bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smoking Risk Factors and Gender Differences among Spanish High School Students
Authors: García-Rodríguez Olaya , Suárez-Vázquez Rosa , Secades-Villa Roberto , Fernández-Hermida José R.
Published: October 2010

The objectives of the present study were to analyze the pattern of tobacco use among Spanish adolescents, as well as to determine gender differences in specific risk factors of cigarette use. The study sample was made up of 1,483 boys and 1,358 girls, aged 12–16 ( M = 14). Participants were asked to answer an ad-hoc instrument to evaluate the pattern of use, perceived availability, risk of harm, family- and peer-use, engagement in leisure activities, drive for thinness, and self-esteem. Results showed no gender differences in the pattern of use. With regard to risk and protector factors, a predictive analysis showed that peer-related variables were the most determinant for tobacco use both for boys and girls. Some gender differences were also detected: Playing sports was protective for boys only, and listening to music for girls only. Drive for thinness and self-esteem were not related to tobacco use for either boys or girls. These findings help increase our understanding of smoking risk factors in adolescence and to pay special attention to the group of friends when planning prevention programs to reduce risk factors.
Speeding through the Frat House: A Qualitative Exploration of Nonmedical Adhd Stimulant Use in Fraternities
Authors: Desantis Alan , Noar Seth M. , Webb Elizabeth M.
Published: October 2010

Qualitative methods were used to investigate the use of nonmedical Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stimulants by fraternity members. The primary goal of the study was to determine students' levels of understanding and motivations for use of these Schedule II controlled substances. Seventy-nine in-depth interviews were conducted. Key findings highlighted how: a) easy it was for subjects to obtain stimulants; b) little health information nonmedical users have about stimulants; c) academic stress created a fertile context for stimulant use; and d) a small number of prescribed users supply the vast majority of nonmedical users with their stimulants. Most nonmedical users claimed to primarily use ADHD stimulants in periods of high academic stress and believed that they not only reduced fatigue, but also increased reading comprehension, interest, cognition, and memory. These qualitative data have supplied a rich and complex understanding behind nonmedical ADHD stimulant use among fraternity members.
Stress and Tobacco Use among African-American Adolescents: The Buffering Effect of Cultural Factors
Authors: Belgrave Faye Z. , Johnson Jessica , Nguyen Anh , Hood Kristina , Tademy Raymond , Clark Trenette , Nasim Aashir
Published: October 2010

Tobacco is a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality and a primary reason for health disparities among African Americans. In this study we explore the role of stress in smoking and cultural factors that protect against stress among African-American adolescents. Our sample consisted of 239 youth who were recruited into the study while enrolled in 8th and 12th grade. Measures of risk factors (stress, school transition stress, and community disorganization), moderator or protective factors (religious support and intergenerational connections), and 30-day tobacco use were collected. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Intergenerational connections moderated the effect of stress on past 30-day tobacco use. Religious support moderated the effect of neighborhood disorganization on past 30-day tobacco use. Religious support also moderated the effect of stress on past 30-day tobacco use. The findings have implications for prevention efforts to consider religious beliefs and practices and also to link youth with supportive adults in their community.
Expanding Our Understanding of Self-Help Support Groups for Substance Use Issues
Authors: Dadich Ann
Published: October 2010

Self-Help Support Groups (SHSGs) for substance use issues are recognized in current policies for their role in reducing substance use. However, these policies recognize only their therapeutic value. This article argues that SHSGs can offer more than therapeutic advantage. This contention follows a study involving young people who were involved in a 12 Step fellowship. They valued group involvement for the connectedness, support, and opportunities to learn. These findings have important policy implications, highlighting a need to broaden the scope of current policies so they reflect the array of potential benefit associated with SHSGs. For clinicians and practitioners who are guided by social policy, this would offer an enhanced understanding of these groups, given that they are in prime position to advise clients about available options.
Peer Group Self-Identification in Samples of Russian and U.S. Adolescents
Authors: Sussman Steve , Moran Meghan B. , Sun Ping , Pokhrel Pallav , Gunning Melissa , Rohrbach Louise A. , Kniazev Vadim , Masagutov Radik
Published: October 2010

Most peer group self-identification research has been conducted in the United States. This article examined the generalizability of self-identified group name research among teens in Ufa, a city in the Russian Federation. A cross-sectional, anonymous collection of data on group self-identification, drug use, addiction concern, sensation seeking, and self-rated school performance was collected from 365 10th grade youth in Ufa and 965 10th grade youth in the United States. The results supported the existence of peer group self-identification by youth in both countries and, in general, replicated the findings that youth who self-identify as a High Risk Youth, are relatively likely to use drugs, show greater concern about becoming an addict, report a greater sensation seeking preference, higher levels of depression, and poorer school performance. Implications of these results are discussed.
A Tale of Two Counties: Bereavement in Socio-Demographically Diverse Places
Authors: Lund Dale , Caserta Michael , Utz Rebecca , Devries Brian
Published: October 2010

The “Living After Loss” study was designed to test the effectiveness of the dual process model (DPM) of coping with bereavement. In order to obtain a larger and more diverse sample we studied 328 recently widowed men and women (61%) age 50+ in two counties, Salt Lake (SL) ( n = 197) and San Francisco (SF) ( n = 131) in two states, Utah and California. This article does not report on the effects of the intervention but focuses on a comparison of the bereaved spouses/partners in these two cites. First, the only sociodemographic differences we found between those in SF and SL were that those in San Francisco were more racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse; higher in education; had slightly fewer years in their relationship to the deceased; and were 2 weeks longer in their grief process. Second, there were far more similarities than differences between SF and SL regarding nearly all of the study variables. Third, we found that those in SF had more positive qualitative features in their friendship support networks and that for bereaved in both counties, we found strong associations with having highly supportive friend-based networks and more positive bereavement adjustments (especially experiencing lower levels of loneliness and depression). Limitations and suggestions for future research are described.
Narrating Time: Minimising the Disruption and Discontinuities of Children's Experience of Death
Authors: Rolls Liz
Published: October 2010

Childhood parental bereavement is a terrible event which has the potential to fracture their storyline, depriving them of the capacity to make meaning of this event—a component considered essential for adaptation to loss. This article is an exploration of how time is used by one mother in order to minimise disruption and discontinuity, and to do “meaning-making” in the face of the sudden, impending death of her children's father following a road traffic accident. Claire describes this event, unfolding in the present, in which she uses the future to help her act in the present, on events from the past which are still “live” in her children's lives. In holding their future “in mind” in the ever unfolding present of the events she describes, her story is an example of the oscillating nature of time and how it is used to find, create, and reconstruct coherence and meaning.
Factors Related to Suicidal Ideation among Adolescents in Hong Kong
Authors: Ng Siu-Man , Chan Cecilia Lai-Wan , Ran Mao-Sheng
Published: October 2010

The study investigated the relations among suicidal ideation, general mental health status (domains: depression, lack of confidence and uselessness; measured by the shorter General Health Questionnaire [GHQ]), and psychosocial difficulties and strengths with 2638 secondary school students in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional survey using self-report questionnaires was carried out. Suicidal ideation was assessed by four relevant items on GHQ. Overall prevalence of suicidal ideation was revealed to be 14.6%, with 1.9% at severe level. Binary logistic regression indicated that factors associated with increased level of suicidal ideation were being female, lack of confidence, conduct disorder, and emotional symptoms. Factors associated with lowered level of suicidal ideation were spirituality, tranquility, resilience, and being in senior grades. The prevalence of suicidal ideation revealed in this study is lower than findings of other local studies which included non-school participants. This seems to confirm the overemphasis of academic achievements in Chinese culture. Similar to Western studies, being female appeared to be a risk factor in the current study, but showed a relatively lower odds ratio (1.67, versus over 2 in Western studies). Suicidal ideation among male Chinese adolescents appeared to be more prevalent than we used to believe. Apart from addressing risk factors and psychopathology, the findings of the current study point to the desirability of also addressing the spiritual and meaning domains in suicide prevention.
Using Music and Poetry to Manage Grief
Authors: Cox Gerry
Published: October 2010

The use of music and poetry as tools to help manage grief are presented. The value of folk music as a style of music that is particularly helpful because of the message of the songs is affirmed. Poetry is presented as a further means of managing grief, one that is more reflective of individual moods and thinking. The article offers a range of examples of how music and poetry can be used to good effect in responding to the major emotional challenges of grief.
Workers' Compensation in the United States: Cost Shifting and Inequities in a Dysfunctional System
Authors: Ladou Joseph
Published: October 2010

Workers' Compensation is a far more significant expense to the U.S. economy than is commonly recognized. The total annual cost of the health care and disability benefits in the United States is at least $300 billion. The health care costs shifted by employers to Medicare/Medicaid and the disability costs shifted to the Social Security system far exceed the total costs of all the state Workers' Compensation programs. Most of the responsibility for compensating disabled workers now resides in the federal government, not in the state system. Federal funding of Workers' Compensation is at least four times that of state programs. State and federal Workers' Compensation programs are a costly and inefficient segment of health care that should be included in any consideration of health care reform.
Workers' Compensation Reform Requires an Agenda … and a Strategy
Authors: Lax Michael B.
Published: October 2010

In a response to Joseph LaDou's article in this issue, Michael Lax focuses on the broader issues. If we are agreed that we need significant change in Workers' Compensation, what should the nature of those changes be? Of equal importance to knowing what we want is the development of a strategy for how to get there. Without an effective strategy, we will be consigned to discussing the issues again and again, developing attractive alternatives that live only on paper or at conferences.
Why are the Workers' Compensation Systems Dysfunctional? From Scientists We Ought Also to Expect Science!
Authors: Samuels Sheldon W.
Published: October 2010

In the context of the history of science and the American labor movement, this comment in response to Joseph LaDou's in this issue briefly addresses impediments to Workers' Compensation reform: intellectual lapses in understanding the key concept of causation and political mistakes rooted in professional timidity. The result is the perpetuation of failures of government.
Boundary Networks and Rochester's “Smart” Lead Law: The Use of Multidisciplinary Information in a Collaborative Policy Process
Authors: Korfmacher Katrina Smith
Published: October 2010

The Rochester, New York, Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning formed in 2001 with the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning by 2010. The Coalition recruited diverse community stakeholders into a collaborative process committed to using the best available science. The Coalition successfully infused the debate about a new lead poisoning law with local data, national analyses, and the latest medical research. We argue that this was facilitated by a boundary network of individuals who provided technical input throughout the process. As a result of the Coalition's advocacy, in 2005 the Rochester City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that has been hailed as one of the nation's “smartest” lead laws. Many communities are looking to Rochester's new lead ordinance as a model. Both the process and outcome of this case provide valuable lessons for collaborative efforts to promote scientifically sound local environmental health policy.
Perspectives of Residential Contractors on Nail Gun Safety
Authors: Lipscomb H. J. , Nolan J. , Patterson D.
Published: October 2010

Perspectives on nail gun safety were sought from residential contractors as part of an injury surveillance and prevention effort (2005-2008). Anonymous surveys inquired about tool use, training, injury risk, and awareness of the 2003 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard calling for shipment of pneumatic nail guns used in wood framing with sequential actuation. Despite some awareness of inexperience, lack of training, speed and tool design in injury causation, 55 percent consistently reported injuries resulted from worker carelessness. Contractors reported safety experiences of their employees were considerably better than those of other residential contractors. After five years, only 16 percent reported any awareness of the voluntary standard. These findings raise questions as to what gains can realistically be expected from passage of voluntary standards such as the one described here. Given that the epidemiology of acute injuries from pneumatic nail guns is now well-described, the safer sequential trigger should be required to protect workers.
Toyotism in Brazil: The Contrast between Discourse and Practice and the Consequences for Workers' Health
Authors: Bernardo Marcia Hespanhol , Sato Leny
Published: October 2010

In recent decades, a predominant discourse has emerged in the media, particularly in the business management literature, that affirms moving beyond rigid Taylorism-Fordism to a more flexible work organization model considered to be more humanized. This article presents some results of a study that analyzed the experiences of workers in two Japanese automobile plants in Brazil with respect to aspects of the organization of work that have been promoted as positive by this predominant business management discourse. The plants studied employ the Japanese production model which has served as the principal reference for the idea of increased flexibility. The ethnographic methodology used included open-ended interviews (individual and in groups), informal conversation with workers, and participation in activities promoted by the union that represented the workers interviewed. The data analyzed took into account the experience of more than 40 workers. We conclude that the consequences of the work experiences of the workers who participated in the study are mental suffering and illness, and not a more humane work environment, as many business management publications have argued.
Committed to Social Justice and Research with the People: An Interview with Professor Richard Clapp
Authors: Rodrigues Ema , Scammell Madeleine Kangsen
Published: October 2010

As retirement nears, public health scientist and professor Richard Clapp of Boston University reviews his long career, discusses his past and current work interests, and their rewards and drawbacks.
Hope in Cooperatives? An Organizer's Thoughts for the Future
Authors: Witherell Robert
Published: October 2010

In an address at a Jobs with Justice conference, a veteran organizer takes a look at the value of cooperatives in boosting economic conditions and at his union's agreement with one such organization.
Status, Inequality and Intertemporal Choice
Authors: Xia Bianjun
Published: October 2010

This paper develops an intertemporal model in which individuals care about consumption not only for its own sake, but also for the status it implies. By putting an additive status term into the utility function, I show that the level of inequality in the initial wealth distribution affects individuals saving and consumption behavior. The direction of the distortion in intertemporal choice relative to the standard model without a concern for status depends on the elasticity of intertemporal substitution in the utility from absolute consumption. In particular, I prove that, for conventional parameter values of the elasticity (e.g. CES parameter larger than one), people save less than what they do without the status concern but the magnitude of this decrease is reduced by the concern for future status. It is also possible that people save more than what they do without the status concern. I also analyze how changes in the initial wealth distribution affect saving. For example, when wealth is Pareto distributed, for a reasonable parameterization, the rich save more and the poor save less when society gets more unequal, which implies that inequality is self-enforcing in this economy. Finally, the resulting allocation is Pareto inefficient due to the externalities generated by the concern for status.
Population decrease or increase?: First results of the Census 2002 in Central Serbia and Vojvodina
Authors: Penev Goran , Stevanovic Radoslav
Published: October 2010

This article analyses the first results of the latest census of population taken in 2002. For the first time, the census was not taken on the whole territory of the FR of Yugoslavia. The Census 2002 was taken after a year long delay, and for the first time, it wasn't conducted in the entire country. It was postponed in Montenegro for another year. So far, a census conducting was not planned in Kosovo and Metohija.According to the first results of the Census 2002, 5454950 persons lived in Central Serbia, and 2024487 in Vojvodina. At the same time, a total of 328795 inhabitants of Central Serbia and 67148 inhabitants of Vojvodina were at 'temporary' work/stay abroad. Compared to the previous census (1991), the population (in the country) of Central Serbia was decreased by 127,7 thousand or -2,3%, while the population of Vojvodina increased by 58,1 thousand or 3,0%. The number of persons 'temporary' abroad, compared to 1991, was significantly increased in Central Serbia (102,5 thousand or 45,3%) and Vojvodina (19,6 thousand or 41,3%). The total population (in country and abroad) of Central Serbia was 5783745, and in Vojvodina 2091635. In the intercensual period, the population of Central Serbia decreased by 25,2 thousand, and it increased by 77,7 thousand in Vojvodina. These dynamics are contrary to the dynamics in the previous intercensual period (1981-1991), when the number of inhabitants of Central Serbia was increased (114,4 thousand, 91,6 out of which was in the country) and of Vojvodina was decreased (by 20,9 thousand, 2,8 out of which was in the country).The second part of the article analyses the population dynamics of municipalities and settlements. In the intercensual period of 1991-2002, three quarters of municipalities (120 out of 161) and four fifths of settlements (3835 out 4705), there was a negative population growth rate. As a rule, these are municipalities and settlements with a relatively large share of refugees and IDPs.
Migrations in Europe: Fears due to the enlargement of the EU to the East
Authors: Morokvasic Mirjana
Published: October 2010

The European Union is confronted with the biggest enlargement in its history: ten states, among them eight middle European - the so called "buffer zone" in the new European migration landscape - will become members in 2004. Other candidates hope to join in the coming years. For all Eastern and Eastern European countries, including those that are not candidates, the end of the bi-polar world meant a hope of "return to Europe". When shifting its borders to the East, the European Union both includes and excludes. The final objective to achieve Europe as "a space of freedom, security and justice", is conditioned by the capacity and necessity to control the migratory flows. The prospect of free circulation for the citizens of the new Union members entails also fears: the EU countries are afraid of the consequences the enlargement would have on migratory flows from the countries of the Central and Eastern Europe and which transit through that area. The perception of migrants as a threat inspired the conditions that the Union imposed on the candidate countries concerning migration policy issues and which mostly focus on the protection of its Eastern borders. For the future Union members however, protecting of the thousand of kilometers of their Eastern border, implies a number of quite different problems. These countries are afraid of the impact the restrictive measures they are obliged to implement would have both on many economic and family ties which have been maintained since the socialist period and on more recently engaged cooperation with the neighbours which are not candidates. The challenge of enlargement is different therefore for the EU members, for the candidate countries and for those who are for the moment excluded from the process. The fears do not seem to be always grounded. Thus, the impact of enlargement which, it was feared, could have been so destabilizing for the Union because of potentially large migration flows, is more likely to be destabilizing for the new candidate countries, especially concerning their relations with their neighbours excluded from the enlargement process.
Importance of bio-medical and socio-economic factors for increase of life expectancy
Authors: Radivojevic Biljana , Veljanovic-Moraca Vukica
Published: October 2010

This paper analyzes the connection between life expectancy according to sex and numerous factors on which its level depends on. Statistical analysis understood application of correlation and regression analysis for determining the connection strength of life expectancy and researched factors separately and then all factors together, as well as separately groups of health-medical and socio-economic factors. The analysis was carried out for a group of developed countries, medium developed, mixed group and Yugoslavia (now SCG) on available data for the second half of the 20th century. Analysis results for Yugoslavia showed that the greatest influence on life expectancy of all factors together were setting aside funds for social security (p<0.05). If only health-medical factors are observed, then child mortality up to 5 years and tumor mortality are in question. With women, the greatest influence is with child mortality up to five years old among all factors (<p0.05), or only among health-medical, but in that case it is far less than with men. In developed countries, the strongest connection with life expectancy were the number of sick-beds with men (p<0.05), and with women the parameter of potentially lost years due to tumor (p<0.01). In medium developed countries the most influence on women's life expectancy was maternal mortality (p=0.014), and with men no researched factor was statistically significant. In the mixed sample, the strongest connection with men was with gross national income per capita (p<0.01), and with women with child mortality up to five years old (p=0.017). Therefore on the basis of the determined statistical importance of certain factors analysis showed that the influence of socio-economic factors on life expectancy was very strong in present conditions of mortality, not only in positive, but in negative direction as well, and that their influence in that second half of the 20th century was greater than the influence of health-medical factors. Also, it seems that the males are more sensitive to these factors than women.
The demographic picture of Belgrade at the beginning of the 21st century
Authors: Rasevic Mirjana , Penev Goran
Published: October 2010

The central part of this paper is devoted to establishing the demographic picture of the City of Belgrade at the beginning of the 21st century. The authors discuss the number of inhabitants and the components of demographic growth through natural increase (fertility and mortality) on the one hand and net migration on the other. Special attention was paid to the problem of refugees (the number and special distribution of refugees). Age and sex structure, the structure by marital status, as well as educational, and economic structures were analyzed. Current ethnic structure, as well as the changes in this structure since the early 1990s, were also presented. The analysis of the demographic picture has made it possible, first of all, to show the implications for the future of the established population trends, and second of all, to single out the basic demographic problems that need to be addressed strategically by the City of Belgrade and by the State.
Stochastic forecast of the population of Central Serbia based on empiric forecast errors
Authors: Nikitovic Vladimir
Published: October 2010

Based on the example of the forecast of the population of Central Serbia for the 2005-2032 period, the basic probabilistic concept in forecasting the trends of demographic components of population development have been presented. The stochastic element of forecast is based on the analysis of empirical forecast errors of corresponding indicators of demographic development. The analysis frameworks were forecasts of official bureaus of statistics published during the second half of the 20th century. The statistical distribution of probability for chosen forecast parameters were formed around so called middle variant of corresponding indicators in the current national forecast of population, published by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS) for the period 2002-2032. The basic characteristics of the probabilistic approach of forecasting were presented through mutual comparison of the main methodological assumptions, namely though comparative demographic-statistical valorization of results with traditional deterministic concept, represented by forecasts of RSB. The stochastic forecast of the population of Serbia clearly indicated to the key advantages of this approach: methodological consistency in quantifying demographic indicators as well as the possibility of transparent usage of results in numerous aspects of social planning. In this way the significance of the necessity for the elaboration of a studious national forecast of the population of Serbia completely based on a stochastic basis has been stressed, regardless of the still-present restrictions in the development of the probabilistic approach.
Gynecologists and the abortion issue in Serbia
Authors: Rasevic Mirjana , Sedlecki Katarina
Published: October 2010

Traditional inefficient contraception, incorporated to a large extent in the system of values, has become a natural part of sexual relations in Serbia and represents a rational preventive choice from the individual standpoint. However, when pregnancy is unwanted or cannot be accepted out of any reasons abortion is used as a resort. For this reason there is a long history of a large number of abortions in Serbia. Research findings in our country identify the following, as the most important factors for not accepting modern values in this sphere: traditional contraception and abortion have a firm social confirmation; there is a trans-generational transfer of psychological resistance towards the use of combined oral contraception pills and intrauterine devices; sexual education has never become a natural way of growing up in the family, nor is a constituent part of school programs and that distinct obstacles of various nature exist regarding contraception availability. A developed network of various types of family planning counseling is an important determinant of the accessibility of contraceptive means and methods. There are, however, numerous conditions which have to be fulfilled in order for the contraception counseling services to function properly. Among them, motivated personnel who acquired general and specific knowledge for work in this field are an especially important prerequisite. This theoretical assumption opens the question -whether gynecologists represent an important factor of slow transition of birth control in Serbia? We searched for the answer in the research analyses obtained through two in-depth surveys which either had to do with this theme or tried to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of gynecologists. The first research regarding the determination of the causes for a large number of abortions in our country, was directed towards women who decided on abortion. Gynecologists were the target group in the second research which was KAP type. The results of both researches clearly indicate that gynecologists generally observed, contribute to maintaining the abortion culture and slow transition of birth control from the use of traditional contraception to reliance on modern contraception means and methods in Serbia. Namely, a significant number of gynecologists in our country are at variance with the principals of modern family planning. Their knowledge, attitudes and practice relevant for individual contraceptive choices are insufficient, conservative and inadequate. Thus, there is a necessity for special education of doctors especially gynecologists, at all levels from the basic studies, through specialists ones, to special target courses, seminars, symposiums and conferences. Knowledge acquisition, as the basic element of consciousness can affect formation of standpoints, motivation, promote responsibility and create the requirement for promoting a different system of values and philosophy of living in the sphere of reproductive health.
Gender sensitive statistics as a prerequsite for democratization of a society
Authors: Balon Bojana
Published: October 2010

The author analyzes statistical data on position of women in the EU and Serbia, which confirm that women in the EU, as well as in Serbia, are insufficiently represented in decision-making processes, are on average better educated then men, work more hours per day but that they on average earn less then men. Statistical Office of Republic of Serbia has published in 2005 a brochure Women and men in Serbia in which gender sensitive data were published in a coherent way and also data that they gather but do not represent in regular publications, or they do, but disorderly and not systematically. By publishing this brochure it was proved that there is interest and the need to better collect gender sensitive statistical data. Nevertheless, the brochure does not represent a radical breakthrough in methodology of data collection and analysis of new areas in statistics. There are still many "black holes" that Serbia will have to fill in if it wants to respond to its international obligations regarding reporting on position of women to international organizations and various bodies. This is why the author also represented gender sensitive categories which are gathered and published in Germany, Norway and Slovenia - a country where statistics is based on similar grounds which were built in former Yugoslavia and in short time progressed to European standards, proving that progress is possible, if there is political will.
Subject of research on effects of tourism on population development
Authors: Devedzic Mirjana
Published: October 2010

The importance of tourism in the context of economic and demographic recovery of certain regions has created an image of tourism as a development catalyst. Thus strategies of revitalization in depopulated and passive regions often consider tourism as an activity that can speed up the development and successfully valorize existing natural, cultural and demographic potentials. This "key" is used mainly in the absence of other development resources since tourism valorizes issues that other industries ignore (landscape features, ethnical heritage, authentic folk architecture, etc). In addition it is more difficult to recommend the right forms of tourism to be developed in depopulated regions, as well as to estimate the resulting economic and demographic effects. To this end, there are success stories, but there is also evidence of non-rational initiatives and projects that were never completed. This paper attempts to discover the most logical links between population development and tourism development, based on some important characteristics of population development. The characteristics used are overall population increase, population migrations, population structures and changes in households. They were selected because they best reflect not only direct, but also indirect multiplicative effects of tourism. Along with the theoretical and methodological background, the research is also supported by selected examples, interviews, and demographic analyzes. The effects are not universal. They depend on the region, the kind of tourism and the degree of its development, the demographic situation as it is, and the research approach, since global and local effects need not necessarily be unidirectional. Population increase initiated by tourism development is achieved due to the migration component, but the effects are most obvious at the level of tourist regions and their tourist centers. One can also note counter processes in some places that have tourist function. The level of tourism development and social attitudes to tourism development determine the sense of perspective that makes people to move. The most direct effects are reflected in the restructuring of active population w.r.t. the existing industries and the domination of tertiary activities. The activity of women is increased, as well as their responsibilities in households. The most diverse effects of tourism factors are sublimed in households. Such effects are not possible with small-scale tourism that is the most appropriate one in depopulated regions. The effects are best reflected in strengthening of economic and social functions of households and in the increase of local industries and crafts, which can lead to population decrease.
Changes in the share of ethnic Croats and Serbs in Croatia by town and municipality based on the results of censuses from 1991 and 2001
Authors: Berber Maja , Grbic Bozo , Pavkov Slavica
Published: October 2010

This article shows the changes in the populations of Croatian and Serbian ethnic affiliation in Croatia based on population censuses of 1991 and 2001. In the last intercensal period (1991-2001), methodological definitions of resident population changed significantly, Croatia's administrative-territorial borders changed and a war occurred (1991-1995), all of which influenced the demographical situation of Croatia. It is of special importance that the term 'ethnic affiliation' is significantly unstable and unpredictable and highly influenced by both subjective and external influences, which make its analysis even more difficult. By establishing a connection between the old (1991) and the new (2001) names of settlements, the authors demonstrated the changes in the share of ethnic Croats and Serbs in the total population of towns and municipalities in Croatia in the observed intercensal period. Both the demographic and the ethnic profile of Croatia changed in the period of 1991-2001. The total population of Croatia, as well as the population of ethnic Serbs, decreased in this period, while the population of ethnic Croats increased. Since Croatia had a negative natural increase in the observed period, this increase is attributed to migrations and changes in declarations of ethnic affiliation. While the share of ethnic Serbs decreased significantly (from 12,2% in 1991 to 4,5% in 2001), their territorial distribution remained practically the same. .
Lipid-Induced Insulin Resistance Affects Women Less Than Men and Is Not Accompanied by Inflammation or Impaired Proximal Insulin Signaling
Authors: Høeg Louise D. , Sjøberg Kim A. , Jeppesen Jacob , Jensen Thomas E. , Frøsig Christian , Birk Jesper B. , Bisiani Bruno , Hiscock Natalie , Pilegaard Henriette , Wojtaszewski Jørgen F.P. , Richter Erik A. , Kiens Bente
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE

We have previously shown that overnight fasted women have higher insulin-stimulated whole body and leg glucose uptake despite a higher intramyocellular triacylglycerol concentration than men. Women also express higher muscle mRNA levels of proteins related to lipid metabolism than men. We therefore hypothesized that women would be less prone to lipid-induced insulin resistance.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Insulin sensitivity of whole-body and leg glucose disposal was studied in 16 young well-matched healthy men and women infused with intralipid or saline for 7 h. Muscle biopsies were obtained before and during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (1.42 mU · kg−1 · min−1).

RESULTS

Intralipid infusion reduced whole-body glucose infusion rate by 26% in women and 38% in men (P < 0.05), and insulin-stimulated leg glucose uptake was reduced significantly less in women (45%) than men (60%) after intralipid infusion. Hepatic glucose production was decreased during the clamp similarly in women and men irrespective of intralipid infusion. Intralipid did not impair insulin or AMPK signaling in muscle and subcutaneous fat, did not cause accumulation of muscle lipid intermediates, and did not impair insulin-stimulated glycogen synthase activity in muscle or increase plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. In vitro glucose transport in giant sarcolemmal vesicles was not decreased by acute exposure to fatty acids. Leg lactate release was increased and respiratory exchange ratio was decreased by intralipid.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralipid infusion causes less insulin resistance of muscle glucose uptake in women than in men. This insulin resistance is not due to decreased canonical insulin signaling, accumulation of lipid intermediates, inflammation, or direct inhibition of GLUT activity. Rather, a higher leg lactate release and lower glucose oxidation with intralipid infusion may suggest a metabolic feedback regulation of glucose metabolism.
miR-200a Prevents Renal Fibrogenesis Through Repression of TGF-β2 Expression
Authors: Wang Bo , Koh Philip , Winbanks Catherine , Coughlan Melinda T. , McClelland Aaron , Watson Anna , Jandeleit-Dahm Karin , Burns Wendy C. , Thomas Merlin C. , Cooper Mark E. , Kantharidis Phillip
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVE

Progressive fibrosis in the diabetic kidney is driven and sustained by a diverse range of profibrotic factors. This study examines the critical role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of the key fibrotic mediators, TGF-β1 and TGF-β2.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Rat proximal-tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) were treated with TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 for 3 days, and expression of markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrogenesis were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The expression of miR-141 and miR-200a was also assessed, as was their role as translational repressors of TGF-β signaling. Finally, these pathways were explored in two different mouse models, representing early and advanced diabetic nephropathy.

RESULTS

Both TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 induced EMT and fibrogenesis in NRK52E cells. TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 also downregulated expression of miR-200a. The importance of these changes was demonstrated by the finding that ectopic expression miR-200a downregulated smad-3 activity and the expression of matrix proteins and prevented TGF-β–dependent EMT. miR-200a also downregulated the expression of TGF-β2, via direct interaction with the 3′ untranslated region of TGF-β2. The renal expression of miR-141 and miR-200a was also reduced in mouse models representing early and advanced kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-200a and miR-141 significantly impact on the development and progression of TGF-β–dependent EMT and fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. These miRNAs appear to be intricately involved in fibrogenesis, both as downstream mediators of TGF-β signaling and as components of feedback regulation, and as such represent important new targets for the prevention of progressive kidney disease in the context of diabetes.
Neuroendocrine Tumors — Laboratory Diagnosis
Authors: Tzontcheva Anna
Published: October 2010

Neuroendocrine Tumors — Laboratory Diagnosis

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms originating from endocrine cells, which are characterized by the presence of secretory granules as well as the ability to produce biogenic amines and polypeptide hormones. These tumors originate from endocrine glands such as the adrenal medulla, the pituitary, and the parathyroids, as well as endocrine islets within the thyroid or the pancreas, and dispersed endocrine cells in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. The clinical behavior of NETs is extremely variable; they may be functioning or not functioning, ranging from very slow-growing tumors (well-differentiated NETs), which are the majority, to highly aggressive and very malignant tumors (poorly differentiated NETs). Classically, NETs of the gastrointestinal tract are classified into 2 main groups: (1) carcinoids and (2) endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPTs). Most neuroendocrine tumors produce and secrete a multitude of peptide hormones and amines. Some of these substances cause a specific clinical syndrome: carcinoid, Zollinger-Ellison, hyperglycemic, glucagonoma and WDHA syndrome. Specific markers for these syndromes are basal and/or stimulated levels of urinary 5-HIAA, serum or plasma gastrin, insulin, glucagon and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, respectively. Some carcinoid tumors and about one third of endocrine pancreatic tumors do not present any clinical symptoms and are called ‘nonfunctioning’ tumors. Therefore, general tumor markers such as chromogranin A, pancreatic polypeptide, serum neuron-specific enolase and subunits of glycoprotein hormones have been used for screening purposes in patients without distinct clinical hormone-related symptoms. Among these general tumor markers chromogranin A, although its precise function is not yet established, has been shown to be a very sensitive and specific serum marker for various types of neuroendocrine tumors. This is because it may also be elevated in many cases of less well-differentiated tumors of neuroendocrine origin that do not secrete known hormones. At the moment, chromogranin A is considered the best general neuroendocrine serum or plasma marker available both for diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation, and is increased in 50-100% of patients with various neuroendocrine tumors. Chromogranin A serum or plasma levels reflect tumor load, and it may be an independent marker of prognosis in patients with midgut carcinoids.
Measuring Thyroglobulin Concentrations in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Savin Svetlana , Cvejić Dubravka , Mijatović Ljiljana , Simonović Snežana
Published: October 2010

Measuring Thyroglobulin Concentrations in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Thyroid carcinomas are the most common malignant endocrine tumors. Thyroglobulin (Tg), a specific thyroid protein, is the most important tumor marker in thyroid oncology. After total thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy, detectable or increasing serum Tg levels in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma indicate persistence of active thyroid tissue or cancer recurrence. Serum Tg concentration primarily reflects three variables: the mass of differentiated thyroid tissue present; the degree of thyrotropin receptor stimulation and the intrinsic ability of the tumor to synthesize and secrete Tg. Measurement of serum Tg by current immunometric (IMA) and radioimmunological (RIA) assays encounters some methodological problems which can diminish its clinical importance. Discrepancy between the results for Tg using different methods may be caused by: different reference materials, specific properties of the primary and secondary antibodies for antigenic determinants on Tg and diverse binding affinities of these epitopes, together with interference by serum factors (usually antibodies to Tg (TgAb)) with the primary and secondary Tg antibodies from the diagnostic set. In the presence of endogenous TgAb, Tg values measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and similar assays are usually lower than the real concentrations, while in RIA apparently lower or higher results can be obtained. Falsely low values may lead to delay in necessary treatment, while an inappropriately high Tg value can cause patient anxiety and unnecessary scans. Despite current methodological limitations, serum Tg measurement is a useful test for determining worsening disease and monitoring the effects of therapy in patients who have undergone surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Pre-Analytical Workstations as a Tool for Reducing Laboratory Errors
Authors: Rin Giorgio
Published: October 2010

Pre-Analytical Workstations as a Tool for Reducing Laboratory Errors

Reducing errors and improving quality are an integral part of Laboratory Medicine. Laboratory testing, a highly complex process commonly called the total testing process (TTP), is usually subdivided into three traditional (pre-, intra-, and post-) analytical phases. A series of papers published from 1989 drew the attention of laboratory professionals to the pre-analytical phase, which currently appears to be more vulnerable to errors than the other phases. Consequently, the preanalytical phase should be the main target for further quality improvement. Therefore, identifying the critical steps in the pre-analytical phase is a prerequisite for continuous quality improvement, further error reduction and thus for improving patient safety. Use of automated systems where feasible, and use of error reduction/improved quality as a factor when selecting instrumentation are the main tools we have to insure high quality and minimize errors in the pre-analytical phase. The reasons for automation of the pre-analytical phase have become so compelling that it is no longer simply a competitive advantage for laboratories, but rather a competitive necessity. These systems can impact on the clinical/laboratory interface and affect the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of care.