bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. als dermatologisch wirksame Heilpflanze - erste Ergebnisse aus 3 Pilotstudien
Authors: Raak Christa , Molsberger Friedrich , Heinrich Ulrike , Bertram Mathias , Ostermann Thomas
Published: December 2014

Hintergrund: Neben vielen bekannten Heilpflanzen der rationalen Phytotherapie gibt es eine Vielzahl von Pflanzen, deren Wirkung nur unzureichend erforscht oder deren Wirkpotential in Vergessenheit geraten ist. Zu diesen Pflanzen gehört die Kristall-Mittagsblume (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden 3 Pilotstudien vorgestellt, die die dermatologische Wirkung des Mittagsblumenextrakts (Mesem-Creme) näher untersuchen. Material und Methoden: In 2 Anwendungsbeobachtungen wurde zunächst das Wirkprofil der Mesem-Creme näher untersucht. Neben einer retrospektiven Anwenderbefragung wurde außerdem bei 6 Rollstuhlfahrern eine prospektive Befragung zur Veränderung des Hautstatus im Prä-post-Design durchgeführt. In einer dritten placebokontrollierten Pilotstudie wurde die Hautfeuchtigkeitsveränderung mittels Corneometermessung an 6 Probanden mit trockener Haut analysiert. Ergebnisse: Im Vergleich zur unbehandelten Haut konnte in der Corneometer-Studie eine signifikante Steigerung der Hautfeuchtigkeit mit der Mesem-Creme erzielt werden (25,8 ± 5,8 vorher zu 46,6 ± 9,2 nachher vs. 26,3 ± 6,0 vorher zu 33,8 ± 6,0 nachher) sowie ein statistischer Trend (p = 0,11; t-Test) im Vergleich zur Basiscreme ohne Mesem-Zusatz (25,1 ± 4,7 vorher zu 41,9 ± 7,3 nachher). Dieser Effekt der Steigerung der Hautfeuchtigkeit wurde auch in den Anwendungsbeobachtungen verifiziert. Die Hauttrockenheit hatte sich bei 17 von 29 Probanden «sehr verbessert» oder «verbessert». Auch die Anwendungsbeobachtung bei einer Kohorte von 6 Rollstuhlfahrern ergab signifikante Verbesserungen des Hautzustands in Bezug auf die Weichheit und Trockenheit der Haut im Vorher-nachher-Vergleich. Schlussfolgerung: In dieser Arbeit wurde die Mesem-Creme durch 2 Anwendungsbeobachtungen im Hinblick auf Wirkung, Produkteigenschaften und Verträglichkeit und durch den etablierten Corneometertest auch in Hinblick auf objektivierbare Hautfeuchtigkeitsveränderungen evaluiert. Aufgrund der geringen Fallzahlen gibt es trotz der ermutigenden Ergebnisse Limitationen in der Ergebnisinterpretation. Zudem sollte das Design künftiger Studien klarer sein und den hautfeuchtigkeitsverbessernden Effekt der Mesem-Creme besser fokussieren.
Drinking Pattern and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: The Kansai Healthcare Study
Authors: Sato Kyoko Kogawa , Hayashi Tomoshige , Uehara Shinichiro , Kinuhata Shigeki , Oue Keiko , Endo Ginji , Kambe Hiroshi , Fukuda Kanji
Published: December 2014

Background/Aims: The association between alcohol consumption and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been reported. What is not known is whether drinking pattern combined with the weekly frequency of alcohol consumption and the quantity per drinking day is associated with the risk of CKD. Methods: We enrolled 9,112 Japanese nondiabetic men aged 40 to 55 years with absence of proteinuria, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or higher, and not on antihypertensive medications at baseline. CKD was defined if eGFR was <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The weekly frequency classification was nondrinkers, 1-3 drinking days/week, or 4-7 drinking days/week. The quantity consumed per drinking day was classified as 0.1-23.0 g ethanol/drinking day, 23.1-46.0 g ethanol/drinking day, 46.1-69.0 g ethanol/drinking day, and ≥69.1 g ethanol/drinking day. Results: During the 79,099 person-years, 1,253 subjects developed CKD. Compared to nondrinkers, those who consumed 23.1-46.0 or 46.1-69.0 g ethanol/drinking day on 4-7 drinking days/week had a decreased risk of CKD (multiple-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.62 (0.52-0.74) and 0.76 (0.59-0.97), respectively). The association between the quantity per drinking day and the incidence of CKD was U-shaped among each category of the weekly frequency. HRs within similar categories of quantity per drinking day were lower in the 4-7 drinking days/week group than in the 1-3 drinking days/week group. Conclusion: Among middle-aged Japanese men, the people who drank middle-range quantity, specifically who drank 4-7 days/week, had lower risk of CKD than nondrinkers.
A Case of Carcinoma Showing Thymus-Like Differentiation with a Rapidly Lethal Course
Authors: Nogami Tomohiro , Taira Naruto , Toyooka Shinichi , Tanaka Takehiro , Mizoo Taeko , Iwamoto Takayuki , Shien Tadahiko , Soh Junichi , Miyoshi Shinichiro , Doihara Hiroyoshi
Published: December 2014

A 55-year-old woman underwent a total thyroidectomy for carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE). The patient was referred to our hospital after the tumor was found to have directly invaded the cervical esophagus and the entire circumference of the trachea. A total thyroidectomy was performed, followed by end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea, suprahyoid release and dissection of bilateral pulmonary ligaments. No major complications, including anastomotic dehiscence or stenosis, were observed. The patient experienced some swallowing disturbances and hoarseness during the perioperative period but fully recovered. Radiotherapy to the neck was performed as an adjuvant therapy. Eleven months after surgery, lower back pain and right leg numbness developed and led to gait inability. Multiple lung and bone recurrences were observed, but no local recurrence. Palliative radiotherapy to the bone metastasis was performed. The patient died of pleural metastasis 14 months after the initial diagnosis of CASTLE.
Taxonomic consequences of cryptic speciation in the Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis complex in mainland southern Australia
Authors: JOSEPH LEO , NYÁRI ÁRPÁD S. , ANDERSEN MICHAEL J.
Published: December 2014

The Golden Whistler (Aves: Passeriformes: Pachycephalidae) Pachycephala pectoralis sensu lato has long played a key role in the development of the theory of allopatric speciation (Mayr 1932a, b; Mayr 1942; Galbraith 1956). The P. pectoralis species complex formerly comprised 60–70 nominal subspecies and so had a distribution spanning the Indo-Pacific (Boles 2007). More recent taxonomic treatments consider the complex as multiple species-level taxa largely circumscribed by geography (Dickinson and Christidis 2014; Gill and Donsker 2014). In Australia, the endemic species P. pectoralis sensu stricto is sympatric with the closely related Mangrove Golden Whistler P. melanura. However, as the latter’s English name suggests, P. melanura is closely tied to mangroves in Australia, southeast New Guinea, and islets in the Bismarck Archipelago. Diagnostic plumage traits separating the two species are subtle: males of P. melanura have more extensively black tails and a greyer upper surface to the remiges, and females are usually yellower ventrally. All Pachycephala species, especially those in the P. pectoralis-melanura species complex, have recently become the focus of DNA sequence-based studies (Jønsson et al. 2008, 2014; Andersen et al. 2014). Data from most populations have now been analysed phylogenetically to better understand relationships and thus the history of evolution and speciation processes within and between both species. This has also been used in studies of the group’s historical biogeography to provide information as to the age of taxa and their spread across oceanic archipelagos and continents (Jønsson et al. 2014). Here we discuss the taxonomic implications of a result that has emerged consistently and independently in these studies, concerning the systematics of the southern Australian populations in south-eastern and south-western Australia, both of which have been ascribed to P. p. fuliginosa since Galbraith (1956), and we show that the name P. occidentalis Ramsay, 1878 is available for the western population and should be used for it.
A new species of Dasineura Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in flower galls of Camassia (Asparagaceae: Agavoideae) in the Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: GAGNÉ RAYMOND J. , BAROSH THERESA , KEPHART SUSAN
Published: December 2014

A new species, Dasineura camassiae Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is described, illustrated and compared to some of its congeners from related hosts and western North America. The new species causes flower galls on Camassia (Agavoideae; Asparagaceae) in the Pacific Northwest. Its current known distribution is Oregon and Washington, USA. Larvae develop in spring in flowers of Camassia spp., causing the young ovaries to enlarge prematurely and eventually abort, without forming seeds or mature fruit. Full-grown larvae crawl out of the gall in rapid succession and drop to the soil where they pupate; they remain there until spring of the following year when the adults emerge and lay eggs. The galls they induce in camas lily buds represent the first known association of the cosmopolitan genus Dasineura with the group of plants that includes Agave and its relatives.
Leptophlebiidae (Ephemeroptera) of the Serra do Tepequém, Roraima State, Brazil: new records and description of two new species
Authors: NETO JAIME DE LIEGE GAMA , HAMADA NEUSA
Published: December 2014

Miroculis (Miroculis) eldorado sp. nov. and Ulmeritoides passorum sp. nov. are described based on material from Serra do Tepequém, Roraima State, Brazil. Additional records of Leptophlebiidae genera and species are made. Askola Peters, 1969, Farrodes Peters, 1971, Microphlebia Savage & Peters, 1983, Hydrosmilodon Flowers & Dominguez, 1992, Hagenulopsis minuta Spieth, 1943 and Simothraulopsis demerara (Traver, 1947) are recorded for the first time in Roraima State. Simothraulopsis janae Mariano, 2010 is recorded for the first time in the Northern Brazil.
Contribution to a revision of the genus Pratylenchoides Winslow, 1958 (Nematoda: Merliniidae), with redescription of P. erzurumensis Yüksel, 1977 from Iran
Authors: GHADERI REZA , KAREGAR AKBAR
Published: December 2014

Morphological and morphometric studies were conducted on the populations and paratypes of 14 species of the genus Pratylenchoides, including P. alkani, P. acuticauda, P. arenarius, P. arenicola, P. bacilisemenus, P. crenicauda, P. erzurumensis, P. heathi, P. laticauda, P. ritteri, P. rivalis, P. sheri, P. utahensis and P. variabilis. In addition, P. erzurumensis was redescribed based on a bisexual population from western Iran. The conoid head of males is an additional diagnostic character of this species distinguishing it from the closely related P. laticauda and P. camachoi. Based on detailed study of the main characters, synonymies of P. arenarius with P. bacilisemenus and P. variabilis with P. crenicauda are proposed. Synonymy of P. alkani with P. ritteri is supported also by morphological and biological evidence. Some taxonomic notes are made on some other species of the genus. Finally, a diagnostic compendium and key is provided for species identification.
A review of the legged mealybugs on bamboo (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) occurring in China
Authors: LI WEN-CHAO , TSAI MING-YU , WU SAN-AN
Published: December 2014

Twenty-two species of legged mealybugs occur on bamboo (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) in China. These species are reviewed and two of them are described for the first time: Dysmicoccus luoyangensis Li & Wu, sp. nov. and Trionymus indocalamus Li & Wu, sp. nov. Two new combinations are established: Pseudococcus bambusicola Takahashi and Kaicoccus bambusus Wu are transferred to genus Formicococcus Takahashi as F. bambusicola (Takahashi) comb. nov. and F. bambusus (Wu) comb. nov., respectively. Formicococcus bambusicola, Heliococcus bambusae (Takahashi), Neoripersia miscanthicola Takahashi and Trionymus formosanus Takahashi are redescribed and reillustrated based on type specimens. Brief notes are provided for Balanococcus kwoni Pellizari & Danzig, B. zhejiangensis Li & Wu, Dysmicoccus dengwuensis Ferris, D. indocalamus Wu, Eumyrmococcus smithii Silvestri, Ferrisicoccus angustus Ezzat & McConnell, Heliococcus lingnaniae Wang, H. takae (Kuwana), Heterococcus abludens Borchsenius, Miscanthicoccus miscanthi (Takahashi), Palmicultor lumpurensis (Takahashi), Paraporisaccus guizhouensis Lu & Wu, Paraserrolecanium fargesii Wu, Pseudantonina magnotubulata Borchsenius and Trionymus bambusae (Green). A key to the species of legged mealybugs on bamboo occurring in China is given. A list of bamboo mealybugs worldwide is also provided.
Grasshoppers of the Mascarene Islands: new species and new records (Orthoptera, Caelifera)
Authors: HUGEL SYLVAIN
Published: December 2014

The grasshopper fauna of Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Rodrigues and La Réunion), in South Western Indian ocean is examined. Numerous field surveys and examination of museum specimens recorded twenty species of Grasshoppers on the archipelago. Five of them are new records, including a new species: Odontomelus ancestrus n. sp. restricted to Round Island, a 2 km² islet North to Mauritius. Despite intensive searching, five of the non endemic species once recorded on the archipelago have not been recorded again and might correspond to temporary settlements/introductions. A key to Mascarene grasshoppers is given.
The genus Epidapus Haliday (Diptera, Sciaridae) in New Caledonia, with the description of four new species
Authors: VILKAMAA PEKKA , HIPPA HEIKKI , MOHRIG WERNER
Published: December 2014

The following species of the genus Epidapus Haliday, 1851 are recognized from New Caledonia: Epidapus (s. str.) aciculatus sp. n., E. (Pseudoaptanogyna) angulatus sp. n., E. (s. str.) formosus sp. n., E. (Zuhalia) primus Mohrig, 2004 and E. (s. str.) triquetrus sp. n. The new species are described, and a key to the local species is given.
MARTIN GROSS, MARIA INES F. RAMOS & WERNER E. PILLER (2014) On the Miocene Cyprideis species flock (Ostracoda; Crustacea) of Western Amazonia (Solimões Formation): Refining taxonomy on species level. Zootaxa, 3899 (1), 001–069.
Authors: GROSS MARTIN , RAMOS MARIA INES F. , PILLER WERNER E.
Published: December 2014

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The Influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Eastern North Pacific Basin
Authors: Jien Jerry Y. , Gough William A. , Butler Ken
Published: December 2014

The interannual variability of tropical cyclone (TC) activity due to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the main development region of the eastern North Pacific basin has received scant attention. Herein the authors classify years of El Niño, La Niña, and neutral conditions using the multivariate ENSO index (MEI). Storm measurements of the net tropical cyclone activity index and power dissipation index are used to summarize the overall seasonal TC activity and TC intensity between 1971 and 2012. Both measures are found to be statistically dependent on the ENSO phases in the basin’s main development region. However, when the area is longitudinally divided, only the western portion of the development region experienced a significant difference (p < 0.05). Specifically, El Niño years are characterized by more frequent, more intense events compared to La Niña conditions for this subregion. Correlation analyses on the relationships between the MEI and both TC indices demonstrate correlations between ENSO and TC activity and intensity that are statistically significant (p < 0.05) only in the western region. These relationships have the potential to improve the short-term forecast of the local TC activity and intensity on a seasonal basis for public awareness and disaster preparation.
The Vertical Structure of Large-Scale Unsteady Currents
Authors: Hochet Antoine , Colin de Verdière Alain , Scott Robert
Published: December 2014

A linear model based on the quasigeostrophic equations is constructed in order to predict the vertical structure of Rossby waves and, more broadly, of anomalies resolved by altimeter data, roughly with periods longer than 20 days and with wavelengths larger than 100 km. The subsurface field is reconstructed from sea surface height and climatological stratification. The solution is calculated in periodic rectangular regions with a 3D discrete Fourier transform. The effect of the mean flow on Rossby waves is neglected, which the authors believe is a reasonable approximation for low latitudes. The method used has been tested with an idealized double-gyre simulation [performed with the Miami Isopycnal Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM)]. The linear model is able to give reasonable predictions of subsurface currents at low latitudes (below approximately 30°) and for relatively weak mean flow. However, the predictions degrade with stronger mean flows and higher latitudes. The subsurface velocities calculated with this model using AVISO altimetric data and velocities from current meters have also been compared. Results show that the model gives reasonably accurate results away from the top and bottom boundaries, side boundaries, and far from western boundary currents. This study found, for the regions where the model is valid, an energy partition of the traditional modes of approximately 68% in the barotropic mode and 25% in the first baroclinic mode. Only 20% of the observed kinetic energy can be attributed to free Rossby waves of long periods that propagate energy to the west.
Real-Time Guidance of Underwater Gliders Assisted by Predictive Ocean Models
Authors: Chang Dongsik , Zhang Fumin , Edwards Catherine R.
Published: December 2014

In recent years, collecting scientific data from ocean environments has been increasingly undertaken by underwater gliders. For better navigation performance, the influence of flow on the navigation of underwater gliders may be significantly reduced by estimating flow velocity. However, methods for estimating flow do not always account for spatial and temporal changes in the flow field, leading to poor navigation in complex ocean environments. To improve navigation accuracy in such environmental conditions, this paper studies an approach for the real-time guidance of underwater gliders assisted by predictive ocean models. This study is motivated by glider deployments conducted from January to April 2012 and in February 2013 in Long Bay, South Carolina, where the ocean currents are characterized by strong tides and a stronger alongshore current, the Gulf Stream. The flow speed here often exceeds the forward speed of the glider. To deal with such a challenge, a computationally efficient method of depth-averaged ocean current modeling was developed. The method adjusts the ocean model based on the most recent ocean observations from gliders as feedback, and flow predictions from the model are incorporated into path planning, which produces waypoints. The entire process of flow prediction, path planning, and waypoint computation is performed off-board the gliders in real time by the glider navigation support system, the Glider-Environment Network Information System (GENIoS). This paper presents the setup and method for the glider navigation strategy applied to the Long Bay deployments. For demonstration, the performance of the method described here is compared to that of the default method implemented in the built-in glider navigation system.
The development of library and information science in China (1840–2009)
Authors: Zhang Yao
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the development of Chinese libraries and library and information science (LIS) in China during 1840 to 2009. The discussion is divided into four historical periods: 1840–1897, 1898–1948, 1949–1977, and 1978–2009. In each of these periods, the author discusses three themes that have had a major influence in the development of libraries and LIS: the social, economic, scientific and political climate in China that influenced the development of libraries and information institutions, and LIS education, which supported the growing profession. In sum, this study reviews the accomplishment of library and information science in China from 1840 to 2009, and the significant efforts of people from different classes, and across several generations, combining the historical background, including the change of regimes, crisis from foreign invasion, and social progress.
Assessing the Awareness and Behaviors of U.S. High School Nurses With Respect to the Female Athlete Triad
Authors: Kroshus Emily , Fischer Anastasia N. , Nichols Jeanne F.
Published: December 2014

Female high school athletes are an at-risk population for the Female Athlete Triad—a syndrome including low energy availability (with or without disordered eating), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density. School nurses can play an important role in reducing the health burden of this syndrome, by educating coaches and athletes, and by referring symptomatic student-athletes to appropriate community resources for evaluation and treatment. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, communication, and referral behaviors of U.S. high school nurses about the Female Athlete Triad. Participants were a random sample of 370 U.S. high school nurses. The results indicated that only 19% of the nurses were able to identify the three components of the Triad and only 25% reported that they work proactively with coaches to help prevent health issues among their female athletes. Over 95% expressed interest in learning more about the Triad. Implications for educational program design are discussed.
Comparing Materials-Based Occupation, Imagery-Based Occupation, and Rote Movement through Kinematic Analysis of Reach
Authors: Ross Lisa M. , Nelson David L.
Published: December 2014

This replication research of Wu, Trombly, and Lin (1994) compared the kinematics of reach in materials-based occupationally embedded movement (OEM), imagery-based OEM, and rote movement. Three-dimensional motion analysis equipment was used to test one of the basic premises of occupational therapy: OEM is qualitatively different from movements performed under artificial circumstances. The sample consisted of 60 healthy college women with a mean age of 21.6 years (SD = 1.63). A randomized counterbalanced design was used so that each subject participated in 3 trials of each of the following conditions: reaching for a pencil in a pencil holder, imagining reaching for a pencil in a pencil holder, and rote reaching. Materials-based OEM resulted in quicker reaction time (P = .009), more rapid movement time (P < .001), smoother movement (with fewer movement units) (P < .001), more direct movement (less displacement) (P < .001), and lower peak velocity (P = .001) than the other two conditions. In some ways the imagery-based OEM resembled rote movement; in other ways it resembled materials-based OEM. The findings support the main results reported by Wu et al. (1994) and enhance occupational therapy's research base by demonstrating the distinctiveness of materials-based OEM.
Can You Imagine? The Effect of Mental Practice on the Acquisition and Retention of a Motor Skill as a Function of Age
Authors: Jams Tal , Ratzon Navah Z.
Published: December 2014

The differences among participants of various ages in their ability to use mental practice for motor skill acquisition have not been examined to date. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age on mental practice. Participants were divided into 3 age groups: children, adults, and older adults; each group was randomly subdivided into physical and mental-physical practice groups. The results indicated that mental practice affected the 3 age groups differently. Mental practice in the acquisition phase of bimanual coordination task was found to be beneficial for children and older adults only. In the retention phase, this benefit was confined to older adults. Adults in the mental-physical and physical practice groups did not differ in performance of the acquired task. These findings indicate that at both ends of our lives—in childhood and old age—we benefit more from mental practice. Mental practice was especially beneficial for older adults regarding their retention process.
Imagery Improves Upper Extremity Motor Function in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Page Stephen J.
Published: December 2014

After medical stabilization, stroke patients receive rehabilitation during a period that is considered subacute. The traditional view of neurologic rehabilitation is that it reduces impairment and minimizes disability. However, intensive rehabilitation is expensive and there are limited and diminishing financial resources to pay for therapy after stroke. Imagery improves motor learning and performance. Studies report increased blood flow, electromyographic activity during imagery, and subsequent changes in organization of the motor cortex in stroke patients following imagery. Since these events usually precede reacquisition of function, it has been suggested that imagery may be beneficial in reacquisition of function following stroke. To test this, 8 chronic stroke patients with right-arm hemiparesis were provided a four-week program combining occupational therapy and imagery (OT + I), while 8 controls received a program consisting only of OT. Scores on the upper extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Sensorimotor Recovery indicated that those receiving OT + I exhibited significantly more improved function than those receiving OT ( F [1,14] −14.71; p < .05). Findings suggest that imagery may be an inexpensive, noninvasive compliment to OT for hemiparesis in stroke. The researchers encourage further investigation of OT + I in stroke.
Evaluating Categorization Skills in Children following Severe Brain Injury
Authors: Josman Naomi , Berney Tikva , Jams Tal
Published: December 2014

Children with severe brain injury often have long-term cognitive disabilities that might impair school classroom performance. Problems manifested in preserving sequences of ideas, generalizing, categorizing or integrating information to main principles, are considered critical components hindering successful integration into class. The present exploratory study investigated the use of the Toglia Category Assessment (TCA) to evaluate the cognitive categorization ability as well as the capacity to switch conceptual sets. Investigation of awareness was conducted both before and after test-task performance. The present study investigated also the capacity of the TCA to differentiate both between children with brain injuries and typically developing children, and between age groups. Included in the research group were 30 children with severe brain-injury (8–14 years old), and a control group of 30 children without known neurological impairmerits. The two groups did not differ statistically in age and gender. Children with brain-injury obtained significantly lower scores than children with typical development. Awareness scores of both research and control group were significantly correlated with performance scores. Results of this study provide discriminent validity to the TCA and increase the validity and reliability of this test for use with children experiencing brain injury. The study finding highlights the importance of self-awareness in treatment.
Routinization as a Factor in the Coping and the Mental Health of Women with Fibromyalgia
Authors: Reich John W.
Published: December 2014

Previous research has found a two-factor model of habit and routine in daily living to be related to mental health and the occurrence of daily events in the lives of middle-aged and older adults. The study reported in this article extended research on the variable, routinization, to a sample of women with fibromyalgia syndrome, a chronic, debilitating disorder characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. The two factors found previously, Having Order and Routine in Life, and Disliking Disruption, were investigated further. The Having Order variable was significantly related to mental health when level of physical functioning was included in prediction equations, and active coping efforts were effective for the high-order group in improving mental health. The Disliking Disruption factor was not significantly influential. Results are discussed in terms of the therapeutic implications for improving the mental health and coping efforts of people with adjustment-threatening illnesses.
Habituation and Being in Place
Authors: Rowles Graham D.
Published: December 2014

Over the duration of our lives, we each develop a rhythm and a routine in our use of space and in our relationships with the places of our lives that provide a sense of being in place. We gradually come to wear our environment like a glove, as, with increasing familiarity, it almost literally becomes a part of our persona. As we grow older or become increasingly frail, we adapt to reduced physical capabilities and changes in our environment in a manner that allows us to continue functioning effectively. This article explores the implications for occupational therapy of habitual use of the environment by older people and the sense of being in place that characteristically results. It is argued that sensitivity to the development and the maintenance of being in place provides a template for effective intervention when physical capabilities are compromised. Using the framework provided by complexity theory, and empirical observations from an ethnographic study of growing old in an Appalachian community, the article considers homeostatic adjustments that older people make in the use and the meaning of the spaces and the places of their lives as they accommodate to changing circumstances. By exploring the role and the uses of habituation (learning through repetition) in this process of gradual, often almost imperceptible, environmental adjustment, occupational therapists will be able to enrich their potential for developing strategies for intervention that effectively use a knowledge of habit in treatment.
Development of the Infant-Toddler Sensory Profile
Authors: Daniels Debora B. , Dunn Winifred Wiese
Published: December 2014

Infants and toddlers acquire information about the world from their senses. When this process occurs as expected, children learn; when young children have disabilities, the process can be disrupted. This preliminary report outlines the initial phase of measurement development for the Infant-Toddler Sensory Profile, a caregiver questionnaire in which parents report the frequency with which their children engage in particular behaviors indicative of sensory responsiveness. In future phases, researchers will conduct a national standardization of the profile, and validation studies.
Facilitating Intrinsic Motivation in Individuals with Psychiatric Illness: A Study on the Effectiveness of an Occupational Therapy Intervention
Authors: Wu Chin-Yu
Published: December 2014

This study examined the effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention to facilitate intrinsic motivation in individuals with psychiatric illness who had motivational deficits. The clinical problem, motivational deficits, was referred to the passive or coercive behaviors resulting from cumulative psychosocial frustrations. The intervention was based on a motivational frame of reference developed by the researcher, involving strategies of autonomy support and moderate structure. The research design was a mixed-effects nested design, involving one experimental group and one control group, and two different groups of therapists to carry out the two types of treatment. The treatment was carried out in one-hour, twice-a-week individual therapy sessions for 12 weeks. The results showed that the motivational intervention effectively facilitated intrinsic motivation, and that there was a corresponding change in social behavior observed by independent therapists. It was concluded that the motivational frame of reference has potential to be used in occupational therapy practice, and further research is needed to investigate its long-term effects.
Unilateral Neglect and Functional Significance among Patients with Stroke
Authors: Chen-Sea Mei-Jin
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of unilateral neglect on activities of daily living (ADL). Participating in the study were 46 right-brain stroke patients evaluated on the Klein-Bell ADL Scale, the Draw-A-Man-Test, the Random Chinese Word Cancellation Test, and physical variables. Based on the results of the Draw-A-Man Test, and of the Random Chinese Word Cancellation Test, patients were divided into groups. The results showed that patients demonstrating concurrent personal and extrapersonal neglect were significantly lower in ADL performance than patients with extrapersonal neglect and patients with test results within normal range, but that the latter two groups did not differ from each other statistically. ADL performance was found to be related to physical variables. However, after controlling the effects of these physical variables by a partial correlation, the presence of concurrent personal and extrapersonal neglect was significant as it related to ADL performance.
Validity and Reliability of a Test of Playfulness
Authors: Bundy Anita C. , Nelson Lori , Metzger Margaret , Bingaman Kathleen
Published: December 2014

Since play wears many faces, occupational therapists (OTs) are concerned with the ways it may be expressed. Because adaptability is an important by-product of approaching activity in a playful manner, playfulness is a valuable outcome of occupational therapy. The Test of Play fulness (ToP) is an observational assessment requiring no special equipment. It represents a conceptualization of playfulness drawn from the literature. The purpose of this paper was to trace the development of the ToP and examine its preliminary construct and concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability. Validity and reliability were examined using the many-faceted Rasch analysis. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing children's ToP scores with their scores on the Children's Playfulness Scale. Results suggested that the ToP is both valid and reliable when applied to children, with or without disabilities, between 15 months and 10 years.
Editorial
Authors: Baum Carolyn
Published: December 2014

Changing patterns in the organization and delivery of health services demand parallel changes in roles and responsibilities of occupational therapists. There is increasing need to identify with the field of health, thus broadening our affiliations. We must recognize the responsibility of the profession to change with changing demands for its services, to adapt via new approaches, to assume different roles, to develop the preparation for them, and to recruit in a new mold rather than by re-casting the prototype of an earlier time.
Examining the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills
Authors: Klein Sheryl , Sollereder Patti , Gierl Mark
Published: December 2014

This study examines psychometric properties and factor structure of the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (nonmotor) (TVPS), a measure developed to assess children with school-related learning difficulties. Following a descriptive retrospective study design, clinic record data were compiled for a convenience sample of 294 children. While measure use was generally supported, findings indicate areas wherein the measure lacks psychometric soundness. Item analysis using point biserial correlations showed a low relationship between some items and subscale scores. Coefficient alpha showed acceptable internal consistency for group totals by subscale but only 3 of 7 by age group. Correlations between TVPS scores and criterion variables followed the pattern expected of a measure of visual perception. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support use of a unitary TVPS PQ score. Exploratory factor analysis supported some, albeit not all of the subscales, as measuring distinct visual-perceptual skills.
Physical Comminglings: Body, Habit, and Space Transformed into Place
Authors: Seamon David
Published: December 2014

This article considers the ways in which the habitual, bodily dimension of human experience works as one kind of tacit connection between self and world—between people's need to act and move, and the physical spaces and places in which those actions and movements take place. On the one hand, I argue that the body is an active intentionality in relation to the physical and spatial environment. On the other hand, I argue that the physical and spatial environment—in being made one way rather than another, particularly in terms of pathway layout—plays a potential role in where people go and how many and what kind of physical interactions they have with other people in their immediate place. In short, there is a mutual support at the level of body and world that, in terms of habit, allows the physical environment to be both a taken-for-granted support and a source of interpersonal stimulation and exchange.
Everyday Habitual Behaviors of Latino High School Students
Authors: Lopez Edward M.
Published: December 2014

The study reported in this article explored the habitual behaviors that Latino high school students reported practicing on an everyday basis. Twelve 10th graders (3 boys and 9 girls, academically high and low achievers), were randomly selected to participate. Most students reported that their everyday habitual routines consisted of doing chores, doing homework, listening to music, spending time with family, and watching television. There was no clear relationship between students' everyday habitual behaviors and their academic achievement. Participants' parents approved of the children's everyday habitual behaviors as long as the behaviors did not take away from school work, the behaviors kept the children away from unsafe activities, and the parents were aware of what the children were doing when they were out of the house.
Community Participation: Challenges for People with Disabilities Living in Oaxaca, Mexico, and New Mexico, United States
Authors: Crowe Terry K. , Picchiarini Sarah , Poffenroth Tracey
Published: December 2014

The use of wheelchairs or other mobility aids often limits the community participation of people with disabilities because of architectural barriers present in buildings. Although this has been recognized as a global problem, little research has been done to document accessibility standards on an international level. This study reports results from a survey using the Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines Checklist for Buildings and Facilities to measure the differences in levels of accessibility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, and Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. Investigators surveyed four building types (stores, restaurants, churches, and government buildings or public museums) in both geographic locations to determine whether each building was accessible. The findings showed that buildings in Albuquerque were significantly ( p < .0001) more accessible than buildings in Oaxaca on all measurement items and across all four building types. However, many buildings in Albuquerque were not fully accessible.
Content Validity of the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale: A Measure of Occupational Adaptation
Authors: George Lorrie A. , Schkade Janette K. , Ishee Jimmy H.
Published: December 2014

This research addressed the need for a clinically practical and psychometrically sound measure of a central construct of Occupational Adaptation theory. As an indicator of Occupational Adaptation, the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale (RMMS) was developed and evaluated for content and construct validity. The RMMS assesses individuals' perceptions of their effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction regarding their responses to occupational challenges. In the first phase, the content validity of the RMMS was statistically evaluated using the ratings of five experts in Occupational Adaptation. Lu's Coefficient of Agreement among the experts for the final 12-item RMMS was an acceptable .95. In phase two, construct validity and reliability were examined using a combination of Rasch analysis and traditional measurement statistics. Participants were 150 rehabilitation clients. Reliability and validity was supported through the unidimensionality of 11 of 12 RMMS items by the ordering of item difficulty, goodness-of-fit statistics, factor analysis, and point-biserial correlations.
Stories of Clients with Mental Illness: The Structure of Occupational Therapists' Interactions
Authors: Gahnström-Strandqvist Kitty , Josephsson Staffan , Tham Kerstin
Published: December 2014

The objective of this study was to examine therapist—client interactions in the psychosocial rehabilitation process. Data comprised narratives of clients with severe mental illness as told by the therapists. Some additional data were taken from field notes collected at the interviews. Narrative analysis was based on Ricoeur's concept of mimesis. An occupational therapy perspective was employed to both generate and interpret the narratives. One of the key findings highlighted how occupational therapists' actions functioned as emplotment—supporting the clients in handling the suspense they experienced. This suspense inhibited them from taking risks and thus hindered them in taking the next step in the rehabilitation process. Another key finding was the importance of designing a supportive, tolerant, and safe therapeutic environment that could enable clients the opportunity to grow. The essential roles of the occupational therapists in this context were role model, supervisor, and overall collaborator. The narrative approach has exposed some of the important therapist—client interactions that benefit clients with severe mental illness.
Daily Occupations with or without Pain: Dilemmas in Occupational Performance
Authors: Satink Ton , Winding Karen , Jonsson Hans
Published: December 2014

This explorative study examined the influence of chronic lower back pain on the motives for occupational performance. A narrative interview was conducted with seven Dutch clients. Three phases in the process of living with lower back pain were identified in which the self, the pain, and the environment were seen as interrelated elements that influence the creation of motives. In the first phase, clients wanted to meet social and personal expectations, which led to their ignoring the lower back pain. In the second phase, the pain took control and the clients withdrew from social participation, which led to “emotional pain.” In the third phase, clients became more conscious of the dynamics and dilemmas between the self, the pain, and the environment. Analysis of study results suggests that clients' narratives can help occupational therapists gain a deeper understanding of clients' experiences of dealing with chronic pain.
Barriers and Satisfaction Associated with Personal Assistance Services: Results of Consumer and Personal Assistant Focus Groups
Authors: Matsuda Sandra J. , Clark Mary J. , Schopp Laura H. , Hagglund Kristofer J. , Mokelke Emily K.
Published: December 2014

The work of personal assistants is crucial to the quality of life, health, and participation of consumers with spinal cord injuries. The purpose of this study was to describe the barriers and satisfaction experienced by consumers and personal assistants. Transcripts were taken from five focus groups conducted with 24 consumers with spinal cord injuries and 15 personal assistants. Results revealed that both groups experienced problems with the consumer and personal assistant relationship, inadequate reimbursement, and restrictive policies. Satisfaction was experienced when a positive working relationship existed for both groups. Assistants derived satisfaction from the altruistic nature of their work. Future research is needed to identify the most effective methods for personal assistant recruitment, training, and retention. Specific methods to be tested include increasing personal assistant reimbursement, providing training programs for both consumers and assistants, and increasing the flexibility of personal assistance services policies.
Coping and Occupational Participation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Roche Renuka , Taylor Renee R.
Published: December 2014

Existing studies have shown that individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome demonstrate functional impairment in several domains related to occupational participation. Researchers have not yet explored whether coping styles may be associated with occupational participation in individuals with this condition. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of coping styles on occupational participation among adults with chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors hypothesized that occupational participation would be associated with coping strategies oriented toward information seeking and maintaining activity, and that this relationship would endure despite individual differences in illness severity. The study used a cross-sectional design to describe the associations between coping and occupational participation for 47 individuals diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome. Findings from linear regression analysis revealed that the coping style of maintaining activity was positively associated with occupational participation, whereas illness accommodation was negatively associated. Implications of the findings for continued research and clinical practice in occupational therapy are discussed.
Empowerment and Participatory Evaluation of a Community Health Intervention: Implications for Occupational Therapy
Authors: Suarez-Balcazar Yolanda
Published: December 2014

Community-based organizations have experienced an increased demand for new and expanded programs, as well as pressure from private and public sources of funding to document the impact of their services and programs. This article highlights the importance of a participatory and empowerment approach to evaluating a community health intervention. A five-phase approach to implementing an empowerment and participatory evaluation process is described using a research study. The five phases included developing a partnership and planning the evaluation, developing a logic model, identifying the methodology and data collection, interpreting and reporting findings, and monitoring and utilizing evaluation findings. In this research study, a WebTV community intervention was implemented to assist community residents in accessing health information and resources through the project's home web page and the Internet. A group of citizen leaders was provided with a WebTV unit, training, and ongoing support and assistance. Citizen leaders used the unit as a tool to obtain health information and resources and to advocate and support community action. Implications of empowerment and participatory evaluation of this type of community intervention are discussed for community occupational therapy, including occupational therapists as agents of change and facilitators of skills building and organizational capacity.
Caregivers' Self-Initiated Support toward Their Partners with Dementia When Performing an Everyday Occupation Together at Home
Authors: Vikström Sofia , Borell Lena , Stigsdotter-Neely Anna , Josephsson Staffan
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to identify the support caregivers provide by their own initiative when performing an everyday occupation together with their partner who has dementia. This is to identify what type of self-initiated caregiver support enhances or limits the performance of the person with dementia. Thirty cohabitating couples participated. One of the spouses in each couple was the primary caregiver for a partner with mild to moderate dementia. Observational data were collected in the participants' homes, where each couple was asked to prepare afternoon tea together. The performances were documented by video and supplementary field notes. Data were analyzed using a qualitative comparative approach. The results of the analyses identified two major themes related to support the caregivers provided: provision of a supportive working climate and provision of practical support. A third theme was related to negative aspects of caregiver support. The results of this study have implications for how occupational therapists and caregivers in dementia care can support and guide primary caregivers in their homes.