bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Such words in His things: the poetry in Bacon’s new science
Authors: Wilson Francis
Published: April 2009

Francis Bacon’s utopian fragment New Atlantis was originally prized by its 17th-century readers for its connection with the ‘Great Instauration’ (the author’s plan for reforming the sciences), and for its close link with Sylva Sylvarum, the natural history with which it was first published. Modern scholarship has ignored the importance of Sylva to New Atlantis, which was intended to demonstrate how advances gained through the Instauration might actually be implemented for the greater benefit of humankind. I hope to show that, although Bacon’s more theoretical philosophical treatises argue for a scientific method purged of fanciful language and back-door theology, the ‘simpler’, more referential language used in Sylva Sylvarum and New Atlantis nevertheless demonstrates the author’s clear recognition that the success of the new science depended to some extent upon the strength of its figurative language, and that very often it was through the ‘poetry’ of metaphor, analogy and symbol that religion was re-inserted back into Bacon’s natural philosophy.
Revisiting the notion of faithfulness in discourse presentation using a corpus approach
Authors: Short Mick , Semino Elena , Wynne Martin
Published: April 2009

A number of recent studies have argued that the notion of faithfulness to an original should be abandoned in models of discourse presentation, and particularly in accounts of direct speech presentation. This has coincided with a shift of attention in the study of discourse presentation from written to spoken data. This article discusses the arguments that have been made against the notion of faithfulness, and proposes a context-sensitive account of this notion, and of its relation to the various clines of discourse presentation and their categories. Our account is prompted partly by the results of a corpus-based approach to the study of discourse presentation, and partly by a qualitative analysis of a set of newspaper articles on a particular news story from outside this corpus, which we undertook to provide a check on the conclusions we had reached from our corpus study. We believe that if a general account of discourse presentation is to be reached, similarities and differences across a wide range of texts and text types need to be examined. Our corpus work, which involves careful and systematic comparison of a balanced set of written fictional, news and (auto)biographical narratives, is offered as a contribution to the general account referred to above. We also believe that if such a general account or theory is to be reached, scholars will need a clearer and more consistent application of the various descriptive terms which have been used in this area of study during the 20th century, in particular (a) ‘discourse’, (b) ‘speech’, ‘thought’ and ‘writing’ and (c) ‘report’, ‘presentation’ and ‘representation’.
Pynchon, postmodernism and quantification: an empirical content analysis of Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow
Authors: Herman Luc , Hogenraad Robert , van Mierlo Wim
Published: April 2009

Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow (1973) has been received as a canonical instance of postmodernism. The novel appears to subvert traditional definitions of plot and characterization, yet the narrative retains a nagging sense of order underneath the represented chaos. Simultaneously evoking and undoing patterns on all levels of its narrative structure, Gravity’s Rainbow surreptitiously evokes the presence of a night journey (Martindale, 1979). An empirical content analysis of the novel confirms this ambiguous attitude with respect to patterning in the novel, and thus constitutes a first and modest step towards the quantification of postmodernism. First, a thematic analysis, calculating the co-variations of words across the chapters, corroborates the idea of a connectedness that seems to belie, in part, the pervasive presence of a paranoid hermeneutic. Second, a dictionary-based analysis of narrative sequences reveals an inverse night journey pattern that differs markedly from other patterns found for modernist novels. The configurations that were obtained in these analyses show that content analysis can distinguish empirically between two literary - historical concepts.
Feminist narratology? Literary and linguistic perspectives on gender and narrativity
Authors: E. Page Ruth
Published: April 2009

Feminist narratology is a burgeoning field in the study of language and literature. This article revisits one aspect of such research: that focused on the global narrative profile, often referred to as plot structure. The analysis presented here considers this in light of the potential relationship(s) between gender and narrativity. Particular reference is made to the fiction by contemporary author Michèle Roberts. I argue that while there are superficial parallels between the characteristics of écriture feminine and the stylistic features in her work that relate to the perception of narrativity, it is not possible to propose a definitive correlation between gender and narrative form. Instead, by taking a deliberately integrative stance and drawing upon recent questions raised in feminist linguistics, a series of critical re-evaluations may be put forward that suggest there is further work yet to be done in developing feminist narratology.
The historical composition of the lexicon as a stylistic factor in a text-oriented culture: a case-study from Modern Hebrew
Authors: Reshef Yael
Published: April 2009

This article studies the relevance of an historical lexical analysis to the stylistic description of Modern Hebrew texts. The examination of the lexical make-up of two distinct genres - administrative language and folksong - reveals a correlation between the social functions of the corpora and their formal characteristics. The administrative corpus reflects the lexical structure of standard Modern Hebrew. The folksong, on the other hand, is influenced by literary and ideological considerations. Consequently, it gives expression to the cultural ties with the traditional Hebrew sources by an abundant use of inherited lexicon. The findings suggest that in text-oriented cultures such as Hebrew, stylistic description can benefit from an historical analysis. Such an analysis responds to an intrinsic socio-linguistic characteristic of the language, and complements the structural stylistic analysis. Following Sarfatti (1990), the lexical analysis is based on distinctions drawn within each lexical item between three elements - root, form and meaning. Such a distinction takes account of diachronic changes in the semantic value of lexical items. It pinpoints factors characterizing the corpora’s lexical composition and enables multi-level distinctions between different types of discourse. As a result, it sheds light on one aspect of genre differentiation in the language.
Openings, rhythm and relationships: Philip Larkin reads Mr Bleaney
Authors: Cauldwell Richard
Published: April 2009

Mr Bleaney is one of Philip Larkin’s most popular poems. In this article I discuss five recordings, by Larkin himself, of the first two sentences in free direct speech from a presumed landlady: ‘This was Mr Bleaney’s room. He stayed/The whole time he was at the Bodies, till/They moved him’. The recordings are similar in that they all project the opening as being in medias res; they differ, however, because across the five recordings Larkin places prominences in different locations and makes different choices of tone. The differences suggest that Larkin projects the direct speech into differing (imagined) preceding discourse contexts. But their different ways of being in medias res can also be regarded as ‘perfectly normal’ openings to the poem. The rhythms of the recordings of the two sentences are symptomatic of the fact that Larkin reads most of his poetry as non-poetic anecdotal discourse, thus subverting his wish to be perceived more as a poet than as a social commentator. The recordings also provide evidence for issues raised by critics: the relationship between landlady and tenant; the relationship between Larkin and his audience; the rhythm of the landlady’s speech; the meaning of moved him.
The inflexibility of invariance
Authors: Stockwell Peter
Published: April 2009

The Invariance Hypothesis was originally proposed by George Lakoff and Mark Turner in 1989. Since then, a range of versions has evolved so that there are currently both strong and weak statements of it. In general, the Invariance Hypothesis suggests a constraint on the information carried in a metaphorical mapping, as modelled in cognitive linguistics. It seeks to preserve the receiver’s knowledge about the target domain of a metaphor, so that the target retains its basic conceptual integrity in the mapping process. In other words, only that amount of the source domain that is consistent with the preservation of the target is mapped. Invariance is proposed to resolve a perceived problem in accounting for some metaphors, in order to sustain the claims of cognitive linguistics to be a useful and applicable model of language. However, I believe that this is mistaken, and that acceptance of the Invariance Hypothesis is itself a threat to the value of cognitive linguistics, as applied to literature (where it has come to be called cognitive poetics or cognitive stylistics). I will use literary examples to argue for the rejection of the Invariance Hypothesis, which curtails the perception of metaphor as creative, and cannot explain its capacity for reference to a new sense beyond source and target. This limitation is counter to the larger claims of cognitive linguistics concerning the linguistic basis and embodiment of culture and perception. Finally, I suggest an alternative solution, arising from the analysis of literary examples, which preserves the general value of cognitive linguistics while escaping the inflexibility of invariance.
Educating the eye? Kress and Van Leeuwen’s Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design (1996)
Authors: Forceville Charles
Published: April 2009

This review article of Kress and Van Leeuwen’s (KvL) Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design (1996) begins by giving a summary of its main issues, and highlights its innovative and bold proposals. In the following sections, some weaknesses and controversial aspects of the book are discussed. Both are seen as following from the semiotic and ideological approach adopted by the authors. Specifically, these affect the proposals for the classification and interpretation of images, and the degree to which the concepts delineated are generalizable. In the later sections, tentative suggestions are made as to how KvL’s approach is relevant to the currently emerging ‘cognitivist’ paradigm.
An Australian Perspective on the Indo-US Nuclear Deal
Authors: Gordon Sandy
Published: April 2009

Following its election in 2007, the Labour government imposed a moratorium on export of Australian uranium to India. This article argues that with the Indo-US deal and concomitant agreements now in place, Australia should agree to export uranium to India. It does so on the grounds that the agreements will adequately protect Australian uranium from misuse, will not unduly test the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime, could open out opportunities to meet important safety concerns, could help stabilise potentially dangerous vertical and horizontal proliferation and could also mitigate the region's burgeoning production of greenhouse gases. In supporting the agreements through nuclear trade with India, however, Australia should use any influence it is able to garner thereby to ensure that the Indo-US agreement itself is not seen as part of an attempt on the part of the United States (US), or any other power, to harness India as a means of containing China, and thus exacerbating what could become a destabilising tendency in the region.
Participation in Victim-Offender Mediation and Reoffense: Successful Replications?
Authors: Nugent William R. , Umbreit Mark S. , Wiinamaki Lizabeth , Paddock Jeff
Published: April 2009

Objective: A study was conducted to determine the extent to which four investigations of the effect of participation in victim-offender mediation (VOM) on reoffense were successful replications. Method: The data from these four studies were combined and statistical analyses performed to determine if differences between studies were attributable to sampling variability. If the differences between studies were statistically nonsignificant, the results would be consistent with the four studies being successful replications of each other. Results: The results were consistent with the four studies representing a successful replication series. Analyses of the combined samples of 1,298 juveniles indicated that VOM participants reoffended at a rate 32% lower than nonparticipants. Conclusion: The difference in reoffense rates was more than three times larger than the average effect associated with interventions for delinquency found in a recent meta-analysis. These results suggested that VOM participation was associated with significant reductions in delinquent behavior.
Evaluating Traumatic Incident Reduction Therapy With Female Inmates: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Valentine Pamela Vest , Smith Thomas Edward
Published: April 2009

Objective: An experimental outcome study with trauma-related symptoms was conducted to examine the effectiveness of traumatic incident reduction (TIR). It is a brief, memory-based, therapeutic intervention and was used to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and low expectancy of success (i.e., low self-efficacy). Method: A randomized pretest-posttest control group design with 123 female inmates in a federal prison was used to evaluate the efficacy of the interventive procedure. The Post-Traumatic Symptom Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Clinical Anxiety Scale, and the Generalized Expectancy of Success Scale were administered at pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up time intervals. Results: A repeated-measures MANOVA showed significant differences between the treatment and comparison control conditions on all measures at posttest and follow-up time intervals except for the PTSD Intrusion subscale at the posttest interval. Conclusion: The marked improvement of the treatment condition by comparison to those in the control condition supports the contention that TIR is an effective intervention with female inmates. The significant results on all measures at the follow-up time interval provide persuasive evidence of the stability of the interventive effects. The significance of this therapy model for use by practitioners with social work populations is highlighted.
Evaluation of a Job-Finding Club for TANF Recipients: Psychosocial Impacts
Authors: Brooks Fred , Nackerud Larry , Risler Ed
Published: April 2009

Objective: The impacts of a job-finding club for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients required to work were investigated. Dependent measures included welfare recipients’ self-esteem, assertive job-hunting behavior, and perceived barriers to employment. Method: Pretest and posttest data were collected from four 2-week job-finding clubs sponsored by a welfare agency in a suburban county in Georgia. Results: Twenty-five of 40 participants (62.5%) found work during the job-finding club. For those who did not find work, no significant differences were found between pre- and posttest scores on any dependent measure. Conclusion: The only evident difference between the two groups was that unsuccessful job seekers were more than twice as likely (as successful job seekers) to perceive transportation (54% compared to 24%) as their biggest barrier to employment. Policy implications of these results include orienting job clubs to specifically address clients’ perceived barriers to employment.
Social Work: An Authority-Based Profession
Authors: Gambrill Eileen
Published: April 2009

Although social work is flourishing by many outward signs, such as the increased number of schools of social work, it is argued that this growth has not honored obligations in our code of ethics, for example to inform clients, to empower them, and to offer competent services. A great disconnect continues between what we say we do and value and what we actually do. Change in this pattern will be encouraged by increased client access to information over the Internet and the evidence-based practice movement, which encourages transparency of what is done and to what effect, and involvement of clients as informed participants in decisions that affect their lives.
Reflections of a Social Work Practitioner: Bridging the 19th and 21st Centuries
Authors: Glaser George
Published: April 2009

This is a practitioner’s personal account of social work as a profession. The primary purpose of the article is to offer a vantage outside traditional academic explorations of this topic. A principal theme is the current state of professionalism in social work, especially in reference to Abraham Flexner’s 1915 critique of the field. The author maintains that social work is unquestionably a profession and that the time has arrived to move beyond the repeated questioning of ourselves. Drawing on the pragmatic experimentalism of Jane Addams, the author suggests a refocusing, or re-viewing, of social work as a relational field. This departs from the traditional focus on targeted functions and groups that define our purposes and methods and contribute to interdisclipinary debates about the true nature of social work.
Is Social Work a Profession? The Canadian Response
Authors: Holosko Michael , Leslie Donald R.
Published: April 2009

This article presents an analysis of social work in Canada regarding Flexner’s perception of our professional status. It presents an overview of the content of social work practice, highlighting the uniqueness of Canada’s social welfare system. It argues that Canadian social welfare has characteristics that distinguish it from social welfare in its U.S. neighbor to the south and that such features need to be understood and identified prior to considering the professional or semiprofessional status of social work in Canada.
The Profession of Clinical Social Work
Authors: Rullo Diane
Published: April 2009

The profession of social work has changed considerably over the past 100 years, allowing for a specialization in direct clinical practice. Clinical social workers are well-trained professionals treating individuals and families to meet their needs, influencing a positive change in society.
The Development of the Latino Social Work Profession in Los Angeles
Authors: Aranda María P.
Published: April 2009

This article examines the development of the Latino social work profession in the Los Angeles, California, area using an organizational case study. More specifically, the article will focus on the Mexican American/Chicano experience of community organizing and its relevance to the development of the Latino social work profession in the greater Los Angeles area. First, a sociohistorical perspective of the development of the Latino social work profession in the southwestern United States will be presented from its community-organizing roots. Second, vis-à-vis an organizational case study (encompassing a community mental health service and training center, Trabajadores de la Raza, and Latino social work student caucuses), the author will discuss the successes and challenges of the Latino social work profession as we enter the new millennium.
Reintegration Services and the Likelihood of Adult Imprisonment: A Longitudinal Study of Adjudicated Delinquents
Authors: Ryan Joseph P. , Davis Randy K. , Yang Huilan
Published: April 2009

Objective: This study used longitudinal data to identify the factors associated with adult imprisonment for adjudicated delinquent males following long-term residential care. Method: Logistic regression and survival models were developed to examine the effectiveness of reintegrational services. The sample included 397 adjudicated delinquents released between 1992 and 1993 from a residential treatment facility in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Corrections provided incarceration data approximately 5 years after residential release. Results: At the time of follow-up, 28% had experienced incarceration as an adult. The youths who received reintegration services within a single organization were less likely to experience incarceration as an adult. Ethnicity, number of prior adjudications, and frequency of out-of-home placement were associated with adult imprisonment. Conclusions: In part, it is the plan-full reintegration process that enables youths to achieve better long-term outcomes. The implications for social policy and social work practice are discussed.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review of the Treatment Literature
Authors: Abramowitz Jonathan S. , Brigidi Bartholomew D. , Roche Kimberly R.
Published: April 2009

Once considered a rare and largely untreatable condition, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is now known to be the fourth most common psychiatric disorder. Obsessive thoughts are intrusive, repugnant, and distress and anxiety provoking, whereas compulsive rituals often lead to significant impairment in many areas of life. In this article, the authors present an empirically based review of the treatment outcome literature on cognitive-behavioral therapy for OCD. Specifically, treatment by exposure with response prevention (EX/RP) has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing OCD symptoms. The effectiveness of different variations of EX/RP and comparisons between this and other psychosocial therapies (e.g., cognitive therapy) are also discussed. Finally, the authors consider studies that have examined variables thought to influence the effectiveness of treatment.
The Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Therapy With Children in a School Setting
Authors: Franklin Cynthia , Biever Joan , Moore Kelly , Clemons David , Scamardo Monica
Published: April 2009

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy with children in a school setting using AB single-case designs. Method: The research team provided 5 to 10 sessions of solution-focused therapy services to seven children who were referred with learning disabilities and classroom behavioral problems. Data from Conners Teacher Rating Scales were analyzed using visual analysis of the data in relationship to clinical change scores, effect sizes, and improved percentage scores. Results: Results indicate that solution-focused therapy was followed by positive changes on a range of behavioral problems. Conclusions: Solution-focused therapy shows promise for helping special education students with their academic difficulties and classroom behaviors.
An Evaluation of Men’s Batterer Treatment Groups
Authors: Tutty Leslie M. , Bidgood Bruce A. , Rothery Michael A. , Bidgood Patricia
Published: April 2009

Objective: Fifteen treatment groups for men who abused intimate partners were evaluated. Method: 104 men took part, with a completion rate of 68.3%. Scores on social desirability were utilized to adjust totals on other self-report scales. Results: Group completers (n = 71) were no different from dropouts (n = 33) on the adjusted standardized measures or demographics. Group completion was associated with significant improvements on the adjusted variables of appraisal social support, self-esteem, perceived stress, attitudes toward marriage and the family, locus of control, and the marital relationship functions of roles, affective expression, and communication. Importantly, adjusted scores on both the Physical and Non-Physical Abuse subscales of the Index of Spouse Abuse were significantly reduced, the latter to below the clinical cutoff. No differences were found between court-mandated and non-court-mandated group completers. Conclusions: The utility of using social desirability to adjust scores is highlighted. The implications for group treatment are discussed.
Comprehensive Assessment Tools for Hispanics: Validation of the Multi-Problem Screening Inventory (MPSI) for Puerto Ricans
Authors: Alvelo Jaime , Collazo Andres A. , Rosario David
Published: April 2009

Objective: This study was intended to validate a Spanish adaptation of the Multi-Problem Screening Inventory (MPSI), which was developed by Hudson and McMurtry for assessment in social work practice. Method: Research was based on the cross-cultural equivalence model and included a content judgment study followed by a field test with a sample of 313 Puerto Rican university students. Results: Findings regarding internal consistency as well as item, factorial, discriminant, and convergent analyses of the Spanish MPSI were similar to those of the English version; items were found to be relevant for Puerto Ricans. Conclusions: Content, technical, and conceptual equivalence of the Spanish and English versions of the MPSI were supported, and thus its valid use in social work practice with the study population.
Comprehensive Assessment in Occupational Social Work: The Development and Validation of the Corporate Behavioral Wellness Inventory
Authors: Faul Anna C.
Published: April 2009

Objective: The objective is to report on the development and validation of the Corporate Behavioral Wellness Inventory (CBWSI), specifically designed for use by social workers in occupational social work. Method: One thousand and forty employees from different organizations in South Africa were subjected to the original validation research done on the CBWSI. Results: The results clearly indicate that the different subscales on the CBWSI have good reliability, that the scale is strong enough in terms of its measurement error characteristics to recommend it for use in occupational settings, and that the CBWSI appears to be acceptable in terms of its content and construct validity. Conclusions: The CBWSI is a new assessment tool specifically designed for social workers in occupational practice settings, that can be recommended to serve as a tool for assessing diverse employee strengths or to use as part of service delivery to employees.
The Shortform Assessment for Children: An Assessment and Outcome Measure for Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice
Authors: Glisson Charles , Hemmelgarn Anthony L. , Post James A.
Published: April 2009

This study describes the design and psychometric characteristics of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC). The SAC is an efficient and easy-to-use tool for monitoring the overall mental health and psychosocial functioning of children age 5 to 18 who are served by child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The one-page 48-item instrument was developed with the support of the National Institute of Mental Health to describe internalizing (withdrawn, anxious, depressed) and externalizing (aggressive, antisocial, violent) profiles of children in both home/residential and school/classroom settings. Psychometric data supporting the reliability and validity of the SAC are presented for a sample of 3,790 children served by one state’s child welfare and juvenile justice system.
Program Closure: The Impact on Participants in a Program for Female Prostitutes
Authors: McNeece C. Aaron , Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield
Published: April 2009

Objective: This study examines the impact of program closure on participants in a case management program for female prostitutes. Methods: Former program participants were surveyed about their experiences since participating in the program. Particular emphasis was paid to criminal behavior, substance abuse, and mental health problems. Results: Of those participants located (N = 52), the majority were incarcerated, but a smaller number were no longer abusing substances and were employed. An analysis of the relationship between incarceration status and recidivism revealed statistically significant differences on variables related to treatment completion. Conclusions: Overall, the program appeared to have an impact on participants’ lives and behaviors, regardless of their prior life experiences. After the program closed, the great majority of former clients were either prostituting and using drugs or incarcerated.
The Brief Adult Assessment Scale: A Validation Study
Authors: Smith Michael A. , Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield , Salston Mary Dale G. , Heindel Deborah , Hudson Walter W.
Published: April 2009

Objective: The Brief Adult Assessment Scale (BAAS) is a multidimensional assessment scale designed for use by practitioners and researchers that measures the severity of client problems in 16 areas of adult personal and social functioning. This article describes the BAAS; provides information about its administration, scoring, and interpretation; and reports findings with regard to the psychometric characteristics of the scale. Methods: Data from 291 adult participants were collected and used to assess the scale’s psychometric properties. Results: Findings suggest that the BAAS has strong internal consistency, good factorial and content validities, and preliminary construct validity. Conclusions: Although further research must examine the scale’s known-groups concurrent validity and clinical cutting scores, the BAAS appears to be appropriate for use by social workers as an aid to diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluation.
Couples Who Care: The Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Group Intervention for HIV Serodiscordant Couples
Authors: Pomeroy Elizabeth C. , Green Diane L. , Van Laningham Lois
Published: April 2009

Objective: The pilot study examined the effectiveness of a psychoeducational group intervention for HIV/AIDS, serodiscordant, heterosexual couples. Method: A quasi-experimental pretest posttest design was used to examine depression, anxiety, and marital satisfaction of couples in which one spouse was HIV positive and the other spouse was negative. Results: Univariate analyses of covariance indicated significant differences between the experimental and comparison groups on each dependent variable. Effect sizes ranged from moderate to strong. Conclusions: The group intervention was effective in reducing depression and anxiety and in increasing marital satisfaction among serodiscordant heterosexual couples.
The Carolina Child Checklist of Risk and Protective Factors for Aggression
Authors: Macgowan Mark J. , Nash James K. , Fraser Mark W.
Published: April 2009

Objective: Extending the Social Health Profile and other instruments that measure problem behavior in childhood, the Carolina Child Checklist (CCC) was developed to measure risk and protective factors related to aggressive behavior in children ages 6 to 12. This study reports the psychometric properties of the CCC. Method: The measure’s dimensionality, reliability (internal consistency and test-retest), standard error of measurement, and validity (convergent, concurrent, treatment sensitivity) were evaluated in a project involving 171 sixth-grade students. Results: Factor analysis indicated four dimensions called Learning Orientation (behaviors and attributes related to classroom success), Relational Aggression, Social Involvement, and Physical Aggression. The measure has high internal consistency with low measurement error. Test-retest findings suggest a stable measure. The CCC has good convergent and concurrent validity and appears sensitive to treatment effects. Conclusions: The CCC is a promising measure for social workers assessing risk and protective factors related to childhood aggression.
The Effects of an Abstinence-Based Sex Education Program on Middle School Students’ Knowledge and Beliefs
Authors: Arnold Elizabeth Mayfield , Smith Thomas E. , Harrison Dianne F. , Springer David W.
Published: April 2009

A statewide evaluation of the Education Now and Babies Later (ENABL) program was conducted to assess its ability to increase adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs about pregnancy prevention. ENABL is aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy through abstinence. Using a quasiexperimental research methodology, middle school students (N = 1,450) comprised a treatment group (n = 974) and a comparison group (n = 476). Subjects completed a pretest and post-test reflecting knowledge and beliefs about teenage pregnancy. ANCOVA revealed significant differences (F = 8.98, p < .001) on posttest scores between the two groups. The treatment group showed marked improvement from pretest to posttest scores, whereas the comparison group did not. These findings support the claim that the Postponing Sexual Involvement (PSI) curriculum is effective in affecting students’ knowledge and beliefs about teenage pregnancy and illuminate the need for social work intervention at a variety of levels to address this multifaceted problem.
The Homesickness and Contentment Scale: Developing a Culturally Sensitive Measure of Adjustment for Asians
Authors: Shin Heajong , Abell Neil
Published: April 2009

This article reports the validity and reliability of the Homesickness and Contentment (HC) scale. The HC scale is a 20-item scale that evolved from a 30-item Homesickness, Loneliness, and Depression scale. The HC scale is intended to be culturally sensitive to an Asian population in measuring emotional and psychological adjustment to a new culture. Unlike other measures of adjustment developed for and tested on Western samples, the HC scale takes into account the private nature of Asians when examining symptoms of homesickness and contentment. Data collected from 201 Chinese and Korean graduate students and spouses in an American university were used for various psychometric tests. Overall, the HC scale showed excellent subscale reliability, high global reliability, high face and factorial validities, and preliminary construct validity. Discussions on validity, reliability, and utility are presented.
Assessment of Posttraumatic Symptoms in Children: Development and Preliminary Validation of Parent and Child Scales
Authors: Greenwald Ricky , Rubin Allen
Published: April 2009

The authors report on the development and initial validation of two brief measures of children’s posttraumatic symptoms: a child self-report and a parent report. Intended applications include postdisaster screening, tracking children’s recovery in research and clinical settings, and screening for posttraumatic stress among children with various presenting problems. A sample of 206 urban and rural schoolchildren, Grades 3 through 8, and their parents, completed these measures as well as a checklist of the child’s trauma-loss history. Findings provide preliminary support for the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, and criterion validity of each measure. We recommend cautious use of the measures, and suggest additional avenues of study.
Exploring Ways to Retain First-Time Volunteer Blood Donors
Authors: Royse David
Published: April 2009

Because of their expertise in working with volunteers, social workers may be called on to provide consultation to organizations that are not traditional social service agencies. Unpaid volunteer donors provide the vast majority of this country’s blood supply; however, many donors give only once, and few think of themselves as regular, committed donors. The purpose of this study was to determine if special letters of request or incentives would increase blood donations during a 14-month study period. One thousand first-time donors were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups or the control condition. On average, first-time donors gave 1.89 donations, and there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. The conclusion was drawn that the interventions were too passive.
Reviewers, Orthodoxy, and the Passion to Publish
Authors: Ginsberg Leon
Published: April 2009

Reviewers, their judgments, and their qualifications vary. However, there are good reasons for emphases on reviewer diversity. Social work’s mission and content areas demand a range of reviewers from diverse groups. Excessive emphasis on publication in specific journals may promote orthodoxy in the literature. Whether reviewers’ publication records affect their reviews—positively or negatively—is not clear. The requirement that faculty members publish may limit the quality of submitted articles. The focus of scholarship ought to be on facts, ideas, and the passion to share them with the profession, not that faculty publish or face dismissal.
Clinical Practice Guidelines: Should Social Work Develop Them?
Authors: Howard Matthew Owen , Jenson Jeffrey M.
Published: April 2009

Guidelines for clinical practice have proliferated in recent years. Numerous studies indicate that guidelines can increase empirically based practice and improve clients’ outcomes. Guidelines for social work practice would also promote more informed client decision making, improve clinical training in schools of social work, encourage more cost-effective and accountable practice, and help codify current knowledge in controversial practice areas. The National Association of Social Workers should institute a guidelines development program and ensure that guidelines reflect traditional social work values and the best in available scientific evidence and practice experience.
Good Intentions Are Not Enough: Practice Guidelines for Social Work
Authors: Kirk Stuart A.
Published: April 2009

Practice guidelines are the latest attempt to bring science to bear on social work practice. They are a worthy effort, but like earlier efforts, may achieve limited success. It is unlikely these documents will be read by social workers, and the guidelines themselves may not be readily usable. Moreover, the social work knowledge base is thin and practice decisions are governed by many nonscientific considerations.
On the Sidelines of Guidelines: Further Thoughts on the Fit Between Clinical Guidelines and Social Work Practice
Authors: Richey Cheryl A. , Roffman Roger A.
Published: April 2009

Professors Howard and Jenson identify numerous potential benefits of clinical practice guidelines. We welcome the opportunity to join the dialogue and organize our comments around five questions: (a) Do guidelines ensure positive client outcomes? (b) Are published treatment outcome studies adequately representative of the universe of empirical knowledge about what works with diverse client problems and populations? (c) How can guidelines be integrated with professional decision making? (d) Will implementing guidelines translate into greater client compliance? (e) What is the fit between guidelines and paradigms of direct social work practice?
Validating School Social Work: An Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Reduce School Violence
Authors: Whitfield Gary W.
Published: April 2009

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of anger control training with conduct-disordered male adolescents at a day treatment program. Method: A multiple baseline single-subject design across subjects was used to assess matched pairs of students (8 experimental and 8 control students). Combined visual analyses and group comparison methods were used in the assessment. Results: The experimental students significantly improved in their weekly self-reports of using better anger control and experiencing more positive management and expression of anger. The experimental students also significantly improved in their use of self-control as shown by a pretest through 6-month follow-up assessment. Conclusion: This research effort provides some evidence that a cognitive-behavioral approach is one method of effectively reducing school violence when compared with a nonspecific counseling approach alone. Recommendations for future research efforts are offered given some of the limitations of the study.
Anxiety Levels, Group Characteristics, and Members’ Behaviors in the Termination Stage of Support Groups for Patients Recovering From Heart Attacks
Authors: Kacen Lea
Published: April 2009

Objective: Examining the significance of the termination stage of support group activity and its effectiveness in alleviating anxiety among patients recovering from their first heart attack. Methods: 82 patients, 50 of whom participated in seven support groups, fill in questionnaires at six stages of the group intervention. Six observers conducted two stages of qualitative analysis of the groups’ last meetings’ videotapes. Results: The findings revealed a temporary increase in anxiety levels during the termination stage among the groups that effectively alleviated anxiety. These findings are partially explained by two components of the Group Environmental Scale: cohesiveness and task orientation. Resistance and ambivalence were typical behavior patterns of members at the termination stage of effective groups. Conclusions: Measuring group effectiveness before, during, and after the intervention enriches the knowledge of the correlation between group processes and group outcomes. Identifying behavior patterns contribute to social worker’s online ability to evaluate group effectiveness.
IgG4-Related Disorder of the Retroperitoneum Resembling Castleman’s Disease Plasma Cell Type: A Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Kojima Masaru , Nakamura Naoya , Motoori Tadashi , Shimizu Ken , Haratake Joji , Nakamura Shigeo
Published: April 2009

This study reports 2 cases of IgG4-related disorder of the retroperitoneum resembling plasma cell type of Castleman’s disease. A single lesion was located in the renal hilum and ureter, respectively, in these 2 cases. Histologically, both lesions were characterized by reactive follicular hyperplasia with active germinal centers and a sheet of polyclonal mature plasma cells in the interfollicular area. The prominent sclerosis and/or fibrosis, which were characteristic histological findings of IgG4-related disorders, were absent. However, immunohistochemical study demonstrated numerous IgG4+ plasma cells accounting for more than 50% of IgG+ cells. The phlebitis that occurs with early lesions of obliterative phlebitis is one of the characteristic histological findings of IgG4-related disorders and was noted in one case. Serum IgG4 concentration was increased in one case. The serum interleukin-6 level was within the normal range in one case that was examined. From a therapeutic perspective, it is important to discriminate IgG4-related disorder from plasma cell type of Castleman’s disease.
Basal-Like Subtype Breast Cancers in Women Older Than 40 Years of Age
Authors: Erşahin Çağatay , Chivukula Mamatha , Bhargava Rohit , Dabbs David J.
Published: April 2009

Basal-like (BL) carcinoma, distinguished by the expression of keratins that are a characteristic of myoepithelial cells, is 1 of the 5 distinct subtypes of breast tumors identified by gene microarray technologies. BL cancers have been well described in women <40 years of age. However, little data exist about this carcinoma in older patients. Twenty-three BL breast cancer specimens from patients >40 years of age were evaluated. The study demonstrated that there is a subset of patients >40 years of age with breast cancers, manifesting features of BL carcinoma. There has been a significant increase in BL cancers among women >40 years of age having larger tumors and lymph node metastasis in comparison with younger women <40 years of age. This could be due to the tumor heterogeneity in BL cancers between the 2 age groups. BL cancer patients from all age groups require further investigation for BRCA-1, as well as gene microarray analysis to compare the gene expressions with those observed in the younger population.
Alzheimer’s Disease: What Multiphoton Microscopy Teaches Us
Authors: Bacskai Brian J. , Hyman Bradley T.
Published: April 2009

A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease depends on postmortem analysis of brain tissue bearing the pathological hallmarks of the disease: plaques and tangles. Imaging techniques that allow visualization and characterization of these lesions in living animals permit a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease as well as paradigms for preventing or reversing the deposits. Multiphoton microscopy uses near infrared light that is benign to living tissue and penetrates more deeply than visible or UV light, permitting high-resolution imaging of these microscopic structures deep within the cortex of living transgenic mice over time. This in vivo imaging approach allows direct examination of the natural history of plaques and evaluation of antiplaque therapeutics in mouse models of the disease.
Book Review: Imaging Databases and Neuroscience
Authors: Toga Arthur W.
Published: April 2009

Brain atlases are equivalent to neuroimage databases provided an appropriate coordinate system to enable multisubject comparisons, along with comprehensive descriptions of the data, are included. Warping tools, visualization, and statistical analyses that accommodate the various neuroimaging modalities can be used to integrate diverse data and form comprehensive maps describing a particular subpopulation’s brain structure and function. By linking task performance and genetic information to brain morphology, complex interrelations between genotype, phenotype, and behavior can be established. Several examples of these multimodal, multisubject atlases, including those that are dynamic, are presented.
Genealogy of the “Grandmother Cell”
Authors: Gross Charles G.
Published: April 2009

A “grandmother cell” is a hypothetical neuron that responds only to a highly complex, specific, and meaningful stimulus, such as the image of one’s grandmother. The term originated in a parable Jerry Lettvin told in 1967. A similar concept had been systematically developed a few years earlier by Jerzy Konorski who called such cells “gnostic” units. This essay discusses the origin, influence, and current status of these terms and of the alternative view that complex stimuli are represented by the pattern of firing across ensembles of neurons.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Absorption Revisited: Do Extracranial Lymphatics Play a Role?
Authors: Johnston M. G. , Boulton M. , Flessner M.
Published: April 2009

It would seem heretical to suggest that extracranial lymphatic vessels play a major role in the volumetric clearance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the cranial vault. It is well established that there are no lymphatics within the brain parenchyma, and it has been assumed that the drainage of CSF into the venous system occurs predominantly through the arachnoid villi and granulations. Nonetheless, a physiological association between extracellular fluid in the brain and extracranial lymph has been appreciated for more than 100 years. More important, recent studies in adult experimental animals have demonstrated that on average, one-half of the total volume of CSF absorbed from the cranial compartment was removed by extracranial lymphatics. Our objective in writing this review is to outline the experimental data that support the hypothesis that extracranial lymphatic vessels play an important role in CSF transport in the adult. Additionally, we will develop the hypothesis that lymphatic vessels may provide the primary route through which CSF is cleared from the cranial subarachnoid space in the fetus. With this new conceptual framework, we will reassess hydrocephalus from a lymphatic perspective to determine if impaired CSF transport through extracranial lymphatics might contribute to the development of this disease.