bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gothenburg Papyrus 21 and the Coptic Version of the Letter to Abgar
Authors: Youtie Herbert C.
Published: October 2011

In the last number of the Harvard Theological Review I gave what I believe to be a definitive identification of the Gothenburg Papyrus 21. By way of demonstration I reproduced the text of the papyrus as reported by Frisk, with textual corrections and illustrative restorations of my own. I appended to the text a discussion in which I sought to establish its relations to other Greek versions of the Letter to Abgar. In my desire to bring to the attention of scholars a new Greek version of the Letter, the text of which presents remarkable departures from the traditional Eusebian version, my examination was restricted to the better known Greek sources. A subsequent examination of four additional Greek specimens of the Letter and of all the copies of the Coptic version, while necessitating no essential modification of my conclusions, has revealed in the Gothenburg papyrus important textual filiations which I did not then suspect.
Paul and Onesimus
Authors: Goodenough Erwin R.
Published: October 2011

Recent investigations into the law of fugitives and suppliants in hellenistic Egypt, a law which was based upon the procedure of classic Greece and so was generally like hellenistic law throughout the east, have thrown much light upon the subject, and suggest a reconsideration of the case, of Onesimus and his relations with Paul and Philemon. According to the law of Athens a slave whose life was in danger might flee to an altar and claim sanctuary. The first altar available was frequently the hearth of some private family, with its associations of the family religion. If a refugee rushed into the house and claimed sanctuary, the householder was under legal obligations to give him protection, at least temporarily, while following one of two possible courses. Either he must reconcile the slave to going back to the master, probably by giving the wretch some assurance that the master's wrath was mollified, or, if the slave persisted in refusing to trust himself with the master, the householder was obliged to put the slave up for sale in the market, and pay to the slave's owner the price received. The latter alternative was fraught with serious possibilities for the slave, since in a sale of this kind the circumstances would prejudice prospective buyers against him, and he would probably be purchased only for the roughest sort of service, such as the galleys or the mines. Rather than face such an uncertainty the slave would certainly be glad to go back to the first master if there were any reasonable hope of clemency.
The Apostles in the New Testament and in the Ecclesiastical Tradition of Egypt
Authors: Hatch William H. P.
Published: October 2011

There are four lists of the Apostles in the New Testament—one in each of the Synoptic Gospels containing the names of the Twelve, and one in the Book of Acts giving those of the Eleven only. Each list differs from the others in some respects.

Peter naturally stands first in each of the New Testament lists, and Judas Iscariot comes last when he is mentioned at all. The one occupies the position of honor at the head of the series; the other is named at the end on account of his treachery. The two sons of Zebedee, with Andrew and Philip, all being prominent members of the apostolic company and early disciples of Jesus, form together with Peter the first five in each of these lists. Below this point there is considerable difference in order and some variation in the names of the Apostles.
Race, genetics and growth
Authors: Roberts D. F.
Published: October 2011

Much of our understanding of the biological differences between races has come with the development of human genetics. Surveys have established the frequencies of genetic characters known to be under the control of single genes and independent of environmental modification; comparisons of these frequencies in different populations have led to the resolution of many of the earlier outstanding problems of affinities between races and, with the support of experimental and associated investigations, to the identification and measurement of the processes that have given rise to race formation. With this information we can begin to appreciate the extent to which apparent differences are due to racial heritage and to environmental influences.
Differential fertility among immigrants to England and Wales and some implications for population projections
Authors: Thompson Jean
Published: October 2011

The age structure of the immigrant female population as shown by the 1961 Census was heavily biased towards the young adult age groups, where fertility rates are highest. The birth rate for such a population could be expected considerably to exceed the average for this country as a whole, due to differences in age structure alone. The Census also showed marked differences betwen the fertility rates of different groups of immigrants but suggested that for the most important groups —from the Irish Republic, the Indian sub-continent and the Caribbean—they then amounted to a completed family size of roughly ½ child above the England and Wales average. There were also marked differences in 1961 between the socio-economic structure of immigrant groups; such evidence as there is points to socio-economic factors as playing an important part in explaining the fertility of immigrants, and its possible change over time.
Sociological Aspects: Conclusion
Authors: Mason Philip
Published: October 2011

The first three sessions of this Symposium would, I think, lead one to say that if one tried to arrange man on the basis of biological characteristics one would get a continuum; the papers given in this fourth session have shown the ineradicable, or so far ineradicable, tendency of mankind to split themselves up into discontinuous groups.

I personally believe the study of race relations should always be directed to a practical result, that is to enable one to get over this simple human tendency, and to enable us to live together.
The search for genetic variability of the sex ratio
Authors: Edwards A. W. F.
Published: October 2011

In considering the evolutionary implications of the sex ratio (as opposed to the evolutionary implications of there being two sexes) a dual approach is required. On the one hand we need information about the variability of the sex ratio and to what extent that variability is genetically controlled, and on the other hand we need a theory which embraces the evolutionary consequences of a heritable variability, and which, ideally, is able to account for the observed situation by showing that it corresponds to a stable solution of the theoretical equations.
The social images of man and woman
Authors: Firth Rosemary
Published: October 2011

A good deal of the best-known work on the relationships between the sexes among humans has concentrated mainly on two aspects of this subject: either the physical or the psychological implications of sexual interaction have been quite widely discussed in literature easily available and often popularly presented. Without wishing to minimize the importance in its time of the work of Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues, one cannot help feeling, as Richards (1969) has recently observed in this journal, that since all primates copulate in much the same way, one is not going to achieve great insights by examining this in much detail. It is the humanity, not the animality, of man which provides the most significant part of his behaviour in this field. No one can write on this theme without paying due tribute to the work of Margaret Mead (1950), but much of it has concentrated on looking at ways in which upbringing in different societies makes people feel differently about their male and female roles.
Sex differences in divorce behaviour
Authors: Chester Robert
Published: October 2011

Patterns of divorce behaviour in England are not well documented. Apart from the limited data provided annually by the Registrar General, and secondary commentaries on these, our knowledge comes almost entirely from a single paper which is now becoming historically dated (Rowntree & Carrier, 1958). There has been no social survey of a specifically divorced population, and the paper referred to is the only example of analysis based on court records. The present paper derives from work currently in hand which is utilizing survey interviews, court records, autobiographical materials and other documentary sources, to obtain new kinds of information about divorce. More specifically, what follows is based in part on data from the Registrar General's annual reports and, in part, on a provisional analysis of the court records of 1000 undefended divorce suits occurring in a provincial city during the years 1966–68.
Sex differences in the neurotic reaction of the aged
Authors: Bergmann K.
Published: October 2011

Sex differences in psychiatric illness in earlier adult life are discussed. A random sample of elderly respondents were seen in their homes in order to examine neurotic reactions in the aged.

The relationship between neurotic symptoms, physical health, social data and sex were ascertained for the population as a whole.

Normal and late onset neurosis sub-groups were compared with regard to selected medical, psychiatric and social variables considered to have a bearing on neurotic reaction in the elderly. The variables discriminating best between ‘neurosis’ and normality were abnormal personality traits, physical ill-health and being female.

In the absence of any marked physical disability, being female was among the highest discriminators between the normal and neurotic groups. In the physically ill group, neither sex was more significantly represented than the other. Social factors were examined to explain the continuing preponderance of females in the late-onset neurotic group, but it was felt that they did not fully explain the differences observed.
The Galton Lecture 1970: The Obstetrician and Society
Authors: Baird Dugald
Published: October 2011

I am honoured to be asked to give the Galton Lecture and, as an obstetrician, I am particularly glad to give it in the context of this symposium devoted to biosocial aspects of fertility.

By comparison with the frightening problems of population control on a world scale, the control of Britain's population should be easy but, unfortunately, it has not been tackled with the urgency it demands. In the North East of Scotland, however, considerable progress has been made. We have a natural human laboratory for the study of this problem and other aspects of human reproduction. It has the advantage of relative isolation, homogeneous population, convenient size (half a million) and availability of scientific personnel from Research Institutes, University and National Health Service. In addition, very good relations exist between these bodies and the general public. Continuity of medical care facilitates long-term study of patients, assessment of needs and results of treatment. The people have become knowledgeable and co-operative.
Sex education in schools—why and how?
Authors: Dennis K. John
Published: October 2011

Sir Dugald Baird, in his Galton Lecture to this Society earlier in this Symposium, suggested that the obstetrician in society should no longer aim to acquire all the skills previously encompassed in obstetrics and gynaecology. Instead, he should develop some special interests, and then make his contribution to society by being part of a team of colleagues. One such special interest is the dissemination of factual knowledge and of an enlightened and enquiring attitude to sex and reproduction among the population at large.
Social and behavioural aspects of breast-feeding
Authors: Carballo M.
Published: October 2011

Breast-feeding in the human and higher primates unlike the case of most other mammals, is learned rather than instinctive; over a long time it has been shown to be highly labile. Its success appears to depend not only upon the capacity of the mother to lactate, i.e. to produce milk, or on the child's ability to suckle, but perhaps more significantly, on the mother's desire to breast-feed, on the availability of sufficient reference models upon which she can base her own performance and draw upon for psycho-social support during lactation. In modern settings breast-feeding is likely to involve the mother in complex and new role situations, and to become increasingly vulnerable to the social characteristics of the environment in which she operates.
Effects of some progestational steroids on lactation
Authors: Badraoui M. H. H. , Fawzi G. , Hefnawi F.
Published: October 2011

The contraceptive method used during lactation should be chosen on the basis of (a) effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and (b) its effect on lactation. Combined hormonal contraceptives affect lactation adversely due to the oestrogen component. Progestogen-only contraceptives may increase the quantity and quality of milk yield during lactation. In the present study the effects of four progestational drugs used immediately after delivery were investigated. No adverse effect on initiation of lactation was found. The side effects of the drugs are reported. No pregnancies were reported during the period of the study.
The ovary learns to ovulate
Authors: Lunenfeld B. , Kraiem Z. , Eshkol A. , Werner-Zodrow I.
Published: October 2011

Sensory stimuli from the external environment (e.g. visual and olfactory stimuli, stress) or internal stimuli cause brain nerve fibres to release neurotransmitters (catecholamines, indolamines and cholinergic agents). These neurotransmitters regulate the secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus (Kamberi, 1975). It would seem that under the proper steroid environment, catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine or epinephrine) and the cholinergic agent acetylcholine exert a stimulatory influence, whereas indolamines (serotonin or its metabolic product, melatonin) have an opposite effect. In turn, GnRH reaches the anterior pituitary via the hypophyseal portal system, and, through the mediation of cAMP [though may be not as an obligatory intermediate (Naor et al., 1975)], controls gonadotrophin secretion (Labrie et al., 1974).
Pregnancy in adolescence: incidence and outcome in European countries
Authors: Deschamps J. P. , Valantin G.
Published: October 2011

Pregnancy in adolescence is now a very great concern for doctors, teachers and social workers throughout the world and yet about 95% of the publications on this topic have come from the USA. The remainder are mainly from the UK and Scandinavia. Other countries have produced only a small number of papers, focusing mainly on clinical problems such as the pathological events and complications during pregnancy or delivery. In France, the first paper to appear in a paediatric journal was published in 1977 in the French journal of school health (Martin, 1977). On the other hand, teenage magazines often contain articles about sexual behaviour and pregnancy in adolescence. There is now a great concern in the adolescents' press about the problems of sexuality, contraception, abortion and pregnancy, including advertising for pregnancy tests.
Teenage pregnancy in developing countries
Authors: Engstrom Lars
Published: October 2011

There is little statistical information from developing countries on the prevalence of early and late teenage pregnancies and associated health and psychosocial sequelae. Developing countries cannot be studied as an entity since they differ widely in terms of cultural background, religion, traditions, etc. However, characteristics of an underprivileged situation are: an early reproductive debut, high fertility and close spacing of pregnancies, and high maternal and infant mortality. The high maternal and infant mortality rates are related to socio-economic parameters but also specifically to the age of the mother, being increased for mothers under the age of 20, particularly for the younger ones and when there are repeated teenage pregnancies. Low minimum age of marriage for girls, typical of many developing as well as developed countries, means a consent of society for early family formation.

Epidemiological studies and studies on changing reproductive behaviour in situations undergoing modernization processes are required to estimate the magnitude of the problem from health and psychosocial aspects, and in order to design appropriate services.
Decline in sexual activity in ageing men: correlation with sex hormone levels and testicular changes
Authors: Vermeulen A.
Published: October 2011

The menopause clearly marks the end of the reproductive phase in the female, but no comparable event of sudden discontinuity in fertility occurs in the male. Successful paternity in man has been recorded at the age of 94 (Seymour, Duffy & Koerner, 1935). This difference between the sexes is rather surprising, as the male does not seem to age in a fundamentally different way from the female and as, moreover, the death rate for males is higher in all age groups, than for females. This may be related to the presence of only one X chromosome, the eventual defects of which cannot be compensated for by the activity of the homologue. The Y chromosome does not appear to bear vital genes, as it is not essential for life, XO individuals being perfectly viable, in distinction to the YO genotype. Moreover in the absence of male inducers, the phenotype is female, suggesting that the male phenotype is a more complex differentiation. For whatever reason, the lower viability of the male remains a striking fact: males represent only 35% of the age group over 75 years. The persistence of reproductive function into old age is therefore the more surprising. This does not mean, however, that a gradual decrease in sexual activity and testicular function in the ageing male does not occur. From adolescence onwards, there is a continuous decline in sexual interest, arousal and activity, without a sudden discontinuity in any age group.
Biological and social interactions in the determination of late fertility
Authors: Gray R. H.
Published: October 2011

The biological and social factors which may interact to determine the level and pattern of fertility during the last decades of the reproductive life are complex, and because of the paucity of data, the mechanisms regulating fertility at late ages must in part remain speculative. This review focuses on two major questions. First, why is there a decline of fertility prior to the menopause? Second, why does reproduction cease at the menopause and what factors influence the age at which this occurs?
Sexuality of women in middle age: the Göteborg study
Authors: Hallström Tore
Published: October 2011

Until recently there has been a paucity of factual data on the effects of the climacteric upon women's sexuality. The basic questions here are: do changes occur in sexual behaviour, sexual interest or responsiveness during the climacteric years? If so, what are the variations and how are they caused?

Two variables used extensively as a measure of sexuality are coital frequency and orgasmic frequency. Kinsey et al. (1953) showed that the degree of sexual activity remained fairly constant in unmarried women up to 55 years of age. By contrast, sexual activity in unmarried men declined gradually from puberty onwards. For married men and women they found that the frequency of sexual outlets declined during the life span. Kinsey et al. emphasized that the decreasing frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm in marriage does not prove that the sexual capacity of the woman is influenced by her own ageing but could instead be a result of her husband's ageing. These authors were of the opinion that there is little evidence of any ageing in the sexual capacity of the female until late in her life.
Closing of workshop
Authors: Baird D. T.
Published: October 2011

There is no need to have a workshop to show that fertility falls with age. Nothing works so well as it gets older. One has only to look at the progression of one's teeth, a very visible manifestation of the process of ageing, to make one wonder what goes on inside the reproductive system!

Probably there is no evolutionary disadvantage to having reduced fertility with age because by the time that there is a significant reduction in fecundity the genetic pool which will be added to subsequent generations has already been added. In biological terms, there may be a positive advantage in reduced fertility in older women, since the human infant is dependent on its parents for such a relatively long time and there may be an advantage in the mother surviving for 7, 8, 9 or 10 years after her youngest child is born. In looking for a teleological explanation of declining fertility with age and of a menopause, this is one possible explanation.
The international scene
Authors: McNab Tom
Published: October 2011

The development of the Olympic Games is reviewed. The factors which contribute towards success in sport at international level and the achievements and influences of different countries are discussed. The effect of commercial sponsorship on international sporting events is outlined.
The politics of the indigenous minority
Authors: Ucko P. J.
Published: October 2011

The main aim of this paper (see Author's note) is to demonstrate that definitions of which groups of people constitute indigenous minorities are subject to change—changes which are often due not so much to our increasing scientific or academic knowledge about particular groups of people, but to political factors. A secondary aim is to document two cases which have so far found little or no mention in the literature, one drawn from Zimbabwe and the other from Australia.
The dominant minority
Authors: Kirkwood Kenneth
Published: October 2011

John Stuart Mill and Sir Charles Wood are the British thinkers to whom I wish to pay special tribute in this paper. I must begin, however, by recalling that in London 30 years ago, I was accused of propounding a ‘natural law of white minorities’ and of being unduly deterministic in my prediction that the then still proposed Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, to be entrusted mainly to a white minority, could not succeed. It availed little to reply that my hypothesis of ‘Imperial inertia’, as I called it, and my forecast for the Federation, were made in the hope that the Federal constitution and its mode of implementation might be modified before it was imposed in 1953 by the government of the United Kingdom. I also urged that the key concepts ‘partnership’ and ‘trusteeship’ should be closely defined—it will be remembered that the Federation was formally dedicated to interracial partnership—and that careful regard should be given to what I termed ‘external partnership’, ‘internal partnership’, ‘external trusteeship’ and ‘internal trusteeship’, and to the important, dynamic relations between these concepts and policies, relationships which were scarcely recognized.
Breast-feeding in the Philippines: the role of the health sector
Authors: Popkin Barry M. , Yamamoto Monica E. , Griffin Charles C.
Published: October 2011

A survey of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 1298 Filipino health professionals towards breast-feeding is analysed. Knowledge of the benefits of breast-feeding, the psychophysiology of lactation, contraindications to breast-feeding, and the effects of drugs and contraceptives on lactation and delivery are some of the issues examined. A low level of knowledge about breast-feeding, particularly of health contraindications, is found. Industry and government programmes have both positive and negative effects on breast-feeding knowledge and attitudes.
Breast-feeding in Manila, Philippines preliminary results from a longitudinal study
Authors: Simpson-Hebert Mayling , Makil Lorna P.
Published: October 2011

Longitudinal data collected over a 2-year period (1982–84) on 152 first and second parity mothers who were delivered in a charity maternity hospital in Manila, Philippines, indicate the reasons for never brest-feeding and for early termination of brest-feeding. Socio-Cultural factors and beliefs are more important than physiological problems in minating breast-feeding.

Proper bottle-feeding is too costly for most low-income families. Bottle-fed babies have a higher incidence of diarrhoea. Mothers who change from breast- to bottle-feeding in the first 6 months are 1·7 times as likely to become pregnant in the first year post-partum as mothers Who brest-feed for 7 or more months.
Lactation and birth spacing in highland New Guinea
Authors: Wood James W. , Lai Daina , Johnson Patricia L. , Campbell Kenneth L. , Maslar Ila A.
Published: October 2011

The effects of infant suckling patterns on the post-partum resumption of ovulation and on birth-spacing are investigated among the Gainj of highland New Guinea. Based on hormonal evidence, the median duration of lactational anovulation is 20·4 months, accounting for about 75% of the median interval between live birth and next successful conception (i.e. resulting in live birth). Throughout lactation, suckling episodes are short and frequent, the interval changing slowly over time, from 24 minutes in newborns to 80 minutes in 3-year olds. Maternal serum prolactin concentrations decline in parallel with the changes in suckling patterns, approaching the level observed in non-nursing women by about 24 months post-partum. A path analysis indicates that the interval between suckling episodes is the principal determinant of maternal prolactin concentration, with time since parturition affecting prolactin secretion only in so far as it affects suckling frequency. The extremely prolonged contraceptive effect of breast-feeding in this population thus appears to be due to (i) a slow decline in suckling frequency with time since parturition and (ii) absence of a decline over time in hypothalamic–pituitary responsiveness to the suckling stimulus.
Maternal schooling and childhood mortality
Authors: Cleland John , van Ginneken Jerome
Published: October 2011

There is nothing new about the belief that the spread of education with its influence on knowledge and outlook is a central force behind the demographic transition. In 1934 Penrose wrote: ‘when a community has gained the knowledge and acquired the habits necessary to reduce the death rate it will sooner or later gain the knowledge and acquire the habits necessary to reduce the birth rate. There may be time lag between the two processes, but both of them in a large share are the outcome of education’ (Penrose, 1934). It is thus surprising that investigation of the specific influence of parental education on the mortality of children in developing countries was neglected until Caldwell's (1979) analysis of survey data from Ibadan, Nigeria, which demonstrated that mother's education was a more decisive determinant of child survival than other family characteristics such as husband's occupation and education. Other studies followed this influential investigation. The greater contribution to mortality decline of educational advance compared to health care provision, it has been argued, is a contribution to the development versus medical technology debate (Mosley, 1985). Inevitably the beginnings of a counter-reaction may be discerned. Caldwell (1986) stressed that the influence of education should not be considered in isolation from the wider context, while Cooksey et al. (1986, unpublished) consider that the effect of maternal education may have been exaggerated.
HIV infection in developing countries
Authors: Caraël Michel , Piot Peter
Published: October 2011

Shortly after the first reports on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the United States, it became clear that the disease was also particularly frequent in Haitians living in North America (Pitcheniket at., 1983; Curranet al., 1985) and in Africans seen in Europe for medical care (Katlamaet al., 1984; Clumecket al., 1984). Subsequently, surveys in Haiti and in Central Africa confirmed the occurrence of epidemic foci of AIDS in these areas (Papeet al., 1983; Malebrancheet al., 1983; Piotet al., 1984; Van de Perreet al., 1984).
Assessment of health programme effects with longitudinal studies
Authors: Rowland Michael G. M.
Published: October 2011

When assessing the effects of a programme one must first consider its objectives. When applied to the improvement of health, the word programme implies an intervention which is sustained, complex, dealing with more than a single aspect of one disease and usually going beyond simple provision of fixed curative facilities. How a programme is assessed will vary with the different components and the underlying purpose of the assessment. It is important to ask just what information is needed and whether or not it needs to be collected on a longitudinal basis.
Assessing the effect of primary health care on mortality in Ghana
Authors: Adjei Sam
Published: October 2011

The primary health care programme in Ghana has two objectives: (1) to achieve basic primary health care for 80% of the population of the country by 1990; (2) to attack the disease problems that contribute to 80% of the unnecessary deaths and disability afflicting Ghanaians, also by 1990.
Dynamic behavioural models and contraceptive choice
Authors: Montgomery Mark R.
Published: October 2011

Dynamic models of contraceptive use fill a theoretical gap. They bring behavioural content to the mathematically elegant Markov models of family building. They meet the criterion that Bulatao (1989) advances that method use, discontinuation and switching be considered not in isolation, but with reference to individual reproductive goals. Dynamic models help to link the literature on method choice with the literature on method effectiveness. These theoretical advantages are, at present, counter-balanced by empirical limitations. This article explores the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of dynamic contraceptive choice models.
Contraceptive switching among currently married women in the United States
Authors: Grady William R. , Hayward Mark D. , Billy John O. G. , Florey Francesca A.
Published: October 2011

This study examines contraceptive method switching among married women in the US. It enquires first into the effect of method type and women's socioeconomic characteristics on the risk of switching to each of six methods, including no method, and secondly into the previous methods used by women who adopt specific contraceptive means. The results indicate a great deal of circulation among all method types and of movement to unprotected intercourse. The adoption of sterilization is greatest among women not previously using any contraceptive method.
MEN IN MATERNAL CARE: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
Authors: CHATTOPADHYAY APARAJITA
Published: October 2011

Men's supportive stance is an essential component for making women's world better. There are growing debates among policymakers and researchers on the role of males in maternal health programmes, which is a big challenge in India where society is male driven. This study aims to look into the variations and determinants of maternal health care utilization in India and in three demographically and socioeconomically disparate states, namely Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra, by husband's knowledge, attitude, behaviour towards maternal health care and gender violence, using data from the National Family Health Survey III 2005–06 (equivalent to the Demographic and Health Survey in India). Women's antenatal care visits, institutional delivery and freedom in health care decisions are looked into, by applying descriptive statistics and multivariate models. Men's knowledge about pregnancy-related care and a positive gender attitude enhances maternal health care utilization and women's decision-making about their health care, while their presence during antenatal care visits markedly increases the chances of women's delivery in institutions. From a policy perspective, proper dissemination of knowledge about maternal health care among husbands and making the husband's presence obligatory during antenatal care visits will help primary health care units secure better male involvement in maternal health care.
OBESITY, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND REASONING ABILITY IN PORTUGUESE STUDENTS BETWEEN 6 AND 12 YEARS OLD
Authors: BARRIGAS CARLOS , FRAGOSO ISABEL
Published: October 2011

Obesity has been linked to several physiological and psycho-social diseases, decreases in cognitive function, poor levels of scholastic achievement, low socioeconomic status and delayed onset of maturity. This study investigates the association between obesity and both academic performance and reasoning ability in 394 male and 398 females students between the ages of 6 and 12 from Lisbon, Portugal. It also assesses how this relationship may be influenced by chronological age, maturity and socioeconomic status. The results suggest that: 1) reasoning ability is independent of socioeconomic status and level of maturity; 2) no differences in reasoning ability exist between groups of different BMI; 3) academic performance is moderated by chronological age in boys, and by maturity in both genders; 4) obesity is not associated with academic performance. It is concluded that reasoning ability and academic performance are not associated with obesity, and that inter-individual differences in academic performance in boys may be explained by differences in their level of maturity.
Bevacizumab treatment for vestibular schwannomas in neurofibromatosis type two: report of two cases, including responses after prior gamma knife and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition therapy
Authors: Eminowicz G K , Raman R , Conibear J , Plowman P N
Published: October 2011

Objectives:

Vestibular schwannomas are the hallmark of neurofibromatosis type two. They are difficult to treat, due to their bilateral presentation and the quest for hearing preservation. Our report describes a new treatment approach in this clinical scenario.

Case report:

We report two cases which confirm that bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor, causes regression of vestibular schwannomas in patients with a previous history of gamma knife radiosurgery or failed treatment with another form of vascular endothelial growth factor targeted therapy.

Conclusion:

In 2009, Plotkinet al.reported the volumetric response of vestibular schwannomas to bevacizumab treatment, both in untreated patients and in patients previously treated with erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor. The presented cases support the use of bevacizumab to treat vestibular schwannomas. Given the extremely slow growth of these tumours, we note the rapidity of volume reduction following bevacizumab therapy.
Paediatric day-case tonsillectomy: a three-year prospective audit spiral in a district hospital
Authors: Bajaj Y , Atkinson H , Sagoo R , Bhatti I , Newbegin C
Published: October 2011

Background:

Paediatric tonsillectomy is a common ENT operation. The use of day-case surgery is increasing, in order to improve efficiency in healthcare.

Methods:

A prospective audit spiral was carried out from January 2006 to December 2008 for all children undergoing day-case tonsillectomy at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Results:

There was a haemorrhage rate of 2.6 per cent over three years. The most common complication was nausea and vomiting, seen in 5.3 per cent of patients.

Conclusions:

For a well selected group of children, day-case tonsillectomy in a district hospital setting is a safe and efficient alternative to an in-patient stay. A dedicated day-case team, good anaesthetic technique, adequate post-operative analgesia and on-site paediatric in-patient facilities are essential.
The English Reformation Revisited
Authors: Heal Felicity
Published: October 2011

I was asked by the Society to provide an introduction to current historical thinking about the English Reformation in the first talk to the 1995 Conference. The ensuing lecture was deliberately intended to provide guidance through the minefield of controversy about the success of Reformation for those with only limited knowledge of sixteenth-century history. Debates about the Reformation have always been of obvious importance to both theologians and historians: they have usually in the past been profoundly influenced by confessional ideologies. In the last thirty years the nature of the questions asked about Reformation has undergone marked change: specifically the issue of popular religious belief and practice has assumed a centrality it never before possessed. But new questions have not brought closer agreement on the nature of religious change, and in recent years fierce debate has continued to rage on such issues as the vitality of late medieval Catholicism, the popularity of the early reformers and the motives of Henry VIII and his successors. Some, at least, of these controversies are still bound up with Protestant, Catholic and Anglican identities in the late twentieth century. Since the continuities between past and present were the theme of last year's Conference, I have touched on these identities, but have left it to others, especially Dr Rowell and Dr Rex to make these connections more explicit.
AN ANALYSIS OF SPECIES DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN THE ATLANTIC FORESTS OF SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL
Authors: Santos M. F. , Serafim H. , Sano P. T.
Published: October 2011

This study analysed phytogeographic patterns of several Atlantic Forest areas in southeastern Brazil, including forest areas in the Espinhaço Range, to identify species with congruent distribution patterns and possible environmental factors that might influence these. A total of 54 floristic surveys, predominantly from semideciduous woodland sites but also including some rainforest areas, were compared using UPGMA and DCA methods as well as Jaccard analyses. The former identified four main groupings: group 1 included forests located throughout the Espinhaço Range; group 2 was formed by forest areas in the Rio Jequitinhonha basin; group 3 was formed by three distinct subgroups, one (3.1) predominantly of forest areas pertaining to the Alto Rio Grande basin, another (3.2) of upland forests of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, and a third subgroup (3.3) of upland forests of the Serra da Mantiqueira; and group 4 encompassed forest areas in the Rio Doce, Rio Paraíba do Sul, Rio Itanhém and Rio Itapemirim basins. The prevailing relief in these basins has influenced rainfall and seasonality in these areas which, in turn, have exerted a major influence on the composition of the semideciduous forests. Geographic proximity and altitude, although important factors, play a minor role in the phytogeographic patterns analysed. Despite the floristic heterogeneity of the Espinhaço Range forests, there are physiognomic and floristic affinities among the forests within the campos rupestre vegetation. These are due to the high altitude and features of the soil.
THECACORIS, INCLUDING CYATHOGYNE (PHYLLANTHACEAE), IN WEST AFRICA: GENERIC DELIMITATION, DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES, AND A SYNOPSIS OF ALL WEST AFRICAN SPECIES
Authors: Breteler F. J.
Published: October 2011

The separation of Thecacoris and Cyathogyne (Phyllanthaceae, formerly Euphorbiaceae) is discussed and it is concluded that they should remain united. A separation of the continental forest species (except Thecacoris viridis (Müll.Arg.) Leandri ex G.L.Webster) awaits molecular investigation. Thecacoris micrantha sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Thecacoris grandifolia (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Govaerts from Cameroon is neotypified. Thecacoris membranacea Pax and T. annobonae Pax & K.Hoffm. are lectotypified and placed in synonymy under T. stenopetala (Müll.Arg.) Müll.Arg. and T. trichogyne Müll.Arg., respectively. Thecacoris manniana (Müll.Arg.) Müll.Arg. is united with T. stenopetala under the latter name. A key to and a synopsis of the West African species is provided.
REVISION OF MALESIAN ENDOSPERMUM (EUPHORBIACEAE) WITH NOTES ON PHYLOGENY AND HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY
Authors: Guerrero S. Arias , Van Welzen P. C.
Published: October 2011

The genus Endospermum (Euphorbiaceae) in the Malay Archipelago (Malesia) comprises eight rather than the 10 species recognised in the latest revision by Schaeffer in 1971. Endospermum banghamii and E. ronaldii are synonymised with E. quadriloculare. The diagnostic characters for the genus are briefly discussed with special emphasis given to the myrmecophytic characters. The phylogenetic analysis, based on morphological characters (11 vegetative and 12 reproductive), resulted in a single, most parsimonious cladogram with bootstrap support only for the genus. The historical biogeographic analysis, used to evaluate the cladogram, showed that two species are placed in an unexpected position in the phylogeny, which means that the morphology-based cladogram may be reliable to a large extent.
Preaching What We Practice: Bringing Scope and Methods “Back In”
Authors: Centellas Miguel
Published: October 2011

Recent discussions of teaching research methods have focused on understanding the relationship between methods courses and the broader discipline, including the need to integrate qualitative methods and other approaches beyond the traditional statistical approaches still common in the majority of undergraduate research methods courses. This article contributes to this conversation by arguing that the basic elements of research design and qualitative techniques should be integrated into substantive (or “non-methods”) courses across the discipline. To accomplish this aim, I offer a brief outline of methodological benchmark skills—drawn from the pool of skills necessary for a successful thesis—that can be taught in various courses across the discipline through a traditional assignment: the semester research paper.
Are Financial or Moral Scandals Worse? It Depends.
Authors: Doherty David , Dowling Conor M. , Miller Michael G.
Published: October 2011

Previous analysis finds that people respond differently to “financial” (e.g., tax evasion) and “moral” (e.g., sexual misconduct) political scandals. However, experimental and observational studies tend to reach different conclusions about which type of scandal induces a stronger negative reaction from the public. We use an experiment embedded in a national survey to examine the possibility that these divergent findings can, in part, be explained by a failure to consider the effects of abuses of power. Consistent with previous experimental work, we find that people respond more negatively to financial scandals than to moral scandals when they do not involve abuses of power. However, abuses of power substantially affect responses to both types of scandals. We also find that moral and financial scandals affect personal and job evaluations of a politician differently. These findings support our contention that to understand public responses to scandal, it is crucial to consider the relationship between the scandalous behavior and the official's formal responsibilities.
The Modal Number of Citations to Political Science Articles Is Greater than Zero: Accounting for Citations in Articles and Books
Authors: Samuels David J.
Published: October 2011

Existing measures of article and journal impact count citations that articles receive in other articles. Such metrics ignore citations that articles receive in monographs and edited-volume chapters. Counting article citations in books reveals that popular measures of article and journal impact discriminate against articles and journals that receive citations in books rather than (or in addition to) citations in other articles, thereby discriminating against the research contributions of scholars who publish such articles. Analysis of citation patterns over 25 years reveals that citations in books have declined in American politics research while citations in articles have increased; citations in both books and articles remain important in the other subfields. Findings suggest that political scientists should supplement indicators of journal impact based on citations in peer-reviewed articles with measures that account for the citations that published articles receive in books.
The Method of Problems versus the Method of Topics
Authors: Eidlin Fred
Published: October 2011

Confused students researching papers not knowing where they are going. Articles, lectures, and books on exciting topics that turn out to be boring. Such familiar phenomena are symptoms of a widespread, largely unconscious methodological habit of focusing on topics rather than problems. This habit rests on views about knowledge that are deeply ingrained in commonsense knowledge and in the methodology of mainstream social science. Such views saturate the understanding of scientific inquiry assumed by most methods textbooks. This article criticizes the method of topics and contrasts it with the method of problems. The word “topic” suggests that there is some surface to cover, but not why covering it might be interesting. Interesting research is problem-driven. It begins with a sense that something is amiss with existing knowledge and requires explanation. Problem-driven research begins, not with collection of data or facts, or with clarification of concepts, but with identification of inconsistencies or gaps in existing knowledge. It seeks to solve problems through free invention and severe criticism of hypotheses.
Reflecting on a Decade of Women's Publications in Four Top Political Science Journals
Authors: Evans Heather K. , Moulder A.
Published: October 2011

Publication in scholarly journals is a key to scholarly success. However, previous studies have shown that across many disciplines, including political science, women publish significantly less than men and prefer to use qualitative methodology. In this article, we explore the accuracy of these trends by examining a decade's worth (2000–09) of women's publications in four top political science journals (the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, and PS: Political Science and Politics). Using a systematic content analysis, we determine the gender ratio of the authors, funding sources, methods, and the ratio of qualitative and quantitative studies. We find that while women publish less than men in each of these venues, their publication rates resemble their representation in the field.
Peer Evaluation in the Political Science Classroom
Authors: Baranowski Michael , Weir Kimberly
Published: October 2011

When student presentations are offered in the classroom, instructors are most likely to be concerned about the extent to which students pay attention and learn from the experience of not only giving a presentation, but about what students learn as an audience. After devising a peer-evaluation instrument for students to evaluate their classmates' presentations, over the course of two years and 10 courses, we surveyed students to determine the effectiveness and usefulness of peer evaluations. We found that students are more likely to pay attention, gain a different perspective on the presentation experience, and be more engaged in the presentation when they evaluate one another.
Arguing about Financial Regulation: Comparing National Discourses on the Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Lodge Martin , Wegrich Kai
Published: October 2011

As we write, the world is still in the grips of a financial crisis. Germany was one of the first countries to bail out a bank in July 2007. Then, in September 2007, the United Kingdom (UK) witnessed a run on a building society, Northern Rock, and the subsequent widespread nationalization of its banking sector. In the United States, the crisis led to a number of collapses among financial institutions, most famously Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, and the bail out of the insurance group, AIG, all in 2008.