bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Poorest of the Poor
Authors: Zimmer Zachary , Das Suparna
Published: April 2013

Linking household composition of older persons and material well-being is an important step toward understanding quality of life among elders in less developed settings. The association is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa, given the poverty in the region. Ordinary least square regressions using data from 23 countries examine how age composition among all households and presence of offspring and grandchildren among older person households associates with a wealth index that is based on ownership of resources and housing characteristics, and whether the association is consistent across countries. Results indicate older-person-only households, and older persons with youth, have, generally, less wealth than households with other age compositions. Among older person households, those without offspring or grandchildren and skip-generation households fare worst in most countries. Findings highlight the importance of considering older persons households when assessing material well-being and chances of living in poverty in poor regions of the world.
Democratic values and the Qur’an as a source of Islam
Authors: Paçacı Mehmet
Published: April 2013

It would be an anachronism to search for modern democracy in the Qur’an that is the first among the other sources of Islam, i.e. Sunnah, ijma and the qiyas. To deduce the definition of Islam merely on the basis of the primary and secondary textual sources rather than the application of them as Muslim praxis would be an incomplete hermeneutic process in understanding it. We can see that the state and the religious society, which was represented by ulama, were separated from each other in an early stage of Islamic history. The members of ulama were in charge of the intellectual and social life, the law and its application. The values of the modern democracy such as law and order, separation of state authority from the public sphere, observing the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals such as women and religious minorities as the inseparables of democracy were upgraded in Muslim societies. This structure of Muslim society, however, was spoiled by colonialist interventions and the adoption of the modern nation-state concept.
Framing Men’s Experience in the Procreative Realm
Authors: Marsiglio William , Lohan Maria , Culley Lorraine
Published: April 2013

Informed by a critical men’s studies perspective, as well as symbolic interactionist and life course themes, we explore how men’s relationship to the procreative realm is currently conceptualized in academic scholarship and public policy debates. We articulate opportunities to advance our conceptual understanding of men’s experiences with pregnancy and family planning by framing the procreative period as a multilayered, dynamic process. We also delineate a broader agenda for critical research on men’s participation in reproductive planning. In particular, we advocate that future research be guided by four strategies: comparative designs, diverse methodologies, prospective and retrospective longitudinal studies, and approaches that capture the multiple, interrelated layers of social life that affect men’s thoughts, feelings, and practices in the procreative realm.
Should palliative care patients’ hope be truthful, helpful or valuable? An interpretative synthesis of literature describing healthcare professionals’ perspectives on hope of palliative care patients
Authors: Olsman Erik , Leget Carlo , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje , Willems Dick
Published: April 2013

Background:

Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on palliative care patients’ hope influence communication. However, these perspectives have hardly been examined.

Aim:

To describe healthcare professionals’ perspectives on palliative care patients’ hope found in the literature.

Design:

The interpretative synthesis consisted of a quality assessment and thematic analysis of included articles.

Data sources:

Literature search of articles between January 1980 and July 2011 in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and EMBASE and references of included studies. Search strategy: (palliat* or hospice or terminal* in title/abstract or as subject heading) AND (hope* or hoping or desir* or optimis* in title or as subject heading).

Results:

Of the 37 articles, 31 articles were of sufficient quality. The majority of these 31 articles described perspectives of nurses or physicians. Three perspectives on hope of palliative care patients were found: (1) realistic perspective – hope as an expectation should be truthful, and healthcare professionals focused on adjusting hope to truth, (2) functional perspective – hope as coping mechanism should help patients, and professionals focused on fostering hope, and (3) narrative perspective – hope as meaning should be valuable for patients, and healthcare professionals focused on interpreting it.

Conclusions:

Healthcare professionals who are able to work with three perspectives on hope may improve their communication with their palliative care patients, which leads to a better quality of care.
Uncovering an invisible network of direct caregivers at the end of life: A population study
Authors: Burns Catherine M , Abernethy Amy P , Dal Grande Eleanora , Currow David C
Published: April 2013

Background:

Most palliative care research about caregivers relies on reports from spouses or adult children. Some recent clinical reports have noted the assistance provided by other family members and friends.

Aim:

This population study aims to define the people who actually provide care at the end of life.

Setting/participants:

A South Australian study conducted an annual randomized health population survey ( n=23,706) over a 7 year period. A sample was obtained of self-identifying people who had someone close to them die and ‘expected’ death in the last 5 years (n=7915). Data were standardised to population norms for gender, 10-year age group, socioeconomic status, and region of residence.

Results:

People of all ages indicated they provided ‘hands on’ care at the end of life. Extended family members (not first degree relatives) and friends accounted for more than half ( n=1133/2028; 55.9%) of identified hands-on caregivers. These people came from the entire age range of the adult community. The period of time for which care was provided was shorter for this group of caregivers. People with extended family or friends providing care, were much more likely to be supported to die at home compared to having a spousal carer.

Conclusion:

This substantial network of caregivers who are mainly invisible to the health team provide the majority of care. Hospice and palliative care services need to create specific ways of identifying and engaging this cohort in order to ensure they are receiving adequate support in the role. Relying on ‘next-of-kin’ status in research will not identify them.
Establishing the relationship between FGF/MV and FI/FD, and determining the saturation state of sevoflurane anaesthesia during the induction phase and factors affecting nonrespiratory tract ejection volume
Authors: Chen Zhi-Yang
Published: April 2013

Objectives

To investigate (i) the relationship between the ratio of fresh gas flow to min volume (FGF/MV) and the ratio of the fraction of inspired sevoflurane to the delivered concentration of sevoflurane (FI/FD); (ii) to establish the saturation state of sevoflurane anaesthesia and factors affecting the volume of ejected sevoflurane through the nonrespiratory tract route (nVERT) during the saturation state.

Methods

Two studies were undertaken in patients with cancer, scheduled to undergo surgery. All patients received tracheal intubation and inhaled sevoflurane. In study 1, anaesthesia parameters were fixed, the initial FD of sevoflurane was 2.2% vol and the FGF/MV was set to 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 1.0 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. In study 2, FGF = MV and the initial FD of sevoflurane was 2.2% vol, but the tidal volume (TV) was set to 6, 8 or 10 ml/kg in groups I, II and III, respectively.

Results

Study 1 ( n = 60) showed a positive relationship between FI/FD and FGF/MV. In study 2 ( n = 60), when TV was fixed, nVERT increased during the saturation state as FD increased; when FD was fixed, nVERT remained stable, despite increased TV.

Conclusions

FI/FD is positively associated with FGF/MV; nVERT is affected by FD but not TV.
Relatively slow and long-lasting antimigraine effect of dihydroergotamine is most likely due to basic pharmacological attributes of the drug: A review
Authors: Tfelt-Hansen Peer C
Published: April 2013

Introduction

If a drug has a slow dissociation from the receptor this can result in a long duration of effect and a slow effect. The long duration of the antimigraine effect of dihydroergotamine (DHE) has been reported previously whereas a possible slow onset of DHE’s antimigraine effect, which is the subject of this review, has only rarely been mentioned.

Methods

Eight randomised, controlled trials (RCT) with DHE for acute treatment with migraine were selected from the literature. The speed of the effect of DHE in migraine was evaluated by plotting the effect up to four hours against time.

Findings

Subcutaneous DHE 1 mg was inferior to subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg for headache relief for the first two hours but equally effective after three hours. After intranasal DHE 2 mg the mean therapeutic gain increased slowly up to four hours. For orally inhaled DHE 0.5 mg there was a considerable time lag between therapeutic gain (maximum after two hours) and plasma concentrations of DHE (Tmax = 12 min).

Conclusion

DHE has a slow dissociation from the receptor; and this basic attribute of the drug is the most likely cause of the general relatively slow anti-migraine effect of DHE.
The effect of sumatriptan on cephalic arteries: A 3T MR-angiography study in healthy volunteers
Authors: Amin Faisal Mohammad , Asghar Mohammad Sohail , Ravneberg Julie W , de Koning Patrick JH , Larsson Henrik BW , Olesen Jes , Ashina Messoud
Published: April 2013

Aim

To explore a possible differential effect of sumatriptan on extracerebral versus cerebral arteries, we examined the superficial temporal (STA), middle meningeal (MMA), extracranial internal carotid (ICAextra), intracranial internal carotid (ICAintra), middle cerebral (MCA) and basilar arteries (BA).

Methods

The arterial circumferences were recorded blindly using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography before and after subcutaneous sumatriptan injection (6 mg) in 18 healthy volunteers.

Results

We found significant constrictions of MMA (16.5%), STA (16.4%) and ICAextra (15.2%) ( p ≤ 0.001). Smaller, but statistically significant, constrictions were seen in MCA (5.5%) and BA (2.1%) ( p ≤ 0.012). ICAintra change 1.8% was not significant ( p = 0.179). The constriction of cerebral arteries was significantly smaller than the constriction of extracerebral arteries ( p < 0.000001).

Conclusion

Sumatriptan constricts extracerebral arteries more than cerebral arteries. We suggest that sumatriptan may exert its anti-migraine action outside of the blood–brain barrier.
Migraine, headache, and the risk of depression: Prospective cohort study
Authors: Rist Pamela M , Schürks Markus , Buring Julie E , Kurth Tobias
Published: April 2013

Background

While cross-sectional studies have shown associations between migraine and depression, few studies have been able to evaluate the association between migraine and incident depression.

Methods

A prospective cohort study among 36,016 women without a history of depression enrolled in the Women's Health Study who provided information about migraine and headache at baseline. Women were classified as either having nonmigraine headache, migraine with aura, migraine without aura, past history of migraine or no history of headache. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between migraine and headache status and incident depression.

Results

At baseline, 5115 women reported a history of nonmigraine headache, 1805 reported migraine with aura, 2723 reported migraine without aura, and 1896 reported a past history of migraine. During 13.8 mean years of follow-up, 3833 new cases of depression occurred. The adjusted relative risks of incident depression were 1.44 (95% CI: 1.32, 1.56) for nonmigraine headache, 1.53 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.74) for migraine with aura, 1.40 (95% CI: 1.25, 1.56) for migraine without aura, and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.37, 1.77) for past history of migraine compared to no history of headache.

Conclusions

Middle-aged women with migraine or nonmigraine headache are at increased risk of incident depression. Frequent migraine attacks (weekly or daily) were associated with the highest risk for developing depression.
The Making of Marriage in Medieval France
Authors: McDougall Sara
Published: April 2013

Georges Duby described medieval, Catholic marriage as the product of two competing groups of people, clergy and nobles, each with their own conflicting ideas of marriage. Clergy wanted indissoluble and monogamous marriage, while nobles wanted to divorce and remarry at will. This widely influential idea of marriage is extremely misleading. Clergy and nobles did not comprise distinct and competing camps, nor did they have opposing ideas of marriage. Instead, together, as members of the powerful families that dominated medieval Europe, these men and women created and implemented Christian marriage as monogamous and indissoluble. Using as a case study the scandalous marriage of a twelfth-century abbess, this article will demonstrate the flaws in Duby’s argument, and also we can learn about medieval marriage, and medieval society more broadly, by applying this new approach.
The Impact of Age on the Reservation Wage: The Role of Employment Efficacy and Work Intention
Authors: De Coen An , Forrier Anneleen , Sels Luc
Published: April 2013

This study explores the relationship between age and reservation wage. The authors investigate whether individuals’ attitudes toward employment, that is, their “employment efficacy” and “work intention,” mediate this relationship. The authors examine this in the Belgian labor market, where substantial differences exist between blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, and civil servants regarding payment systems, employment protection, and pension benefits. Path analysis on a sample of 22,796 Belgian workers aged 18 to 60 years reveals a reverse U-shaped relationship between age and the reservation wage via employment efficacy and a U-shaped relationship via work intention. In addition, study analyses also show a direct relationship between age and the reservation wage. The effects vary with employment status. The authors discuss implications for theory, practice, and future research.
Socioeconomic Correlates of Gender Differential in Poor Health Status Among Older Adults in India
Authors: Pandey Anamika , Ladusingh Laishram
Published: April 2013

Assessment of the health status of the older adults can go a long way in controlling the disease burden and monitoring the path to healthy aging in India. In the absence of a population-based clinical survey to collect data on morbidities and other health conditions through biomarkers, self-rated health by nationally representative older population is used for understanding factors contributing to the gender differential in health status. Socioeconomic status is the most important factor explaining 59% of the gender gap in self-assessed health among older adults. The vulnerability of older women in terms of educational attainment, occupational status, and economic dependency is responsible for the higher level of poor self-assessed health. The gender gap in self-assessed poor health among older Indian adults, which perpetuates over the life course resulting in severe health disadvantages at old age can be reduced considerably through social empowerment and gender sensitive public policies.
Independent Living Oldest Old and Their Primary Health Provider
Authors: Stadtlander Lee M. , Giles Martha J. , Sickel Amy E. , Brooks Emma , Brown Cherri , Cormell Melissa , Ewing Lara , Hart Delores , Koons Dawn , Olson Christy , Parker Pamela , Semenova Veronica , Stoneking Shawna
Published: April 2013

This convergent mixed methods study examined 35 healthy, independent living individuals’ (above 85 years) perceptions of their relationship with their primary health provider (PHP) and health practices. The relationship between PHP relationship perceptions and locus of control (LOC), resilience, and self-efficacy was explored through surveys and interviews. The majority indicated they visited their PHP just for preventative care; the number of PHP visits per year was significantly lower than reported for individuals above 85 by the CDC, possible reasons for this finding are provided. A positive relationship between LOC, resiliency, and self-efficacy for the oldest old was found. Few participants indicated their PHP had discussed normal changes with aging. This study has deepened understanding of the complexity inherent to the healthy oldest olds’ relationship with their PHP. The findings suggest this relationship relates to the PHP’s personal characteristics, the older adult patients’ personality, and the influence of the accompanying patient escort.
Do Age-Friendly Characteristics Influence the Expectation to Age in Place? A Comparison of Low-Income and Higher Income Detroit Elders
Authors: Lehning Amanda J. , Smith Richard J. , Dunkle Ruth E.
Published: April 2013

Currently there is limited evidence linking age-friendly characteristics to outcomes in elders. Using a representative sample of 1,376 adults aged 60 and older living in Detroit, this study examined the association between age-friendly social and physical environmental characteristics and the expectation to age in place, and the potential differences between low- and higher-income elders. Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) age-friendly guide, we identified six factors reflecting age-friendly characteristics. Logistic regression models indicated that regardless of income level only neighborhood problems were significantly associated with expecting to age in place. Low-income elders were more likely to expect to age in place than their higher-income counterparts, and it is unclear whether this resulted from a desire to remain in the home or that there is no place else to go. Future research should address the ways in which financial resources affect the choices, expectations, and outcomes of aging in place.
Family Involvement in the Care of Hospitalized Elderly Patients
Authors: Dehghan Nayeri Nahid , Gholizadeh Leila , Mohammadi Eesa , Yazdi Khadijeh
Published: April 2013

Family participation in caregiving to elderly inpatients is likely to improve the quality of care to older patients. This qualitative design study applied semi-structured interviews to elicit experiences from nurses, families, and patients on the notion of family participation in the care of elderly patients in two general teaching hospitals in Iran. Data were gathered using individual interviews, field notes, and participant observations. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using manifest and latent content analysis. The following main themes emerged through the data analysis process: (a) safety and quality in patient care and (b) unplanned and unstructured patient care participation. The study concludes that family involvement in caregiving to elderly patients is important, yet the participation should be based upon a planned and structured framework to ensure a safe and satisfying experience for patients, families, and health care team.
Dermatoprotective effects of some plant extracts (genus Ficus) against experimentally induced toxicological insults in rabbits
Authors: Waheed Muzzamil , Muhammad Faqir , Javed Ijaz , Akhtar Masood , Saleemi Muhammad Kashif , Khaliq Tanweer , Awais Mian Muhammad , Anwar Muhammad Irfan
Published: April 2013

Aim:

Present study was conducted to evaluate the dermatoprotective effects of plant extracts ( Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, and Ficus racemosa) against known irritants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), atrazine, and petrol.

Methods:

The study was conducted in adult male rabbits. Ethanol extracts of plants were obtained through Soxhlet. All irritants and Ficus extracts were topically applied to the backs of rabbits daily for 4 days, while pure ethanol served as control. Skin was examined after 24, 48, and 96 h for erythema. Skin biopsies were taken on 5th day for microscopic examination.

Results:

Erythema produced by irritants reduced significantly with the simultaneous application of Ficus extracts. The mean ± SEM epidermal thickness (micrometer) with SDS was 45.40 ± 1.89, F. religiosa + SDS was 18.60 ± 0.51, F. benghalensis + SDS was 18.40 ± 0.25, F. racemosa + SDS was 18.80 ± 0.37, and mixture of three Ficus species + SDS was 16.80 ± 0.37. Similar findings were revealed after using plant extracts with atrazine and petrol. The mean ± SEM epidermal layer count for SDS was 3.60 ± 0.25, atrazine was 3.40 ± 0.25, petrol was 3.40 ± 0.25, and ethanol (control) was 1.00 ± 0.20. This count reduced to 1.20 ± 0.20 for three Ficus species + SDS, 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + atrazine, and 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + petrol.

Conclusion:

Ficus species demonstrated the potential to block the dermatotoxic effects of topical irritants and could be used successfully to prevent skin toxicity.
Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on dose-dependent intoxication of rats with paraquat
Authors: Silfeler Ibrahim , Alp Harun , Ozgur Tumay , Evlioglu Osman , Celik Murat , Er Metin , Yilmaz Gulsah
Published: April 2013

Purpose:

Paraquat (PQ; 1,1′dimethyl-bipyridilium 4,4′-dichloride), which is used extensively throughout the world, is highly toxic to humans. We aimed to investigate the protective effects of different doses of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on PQ-intoxicated rats.

Materials and methods:

A total of 80 rats were divided into the following eight groups, comprising 10 rats in each group: group 1: control; group 2: administered with CAPE (10 µmol/kg); group 3: administered with 15 mg/kg PQ (PQ15 group); group 4: administered with 30 mg/kg PQ (PQ30 group); group 5: administered with 45 mg/kg PQ (PQ45 group); group 6: administered with 15 mg/kg PQ + CAPE; group 7: administered with 30 mg/kg PQ + CAPE and group 8: administered with 45 mg/kg PQ + CAPE. Both PQ and CAPE were injected intraperitoneally. Pancreatic tissue was examined with both haematoxylin and eosin and immunochemical staining.

Results:

The ratio of the immunohistochemical staining area to the total pancreatic area of the β cells revealed that statistically significant differences were observed only between the PQ and PQ + CAPE groups ( p < 0.05).

Discussion:

The evaluation of the data suggests that CAPE can be used to prevent acute effects of PQ intoxication.
Modulation of carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by n-hexane extract of Sonchus asper
Authors: Khan Rahmat Ali , Khan Muhammad Rashid , Shah Naseer Ali , Sahreen Sumaira , Siddiq Pakiza
Published: April 2013

Sonchus asper is traditionally used in the treatment of renal dysfunction. In the present study, protective effects of S. asper against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced nephrotoxicity of rats were determined. In this study, 24 male albino rats (190–200 g) were equally divided into four groups. Group I (control group) was given saline (1 ml/kg body weight (b.w.), 0.85% NaCl) and dimethyl sulfoxide (1 ml/kg b.w.); group II was treated with CCl4 (1 ml/kg b.w. intraperitoneally); groups III and IV were administered with CCl4 and after 48 h with S. asper n-hexane extract (SHE; 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.). All the treatments were given twice a week for 4 weeks. The results revealed that CCl4-induced oxidative stress as evidenced by the significant depletion of antioxidant enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione- S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione contents, while increased lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances contents). Administration of SHE significantly ameliorated ( p < 0.01) the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced lipid peroxides. Coadministration revealed that S. asper extract can protect the kidney against CCl4-mediated oxidative damage by restoring the activity of antioxidant enzyme, due to the presence of plant bioactive constituents.
Cortical Dysplasias, and Corpus Callosum and Posterior Fossa Abnormalities
Authors: Çaksen Hüseyin , Kızılyıldız Baran Serdar , Avcu Serhat
Published: April 2013

This study examined clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics in 114 patients with cortical dysplasia and corpus callosum and posterior fossa abnormalities to determine the clinical findings with the extent of the lesions on MRI. The age of patients was between 1 day and 15 years. Group 1 included 74 patients with corpus callosum abnormalities and/or cortical dysplasias and group 2 included 40 patients with posterior fossa abnormalities, which were isolated and/or associated with cortical dysplasia and/or corpus callosum abnormalities. Although associated congenital abnormality apart from central nervous system abnormalities, syndrome, or systemic disorder were more common in group 2 than group 1 patients ( P < .05), we did not find a difference between the groups for psychomotor retardation and epilepsy ( P > .05).
Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Ischemic Stroke in Adulthood
Authors: Elbers Jorina , deVeber Gabrielle , Pontigon Ann-Marie , Moharir Mahendranath
Published: April 2013

This population-based study assesses the long-term impact of childhood stroke on function and independence in young adults. We undertook a cross-sectional outcome study of patients with arterial ischemic stroke and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, beyond 18 years of age. We studied 26 patients; 21 arterial stroke, 5 cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, with 16 females. Mean age at assessment was 21.5 years, and mean follow-up time was 10.8 years. According to the modified Rankin Scale, final outcomes were 37% normal, 42% mild, 8% moderate, and 15% severe deficits. Risk factors for abnormal functional outcome included arterial ischemic stroke, presence of arteriopathy, and 1-year poststroke Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure score ≥ 2 ( P < .05). Most (77-84%) were independent in driving, relationships, and employment. Functional status at 1 year poststroke strongly predicts long-term outcome. Mental illness in one-quarter of young adults surviving childhood stroke represents an important direction for research.
Unequal Logics of Care
Authors: Wang Leslie K.
Published: April 2013

Previous research has examined growing globalized divisions in domestic labor through the perspective of poor migrant women who perform care work in advanced industrialized societies. This article explores this global trend in reverse, focusing on first-world women who migrate into developing countries and engage with local dynamics of care through volunteer work. Based on 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork with Helping Hands, an organization of expatriate wives that assisted a local state-run orphanage in Beijing, China, I argue that gendered processes of privileged migration caused women to develop a “logic of care” that equated good care solely with maternal nurturance and emotional connection. This logic permeated their volunteer efforts, causing conflicts with Chinese state caregivers who prioritized the performance of reproductive tasks. This case demonstrates the socially constructed nature of logics that underlie care practices and their relationship to increasingly transnational configurations of privilege and inequality. When applied to first-world women’s charitable activities in developing countries, unquestioned gendered logics can reinforce larger global disparities of power through the stratified provision of care.
The Cost of Rights
Authors: Choo Hae Yeon
Published: April 2013

Theories of citizenship have largely focused on the provision of rights by law and policy measures, as if rights are universally beneficial and cost-free and the invitations of rights will be accepted once offered. I challenge this assumption and highlight the need to empirically address how people negotiate with the benefit and cost of claiming rights. Based on ethnographic research in South Korea, this article delves into the everyday lives of migrant women in two feminized sectors of migration—cross-border marriage and sexual commerce—to situate the act of claiming rights in relation to the gendered pursuit of moral respect. I show that feminist groups in South Korea relied on the discourse of victimization and trafficking in pressuring the South Korean state to account for the human rights of migrant wives and migrant hostesses, while reinforcing the moral hierarchy that renders problematic migrant women’s work and intimate relationships. I argue that the distinctive material and moral costs that accompanied human rights–based provisions compelled migrant wives and hostesses to pursue divergent paths in seeking alternate bases to citizenship that would support their inclusion as moral equals.
Work, welfare and gender inequalities: an analysis of activation strategies for partnered women in the UK, Australia and Denmark
Authors: Ingold Jo , Etherington David
Published: April 2013

In industrialized countries women have increasingly become a target group for active labour market policies, or ‘activation’. However, to date, the burgeoning literature on activation has tended to overlook its link with the highly gendered nature of welfare. This article presents the first comparative analysis of activation approaches for partnered women in the UK, Australia and Denmark. Three core arguments are put forward that emphasize how the ideas (causal claims, beliefs and assumptions) articulated by key policy actors were crucial to both the construction and delivery of activation policies. First, women’s differentiated access to benefits directly conflicted with the focus on the individual within activation policies. Second, activation was premised upon paid labour, embodying ideational assumptions about the meaning of (paid) work, in turn devaluing caring labour. Third, the ‘problematization’ of women outside the labour market resulted in their gendered ‘processing’ through the social security and activation systems.
Do fathers work fewer paid hours when their female partner is the main or an equal earner?
Authors: Kanji Shireen
Published: April 2013

Mothers are increasingly likely to be the main or equal earners in heterosexual couples with children. This study assesses the impact of the mother being the main or an equal earner on her partner’s hours of work. The performance of normative gender roles predicts that fathers increase their hours whereas specialization theories predict they will decrease their hours. Another possibility is that fathers work fewer hours because they have a relatively weak labour market position. We test these alternative propositions using panel data on co-resident parents from the UK’s Millennium Cohort Survey. The results show that fathers with a female partner who is the main earner work considerably fewer hours than other fathers. This also holds for equal-earner fathers to a lesser extent. In part, fathers work fewer hours because their partner is the main or an equal earner, but they are also less likely to work in occupations entailing long hours.
Investigating thermophysical properties of novel chiral nanostructured poly(amide-ester-imide)s containing different amino acids based on biological active N, N′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-amino acids and diol
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Khani Marziyeh
Published: April 2013

Preparation of potentially biodegradable poly(amide-ester-imide)s (PAEI)s with different amino acids was described. For the first time, the synthesis of diol N, N′-(1,3,5,7-tetraoxo-5,7-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-f]isoindole-2,6(1H,3H)-diyl)bis(4-hydroxybenzamide) (diol 4) was recounted. The diol 4 was supplied by Vitas-M Laboratory, Ltd (Moscow, Russia). The key monomer applied in this project was diol 4. The direct polycondensation reaction of several chiral diacids (3A–3D) with aromatic diol 4 was carried out in a system of tosyl chloride, pyridine, and N,N-dimethyformamide. All the above PAEIs were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), elemental analysis, specific rotation techniques, x-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study thermal properties of PAEIs. The FE-SEM of the aforementioned PAEIs indicated that these polymers were nanostructured particles. These polymers contain bioactive amino acids and diol units possibly with potential applications as biodegradable and biocompatible agents.
New organosoluble aromatic poly(esterimide)s containing pendent pentadecyl chains
Authors: Sadavarte Nilakshi V. , Patil Sachin S. , Avadhani C. V. , Wadgaonkar Prakash P.
Published: April 2013

A new diimide dicarboxylic acid, namely 2,2′-(4-pentadecyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid), containing preformed imide rings and pentadecyl chain, was synthesized by the reaction of 4-pentadecylbenzene-1,3-diamine with trimellitic anhydride. A series of new aromatic poly(esterimide)s (PEIs) was synthesized using diphenylchlorophosphate-activated direct polycondensation of 2,2′-(4-pentadecyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid), with five commercially available bisphenols, namely 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol (I), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol (II), 4,4′-oxydiphenol (III), 4,4′-biphenol (IV), and 4,4′-(9-fluorenylidene)diphenol (V) in the presence of pyridine and lithium chloride. Inherent viscosities of PEIs were in the range 0.54–0.83 dL g−1 in chloroform (CHCl3) at 30 ± 0.1°C. PEIs containing pendent pentadecyl chains were soluble in organic solvents such as CHCl3, m-cresol, N, N-dimethylacetamide, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, pyridine, and nitrobenzene. Tough, transparent, and flexible films of PEIs could be cast from their CHCl3 solutions. PEIs exhibited glass transition temperature in the range 145–198°C. The temperature at 10% weight loss of PEIs, determined by thermogravimetric analysis under the nitrogen atmosphere, was in the range of 450–470°C indicating good thermal stability.
Polysilsesquioxane-reinforced phosphorous containing bis(4-maleimidophenyl)benzoxazine hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: Chandramohan Ayyavu , Chozhan Chinnakkannu Karikal , Alagar Muthukaruppan
Published: April 2013

In this study, octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS), octakis(dimethylsiloxypropylglycidylether) silsesquioxane (OG) and phosphorous skeletal bis(4-maleimidophenyl)benzoxazine were synthesized and characterized. The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivative (OAPS and OG)-reinforced polybenzoxazine (PBZ) hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by thermal method. The chemical reactions between POSS and PBZ were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of the incorporation of POSS derivatives on the properties including thermal, dielectric properties and water absorption behaviour of POSS/PBZ hybrids was analyzed and discussed systematically. The test results indicate that the addition of POSS into PBZ increased the thermal stability and decreased the values of dielectric constant and dielectric loss. The morphology of the POSS-PBZ hybrid nanocomposites was characterized using x-ray diffraction, confocal optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.
Staffing UK University Campuses Overseas
Authors: Salt John , Wood Peter
Published: April 2013

This article suggests that as their internal labor markets become more multinational in scope, UK universities may acquire similar staffing characteristics to commercial multinational enterprises (MNEs). Comparing evidence from four UK universities with several surveys of MNEs it concludes that, although there are broad similarities in the challenges posed by international operations, there are also several key differences: universities lack the infrastructure to manage overseas staff requirements; have different approaches to career development; view the role of secondments differently; and have a different attitude to dealing with contingency. It argues that, as the size and variety of overseas campuses expand, the staffing models applied in the early days of establishment will not work. If overseas developments are to become core functions of UK universities, mobility portfolios based simply on ad hoc secondments and business travel, international staff recruitment, and electronic communications will not sustain the quality-driven business model being adopted by UK universities. The human resource ethos of the home institutions will also have to change.
Aggravation of Fatigue by Steroid Therapy in Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer
Authors: Matsuo Naoki , Yomiya Kinomi
Published: April 2013

Steroids are commonly used for fatigue relief in terminally ill cancer patients. However, steroid-induced adverse effects including depression, myopathy, and hyperglycemia may contribute to fatigue. We report our experiences with aggravation of fatigue with steroid use in three cases. Case 1 was a 65-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer. He was started on betamethasone (2 mg/d) for fatigue, but the fatigue worsened due to steroid-induced depression. Discontinuation of steroids and initiation of an antidepressant ameliorated the fatigue. Case 2 was a 68-year-old man with advanced lung cancer. He complained of fatigue. Betamethasone (1 mg/d) was started and alleviated the fatigue. However, when the betamethasone dose was increased to 2 mg/d, the fatigue, with muscle weakness and myalgia, worsened due to steroid-induced myopathy. We therefore switched from betamethasone (2 mg/d) to prednisolone (10 mg /d). The fatigue resolved and the patient returned to his previous condition. Case 3 was a 73-year-old man with recurrent bile duct cancer. He also had diabetes mellitus. He developed fatigue, anorexia and fever. We started betamethasone (1.5 mg/d) for these symptoms, but the fatigue and anorexia worsened due to steroid-induced hyperglycemia. Blood glucose rose to 532 mg/dL. Therefore, insulin therapy was started, and the dose of betamethasone was reduced to 0.5 mg/d. His glucose level decreased to less than 320 mg/dL and he recovered from the fatigue while achieving moderate oral intake. In conclusion, the possibility of steroid-induced secondary fatigue in terminally ill cancer patients should be taken into consideration.
Tibiotalar Arthrodesis in Posttraumatic Arthritis Using the Tension Band Technique
Authors: Mongon Mauricio Leal Dias , Garcia Costa Kleber Vinicius , Bittar Cintia Kelly , Livani Bruno
Published: April 2013

Background:

Although a variety of surgical techniques are available for the treatment of ankle degenerative disease, arthrodesis is a common treatment especially for unilateral posttraumatic arthritis in young patients. A clear trend toward internal fixation for ankle arthrodesis is evident, but fusion site compression is known to play an integral role in primary bone healing.

Methods:

Between September 2001 and October 2009, 17 adults with painful end-stage posttraumatic ankle arthritis were treated with the tension band technique to achieve tibiotalar arthrodesis.

Results:

Tibiotalar fusion was obtained in all patients at a mean of 16.6 (range, 13 to 28) weeks. No patient had pain at the last postoperative follow-up examination. AOFAS and Mazur scores were preoperatively 29 and 23.1, respectively, and postoperatively 71.1 and 70.7, respectively.

Conclusion:

Arthrodesis with a tension band was a safe and effective surgical treatment option for posttraumatic ankle arthritis in patients without infection and good bone density, as it was simple, less invasive, and inexpensive and allowed early full weight-bearing.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Graphic Presentation
Authors: Short Jeremy C. , Randolph-Seng Brandon , McKenny Aaron F.
Published: April 2013

Graphic novels have been increasingly incorporated into business communication forums. Despite potential benefits, little research has examined the merits of the graphic novel approach. In response, we engage in a two-study approach. Study 1 explores the potential of graphic novels to affect learning outcomes and finds that the graphic novel was related to high levels of learning experiences. Study 2 compares the impact of graphic novels with that of traditional textbooks and finds that verbatim recognition was superior with graphic novel texts. Overall, we provide the first comprehensive examination of the graphic novel as a tool for effective business communication.
Early puberty, ‘sexualization’ and feminism
Authors: Roberts Celia
Published: April 2013

Early onset puberty is increasingly prevalent among girls globally according to many scientists and clinicians. In the medical and scientific literature early sexual development is described as a problem for girls and as a frightening prospect for parents. News media and popular environmentalist accounts amplify these figurations, raising powerful concerns about the sexual predation of early developing girls by men and boys and the loss of childhood innocence. In this article the author frames one feminist approach to early puberty, arguing that feminist theorists should both take scientific work around population changes in sexual development seriously and use their critical skills to unpick and challenge the discourses constituting early development as a matter of concern. The author suggests that contemporary academic and policy debates on the ‘sexualization’ of girls have important resonance for critical explorations of early puberty. These debates currently pay little attention to the physiological aspects of sexual development and could be enriched by so doing. As in the case of ‘sexualization’, issues of class, racialization and agency are central to understanding and challenging normative concerns about girls’ early sexual development.
Big fat inequalities, thin privilege: An intersectional perspective on ‘body size’
Authors: van Amsterdam Noortje
Published: April 2013

This article aims to claim ‘body size’ as an increasingly important axis of signification. It draws on research from various disciplines to present an exploratory overview of the different ways in which body size categorizations – being (considered) fat or slender – intersect with other axes, such as gender, race, sexuality, social class and age. The article argues that an intersectional perspective on body size adds to our understanding of the layeredness and complexity of power differentials, normativities and identity formations that co-produce inequalities. Furthermore, it attempts to show how processes of exclusion and marginalization based on body size categorizations are similar to racist, ableist and misogynist logics and practices. Hereby the article intends to demonstrate the vast (negative) impact of body size categorizations, specifically but not exclusively on the lives of those who occupy the marked position in relation to this axis: the ‘fat’. It argues that an intersectional perspective helps us to see body size discrimination more clearly and can help disrupt dominant discourses about the body in order to create a truly ‘healthy’ environment in which bodies of all sizes, shapes, colours and abilities can be celebrated.
Challenging equality policies: The emerging LGBT perspective
Authors: Cruells Marta , Coll-Planas Gerard ,   Translated by Roland Pearson
Published: April 2013

The state members of the European Union have witnessed the emergence of equality policies which target discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. These are usually based on the single issue model focusing exclusively on discrimination suffered by LGBT people, however there are other approaches to this issue which take into account the interaction of different axes of inequality, namely, the multiple and intersectional discrimination models. This article analyses the implications of these three models from a theoretical and empirical perspective, pointing out their respective advantages and disadvantages.
A real job? Regulating household work: The case of Spain
Authors: León Margarita
Published: April 2013

This article is contextualized within the recent evolution of household employment in Spain. In the context of the strong demand for personal care services – due to rapid population ageing, mass incorporation of women into the labour market and insufficient collective provision of care services – the growth of domestic work is closely related to the overall social organization of care and specific migration policies that have eased, both implicitly and explicitly, the labour supply of foreign women into Spanish households. In line with ongoing debates in the academic literature as well as in the political sphere, this article seeks to explain the extent to which domestic work can or should be considered as any other job in terms of social and employment rights and obligations. To that end, it evaluates changes in the regulation of household employment in Spain since the creation of the Special Regime for Household Employees (SRHE) in 1969 until the most recent 2011 reform. Following the recommendations of the ILO Convention for Domestic Workers (2011), this latest reform puts domestic workers on equal footing with other dependent employees. It thus implies a sea change in relation to the discriminatory treatment embedded in previous legal frameworks. The main hindrance to the effective transposition of the norm however remains the strong presence of the informal economy and a dubious political commitment to ensure its application.
Afraid and restricted vs bold and equal: Women’s fear of violence and gender equality discourses in Sweden
Authors: Sandberg Linda , Rönnblom Malin
Published: April 2013

This study analyses the responses and reactions among women in Umeå during the period of threat from the Haga Man: a serial rapist operating between 1998 and 2006, and highlights how women in this new situation handled feelings of vulnerability and fear of violence in public space. The article analyses the ways women positioned themselves in their narratives and how this could be understood in terms of how they negotiated spaces for agency within a context where public space has been represented as safe and gender-equal. Women’s fear of violence is discussed in relation to Swedish gender equality discourses and contextual constructions of femininity. The research is based on empirical data collected through in-depth interviews with women in Umeå. The results show the difficulties of claiming the official position of a gender-equal femininity. The informants’ ambivalence, and partly anger, in relation to a femininity they wanted but could not have also created an opportunity for critique of women’s position in society and thus a challenge to a presumed gender equality that stands in the way of addressing issues of gendered power relations.