bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solving the Problem of Unattributed Political Violence
Authors: Bauer Vincent , Ruby Keven , Pape Robert
Published: November 2015

High rates of missing perpetrator information in political violence data pose a serious challenge for studies into militant group behavior and the microdynamics of conflict more generally. In this article we introduce multiple imputation (MI) as the best available method for minimizing the impact of missing perpetrator information on quantitative analyses of political violence, a method that can easily be incorporated into most quantitative research designs. MI will produce unbiased attributions when the reasons for missingness are known and can be controlled for using observed variables, rendering responsibility for unclaimed attacks, “missing at random” (MAR) – which we show is a reasonable assumption in the case of political violence based on current theory of militant group claiming. We lay out the logics and steps of MI, identify variables and data sources, and demonstrate that MI produced better results in the case of the Pakistani Taliban’s response to drone strikes.
Testing a New Theoretical Model for Attitudes Toward Immigrants
Authors: Tartakovsky Eugene , Walsh Sophie D.
Published: November 2015

The present study proposes a new threat–benefit theoretical model explaining attitudes of local people toward immigrants. Based on the theory of human values and extending Integrative Threat Theory, the threat–benefit model suggests that the local population perceives immigrants as both threatening and beneficial for the receiving society. The model assumes that appraisal of an immigrant group as threatening or beneficial for the receiving society influences opinions regarding immigration policy related to the immigrant group. The study assessed the new model investigating attitudes toward asylum seekers in a representative sample of 283 social workers in Israel. Results of the study support a conceptualization of immigrant appraisal involving four types of threats (economic, physical, social cohesion, and modernity) and four types of benefits (economic, physical, cultural diversity, and humanitarian), which represent different types of realistic and symbolic threats and benefits. Findings showed that appraisal of asylum seekers as beneficial or threatening to the receiving society mediated the connections between personal preferences for values of universalism, power, social security, and tradition and support for immigration policy directed either at defending immigrants’ rights or defending the receiving society. Application of the model for understanding attitudes toward different minorities as well as for creation of value-based interventions and programs aimed at reducing negative attitudes toward various stigmatized groups in society are discussed.
Rollo May and the Search for Being: Implications of May’s Thought for Contemporary Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy
Authors: Ratner Juanita
Published: November 2015

Rollo May left a body of profound and incisive written work, laying a foundation for existential psychotherapy for years to come. His insightful reflections on the cultural, philosophical, and psychological dilemmas of contemporary human beings raise themes of which psychotherapists need to remain mindful and address in our practices. This article explores the implications of Rollo May’s thought for effective psychotherapy, therapy that does not content itself with simply managing symptoms but touches the root causes of the many dilemmas clients bring with them as their “presenting problems.” Underlying all these is the search for being. Rollo May viewed contemporary times as an age of anxiety; yet he also normalized anxiety as encountered in living any life. However, not knowing who one really is, not being able to engage in life from the depths of one’s being, inevitably creates conflicts that surface in psychotherapy. Effective psychotherapists must do their own inner work, inhabiting a therapeutic presence in the encounter with clients, helping them wrestle with the daimon with which they contend. May states succinctly, “A life is at stake.” This is the seriousness of the call of the psychotherapist. This article highlights meanings one student has gleaned from May’s contribution.
Is the Grass Greener? Current and Former Music Teachers’ Perceptions a Year After Moving to a Different School or Leaving the Classroom
Authors: Hancock Carl B.
Published: November 2015

This study is the fourth in a series investigating the retention and turnover of music teachers using nationally representative data from the National Center for Educational Statistics. I identified records for music teachers in the Teacher Follow-Up Survey and determined how they viewed their careers one year after moving to a different school or leaving teaching altogether. The most important reason teachers cited for leaving and connections between post-teaching career status and a willingness to return to teaching were also examined. Results indicated transferring music teachers experienced numerous improvements to their professional careers, including making a difference in others, working at a school with better operating conditions, and feeling a sense of personal accomplishment, intellectual challenge, and support. Music teachers transferred mainly because of school personnel actions, a desire for a better assignment, and dissatisfaction with administrators and working conditions. Former music teachers experienced improved opportunities for advancement, manageable workloads, and work/life balance. Personal reasons, college enrollment, staffing actions, and retirement were principal motivations for leaving. Only 1% of former music teachers were dissatisfied with teaching as a career compared to 5% of non–music teachers. The willingness of former teachers to return was related to their career status.
Effects of Internal and External Focus of Attention During Novices’ Instructional Preparation on Subsequent Rehearsal Behaviors
Authors: Montemayor Mark , Silvey Brian A. , Adams Amy L. , Witt Kay L.
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of internal versus external focus of attention during novice teachers’ instructional preparation on their subsequent rehearsal behaviors. Thirty-two undergraduate instrumental music education students led bands in a series of three, 6-minute rehearsals on their assigned excerpt. Prior to these rehearsals, participants engaged in condition-specific score study and rehearsal preparation activities. Internal group ( n = 16) participants’ preparation related to knowledge of the score, whereas external group ( n = 16) participants focused their preparations on observable rehearsal behaviors with a minimal amount of time devoted to score study. We systematically analyzed video recordings of these rehearsals, calculating rates per minute of teacher verbalizations across several performance and teaching variables. We found that compared to the internal group, the external group exhibited higher rates of positive/specific feedback, conducted more frequent and briefer performance segments, and more often asked for the ensemble to start without providing a directive. The internal group mentioned ensemble balance in their rehearsals more frequently than did the external group, and their verbalizations reflected greater concern for Tone Quality. A panel of independent evaluators viewed all 96 video recordings of the rehearsals (presented to them without sound) and rated the clarity and the expression of participants’ conducting. We found a significant time by condition interaction for Expression, with scores for the external group increasing over time and scores for the internal group decreasing. We suggest that these results reflect the distinct and complementary benefits of each of these preparation methods for novice music teachers.
Effects of water on the ballistic performance of para-aramid fabrics: three different projectiles
Authors: Li Yan , Li Changsheng , Zheng Jian , Zhou Hong , Luo Yunjun , Huang Xiancong
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the effects of water on the ballistic performance of the para-aramid fabrics were investigated through three typical projectiles (1.1 g FSP, 9 mm FMJ and 7.62 mm TYPE51). Three different aramid fabrics made up of Taparan 629 fiber or Kevlar 129 fiber were shot by these projectiles in both dry and wet conditions according to ballistic limited velocity V50 testing method (MIL-STD-662 F). Pull-out testing, water absorption, static contact angle, and failure mode of the fabrics were performed to study the possible ballistic mechanisms. The results reveal that the V50 values of three aramid fabrics all decrease after immersion in water, even the fabric has been treated with water-repellent finishing. The V50 values of aramid fabrics in wet state is affected by water absorption of fabric, yarns friction and bullet types. And, the slippage of yarns is a dominant mechanisms affected on ballistic performance of aramid fabric in wet condition. The lower water absorption and higher friction between the yarns can improve the ballistic performance of aramid fabrics.
Color and electrical resistance evaluation of cotton fabrics composed of stainless steel yarns treated with direct and reactive dyes
Authors: Kursun Bahadir Senem , Jevsnik Simona , Fakin Darinka , Sahin Umut Kivanc
Published: November 2015

The aim of this work was to investigate the color change of cotton fabrics with stainless steel yarns incorporated. In order to establish the impact of conductive yarns’ composition properties in the fabric, concentrations and two different dyeing profiles based on direct and reactive dyes chemistry were applied. The success of this novel e-textile design was evaluated colorimetrically with two different dye concentrations as well through various linear electrical resistances to obtain solid statistical conclusions. The dyed samples were colorimetrically evaluated and the electrical resistances of conductive yarns inside the fabric structure were compared and discussed statistically before and after dyeing. The results provided evidence that dyeing has great influence on electrical resistances of conductive yarns used as transmission lines for electro-textile applications. The greatest changes in electrical resistances were observed with samples including thin conductive yarns and untwisted conductive yarn after dyeing processes. Additionally, it can be concluded that the presence of stainless steel conductive threads significantly retards the dyeing processes depending on the dyestuff concentration and weave type, resulting in major color differences, especially when plain weave type is used or the dyestuff concentration is less than 1% for twill and sateen weaves.
Determination of pressure indices to characterize the pressure-relief property of spacer fabric based on a pressure pad system
Authors: Du Zhaoqun , Wu Yuanxin , Wu Yunmei , He Linge
Published: November 2015

The Tekscan® pressure pad was adopted to study the pressure-relief property of spacer fabric used as a mattress, where pressure peak, average pressure and contacting area were recorded directly. In order to better analyze the pressure-relief property of spacer fabric, average gradient integral and six derivative indices were featured from a pressure map. Testing results showed that spacer fabric effectively improved the pressure concentration effect by improving contacting area and decreasing pressure peak. Comparisons of the pressure-relief property of spacer fabric demonstrated that different grade weight of the seated volunteer influenced the contacting area, average pressure and average gradient integral. Correlations between objective pressure indices and subjective pressure comfort level indicated that both pressure peak and pressure comfort level had significant relations with the three basic pressure indices and six derivative indices, and they showed higher correlations under light weight, medium weight and heavy weight. It was also found that pressure peak was a good index to effectively evaluate the pressure-relief property of spacer fabrics, and both relieving average pressure per weight and relieving average gradient integral per weight are two effective pressure indices to evaluate the pressure-relief level. It is helpful in designing the structure of spacer fabrics to improve pressure comfort.
Development of new hybrid yarn construction from recycled carbon fibers for high performance composites. Part-I: basic processing of hybrid carbon fiber/polyamide 6 yarn spinning from virgin carbon fiber staple fibers
Authors: Hengstermann M , Raithel N , Abdkader A , Hasan MMB , Cherif Ch
Published: November 2015

The availability of a considerable amount of waste carbon fiber (CF) and the increased pressure to recycle/reuse materials at the end of their life cycle have put the utilization of recycled CF (rCF) under the spotlight. This article reports the successful manufacturing of hybrid yarns consisting of staple CF cut from virgin CF filament yarn and polyamide 6 fibers of defined lengths (40 and 60 mm). Carding and drawing are performed to prepare slivers with improved fiber orientation and mixing for the manufacturing of hybrid yarns. The slivers are then spun into hybrid yarns on a flyer machine. The investigations reveal the influence of fiber length and mixing ratio on the quality of the card web, slivers and on the strength of the hybrid yarns. The findings based on the results of this research work will help realize value-added products from rCF on an industrial scale in the near future.
Exploring the Life Expectancy Increase in Poland in the Context of CVD Mortality Fall
Authors: Kobza Joanna , Geremek Mariusz
Published: November 2015

Life expectancy at birth is considered the best mortality-based summary indicator of the health status of the population and is useful for measuring long-term health changes. The objective of this article was to present the concept of the bottom-up policy risk assessment approach, developed to identify challenges involved in analyzing risk factor reduction policies and in assessing how the related health indicators have changed over time. This article focuses on the reasons of the significant life expectancy prolongation in Poland over the past 2 decades, thus includes policy context. The methodology details a bottom-up risk assessment approach, a chain of relations between the health outcome, risk factors, and health policy, based on Risk Assessment From Policy to Impact Dimension project guidance. A decline in cardiovascular disease mortality was a key factor that followed life expectancy prolongation. Among basic factors, tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and new treatment technologies were identified. Poor health outcomes of the Polish population at the beginning of 1990s highlighted the need of the implementation of various health promotion programs, legal acts, and more effective public health policies. Evidence-based public health policy needs translating scientific research into policy and practice. The bottom-up case study template can be one of the focal tools in this process. Accountability for the health impact of policies and programs and legitimization of the decisions of policy makers has become one of the key questions nowadays in European countries’ decision-making process and in EU public health strategy.
Toward a Classification of Managing Religious Diversity in the Ranks
Authors: Rosman Elisheva
Published: November 2015

Military establishments view religious soldiers with mixed feelings and must contend with the specific dilemmas these soldiers present. This article suggests what might influence the managing of religious diversity in the ranks, using the idea of dimensions of isolation. The more removed a military is from society, the more likely it is to utilize internal mechanisms when dealing with religious soldiers. The less removed it is from society, the more likely it will be to turn to external mediating mechanisms in this regard. Using three dimensions of isolation (physical, temporal, and psychological), this article discusses the treatment of religious troops in the Israeli and Turkish cases. After exploring what can be learned from these cases regarding the accommodation of religious soldiers, the article concludes with some suggestions for future research.
Design Assimilation in Suburbia
Authors: Nicolaides Becky M. , Zarsadiaz James
Published: November 2015

Ethnic suburban settlement has shaped suburban landscapes in contrasting ways. On one end are ethnoburbs, where ethnic groups used spatial politics to assert their rights of ethnic expression in the landscape. On the other—less noticed—end are places where ethnic settlers arrived en masse, and their presence was scarcely visible. This article focuses on the latter, towns where ethnic suburbanites consented to existing design mores—what we term design assimilation. Using case studies from Asian American suburbs of the west and east San Gabriel Valley, we explore the history of places where Anglo design aesthetics persisted in the midst of profound demographic change. Multiple factors created and protected these landscapes, including stringent regulatory cultures of these suburbs, white political action, accommodations by builders, and Asian American consent. Asian suburbanites supported these landscapes for aesthetic, nostalgic, political, and economic reasons, including the belief that American landscape aesthetics conveyed a social distinction that positioned them above those around them—including other Asians in the ethnoburbs. Our work shows how suburban advantage has been reinforced by new waves of immigrant suburbanites, in ways that reflect the inequities and spatial expression of globalization itself. This work offers a new perspective on immigrant suburbanization and its interface with suburban “landscapes of privilege.”
Making role-playing real
Authors: Schafer Josephine Gatti
Published: November 2015

Recent research in public administration on governance, networks, and deliberative democracy, has highlighted the need to develop a skill set in graduates of Public Administration programs that prepares them for the interpersonal and relational challenges of the policy process. The skills needed to manage in increasingly complex and networked policy arenas include: convening and activating participants, group facilitation methods, and negotiation skills among groups with divergent interests. This article explores the use of role playing to develop these skills, and then reports on a recent attempt to incorporate role play into a graduate course in strategic management of public organizations. It was found that the simulation was not immediately salient as students did not fully develop their roles. Several steps were taken to ameliorate this issue and provide insights about how to improve the use of simulations for teaching public administration students.
Self-Estrangement’s Toll on Job Performance: The Pivotal Role of Social Exchange Relationships With Coworkers
Authors: Golden Timothy D. , Veiga John F.
Published: November 2015

Perhaps because self-estrangement is inherently dysfunctional, empirical research has primarily sought to understand its antecedents but not its consequences. As a result, despite its ubiquity in the workplace, self-estrangement’s insidious effects are not well understood. In this paper, because coworkers frequently bear the brunt of interactions with self-estranged workers, we sought to understand how the behavior of self-estranged workers corrodes their social exchange relationships with coworkers. In particular, we focus on how increasing self-estrangement, through its dysfunctional influence on the quality of social exchange relationships with coworkers, can exact a toll on estranged workers’ job performance. To provide greater insight into their relationships, we extend social exchange theory by specifying three behavioral outcomes that underlie the quality of ongoing, reciprocal exchanges, including the level of trustworthiness, accessibility, and peer citizenship behavior. To test our model, we gathered matching survey data in a large corporation from three sources, including 346 professional employees, a knowledgeable coworker, and their supervisor. Results show that self-estrangement indirectly impacts job performance and damages relationships with coworkers by reducing the estranged workers’ level of trustworthiness, accessibility, and peer citizen behavior. We also found that each of these behavioral outcomes served as a significant intervening mechanism separately, as well as when they were combined as a set, suggesting that coworker social exchange quality should be viewed as multidimensional.
Review of Hauke Brunkhorst’s Critical Theory of Legal Revolutions
Authors: Prien Thore
Published: November 2015

Critical theory spelled out as learning progress in the medium of law can hardly do anything but retrospectively smooth out any elements of social struggles that deviate from the objective spirit. This comment argues that the voices of those who neither are in nor have been allowed entry into the learning process are hardly visible any more in the gray light of the coming twilight from which the learning processes are described. It does so by questioning the role of the global South in Brunkhorst’s book and aims at scenting out blind spots in Brunkhorst’s narration of the connection between international law and the liberation movements of the South.
Criminalizing Poverty and Fragmenting the City in Brazil
Authors: Hüning Simone Maria
Published: November 2015

This article discusses practices of hygienism and social cleansing in Brazilian urban spaces. It takes the case of a traditional fishing community, located in north-eastern Brazil, that is under the threat of being evicted from the area occupied for more than 60 years, while locals are accused of pursuing dangerous and violent ways of life. These practices are considered, from a Foucauldian perspective, as part of biopolitcal strategies connected with state racism, that in contemporary society underpin a discourse of social security and development. It also discusses how the criminalization of certain social groups is used to justify, on the one hand, the restriction to certain spaces, and, on the other, privileged forms of access to public space.
Climate change adaptation in public policy: frames, fire management, and frame reflection
Authors: Bosomworth Karyn
Published: November 2015

The influence of framing on approaches to climate change adaptation is receiving increased attention. Using case study data, this paper proposes that appreciating how a policy sector currently frames itself can not only facilitate insights into how that sector may frame adaptation but also into a sector's adaptive capacity. From a new institutional perspective, this paper argues therefore that a frame reflective practice can aid policy sectors in building their capacity for adaptive, robust approaches to adaptation planning. A frame reflexive practice could enable policy sectors to appreciate how their current framing directs action towards particular policy options, potentially ignoring others, and how exploring the sector's issues through different frames could reveal a greater array of policy options than currently considered.
Politics of visibility: competing for legitimacy in North Carolina fisheries governance
Authors: May Candace K
Published: November 2015

In the collaborative natural resource governance literature, stakeholder participation is most often treated as instrumental to the normative legitimacy and, thus, effectiveness of the environmental state. This study adds a perspective of stakeholder legitimacy as the outcome of competition among groups with differential power operating under the influence of powerful systemic forces. Stakeholders with differential capacities engage in a politics of visibility to determine what is and is not made transparent. What remains invisible is the result of privileged accounts, supported by broader societal values regarding economic development. The research for this paper stems from ethnographic field work of a campaign by conservation and recreational fishing interests to ban the use of commercial gill nets in North Carolina. Conservation and recreational fishing interests gained a greater degree of legitimacy in fishery decision-making processes by utilizing a politics of visibility that reinforced destructive patterns of environmental rights and resource use.
Multilevel governance and urban climate change mitigation
Authors: Lee Taedong , Koski Chris
Published: November 2015

Cities worldwide have taken the lead in addressing climate change; however, this does not tell the full story in understanding the puzzle of local climate action. Rather than in isolation, city actions occur in the context of a complex of other government arrangements. Whereas the majority of the literature concerning subnational responses to climate change in the US is addressed in the literatures of federalism and diffusion, we offer an explanation of climate actions through a multilevel governance approach. Multilevel governance allows us to consider the horizontal city-to-city influences on climate action while also considering the vertical influences of state-to-local action. We conduct a large quantitative study of climate actions in all US cities with populations greater than 50,000 people. We find that cities' and states' climate action efforts are complementary, rather than attenuating; however, we note that horizontal influences are generally stronger than vertical influences in motivating climate action at the local level. We conclude that, in spite of the potential for an increased role of federal and state governments in climate action in the United States, city-to-city networks are likely to remain important in motivating cities to mitigate climate change.
South Africa's new urban agenda: Transformation or compensation?
Authors: Turok Ivan
Published: November 2015

One of the dilemmas at the heart of the new urban agenda globally is whether population growth should be accommodated by extensive or intensive urban development. Both approaches have gained support in South Africa in recent years, albeit in different parts of government. The paper provides a critical and constructive assessment of what lies behind these contrasting agendas. It considers the positive and negative features of mega-projects and urban consolidation, with an emphasis on their implications for urban efficiency and social justice. It concludes by stressing the need to reconcile these policies in order to avoid wasteful duplication and damage.
Randomized comparison trial of gait training with and without compelled weight-shift therapy in individuals with chronic stroke
Authors: Sheikh Mania , Azarpazhooh Mahmoud Reza , Hosseini Hossein Asghar
Published: November 2015

Objective:

To compare the effects of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy and gait training alone on velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke.

Design:

Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Participants:

Patients ( N=28) with chronic stroke and stance asymmetry toward the non-paretic side.

Interventions:

Six weeks of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy via a shoe lift applied under the non-paretic leg (experimental group, n=14) or gait training alone (control group, n=14).

Main measures:

Percentage of total body weight carried by the paretic limb, gait velocity and gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry.

Results:

When comparing the two groups, weight bearing on the affected side increased more significantly in experimental group than in control group (40.14±3.77, 38.28±4.06) after the end of treatment and also after a three-month follow-up (44.42±3.5, 38.5±3.77) (P<0.05). Among the experimental and control groups, there were no significant differences of gait velocity (cm/s) after six weeks of treatment (49.82±16.82, 42.66±18.75) and also after a three-month follow-up (50.94±16.27, 41.66±17.58) ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences of gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry between the two groups after six weeks of treatment and also at three-month follow-up ( P>0.05).

Conclusions:

This study did not confirm that the effect of gait training combined with compelled body weight shift therapy was better than gait training alone on improving velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke.
The Role of Social Network Structure in Street-Level Innovation
Authors: Maroulis Spiro
Published: November 2015

In considering how peer relationships can aid street-level bureaucrats in doing their jobs, existing literature has emphasized the importance of peers in providing the social and emotional support required to deal with uncertain and stressful working situations. By applying a social network perspective to examine the innovative behavior of a sample of teachers in a large urban high school, this article highlights the importance of an additional factor: the location of a frontline worker’s position in the larger structure of social connections within the organization. In particular, multilevel statistical models reveal a positive association between the extent to which an experienced teacher is located in a network position that bridges across different organizational subgroups and his or her level of innovation, suggesting that experienced frontline workers may benefit from the information diversity that comes from having multiple and diverse social contacts. More generally, the study highlights the value of complementing individual and organizational insights with network-level perspectives for understanding the discretionary behavior of frontline professionals.
A study of state–nature relations in a developmental state: the water resource policy of the Park Jung-Hee regime, 1961–79
Authors: Hwang Jin-Tae
Published: November 2015

Along with the literature on the ‘social construction of nature’, some scholars have recently emphasized the role of the state in the construction of nature by arguing that among various social forces and actors, the state plays a key role in making the discursive and material construction of nature. Based on this argument, and by focusing on the water resource policy of the Park Jung-Hee regime in South Korea (1961–79), this paper aims to explore the ways in which the state–nature relationship is materially and discursively produced by social forces that pursue their political and economic ends by acting in and through the state. Based on these analyses, this paper emphasizes the significance of the the state's role in hydropolitics, and suggests that hydropolitics should be seen in terms of materially and discursively contested interactions among social forces acting in and through the state and nature.
Expanding the scales and domains of (in)security: Youth employment in urban Zambia
Authors: Gough Katherine V , Chigunta Francis , Langevang Thilde
Published: November 2015

Most research on issues of (in)security has tended to have a military/safety angle and focus on global/national scales linked to spectacular events. This paper addresses the overlooked insecurity realities of urban dwellers in the global South through a focus on more persistent and enduring forms of employment insecurities among young people. Building on both quantitative and qualitative data collected in a low-income settlement in Lusaka, Zambia, we explore how young people perceive their employment situation and examine the practices they engage in when seeking ways of making a living. Through analysing their views and experiences we show how employment insecurity is influenced by processes operating at the body, local, national and global scales, and how employment insecurity is closely interconnected with insecurity in other domains of young people's lives including the household, housing and education. Although the youth unemployment situation is often viewed as a serious threat to human security, we show how the lack of stable employment in itself is a manifestation of insecurity.
Small-Diameter Awls Improve Articular Cartilage Repair After Microfracture Treatment in a Translational Animal Model
Authors: Orth Patrick , Duffner Julia , Zurakowski David , Cucchiarini Magali , Madry Henning
Published: November 2015

Background:

Microfracture is the most commonly applied arthroscopic marrow stimulation procedure.

Hypothesis:

Articular cartilage repair is improved when the subchondral bone is perforated by small-diameter microfracture awls compared with larger awls.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Standardized rectangular (4 × 8 mm) full-thickness chondral defects (N = 24) were created in the medial femoral condyle of 16 adult sheep and debrided down to the subchondral bone plate. Three treatment groups (n = 8 defects each) were tested: 6 microfracture perforations using small-diameter awls (1.0 mm; group 1), large-diameter awls (1.2 mm; group 2), or without perforations (debridement control; group 3). Osteochondral repair was assessed at 6 months in vivo using established macroscopic, histological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and micro–computed tomography analyses.

Results:

Compared with control defects, histological cartilage repair was always improved after both microfracture techniques ( P < .023). Application of 1.0-mm microfracture awls led to a significantly improved histological overall repair tissue quality (7.02 ± 0.70 vs 9.03 ± 0.69; P = .008) and surface grading (1.05 ± 0.28 vs 2.10 ± 0.19; P = .001) compared with larger awls. The small-diameter awl decreased relative bone volume of the subarticular spongiosa (bone volume/tissue volume ratio: 23.81% ± 3.37% vs 30.58% ± 2.46%; P = .011). Subchondral bone cysts and intralesional osteophytes were frequently observed after either microfracture treatment. Macroscopic grading, DNA, proteoglycan, and type I and type II collagen contents as well as degenerative changes within the adjacent cartilage remained unaffected by the awl diameter.

Conclusion:

Small-diameter microfracture awls improve articular cartilage repair in the translational sheep model more effectively than do larger awls.

Clinical Relevance:

These data support the use of small microfracture instruments for the surgical treatment of cartilage defects and warrant prolonged clinical investigations.
Epidemiology of Sports-Related Concussions in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes From 2009-2010 to 2013-2014
Authors: Wasserman Erin B. , Kerr Zachary Y. , Zuckerman Scott L. , Covassin Tracey
Published: November 2015

Background:

Limited data exist among collegiate student-athletes on the epidemiology of sports-related concussion (SRC) outcomes, such as symptoms, symptom resolution time, and return-to-play time.

Purpose:

This study used the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) to describe the epidemiology of SRC outcomes in 25 collegiate sports.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

SRC data from the NCAA ISP during the 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 academic years were analyzed regarding symptoms, time to resolution of symptoms, and time to return to play. Findings were also stratified by sex in sex-comparable sports (ie, ice hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball/softball) and whether SRCs were reported as recurrent.

Results:

Of the 1670 concussions reported during the 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 academic years, an average (±SD) of 5.29 ± 2.94 concussion symptoms were reported, with the most common being headache (92.2%) and dizziness (68.9%). Most concussions had symptoms resolve within 1 week (60.1%); however, 6.2% had a symptom resolution time of over 4 weeks. Additionally, 8.9% of concussions required over 4 weeks before return to play. The proportion of SRCs that required at least 1 week before return to play increased from 42.7% in 2009-2010 to 70.2% in 2013-2014 (linear trend, P < .001). Within sex-comparable sports analyses, the average number of symptoms and symptom resolution time did not differ by sex. However, a larger proportion of concussions in male athletes included amnesia and disorientation; a larger proportion of concussions in female athletes included headache, excess drowsiness, and nausea/vomiting. A total of 151 SRCs (9.0%) were reported as recurrent. The average number of symptoms reported with recurrent SRCs (5.99 ± 3.43) was greater than that of nonrecurrent SRCs (5.22 ± 2.88; P = .01). A greater proportion of recurrent SRCs also resulted in a long symptom resolution time (14.6% vs 5.4%, respectively; P < .001) and long return-to-play time (21.2% vs 7.7%, respectively; P < .001) compared with nonrecurrent SRCs.

Conclusion:

Trends in return-to-play time may indicate changing concussion management practices in which team medical staff members withhold players from participation longer to ensure symptom resolution. Concussion symptoms may differ by sex and recurrence. Future research should continue to examine the trends and discrepancies in symptom resolution time and return-to-play time.
Development and Evaluation of Game-Like Phonological Awareness Software for Kindergarteners
Authors: Kartal Günizi , Terziyan Treysi
Published: November 2015

The major goal of this study was to develop a game-like software application for phonological awareness training and to evaluate its role in improving phonological awareness skills at the kindergarten level, with the intention to eventually help reading acquisition in Turkish. The participants of the study came from two kindergarten classrooms in a public elementary school in Istanbul that served socioeconomically disadvantaged families. The experimental group used the software three times a week for nine weeks, while the control played unrelated math games. At posttest, the children in the experimental group scored significantly higher in phoneme segmentation, letter-name, and letter-sound knowledge than those in the control group. The experimental group also showed significant gains for six other subskills when their pre- and posttest scores were compared. Classroom observations and teacher interviews provided insight for interface design for young learners, as well as computer use in early literacy instruction.
Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Their Sources in Undergraduate Computing Disciplines
Authors: Lin Guan-Yu
Published: November 2015

This study has two central purposes: First, it examines not only the roles of gender and persistence in undergraduate computing majors’ learning self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, and programming self-efficacy but also Bandura’s hypothesized sources of self-efficacy; second, it examines the influence of sources of efficacy on the three aforementioned self-efficacy beliefs as a whole and as functions of gender and persistence levels. The results indicate that persistence levels had a significant effect on all the self-efficacy beliefs and sources of efficacy except computer self-efficacy and physiological state. However, these students’ self-efficacy beliefs and sources of efficacy did not vary by gender. Moreover, the sources of efficacy differently influenced the three self-efficacy beliefs not only as a whole but also as functions of gender and persistence levels.
University Students’ Perceptions of E-Portfolios and Rubrics as Combined Assessment Tools in Education Courses
Authors: Contreras-Higuera Williams E. , Martínez-Olmo Francesc , José Rubio-Hurtado M. , Vilà-Baños Ruth
Published: November 2015

This article presents a study with a twofold research aim: (a) to ascertain university students’ perceptions on two combined assessment tools (e-portfolios and formative rubrics) and (b) to identify if among students there were differing perceptions on the use of e-portfolios, and what factors favored acceptance of these. The data gathering method was a questionnaire administered to 247 students on the Education Degree at the University of Barcelona. Regarding our first aim, it was confirmed that although the portfolio and rubrics were used in combination, students viewed each of them independently. Regarding the second aim, we identified four groups and a range of factors that may explain the varying perceptions of the portfolios and rubrics. Favorable factors were, in first place, greater teacher experience in using the digital portfolios; second, continuous technical support for their use; third, their having greater weight in assessment; and fourth, smaller class sizes.
De Bourdieu à Lahire : déterminismes sociaux et pratiques de consommation plurielles
Authors: Trizzulla Caterina , Garcia-Bardidia Renaud , Rémy Eric
Published: November 2015

Cet article se propose d’introduire en recherche sur la consommation les reformulations récentes de l’approche bourdieusienne proposée par Bernard Lahire. Ses travaux rendent compte de pratiques culturelles dissonantes à l’échelle individuelle. Ils questionnent l’unicité de l’ habitus, l’autonomie relative des champs et l’homologie des pratiques sociales proposées par Bourdieu. Ils pourraient contribuer fortement à la recherche sur la consommation sur trois points. (1) Ils reformulent les concepts bourdieusiens de manière à mieux répondre aux problématiques d’une société faite d’individus pluriels mais néanmoins multi-déterminés. (2) Ils réaffirment l’importance de l’échelle individuelle d’analyse des forces sociales que risquerait de masquer des approches plus subjectivistes. (3) Ils proposent une voie pour appréhender la socialisation via l’articulation entre contextes par l’incorporation de dispositions. Nous formulons à partir de ces réflexions un programme de recherche pour mieux lier contextes, dispositions et pratiques de consommation plurielles à l’échelle individuelle.
The Situational Context of Adolescent Homicide Victimization in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Swart Lu-Anne , Seedat Mohamed , Nel Juan
Published: November 2015

Although studies have described the incidence and epidemiology of adolescent homicide victimization in South Africa, little is known about the situational contexts in which they occur. This study aimed to describe the victim, offender, and event characteristics of adolescent homicide and to generate a typology based on the particular types of situational contexts associated with adolescent homicide in South Africa. Data on homicides among adolescents (15-19 years) that occurred in Johannesburg (South Africa) during the period 2001-2007 were obtained from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and police case records. Of the 195 cases available for analysis, 81% of the victims were male. Most of the offenders were male (90%), comprising of strangers (42%) and friends/acquaintances (37%). Arguments (33%) were the most common precipitating circumstances, followed by revenge (11%), robbery (11%), and acts of vigilantism/retribution for a crime (8%). Through the use of cluster analysis, the study identified three categories of adolescent homicide: (a) male victims killed by strangers during a crime-related event, (b) male victims killed by a friend/acquaintance during an argument, and (c) female victims killed by male offenders. The results can serve to inform the development of tailored and focused strategies for the prevention of adolescent homicide.
“You Better Say Your Prayers and Get Ready”: Guns Within the Context of Partner Abuse
Authors: Lynch Kellie R. , Logan TK
Published: November 2015

The present study used focus groups to collect qualitative data to better understand the complexity of how women with domestic violence experiences feel about gun violence and protections from gun violence within the context of partner violence. Participants consisted of 42 women who were recruited through domestic violence shelters and programs in a single U.S. state. Three main themes were examined in the focus group discussions: (a) guns used within the context of partner abuse, (b) victims using guns as protection from an abuser, and (c) mandated gun restrictions as protection in partner abuse. A total of nine subthemes were organized under the three general themes. Within the first main theme, participants discussed that although abuse occurs with and without guns, guns are uniquely dangerous. In the second main theme, participants expressed concern regarding the dangers of using a gun for self-defense as well as the individual right to own a gun for self-defense. In the third main theme, participants expressed their frustrations that victims are not taken seriously by the justice system and the difficulties of enforcing mandated gun restrictions. The findings have implications for developing protective strategies against gun violence for victims of partner violence.
The Potential for Screening for Intimate Partner Violence in Community Pharmacies: An Exploratory Study of Female Consumers’ Perspectives
Authors: Barnard Marie , West-Strum Donna , Holmes Erin , Yang Yi , Fisher Amy
Published: November 2015

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a substantial public health problem. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently updated guidelines to recommend IPV screening for all women of childbearing age. Expansion of screening efforts to the community pharmacy setting could provide an opportunity to substantially impact the health of consumers. To date, no research has explored consumers’ perspective on IPV screening in the community pharmacy environment. To address this gap, a descriptive survey research study was conducted to examine female consumers’ attitudes and preferences for IPV screening in community pharmacies. Female pharmacy customers ( N = 60) completed an online survey assessing knowledge of and attitudes about community pharmacies as sources of health care advice, beliefs about IPV and IPV screening, and perspectives on IPV screening in the community pharmacy environment. Consumers who utilized pharmacies with more patient care services were more likely to report interest in IPV screening in the pharmacy environment. The majority of respondents thought IPV screening is an important thing to do (85.0%), and 33.3% agreed that it should happen in a pharmacy. A statistically significant relationship between the belief that the pharmacy is a good place for health education and preference for IPV screening in the community pharmacy environment was found, r(58) = .43, p < .001. Concern regarding the time required to conduct screenings and about the availability of appropriate space were identified as potential barriers to screening in the pharmacy environment.
Developmental health services leadership: Integrating hierarchical and shared leadership for health services organizational learning
Authors: Pearce Craig L
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this article is to articulate a model of, as well as a call to action for, health services leadership, with a particular emphasis on the role of health services leadership in organizational learning. More specifically, I articulate a model that poses two antecedents of health services hierarchical leadership—leader responsibility disposition and environmental cues—as important predictors of empowering leadership. In turn, I assert that empowering leadership from above will engender an inclination toward shared leadership among followers. Subsequently, I venture that both empowering hierarchical leadership and shared leadership are precursors of health services organizational learning. I specify several research directions for future scholarship. More importantly, I identify multiple measures that policy makers and practitioners can take to enhance health services leadership and organizational learning.