bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide transcriptional responses of two metal-tolerant symbiotic Mesorhizobium isolates to Zinc and Cadmium exposure
Authors: Maynaud Géraldine , Brunel Brigitte , Mornico Damien , Durot Maxime , Severac Dany , Dubois Emeric , Navarro Elisabeth , Cleyet-Marel Jean-Claude , Le Quéré Antoine
Published: April 2013

Background

Mesorhizobium metalliduransSTM 2683TandMesorhizobiumsp. strain STM 4661 were isolated from nodules of the metallicolous legumeAnthyllis vulnerariafrom distant mining spoils. They tolerate unusually high Zinc and Cadmium concentrations as compared to other mesorhizobia. This work aims to study the gene expression profiles associated with Zinc or Cadmium exposure and to identify genes involved in metal tolerance in these two metallicolousMesorhizobiumstrains of interest for mine phytostabilization purposes.

Results

The draft genomes of the twoMezorhizobiumstrains were sequenced and used to map RNAseq data obtained after Zinc or Cadmium stresses. Comparative genomics and transcriptomics allowed the rapid discovery of metal-specific or/and strain-specific genes. Respectively 1.05% (72/6,844) and 0.97% (68/6,994) predicted Coding DNA Sequences (CDS) for STM 2683 and STM 4661 were significantly differentially expressed upon metal exposure. Among these, a significant number of CDS involved in transport (13/72 and 13/68 for STM 2683 and STM 4661, respectively) and sequestration (15/72 and 16/68 for STM 2683 and STM 4661, respectively) were identified. Thirteen CDS presented homologs in both strains and were differentially regulated by Zinc and/or Cadmium. For instance, several PIB-type ATPases and genes likely to participate in metal sequestration were identified. Among the conserved CDS that showed differential regulation in the two isolates, we also foundznuABC homologs encoding for a high affinity ABC-type Zinc import system probably involved in Zinc homeostasis. Additionally, global analyses suggested that both metals also repressed significantly the translational machinery.

Conclusions

The comparative RNAseq-based approach revealed a relatively low number of genes significantly regulated in the twoMesorhizobiumstrains. Very few of them were involved in the non-specific metal response, indicating that the approach was well suited for identifying genes that specifically respond to Zinc and Cadmium. Among significantly up-regulated genes, several encode metal efflux and sequestration systems which can be considered as the most widely represented mechanisms of rhizobial metal tolerance. Downstream functional studies will increase successful phytostabilization strategies by selecting appropriate metallicolous rhizobial partners.
Lipoprotein subclass profiles in young adults born preterm at very low birth weight
Authors: Hovi Petteri , Kajantie Eero , Soininen Pasi , Kangas Antti J , Järvenpää Anna-Liisa , Andersson Sture , Eriksson Johan G , Ala-Korpela Mika , Wehkalampi Karoliina
Published: April 2013

Background

Adults born preterm at very low birth weight (VLBW ≤ 1500g) have increased risk factors for cardiovascular diseases including high blood pressure and impaired glucose regulation. Non-optimal lipoprotein profile is generally also likely to affect the increased cardiovascular risk, but lipoprotein subclass level data on adults born at VLBW are sparse.

Subjects and methods

We studied 162 subjects born at VLBW and 169 term-born controls, aged 19 to 27 years. Total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations of 14 lipoprotein subclasses were determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the fasting state and in 2-hour serum samples from an oral glucose tolerance test.

Findings

In comparison to controls, VLBW subjects had significantly higher fasting concentration of triglycerides in chylomicrons and largest very-low-density lipoprotein particles [XXL-VLDL-TG, difference 0.026 (95% CI: 0.004 to 0.049), P = 0.024], and of triglycerides in small high-density lipoprotein particles [S-HDL-TG, 0.026 (95% CI: 0.002 to 0.051), P = 0.037]. The seemingly important role of triglycerides was further supported by principal component analysis in which the first component was characterized by multiple lipoprotein triglyceride measures.

Conclusions

Young adults born at VLBW and their peers born at term had triglyceride-related differences in both VLDL and HDL subclasses. These differences suggest that the increased risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among the VLBW individuals in adulthood may partly relate to impaired triglyceride metabolism.
HCV Envelope protein 2 sequence comparison of Pakistani isolate and In-silico prediction of conserved epitopes for vaccine development
Authors: Idrees Sobia , Ashfaq Usman A , Khaliq Saba
Published: April 2013

Background

HCV is causing hundreds of cases yearly in Pakistan and has become a threat for Pakistani population. HCV E2 protein is a transmembrane protein involved in viral attachment and thus can serve as an important target for vaccine development but because of its variability, vaccine development against it has become a challenge. Therefore, this study was designed to isolate the HCV E2 gene from Pakistani HCV infected patients of 3a genotype, to perform In-silico analysis of HCV E2 isolated in Pakistan and to analyze HCV E2 protein sequence in comparison with other E2 proteins belonging to 3a and 1a genotypes to find potential conserved B-cells and T-cell epitopes that can be important in designing novel inhibitory compounds and peptide vaccine against genotype 3a and 1a.

Patients and methods

Patients were selected on the basis of elevated serum ALT and AST levels at least for six months, histological examination, and detection of serum HCV RNA anti-HCV antibodies (3rd generation ELISA). RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, amplification, cloning and sequencing was performed from 4 patient’s serum samples in order to get the HCV E2 sequence. HCV E2 protein of Pakistani origin was analyzed using various bioinformatics tools including sequence and structure tools.

Results

HCV E1 protein modeling was performed with I-TASSER online server and quality of the model was assessed with ramchandran plot and Z-score. A total of 3 B-cell and 3 T-cell epitopes were found to be highly conserved among HCV 3a and 1a genotype.

Conclusion

The present study revealed potential conserved B-cell and T-cell epitopes of the HCV E2 protein along with 3D protein modeling. These conserved B-cell and T-cell epitopes can be helpful in developing effective vaccines against HCV and thus limiting threats of HCV infection in Pakistan.
Bone morphogenetic proteins and the polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: van Houten E Leonie AF , Laven Joop SE , Louwers Yvonne V , McLuskey Anke , Themmen Axel PN , Visser Jenny A
Published: April 2013

Background

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is defined by two out of the following three criteria being met: oligo- or anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Affected women are often obese and insulin resistant. Although the etiology is still unknown, members of the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) family, including Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), have been implicated to play a role. In this pilot study we aimed to measure serum BMP levels in PCOS patients.

Methods

Twenty patients, fulfilling the definition of PCOS according to the Rotterdam Criteria, were randomly selected. Serum BMP2, -4, -6 and −7 levels were measured using commercially available BMP2, BMP4, BMP6 and BMP7 immunoassays.

Results

Serum BMP2, serum BMP4 and serum BMP6 levels were undetectable. Three patients had detectable serum BMP7 levels, albeit at the lower limit of the standard curve.

Conclusions

BMP levels were undetectable in almost all patients. This suggests that with the current sensitivity of the BMP assays, measurement of serum BMP levels is not suitable as a diagnostic tool for PCOS.
Homologous recombination into the eosinophil peroxidase locus generates a strain of mice expressing Cre recombinase exclusively in eosinophils
Authors: Doyle Alfred D , Jacobsen Elizabeth A , Ochkur Sergei I , Willetts Lian , Shim Kelly , Neely Joseph , Kloeber Jake , LeSuer Will E , Pero Ralph S , Lacy Paige , Moqbel Redwan , Lee Nancy A , Lee James J
Published: April 2013

Eosinophils are generally linked to innate host defense against helminths, as well as the pathologies associated with allergic diseases, such as asthma. Nonetheless, the activities of eosinophils remain poorly understood, which in turn, has prevented detailed definitions of their role(s) in health and disease. Homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells was used to insert a mammalianized Cre recombinase in the ORF encoding Epx. This knock-in strategy overcame previous inefficiencies associated with eosinophil-specific transgenic approaches and led to the development of a knock-in strain of mice (eoCRE), capable of mediating recombination of “floxed” reporter cassettes in >95% of peripheral blood eosinophils. We also showed that this Cre expression was limited exclusively to eosinophil-lineage committed cells with no evidence of Cre-mediated toxicity. The efficiency and specificity of Cre expression in eoCRE mice were demonstrated further in a cross with a knock-in mouse containing a “(flox-stop-flox)” DTA cassette at the ROSA26 locus, generating yet another novel, eosinophil-less strain of mice. The development of eoCRE mice represents a milestone in studies of eosinophil biology, permitting eosinophil-specific gene targeting and overexpression in the mouse as part of next-generation studies attempting to define eosinophil effector functions.
Why People Vote: Ethical Motives and Social Incentives
Authors: Ali S. Nageeb , Lin Charles
Published: April 2013

Some individuals vote because they are motivated by a civic duty to do so, whereas others may vote because they wish to appear prosocial to others. This paper proposes a simple framework that captures these motivations, and provides results consistent with findings on turnout, e.g., that turnout is responsive to the expected closeness and importance of an election, to the observability of one's choice to vote, and to social rewards and punishments associated with voting. We study various extensions of this framework in which community monitoring plays a role, and explore the implications that voter mobilization has for electoral competition. (JEL D03, D72)
Isolated latissimus dorsi transfer to restore shoulder external rotation in adults with brachial plexus injury
Authors: Ghosh S. , Singh V. K. , Jeyaseelan L. , Sinisi M. , Fox M.
Published: April 2013

In adults with brachial plexus injuries, lack of active external rotation at the shoulder is one of the most common residual deficits, significantly compromising upper limb function. There is a paucity of evidence to address this complex issue. We present our experience of isolated latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle transfer to achieve active external rotation. This is a retrospective review of 24 adult post-traumatic plexopathy patients who underwent isolated latissimus dorsi muscle transfer to restore external rotation of the shoulder between 1997 and 2010. All patients were male with a mean age of 34 years (21 to 57). All the patients underwent isolated LD muscle transfer using a standard technique to correct external rotational deficit. Outcome was assessed for improvement in active external rotation, arc of movement, muscle strength and return to work. The mean improvement in active external rotation from neutral was 24° (10° to 50°). The mean increase in arc of rotation was 52° (38° to 55°). Mean power of the external rotators was 3.5 Medical Research Council (MRC) grades (2 to 5).

A total of 21 patients (88%) were back in work by the time of last follow up. Of these, 13 had returned to their pre-injury occupation. Isolated latissimus dorsi muscle transfer provides a simple and reliable method of restoring useful active external rotation in adults with brachial plexus injuries with internal rotational deformity.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:660–3.
Survival rates and causes of revision in cemented primary total knee replacement
Authors: Gøthesen Ø. , Espehaug B. , Havelin L. , Petursson G. , Lygre S. , Ellison P. , Hallan G. , Furnes O.
Published: April 2013

We evaluated the rates of survival and cause of revision of seven different brands of cemented primary total knee replacement (TKR) in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register during the years 1994 to 2009. Revision for any cause, including resurfacing of the patella, was the primary endpoint. Specific causes of revision were secondary outcomes.

Three posterior cruciate-retaining (PCR) fixed modular-bearing TKRs, two fixed non-modular bearing PCR TKRs and two mobile-bearing posterior cruciate-sacrificing TKRs were investigated in a total of 17 782 primary TKRs. The median follow-up for the implants ranged from 1.8 to 6.9 years. Kaplan-Meier 10-year survival ranged from 89.5% to 95.3%. Cox’s relative risk (RR) was calculated relative to the fixed modular-bearing Profix knee (the most frequently used TKR in Norway), and ranged from 1.1 to 2.6. The risk of revision for aseptic tibial loosening was higher in the mobile-bearing LCS Classic (RR 6.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.8 to 12.1)), the LCS Complete (RR 7.7 (95% CI 4.1 to 14.4)), the fixed modular-bearing Duracon (RR 4.5 (95% CI 1.8 to 11.1)) and the fixed non-modular bearing AGC Universal TKR (RR 2.5 (95% CI 1.3 to 5.1)), compared with the Profix. These implants (except AGC Universal) also had an increased risk of revision for femoral loosening (RR 2.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 4.8), RR 3.7 (95% CI 1.6 to 8.9), and RR 3.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 11.0), respectively). These results suggest that aseptic loosening is related to design in TKR.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:636–42.
The operative correction of symptomatic flat foot deformities in children
Authors: Westberry D. E. , Davids J. R. , Anderson J. P. , Pugh L. I. , Davis R. B. , Hardin J. W.
Published: April 2013

At our institution surgical correction of symptomatic flat foot deformities in children has been guided by a paradigm in which radiographs and pedobarography are used in the assessment of outcome following treatment. Retrospective review of children with symptomatic flat feet who had undergone surgical correction was performed to assess the outcome and establish the relationship between the static alignment and the dynamic loading of the foot.

A total of 17 children (21 feet) were assessed before and after correction of soft-tissue contractures and lateral column lengthening, using standardised radiological and pedobarographic techniques for which normative data were available.

We found significantly improved static segmental alignment of the foot, significantly improved mediolateral dimension foot loading, and worsened fore-aft foot loading, following surgical treatment. Only four significant associations were found between radiological measures of static segmental alignment and dynamic loading of the foot.

Weakness of the plantar flexors of the ankle was a common post-operative finding. Surgeons should be judicious in the magnitude of lengthening of the plantar flexors that is undertaken and use techniques that minimise subsequent weakening of this muscle group.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:706–13.
Atomic weights of the elements 2011 (IUPAC Technical
Report)
Authors: Wieser Michael E. , Holden Norman , Coplen Tyler B. , Böhlke John K. , Berglund Michael , Brand Willi A. , De Bièvre Paul , Gröning Manfred , Loss Robert D. , Meija Juris , Hirata Takafumi , Prohaska Thomas , Schoenberg Ronny , O’Connor Glenda , Walczyk Thomas , Yoneda Shige , Zhu Xiang-Kun
Published: April 2013

The biennial review of atomic-weight determinations and other cognate data has
resulted in changes for the standard atomic weights of five elements. The atomic
weight of bromine has changed from 79.904(1) to the interval [79.901, 79.907],
germanium from 72.63(1) to 72.630(8), indium from 114.818(3) to 114.818(1),
magnesium from 24.3050(6) to the interval [24.304, 24.307], and mercury from
200.59(2) to 200.592(3). For bromine and magnesium, assignment of intervals for
the new standard atomic weights reflects the common occurrence of variations in
the atomic weights of those elements in normal terrestrial materials.
Effects of Reduced Juice Allowances in Food Packages for the Women, Infants, and Children Program
Authors: Andreyeva Tatiana , Luedicke Joerg , Tripp Amanda S. , Henderson Kathryn E.
Published: April 2013

OBJECTIVES:

In 2009, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) implemented revisions to the composition and quantities of WIC food packages. Juice allowances were reduced by approximately half. This report describes changes in purchases of 100% juice and other beverages among WIC participants after the WIC revisions.

METHODS:

Scanner data from a New England supermarket chain were used to assess juice and other beverage purchases among 2137 WIC-participating households during a 2-year period (N = 36 051 household-months). Purchased beverage amounts were compared before (January–September 2009) and after (January–September 2010) implementation of the revised WIC packages. Generalized estimating equation models were used.

RESULTS:

Before the revisions, WIC juice accounted for two-thirds of purchased juice volume among WIC households. After implementation of the revisions, WIC juice purchases were reduced on par with allowance changes (43.5% of juice volume, 95% confidence interval [CI] 41.9%–45.1%). This reduction was only partly compensated for by an increase of 13.6% (8.4%–19.0%) in juice purchases using personal and other non-WIC funds. In total, juice purchases declined by 23.5% (21.4%–25.4%) from an adjusted monthly total of 238 oz to 182 oz per household. WIC households increased purchases of fruit drinks by 20.9% (14.9%–27.3%) and other noncarbonated beverages by 21.3% (12.1%–31.2%) but purchased 12.1% (8.1%–15.0%) less soft drinks.

CONCLUSIONS:

After the WIC revisions, total purchases of 100% juice among WIC households declined by about a quarter, with little compensation occurring from non-WIC funds for juice and other beverages. The public health impact of the shift in beverage purchase patterns could be significant.
Connection between cancer- and alcohol-related mortality in a rural practice of a South-Hungarian village
Authors: Péter Árpád
Published: April 2013

Introduction: The author, who is a sole general practitioner in a Hungarian village, has continously followed mortality in his practice for a long period of time. He found connections between cancer- and alcohol-related mortality in the first observational period between 1987 and 1999. Among men, cancer mortality related to alcoholism reached 50% in men and 7.9% in women. Aim: The aim of the author was to obtain new data on the relation between cancer- and alcohol-related mortality during a 12-year period between 2000 and 2011, and compare them with findings in his earlier work. Method: Data recorded in detailed death reports were analysed. For the main cause of death, long-term data from the medical history of patients were analysed thoroughly. Results: Between 2000 and 2011 there were 326 cases of death (167 men and 159 women). Despite several changes in the structure of the cause of mortality (the frequency of alcohol-related deaths considerably decreased while the frequency of cancer-related deaths somewhat increased), the proportion of alcohol-related cancer mortality has increased to 60% in men and 9.1% in women. Conclusion: These data confirm earlier observation of the author showing that alcoholism is frequent in this Hungarian village and that it contributes to the high cancer mortality of the inhabitants, especially in men. Therefore, decreased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms would be an important step in cancer prevention. Orv. Hetil., 2013, 154, 700–706.
Social Justice, the Ethics of Care, and Market Economies
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: April 2013

This essay explores the roles of social justice and the “ethics of care” as animating forces for social change in light of the near universal ascendance of the principles of market-based economics and of their extension into nonmarket areas of social concern, particularly in the United States. The main argument is that linking the “ethics of care,” social justice, and power makes possible the development of a democratic political and social agenda that can respectively aid in meeting the caregiver needs of the nation and contribute to the transformation of gender roles associated with care.
The Family as Moral Community: A Social Work Perspective
Authors: Fleck-Henderson Ann
Published: April 2013

Social work, while rich in literature about practice with families, has largely ignored the moral dimensions of this work. Conceiving the family as a moral community draws our attention to this neglected dimension. A framework, drawn from the literature on moral behavior, is used to conceptualize the moral life of families. The components are: (1) moral sensitivity – interpreting the situation; (2) moral reasoning – deciding what to do; and (3) moral character – following through and doing what is seen as right. These are offered as conceptual tools for focusing our attention and providing practice direction.
Dignity
Authors: Goldstein Howard
Published: April 2013

When people begin to ignore human dignity, it will not be long before they begin to ignore human rights.

—G. K. Chesterton, All Is Grist
Redefining Motherhood: Adaptation to Role Change for Women with AIDS
Authors: Van Loon Ruth Anne
Published: April 2013

To maintain their identity as mothers, a central life role, women with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) redefine motherhood in two ways: (1) when their health status changes, they emphasize tasks they are still able to perform; and (2) when their children are in the custody of others, they reframe motherhood as oversight of their children's well-being. Two issues trouble mothers with AIDS, especially those with drug-use histories: reunion with children previously placed outside the home or removed and conflictive relationships with adult children. Attempts to rectify these relationships are often unsuccessful. Social workers can assist mothers with AIDS retain this role by helping them acquire new parenting skills and develop mechanisms for maintaining meaningful connections with children who have been placed out of the home or adopted. They can also work with mothers considering reunions to anticipate the scope and meaning of new or changed relationships with children.
Caring Relationships as a Protective Factor for At-Risk Youth: An Ethnographic Study
Authors: Laursen Erik K. , Birmingham Scott M.
Published: April 2013

The resiliency literature documents that adult caring relationships are key to the development of resilience in children. The present ethnographic study of 23 youths' perceptions of caring adults explored the meanings they ascribe to caring relationships in helping them face adversity. The study confirmed that caring adults can serve as a protective factor for at-risk youth. In addition, the study delineated seven characteristics of those caring relationships: trust, attention, empathy, availability, affirmation, respect, and virtue. The presented results suggest a road map for self-reflection and skill development for those who seek to have a positive impact on the lives of challenging youth.
Examining the Needs of Culturally Diverse Rural Caregivers who Have Adults with Severe Developmental Disabilities Living with Them
Authors: Gammon Elizabeth Ann
Published: April 2013

This article presents the results of a study of rural caregivers who have adults with severe developmental delays living at home with them. It examines their demographic characteristics, their perceived levels of stress, and the coping skills they use to deal with that stress. This article provides information on the availability and utilization of social services for the adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD) and their families. In addition, the service needs, stresses experienced, and coping skills of these families are examined according to majority and minority racial status. This type of information should be valuable to policy makers, agency administrators, and program planners to improve the development, targeting, and accessibility of rural programs and services. For the purpose of this study, the term “developmental disability” refers to both mental and physical delays and is sometimes represented as MR/DD, which is consistent with the literature on this population.
A Consumer View of Teen Living Programs: Teen Parents' Satisfaction with Program Components and Services
Authors: Collins Mary Elizabeth , Lemon Cristi , Street Elizabeth
Published: April 2013

This paper reports on the program satisfaction of teen parents who resided in residential programs developed as part of welfare reform in Massachusetts. These teen living programs (TLPs) provide an alternative living situation for teen-parent welfare recipients who cannot live with a parent or guardian, but who must live in an approved setting to receive assistance. One hundred and ninety-nine interviews were conducted with teen parents, 72 with those who were currently living in the program and 127 with those who had left the program. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess global satisfaction with services, satisfaction with specific program components, and other open-ended feedback about the program. The measurement of program satisfaction is particularly important for programs serving young people, as they typically have few opportunities to voice their views. Consequently, implications for further program practice are identified.
Agency-Based Evaluation and Organizational Change in the Human Services
Authors: Moxley David P. , Manela Roger W.
Published: April 2013

In this paper, evaluation is placed within the context of the pressures for change contemporary human-service organizations experience in their policy and operating environments. The authors discuss the proactive role evaluation can play in increasing an agency's ability to successfully cope with and master change. The authors identify three types of agency response to change—revitalization, renaissance, and recovery—and they describe the different environmental circumstances that call for each response. They then create a framework of six approaches to agency-based evaluation and discuss how agencies can use these evaluation approaches to help themselves successfully respond to different conditions of change. A central aim of this paper is to explicate the linkages between environment context and type of change, agency response to change, and evaluation approach.
Homeless Persons with Mental Illness and Their Families: Emerging Issues from Clinical Work
Authors: Fisk Deborah , Rowe Michael , Laub Dori , Calvocoressi Lisa , DeMino Kathleen
Published: April 2013

The authors draw on their clinical work with homeless persons with mental illness to outline three family-related issues that seem common to many homeless persons with mental illness: (a) conflict or structural changes in the family that may increase individuals' risk of homelessness; (b) the emotional connection individuals have to their families, and the relationship between this connection and their homelessness; and (c) the ways in which individuals' relationships with their families influence their transition from homelessness to independent living. The authors explore these issues and give case examples. The authors recommend that clinicians and case managers in homeless outreach projects offer a family-focused clinical treatment approach, regardless of the current level of contact that clients have with their families. It is critical that staff understand the relationship between homeless persons with mental illness and their families in order to best assist these individuals in their transition from homelessness to “home.” Finally, the authors offer salient practice principles for homeless outreach projects that provide clinical and case-management services to this population, and explore the implications of these clinical findings for practice in other settings.
A Template for Family-Centered Interagency Collaboration
Authors: Walter Uta M. , Petr Christopher G.
Published: April 2013

In this paper, it is asserted that successful interagency collaborations require commitment to a shared value base as the core dimension of the joint efforts. A rationale framework that places family-centered principles at the core is provided, and how these principles translate into specific behaviors, attitudes, and policies on all levels within and between organizations is outlined. This template can provide guidance to local and state policy makers involved in reforming systems of care.
Gay Stepfamilies: A Triple-Stigmatized Group
Authors: Berger Roni
Published: April 2013

Gay parents in stepfamilies are stigmatized by the general public for their sexual orientations and by the gay community and society at large for being gay parents and for being in a stepfamily. This experience of triple stigmatization is discussed and illustrated, and measures to change the situation are offered.
Examining Social Workers' Placement Recommendations of Children with Gay and Lesbian Adoptive Parents
Authors: Ryan Scott D.
Published: April 2013

Thousands of children are awaiting placement with adoptive families in the United States. However, agency practices in selecting appropriate families are slow to change, with gay men and lesbians often facing various barriers. As such, the decision-making model often used by child-placement agencies does not adequately consider the impact of the social workers' socialization factors and attitudes when making placement recommendations. In this article, the current theoretical model used in determining placements is critically examined and the fundamental determinants influencing social workers' placement recommendations are empirically examined from a social constructionist perspective. Using a path analysis, significant socialization factors are identified, potential implications for practice and policy are discussed, and questions for further research are posed.
Renaissance
Authors: Stoesz David
Published: April 2013

The present transformation of health and human services spells the end of the American welfare state paradigm. Its demise is foretold by the rise of for-profit corporations exploiting various social markets, the multiplication of human service professions, and the implosion of ideological liberalism. For two decades, these forces have reversed a half-century of federal social policy. A renaissance in social welfare could commence by seizing the opportunities implicit with devolution and privatization. So reformulated, American social welfare could reconcile the multiple demands of a diverse population and the opportunities of a technologically sophisticated economy.
Practice Issues: Understanding Aged Holocaust Survivors
Authors: Brandler Sondra
Published: April 2013

The new regulations throughout Europe concerning increased reparations for Holocaust survivors and the recent opportunities for restitution from Swiss banks have resulted in renewed interest in the situation of aged Holocaust survivors. Understanding the special needs of aged survivors is essential to providing services and the supportive evidence needed for the receipt of financial compensation. Although survivors now seek the help of social workers for practical reasons, the process is charged with painful and horrifying memories. Practice with survivors must address these feelings. In addition, survivors are coping currently with the losses attendant to aging in a context which includes the suffering for themselves and their adult children still directly related to the Holocaust experience. Social workers will likely serve aged survivors and their families in senior programs, hospitals, and nursing homes and must consider the practice issues related to this population.
Sociodemographic Influences in the Prediction of Attitudes toward Transracial Adoption
Authors: Doty Hollingsworth Leslie
Published: April 2013

An exploratory study of attitudes toward transracial adoption was conducted, using data from a 1991 national telephone opinion survey of 916 respondents. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed believed that race should not be a factor in who should be allowed to adopt a child. However, in a logistic regression analysis, respondents in the highest age category (i.e., those older than 64 years) were 63% less likely to approve of transracial adoption, compared with 18- to 29-year-olds. There was also an interaction of race and sex. African-American women were 84% less likely than African-American men to approve of transracial adoption. Compared with African-American men, Caucasian men were 72% less likely to approve. The importance of considering subpopulation differences in applying such findings to adoption policy, research, and practice is discussed.
Two Tails of Justice
Authors: Chatterjee Pranab , D'Aprix Amy
Published: April 2013

It is argued that justice is a form of group behavior, and that there are basically five types of justice: protective, corrective, restorative, distributive, and representational. Corrective and protective justice, for the most part, help attain social control and strengthen existing social order. Distributive and representational justice often help the marginalized and disadvantaged members of a group. Restorative justice is in the middle, and performs both functions. Thus, justice seems to have two tails, similar to that found in a normal curve in statistics. One of these tails, where corrective and protective justice help support the existing social order of groups, provides social stability. The other tail, where distributive and representational justice support the vulnerable and the marginalized members of a group, generates the thrust for social change. Social workers need to understand the proper role of both of these tails.
Understanding Socialization of Teachers and Social Workers: Groundwork for Collaboration in the Schools
Authors: Bronstein Laura R. , Abramson Julie S.
Published: April 2013

Collaboration between social workers and teachers is critical in order to maximize students' achievement in school. These professional groups share attributes including their status in professions where women predominate, whose practice occurs in a bureaucratic setting and whose professionals hold a service orientation. Despite these similarities, differences occur in the socialization of the two professions in relation to: the processes of self-selection to the profession; education and training; and in their orientation to and experiences within the organization of the school. This article articulates these differences and similarities and examines their impact on the processes of collaboration between social workers and teachers. In addition, strategies for bridging the differences are presented and illustrated with examples of successful interdisciplinary collaboration in schools.
The Challenge of Spiritual Diversity: Can Social Work Facilitate an Inclusive Environment?
Authors: Hodge David R.
Published: April 2013

Social workers' growing interest in spirituality implicitly raises the issue of spiritual diversity. Demographic data indicate that the profession is not reflective of the larger society, with theistic populations such as Evangelical Christians being significantly underrepresented. As social workers wrestle with how to integrate spirituality and religion into social work, the lack of theistic voices may hinder their ability to understand the unique worldviews of Evangelicals and other theists. Indeed, the nontheistic majority may inadvertently shape the profession's emerging spirituality paradigm in such a manner that actually impairs social workers' ability to work with spiritual minorities. The author concludes by examining how the underrepresentation affects clients and suggests a number of steps to facilitate a more diverse profession that fosters respect for spiritual minorities.
Searching for a Theory: The Journey from Explanation to Revolution
Authors: Brown Brené
Published: April 2013

I came to theory because I was hurting — the pain within me was so intense that I could not go on living. I came to theory desperate, wanting to comprehend — to grasp what was happening around and within me. Most importantly, I wanted to make the hurt go away. I saw in theory a location for healing.

- bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress
Restorative Justice: A Model for Social Work Practice with Families
Authors: van Wormer Katherine
Published: April 2013

Restorative justice is an innovative concept that has received some attention in the field of criminal justice but that has been largely overlooked in the social work literature. Restorative initiatives (e.g., victim–offender mediation, family group conferencing) have special relevance for family practice. That these initiatives are effective in meeting participants' needs and consistent with social work values are major arguments of this article.
Parents of Children with Chronic Disabilities: The Gratification of Caregiving
Authors: Schwartz Chaya
Published: April 2013

A sample of 167 parents of children with a mental illness or physical disability participated in the study. Parents reported receiving gratification from fulfilling their parental duties and from learning about themselves. The child's and parent's personal characteristics were significant predictors of gratification. Physical disability and younger age of the child were associated with higher level of gratification, as were the younger age of the parent, unemployment, and parental poor health. When parents perceived caregiving as causing less emotional strain (low subjective burden), they were more likely to express gratification. The amount of assistance that the parent gave the child (objective burden) did not have a unique contribution to parental gratification.
Fathers in the Social Work Literature: Policy and Practice Implications
Authors: Strug David , Wilmore-Schaeffer Rozetta
Published: April 2013

Fatherhood is a topic of national conversation that is receiving considerable media attention. The number of single and noncustodial fathers is on the rise, and social workers will have increased contact with these men in the future. It is important for social work professionals to learn more about fatherhood, given the growing relevance of this topic. The social work literature is an important source of information where social workers can gather information about fatherhood. In this article, the authors examine how the social work literature describes fathers, especially noncustodial fathers. They note gaps in information about fatherhood in this literature and discuss policy and practice issues related to fathers. They also note that fatherhood has received comparatively little attention in the social work literature and that social workers need more information about fatherhood to develop policy and to implement programs to assist fathers. Information for this article comes from 118 articles about fathers that appeared in 25 social work journals.
The Privilege of Being a Therapist: A Fresh Perspective from Intrapsychic Humanism on Caregiving Intimacy and the Development of the Professional Self
Authors: Pieper Martha Heineman
Published: April 2013

The internal world of the clinical social worker looks very different when seen from the perspective of intrapsychic humanism, a comprehensive psychodynamic psychology (Pieper & Pieper, 1990). Adopting this view of development and treatment can remedy one of the most perplexing and pressing dilemmas facing even the most conscientious and dedicated mental health professional – the vulnerability to what Hiratsuku termed “compassion fatigue” (1991) — to feeling stuck with an unrewarding daily clinical experience. The following discussion offers social workers three guidelines that will transform their clinical experience and make it exciting and fulfilling: how to recognize clients' aversive reactions to pleasure; how to hear both the process and content meanings of a client's communications; and how to distinguish between the social worker's personal and caregiving motives. These principles will help all social workers, including those doing brief treatment, long-term treatment, school counseling, and traditional casework.
Insuring the Children: Obstacles and Opportunities
Authors: Perloff Janet D.
Published: April 2013

Passage of Title XXI of the Social Security Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), offers new opportunities for helping children gain health insurance coverage. This article examines the current status of the problem of children without health insurance, describes the major provisions of Title XXI, and considers some of the implications of this new policy. Strategies human service professionals can use to help increase insurance among children are identified including: (1) helping families capitalize on opportunities for health care coverage through Medicaid and CHIP; (2) influencing key state policy decisions in the design and implementation of CHIP; and (3) continuing to engage in the research, policy analysis, and advocacy, which will help to improve the health insurance coverage available to children and families.
Educating Professionals for Practice in a Multicultural Society: Understanding Oppression and Valuing Diversity
Authors: Schmitz Cathryne L. , Stakeman Catherine , Sisneros Jose
Published: April 2013

The United States is a society diverse in culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and income; one struggling with a past involving oppression, inequality, and buried knowledge. In order to heal and strengthen, we must educate ourselves about the many strands of our history; grow to appreciate and enjoy the multiple cultures, races, and realities; and recognize the consequences of current and historical oppression. Social work professionals can and should play a lead role. Social work educators can provide leadership in developing learning opportunities with parallel foci on the history and impact of oppression, and the strength and joy of diversity. After a review of the issues, a model is presented for guiding/facilitating this early learning.
Depression and Health among Grandmothers Co-Residing with Grandchildren in Two Cohorts of Women
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: April 2013

This paper examined depression and health of grandmothers who co-resided with grandchildren in 1997 in two cohorts of women, one aged 30–44 in 1967 (N = 2,080), and the other aged 14–24 in 1968 (N = 1,708). Co-resident grandmothers in both cohorts were more likely than other mothers to have higher levels of depression and about one-fifth were likely to exhibit levels high enough to place them “at risk” for clinical depression. Co-residency, however, was not found to be a good predictor of either level of depression or changes in the level of depression, but prior levels of depression were positively related to changes in the level of depression among mothers in general when controlling for current or previous co-residency. Health status was found to be a good predictor of depression when accounting for co-residency and work effort among other factors.
Clinical Applications of the CASPARS Instruments: Boys who Act out Sexually
Authors: Gilgun Jane F. , Keskinen Susan , Marti Danette Jones , Rice Kay
Published: April 2013

This article, part two of a two-part series, demonstrates the uses of the Clinical Assessment Package for Risks and Strengths (CASPARS), newly-developed clinical rating scales that incorporate research on resilience and social work's strengths perspectives. The CASPARS are composed of five instruments: Family Relationships, Emotional Expressiveness, Peer Relationships, Sexuality, and Family Embeddedness in Community. Part one reported on the instruments' conceputal base and their reliabilities and validities. In the present article, we show through case studies how these instruments can be useful for assessment, intervention planning, predicting outcome of interventions, and the evaluation of the effects of treatment. The structure of the instruments and the theory behind them have implications beyond the assessment of children and their families. The instruments provide a model for the development of other strengths-based instruments that could be customized to a variety of social work practice settings and populations.
Multifamily Group Therapy: Impact on Family Functioning and Child Behavior
Authors: Meezan William , O'Keefe Maura
Published: April 2013

The authors compare the effectiveness of multifamily group therapy (MFGT) with traditional family therapy with abusive and neglectful caregivers and their children. Positive changes in the family functioning of the MFGT group occurred in areas critical to the reduction of child abuse and neglect, whereas changes in the family functioning of those in traditional family therapy occurred only in the area of parental support. The MFGT group children became significantly more assertive and less submissive according to their self-report and, according to their caregivers, showed significantly fewer overall behavior problems and greater social competence at the end of treatment. Changes in the children in the comparison group were not self-reported and did not occur in the area of social competence. These positive findings argue that agencies should consider adopting this modality in the treatment of this population and that it should be included as a treatment option in family-centered child welfare services.
The Widening Mistrust between Youth and Police
Authors: Borrero Michael
Published: April 2013

The interaction between police and young people living in the inner city has received limited empirical review. This paper examines the experiences of inner city youth claiming to have been subjected to excessive police force or misconduct or both. The discussion is informed by a study of encounters between a sample of the two groups. The author contends that hostility and strain between police and inner city youth, particularly youth of color, are increasing. The paper also examines the consequences of these encounters and their implications for service providers and policymakers.
Utilization-Focused Evaluation of Two Intensive Family Preservation Programs
Authors: Drisko James W.
Published: April 2013

The author evaluates The Brightside Intensive Family Intervention (IFI) Program and the Massachusetts Department of Social Services' Family Life Center (FLC), which share a referral pool of 47 client families. The families were interviewed to assess the two programs from the consumers' perspective. Applying Patton's utilization-focused evaluation, qualitative information offered feedback to program staff and supervisors and quantitative data provided an administrative summary of the success of both programs. The structure and process of each program, as experienced by its clients, were linked with outcome. Families found these tertiary prevention programs worked well to support their dignity and expand their community connections. Agency auspices were unimportant to most parents, who preferred a team model and relatively longer contact. Most parents viewed concrete services as ancillary to relationship-based work.