bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colorado River Basin Hydroclimatic Variability
Authors: Nowak Kenneth , Hoerling Martin , Rajagopalan Balaji , Zagona Edith
Published: April 2012

An analysis of annual hydroclimatic variability in the Upper Colorado River basin (UCRB) for the period of 1906–2006 was performed to understand the dominant modes of multidecadal variability. First, wavelet-based spectral analysis was employed for streamflow at Lees Ferry, Arizona (aggregate location for UCRB flow), which identified two significant modes: a “low frequency” (~64-yr period) mode and a strong “decadal” (~15-yr period) component active only in recent decades. Subsequent investigation of temperature and precipitation data for the UCRB indicated that the low-frequency variability is associated with temperature via modulation of runoff efficiency while the decadal is strongly tied to moisture delivery. Simple hydrology and climate model experiments are also provided to support the aforementioned findings.

Correlation of UCRB precipitation with global sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies showed a strong link with the equatorial and northern Pacific during periods of heightened variability of the decadal mode. The correlation of UCRB temperature with global SST anomalies showed strongest values in the Atlantic consistent with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation mode. Wavelet spectral analysis of paleo-reconstructed streamflow at Lees Ferry shows both the low-frequency and decadal flow variability features. Furthermore, the strength of the decadal mode is modulated at an ~75-yr time scale, and these are consistent with epochal variations of overall streamflow variance.
Quantifying the Influence of Atlantic Heat on Barents Sea Ice Variability and Retreat*
Authors: Årthun M. , Eldevik T. , Smedsrud L. H. , Skagseth Ø. , Ingvaldsen R. B.
Published: April 2012

The recent Arctic winter sea ice retreat is most pronounced in the Barents Sea. Using available observations of the Atlantic inflow to the Barents Sea and results from a regional ice–ocean model the authors assess and quantify the role of inflowing heat anomalies on sea ice variability. The interannual variability and longer-term decrease in sea ice area reflect the variability of the Atlantic inflow, both in observations and model simulations. During the last decade (1998–2008) the reduction in annual (July–June) sea ice area was 218 × 103 km2, or close to 50%. This reduction has occurred concurrent with an increase in observed Atlantic heat transport due to both strengthening and warming of the inflow. Modeled interannual variations in sea ice area between 1948 and 2007 are associated with anomalous heat transport (r = −0.63) with a 70 × 103 km2 decrease per 10 TW input of heat. Based on the simulated ocean heat budget it is found that the heat transport into the western Barents Sea sets the boundary of the ice-free Atlantic domain and, hence, the sea ice extent. The regional heat content and heat loss to the atmosphere scale with the area of open ocean as a consequence. Recent sea ice loss is thus largely caused by an increasing “Atlantification” of the Barents Sea.
Great Salt Lake–Effect Precipitation: Observed Frequency, Characteristics, and Associated Environmental Factors
Authors: Alcott Trevor I. , Steenburgh W. James , Laird Neil F.
Published: April 2012

This climatology examines the environmental factors controlling the frequency, occurrence, and morphology of Great Salt Lake–effect (GSLE) precipitation events using cool season (16 September–15 May) Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) imagery, radiosonde soundings, and MesoWest surface observations from 1997/98 to 2009/10. During this period, the frequency of GSLE events features considerable interannual variability that is more strongly correlated to large-scale circulation changes than lake-area variations. Events are most frequent in fall and spring, with a minimum in January when the climatological lake surface temperature is lowest. Although forecasters commonly use a 16°C lake–700-hPa temperature difference (ΔT) as a threshold for GSLE occurrence, GSLE was found to occur in winter when ΔT was only 12.4°C. Conversely, GSLE is associated with much higher values of ΔT in the fall and spring. Therefore, a seasonally varying threshold based on a quadratic fit to the monthly minimum ΔT values during GSLE events is more appropriate than a single threshold value. A probabilistic forecast method based on the difference between ΔT and this seasonally varying threshold, 850–700-hPa relative humidity, and 700-hPa wind direction offers substantial improvement over existing methods, although forecast skill is diminished by temperature and moisture errors in operational models. An important consideration for forecasting because of their higher precipitation rates, banded features—with a horizontal aspect ratio of 6:1 or greater—dominate only 20% of the time that GSLE is occurring, while widespread, nonbanded precipitation is much more common. Banded periods are associated with stronger low-level winds and a larger lake–land temperature difference.
Formal organizations and identity groups in social movements
Authors: Yu Kyoung-Hee
Published: April 2012

Formal organizations advancing the goals of identity-based social movements and identity groups have become increasingly interdependent. The former often lacks legitimacy in the eyes of stakeholders and the latter typically possesses insufficient organizational capacity. In principle, the transfer of ideas and resources between formal organizations in social movements and social identity groups can result in organizational innovation that revives the formal organization while at the same time enhancing the status of the identity group. But in practice, collaborations between formal organizations and identity groups often result in identity groups being overpowered by formal organizations. This article compares outcomes for identity groups in two cases of trade unions adopting the causes of identity-based social movements to examine the role of organizational processes in explaining outcomes for identity group members. The findings from the comparative cases analyzed here suggest that identity group members must be able to influence organizational processes in order to impact how they are incorporated into the formal organization.
Trends in alcohol-related deaths in the EU countries in 1980–2003
Authors: Innamorati Marco , Pompili Maurizio , Martinotti Giovanni , Serafini Gianluca , Amore Mario , Lester David , Girardi Paolo , Janiri Luigi
Published: April 2012

Aims:

To explore temporal trends since 1980 in alcohol-related death for people resident in the European Union (EU) and to examine differences between EU members admitted prior to 2004 and new EU members admitted since 2004.

Methods:

The data were extracted from the World Health Organization’s European mortality database and the European Health for All database.

Results:

New EU members had higher rates of alcohol-related deaths (135.0 ± 18.48 vs 88.9 ± 18.93; t = −8.55 (d.f. = 46), p < .001) and higher death rates from alcohol abuse (whole population: 3.4 ± 1.24 vs 2.6 ± 0.12; t = −2.98 (d.f. = 23.45), p < .01; male population: 6.1 ± 2.17 vs 4.4 ± 0.19; t = −3.87 (d.f. = 23.35), p < .001) than early EU countries. However, a mortality gradient between groups of countries was visible only for female alcohol-related deaths when controlling for mortality rates from all causes. Multivariate regression analyses also indicated that alcohol-related deaths and alcohol consumption were associated negatively with the gross national product (GNP) of EU countries and positively with levels of urbanization.

Conclusions:

Alcohol-related deaths represent more than 10% of all EU mortality and confirm the importance of national prevention strategies for alcohol problems.
The Community Water Jar: Gender and Technology in Guinea
Authors: Bauchspies Wenda K
Published: April 2012

Access to clean water and water transportation systems have been long-standing signifiers of ‘modernity.’ Current statistics of availability to improved water sources suggest that Guineans are living outside of accepted norms for modern life. This paper explores daily life through the lens of water workers, water collection, water sources and water containers in order to understand the day-to-day reality behind these statistics and to explore the meaning of modern life in urban West Africa. My point of entrance parallels this measurement of ‘modernity’ and asks how does water arrive in the homes of West African urban families? For a mid-sized West African city there are various pathways that deliver water to households that all involve water workers and technologies: this paper documents and explores them in order to think critically about avenues of development that aim to improve the flow and access to clean water. The research is based upon participant observation, in-depth interviews and surveys of concessions in a mid-sized West African city.
Using a Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling Approach to Explain Cross-Cultural Measurement Noninvariance
Authors: Davidov Eldad , Dülmer Hermann , Schlüter Elmar , Schmidt Peter , Meuleman Bart
Published: April 2012

Testing for invariance of measurements across groups (such as countries or time points) is essential before meaningful comparisons may be conducted. However, when tested, invariance is often absent. As a result, comparisons across groups are potentially problematic and may be biased. In the current study, we propose utilizing a multilevel structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to provide a framework to explain item bias. We show how variation in a contextual variable may explain noninvariance. For the illustration of the method, we use data from the second round of the European Social Survey (ESS).
The Correlates of High Parental Academic Expectations
Authors: Naumann Laura P. , Guillaume Esther M. , Funder David C.
Published: April 2012

Asian American parents espouse higher academic expectations relative to parents from other ethnic groups, yet these high expectations predict greater self-doubt in children who fall short of expectations. In the present study, 69 Asian American and 33 Latino undergraduate students discussed their parents’ expectations, how supportive they felt their parents were with their choice of major and school performance, and their feelings about their own academic performance. Differences between both groups emerged: Asian students perceived more pressure to do well academically than Latino students did. Asian students with more pressuring parents also expected them to be the most upset if they were to earn a C, saw them as less supportive, and ultimately felt less satisfied with their academic performance. In contrast, Latino students with more pressuring parents expected them to be upset (but not to the same degree as Asian parents), yet still felt more supported and satisfied with their academic performance. High parental expectations may impose self-critical evaluation of performance among Asians, while they foster more parental support among Latinos.
Peace on quicksand? Challenging the conventional wisdom about economic growth and post-conflict risks
Authors: Dahl Marianne , Høyland Bjørn
Published: April 2012

In a widely cited study, Collier, Hoeffler & Söderbom show that economic growth reduces the risk of post-conflict peace collapse – particularly when the UN is present with a peace mission. These findings are encouraging for interventionist international policymakers. We replicate their study using data from the UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Database instead of the Correlates of War database. We generate a series of different datasets on the basis of different coding criteria commonly used in the literature, and rerun a simplified version of their model. Our results do not support their findings regarding the risk-reducing effect of economic growth and UN involvement. At best, the results are mixed. Some of the models even suggest that economic growth may increase the risk of post-conflict peace collapse. Overall, we are forced to conclude that the impacts of economic growth and UN involvement on the risk of post-conflict peace collapse are neither clear nor simple. The differences in the results seem to be driven by two sources: the conflicts included in the original datasets and the coding of the start and end dates of the conflicts.
Racial Mismatch in the Classroom
Authors: McGrady Patrick B. , Reynolds John R.
Published: April 2012

Previous research demonstrates that students taught by teachers of the same race and ethnicity receive more positive behavioral evaluations than students taught by teachers of a different race/ethnicity. Many researchers view these findings as evidence that teachers, mainly white teachers, are racially biased due to preferences stemming from racial stereotypes that depict some groups as more academically oriented than others. Most of this research has been based on comparisons of only black and white students and teachers and does not directly test if other nonwhite students fare better when taught by nonwhite teachers. Analyses of Asian, black, Hispanic, and white 10th graders in the 2002 Education Longitudinal Study confirm that the effects of mismatch often depend on the racial/ethnic statuses of both the teacher and the student, controlling for a variety of school and student characteristics. Among students with white teachers, Asian students are usually viewed more positively than white students, while black students are perceived more negatively. White teachers’ perceptions of Hispanic students do not typically differ from those of white students. Postestimation comparisons of slopes indicate that Asian students benefit (perceptionwise) from having white teachers, but they reveal surprisingly few instances when black students would benefit (again, perceptionwise) from having more nonwhite teachers.
Comparing Rape Victim and Perpetrator Blaming in a Police Officer Sample
Authors: Sleath Emma , Bull Ray
Published: April 2012

This study compared victim blaming and perpetrator blaming in a sample of police officers ( N = 123), comparing the responses of police officers specially trained to deal with rape victims with those who had not received this training. Victim blaming was significantly predicted by rape myth acceptance and belief in a just world but not by gender role. For perpetrator blaming, significant differences were found for gender role, but no significant relationship was found with rape myth acceptance or belief in a just world. There were no significant differences between officers who were specially trained and those who were not in terms of victim blaming, but there were significant differences in relation to perpetrator blaming. No relationships were found between police experience (measured as years of service) and victim blaming or perpetrator blaming. These findings are discussed in the context of previous victim and perpetrator blaming research and the real-world implications for criminal justice systems.
Can Standardized Measures of Risk Predict Inpatient Violence?
Authors: Vitacco Michael J. , Gonsalves Valerie , Tomony James , Smith Brad E. R. , Lishner David A.
Published: April 2012

Predicting which forensic inpatients are likely to be violent is necessary if forensic hospitals are to implement effective risk management techniques. When conducting risk assessments, clinicians have at their disposal standardized risk assessment instruments that have demonstrated ability to predict violence. The present study examined the utility of static and dynamic measures used in risk assessment to predict aggressive behavior in a sample of 103 inpatients committed to a forensic hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity. Results indicated that both static and dynamic measures, including psychopathy, predicted inpatient aggression; however, neither type of measure provided incremental predictive validity above and beyond the other. Implications for predicting violence with forensic inpatients is discussed with the ultimate goal of implementing effective treatment interventions aimed at reducing violence.
The Correlates of Nursing Staff Turnover in Home and Hospice Agencies
Authors: Luo Huabin , Lin Michael , Castle Nicholas G.
Published: April 2012

Using data from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey, this study provides an update of nursing staff turnover at U.S. home health and hospice agencies and explores correlates of nursing staff turnover. Results show that the three-month turnover rates of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practice nurses (LPNs), home health aides (HHAs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in 2007 were 10.2%, 14.3%, 12.5%, and 12.9%, respectively. A higher nurse staffing level reduced the odds of RN and HHA turnover; the availability of communication aids reduced the odds of LPN turnover. Moreover, among benefit programs, the provision of partial insurance for family reduced the odds of HHA turnover; dental or vision health insurance reduced the odds of RN turnover; mileage reimbursement or agency car reduced the odds of LPN turnover. The provision of a 401k plan and a paid-time-off program increased the odds of RN turnover. The study results suggest that high staffing levels and benefit programs (e.g., health insurance) may reduce the odds of experiencing nursing staff turnover. Initiatives to minimize nursing staff turnover should consider these factors.
The Experiences and Involvement of Grandparents in Hearing Detection and Intervention
Authors: McNee Chelsea M. , Jackson Carla W.
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the involvement of grandparents during hearing detection and intervention. Data were collected and analyzed from survey responses of 50 parents and 35 grandparents of children of varying ages who have hearing loss. Parents described important types of support that grandparents provided including frequent emotional support, nurturing, and spending time together. Grandparents reported that they frequently implemented therapy strategies with their grandchild, but did not attend therapy sessions. Results of this study provide recommendations for service providers and information about the supportive role of grandparents in hearing detection and intervention.
Purkinje Cell Heterotopy With Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Two Free-Living American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)
Authors: Armién A. G. , McRuer D. L. , Ruder M. G. , Wünschmann A.
Published: April 2012

Two wild fledgling kestrels exhibited lack of motor coordination, postural reaction deficits, and abnormal propioception. At necropsy, the cerebellum and brainstem were markedly underdeveloped. Microscopically, there was Purkinje cells heterotopy, abnormal circuitry, and hypoplasia with defective foliation. Heterotopic neurons were identified as immature Purkinje cells by their size, location, immunoreactivity for calbindin D-28 K, and ultrastructural features. The authors suggest that this cerebellar abnormality was likely due to a disruption of molecular mechanisms that dictate Purkinje cell migration, placement, and maturation in early embryonic development. The etiology of this condition remains undetermined. Congenital central nervous system disorders have rarely been reported in birds.
Expressions of P53 and CD68 in mouse liver with Schistosoma mansoni infection and the protective role of silymarin
Authors: Tousson Ehab , Beltagy Doha M , Gazia Maha Abo , Al-Behbehani Bahija
Published: April 2012

Schistosomiasis is one of the major human parasitic diseases in many developing countries and is one of the causes of morbidity and mortality in the human population. The present work has been planned to study the histopathological and immunohistochemical expression of P53 and CD68 in mouse liver tissues experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni, in addition to the ameliorating role of silymarin. A total of 50 adult male mice were divided into 5 groups (10 animals each). Groups 1 and 2 were the control and silymarin groups, respectively, while group 3 was the infected group in which the mice were infected with S. mansoni live cercariae for 6 weeks. Groups 4 and 5 were the cotreated and posttreated groups, respectively, in which mice were infected with cercariae of S. mansoni and treated with silymarin during and after Schistosoma infection, respectively. The major histopathological lesions were variable numbers of perioval granulomas, diffuse infiltration of inflammatory cells, mainly eosinophils and small mononuclear cells, and fibrosis of portal areas and interlobular septa. Treatment with silymarin led to a significant reduction in granuloma area in all treated infected mice compared with nontreated infected mice. Immunohistochemical observations of the liver tissues showed a significant increase in the apoptotic proteins P53 and CD68 after the infection with the cercariae of Schistosoma, compared with the control group. The expression of the cytoplasmic P53 and CD68 was very low in the control liver sections. A significant decrease in the expression of the cytoplasmic P53 and CD68 was observed after silymarin treatment.
Maternal Mid–Upper Arm Circumference Is Associated With Birth Weight Among HIV‐Infected Malawians
Authors: Ramlal Roshan T. , Tembo Martin , Soko Alice , Chigwenembe Maggie , Ellington Sascha , Kayira Dumbani , King Caroline C. , Chasela Charles , Jamieson Denise , van der Horst Charles , Bentley Margaret E. , Adair Linda S. ,   the BAN Study Team
Published: April 2012

The authors examined the relationship of maternal anthropometry to fetal growth and birth weight among 1005 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women in Lilongwe, Malawi, who consented to enrollment in the Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals, and Nutrition Study (www.thebanstudy.org). Anthropometric assessments of mid–upper arm circumference (MUAC), arm muscle area (AMA), and arm fat area (AFA) were collected at the baseline visit between 12 and 30 weeks’ gestation and in up to 4 follow‐up prenatal visits. In longitudinal analysis, fundal height increased monotonically at an estimated rate of 0.92 cm/wk and was positively and negatively associated with AMA and AFA, respectively. These latter relationships varied over weeks of follow‐up. Baseline MUAC, AMA, and AFA were positively associated with birth weight (MUAC: 31.84 g/cm2, 95% confidence interval [CI], 22.18‐41.49 [P < .01]; AMA: 6.88 g/cm2, 95% CI, 2.51‐11.26 [P < .01]; AFA: 6.97 g/cm2, 95% CI, 3.53‐10.41 [P < .01]). In addition, MUAC and AMA were both associated with decreased odds for low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) (MUAC: odds ratio [OR] = 0.85, 95% CI, 0.77‐0.94 [P < .01]; AMA: OR = 0.95, 95% CI, 0.91‐0.99 [P < .05]). These findings support the use of MUAC as an efficient, cost‐effective screening tool for LBW in HIV‐infected women, as in HIV‐uninfected women.
“Do it for all Your Pubic Hairs!”
Authors: Mora Richard
Published: April 2012

The literature on masculinity lacks thorough and sustained in situ examinations of how diverse boys employ their bodies to construct masculine identities during pubescence. To address this gap, the present article examines how a group of 10 sixth-grade Latino boys, who publicly acknowledged that they were experiencing puberty, employed their bodies at school to construct their masculine identities. The data suggest that among the boys, puberty was a social accomplishment connected to masculine enactments informed by the dominant gendered expectations of peers at school and in their neighborhoods, the hegemonic masculine practices espoused by commercial hip hop rappers, and the dominant gender orders in the U.S and both Dominican and Puerto Rican societies. With physical displays of corporeal strength and tolerance for pain, the boys sought to signal that they were entering adulthood and preparing their bodies for a social world wherein physical confrontations between males were commonplace. The findings contribute to our understanding of how second-generation children who reside in low-income, working-class neighborhoods and have social ties to their nations of origin and their respective cultures construct masculinities in the United States. The article concludes with a call for longitudinal ethnographic studies examining how boys from various social backgrounds construct masculine identities during their pubescent development.
Transnational collective bargaining: Another (problematic) fragment of the European multi-level industrial relations system
Authors: Ales Edoardo , Dufresne Anne
Published: April 2012

This article introduces the principal issues relating to the development of transnational collective bargaining. In particular, it summarizes the background and content of the juridical study undertaken for the European Commission, the so-called Ales Report, which suggested the mechanisms for an optional legal framework for transnational company agreements. We highlight four crucial questions: first, how to define, at transnational (company) level, the competent and legitimate workers’ representatives; second, how transnational company agreements can be effectively implemented; third, what systems and/or rules are suitable for the resolution of transnational labour disputes; and fourth, how transnational company bargaining can relate to other elements of the multi-level European industrial relations system. These same questions are addressed by other articles in this special issue, and we compare the answers they give with those provided by the Ales report. The lack of any legal form of internal regulation or external coordination seems to be the main feature of the upsurge in transnational company bargaining. This is likely to increase the already high degree of complexity inherent in the European industrial relations system: its multi-level governance model is characterized by task-specific jurisdictions, many jurisdictional levels and a flexible design.
Climate and demographic crises in Norway in medieval and early modern times
Authors: Dybdahl Audun
Published: April 2012

The topic of this paper is the importance of climate for the population and settlement in medieval and early modern times. Were the demographic crises caused by crop failure and famine or by disease? I begin by reviewing European research (particularly English) relating to the issue. The views of Norwegian historians regarding the causes of the agrarian crisis in the late Middle Ages are then examined. Hasund (Hasund S, 1919, 1944, Den store mannedauden. Or Noregs bondesoge. Glytt og granskingar II, Oslo, pp. 82–161. First printed in Beretning om Norges Landbrukshøiskoles virksomhet 1918–1919) claimed it was the plagues, not the climate, that held the population at a low level to the end of the Middle Ages, a view that has been repeated in recent years by such researchers as Lunden (Lunden K, 2002, Norges landbrukshistorie II, 1350–1814. Frå svartedauden til 17. mai. Oslo) and Moseng (Moseng OG, 2006, Den flyktige pesten. Vilkårene for epidemier i Norge i seinmiddelalder og tidlig nytid. Oslo). This paper claims that the role of the climate has been underestimated, in particular that the climatic shock of several bad years in a row directly and indirectly brought appreciable excess mortality in a country situated so far north. ‘Bad’ years demonstrated through dendrochronology are in many cases reflected in documentary evidence concerning poor corn harvests and high mortality.
Oxidative stress and fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Segal BM , Thomas W , Zhu X , Diebes A , McElvain G , Baechler E , Gross M
Published: April 2012

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of oxidative stress to fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SLE by ACR criteria and healthy controls completed validated questionnaires to assess depression and fatigue. Fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Profile of Fatigue (Prof-F). Visual analogue scales (VAS) were also used to assess fatigue and pain. Depression was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Plasma F2-isoprostane was measured with gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy to assess oxidative stress. Evaluation included medical record review, physical exam and calculation of body mass index (BMI), disease activity (SLEDAI) and damage (SLICC) in the SLE patients. Results: Seventy-one SLE patients with low disease activity (mean SLEDAI = 1.62 standard error (SE) 0.37, range 0–8) were compared to 51 controls. Fatigue-limiting physical activity (defined as FSS ≥ 4) was present in 56% of patients and 12% of controls. F2-isoprostane was higher in SLE patients with fatigue compared to not-fatigued SLE subjects ( p = .0076) who were otherwise similar in ethnicity, disease activity and cardiovascular risk factors. Plasma F2-isoprostane was strongly correlated with FSS and Profile of Somatic Fatigue (Prof-S) ( p < .0001), VAS fatigue ( p = .005), CES-D ( p = .008) and with BMI ( p = .0001.) In a multivariate model, F2-isoprostane was a significant predictor of FSS after adjustment for age, BMI, pain and depression ( p = .0002). Conclusion: Fatigue in SLE patients with low disease activity is associated with increased F2-isoprostane. F2-isoprostane could provide a useful biomarker to explore mitochondrial function and the regulation of oxidative pathways in patients with SLE in whom fatigue is a debilitating symptom.
Comparison of patients’ and clinicians’ views of the therapeutic relationship: a pilot project
Authors: Djurkov Anthony , Sertsou Liz
Published: April 2012

Objective:

Our aim was to find out whether psychiatrists’ views of the quality of the therapeutic relationship were shared by their patients, and to ascertain a feasible way to explore these relationships routinely.

Method:

Sixty-one outpatients selected by two receptionists completed the Helping Alliance Scale (HAS), client version and the Relationship Questionnaire. The two participating psychiatrists were not involved in patient selection and were blind to patients’ responses. They recorded their view of the relationships using the clinician version of HAS. The Big Five Inventory and Relationship Questionnaire were also utilized. Without identifying patients, each psychiatrist analysed the data of the other clinician.

Results:

Both clinicians had an agreement rate above 75%. The differences in the details reflected gender and personality differences. There was no benchmark with which to compare these results.

Conclusions:

Assessing and recording the therapeutic relationship in community practice is feasible and provides invaluable knowledge. The next challenge is to consider whether and how this could be done routinely.
Enhancing Discussions in the Asynchronous Online Classroom
Authors: Comer Debra R. , Lenaghan Janet A.
Published: April 2012

This article addresses educators’ concerns about using asynchronous online discussions in lieu of face-to-face discussions. Drawing from research on asynchronous online education and Bloom’s taxonomy, the authors introduce the system of “original examples” and “value-added comments” that they have developed to promote engaging and meaningful discussions in which students learn course material from one another. The authors describe how to integrate this system into an online course and provide guidelines for instructor facilitation. They offer evidence that online asynchronous discussions facilitate students’ learning and may be more inclusive than face-to-face discussions for some students. Finally, the authors share their observations and suggestions for implementation.
Using Surveillance of Mental Health to Increase Understanding of Youth Involvement in High-Risk Behaviors
Authors: Dowdy Erin , Furlong Michael J. , Sharkey Jill D.
Published: April 2012

This study examined the potential utility of adding items that assessed youths’ emotional and behavioral disorders to a commonly used surveillance survey. The goal was to evaluate whether the added items could enhance understanding of youths’ involvement in high-risk behaviors. A sample of 3,331 adolescents in Grades 8, 10, and 12 from four California school districts were coadministered a mental health screener and a youth surveillance survey. Items from both tools assessing chronic sadness and elevated mental health risk were significantly associated with increased risk of suicide ideation, cigarette use, alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana use, physical fighting, being threatened or injured with a weapon, and skipping school. However, the addition of mental health content to the surveillance survey increased precision of understanding which youths were at the greatest odds of engaging in risk behaviors. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
The Influence of Parent Behaviors on Positive Illusory Bias in Children With ADHD
Authors: Emeh Christina C. , Mikami Amori Yee
Published: April 2012

Objective: To explore the relationship between parental feedback and the accuracy of children’s self-perceptions. Children with ADHD have been demonstrated to overestimate their own competence, a phenomenon known as positive illusory bias (PIB). Method: Participants were families of 56 children (41 male) ages 7 to 10, half of whom had clinical diagnoses of ADHD. PIB was assessed by comparing children’s self-ratings of their competence relative to teachers’ ratings. Laboratory interactions were observed where parental feedback to children was coded. Results: Parental warmth was associated with lower PIB about social competence in children with ADHD, but greater PIB in comparison children. Parent criticism was positively correlated with greater PIB about social competence in children with ADHD, but the relationship was nonsignificant for comparison children. Parent praise was associated with lower PIB about behavioral conduct in comparison children. Conclusion: Results support the self-protective hypothesis of PIB, and implications for interventions are discussed.
Developmental Delays in Children With ADHD
Authors: Dyck Murray J. , Piek Jan P.
Published: April 2012

Objective: ADHD is often comorbid with other disorders, but it is often assumed that academic, language, or motor c skills problems are secondary to ADHD rather than that attention problems are secondary to the other disorder or both disorders have a shared etiology. We assessed for comorbid developmental disorders and which cognitive processes were impaired in children with ADHD. Method: Measures of intelligence, language, motor skills, social cognition, and executive functions were administered to children with ADHD ( n = 53) and age/sex-matched typical children. Results: Clinically significant deficits were 2 to 7 times as common in children with ADHD as in typical children, and the structure of ability differed in the two groups. Abilities were less differentiated in children with ADHD. Conclusion: The results indicate a need for comprehensive screening for developmental disorders in children with ADHD and imply that research needs to focus on how ADHD and developmental disorders may share an etiology.
The Complexity of Practice
Authors: Freeman Melissa , Hall Jori N.
Published: April 2012

All social and professional practices are historically situated, evolving forms of acting and interacting. Evaluation, as a practice, is shaped by and shapes the practice evaluated. This article contributes to responsive and values-engaged evaluation approaches by reflecting on the space where these two practices intersect. The evaluative task was to document the nature of a partnership between a university and school district and how that partnership was being carried out in the form of a professional development school. The authors focus on the role that participant observation, as an interactive and responsive form of engagement, played in the evaluation. Through two lenses—observing the partners and observing ourselves—the authors critically reflect on their decision-making processes, assessing their accomplishments and shortcomings. The authors conclude by considering how they might further their engagement as values-engaged evaluators in this context in ways that support the development of both the evaluators and the evaluand.
Nasopharyngeal Disease in Cats
Authors: Reed Nicki , Gunn-Moore Danièlle
Published: April 2012

Practical relevance: Nasopharyngeal disease is a common presenting problem in feline medicine.

Clinical challenges: The management of feline nasopharyngeal disease can be challenging at a number of levels. In many cases, a specific diagnosis may remain elusive. Some conditions may not be curable so owners need to understand the requirement for long-term management. In addition, treatment may be compromised by poor patient compliance.

Audience: This review, which is directed at any clinicians involved in the management of cats with nasopharyngeal disease, discusses acute rhinitis (cat ’flu) and a variety of conditions causing chronic rhinosinusitis/chronic nasopharyngeal disease. The intention is to assist treatment decision making by reviewing the most appropriate therapies from the options available for these patients.

Evidence base: The information presented in this article is based on peer-reviewed publications and the clinical experience of the authors.
AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines
Authors: Carney Hazel C , Little Susan , Brownlee-Tomasso Dawn , Harvey Andrea M , Mattox Erica , Robertson Sheilah , Rucinsky Renee , Manley Donna Stephens
Published: April 2012

Nursing care: The term nursing care means different things to different people. The authors of these AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Nursing Care Guidelines define nursing care as any interaction between the cat and the veterinary team (veterinarian, technician or nurse, receptionist or other support staff) in the clinic, or between the cat and its owner at home, that promotes wellness or recovery from illness or injury and addresses the patient’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Nursing care also helps the sick or convalescing cat engage in activities that it would be unable to perform without help.

Guidelines rationale: The purpose of the Guidelines is to help all members of the veterinary team understand the basic concepts of nursing care, both in the clinic and at home. This includes methods for keeping the patient warm, comfortable, well nourished, clean and groomed. The Guidelines provide numerous practical tips gleaned from the authors’ many years of clinical experience and encourage veterinary team members to look at feline nursing care in ways they previously may not have considered.

Overarching goal: The primary goal of feline-friendly nursing care is to make the cat feel safe and secure throughout its medical experience.
‘It’s better than blaming a dead young man’: Creating mythical archetypes in local coverage of the Mississippi River drownings
Authors: Gutsche Robert E , Salkin Erica
Published: April 2012

This study provides a glimpse at myth within newswork created at the local level during a time of death. Through an analysis of news coverage of the drownings of 10 young men in Wisconsin over 13 years, we examine how myth and narrative are used not just for larger, national or global moments, but within the local newspaper, in news stories that may be influenced by the needs of the local community.
Environment correspondents in China in their own words: Their perceptions of their role and the possible consequences of their journalism
Authors: de Burgh Hugo , Zeng Rong
Published: April 2012

There is widespread dismay at the effects of Chinese economic development on the environment. The government is cognisant of the issues and seeking to raise awareness. Among the means are the media, such that a new specialism has appeared in China in recent years, that of the environment correspondent. This study gives voice to these specialists in order to understand their attitudes towards the environment, their means of operation and their views on the significance of their own work.

The findings of the study are that Chinese environment correspondents are tentatively exploiting the opportunities that the government’s worry about the environment may give them, even as they doubt their capacity to respond adequately to the challenges posed by taking the environment seriously and the responsibility for raising awareness and identifying transgressions. Just as journalists became the evangelists of China’s economic revolution, so they may be becoming the promoters of environment awareness. In the course of so doing, it may be that they are among those contributing to a new consensus about how decisions are being taken, and should be made, in their society.
Medication management: The perspectives of people with dementia and family carers
Authors: While Christine , Duane Fleur , Beanland Christine , Koch Susan
Published: April 2012

The safe self management of medicines will be affected by the presence of dementia. A qualitative study using grounded theory was undertaken by a community nursing organisation in Melbourne, Australia, in order to develop a strength-based and person-centred approach to the assessment of medication ability. The perspectives of the person with dementia and their carers were explored to see if there were any significant differences in their medication management experiences when compared to those of older adults without dementia and their carers.

People with dementia are able to sustain self management of their medicines using established routines and strategies. As cognitive changes affect short-term memory, external strategies and task allocation to family members are introduced by the individual to support their continuing independence. The family member assumed the carer role as their concern for medication safety increased, but this role engendered stress and a burden that was unacknowledged by the health professional.
Being and becoming: Writing children into planning theory
Authors: Gillespie Judy
Published: April 2012

This paper offers a framework to redress the neglect of children in planning theory. Noting that children are viewed as both human beings and human becomings, attention is drawn to the role of planning in regulating both aspects of children’s lives through a construction of childhood that emerged in conjunction with planning’s modernist roots. A recovered history of childhood challenges adult-centric accounts that render children invisible or assume their dependence and helplessness. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, the constitutive elements of this recovered history are examined and contrasted with the spatial segregation and regulation of childhood that is the profession’s current normative framework. The paper concludes by identifying ways that planning theory can be further enhanced by a focus on children and childhood.
Influence of the skew angle on the hydroelastic behaviour of a composite marine propeller
Authors: Ghassemi Hassan , Saryazdi Maryam Gh , Ghassabzadeh Morteza
Published: April 2012

This paper discusses the influence of the skew angle on the hydroelastic behaviour of a composite marine propeller. Recently, propellers have been made of composite materials because of their useful acoustic properties and because they are lightweight. However, the flexibility of composites causes much deflection in comparison with conventional materials and a change in the hydroelastic performances of propellers. In this research, the hydroelastic behaviour of a propeller is analysed for various skew angles using the prepared software code, namely the boundary element method–finite element method hydroelastic code, in which the hybrid boundary element method–finite element method is used. The hydrodynamic load acting on the propeller is determined by the boundary element method, and the deformed propeller is then obtained by the finite element method. The iterations between the boundary element method and the finite element method are repeated until the deflection and hydrodynamic characteristics (the thrust, the torque and the efficiency) of the propeller converged. The numerical results indicate that the skew angle affects the performance of the propeller and the stress field. As the skew angle increases, the maximum deflection of the blade increases; however, the thrust coefficient and the torque coefficient decrease.
Tonal vibration suppression with a model-free control method
Authors: Hu Fang , Chen Yong , Zhang Zhiyi , Hua Hongxing
Published: April 2012

A novel model-free control method for actively suppressing tonal structural vibration is investigated through numerical simulation and experiment. The model-free control method is established on the least-mean-squares-based adaptive feedback control principle, and an instrumental mechanism for adjusting the controller parameters is proposed to guarantee convergence of the algorithm. In the numerical verification of the model-free control method, a shaft–plate system is used to derive a lightly damped dynamic model, which is obtained by frequency response function synthesis, while in the experiment a shaft–cylinder system with time-varying dynamics is applied to evaluate the control system with respect to its potential in vibration control. In the control system, an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the shaft is enforced with the model-free control method to cancel vibration induced by the disturbance forces. Simulation results have demonstrated that the model-free control method is able to guarantee stability in the presence of changes in the disturbances and plant dynamics and that it is effective in attenuating vibration of the system. Experimental results have also demonstrated that the control system can tranquilize vibration of the shaft and suppress tonal vibrations in the shell effectively, but variation in the control channel should be sufficiently slow that the algorithm can complete its adaptation in time.
Easing transition and promoting a positive student experience within an international partnership scheme for British and Chinese teachers
Authors: Li Daguo
Published: April 2012

This article investigates the needs and challenges of a group of Chinese secondary school teachers in their transition to postgraduate studies in the UK in the context of a British-Chinese partnership. The strategies and efforts of the host institution, local community and the Chinese students themselves to help ease the transition and promote a positive student experience are discussed. The article highlights the sociological processes of international postgraduate student transition and contributes to our understanding of the issues of student support pertinent to international partnership arrangements.
International graduates from Finland: Do they satisfy the needs of Finnish employers abroad?
Authors: Cai Yuzhuo
Published: April 2012

It has been recognized that to increase the competitiveness of Finnish higher education institutions in the global education market international graduates’ employability must be enhanced. International graduates from Finnish higher education institutions are rarely employed in Finland for a number of reasons, such as the language barrier and a relatively small job market. This study aimed to understand from the employers’ perspective the possibilities of Finnish-educated international graduates finding jobs in Finnish companies in their home countries, taking Chinese graduates as an example. Using a qualitative approach mainly based on open-ended interviews at 16 Finnish companies in China, the investigation highlighted a dilemma: although the Finnish companies in China were generally inclined to recruit Finnish-educated Chinese graduates, few are employed there. This article explores the reasons behind the dilemma and discusses the implications for both students and universities.