bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reshaping marital power: How dual-career newlywed couples create equality in Singapore
Authors: Quek Karen Mui-Teng , Knudson-Martin Carmen
Published: June 2008

Movement toward gender equality occurs in incremental steps, but how such change occurs has not been well studied. A qualitative analysis of 20 heterosexual Singaporean couples identified the processes that equalize power within couple relationships. Results reveal that (i) prioritizing women's careers encourages men to change role expectations, take on household tasks, value wives' contributions and emotionally attend to them, and encourages women to seek influence, and (ii) the shift toward equality occurs within a gender structure where men retain the ultimate choice regarding power shifts and wives find ways to influence them. Though the shifts are gradual and partial, they constitute potential recalibrations of institutional gender hierarchy as new expectations flow between couple relationships and the larger social arena.
The Technological Culture of War
Authors: Pretorius Joelien
Published: June 2008

The article proceeds from the argument that war is a social institution and not a historical inevitability of human interaction, that is, war can be “unlearned.” This process involves deconstructing/dismantling war as an institution in society. An important step in this process is to understand the philosophical and cultural bases on which technology is employed as “tools” of war. The article focuses on such questions as, Is technology just viewed as instruments in the hand of its human masters in war? Does technology take on an autonomous role in war? How should we assess the impact of context (political, economic, and cultural) of technology when employed in war? By exploring these points, the article hopes to provide input into the discussion on the control of war technologies and ultimately the dismantling of war as an institution in society.
Why the Future Doesn't Come From Machines
Authors: Negrotti Massimo
Published: June 2008

Technological imagination and actual technological achievements have always been two very different things. Sudden and unpredictable events always seem to intervene between our visions regarding possible futures and the subsequent concrete realizations. Thus, our ideas and projects are continually being redirected. In the field of naturoids—that is, artificial systems designed to simulate certain features of natural ones—the above-mentioned tendency is particularly frequent and illuminating, giving all prophecies a flavor of fiction rather than of reliable technological forecast. The dream of reproducing complete natural systems—man included—by means of technological strategies clashes with the “nature” of artificial objects and also with that of natural exemplars. The only certainty is that the future will exhibit growing rates of variety and heterogeneity, and we cannot know, from our present standpoint, what this will imply for our species, or, at least, for our cultures.
Teaching Pretend Play to Children With Disabilities
Authors: Barton Erin E. , Wolery Mark
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze literature regarding interventions for promoting pretend play in children with disabilities. Sixteen studies were found using experimental designs to evaluate pretend play interventions with children with disabilities. The results were analyzed across the targeted pretense behaviors, participants, materials, settings, interventions, levels of prompting, and rigor of the studies. Interventions were moderately effective, although methodological limitations affected experimental rigor, the types of conclusions that could be drawn, and evidence for practice. Implications for future research emerged and are described.
Maltreated Infants
Authors: Scarborough Anita A. , McCrae Julie S.
Published: June 2008

National estimates of characteristics of maltreated infants and report of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) 54 months later are presented. The study was based on 1,196 infants from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Measures of neurodevelopment, language, and cognition were collected at baseline. In addition, measures of child behavior and social functioning were collected 54 months later. Caregiver mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, home environment, and aspects of maltreatment were examined. Nearly one third were reported to have an IFSP. Descriptors of maltreatment were associated with having an IFSP. Approximately 54 months later, 20% were reported to have an IEP. IEP was not related to maltreatment but was related to being male or having a caregiver with cognitive impairment. Having a caregiver with mental illness reduced the likelihood of having an IEP. Findings highlight the need to reconsider criterion for Part C referral.
Pathways Between Interparental Conflict and Adolescent Psychological Adjustment
Authors: Shelton Katherine H. , Harold Gordon T.
Published: June 2008

Using a three-wave longitudinal design, the present study examined adolescents' cognitive appraisals and coping strategies following exposure to interparental conflict and their long-term symptoms of emotional and behavioral distress. Participants were 252 adolescents (122 boys, 130 girls; ages 11 to 12 years in the 1st year of the study), their parents, and their teachers. Controlling for initial symptom levels (Time 1), the proposed theoretical model linked parent reports of interparental conflict at Time 1 (1999) to children's appraisals of self-blame and threat relating to marital conflict at Time 2 (2000) and their coping strategies as indexed by proactive mediation, avoidance, overinvolvement, and masking behavior at Time 3 (2001). Children's appraisals and coping strategies were in turn related to their internalizing symptoms and externalizing problems, assessed at Time 3. Gender differences were found whereby marital conflict exerted direct effects on boys' coping behavior, while for girls, effects were indirect through their self-blame and threat appraisals. Implications for interventions aimed at ameliorating the effects of interparental conflict on children are discussed.
Cross-National Invariance of Children's Temperament
Authors: Benson Nicholas , Oakland Thomas , Shermis Mark
Published: June 2008

Measurement of temperament is an important endeavor with international appeal; however, cross-national invariance (i.e., equivalence of test scores across countries as established by empirical comparisons) of temperament tests has not been established in published research. This study examines the cross-national invariance of school-aged children's temperament styles as measured by the Student Styles Questionnaire (SSQ). Development of the SSQ was based on Jung's theory of temperament as augmented by Myers and Briggs. A four bipolar dimension model provided an excellent fit for Australian, Chinese, Costa Rican, Philippine, United States, and Zimbabwean samples and modest fit for Gaza (Palestinian) and Nigerian samples. This study provides partial support for the conclusion that the structure of school-age children's temperament as measured by the SSQ transcends differences in languages and cultures.
State Government “Little Hatch Acts” in an Era of Civil Service Reform
Authors: Bowman James S. , West Jonathan P.
Published: June 2008

The defining characteristic of modern public service—insulation of civil servants from political manipulation and protection of the public from partisan administration of the law—is undergoing change as a result of contemporary civil service reform. It is in this context that “little” state Hatch Acts, laws modeled after the 1939 federal statute, are examined. This exploratory analysis reports survey and interview data from officials charged with implementing their state's law to gauge its effectiveness in today's reform era. After a review of the literature and a description of the methodology, the findings are presented, followed by a discussion of their implications for the future.
Broadbanding Trends in the States
Authors: Whalen Cortney , Guy Mary E.
Published: June 2008

The authors report on the adoption of broadbanding in state civil service systems. Twelve states use a full-scale broadband system, and four use it on a limited scale. Eighteen states have considered it and decided against adoption, and the remaining 16 have not considered it. States that adopted it did so because they wanted to reduce the number of job classifications and implement pay for performance. To learn more about the realities of a broadband system, the authors present an in-depth analysis of three states—South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida—each of which implemented broadbanding at least 7 years ago. Findings indicate that it does not achieve its promise because the related administrative changes that must accompany it—especially budgetary and managerial discretion—failed to be simultaneously implemented. The authors conclude that if broadbanding is to achieve its objectives, its implementation must be accompanied by simultaneous administrative reforms.
Benefits of Repeated Reading Intervention for Low-Achieving Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Students
Authors: Vadasy Patricia F. , Sanders Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2008

Many students have difficulty achieving reading fluency, and nearly half of fourth graders are not fluent readers in grade-level texts. Intensive and focused reading practice is recommended to help close the gap between students with poor fluency and their average reading peers. In this study, the Quick Reads fluency program was used as a supplemental fluency intervention for fourth and fifth graders with below-grade-level reading skills. Quick Reads prescribes a repeated reading procedure with short nonfiction texts written on grade-appropriate science and social science topics. Text characteristics are designed to promote word recognition skills. Students were randomly assigned to Quick Reads instruction that was implemented by trained paraeducator tutors with pairs of students for 30 minutes per day, 4 days per week, for 18 weeks. At posttest, Quick Reads students significantly outperformed classroom controls in vocabulary, word comprehension, and passage comprehension. Fluency rates for both treatment and control groups remained below grade level at posttest.
Perceptions of Transition Barriers, Practices, and Solutions in Florida
Authors: Lubbers Joyce H. , Repetto Jeanne B. , McGorray Susan P.
Published: June 2008

To determine teacher working knowledge of transition best practices, the Transition Programs and Services (T-PAS) survey was administered to 2,000 middle and high school teachers and 70 school district transition contacts. Three questions were asked: (a) What barriers exist that hinder the transition process? (b) What effective practices facilitate the transition process? and (c) What suggestions do you have for improvement of the transition process? Analysis of information from each of the questions resulted in the identification of the same categories, themes, and subthemes across documents. Results show a need to (a) investigate the role of preservice and inservice preparation of teachers, (b) identify structures that enhance a teacher's ability to facilitate transition processes, and (c) examine participation of students and other transition stakeholders in the activities crucial to transition planning.
When Teachers Work to Use Progress Monitoring Data to Inform Literacy Instruction
Authors: Roehrig Alysia D. , Duggar Staci Walton , Moats Louisa , Glover Marsha , Mincey Brian
Published: June 2008

The phenomenon of using progress monitoring data to inform literacy instruction was explored in the context of four schools during their 2nd year of Reading First implementation. Open-ended interviews and surveys from 10 teachers, purposefully selected for maximum variation in effectiveness and skills and resistance to using data to inform instruction, were primary data sources. Across schools, teachers reported varying levels of success with using data to inform instruction. A grounded theory model of how K-1 teachers worked with reading coaches to try to use data to inform instruction was developed through axial coding. The coach's role was to help teachers access and interpret data and make informed links to reading curricula. Perceived barriers to the practice of using the data included lack of time and classroom management difficulties.
Literacy for Students With Severe Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Browder Diane , Gibbs Susan , Ahlgrim-Delzell Lynn , Courtade Ginevra R. , Mraz Maryann , Flowers Claudia
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this article is to propose a conceptual foundation for early literacy instruction for students with severe developmental disabilities. The two primary outcomes in the conceptual model are (a) enhanced quality of life through shared literature and (b) increased independence as a reader. Guidelines are offered for promoting shared literature by increasing opportunities for accessing literature and teaching access skills to students. For increasing students’ independence as readers, recommendations are provided on teaching the components of reading outlined by the National Reading Panel. The proposed model will help develop guidance on the strategies for literacy instruction for students with severe developmental disabilities.
Processing Words Varying in Personal Familiarity (Based on Reading and Spelling) by Poor Readers and Age-Matched and Reading-Matched Controls
Authors: Corcos Evelyne , Willows Dale M.
Published: June 2008

To evaluate whether performance differences between good and poor readers relate to reading-specific cognitive factors that result from engaging in reading activities and other experiential factors, the authors gave students in Grades 4 and 6 a perceptual identification test of words not only drawn from their personal lexicon but also varying in familiarity. During the experimental phase, on a video monitor for a duration of 60 ms, age-matched and reading-matched groups were each shown a set of pretested words varying in personal familiarity. After a 5-s delay, a “test” word was displayed, at which point participants were asked to decide whether the second word was the same as or different from the first. Measures of accuracy and reaction times for correct responses indicated that differences between reader groups still existed, despite attempts to minimize the contribution of experiential factors. Remedial interventions are discussed.
Educator and Administrator Perceptions of the Impact of No Child Left Behind on Special Populations
Authors: Vannest Kimberly J. , Mahadevan Lakshmi , Mason Benjamin A. , Temple-Harvey Kimberly K.
Published: June 2008

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) seeks to address the inequality in schools and to correct achievement disparities prevalent in education, but little is known of NCLB's effect on students in special education. This study assesses the impact of NCLB on special education by asking educators, administrators, and staff who serve students in special education about their perceptions of the impact of NCLB for students with disabilities. Survey responses were received from 248 respondents across the state of Texas. Findings include positive perceptions of changes related to accountability, teacher qualifications, and evidence-based practices; negative perceptions related to assessment; and perceptions of no changes in relationships and communication with parents or freedom for states and communities.
Alternative Schools
Authors: Lehr Camilla A. , Tan Chee Soon , Ysseldyke Jim
Published: June 2008

The number of students enrolled in alternative settings for youth at risk of school failure has increased significantly in recent years. Students with disabilities, primarily students with emotional/behavioral disabilities and learning disabilities, are included in the population of students who are being educated in these settings. This article provides a synthesis of information gathered through (a) a comprehensive review of legislation and policy on alternative schools/programs from 48 states and (b) a national survey about alternative schools and students served completed by key contacts at state departments of education. Information is organized and discussed with regard to state-level definitions of alternative schools, enrollment criteria, school characteristics, students served, staffing, curriculum and instruction, and outcomes. In addition, information about the provision of special education in these settings and the extent to which students with disabilities enroll is included.
Charter Schools and Students With Disabilities
Authors: Estes Mary Bailey
Published: June 2008

Fifteen years after the first charter school legislation was passed, the number of charter schools opening in the United States each year continues to grow. In 2000, research was conducted to examine the extent and quality of service to students with disabilities in Texas's charter schools. Descriptive statistics and structured interviews were used to identify areas of strength and weakness in special education service provision. This article describes a replication of that study, reviews the initial findings, and presents data that shed light on changes that have occurred in the interim.
Examining the Association Between Education Level and Physical Activity Changes During Early Old Age
Authors: Shaw Benjamin A. , Spokane Linda S.
Published: June 2008

Objective: This study examined the relationship between aging and regular physical activity. The moderating effects of education and the extent to which employment and health status influence physical activity were also examined. Method: Multilevel logistic regression was conducted using longitudinal data from a national sample of 7,595 adults aged 54 to 72. Results: An age-related decline in physical activity was observed, steeper among low-education individuals. Lack of physical activity was predicted by worsening health and reduced workforce participation, but these associations varied by education level. For low-education individuals, not working and job losses were associated with reduced physical activity, whereas for highly educated individuals the reverse was true. Health problems were associated more strongly with reduced physical activity in high-education individuals. Discussion: Early old age is a critical period for promoting physical activity. Different intervention strategies for groups of different socioeconomic status may be needed.
Synthesis and Characterization of Benzylidene and Azobenzene Based Photochromic Liquid-Crystalline Polymers
Authors: Jayalatha Devaswithin , Balamurugan Rathinam , Kannan Palaninathan
Published: June 2008

Two series of novel thermotropic main chain liquid crystalline polymers containing photocrosslinkable chalcone and photoisomerizable azobenzene moieties were synthesized from bis[4-( m-hydroxyalkoxy)benzylidene]cycloalkanones [ m = 6,8,10] with 4,4'-azobenzene dicarbonylchloride. The chemical structure of the monomers and polymers were confirmed by spectral techniques. The mesophase properties were investigated using hot stage optical polarized microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All the polymers exhibited liquid crystalline properties. The thermogravimetric analysis data revealed that the polymers were stable up to 220 °C and underwent two-stage decomposition. Photocrosslinking property of the polymers was investigated using UV spectroscopy. The cyclopentanone containing polymers showed faster photocrosslinkability than that of their cyclohexanone counterpart. In addition to the photocrosslinkability of cycloalkanone units, the azo moiety displayed E-Z (trans-cis) isomerization in the polymer backbone.
Novel Poly(amideimide)s: Synthesis, Thermal, and Optical Characterization
Authors: Grabiec E. , Schab-Balcerzak E. , Domagala W. , Kurcok M.
Published: June 2008

A series of new aromatic poly(amideimide)s is synthesized via one-step high- temperature polycondensation from prepared diamidedianhydrides and various diamines: 4,4'-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)dianiline, 4,4'-(9-fluorenylidene)dianiline, 2,7-diaminofluorene and 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine. Molecular and structural characterization of the resulting polymers is carried out using Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The resulting polymers exhibit a good level of thermal stability. The temperature of 10% weight loss is in the range of 420—525 °C (in N2) associated with relatively high glass transition temperatures (249—299 °C). The polymers' residual weight loss at 800 °C is higher than 40%. The optical and photoluminescence characteristics of synthesized poly(amideimide)s were investigated in solution and in blend with poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). The photoluminescence spectra of the polymers in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone solution exhibit maximum emission wavelength in the range of 405—495 nm depending upon the polymer structure.
Using Student-Produced Media to Promote Healthy Eating
Authors: Tanner Andrea , Duhe Sonya , Evans Alexandra , Condrasky Marge
Published: June 2008

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention in which fourth and fifth graders participated in an after-school program where they produced a media campaign that focused on increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Researchers measured the effectiveness of the media campaign in changing the home nutrition environment (e.g., FV availability and parental support). Quantitative and qualitative measures were also used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the children's self-efficacy, motivation, and perceived parental social support related to FV consumption. Data from the parents indicated greater availability of FV at home and more instrumental support for their children to eat FV.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in New Hampshire
Authors: Muscott Howard S. , Mann Eric L. , LeBrun Marcel R.
Published: June 2008

This evaluation report presents outcomes for the first cohort of 28 early childhood education programs and K—12 schools involved in implementing schoolwide positive behavior support as part of a statewide systems change initiative that began in New Hampshire in 2002. Results indicate that the overwhelming majority of schools were able to implement schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports with fidelity within 2 years and to sustain implementation over the course of the following year. Implementation resulted in a reduction of 6,010 office discipline referrals and 1,032 suspensions, with middle and high schools experiencing the most benefit. These reductions helped recover 864 days of teaching, 1,701 days of learning, and 571 days of leadership. Implementation was associated with academic gains in math for the vast majority of schools who implemented with fidelity. Improvements in reading/language arts were less pervasive. Recommendations for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
Using Computer-Presented Social Stories and Video Models to Increase the Social Communication Skills of Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Sansosti Frank J. , Powell-Smith Kelly A.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of computer-presented Social Stories and video models on the social communication skills of three children with High-Functioning Autism/Asperger's Syndrome (HFA/AS). Using a multiple-baseline across-participants design, computer-presented Social Stories and video models were implemented and direct observations of the participants' identified target behaviors were collected two times per week during unstructured school activities (e.g., recess). Overall, data demonstrated that the combined treatment package was effective for improving the rates of social communication for the participants, although modifications to allow access to social reinforcement were needed in two cases. In addition, all three participants demonstrated maintenance of skills at a 2-week follow-up. However, generalization of skills was only observed for one participant. This research adds evidence that a combined intervention presented via computer may be a beneficial method for remediating social skill difficulties for individuals with HFA/AS.
Effects of Training on the Use of the Behavior Support Plan Quality Evaluation Guide With Autism Educators
Authors: Kraemer Bonnie R. , Cook Clayton R. , Browning-Wright Diana , Mayer G. Roy , Wallace Michele D.
Published: June 2008

Positive behavior support (PBS) plans are required practice for students whose behaviors impede their learning or that of others. Educators of children and youth with autism and other developmental disorders represent a subgroup of special educators who are frequently involved in the development of PBS plans. The goal of this research was to assess the effect of a specific, brief training delivered to improve the substantive, evidence-based quality of PBS plans developed by autism educators in a graduate-level university program. Intra-individual tests of significance revealed that the training significantly improved the quality of PBS plans. The plan components with the highest ratings were predictors of problem behavior and behavioral definition, whereas the components with the lowest ratings were behavioral goals/objectives and team communication. The implications for delivering brief trainings to improve evidence-based practice, as well as limitations and future directions, are discussed.
Regional, socioeconomic and occupational groups and risk of hospital admission for multiple sclerosis: a cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Li X , Hemminki K , Sundquist K
Published: June 2008

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between hospitalization for multiple sclerosis (MS) and region, socioeconomic status and occupation.

Methods

A nationwide database was constructed by linking Swedish Census data to the Hospital Discharge Register (1987–2001). The hospital diagnoses of MS were based on the International Classification of Diseases. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

Significantly increased or decreased risks of hospitalization for MS were found for individuals living in some counties. The overall SIRs for hospitalizations for MS were close to unity between different socioeconomic groups. Male religious workers, male postal workers and female administrators who had the same occupational title in two consecutive censuses had substantially higher risks of hospitalization for MS than the reference group. However, no increased risks were found for most occupational groups.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that region, socioeconomic status and occupation have a minor effect on the population’s risk of hospitalization for MS.
Lifetime and actual prevalence of pain and headache in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Martinelli Boneschi F , Colombo B , Annovazzi P , Martinelli V , Bernasconi L , Solaro C , Comi G
Published: June 2008

The aim of the present study is to assess the actual and lifetime frequency of neuropathic (trigeminal neuralgia, Lhermitte’s sign, dysesthesic pain) and somatic (painful muscle spasms and low back pain) pain and headache (tensive headache and migraine) in a cross-sectional sample of 428 consecutive multiple sclerosis (MS) outpatients followed-up in an Italian University MS center over a 3-month period. The impact of demographic and disease-related variables on pain and headache risk is also studied. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered during a face-to-face interview with MS patients and a multivariate logistic regression model is applied to obtain crude and adjusted risk measures. The mean age of the sample was 38.4 years, and female/male ratio was 1.65. The mean disease duration was 9.6 years and the median Expanded Disability Status Scale was 2.0, with most of the patients (74.8%) being affected by the relapsing–remitting form. Lifetime prevalence at the date of examination of at least one type of neuropathic or somatic pain was 39.8% in MS patients, with 58.5% also including headache, while the actual prevalence was 23.8% and 39.9%, respectively. After multivariate analysis, a progressive course of disease was shown to increase the risk of dysesthesic pain and painful muscle spasms, while greater disability was responsible for a higher risk of back pain. L’Hermitte’s sign was more frequent in younger patients, while females had a higher risk of headache. Pain and headache in MS are not negligible symptoms and a neurological examination should not miss the assessment of risk factors for specific types of pain for a more specific and individualized treatment.
Pain in multiple sclerosis: a clinical and instrumental approach
Authors: Grasso MG , Clemenzi A , Tonini A , Pace L , Casillo P , Cuccaro A , Pompa A , Troisi E
Published: June 2008

Background

Pain is a frequent and disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study we assess the frequency and intensity of pain, as well as its impact on the quality of life and activities of daily living, in a sample of MS patients.

Methods

One hundred and twenty eight MS patients underwent a neurological examination, a structured interview designed to assess pain, and a Medical Outcome 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Functional status was assessed by means of the Barthel Index (BI) and Rivermead Mobility Index. We also assessed the presence of depression, by means of the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and fatigue, by means of the Fatigue Severity Scale. An algometer was used to measure thermal and discomfort thresholds in all of the patients and a group of 61 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.

Results

Pain was present in 61 patients. No differences were found between patients with and those without pain in disease duration, disease form or Expanded Disability Status Scale and its functional systems. Patients with pain had a lower vitality score ( p = 0.008), mental health score ( p = 0.03) and physical ( p < 0.001) and mental composite scores ( p = 0.01) than patients without pain. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between patients with and those without pain in the BI ( p = 0.04). Both thermal and discomfort thresholds, as assessed by means of the algometer, were statistically lower in MS patients than in controls, whereas no difference was observed between patients with and those without pain. There was a statistically significant improvement in the thermal threshold in patients with pain who were treated pharmacologically when compared with those who were not treated ( p = 0.049).

Conclusion

The results of this study provide further evidence of the negative impact that the presence of pain has on both the quality of life and activities of daily living in MS patients. The lower thermal and discomfort thresholds observed in our MS patients, compared with controls, may represent a predisposition to develop pain during the course of the disease.
Relationship between MRI lesion activity and response to IFN-β in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Río J , Rovira À , Tintoré M , Huerga E , Nos C , Tellez N , Tur C , Comabella M , Montalban X
Published: June 2008

Objective

Our objective in this study is to evaluate whether brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at interferon-beta (IFN-β) onset and after 12 months allow us to identify relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with a disability increase in the first 2 years of therapy.

Methods

This is a prospective and longitudinal study of patients with RRMS treated with IFN-β. All patients included underwent brain MRI before the onset of therapy with IFN-β and 12 months after. MRI measures (T2, unenhanced T1-weighted and gadolinium-enhancing T1-weighted brain lesion load, brain parenchymal fraction) were undertaken at baseline and after 12 months. The number of active lesions (new or enlarging T2 plus gadolinium-enhancing brain lesions) was also assessed on the 12 months MRI scan. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was scored every 3 months. We defined an increase in disability as an increase of at least 1 EDSS point confirmed and sustained during the first 2 years of therapy with IFN-β. Regression analysis was performed in order to identify MRI variables of response.

Results

We included 152 patients who were followed-up for at least 2 years. After 2 years of therapy, 24 patients (16%) had an increase in disability. The logistic regression model showed that active lesions in the scan performed at 12 months were the most important factor related with the increase of disability after 2 years of therapy (odds ratio 8.3, 95% confidence interval 3.1–21.9; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

In RRMS patients treated with IFN-β the MRI changes occurring during the first year may have a prognostic value for identifying patients with a confirmed increase of disability after 2 years of therapy.
Reduction of angiotensin II in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kawajiri M , Mogi M , Osoegawa M , Matsuoka T , Tsukuda K , Kohara K , Horiuchi M , Miki T , Kira JI
Published: June 2008

We previously demonstrated that angiotensin II acts as a crucial neuroprotective factor after neural injury through angiotensin II type-2 (AT2) receptor signaling. Although the pathway is known to play an important role in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) angiotensin II levels in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have never been studied. To clarify the significance of angiotensin II in MS, we assayed angiotensin II concentrations using an established enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in CSF samples from patients with MS ( n = 21), patients with inflammatory neuropathies (IN) ( n = 23) and control individuals who did not have either of the neurological diseases or any other disease that might affect the angiotensin II levels in the CSF (control) ( n = 24). Angiotensin II levels in the CSF were 3.79 ± 1.54 pg/ml in the MS group, 5.13 ± 2.27 pg/ml in the IN group and 6.71 ± 2.65 pg/ml in the control group. The angiotensin II levels in the CSF of the MS group were significantly lower than in the control group ( p = 0.00057). Angiotensin II concentration in the CSF tended to have a negative correlation with the Kurtzke’s Expanded Disability Status Scale scores during MS relapse ( p = 0.0847). These findings suggest that reduced levels of intrathecal angiotensin II may be related to the abnormal neural damage and repair processes in MS.
Molecular detection of Parachlamydia-like organisms in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Contini C , Seraceni S , Cultrera R , Castellazzi M , Granieri E , Fainardi E
Published: June 2008

The presence of Chlamydia-like organism DNA was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 27 patients previously found positive for Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA: 12 with multiple sclerosis (MS), grouped according to clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity, 8 with other inflammatory neurological disorders and 7 with non-inflammatory neurological disorders. PCR evidence of Chlamydia-like organisms in CSF was observed only in two relapsing–remitting MS patients with clinical and MRI disease activity. These findings suggest a possible association between C. pneumoniae and Chlamydia-like organism brain infections as a cofactor in MS development.
Stem cell therapy in multiple sclerosis: promise and controversy
Authors: Duncan ID , Goldman S , Macklin WB , Rao M , Weiner LP , Reingold SC
Published: June 2008

Stem cells offer the potential for regeneration of lost tissue in neurological disease, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Their development in vitro and their use in vivo in animal models of degenerative neurological disease and recent first efforts in human clinical trials were the topics of a recent international meeting sponsored by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on “Stem Cells & MS: Prospects and Strategies” Participants reviewed the current state of knowledge about the potential use of stem and progenitor cells in MS and other degenerative neurological disorders and outlined a series of urgent fundamental and applied clinical research priorities that should allow the potential of regeneration of damaged tissue in MS to be assessed and pursued.
Toward a Medical Anthropology of Sensations: Definitions and Research Agenda
Authors: Hinton Devon E. , Howes David , Kirmayer Laurence J.
Published: June 2008

In this article, we outline the importance of a medical anthropology of sensations for theories of psychopathology and psychological healing. We define what is meant by `sensation' (differentiating monomodal and polymodal sensations) and describe some of the mechanisms that generate and amplify sensations. We propose the heuristic use of the concepts of sensation schemas, sensation interpretants, and sensation scripts. We argue against the naive assumption that sensation experience is the same across cultures. Finally, we consider how healing may occur through `sensation semiosis.'
Coming to Our Senses: Appreciating the Sensorial in Medical Anthropology
Authors: Nichter Mark
Published: June 2008

This article supports the call for the sensorially engaged anthropological study of healing modalities, popular health culture, dietary practices, drug foods and pharmaceuticals, and idioms of distress. Six concepts are of central importance to sensorial anthropology: embodiment, the mindful body, mimesis, local biology, somatic idioms of distress, and `the work of culture'. Fieldwork in South and Southeast Asia and North America illustrates how cultural interpretations associate bodily sensations with passions (strong emotions) and anxiety states, and bodily communication about social relations. Lay interpretations of bodily sensations inform and are informed by local understanding of ethnophysiology, health, illness, and the way medicines act in the body. Bodily states are manipulated by the ingestion of substances ranging from drug foods (e.g., sources of caffeine, nicotine, dietary supplements) to pharmaceuticals that stimulate or suppress sensations concordant with cultural values, work demands, and health concerns. Social relations are articulated at the site of the body through somatic modes of attention that index bodily ways of knowing learned through socialization, bodily memories, and the ability to relate to how another is likely to be feeling in a particular context. Sensorial anthropology can contribute to the study of transformative healing and trajectories of healthcare seeking and patterns of referral in pluralistic healthcare arenas.
Reading Sensations: Understanding the Process of Distinguishing `Fine' from `Sick'
Authors: Hay M. Cameron
Published: June 2008

Sensations form the bases of our recognition that we are well, or, alternatively, that something is wrong. What is the process which transforms a sensation into a symptom? In this article, I draw on fieldwork from Lombok, Indonesia to propose a model of the processes through which sensations become symptoms. Perceptional and interpretive decisions regarding what sensations need to be attended to as potential symptoms may be the result of personal awareness of cultural ideas about vulnerability, sensation duration, and interference with activities. The interpretation of sensations is always tentative, conditional on further cultural information regarding whether the sensation should be constructed into a symptom. I conclude by suggesting a model of the processes through which sensations are interpreted, become pathologized, and are socially legitimated.
Cardiophobia: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Zvolensky Michael J. , Feldner Matthew T. , Eifert Georg H. , Vujanovic Anka A. , Solomon Sondra E.
Published: June 2008

Cardiophobia, a clinical syndrome that affects hundreds of thousands of individuals in the USA, is characterized by abrupt, recurrent sensations and pain in the chest in the absence of physical pathology. This conceptual article seeks to address the significance of cardiophobia in western culture and to distinguish it from related disorders. In addition, a model of cardiophobia that highlights the role of heart-focused anxiety and interoceptive conditioning in the generation of limited-symptom panic attacks and acute chest pain is presented and vulnerability factors for cardiophobia are discussed. Future research directions relevant to the assessment and treatment of this clinically significant phenomenon are reviewed.
From Pain to Virtue: Dysphoric Sensations and Moral Sensibilities in Yap (Waqab), Federated States of Micronesia
Authors: Throop C. Jason
Published: June 2008

This article contributes to the development of a medical anthropology of sensation through providing a thick ethnographic description of pain's significance in the context of a particular community's — Yap (Federated States of Micronesia) — understandings of subjectivity, social action, and morality. After first proposing an attentional—synthetic model of the patterning of sensory experience, the article goes on to describe in some detail the linguistic, moral, and cultural frameworks that serve as the semiotic, existential, and practical resources providing the background against which individual sufferers tend to interpret their dysphoric sensory experiences. Central to the article is an exploration of a local illness category maath'keenil' that is implicated in two, at times competing, models of ethical subjectivity. It is argued that through configuring their subjective experiences in light of these virtues individual sufferers are at times able to transform their experiences of pain from excruciating dysphoric sensations to meaningful, morally valenced, lived experiences.
The `Multiplex Model' of Somatic Symptoms: Application to Tinnitus among Traumatized Cambodian Refugees
Authors: Hinton Devon E. , Hinton Susan D. , Loeum Reattidara J.-R. , Pich Vuth , Pollack Mark H.
Published: June 2008

Somatic symptoms are a common clinical presentation of distress among ethnic populations in the USA, particularly traumatized refugees. In this article, we apply a `multiplex model' of bodily experience to explain how a somatic symptom is evoked, amplified, and generates distress, particularly distress related to post-traumatic stress disorder. We illustrate the multiplex model's applicability to acute episodes of tinnitus (i.e., a buzzing-like sound in the ear) among Cambodian refugees, a common symptom in that group. The article demonstrates the importance of carefully examining somatic symptoms and associated meanings in distressed ethnic populations, especially traumatized refugees, and aims to contribute to a medical anthropology of somatic symptoms.
Culture and the Metaphoric Mediation of Pain
Authors: Kirmayer Laurence J.
Published: June 2008

Although pain appears to be one of the most basic and obdurate sensations its meaning and experience are richly elaborated in many cultural traditions. The study of the cognitive processes that underlie metaphor provides a model of how sensory and affective qualities of bodily events are translated into symptom experience. Basic sensorimotor experiences provide the conceptual vocabulary used to build up more complex and abstract models. These are elaborated within specific traditions, communities, or local worlds in ways that fit with overarching cultural models. In turn, culturally elaborated metaphors influence basic cognitive, perceptual and attentional processes that modify sensory processing. This article will consider three sites of the metaphoric mediation of pain experience: bodily posture or stance, facial expression, and the experience of temporal duration. Each of these basic aspects of embodiment gives rise to bodily metaphors that shape the experience and expression of pain. Tracing how metaphoric constructions regulate cognitive affective and attentional processes provides a way to understand the cultural malleability of pain experience.
Behavioral Activation for Latinos With Depression
Authors: Kanter Jonathan W. , Diéguez Hurtado Gabriela , Rusch Laura C. , Busch Andrew M. , Santiago-Rivera Azara
Published: June 2008

Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic minority group in the United States and face great environmental challenges (e.g., unemployment, loss of social support networks, displacement, and disruption of the family) as well as prejudice and discrimination. These contextual factors are significant risk factors for Latino depression. A behavioral treatment for depression, behavioral activation (BA), may be particularly relevant in treating Latino depression because of its emphasis on contextual factors. This case study presents a cultural modification of BA for Latinos with depression. The treatment of a 25-year-old Latina illustrates a successful application. It suggests that, with some modifications, BA may be a suitable treatment for this population.
Back-to-School Nutrition
Authors: Melanson Kathleen J.
Published: June 2008

Back-to-school season can be an important time for enhancing dietary quality, which is vital to chil- dren's health and wellness. An abun- dance of scientific literature supports a critical role of proper nutrition in cognitive development, intellectual performance, and academic achieve- ment. Improvement of nutrient intakes for children with inadequa- cies enhances mental functioning. Iron deficiency, which is the most common nutrient deficiency in the United States, has been implicated in poor cognition, and supplementation for iron-deficient children improves most scholastically related outcomes. School breakfast and lunch pro- grams, which must adhere to the 2005 US Dietary Guidelines, offer a means to improve nutritional intake, particularly for children of low socio- economic status. However, competing food and beverage sources, as well as refusal to consume healthful items of these meals, may reduce dietary advantages. Breakfast consumption is associated with many benefits in schoolchildren, including academic performance. Wholesome lunches and snacks can also be significant contributors to nutritional value over the course of a school day. Parents, teachers, and caregivers should be role models and advocates for health- promoting eating behaviors not only throughout the academic year but for a lifetime
A Prospective Clinical Study of the A1 Pulley in Trigger Thumbs
Authors: BORETTO J. , ALFIE V. , DONNDORFF A. , GALLUCCI G. , DE CARLI P.
Published: June 2008

A prospective study was performed in 19 patients with trigger thumbs to define the anatomy of the A1 pulley of the thumb in this condition and to evaluate biomechanical parameters of the thumb after complete division of the A1 pulley. Pre- and postoperatively, flexion of the interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, key pinch strength and tip pinch strength were measured and compared with these measurements on the contralateral thumb. We identified three types of A1 pulley. The clinical data showed that there is no deficit with respect to motion and strength of the thumb after completely sectioning any of the three types of A1 pulley.