bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust Understanding in Multimodal Interfaces
Authors: Bangalore Srinivas , Johnston Michael
Published: May 2009

Multimodal grammars provide an effective mechanism for quickly creating integration and understanding capabilities for interactive systems supporting simultaneous use of multiple input modalities. However, like other approaches based on hand-crafted grammars, multimodal grammars can be brittle with respect to unexpected, erroneous, or disfluent input. In this article, we show how the finite-state approach to multimodal language processing can be extended to support multimodal applications combining speech with complex freehand pen input, and evaluate the approach in the context of a multimodal conversational system (MATCH). We explore a range of different techniques for improving the robustness of multimodal integration and understanding. These include techniques for building effective language models for speech recognition when little or no multimodal training data is available, and techniques for robust multimodal understanding that draw on classification, machine translation, and sequence edit methods. We also explore the use of edit-based methods to overcome mismatches between the gesture stream and the speech stream.
Reduction of the Hodgkin-Huxley Equations to a Single-Variable Threshold Model
Authors: Kistler Werner M. , Gerstner Wulfram , Hemmen J. Leo van
Published: May 2009

It is generally believed that a neuron is a threshold element that fires when some variable u reaches a threshold. Here we pursue the question of whether this picture can be justified and study the four-dimensional neuron model of Hodgkin and Huxley as a concrete example. The model is approximated by a response kernel expansion in terms of a single variable, the membrane voltage. The first-order term is linear in the input and its kernel has the typical form of an elementary postsynaptic potential. Higher-order kernels take care of nonlinear interactions between input spikes. In contrast to the standard Volterra expansion, the kernels depend on the firing time of the most recent output spike. In particular, a zero-order kernel that describes the shape of the spike and the typical after-potential is included. Our model neuron fires if the membrane voltage, given by the truncated response kernel expansion, crosses a threshold. The threshold model is tested on a spike train generated by the Hodgkin-Huxley model with a stochastic input current. We find that the threshold model predicts 90 percent of the spikes correctly. Our results show that, to good approximation, the description of a neuron as a threshold element can indeed be justified.
Choreographing Identities and Emotions in Organizations: Doing “Huminality” on a Geriatric Ward
Authors: Symons Gladys
Published: May 2009

This paper addresses the coconstruction of identities and emotions through the human/animal relationship, arguing that nonhuman animals can and do act as coagents in interspecies encounters. The paper narrates the extraordinary boundary-transgressing experiences of a particular kind of co(a)gency labeled “huminality” (the ongoing affective relationship of human and animal). An autoethnographic account of pet-visitation involving a woman, a West Highland white terrier named Fergus, and geriatric residents demonstrates the power of huminality to authorize the emergence and realization of different identities and selves. Examples include the intimate friend, the dignified self, the institutional resister, the gift-giver, and the available self. Huminality, in the emotional spacetime of the hospital, is rooted in empathy, concern, and affection. As ontological choreography, huminality takes us past the animal-Nature/human-culture frontier into uncharted territories of spacetime to engage in forms of life with nonhuman others. Encounters with animals, even on a geriatric ward, can transform our universe and our selves.
Variation in male mate preference for female size in the swordtail Xiphophorus malinche
Authors: Tudor Scarlett , Morris Molly
Published: May 2009

Male and female mate preferences have the potential to influence one another, and such interactions could help explain variation in female mate preferences. In Xiphophorus malinche, larger females prefer asymmetrical males while smaller females prefer symmetrical males. We used a two-part preference test to determine if there were differences in mate preferences between symmetrical and asymmetrical males for female size that could influence female mate preference. We found no significant difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical male's preferences. A preference for large female size was detected during the time males directly interacted with females and in standard dichotomous choice tests that followed, as long as the males had been isolated less than 30 days. We did detect variation in male preference for female size depending on male size and the amount of time a male was isolated. These results suggest that variation in male mate preference is not likely to have produced the difference in female preference for symmetry between large and small females, but should be considered where females vary in their preference for male size. In addition, our results suggest that males may shift their preferences from large to small females depending on time since last mating opportunity.
Seasonal and vertical distribution of the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (TUR-H2) and Steinernema feltiae (TUR-S3) in turf and fallow areas
Authors: Susurluk Alper
Published: May 2009

To determine the seasonal movement of the dauer juvenile (DJ) stage of entomopathogenic nematodes, DJ of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (TUR-H2) and Steinernema feltiae (TUR-S3) were applied to field plots (turf and fallow) and their vertical distribution in soil was monitored for 8 months (October to June) in Turkey. Most S. feltiae remained near the soil surface (0-15 cm deep) in both kinds of plots and throughout the study. By contrast, H. bacteriophora moved to 40 cm depth in fallow plots during winter months but remained mostly near the soil surface (0-15 cm deep) in turf plots throughout the study.
Molecular characterisation of some species of Mylonchulus (Nematoda: Mononchida) from Japan and comments on the status of Paramylonchulus and Pakmylonchulus
Authors: Araki Masaaki , Ahmad Wasim , Olia Majid , Minaka Nobuhiro
Published: May 2009

Comparative analyses of different regions of ribosomal DNA have become a popular tool in understanding the relationship among different species and genera and nematodes are no exception to this. In this study, molecular relationships were inferred from a nearly complete small subunit (SSU) of total 16 OTUs for five species of Mylonchulus, Paramylonchulus and Pakmylonchulus collected from various parts of Japan with two out-group taxa (Mononchus aquaticus and Clarkus papillatus) to examine the relationship among these species. Out of 1685 bp SSU rDNA sequences, phylogenetic trees using distance (NJ), parsimony and likelihood algorithms were performed. Obtained tree topologies were stable across algorithms and sequence data show that populations of the same species clustered together and four out of five species (M. brachyuris, M. hawaiiensis, M. oceanicus, M. sigmaturus) formed a monophyletic assemblage while M. mulveyi formed a sister group. Populations of species lacking subventral teeth but with a double gonad (M. oceanicus) stand with other Mylonchulus species, thereby confirming the synonymy of Pakmylonchulus, while populations with a narrow buccal cavity with few rows of denticles, no subventral teeth and a single prodelphic gonad (M. mulveyi = Paramylonchulus mulveyi) support to some extent the validity of the genus Paramylonchulus. Though a preliminary investigation, it is the first report on molecular relationships in Mylonchulus, probably a paraphyletic genus. Our results suggest that SSU rDNA sequence data are useful in understanding the relationship between genera and species.
Identification of putative expansin-like genes from the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and evolution of the expansin gene family within the Nematoda
Authors: Li Hongmei , Kennedy Malcolm , Jones John , Karim Nurul , Kikuchi Taisei , Moens Maurice
Published: May 2009

We report the cloning and characterisation of genes encoding expansin-like proteins from the pine wood nematodes, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B. mucronatus. A small family of genes is present in both species and the Bursaphelenchus genes are most similar to expansins and expansin-like proteins from the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis and root-knot nematodes. Molecular modelling suggests that the genes could encode a protein with a structure similar to that of functionally characterised expansins. Expression analysis showed that the Bursaphelenchus expansin-like genes are expressed solely in the pharyngeal gland cells, implying a role in the host-parasite interaction, most likely in assisting migration through the plant. Some G. rostochiensis and root-knot nematode expansins are composed of a carbohydrate-binding domain coupled to an expansin domain but no carbohydrate binding domain is present on any of the Bursaphelenchus sequences. We suggest a model for evolution of the expansin gene family within the plant-parasitic nematodes of the Tylenchida and Aphelenchida.
Virulence of entomopathogenic nematodes to different stages of the flatheaded root borer, Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)
Authors: Morton Ana , García-del-Pino Fernando
Published: May 2009

The virulence of 14 Steinernema feltiae isolates, one S. carpocapsae and three Heterorhabditis bacteriophora isolates was compared in the laboratory against larvae, pupae and adults of the flatheaded root borer, Capnodis tenebrionis. Larval mortality ranged from 50 to 100% and pupae mortality from 0 to 70%. Adults were exposed to different nematode concentrations, 50 and 100 infective juveniles/cm2. Steinernema feltiae caused the highest mortality at the two doses tested, reaching 66.7% and 100%, respectively. Significant differences in mortality between C. tenebrionis males and females were observed. The differences in virulence observed at each stage of C. tenebrionis vary within a species and can be higher than differences among species. The results of this study suggest that some of the isolate strains have potential for improved biological control of C. tenebrionis.
Seasonal change in susceptibility of Pinus densiflora to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus infection, determined from the number of nematodes passing through branch sections
Authors: Matsunaga Koji , Togashi Katsumi
Published: May 2009

Pine wilt disease by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus has been causing devastating damage to Pinus densiflora and P. thunbergii forests in Japan. Reforestation using resistant trees is one of the most effective control measures. In this study we examined the seasonal change in the number of nematodes passing through 5 cm long P. densiflora branch sections during 24 h, to determine the season of greatest susceptibility when resistant candidates can be identified easily. We inoculated 200 nematodes of each of four B. xylophilus and one B. mucronatus isolate on the cut end of individual branch sections. The overall seasonal change in the number of nematodes passing was similar among the five isolates. Peaks occurred in August and between December and February for four isolates. A virulent isolate, T-4, exhibited remarkable fluctuations, with the highest peak in August, suggesting that a test in August with T-4 is most informative. Another study showed that the passage ability, which is a measure of the dispersal ability in branches, was low for eggs and second-stage propagative juveniles and high for other developmental stages. This indicates that the composition of developmental stages in the inoculum is important when comparing the numbers of passing nematodes obtained on different occasions and in different places.
Nothing Personal: An Empirical Phenomenological Study of the Experience of “Being-on-an-SSRI”
Authors: Teal Jay
Published: May 2009

The process by which SSRIs reduce “depressive symptoms” remains obscure. Biochemical, functional, and taker self-assessment evidences for the “corrective” nature of this process are inconclusive and ultimately incapable of appropriately addressing the meaning of being “anti-depressed.” In light of their growing prevalence, an understanding of the ways in which SSRIs alter takers' lived worlds is crucial for those who are presently taking them or considering doing so, for those recommending their use, and for those inhabiting societies increasingly composed of people who use them. This study found that the essential lived characteristic of “being-on-SSRIs” was increased distance or disconnection between takers their worlds, a disruption which showed itself most prominently within the emotional, bodily, social, and existential realms. Depression and anxiety are intense modes of relation, and the alteration of meaningful connections is characterized largely by participants as a disruption. SSRIs succeed in alleviating pain and suffering. However, takers' attunement becomes a relatively “a-motional” acceptance of whatever occurs in their world. Their stance becomes an essentially passive approach toward a world that can no longer “touch” them and to which takers are no longer responsible, and numbing “side-effects” are inseparable from the “treatment effect.”
Temporality and Asperger's Syndrome
Authors: Zukauskas Patricia Ribeiro , Assumpção, Jr. Francisco Baptista , Silton Nava
Published: May 2009

Asperger's syndrome is a pervasive developmental condition characterized by features of autism. As observed in clinical practice, individuals with Asperger's syndrome present an impairment related to inflexibility in their everyday routine, an immediate manner of experiencing and relating, and difficulties in estimating periods of time. Following a phenomenological perspective, this study is an attempt to examine these aforementioned aspects in terms of temporality. Thirteen participants with Asperger's syndrome, from 13 to 20 years old, were interviewed about their experience of periods of time, personal history, their past, present and future; and their concept of time and finitude. After the interviews, it was possible to identify three general themes which emerged in the invariant aspects of their experience of time: factual experience of present and future dimensions, chronological time and the past experience. Moreover, participants' descriptions evidenced aspects of experience based on the specificity of lived facts and a sense of time specifically related to what was lived in the past.
Geographies of Trust
Authors: Rahn Wendy M. , Kwang Suk Yoon  , Garet Michael , Lipson Steven , Loflin Katherine
Published: May 2009

Generalized social trust is an important component of social capital and has been linked to a variety of individual- and community-level outcomes, including low crime rates, effective government, and healthy and happy citizens. Drawing on a multicommunity survey conducted in several American towns and cities in 2002, the authors examine the individual and contextual origins of general social trust using the techniques of Hierarchical Linear Modeling. Based on prevailing theoretical understandings of social trust, the authors posit a comprehensive model to account for the contextual variation that remains after controlling for individual-level variables. Two community-level variables, voter turnout and commute times, emerge as important contextual predictors of social trust. The authors explore community attachment as a potential mediator of these effects, finding that it partially mediates the impact of commuting but not voter turnout, results consistent with their distinction between “experiential” and “cultural” theories of social trust formation.
How Politically Correct Is Political Correctness?
Authors: Marques Joan F.
Published: May 2009

Political correctness (PC) seems to have exploded beyond all expectations in view of the weight that is currently attributed to this phenomenon in some societies on the globe. Indeed, PC can be considered an important factor in determining the success of an individual or group. At the same time, an “overdose” of PC, as with any other aspect of life, can lead to devastating effects. In this article a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of PC will be presented with the intention of revealing the positive as well as the negative sides of this phenomenon as well as the proper value that should be attributed to PC.
Offender Perceptions of Graduated Sanctions
Authors: Wodahl Eric J. , Ogle Robbin , Kadleck Colleen , Gerow Kenneth
Published: May 2009

Finding credible alternatives to revocation for offenders who violate the conditions of their community supervision has emerged as a salient issue in the corrections field. A number of jurisdictions have turned to graduated sanctions as an alternative to revocation. This study addresses one of the major gaps in the research on graduated sanctions by examining perceptions of graduated sanction severity through the administration of surveys to offenders under active supervision. Survey results revealed several important findings. First, offenders do not view jail as being substantially more punitive than community-based sanctions such as community service or electronic monitoring. Second, offenders viewed treatment-oriented sanctions as being more punitive than other graduated sanctions. Third, offender perceptions of graduated sanctions were influenced by a variety of individual characteristics such as gender, age, and education level.
How Justice System Officials View Wrongful Convictions
Authors: Smith Brad , Zalman Marvin , Kiger Angie
Published: May 2009

The wrongful conviction of factually innocent people is a growing concern within the United States. Reforms generated by this concern are predicated in part on the views of justice system participants. The authors surveyed judges, police officials, prosecutors, and defense lawyers in Michigan regarding their views of why wrongful convictions occur. The findings reveal that all groups acknowledge error and inaccuracy among justice system participants. In general, police and prosecutors believe that error levels are lowest, judges estimate higher error levels, and defense attorneys rank errors higher than other respondents. A majority of police, prosecutors, and judges believe that wrongful convictions do not occur with sufficient frequency to warrant system reforms, whereas a majority of defense attorneys believe that procedural changes are warranted. The findings reveal distinct occupational perspectives in respondents’ attitudes concerning wrongful conviction.
Mentees’ Perceptions of Their Interpersonal Relationships
Authors: Renick Thomson Nicole , Zand Debra H.
Published: May 2009

Outcome studies of mentoring programs have demonstrated that they hold considerable promise in promoting competence across multiple developmental domains. A theoretical model of mentoring identified modification of youths’ perceptions of their interpersonal relationships as a contributor to positive outcomes. To date, however, there has not been a direct examination of the role of the mentor—youth bond in this process. The present study examines whether the quality of the mentoring relationship uniquely predicts other relationship-based outcomes at two time points. Regression analyses indicated that the quality of the mentor—youth bond significantly predicted youths’ scores in most relationship-based outcomes (i.e., friendship with and self-disclosure to adults) at 8 and 16 months. Study implications and directions for future research are discussed.
From Willingness to Intention: Experience Moderates the Shift From Reactive to Reasoned Behavior
Authors: Pomery Elizabeth A. , Gibbons Frederick X. , Reis-Bergan Monica , Gerrard Meg
Published: May 2009

Three studies compared the predictive validity of three proximal antecedents to risk behavior: behavioral intention (BI), behavioral expectation (BE), and behavioral willingness (BW). In Study 1, BW was the only significant predictor of change in substance use in early adolescence (age 13), whereas only BI was significant in middle adolescence (age 16). In Study 2, BW was a better predictor of change in smoking among young adolescents than was BE, but BE became predominant by middle adolescence. By late adolescence, previous behavior surpassed both BE and BW. When only smoking initiation was examined, BW was a better predictor than was BE. In Study 3, BI, BW, and BE independently predicted class skipping. However, BI was a better predictor for students more experienced with the behavior, whereas BW was superior for less experienced students. The findings provide evidence of a developmental shift from more reactive to more reasoned processing, as experience with the behavior increases.
The Influence of ‘‘No Child Left Behind’’ Legislation on Drug Prevention in U.S. Schools
Authors: Cho Hyunsan , Dion Hallfors Denise , Iritani Bonita J. , Hartman Shane
Published: May 2009

This study examines prevention practices and perceptions in U.S. schools since passage of federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, using survey data from state education agencies (SEA) and a population-based sample of school districts. Only one third of U.S. public school districts rely on evidence-based prevention curriculum in middle schools. Funding from other sources and large size were positively associated with using evidence-based curricula. States and districts differed on their perceptions of high-priority activities, and neither supported the federal priority on student drug testing. The findings suggest that there is a disconnect between what NCLB says and what is funded.
Optimizing the Start Time of Statin Therapy for Patients with Diabetes
Authors: Denton Brian T. , Kurt Murat , Shah Nilay D. , Bryant Sandra C. , Smith Steven A.
Published: May 2009

Background . Clinicians often use validated risk models to guide treatment decisions for cardiovascular risk reduction. The most common risk models for predicting cardiovascular risk are the UKPDS, Framingham, and Archimedes models. In this article, the authors propose a model to optimize the selection of patients for statin therapy of hypercholesterolemia, for patients with type 2 diabetes, using each of the risk models. For each model, they evaluate the role of age, gender, and metabolic state on the optimal start time for statins. Method . Using clinical data from the Mayo Clinic electronic medical record, the authors construct a Markov decision process model with health states composed of cardiovascular events and metabolic factors such as total cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins. They use it to evaluate the optimal start time of statin treatment for different combinations of cardiovascular risk models and patient attributes. Results . The authors find that treatment decisions depend on the cardiovascular risk model used and the age, gender, and metabolic state of the patient. Using the UKPDS risk model to estimate the probability of coronary heart disease and stroke events, they find that all white male patients should eventually start statin therapy; however, using Framingham and Archimedes models in place of UKPDS, they find that for male patients at lower risk, it is never optimal to initiate statins. For white female patients, the authors also find some patients for whom it is never optimal to initiate statins. Assuming that age 40 is the earliest possible start time, the authors find that the earliest optimal start times for UKPDS, Framingham, and Archimedes are 50, 46, and 40, respectively, for women. For men, the earliest optimal start times are 40, 40, and 40, respectively. Conclusions . In addition to age, gender, and metabolic state, the choice of cardiovascular risk model influences the apparent optimal time for starting statins in patients with diabetes.
Price, Performance, and the FDA Approval Process: The Example of Home HIV Testing
Authors: Paltiel A. David , Pollack Harold A.
Published: May 2009

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approval of an over-the-counter, rapid HIV test for home use. To support its decision, the FDA seeks evidence of the test’s performance. It has asked the manufacturer to conduct field studies of the test’s sensitivity and specificity when employed by untrained users. In this article, the authors argue that additional information should be sought to evaluate the prevalence of undetected HIV in the end-user population. The analytic framework produces the elementary but counterintuitive finding that the performance of the home HIV test— measured in terms of its ability to correctly detect the presence and absence of HIV infection among the people who purchase it—depends critically on the manufacturer’s retail price. This finding has profound implications for the FDA’s approval process.
Transforming the Initial Marketing Education Experience
Authors: Young Mark R.
Published: May 2009

Marketing education today is facing significant challenges in attracting and retaining high-quality students. The focus of this article is to advocate engaging 1st-year students in the practice of marketing to help develop their identity as a marketing major, to see the relevance of their studies, and to enhance their thinking and self-regulating learning skills. Action Learning is offered as a pedagogy capable of transforming the initial introduction to marketing experience into a highly motivating and engaging course. An innovative Marketing 101 course is described in which freshman undertake multiple cycles of analyzing, planning, implementing, and controlling marketing strategies in an on-campus coffee house.
Are Student Groups Dysfunctional?
Authors: Chapman Kenneth J. , Meuter Matthew L. , Toy Daniel , Wright Lauren K.
Published: May 2009

In today’s business world, the ability to work efficiently and effectively in a team is mandatory to a business student’s success. Many employers rank “ability to work with a group” as one of the most important attributes for hiring business school graduates. Although an abundance of research has investigated group processes and dynamics during student group projects, no studies to date have specifically examined how instructors perceive the way in which students operate within their groups. The primary goal of this research is to address how student views regarding group work compare to those of their instructors. The results indicate that there are significant gaps between students’ opinions of their team experiences and the perceptions of the faculty who assign the group activities. The findings have implications for the use of team projects and the attitudes and behaviors instructors have regarding the efficacy of student groups.
Educational Blogging
Authors: Kaplan Melike Demirbag , Piskin Burak , Bol Beste
Published: May 2009

The major challenge of marketing education is that the discipline continually reinvents itself. Marketing approaches and practices once new rapidly become old and many texts grow outdated in a short period of time, increasing the pressure on the instructors to provide the students with the latest knowledge. The changing environment of business necessitates the integration of innovative tools into the curriculum to enhance experiential learning and develop soft skills. This article presents the adaptation of blogging as an innovative approach for building and improving necessary marketing skills. This approach requires the students to maintain blogs where, as part of the Marketing Management course, they can write about “anything marketing,” such as recent campaigns, commercials, new products, or their own marketing-related experiences to provide an experiential exercise in marketing and produce significant improvements in students’ soft skills. This article offers a detailed discussion of such outcomes based on qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Mission—Market Tensions and Nonprofit Pricing
Authors: Young Dennis R. , Jung Taehyun , Aranson Rick
Published: May 2009

Nonprofit organizations must address their social missions while breaking even financially, facing trade-offs between mission responsive and financially rewarding actions, including alternative pricing policies. The paper draws on alternative theories of nonprofit pricing. In one theory, nonprofits price their services to maximize net revenue. In another theory, nonprofits price their services to achieve maximum mission impact within the constraint of financial solvency. These theories are explored through case studies of three multi-service organizations in a local social services federation. Alternative behavioral patterns are found, including pricing to balance financial and mission impacts on a service by service basis as well as differentiated, strategic pricing policies to achieve overall mission impact. In all cases nonprofit managers struggle with pricing-related mission-market tensions and could benefit from a system to help them resolve these tensions. One case is described in depth as an exemplar of how such a system can be developed.
Reentry of Emerging Adults
Authors: Inderbitzin Michelle
Published: May 2009

This article is based on the sociological analysis of the experiences and perspectives of five young men making the transition out of one state's end-of-the-line maximum security juvenile correctional facility and attempting to reenter the community as emerging adults. As part of a larger ethnographic study of violent offenders in a cottage, these young men shared their observations as they faced their futures with both fear and hope. Upon their release from the institution, they found few people or services to rely on, and they struggled the best way they knew to cope with new and frightening responsibilities of independence and emerging adulthood.
Through the Lens of Therapeutic Jurisprudence
Authors: Bennett Cattaneo Lauren , Goodman Lisa A.
Published: May 2009

Research has established the connection between intimate partner violence victims’ empowering experiences in the court system and their satisfaction with the process, but not between these experiences and victims’ broader wellbeing, a link suggested by the framework of therapeutic jurisprudence. This study investigated the relationship between empowerment and victim depression, quality of life, fear, and intention to use the system in the future among 142 court-involved women. At 3 and 6 months after recruitment, over and above repeat abuse, the outcome of the criminal case, and expectations about the court system, more empowering experiences in the court predicted improvement in depression and quality of life, in addition to stronger intention to use the system in the future if needed. Implications include the need for research on what aspects of victim experience in the court are empowering and evaluations of innovations that can increase the likelihood they will occur.
The Reasons for Nursing Home Entry in an Adult Day Care Population: Caregiver Reports Versus Regression Results
Authors: Cohen-Mansfield Jiska , Wirtz Philip W.
Published: May 2009

This article aims to compare reasons for nursing home entry determined through a regression of baseline predictors to relatives’ perceptions of reasons for entry. Participants included 201 community-residing members of 5 senior day care centers in Maryland. Through a prospective design, statistical predictors using Cox regressions were compared to the relatives’ reports of reasons for nursing home entry. These reports identified the most common reasons for nursing home entry as deterioration of independence and confusion. Behavior problems were also reported for almost half of the participants. In contrast, strong baseline statistical predictors of institutionalization were depressed affect, number of psychiatric diagnoses, a diagnosis of dementia, and age. Because of its strong significance within the baseline predictors, the meaning of depressed affect and why it was such a potent predictor of nursing home entry, yet still not reported by caregivers, should be studied further.
An Exploratory Study of How Potential “Family and Household Capital” Impacts New Venture Start-Up Rates
Authors: Rodriguez Peter , Tuggle Christopher S. , Hackett Sean M.
Published: May 2009

Drawing from social capital theory, the authors examine the relationship between family capital characteristics and new venture start-up rates in the United States. The results of this study improve the understanding of (a) how families matter in an entrepreneur’s decision to start a business, (b) how wealth and health care considerations affect the start-up decision, and (c) whether and how these effects differ among the largest ethnic groups in the United States.
Beyond the Public Safety Net: The Role of Nonprofits in Addressing Material Hardship of Low-Income Households
Authors: Guo Baorong
Published: May 2009

Research on material hardship mostly takes the public policy perspective, whereas the role of nonprofits in addressing household material hardship is largely ignored. This study uses data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation to examine what sources (government or nonprofit) households facing material hardships turn to for material assistance. Contrary to the common assumption that nonprofits play an increasing role in service provision after welfare reform, the data do not show a significant growth in service areas related to household material hardship. In the areas of comparison, government outweighs nonprofits in providing material assistance to low-income households, even without counting major public assistance programs. However, several findings show that nonprofits play a supplementary role in social service provision. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.
Two cases of cyclic vomiting syndrome in systemic autoimmune conditions: SLE and autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Blasco LM , Salazar OA , González-Fernández CR , Robledo FN
Published: May 2009

Vomiting directly attributable to SLE occurs in approximately 8% of patients, and its causes are sometimes obscure when common conditions are ruled out. Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a common functional disorder which usually starts from childhood. We report the first two cases of patients affected by systemic autoimmune conditions associated to cyclic vomiting syndrome. Identification and proper treatment may guide to diagnosis and alleviate neglected manifestations of autoimmune patients.
Relationship between health-related quality of life and SLE activity and damage in children over time
Authors: Moorthy LN , Peterson MGE , Hassett AL , Baratelli M , Chalom EC , Hashkes PJ , Hong S , Reiff A , Lehman TJA
Published: May 2009

We previously described the development and validation of the ‘Simple Measure of the Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters©’ (SMILEY©) for the reliable assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objectives of this new study were to determine the relationship of SMILEY© scores to patient’s/parent’s assessment of HRQOL and SLE status, and physician’s assessment of disease activity and damage over time. In this multicentre study, 68 children with SLE and parents completed SMILEY© including the global HRQOL and SLE status assessments, physicians completed disease activity and damage tools at two time-points. Spearman rho was calculated between SMILEY© scores and other scales, and between interval changes in SMILEY© scores and other scales. SMILEY© scores correlated with patient/parent assessments of global HRQOL and SLE status, disease activity and damage, confirming previous findings. The change in disease activity and damage measures correlated most strongly with the changes in SMILEY© domains, Limitation and Burden of SLE. Results provide preliminary evidence that Limitation and Burden of SLE domains of SMILEY© reflect the impact of disease activity and damage on HRQOL.
In-vitro radiosensitivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Carrillo-Alascio PL , Sabio JM , Núñez-Torres MI , López E , Muñoz-Gámez JA , Hidalgo-Tenorio C , Jáimez L , Martín J , Jiménez-Alonso J ,   for the Grupo Lupus Virgen De Las Nieves
Published: May 2009

To determine the “in-vitro” intrinsic cell radiosensitivity (RS) as a risk indicator of radiation-related side-effects in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with healthy subjects (control group). Moreover, we elucidated if clinical, therapeutic and biological parameters could affect the “in-vitro” intrinsic RS in patients with SLE. Intrinsic RS was determined by the quantification of the initial radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes, measured by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis from 52 patients with SLE and a control group consisting of 48 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. No difference in intrinsic RS was found among both groups. However, SLE patients with anaemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and those with positive result for anti-La/SSB and anti-RNP antibodies showed significantly higher DNA double-strand breaks than those without them. In our study, patients with SLE did not have a higher intrinsic RS than healthy subjects. According to these results, and with the caution of being a limited laboratory study, the use of radiotherapy should not be avoided in patients with SLE when it is clinically needed.
The Hopes and Dreams of Honduran Women Regarding Their Daughters' Sexuality
Authors: Giordano Francesca G. , Thumme Beverly , Panting Sierra Georgina
Published: May 2009

In Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, 22 local women participated in two focus groups. This article was written to give voice to these native Honduran women's unique perspective on their sexuality. We used a phenomenological qualitative approach, and asked them what sexual advice mothers have for their daughters. Data gathering and analysis were conducted using the principles of consensual qualitative research. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Primary themes include the participants' cultural understanding of respect, women's control of sexual discourse, the role of mothers as protectors, and women's sexual power, attachment, and desire.
Ethics, Problem Framing, and Training in Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Nespor Jan , Groenke Susan L.
Published: May 2009

This article examines the ethical issues bound up in the ways research problems are initially framed: the questions asked, the temporal and spatial frames of the study, the ways participants are defined. It explores the consequences of thinking through ethical issues using recent reconceptualizations of agency and suggests extensions of the ways researchers define participants for ethical purposes. The article concludes by examining some of the reasons for the relative neglect of such issues in graduate research preparation.
Rereading The Jack-Roller
Authors: Shaw Ian
Published: May 2009

I revisit one of the iconic Chicago School studies, Clifford Shaw’s The Jack-Roller. A naive reading of Shaw’s book leaves the reader with a sense of having been inducted into a mélange of what we now know as “sociology” and “social work,” but which to Shaw seems a coherent stance. I suggest that this is close to the heart of how things were, and not a temporary distortion in the distinct histories of sociology and social work. I develop and illustrate this argument through a hidden history of an intellectual case for reciprocity between the two disciplines as seen in some barely noticed work of Ernest Burgess. I conclude with a suggested rereading of The Jack-Roller that supports a relationship between sociology and social work based on egalitarian respect and a commitment to practicing history in the sense of positioning ourselves in a historical context.
Stop Signal and Conners’ Continuous Performance Tasks
Authors: Soreni Noam , Crosbie Jennifer , Ickowicz Abel , Schachar Russell
Published: May 2009

Objective: To measure test -retest reliability of the Stop-Signal Task (SST) and the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) in children with ADHD. Methods: 12 children with ADHD (age 11.46 ±1.66) participated in the study. Primary outcome measures were stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) for the SST and CPT’s commission errors (%FP). For each participant, we acquired three morning (8:00am) measurements and behavioral observations, separated by two 7-day intervals. Reliability of cognitive measures and behavioral observations was measured using the Intraclass-correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: ICC values for SSRT and %FP were 0.72. Consistency of behavioral observations was much lower (ICC =0.41). Conclusion: Both the SST and the CPT yielded reliable measurements in ADHD children. Our findings lend further support to using these measures in the study of ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 13(2) 137-143)
Sensitivity and Specificity of Long Wave Infrared Imaging for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Coben Robert , Myers Thomas E.
Published: May 2009

Objective: This study was the first to investigate the efficacy of long wave infrared (LWIR) imaging as a diagnostic tool for ADHD. Method: This study was conducted to assess the sensitivity and specificity of LWIR imaging as a method of diagnosis among 190 patients (ages 4.4-57 years) with various diagnoses, including ADHD, who came into our office for neuropsychological evaluation. Results: LWIR imaging demonstrated a moderate level of sensitivity (65.71%) in identifying patients with ADHD and a high level of specificity (94%) in discriminating those with ADHD from those with other diagnoses. The overall classification rate was 73.16%. This was indicative of a high level of discriminant validity in distinguishing between patients with and without ADHD. There was a moderate level of agreement between LWIR imaging and multiple other diagnostic tests for ADHD. Conclusions: LWIR imaging demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic tool for ADHD. These results provide evidence for the efficacy of a novel, quick, and effective way to investigate the physiological basis of one of the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorders.
College Students' Attitudes Toward Their ADHD Peers
Authors: Chew Brandi L. , Jensen Scott A. , Rosén Lee A.
Published: May 2009

Objective: The attitudes of college students with and without ADHD toward peers with ADHD were examined. Method: A total of 196 college students (30 diagnosed with ADHD) anonymously completed four attitude measures. General analyses of attitudes toward peers with ADHD as well as comparisons between those with and without ADHD are made. Results: For all participants, but especially for those with ADHD, more frequent contact with peers with ADHD was associated with more positive attitudes toward individuals with ADHD. Only half of individuals with ADHD report receiving adequate accommodations, and only half of those report actually using the available accommodations. Overall, more negative than positive adjectives were endorsed as describing individuals with ADHD, and this was especially true for individuals with ADHD in comparison to those without ADHD. Conclusion: Contact with other individuals with ADHD may be especially important for college students with ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 13(3) 271-276)
Incorporating Ethnic-Specific Measures of Immigration in the Study of Lethal Violence
Authors: Stowell Jacob I. , Martinez Ramiro
Published: May 2009

The growing body of research on immigration and crime consistently finds that immigration, contrary to both criminological theory and popular sentiment, is not related to higher levels of lethal violence. Instead, a common finding in the literature is that immigration predicts lower levels of violence, and homicide in particular. The primary objective of the present study is an initial test of hypotheses associated with the Latino paradox, by focusing on the degree to which the impact of immigration operates differentially as a product of ethnicity. Using neighborhood-level homicide data and ethnically disaggregated indicators of immigration, these are consistent with the expectations of the Latino paradox.
Regulatory Focus Theory, Trust, and Privacy Concern
Authors: Wirtz Jochen , Lwin May O.
Published: May 2009

Relationship marketing typically requires organizations to continually collect customer information. Two distinct approaches coexist to encourage customers to disclose information: reducing privacy concern and building trust, which in the past have been examined in isolation. In the present study, regulatory focus theory is used to integrate both approaches and examine their distinct response behaviors concurrently. The findings are robust across two studies with different methods and contexts. As suggested in the proposed model, trust and privacy concern are the two central mediating variables with differentiated effects on promotion and prevention-focused behaviors. Specifically, trust mediates fairness perceptions on promotion-focused behaviors (i.e., relational behavior, relationship investment, and repatronage intentions), whereas privacy concern mediates fairness perceptions on prevention-focused behaviors (i.e., defensive, deflective, and disruptive behaviors). Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Commentary: Beauty, Class and Discourse: Issues in Debate
Authors: Bustamante Smolka Ana Luiza , dos Santos Braga Elizabeth
Published: May 2009

In this text we proceed through a brief review of Naomi Lee's (2009) article, highlighting her significant contributions to social and cultural psychology. In our dialogue with her text we inquire about some arguments and methodological procedures she presents. We raise some specific questions related to how the issue of beauty is framed, and we ponder on how a broadening of the scope to include history—of ideas, of relations—would bring some important elements to her approach. As Lee relates beauty and class, we examine the nuanced meanings of lack and deficiency in her analytical work. We also discuss her assumptions and position concerning discourse and dialogue which mark her ways of proceeding through the analysis of the interviews. We speculate that the depersonalized answer appointed in the interviewees' discourse can be related to a way of considering beauty as disembodied.
Continuing Commentary: A Cyclical Model of Social Change
Authors: Jensen Eric , Wagoner Brady
Published: May 2009

Castro and Batel's (2008) study points to some important strategies of resistance to social change in the transformation of transcendent to immanent representations. We contextualize this study within a broader cyclical model of social change, in which their focus is one of the four phases in the cycle. The expanded model is exemplified in the shifting representations of science communication in the UK from the `deficit model' of public understanding of science to the dialogic representation of `public engagement'. Within each of the four proposed phases, the dialectic of adoption/rejection is central, although it is modulated by strategies of resistance and the selective distribution of resources.