bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Named Letter-Carriers among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri
Authors: Head Peter M.
Published: January 2009

This paper analyses the role played by named letter-carriers among Greek personal letters in the Oxyrhynchus papyri as possible background for Pauline practice, and within the context of recent proposals concerning the role of the letter-carriers within Pauline practice. Around forty letters are discussed, with three examples analysed in more depth (P.Oxy. 113; P.Oxy. 3313; P.Oxy. 3505). It is seen that, when named and identified within the letter, the letter-carrier frequently supplements the written communication with some oral supplement. Against some recent proposals no evidence is found in support of the view that the letter-carrier ever read the letter itself to the recipient.
Approach—Avoidance Motivation and Information Processing: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
Authors: Hamamura Takeshi , Meijer Zita , Heine Steven J. , Kamaya Kengo , Hori Izumi
Published: January 2009

Much recent research suggests that North Americans more frequently experience approach motivations and East Asians more frequently experience avoidance motivations. The current research explores some cognitive implications of this cultural difference. North Americans should be more attentive to approach-oriented information, whereas East Asians should be more attentive to avoidance-oriented information. Three studies confirmed this hypothesis. When asked to recall information framed in either approach or avoidance terms, a predicted interaction between culture and information frame was observed (Study 1 and 2). Moreover, analyses of consumer book reviews found that among reviews that were rated as helpful, approach-focused content was more prevalent in American reviews compared to Japanese reviews, in which avoidance-focused content was more prevalent (Study 3). Findings from the current research add to the growing literature of cross-cultural research on approach—avoidance motivations.
Possible Selves in Marital Roles: The Impact of the Anticipated Division of Labor on the Mate Preferences of Women and Men
Authors: Eagly Alice H. , Eastwick Paul W. , Johannesen-Schmidt Mary
Published: January 2009

In two experiments, female and male participants envisioned themselves as a married person with children who is either a homemaker or a provider. Participants who envisioned themselves as a future homemaker regarded a potential mate's provider qualities as more important and homemaker qualities as less important, compared with participants who envisioned themselves as a future provider. Envisioning oneself as a homemaker also shifted preferences toward an older spouse, compared with envisioning oneself as a provider. In the control conditions of the experiments, in which participants freely envisioned their own future marriage, the less provider responsibility anticipated for the wife, the more traditional were mate preferences. These experiments support the social role theory view that the roles anticipated by men and women influence their choice of mates.
Acute psychomotor effects of MDMA and ethanol (co-) administration over time in healthy volunteers
Authors: Dumont GJH , Schoemaker RC , Touw DJ , Sweep FCGJ , Buitelaar JK , van Gerven JMA , Verkes RJ
Published: January 2009

In Western societies, a considerable percentage of young people use 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’). The use of alcohol (ethanol) in combination with ecstasy is common. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute psychomotor and subjective effects of (co-) administration of MDMA and ethanol over time and in relation to the pharmacokinetics. We performed a four-way, double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (nine men, seven women) between the ages of 18 and 29. MDMA (100 mg) was given orally while blood alcohol concentration was maintained at pseudo-steady state levels of approximately 0.6‰ for 3 h by a 10% intravenous ethanol clamp. MDMA significantly increased psychomotor speed but did not affect psychomotor accuracy and induced subjective arousal. Ethanol impaired both psychomotor speed and accuracy and induced sedation. Coadministration of ethanol and MDMA improved psychomotor speed but impaired psychomotor accuracy compared with placebo and reversed ethanol-induced sedation. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics showed maximal effects at 90—150 min after MDMA administration after which drug effects declined in spite of persisting MDMA plasma concentration, with the exception of ethanol-induced sedation, which manifested itself fully only after the infusion was stopped. In conclusion, results show that subjects were more aroused when intoxicated with both substances combined compared with placebo, but psychomotor accuracy was significantly impaired. These findings may have implications for general neuropsychological functioning as this may provide a sense of adequate performance that does not agree with a significant reduction in psychomotor accuracy.
Quetiapine versus clomipramine in the augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, open-label trial
Authors: Diniz JB , Shavitt RG , Pereira CAB , Hounie AG , Pimentel I. , Koran LM , Dainesi SM , Miguel EC
Published: January 2009

After 12 weeks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) monotherapy with inadequate response, 10 patients received clomipramine and 11 received quetiapine as augmentation agents of the SSRI. The primary outcome measure was the difference between initial and final scores of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), rated in a blinded fashion, and the score of clinical global improvement (CGI-I). Statistical analyses were performed using nonparametric tests to evaluate treatment efficacy and the difference between treatment groups. Percentile plots were constructed with YBOCS scores from the clomipramine and quetiapine groups. Considering response a ≥35% reduction in the initial Y-BOCS score plus a rating of ‘much improved’ or ‘very much improved’ on CGI-I, four of eleven quetiapine patients and one out of ten clomipramine patients were classified as responders. The mean final Y-BOCS score was significantly lower than baseline in the quetiapine augmentation group (P = 0.023), but not in the clomipramine augmentation group (P = 0.503). The difference between groups showed a trend towards significance only at week 4, the mean Y-BOCS score being lower for those receiving quetiapine (P = 0.052). A difference between groups was also observed at week 4 according to percentile plots. These results corroborate previous findings of quetiapine augmentation efficacy in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Clomipramine augmentation did not produce a significant reduction in Y-BOCS scores. Higher target maximum dosages might have yielded different results.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are involved in lithium-induced state-dependent learning in mice
Authors: Rezayat M. , Niasari H. , Ahmadi S. , Parsaei L. , Zarrindast MR
Published: January 2009

We have previously shown lithium-induced state-dependent learning in a step-down inhibitory avoidance task. In the present study, the effects of intracerebroventricular injections of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agents on the lithium-induced state-dependent learning have been investigated. A single-trial step-down inhibitory avoidance task was used to assess memory in male Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice. The results showed that post-training lithium (10 mg/kg) decreased the step-down latency on the test day, which was reversed by pre-test administration of the same dose of the drug; indicating state-dependent learning induced by lithium. Pre-test administration of NMDA (0.0001, 0.001 and 0.01 μg/mouse, intracerebroventricular) could also substitute for pre-test lithium to reverse the decrease of the step-down latency induced by post-training lithium. Furthermore, pre-test co-administration of an ineffective dose of NMDA (0.00001 μg/mouse, intracerebroventricular.) with lower doses of lithium (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally.) synergistically reversed the decrease of the step-down latency. On the contrary, pre-test injections of NMDA receptor antagonist D-AP5 (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 μg/mouse, intracerebroventricular.) disrupted state-dependent learning induced by lithium. The results suggest that NMDA receptors may be involved, at least partly, in the lithium-induced state-dependent learning.
The uses and outcomes of quetiapine in depressive and bipolar mood disorders in clinical practice
Authors: Shajahan P. , Taylor M.
Published: January 2009

We conducted an electronic chart review of a sample of all people attending secondary mental health care, in the county of Lanarkshire, Scotland, who were commenced on quetiapine for the following mood disorders: non-psychotic depression (n = 171), psychotic depression (n = 39), bipolar mania (n = 24), bipolar depression (n = 38) and bipolar mixed states (n = 31), between 2002 and 2007. We retrospectively assigned severity and improvement Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores to measure effectiveness. Quetiapine was co-prescribed with antidepressants in 75—97% of depressive disorders. Commencing quetiapine was associated with clinical improvement in >64% of all patients, median doses (200—400 mg/day). For all depressive subtypes (non-psychotic, psychotic and bipolar) quetiapine was associated with improvement in 69% of patients. Across CGI measures, bipolar mania patients had the best outcome (89% improved). In bipolar mania, higher maximum doses were associated with greater improvement and 45% were continued on antidepressants. The results should be interpreted with caution due to the observational nature of the study and findings may not be attributed to the effects of quetiapine alone. Quetiapine was used mainly as an adjunct to other antidepressant and mood stabilising agents. The pharmacological profile of quetiapine suggests its properties extend beyond antipsychotic action, to antidepressant, anxiolytic and mood stabilising effects.
Morphine-induced stereotyped thigmotaxis could appear as enhanced fear and anxiety in some behavioural tests
Authors: Hodgson SR , Hofford RS , Buckman SG , Wellman PJ , Eitan S.
Published: January 2009

This study questions whether the classical interpretation for unconditional fear/anxiety tests is valid when animals are under the influence of some drugs of abuse. We used a modified version of the trimethylthiazoline (TMT)—avoidance task, a measure of unconditional fear. Halfway into a corridor maze we placed a 3-cm-high barrier. This provided a wall in the middle of the corridor, one that the mice can easily climb over. Saline- and morphine-treated mice were randomly placed in the ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’ (TMT) side and observed for 10 min. As expected, saline-injected mice spent only about 25% of the time in the TMT side, regardless of the side they were initially placed into. In contrast, morphine-treated mice did not cross the barrier even once, regardless of their initial placement. Specifically, morphine-treated mice initially placed in the TMT side appeared to exhibit the expected reduction in unconditional fear, that is, spending the entire time in the TMT side, a significant increase over the controls. Yet, morphine-treated mice placed in the safe side never even entered the TMT side; thus, these mice appeared to exhibit a behavioural response that is classically interpreted as increased fear, that is, spending significantly less time in the TMT side versus the controls. In summary, this study demonstrates that the classical interpretation of some unconditioned fear or anxiety tests could be misleading when animals are under the influence of drugs that might induce other competing behaviours.
Advertising and the Hawaiian Pineapple Canning Industry, 1929—39
Authors: Hawkins Richard A.
Published: January 2009

In 1931, the Hawaiian pineapple canning industry was belatedly affected by the collapse of its principal market, the continental United States, which was in the depths of the Great Depression. The pineapple canners lost half of that market and prospects for recovery looked bleak. Canned pineapple was a nonessential food. However, the canners formed a new industry association and engineered a remarkable recovery during the remainder of the 1930s. It is often argued that those industries or companies that continue to invest in advertising during economic downturns experience better outcomes than those that either cut or eliminate expenditure on advertising. The few case studies that exist support this hypothesis. This historical case study suggests that advertising played a key role in the Hawaiian pineapple industry's revival, whereas the disorganized Californian peach canning industry, which invested less in advertising, remained in crisis throughout most of the 1930s.
The Roots of the “Fourth Republic”
Authors: Brier Robert
Published: January 2009

Most scholars studying Polish politics agree that some of the country's fiercest political conflicts evolve around a cultural cleavage that Poland's Third Republic inherited from the communist period. The existing literature, however, provides no answer as to why this cleavage sustained its importance despite the events of 1989. Therefore, the article seeks to refine some of the theoretical categories used to analyze cultural legacies. In particular, it argues that cultural systems are transmitted through time primarily because they sustain their capacity to endow social reality with meaning. Focusing on right-wing discourse and in particular on the conflict over Poland's 1997 constitution, the article then shows that some of the cultural paradigms of the Solidarity period interacted with the character of the Polish transition as a compromise in a way that provided right-wing politicians with a meaningful framework within which to challenge their opponents and advance their claims.
The Consequences of Postcommunism
Authors: Ost David
Published: January 2009

Following a long period in which labor in Eastern Europe had been marginalized, often with unionists' complicity, five conditions now favor revival: survival imperatives of the union bureaucracy, incorporation into the European Union, emerging international solidarity, a new generation of workers, and the end of postcommunism in the firm, or the dismissal of unessential workers. This article focuses on subjective factors: union officials' own misgivings about unions in the postcommunist era and their revived interest now that they no longer need to defend the unskilled. Yet three factors work against union revival: ideological (continued distrust of unions), organizational (plethora of small firms), and structural (location in the global economy). Labor is likely to remain weak, with a few stronger unions emerging that are more elitist, male, “producerist,” and less class oriented. Legacies continue to be the major problem, but in a twist, the problem today is the legacy not of communism but of postcommunism.
Too Ill to Find the Cure?
Authors: Radin Dagmar
Published: January 2009

This article tackles the questions of why some Central and East European countries have been more successful at creating a better-performing health care sector while others left it in decay. To answer this question, the effects of corruption, institutional effectiveness, and level of democratic consolidation are considered regarding the ability of the health care sector to prevent cancer deaths. The tests of the hypotheses through an auto-regressive distributed lags model yield a mixed bag of results. First, corruption has a significant increasing short-term effect on cancer mortality in some models and a decreasing effect in models where the alternative measure of corruption is used. These same effects persist over the long term. Institutional effectiveness also has mixed results. However, effective institutions lower cancer mortality in the long term.
Constructions of `Culture' in Accounts of South Asian Women Survivors of Sexual Violence
Authors: Ahmed Bipasha , Reavey Paula , Majumdar Anamika
Published: January 2009

The aim of this article is to explore some of the ways in which British South Asian women survivors of sexual violence (in particular, those who are either British born or have lived in the UK for most of their lives and are fluent English speakers) construct the effects of `culture' within their accounts of sexually violent experiences. We present a discursive analysis based on semi-structured interviews with eight English-speaking women of South Asian origin living in the UK, who had either escaped from or were currently seeking help for sexual violence. Our analysis discusses how a discourse of `culture as problematic and unchangeable' is both accepted and challenged simultaneously. Culture is presented as the reason why family and community members hold problematic views about sexually violent experiences. However, these women simultaneously resist this discourse through demonstrating their disappointment and ambivalence with their family and community-held views. Furthermore, we discuss how such constructions intersect (or not) with service provider constructions as reported in previous research. We also discuss the implications that our analysis may have for service provision and propose a set of theories and models that might inform them. This study forms part of a larger project on South Asian women's experiences of sexual violence.
The Negotiation of Compulsory Romance in Young Women Friends' Stories about Romantic Heterosexual Experiences
Authors: Korobov Neill , Thorne Avril
Published: January 2009

For young women in western cultures, satisfying the dictates of traditional romantic norms while sustaining intimacy with same-sex friends and a sovereign sense of self can be daunting. The present study explored how 23 pairs of young adult, white female friends (ages 19— 25) attending a public university in Northern California positioned themselves vis-à-vis norms of compulsory romance as they told spontaneous stories about their own and others' experiences. While their story discourse generally oscillated between complicity and resistance to the compulsory romantic interpretative repertoires of `sentimentality', `unrequited pursuit' and `emotional caretaking', such complicity and resistance was often mitigated, qualified or displaced. The findings suggest that for these young women, complicit and resistant positions to repertoires of compulsory romance are synergistic. Implications are discussed for a view of identity development as growth in ideological dexterity and rhetorical fluency.
A Feminist Discourse Analysis of Popular-Press Accounts of Postmaternity
Authors: Sheriff Michelle , Weatherall Ann
Published: January 2009

Feminist research has examined a broad range of women's experiences as mothers. However, relatively few studies exist on postmaternity, colloquially the `empty nest'. The present study is a feminist discourse analysis of the variable ways postmaternal experiences were described in popular-press accounts. The analysis identified individual differences as an ideological albeit commonsense notion for interpreting different responses to the departure of adult offspring. Two discourses of womanhood, `modern' and `traditional', produced an ideological dilemma where the subject position `fit adult' conflicted with that of `good mother'. `Adjustment' was used rhetorically to manage that dilemma. The analysis also considered the ways gender differences were managed and the significance of `empty nest' as a pervasive metaphorical colloquialism for postmaternity. The results show that longstanding cultural beliefs about women as mothers still exert a powerful discursive force. However, women can now be represented as having lives beyond the domestic sphere. A dilemma arising in accounts of contemporary women at postmaternity is the conflicting identities of socially fit, well-adjusted adults and good mothers who mourn the loss of their children.
Conceptualizing Biorisk: Dread Risk and the Threat of Bioterrorism in Europe
Authors: Kittelsen Sonja
Published: January 2009

The significance of the threat of bioterrorism lies in the fear that it generates, `threat' in this context constituting not just a physical manifestation of impending danger but also a reflection of a subjective vulnerability derived from a fear of an eventuality that cannot be predicted, identified or controlled. It is a threat that plays upon our perceived biological vulnerabilities in a contemporary environment where biotechnological innovation has reconfigured European relations to biological threat and where security is increasingly informed by risk. Confronting the threat of bioterrorism in Europe, then, necessarily requires engaging with the fear associated with it. This article argues that it is by conceptualizing bioterrorism through the notion of `dread risk' that this can best be accomplished. In so doing, it elucidates the manners in which perceptions of threat interact with articulations of security to inform a cyclical threat—defence dynamic, enabling a more explicit engagement with the ways in which Europe is not only subject to biological insecurity but also a facilitator of it.
The Changing Mental Health Needs of Youth Admitted to Residential Group Home Care
Authors: Duppong Hurley Kristin , Trout Alexandra , Chmelka M. Beth , Burns Barbara J. , Epstein Michael H. , Thompson Ronald W. , Daly Daniel L.
Published: January 2009

Youth entering residential care possess significant emotional and behavioral needs; yet, it is uncertain whether these needs have remained constant or are changing over time. This study examined mental health variables from the admission files of 1,047 youth entering residential group home care in 1995 and 2004. Sequential logistical regression analyses revealed that the mental health needs of youth admitted in 2004 were greater than those for youth in 1995 with regard to having multiple psychiatric diagnoses, being prescribed two or more psychotropic medications, and using alcohol or drugs. As such, these analyses should be replicated in other group homes as well as in other placement settings within the system of care.
Subepithelial Pelvic Hematoma (Antopol—Goldman Lesion) Simulating Renal Neoplasm: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Eccher Albino , Brunelli Matteo , Gobbo Stefano , Ghimenton Claudio , Grosso Gaetano , Iannucci Antonio , Dalla Palma Paolo , Menestrina Fabio , Martignoni Guido
Published: January 2009

The Antopol-Goldman lesion is a subepithelial pelvic hematoma simulating a renal neoplasm. We report the clinico-pathological features of a single case and a review of the literature. A 76-year-old man presented with flank pain and hematuria. Computed tomography showed a hypodense lesion of 6 cm at the left kidney with filling defect at pyelogram. The patient underwent nephroureterectomy for suspected neoplasm. Macroscopically, a mass of 6 cm was present impinging on the pelvi-caliceal system. Microscopically, the lesion was composed by hemorragic material with feature of an hematoma. A diffuse eosinophilic amorphous material suspicious for amyloid was observed among intra- and extraparenchymal vessels. The Congo-Red staining verified the presence of amyloid. The diagnosis was subepithelial pelvic hematoma with severe amyloidosis. Antopol-Goldman lesion should be kept in mind as a possible differential diagnosis of upper urinary tract lesion to avoid unnecessary nephrectomies. The anamnestic knowledge of amiloydosis may increase this diagnostic hypothesis.
XpII.2 Translocation Renal Carcinoma With Placental Metastasis: A Case Report
Authors: Bovio Ian M. , Allan Robert W. , Oliai Bahram R. , Hampton Troy , Rush Demaretta S.
Published: January 2009

Renal cell carcinomas with sporadic Xp11.2 translocations are uncommon malignancies in children and young adults associated with several different reciprocal translocations involving the TFE3 gene located on chromosome Xp11.2. Placental metastases are extremely rare, with only a handful of cases reported. This study reports the case of a 20-year-old woman with an Xp11.2 translocation renal carcinoma that metastasized to the placenta. This is the first reported case of a renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the placenta and highlights the aggressive behavior of Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinomas.
Glomus Tumor of the Kidney: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sasaki Kotaro , Bastacky Sheldon I. , Hrebinko Ronald L. , Parwani Anil V. , Zynger Debra L.
Published: January 2009

Glomus tumor is a benign mesenchymal neoplasm of the subcutaneous tissue of the distal extremities and head and neck region. Glomus tumor rarely occurs in the visceral organs. This study reports the sixth case of a glomus tumor arising in the kidney in a 62-year-old man who presented with weight loss and an incidental kidney lesion detected by computed tomographic scan. Radiologically, the tumor was difficult to differentiate from a malignant lesion and was therefore excised by partial nephrectomy. The tumor was challenging to diagnose by routine hematoxylin and eosin microscopic examination, necessitating immunohistochemical analysis. Immunoreactivity was demonstrated for smooth muscle actin, vimentin, collagen IV, and CD57, with little to no expression of neuroendocrine, endothelial, or epithelial markers. To date, the tumor has followed a benign course without evidence of local recurrence or metastasis.
Dispositional Resistance to Change and Occupational Interests and Choices
Authors: Oreg Shaul , Nevo Ofra , Metzer Hila , Leder Naftali , Castro Dotan
Published: January 2009

Through two field studies, we examine the role that individuals' orientation toward change has in determining their occupational choices and interests. In Study 1, 139 job applicants' dispositional resistance to change (RTC) scores were associated with occupational choice, such that individuals applying for investigative and enterprising jobs tended to have lower RTC scores in comparison to those applying for realistic and conventional jobs. In Study 2, among 45 individuals in artistic jobs and 61 individuals in conventional jobs, the routine-seeking dimension of RTC was negatively associated with the artistic choice and interests and positively associated with the conventional choice and interests. The inverse pattern of relationships was found for the emotional reaction dimension of RTC. The relevance of these findings for the occupational field is discussed.
Macrophage Depletion in Hypertensive Rats Accelerates Development of Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zandbergen Harmen R. , Sharma Umesh C. , Gupta Sudhir , Verjans Johan W. H. , van den Borne Susanne , Pokharel Saraswati , van Brakel Thomas , Duijvestijn Adriaan , van Rooijen Nico , Maessen Jos G. , Reutelingsperger Chris , Pinto Yigal M. , Narula Jagat , Hofstra Leo
Published: January 2009

Inflammation contributes to the process of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial injury. To investigate the role of macrophages in the chronic process of cardiac remodeling, they were selectively depleted by intravenous administration of liposomal clodronate in heart failure—prone hypertensive Ren-2 rats from the age of 7 until 13 weeks. Plain liposomes were used for comparison. Liposomal clodronate treatment reduced the number of blood monocytes and decreased the number of macrophages in the myocardium. Compared to plain liposomes, liposomal clodronate treatment rapidly worsened left ventricular ejection function in hypertensive rats. Liposomal clodronate— treated Ren-2 rat hearts showed areas of myocyte loss with abundant inflammatory cell infiltration, predominantly comprising CD4 positive T lymphocytes. The current study showed that lack of macrophages was associated with earlier development of myocardial dysfunction in hypertensive rats. Modulation of macrophage function may be of value in the evolution of cardiomyopathy.
When the Hegemony Studies the Minority—An Israeli Jewish Researcher Studies Druze Women
Authors: Weiner-Levy Naomi
Published: January 2009

This study describes the positionality and power relations revealed during research on women in Israel's Druze minority, conducted by a Jewish woman in the country's hegemonic society. Although the researcher's position and power appear obvious, changes took place constantly, reflecting her unstable position as a stranger, “outsider” or “insider,” as well as shifts in power relations.

The researcher's positionality is believed to be affected primarily by formal aspects, such as culture, ethnicity, social hierarchies, and the like, that intrude and affect encounters. The study demonstrates that such considerations do not always exert a dominant effect on research, nor is their influence invariably predictable. They involve many complex and intricate factors that impact the encounter, overriding the well-known and much-debated issue of whether the researcher is an insider or an outsider. By focusing on the intricate relations formed with participants from a different culture, the study shatters widely accepted notions regarding researchers' positionalities.
Politics Even Closer to Home: Repositioning CME from the Standpoint of Communication Studies
Authors: Ashcraft Karen Lee , Allen Brenda J.
Published: January 2009

This essay aims to bring politics closer to home in two main ways. First, we address geographical and disciplinary spaces and identities in order to propose a fruitful `breeding ground' for critical management education (CME) in the US context: organizational and instructional communication studies. Second, we engage recent calls for self-reflexivity among CME scholars, re-directing the critical lens from `mainstream' management education to political dynamics embedded in our own practices. As we articulate possibilities for both institutional, theoretical and practical collaboration, we emphasize how CME and communication scholars might work together to illuminate and transform embodied relations of difference.
Prospects and Possibilities of Critical Management Education: Critical Beings and a Pedagogy of Critical Action
Authors: Dehler Gordon E.
Published: January 2009

The critical management studies project has generated considerable controversy in the scholarly community in terms of its place in the management and organization domain. Its educational counterpart, critical management education (CME), similarly has aroused debate among those in the management education and learning arena. Typically operationalized as critical pedagogy, CME raises a number of issues concerning the delivery of management curricula in institutional and organizational settings around the world. This article addresses these issues in terms of Barnett's (Higher Education: A Critical Business, 1997) conception of students as critical beings, that is, students capable of thinking critically, reflecting critically, and engaging in critical action. An American undergraduate course, focusing especially on critical action as a mechanism for social change, offers the opportunity to explore the prospects and possibilities of CME in a university curriculum. Students adopted a questioning stance, undertook individual and collaborative critical action projects, and reflected critically on the process. The insights derived from this critical pedagogy endeavor to advance the dialogue on CME beyond previous accounts centered largely on critical reflection into the realm of social change.
Faith and Fortune in the Post-Colonial Classroom
Authors: Harney Stefano , Linstead Stephen A.
Published: January 2009

The place of spirituality, religion, faith and cynicism in management education has received increasing attention in the past decade. From the point of view of teaching focused on critical engagement with practice, they are sometimes viewed as obstacles to practice. In this article we use resources from post-colonial thought and global critical race theory to suggest the opposite—that faith and cynicism can be understood as forms of critique issuing from the student perspective and that we might learn from these critiques as a way to reconfigure persistent dilemmas in the critique of the Enlightenment that trouble critical management approaches. We discuss a case study of the resistance to gigantic dam projects in India to illustrate both the possibilities of these critiques through what we call `faith' and `fortune', and the extent of the struggle that still remains to make such critiques effective. We then reconsider the dialectic of what Denise Ferreira da Silva calls `affectability and self-determination' and the potential of liberation theology to offer a way to develop a `preferential option' for the affectable subject. Drawing on the work of political philosopher and historian Jacques Rancière we conclude on a note of optimism about the creative subjectification of affectability.
``It's about focusing on the mother's mental health'': Screening for postnatal depression seen from the health visitors' perspective — a qualitative study
Authors: Vik Kari , Aass Inger Margrete , Willumsen Anne Britt , Hafting Marit
Published: January 2009

Aims: This study examines experiences from the implementation of EPDS as a routine screening for postnatal depression in a health centre seen from health visitors' perspective. Methods: A qualitative approach was chosen to shed light on this issue. Six experienced health visitors and one midwife participated in a focus group interview sharing their experiences and expectations. Results: The analysis indicate that the EPDS screening turned out to be a useful tool for the health visitors to adress mental health issues in health promotion and preventive work with mothers and newborns. The EPDS screening shifted the focus in the consultation from the child solely to also encompass the mother and the relation between them. A precondition for this was that the implementation process was gradual and on the health visitors own terms, likewise that there was a follow-up chain including supervision given to the health visitors, in order to provide help for the mothers who need more help than the health centre can offer. Conclusions: Our study shows that acceptability for routine screening with EPDS amongst health visitors is possible to achieve.
Numerical Study of the Thermal Efficiency of a School Building with Complex Topology for Different Orientations
Authors: Conceição Eusébio Z.E. , Lúcio Ma Manuela J.R.
Published: January 2009

In this work a numerical model that simulates the thermal behavior of a building with complex topology and evaluates the indoor thermal and air quality, in transient conditions, is used for a school building thermal project. The program calculates the building surfaces solar radiation field, the building's temperatures, the internal environmental variables, and the occupant's comfort levels.

Initially, after the numerical model is validated, the software is used to evaluate the school building's thermal response for four different orientations, either in winter or summer conditions. The work then aims to identify uncomfortable spaces in order to propose, as an example, several solutions that could be introduced for each orientation, that would improve the thermal comfort and air quality levels to which the occupants are subjected, and decrease the building's energy consumption levels. The information obtained from this study could be used to help a designer choose which thermal systems and solutions function best for a preferred school building orientation.
The emergence of cultural heritage in Jordan
Authors: Maffi Irene
Published: January 2009

Although at the end of the nineteenth century the Ottoman sultan began a policy aimed at building a national archaeological heritage, the Arab provinces of the Empire were excluded from this process. It was only after the First World War that the governments of the new colonial states of the area started to elaborate a coherent policy aiming at creating institutions for the protection of cultural heritage. Excavations were started and the first archaeological museums were created by European archaeologists. Yet, the enterprise was mainly a colonizer's affair and the very process of creating a cultural heritage was a way of imposing the European domination on the indigenous population. In this article, I analyse some aspects of the history of archaeological practice in Jordan and its political implications during and after the colonial period. This allows me to show how the emergence of cultural heritage has transformed archaeology into a political instrument at the disposal of the postcolonial state. In particular, I focus on biblical archaeology and Christian religious tourism, and their political meanings.
Entanglement and tinkering
Authors: Martindale Andrew
Published: January 2009

The concept of `entanglement' in contact encounters emphasizes the power and agency of individuals, particularly Indigenous leaders, to confront colonial and capitalist hegemonic forces. Consequently, entanglement presents a necessary comparison of scale, a link between the situated actions of individuals and the broader patterns of history. While the former is theoretically complex, the latter is often contrasted as a static and stagnant essentialization. Naïvely invoked, long-term structured history simply replaces normative `culture' as a backdrop for individual agency with `identity', a modern-sounding recreation of a simplified model of history. That historical trends can cross generations is clear, but their source is likely to include the non-discursive aesthetics in the structure of agency-structure models. Rather than static, such capacities are inertial, changing only with the substantial consensus of many individuals. Northern Tsimshian post-contact archaeology has evidence of both strategic action and aesthetic shifts, presenting a model of structural history that includes evidence of entanglement at many scales, including in the most tenacious aspects of identity. These data suggest that there is a significant role for archaeology in unravelling the complex, and at times contradictory, historical frameworks found in contact scenarios.
The political agency of cityscapes
Authors: O'Neill Bruce
Published: January 2009

How does spatial organization contribute to the governance of a population? This article explores how the construction of monumental streetscapes turns city spaces into technologies of political control. It is the central claim that monumental spaces are not just static representations of particular ideologies; rather, the production of monumental spaces contributes to the project of autocratic governance. It is an argument rooted in the claim that governance and spatiality exist dialectically, structuring and reinforcing one another. The discussion is centered on the case of Nicolae Ceausescu and his construction of the Victory of Socialism Civic Center over historic Bucharest, Romania. Linking the construction of the Civic Center's space to Ceausescu's practice of governance demonstrates that the organization of space structures bureaucracy, people and thought.
Navigating the Waves of Social and Political Capriciousness: Inspiring Perspectives From DREAM-Eligible Immigrant Students
Authors: Morales Amanda , Herrera Socorro , Murry Kevin
Published: January 2009

This article examines the psychological and sociological impacts of the proposed Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act and in-state tuition legislation on DREAM-eligible students in the Midwestern United States. The researchers sought to capture the lived experiences of undocumented immigrant students through their rich interpretations of current immigration policy and how participants described their situation, their identity, and their dreams in relation to the volatility of their external environment.
Technique of Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair Can Be Modified to Successfully Repair Large Defects in Patients With Loss of Domain
Authors: Baghai Mercedeh , Ramshaw Bruce J. , Smith C. Daniel , Fearing Nicole , Bachman Sharon , Ramaswamy Archana
Published: January 2009

Background. Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) can be challenging in patients with large abdominal wall defects and loss of domain (LOD). When hernia contents are reduced, the pneumoperitoneum preferentially fills the sac, leaving no space for mesh manipulation. This study presents a modification for LVHR in LOD patients, as well as outcomes for a series of patients. Methods. Between September 2002 and August 2004, 10 patients with large ventral hernias and LOD underwent attempts at LVHR. The technique is modified by placing additional trocars to allow for fixation from above the mesh. Patient data were harvested from a prospective database and analyzed. Results. All hernias were recurrent in nature. Mean defect size was 626 cm2, requiring 1 to 4 pieces of sutured Gore Dualmesh for a tension-free repair. Three patients' procedures were aborted after adhesiolysis, with concerns about missed enterotomies. All 3 underwent delayed mesh placement within the same hospitalization. Only 2 were successful. The third patient had significant bowel edema precluding mesh placement. Two patients were converted to open repairs (Rives—Stoppa and component separation). There were no mortalities, but there were 2 major complications: inferior vena cava thrombosis and transient abdominal compartment syndrome. In follow-up (7.7 months) there were 2 recurrences secondary to excision of infected mesh. Conclusion. It is possible to obtain a successful LVHR in patients with large defects and LOD. The technique is complex and is modified to allow for mesh fixation from above the mesh. Frequent change in patient positioning allows for visualization below the fascial defect.
A novel in vivo siRNA delivery system specifically targeting dendritic cells and silencing CD40 genes for immunomodulation
Authors: Zheng Xiufen , Vladau Costin , Zhang Xusheng , Suzuki Motohiko , Ichim Thomas E. , Zhang Zhu-Xu , Li Mu , Carrier Ewa , Garcia Bertha , Jevnikar Anthony M. , Min Wei-Ping
Published: January 2009

Translation of small interfering RNA (siRNA)–based approaches into practical therapeutics is limited because of lack of an effective and cell-specific delivery system. Herein, we present a new method of selectively delivering siRNA to dendritic cells (DCs) in vivo using CD40 siRNA-containing immunoliposomes (siILs) that were decorated with DC-specific DEC-205 mAb. Administration of CD40 siILs resulted in DC-specific cell targeting in vitro and in vivo. On treatment with CD40 siILs, the expression of CD40 in DCs, as well allostimulatory activity was inhibited. In vivo administration resulted in selective siRNA uptake into immune organs and functional immune modulation as assessed using a model antigen. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration of DC-specific siRNA delivery and gene silencing in vivo, which highlights the potential of DC-mediated immune modulation and the feasibility of siRNA-based clinical therapy.
PKCβ is essential for the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the TCL1 transgenic mouse model: validation of PKCβ as a therapeutic target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Holler Claudia , Piñón Josefina D. , Denk Ursula , Heyder Christoph , Hofbauer Sebastian , Greil Richard , Egle Alexander
Published: January 2009

The development and the propagation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been linked to signaling via the B-cell receptor (BCR). Protein kinase C β (PKCβ) is an essential signaling element of the BCR and was recently shown to be overexpressed in human CLL. We used the TCL1 transgenic mouse model to directly target PKCβ in the development of murine CLL. TCL1 overexpression did restore the CD5+ B-cell population that is absent in PKCβ-deficient mice. However, PKCβ-deleted TCL1 transgenic mice did not develop a CLL disease, suggesting a role of PKCβ in the establishment of the malignant clone. Moreover, targeting of PKCβ with the specific inhibitor enzastaurin led to killing of human CLL samples in vitro. We thus propose that PKCβ may be a relevant target for the treatment of CLL.
Gene expression profile of the third pharyngeal pouch reveals role of mesenchymal MafB in embryonic thymus development
Authors: Sultana Dil Afroz , Tomita Shuhei , Hamada Michito , Iwanaga Yasuyuki , Kitahama Yuki , Van Khang Nguyen , Hirai Shuichi , Ohigashi Izumi , Nitta Sachiko , Amagai Takashi , Takahashi Satoru , Takahama Yousuke
Published: January 2009

The thymus provides a microenvironment that induces the differentiation of T-progenitor cells into functional T cells and that establishes a diverse yet self-tolerant T-cell repertoire. However, the mechanisms that lead to the development of the thymus are incompletely understood. We report herein the results of screening for genes that are expressed in the third pharyngeal pouch, which contains thymic primordium. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based cDNA subtraction screening for genes expressed in microdissected tissues of the third pharyngeal pouch rather than the second pharyngeal arch yielded one transcription factor, MafB, which was predominantly expressed in CD45−IA−PDGFRα+ mesenchymal cells and was detectable even in the third pharyngeal pouch of FoxN1-deficient nude mice. Interestingly, the number of CD45+ cells that initially accumulated in the embryonic thymus was significantly decreased in MafB-deficient mice. Alterations of gene expression in the embryonic thymi of MafB-deficient mice included the reduced expression of Wnt3 and BMP4 in mesenchymal cells and of CCL21 and CCL25 in epithelial cells. These results suggest that MafB expressed in third pharyngeal pouch mesenchymal cells critically regulates lymphocyte accumulation in the embryonic thymus.
Inhibition of activation-induced death of dendritic cells and enhancement of vaccine efficacy via blockade of MINOR
Authors: Wang Tianhong , Jiang Qiong , Chan Camie , Gorski Kevin S. , McCadden Erin , Kardian David , Pardoll Drew , Whartenby Katharine A.
Published: January 2009

Activation of dendritic cells (DCs) leads to cell maturation, which is accompanied by a regulated pattern of gene expression changes. Two significant and contradictory consequences of DC activation are that, although activation is necessary for maximal T-cell stimulation, it also leads to the initiation of gene expression that results ultimately in cell death. We have identified a gene, MINOR (mitogen-inducible nuclear orphan receptor), that becomes highly up-regulated on activation and whose expression leads to apoptosis in mature DCs. MINOR is a member of the Nur77 family of nuclear orphan receptors, which includes Nur77 and Nurr1. Although Nur77 and Nurr1 are expressed in macrophages and DCs, their expression levels do not change on DC activation. We thus tested the hypothesis that induction of MINOR would lead to an activation-induced cell death in DCs and that its inhibition would increase the lifespan of DCs and improve their vaccine efficacy. To block natural expression of MINOR by DCs, we generated a lentiviral vector that expresses a small interfering RNA. Our results indicate that blockade of MINOR expression dramatically decreases apoptosis in DCs and suggest that this approach may be a novel means to improve the potency of ex vivo–generated DC vaccines.