successive Cost and Training Effectiveness Analyses commissioned by the United States Army, have attempted to make training effectiveness assessments in just such cases. Through the application of a behavioral predictive model known as TRAINVICE (Wheaton, 1976), they have been moderately successful in determining device utility in terms of potential training transfer. This paper specifically discusses the most recent study, that of the Ground/Vehicular Laser Locator Designator and its associated prototype trainer. The paper describes the test data available at the beginning of the study, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the TRAINVICE Model as applied in the study, and contributes some thoughts pertaining to the future directions that studies of this nature might take.
Defining Specific Behavioral Objectives a Commercial Vessel Simulator Training/Licensing Program
Authors: Gardenier John S. , Hammell Thomas J. , Mara Thomas D.
Published: July 2017

Defining specific behavioral objectives for ships master/pilot simulator training is difficult because the tasks involve largely decision-making rather than motor coordination.