bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absence of correlation between univalent formation and meiotic nondisjunction in aged female Chinese hamsters
Authors: Sugawara S. , Mikamo K.
Published: May 2008

The effects of maternal aging on the configuration of chiasmata, formation of univalents, and segregation of first meiotic (MI) chromosomes were investigated in young (5–8 mo) and old (16 19 mo) Chinese hamsters. Primary oocytes were collected only from mature follicles approximately 10 h before ovulation, and secondary oocytes were obtained from the oviducts 5 h after spontaneous ovulation. The average number of chiasmata per oocyte was significantly smaller in aged hamsters than in the young hamsters (P < 0.001). Terminal chiasmata were found more frequently in the former group than in the latter one (P < 0.001). These results coincided well with findings in the mouse. Since the 11 meiotic chromosomes could be divided into four morphologically distinguishable subgroups, it was possible to determine whether the same bivalent forming univalents at MI actually underwent nondisjunction in the following meiotic division. The incidence of both MI oocytes with a univalent pair and aneuploid MII oocytes due to first meiotic nondisjunction was significantly higher in the aged group than in the young group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). However, univalents occurred almost exclusively in the smallest metacentric chromosome group (96%), whereas nondisjunction took place nearly equally in each chromosomal subgroup. These results clearly showed that there was no correlation between the univalents seen at MI and nondisjunction during the first meiotic division.
Regional localization of the human Rα2(I) collagen gene on chromosome 7 by molecular hybridization
Authors: Solomon E. , Hiorns L. , Dalgleish R. , Tolstoshev P. , Crystal R. , Sykes B.
Published: May 2008

We have used a cloned EcoRl1.5 kb fragment from the human a2(I) collagen gene (COL1A2) as a probe for detecting this gene in human-mouse somatic cell hybrids. Using hybrids containing an X/7 translocation, we have localized this gene to 7pter→7q22.
Complementation analysis of dexamethasone resistance in L cells
Authors: Gál A. , Venetianer A.
Published: May 2008

Glucocorticoid-resistant variants of L cells were characterized by somatic cell hybridization. Neither of the variants had a clearly dominant phenotype in hybrids with a glucocorticoid-sensitive fibroblast line. Hybrids of one of the resistant variants and a resistant fibroblast line showed complementation — the hybrid clones were sensitive to dexamethasone. Complementation, however, disappeared after continued culture of the hybrid cells.
Synaptonemal complexes and the chromosome complement of domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus
Authors: Kaelbling M. , Fechheimer N.S.
Published: May 2008

Synaptonemal complexes (SC’s) were compared to their chromosomes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of whole-mount spreads from 42 male chickens. Individual macrochromosomal SC’s were first identified in heterokaryotypes and later by their centromere index. For all nine macrochromosomes (eight autosomes and the Z sex chromosome), the relative length (rl) of each SC corresponded to that of its mitotic and meiotic chromosome, and the centromere position along each SC corresponded to that of its mitotic chromosome. An idiogram was constructed which included the 30 microchromosomes. The idiogram revealed a graded series of SC lengths with a 30-fold difference between the longest and the shortest SC. Microchromosomal SC’s comprised 35% of the genome length.
Non-random human chromosome distribution in human-mouse myeloma somatic cell hybrids
Authors: Cieplinski W. , Reardon P. , Testa M.A.
Published: May 2008

The process of human chromosome segregation in human myeloma x mouse myeloma cell hybrids was investigated. The human myeloma cells were derived from two different patients. Fifty-eight independent hybrid lines were obtained. A representative number of cells from each line were karyotyped and isozyme markers for a number of the chromosomes retained were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed on 113 cells from five different cell lines showing the largest complement of human chromosomes. A log-linear models approach to the statistical analysis was used to predict the expected chromosome segregation under a variety of assumptions concerning the dependency relationship between the pattern of loss and the specific chromosomes both within and between cell lines. Human chromosome segregation occurring after the hybrids were grown continuously in suspension for several months was also studied. Results indicated a statistically significant dependency among patterns of loss of specific chromosomes, with certain chromosomes preferentially retained and others lost more often than expected under the assumption of randomness of segregation.
Comparative gene mapping of the owl monkey, Aotus, with karyotypes V (2n = 46) and VI (2n = 49, 50)
Authors: Ma N.S.F.
Published: May 2008

Biochemical analysis of cytogenetically defined rodent-owl monkey hybrid cell lines segregating owl monkey chromosomes allowed the assignment of 14 structural gene markers to seven owl monkey karyotype V (K-V, 2n = 46) chromosomes. Comparative study of assigned gene loci to chromosomes of owl monkey karyotype V (K-V, 2n = 46) and karyotype VI (K-VI, 2n = 49/50) provides the first evidence supporting some of the previously proposed mechanics of chromosomal rearrangements responsible for the great karyotypic diversity in owl monkeys. In addition, chromosome homologies deduced from gene loci of Aotus and other primates are compared here to determine the conservation or modification of chromosome morphology in the course of primate evolution. The data demonstrate the usefulness of gene mapping as an alternative to banding patterns for obtaining evidence on chromosome evolution.
The origin of multiple sex chromosomes in the gerbil Gerbillus gerbillus (Rodentia: Gerbillinae)
Authors: Wahrman J. , Richler C. , Neufeld E. , Friedmann A.
Published: May 2008

The sex chromosomes of the partly sympatric species of gerbils Gerbillus pyramidum and G. gerbillus (Mammalia: Gerbillinae) were investigated by a variety of light- and electron-microscope methods, including DNA replication banding and synaptonemal complex (SC) techniques. The sex-chromosome mechanism of G. pyramidum is of the JXY : XX type, whereas that of G. gerbillus is of the less common (JXYJY2 : XX system. The results include the demonstration that the X chromosomes of both species are compound. One segment is added to the X chromosome of G. pyramidum, leading to an increase in length from the standard 5% to approximately 7.3%, whereas two different extra segments increase the length of the X chromosome of G. gerbillus to approximately 11 % of the length of the haploid genome. In both cases the extra material is autosomal and is also represented in the respective Y chromosomes. Classifying heterochromatin by the variation in staining quality was helpful in elucidating the possible origin of the different chromosome segments, including the pericentromeric regions. Observations on meiotic chromosome pairing and chiasma formation have confirmed the homologies established by band comparisons. The occurrence of chiasmata between the sex chromosomes supports the autosomal origin of the pairing segments. These and other findings have been interpreted in the framework of a multistep evolutionary model. This sequence starts from a hypothetical pair of sex chromosomes, the X element of which amounts to 5% of the haploid genome, and leads through three translocations involving two pairs of autosomes and one pericentric inversion to the most complex situation of this series, manifested in G. gerbillus. The adaptive value, if any, of autosome incorporation into the sex chromosomes repeatedly occurring here is unknown. It is, however, a remarkable fact that in one species, G. gerbillus, the complex sex-chromosome constitution is conserved over vast geographic distances, and in the other, G. pyramidum, the compound X and Y chromosomes withstand change in the face of extreme autosome restructuring.
Electron microscopy of sister chromatid exchanges
Authors: Goyanes V.J. , Schvartzman J.B.
Published: May 2008

BrdU-substituted chromosomes of Don cells were differentially stained with ammoniacal silver carbonate and analyzed by electron microscopy. The results obtained led us to the following conclusions: (1) the differential impregnation of BrdU-substituted chromatids with silver is mainly due to a preferential extraction of non-histone proteins caused by UV-irradiation and incubation in SSC at 55 °C prior to silver staining; (2) the core-like structures detected after silver staining may well represent an artifact due to the effects of severe hypotonic pre-treatment on chromatin dispersion; (3) in each sister-chromatid exchange, the border of exchange clearly defines the course of DNA fibers within the chromatid. This border of exchange tends to run perpendicular to the chromosome axis but may vary slightly depending on the degree of chromosome condensation.
Replication patterns of human X isochromosomes by high-resolution banding
Authors: Artifoni L. , Baccichetti C. , Piovan E. , Anglani F. , Lenzini E. , Goppion G. , Tenconi R.
Published: May 2008

The DNA replication patterns of eight cases of X isochromosomes, five idic(X) and three i(Xq), were studied. R-banded prometaphases and metaphases from lymphocyte cultures after synchronization with methotrexate and incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine were analyzed. No significant differences in the frequency of metaphases with symmetric and asymmetric replication patterns between dicentric and monocentric isochromosomes were found. Furthermore the distribution of the frequencies of R-positive bands was similar and comparable to that of the normal late-replicating X. Our data suggest that the DNA replication pattern of Xq isochromosomes is not correlated with the mechanism of their origin.
Dynamic Models for the Subgrid-Scale Mixing of Reactants in Atmospheric Turbulent Reacting Flows
Authors: Vinuesa Jean-François , Porté-Agel Fernando
Published: May 2008

The effects of the subgrid scales on chemical transformations in large-eddy simulations of the convective atmospheric boundary layer (CBL) are investigated. Dynamic similarity subgrid-scale models are formulated and used to calculate the subgrid-scale covariance. The dynamic procedure allows for simulations free of parameter tuning since the model coefficients are computed based on the resolved reactant concentrations. A scale-dependent procedure is proposed that allows relaxing the assumption of scale invariance used in the dynamic similarity model. Simulation results show that both models are able to account in part for the effect of the segregation of the scalars at the subgrid scales, considerably reducing the resolution dependence of the results found when no subgrid covariance model is used. The scale-dependent dynamic version yields better results than its scale-invariant counterpart.
An Empirical Analysis of Bulk Cn2 Models over Water
Authors: Potvin Guy , Dion Denis , Claverie Jacques , Frederickson Paul A. , Davidson Kenneth L. , Forand J. Luc
Published: May 2008

This article examines some of the difficulties associated with the determination of C2n over water in a coastal region using a bulk model. The analysis shows the need to supplement bulk models with elements that do not belong to traditional Monin–Obukhov surface-layer theory. A reexamination of the scintillation measurements collected during the Electro-Optical Propagation Assessment in a Coastal Environment (EOPACE) campaign leads the authors to include 1) the nonuniformity of sensible heat and humidity fluxes and 2) a deficit of the scintillation that seems to depend only on the characteristic virtual potential temperature. It is suggested that the anomalous scintillation deficit represents an alteration of a characteristic length related to the optical turbulence, likely caused by the interaction of the surface layer with the sea surface. The new parameters are estimated using Bayesian regression methods applied to the EOPACE data. Predictions obtained with this new model are then compared with scintillation measurements obtained during the recent Validation Measurement for Propagation in the Infrared and Radar (VAMPIRA) campaign. Better agreement is obtained with the new model than with a conventional bulk model. The implications of the modifications made to the calculation of C2n are discussed.
Seasonal Variation of the Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall in Southern Contiguous China
Authors: Li Jian , Yu Rucong , Zhou Tianjun
Published: May 2008

Hourly station rain gauge data are employed to study the seasonal variation of the diurnal cycle of rainfall in southern contiguous China. The results show a robust seasonal variation of the rainfall diurnal cycle, which is dependent both on region and duration. Difference in the diurnal cycle of rainfall is found in the following two neighboring regions: southwestern China (region A) and southeastern contiguous China (region B). The diurnal cycle of annual mean precipitation in region A tends to reach the maximum in either midnight or early morning, while precipitation in region B has a late-afternoon peak. In contrast with the weak seasonal variation of the diurnal phases of precipitation in region A, the rainfall peak in region B shifts sharply from late afternoon in warm seasons to early morning in cold seasons. Rainfall events in south China are classified into short- (1–3 h) and long-duration (more than 6 h) events. Short-duration precipitation in both regions reaches the maximum in late afternoon in warm seasons and peaks in either midnight or early morning in cold seasons, but the late-afternoon peak in region B exists during February–October, while that in region A only exists during May–September. More distinct differences between regions A and B are found in the long-duration rainfall events. The long-duration events in region A show dominant midnight or early morning peaks in all seasons. But in region B, the late-afternoon peak exists during July–September. Possible reasons for the difference in the diurnal cycle of rainfall between the two regions are discussed. The different cloud radiative forcing over regions A and B might contribute to this difference.
Collaborative Effects of Cold Surge and Tropical Depression–Type Disturbance on Heavy Rainfall in Central Vietnam
Authors: Yokoi Satoru , Matsumoto Jun
Published: May 2008

This paper reveals synoptic-scale atmospheric conditions over the South China Sea (SCS) that cause heavy rainfall in central Vietnam through case study and composite analyses. The heavy rainfall event discussed in this study occurred on 2–3 November 1999. Precipitation in Hue city (central Vietnam) was more than 1800 mm for these 2 days. Two atmospheric disturbances played key roles in this heavy rainfall. First, a cold surge (CS) northerly wind anomaly in the lower troposphere, originating in northern China near 40°N, propagated southward to reach the northern SCS and then lingered there for a couple of days, resulting in stronger-than-usual northeasterly winds continuously blowing into the Indochina Peninsula against the Annam Range. Second, a southerly wind anomaly over the central SCS, associated with a tropical depression–type disturbance (TDD) in southern Vietnam, seemed to prevent the CS from propagating farther southward. Over the northern SCS, the southerly wind anomaly formed a strong low-level convergence in conjunction with the CS northeasterly wind anomaly, and supplied warm and humid tropical air. These conditions induced by the CS and TDD are favorable for the occurrence of the heavy orographic rainfall in central Vietnam. The TDD can be regarded as a result of a Rossby wave response to a large-scale convective anomaly over the Maritime Continent associated with equatorial intraseasonal variability.

Using a 24-yr (1979–2002) reanalysis and surface precipitation datasets, the authors confirm that the coexistence of the CS and TDD is important for the occurrence of heavy precipitation in central Vietnam. In addition, it is observed that CSs without a TDD do not lead to much precipitation.
A Cross-Country Exploration of Environmental Attitudes
Authors: Sarigöllü Emine
Published: May 2008

This research investigates the effect of cultural, sociodemographic, and contextual characteristics in shaping environmental attitudes in a cross-country context. In addition, dimensions underlying environmental attitudes and their generalizability are explored. Significant differences are reported in environmental attitudes between collectivist versus individualistic, externally versus internally controlled, materialist versus postmaterialist, past-oriented versus future-oriented cultures, and across levels of modernity and pollution. Two universal dimensions, general attitude and activity attitude, underlie environmental attitudes.
Perspectives of General and Special Educators on Fostering Self-Determination in Elementary and Middle Schools
Authors: Stang Kristin K. , Carter Erik W. , Lane Kathleen Lynne , Pierson Melinda R.
Published: May 2008

Recognizing that many youth with disabilities lack critical self-determination skills and that such deficits may be a contributing factor to disappointing postschool outcomes, educators and researchers have called for increased attention to promoting student self-determination in the early grades. The authors queried 891 elementary and middle school teachers regarding the extent to which they valued and provided instruction in seven self-determination skill domains. Educators generally perceived self-determination to be an important curricular priority, and the majority reported teaching self-determination skills at least sometimes in their classrooms. Special educators' ratings of overall importance were significantly higher than those of general educators. Middle school teachers reported providing self-determination instruction more frequently than elementary school teachers. These findings lend additional support to calls for promoting self-determination within the general curriculum in the earlier grades.
Rethinking Human Rights, Democracy, and Sovereignty in the Age of Globalization
Authors: Cohen Jean L.
Published: May 2008

The traditional conception construes human rights as moral rights all people have due to some basic feature or interests deemed intrinsically valuable. This comported well with the revival of the discourse of human rights in the wake of atrocities committed during WWII. It served as a useful referent for local struggles against foreign rule and domestic dictatorship in the 1980s. Since 1989, human rights discourse acquired a new function: the justification of sanctions, military invasions, and transformative occupation administrations by outsiders, framed as enforcement of international law against violators. The traditional conception doesn't fit this new function, hence the efforts to counter-pose a “political” to the “traditional” approach. This essay analyzes two recent versions of the political conception, and argues for a third. The thesis is that sovereign equality and human rights are normative principles of our dualist international system and both are needed to construct a more just version of that system.
Everyday Conceptions of Modesty: A Prototype Analysis
Authors: Gregg Aiden P. , Hart Claire M. , Sedikides Constantine , Kumashiro Madoka
Published: May 2008

Good theoretical definitions of psychological phenomena not only are rigorously formulated but also provide ample conceptual coverage. To assess the latter, we empirically surveyed everyday conceptions of modesty in a combined U.S./U.K. sample. In Study 1, participants freely generated multiple exemplars of modesty that judges subsequently sorted into superordinate categories. Exemplar frequency and priority served, respectively, as primary and secondary indices of category prototypicality that enabled central, peripheral, and marginal clusters to be identified. Follow-up studies then confirmed the ordinal prototypicality of these clusters with the aid of both explicit (Studies 2 and 3) and implicit (Study 3) methodologies. Modest people emerged centrally as humble, shy, solicitous, and not boastful and peripherally as honest, likeable, not arrogant, attention-avoiding, plain, and gracious. Everyday conceptions of modesty also spanned both mind and behavior, emphasized agreeableness and introversion, and predictably incorporated an element of humility.
Attitudes Towards Self-change: A Comparison of Japanese and American University Students
Authors: Crystal David S. , Kato Kazuo , Olson Sheryl , Watanabe Hirozumi
Published: May 2008

This study examined attitudes related to the possibility of changing cognitions and behaviours among samples of college students in the United States and Japan. Students were asked to identify three things about themselves that they wanted to change, the method they would use to effect these changes, how difficult they thought making such changes would be, and how much they desired to make the changes. Japanese and US students differed significantly in the frequency with which they mentioned all seven aspects of the self that were targeted for change. Students in the United States expressed a desire to improve their sociability, academic achievement and cognitive abilities, physical appearance, and sense of individuality. Students in Japan were most concerned about enhancing their relationships with others, self-control and motivation, and ability to manage practical affairs. In addition, US respondents were more likely than their Japanese counterparts to use behaviour-oriented strategies, to believe it was easy to make self-changes, and to indicate a strong desire to improve the self. The findings are discussed in the context of theories describing different cultural construals of self, and of empirical research on differences between collectivistic and individualistic cultures.
Encoding Modality and Prospective Memory in Children
Authors: Passolunghi M. Chiara , Brandimonte Maria A. , Cornoldi Cesare
Published: May 2008

In three experiments, we investigated the effects of different cue encoding modalities on young and older children's prospective memory. In Experiments 1 and 2, younger subjects showed the highest performance when the cue prompting the action was visually presented, whereas older children's performance benefited from enactment of the response. However, results from Experiment 3 showed that, under conditions which emphasise the link between the cue and the action to be performed, even younger children's memory benefits from motoric enactment of the response. These results are discussed in terms of the development of specific integration processes necessary for prospective memory retrieval.
Two Trends in the Development of Conceptual Perspective-taking: An Elaboration of the Passive-Active Hypothesis
Authors: Pillow Bradford H.
Published: May 2008

Two developmental trends in conceptual perspective-taking are proposed and these proposals are used to frame a review of the perspective-taking literature. Perspective-taking competence is described in terms of children's understanding of relations between mental states and conditions that influence or determine mental states. The two proposed developmental trends are: (1) older children increasingly differentiate among the effects of conditions that determine mental states; and (2) children progress from understanding direct one-to-one relations between a determining condition and a mental state to understanding interactions in which one condition mediates the effects of another in producing a mental state.
Sleep Patterns of Infants and Young Children in Israel
Authors: Scher Anat , Tirosh Emanuel , Jaffe Michael , Rubin Lisa , Sadeh Avi , Lavie Peretz
Published: May 2008

The sleep habits of 661 Israeli children between the ages of 4 months and 4 years were described by their mothers. Twenty-eight per cent reported that their children woke up at least once a week. In the group of regular wakers, the mean number of interrupted nights per week was 4.7, and the mean number of awakenings per night was 2.0. Significant age-related changes in sleep patterns were indicated. The results of this study suggest that sleep and settling patterns in different sociocultural groups are quite similar. These data indicate the existence of an inherent pattern in the maturation of sleep behaviour in the developing child.
The Socialisation of Trust: Parents' and Children's Interpersonal Trust
Authors: Rotenberg Ken J.
Published: May 2008

In an investigation of the socialisation of trust, 72 parents and their 50 elementary schoolchildren completed trust belief scales and played a Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) game with each other and with a stranger. In addition, parents described incidents designed to reveal their promise fulfilment to their children. The study yielded positive correlations between: (1) mothers' promise fulfilment to their children and their children's trust beliefs in mothers, fathers, and teachers; and (2) mothers' trust beliefs and their children's trust beliefs in teachers. Additionally, fathers' promised co-operation in the PD game was correlated with their children's promised co-operation in the PD game in interactions with fathers, mothers, and strangers. The findings of this study suggest that mothers shape their children's trust beliefs whereas fathers shape their children's trusting behaviour in a play context.
Academic Support by Significant Others and Educational Resilience in Mexican-Origin Ninth Grade Students From Intact Families
Authors: Plunkett Scott W. , Henry Carolyn S. , Houltberg Benjamin J. , Sands Tovah , Abarca-Mortensen Sandra
Published: May 2008

This study used dominance analysis to examine the relative importance of ninth grade, Mexican-origin adolescents' perceptions of academic support from significant others (i.e., mothers, fathers, teachers, and friends) in relation to aspects of academic success. Self-report and school record data were collected from 216 Mexican-origin adolescents living in intact families. The results revealed that teachers' academic support was the most salient predictor of academic satisfaction and grade point average for both female and male students. Academic support from the opposite-sex parent explained the most variation in academic motivation. Academic support from friends was least important in explaining academic outcomes. Implications for schools and educators are presented.
Revising Perry's Measurement Scale of Public Service Motivation
Authors: Kim Sangmook
Published: May 2008

J. L. Perry (1996) identified a 24-item multidimensional scale to measure public service motivation (PSM). But the measurement scale of PSM is not fully examined. On the basis of Perry's items, S. Kim (in press) produced a 14-item scale of four factors, but the dimension of attraction to policy making (APM) in the second-order model is doubtful. The present study revises the questionable items of the APM dimension into more positive and relevant ones and tests whether the dimension of APM is valid. Two independent samples ( n1 = 690 and n 2 = 498) are used for the scale validation. The statistical analysis applied confirmatory factor analysis using Amos 7.0. The modification process, which generated a 12-item scale for four factors, produced a valid and reliable measure: the test results provided support for convergent validity as well as discriminant validity of the four-factor model, and the reliability coefficients of all subscales were good.
Seeking for Risk Factors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in a Greek National Sample
Authors: Papadakaki Maria , Tzamalouka Georgia S. , Chatzifotiou Sevasti , Chliaoutakis Joannes
Published: May 2008

The objective of this article is to gain a better understanding of the magnitude of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Greece and to explore factors associated with increased risk of IPV prevalence. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1,122 men and women, aged 18 to 65, who are residents of urban areas of Greece. The questionnaire used included 3 sections and 39 items that examined the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, rate of IPV victimization and perpetration (physical, sexual, emotional), childhood experience of violence, and level of self-esteem. Statistical analysis showed self-esteem to be significantly associated with physical violence victimization and perpetration (odds ratio [OR] = .975, confidence interval [CI] = .955—.996; OR = .972, CI = .951—.993, respectively), whereas experience of abuse during childhood was shown to be a strong predictor in all six models of IPV victimization and perpetration ( p < .001). Finally, gender, age and years of cohabitation were some sociodemographic and background characteristics found to increase the risk of specific forms of IPV. Conclusions drawn from the current study should be taken into account in attempts aiming at preventing or ameliorating the problem.
Comparison of Violence and Abuse in Juvenile Correctional Facilities and Schools
Authors: Davidson-Arad Bilha , Benbenishty Rami , Golan Miriam
Published: May 2008

Peer violence, peer sexual harassment and abuse, and staff abuse experienced by boys and girls in juvenile correctional facilities are compared with those experienced by peers in schools in the community. Responses of 360 youths in 20 gender-separated correctional facilities in Israel to a questionnaire tapping these forms of mistreatment were compared with those of 7,012 students in a representative sample of Israeli junior high and high schools. Victimization was reported more frequently by those in correctional facilities than by those in schools. However, some of the more prevalent forms of violence and abuse were reported with equal frequency in both settings, and some more frequently in schools. Despite being victimized more frequently, those in the correctional facilities tended to view their victimization as a significantly less serious problem than those in the schools and to rate the staff as doing a better job of dealing with the problem.
The Effectiveness of Supermarket Posters in Helping to Find Missing Children
Authors: Lampinen James Michael , Arnal Jack , Hicks Jason L.
Published: May 2008

One approach used to help find missing children is to place posters of them at the exits of supermarkets. The present research addresses the question of how effective that approach is likely to be. Posters of 8 missing children were displayed on a bulletin board at a cooperating grocery store. Customers leaving the store completed a survey and took a recognition memory test for the children. Most customers thought the problem of missing children was an important issue. However, the majority of customers also reported either not looking at the posters or only briefly looking at the posters. Recognition memory for children depicted in the posters did not reliably differ from chance. It appears that there is much room for improvement when it comes to increasing the attention paid to posters meant to help find missing children.
Self-Esteem of Young Adults Experiencing Interparental Violence and Child Physical Maltreatment
Authors: Shen April Chiung-Tao
Published: May 2008

This study examined the joint impact of experiencing both interparental violence and child physical maltreatment on young adults' self-esteem. It also tested the hypothesis of parental and peer relationship qualities as mediators in the relationship between childhood histories of family violence and adult self-esteem. Data were collected from a national probability sample of 1,924 college students in Taiwan. Research results demonstrated that experiencing both interparental violence and physical maltreatment during childhood have long-term and detrimental impact on adult self-esteem. This impact was statistically independent of other potential confounding factors. Moreover, participants experiencing dual violence during childhood reported lower self-esteem than those experiencing only one type of family violence or none at all. Male participants who experienced dual violence reported lower self-esteem than female participants who experienced dual violence. Further analyses revealed that parental and peer relationship qualities mediated the joint impact of interparental violence and physical maltreatment on adult self-esteem.
Assessing Treatment Readiness in Violent Offenders
Authors: Day Andrew , Howells Kevin , Casey Sharon , Ward Tony , Chambers Jemma C. , Birgden Astrid
Published: May 2008

Although violent offenders are widely considered to be difficult to engage in therapeutic change, few methods of assessing treatment readiness currently exist. In this article the validation of a brief self-report measure designed to assess treatment readiness in offenders who have been referred to violent offender treatment programs is described. The measure, which is an adaptation of a general measure of treatment readiness developed in a previous work, displayed acceptable levels of convergent and discriminant validity and was able to successfully predict treatment engagement in violent offender treatment. These results suggest that the measure has utility in the assessment of treatment readiness in violent offenders.
Transnational Crimes Against Culture
Authors: Bowman Blythe A.
Published: May 2008

Diversified transnational criminal activities coupled with broader geographic capabilities have turned the black and white line between the licit “upperworld” and the illicit underworld a murky shade of grey, and the illicit antiquities trade is no exception. This article highlights criminal dynamics of trafficking in looted antiquities from the perspective of the source end of the problem—that is, theft of antiquities from archaeological sites and their illicit export. Trafficking in antiquities is a crime of transnational proportions because it involves the illegal removal and export of cultural material from source countries, which supplies the demand generated from developed, rich, market economies.
Review Article: End-of-Life Care for Old People: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Agren Bolmsjo Ingrid
Published: May 2008

The aim of this study was to make an inventory of various aspects of end-of-life care of the old people. An additional aim was to illuminate gaps in existing knowledge. A systematic literature review focusing on intervention studies was carried out. Three concepts were of special interest: end-of-life care, palliative care, and terminal care. The result encompassed 29 studies, and the articles were grouped together under 4 headings: education and support for close relatives, education and support for staff, education and support for patients, and articles dealing with care planning. The result highlights the need for further research regarding end-of-life care in geographical and cultural settings that differ from those in the USA, needs of old people (ie, 80+), preferences concerning end-of-life care, and the effect of adjusted and generalizable palliative care models.
A Reconsideration of Two “Welfare Paradises”
Authors: Balkmar Dag , Iovanni LeeAnn , Pringle Keith
Published: May 2008

This article compares the situation in Denmark and Sweden regarding research and policy making around the issue of men’s violence to women and children. It does so by drawing on two comprehensive reviews of academic and policy data in those countries that were part of a broader European Union—funded project. Although the picture emerging from this comparison is complex, the overall conclusion is that in Sweden over recent years many more examples can be found of a critical, power-oriented approach than is the case in Denmark.
Treating Comorbid Social Anxiety and Alcohol Use Disorders
Authors: Buckner Julia D. , Ledley Deborah Roth , Heimberg Richard G. , Schmidt Norman B.
Published: May 2008

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) co-occur at particularly high rates, resulting in greater impairment than either disorder alone. Thus, the development of effective treatments for patients with SAD and comorbid AUD is an important clinical and research aim. Yet little work has examined treatments for SAD with comorbid AUD. Given the efficacy of motivation enhancement therapy (MET) for AUD and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for SAD, combining MET with CBT may decrease symptoms of both AUD and SAD. The present case study outlines the successful use of combined MET-CBT to treat a 33-year-old man with a long history of generalized SAD with AUD. Following 19 sessions of MET-CBT, the patient was considered in remission for both disorders, with notable decreases in social anxiety and alcohol-related problems (with continued gains at 6-month follow-up). Although these data are preliminary, they indicate that the combination of MET and CBT may be a viable approach to the treatment for patients with SAD and comorbid AUD.
Use of Stimulus Fading and Functional Assessment to Treat Pill Refusal With an 8-Year-Old Boy Diagnosed With ADHD
Authors: Reitman David , Passeri Celine
Published: May 2008

Pharmacological treatments improve functioning for many of the core problems characteristic of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Pharmacological treatment is also useful when delivered in combination with behavior management procedures. However, many children find swallowing pills and capsules difficult, and many refuse treatment outright. There are limited resources available to parents confronted with their children's pill refusal behaviors, especially when these difficulties are not because of skills- or anxiety-related problems. This study describes the use of stimulus fading and functional assessment to eliminate pill refusal with an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with ADHD. The study is a replication and extension of procedures described by Anderson, Ruggiero, and Adams to facilitate pill swallowing for a child diagnosed with HIV. Completely independent pill swallowing was achieved after 12 sessions of stimulus fading supplemented by a functional behavioral assessment. Functional assessment suggested that pill refusal behavior was related to positive (attention) and negative (avoidance) reinforcement.
A Girl With Multiple Disabilities Increases Object Manipulation and Reduces Hand Mouthing Through a Microswitch-Based Program
Authors: Lancioni Giulio E. , Singh Nirbhay N. , O'Reilly Mark F. , Sigafoos Jeff , Didden Robert , Oliva Doretta , Cingolani Eleonora
Published: May 2008

The study was an effort to help a girl with multiple disabilities increase object manipulation responses and reduce hand mouthing, carried out according to an ABAB sequence (in which A represented baseline phases; B, treatment phases) and including a 3-month follow-up. During the baseline phases, a microswitch cluster (i.e., a combination of microswitches) was used to monitor the girl's object manipulation responses and hand mouthing. Indices of happiness were also recorded. During the treatment phases and follow-up, the microswitch cluster was combined with the use of preferred stimuli for object manipulation responses. The stimuli lasted an 8-s period at each response if the girl remained free from hand mouthing through that period, but were interrupted if hand mouthing appeared. The results show that the girl increased object manipulation responses, learned to refrain from hand mouthing for most of the session time, maintained this performance over time, and showed an increase in indices of happiness.
A Review of TV Viewing and Its Association With Health Outcomes in Adults
Authors: Williams David M. , Raynor Hollie A. , Ciccolo Joseph T.
Published: May 2008

Observational studies of the relationship between TV viewing and health outcomes (overweight/obesity, cholesterol/lipids, blood pressure/hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome) in adults are reviewed. Studies indicate that in adults, greater amounts of TV viewing are consistently associated with increased overweight risk, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, but that results are mixed regarding the relationship between adult TV viewing and other health outcomes. It is theorized that greater TV viewing is related to increased weight status and poorer health outcomes by reducing energy expenditure, predominantly through reducing time spent in physical activity, and increasing energy intake. No randomized trials that manipulated TV viewing time measured the effects of this manipulation on diet and physical activity and then measured future health outcomes in adults. However, experimental studies, predominantly conducted in children, show relationships between TV viewing, energy intake, physical activity, and weight status, which follow the hypothesized mechanisms. Interventions targeting TV viewing in adults appear to be justified, and proposed methods for conducting these interventions, as well as potential barriers to implementing these interventions, are discussed.
Translating Cancer Control Research Into Primary Care Practice: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Graham Amanda L. , Kerner Jon F. , Quinlan Kathleen M. , Vinson Cynthia , Best Allan
Published: May 2008

Effective dissemination, implementation, and adoption of research-tested lifestyle risk factor interventions within primary care are critical to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to identify short- and long-term action steps within primary care research and practice to bridge the discovery-to-delivery gap in cancer prevention and control. Experts in primary care research and practice from the United States and Canada participated in this qualitative project. Concept mapping was used to synthesize expert input on actions to improve research-practice integration in cancer prevention and control. Results were used to facilitate an action-planning meeting among primary care researchers and practitioners. Five areas were identified as critical to improving the integration of research and practice in cancer prevention and control: (1) stakeholder collaborations, (2) organizational culture and structure, (3) learning infrastructure, (4) incentives and funding, and (5) data and accountability systems. Addressing the discovery-to-delivery gap in primary care requires collaboration among researchers and practitioners throughout the knowledge production cycle. The model developed in this project can be used to stimulate actions at the individual, organizational, and systems level to reduce the burden of cancer related to lifestyle risk factors.
Deformation behaviour and formability of LZ90 Mg alloy
Authors: Hsu C. C. , Wu H. Y. , Zhou G. Z. , Chiu C. H. , Lee S.
Published: May 2008

This work examined the deformation characteristics of a LZ90 Mg alloy sheet with a thickness of 0˙6 mm using uniaxial tension and press forming tests at various temperatures. The influences of anisotropy and temperature on deformation behaviour were investigated. Formability parameters such as average plastic strain ratio, planar anisotropy and work hardening exponent were determined by tensile test results. The forming limit diagrams have been experimentally evaluated at various temperatures. Anisotropic behaviours were observed in the mechanical properties at all test temperatures. The tensile properties and formability parameters were correlated with the forming limit diagrams.
Effect of cooling rate on solidification microstructures in AISI 304 stainless steel
Authors: Fu J. W. , Yang Y. S. , Guo J. J. , Tong W. H.
Published: May 2008

AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel was cast into a water cooled copper mould with wedge shaped slot to investigate the effect of cooling rates on its microstructural evolution and solidification sequences between δ ferrite and austenite phases. Dendritic δ ferrite forms at the base of the sample where the cooling rate is low. With increasing cooling rate, the solidification mode is transformed from primary ferrite mode to primary austenite mode resulted from the phase selection. The metastable austenite solidifies as the primary phase due to its kinetic advantage when the growth rate is sufficiently high. With the higher cooling rate at the tip of the sample, the morphology of the austenite phase transforms from dendritic to cellular.
Estrogen and progesterone receptor levels in nonneoplastic breast epithelium of breast cancer cases versus benign breast biopsy controls
Authors: Woolcott Christy G , SenGupta Sandip K , Hanna Wedad M , Aronson Kristan J
Published: May 2008

Background

Previous studies and biological mechanisms of carcinogenesis suggest that the steroid receptor content of benign breast epithelium may be related to breast cancer risk. The objective in this study was to compare the levels of estrogen receptor-α (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in nonneoplastic breast epithelium between breast cancer cases and biopsy controls.

Methods

Between 1995 and 1997 at two sites (Women's College Hospital in Toronto and Kingston General Hospital), 667 women who were scheduled for diagnostic excisional breast biopsies completed a questionnaire providing personal information and agreed to allow analysis of routinely resected tissue. Histological slides with nonneoplastic epithelium were available for 101 cancer cases and 200 biopsy controls in Toronto and for 105 cancer cases and 119 controls in Kingston. Nonneoplastic epithelium was examined with immunohistochemical assays to determine the percent of epithelial cells staining for ER and PR. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) stratified by study site.

Results

The ER content of nonneoplastic tissue was higher in cases than biopsy controls in unadjusted analyses; after adjustment for age, however, a weak association remained in only one of the study sites. After adjustment for age, the PR content of nonneoplastic tissue was slightly lower in breast cancer cases than controls in one study site. Furthermore, this inverse association was confined to women with PR negative breast cancer in comparison to the controls. No interaction between ER and PR content of nonneoplastic tissue was observed in relation to the odds of having breast cancer.

Conclusion

The results of this study are consistent with only a slight indication of increased ER levels in nonneoplastic tissue in breast cancer cases relative to controls. This study contributes to the understanding of breast cancer by examining both ER and PR in nonneoplastic tissue. Limitations remain, however, such as the necessity of using as controls women with benign breast changes, difficulties in selecting the appropriate tissue for analysis, and tissue sampling concurrent to diagnosis.