bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caseload management in community learning disability teams
Authors: Walker Tammi , Stead Joanne , Read Stephen G.
Published: May 2004

This report is the result of quantitative and qualitative inquiry into the workings of community learning disability teams with particular reference to the handling of caseloads and specifically discharge procedures. The study focused on four teams in the West Yorkshire area. Quantitative data to represent professionals within the teams, their caseload sizes and waiting lists were analysed. Qualitative information with respect to caseload management strategies was gathered via semi-structured interviews and the findings were validated by a focus group. The professionals identified the decision-making processes they employed regarding maintaining service users or discharging service users from their caseload. The management and structures within each of the teams were found to be complex and varied. The implications of these findings and recommendations for further investigations into the nature of caseload management practices in community learning disability services are discussed.
Satisfaction with Living Arrangements of Older Adults with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Rourke Anne O , Grey Ian M. , Fuller Ray , Mcclean Brian
Published: May 2004

Living arrangements for older adults with intellectual disability are an important aspect of service provision. However, relatively little work has examined service users’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction with where they live. Interviews were conducted with 92 service users with intellectual disability aged over 40 living in residential accommodation or with parents or guardians. A questionnaire addressing service users’ living arrangements was completed by 103 carers or guardians. Service users identified physical features of living arrangements, the provision of activities, and staff as primary contributors to satisfaction. Primary contributors to dissatisfaction were staff issues such as hindering personal independence, impatience and personnel shortages. Service users living with family or guardians were more likely to report being happy but also to report loneliness than those in group homes. Carers’ responses largely mirrored those provided by service users but differences emerged with respect to appropriateness of existing accommodation.
Problems of Evidence Based Practice in Community Based Services
Authors: Burton Mark , Chapman Melanie J.
Published: May 2004

An emerging orthodoxy regarding the definition and role of evidence based practice is identified and subjected to a constructive critique with particular reference to social and community health services for people who are intellectually (learning) disabled. It is argued that the orthodox approach to evidence based practice falters at every step, from the production of evidence to its use by practitioners. An alternative approach is suggested which distinguishes between macro, meso and micro types of evidence, and integrates information from these sources through the construction of practical realist theories that inform service provision through which the theories are also tested. A practical example based on current work on self-injury is provided.
Human Resource Management in Greece
Authors: Myloni Barbara , Harzing Anne-Wil , Mirza Hafiz
Published: May 2004

This article investigates whether Human Resource Management (HRM) in Greece is maintaining its national character or whether it is converging towards a model that potentially clashes with the country’s traditional societal values. This issue fits in the wider convergence–divergence debate that has been the concern of many cross-cultural researchers. Using data collected from Greek firms and subsidiaries of multinationals (MNCs) located in Greece, we compare the two groups on specific HRM practices. The aim is to show how HRM practices of Greek firms differ from those of MNCs subsidiaries and examine the extent and the way these HRM practices reflect Greek national culture. Our empirical results indicate that HRM practices in Greek firms reflect national culture to a great extent. Moreover, they imply that in some areas MNC subsidiaries have realized a considerable degree of adaptation, embracing practices that are in line with the Greek cultural environment.
Developmental Trajectories and Sexual Offending
Authors: Connolly Marie
Published: May 2004

This study explores the early experiences and offending patterns of men who have sexually offended against children. Qualitative interviews with the men have been analysed using Ward and Siegert’s (2002) Pathways Model. The findings, while tentative, indicate that developmental trajectories or individual pathways may be forged by building blocks of behaviours and experience which have influenced patterns of adult sexual offending. The preliminary findings also suggest that the Pathways Model offers potential with respect to work with men who sexually offend against children.
Tricks of the Trade
Authors: Wahab Stéphanie
Published: May 2004

Social work practice with women who exchange sex for material goods dates back to the beginnings of the social work profession in the settlements, benevolent societies, and charity organizations. This article presents the theoretical frameworks, methods and findings of a qualitative, participatory inquiry with six adult female sex workers in Seattle, Washington. The study participants worked as street workers, dancers, and escort workers. The findings discuss how and why the women entered the sex industry, how they talk about and define what they do (with a significant focus on emotional labor) from their perspective, the intersections of race and class in their work experiences, and agency as it applies to their personal and professional lives. The article concludes with recommendations for social work practice from the study participants.
Dating Violence among Adolescents
Authors: Hickman Laura J. , Jaycox Lisa H. , Aronoff Jessica
Published: May 2004

Relative to violence among adult intimate partners, violence among adolescent dating partners remains an understudied phenomenon. In this review, we assess the state of the research literature on teen dating violence. Our review reveals that the broad range of estimates produced by major national data sources and single studies make conclusions about the prevalence of teen dating violence premature. Similarly, our review of what is known about risk factors reveals inconsistency among studies. We assess published evaluations of adolescent dating violence prevention programs and discuss their findings and limitations. Finally, we discuss challenges to researchers in this area and suggest that additional investment in high-quality basic research is needed to inform the development of sound theory and effective prevention and intervention programs.
An Integrative Review of Separation in the Context of Victimization
Authors: Walker Robert , Logan Tk , Jordan Carol E. , Campbell Jacquelyn C.
Published: May 2004

Given the number of divorces that occur each year as well as the high rates of intimate partner violence, it is critical that divorce/separation and victimization be considered in research and in clinical practice with women. However, the separation/divorce research and victimization research has often been conducted independently, with limited attention to integration. The integration of these two domains is critically important in facilitating the understanding of these issues for women. This article has 5 main purposes: (a) to review the research on the general consequences of separation; (b) to review the research on the consequences of separation when children are involved; (c) to review the research on the consequences of victimization; (d) to integrate the separation and victimization research to examine separation in the context of victimization; and (e) to discuss the implications of separation in the context of victimization for practice and research.
A Review of Clinical Characteristics and Residential Treatments for Adolescent Delinquents with Mental Health Disorders
Authors: Underwood Lee A. , Barretti Louis , Storms Tera L. , Safonte-Strumolo Nicole
Published: May 2004

As treatment systems throughout the country have deinstitutionalized, under-use of community-based residential treatment systems has escalated. Reliance on juvenile justice systems for the care of the mentally ill adolescent has increased. There is considerable overlap between the mentally ill adolescent population within the community-based mental health systems and the offender population within the juvenile justice systems. With the inconsistent epidemiological prevalence and longitudinal treatment data, mental health treatment providers have also begun addressing this problem. This is currently being done by designing and implementing community-based residential mental health programs for delinquent adolescents of the juvenile justice system as well as nondelinquent adolescents within the mental health treatment systems. Providers have relied on both systems’ literature in establishing theoretical treatment programs. The authors review critical treatment components currently used by both the treatment and juvenile justice systems. A promising integrative program is described.
The Coalition Technical Assistance and Training Framework: Helping Community Coalitions Help Themselves
Authors: Butterfoss Frances D.
Published: May 2004

Coalition staff, leaders, and members need training to promote coalition building and maintenance as well as ongoing technical assistance. The Coalition Technical Assistance and Training Framework uses a 6-step process to diagnose coalition strengths and challenges and provide a prescription for action. Re-evaluation after a specified time period helps determine whether a coalition adopted recommended changes in coalition participants, structures, and/or processes and progressed through stages of development. This empowerment approach helps coalition staff and members help themselves to be more effective and efficient. The framework was piloted with the Virginia Healthy Start Initiative from November 1997 to June 2001. Seven perinatal councils that focused on preventing low-weight births and infant mortality adopted 75% of the recommended actions within 1 year. Results from a pre and post-assessment tool after 3 years showed significant progress in the coalitions’ ability to develop effective participants, processes, and structures
The Costs and Benefits to Participants in Community Partnerships: A Paradox?
Authors: El Ansari Walid , Phillips Ceri J.
Published: May 2004

This article examines the degree of stakeholder participation in health and social partnership schemes in relation to their perceptions of benefits, costs, satisfaction, commitment, and ownership. The findings suggest that (a) involvement, commitment, and sense of ownership were invariably associated with high benefits and mostly with low costs; (b) benefits, commitment, and ownership might be more sensitive monitors of involvement than costs and satisfaction; (c) an increase in involvement was initially associated with decreased costs and increased satisfaction up to a point beyond which costs increased and satisfaction decreased despite increasing benefits; and (d) favorable cost-benefit ratios were perceived when the benefits were at least 1. 6 times the costs. Partnership initiatives need to explore the involvement “cut-off” point at which the costs (and satisfaction) might change direction. For favorable cost-benefit ratios, benefits need to be at least 60% more than costs (Ansari’s paradox).
Measuring Culture as Shared Knowledge: Do Data Collection Formats Matter? Cultural Knowledge of Plant Uses Among Tsimane’ Amerindians, Bolivia
Authors: Reyes-García Victoria , Byron Elizabeth , Vadez Vincent , Godoy Ricardo , Apaza Lilian , Limache Eddy Pérez , Leonard William R. , Wilkie David
Published: May 2004

In this article, the authors contribute to the empirical study of culture as shared knowledge by exploring correlations of individual responses to different questionnaires of the same tasks and correlation of individual responses to different tasks. They collected data on ethnobotanical knowledge from 149 adult Tsimane’ Amerindians in Bolivia. The authors used a cultural consensus model to calculate individual scores of cultural knowledge for each questionnaire, correlating individual scores using pooled samples and various subsamples. Results from multiplechoice questionnaires show high reliability. A comparison of competency scores from the paired-comparison and the average of the three multiple-choice questionnaires showed a positive correlation ( r = .46), although it was lower than when comparing multiple-choice to each other. Competency on the triad questionnaire did not correlate with information from any of the other questionnaires. The evidence presented suggests that cultural competence may be consistent across questionnaires of the same task but not necessarily across different tasks in the same domain.
Thinking inside the Box: The Art of Telephone Interviewing
Authors: Genovese Barbara J.
Published: May 2004

In the past quarter century, the technology for conducting telephone interviews has changed significantly. Fundamental interviewing concepts, however, have changed little. This article examines the art of telephone interviewing from the perspective of a telephone surveyer. Through her experiences, the author shows how mastering the production and interpretation of sounds is a key communication tool for producing successful and informative interviews.
The Prospects-Based Dynamics of the House Candidacy Decision
Authors: Romero David W.
Published: May 2004

Strategic politicians thesis studies examine the candidacy phenomenon in general and primary elections, typically testing the influence electoral prospects have on the candidacy decision (indirectly in general elections, directly in primary elections). However, because the candidacy phenomena are different in the two arenas, they offer varying opportunities for theory development. Primary elections, where the phenomena are candidacy decisions, offer the richer laboratory for theory development. Here, I examine primary elections to the House of Representatives and develop a general theoretical framework of the influence electoral prospects have on the candidacy decisions of electively experienced and electively inexperienced candidates. I find that although improving electoral prospects encourage strong and weak candidates to enter primaries, the anticipated increase in primary competition discourages their entry, with weak candidates facing the more severe crowd-out pressures. Observation of district-level candidacy patterns in open-seat and incumbent-challenge primaries confirm my theoretical framework.
Regime-of-Truth Change
Authors: Bratich Jack Z.
Published: May 2004

It is crucial to understand the changing conditions of truth telling in the new normal of the Terror War. This article examines recent developments in the generalization of state secrecy as well as the materialization of information warfare. These recent changes in the production of truth also offer possibilities for rethinking our own strategic attachments to truth. What the current conjuncture tells us is that the constellation of truth, secrecy, and revelation needs rearranging.
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? Who Polices the Crisis?
Authors: Lincoln Yvonna S.
Published: May 2004

Citizens concerned about the continuing presence in Iraq, or multiple domestic crises in the U.S., are tempted to resort to tactics and strategies which are hallmarks of American democratic life: letters to congressmen, letters to newspaper editors, and other “speak back” forums. As a way of “policing a crisis,” citizen action and letter-writing and assembly protests have been effective tools for mobilizing public opinion and bringing attention to perceptions of failure in social policies. The Patriot’s Act of 2002, however, has brought a sense of threat to public protest. Widespread and non-accountable surveillance of citizens’ activities make policing the Iraqi —or any domestic—crisis a threat to personal liberty. Those who would police the crisis are themselves being policed.
The Principles of Pax Americana
Authors: Alasuutari Pertti
Published: May 2004

This paper discusses the world political situation after the Cold War, as it has become obvious that we live in a world where there is a single superior world power. The United States has an overwhelmingly superior position in the world both militarily and economically, its dominant position is concretely present everywhere on the globe, and the language spoken in the U.S.A. has become the lingua franca of the world. Historically, whenever there has been a sovereign power monopoly, the sovereign power has taken advantage of the situation. This is exactly what we have witnessed in U.S. foreign policy.
Overcoming Deception in Sexual Preference Testing
Authors: Marshall W. L.
Published: May 2004

This report describes a strategy that was developed to detect and correct attempts by a child molester to fake normal at phallometric testing. The strategy was successful and led to a full admission of deviant sexual preferences that could then be addressed in treatment.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Epidermolysis Bullosa
Authors: Nair Chandramohan K. , Preethi T. R. , Somanathan Thara , Pandey Manoj
Published: May 2004

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of inherited blistering disorders that are divided into three categories based on the plane of cleavage of the blister, mode of inheritance, and the presence or absence of scars. Squamous cell carcinoma developing in epidermolyis bullosa is rare and presents a therapeutic dilemma. The authors report a case of congenital epidermolysis bullosa with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma.
Transdermal CO2 Application in Chronic Wounds
Authors: Wollina U. , Heinig Birgit , Uhlemann Christine
Published: May 2004

Chronic wounds are a challenge to treatment. In this retrospective study, the effect of transdermal CO2 application on wound healing in chronic ulcers was investigated and compared to the effect of CO2 on acute surgical wounds. Eightysix patients (52 females and 34 males) with chronic wounds of different origin except arterial occlusive disease were included. In addition, 17 patients (5 females, 12 males) with wide excision wounds after surgical therapy of acne inversa were considered. The indication for CO2 application was a wound at risk for infection. Treatment was performed with a Carboflow® device once daily for 30 to 60minutes. Therewas clinical evidence of improvement of granulation and reductionof discharge and malodor within 1 week of treatment in both chronic and acute wounds. Only 9 patients, all diabetics, needed an additional systemic antibiosis. The treatment was well tolerated. No adverse effects have been noted. Transdermal CO2 application is a useful method to reduce the risk of infection and improve wound healing in both chronic and certain acute wounds. Systematic prospective trials are needed.
Cutaneous Tissue Engineering and Lower Extremity Wounds (Part 1)
Authors: Boschi Elena , Longoni Bianca Maria , Romanelli Marco , Mosca Franco
Published: May 2004

Tissue-engineered skin is a novel therapeutic with which difficult-to-heal lower extremity wounds may be treated. Such skins are products of cutaneous tissue engineering that provide an alternative for autologous or allogeneic tissue transplantation, thereby avoiding problems associated with donor site availability, the risk of infection, and scarring. Recently developed tissue-engineered skin equivalents have shown to be superior in certain ways to compression therapy for refractory venous ulcers and acute wounds. These biologic products behave similarly to autografts.
Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Sedatives in Cancer Care
Authors: Block Keith I. , Gyllenhaal Charlotte , Mead Mark N.
Published: May 2004

Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are common in cancer patients. Insomnia is a multifactorial health concern that currently affects at least 1 in 3 cancer patients, and yet most insomnia sufferers do not consult their physician regarding pharmaceutical options for relief. Use of hypnotic drugs (primarily benzodiazepines) is associated with increasing tolerance, dependence, and adverse effects on the central nervous system. While hypnotic drug use declined substantially in the past decade, the use of herbal sedatives appeared to increase. Mostly self-prescribed by lay people, herbal sedatives hold widespread appeal, presumably because of their lower cost and higher margin of safety when compared to pharmaceuticals. Studies of better-known herbal sedatives, notably valerian and kava, showed moderate evidence for both safety and efficacy for valerian while revealing disturbing toxicity concerns for kava. Milder sedatives or anxiolytics in need of clinical study include German chamomile, lavender, hops, lemon balm, and passionflower; St. John’s wort may have anxiolytic effects with relevance to sleep. Herb-drug interactions are a possibility for some of these species, including St. John’s wort. Although sufficient evidence exists to recommend some of these agents for short-term relief of mild insomnia, long-term trials and observational studies are needed to establish the safety of prolonged use as well as overall efficacy in the context of cancer treatment and management.
Criminal Careers of Serious Delinquents in Two Cities
Authors: Brame Robert , Fagan Jeffrey , Piquero Alex R. , Schubert Carol A. , Steinberg Laurence
Published: May 2004

Because different methods for studying criminal behavior all suffer from important limitations, it is useful to apply different methodologies to the same population whenever possible. In this analysis, we examine the relationships between self-report and official record-based measures of offending activity using populations of adolescent serious offenders in Phoenix, Arizona, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Self-Report of Offending among Serious Juvenile Offenders
Authors: Knight George P. , Little Michelle , Losoya Sandra H. , Mulvey Edward P.
Published: May 2004

This article evaluates the measurement equivalence of a self-report of offending measure among female and male juveniles, as well as Hispanic, African American, and White male juveniles. The findings indicate (a) considerable functional equivalence across gender and ethnically/racially diverse groups of juvenile offenders, and (b) scalar equivalence across Hispanic and White male juvenile offenders, but (c) that researchers should be careful making either mean difference or association comparisons across genders or African American/White boys.
Influence of insulin on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients
Authors: Rusavy Zdenek , Sramek Vladimir , Lacigova Silvie , Novak Ivan , Tesinsky Pavel , Macdonald Ian A
Published: May 2004

Introduction

It is recognized that administration of insulin with glucose decreases catabolic response in sepsis. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two levels of insulinaemia on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients and volunteers.

Methods

Glucose uptake, oxidation and storage, and energy expenditure were measured, using indirect calorimetry, in 20 stable septic patients and 10 volunteers in a two-step hyperinsulinaemic (serum insulin levels 250 and 1250 mIU/l), euglycaemic (blood glucose concentration 5 mmol/l) clamp. Differences between steps of the clamp (from serum insulin 1250 to 250 mIU/l) for all parameters were calculated for each individual, and compared between septic patients and volunteers using the Wilcoxon nonpaired test.

Results

Differences in glucose uptake and storage were significantly less in septic patients. The differences in glucose oxidation between the groups were not statistically significant. Baseline energy expenditure was significantly higher in septic patients, and there was no significant increase in either step of the clamp in this group; when comparing the two groups, the differences between steps were significantly greater in volunteers.

Conclusion

A hyperdynamic state of sepsis leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and storage in comparison with healthy volunteers. An increase in insulinaemia leads to an increase in all parameters of glucose metabolism, but the increases in glucose uptake and storage are significantly lower in septic patients. A high level of insulinaemia in sepsis increases glucose uptake and oxidation significantly, but not energy expenditure, in comparison with volunteers.
The morphological and biochemical effects of glibornuride on rat liver in experimental diabetes
Authors: Bolkent Ş , Yanardağ R , Karabulut-Bulan Ö , Özsoy-Saçan Ö
Published: May 2004

Glibornuride is a sulphonylurea derivative used as an oral hypoglycaemic drug in diabetics. The aim of this study was to examine the histological, ultrastructural and biochemical effects of glibornuride in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. The animals were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg STZ. Fourteen days later, glibornuride was given at 5 mg/kg by gavage, daily for 28 days, to one STZ-diabetic and one control group. In the STZ-diabetic group, remarkable degenerative changes were observed. On the other hand, in the STZ-diabetic group given glibornuride, the degenerative changes decreased. In the STZ-diabetic group, blood glucose levels, serum aspartate transaminase activity, and total lipid levels increased, whereas the blood glutathione levels decreased. In contrast, in the STZ-diabetic group given glibornuride blood glucose levels, serum aspartate transaminase activity and total lipid levels decreased and blood glutathione levels increased. Significant changes in total protein levels in the serum were not observed in any group. As a conclusion, we can say that glibornuride has a protective effect against the hepatotoxicity produced by STZ-diabetes.
The Developmental Course of Habituation in Infancy and Preschool Outcome
Authors: Colombo John , Shaddy D. Jill , Richman W. Allen , Maikranz Julie M. , Blaga Otilia M.
Published: May 2004

A longitudinal sample of 226 infants were tested monthly on habituation and novelty preference tasks, augmented with simultaneous heart rate recording from 3 to 9 months of age. Infants were then administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID) and MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory (MCDI) at 12, 18, and 24 months. Prior findings regarding the decline in look duration with age were replicated. Age‐based factors were extracted from the monthly assessments, an early attention factor from 3 to 6 months and a late attention factor from 7 to 9 months. A novelty preference factor, which grouped recognition performance at 4 and 6 months of age, was also derived. The late attention factor correlated negatively with a factor score derived from the BSID mental index, and the novelty preference aggregate was correlated positively with a factor score derived from the MCDI production scores. Two clusters of infants were derived based on the developmental course of change from the early attention to late attention look duration aggregates: One cluster (n= 150) decreased strongly, and another (n= 50) increased. Infants belonging to these clusters subsequently differed on both the BSID and MCDI outcomes, with the former cluster showing distinct advantages that increased as the outcome assessments progressed from 12 to 24 months of age. This finding was bolstered by subsequent analyses of data from infants who completed all tests run from 3 to 9 months. The results of this study suggest that the developmental course of attention during infancy is an important clue to cognitive and language outcomes in early childhood.
Maternal Tactile Stimulation and the Neurodevelopment of Low Birth Weight Infants
Authors: Weiss Sandra J. , Wilson Peggy , Morrison Delmont
Published: May 2004

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of early maternal touch to the neurodevelopmental status of low birth weight (LBW) infants. One hundred and eight LBW infants and their mothers were videotaped during a typical feeding when the infant was 3 months old. This tape was used to analyze both the mother's touch and other facets of caregiving behavior using standardized coding systems. Data on perinatal medical risk were also acquired through chart review, and neurodevelopmental tests were administered to the infants at age 1 year. Results indicate that infants whose mothers used more stimulating touch during caregiving had better visual‐motor skills at 1 year of age. In addition, infants of mothers who touched them frequently had more advanced gross motor development. Findings suggest that stimulating and frequent touch may help to compensate for early neurosensory deficits and promote neurodevelopment for LBW infants. Infant birth weight made the strongest contribution to all measures of infant neurodevelopmental status at age 1 year.
Videoconferencing in family therapy: a review
Authors: Kuulasmaa Antti , Wahlberg Karl-Erik , Kuusimäki Marja-Leena
Published: May 2004

Videoconferencing is used in psychiatry for various purposes. There is a need for research on videoconferencing in family therapy, as there are hardly any reports on the topic: in a literature search, we found only four references to family therapy and videoconferencing. In the Department of Psychiatry at Oulu University Hospital, the use of videoconferencing has steadily increased over the last few years, and in 2002 the equipment was used for 600 hours, of which 84 hours (14%) involved consultation and 12 hours (2%) family therapy. We postulate that the use of videoconferencing for family therapy will incur various restrictions, but may also open up new opportunities. Videoconferencing may allow people in remote regions to benefit from family therapy services. Using modern equipment, it is possible to attain television broadcast quality in a videoconference, but we do not know the effect of videoconferenced delivery on the outcome of therapy. It will therefore be important to collect systematic data on family therapy delivered via videoconference.
A pilot study of long-term monitoring of human movements in the home using accelerometry
Authors: Mathie Merryn J , Coster Adelle C F , Lovell Nigel H. , Celler Branko G. , Lord Stephen R , Tiedemann Anne
Published: May 2004

We assessed the feasibility of using a waist-mounted, wireless triaxial accelerometer (TA) to monitor human movements in an unsupervised home setting to detect changes in functional status. A pilot study was carried out with six healthy subjects aged 80–86 years. The subjects wore a TA unit every day for two to three months. Each morning they carried out a short routine of directed movements that included standing, sitting, lying and walking. Important movement variables were measured. During the rest of the day, subjects were monitored for falls, and variables such as metabolic energy expenditure were measured. All subjects remained healthy; there was no overall change in functional status and there were only slight fluctuations in health status. No longitudinal changes were detected in any of the variables measured during the directed routine. There was a moderate correlation between weekly self-reported health status and energy expenditure: subjects reported a lower health status for weeks in which they expended less energy. The TA system was found to be practical for long-term, unsupervised home monitoring. All subjects found the system simple to use and the TA unit unobtrusive and comfortable to wear. High compliance rates were achieved: the TA units were worn on 88% of the days in the study, for an average of 11.2 hours per day.
The Impact of Mandated Disclosure on Performance‐Based CEO Compensation*
Authors: CRAIGHEAD JANE A. , MAGNAN MICHEL L. , THORNE LINDA
Published: May 2004

Regulators argue that mandated compensation disclosure improves corporate governance by permitting shareholders to enjoin boards of directors to reward executives in ways that are consistent with shareholder value creation. We posit that mandated compensation disclosure, or the absence thereof, has a greater impact on the CEO compensation practices of widely held firms than of closely held firms. More specifically, we expect that, in the absence of mandated disclosure, CEO compensation is likely to be less performance‐contingent among widely held firms than among closely held firms. Moreover, we also expect that the advent of mandated disclosure leads widely held firms to increase the extent to which CEO compensation is performance‐contingent, much more so than closely held firms would. We use a unique data base resulting from the Ontario Securities Commission amendment of regulation 638 in October 1993. For the first time, this amendment required firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange to provide detailed executive compensation data similar to those required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the current year as well as retroactively for the previous two years. We find that, in the absence of mandated disclosure, CEO cash compensation in widely held firms is less performance‐contingent than in closely held firms. With the imposition of mandated disclosure, performance‐contingent cash compensation increases more in widely held firms than in closely held firms. Results with respect to stock option grants are mixed, with both closely held and widely held firms reacting to the advent of mandated disclosure.
How Are Earnings Managed? An Examination of Specific Accruals*
Authors: MARQUARDT CAROL A. , WIEDMAN CHRISTINE I.
Published: May 2004

There is relatively little evidence on the specific accruals used to manage earnings. This paper examines this issue by considering the use of specific accruals in three earnings‐management contexts: equity offerings, management buyouts, and firms avoiding earnings decreases. We argue that the costs of managing earnings through different income statement items vary and that the benefits of earnings management through each of these items depend on the context. We thus make differential predictions regarding which specific accrual will be used to manage earnings in each of the three contexts we consider. To measure earnings management for specific accruals, we develop performance‐matched measures to capture the unexpected component of accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, depreciation expense, and special items. Consistent with our predictions, we find that firms issuing equity appear to prefer managing earnings upward by accelerating revenue recognition. Specifically, we find that accounts receivable for these firms are unexpectedly high. Conversely, for the management buyout context, we predict and find unexpected accounts receivable to be negative. For firms trying to avoid reporting an earnings decrease, we expect firms to be less concerned with earnings persistence and therefore more likely to use more transitory, and less costly, items to achieve their goal. We find that special items are significantly more positive for this group. This paper provides a further step toward understanding how the incentives behind earnings management affect the method used to achieve earnings goals, and it illustrates the usefulness of examining individual accruals in specific contexts.
The Effectiveness of Alternative Risk Assessment and Program Planning Tools in a Fraud Setting*
Authors: ASARE STEPHEN K. , WRIGHT ARNOLD M.
Published: May 2004

This study examines the impact of alternative risk assessment (standard risk checklist versus no checklist) and program development (standard program versus no program) tools on two facets of fraud planning effectiveness: (1) the quality of audit procedures relative to a benchmark validated by a panel of experts, and (2) the propensity to consult fraud experts. A between‐subjects experiment, using an SEC enforcement fraud case, was conducted to examine these relationships. Sixty‐nine auditors made risk assessments and designed an audit program. We found that auditors who used a standard risk checklist, structured by SAS No. 82 risk categories, made lower risk assessments than those without a checklist. This suggests that the use of the checklist was associated with a less effective diagnosis of the fraud. We also found that auditors with a standard audit program designed a relatively less effective fraud program than those without this tool but were not more willing to seek consultation with fraud experts. This suggests that standard programs may impair auditors' ability to respond to fraud risk. Finally, our results show that fraud risk assessment (FRASK) was not associated with the planning of more effective fraud procedures but was directly associated with the desire to consult with fraud specialists. This suggests that one benefit of improved FRASK is its relation with consultation. Overall, the findings call into question the effectiveness of standard audit tools in a fraud setting and highlight the need for a more strategic reasoning approach in an elevated risk situation.
Recognition and Disclosure Reliability: Evidence from SFAS No. 106*
Authors: DAVIS‐FRIDAY PAQUITA Y. , LIU CHAO‐SHIN , MITTELSTAEDT H. FRED
Published: May 2004

This paper examines a fundamental question of interest to researchers and regulators: Does the market treat disclosed financial statement information as if it is less reliable than information recognized in the body of the financial statements? Specifically, we compare the perceived reliability of liabilities for retiree benefits other than pensions (PRBs) disclosed prior to adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106 (SFAS No. 106) with the perceived reliability of PRB liabilities subsequently recognized under SFAS No. 106. Overall, the evidence is consistent with the market treating disclosed PRB liabilities as less reliable than recognized PRB liabilities and pension liabilities. However, once PRB liabilities are recognized, they do not appear to be any less reliable than pension liabilities. These findings are inconsistent with the Choi, Collins, and Johnson 1997 conclusion that PRB liabilities are inherently less reliable than pension liabilities. The paper also investigates factors that may have contributed to the lower perceived disclosure reliability. Our results suggest that the market perceived PRB liability disclosures to be less reliable when firms provided range disclosures, had higher probabilities of reducing plan benefits, or had lower ratios of retiree to total PRB obligations. These findings suggest that reliability may have been enhanced if more supporting details had been provided in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 74 disclosures.
Systematic Differences in Electropherogram Peak Heights Reported by Different Versions of the GeneScan® Software
Authors: Gilder JR , Ford S , Doom TE , Raymer ML , Krane DE
Published: May 2004

DNA profiling using STRs on the 310 and 3100 Genetic Analyzers routinely generates electropherograms that are analyzed with the GeneScan® software available from the instrument's manufacturer, Applied Biosystems. Users have been able to choose from three different smoothing options that have been known to result in significant differences in the peak heights that are reported. Improvements in the underlying algorithm of the most recent version of the software also result in significant and somewhat predictable differences in peak height values. Laboratories that have performed validation studies using older versions of GeneScan® should either reanalyze the data generated in those validation studies with the newest version of the software or otherwise take into consideration the systematically higher peak height values obtained as they begin following the recommendation of the manufacturer and use the new algorithm.
Homicide Victim/Offender Relationship in Florida Medical Examiner District 8
Authors: Drawdy SM , Myers WC
Published: May 2004

This study examined the correlations between victim/offender relationship and three variables: motive, weapon choice, and number of injuries inflicted. Empirical relationship and motive categories were used. The sample consisted of 57 intentional homicide cases from Florida Medical Examiner District 8 between the years 1992 and 1996. Relationships were divided into primary and secondary categories. Primary relationships included intimates, relatives, and friends; secondary relationships included acquaintances and strangers. Motives were classified as romantic dispute, argument/conflict, revenge, or felony type; weapons as firearm or contact; and number of injuries inflicted as single or multiple. A significant correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and homicide motive; however, the revenge and felony type motive categories did not differ. Unexpectedly, no correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and either weapon choice or number of injuries inflicted. Further study is needed of the interactions between homicide victim/offender relationship and motive, weapon selection, and number of injuries inflicted.
Enucleation in Psychosis Associated with Aqueductal Stenosis
Authors: Mancinelli I , Pompili M , Scapati F , Lazanio S , Kotzalidis GD , Tatarelli R
Published: May 2004

Reports of self-enucleation are frequent in medical literature, but cases of enucleation towards another are rare.We report the case of a man, 20 years of age, who suffered from psychosis with hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis that required a forensic psychiatric investigation to ascertain whether he was of unsound mind when he assaulted and enucleated the right eye of an officer and led to the surgical enucleation of the victim's left eye. Based on his clinical interviews and hospitalization record, we conclude that at the time of the assault, he was suffering from a delusional disorder with religious and demonic content, visual and auditory hallucinations, illusion phenomena, delusional interpretations, imaginative elements, a feeling of terror, and command hallucinations that compelled him to perform the act of aggression.
Attributes of Specialist Search Dogs—A Questionnaire Survey of UK Dog Handlers and Trainers
Authors: Rooney NJ , Bradshaw JWS , Almey H
Published: May 2004

The ideal and actual characteristics of specialist search dogs have been examined in questionnaire surveys of 244 dog handlers and trainers from the six main UK dog-using Government agencies. The ten most important characteristics were (ideal level in brackets): acuity of sense of smell (very high), incentive to find an object which is out of sight (very high), health (very high), tendency to hunt by smell alone (very high), stamina (very high), ability to learn from being rewarded (very high), tendency to be distracted when searching (very low); agility (high), consistency of behaviour from day to day (high), motivation to chase an object (high). Significant differences between actual and ideal levels were found for 22 of the 30 characteristics, predominantly in undesirable attributes, suggesting that there is scope for significant improvement in operational effectiveness.
Alleles Responsible for ABO Phenotype-Genotype Discrepancy and Alleles in Individuals with a Weak Expression of A or B Antigens
Authors: Mizuno N , Ohmori T , Sekiguchi K , Kato T , Fujii T , Fujii K , Shiraishi T , Kasai K , Sato H
Published: May 2004

ABOtypes obtained from evidentiary samples have been used effectively to obtain the initial information leading to the apprehension of culprits in Japanese criminal investigations. A simple ABO genotyping method using multiplex sequence-specific PCR and capillary electrophoresis was developed as a supplement to serological ABO typing. Limitations in predicting a phenotype based on genotype were evaluated using 1134 randomly selected Japanese peripheral blood samples. A concordance rate of 99.82% (1132/1134 samples) was found between genotypes and phenotypes defined as Groups A, B, AB, and O. Sequencing analysis revealed that one discrepant sample contained an O allele having a previously unreported point mutation at the primer binding site in exon 6, and another discrepant sample contained an O allele lacking the guanine deletion at nt 261 (the O301 allele). Therefore, the existence of such alleles must be given some consideration when predicting phenotype based on genotype.
Component Analysis of Illicit Heroin Samples with GC/MS and Its Application in Source Identification
Authors: Zhang D , Shi X , Yuan Z , Ju H
Published: May 2004

A novel method based on GC/MS and GC for component analyses of seized illicit heroin was established by using SKF525A as an internal standard. The main components in illicit heroin products such as heroin, O3-acetylmorphine, monoacetylcodeine, and O6-acetylmorphine were determined quantitatively and the organic adulterants such as paracetamol, acetaminophen caffeine and theophylline were detected qualitatively using the developed method. With these obtained data, 500 seized illicit heroin samples were divided into nine groups. The decomposition pattern of heroinwas studied. The dependencies of both the decomposition pattern and the content ratios of monoacetylcodeine to heroin and monoacetylcodeine to O6-acetylmorphine on the source of the seized illicit heroin were observed. This information was used to develop a novel method for its source identification. The examination results were in agreement with the practical cases, thus providing significant information for detection of criminal cases involving illicit heroin.
Discriminating Deliberate Self-Harm (DSH) in Young Prison Inmates Through Personality Disorder
Authors: Mohino JS , Ortega-Monasterio L , Planchat TLM , Cuquerella FA , Talön NT , Macho VJL
Published: May 2004

This study investigated deliberate self-harm (DSH) in young inmates. The objectives are twofold: first, to identify the social and clinical characteristics of inmates who commit DSH; and secondly, to ascertain the types of personality who are vulnerable in order to be able to predict future inmates who may harm themselves. A cross-sectional design was used to study psychosocial correctional personality characteristics and clinical pictures in inmates with DSH versus a control group without DSH. The measures used to evaluate different variables were a standard protocol and a self-report questionnaire (MCMI-II). Although the two groups compared are homogeneous and similar in terms of different psychosocial variables, inmates with DSH presented a significant background of maltreatment. Borderline, passive-aggressive, and antisocial personality disorders best discriminated both groups.

The detection of borderline, negativistic, and antisocial disorders may help the medical services of penitentiary centers to predict youths with a possible risk of DSH. Despite the results obtained, longitudinal studies are needed to help clarify other risk factors, as well as other risk factors leading to self-harm behavior.
Evaluation of an Automated Liquid Hybridization Method for DNA Quantitation
Authors: Hayn S , Wallace MM , Prinz M , Shaler RC
Published: May 2004

The AluQuant™ (Promega Corporation) liquid hybridization DNA quantitation method was evaluated on an automated robotic platform (Biomek® 2000, Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA) for use in forensic PCR-STR systems. DNA from bloodstains and buccal swabs was extracted by three different methods: Chelex, Qiagen™ and DNA IQ (Promega). Samples were quantitated using both the Quantiblot and the AluQuant™ systems.Concordance between methodswas determined by comparing the average AluQuant™ DNA concentrations for samples having matching (binned) Quantiblot values. Studies testing the “accuracy” (STR analysis), precision, sensitivity, and specifies specificity of the AluQuant™ method were also conducted. The effect of inhibitors (carpet, denim, and suede) was evaluated. The results indicate that the AluQuant™ quantitation system equals the Quantiblot system in “accuracy”, sensitivity, precision, and primate-specificity. While extracts from denim and suede affected (inhibited) both systems minimally, the carpet extracts produced a sharp increase in DNA quantitation values in the AluQuant™ but not the Quantiblot system. The speed and user-friendliness of the AluQuant™ system on a robotic platform offer specific advantages to the forensic community.