bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Genetic Markers of Inflammation Modify the Relationship between Periodontitis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? Findings from the SHIP Study
Authors: Akinkugbe A.A. , Avery C.L. , Barritt A.S. , Cole S.R. , Lerch M. , Mayerle J. , Offenbacher S. , Petersmann A. , Nauck M. , Völzke H. , Slade G.D. , Heiss G. , Kocher T. , Holtfreter B.
Published: July 2017

An association between periodontitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported by experimental animal and epidemiologic studies. This study investigated whether circulating levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and a weighted genetic CRP score representing markers of inflammatory burden modify the association between periodontitis and NAFLD. Data came from 2,481 participants of the Study of Health in Pomerania who attended baseline examination that occurred between 1997 and 2001. Periodontitis was defined as the percentage of sites (0%, <30%, ≥30%) with probing pocket depth (PD) ≥4 mm, and NAFLD status was determined using liver ultrasound assessment. Serum CRP levels were assayed at a central laboratory, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously identified through genome-wide association studies as robustly associated with serum CRP were combined into a weighted genetic CRP score (wGSCRP). Logistic regression models estimated the association between periodontitis and NAFLD within strata of serum CRP and separately within strata of the wGSCRP. The prevalence of NAFLD was 26.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.6, 28.1) while 17.8% (95% CI, 16.0–19.6) had ≥30% of sites with PD ≥4 mm. Whereas the wGSCRP was not a modifier ( Pinteraction = 0.8) on the multiplicative scale, serum CRP modified the relationship between periodontitis and NAFLD ( Pinteraction = 0.01). The covariate-adjusted prevalence odds ratio of NAFLD comparing participants with ≥30% of sites with PD ≥4 mm to those with no site affected was 2.39 (95% CI, 1.32–4.31) among participants with serum CRP <1 mg/L. The corresponding estimate was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.57–1.66) for participants with serum CRP levels of 1 to 3 mg/L and 1.12 (95% CI, 0.65–1.93) for participants with serum CRP >3 mg/L. Periodontitis was positively associated with higher prevalence odds of NAFLD, and this relationship was modified by serum CRP levels.
Development and Initial Validation of a Multidimensional Scale Assessing Subjective Well-Being: The Well-Being Scale (WeBS)
Authors: Lui P. Priscilla , Fernando Gaithri A.
Published: July 2017

Numerous scales currently exist that assess well-being, but research on measures of well-being is still advancing. Conceptualization and measurement of subjective well-being have emphasized intrapsychic over psychosocial domains of optimal functioning, and disparate research on hedonic, eudaimonic, and psychological well-being lacks a unifying theoretical model. Lack of systematic investigations on the impact of culture on subjective well-being has also limited advancement of this field. The goals of this investigation were to (1) develop and validate a self-report measure, the Well-Being Scale (WeBS), that simultaneously assesses overall well-being and physical, financial, social, hedonic, and eudaimonic domains of this construct; (2) evaluate factor structures that underlie subjective well-being; and (3) examine the measure’s psychometric properties. Three empirical studies were conducted to develop and validate the 29-item scale. The WeBS demonstrated an adequate five-factor structure in an exploratory structural equation model in Study 1. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a bifactor structure best fit the WeBS data in Study 2 and Study 3. Overall WeBS scores and five domain-specific subscale scores demonstrated adequate to excellent internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Mean differences in overall well-being and its five subdomains are presented for different ethnic groups. The WeBS is a reliable and valid measure of multiple aspects of well-being that are considered important to different ethnocultural groups.
Feasibility study: a new way to check the stability of industrial ginning throughout the season
Authors: Togola Mamadou , Gourlot Jean-Paul , Gozé Eric , Bachelier Bruno , Coulibaly Massa , Traoré Abdoul Karim
Published: July 2017

The quality of cotton fiber observed at classing depends on the production conditions (soil, variety, climate, and crop management practices, including harvesting technique) and on the ginning conditions (seed-cotton cleaning, ginning, and lint cleaning). Thus, when lint quality is monitored, variations in seed-cotton quality may be confused with the impact of variations in ginning conditions. So, rather than measuring the quality of the cotton leaving the ginning mill, we propose measuring the impact of ginning conditions on the difference in quality between a batch of cotton ginned in the mill and a sample of the same batch ginned using micro-ginning equipment. By comparing 11 industrial ginning mills with the micro-ginning equipment used as a control, this feasibility study evaluated the impact of ginning conditions in an experiment on 119 seed-cotton modules in Mali throughout the 2014–2015 season. Based on this comparison, data analysis showed that the ginning process did have an impact on cotton quality, that the impact varied with the date, and that it was only linked to ginning conditions. Conversely, no alert concerning the impact of industrial ginning conditions was issued based on the results of the evaluation of the quality of fiber samples from industrial ginning mills alone.
“We Are All in This Struggle Together”: Toward an Active Communal Construct of Citizenship
Authors: Vickery Amanda E.
Published: July 2017

This qualitative case study explores how an African American woman social studies teacher made sense of the construct of citizenship utilizing historical and experiential knowledge. The multiple intersections of the participant’s identity affected the ways in which she understood and taught citizenship to her high school students. She chose to reject the dominant notion of citizenship because it failed to align with her experiences as an African American woman and instead chose to teach an active and community-centered citizenship. This study hopes to shed light on how alternative notions of citizenship may be utilized in social studies classrooms.
Gabapentin in the Management of Pain following Tonsillectomy: A Randomized Double‐Blind Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Sanders James G. , Cameron Claire , Dawes Patrick J. D.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To determine if a single dose of oral gabapentin given prior to tonsillectomy decreases postoperative morbidity.

Study Design

Prospective randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial.

Setting

Southern District Health Board University Hospitals, New Zealand, over a 10‐month period.

Subjects and Methods

Seventy‐three adults undergoing tonsillectomy were randomized to receive either a single preoperative dose of oral gabapentin (600 mg) or placebo. A standard analgesic protocol was prescribed for 14 postoperative days. The primary outcome was a patient‐assigned visual analog scale pain score during rest and swallow; secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption, nausea, vomiting, and return to normal diet and activities. Complications and adverse effects were also recorded.

Results

Thirty‐seven participants were allocated to the placebo group and 36 to the gabapentin group. After withdrawals, data were analyzed from 31 in the placebo group and 27 in the gabapentin group. Pain scores between groups were not significantly different within the first 6 hours. The gabapentin group recorded significantly higher pain scores between days 5 and 10 (maximal difference, day 8: 17.6 mm; effect size, –8.87; P =. 03; 95% CI, −16.883 to −0.865). There was no significant difference in swallow pain scores or early postoperative fentanyl consumption. Consumption of paracetamol (P =. 01 at day 13 and P =. 004 at day 14) and codeine (P <. 05 at days 3‐5, 7, 8, 10, 14) was higher in the gabapentin group. No significant difference between groups was found for the other outcomes.

Conclusions

Preemptive gabapentin (600 mg) was associated with greater postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption following adult tonsillectomy when compared with placebo.
Treadmill training to improve mobility for people with sub-acute stroke: a phase II feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Baer Gillian D , Salisbury Lisa G , Smith Mark T , Pitman Jane , Dennis Martin
Published: July 2017

Objective:

This phase II study investigated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of treadmill training versus normal gait re-education for ambulant and non-ambulant people with sub-acute stroke delivered as part of normal clinical practice.

Design:

A single-blind, feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Four hospital-based stroke units.

Subjects:

Participants within three months of stroke onset.

Interventions:

Participants were randomized to treadmill training (minimum twice weekly) plus normal gait re-education or normal gait re-education only (control) for up to eight weeks.

Main Measures:

Measures were taken at baseline, after eight weeks of intervention and at six-month follow-up. The primary outcome was the Rivermead Mobility Index. Other measures included the Functional Ambulation Category, 10-metre walk, 6-minute walk, Barthel Index, Motor Assessment Scale, Stroke Impact Scale and a measure of confidence in walking.

Results:

In all, 77 patients were randomized, 39 to treadmill and 38 to control. It was feasible to deliver treadmill training to people with sub-acute stroke. Only two adverse events occurred. No statistically significant differences were found between groups. For example, Rivermead Mobility Index, median (interquartile range (IQR)): after eight weeks treadmill 5 (4–9), control 6 (4–11) p = 0.33; or six-month follow-up treadmill 8.5 (3–12), control 8 (6–12.5) p = 0.42. The frequency and intensity of intervention was low.

Conclusion:

Treadmill training in sub-acute stroke patients was feasible but showed no significant difference in outcomes when compared to normal gait re-education. A large definitive randomized trial is now required to explore treadmill training in normal clinical practice.
Complete and optimal visibility-based pursuit-evasion
Authors: Stiffler Nicholas M , O’Kane Jason M
Published: July 2017

This paper computes a minimum-length pursuer trajectory that solves a visibility-based pursuit-evasion problem in which a single pursuer moving through a simply-connected polygonal environment seeks to locate an evader which may move arbitrarily fast, using an omni-directional field-of-view that extends to the environment boundary. We present a complete algorithm that computes a minimum-cost pursuer trajectory that ensures that the evader is captured, or reports in finite time that no such trajectory exists. This result improves upon the known algorithm of Guibas, Latombe, LaValle, Lin, and Motwani, which is complete but makes no guarantees about the quality of the solution. Our algorithm employs a branch-and-bound forward search that considers pursuer trajectories that could potentially lead to an optimal pursuer strategy. The search is performed on an exponential graph that can generate an infinite number of unique pursuer trajectories, so we must conduct meticulous pruning during the search to quickly discard pursuer trajectories that are demonstrably suboptimal. We describe an implementation of the algorithm, along with experiments that measure its performance in several environments with a variety of pruning operations.
Learning movement primitive libraries through probabilistic segmentation
Authors: Lioutikov Rudolf , Neumann Gerhard , Maeda Guilherme , Peters Jan
Published: July 2017

Movement primitives are a well-established approach for encoding and executing movements. While the primitives themselves have been extensively researched, the concept of movement primitive libraries has not received similar attention. Libraries of movement primitives represent the skill set of an agent. Primitives can be queried and sequenced in order to solve specific tasks. The goal of this work is to segment unlabeled demonstrations into a representative set of primitives. Our proposed method differs from current approaches by taking advantage of the often neglected, mutual dependencies between the segments contained in the demonstrations and the primitives to be encoded. By exploiting this mutual dependency, we show that we can improve both the segmentation and the movement primitive library. Based on probabilistic inference our novel approach segments the demonstrations while learning a probabilistic representation of movement primitives. We demonstrate our method on two real robot applications. First, the robot segments sequences of different letters into a library, explaining the observed trajectories. Second, the robot segments demonstrations of a chair assembly task into a movement primitive library. The library is subsequently used to assemble the chair in an order not present in the demonstrations.
Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity and other disruptive behaviour disorder symptoms among primary school-age children in Kayseri, Turkey
Authors: Senol Vesile , Unalan Demet , Akca Raziye Peksen , Basturk Mustafa
Published: July 2017

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD), and their influencing factors on primary school-age children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2045 students, 7–15 years old, who were randomly selected from seven schools in Kayseri, Turkey, in 2012. Participants were stratified by socioeconomic status. Data were collected using the Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavioural Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). For statistical analyses, the t-test and analysis of variance were used.

Results

Rates of disruptive behaviour disorders (DBDs) among children were as follows: ADHD, 6.2%; CD, 14.4%; and ODD, 6.7%. The prevalence of ADHD was higher in boys and children whose mothers were homemakers and from poorly-educated and low-income families, compared with their peers. CD was more prevalent among boys and children 13–15 years old, whose parents had low income levels and were separated. ODD was higher in boys and children whose mothers were homemakers.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the overall prevalence of DBDs in our study area is 27.4%, which is similar to the pooled worldwide prevalence. Adverse family factors are closely associated with the prevalence of DBDs.
Relationship Intervention for Inmates and Their Partners: Bringing Couples Together Before Release
Authors: Kazura Kerry
Published: July 2017

The aim of this intervention study was to examine the impact of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program on inmates and their partners with the programming goal to reduce the negative impact of incarceration on families. This study was conducted in a prison facility in the Northeast United States, and data were collected on 40 couples (40 male inmates and 40 female partners) that completed the program. This study used a self-report pre and post survey to collect data on relationship satisfaction, relationship confidence, types of interactions, as well as program satisfaction. Results demonstrated that inmates and their partners improved their positive interactions and relationship confidence. Different trends were found for men and women in marital satisfaction and negative interactions. Both groups reported that the program was beneficial for improving communication; however, listening techniques and setting ground rules during discussions were still issues both groups struggled with at the end of the intervention.
Reliability and validity of the multiple mini interview (MMI) for admissions to an occupational therapy professional program
Authors: Thomas Aliki , Young Meredith E , Mazer Barbara L , Lubarsky Stuart E , Razack Saleem I
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Admissions decisions are among the most consequential assessment points in educating occupational therapists. Suboptimal measures of academic achievement and personal characteristics are often used to select candidates. The purpose of the study is to investigate reliability and validity evidence supporting the use of the multiple mini interview for selecting candidates to an occupational therapy master’s level program.

Method

The study used a prospective cohort design. Data sources included both archival data and prospective candidate-generated data (multiple mini interview scores, applicant file review scores and academic performance), analyzed using psychometric and correlational approaches.

Results

Seventy-seven of 80 candidates participated in the prospective component of the study. Overall reliability of a 10-station multiple mini interview was .72. Inter-rater reliability was reasonable. Weak interrelationships were found between multiple mini interview scores and other application components.

Conclusion

Multiple mini interview scores may be probing different attributes than the other components of the application package. Our study findings support the use of the multiple mini interview for selecting applicants to a professional master’s program in occupational therapy; however, future work should continue to investigate the predictive validity of the multiple mini interview.
“They want us out”: Urban regeneration and the limits of integration in the Danish welfare state
Authors: Johansen Mette-Louise E , Jensen Steffen B
Published: July 2017

This article explores how a group of Palestinian families perceive and cope with urban regeneration in Denmark's largest public housing project, Gellerupparken. The neighborhood is publicly known as a criminal hotspot, politically defined as a migrant “ghetto”, and targeted by state policies as the other in need of change. The aim of the article is to show how urban regeneration is broader than the transformation of physical space and includes the perceived need to reform residents through a host of biopolitical interventions. While most policy work aim at establishing trusting and collaborative state-citizen relations, the perspective of the residents in Gellerupparken illuminate that the social effects of urban regeneration can be seen as paradoxical ones. Although Danish gentrification policies resonate with some sections of the residents, and can even count on the active participation of many residents in the self-administration of their neighborhood, the state's interventions only seem to strengthen its conflicts with other residents, as well as enhance the distance between resident groups. In this way, the article explores what we call the limits to integration as the practices of the families in our study run counter to embodied notions of Danishness within the welfare state.
Not to Nationalise, but to Rationalise? Cooperatives, Leadership and the State in the Irish Dairy Industry 1890–1932
Authors: Moulton Mo
Published: July 2017

The Irish cooperative movement in the dairy industry was driven from above, first by the philanthropic Irish Agricultural Organisation Society and then by the Irish Free State. Although the early cooperative movement has been linked with constructive unionism, this article highlights important continuities in the approach taken to cooperative creameries by the Irish Free State government in the 1920s. Using the problem of creamery management as a focus, it argues that the movement was unable to deliver on its stated goal of democratic empowerment of farmers. Instead, it was the means through which power was renegotiated between farmers, landlords and the state in the context of two crucial transitional moments.
Postdrome symptoms in pediatric migraine: A questionnaire retrospective study by phone in 100 patients
Authors: Mamouri Ouardia , Cuvellier Jean-Christophe , Duhamel Alain , Vallée Louis , Nguyen The Tich Sylvie
Published: July 2017

Background

No study dedicated to postdrome symptoms of migraine attacks is available in children and adolescents.

Objective

To study the resolution phase of the migraine attack in children and adolescents.

Methods

100 children and adolescents with ICHD-3 beta migraine without and/or with typical aura were included. Each patient, and one of her/his parents, were interviewed by phone about the postdrome phrase of their last six months’ migraine attacks. They were specifically instructed to distinguish symptoms that had begun before and went on after migraine headache cessation (referred to as persistent symptoms), and symptoms whose onset was strictly after headache cessation (referred to as true postdromes).

Results

91% of patients reported persistent symptoms, with a mean of 2.9 and a median of 2; asthenia, cognitive difficulties, pallor, cognitive slowing, anorexia, somnolence, and nausea were the most frequently reported. They lasted less than 12 h in 71% of patients. True postdromes were reported by 82% of patients, with a mean of 2.6 and a median of 2; thirst, somnolence, visual disturbances, food craving, paraesthesias, and ocular pain being the most frequently reported. They lasted less than 12 h in 94% of patients.

Conclusions

This study showed that children and adolescents with migraine had both frequent persistent symptoms and true postdromes. Both were notably different from those reported in adults.
Arthroscopic Labral Base Repair in the Hip: 5-Year Minimum Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Domb Benjamin G. , Yuen Leslie C. , Ortiz-Declet Victor , Litrenta Jody , Perets Itay , Chen Austin W.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Arthroscopic labral base repair (LBR) in the hip is a previously described technique designed to restore the native functional anatomy of the labrum by reproducing its seal against the femoral head. LBR has been shown to have good short-term outcomes.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

The purpose was to evaluate clinical outcomes of an LBR cohort with a minimum 5-year follow-up. It was hypothesized that patients who underwent LBR would continue to have significant improvement from their preoperative scores and maintain scores similar to their 2-year outcomes.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Data for patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopic surgery with LBR from February 2008 to May 2011 with a minimum 5-year follow-up were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Patients with preoperative Tonnis osteoarthritis grade ≥2, previous hip conditions (slipped capital femoral epiphysis, avascular necrosis, Legg-Calv-Perthes disease), severe dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle <18°), or previous ipsilateral hip surgery were excluded. Statistical equivalence tests evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score–Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and patient satisfaction (0-10 scale; 10 = very satisfied).

Results:

Of the 70 patients (74 hips) who met inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 (85.7%) patients (64 hips) were available at a minimum 5-year follow-up. All PRO scores significantly improved from preoperative values with a mean follow-up of 67.8 ± 7.4 months (range, 60.0-89.7 months). The mean mHHS increased from 64.4 ±13.8 to 85.3 ± 17.7 ( P < .001), the mean NAHS from 63.7 ± 17.0 to 87.0 ± 14.7 ( P < .001), and the mean HOS-SSS from 47.1 ± 23.2 to 76.5 ± 25.9 ( P < .001). The mean VAS score decreased from 5.9 ± 2.4 to 2.0 ± 2.1 ( P < .001). The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.1 ± 2.0. The improvement in PRO scores was sustained from 2- to 5-year follow-up. At 2 and 5 years, survivorship rates were 96.9% and 90.6%, respectively, and the respective secondary arthroscopic surgery rates were 10.9% (7/64) and 17.2% (11/64).

Conclusion:

At a minimum 5-year follow-up, arthroscopic LBR continued to be a successful procedure and valid technique based on 3 PROs, the VAS, patient satisfaction, and survivorship. Significantly improved outcome scores were maintained compared with preoperative values and showed no signs of deterioration from the 2-year scores. The long-term survivorship of hip arthroscopic surgery has yet to be determined; however, these midterm results demonstrate the rates of additional procedures (both secondary arthroscopic surgery and conversion to total hip arthroplasty), that may be necessary after 2 years.
The Mechanism of Relative Surplus Value
Authors: Cipolla Francisco Paulo
Published: July 2017

Lebowitz has argued that for relative surplus value to occur, money wages have to fall. As a consequence, technical progress must be conceived as a weapon to increase the degree of separation among workers, thus leading to lower wages. This article shows that relative surplus value is not strictly dependent on a fall in wages. In fact, when both the value of gold and the expression of wages in terms of the standard of prices are taken into account, it is shown that relative surplus value may arise without any changes in money wages.

JEL Classification: B51
Canadian Treatment Guidelines for Individuals at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis
Authors: Addington Jean , Addington Donald , Abidi Sabina , Raedler Thomas , Remington Gary
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Young people who are at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis are often help seeking and have significant distress and dysfunction. There are limited guidelines for the assessment and treatment for this population. The aim of this guideline was to develop treatment recommendations for this at-risk group.

Method:

A systematic search was conducted for published guidelines for CHR. All current guidelines for schizophrenia were reviewed for treatment guidelines on individuals at CHR. The recommendations adopted were primarily drawn from the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on the early intervention in clinical high-risk states of psychoses and the 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on the treatment and management of those at CHR for psychosis.

Results:

After the guideline development process described, 9 recommendations were developed based on the quality of evidence, appropriateness for the Canadian health care system, and clinical expert consensus.

Conclusions:

Assessment by an expert in the field was the first recommendation. It was recommended that treatment follow a staged approach with psychological treatments being the first-line treatment and pharmacotherapy reserved for adults, those who did not respond to psychological interventions, and those who had more severe symptoms.
Colorblindness as Identity: Key Determinants, Relations to Ideology, and Implications for Attitudes about Race and Policy
Authors: Hartmann Douglas , Croll Paul R. , Larson Ryan , Gerteis Joseph , Manning Alex
Published: July 2017

Colorblindness is often conceptualized as a set of deeply held but unrecognized ideological tenets. However, we believe that colorblindness has also now become an explicit cultural discourse involving self-conscious claims and specific convictions. To illustrate this point—which has both conceptual and empirical implications—we introduce the notion of colorblindness as identity. We define this concept as subjectively meaningful, self-asserted identification with colorblindness. We use data from a nationally representative survey to explore the social determinants of colorblind identification and assess its relationship to both colorblind ideologies and standard attitudinal measures. We find that a relatively large percentage of Americans across racial lines identify as colorblind. Furthermore, such identification is connected to racial ideologies but not all tenets of colorblind racism. For white Americans, colorblind identification is associated with decreased perceptions of social distance, but not support for policies designed to ameliorate the effects of racial discrimination. We conclude that colorblind identification is a unique social phenomenon, connected to views on race but not always in the ways that existing research would predict. We also suggest directions for further exploration of the depth of colorblindness as an identity form and implications for theorizing colorblind discourse more generally.
Family Investments in Education during Periods of Economic Uncertainty: Evidence from the Great Recession
Authors: Lunn Anna , Kornrich Sabino
Published: July 2017

At the beginning of the Great Recession, household spending on education across the income distribution was highly unequal. We examined how different income groups altered their spending on education for children under 18 during this economic crisis. As national and local economic conditions deteriorated during the recession, the difference in odds that a high-income household spent on education relative to a low-income family increased by 20 percent, and the difference in the amounts that high-income families spent on education relative to low-income families also increased by 20 percent. As state unemployment rates climbed and consumer confidence fell, high-income families’ educational spending increased relative to low-income families’ spending. Decreases in local housing prices were also associated with lower spending for low-income families. Given the importance of educational enrichment for children’s learning outcomes, increasing inequality in families’ educational investments during the Great Recession may contribute to future educational and social inequality.
Perceived Accessibility to Services and Sites Among Israeli Older Adults
Authors: Vitman-Schorr Adi , Ayalon Liat , Khalaila Rabia
Published: July 2017

Objective:To explore the direct and indirect effects of settlement type (rural-kibbutz vs. urban mid-size cities) on perceived accessibility by sociospatial factors: (a) connection to the living area, (b) familiarity with the living area, (c) social participation, and (d) perceived safety of the living area. Method: A convenience sample of 279 older adults aged 65 and older was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of the conditional indirect effects of four simultaneous mediators of the relationship between settlement type and perceived accessibility. Main Findings: The relationship between settlement type and perceived accessibility was mediated by social participation and perceived safety of the living area. Conclusion: Policy makers should pay attention to the enhancement of sociospatial dimensions to improve the perceived accessibility of older adults.
Classroom Social Dynamics Management: Why the Invisible Hand of the Teacher Matters for Special Education
Authors: Farmer Thomas W. , Dawes Molly , Hamm Jill V. , Lee David , Mehtaji Meera , Hoffman Abigail S. , Brooks Debbie S.
Published: July 2017

The invisible hand is a metaphor that refers to teachers’ impact on the classroom peer ecology. Although teachers have the capacity to organize the classroom environment and activities in ways that contribute to students’ social experiences, their contributions are often overlooked in research on students’ peer relations and the development of social interventions. To address this, researchers have begun to focus on clarifying strategies to manage classroom social dynamics. The goal of this article is to consider potential contributions of this perspective for understanding the social experiences of students with disabilities and to explore associated implications for the delivery of classroom-focused interventions to support their adaptation. Conceptual foundations of classroom social dynamics management and empirical research on the peer relationships of students with disabilities are outlined and the potential of the concept of the invisible hand is discussed in relation to other social support interventions for students with disabilities.
Internet Facilitated Rape: A Multivariate Model of Offense Behavior
Authors: Almond Louise , McManus Michelle Ann , Chatterton Hannah
Published: July 2017

Recent statistics report a significant increase in individuals reporting they have been raped by a stranger whom they have met through the Internet (Internet facilitated rape [IFR]). Previous literature has primarily focused on child victims; hence, the overriding aim of this study is to further our understanding of IFR in terms of crime scene behavior. One hundred forty-four IFR cases and two comparative samples of age-matched stranger rapists (confidence approach and surprise approach) were coded for 38 crime scene behaviors. Findings suggest that the platforms IFR offenders use to meet their victims were not suggestive of the behavior they were likely to display. In terms of specific offense behaviors, the IFR and confidence approach rapists were considerably similar and both samples were comparatively different from the surprise approach rapists. Thus, this may indicate that the method of approach used by a stranger rapist has a significant effect on the subsequent rape crime scene behavior displayed regardless of any prior contact. A smallest space analysis of the IFR sample revealed three distinct themes of behavior, criminal sophistication, interpersonal involvement, and violence with 71% of offenders displaying one dominant theme. The practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.
“Victim, Perpetrator, or Just My Brother?” Sibling Sexual Abuse in Large Families: A Child Advocacy Center Study
Authors: Tener Dafna , Tarshish Noam , Turgeman Shosh
Published: July 2017

Sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is a continuum of childhood sexual behaviors that do not fit the category of age-appropriate curiosity. Although SSA may be the most prevalent and longest lasting form of intrafamilial sexual abuse—as well as the one with the worst repercussions—it is also the least reported, studied, and treated. Based on 100 mostly religious Jewish families referred to a child advocacy center (CAC) in Jerusalem from 2010 to 2015, this qualitative study examines SSA characteristics, dynamics, and perceptions of deviancy in multisibling subsystems. The findings are based on an analysis of case summaries, demographic charts, and documented conversations between social workers and siblings. Qualitative document analysis reveals two types of SSA dynamics: “identified perpetrator” and “routine relationship,” the latter being a particularly understudied dynamic that challenges common stereotypes. We also found sibling perceptions of deviancy to vary along a continuum from deviant to completely normative. These perceptions are affected by the type of dynamics as well as by factors associated with disclosure. Our findings highlight the importance of studying the lived experiences of children involved in SSA as an input with critical policy, treatment, and research implications. Interventions must be adjusted to the family system and sibling subsystem’s perceptions and needs to avoid treatment that exacerbates the crisis already experienced by the family. Common assumptions—there must be a “perpetrator”; abuse is necessarily traumatic; and treatment should focus on the trauma—are challenged by the routine type. We conclude that treatment should account for the complexity of SSA by shedding these assumptions and considering the sibling subsystem as an autonomous unit within the large family.
Prevalence and Correlates of Forced Sex as a Self-Reported Mode of HIV Acquisition Among a Cohort of Women Living With HIV in Canada
Authors: Logie Carmen H. , Kaida Angela , de Pokomandy Alexandra , O’Brien Nadia , O’Campo Pat , MacGillivray Jay , Ahmed Uzma , Arora Nikita , Wang Lu , Jabbari Shahab , Kennedy Logan , Carter Allison , Proulx-Boucher Karène , Conway Tracey , Sereda Paul , Loutfy Mona ,   On Behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team
Published: July 2017

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global epidemic associated with increased HIV exposure. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of HIV acquisition via forced sex among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Canada. Baseline questionnaire data were analyzed for WLWH (≥16 years) with data on self-reported mode of HIV acquisition, enrolled in a community-based cohort study in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec. We assessed forced sex (childhood, adulthood) as a self-reported mode of HIV acquisition. Of 1,330 participants, the median age was 42 (interquartile range [IQR] = 35-50) years; 23.5% were Indigenous, 26.3% African/Caribbean/Black, 43% White, and 7.2% of Other ethnicities. Forced sex was the third dominant mode of HIV transmission at 16.5% ( n = 219; vs. 51.6% consensual sex, 19.7% sharing needles, 5.3% blood transfusion, 3.8% perinatal, 1.3% contaminated needles, 0.4% other, 1.6% do not know/prefer not to answer). In multivariable analyses, significant correlates of HIV acquisition from forced versus consensual sex included legal status as a landed immigrant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.12, 3.54]) or refugee (aOR = 3.62; 95% CI = [1.63, 8.04]) versus Canadian citizen; African/Caribbean/Black ethnicity versus Caucasian (aOR = 2.49; 95% CI = [1.43, 4.35]), posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (aOR = 3.00; 95% CI = [1.68, 5.38]), histories of group home residence (aOR = 2.40; 95% CI = [1.10, 5.23]), foster care (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI = [1.10, 4.34]), and having one child relative to having three or more children (aOR = 0.52; 95% CI = [0.31, 0.89]). GBV must be considered a distinct HIV risk factor; forced sex is a significant underrecognized risk factor and mode of women’s HIV acquistion. Public health reporting systems can separate consensual and forced sex in reporting modes of HIV acquisition. Practitioners can engage in screening practices to meet client needs.
The Neighborhood-Level Association Between Alcohol Outlet Density and Female Criminal Victimization Rates
Authors: Snowden Aleksandra J. , Hockin Sara , Pridemore William Alex
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the neighborhood-level association between alcohol outlet density and non–intimate partner violent victimization rates among females. Violent offending and victimization are more prevalent for males than females, and most research on alcohol outlets and violence emphasizes males. Studies that do focus on alcohol outlets and female violent victimization tend to focus on intimate partner violence (IPV), yet non-IPV events are over three quarters of all female violent victimization incidents in the United States. We collected data on violent victimization rates, on- and off-premise alcohol outlet density, and neighborhood-level covariates of violence rates for Milwaukee block groups. We used spatially lagged regression models to test this association, to compare non-IPV results with those for overall female violent victimization rates, and to compare results for females with those for males. Our findings showed density of both on- and off-premise alcohol outlets was positively associated with non-IPV female violent victimization rates, which is an important finding given lack of research on this topic. We also found results for females (both overall and non-IPV violent victimization) were generally the same as for males, but the effect of off-premise outlets on non-IPV female violent victimization rates was weaker than the same association for males. Our findings have clear policy implications for local jurisdictions. Alcohol outlet density is important for both female and male violent victimization. Limiting the licensing of alcohol-selling establishments, especially those that engage in irresponsible retail practices, may be a suitable approach to address violent victimization.
Cyber Dating Abuse: Investigating Digital Monitoring Behaviors Among Adolescents From a Social Learning Perspective
Authors: Van Ouytsel Joris , Ponnet Koen , Walrave Michel
Published: July 2017

Just as with other forms of abuse such as bullying, dating violence is no longer limited to physical spaces. Several forms of dating violence can also be perpetrated by means of technology. Few studies have used a theoretical perspective to investigate cyber dating abuse. This study addresses this gap in the literature by focusing on the perpetration of digital monitoring behaviors—a form of cyber dating abuse—from a social learning perspective. We investigate the extent to which perceived social norms about cyber dating abuse, witnessing controlling behaviors among parents, and endorsing gender stereotypes are linked with adolescents’ engagement in digital monitoring behaviors. The study draws on data from 466 secondary school students (71.0% girls, n = 331) aged between 16 and 22 years ( M = 17.99 years, SD = 0.92) in Flanders, Belgium, who were in a romantic relationship. Linear regression analysis indicates that being female, being older, the perceived social norms of peers, the endorsement of gender stereotypes, and having observed intrusive controlling behaviors by the father are significantly and positively related to adolescents’ perpetration of digital monitoring behaviors. The findings have implications for practice and underscore the need for prevention efforts to address and lower the influence of these perceived social norms. Further implications include the need for prevention efforts to focus on diminishing the impact of gender stereotypical attitudes and the influence of witnessing controlling behaviors within the family context on cyber dating abuse perpetration.
Sexual Coercion in the College Population: A Form of Risk-Taking Behavior
Authors: Garner Alisa R. , Spiller Laura C. , Williams Patrick
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a decision-making model of risk-taking behavior, specifically impulsivity, positive and negative outcome expectation, and sensation seeking, can be extended to motivation for perpetration of sexual coercion. Participants included 276 sexually active college students between the ages of 18 and 25 years old who completed a set of questionnaires: (a) Sexual Experiences Survey, (b) Sensation Seeking Scales, (c) Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events, (d) Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and (e) Reckless Behavior Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to examine the relationship between these decision-making models and sexually coercive behaviors. General risk-taking behaviors were positively correlated with acts of sexual coercion, r = .16, p < .01. The predictor variables accounted for a significant amount of the variance in sexual coercion, R2 = .11, F(4, 246) = 7.57, p < .01. Only sensation seeking contributed unique variance to our model of sexual coercion, β = .27, t = 4.06, p < .01. Interventions to reduce sexual coercion may be more successful if they target those high in risk-taking. Similarly, prevention efforts informed by research on how to engage and hold the attention of sensation seeking youth may be more successful.
An Analysis of Help-Seeking Patterns Among College Student Victims of Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, and Stalking
Authors: Ameral Victoria , Palm Reed Kathleen M. , Hines Denise A.
Published: July 2017

Despite the negative outcomes associated with sexual assault (SA), dating violence (DV), and stalking victimization, many victims, particularly college students, do not seek help for these crimes. To date, the majority of help-seeking research has focused on one form of victimization, despite substantial evidence that many victims experience more than one form of interpersonal violence. In addition to consideration of such polyvictims, intervention efforts to increase help-seeking to improve victim outcomes may benefit from a clearer understanding of overlapping predictors of help-seeking across victimization types. Using the health belief model (HBM) as a guiding framework, the current study examined predictors of help-seeking for SA, DV, and stalking in a college student sample. Data were collected via a multiyear anonymous email survey of general health and well-being. Demographic predictors of help-seeking and severity indicators informed by the HBM were evaluated across violence types. In addition to replicating previous work, results provided support for the HBM, such that a number of severity indicators, particularly those representing overlap across victimization types, predicted help-seeking at the multivariate level. Results also provide new evidence for overlap of barriers to help-seeking across violence types, with victim’s belief that the incident was not serious enough the most commonly reported reason for not seeking help across all three types of victimization. This overlap may provide opportunities for consolidating prevention and intervention efforts across victimization types.
Training Employers to Implement Health Promotion Programs: Results From the CDC Work@Health® Program
Authors: Cluff Laurie A. , Lang Jason E. , Rineer Jennifer R. , Jones-Jack Nkenge H. , Strazza Karen M.
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated the Work@Health Program to teach employers how to improve worker health using evidence-based strategies. Program goals included (1) determining the best way(s) to deliver employer training, (2) increasing employers’ knowledge of workplace health promotion (WHP), and (3) increasing the number of evidence-based WHP interventions at employers’ worksites. This study is one of the few to examine the effectiveness of a program designed to train employers how to implement WHP programs.

Design:

Pre- and posttest design.

Setting:

Training via 1 of 3 formats hands-on, online, or blended.

Participants:

Two hundred six individual participants from 173 employers of all sizes.

Intervention:

Eight-module training curriculum to guide participants through building an evidence-based WHP program, followed by 6 to 10 months of technical assistance.

Measures:

The CDC Worksite Health ScoreCard and knowledge, attitudes, and behavior survey.

Analysis:

Descriptive statistics, paired t tests, and mixed linear models.

Results:

Participants’ posttraining mean knowledge scores were significantly greater than the pretraining scores (61.1 vs 53.2, P < .001). A year after training, employers had significantly increased the number of evidence-based interventions in place (47.7 vs 35.5, P < .001). Employers’ improvements did not significantly differ among the 3 training delivery formats.

Conclusion:

The Work@Health Program provided employers with knowledge to implement WHP interventions. The training and technical assistance provided structure, practical guidance, and tools to assess needs and select, implement, and evaluate interventions.
Progressive damage analysis for cross-ply graded PE/PE composites based on cluster analysis of acoustic emission signals
Authors: Li Li , Yan Xiong
Published: July 2017

The aim of this work is to identify the best strategy for cluster analysis of acoustic emission (AE) events for cross-ply PE/PE graded composites under tensile loading. Six cluster algorithms are made comparison. Peak amplitude and frequency centroid represent adequately AE events clustering to five groups for PE/PE graded composites. A link between five representative damage modes with corresponding five groups of AE event is established. The results can be used to distinguish damage mechanisms and to investigate damage evaluation of PE/PE graded composites, and damage initiation and propagation of a PE/PE graded sample under tensile loading are discussed. This study provides guides for the establishment of AE interpretation and identification of damage modes for ultra-high molecular polyethylene–reinforced composites in future studies.