bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meeting the Needs of Older Adult Refugee Populations With Home Health Services
Authors: Miner Sarah M. , Liebel Dianne , Wilde Mary H. , Carroll Jennifer K. , Zicari Elizabeth , Chalupa Stephanie
Published: January 2016

The United States resettles close to 70,000 refugees each year more than any other country in the world. Adult refugees are at risk for negative health outcomes and inefficient health resource use, and meeting the multiple health needs of this vulnerable population is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a home health care (HHC) pilot project on meeting the needs of older adult refugee patients. A retrospective chart review of 40 refugee adult patients who participated in an HHC pilot was done to analyze their health outcomes using OASIS-C data. Participants’ pain level, anxiety level, medication management, and activities of daily living management all significantly improved over the course of their HHC episode. Results of this study indicate that HHC has great potential to improve the health of vulnerable refugee populations and assist the families involved in their care.
Sleep Quality and Associated Factors in Older Turkish Adults With Hypertension: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kara Belgüzar , Tenekeci Elif Gökçe
Published: January 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and to explore its associations with participant characteristics, anemia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and physical activity in older Turkish adults with hypertension. Method: This cross-sectional study included 128 adults aged 60 years or older with hypertension. Data were collected by using a personal information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Anemia was assessed by hemoglobin levels. Results: Eighty-one patients (63.3%) reported poor sleep quality. Anemia was present in 35.2% of the patients (defined as hemoglobin <13 g/dL for males and <12 g/dL for females). Female gender, the presence of anemia, and low levels of physical activity were associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusion/Implication: The majority of the participants had poor sleep quality. Better understanding of risk factors associated with poor sleep quality may contribute to more effective interventions to improve health and well-being.
Researching in Collectivist Cultures
Authors: Roberts Lisa R. , Jadalla Ahlam , Jones-Oyefeso Vanessa , Winslow Betty , Taylor Elizabeth Johnston
Published: January 2016

Commonalities are presented from the experiences of U.S. nurse researchers who conducted studies in India, Jordan, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and Trinidad and Tobago. While planning research, it is important to engage collaborators who are members of the culture to be studied to understand what are culturally appropriate aims and methods. It is also vital to observe cultural etiquette, especially while gaining entrée and collecting data. Issues related to data collection include timing it around local holidays and events, and adapting individualist methods for obtaining consent and data to be more respectful for those in a collectivist culture. Care must be taken to give back, to sharing findings, and insure sustainability for future research in the host culture. Based on these and other reflections, recommendations are offered to support investigators planning research in a culture that is not their own.
Exploring Nurses’ Meaning and Experiences of Compassion: An International Online Survey Involving 15 Countries
Authors: Papadopoulos Irena , Taylor Georgina , Ali Sheila , Aagard Magdeline , Akman Ozlem , Alpers Lise-Merete , Apostolara Paraskevi , Biglete-Pangilinan Sylvia , Biles Jessica , García Ángel Martín , González-Gil Teresa , Koulouglioti Christina , Kouta Christiana , Krepinska Radka , Kumar Bernadette Nirmal , Lesińska-Sawicka Małgorzata , Diaz Alba Lucero Lopez , Malliarou Maria , Nagórska Małgorzata , Nassim Sara , Nortvedt Line , Oter-Quintana Cristina , Ozturk Candan , Papp Katalin , Regev Orit Eldar , Rubiano Florinda O. , Diaz Maria Ymelda Tolentino , Tóthová Valérie , Vasiliou Marios , Zorba Akile
Published: January 2016

Purpose: In recent years, there has been much focus on compassion in nursing care, and concern has been raised in a number of reports and media stories regarding decreased compassion. The aim of this study was to explore similarities and differences in the understanding and demonstration of compassion in nursing practice across 15 countries. Design: A total of 1,323 nurses from 15 countries responded to questions in relation to compassion, via an international online survey. Results: The data revealed the impact of sociopolitical influences on perceptions of compassion, and the conscious and intentional nature of compassion. Discussion and Conclusion: The study demonstrated shared understandings of the importance of compassion as well as some common perceptions of the attributes of compassionate care. The differences reported were not as significant as had been expected. Implications for Practice: Further research is needed to explore the country and culture differences in the enactment of compassion.
Analysis of nonlinear free vibration of a beam with magnetic shape memory alloy elements
Authors: Mohammadsalehi Mohammad , Zakerzadeh Mohammad Reza , Baghani Mostafa
Published: January 2016

In this study, nonlinear vibration of a clamped–clamped beam containing magnetic shape memory alloy is investigated through combining the constitutive relations of magnetic shape memory alloy and the large deformation response of Euler–Bernoulli beam. Due to the presence of moderately large strains, the effect of mid-plane stretching is taken into consideration. The magnetic shape memory alloy elements are bounded on the top surfaces in the clamped roots of the beam. Since magnetic shape memory alloy units should be always under compressive stress during the vibration, an appropriate compressive pre-strain is applied in magnetic shape memory alloy elements. In order to derive the governing equation of motion, Hamilton’s principle is utilized, and Galerkin’s method is applied in order to numerically solve the set of nonlinear equations. Variation of the strain in magnetic shape memory alloy elements during the beam vibrations makes it necessary to consider the influence of magnetic shape memory alloy on the beam response as well as the damping effects. Vibration-induced deformation in the beam is transferred to the magnetic shape memory alloys causing reorientation in them. It is shown that as a result of hysteresis behavior of magnetic shape memory alloys, the total energy of the beam dissipates until the amplitude of deformation is low enough that reorientation may no longer be induced in the magnetic shape memory alloys. A detailed study is carried out to investigate the effects of magnetic shape memory alloy elements on the damping as well as the natural frequencies of the beam. The influence of the initial conditions, magnetic field, number of magnetic shape memory alloy elements, and also the pre-strain in magnetic shape memory alloy is numerically investigated.
Embedding Technology and Assessment Into the Music Classroom With Nearpod
Authors: Dunbar Laura
Published: January 2016

Nearpod is a great way to bring content and assessment into the music classroom. This article describes how to use Nearpod and potential applications.
Men Nurses in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Twomey June Creina , Meadus Robert
Published: January 2016

The health care industry is facing a worldwide shortage. Despite a repeated call for a greater effort on recruitment and retention of men nurses to aid the nursing shortage, men remain a minority within the profession. In Canada, less than 7% of the nursing workforce are men. Using a survey, all men registered nurses in the Atlantic provinces reported on why they chose nursing, barriers they experienced, strategies to improve recruitment/retention, recommendations to others, and career satisfaction. The most common reasons for entering nursing were helping people, job security, and a challenging profession. The most common perceived barriers were being seen as “muscle,” inadequate recruitment, and sexual stereotypes. Most subjects were satisfied with career choice and had no hesitation in recommending the career for other men. Respondents stressed that recruitment strategies should focus on factors such as helping others, job security, and career opportunities. Findings may help with future recruitment strategies designed to attract more men into the nursing profession.
Resonating Sentiments on Puerto Rican Identity Through Poetry
Authors: Guzzardo Mariana T. , Adams Wallis E. , Todorova Irina L. G. , Falcón Luis M.
Published: January 2016

Identity among Puerto Ricans of the diaspora on the U.S. mainland is fluid, fragmented, multifocal, and nuanced. We explore Puerto Rican identity through the use of poetry, by presenting I-poems of adult Puerto Ricans living in the Greater Boston area, which we extract from qualitative interviews from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. I-poems are presented in conjunction with published poetry of Puerto Rican poets, with the aim of underscoring resonating sentiments and experiences. Poetry allows us to bring voice to the ambiguity of transnational and diasporic identity that is not as accessible and perceptible through other methodology.
Post Author/Ship
Authors: Benozzo Angelo , Koro-Ljungberg Mirka , Carey Neil
Published: January 2016

In this article, imposters’ (or fake authors) aim is to problematize fixed concepts such as author, authoring, and authorship both in qualitative research and in organization studies—especially in relation to organizational communications that ostensibly promote and value diversity of (sexual) identity. In seeking to do so, these imposters engage with an IKEA ad and, in a process of “prospective” writing, inductively explore the absence or void of an author through a series of writing events.
The Ghostwriter Writes No More
Authors: Herrmann Andrew F.
Published: January 2016

This narrative articulates the advantages of long-term autoethnographic logotherapy. I explore how the practice of long-term autoethnographic logotherapy led me to the point where I was prepared for my father’s death, and how that allowed me to let him go before he actually died. I propose that long-term personal narrative and autoethnographic writing are not merely a form of therapy and healing. Rather, it is a practice aligned with existential psychologist Victor Frankl’s conception of logotherapy, literally “healing through meaning.” Using vignettes, I interrogate canonical narratives about father–son relationships, especially focusing on troubled relationships, and examine standard notions of bereavement.
Speculating on the Future of Digital Tools for Qualitative Research
Authors: Davidson Judith , Paulus Trena , Jackson Kristi
Published: January 2016

Development in digital tools in qualitative research over the past 20 years has been driven by the development of qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) and the Internet. This article highlights three critical issues for the future digital tools: (a) ethics and the challenges, (b) archiving of qualitative data, and (c) the preparation of qualitative researchers for an era of digital tools. Excited about the future and the possibilities of new mash-ups, we highlight the need for vibrant communities of practice where developers and researchers are supported in the creation and use of digital tools. We also emphasize the need to be able to mix and match across various digital barriers as we engage in research projects with diverse partners.
The Development of a Descriptive Measure of Early Childhood Writing
Authors: Rowe Deborah Wells , Wilson Sandra Jo
Published: January 2016

This study describes the development of an observational tool, the Write Start! Writing Assessment, created to provide descriptive information on four features of preschoolers’ writing: forms, directional patterns, intentionality (ways of assigning meaning to marks), and message content. Observational categories were generated from a review of research and then refined through constant-comparative analysis of the writing of 139 low-income, African American children aged 2:6 to 5:11. Children participated in the study from 1 to 3 years. Fall and spring writing samples were collected as children responded to a standard task asking them to write a photo caption. Cross-sectional analyses across seven age bands show the range and relative frequencies of writing categories. A wide range of normal variation was observed within age groups. Growth curve analyses confirmed that children showed significant change in all four writing features over the preschool years. Data from a subsample of 10 children were analyzed longitudinally over 3 years to triangulate findings. Although children moved toward more conventional writing, inter-individual variability in initial starting points and pacing of transitions into more advanced categories was observed for all four writing features. Intra-individual variability was observed in back and forth movement between less and more advanced writing performances, concurrent use of multiple hypotheses, and differential development of the four writing features. The authors conclude that the descriptive information provided by Write! Start! measure provides a starting point for differentiation of instruction for young writers.
Metabolomics in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bhargava Pavan , Calabresi Peter A
Published: January 2016

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system with inflammatory and degenerative components. The cause of MS remains unknown although genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role in its etiopathogenesis. Metabolomics is a new “omics” technology that aims at measuring small molecules in various biological matrices and can provide information that is not readily obtained from genomics, transcriptomics, or proteomics. Currently, several different analytical platforms exist for metabolomics, and both untargeted and targeted approaches are being employed. Methods of analysis of metabolomics data are also being developed and no consensus currently exists on the optimal approach to analysis and interpretation of these data. Metabolomics has the potential to provide putative biomarkers, insights into the pathophysiology of the disease, and to aid in precision medicine for patients with MS.
Serum neurofilament light chain in early relapsing remitting MS is increased and correlates with CSF levels and with MRI measures of disease severity
Authors: Kuhle Jens , Barro Christian , Disanto Giulio , Mathias Amandine , Soneson Charlotte , Bonnier Guillaume , Yaldizli Özguer , Regeniter Axel , Derfuss Tobias , Canales Mathieu , Schluep Myriam , Du Pasquier Renaud , Krueger Gunnar , Granziera Cristina
Published: January 2016

Background/objectives:

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients correlate with the degree of neuronal injury. To date, little is known about NfL concentrations in the serum of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and their relationship with CSF levels and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of disease severity. We aimed to validate the quantification of NfL in serum samples of RRMS, as a biofluid source easily accessible for longitudinal studies.

Methods:

A total of 31 RRMS patients underwent CSF and serum sampling. After a median time of 3.6 years, 19 of these RRMS patients, 10 newly recruited RRMS patients and 18 healthy controls had a 3T MRI and serum sampling. NfL concentrations were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results:

NfL levels in serum were highly correlated to levels in CSF ( r = 0.62, p = 0.0002). Concentrations in serum were higher in patients than in controls at baseline ( p = 0.004) and follow-up ( p = 0.0009) and did not change over time ( p = 0.56). Serum NfL levels correlated with white matter (WM) lesion volume ( r = 0.68, p < 0.0001), mean T1 ( r = 0.40, p = 0.034) and T2* relaxation time ( r = 0.49, p = 0.007) and with magnetization transfer ratio in normal appearing WM ( r = −0.41, p = 0.029).

Conclusion:

CSF and serum NfL levels were highly correlated, and serum concentrations were increased in RRMS. Serum NfL levels correlated with MRI markers of WM disease severity. Our findings further support longitudinal studies of serum NfL as a potential biomarker of on-going disease progression and as a potential surrogate to quantify effects of neuroprotective drugs in clinical trials.
Multi-scale MRI spectrum detects differences in myelin integrity between MS lesion types
Authors: Zhang Yunyan , Jonkman Laura , Klauser Antoine , Barkhof Frederik , Yong V Wee , Metz Luanne M , Geurts Jeroen JG
Published: January 2016

Background:

Lesions with different extents of myelin pathology are found at autopsy in multiple sclerosis (MS), but the differences are not discernible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective:

To determine whether analysis of the local spectrum in MRI is sensitive to lesion differences in myelin integrity.

Methods:

We imaged fresh brain slices from 21 MS patients using 1.5T scanners. White matter lesions were identified in T2-weighted MRI, matched to corresponding specimens, and then classified into five categories in histology: pre-active (intact myelin); active, chronic active, chronic inactive (complete demyelination); and remyelinated lesions. Voxel-based frequency spectrum was calculated using T2-weighted MRI to characterize lesion structure (image texture).

Results:

MRI texture heterogeneity resulting from all spectral scales was greater in completely demyelinated lesions than in myelin-preserved lesions ( p = 0.02) and normal-appearing white matter ( p < 0.01). Moreover, the spectral distribution pattern over low-frequency scales differentiated demyelinated lesions from remyelinated and pre-active lesions ( p < 0.01), where different lesion types also showed distinct texture scales.

Conclusion:

Using multi-scale spectral analysis, it may be possible for standard MRI to evaluate myelin integrity in MS lesions. This can be critical for monitoring disease activity and assessing remyelination therapies for MS patients.
Neoconservatism as discourse: Virtue, power and US foreign policy
Authors: Pan Chengxin , Turner Oliver
Published: January 2016

Neoconservatism in US foreign policy is a hotly contested subject, yet most scholars broadly agree on what it is and where it comes from. From a consensus that it first emerged around the 1960s, these scholars view neoconservatism through what we call the ‘3Ps’ approach, defining it as a particular group of people (‘neocons’), an array of foreign policy preferences and/or an ideological commitment to a set of principles. While descriptively intuitive, this approach reifies neoconservatism in terms of its specific and often static ‘symptoms’ rather than its dynamic constitutions. These reifications may reveal what is emblematic of neoconservatism in its particular historical and political context, but they fail to offer deeper insights into what is constitutive of neoconservatism. Addressing this neglected question, this article dislodges neoconservatism from its perceived home in the ‘3Ps’ and ontologically redefines it as a discourse. Adopting a Foucauldian approach of archaeological and genealogical discourse analysis, we trace its discursive formations primarily to two powerful and historically enduring discourses of the American self — virtue and power — and illustrate how these discourses produce a particular type of discursive fusion that is ‘neoconservatism’. We argue that to better appreciate its continued effect on contemporary and future US foreign policy, we need to pay close attention to those seemingly innocuous yet deeply embedded discourses about the US and its place in the world, as well as to the people, policies and principles conventionally associated with neoconservatism.
Extra- and within-system electoral volatility
Authors: Mainwaring Scott , Gervasoni Carlos , España-Najera Annabella
Published: January 2016

We analyze the remarkable differences in the electoral success of new parties and compare the determinants of electoral volatility attributable to new versus established parties. We base our findings on an original data set of total volatility, extra-system volatility, and within-system volatility for 67 democratic countries across all regions of the world since 1945.

The article makes three contributions. First, we show that it is important to distinguish between electoral volatility that represents vote shifts among established parties (within-system volatility) and shifts to new parties (extra-system volatility). Second, we provide descriptive information about total, within-system, and extra-system volatility for 67 countries. Third, we analyze the determinants of volatility. Our results show that the causes of within- and extra-system volatility differ markedly. In contrast to Powell and Tucker, for our broader range of countries and longer time period, there are several statistically robust positive findings.
Cognitive representations in low back pain in patients receiving chiropractic versus physiotherapy treatment
Authors: Roios Edite , Paredes Ana Cristina , Alves António F , Pereira M Graça
Published: January 2016

This study focused on cognitive representations of low back pain patients receiving chiropractic ( n = 213) versus physiotherapy treatment ( n = 125). Variables assessed included satisfaction with care, illness perceptions, beliefs about pain and medicines, attitudes towards doctors and medicine, suffering, adherence and functional incapacity. In the chiropractic treatment, functional incapacity was predicted by painful symptoms, suffering and personal control, and in the physiotherapy treatment by age, pain intensity, positive suffering, care satisfaction, illness identity and medication adherence. The groups differed on all cognitive variables assessed. Interventions should take into consideration cognitive dimensions, across treatment modalities.
Life according to ME: Caught in the ebb-tide
Authors: Lian Olaug S , Rapport Frances
Published: January 2016

In this article, we explore the role of ‘place’ in shaping people’s illness experiences through a data-led inductive case-study based on experiential data from people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in Norway. Our main aim is to understand how they experience, interpret and attach meaning to various places in which they reside, and how they construct the course of a life influenced by chronic illness. The study is based on stories containing photographs and written texts, received from 10 women and men. In their stories, they describe those places where they experience their illness in the least and most taxing ways. Through a narrative and photographic analysis of their stories, we explore how they perceive the relationship between place and illness as experienced, managed and endured. Our analysis is based on a place-sensitive sociology, in which we approach place both as physicality and a symbolic construction. The participants describe how a wide range of places are intimately linked to their illness experiences, and they interpret these links by referring to both physical and symbolic factors. They describe their lives in terms of a need for equilibrium between activity and rest. Risk is a strong underlying theme: whatever they do, they risk losing something. Most of all, the participants describe how they are looking for places to escape to and from. Places to escape to are those places where privacy and peace can be found, which primarily revolve around being at home. Places to escape from are those places that make their energy ‘slowly ebb away’.
Parallel morpho-orthographic and morpho-semantic activation in processing second language morphologically complex words: Evidence from Chinese-English bilinguals
Authors: Zhang Qingge , Liang Lijuan , Yao Panpan , Hu Shanshan , Chen Baoguo
Published: January 2016

Objectives/research questions:

The present study focused on the performance of Chinese learners of English to investigate the activation of morpho-semantic information in the early processing of second language (L2) morphologically complex words when participants’ first language (L1) and L2 are typologically different.

Methodology:

We used forward masked priming paradigm to compare the priming effect in three prime conditions, semantically transparent, semantically opaque and semantically related. In Experiment 1, the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was 40 milliseconds (ms), while, In Experiment 2, the SOA was extended to 80 ms.

Data and analysis:

Reaction time and comprehension accuracy data were analysed using the linear mixed-effects model.

Findings/conclusions:

In Experiment 1, we only found a priming effect in the semantically transparent condition. In Experiment 2, we found a reliable priming effect in the semantically opaque condition, but not in the semantically related condition. These results suggest even Chinese learners of English whose native language is typologically different from English can employ the rule-based decomposing mechanism. The decomposition is based on the interplay of morpho-orthographic and morpho-semantic information, adding new evidence to the assumption of parallel orthography-semantics activation.

Originality:

We manipulated SOAs to investigate the role of the morpho-semantic factor in the early processing of morphologically complex L2 words when participants’ L1 and L2 are typologically different.
Co-occurrence of substance use related and mental health problems in the Finnish social and health care system
Authors: Kuussaari Kristiina , Hirschovits-Gerz Tanja
Published: January 2016

Aim: Many studies have noted that substance abuse and mental health problems often occur simultaneously. The aim of the work reported here was to study the co-occurrence of mental health problems and problems related to substance use in a sample of clients visiting the Finnish social and health care services for issues related to substance use. We collected background information on the clients and considered the parts of the treatment system in which these clients were treated. Data and methods: Survey data on intoxicant-related cases in the Finnish health care and social services were gathered on a single day in 2011. During the 24 hours of data collection, all intoxicant-related cases were reported and data were obtained for 11,738 intoxicant-related cases. In this analysis we took into account the clients’ background variables, mental health variables, information on the treatment type and the main reasons for the client being in treatment. The χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test and binary logistic regression analysis were used. Results: Half of the visiting clients had both substance use related and mental health problems. The strongest factors associated with the co-occurrence of substance use related and mental health problems were female sex, younger age and single marital status. Clients with co-occurring problems were more often treated in the health care services, whereas clients with only substance use related problems were primarily treated in specialized services for the treatment of substance abuse. Conclusions: It is important to identify clients with co-occurring substance use related and mental health problems. In this study, half of the clients presenting to the Finnish social and health care treatment system had both these problems.
What does age-comparative self-rated health measure? A cross-sectional study from the Northern Sweden MONICA Project
Authors: Waller Göran , Janlert Urban , Hamberg Katarina , Forssén Annika
Published: January 2016

Aims: Self-rated health comprehensively accounts for many health domains. Using self-ratings and a knowledge of associations with health domains might help personnel in the health care sector to understand reports of ill health. The aim of this paper was to investigate associations between age-comparative self-rated health and disease, risk factors, emotions and psychosocial factors in a general population. Methods: We based our study on population-based cross-sectional surveys performed in 1999, 2004 and 2009 in northern Sweden. Participants were 25–74 years of age and 5314 of the 7500 people invited completed the survey. Comparative self-rated health was measured on a three-grade ordinal scale by the question ‘How would you assess your general health condition compared to persons of your own age?’ with the alternatives ‘better’, ‘worse’ or ‘similar’. The independent variables were sex, age, blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, self-reported myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, physical activity, smoking, risk of unemployment, satisfaction with economic situation, anxiety and depressive emotions, education and Karasek scale of working conditions. Odds ratios using ordinal regression were calculated. Results: Age, sex, stroke, myocardial infarction, diabetes, body mass index, physical activity, economic satisfaction, anxiety and depressive emotions were associated with comparative self-rated health. The risk of unemployment, a tense work situation and educational level were also associated with comparative self-rated health, although they were considerably weaker when adjusted for the the other variables. Anxiety, depressive emotions, low economic satisfaction and a tense work situation were common in the population. Conclusions:Emotions and economic satisfaction were associated with comparative self-rated health as well as some medical variables. Utilization of the knowledge of these associations in health care should be further investigated.
Sex differences in health care consumption in Sweden: A register-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Osika Friberg Ingrid , Krantz Gunilla , Määttä Sylvia , Järbrink Krister
Published: January 2016

Background: Generally, health care consumption, especially primary care, is greater among women than men. The extent to which this sex difference is explained by reproduction and sex-specific morbidity is unclear. Methods: We examined age- and sex-specific health care service utilization and costs in the western region of Sweden. Data were retrieved from a regional health care database of information on total health care consumption in the population. Use of health care resources was divided into the following diagnosis categories: health care associated with reproduction; health care received for sex-specific morbidity; and health care provided for all other conditions. Results: Total per capita cost for health care was 20% higher for women than for men. When adjusted for reproduction and sex-specific morbidity, the cost-difference decreased to 8%. The remaining cost-difference could be explained by women’s substantially higher costs for mental and behavioral disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Women were more likely to receive more accessible, less expensive primary care, while men were more likely to receive specialist inpatient care. Conclusions: The substantially greater use of reproduction-associated care among women, which largely occurs within primary care, might make it easier to also seek health care for other reasons. Efforts to eliminate barriers that prevent men from investing in their health and seeking primary care could reduce future morbidity and costs for specialist care. More studies and appropriate actions are needed to determine why women are overrepresented in mental, behavioral and musculoskeletal disorders.
The ethnic gap in mental health: A population-based study of Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin migrants in Finland
Authors: Rask Shadia , Suvisaari Jaana , Koskinen Seppo , Koponen Päivikki , Mölsä Mulki , Lehtisalo Riikka , Schubert Carla , Pakaslahti Antti , Castaneda Anu Emilia
Published: January 2016

Aims: Research demonstrates that migrants are more vulnerable to poor mental health than general populations, but population-based studies with distinct migrant groups are scarce. We aim to (1) assess the prevalence of mental health symptoms in Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin migrants in Finland; (2) compare the prevalence of mental health symptoms in these migrant groups to the Finnish population; (3) determine which socio-demographic factors are associated with mental health symptoms. Methods: We used data from the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study and Health 2011 Survey. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), and 1.75 was used as cut-off for clinically significant symptoms. Somatization was measured using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) somatization scale. The age-adjusted prevalence of mental health symptoms in the studied groups was calculated by gender using predicted margins. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which socio-demographic factors are associated with mental health symptoms in the studied population groups. Results: The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was higher in Russian women (24%) and Kurdish men (23%) and women (49%) than in the Finnish population (9–10%). These differences were statistically significant ( p <.001). Socioeconomic disadvantage (e.g. unemployment and poor economic situation) and migration-related factors (e.g. poor language proficiency and short time since migration) significantly increased the odds for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Mental health symptoms are highly prevalent particularly in Kurdish migrants in Finland. Holistic interventions and co-operation between integration and mental health services are acutely needed.
Aging fatherhood in Finland – first-time fathers in Finland from 1987 to 2009
Authors: Paavilainen Miia , Bloigu Aini , Hemminki Elina , Gissler Mika , Klemetti Reija
Published: January 2016

Aim: The increase in maternal age has been well documented in Western societies, but information on paternal age trends is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in age and other background characteristics of first-time fathers in Finland in the period 1987–2009. Materials and methods: A random 60% sample of first-time fathers in each year from 1987 to 2009 was obtained from Statistics Finland ( n=344,529). Five-year intervals were used (three years in 1987–1989). Sociodemographic characteristics of older first-time fathers (⩾40 years) were compared over time using logistic regression. In the logistic regression, immigrants were excluded from the study population as they may have had children before migrating to Finland. Results: The mean age of first-time fathers increased from 28.7 to 30.4 years in 1987–2009. The change was greatest in the Capital Region and smallest in Northern and Eastern Finland. Fatherhood at the age of ⩾40 years doubled from 3.1% to 6.8%. From 2005 to 2009, men who lived in rural areas and the Capital Region, had a long education, were divorced or widowed, had been born in a rural area and were native Finnish speakers, were more likely than other men to be old when they became fathers. Conclusions: During the study period, the average age of first-time fathers increased by two years. Further studies are needed to examine whether delays in first-time fatherhood affect fertility, child health and the use of social and health services.
Comparison of the validity of stroke diagnoses in a medical quality register and an administrative health register
Authors: Varmdal Torunn , Bakken Inger Johanne , Janszky Imre , Wethal Torgeir , Ellekjær Hanne , Rohweder Gitta , Fjærtoft Hild , Ebbing Marta , Bønaa Kaare Harald
Published: January 2016

Aims: Health registers are essential sources of data used in a wide range of stroke research, including epidemiological, clinical and healthcare studies. Regardless of the type of register, the data must be of high quality to be useful. In this study, we investigated and compared the correctness and completeness of the Norwegian Patient Register (an administrative health register) and the Norwegian Stroke Register (a medical quality register for acute stroke). Methods: We reviewed the medical records for 5192 admissions to hospital in 2012 and defined cases of stroke in the two registers as true positive, false positive, true negative or false negative. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value with 95% confidence intervals assuming a normal approximation of the binomial distribution. Results: The Norwegian Stroke Register was highly correct and relatively complete (sensitivity 88.1%, specificity 100% and PPV 98.6%). The Norwegian Patient Register was more complete, but less correct, when we included both the main and secondary diagnoses of stroke (sensitivity 96.8%, specificity 99.6% and PPV 79.7%); restricting the analyses to the main diagnoses of stroke resulted in less complete and more correct registrations (sensitivity 86.1%, specificity 99.9% and PPV 93.5%). Conclusions: The Norwegian Stroke Register and the Norwegian Patient Register are adequately complete and correct to serve as valuable sources of data for epidemiological, clinical and healthcare studies, as well as for administrative purposes.
Changes in alcohol use in relation to sociodemographic factors in early midlife
Authors: Vladimirov Daniel , Niemelä Solja , Auvinen Juha , Timonen Markku , Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi Sirkka , Ala-Mursula Leena , Laitinen Jaana , Miettunen Jouko
Published: January 2016

Objective: To describe changes in alcohol use in relation to employment, education and relationship statuses in a general population sample in early midlife using prospective birth cohort data. Materials and methods: In the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 ( N=5621) alcohol use was studied in participants at two time points: ages 31 and 46. The total mean consumption was calculated and participants were classified into steady drinkers, increasers and reducers based on the change in consumption between the ages of 31 and 46. Multinomial regression analysis was conducted with changes in employment and relationship statuses. Results: Daily alcohol consumption rose by 30% for men and 40% for women. Persons who were unemployed, single or had a low level of education consumed most. Of the alcohol users, 70% were classified as steady drinkers, 10% as reducers and 20% as increasers. For men, leaving a relationship (odds ratio, OR 1.5; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.0–2.1) predicted increased alcohol use. The predictors of reducing consumption were entering a relationship for men (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–2.9) and women (OR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.1), and leaving a relationship (OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6–4.3) for women. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption among Finns of Northern origin does not seem to decline with age. Alcohol usage is fairly stable in the majority of middle-aged people. A substantial proportion of alcohol users engage in either binge or heavy drinking. Gender differences in predictors exist – changes in relationship status predict a reduction in alcohol usage in women, whereas in men, divorce predicts an increase in usage.
Moving on: How depressive symptoms, social support, and health behaviors predict residential mobility
Authors: Airaksinen Jaakko , Hakulinen Christian , Elovainio Marko , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Lehtimäki Terho , Raitakari Olli t. , Keltikangas-Järvinen Liisa , Jokela Markus
Published: January 2016

Background:There are major health inequalities between residential areas. However, it remains unclear whether these inequalities are due to social causation or selective residential mobility, because little is known about the associations between health-related factors and selective residential mobility. This study examined how depressive symptoms, social support, and health behaviors are associated with subsequent residential mobility, as measured by frequency, distance, and direction of moves. Methods: Participants were selected from the Young Finns prospective cohort study ( N = 3017) with four study waves in 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2007. Complete residential mobility history was gathered for each participant from registry data. Residential mobility was assessed over three-year periods following each study wave. The direction of mobility was measured as changes in residential location’s population density, health index, mortality index, and unemployment. Area characteristics were used as covariates together with the participants’ age, sex, and education. Results: Individuals reporting higher social support from friends were more likely to move ( b = 0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08, 0.37) and move more frequently ( b = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.14), whereas individuals reporting higher social support from their family members were less likely to move ( b = −0.08; 95% CI: −0.14, −0.02). Better health behaviors were associated with longer moving distances ( b = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.06, −0.23). None of the individual characteristics were associated with the direction of moves as measured by changes in municipality characteristics. Conclusions: Some of the health-related characteristics are associated with residential mobility in Finland. However, these individual characteristics do not seem to predict systematic selective residential mobility across municipalities with different regional health profiles.
The role of economic journalism in political transitions
Authors: Arrese Ángel
Published: January 2016

Due to its peculiar nature, the economic and financial press, throughout history, has had a particular liberty of action in times of tight media controls imposed by the authorities. Both the type of content that it spreads – technical information useful for markets and businesses – and its limited public visibility – with tiny, but influential, audiences – have facilitated this media’s carte blanche to influence elite public opinion in moments of profound political and economic change. This phenomenon can be analysed in some detail around the processes of the political transitions experienced in many authoritarian and totalitarian regimes in the last third of the 20th century. As discussed in this article, economic publications played an important role in changing the mindset of the ruling classes in Argentina, Spain, Russia, China and South Africa, before and after political changes, during times when freedom of the press was restricted for other media.
Party pressure in the European Parliament
Authors: Hug Simon
Published: January 2016

At the end of its sixth legislative term the European Parliament adopted a rule change subjecting all final passage votes on legislative matters to roll call votes. Some studies use this rule change to assess whether roll call votes are characterized by more or less party discipline. Cautioning against such simple comparisons I propose to estimate in this article the extent to which members of the European Parliament are subject to party pressure. Comparing the results from the beginning of the sixth and seventh legislative term shows that in final passage votes the average party pressure has decreased considerably after the rule change.
Punishment, Youth Justice and Cultural Contingency: Towards a Balanced Approach
Authors: Hamilton Claire , Fitzgibbon Wendy , Carr Nicola
Published: January 2016

Reflecting developments in the broader penological realm, accounts have been advanced over the last number of decades about a ‘punitive turn’ in the youth justice systems of Western democracies. Against the background of this work, this project seeks to identify convergent and divergent trends in the youth justice systems of England, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as the rationalities and discourses animating these. The results lend support to research emphasising the continued salience of national, regional and local factors on penal outcomes but also suggest the need to steer an analytical path somewhere between nomothetic (convergent) and idiographic (divergent) accounts.
Evaluating key factors influencing the development of multi-country consolidation for ocean freight forwarders in Taiwan
Authors: Ding Ji-Feng , Dye Chung-Yuan , Liang Shin-Yun , Chou Chien-Chang , Tseng Wen-Jui , Shyu Wen-Hwa
Published: January 2016

The development of multi-country consolidation services has become a major feasible direction for major ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan. However, ocean freight forwarding firms must ponder which factors are most important when considering with the development of multi-country consolidation services. Therefore, the main purpose of this article was to apply the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method to evaluate the key factors influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan. Based on the literature and experts’ opinions, a hierarchical structure with 4 assessment aspects and 16 assessment factors was first constructed, and the steps of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method then proposed. Finally, based on the analytic hierarchy process experts’ questionnaires, we used the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method to evaluate the key factors. The results showed that (1) “cost” is the most important aspect influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan; (2) in order of relative importance, the top eight key factors influencing the development of multi-country consolidation services for ocean freight forwarding firms in Taiwan are “cargo accuracy and tracking management,”“consolidation cost,”“deregulation of operations,”“transport cost,”“integrated logistics information management,”“high frequency of ship sailings,”“logistics-related operating costs,” and “convenience of customs clearance,” respectively. Furthermore, some discussions and recommendations concerning practical implications are provided for ocean freight forwarding firms operating in the multi-country consolidation market.
What is equality of opportunity in education?
Authors: Lazenby Hugh
Published: January 2016

There is widespread disagreement about what equality of opportunity in education requires. For some it is that each child is legally permitted to go to school. For others it is that each child receives the same educational resources. Further interpretations abound. This fact presents a problem: when politicians or academics claim they are in favour of equality of opportunity in education, it is unclear what they mean and debate is hindered by mutual misunderstanding. In this article, I introduce a framework to ameliorate this problem. More specifically, I develop an important but neglected framework for the concept of equality of opportunity and apply it to examine particular conceptions of equality of opportunity in education. In doing this, I hope to produce a piece of applied conceptual analysis that can both help clarify existing positions within the equality of opportunity in education debate and allow those seeking to produce new positions to express them more clearly.
The Closeness-Turnout Hypothesis a Reconsideration
Authors: Wald Kenneth D.
Published: January 2016

According to the durable “closeness-turnout hypothesis,” a close election will generate high interest in a campaign and appear to invest the individual vote with unusual significance, thus stimulating high participation rates. But from the competing perspective of “selective information flow,” the perception of a close election will reach only the voters who already maintain substantial interest in politics and strong participatory orientations, leaving turnout largely unaffected. These competing perspectives are tested with data from the 1980 National Election Study. In a path model of the closeness-turnout hypothesis perceived closeness in the preelection survey neither encouraged strong interest in the campaign nor contributed directly to participation rates. On the other hand, a model incorporating the assumptions of selective information flow justified the treatment of perceived closeness as the end product of political interest and attentiveness, a factor that did not contribute to turnout independent of its antecedents. The findings challenge the status of perceived closeness as an independent variable and, by implication, the power of election night forecasts to influence turnout rates.