bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are the Mental Images of Fantasy-Prone Persons Really More “Real”?
Authors: Council James R. , Chambers Deborah , Jundt Troy A. , Good Michael D.
Published: May 2005

The construct, “fantasy-proneness” [1], has important implications for theories of mental imagery and personality. The present study used a procedure with minimal experimental demand to compare the characteristics of mental images in subjects who differed in fantasy-proneness and vividness of visual imagery. Results revealed that high fantasizers, even those who reported vivid imagery, were no more likely than other subjects to perform in a fashion indicative of “picture-like” visual images. Implications of these findings for the construct of fantasy-proneness and interpretations of self-report measures of imagination and visual imagery are discussed.
Applying Aesthetics to the Design of Promotional Material: The Theory of Requiredness in Direct Mail Advertising
Authors: Zinkhan George M. , Stoiadin Lydia F.
Published: May 2005

The theory of requiredness, which is similar to the information-theoretic concept of subjective (un)certainty, is applied to the problem of measuring the effectiveness of promotional material. This theory specifies that, in the case of a complex passage of prose, high levels of predictability will lead to high levels of enjoyment and recall for that passage. It is also hypothesized that enjoyable passages will be more memorable than unenjoyable passages. In order to test this theory of requiredness, a model is estimated using 109 subjects, and predictions are made to a validation sample of forty-seven. The moderately successful prediction results provide empirical support for all three hypotheses derived from this theory of aesthetics. Implications for promotional managers and scientific researchers are also discussed.
Successful Aging among the Young-Old, Old-Old, and Oldest-Old Chinese
Authors: Chou Kee-Lee , Chi Iris
Published: May 2005

In this study, successful aging was defined by four dimensions including functional status, affective status, cognitive status, and productive involvement status. This study examined successful aging among Hong Kong Chinese old people in three different age cohorts: young-old, old-old, and oldest-old. The respondents were 1106 people aged 60 years or older from a cross-sectional study of a representative community sample of the elderly population in Hong Kong. We found modest associations between four dimensions of successful aging, indicating the relative independence of these four criteria for successful aging. Using multiple regression models, we found that age, gender, years of education, number of close relatives, frequency of contact with friends, financial strain, number of chronic illnesses, self-rated health, hearing impairment, and life satisfaction were associated with the successful aging indicator.
Global Asbestos Justice: South African Asbestos Victims Win Right to Sue Cape PLC in U.K. Courts
Authors: Kazan-Allen Laurie
Published: May 2005

A ruling by Britain's House of Lords in July 2000 opened the doors of the English courts to foreign plaintiffs injured by the overseas operation of British companies and their subsidiaries. The ruling authorized 3,000 South African asbestos victims to continue their case in the U.K. courts against the multinational British company Cape PLC, which produced both raw asbestos and asbestos products in South Africa. The Lords sided with the asbestos victims in refusing to transfer the case to South Africa, as requested by Cape. This decision was a reversal of fortune for Cape and has implications for other British multinationals that may be called upon to defend their overseas actions domestically.
The Logos of Computer Logorrhea
Authors: Jones Jere , Shriver A. Richard , Lambesis Nicholas
Published: May 2005

Cybernetics, the “science” relating the modus operandi of computing machines to man, has fostered a number of myths that cloud the way we talk about computers. And even though these cybernetics myths are not always taken seriously by the philosopher, engineer, or computer programmer, a misleading and imprecise vocabulary of computer logorrhea has evolved which threatens to obscure man's ability to use the electronic computing machine as a tool. This paper represents an inquiry into the roots of several cybernetics-related misconceptions and some of the consequent anthropomorphic nonsense and grammatical falacies which permeate our thinking and our language.
Controlling Challenge in Instructional Simulation
Authors: Mattoon Joseph S. , Klein James D.
Published: May 2005

This experiment was designed to assess the effects of instructional control mechanisms that altered the degree of challenge in an instructional simulation. Subjects were taught to place an icon at a position and orientation that corresponded to digital and analogue information displayed on a simulated aviation instrument. Three treatments were compared: a) learner control enabled subjects to control challenge; b) learner control with advisement provided the same control accompanied by ongoing advice on control decisions; and c) computer control automatically adjusted challenge. Treatments differentially affected subjects' response time on immediate and delayed tests and their control decisions during practice. Interference of control decisions with acquisition of the criterion skill and subjects' perceptions of their performance are discussed as potential contributors to the effects of the treatments.
Previous Experience and the Learning of Computer Programming: The Computer Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Authors: Kersteen Zoe A. , Linn Marcia C. , Clancy Michael , Hardyck Curtis
Published: May 2005

Recent developments in mathematics education indicate that previous experience is the best predictor of high school math achievement scores. Given this information we hypothesized that previous experience with computers would serve as a predictor of performance in college computer science courses. Also of interest was the possible interaction of gender, prior computing experience and computer science course performance. To examine these issues, we designed and administered a questionnaire to students across two semesters of the first year Pascal programming course at the university level. Roughly one-quarter of the students enrolled across the two semesters were female. Results show that males have more prior experience, especially in advanced computer science topics, than females, and that much of this prior experience is gained outside of school through “hacking” and unguided exploration. Amount of prior computing experience was found to predict course performance for males. For females very little prior experience was reported and this limited amount of experience was not predictive of course performance. The question of why women have so little prior experience with computers and are so sparsely represented in computer science courses is addressed.
Aids and Rational Suicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: May 2005

College students were presented with a hypothetical scenario in which they were dying from AIDS. Those with a hypothetically higher level of pain estimated the probability of committing suicide as greater; those with a hypothetically greater chance of survival for a year estimated the probability of committing suicide as less. This study suggests an approach for studying the rationality of decisions to commit suicide and for studying the actual decisions made by terminally ill people.
The Early Demise of the “Stronger” Sex: Gender-Related Causes of Sex Differences in Longevity
Authors: Stillion Judith M. , McDowell Eugene E.
Published: May 2005

It is well documented that males die at younger ages than females. Although the sex differential in longevity has some basis in biology, many gender-related socialization practices in place in American culture build on existing genetic predispositions to cause males to be more vulnerable than females to early death, especially violent death and death from heart disease. Demographic data are presented to document premature death rates for men relative to women, especially violent death from accidents, suicide, and homicide. A hierarchy of causes of death that is increasingly subject to human influence is presented along with a multidimensional model for understanding early death among males. Conclusions are offered for some reconsiderations of masculinity that would be helpful in reducing the sex differential in longevity.
Length of Hospital Stay of Medical and Surgical Inpatients Referred for Psychiatric Consultation: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Mojet Eveline J. , Hengeveld Michiel W. , Bouwhuis Marijke L.
Published: May 2005

Retrospective analysis of 406 consecutive psychiatric consultations with general hospital inpatients revealed that their mean length of stay (LOS) was 26.1 days, while the mean LOS of the other hospital patients was only 11.1 days. In 36.5 percent of the consultation patients the LOS in hospital was longer than that exceeded by 10 percent of the hospital patients. The factor most strongly related to a very long LOS of psychiatric consultation patients appeared to be the referring ward. Particularly on cancer wards very long LOS patients were referred to the psychiatrist. The psychiatric consultant often supported the ward staff by making recommendations for the management of such patients. Patients with a long LOS might be a suitable group for carrying out a controlled cost-effectiveness study of psychiatric consultations in a natural setting.
A Systematic Approach to Improving In-House Computer Literacy
Authors: Craig John S.
Published: May 2005

Computer trainers and technical writers responsible for instructing end users on the proper use of in-house computer systems are challenged with a task that is becoming increasingly complex and vital to an organization's efficiency. Since in-house computer systems are custom-designed for use within organizations, classroom trainers, writers, and other technical communicators must provide comprehensive classroom instruction and documentation for users. This article cites recent research on computer training and writing strategies in the technical communication and instructional technology fields, and how these strategies can be used by technical communicators to instruct users of in-house computer systems. An in-house computer training model is presented to help technical communicators design in-house computer training sessions, improve existing sessions, and create and revise in-house, instructional computer user documentation.
Technical Writing and Applied Communications in Australia
Authors: Mitchell John H.
Published: May 2005

The distribution of 13 million Australians over a land mass the size of the United States poses unique problems for the communication of technical information. Both industry and education in non-urban areas are being imaginatively served by telecommunication and non-linear techniques, but the needs of secondary and tertiary industries for technical writing capabilities have not been met. Vigorous efforts by federal and state governments, by academic and industrial training facilities, and by professional societies are being made to correct this recognized inadequacy.
The Rhetoric of Fraud in Breast Cancer Trials: Manifestations in Medical Journals and the Mass Media—And Missed Opportunities
Authors: Zerbe Michael J. , Young Amanda J. , Nagelhout Edwin R.
Published: May 2005

In 1994, the Chicago Tribune announced in a blaring page-one story that fraud had been discovered in an important nine-year-old medical study which compared two treatments for early-stage breast cancer. The study had assured women that lumpectomy plus radiation was as safe as the more invasive mastectomy procedure for early-stage breast cancer; however, the revelation of fraud called these results into question. We examine the reactions of two professional medical journals to demonstrate how negotiations for upholding ethical norms in science took place within the pages of these publications. Then, we analyze the public discourse surrounding the fraud and show that much of the coverage was devoted to scandal. Both forums missed opportunities: professional journals ignored a chance to explore the blurry boundary between “writing up” and “making up” results that all scientists must negotiate in interpreting and publicizing data, while public discourse neglected women affected by the fraud.
Analysis of Minute and Priceless Artifacts Using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Warnock Peter , Pendleton Michael
Published: May 2005

Analyzing minute remains, delicate objects, or components of priceless artifacts is often difficult. An example of the difficulties encountered in analyzing these types of artifacts is seen in the wood analysis of a wooden writing tablet (diptych), recovered from a 14th century B.C. submerged shipwreck. Because only minute fragments of the diptych were available for analysis, we utilized a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to obtain high resolution images of the fragments at high magnifications. The similarity of the diptych wood to a reference sample of Boxwood ( Buxus sempervirens) suggested it is the probable wood used for the diptych's construction. This study presents an example of why SEM is occasionally necessary as a tool in archaeology.
Retaining African-American Students in Higher Education: An Integrative Review
Authors: Flowers Lamont A.
Published: May 2005

The primary objective of this article is to examine and synthesize the research literature conducted on the factors that influence African-American students' retention in higher education. Recommendations for future research were discussed. Programmatic implications of this integrative review for higher education personnel and student affairs professionals were also provided.
Traumatic Grief, Depression and Caregiving in Elderly Spouses of the Terminally Ill
Authors: Beery Laurel C. , Prigerson Holly G. , Bierhals Andrew J. , Santucci Lisa M. , Newsom Jason T. , MacIejewski Paul K. , Rapp Stephen R. , Fasiczka Amy , Reynolds Charles F.
Published: May 2005

This study examined the effects of changes in role function, caregiving tasks, caregiver burden and gratification on symptoms of depression and traumatic grief. Data were derived from rater-administered and self-report questionnaires completed by seventy aged spouses of the terminally ill. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that the level of caregiver burden was significantly associated with the respondent's level of depression and traumatic grief. Results also indicated that changes in role function, specifically in change in restriction of sports and recreational activities, were associated with the caregiver's level of depression, but not with the caregiver's level of traumatic grief. The number of IADL tasks performed for the critically ill spouse was negatively associated with the caregiver's level of depression (i.e., the fewer IADLs performed for the spouse, the greater severity of depressive symptoms). The number of ADL tasks performed for the spouse or caregiver gratification was not significantly associated with the caregiver's level of either depression or traumatic grief.
Malnutrition and “Nutrition Engineering” in Low-Income Countries: A Rejoinder
Authors: Berg Alan
Published: May 2005

Malnutrition cannot be reduced to any single causality. While the political economy explanation is correct, suffering must be addressed in the short term by the available technical solutions. More work is needed on both the long-term causes of malnutrition and on methods of prophylaxis and treatment for nutritional diseases.
A Record Linking System for Research on School Improvement
Authors: Mandeville Garrett K.
Published: May 2005

A computer algorithm which links student test records using information available on two files is described and data on its accuracy presented. During the past four years it has been used to match over 1.6 million student records for use in a statewide school reward program. The results indicate that after minimal editing about .18 percent of the computer matches were incorrect and .44 percent of the potential valid matches were missed. By comparison, matches based on unedited student ID numbers produced almost no mismatches (.06%) but missed about 6 percent of the possible matches. For many applications the computer error rates should be tolerable and, since the system utilizes extant data, it is clearly cost-effective. A number of additional areas of application are described.
Discrimination in Social Science & Medicine?
Authors: Waitzkin Howard
Published: May 2005

I prepared the following paragraphs [in italic type] as the beginning of an introduction to a special issue, “Marxist Perspectives in Social Medicine,” for the journal, Social Science & Medicine. The editor-in-chief of that journal, Peter J. M. McEwan, censored these paragraphs, thus publishing an introduction without specific details about the historical development of the special issue. Because this information will help put the special issue in perspective for its readers, I have asked that the censored passages appear in the International Journal of Health Services, which reaches an overlapping international readership. Readers should be aware about this internal editorial controversy within Social Science & Medicine, as well as the difficulties that have been encountered concerning editorial policy.
The Class Analysis of Poverty: Is the Underclass Living off the Socially Available Surplus?
Authors: Chernomas Robert , Sepehri Ardeshir
Published: May 2005

In a recent article Erik Olin Wright argues that the U.S. underclass is a drain on the socially available surplus and thus a hindrance to capital accumulation. Wright's argument is not supported by available evidence from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom on the state's distributive activities. This evidence suggests that the social welfare necessary to sustain the underclass is provided by transfers from wage and salary earners rather than from profit.
Constructing Success and Failure: Age Differences in Perceptions and Explanations of Success and Failure
Authors: Blank Thomas O. , Levesque Maurice J.
Published: May 2005

Age differences in attributions for self-reported successes and failures in both important and daily situations were examined. Sixty-one young adults ( M age = 19.2), twenty-one middle-aged adults ( M age = 45), and fifteen older adults ( M age = 71.4) gave attributions and affects for self-chosen situations, which were classified as social or nonsocial. The attributions and affects were coded according to Blank's scheme with attributions dichotomized into internal and external, and stable and unstable [1]. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than young adults to attribute failure to external causes and to describe more social than nonsocial situations. Consistent age differences in attributional stability were not found nor were there age differences in attributional internality for success outcomes.
Comparison of Leporid Bones in Raptor Pellets, Raptor Nests, and Archaeological Sites in the Great Basin
Authors: Hockett Bryan Scott
Published: May 2005

Leporid (cottontail and hare) bones deposited on the landscape in raptor pellets may exhibit more forelimb than hindlimb bones, few complete bones, more subadult than adult bones, and abundant vertebrae. In contrast, raptor nest assemblages may exhibit more tibiae than forelimb bones, few incomplete bones, more adult than subadult bones, and few vertebrae. Approximately 1 to 2 percent of leporid bones deposited in either raptor nests or raptor pellets are likely to exhibit puncture marks. Leporid bone assemblages created by humans in the Great Basin may exhibit large numbers of adult Lepus or adult Sylvilagus tibia diaphysis cylinders, many burned and unidentifiable fragments of bone, few identifiable vertebrae and sacra, and assemblages that consist primarily of adult animals. These data suggest that archaeologists should be able to identify leporid bone assemblages that were created largely or solely by the deposition of raptor pellets, by the deposition of unswallowed bones under raptor nests, or by the deposition of bones by humans. Assemblages created by any combination of these three processes, however, will be more difficult to interpret.
An Annotated Bibliography of The Journal of Technical Writing and Communicaton: 1971–1989
Authors: Nakamura Mitsuo
Published: May 2005

This bibliography classifies the entire life (1971–1989) of The Journal of Technical Writing and Communication in terms of the following categories: The Profession, Education and Pedagogy, Preparation and Presentation of Technical Information, Research and Theory in Technical Communication, and Application of Technology to Technical Communication. The early bibliographies on which this material draws are the annotated bibliographies compiled by Karen A. Edlefsen (1971–1977), Richard Navarro (1978–1980), and Paul Reese (1981–1984), which were included in the 9:1, 12:1, and 15:4 issues of this journal, respectively. In addition to the materials cited above, this bibliography also includes articles from 1985 to 1989.
Helpviewer or Textbook? The Case of Ganesh Helper
Authors: Andeweg Bas A. , De Jong Jaap C.
Published: May 2005

Using new media in supporting students learning to write is a challenge for technical writing teachers. In this article we describe our effort to convert the paper course material to an on-line advisory system, called Ganesh Helper. Through the logging of students' actions and observations it was possible to assess some aspects of the use of Ganesh Helper (searching, browsing, and switching between writing and reading) while the students were writing part of a report. A questionnaire taught us that a majority of the students found the helpviewer easy to use and useful. But in the case of Ganesh Helper most of the students still preferred the textbook to the helpviewer.
Computers as Instructional Tools for the Social Sciences
Authors: Klassen Daniel , James Douglas
Published: May 2005

Over the past few decades many promises have been made concerning the improvement of teaching and learning through the use of computers in the instructional process. Today, some of these promises are finally being realized. Numerous students now benefit from computer applications which make possible more interesting, effective, and efficient systems for teaching and learning. Despite applications in numerous areas of study, the study of the social sciences (political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, psychology, history) at the secondary school level has only recently experienced the influence of the computer as an instructional tool. This paper focuses on the use of the computer as an instructional support tool for the social sciences. To begin, we discuss some of the more important obstacles facing the introduction of the computer into the study of the social sciences at the high school level. Next, we consider several of the more important real and potential areas of computer utilization. Finally, we present an example of computer use in the classroom and suggest guidelines for using the computer as an instructional tool.
Interactive Dynamics of Intrusive Horticultural Groups Coalescing in South-Central Manitoba during the Late Prehistoric Period—The Vickers Focus
Authors: Nicholson B. A.
Published: May 2005

Recent fieldwork has demonstrated the presence of several intrusive horticultural complexes in southern Manitoba during Late Prehistoric times. These groups probably first began entering the area circa 1000 B.P. and disappeared from the archaeological record some 600 years later—about 150 years prior to the entry of Europeans. An examination of the ceramics indicates that no single migration theory or simple diffusion of technology can account for these assemblages. The diversity of the wares, derived from identifiable antecedents elsewhere, indicates a complex mingling and syncretism of cultural elements drawn from widely separated sources resulting in some form of hybrid ethnicity. Subsequent work has indicated a localized dispersal of these unusual assemblages during the terminal Late Prehistoric period. The material assemblage of one such composite society is evident at the Lowton site which has provided the ceramic type collection for an initial definition of the Vickers Focus within the larger context of the Scattered Village Complex. The sheer abundance of cultural materials in the Lowton assemblage, when compared with other sites containing these ceramics, indicates that the Lowton site was the most important of the known sites for people belonging to this segment of the Scattered Village Complex and may have been a regional center for a coalescing polyethnic society.
Technical Documentation and legal Liability
Authors: Caher John M.
Published: May 2005

Litigation rooted in disputes over the interpretation and sufficiency of technical documentation is increasingly common as a number of suits have been filed in state and federal courts. This article describes the matter of Martin v. Hacker (83 NY2nd 1, Nov. 23, 1993), a recent case in which New York's highest court analyzed a technical writer's prose in the context of a lawsuit over a drug-induced suicide.
The Components of Purpose and Professional-Communication Pedagogy
Authors: Blyler Nancy Roundy
Published: May 2005

A review of the current literature suggests that the concept of purpose has not received sufficient theoretical or pedagogical attention. In this article, theoretical depth is provided by a discussion of four components of purpose: purpose as associated with discourse types, purpose from the writer's viewpoint, purpose as it relates to situation, and purpose from the reader's viewpoint. Research is cited, and examples from computer documentation are used to illustrate each component. Cooperation and conflict among components are examined in a sample document, and classroom applications are discussed.
Death, Funeral and Bereavement Practices in Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Kentucky
Authors: Garrity Thomas F. , Wyss James
Published: May 2005

The historical sketch and results of a survey of death practices in Kentucky are strikingly at variance with the death literature. Whereas the literature argues that death is a hidden phenomenon in western society, evidence was found in this study that openness in the presence of death is the rule rather than the exception. Although several statistically significant differences in death visibility were found when Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions were compared, the similarities found between regions were even more noteworthy. The findings are discussed in relation to the evolution of death practices in a modernizing society.
The Drug Lag Issue: The Debate Seen from an International Perspective
Authors: Andersson Fredrik
Published: May 2005

This article reviews the literature related to the “drug lag” issue, i.e., the issue of whether important new drugs are introduced relatively late, or, in certain cases, are introduced at all, in a particular country. The literature can be divided into two main parts: studies primarily related to the delay in introduction of new drugs and studies primarily related to the number of introduced new drugs. Most studies have found the United States, Sweden, and Norway to have a long delay in the introduction of new drugs. The United Kingdom and (West) Germany in general have the shortest delay. There are also large differences in the number of introduced new drugs. In most studies, the United States and Norway have introduced far fewer new drugs than any other industrialized country. In general (West) Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy have introduced the largest number of new drugs. One of the reviewed studies presented a relationship between regulatory processing time and delay in introduction. Another study found an increasing influence of regulatory stringency on the number of introduced new drugs in a country. If a country's aim is to decrease the delay in introduction and/or to increase the introduction of important new drugs, a review of the local regulatory agencies and the regulations seems worthwhile.
Agricultural Research and Human Nutrition: A Comparative Analysis of Brazil, Cuba, Israel, and the United States
Authors: Makhoul Najwa
Published: May 2005

A tentative theoretical explanation of modern nutritional vulnerability is derived from an original study of agricultural science as part of the social process in societies distinguished by the extent to which their form of production (specifically reproduction of labor) falls within or outside the world of commodities. The selected case studies—the United States, Israel, Brazil, and Cuba—are characterized also by advanced agricultural research, remarkable agricultural productivity, and, with the exception of Brazil, a satisfactory state of public nutrition. This particular selection thus lays the basis for a holistic investigation of malnutrition which considers the mode of production as the appropriate unit of analysis. As a theoretical, not statistical, account of nutritional status variations in a variety of social environments, the study employs a two-dimensional comparison of agricultural research orientation and impact, on the one side, and of predominant modes of reproduction of labor, on the other. It is proposed that, independently of agricultural productivity effects of research, structural nutritional vulnerability prevails where the strictly capitalist commodity—labor power—is sold below its value, and because, in the framework of capitalist production, science is biased against subsistence food crops that are used restrictively in reproduction of labor. This bias is rooted not in the nature of such crops, but in their role in determining the value of labor power, which as expressed by wage, stands in inverse proportion to profit.
Death and Denial in Conrad's the Nigger of the “Narcissus”
Authors: Abram Harry S.
Published: May 2005

This essay is concerned with the themes of death and denial in Joseph Conrad's third novel, The Nigger of the “Narcissus.” Although this subject has received some attention in the past, it has not been explored from a modern psychological viewpoint, particularly as it relates to Weisman's concepts of denial and acceptance of death. The central conflict in the novel centers around man's response to the inevitability of death as represented by the crew of the “Narcissus” in its relationship to James Wait, a black man dying of tuberculosis aboard the ship. When the crew is unable to handle its denial and is confronted with the inevitability of death, disruption and mutiny occur. With final acceptance of Wait's death there is resolution of the conflict and a maturation of the crew.
Methods of Measuring Communication Results
Authors: Andersson Ulf-L
Published: May 2005

Measurement is the key to the future in communication. To be able to develop better methods of communicating difficult material in shorter time, we need methods to measure the result. This article discusses what measuring methods can be used and which measuring instruments are needed.
Correlates of Regional Suicide Rates: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lester David
Published: May 2005

A meta-analysis was conducted of research on the regional correlates of suicide rates within nations. The fourteen studies yielded two reliable associations—a negative association of regional suicide rates with population and a positive association with the death rate. Suggestions were made for future research on this topic.
Teachers' Experiential Learning about Learning
Authors: Regan-Smith Martha G.
Published: May 2005

Objective:

An experiential model of learning suggests that changing a learner's understanding will lead to the learner choosing to change behavior. A workshop was designed for medical educators to examine their understanding of learning in order to change their behavior as teachers. This article describes that workshop which was presented as part of a conference on successful techniques for education of primary care practitioners.

Method:

Eighteen medical educators participated in the workshop. The educators were instructed to reflect on a recent personal learning experience. Group discussion led to production of a list of components of effective learning. These learning components were then applied in small groups to three hypothetical tasks related to mental health education.

Results:

Essential characteristics of three generic features of learning were identified: characteristics of the teacher, learner, and learning experience. When these characteristics were then applied to the hypothetical tasks, a major theme that emerged was a focus on the importance of learner motivation.

Conclusions:

The essential components of learning and their application demonstrate the importance of adult learning theory in which it is more important for the learner than for the teacher to determine what, when, and how to learn. This is in contrast to traditional medical education in which the teacher decides what to learn and if it has been learned. To improve education for practicing primary care providers, a shift from a teaching paradigm to a learning paradigm is indicated.
Readers' Comprehension Responses in Informative Discourse: Toward Connecting Reading and Writing in Technical Communication
Authors: Roberts David D.
Published: May 2005

A qualitative study using reading protocols suggests that when readers of informative documents understand conveyed information satisfactorily, they make direct confirmations and positive comprehension evaluations. When readers are uncertain about the accuracy of their understanding, they guess, make assumptions, or render the text's language into their own words. When readers' understanding is impaired, they ask for more clearly established links or relationships in the text, or they pinpoint some ambiguity or lack of resolution. When readers' understanding is unsatisfactory but not impaired, they request additional information. In addition, readers make evaluative suggestions that introduce, focus, emphasize, or reiterate their other comprehension-related responses. The response patterns isolated in this qualitative study indicate the need for specific quantitative research and suggest some directions for developing reader-based heuristics for informative writing.
Explaining Pregnancy Loss: Parents' and Physicians' Attributions
Authors: Dunn Dana S. , Goldbach Kristen R. Clinton , Lasker Judith N. , Toedter Lori J.
Published: May 2005

Parents who experience a pregnancy loss desire to know why it happened and frequently adopt causal explanations for it. One-hundred thirty-eight females and fifty-six of their male partners were asked to explain why they believed their spontaneous abortion, fetal or neonatal death, or ectopic pregnancy occurred. Explanations for loss included blaming the mother, physical problems with the mother or fetus, fate, and no explanation. While the participants generally relied on physicians' accounts for the loss, as hypothesized, many adopted a second explanation as well. Physicians' explanations were found to be related to the gestational age of the fetus, although similar effects were not found for the participants' accounts. Participants expressed greater satisfaction when possible reasons for the loss were explained to them and continued to view such accounts as essential even two years after the event. The implications of these findings are discussed.
The Development and Evaluation of the Brief Depression Screen in Medically Ill Disability Claimants
Authors: Leon Andrew C. , Portera Laura , Walkup James T.
Published: May 2005

Objective:

There is literature demonstrating elevated prevalence of depression in primary care. Yet there remains a need for a brief depression screen designed and evaluated specifically for use among medically ill patients. Our objective was to develop and validate a brief, unobtrusive screen for depression among severely medically ill long-term disability claimants.

Methods:

The study sample consisted of 480 long-term disability claimants, less than 55 years of age, with one of the following illnesses: cancer, diabetes, myocardial infarction, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Each subject completed a questionnaire that included 26 potential screening items. A subset of subjects was administered the SCID, which served as the gold standard for the DSM-IV depression and dysthymia diagnoses.

Results:

The Brief Depression Screen, a three-item screen for major depressive disorder and dysthymia, was developed. About 34 percent of the sample met criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymia. The Brief Depression Screen detected 75 percent of those subjects in this sample. Furthermore, nearly half of the subjects with positive screen results met criteria for depression or dysthymia. These results are comparable to those of the eight-item Burnam screen, but not as sensitive as the more widely used, twenty item CES-D.

Conclusion:

The Brief Depression Screen was developed and evaluated for use with severely ill long-term disability claimants. In practice, a positive screen for depression is to be followed with a comprehensive diagnostic assessment that could be conducted by a trained clinician. Further research is warranted to determine whether the identification and treatment of depression in disability claimants with non-psychiatric medical illnesses will facilitate return to work, even in the presence of comorbid medical illnesses.
Introduction to the Analysis of Development and Planning
Authors: Cibotti R.
Published: May 2005

Underdevelopment may be characterized in numerous ways, according to the vantage point from which it is analyzed. Social, political, cultural, and demographic elements may all be taken into account. When underdevelopment is analyzed from an economic point of view emphasis is given to the phenomenon of low availability of goods and services for the satisfaction of the needs and aspirations of the population. In this paper underdevelopment will be analyzed from the point of view of an economic planner. Integration of health services planning into the total development plan will also be discussed. Although this paper is only an introductory synthesis to a vast subject, it is believed that it may be of help to other specialists, particularly those whose efforts are directed towards raising the level of health and improving sanitary conditions.
Laparoscopic and Psychologic Evaluation of Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Authors: Richter Holly E. , Holley Robert L. , Chandraiah Shambhavi , Varner R. Edward
Published: May 2005

Objective:

Pelvic pain can account for up to 40 percent of laparoscopies performed by gynecologists. This report compares the psychological profiles and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery at long-term follow-up in a series of laparoscopy-positive and laparoscopy-negative patients with chronic pelvic pain.

Method:

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain combined with postoperative written questionnaires and self-rating scales. These questionnaires were used to assess long-term post laparoscopy follow-up of the physical and psychological status of women with positive findings at laparoscopy compared to those women with negative findings.

Results:

There were no statistically significant demographic differences between respondents and nonrespondents. In the respondents, no statistically significant differences were noted even with long-term follow-up when comparing responses of the laparoscopy-positive and laparoscopy-negative groups on the above questionnaires.

Conclusion:

Though reporting modest improvement in pelvic pain since laparoscopy, both groups reported a high incidence of anxiety, depression, physical worries, and marital/sexual problems.
Psychedelic Drugs: A Study of Drug-Induced Experiences Obtained by Illegal Drug Users in Relation to Stanislav Grof's Model of Altered States of Consciousness
Authors: Kjellgren Anette , Norlander Torsten
Published: May 2005

The purpose of this study was to provide information about experiences obtained by illegal drug users and evaluate if these are consistent with Stanislav Grof's expanded model of the human unconscious. Sixteen anonymous former drug users answered a questionnaire about use, experiences, circumstances, and influences of their life. All of them have had some experiences similar to Grof's descriptions. Transpersonal experiences were more reported by those who used to be “heavy” users. Such experiences were also more likely to be reported by those who described themselves as spiritual seekers and by those who made some form of ritual or mental preparation part of their experience. This study also provides general information about Grof's model and some about psychedelic research worldwide.
Regional Implications of the Templeton Site for Paleo-Indian Lithic Procurement and Utilization
Authors: Moeller Roger W.
Published: May 2005

Analysis of the distribution of chert, jasper, quartz, and quartzite debitage from a single Paleo-Indian component at the Templeton site in Washington, Connecticut has been completed. Only chert and jasper cobbles were reduced for the manufacture of unifacial and bifacial implements. Although quartz chunk reduction was practiced extensively, no completed bifaces or retouched unifaces were found in the manufacturing activity area. Quartz reduction was practiced to obtain suitable flakes for scraping and cutting. Lithic procurement and utilization patterns are discussed as they pertain to the study of Paleo-Indian specifically in Western Connecticut and more generally elsewhere in the Northeast.
How Basic Beliefs about Human Life Relate to Ethical Judgments about Induced Abortion
Authors: Cernada George P. , Cernada Eleanor Ching-Ching
Published: May 2005

This survey explores family planning field workers' basic beliefs and value assessments related to a new human life and their relationship to their verbal statements of ethical judgments about induced abortion under varying circumstances. It also relates these beliefs to stated experience of abortion referrals. Implications for education and research with application to many international social issues are discussed.
A Response to Comments on “Breast Cancer: Evidence for a Relation to Fission Products in the Diet”
Authors: Sternglass Ernest J. , Gould Jay M.
Published: May 2005

The authors show that factors other than fission products in the diet cannot explain the large regional differences in recent breast cancer mortality rates across the United States described in their original article. The highly detailed county-level data for many types of radiation-related cancers collected in a 1990 National Cancer Institute (NCI) study indicate that when aggregated for the 62 nuclear facilities examined, the locally exposed county populations experienced a highly significant greater rise since 1950 than the United States as a whole, although this was not pointed out in the summary of the NCI study. Yet the entire U.S. population, with comparable genetic predisposition and other individual factors, was randomly exposed to comparable levels of pesticides, herbicides, exogenous hormones, air pollution, petrochemicals, cigarette smoke, alcohol, and fat in the diet. Moreover, a recently obtained NCI breast cancer data base for counties shows that the oldest of the weapons-related facilities taken together and known to have had the largest cumulative releases of fission products had by far the greatest breast cancer rises in the local counties, namely 33 percent, compared with 6 percent for all 62 facilities combined, and only 2 percent for the United States as a whole, further supporting a clear dose response.
Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Health in Argentina
Authors: Escudero José Carlos
Published: May 2005

The democracy—participation—better health versus authoritarianism—repression—worse health polarity is illustrated by the case of health policy in Argentina. At the turn of the century, Argentina's health levels were among the highest in the world. The subsequent deterioration can be correlated with disruptions of the country's democratic process. The participation of the military in Argentinian political life has produced a lowering of the standard of living of the majority of the population, with a consequent increase in mortality and morbidity, and the appearance of elitist, commodity-centered health policies. The anti-health policies of the military are contrasted with those pursued by democratically elected Argentinian governments, as well as the principles set forth in recent declarations of human rights.
Sexual Dysfunction, Social Maladjustment, and Psychiatric Disorders in Women Seeking Treatment in a Premenstrual Syndrome Clinic
Authors: Chandraiah Shambhavi , Levenson James L. , Collins Judith B.
Published: May 2005

The NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (n = 43), and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and Weissman Social Adjustment Scale (n = 35) was administered to assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychosocial maladjustment present in women seeking treatment in a multidisciplinary Premenstrual Syndrome Clinic. We found a 67 percent lifetime prevalence of DIS/DSM-III psychiatric disorders: 50 percent Major Affective Disorder (primarily Depression), 53 percent Anxiety Disorder (primarily Phobias or Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and 40 percent Psychosexual Dysfunction (notably Inhibited Sexual Desire or Excitement). Our group had significantly greater Major Depression, Dysthymia, and any one psychiatric disorder compared with female general population samples. Two-thirds of women with premenstrual symptoms had true Premenstrual Syndrome. In our sample, social maladjustment as well as psychiatric symptomatology was significantly greater than in normals and closer to that in psychiatric outpatient norms, and was independent of cycle phase. Presence or absence of PMS, social maladjustment and sexual dysfunction was each not significantly different in women with or without psychiatric disorder.
The Florida Study: Improvement in Student Achievement and Attitudes through Variations in Instructional Television Production Values
Authors: Morris Jon D.
Published: May 2005

Little is known about the effects of television production techniques on learning. This article describes an experiment wherein two different television versions of a course segment were used with different student groups and the evaluation results. Taking full advantage of the extensive technical progress that has been made in television equipment and techniques over the past ten years, the “innovative” version was designed not only to present curriculum material, but also to try to influence favorably the attitudes of the students. Control groups were also used in the rather comprehensive research design. Details of the study are described and the evaluation of results is presented. While some difference in achievement was observed, an interesting consequence was the higher ratings given by the students to the “innovative” version.