bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“The People First” — A Unique Leadership Style at FedEx Freight
Authors: Maini Vandana
Published: February 2012

FedEx is one of the most respected and trusted brands in the world of supply chain services. The FedEx family of companies provides total shipping solutions and information services to customers worldwide. To the customer, the FedEx brand stands for a company that absolutely, positively lives up to its commitments.

The basic aim of the organization is to deliver a world class customer experience to their customers so that their loyalty grows and they are far less likely to risk trying another carrier. A world class experience happens when caring, dedicated people ensure they deliver quality and create a sense of certainty in the mind of the customers.

At FedEx the general belief is that engaged employees — people who believe in the organizational goals and who have a strong desire to contribute — will execute the organizational strategy and ultimately determine the success which the organization has with its customers. The basic assumptions are that the people are efficient, want to succeed and have the way to create a competitive advantage by being engaged in the business and developing emotional bonds with its customers, thereby ensuring a long term success to the families, community, and shareholders. The company will do this by taking care of its people first, believing they will then take care of its customers. For this reason the top leadership at FedEx is committed to the “People First” philosophy.
Climate for Innovation, Procedural Fairness and Organizational Commitment: An Empirical Study
Authors: Gupta Smita
Published: February 2012

The study examined the relationships between managerial perceptions of the innovation supportive climate (IC), procedural fairness (PF) and the affective and continuance organizational commitment (OC) among a sample of 250 managerial personnel belonging to manufacturing organizations in North India. The study tries to empirically investigate the relationship between certain dimensions of IC, PF and OC. Besides establishing the suggested relationships, results unearthed that among the factors of IC, the positive dimension recognition negatively predicted continuance OC. The results of this study contribute to the clarification of the causal relations of the antecedents of commitment, and highlight the important role of IC and PF on elevating organizational commitment in organizations having similar environment as that of the present study.
Expectations Come True: A Study of Pygmalion Effect on the Performance of Employees
Authors: Chirayath Susan , Lalgem E. M. , George Sanal Babu
Published: February 2012

Theory of Pygmalion effect explains how others' expectations about us affect our self-concept and influence our behavior. The verbal and nonverbal messages and strokes, which we receive from significant people in our lives (significant others) influence our self-concept and determine our behavior. This concept can be used as a management tool for increasing the confidence and motivation of employees and thereby enhances the employee productivity.

The study was conducted in The Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) formerly known as F.X. Pereira & Sons Ltd., which is a Government of Kerala undertaking. KMML is the world's first fully integrated smallest Titanium Dioxide plant.

The main objective of the study was to assess the positive signs given by the superiors to the subordinates. The secondary objective was to identify the factors that lead to the employees' effectiveness and efficiency. The study was conducted among 150 employees of KMML from different levels of the organization like the skilled workers, first line supervisors and office staff.

Factors like non-verbal and verbal messages, opportunities for self-development, receiving feedback from superiors, etc, play a major role in the positive attitudinal behavior of the employees. It has also been found that only 37% of the respondents get emotional support from their superiors.
What Makes a Team Work?
Authors: Gupta Parvinder
Published: February 2012

Teams are increasingly becoming an essential component of organizations across industries. A lot has been written on team work in the recent years. While the importance of teams in organizations has largely been recognized, our understanding about what makes a ‘team’ work has remained limited. Reviewing the relevant literature related to some aspects of teams, the present paper identifies certain issues and areas which require further investigation for a better insight about team work in organizations.
Profile of School Women Teachers in Pudukkottai District: A Socio ñ Educational Perspective
Authors: Ganapathi R. , Malathi S. , Kanniah R.
Published: February 2012

No social reformation will be complete which does not focus on womenís emancipation as well as the other social welfare schemes that are exclusively meant for the women folk of any nation. India has been giving due importance for its women folk especially during and after the post independence era. Despite these overall positive changes to bring about a welfare state for our women, still there are certain regions and areas which need to be explored to ascertain their complete emancipation. Many researchers have tried to find out, through their varied research measures, the lacunae behind this social malady of partiality accorded to the women folk. So also several studies have been taken up to analyze the status of women in their various walks of life: domestic, official, social and personal. Analyzing the status of Indian working women, though there has been very many studies, is still a fertile area that opens new avenues for further research and exploration. Therefore, an attempt has been in this article to study the socio-economic status, adjustment problems, insecurity feelings, job satisfaction, attitudes and decision making with a view to prepare a profile of women school teachers who are employed in three different schools such as Government, Aided and Private schools in Pudukkottai District.
Search for the Drivers of Employee Engagement among Executives of a Manufacturing Organisation
Authors: Gitanjali  , Sharma Yaksh , Sharma Baldev R.
Published: February 2012

Based on a review of available literature, this paper argues that the recently coined concept of employee engagement has a lot in common with the existing construct of employee motivation. Because of this similarity, these two concepts have been used interchangeably in this paper. Using a sample of 116 executives of a manufacturing organisation, an attempt was made to discover the drivers of employee engagement. The study used a specially designed structured questionnaire that covered, besides employee engagement, a measure of job content and nine dimensions of organisational climate. Using correlation and multiple regression as statistical techniques, a set of four critical predictors (drivers) of employee motivation (engagement) have been identified, which together explain almost three-fourth of the variance in engagement.
Reciprocation Effect of Perceived Organizational Support on Organizational Commitment: A Study of School Teachers
Authors: Luxmi  , Yadav Vibhuti
Published: February 2012

The main objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational commitment of school teachers in the city of Chandigarh and Panchkula. The paper is driven theoretically by the social exchange theory, the concept of perceived organizational support (POS) which is the commitment of the organization to the employee, the norm of reciprocity, the organizational support theory as well as the other relevant literature in the human resource management and organizational behaviour research. The results of the study are in favor of the reciprocity norm. This paper contributes to the limited body of knowledge about the psychological processes underlying the formation of organizational commitment through the perspectives of the social exchange theory and the organizational support theory.
Literature Review and Research Issues in e-Procurement
Authors: Pani Manas Ranjan , Agrahari Amit , De S. K. , Sahoo G.
Published: February 2012

Over the last couple of years, e-Procurement has received tremendous attention from researchers and practitioners alike. However research on e-Procurement is still scarce and scattered. This paper looks into prior research on interorganizational information systems (IOIS), electronic data interchange (EDI), channel management and procurement to develop a research framework and identify research issues in e-Procurement defining important terms such as volume, width and depth of e-Procurement and classifying the ownership and governance structures of web-based IOIS. It is argued that supply market characteristics and product characteristics can explain emergence of various e-Procurement systems. Further these e-Procurement systems have different impact on interorganizational relationship and value generated from e-Procurement. However these impacts are moderated by adoption and implementation risks. This paper also summarizes the main benefits of an organization using e-Procurement and also their disadvantages and limitations.
Performance Management System: Issues and Challenges
Authors: Panda S.
Published: February 2012

Human resource is a vital component for an organization. In the current scenario of business, their co-opt ability, competitiveness, knowledge updates, skill up-gradation and over & above their performance play crucial role in yielding successful results for a company. Organizations have started realizing and strategizing their Performance Management System (PMS) which has become an important area of concern both for the practitioners as well as for the academicians. In this paper, performance related issues, Systems Model on PMS, common practice, challenges of PMS, some of the problematic issues in managing employee's performance and the key role of the department of HRM have been discussed.
Approaches to International Economic Analyses and Implications for Indian Socialism: Part — I
Authors: Sadri Sorab
Published: February 2012

Seldom do papers in academic journals treat the Marxist and the Liberal approaches to economic analysis, while questioning the validity of both. This is attempted here. The paper also reflects on what went wrong with the socialist experiment in India. To that extent it is a critique of the Left from the Left. The paper fires a shot in the inconclusive debate which pleads for new ground to be broken. There are two alternatives left open to academics and intellectuals who must assume the role of the vanguard. Either they must continue to work in libraries, or through action research be an active part of the economic planning process, and thereby, help improve the quality of human life.
Approaches to International Economic Analyses and Implications for Indian Socialism: Part — II
Authors: Sadri Sorab
Published: February 2012

Seldom do papers in academic journals treat the Marxist and the Liberal approaches to economic analysis, while questioning the validity of both. This is attempted here. The paper also reflects on what went wrong with the socialist experiment in India. To that extent it is a critique of the Left from the Left. The paper fires a shot in the inconclusive debate which pleads for new ground to be broken. There are two alternatives left open to academics and intellectuals who must assume the role of the vanguard. Either they must continue to work in libraries, or through action research be an active part of the economic planning process, and thereby, help improve the quality of human life.
Trade Unionism In Goa
Authors: Raju Anjana , Barreto Jim
Published: February 2012

This paper is divided into three sections. Section one gives brief information on Goa and its industrialization since its liberation and outlines the state of Trade Unionism in Goa in recent years. Section two deals with trade unionism in Zuari Industries Ltd and in Goa Shipyard Ltd and how these companies are facing two different problems i.e. inter union and intra union rivalry. It also covers the challenges faced by unions of both the companies. In section three conclusions are drawn.
Once Again: The Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך in the Abrahamic Blessing for the Nations
Authors: Lee Chee-Chiew
Published: February 2012

The meaning of the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך in the Abrahamic blessing for the nations (Gen. 12.3b; 18.18; 22.18; 26.4; 28.14) has been a long-standing debate among scholars. Traditionally, scholars have assumed that the variation of the wording is stylistic. Therefore, they have usually argued that the force of the verb is either passive, middle or direct reflexive consistently in all five instances. More recently, some scholars have proposed that the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך bear distinct nuances, though they do not agree on those specific nuances. Based on grammatical evidence as well as support from the literary and narrative context of Genesis, this article argues that while the Niphal and the Hithpael of ברך largely overlap in their meaning, they also bear distinct nuances—the Niphal is passive (‘be blessed’) and the Hithpael is an indirect reflexive that bears an estimative-declarative force (‘regard themselves as blessed’). Finally, this article will also discuss the theological implications arising from such an understanding.
Culture and Planning for Change and Continuity in Botswana
Authors: Hammami Feras
Published: March 2012

This paper examines how culture might be integrated in planning by critically rethinking the role of planners and knowledge in the planning systems of postcolonial contexts. The empirical study of cultural conception and utilization in Botswana suggests a shift from planning for culture to cultural institutionalization, where culture, rather than as an object, becomes integral to development planning decisions. The traditional division between bottom–up and top–down approaches is challenged, so as to allow a wider range of actors and views to interact during the entire planning process.
Is the Test of Variables of Attention Reliable for the Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Authors: Zelnik Nathanel , Bennett-Back Odeya , Miari Wahib , Goez Helly R. , Fattal-Valevski Aviva
Published: March 2012

The diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is occasionally biased by the subjectivity of symptoms and reports of parents and teachers. The advent of continuous performance tests raised expectations that the diagnosis of ADHD will be more standardized and accurate. In this study, the authors looked for the validity of the ADHD scores obtained by the Test of Variables of Attention in 230 children who were referred to their ADHD clinic between 2005 and 2007. Based on clinical evaluations, 179 children were diagnosed with affirmed or suspected ADHD. Among the 179 children with ADHD, the Test of Variables of Attention was suggestive of ADHD in 163 participants (91.1% sensitivity), but it was also suggestive for ADHD in 78.4% of the children without ADHD. With a low specificity of 21.6%, the authors feel that the Test of Variables of Attention is not reliable enough to serve as a screening diagnostic tool for ADHD.
An 11-Year Follow-up Study of Neonatal-Onset, Bath-Induced Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood in Twins
Authors: Incorpora Gemma , Pavone Piero , Polizzi Agata , Cocuzza Mariadonatella , Privitera Michael , Pavone Lorenzo , Ruggieri Martino
Published: March 2012

The authors previously reported on the initial manifestations in a set of female twins, who presented soon after birth with bath-induced paroxysmal events each time they were immersed in a warm water bath. These episodes progressively ceased by the age of 36 months, replaced by paroxysmal episodes of alternating hemiplegia unrelated to water immersion. By age 4 years, the twins developed the classic features of alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Clinical outcomes at the age of 11 years are now reported. Standard and video-electroencephalograms showed a large, slow background activity followed by lower amplitude waves without focal abnormalities or other abnormal findings. This represents the first report on (a) alternating hemiplegia of childhood started with bath-induced paroxysmal episodes; (b) this condition in monozygotic twins; and (c) an 11-year follow-up study in which the twins continue to experience episodes of alternating hemiplegia in the setting of baseline cognitive impairment without epileptic episodes.
The Expanding Federal Role in Teacher Workforce Policy
Authors: Superfine Benjamin M. , Gottlieb Jessica J. , Smylie Mark A.
Published: February 2012

This article examines the recent expansion of the federal role into teacher workforce policy, primarily as embodied by the Race to the Top Fund of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Such recent federal teacher workforce policy reflects an important expansion of the federal role into a policy domain that deserves more attention. The financial incentives and governance arrangements structuring federal-state relationships under these policies have proven effective at facilitating the enactment of state-level reforms. However, these policies ultimately pay too little attention to fundamental governance questions that must be addressed for efficacious teacher workforce development.
An innovative design of multi-task dynamometers for turning operations
Authors: Kong Ming Chu , Axinte Dragos A , Wilson Ben , Marinescu Iulian , Allen John , Raffles Mark , Weston Steve
Published: March 2012

Although a great variety of cutting dynamometer designs are available, the research laboratories/industrial users still find them difficult to employ in real production environments; this is mainly owing to the difficulty in changing tools/cutting edges in an automated manner. To address this, a new design concept for innovative dynamometers for cutting operations (for example, turning), which can allow flexible/automated tool change without any disturbance to the industrial setups, i.e. tooling magazine, is presented in this article. The design of the dynamometers relies on an embedment of a 3-axis load cell into a tool holder on which automated tool change can be performed easily. Taking into consideration the working environment, fine-tuning of the design of the dynamometers was performed to enable the use of through-tool high coolant supply. Then, by use of uncertainty budgeting related to the assembly and calibration of the dynamometers, the measurement errors originating from the design concept have been reduced to 5%. By performing turning experiments, the proposed dynamometer concepts have been evaluated in terms of maximum loads that can be taken without losing their stability. This enabled evaluation of the drawbacks of a particular concept for which a good design solution has been proposed and tested at high values of cutting parameters.
Safety nets or straitjackets? Regulating working time in the Danish, German and American metal industries
Authors: Ilsøe Anna
Published: March 2012

Does regulation of working hours at national and sector level impose straitjackets, or offer safety nets to employees seeking working time flexibility? This article compares legislation and collective agreements in the metal industries of Denmark, Germany and the USA. The industry has historically been trend-setting for collective bargaining in all three countries, but with very different effects on working time. Organized decentralization seems to pave the way for fewer straitjackets, whereas the opposite seems to be the case with regard to disorganized decentralization.
Palaeotsunamis and their influence on Polynesian settlement
Authors: Goff James , McFadgen Bruce G , Chagué-Goff Catherine , Nichol Scott L
Published: March 2012

The 11 March 2011 Tōhoku-oki tsunami caused widespread devastation to coastal communities in Japan. This event however was merely the latest, yet largest, of several similar occurrences in the Pacific that include the 2007 Solomon Islands, 2009 South Pacific and 2010 Chilean tsunamis. All have had their predecessors, and a growing data base of palaeotsunamis in the Pacific suggests recurrent events comparable with, and of larger magnitude than their recent historical counterparts. Here we show that evidence for regional palaeotsunamis provides an opportunity to re-evaluate hypotheses used to explain the punctuated history of human settlement patterns across the Pacific. In particular, the almost two millennia ‘long pause’ in eastward migration, and the abandonment of long distance sea-voyaging in the 15th century, may be related to palaeotsunamis, with potential sources including the tectonically active Tonga-Kermadec trench, the Kuwae caldera collapse, and the more distant Pacific-wide Ring of Fire.
Confirmed case of encephalitis caused by Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection in a horse
Authors: Gordon Anita N. , Marbach Cameron R. , Oakey Jane , Edmunds Glen , Condon Kelly , Diviney Sinead M. , Williams David T. , Bingham John
Published: March 2012

A 5-year-old Australian stock horse in Monto, Queensland, Australia, developed neurological signs and was euthanized after a 6-day course of illness. Histological examination of the brain and spinal cord revealed moderate to severe subacute, nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis. Sections of spinal cord stained positively in immunohistochemistry with a flavivirus-specific monoclonal antibody. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the envelope gene of flavivirus yielded positive results from brain, spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, and facial nerve. A flavivirus was isolated from the cerebrum and spinal cord. Nucleotide sequences obtained from amplicons from both tissues and virus isolated in cell culture were compared with those in GenBank and had 96–98% identity with Murray Valley encephalitis virus. The partial envelope gene sequence of the viral isolate clustered into genotype 1 and was most closely related to a previous Queensland isolate.
Emergence and pathogenicity of highly pathogenic Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Authors: Ni Jianqiang , Yang Shibiao , Bounlom Douangngeun , Yu Xiuling , Zhou Zhi , Song Jianling , Khamphouth Vongxay , Vatthana Theppannga , Tian Kegong
Published: March 2012

Highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (HP-PRRS) characterized by high fever, high morbidity, and high mortality in pigs of all ages emerged in China in 2006 and spread rapidly throughout Southeast Asia. In July 2010, a highly contagious swine disease with clinical signs similar to those of HP-PRRS was observed in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). A field investigation covering 8 pig farms and 1 slaughterhouse in 7 different districts in the capital city of Vientiane was conducted to identify the disease. Total mortality rates ranged from 6.02% in boars to 91.28% in piglets (mean 54.15%) across the farms investigated. Emergence of the HP-PRRS virus (HP-PRRSV) in Lao PDR was confirmed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as well as virus isolation and identification. An animal inoculation study was performed to characterize the HP-PRRSV responsible for this outbreak. Isolate Laos 1.13 was inoculated into 70-day-old specific pathogen–free pigs to study pathogenicity. Clinical signs of high fever, rubefaction, respiratory distress, nervous symptoms, and diarrhea were observed in inoculated pigs, as well as pathological hemorrhagic lesions consolidated in the lungs. Morbidity and mortality were 100% and 60%, respectively, in inoculated pigs. HP-PRRSV was re-isolated from the inoculated pigs. Results suggested that the newly emerged HP-PRRSV was responsible for recent outbreaks of the swine disease in Lao PDR. The current report highlights the importance of continuous surveillance in neighboring countries to prevent introduction of PRRS to new regions.
Antigenic relationships between Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2 and HoBi virus
Authors: Bauermann Fernando V. , Flores Eduardo F. , Ridpath Julia F.
Published: March 2012

The emergence of a newly recognized group of pestiviruses in cattle, the HoBi-like viruses, requires an evaluation of the available diagnostic tools and vaccines. The present study compared antigenic characteristics of Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2 (BVDV-1, -2) strains and HoBi virus. This comparison was based on detection of HoBi virus and antibodies against it by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and the level of cross-neutralizing antibodies present in sera from animals vaccinated with BVDV. Reactivity with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed greater cross-reactivity between BVDV species (BVDV-1, -2) and HoBi epitopes within Erns and NS2/3 proteins than between epitopes located in the E2 glycoprotein. The results suggest that a diagnostic test designed to detect both BVDV species and HoBi could be based on Erns or NS2/3 epitopes, while variation among E2 epitopes could be exploited in tests for differentiation of pestivirus species. The threshold of detection of HoBi virus by an antigen-capture ELISA kit based on detection of Erns was statistically similar to that for BVDV. In contrast, 2 commercial ELISA kits designed to detect antibodies against BVDV missed 22.2% and 77.7%, respectively, of serum samples harboring HoBi virus-neutralizing antibodies. In addition, sera of calves vaccinated with BVDV-1 and -2 presented low neutralizing activity against HoBi virus. The results demonstrate that in spite of antigenic similarities, HoBi virus is antigenically distinct from both BVDV species. Detection and control of HoBi virus infections in cattle would thus require the development of new diagnostic reagents and reformulation of current vaccines.
Detection of a putative hemolysin operon, hhdBA, of Haemophilus parasuis from pigs with Glässer disease
Authors: Assavacheep Pornchalit , Assavacheep Anongnart , Turni Conny
Published: March 2012

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S ribosomal (r)RNA and a putative hemolysin gene operon, hhdBA, can be used to monitor live pigs for the presence of Haemophilus parasuis and predict the virulence of the strains present. Nasal cavity swabs were taken from 30 live, healthy, 1- to 8-week-old pigs on a weekly cycle from a commercial Thai nursery pig herd. A total of 27 of these pigs (90%) tested positive for H. parasuis as early as week 1 of age. None of the H. parasuis–positive samples from healthy pigs was positive for the hhdBA genes. At the same pig nursery, swab samples from nasal cavity, tonsil, trachea, and lung, and exudate samples from pleural/peritoneal cavity were taken from 30 dead pigs displaying typical pathological lesions consistent with Glässer disease. Twenty-two of 140 samples (15.7%) taken from 30 diseased pigs yielded a positive result for H. parasuis. Samples from the exudate (27%) yielded the most positive results, followed by lung, tracheal swab, tonsil, and nasal swab, respectively. Out of 22 positive samples, 12 samples (54.5%) harbored hhdA and/or hhdB genes. Detection rates of hhdA were higher than hhdB. None of the H. parasuis–positive samples taken from nasal cavity of diseased pigs tested positive for hhdBA genes. More work is required to determine if the detection of hhdBA genes is useful for identifying the virulence potential of H. parasuis field isolates.
Identification of a novel adenovirus in a cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)
Authors: Hall Natalie H. , Archer Linda L. , Childress April L. , Wellehan James F. X.
Published: March 2012

A novel adenovirus was identified in a cotton-top tamarin ( Saguinus oedipus) with diarrhea by negative-staining electron microscopy of feces, consensus polymerase chain reaction, and sequencing. Partial sequences were obtained from the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, the p52k gene, and the hexon. Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses indicated that the virus is a member of the genus Mastadenovirus, and is herein termed Saguinus siadenovirus 1. The phylogeny of the mastadenoviruses is similar to that of their hosts, supporting coevolution. Support for this was strongest in the analysis of the predicted hexon protein. The obtained sequences were GC-rich, which may suggest a lack of recent host jumps. The diversity and evolution of the adenoviruses of platyrrhine primates merits further investigation. Additional study of the association of this virus with diarrhea is indicated.
Pattern of Cancer Deaths in a Saudi Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Al-Zahrani Abdullah S. , El-Kashif Amr T. , Haggag Rasha M. , Alsirafy Samy A.
Published: March 2012

The medical records of deceased patients were reviewed to describe the pattern of cancer deaths in a newly established Saudi tertiary care hospital. During eleven months, 87 patients died of cancer. The majority (80 patients, 92%) died of incurable cancer; among which 53% did not receive any systemic anti-cancer therapy (SAT) and 43% received SAT with palliative intent. Younger age (< 65 years), relatively chemosensitive tumours and initial presentation in a potentially curable stage were associated with higher prevalence of palliative SAT administration (p = 0.009, 0.019 and 0.001, respectively). The last palliative SAT was administered during the last two months of life in 66% and during the last two weeks in 14%. During the last admission, 54% of patients were admitted through emergency room, 50% stayed >14 days and 14% died in intensive care unit or emergency room. The results demonstrate that palliative care is a realistic treatment for the majority of patients in our setting and that a significant proportion of these patients receive aggressive care at the end-of-life. There is a need to establish an integrative palliative care program to improve the quality-of-life of dying cancer patients in our region and to minimize the aggressiveness of end-of-life care.
Engagement in Trauma-Specific CBT for Youth Post-9/11
Authors: Rodriguez James , Hoagwood Kimberly Eaton , Gopalan Geetha , Olin Serene , McKay Mary M. , Marcus Sue M. , Radigan Marleen , Chung Michelle , Legerski Joanna
Published: March 2012

Treatment participation was examined among youth enrolled in an evaluation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for trauma following the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster. Staff at nine agencies serving a predominantly low-income, ethnically diverse population were trained to deliver CBT and structured engagement strategies. A total of 445 youth ages 5 to 19 were eligible for CBT, and 417 (94%) received at least one treatment session. Pretreatment and treatment show rates and overall dose were examined. Treatment participation rates were higher than those typically reported in community studies of children’s mental health services. Regression analyses indicated variability across sites in treatment show rates with the highest rates at sites where services were delivered in schools. However, sites, demographic factors, and trauma symptoms accounted for a small amount of variance in treatment participation overall. The study suggests that structured engagement strategies, linked to evidence-based treatments, may improve treatment participation for youth.
The Veil of Esteem
Authors: Hoffer Melba
Published: March 2012

This essay is the third and final of a three-part series titled “The Veil of Esteem: On Seeing Oneself Being Seen.” Inspired by Walter Benjamin’s “reflection through vignette” method, I inquire into the notions and interconnections between memory and esteem. Esteem is the truth of oneself through the eyes of the other, and any truth of esteem must be told from the perspective of that other, through the spectating other. Thus, I find that any story of esteem is veiled. This final part, A Loan, posits that our unified recollection is a fiction culled from fragmented truths. This isn’t all bad. It’s the only way we can shape the heterogeneous multiplicity of happy accidents, shaping it in a poetic way. We need to look back from the future to cultivate things that may turn out to be desirable that are happening now. In other words, we can’t leave accident to chance. Otherwise, we’re left with a nothingness that’s but a lack of vision. The story is narrated not as a representation of a person or of people, but the discourse through which I have been lent her voice. I am the translator through which she is now speaking. The translator is the producer of the discourse that suffocates her and allows her to breathe in gasped breaths, the producer of the discourse that both takes away her voice and gives her voice. The first part of this series, “Fragment/Never Thinking of Tomorrow,” appears in International Review of Qualitative Research, Volume 5, Issue 1; the second part, “Riddle and Accident,” appears in Cultural Studies ↔ Critical Methodologies, Volume 12, Issue 2.
Whiteness is from another world: Gender, Icelandic international development and multiculturalism
Authors: Loftsdóttir Kristín
Published: February 2012

This article focuses on desires, fears and identities as entangled in the past. Emphasizing gendered aspects of mobility, the author takes as examples debates relating to Icelandic Muslims and discussions in regard to Iceland’s increased international involvements in global peacekeeping. She sees them sharing entanglements with the nationalistic ideologies of Europeans as carrier of justice and equality, as well as a collective forgetting of past histories that foreground and position people in relation to migrations and encounters in the present. In these cases, gender is tightly interwoven with the tapestry of meaning, foregrounding, explaining and informing the relationships involved.
(Re)defining women’s interests? Political struggles over women’s collective representation in the context of the European Parliament
Authors: Rolandsen Agustín Lise
Published: February 2012

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament is one of the key actors within the European Union (EU) institutional framework for gender equality policies. In the context of this Committee, women’s interests are continuously being (re)defined by discursive and deliberative processes. Civil society actors are being included into these processes of policy-making through institutional funding and public hearings. Through the inclusion of particular organizations and the selection of experts for hearings, existing meanings are being reproduced and/or challenged. The article argues that battlegrounds have been (re)opened in recent years as dominant discourses are questioned by the inclusion and legitimation of new civil society actors. Both the FEMM Committee, as a feminist stronghold, and the established women’s organizations at the EU level are being challenged. It becomes contested who the gender experts are, and diverse understandings of gender equality and women’s interests are being articulated.
Epistemic and performative quests for authentic management in India
Authors: Srinivas Nidhi
Published: February 2012

The project of identifying voices from the South, and transforming the discipline of organization studies through such engagement, raises important questions of how to assess and categorize disciplinary knowledge adequately for such a purpose. This article discusses two quests for authenticity in the context of Indian management studies, based in claims of epistemic relevance and performative efficacy. In both instances there appears a conscious effort to hear voices of the south. But is it sufficient to adequately re-order management knowledge to the demands of a locale, to make it more authentic?
FTY720 on the way from the base camp to the summit of the mountain: relevance for remyelination
Authors: Kipp M , Amor S
Published: March 2012

FTY720 (fingolimod; Gilenya®), a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, is the first oral disease-modifying therapy to be approved for the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. FTY720 is rapidly converted in vivo to the active S-fingolimod-phosphate, which binds to S1P receptors. This action inhibits egress of lymphocytes from the lymph nodes, preventing entry into the blood and thus infiltration into the central nervous system. More recent studies, however, convincingly show that FTY720 crosses the blood–brain barrier, where it is thought to act on S1P receptors on cells within the central nervous system, such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes or microglia. Here we discuss the evidence showing that FTY720 also plays a role in remyelination and repair within the brain. While the mechanisms of action still require firm elucidation, it is clear that FTY720 could also be reparative, extending its therapeutic potential for multiple sclerosis.
‘The Earth is one but the world is not’: Criminological theory and its geopolitical divisions
Authors: Aas Katja Franko
Published: March 2012

The article addresses the prevailing assumptions about geo-political context in criminological theory. It draws on a well-developed and prolonged critique within sociology, gender and postcolonial studies, of the seemingly context-free nature of western social theory and its assumptions about the universality of its knowledge production. The article’s particular concern is criminology’s engagement with the global. By examining the ‘situated identity’ of criminological theory, and its claims to universality, the article raises questions about who produces theory, who has access to the universal, and what are the potential consequences for our understanding of the global.
The rise and decline of national habitus
Authors: Kuipers Giselinde
Published: March 2012

Why are things different on the other side of national borders and how can this be explained sociologically? Using as its point of departure Dutch cycling culture, a paradigmatic example of non-state-led national similarity, this article explores these questions. The first section introduces Norbert Elias’ concept of ‘national habitus’, using this notion to critique comparative sociology and argue for a more processual approach to national comparison. The second section discusses four processes that have contributed to increasing similarity within nations: growing interdependence within nations; increasing density of networks and institutions; vertical diffusion of styles and standards; and the development of national we-feelings. Together, these processes have contributed to the development of national habitus: increasing similarities within nations and increasing differences between people living in different countries. These processes reached their apex in the second half of the 20th century. The third section explores how these processes have diminished since the 1960s, leading to increasing variations within countries and growing similarities between comparable groups in different countries. Both the rise and decline of national habitus are illustrated by changes in Dutch cycling culture. Particularly important is the breakdown of trickle down as a result of the rise of the egalitarian informal ethos. This analysis poses new challenges for sociologists: first, concerning comparative research; second, concerning the diffusion of styles and standards; and, third, concerning the consequences of the decline of national habitus for social inequality, as evidenced by the growing rift between ‘locals’ and (bike-loving) ‘cosmopolitans’.
Elias and Bourdieu
Authors: Paulle Bowen , van Heerikhuizen Bart , Emirbayer Mustafa
Published: February 2012

The primary goal of this article is to uncover the deep-seated conceptual affinities between Pierre Bourdieu and Norbert Elias. The second goal is to demonstrate that, in part because of their diverging sensitivities, when taken together the two authors’ highly compatible approaches yield a vision more fertile than either of their sociological perspectives considered separately. Tracing the intellectual roots of the two author’s three core concepts – habitus, field/figuration, and power/capital – we show how they selectively appropriated from their predecessors. We then outline how each of the two authors used their overlapping triadic approaches to interrogate a range of empirical phenomena. Attempting to make the authors’ unexploited complementarity more tangible, we reflect on a simultaneously Elias- and Bourdieu-inspired approach to the body-centred world of sport. The conclusion argues that looking back at Elias and Bourdieu’s theoretical contributions together can revitalize our conceptualizing and investigating of human societies in the future.
A novel approach for assistance with anti-collision decision making based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
Authors: Zhang Jinfen , Yan Xinping , Chen Xianqiao , Sang Lingzhi , Zhang Di
Published: March 2012

Marine intelligent anti-collision regulations have been a means of dealing with a particularly dangerous problem for many years. As the foundation for making anti-collision decisions, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea formulated by the International Maritime Organization should always be considered. Based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the minimum distance required for anti-collision by only the give-way ship (under normal situations) and by both the give-way ship and the stand-on ship steering simultaneously (under critical situations) under all possible encounter situations are studied respectively. Rather than regarding ships as a point, a restricted area where no evasive action of other ships is allowed is introduced. Furthermore, the ship’s manoeuvrability is taken into account. The proposed model is also assessed by the traditional parameters used in anti-collision such as the closest point of approach, the distance to the closest point of approach and the time to the closest point of approach. The study shows that the results obtained in this paper are important and complement the above-mentioned regulations so that navigators can make wise decisions.
Strict glycaemic control improves skin microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes: A report from the Diabetes mellitus And Diastolic Dysfunction (DADD) study
Authors: Jarnert Christina , Kalani Majid , Rydén Lars , Böhm Felix
Published: March 2012

Background:

Microcirculatory and endothelial dysfunction are signs of cardiovascular engagement in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study tested whether glucose normalisation may reverse this.

Methods:

Thirty-nine T2DM patients (age 61±7 years, 58% females) with signs of mild diastolic dysfunction were randomised to strict glucose control based on insulin (I-group; n=21) or oral agents (O-group; n=18) for four months. Skin microcirculation was studied with Laser Doppler Fluxmetry and endothelial function with brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation.

Results:

Glucose control improved (reduction of HbA1c I-group = -0.5%; O-group -0.7%; p=0.69). Microcirculation improved in the entire group ( n=39) determined by foot Laser Doppler Fluxmetry (32.2±13.6 vs. 35.3±13.1 perfusion units; p<0.001) and Laser Doppler Fluxmetry following heating (68.8±34.0 vs. 69.3±25.1 PU; p=0.007). Improvement was more consistent with oral agents than insulin. Endothelial function expressed as flow-mediated dilatation decreased in the I-group (6.0±2.2 to 4.7±3.0%; p=0.037) but remained unchanged in the O-group (4.8±2.3 to 5.0±3.7%; n.s.).

Conclusions:

Glycaemic normalisation improved skin microcirculation but not endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes with mild cardiovascular engagement.
Standardized Patients
Authors: Weaver Meredith , Erby Lori
Published: March 2012

Standardized patients (SPs) are trained actors who are used to engage health care providers in various types of clinical encounters for the purposes of training and evaluation. In the past, SPs have most often been a tool for training clinicians in “traditional” medical skills such as the taking of medical histories or the conduct of physical exams. More recently, however, SPs have been increasingly used to assist in the development and assessment of psychosocial skills, including those related to patient-centered communication, relationship building, and motivational interviewing. Given this shift, it is argued that the time is ripe for exploring ways that health educators can adopt SP methodologies, whether for providing continuing education for individual providers or evaluating organizations or programs. This article introduces ways of using SPs and discusses strengths and challenges related to various approaches.
“Reconnection”/Ka Whitiki
Authors: Ratana Donn
Published: March 2012

This article shares the sociopolitical images of merging that established Eastern Polynesian artists created at a Putahi (gathering), with particular reference to the Cola-nization© of indigenous peoples in Tahiti and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Perceptions and representations of contemporary indigenous health and well-being are considered to highlight the issues of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) from localized and personal experience.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Preschool Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (PreBERS) With Preschool Children With Disabilities
Authors: Cress Cynthia J. , Synhorst Lori , Epstein Michael H. , Allen Elizabeth
Published: March 2012

The Preschool Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (PreBERS) is a standardized, norm-referenced instrument that assesses emotional and behavioral strengths of preschool children. This study investigated whether the PreBERS four-factor structure (i.e., emotional regulation, school readiness, social confidence, and family involvement) could be replicated with an early childhood special education (ECSE) sample of children. Teachers who participated in the study rated a total of 1,103 preschool children with disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis determined the extent to which the ECSE data fit the original four-factor PreBERS structure identified with the national normative sample. Results indicated that the four-factor structure demonstrated an acceptable fit with the ECSE sample.
Botulinum Toxin Injection for Hypertonicity of the Upper Extremity Within 12 Weeks After Stroke
Authors: Rosales Raymond L. , Kong Keng He , Goh Khean Jin , Kumthornthip Witsanu , Mok Vincent Chung Tong , Delgado-De Los Santos Mary Mildred , Chua Karen Sui Geok , Abdullah Saini Jeffery bin Freddy , Zakine Benjamin , Maisonobe Pascal , Magis Axel , Wong K. S. Lawrence
Published: February 2012

Background. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) reduces upper-extremity poststroke spasticity when given 6 or more months after stroke. Effects on functional use of the arm and hand are less apparent. Objective. To determine the effect and safety of very early use of BoNT-A for patients with upper-limb spasticity. Methods. The Asia Botulinum Toxin-A Clinical Trial Designed for Early Post-stroke Spasticity (ABCDE-S; NCT00234546) was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in patients recruited within 2 -12 weeks of first-ever stroke. Participants with a Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of 1+ or above received BoNT-A (Dysport) 500 U or placebo to one or more wrist and elbow mover muscles, plus unstructured rehabilitation. The primary outcome was the MAS score in the most affected joint 4 weeks after first injection. Follow-up was 24 weeks. Results. A total of 163 patients were enrolled and assigned to placebo (n = 83) or BoNT-A (n = 80). Mean time since stroke was about 7 weeks. At 4 weeks postinjection, BoNT-A significantly improved MAS scores. Treatment effect-size estimates increased with higher baseline MAS scores from 0.45 (Q1) to 0.70 (Q3). MAS scores for all secondary end points improved with BoNT-A versus placebo at all time points ( P < .0001, all visits). The Functional Motor Assessment Scale did not reveal clinically significant differences. No group differences in adverse events were found. Interpretation. BoNT-A 500 U can provide a sustained reduction in poststroke upper-limb spasticity when combined with rehabilitation in Asian patients who have mild-to-moderate hypertonicity and voluntary movement, within 2 -12 weeks of stroke. Functional use of the arm and hand was not affected.