bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interdisciplinarity and the Emerged Shift in the Study of International Relations
Authors: Shayan Fatemeh
Published: May 2013

International Relations (IR) studies have passed through three phases since 1919, when several interdisciplinary interests combined to make up IR, and that interdisciplinarity was of benefit to some other disciplines as well. The second phase, 1950–80, saw IR become more visible, with its key concepts of power, war and security as a sub-discipline of political science – but IR’s autonomy was bought at a high price. The year 1981 brought in the third phase, when some scholars, unconvinced by the traditional concept of IR, launched interdisciplinary studies. Many subsequently emerging issues, such as ethnic conflicts, climate change and energy security, have made it difficult to use traditional IR concepts to create a coherent research agenda. To overcome this difficulty, an agenda for the new millennium is proposed that makes use of the interdisciplinary origins of the study of IR and also develops new interdisciplinary approaches, and Aalto et al.’s works contribute to this line of thinking.
Ethnogeomorphology
Authors: Wilcock Deirdre , Brierley Gary , Howitt Richard
Published: May 2013

Geomorphology offers an effective entry point into wider debates across geography and the sciences, framing understandings of landscapes as manifestations of complex and emergent relationships that can be used as a platform to support conversations among multiple and diverse worldviews. Physical geographers have much to contribute in moving beyond monological (one only) views of landscapes. This paper draws upon concepts of emergence, connectivity and space-time relationality to develop an ‘ethnogeomorphic’ outlook upon biophysical-and-cultural (‘living’) landscapes. This perspective is grounded through ethnographic case studies with Indigenous1 communities in Australia and Canada that examine knowledge production and concerns for environmental negotiation and decision-making. Extending beyond a traditional approach to ethnosciences, ethnogeomorphology seeks to move beyond cross-disciplinary scientific disciplines (and their associated epistemologies) towards a shared (if contested) platform of knowledge transfer and communication that reflects multiple ways of connecting to landscapes. Convergent perspectives upon landscape understandings are highlighted from Indigenous knowledges and emerging, relational approaches to geomorphic analysis. Ethnogeomorphology presents a situated, non-relativist response to people–landscape connections that reflects and advocates sentient relationships to place. Potential applications of ethnogeomorphology as an integrating theme of geographic inquiry are explored, highlighting important tensions in the knowledge production process.
Match Injury Rates in Professional Soccer Vary With Match Result, Match Venue, and Type of Competition
Authors: Bengtsson Håkan , Ekstrand Jan , Waldén Markus , Hägglund Martin
Published: May 2013

Background:

Player activities in soccer matches are influenced by the match result and match venue. It is not known whether injury rates are influenced by these factors.

Purpose:

To investigate whether there are associations between injury rates and the match result, venue, and type of competition in male soccer.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Twenty-six professional clubs from 10 countries were followed prospectively during 9 seasons (2001-2002 to 2009-2010). All matches, and injuries occurring in these matches, were registered by the team’s medical staff. An injury was registered if it resulted in player absence from training or matches. Information about match result, venue, and type of competition for all reported matches was gathered by the authors from online databases. Injury rates in matches with varying match characteristics were compared by use of generalized estimating equations. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results:

A total of 2738 injuries during 6010 matches were registered. There were no associations between odds of 1 injury occurrence and match result or type of competition, whereas the odds were decreased in matches played away compared with home matches (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80-0.99). The odds of 2 or more injury occurrences in a match were increased in matches resulting in a draw (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15-1.69) or loss (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.38-1.98) compared with matches won and were decreased in other cup matches compared with league matches (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.84) and in matches played away compared with home matches (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.60-0.82). Finally, injuries with more than 1 week’s absence occurred more frequently in Champions League matches compared with league matches both for matches with 1 injury (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.45) and matches with 2 or more injuries (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.13-2.20).

Conclusion:

The odds of 2 or more injury occurrences in professional soccer were higher in matches resulting in a loss or a draw compared with a win, whereas the odds of injury occurrences were lower in matches played away compared with home matches. The rate of moderate and severe injuries increased with the importance of the match.
Contributions of Social Desirability to Self-Reported Ageism
Authors: Cherry Katie E. , Allen Priscilla D. , Denver Jenny Y. , Holland Kayla R.
Published: May 2013

The authors examined the role of social desirability in 445 participants’ responses to self-reported measures of ageism across two studies. In Study 1, college students and community adults completed the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE) and a short form of the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (M-C SDS). Study 2 was a conceptual replication that included the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). Correlation analyses confirmed a small but significant relationship between scores on the positive ageist items and the social desirability scale in both studies. Ageist attitudes were correlated with negative ageist behaviors in Study 2. Implications for current views on ageism and strategies for reducing ageist attitudes and behaviors in everyday life are discussed.
Evaluating Alternative Migration Estimation Techniques for Population Estimates and Projections
Authors: Renski Henry , Strate Susan
Published: May 2013

Accurate population estimates are critical to effective planning and policy. This study evaluates county population estimates using three different approaches to estimate domestic migration—typically the most volatile component of population change. Using the 2010 Census as a benchmark, it compares the standard net-migration approach to two gross migration approaches—a biregional approach and a multiregional approach that models migration between county pairs. The biregional model produces the lowest average error and is a good choice when producing estimates for a large number of diverse areas. The multiregional model works well for many counties, but is prone to extreme errors.
Coping With Sexual Stigma
Authors: Kuvalanka Katherine A. , Leslie Leigh A. , Radina Rachel
Published: May 2013

Little is known about how youth with LGB (lesbian, gay, and bisexual) parents experience various forms of sexual stigma (i.e., homophobia and heterosexism). Previous studies have focused primarily on frequency of teasing and harassment; therefore, much less is known about how indirect and institutional types of sexual stigma play out in the lives of these youth. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 emerging adults with lesbian parents to ascertain how they experienced and coped with sexual stigma during middle school and high school. Findings revealed that both enacted (direct and indirect) and structural sexual stigma were salient to participants during their adolescence. The reactions that participants had to sexual stigma varied and were categorized as: fearful, defiant, or detached. Coping strategies, as well as factors that influenced the impact of sexual stigma on participants, were identified. Findings have implications for family professionals, policymakers, and future research.
Simvastatin-activated implant surface promotes osteoblast differentiation in vitro
Authors: Walter Martin Sebastian , Frank Matthias Johannes , Rubert Marina , Monjo Marta , Lyngstadaas Staale Petter , Haugen Håvard Jostein
Published: May 2013

The bone growth promoting effects of statins suggest that these bioactive molecules can be used to improve the integration of bone-anchored implants. This study aimed at the application of simvastatin with dental implants for use in patients with low bone density. Coin-shaped titanium zirconium samples with grit-blasted and acid-etched surface were coated with simvastatin, using a novel anodic oxidation setup under alkaline conditions. The presence of intact simvastatin attached to the surface was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. A binding site on the aliphatic O-H group was discovered and the integration of 1H, 18O and 12C in the depth of the surface were observed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. A simvastatin concentration of about 60 g/cm2 was found in a release study over 72 h. The simvastatin-coated surfaces promoted alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I and osteocalcin gene expression of MC3T3-E1 cells. This suggested that the demonstrated coating holds potential for use in patients with compromised bone.
Holding the Scalpel
Authors: Bezemer Jeff , Cope Alexandra , Kress Gunther , Kneebone Roger
Published: May 2013

In this article, we show what surgical training looks like in situ. Drawing on fieldwork in a London hospital, we explore how a trainer and trainee jointly achieve surgical care when the trainee holds the scalpel. We make this common pedagogic arrangement visible through transcription and analysis of audio- and video-recorded interaction in the operating theater. Through moment-by-moment analysis of the temporal unfolding of action and speech, we show that the actions performed by the trainee with the scalpel serve as mini-gestures, signaling to the trainer where and when the trainee is going to cut. The trainer “reads” these gestures and prompts the trainee to continue or change his course of action through spoken utterances. We use our ethnographic account as a detailed empirical point of reference for reflecting on the challenges and possibilities of surgical education and patient safety in the operating theater.
Tensile and flexural properties of polypropylene/short poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibre composites compatibilized with glycidyl methacrylate and maleic anhydride
Authors: Asgari Mohammad , Masoomi Mahmood
Published: May 2013

In this article, a commercial grade of polypropylene (PP) was reinforced with short poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres up to 30 wt%. In order to have a reactive interface, two different compatibilizers, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-grafted PP and maleic anhydride (MA)-grafted PP, were used. To choose an optimized fibre length for the PET fibre in PP/PET composites, critical PET fibre length was evaluated applying stress analysis and Von Mises yield criterion. PP/PET fibre pre-pegs were prepared by melt impregnation technique using an internal mixer followed by the compression moulding. Tensile and flexural properties were investigated. Morphological studies were carried out by scanning electron microscopy technique. It was observed that the addition of PET fibres enhanced flexural modulus compared with that of pure PP, which was higher for GMA-modified composites. The tensile modulus results also showed enhancement by the addition of PET fibres. However, the tensile modulus of unmodified specimens versus fibre load was little greater than that of unmodified samples up to 15 wt% of fibres due to higher crystallinity. The flexural strength results of modified composites versus fibre wt% also showed enhancement that was higher for those of GMA-modified ones. The fibre to matrix bonding was better in the presence of GMA than that of MA, as revealed by scanning electron micrographs of tensile fracture surfaces. Halpin–Tsai, Pan and Cox–Krenchel equations were applied to predict the tensile modulus of random PET fibre-reinforced PP composites, among which the Pan’s model had the best prediction. To evaluate relative reinforcement at different fibre loads, fibre efficiency factor was calculated for GMA-modified composites.
‘The Internet Is Magic’: Technology, Intimacy and Transnational Families
Authors: Francisco Valerie
Published: May 2013

Drawing on multi-sited ethnography and qualitative research, I argue that the visual register in particular modes of communication technology like Skype and Facebook ushers in a different quality of relationships for transnational families. Most participants in this study are undocumented immigrants unable to return to their families for long periods of time because of legal consequences that will ban them from coming back and working in the USA. On the other hand, their families in the Philippines cannot visit the USA without proper documentation. The economic necessity of working abroad and legal conditions deter family reunification. Consequently, since these families are separated their only means of sustaining their relationships is through communication technology. The new mediums of communication, given their innovations in visuality, frequency and access to one another’s digital lives, present complicated issues as well as different forms of intimacy for members in a transnational family.
Preparation of novel pyridine-based poly(ether amide)s via three different routes and investigation of their properties
Authors: Mehdipour-Ataei Shahram , Gharehkhani Elaheh
Published: May 2013

A new diamine was prepared via two successive reactions: 6-chloronicotinoyl chloride was reacted with 4,4′-oxydianiline and the obtained dichloro product was reacted with 5-amino-1-naphthol. A novel series of poly(ether amide)s containing flexible ether groups, pyridine polar units, and bulky naphthyl units was prepared through polycondensation reactions of the diamine with four diacids via three different routes. Polyamides were prepared by phosphorylation reaction, indirect diacid chloride reaction, and using ionic liquid medium. The effect of reaction conditions on the physical and thermal properties of the polymers such as solution viscosity, solubility, crystallinity, thermal stability, and thermal behavior were investigated.
Enduring Links From Childhood Mathematics and Reading Achievement to Adult Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Ritchie Stuart J. , Bates Timothy C.
Published: May 2013

Understanding the determinants of socioeconomic status (SES) is an important economic and social goal. Several major influences on SES are known, yet much of the variance in SES remains unexplained. In a large, population-representative sample from the United Kingdom, we tested the effects of mathematics and reading achievement at age 7 on attained SES by age 42. Mathematics and reading ability both had substantial positive associations with adult SES, above and beyond the effects of SES at birth, and with other important factors, such as intelligence. Achievement in mathematics and reading was also significantly associated with intelligence scores, academic motivation, and duration of education. These findings suggest effects of improved early mathematics and reading on SES attainment across the life span.
Communitarianism, discourse and political opportunity in Republican France
Authors: Montague Dena
Published: May 2013

In France, discourse on communitarianism produces historical, cultural and political codes that influence how political actors behave. As such, it plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of the political activism of ‘visible minorities’. This article will explore the process by which communitarianism is deployed to re-present the demands for equality of ‘visible minorities’ as expression of disaffection, while simultaneously validating the democratic neutrality of French institutions. Thus, communitarianism has become an effective discourse to delegitimise discussion about race-based institutional inequality and minimise minority political agency.
Testing the ‘addition and persistence model’ of invertebrate succession in a subalpine glacier-foreland chronosequence: Fåbergstølsbreen, southern Norway
Authors: Vater Amber E , Matthews John A
Published: May 2013

Invertebrate primary succession is investigated across a chronosequence in the subalpine (birch woodland) zone at Fåbergstølsbreen using pitfall traps. Presence and abundance of taxa, functional groups and communities are examined using a geo-ecological approach including mapping, graphical analysis, two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS). Twenty-nine of the 67 recorded taxa, and 14 of the 37 epigeal (surface active) taxa colonize terrain deglacierized for <20 years and catches of most of these pioneer taxa attain an early peak on terrain deglacierized for <40 years. Catches of most later colonizers peak in the mature (‘climax’) stage where 86% of the pioneer taxa and 79% of the epigeal pioneers are also recorded. The number of taxa increases across the chronosequence as new taxa, predominantly predators, appear but relatively few taxa drop out of the succession, and as the dominant species in the traps changes from the harvestman, Mitopus morio, to the wood ant, Formica lugubris. The invertebrate communities are interpreted as loosely organized groupings of individualistic species, the distributions of which are strongly related to terrain age. Changes during succession are interpreted as driven primarily by competition between the carnivorous taxa, though herbivores and omnivores comprise up to 24% and 11% of the taxa, respectively, in both pioneer and mature zones. Hence the ‘addition and persistence model’ of invertebrate succession, previously proposed for the alpine zone, is largely substantiated but partially modified for the subalpine zone, where succession is generally more rapid, overall changes during succession are greater, communities are better organized, food webs appear better developed, and there is an element of replacement change in the later stages.
Rituximab in the treatment of resistant lupus nephritis: therapy failure in rapidly progressive crescentic lupus nephritis
Authors: Davies RJ , Sangle SR , Jordan NP , Aslam L , Lewis MJ , Wedgwood R , D’Cruz DP
Published: May 2013

Objective

*Deceased. The objective of this paper is to report the clinical outcome of B cell depletion therapy in 18 patients with refractory lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods

Eighteen patients received rituximab on an open-label basis with prospective evaluations. All patients had renal disease refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy, including intravenous cyclophosphamide (CyC). All patients fulfilled the revised ACR classification criteria for SLE. Rituximab was given as 2 × 1 g infusions with 500 mg iv CyC and 500 mg iv methylprednisolone, two weeks apart. Complete remission (CR) of nephritis at six months was defined as normal serum creatinine and serum albumin levels, inactive urine sediment, and proteinuria < 0.5 g/day; partial remission (PR) was defined as a ≥50% improvement in all renal parameters that were abnormal at baseline. Clinical response was assessed by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score pre- and post-rituximab treatment, and efficacy was recorded by extent and duration of B lymphocyte depletion (normal range 0.100–0.500 × 109/l). Follow-up data were collected at six months, one year post-treatment and at the most recent clinic visit.

Results

At six months, 11/18 patients reached renal CR and two of 18 PR. The mean global BILAG scores for responders decreased from 15 (SD 10) to 5 (SD 3), and a total of ten A scores disappeared. Five patients failed to show complete or partial renal response despite peripheral B lymphocyte count depletion, and progressed to end-stage renal failure (ESRF) and dialysis. Four of these patients had severe proliferative, crescentic nephritis, of whom three had Class IV-G, one Class III and one late membranous glomerulonephritis. One patient died six years after rituximab therapy from overwhelming sepsis while on long-term haemodialysis.

Conclusion

Rituximab therapy achieved a response in 13/18 patients with refractory LN. However, in patients with rapidly progressive crescentic LN, when there is already evidence of significant renal impairment, rituximab therapy may not prevent progression to ESRF and dialysis. Our data also suggest that severe Class IV-G LN may be associated with a poor response to therapy.
Using Education to Bring Climate Change Adaptation to Pacific Communities
Authors: Vize Sue
Published: May 2013

Traditional communities remain a dominant feature in the Pacific and are key players in land and sea management. Fostering improved climate literacy is therefore essential to equip communities to respond to the current and future challenges posed by climate change in the region. Increased understanding and development of skills to respond to the impacts of climate change is being pursued by integrating all aspects of climate change across the school curriculum. This article examines some of the work being done on climate change education in the Pacific and the proposed development of strengthened approaches to climate change education, in particular highlighting the case of Kiribati.
ESD as a Means to Strengthen the Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands in Egypt
Authors: Salem Boshra B.
Published: May 2013

The objective of this article is to present results of and lessons learnt from implementing education for sustainable development (ESD) in marginal drylands, based on experiences from the TEMPUS IV project, Education for Sustainable Development beyond the Campus (EDUCAMP), in Egypt and the multinational project, Sustainable Development of Marginal Drylands (SUMAMAD). The article tracks the development of innovative education resource kits to complement the Egyptian school curriculum. The ESD education kits aim to enhance the quality of education and to introduce more innovative and participatory teaching and learning practices within the education system.
Exploring the Dreams of Hospice Workers
Authors: Hess Shirley A. , Knox Sarah , Hill Clara E. , Byers Tara , Spangler Patricia
Published: May 2013

Nine adults who worked at least 1 year with patients at US hospice centers completed an in-person audiotaped dream session focusing on a dream about a patient. Data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. Patients were generally manifestly present in participants’ dreams, and dreams were typically realistic (ie, not bizarre). In the dream, the dreamer typically interacted with the patient as a caretaker but was also typically frustrated by an inability to help as fully as desired. Dreams gave dreamers insight into the stress of hospice work, their own fears of death, and inter-/intrapersonal interactions beyond hospice work. Dreamers generally sought to take better care of themselves and find balance in their lives after the dream session. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Development of the Couples Resource Scales
Authors: Pope Amber L. , Murray Christine E. , Kemer Gülşah
Published: May 2013

Couples therapy has experienced a shift in therapeutic approaches from those that focus on dysfunction and deficits to postmodern approaches that emphasize clients’ strengths and skills. Additionally, researchers have found that resources, such as self-esteem and social support, serve to enhance couples’ relationships. One therapeutic approach that emphasizes strengths and resources is solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). The authors describe the development of a research-oriented instrument grounded in SFBT, the Couples Resource scales (CRS), which was based on an existing practitioner-oriented instrument, called the Couples Resource Map scales. The authors used an exploratory factor analysis on the CRS to create a revised version that shows utility for empirical research.
Integrated Behavioral Health
Authors: Sperry Len
Published: May 2013

A major change is underway in health care practice. Increasing numbers of patients with psychological factors, soaring costs, and the effectiveness of behavioral health interventions is driving the shift to a more integrated model of health care. Behavioral health is becoming increasingly integrated into health care practice. The need for an integrated form of behavioral health is described as well as its theoretical basis, including the medical offset effect. Several emerging trends in psychotherapy practice are also noted as well as the implications of integrated behavioral health for mental health and family counseling practice.
An Analysis of Work Engagement Among Workers With Mental Disorders Recently Integrated to Work
Authors: Villotti Patrizia , Balducci Cristian , Zaniboni Sara , Corbière Marc , Fraccaroli Franco
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this study is to determine the validity of the work engagement construct among mentally ill workers and to develop a nomological network delineating the relationship of work engagement with its antecedents, and its consequences in this specific population. Three hundred and ten people with mental disorders employed in Italian social enterprises accepted to take part in this longitudinal study and filled out the Utrecht Work Engagement scale (UWES-9) and questionnaires on severity of symptoms perceived, social support from coworkers and supervisor, and occupational self-efficacy. Individuals who were still eligible at the 12-month follow-up phase of the study completed a questionnaire on future working plans. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were used to validate the UWES-9 and test its nomological network. The results indicated how work engagement, as well as its drivers, impacted important work outcomes, such as to work in the open labor market, in workers with mental disorders.
Prothrombotic States in Migraine
Authors: Rajan Roopa , Ahluwalia Jasmina , Lal Vivek
Published: May 2013

The increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with migraine remains unexplained. Prothrombotic states are thought to contribute to this increased risk. The present study aimed to compare the prevalence of prothrombotic states in patients with migraine and headache-free controls. We conducted a case–control study to screen for prothrombotic states protein C, protein S (PS), antithrombin III, factor V Leiden, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, and anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 antibodies in 101 consecutive patients with migraine and 148 controls. An underlying prothrombotic state was encountered in 11.8% of the patients with migraine, PS deficiency being the most common (4.0%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of prothrombotic states in patients with migraine compared to controls. Traditional prothrombotic states do not seem to have a higher prevalence in patients with migraine compared to controls.
Domestic Violence Against Single, Never-Married Women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Authors: Assaf Shireen , Chaban Stephanie
Published: May 2013

This study examines the association between decision-making power, with other background variables, and domestic violence against single, never-married women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Secondary analysis using data from a 2006 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics domestic violence survey revealed that decision-making power and age were significant predictors of physical and psychological abuse. Relation to household head, refugee status, education, employment, and locality were not significant; region was only significant for psychological abuse. Further studies are needed to understand what factors allow single, never-married women to exercise decision-making power in the household and its association with domestic violence.
Exploring Rape Myths, Gendered Norms, Group Processing, and the Social Context of Rape Among College Women
Authors: Deming Michelle E. , Covan Eleanor Krassen , Swan Suzanne C. , Billings Deborah L.
Published: May 2013

The purpose of this research is to explore the negotiation strategies of college women as they interpret ambiguous rape scenarios. In focus groups, 1st- and 4th-year college women were presented with a series of three vignettes depicting incidents that meet the legal criteria for rape yet are ambiguous due to the presence of cultural rape myths, contexts involving alcohol consumption, varying degrees of consent, and a known perpetrator. These contexts are critical in understanding how college women define rape. Key findings indicated many of these college women utilized rape myths and norms within their peer groups to interpret rape scenarios.
Predicting Shelter Residence in Women Experiencing Recent Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Galano Maria M. , Hunter Erin C. , Howell Kathryn H. , Miller Laura E. , Graham-Bermann Sandra A.
Published: May 2013

This study sought to determine factors associated with shelter residence in women with recent histories of intimate partner violence (IPV). The sample included 113 women, approximately half of whom resided in a shelter over the past year. Participating women provided demographic information and completed standardized measures of IPV, trauma, and depression. Ethnicity, income, housing stability, and mental health, but not violence exposure, differentiated the shelter and community groups. Trauma symptoms, housing instability, and ethnicity best predicted shelter residence. Future research should focus on determining what types of services and interventions will best address the unique needs of each population.
Fields of bounded deformation for mesoscopic dislocations
Authors: Van Goethem Nicolas
Published: May 2013

In this paper we discuss the consequences of the distributional approach to dislocations in terms of the mathematical properties of the auxiliary model fields such as displacement and displacement gradient which are obtained directly from the main model field here considered as the linear strain. We show that these fields cannot be introduced rigourously without the introduction of gauge fields or, equivalently, without cuts in the Riemann foliation associated with the dislocated crystal. In a second step we show that the space of bounded deformations follows from the distributional approach in a natural way and discuss the reasons why it is adequate to model dislocations. The case of dislocation clusters is also addressed, as it represents an important issue in industrial crystal growth while from a mathematical point of view, peculiar phenomena might appear at the set of accumulation points. The elastic–plastic decomposition of the strain within this approach is also given a precise meaning.
Facilitators and Barriers to Engagement in Parenting Programs
Authors: Mytton Julie , Ingram Jenny , Manns Sarah , Thomas James
Published: May 2013

Parenting programs have the potential to improve the health and well-being of parents and children. A challenge for providers is to recruit and retain parents in programs. Studies researching engagement with programs have largely focused on providers’, policy makers’, or researchers’ reflections of their experience of parents’ participation. We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies where parents had been asked why they did or did not choose to commence, or complete programs, and compared these perceptions with those of researchers and those delivering programs. We used data-mining techniques to identify relevant studies and summarized findings using framework synthesis methods. Six facilitator and five barrier themes were identified as important influences on participation, with a total of 33 subthemes. Participants focused on the opportunity to learn new skills, working with trusted people, in a setting that was convenient in time and place. Researchers and deliverers focused on tailoring the program to individuals and on the training of staff. Participants and researchers/deliverers therefore differ in their opinions of the most important features of programs that act as facilitators and barriers to engagement and retention. Program developers need to seek the views of both participants and deliverers when evaluating programs.
Evaluating a Moving Target
Authors: Wharton Tracy , Alexander Neil
Published: May 2013

This article describes lessons learned about implementing evaluations in hospital settings. In order to overcome the methodological dilemmas inherent in this environment, we used a practical participatory evaluation (P-PE) strategy to engage as many stakeholders as possible in the process of evaluating a clinical demonstration project. Demonstration projects, in this context, push the envelope about what is known about effectiveness in novel settings, and turnover of staff and patient populations can present challenges to gathering optimal data. By using P-PE, we built capacity in the environment while expanding possibilities for data collection. Suggestions are made based on our experience.
Site-Specificity in the Postsocialist City
Authors: Kaminska Aleksandra
Published: May 2013

Increased transnational and cross-cultural exchanges raise questions about the enduring meaning of site, locality, and rootedness. Media art’s ability to animate architecture offers provocative ways of reclaiming urban narratives and site-specificity. In Poland, such interventions into the urban landscape pluralize history and challenge the institutionalized narratives of cultural memory in order to rebuild the civic identity needed for a democratic politics. Aleksandra Polisiewicz’s (aka Aleka Polis) Wartopia and Rafał Jakubowicz’s Swimming Pool and Es Beginnt in Breslau use different media to explore forgotten or repressed local urban histories in attempts to resist the “collective amnesia” that has marked postsocialist attitudes toward the recent past. The ephemeral nature of these projects creates piercing mediations and juxtapositions between past and present, revealing the continuing importance of memory and history in processes of Polish self-enfranchisement. These are not nostalgic historical markers but rather meaningful assertions of locality in the face of cultural globalization and the isolation and alienation of a-historical and placeless communities.
Unemployment in multiple sclerosis (MS): utility of the MS Functional Composite and cognitive testing
Authors: Strober Lauren , Chiaravalloti Nancy , Moore Nancy , DeLuca John
Published: May 2013

Unemployment is a significant concern among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Determinations regarding ability to work are highly dependent on measurement tools used by neurologists and allied professionals. However, little is known of the usefulness of these tools when determining issues pertaining to employment status. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the utility of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) and a brief cognitive test battery when examining employment status in MS. Seventy-seven individuals with MS completed the MSFC and a brief cognitive test battery. On the MSFC, unemployed individuals demonstrated worse upper extremity functioning. There was no difference on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT), the sole cognitive measure of the MSFC. On cognitive testing, unemployed individuals performed worse on measures of memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning. Through logistic regression analysis, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was found to be the sole predictor of employment status among the significant disease, MSFC and cognitive variables. Consistent with previous findings, logistic regression found the SDMT to be a significant predictor of employment status. Given the lack of significant group differences on the PASAT, continued consideration of replacing the PASAT with the SDMT in the MSFC appears warranted.
Colonial responses to youth crime in Hong Kong: Penal elitism, legitimacy and citizenship
Authors: Adorjan Michael , Chui Wing Hong
Published: May 2013

This article examines colonial responses to youth crime in Hong Kong, focusing on the 1960s, when riots involving large numbers of youth drew concern among officials over spillover from the Cultural Revolution in Mainland China; and on the 1970s, when the Government initiated a program of state building focused on instilling citizen identification with Hong Kong, youth in particular. Elite reaction is examined through a series of Legislative Council debates, declassified official reports and governmental Annual Reports. The article argues that youth crime control in Hong Kong’s colonial context could best be understood using a penal elitist framework, one which remains influential today.
Child abuse, melodrama and the mother–daughter plot in EastEnders
Authors: Franco Judith
Published: May 2013

This article examines the narrative and discursive strategies that have been mobilised over the past five years in the British community soap EastEnders to construct high-profile child (sex) abuse narratives. It focuses primarily on the long-running retrospective paternal rape and incest storyline that is reconfigured as a maternal melodrama to manage tensions over power, sexuality and the family. The mother–daughter dynamic as a privileged site of trauma and potential resistance to patriarchal control is analysed in both the EastEnders source text and Ronnie and Danielle fan fiction produced by and for female adolescents.
Neoliberal frames and genres of inequality: Recession-era chick flicks and male-centred corporate melodrama
Authors: Negra Diane , Tasker Yvonne
Published: May 2013

Media forms play a vital role in making cultural and political sense of the complex economic developments and profound ideological uncertainties which have accompanied the global recession. This article analyses how popular genre cinema tackles the inequalities – in particular, gender inequalities – that follow from the financial crisis, situating Hollywood’s representational strategies in the context of recessionary media culture. It posits and analyses two sub-genres which demonstrate different approaches to an altered socio-economic climate: the recessionary ‘chick flick’ and the corporate melodrama. Amid the financial crisis these sub-genres shift emphasis to respond to changing circumstances, notably in relation to the once-ubiquitous trope of choice central to post-feminist media culture; neoliberal choice rhetoric is now considerably harder to maintain. The two case studies contrast the different ways in which female-centred chick flicks and male-centred corporate melodramas address unemployment, downward mobility and the challenges of work–life balance.
Drinking difference: Race, consumption, and alcohol prohibition in Mexico and the United States
Authors: Gaytán Marie Sarita
Published: May 2013

This article examines how racialized meanings were attributed to alcoholic products (tequila, pulque, and beer) in the United States and in Mexico in the early part of the 20th century. Researchers in both countries provide a wealth of information about the politics, establishment, and enforcement of alcohol prohibition. Yet, few projects consider the effects of these measures from a transnational perspective. Drawing on newspaper articles and primary and secondary sources from the United States and Mexico, this work illustrates how, amid changing ideas regarding alcohol regulation, various actors projected racial and class meanings onto commodities and their consumption.
Labor Market Trends Among Registered Nurses
Authors: Benson Alan
Published: May 2013

This study uses recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Registered Nurses (RNs) licensing exam to examine the recession’s effect on the RN labor market. It then reports results of a survey of 518 hospital nursing officers conducted in 2008 and 2010 matched with institutional data from the American Hospital Association (AHA). These unique data show how the recession led hospitals to slow hiring despite accelerating attrition of retirement-age nurses; shift away from H1-B, agency, and, overtime work; and reduce training, and other benefits for new hires. More broadly, results show how nurse-staffing practices adapt to market conditions. Results also suggest reduced hospital support for nursing education may strain the supply of managerial and specialty nurses as baby-boom nurses retire.
A Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Interventions for the Management of Cancer-Related Fatigue
Authors: Finnegan-John Jennifer , Molassiotis Alex , Richardson Alison , Ream Emma
Published: May 2013

Fatigue, experienced by patients during and following cancer treatment, is a significant clinical problem. It is a prevalent and distressing symptom yet pharmacological interventions are used little and confer limited benefit for patients. However, many cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and some evidence suggests it may relieve fatigue. A systematic review was conducted to appraise the effectiveness of CAM interventions in ameliorating cancer-related fatigue. Systematic searches of biomedical, nursing, and specialist CAM databases were conducted, including Medline, Embase, and AMED. Included papers described interventions classified as CAM by the National Centre of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental design. Twenty studies were eligible for the review, of which 15 were RCTs. Forms of CAM interventions examined included acupuncture, massage, yoga, and relaxation training. The review identified some limited evidence suggesting hypnosis and ginseng may prevent rises in cancer-related fatigue in people undergoing treatment for cancer and acupuncture and that biofield healing may reduce cancer-related fatigue following cancer treatments. Evidence to date suggests that multivitamins are ineffective at reducing cancer-related fatigue. However, trials incorporated within the review varied greatly in quality; most were methodologically weak and at high risk of bias. Consequently, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude with certainty the effectiveness or otherwise of CAM in reducing cancer-related fatigue. The design and methods employed in future trials of CAM should be more rigorous; increasing the strength of evidence should be a priority.
Effect of Timing of Thrombectomy on Survival of Thrombosed Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Grafts
Authors: Rabin Igor , Shani Michal , Mursi Jabir , Peer Amir , Beberashvili Ilia , Bass Arie , Feldman Leonid
Published: May 2013

Background:

The use of an arteriovenous (AV) graft for hemodialysis is associated with a relatively high rate of thrombosis. Unfortunately, the urgent thrombectomy is not always readily available. Our aim was to investigate a possible association between the timing of thrombectomy and the patency rates of AV grafts.

Methods:

A retrospective single-center study on patients who underwent thrombectomy of clotted AV grafts was conducted. According to the time of thrombectomy, all patients were divided into 4 groups.

Results:

Primary graft patency at 6 months after thrombectomy was 28.3%, with no significant difference between the study groups ( P = .161). Secondary graft patency at 6 months was significantly worse in the group that underwent thrombectomy between the third and fifth days than in the whole cohort: 15.4% versus 45.6% ( P = .038).

Conclusions:

Timing of thrombectomy of a clotted AV graft may have a significant impact on the graft survival.
Applying Psychological Theories to Promote Healthy Lifestyles
Authors: Linke Sarah E. , Robinson Cody J. , Pekmezi Dorothy
Published: May 2013

Over the past few decades, researchers have been developing and refining psychological theories and models to provide solid behavioral frameworks for evidence-based research. Each year new theories and models are created; however, a select few appear to have withstood the test of time and continue to be frequently utilized in present-day research. The objectives of this review are to highlight these psychological theories and models and describe their application to various public health issues and behaviors. Descriptions and example applications of the following theories and models are described in this review: health belief model, theory of reasoned action/planned behavior, social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model, and socioecological model.
An alternative comprehensive framework using belief functions for parameter and model uncertainty analysis in nuclear probabilistic risk assessment applications
Authors: Le Duy Tu Duong , Dieulle Laurence , Vasseur Dominique , Bérenguer Christophe , Couplet Mathieu
Published: May 2013

In nuclear power plants, probabilistic risk assessment insights contribute to achieve a safe design and operation. In this context, the decision-making process must be robust and uncertainties must be taken into account and controlled. In general, the uncertainties in a nuclear probabilistic risk assessment context can be categorized as either aleatory or epistemic. The epistemic uncertainty, which can be subdivided into parameter and model uncertainties, is recognized to have an important impact on actual results of probabilistic risk assessment. Traditionally, the approach of an epistemic uncertainty analysis in nuclear probabilistic risk assessment often relies on the probabilistic approach in which parameter uncertainty is treated by using an assigned probability distribution, e.g. the log-normal one, and model uncertainty can be taken into account through sensitivity studies. Such an approach has been recognized in several recent researchs to present limitations regarding the impacts of assigning probability distribution in case of rare operating feedback data. In order to overcome such a limitation, in this article we propose a comprehensive approach for uncertainty analysis from the parameter and model uncertainties modeling to the final step of the decision-making process using the Dempster-Shafer theory, which is recognized to be more general than the probabilistic approach. We also show that the traditional probabilistic approach, currently used in probabilistic risk assessment practice, can be totally integrated in this framework. Finally, the proposed framework is illustrated and compared with the traditional approach through a practical example from EDF Nuclear Power Plants probabilistic risk assessment application. Some discussions and conclusions for industrial probabilistic risk assessment contexts will be given.
A heat and moisture mask attenuates cardiovascular stress during cold air exposure
Authors: Seifert John , McNair Megan , DeClercq Patricia , St Cyr John
Published: May 2013

Background:

Exposure to cold has been shown to cause cardiovascular stress and increased morbidity and mortality. Inhalation of cold, dry air can increase blood pressure and induce myocardial ischemia, particularly in people with preexisting hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Face masks that can warm and humidify inhaled cold air may reduce these cold air pressor effects.

Method:

We compared blood pressure measurements using a heat and moisture exchange mask (HME), a placebo mask (PL), and no mask (NM) in 53 patients with hypertension exposed to a cold chamber environment at −5°C for 1 h. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at baseline, and at 15 min intervals from 0 to 60 min of chamber exposure. All patients were taking antihypertensive medications with drug and dosage determined by their own physicians. Data were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance test with repeated measures, and significant interactions were analyzed by Fisher’s least significant differences tests. A post hoc subgroup analysis for the effect of age was performed using Wilcoxon matched-pair rank tests.

Results:

Wearing the HME resulted in significantly lower systolic and mean arterial blood pressures than the PL and NM conditions. Diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower for the HME than the NM, but not the PL condition.

Conclusion:

Subgroup analyses suggested that the effect of the HME in mitigating systolic blood pressure increase from inhalation of cold air was significantly greater for patients aged 60 years or over than for those under 60 years.