bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attachment as a Collective Resource: Attachment Networks During Middle Childhood in a Cameroonian Clan
Authors: Becke Sophia Daphne , Bongard Stephan , Keller Heidi
Published: December 2018

Attachment theory is commonly used to investigate children’s psychosocial development. To demonstrate cultural variability and to advance the idea of attachment as a collective resource, we assessed children’s attachment networks during middle childhood among the Nseh, a Cameroonian clan with distinct concepts of family and childhood. Using photo elicitation interviews, we used an exploratory approach to investigate the structural and functional composition of these networks and to generate a comprehensive overview. Participants were 11 children (six girls and five boys), aged 6 to 10 years. Children took photos of individuals who were important to them and with whom they felt safe, comfortable, and at ease. Then, in follow-up interviews they were asked to characterize their attachment figures on sociostructural dimensions and to elaborate how those individuals made them feel comfortable and safe. Transcripts of the interviews were coded using ethnographic strategies. Initial descriptive codes were analyzed concerning key terms, semantic relationships, and their context of meaning, before assigning higher level codes to generate distinct main categories of functionality. Children described attachment networks that were structurally adapted to concepts of social ties and interactional norms of the clan. Concerning their functionality, children differentiated between peers, responsible for overt emotional needs, and adults, providing nutritional care. We conclude that this pattern reflects sources of security and concepts of care of the distinct developmental environment. We discuss the importance of context-specific and comprehensive approaches to attachment, moving beyond Eurocentric monotropic concepts, with the goal of developing a complex understanding of childhood across ecocultural settings.
Predictors of satisfaction with Kenya’s police and Kenya’s criminal justice system: Results from a sample of Kenyan college students
Authors: Pryce Daniel K , Wilson George , Fuller Kenethia
Published: December 2018

Although the influence of procedural justice on citizens’ satisfaction and cooperation with police has been tested in several geopolitical contexts, this is the first study to examine the relationship between procedural justice and satisfaction with Kenya’s police and Kenya’s criminal justice system on a Kenyan college campus. Using a sample of 523 students from a prominent Kenyan university, we found that procedural justice and officer integrity predicted satisfaction with both Kenya’s police and criminal justice system. Also, more highly educated students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors, compared to freshmen) were more satisfied with both the Kenyan police and criminal justice system. Conversely, victims of crime in the community were less satisfied with Kenyan police, and students who had a negative personal experience with police were less satisfied with the country’s criminal justice system. Although instrumental factors of policing (e.g., police effectiveness) were not tested in this study, thus precluding a comparative assessment of normative and instrumental models of policing, this study contributes to the extant literature by pointing out the salience of procedural justice and officer integrity for improving the relationship between the police and the communities they are sworn to serve. The study’s implications for policy are discussed.
Making liberal use of Kant? Democratic peace theory and Perpetual Peace
Authors: Simpson Sid
Published: December 2018

The work of Immanuel Kant has been foundational in modern democratic peace theory. His essay Toward Perpetual Peace gives three prescriptions for attaining peace between democracies: republican institutions, a pacific union between states, and an ethos of universal hospitality. Contemporary democratic peace theory, however, has warped the Kantian framework from which it draws inspiration: the third prescription has been gradually substituted for commerce and trade. I argue that this change in emphasis produces tensions between Perpetual Peace and the body of democratic peace theory literature it spawned. Moreover, I contend that a look back at Kant’s essay sheds light on why this transformation occurred. Finally, I use this new look back at Perpetual Peace to reformulate the relationship between peace, democracy, and commerce so as to offer a new perspective on the democratic peace theory/capitalist peace theory debate.
Phases of physics in J. D. Forbes’ Dissertation Sixth for the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1856)
Authors: Falconer Isobel
Published: December 2018

This paper takes James David Forbes’ Encyclopaedia Britannica entry, Dissertation Sixth, as a lens to examine physics as a cognitive, practical, and social enterprise. Forbes wrote this survey of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century mathematical and physical sciences between 1852 and 1856, when British “physics” was at a pivotal point in its history, situated between a field identified by its mathematical methods – originating in France – and a discipline identified by its university laboratory institutions. Contemporary encyclopedias provided a nexus for publishers, the book trade, readers, and men of science in the formation of physics as a field. Forbes was both a witness, whose account of the progress of physics or natural philosophy can be explored at face value, and an agent, who exploited the opportunity offered by the Encyclopaedia Britannica in the mid nineteenth century to enroll the broadly educated public and scientific collective, illuminating the connection between the definition of physics and its forms of social practice. Forbes used the terms “physics” and “natural philosophy” interchangeably. He portrayed the field as progressed by the natural genius of great men who curated it within an associational culture that engendered true intellectual spirit. Although this societal mechanism was becoming ineffective, Forbes did not see university institutions as the way forward. Instead, running counter to his friend William Whewell, he advocated inclusion of the mechanical arts (engineering), and a strictly limited role for mathematics. He revealed tensions when the widely accepted discovery-based historiography conflicted with intellectual and moral worth, reflecting a nineteenth-century concern with spirit that cuts across twentieth-century questions about discipline and field.
Clinical psychology service distribution and integration into primary health care in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Siyothula Evy-Terressah Busisiwe
Published: December 2018

Inadequate investment in mental health care by the governments of both high- and low-income countries contributes to recurrent challenges of uneven distribution of and access to mental health services between urban and non-urban communities. While recent research has acknowledged the role of mental health in well-being and the cost of failure to invest in the sector, prioritising mental health to the same degree as physical health remains a challenge. This article highlights the unequal distribution of mental health services, and psychological services in particular, in KwaZulu-Natal. This is achieved by considering the background of psychology in South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal and then examining the ratio of clinical psychologists to the KwaZulu-Natal population. Furthermore, the article explores the geographical distribution of psychological services in KwaZulu-Natal and concludes with a discussion of the impact of uneven mental health service distribution on service provision and utilisation in non-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Role of Accounting Conservatism in Capital Structure Adjustments
Authors: Ramalingegowda Santhosh , Yu Yong
Published: December 2018

This study examines the relation between accounting conservatism and firms’ capital structure adjustments. We find that firms with more conservative financial reporting adjust their capital structure toward the target more quickly, especially within firms that rely more on external financing for adjustments. Furthermore, we find that the positive effect of conservatism on adjustment speeds is concentrated in under-levered firms and this effect occurs through conservatism facilitating debt issuance. In addition, we show that higher conservatism is associated with higher future profitability for under-levered firms. Taken together, our findings suggest that accounting conservatism plays an important role in facilitating under-levered firms’ adjustment of capital structure toward the target.
Predictive Value of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Early Recurrence of Single Lesion Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Resection
Authors: Xiachuan Qin , xiang Zhou , xuebing Liu , yan Luo
Published: December 2018

This retrospective study aimed to use preoperative and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) factors to assess and reveal risk factors of early recurrence (ER) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We enrolled 141 patients with primary HCC who had undergone surgical resection. The assessment of the CEUS scan includes (a) the maximum diameter of the lesion, (b) the tumor echogenicity of gray-scale ultrasound (US), (c) the morphology of the tumor, (d) the margin of the tumor, (e) the peripheral hypoechoic halo, (f) tumor necrosis, (g) nutritional arteries shown by tumors, (h) ultrasonography for diagnosis of cirrhosis, and (i) the timer on the US screen displayed the time elapsed from the saline flush and was used to determine time to washout. According to the degree of the phase, the washout rate is divided into four grades, namely, levels 1 to 4. ER is defined as the time between resection and recurrence within 12 months after surgery. Risk factors for ER HCC were analyzed. Predictors of ER on a univariate logistic regression analysis in CEUS are size, washout rate, morphology, center necrosis, and feeding artery appearing in the tumor. Multivariate analysis results indicated that feeding artery, microvascular invasion (MVI), and washout rate were independent risk factors for ER. The relative high risk of ER for washout rate 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 29.3%, 43.2%, 53.1%, and 71.4%, respectively. The appropriateness of hepatectomy in the treatment of single lesion HCC should be carefully considered when the washout rate was 4.
Agamben’s uses of Wittgenstein: An overall critical assessment
Authors: Di Gesu Andrea
Published: December 2018

Agamben has often made explicit references to the reflexion of Wittgenstein: it is thus surprising to note that this important influence of his philosophy has been almost completely ignored. In this article, my aim is to propose an overall assessment of Agamben’s interpretation of Wittgenstein’s philosophy. In order to do so, I have isolated two themes where Wittgenstein’s influence is particularly evident: namely, the concepts of Irreparable and Form-of-life. My thesis is that, while regarding the first, Agamben proposes an original interpretation of a major topic of the Tractatus – that is, the mystical –, the second is not associable with the namesake Wittgensteinian concept. The reason of this misunderstanding is due to the fact that Agamben interprets the concept of form of life with the same theoretical framework he used in his reading of the Tractatus, thus ignoring the shift of paradigm which divides it from the subsequent Wittgensteinian philosophy.
Closer to the state, closer to the polls? The different impact of corruption on turnout among public employees and other citizens
Authors: Haveric Sabina , Ronchi Stefano , Cabeza Laura
Published: December 2018

Research on the link between turnout and corruption has produced inconclusive evidence: while some studies find corruption to be positively related to turnout, others report a negative relationship. This article argues that the relevant question is not whether corruption has a positive or negative effect on turnout, but for whom. We hypothesize that the effect of corruption on the likelihood to vote depends on individuals’ employment sector. Public employees have different incentives to vote in corrupt settings since their jobs often depend on the political success of the government of the day. Hence, while corruption dampens turnout among ordinary citizens, public employees are more likely to vote in highly corrupt countries. Analysis of World Values Survey data from 44 countries, shows that the differential in voting propensity between public employees and other citizens gets larger as corruption increases, partially confirming our expectations.
Demystifying trans*+ voice education: The Transgender Singing Voice Conference
Authors: Cayari Christopher
Published: December 2018

Trans*+ is an inclusive, expansive, and fluid term that refers to a population that encompasses people who are transgender, third gender, non-gender, two-spirit or any other identity that is not cisgender. Trans*+ topics are often considered taboo or exotic, which manifests in society as an enforced ignorance that creates a shroud of mystery around the trans*+ community. While music educators’ attitudes toward working with trans*+ students are generally positive, many educators are not sure how to teach trans*+ singers. This case study on the Transgender Singing Voice Conference 2017, an academic and pedagogical gathering, explores the issues of importance identified by conference attendees and how the conference format addressed those issues. Data analysis identified important themes of interest related to the vocal production, pedagogy, physiology, and identity of trans*+ singers. An overwhelming majority (95%) of participants stated they acquired new knowledge at the conference. Representation and intersectionality were topics not adequately addressed according to the attendees. Findings indicate that trans*+ attendees and allies were empowered due to the demystification of trans*+ experiences. The conference provided a space for trans*+ singers to learn about their voices and for their allies to gather resources.
A randomized controlled study of whether setting specific goals improves the effectiveness of therapy in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Cabrera-Martos Irene , Ortiz-Rubio Araceli , Torres-Sánchez Irene , Rodríguez-Torres Janet , López-López Laura , Valenza Marie Carmen
Published: December 2018

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of an intervention based on a specific set of goals on goal attainment, manual dexterity, hand grip strength and finger prehension force compared to a standardized approach in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Home-based.

Participants:

Fifty patients with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease acknowledging impaired manual ability were randomized into two groups.

Interventions:

Patients in the experimental group ( n = 25) were included in an intervention focused on task components that involved goals proposed by participants. Patients in the control group ( n = 25) received a standard intervention focused on impairments in range of motion, grasp and manipulation. Home condition and duration (four weeks, twice a week) were similar in both groups.

Main outcome measures:

The primary outcome measure was goal achievement assessed with the Goal Attainment Scaling. Secondary outcomes were manual dexterity evaluated with the Purdue Pegboard Test and hand grip strength and finger prehension force assessed using a dynamometer.

Results:

After four weeks, significant between-group improvement in goal attainment was observed in the experimental group (change 17.36 ± 7.48 vs. 4.03 ± 6.43, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the experimental group also showed a significant improvement ( P < 0.05) in manual dexterity (postintervention values in the most affected arm 10.55 ± 1.95 vs. 7.33 ± 3.63 pins, P < 0.001) and finger prehension force (postintervention values in the most affected arm 8.03 ± 1.93 vs. 6.31 ± 1.85 kg, P = 0.010).

Conclusions:

Targeting therapy toward specific goals leads to greater changes in arm function than a standardized approach in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Procognitive effects of varenicline in the animal model of schizophrenia depend on α4β2- and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Potasiewicz Agnieszka , Golebiowska Joanna , Popik Piotr , Nikiforuk Agnieszka
Published: December 2018

Background:

Varenicline, a partial agonist of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α4β2-nAChR), is currently used to facilitate smoking cessation. Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that this compound may also be effective in treating cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear which nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes may be involved because varenicline is not only a partial agonist for α4β2-nAChRs but also a full agonist for α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChRs).

Aim:

We investigated the effects of varenicline, compared to the α4β2-nAChR partial agonist TC-2403 and the α7-nAChR full agonist PNU-282987, in a ketamine-based model of schizophrenia-like cognitive deficits on the attentional set-shifting task in rats. The second goal was to elucidate whether the procognitive efficacy of varenicline was due to the compound’s action on α4β2-nAChRs or α7-nAChRs.

Methods:

Ketamine was administered to rats for 10 consecutive days and the test was performed 14 days following the last injection. The tested compounds were administered 30 min prior to the attentional set-shifting task.

Results:

Varenicline, TC-2403 and PNU-282987 ameliorated ketamine-evoked set-shifting deficits. While the α4β2-nAChR antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine and the α7-nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine completely prevented the procognitive actions of TC-2403 and PNU-282987, respectively, varenicline’s effect was only partially blocked by any given antagonist. Moreover, the combined treatment with TC-2403 and PNU-282987 more effectively facilitated rats’ set-shifting ability than activation of either type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alone.

Conclusion:

The present findings demonstrated that varenicline’s actions on both α7-nAChRs and α4β2-nAChRs may be necessary to produce its full procognitive effect in the present experimental setting.
The Moderating Role of Resilience Resources and Sense of Belonging to the School Among Children and Adolescents in Continuous Traumatic Stress Situations
Authors: Nuttman-Shwartz Orit
Published: December 2018

In the article, we propose a comprehensive model, which aims to enhance understanding of the contribution of sense of fear as a major response to continuous traumatic stress situations, and which addresses contextual factors as potential moderators of psychological distress and aggressive behavior. The research sample consisted of 1,290 children and adolescents living near a war zone, who filled out questionnaires relating to negative psychological consequences, as well as to the role of sense of fear, resilience resources, and sense of belonging to the school in mediating or moderating those consequences. The findings revealed that the direct effect of fear reactions on negative psychological consequences may vary with different levels of these moderators. The study highlights the role of the school as a substantial source of support for children and adolescents, which can lead to reduced levels of psychological distress and aggressive behavior.
Uncontrolled Thoughts in the Dark? Effects of Lighting Conditions and Fear of the Dark on Thinking Processes
Authors: Kopcsó Krisztina , Láng András
Published: December 2018

Although darkness alters physical reactivity, perceptions, and behavior, no previous research has investigated its impact on primary and secondary process thinking. This study examined the effect of lighting on young adults’ thinking contents, related to their fear of the dark. Seventy-eight participants (41 females, 21.44 ± 2.15 years of age on average) wrote stories in a well-lit or semidark room and completed the Intensity of Fear of the Dark Questionnaire. Stories were analyzed via the Regressive Imagery Dictionary. Results showed that individuals with high levels of fear of the dark produce longer stories with higher relative frequency of primary content words in the semidark condition than in the well-lit condition, while others produce similar stories in both conditions. In addition, fearful individuals used significantly less secondary content words relative to primary content words in the semidark condition than in the well-lit condition. Results have been discussed from a regulatory perspective.
Situational Social Support and Relapse: An Exploration of Compulsory Drug Abuse Treatment Effect in China
Authors: Xiong Haiyan , Jia Jidong
Published: December 2018

The present study explores situational social support of drug abusers during compulsory rehabilitation and provides a preliminary estimation of relationship between social support and relapse. Links between social support and relapse are examined in a study of drug abusers accepting coercive detoxification and rehabilitation treatment, and self-reported relapse in the following 6 months ( N = 535). External and internal social support with abstinence-specific support inclusive are investigated. With certain demographic variables and risk-related variables controlled, greater special type of external social support (as measured by number of children) predicts a lower risk of relapse, which means better effect of compulsory rehabilitation. Participation into some of the institutional programs and experienced personal conflicts for abstinence show no statistically significant with relapse risk.
The architecture of modern anti-unionism in Canada: Class struggle and the erosion of workers’ collective freedoms
Authors: Smith Charles , Stevens Andrew
Published: December 2018

Over the past four decades, governments have backed away from the promotion of collective bargaining in Canada resulting in a tendency towards anti-unionism. Examining this new reality, this article investigates two interrelated trends in Canadian anti-unionism over the last two decades in an effort to conceptualize the role of the state in regulating labour relations. First, we investigate legislative attempts to undermine or eliminate the ability of workers to collectively bargain and strike. Second, the article unpacks the political economy of anti-unionism in the private sector by focusing on the role of lobby groups that have shaped labour legislation. These two interrelated threads allow us to expose the relationship between employers and governments, which has threatened the strength of organized labour in the private and public sector and shaped a uniquely Canadian anti-unionism. Finally, we conclude by examining both the strengths and limitations of the unique fight-back strategies used by the labour movement, which has sought to elevate aspects of Canadian labour law to be protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This, we argue, offers restrictive possibilities for advancing collective bargaining rights in the existing labour relations framework.
Association of Dynamic Balance With Sports-Related Concussion: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Johnston William , O’Reilly Martin , Duignan Ciara , Liston Mairead , McLoughlin Rod , Coughlan Garrett F. , Caulfield Brian
Published: December 2018

Background:

Concussion is one of the most common sports-related injuries, with little understood about the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors. Researchers have yet to evaluate the association between modifiable sensorimotor function variables and concussive injury.

Purpose:

To investigate the association between dynamic balance performance, a discrete measure of sensorimotor function, and concussive injuries.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 109 elite male rugby union players were baseline tested in dynamic balance performance while wearing an inertial sensor and prospectively followed during the 2016-2017 rugby union season. The sample entropy of the inertial sensor gyroscope magnitude signal was derived to provide a discrete measure of dynamic balance performance. Logistic regression modeling was then used to investigate the association among the novel digital biomarker of balance performance, known risk factors of concussion (concussion history, age, and playing position), and subsequent concussive injury.

Results:

Participant demographic data (mean ± SD) were as follows: age, 22.6 ± 3.6 years; height, 185 ± 6.5 cm; weight, 98.9 ± 12.5 kg; body mass index, 28.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2; and leg length, 98.8 ± 5.5 cm. Of the 109 players, 44 (40.3%) had a history of concussion, while 21 (19.3%) sustained a concussion during the follow-up period. The receiver operating characteristic analysis for the anterior sample entropy demonstrated a statistically significant area under the curve (0.64; 95% CI, 0.52-0.76; P < .05), with the cutoff score of anterior sample entropy ≥1.2, which maximized the sensitivity (76.2%) and specificity (53.4%) for identifying individuals who subsequently sustained a concussion. Players with suboptimal balance performance at baseline were at a 2.81-greater odds (95% CI, 1.02-7.74) of sustaining a concussion during the rugby union season than were those with optimal balance performance, even when controlling for concussion history.

Conclusion:

Rugby union players who possess poorer dynamic balance performance, as measured by a wearable inertial sensor during the Y balance test, have a 3-times-higher relative risk of sustaining a sports-related concussion, even when controlling for history of concussion. These findings have important implications for research and clinical practice, as it identifies a potential modifiable risk factor. Further research is required to investigate this association in a large cohort consisting of males and females across a range of sports.
Rights Talk, Needs Talk and Money Talk in Affordable Housing Partnerships
Authors: Whitzman Carolyn
Published: December 2018

There has been increased global activism supporting the right to housing. But in neoliberal governance regimes in wealthy cities of North America and Australia, belief in that right as an effective advocacy tool is weak. This paper focuses on the responses of 30 key affordable housing actors in four cities – Vancouver, Toronto, Portland and Melbourne, the majority of whom reject using the “right to housing” in their organizational work. Fraser’s framework of “rights talk,” “needs talk,” and “interests talk” provide the basis for considering alternative rationales for affordable housing advocacy.
Le rôle de la contagion physique négative dans l’achat d’un produit d’occasion vendu en ligne
Authors: Bezançon Marjolaine , Guiot Denis , Le Nagard Emmanuelle
Published: December 2018

Résumé

La perception d’une contagion physique négative a été identifiée dans la littérature comme un frein à l’achat de produits d’occasion dans un contexte hors ligne. Compte tenu du développement de l’achat d’occasion sur Internet, cet article étudie l’effet de la saillance du contact entre le propriétaire précédent et le produit sur l’achat de produits d’occasion en ligne. Une première expérimentation montre un effet de contagion physique négative sur l’intention d’achat, effet médiatisé par le risque perçu physique. Or, de nombreux acteurs de l’occasion sur Internet adoptent des stratégies de présentation visant à accentuer la similitude avec le neuf. Une deuxième expérimentation montre que la similitude avec un produit neuf permet de réduire ce risque perçu physique pour les individus non-experts de la catégorie de produits, tandis qu’elle dégrade la qualité perçue pour les experts. Dans les deux expérimentations menées, l’effet du dégoût, qui joue un rôle important dans les circuits de distribution physiques, s’avère non significatif.
Are Health-Care Providers Well Prepared in Providing Optimal End-of-Life Care to Critically Ill Patients? A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in the United States
Authors: Rajdev Kartikeya , Loghmanieh Nina , Farberov Maria A. , Demissie Seleshi , Maniatis Theodore
Published: December 2018

It is important for health-care providers to be comfortable in providing end-of-life (EOL) care to critically ill patients and realizing when continuing aggressive measures would be futile. Therefore, there is a need to understand health-care providers’ self-perceived skills and barriers to providing optimum EOL care. A total of 660 health-care providers from medicine and surgery departments were asked via e-mail to complete an anonymous survey assessing their self-reported EOL care competencies, of which 238 responses were received. Our study identified several deficiencies in the self-reported EOL care competencies among health-care providers. Around 34% of the participants either disagreed (strongly disagree or disagree) or were neutral when asked whether they feel well prepared for delivering EOL care. Around 30% of the participants did not agree (agree and strongly agree) that they were well prepared to determine when to refer patients to hospice. 51% of the participants, did not agree (agree and strongly agree) that clear and accurate information is delivered by team members to patients/family. The most common barrier to providing EOL care in the intensive care unit was family not accepting the patient’s poor prognosis. Nursing staff (registered nurse) had higher knowledge and attitudes mean competency scores than the medical staff. Attending physicians reported stronger knowledge competencies when compared to residents and fellows. More than half of the participants denied having received any previous training in EOL care. 82% of the participants agreed that training should be mandatory in this field. Most of the participants reported that the palliative care team is involved in EOL care when the patient is believed to be terminally ill. Apart from a need for a stronger training in the field of EOL care for health-care providers, the overall policies surrounding EOL and palliative care delivery require further evaluation and improvement to promote better outcomes in caring patients at the EOL.
Predictors of Long-Term Improvement in Subjective Everyday Memory Following a Memory Group Program for Older Adults
Authors: Matthews Milanda L. , Pike Kerryn E. , Wright Bradley J. , Kinsella Glynda J.
Published: December 2018

Objective: The present study aimed to examine predictors of improvement in subjective everyday memory ability 5 years following participation in a group cognitive-behavioral memory intervention for community-living older adults, the La Trobe and Caulfield Hospital (LaTCH) Memory Group program. Method: Participants were 61 healthy older adults and data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), hierarchical regression, and moderator analyses. Results: Although the group as a whole did not show significant gains in subjective memory ability following the intervention, greater gains in subjective memory ability were associated with poorer baseline associative memory, better baseline cognitive flexibility, and more subjective memory concerns prior to intervention. There was no interaction between the cognitive predictors and subjective memory concerns in predicting gains in subjective memory ability. Discussion: Differential benefits for more cognitively flexible individuals may derive from a greater capacity to engage skillfully in the expectancy modification aspects of the program.
Toward a Contingency Model for the Relationship Between Capacity and Effectiveness in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Bryan Tara Kolar
Published: December 2018

This article synthesizes the literature on organizational capacity in an effort to improve our understanding of the relationship between capacity and various measures of nonprofit effectiveness. I define capacity as the means by which organizations achieve effectiveness, and propose a contingency model to explain how different measures of nonprofit effectiveness (via goal attainment, system resources, and the multiple constituencies models) suggest distinct ways of conceptualizing and assessing nonprofit capacity. Drawing from organizational theory, I consider capacity in terms of resource streams and operational activities. The article proposes a contingency model that will assist researchers in examining the extent to which particular organization capacity variables relate to different measures of organizational effectiveness. It also provides practitioners a useful tool for understanding and assessing nonprofit capacity and effectiveness in different scenarios, in light of various internal and external factors.
Libraries Unlimited, Bangladesh
Authors: Crawford Kirsty
Published: December 2018

This article describes the current situation in Bangladesh Public Libraries, and the aims and objectives of the Libraries Unlimited project
The effectiveness of the National Library and Information System Authority of Trinidad and Tobago in its role as a national library
Authors: Williams Ruth N , Renwick Shamin
Published: December 2018

The National Library and Information System Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (NALIS) aims to provide both the functions of a national library as well as a national library service. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of NALIS in its role as a national library. Utilising a qualitative approach, the study used mixed methods: semi-structured interviews with NALIS’ senior management; review of the International Organization for Standardization performance indicators; and comparative analysis of the strategic plans of the National Library of Jamaica and NALIS. Findings revealed that, despite NALIS performing the functions of a national library, key aspects of its services remain unfulfilled. Participants could not agree on the description of NALIS as outlined in the NALIS Act but 60% concluded that, in their personal opinion, NALIS could best be described as a public library which provides a national library service. Point score analysis determined that the most important function was ‘Central Collection of the Nation’s Literature’. The strategic planning of NALIS was found to be in alignment with the age of the organisation, as it is currently in an early phase of operation when policy formulation is critical. Given the turbulent economic environment and the many constraints that NALIS faced, it proved to be effective in the performance of national library functions and continues to strive for excellence in service delivery. It was noted that effective quality management was not adequately performed. Thus, in order to improve the level of service delivery, better quality management measures must be implemented.
Catalyzing Cultural and Global Competencies: Engaging Preservice Teachers in Study Abroad to Expand the Agency of Citizenship
Authors: Byker Erik Jon , Putman S. Michael
Published: December 2018

Study abroad is an experiential learning pedagogy that has many positive outcomes. In the field of teacher education, study abroad provides opportunity for the development of global competencies and agency. Similarly, study abroad can help expand notions of what it means to be a global citizen. This article examines the effects of preservice teachers engaging in a study abroad program to South Africa. Critical Cosmopolitan Theory provides the article’s theoretical frame for the investigation of the impact of this study abroad program. The study’s participant sample comprised preservice teachers from a large research university located in the Southeast region of the United States ( N = 21). Using a mixed-methods research design, the study examined the participants’ perceptions of their study abroad and international teaching experiences. It was found that the study abroad experience was a catalyst for enhancing preservice teachers’ global competencies, intercultural awareness, and cultural responsiveness as the participants widened their perspectives of what it means to be a critically cosmopolitan educator and citizen.
Nothing to sneeze at – uptake of protective measures against an influenza pandemic by people with schizophrenia: willingness and perceived barriers
Authors: Maguire Paul A , Reay Rebecca E , Looi Jeffrey CL
Published: December 2018

Objectives:

To examine willingness to adopt protective behaviours, and perceived barriers, during a pandemic influenza, in people with schizophrenia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted exploring the responses of 71 adults with schizophrenia and 238 adults without schizophrenia attending a general practice setting, regarding willingness and perceived barriers to adopting protective measures against the 2009 swine influenza pandemic in Australia.

Results:

The majority of participants with schizophrenia reported that they would be at least moderately willing to be vaccinated (74.2%), isolate themselves (73.2%), wear a face mask (54.9%) and increase hand washing (88.6%). However, 71.8% were concerned about “catching” flu from vaccination. Predictors of willingness to adopt protective actions included self-efficacy (vaccination, face mask, isolation), perceived likelihood of contracting swine flu (vaccination), educational status (face mask) and perceived overall risk from swine flu (face mask). Key modifiable perceived barriers to adopting protective measures were identified, including cost and need for transport assistance for vaccination.

Conclusions:

People with schizophrenia report being generally willing to adopt protective measures, especially increased hand washing, during a pandemic influenza. Understanding perceived barriers may enable development of effective interventions to increase uptake of protective measures.
Dexmedetomidine Use in a Tertiary Care NICU: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Dersch-Mills Deonne A. , Banasch Heidi L. , Yusuf Kamran , Howlett Alixe
Published: December 2018

Background: Continuous infusions of dexmedetomidine are increasingly used for sedation in critically ill pediatric patients. Emerging data suggest potential benefits when used for sedation in neonates, including reduced sedative requirements and earlier enteral feeds. Objective: To describe the use, adverse effects, and signs of withdrawal in a cohort of neonates receiving dexmedetomidine, the majority of whom were receiving concomitant opioids. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive review of 38 neonates receiving dexmedetomidine in a medical surgical neonatal intensive care unit, including data on duration of use, dose, adverse effects, weaning, and signs of withdrawal. Results: Dexmedetomidine was used for a median of 183 hours, at a median maximum dose of 0.5 µg/kg/h. Premature infants were started on dexmedetomidine at a later chronological age than term infants (41 vs 9 days, P = 0.004). Of 18 patients receiving an opioid infusion at the time of dexmedetomidine initiation, 67% had a dose reduction in opioids by 24 hours. The majority (89%) of neonates had at least 1 potentially related adverse effect during the dexmedetomidine infusion, though no discontinuations were needed as a result. In all, 80% of patients had their dexmedetomidine gradually weaned off, and 71% had at least 1 sign of withdrawal. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort, dexmedetomidine was often used in a postsurgical setting, with concomitant opioids, over prolonged periods. These factors appear to affect and likely confound the rates of adverse effects and withdrawal signs from dexmedetomidine. Clinicians considering the use of dexmedetomidine in a similar population can draw guidance from our data.
Consultation for Classroom Management and Targeted Interventions: Examining Benchmarks for Teacher Practices That Produce Desired Change in Student Behavior
Authors: Owens Julie Sarno , Evans Steven W. , Coles Erika K. , Holdaway Alex S. , Himawan Lina K. , Mixon Clifton S. , Egan Theresa E.
Published: December 2018

In the context of best practices consultation with high needs teachers, we examined (a) relations between teachers’ appropriate response to student rule violations and rates of rule violations, and (b) rates of student misbehavior among teachers who do and do not achieve various benchmarks of integrity and/or growth in skills. Participants were 48 teachers, 48 target students with or at risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; one per teacher), and remaining students in each classroom. Teachers received up to eight consultation sessions on classroom management and implementation of a daily report card (DRC) with the target student. We observed classwide rule violations, target student rule violations, and DRC violations, as well as the percentage of rule violations to which the teacher provided an appropriate response. Teachers who responded to a higher percentage of rule violations had fewer classwide rule violations ( rs = −.32 to –.53) and target student rule violations ( rs = −.22 to –.51) at baseline, Months 1 to 2, and Months 3 to 4 of consultation. Teachers who reached the minimum benchmark of 51% appropriate response and who demonstrated greater growth in appropriate responding witnessed fewer rule violations than teachers who did not achieve these benchmarks. Implications for preservice training, professional development, and consultation are discussed.
Measurement Invariance of the WHODAS 2.0 Across Youth With and Without Physical or Mental Conditions
Authors: Tompke Braden K. , Tang Jennie , Oltean Irina I. , Buchan M. Claire , Reaume Shannon V. , Ferro Mark A.
Published: December 2018

Initial evidence suggests that the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) is valid and reliable in general youth populations; however, its psychometric properties in specific subgroups are less established. The primary objective was to test for measurement invariance of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 in an epidemiological sample of youth aged 15 to 19 years with and without physical or mental conditions. Using data from 1,851 youth in the Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health, invariance was tested using multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis. Within-domain item correlations were significant and ordinal coefficient alphas were .91, .94, .93, and .92 for the healthy control, physical, mental, and comorbid groups, respectively. Partial measurement invariance was demonstrated for the WHODAS 2.0, with evidence of noninvariance for item residuals and factor variances related to cognition and participation. While these domain-specific comparisons may be biased, valid comparisons of overall disability across subgroups of youth can be made with confidence.
Pricing schemes for energy-efficient HPC systems: Design and exploration
Authors: Borghesi Andrea , Bartolini Andrea , Milano Michela , Benini Luca
Published: December 2018

Energy efficiency is of paramount importance for the sustainability of high performance computing (HPC) systems. Energy consumption limits the peak performance of supercomputers and accounts for a large share of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Consequently, system owners and final users have started exploring mechanisms to trade off performance for power consumption, for example, through frequency and voltage scaling. However, only a limited number of studies have been devoted to explore the economic viability of performance scaling solutions and to devise pricing mechanisms fostering a more energy-conscious usage of resources, without adversely impacting return-of-investment on the HPC facility. How to foster green-computing to take advantage of power management knobs? Would today’s accounting systems be sufficient or are novel pricing schemes needed? How to model the link between TCO and power management? To answer these questions, we present a parametrized model to analyze the impact of frequency scaling on energy consumption and to assess the potential cost benefits for the HPC facility and users. We evaluate four pricing schemes, considering both facility manager and the user perspectives. We then perform a design space exploration considering current and near-future HPC systems and technologies.
Genomic Interventions in Medicine
Authors: Aworunse Oluwadurotimi S , Adeniji Oluwatomiwa , Oyesola Olusola L , Isewon Itunuoluwa , Oyelade Jelili , Obembe Olawole O
Published: December 2018

Lately, the term “genomics” has become ubiquitous in many scientific articles. It is a rapidly growing aspect of the biomedical sciences that studies the genome. The human genome contains a torrent of information that gives clues about human origin, evolution, biological function, and diseases. In a bid to demystify the workings of the genome, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was initiated in 1990, with the chief goal of sequencing the approximately 3 billion nucleotide base pairs of the human DNA. Since its completion in 2003, the HGP has opened new avenues for the application of genomics in clinical practice. This review attempts to overview some milestone discoveries that paved way for the initiation of the HGP, remarkable revelations from the HGP, and how genomics is influencing a paradigm shift in routine clinical practice. It further highlights the challenges facing the implementation of genomic medicine, particularly in Africa. Possible solutions are also discussed.
The Effects of Natural Daylight on Length of Hospital Stay
Authors: Park Man Young , Chai Choul-Gyun , Lee Hae-Kyung , Moon Hani , Noh Jai Sung
Published: December 2018

Background and Purpose:

While providing medical services, hospitals generate many data about patients. Such medical data could contribute to better treatments once their associations or patterns have been identified. With properly analyzed medical data, traditional knowledge at an individual level could be further extended to broader populations. This comprehensive study was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of light using medical data accumulated over 15 years.

Methods:

Patients who were admitted to the window or door side of a six-bedded room were included. Patients admitted to the emergency room and elderly people aged >80 years were excluded. Patients’ length of stay was compared per what bed they were in (excluding middle beds). A multiple regression analysis was performed with patients admitted to the window or door side to determine whether the window affected their hospital stay. In addition, a multiple regression analysis was performed after adjusting for confounders by 1:1 matching between the two groups (ie, age, sex, and admitting department).

Results:

Participants were 38 788 patients with a bed near the window and 46 233 patients with a bed near the door. Results revealed that patients’ length of stay was shorter for those near the window compared with those near the door, which was also true after group matching (33 921 participants in each group).

Conclusions:

Clinical trials that test evidence-based designs of physical environments in wards or hospital rooms are usually difficult to perform. As an alternative strategy, using accumulated electronic medical data, we assessed this key element of hospital design.