bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bursaphelenchus firmae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae), isolated from Monochamus grandis Waterhouse that emerged from dead firs, Abies firma Sieb. et Zucc.
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Maehara Noritoshi , Aikawa Takuya , Matsumoto Kazuma
Published: April 2012

Bursaphelenchus firmae n. sp. is described. This new species was isolated during a field survey of longhorn beetle-associated nematodes. The fourth-stage dispersal (dauer) juveniles of the new species were recovered from dissected bodies (tracheal system) of Monochamus grandis, which emerged from dead logs of Japanese fir, Abies firma, collected from Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan. The new species is mid-sized for the genus, with females 603-828 μm and males 530-698 μm long. Four lateral lines occur on the body surface and seven genital papillae are found in males (P1 ventral single papilla and P2-P4 pairs). A long and arcuate spicule forms a trapezium in lateral view and a rather large, sub-squared, bursal flap and a vulva with conspicuous vulval flap are present. The female tail is smoothly tapered and possesses a conspicuous and blunt mucro. Based upon its diagnostic morphological characters, the new species belongs to the B. xylophilus group of the genus, and is closely related to B. fraudulentus, B. mucronatus, B. doui, B. macromucronatus and B. populi. It is distinguished from these five species by the morphology of the male bursal flap and the female mucro and several morphometric values. Molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from D2/D3 LSU suggest that the new species is close to B. mucronatus and B. xylophilus, i.e., these three species form a well supported monophyletic clade within the genus. Although the new species has a weak pathogenicity to pine trees, it does not seem to be a severe risk to native pine forests.
Teratodiplogaster martini n. sp. and Parasitodiplogaster doliostoma n. sp. (Nematoda: Diplogastridae) from the syconia of Ficus species from Africa
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi , Giblin-Davis Robin M. , Davies Kerrie A. , Center Barbara J.
Published: April 2012

Teratodiplogaster martini n. sp. and Parasitodiplogaster doliostoma n. sp. are described and illustrated from voucher specimens from Ficus sp. and Ficus sur Forsskål, respectively, from Martin et al. (1973). Teratodiplogaster martini n. sp. is characterised by its scoop-like lip, long and slender body, presence of a receptaculum seminis and crustaformeria-like organ in female gonads, and eight pairs of male genital papillae with an arrangement of ⟨P1, P2, P3, C, P4d, P5, (P6, P7), P8d, Ph⟩, and is distinguished from its only congener, T. fignewmani, based upon its stomatal morphology, spicule and gubernaculum morphology, and composition and structure of the female reproductive organs. Parasitodiplogaster doliostoma n. sp. is characterised by its large barrel-shaped stoma comprised of a degenerate cheilostom, well developed gymnostom occupying most of the stoma, and short stegostom with two small triangular teeth, male tail possessing nine pairs of genital papillae with an arrangement of ⟨P1, P2 (P3, C), P4d, P5, (P6, P7, Ph, P8), P9d⟩ and spike-like projection at the distal tip, and conical and smoothly tapering female tail. These characters help to distinguish typologically this new species from all 13 nominal species in the genus. The emended genus definition of Parasitodiplogaster and morphological characters of the Koerneria/Parasitodiplogaster/Teratodiplogaster clade are also discussed.
Yield loss caused by soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, in Iran
Authors: Heydari Ramin , Tanha Maafi Zahra , Pourjam Ebrahim
Published: April 2012

The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, is of major economic importance and widely distributed throughout the world. The effect of H. glycines HG Type 0 on seed yield of susceptible and resistant soybean cultivars was assessed with and without nematicide application in two naturally infested fields in Iran. Soybean cvs BP (susceptible) and DPX (resistant) were arranged in a randomised complete block design and fenamiphos 10G was used in-furrow as a treatment. The population levels of eggs and second-stage juveniles of H. glycines were determined in soil samples collected at planting and harvesting time. Although no above-ground symptoms of nematode infection were visible, mean yield was 48% greater for the resistant cultivar compared with the susceptible cultivar. The yield of cv. BP increased by 16% in plots treated with fenamiphos compared with untreated plots. The resistant cultivar suppressed the reproduction rate of H. glycines. Seed composition, including protein and oil, did not show significant differences between resistant and susceptible cultivars. This is the first demonstration of the yield loss caused by the soybean cyst nematode in Iran.
A new entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema xinbinense n. sp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), from north China
Authors: Ma Juan , Ma Juan , Chen Shulong , Ma Juan , Chen Shulong , De Clercq Patrick , Ma Juan , Chen Shulong , De Clercq Patrick , Waeyenberge Lieven , Ma Juan , Chen Shulong , De Clercq Patrick , Waeyenberge Lieven , Han Richou , Ma Juan , Chen Shulong , De Clercq Patrick , Waeyenberge Lieven , Han Richou , Moens Maurice
Published: April 2012

During a survey for entomopathogenic nematodes in northern China, a new species of Steinernema was isolated from soil samples collected from Xinbin county, Liaoning province. This nematode was obtained by the insect-baiting technique using last instar larvae of Galleria mellonella. It is described herein as S. xinbinense n. sp. The nematode can be separated from other described species of the group by morphological and morphometric characteristics of the different stages and by characterisation and phylogeny of DNA sequences of the D2D3 domain of the LSU or ITS regions of rDNA. This new species is characterised by the following morphological characters: infective third-stage juvenile with a body length of 694 (635-744) μm, distance from head to excretory pore of 51 (46-53) μm, tail length of 73 (61-81) μm, E = 71 (65-78)%, presence of eight unevenly spaced and developed ridges in middle lateral field (i.e., nine lines). First generation male with well curved, yellowish spicules 56 (49-62) μm long and gubernaculum 35 (30-41) μm long, small mucron mostly present, first generation female with protruding vulva, tail conical with one or two small mucrons and D = 45 (41-50)%. Cross hybridisation tests with S. tielingense, S. kraussei, S. feltiae and S. hebeiense showed that this species was reproductively isolated. The analyses of ITS-rDNA and D2D3 sequence confirm that the studied nematode isolate is a valid new species belonging to the ‘feltiae-kraussei-oregonense’ group.
Modifications in the surface organisation of the epidermis on the outer surface of the operculum and the epithelium lining the inner surface of the operculum in certain fresh water teleosts
Authors: Mittal Swati , Kumari Usha , Mittal Ajay Kumar
Published: April 2012

The outer surface of the opercular epidermis (OE) and the epithelium lining the inner surface of the operculum (EISO) ofMacrognathus aculeatum,Colisa fasciataandGlossogobius giuriswas investigated using scanning electron microscopy to unravel their surface ultrastructure. In the fish species investigated, the OE is thick, compared to the EISO. The OE and the EISO remain covered with a mosaic pavement of irregularly polygonal epithelial cells. The free surface of the epithelial cells is thrown into a series of microridges. Modifications in the pattern of microridges could be caused by various intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Interspersed between the epithelial cells in the OE mucous cell pores, mitochondria-rich cells, taste buds and superficial neuromasts could be located. In the EISO, in contrast, taste buds and neuromasts are absent. The modifications in the surface organisations at the OE and EISO in different fish species have been associated to perform a variety of functions and have been discussed in the light of the varied conditions experienced by them.
Habitat use, but not dispersal limitation, as the mechanism behind the aggregated population structure of the mygalomorph species Atypus affinis
Authors: Pétillon Julien , Deruytter David , Decae Arthur , Renault David , Bonte Dries
Published: April 2012

Dispersal and habitat selection are the main factors that affect the distribution of species in spatially structured habitat. Species typically occurring in an aggregated way are supposed to experience dispersal limitation or to be highly selective for specific habitat attributes in their environment. In order to understand the distribution pattern of a mygalomorph spider species,Atypus affinis, we conducted an intensive survey to detect correlations of spider densities with specific habitat variables and empirically tested the dispersal propensity of spiderlings. In the field, the spiders exhibited an aggregated distribution correlated with patches of heathlands (dominated byCalluna vulgaris). Contrary to our expectations, laboratory experiments revealed a very high dispersal propensity in juveniles (more than 80% of individuals dispersed at least once during two experiments). This dispersal was strongly context dependent with a pronounced negative effect of starvation and a positive effect of clutch size. Kin competition is hypothezised to be the driving force behind these high dispersal abilities. The aggregation ofA. affinisis a likely result of habitat use rather than dispersal limitation.
An ancestral axial twist explains the contralateral forebrain and the optic chiasm in vertebrates
Authors: de Lussanet Marc H.E. , Osse Jan W.M.
Published: April 2012

Among the best-known facts of the brain are the contralateral visual, auditory, sensational, and motor mappings in the forebrain. How and why did these evolve? The few theories to this question provide functional answers, such as better networks for visuomotor control. However, these theories contradict the data, as discussed here. Instead we propose that a 90-deg turn on the left side evolved in a common ancestor of all vertebrates. Compensatory migrations of the tissues during development restore body symmetry. Eyes, nostrils and forebrain compensate in the direction of the turn, whereas more caudal structures migrate in the opposite direction. As a result of these opposite migrations the forebrain becomes crossed and inverted with respect to the rest of the nervous system. We show that such compensatory migratory movements can indeed be observed in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the chick (Gallus gallus). With a model we show how the axial twist hypothesis predicts that an optic chiasm should develop on the ventral side of the brain, whereas the olfactory tract should be uncrossed. In addition, the hypothesis explains the decussation of the trochlear nerve, why olfaction is non-crossed, why the cerebellar hemispheres represent the ipsilateral bodyside, why in sharks the forebrain halves each represent the ipsilateral eye, why the heart and other inner organs are asymmetric in the body. Due to the poor fossil record, the possible evolutionary scenarios remain speculative. Molecular evidence does support the hypothesis. The findings may shed new insight on the problematic structure of the forebrain.
Effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides on sex hormones and receptors in mandarin vole Leydig cells
Authors: Wang Jianli , Wang Huichun , Tai Fadao
Published: April 2012

Multiglycosides ofTripterygium wilfordii(GTW) have been found to exhibit reversible antifertility effects through complex mechanisms. The positive expression of sex hormones and receptors in Leydig cells were investigated following GTW treatment to determine the impact of GTW on male mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus) fertility. Compared to the control group, body weight, testis and epididymis weight were not affected by GTW, but the number of sperm sharply declined. There were significant decreases in the thickness of seminifeous epithelium and epididymal epithelium, and the diameter of seminiferous tubules. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in Leydig cells significantly decreased and estradiol (E) expression significantly increased. Testosterone (T) and androgen receptor (AR) expression were not affected. These results show that GTW may impair fertility in male mandarin voles via interference with spermatogenesis. This may be associated with an alteration in estrogen activation rather than suppression of T and AR in Leydig cells and suggests the estrogen system of Leydig cells is of major importance for the GTW’s antifertility effects.
Intraspecific predation in the Liolaemus lizard radiation: a primer
Authors: Pincheira-Donoso Daniel
Published: April 2012

Intraspecific predation (cannibalism) occurs in a number of lizard species, although the incidence of this trophic behaviour appears to be infrequent. Within the South AmericanLiolaemuslizard evolutionary radiation, the primary component of the carnivorous diet (herbivory has also evolved in several species) includes a diversity of arthropods and other invertebrates. However, a number of cases of saurophagy, mostly cannibalism, have also been reported in different species. Here, I review for the first time the occurrence of cannibalism in this prominent group of lizards, one of the largest and more ecologically diverse living adaptive radiations. Adults of fiveLiolaemusspecies have previously been reported to feed on conspecific hatchlings, and one additional case (L. zapallarensis) is reported in this paper. In general, cannibalism is found in species located at the right side of the body size frequency distribution, while no cases have been reported on the far left range of body sizes, suggesting that cannibalism is more common in large species. Only one species of medium size (L. darwinii) is known to feed on conspecifics. In addition, males are responsible for 83% of the cases of cannibalism, while only one case of female cannibalism is known (L. chiliensis). Finally, no clear phylogenetic signal can be inferred from these observations, as the six reported cannibal species belong to four of the five mainLiolaemusclades.
General legislative measures of implementation: individual claims, ‘public officer’s law’ and a case study on the UNCRC in Wales
Authors: Williams Jane
Published: April 2012

This article is concerned with ways in which integration of the UNCRC within national legal systems can help support realisation of the objectives of the UNCRC. Whilst the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child rightly attaches importance to justiciability of the provisions of the Convention, equally important for many of the UNCRC’s provisions are strong parliamentary and administrative mechanisms which do not depend on an individual claim of rights violation. Advantages of such mechanisms include greater opportunities for deliberative engagement and for measurement of impact on the lives of children. The article considers the proposed Rights of Children and Young People (Wales) Measure 2010 as a legislative model for such a mechanism.
Discipline Methods within the Israeli Education System: Arab and Jewish teachers’ Attitudes
Authors: Khoury-Kassabri Mona , Ben-Harush Aya
Published: April 2012

Arab and Jewish teachers’ attitudes regarding punitive and non-punitive methods to correct students’ misbehaviour were examined. The study used data from 538 classroom teachers in Israel. Teachers’ attitudes are examined using the Dimensions of Discipline Inventory. The results revealed that teachers highly approve the use of non-punitive discipline methods. Still, many teachers supported the use of punitive discipline methods to correct students’ misbehaviour. Punitive discipline methods were more supported by Arab teachers compared to Jewish teachers, especially when the violence was directed toward a teacher. These results may reflect teachers’ lack of knowledge; many teachers use corporal punishment and other punitive discipline methods because they lack the alternative skills and tools to deal with students misbehaviour. Hence, it is essential to help teachers cope effectively with difficult situations without resorting to violence. Training opportunities for teachers in Israel and other countries need to be expanded.
Access to genetic and birth origins information for people conceived following third party assisted conception in the United Kingdom
Authors: Blyth Eric
Published: April 2012

In the United Kingdom, four distinct time periods may be identified during which differentiated information about their genetic origins may be available to a donor-conceived person. In addition, an individual conceived as the result of a surrogacy arrangement and who is also subject to a subsequent Parental Order may access differentiated information relating to the surrogacy arrangement dependent on which of the UK nations the Parental Order was made in. This paper outlines the historical, legal and social context of these provisions and identifies continuing issues for debate and possible further regulatory and legislative reform.
Undoing the Future: The Theology of the Book of Zechariah
Authors: Foster Robert
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Reading the book of Zechariah as a whole for its theology requires giving special attention to the way that the historical narratives in 1:1-6, 7-8, and 11:4-17 shape the discourse. The opening narrative, 1:1-6, delineates the movement of the book as YHWH returns to Zion and so calls for the returning exiles to return to their god. Chapters seven and eight clarify what it means for the people to return to YHWH, in line with the earlier prophets’ call to pursue justice. 11:4-17 narrates the failure of especially the leaders to enact justice and the consequences of this failure. Nevertheless, the book affirms the promise of YHWH to do good to Zion, even if modified and cast into the eschatological future.
Moroccan Muslim Women and Identity Negotiation in Diasporic Spaces
Authors: Elmoudden Sanae
Published: April 2012

The complexity of today’s heterogeneous world demands more than the dominant binary of Islam versus West established via the identity framework of critical communication and cultural studies, particularly when discussing diasporic spaces. Drawing on qualitative interviews with twenty Muslim Moroccan women, conducted in the United States and Morocco and informed by interdisciplinary research on space, this paper argues that attaining the diasporic space should be understood both in terms of physical migration and in terms of discursive migration that includes non-territorial movement. The paper starts by addressing the debate on diasporic spaces, the local or global spaces that can still be considered diasporic in an era of mediated communications. Second, the paper illustrates how the respondents negotiate diasporic identities in relation to both physical migration and discursive immigration. Finally, it considers how these young women are exploring possibilities for their gender identities by drawing on alternative diasporic identifications.
Dmax for Stereoscopic Depth Perception with Simulated Monovision Correction
Authors: Qian Jin , Adeseye Samuel A. , Stevenson Scott B. , Patel Saumil S. , Bedell Harold E.
Published: April 2012

Purpose: Persons who wear monovision correction typically receive a clear image in one eye and a blurred image in the other eye. Although monovision is known to elevate the minimum stereoscopic threshold (Dmin), it is uncertain how it influences the largest binocular disparity for which the direction of depth can reliably be perceived (Dmax). In this study, we comparedDmaxfor stereo when one eye’s image is blurred toDmaxwhen both eyes’ images are either clear or blurred.

Methods: The stimulus was a pair of vertically oriented, random-line patterns. To simulate monovision correction with +1.5 or +2.5 D defocus, the images of the line patterns presented to one eye were spatially low-pass filtered while the patterns presented to the other eye remained unfiltered.

Results: Compared to binocular viewing without blur,Dminis elevated substantially more in the presence of monocular than binocular simulated blur.Dmaxis reduced in the presence of simulated monocular blur by between 13 and 44%, compared to when the images in both eyes are clear. In contrast, when the targets presented to both eyes are blurred equally,Dmaxeither is unchanged or increases slightly, compared to the values measured with no blur.

Conclusion: In conjunction with the elevation ofDmin, the reduction ofDmaxwith monocular blur indicates that the range of useful stereoscopic depth perception is likely to be compressed in patients who wear monovision corrections.
Skeptical Theism, Moral Skepticism, and Divine Commands
Authors: Aikin Scott , Ribeiro Brian
Published: April 2012

Over the last twenty-five years skeptical theism has become one of the leading contemporary responses to the atheological argument from evil. However, more recently, some critics of skeptical theism have argued that the skeptical theists are in fact unwittingly committed to a malignant form of moral skepticism. Several skeptical theists have responded to this critique by appealing to divine commands as a bulwark against the alleged threat of moral skepticism. In this paper we argue that the skeptical theists’ appeal to divine commands fails to rescue their position from the threat of a worrisome form of moral skepticism.
Clinical Presentation and Cardiovascular Risk Profiles in Patients With Left Main Coronary Artery Disease in a Middle Eastern Country
Authors: Gehani A. A , El-Menyar Ayman , Elgendy Islam , Abuzaid Ahmed , Ahmed Emad , Haque Saiful
Published: April 2012

We evaluated the prevalence and clinical profile of patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) in Qatar between 2006 and 2010. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with LMCA and patients without LMCA but had severe 3-vessel disease (VeD) eligible for surgical revascularization. Among 7000 patients who underwent coronary angiography, 210 patients had significant LMCA and 200 patients with severe 3VeD were matched for age and sex. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were comparable in the 2 groups. Presentations with myocardial infarction or heart failure were comparable in both groups. Isolated LMCA was 4-fold higher in women ( P = .02). Dyslipidemia and smoking were more prevalent in patients with distal and proximal lesions, respectively. Renal failure was independent predictor of LMCA (adjusted odds ratio: 2.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.43-4.69). One-year mortality was higher in LMCA ( P = .01). The LMCA carries high mortality. Certain cardiovascular risk factors were important predictors of stenosis site.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 Is Correlated With Glycemic Control and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Papatheodorou K. , Papanas N. , Papazoglou D. , Gioka T. , Antonoglou C. , Glaros D. , Maltezos E.
Published: April 2012

We evaluated the serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and their association with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 199 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome ([MetS], group A) in comparison with 109 healthy controls (group B). In group A, MCP-1 levels were significantly ( P < .001) higher than group B and exhibited a positive correlation with HbA1c ( P < .001) and a negative correlation with ankle–brachial index ( P < .001). In the same group, patients with PAD had significantly higher MCP-1 levels compared with those without PAD ( P < .001). In conclusion, T2DM patients with MetS exhibit higher serum MCP-1 levels. The latter is associated with worse glycemic control and PAD. These results suggest a potential contributory role for MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of PAD in the presence of hyperglycemia and MetS in T2DM.
Cusp Catastrophe Models for Cognitive Workload and Fatigue in a Verbally Cued Pictorial Memory Task
Authors: Guastello Stephen J. , Boeh Henry , Schimmels Michael , Gorin Hillary , Huschen Samuel , Davis Erin , Peters Natalie E. , Fabisch Megan , Poston Kirsten
Published: April 2012

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate two cusp catastrophe models for cognitive workload and fatigue. They share similar cubic polynomial structures but derive from different underlying processes and contain variables that contribute to flexibility with respect to load and the ability to compensate for fatigue.

Background:

Cognitive workload and fatigue both have a negative impact on performance and have been difficult to separate. Extended time on task can produce fatigue, but it can also produce a positive effect from learning or automaticity.

Method:

In this two-part experiment, 129 under-graduates performed tasks involving spelling, arithmetic, memory, and visual search.

Results:

The fatigue cusp for the central memory task was supported with the quantity of work performed and performance on an episodic memory task acting as the control parameters. There was a strong linear effect, however. The load manipulations for the central task were competition with another participant for rewards, incentive conditions, and time pressure. Results supported the workload cusp in which trait anxiety and the incentive manipulation acted as the control parameters.

Conclusion:

The cusps are generally better than linear models for analyzing workload and fatigue phenomena; practice effects can override fatigue. Future research should investigate multitasking and task sequencing issues, physical-cognitive task combinations, and a broader range of variables that contribute to flexibility with respect to load or compensate for fatigue.

Applications:

The new experimental medium and analytic strategy can be generalized to virtually any real-world cognitively demanding tasks. The particular results are generalizable to tasks involving visual search.
Disaster-related psychiatric disorders among survivors of flooding in Ladakh, India
Authors: Ishikawa Motonao , Yamamoto Naomune , Yamanaka Gaku , Suwa Kuniaki , Nakajima Shun , Hozo Reiko , Norboo Tsering , Okumiya Kiyohito , Matsubayashi Kozo , Otsuka Kuniaki
Published: April 2012

Background:

Heavy rainfall in northern India in August 2010 caused flash floods, seriously damaging homes and infrastructure. There have been no major disasters in the history of Ladakh, and no surveys on post-disaster psychiatric disorders have been conducted in this area.

Aims and methods:

To examine the impact of this disaster in Ladakh one month post-disaster, we visited Choglamsar, located near the town of Leh, where the flood had the most severe impact. In total, 318 survivors (mean age: 58.6 years; female–male ratio: 59.7%; Tibetan refugees: 86.2%) participated in the survey. We used the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) along with questions covering background characteristics and disaster exposure. A psychiatrist interviewed the survivors with a single or double positive score in the PHQ-2 or with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Results and conclusion:

There were only two PTSD cases and five of major depressive disorders. PTSD and depression were less common in the Tibetan cultural areas than in other areas. The social background and temperamental characteristics of the Tibetan culture may play a suppressive role in psychiatric disorders.
Femmes précaires et religion en Allemagne de l’Est
Authors: Sammet Kornelia , Weissmann Marliese
Published: April 2012

The authors explore the role of religion for women in precarious conditions of life in Eastern Germany, one of the most secularized regions in the world. Based on biographical interviews with recipients of welfare benefits they analyze the worldviews of women without religious affiliation in precarious conditions of life, which are characterized by biographical insecurity, low material and symbolic resources and few possibilities for planning and participation. The empirical findings show a dominant scientific worldview, a heritage of the socialist GDR, but also an openness to religious semantics with regard to experiences of contingency. The authors underline the gender differences in relation to religion: the women’s exclusion from the labour market is determined by the perception of contingency while their children offer them an alternative space in which they experience a sense of both hope and duty.
Secularisation and Nationalism: A Critical Review
Authors: Santiago Jose
Published: April 2012

The author aims to analyse the relationships between secularisation and nationalism. In the course of the debate regarding the origin of nationalism, some scholars have argued that nationalism has filled the void left by historical religions. Nationalism could therefore be considered a religion of modernity, or a functional equivalent of historical religions. The author aims to reconsider this issue. First, he explores the sociological origins of the theory of nationalism as a religion of modernity deriving from Durkheim’s Sociology of Religion. Second, he provides an overview of the different versions of this theory. Finally, he assesses the weaknesses of these approaches and proposes an alternative theoretical framework in which to reconsider the relationships between secularisation and nationalism.
Youth Perspectives on Risk and Resiliency
Authors: Morrison Penelope , Nikolajski Cara , Borrero Sonya , Zickmund Susan
Published: April 2012

The present work seeks to contribute to studies of cross-cultural risk and resiliency by presenting results from qualitative research with adolescents attending programs for at-risk youth in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. In 1990, Brazil introduced the Child and Adolescent Act (ECA), a significant piece of legislation that has had a direct impact on how at-risk youth are conceptualized both nationally and locally, through programs that target them. Little, however, is known about how youth in Brazil understand risk behaviors, what factors they believe contribute to risk taking or what they believe promotes resiliency. Furthermore, virtually no qualitative information exists on adolescents who are engaged in programs that use ECA as a prioritizing principle. By examining adolescent perspectives on risk and resiliency in such a context, we highlight the cultural differences in how youth negotiate their daily lives and the implications that continued exclusion of youth has on Brazilian society.
Paramilitarization of the Economy
Authors: Golkar Saeid
Published: April 2012

The Basij, a massive Iranian paramilitary organization, has played a crucial role in the country’s politics, economy, and society at large for the past two decades. While the Basij’s increased formal involvement in the Iranian economy was initially meant to guarantee the welfare of its personnel, the Basij has since extended its influence to every sector of the economy, from construction and real estate to the stock market. The expansion of its economic activity has enhanced the Basij’s control over society and its influence on domestic politics. This article investigates the history, justifications, and consequences of Basij engagement in business and the economy in postrevolutionary Iran.
Cadet Perceptions of Military and Civilian Ideology
Authors: Sondheimer Rachel Milstein , Toner Kevin , Wilson Isaiah
Published: April 2012

Evidence of an actual or perceived gap in ideological beliefs between civilian and military communities informs current debates on the military and its relationship to broader society. The authors examine one cohort of the military and its members’ perception of their own ideology in relation to their civilian counterparts using a 2009 survey of cadets at the United States Military Academy. The authors ascertain cadet perceptions of (1) cadet ideological leanings on individual and aggregate levels, (2) the ideological leanings of the civilian population, and (3) the civilian population’s assessment of the military’s ideological leanings. The authors attempt to discern whether or not this military subpopulation perceives itself as different from the rest of society. The authors find that while members of the Army’s future officer corps perceive themselves as more conservative than their civilian peers and society writ large, as a group they hold rather moderate political views.
Competing Visions of the American Single-Family Home
Authors: Miller Brian J.
Published: April 2012

The single-family home is a critical part of the American Dream, and there has been a long conversation about what houses mean and symbolize. As American homes have grown larger, some of these newer homes have been called McMansions. This study examines the use of this term in the New York Times and Dallas Morning News between 2000 and 2009 and shows that McMansion is a complex term with four distinct meanings: a large house, a relatively large house, a home flawed in architecture or design, and a symbol for more complex issues including sprawl and excessive consumption. The author argues that the usage and meaning of the term differs by metropolitan context, suggesting there may not be a singular national process of “mansionization,” and provides three suggestions for the future study of McMansions.
Little c creativity: A case for our science classroom
Authors: Chander Subhash
Published: April 2012

The number of day-to-day challenges has increased at every stage of life, particularly in developing countries, and therefore there is a crying need for a search for solutions. Education plays an important role in providing correct direction, and science education can prove crucial in achieving this goal. Solutions to individual as well as societal problems would be within our reach if learners were equipped to be creative problem solvers in their daily lives. Science education provides immense opportunities for creativity as the nature of science is inherently creative. This study attempted to find a realistic connection between the ‘little c creativity’ of individuals and science education through a heuristic study with a small group of secondary school learners that tried to develop ‘little c creativity’ in the science classroom. Evidence revealed that science teaching, if done properly, could develop reasoning skills, curiosity, open-mindedness, critical thinking and problem-solving attitudes, all of which are necessary ingredients for the fostering of ‘little c creativity’ in learners.
Discourse presentation and speech (and writing, but not thought) summary
Authors: Short Mick
Published: April 2012

This article outlines the detailed nature of a relatively neglected phenomenon in discourse presentation – speech (and writing but not thought) summary – and considers its consequences for discourse presentation theory. Careful consideration of the phenomenon of clearly intended speech and writing summary, as well as other phenomena where discourse is clearly presented but not reported, helps us to preserve in a focused way the canonical notion of varying degrees of faithfulness in the reporting of speech and writing originating in anterior contexts, something which is necessary, in my view, to explain the prototypical effects of the different categories on the discourse presentation scales in contexts (e.g. fictional speech) where speech is clearly being presented but not reported. I make a distinction between what I call ‘proposition-domain summary’ (where individual propositions are summarized) and ‘discourse-domain summary’ (the summary of larger stretches of discourse), and suggest that, whereas proposition-domain summary is usually associated with what has usually been called the Narrator’s/Reporter’s Representation of a Speech Act (NRSA) on the speech presentation scale and its equivalent Narrator’s/Reporter’s Representation of a Writing Act (NRWA) on the writing presentation scale, discourse-domain summary can in principle be presented using any of the categories on the speech and writing presentation scales. Consequently, I want to propose scales of speech and writing discourse-domain summary to match the traditional speech and writing presentation (i.e. ‘proposition presentation’) scales. I also suggest that the notion of summary does not sensibly apply to thought presentation and consider the theoretical consequences of this. Along the way, I will (i) propose a minor, but hopefully helpful (because I think it is clearer and more accurate), change in the naming of the discourse presentation categories and their associated acronyms, (ii) discuss some interesting ambiguous cases, (iii) consider how we become aware, when reading the presenting text, that discourse is being summarized and (iv) correct some errors in Short (1988) and Chapter 10 of Leech and Short (2007 [1981]) .
Stylistics in China in the new century
Authors: Shen Dan
Published: April 2012

The new century has witnessed the fast development of both ‘traditional Chinese stylistics’ and ‘westernized stylistics’ in China. This article points out that the term ‘style’ (‘ wenti’) has drastically different senses in the two different analytical contexts, and that the two stylistic approaches have very different concerns. With this distinction and clarification paving the way, this article goes on to review the development of ‘westernized stylistics’ in China in the new century, focusing on functional stylistics, cognitive stylistics, pragmastylistics, corpus stylistics and pedagogical stylistics. In China, westernized stylistic research is often carried out in connection with interlingual translation, either to shed new light on the stylistic choices through interlingual contrast, or to provide a new way for translation criticism. The fast development of westernized stylistics in China has to do with the EFL context, where it has attracted a large number of practitioners in the English department. Moreover, the thriving development of westernized stylistics in China in the new century testifies to the increasing international remit Language and Literature and PALA have achieved since more modest beginnings in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s.
Measuring Health Literacy in Individuals With Diabetes
Authors: Al Sayah Fatima , Williams Beverly , Johnson Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2012

Objective. To identify instruments used to measure health literacy and numeracy in people with diabetes; evaluate their use, measurement scope, and properties; discuss their strengths and weaknesses; and propose the most useful, reliable, and applicable measure for use in research and practice settings. Methods. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the instruments. Nutbeam’s domains of health literacy and a diabetes health literacy skill set were used to evaluate the measurement scope of the identified instruments and to evaluate their applicability in people with diabetes. Results. Fifty-six studies were included, from which one diabetes-specific (LAD) and eight generic measures of health literacy (REALM, REALM-R, TOFHLA, s-TOFHLA, NVS, 3-brief SQ, 3-level HL Scale, SILS) and one diabetes-specific (DNT) and two generic measures of numeracy (SNS, WRAT) were identified. These instruments were categorized into direct measures, that is, instruments that assess the performance of individuals on health literacy skills and indirect measures that rely on self-report of these skills. The most commonly used instruments measure selective domains of health literacy, focus mainly on reading and writing skills, and do not address other important skills such as verbal communication, health care system navigation, health-related decision making, and numeracy. The structure, mode, and length of administration and measurement properties were found to affect the applicability of these instruments in clinical and research settings. Indirect self- or clinician-administered measures are the most useful in both clinical and research settings. Conclusion. This review provides an evaluation of available health literacy measures and guidance to practitioners and researchers for selecting the appropriate measures for use in clinical settings and research applications.
Effect of sulfasalazine on inflammation and endothelial function in patients with established coronary artery disease
Authors: Tabit Corey E , Holbrook Monica , Shenouda Sherene M , Dohadwala Mustali M , Widlansky Michael E , Frame Alissa A , Kim Brian H , Duess Mai-Ann , Kluge Matthew A , Levit Aaron , Keaney John F , Vita Joseph A , Hamburg Naomi M
Published: April 2012

Inflammation is critical for atherosclerosis development and may be a target for risk-reduction therapy. In experimental studies, activation of the inflammatory regulator, nuclear factor kappa B (NFlB), contributes to endothelial activation and reduced nitric oxide production. We treated patients with coronary artery disease with sulfasalazine, an inhibitor of NFκB, and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study design. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and digital vascular function were measured at baseline and after each 6-week treatment period. Of the 53 patients enrolled in the crossover study, 32 (age 60 ± 10, 22% female) completed all the visits, with a high rate of study withdrawal due to gastrointestinal side effects. In a subset of 10 participants, we compared the effects of 4 days of sulfasalazine treatment ( n = 5) to no treatment ( n = 5) on NFκB-regulated gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Tumor necrosis factor α-stimulated expression of CD69 and NFlB subunit p50 was significantly blunted after 4 days of sulfasalazine treatment but not after no treatment. However, FMD and digital vasodilator response did not significantly change from baseline with long-term sulfasalazine treatment. Short-term sulfasalazine inhibited NFlB activity; however, long-term treatment was poorly tolerated and did not improve endothelial function. Our findings suggest that sulfasalazine therapy is not the optimal anti-inflammatory treatment for reversing endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease. Further studies are warranted to investigate the potential for NFlB inhibition to reduce cardiovascular risk.
The moralization of healthy living: Burke’s rhetoric of rebirth and older adults’ accounts of healthy eating
Authors: Spoel Philippa , Harris Roma , Henwood Flis
Published: April 2012

This article develops a rhetorical analysis of how older adults in Canada and the UK engage with civic-moral imperatives of healthy living. The analysis draws on Burke’s concepts of ‘symbolic hierarchies’ and the ‘rhetoric of rebirth’ to explore how participants discursively negotiate the moralizing framework of self-regulation and self-improvement central to healthy eating discourse, in particular. Working from the premise that healthy eating is a ‘principle of perfection’ that citizens are encouraged to strive to achieve, the article traces the vocabularies and logical distinctions of ‘guilt’, ‘purification’ and ‘redemption’ in participants’ accounts of what healthy eating means to them. This analysis reveals some of the complex, situated and often strategic ways in which they rearticulate and reconfigure the normative imperatives of healthy eating in ways suited to their lived experience and their priorities for health and well-being in older age.
Autonomy and modern liberal democracy
Authors: Doyle Natalie J.
Published: April 2012

Marcel Gauchet’s recently published theory of democracy sheds light on the way his understanding of modernity emerged from Castoriadis’s notion of autonomy but also deepened it by contextualizing it within a discussion of modern historicity. Modern autonomy means re-shaping the world through a new, transformative, form of power that draws on humanity’s capacity for imaginary creation. Gauchet’s theory of modernity, however, rejects the possibility of radical historical creation. Faithful to the teachings of structuralism, it explores the structural conditions behind the genesis of modern power, which favoured the emergence of a new societal form that produces its own future. Encompassing capitalism, Gauchet’s modern power proposes an essentially paradoxical definition of modern democracy that stresses its essentially liberal dimension neglected by Castoriadis. In modern democracy, humans make their own history by liberating individual subjectivities but this deprives them of the means to direct history: liberalism goes against the aspirations to collective sovereignty.
Negotiating the balance: The triadic relationship between spousal caregivers, people with dementia and Admiral Nurses
Authors: Quinn Catherine , Clare Linda , McGuinness Ted , Woods Robert T
Published: April 2012

Informal caregiving for a person with dementia often takes place within a health care triad, whose members include the caregiver, the care-recipient and the health care-professional. The aim of the current study was to explore how the members work together with this triadic context. Six spousal caregiving dyads and the three Admiral Nurses who worked with the couples were interviewed. Transcripts of these interviews were analysed to form six case studies, each containing the perspectives of the three members of the triad. The processes emerging in these case studies were encompassed under an overarching dynamic process of ‘negotiating the balance’. This describes the ongoing struggle of the members to balance the views of the other members against their own needs. Coalitions could occur as members worked together to tackle problems. The findings of this study highlight the importance of exploring the perspectives of all members of the triad. This should help health care professionals to improve the quality of the support they provide to caregivers and care-recipients.
Developing theoretical understandings of dementia and their application to dementia care policy in the UK
Authors: Innes Anthea , Manthorpe Jill
Published: April 2012

This paper discusses theoretical models for understanding dementia and how these are emerging in the formation and development of dementia care policy across the UK. Dementia attracts multi-disciplinary and multi-professional questions and responses. Three broad theoretical models underpin dementia care policy (as well as practice and research): biomedical, psycho-social and social-gerontological. These are critically assessed and discussed in relation to illustrative examples of dementia policy across three policy regions of the devolved UK. The contribution and implications of theoretical models of dementia policy highlight the importance of recognising how different theoretical understandings of dementia influence dementia policy. The development and improvement of policy and practice in the area of dementia care require an understanding of the often implicit theoretical approaches to dementia.
From Model to Action
Authors: Loyo Heather Karina , Batcher Cynthia , Wile Kristina , Huang Philip , Orenstein Diane , Milstein Bobby
Published: April 2012

Health planners in Austin, Texas, are using a System Dynamics Model of Cardiovascular Disease Risks (SD model) to align prevention efforts and maximize the effect of limited resources. The SD model was developed using available evidence of disease prevalence, risk factors, local contextual factors, resulting health conditions, and their impact on population health. Given an interest in understanding opportunities for upstream health protection, the SD model focused on the portion of the population that has never had a cardiovascular event. Leaders in Austin used this interactive simulation model as a catalyst for convening diverse stakeholders in thinking about their strategic directions and policy priorities. Health officials shared insights from the model with a range of organizations in an effort to align actions and leverage assets in the community to promote healthier conditions for all. This article summarizes the results from several simulated intervention scenarios focusing specifically on conditions in East Travis County, an area marked by higher prevalence of adverse living conditions and related chronic diseases. The article also describes the formation of a new Chronic Disease Prevention Coalition in Austin, along with shifts in its members’ perceived priorities for intervention both before and after interactions with the SD model.