bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated system health management-based condition assessment for manned spacecraft avionics
Authors: Xu Jiuping , Xu Lei
Published: January 2012

This article presents a condition assessment model to evaluate the health condition of manned spacecraft avionics that enables the essential capabilities of a manned spacecraft and guarantees the mission success of space flight. Condition assessment based on the integrated system health management is introduced into manned spacecraft avionics to cope with the safety and maintenance necessity. Due to the complexity and the uncertainty of the system, it is a tough task before modular avionics emerged, and there is a rare research-concerning condition assessment for manned spacecraft avionics with fuzziness and simultaneous consideration in system level. A numerical example illustrates the proposed fuzzy evaluation model which takes all criteria into account from a holistic perspective, combines objective tests with subjective judgments and incorporates fuzziness and uncertainty into ranking the manned spacecraft avionics health level using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process with quantitative reliability analytical approaches. The proposed model is demonstrated to solve the condition assessment problem and the impact condition factors for the manned spacecraft avionics health management are revealed.
Using overflow in a swash plate compressor for automotive air conditioning system
Authors: Zhang Y , Wang W
Published: January 2012

Given current environment protection problems, improvement of energy utilization efficiency is a major focus of compressor research. Overflow, a method in which the high-pressure gas in the clearance volume is fully used, is introduced in the design of a swash plate compressor. The coefficient of performance (COP) of the swash plate compressor with overflow channel has a certain decrease compared with the conventional compressor, but the volumetric efficiency and the cooling capacity of a swash plate compressor with overflow channel are visibly more improved than those of a conventional compressor in terms of the same operation and dimension parameters. The overflow has beneficial effect on miniaturizing the swash plate compressor. The intake and exhaust times considerably improve after the overflow channel is incorporated into the swash plate compressor. This, in turn, substantially enhances cooling capacity of the theoretical results from 869 to 953 W, an improvement by about 10 per cent in this article; however, COP decreases by about 3.7 per cent.
In-process surface profile assessment of rotary machined timber using a dynamic photometric stereo technique
Authors: Ogun Philips S , Jackson Michael R , Parkin Robert M
Published: January 2012

Machining operations have advanced in speed and there is an increasing demand for higher quality surface finish. It is therefore necessary to develop real-time surface inspection techniques which will provide sensory information for controlling the machining processes. This paper describes a practical method for real-time analysis of planed wood using the photometric stereo technique. Earlier research has shown that the technique is very effective in assessing surface waviness on static wood samples. In this paper, the photometric stereo method is extended to real industrial applications where samples are subjected to rapid movements. Surface profiles extracted from the dynamic photometric stereo method are compared with those from the static measurements and the results show that there is a high correlation between the two methods.
Human adjuvant disease induced by foreign substances: a new model of ASIA (Shoenfeld's syndrome)
Authors: Vera-Lastra O , Medina G , Cruz-Dominguez M del Pilar , Ramirez P , Gayosso-Rivera JA , Anduaga-Dominguez H , Lievana-Torres C , Jara LJ
Published: January 2012

Objective: To investigate the clinical, laboratory and histological manifestations of patients who received illegal injections of foreign substances for cosmetic purposes.

Patients and methods: We studied patients who met the following inclusion criteria: 1) history of application of foreign substances for cosmetic purposes, 2) clinical data of autoimmune disease or non-specific autoimmune manifestation (i.e. arthralgias, myalgia, malaise, fever, and weight loss), 3) detection of autoantibodies in patients’ sera, 4) histological evidence of chronic inflammation and/or granulomatous reaction to foreign body.

Results: Fifty female patients aged 44.4 ± 10 years were studied. The mean time between application of foreign substances and onset of symptoms was 4.5 ± 4.3 years. Patients were followed for 12 ± 7.5 years. Forty-one patients were injected with mineral oil, nine patients received other substances: three iodine gadital, one guayacol, one guayacol plus silicone fluid, two collagen, two silicone fluid. The sites of application were: buttocks (36), legs and/or thighs (11), breasts (eight) hands and face (one), face (two) (seven patients received an injection to more than one site). Thirty patients presented with non-specific autoimmune manifestations, whereas 20 patients fulfilled the criteria for a defined autoimmune disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, overlap syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune hepatitis, and ulcerative colitis.

Conclusions: Cases of human adjuvant disease following illegal injections of oil substances for cosmetic purposes are reported. Patients presented with defined autoimmune diseases as well as with non-specific autoimmune manifestations. Illegal injection of these substances could lead to serious local and systemic complications, even to death. These cases represent another model of Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA). The use of these substances should be prohibited.
Autoimmunity following Hepatitis B vaccine as part of the spectrum of ‘Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants’ (ASIA): analysis of 93 cases
Authors: Zafrir Y , Agmon-Levin N , Paz Z , Shilton T , Shoenfeld Y
Published: January 2012

Objectives: In this study we analyzed the clinical and demographic manifestations among patients diagnosed with immune/autoimmune-mediated diseases post-hepatitis B vaccination. We aimed to find common denominators for all patients, regardless of different diagnosed diseases, as well as the correlation to the criteria of Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants (ASIA).

Patients and methods: We have retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 114 patients, from different centers in the USA, diagnosed with immune-mediated diseases following immunization with hepatitis-B vaccine (HBVv). All patients in this cohort sought legal consultation. Of these, 93/114 patients diagnosed with disease before applying for legal consultation were included in the study. All medical records were evaluated for demographics, medical history, number of vaccine doses, peri-immunization adverse events and clinical manifestations of diseases. In addition, available blood tests, imaging results, treatments and outcomes were recorded. Signs and symptoms of the different immune-mediated diseases were grouped according to the organ or system involved. ASIA criteria were applied to all patients.

Results: The mean age of 93 patients was 26.5 ± 15 years; 69.2% were female and 21% were considered autoimmune susceptible. The mean latency period from the last dose of HBVv and onset of symptoms was 43.2 days. Of note, 47% of patients continued with the immunization program despite experiencing adverse events. Manifestations that were commonly reported included neuro-psychiatric (70%), fatigue (42%) mucocutaneous (30%), musculoskeletal (59%) and gastrointestinal (50%) complaints. Elevated titers of autoantibodies were documented in 80% of sera tested. In this cohort 80/93 patients (86%), comprising 57/59 (96%) adults and 23/34 (68%) children, fulfilled the required criteria for ASIA.

Conclusions: Common clinical characteristics were observed among 93 patients diagnosed with immune-mediated conditions post-HBVv, suggesting a common denominator in these diseases. In addition, risk factors such as history of autoimmune diseases and the appearance of adverse event(s) during immunization may serve to predict the risk of post-immunization diseases. The ASIA criteria were found to be very useful among adults with post-vaccination events. The application of the ASIA criteria to pediatric populations requires further study.
Gulf War Syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvant (ASIA)
Authors: Israeli E
Published: January 2012

Gulf War syndrome (GWS) is a multi-symptom condition comprising a variety of signs and symptoms described in the literature, which not been fully resolved. The various symptoms of the condition include muscle fatigue and tiredness, malaise, myalgia, impaired cognition, ataxia, diarrhoea, bladder dysfunction, sweating disturbances, headaches, fever, arthralgia, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal and sleep disturbances. In addition, excessive chemical sensitivity and odour intolerance is reported. The aetiology of the condition is unclear, but many reviews and epidemiological analyses suggest association with pyridostigmine bromide (PB), certain vaccination regimes, a variety of possible chemical exposures, including smoke from oil-well fires or depleted uranium from shells, as well as physical and psychological stress. Recently, Shoenfeld et al. suggested that four conditions – siliconosis, macrophagic myofaciitis (MMF), GWS and post-vaccination phenomena – that share clinical and pathogenic resemblances, may be incorporated into common syndrome called ‘Autoimmune (Autoinflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants’ (ASIA). Symptoms and signs of the four conditions described by Shoenfeld et al. show that at least eight out of ten main symptoms are in correlation in all four conditions. Namely, myalgia, arthralgias, chronic fatigue, neurological cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, skin manifestations and appearance of autoantibodies. Regardless of the aetiology of GWS, be it exposure to environmental factors or chemical drugs, vaccinations or the adjuvants in them, GWS fits well with the definition of ASIA and is included as part of ‘Shoenfeld’s syndrome’.
Induction of the ‘ASIA’ syndrome in NZB/NZWF1 mice after injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)
Authors: Bassi N , Luisetto R , Prete D Del , Ghirardello A , Ceol M , Rizzo S , Iaccarino L , Gatto M , Valente ML , Punzi L , Doria A
Published: January 2012

Adjuvants, commonly used in vaccines, may be responsible for inducing autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, both in humans and mice. The so-called ‘ASIA’ (Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants) syndrome has been recently described, which is caused by the exposure to a component reproducing the effect of adjuvants. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in NZB/NZWF1 mice, a lupus-prone murine model. We injected 10 NZB/NZWF1 mice with CFA/PBS and 10 with PBS, three times, 3 weeks apart, and followed-up until natural death. CFA-injected mice developed both anti-double-stranded DNA and proteinuria earlier and at higher levels than the control group. Proteinuria-free survival rate and survival rate were significantly lower in CFA-treated mice than in the control mice ( p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). Histological analyses showed a more severe glomerulonephritis in CFA-injected mice compared with the control mice. In addition, lymphoid hyperplasia in spleen and lungs, myocarditis, and vasculitis were observed in the former, but not in the latter group. In conclusion, the injection of CFA in NZB/NZWF1 mice accelerated autoimmune manifestations resembling ‘ASIA’ syndrome in humans.
Influenza vaccination can induce new-onset anticardiolipins but not β2-glycoprotein-I antibodies among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Vista ES , Crowe SR , Thompson LF , Air GM , Robertson JM , Guthridge JM , James JA
Published: January 2012

Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by autoantibodies against cardiolipins (aCL), lupus anticoagulant, and independent β2-glycoprotein (β2GPI). Controversy exists as to whether vaccination triggers the development of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Patients with SLE (101) and matched controls (101) were enrolled from 2005–2009 and received seasonal influenza vaccinations. Sera were tested by ELISA for aCL at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 weeks after vaccination. Vaccine responses were ranked according to an overall anti-influenza antibody response index. Individuals with positive aCL were further tested for β2GPI antibodies.

Results: Patients with SLE and healthy controls can develop new-onset aCL post vaccination, although at rates which do not differ between patients and controls (12/101 cases and 7/101 controls, OR 1.81, p = 0.34). New-onset moderate aCL are slightly enriched in African American SLE patients (5/36 cases; p = 0.094). The optical density measurements for aCL reactivity in patients were significantly higher than baseline at 2 weeks ( p < 0.05), 6 weeks ( p < 0.05), and 12 weeks ( p < 0.05) post vaccination. No new β2GPI antibodies were detected among patients with new aCL reactivity. Vaccine response was not different between patients with and without new-onset aCL reactivity ( p = 0.43).

Conclusions: This study shows transient increases in aCL, but not anti-β2GPI responses, after influenza vaccination.
Immunization of patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (the EULAR recommendations)
Authors: van Assen S , Bijl M
Published: January 2012

The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for vaccination in adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) have been recently published. These evidence-based recommendations were based on existing literature in combination with expert opinion. Although patients with AIIRD are at increased risk of suffering from (complicated) infectious diseases – and vaccination seems a tool to reduce this risk – still many questions and controversies remain for the individual patient. In this overview, taking influenza as an example, the background of the recommendations, their clinical implications, and the direction of future research are discussed. The increase in knowledge on vaccine-preventable infections will allow us to further improve vaccination strategies.
Systemic lupus erythematosus following HPV immunization or infection?
Authors: Soldevilla HF , Briones SFR , Navarra SV
Published: January 2012

Background and purpose: The link between autoimmunity and infectious agents has been strongly suggested by reports of lupus or lupus-like syndromes following immunization. This report describes three patients with either newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or SLE flare, following vaccination for human papilloma virus (HPV). Case 1: A 17-year-old female completed two doses of HPV vaccine uneventfully. Two months later, she developed arthralgias with pruritic rashes on both lower extremities, later accompanied by livedo reticularis, bipedal edema with proteinuria, anemia, leucopenia, hypocomplementemia and high titers of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA). Kidney biopsy showed International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society Class III lupus nephritis. She was started on high dose steroids followed by pulse cyclophosphamide therapy protocol for lupus nephritis, and subsequently went into remission. Case 2: A 45-year-old housewife, previously managed for 11 years as having rheumatoid arthritis, had been in clinical remission for a year when she received two doses of HPV immunization. Four months later, she developed fever accompanied by arthritis, malar rash, oral ulcers, recurrent ascites with intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and behavioral changes. Cranial MRI showed vasculitic lesions on the frontal and parietal lobes. Laboratory tests showed anemia with leucopenia, hypocomplementemia, proteinuria, ANA positive at 1:320, and antibodies against dsDNA, Ro/SSA, La/SSB and histone. She improved following pulse methylprednisolone with subsequent oral prednisone combined with hydroxychloroquine. Case 3: A 58-year-old housewife diagnosed with SLE had been in clinical remission for 8 years when she received two doses of HPV immunization. Three months later, she was admitted to emergency because of a 1-week history of fever, malar rash, easy fatigability, cervical lymph nodes, gross hematuria and pallor. Laboratory exams showed severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, active urine sediments, and hypocomplementemia. Despite pulse steroid therapy, blood transfusions, intravenous immunoglobulin and aggressive resuscitative measures, she expired a day after hospital admission. Summary: These cases narrate instances of the onset or exacerbation of lupus following HPV immunization suggesting adjuvant-induced autoimmunity. On the other hand, there are reports of higher incidence of HPV infection in SLE, with the infection per se possibly contributing to disease activity. Thus, the benefit of HPV immunization may still outweigh the risk among these individuals.
Oily adjuvants and autoimmunity: now time for reconsideration?
Authors: Whitehouse M
Published: January 2012

Immunologists have relied heavily on oil-based adjuvants to generate antibodies or induce auto-allergic responses in experimental animals. These are rarely used today for human vaccination because of their persistent irritancies and propensity to cause ulcers at sites of injection. However oily materials with adjuvant properties abound in our modern environment, both personal and extraneous. Their inadvertent impact as cryptotoxins may contribute to the rising incidence of auto-allergic diseases in recent times.

Experimentally, the potential adjuvanticity of various oils, fats and other lipids can be evaluated by their ability (or otherwise) to induce auto-allergic disease(s) in rats and mice with, or even without, the addition of a mycobacterial immunostimulant.

Genetic factors have been recognized that determine an animal’s susceptibility or resistance to these oil-induced immunopathies. So it may be profitable to further characterize these factors, first in animals and then perhaps in human populations, to help find ways to enhance natural resistance to those adjuvant-active oils that may be widely distributed in the personal environment, notably mineral oil(s).

(The six tables in this article summarize some relevant facts and a few conjectures.)

A caveat: This review is restricted to the adjuvant properties of some oils in the personal environment. It does not cover the mechanisms of adjuvanticity2.
Mechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populations
Authors: Tomljenovic L , Shaw CA
Published: January 2012

Immune challenges during early development, including those vaccine-induced, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of the brain and immune function. Experimental evidence also shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity. In some developed countries, by the time children are 4 to 6 years old, they will have received a total of 126 antigenic compounds along with high amounts of aluminum (Al) adjuvants through routine vaccinations. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, safety assessments for vaccines have often not included appropriate toxicity studies because vaccines have not been viewed as inherently toxic. Taken together, these observations raise plausible concerns about the overall safety of current childhood vaccination programs. When assessing adjuvant toxicity in children, several key points ought to be considered: (i) infants and children should not be viewed as “small adults” with regard to toxicological risk as their unique physiology makes them much more vulnerable to toxic insults; (ii) in adult humans Al vaccine adjuvants have been linked to a variety of serious autoimmune and inflammatory conditions (i.e., “ASIA”), yet children are regularly exposed to much higher amounts of Al from vaccines than adults; (iii) it is often assumed that peripheral immune responses do not affect brain function. However, it is now clearly established that there is a bidirectional neuro-immune cross-talk that plays crucial roles in immunoregulation as well as brain function. In turn, perturbations of the neuro-immune axis have been demonstrated in many autoimmune diseases encompassed in “ASIA” and are thought to be driven by a hyperactive immune response; and (iv) the same components of the neuro-immune axis that play key roles in brain development and immune function are heavily targeted by Al adjuvants. In summary, research evidence shows that increasing concerns about current vaccination practices may indeed be warranted. Because children may be most at risk of vaccine-induced complications, a rigorous evaluation of the vaccine-related adverse health impacts in the pediatric population is urgently needed.
Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica after influenza vaccination: report of 10 cases and review of the literature
Authors: Soriano A , Verrecchia E , Marinaro A , Giovinale M , Fonnesu C , Landolfi R , Manna R
Published: January 2012

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are inflammatory rheumatic diseases common in people over the age of 50 years. Herein, we report 10 cases of previously healthy subjects who developed GCA/PMR within 3 months of influenza vaccination (Inf-V). A Medline search uncovered additional 11 isolated cases of GCA/PMR occurring after Inf-V. We discuss the role of individual susceptibility, the potential function of immune adjuvants as triggers of autoimmunity post-vaccination, and the correlation of our observation with the ‘ASIA’ syndrome, i.e. autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants and including post-vaccination phenomena.
Still’s disease, lupus-like syndrome, and silicone breast implants. A case of ‘ASIA’ (Shoenfeld’s syndrome)
Authors: Jara LJ , Medina G , Gómez-Bañuelos E , Saavedra MA , Vera-Lastra O
Published: January 2012

In recent years, four conditions, siliconosis, Gulf War syndrome (GWS), macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (MMF) and post-vaccination phenomena, were linked to a previous exposure to an adjuvant, suggesting a common denominator, and it has been proposed to incorporate comparable conditions under a common syndrome entitled Autoimmune/inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants (ASIA). We report a case of a female who at the age of 11 years was diagnosed with Still’s disease. At the age of 22 she underwent silicone breast implants and presented with a transient lupus-like syndrome. Then, at 25 years old she had a severe activation of Still’s disease in association with rupture of silicone breast implants. When the prostheses were removed, the clinical picture improved. This case fulfills the criteria for ASIA and complements seven previous reports of Still’s disease in association with silicone breast implants.
Relationships among affective factors and preferred engagement in science-related activities
Authors: Lin Huann-shyang , Lawrenz Frances , Lin Shu-Fen , Hong Zuway-R.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated how affective factors impact participation in science learning using structural equation modeling. Using a dataset from Taiwan, a model was obtained that showed the relationships among science-related interest, enjoyment, self-efficacy, self-concept, competency, leisure time engagement, and future interest in science. The paths relating to engagement and future interest were much stronger for interest and enjoyment than for self-efficacy and self-concept. There was no significant path between science competency and future science interest or engagement. The results suggest that the affective and cognitive pathways to scientific competency are divergent and that they might be differentially activated by different contexts and activities. This indicates that school science educators might wish to reconsider the merit of overemphasizing achievement in comparison to interest. Finally, the results suggest that the development of science competency per se may not be the best way to ensure public engagement and understanding of science.
Illustrations of Peak Experiences during Optimal Performance in World-class Performers
Authors: Harung Harald S.
Published: January 2012

Management and performance are interdisciplinary, spanning diverse fields such as business, industry, government, sports, arts, health and education. In four studies, world-class performers in a variety of fields, for example, management, sports and classical music, have been found to display higher mind–brain development than matched average-performing control groups, including more frequent peak experiences. In this article, we will use a selection of clearly articulated peak experiences reported by these world-class performers to illustrate the subjective or inner nature of optimal performance. Such performance seems to be characterized by inner calmness and happiness amidst dynamic activity, maximum wakefulness, effortlessness and ease of functioning, and a sense of perfection. In order to provide an adequate theoretical framework for understanding peak experiences, we combine Western developmental psychology with the advanced growth range of higher consciousness (enlightenment), as outlined in the ancient Vedic knowledge of India.
Initiate: Constructing the ‘reality’ of male team sport initiation rituals
Authors: Clayton Ben
Published: January 2012

This article re-enacts a typical experience of male sport initiation at a university in the south of England and presents a confessional account of my own shifting epistemological position and desire to create more balanced, ethical, reflexive and self-effacing research. The tale of initiation is constructed from ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with male collegiate football (soccer) players and subsequent purposive conversations with male collegiate rugby players. It aims to confront the reader with the lived experience of male student sport initiations, providing a platform for unremitting reflection and greater possibilities for academic recourse. In particular, I suggest, the tale constructs a dais for sociological dialogue about the existentiality and configurations of, and relationships between, deviance, masculinities and subcultural identities in a student sport setting.
Skirtboarder net-a-narratives: Young women creating their own skateboarding (re)presentations
Authors: MacKay Steph , Dallaire Christine
Published: January 2012

By creating and posting their own stories on the Internet, sportswomen are able to challenge the persistent, sexist, mainstream and alternative (skateboarding) media (re)presentations of female athletes. A Foucauldian discourse analysis of 262 posts of the Skirtboarders’ blog – a Montreal-based, Canadian female skateboarding crew’s Internet project – explores the ways in which a group of sportswomen circulate alternative discourses of femininity. In these (re)presentations, the Skirtboarders embrace various femininities and, at the same time, reject binaries (male/female) without explicitly claiming a feminist agenda or attaching themselves to other oppositional discourses. This indicates a third-wave feminist sensibility. The Skirtboarders reproduce some normative discursive fragments commonly found in media (re)presentations. Furthermore, they post links to mainstream and alternative media coverage of their crew, which at times reflects the ‘problems’ of historical media coverage (sexualization, marginalization and trivialization). However, most of their online productions portray them as polygendered skaters (action shots, skating activities and lifestyle) and are thus radically different. The Skirtboarders’ discursive portrayals of female skateboarders are therefore uniquely alternative to other media (re)presentations but at the same time, paradoxical.
Pathways to practice: overseas trained psychiatrists’ experiences of the processes involved in commencing professional practice in Australasia
Authors: Huthwaite Mark , Short Jacqueline , Garg Vikas
Published: January 2012

Objective: There are significant shortages in the psychiatric workforce in Australasia, particularly in the rural and remote regions of Australia and New Zealand. In response to these shortages, mental health services have recruited large numbers of overseas trained psychiatrists (OTP). These are specialist psychiatrists, trained and recognised as such in other countries. Our objective was to ascertain how OTPs experience the processes of commencing professional practice in Australasia.

Method: OTPs were surveyed to identify the pathways to obtaining specialist registration and College Fellowship in Australasia and to explore their experiences as they engaged in this process.

Results: Although limited by a low response rate, the data does highlight a level of discontentment among those OTPs surveyed. The key issues identified related to the examination process, poor communication between different agencies (including the RANZCP), visa and residency related issues, medical board registration difficulties and notable differences between Australia and New Zealand.

Conclusion: There is a negative perception among OTPs regarding the existing pathways to registration as specialist psychiatrists and the attainment of Fellowship. We submit that the RANZCP has a central and important role in resolving some of the underlying issues and supporting OTPs as vital and valued members of the workforce in Australia and New Zealand.
Cause for caution: culture, sensitivity and the World Mental Health Survey Initiative
Authors: Rosenman Stephen
Published: January 2012

Objective: This paper examines the cultural grounding and sensitivity in the concept, implementation, instrumentation and findings of the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative (WHO-WMS).

Conclusions: The WHO-WMS Initiative is managed by agencies in Boston and Geneva and covers 28 sites in 27 nations worldwide. It uses the Composite International Diagnostic Instrument (CIDI) translated to make diagnoses in 150,000 people. A large body of potentially influential data has been produced. The Initiative assumes that psychopathology is universal and not culturally determined. This assumption cannot be safely sustained. As a result, survey findings using ethnocentrically Western instruments and diagnoses may be uninterpretable, yet may misdirect policy and treatment. There are cautions here for ethnically and linguistically diverse nations such as Australia and New Zealand.
Examining the utility of the Black Dog Institute’s online Mood Assessment Program in clinical practice
Authors: Parker Gordon , Orman Jan
Published: January 2012

Objective: To examine qualitatively the usefulness of the Mood Assessment Program (MAP) 12 months after an online version for patients was made available for access by Australian health practitioners.

Method: The MAP requires all those completing it to provide their observations on its ease of completion. In mid-2011, we also initiated a satisfaction study among current MAP referrers, with responses received from professionals (psychologists, general practitioners, psychiatrists and social workers).

Results: Feedback from nearly 10,000 patients indicated that the great majority judged the MAP as straightforward to complete. Only 9% of professionals surveyed offered judgments about the utility of the MAP and we capture their judgments.

Conclusion: Responses supported the acceptability of the MAP by patients and its utility to clinicians in relation to diagnostic and formulation issues, as well as in advancing communication between practitioners and their patients. In addition, the MAP has been shown to improve efficiency and time management in assessing those with a mood disorder.
The life and music of Alexander Scriabin: megalomania revisited
Authors: Starcevic Vladan
Published: January 2012

Objective: To shed more light on the relationship between the grandiosity of the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915) and his creative output, and discuss its implications for psychopathology.

Conclusions: Scriabin was a highly original composer, who brought innovations to the idiom of music. He firmly believed that music and philosophy were inseparable and that music was only a vehicle for expressing ideas and emotional states. As Scriabin was getting more preoccupied with mysticism and as he was developing a belief that his mission was to save the world through his art, his music became more esoteric. Over the last five years of his life, he composed relatively little, as he was working on a supergrandiose project that he never completed. Scriabin’s grandiosity, which had delusional qualities, might have diminished his creativity towards the end of his life and contributed to his destructive fantasies. All along, his social façade was well preserved and he was not noted to exhibit overt psychotic behaviour, suggesting an encapsulated delusional megalomania. The implications of megalomania, especially in creative or otherwise influential individuals, are briefly discussed.
Building capacity in identification and management of mood disorders: an Australia–Sri Lanka collaboration
Authors: Blignault Ilse , Manicavasagar Vijaya , Parker Gordon , Wijeratne Chanaka , Sumathipala Athula
Published: January 2012

Objective: This paper describes a collaborative capacity-building project in the identification and management of mood disorders, involving the Black Dog Institute in Sydney, Australia, and several organizations in Sri Lanka, and presents the qualitative evaluation findings.

Method: The two-year project comprised an initial intensive educational program delivered at the Institute with follow-up via email and an online forum (Phase 1), and continuing collaboration with the eight Sri Lankan clinicians and their respective organizations to build awareness of mood disorders and train others in Sri Lanka (Phase 2).

Results: The eight trainees planned and executed several joint and separate activities during Phase 2, with an emphasis on raising awareness of mood disorders and health professional training. Evaluations of the local training activities were very positive.

Conclusions: The collaborative, systematic and systemic approach, and the train-the-trainer model adopted, has worked well. This project has built capacity in mood disorders among mental health clinicians in Sri Lanka, including those working in primary care. It has contributed to the implementation of national mental health policy, strengthened local networks and established new connections with Australian institutions. ‘North–south’ collaborations such as this would make good investments for international bodies and development agencies.
Antenatal Care Services in Rural Uganda
Authors: Conrad Paul , De Allegri Manuela , Moses Arinaitwe , Larsson Elin C. , Neuhann Florian , Müller Olaf , Sarker Malabika
Published: January 2012

Experience from countries that have achieved low maternal mortality suggests that access to good-quality maternity services is critical to improve maternal health. In this article we appraise the quality of antenatal care (ANC) services in a rural district of Uganda. We used a mixed methods approach, relying on a combination of semistructured interviews with both clients and providers, structured observations of provider–patient interactions, and infrastructure assessment of selected health facilities. We found several bottlenecks in health service delivery, including ineffective organization of educational sessions; selective omission of certain services; lack of explanation of important clinical and laboratory procedures; failure to link the performed procedures with preventive information; and occasional lack of respect for clients. The policy implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the need to (a) ensure an adequate supply of medical equipment and drugs, (b) enhance health workers’ compliance with ANC guidelines, and (c) combine medical procedures with educational messages.
Parent–Adolescent Communication About Sex in Rural India
Authors: Guilamo-Ramos Vincent , Soletti Asha Banu , Burnette Denise , Sharma Shilpi , Leavitt Sarah , McCarthy Katharine
Published: January 2012

In this article, we examine parent–adolescent communication about sex among rural Indian youth and their parents. We conducted in-depth interviews ( N = 40) with mothers, fathers, and adolescent boys and girls aged 14 to 18 years in a rural community in Maharashtra, India. In the context of key cultural factors, including gender-related norms, we explore issues of sexual health and critically assess widely held beliefs that Indian parents are unwilling or unable to discuss sex-related topics with their children. Our findings suggest that despite communication barriers, e.g., lack of knowledge and cultural proscriptions, Indian families are interested in and willing to communicate about sex-related topics. Future research should seek to determine the viability of family-based HIV prevention interventions for Indian adolescents.
Cultural Mechanisms in the Exchange of Social Support Among Puerto Ricans After a Natural Disaster
Authors: Rivera Fernando I.
Published: January 2012

In this study, I uncovered the dynamics involved in the exchange (or lack) of social support among a group of Puerto Ricans who experienced a natural disaster. I coded and analyzed 12 semistructured qualitative interviews. My analysis of the interviews revealed that a reported high degree of need was not associated with any type of help seeking from the respondents’ social support networks. Relevant issues that arose in explaining the lack of social support exchanges were level of comfort in help seeking and cultural issues. My findings point to the importance of culture in shaping patterns of help-seeking behavior in the aftermath of a disaster. Two of the most salient cultural explanations as to why disaster victims were reluctant to ask for help from family and friends were the issues of confianza (trust) and pena (embarrassment). I discuss the results with reference to how they might help in planning and establishing programs to maximize help seeking among Latinos/as in an emergency situation.
Exploring Business Request Genres
Authors: Nguyen Hai , Miller Jennifer
Published: January 2012

This article presents selective findings from an ongoing study that investigates rhetorical differences in business letter writing between Vietnamese students taking an English for Specific Purposes course in Vietnam and business professionals. Rhetorical analyses are based on two corpora, namely, scenario ( N = 20) and authentic business letters of request ( N = 25). Two criteria, the notion of move (a meaningful unit in linguistic form contributing to the communicative purposes of a text) and linguistic properties, are used for rhetorical analysis, supplemented by analysis of data from interviews with student participants. Based on the findings and discussions, recommendations are offered for preparing students well for the business workplace through incorporating more authentic models and contexts into pedagogical strategies.
Incorporating Facebook and Twitter in a Service-Learning Project in a Business Communication Course
Authors: Crews Tena B. , Stitt-Gohdes Wanda L.
Published: January 2012

Implementing real-world business writing situations and service learning into business communication courses are not new concepts. Business communication students work through a service-learning project with nonprofit organizations to create communication documents to improve the nonprofit’s communication with the public. Writing for social networking sites is also included in the project. Students are asked to create a Facebook slogan for the nonprofit as well as various other Facebook announcements. Students also write tweets to encourage people to donate and to promote various activities. These activities help students write more concisely and think critically about the key elements of writing and of the nonprofit’s mission.
Strategic Communication and Social Media
Authors: Meredith Michael J.
Published: January 2012

Social media offers an exciting new area for our discipline to produce research and pedagogy that is in high demand by students, industry constituents, and other disciplines. This article discusses why business communication scholars should focus on social media as an important stream of study and outlines an MBA course in social media strategy currently in development from a business communication perspective. The author challenges the discipline to create social media content from an integrated communication approach.
Functional Communication Training Without Extinction Using Concurrent Schedules of Differing Magnitudes of Reinforcement in Classrooms
Authors: Davis Dawn H. , Fredrick Laura D. , Alberto Paul A. , Gama Roberto
Published: January 2012

This study investigated the effects of functional communication training (FCT) implemented with concurrent schedules of differing magnitudes of reinforcement in lieu of extinction to reduce inappropriate behaviors and increase alternative mands. Participants were four adolescent students diagnosed with severe emotional and behavior disorders (SEBD), and mild to severe intellectual disabilities. Functional analyses revealed inappropriate behaviors as escape maintained. During subsequent FCT, the reinforcement provided for inappropriate behaviors was escape from task for 30 s (SR−). The reinforcement for the alternative mand was a 30-s escape from task during which access to a preferred activity was provided (SR−/PA). Results for three of the participants who had mild to moderate intellectual disabilities were highly successful. Time on task and generalization data also were recorded for two of the participants All sessions were implemented in the participants’ natural classrooms by their classroom teachers, without the adverse side effects of extinction.
Testing for Racial Profiling With the Veil-of-Darkness Method
Authors: Worden Robert E. , McLean Sarah J. , Wheeler Andrew P.
Published: January 2012

The “veil-of-darkness” method is an innovative and low-cost approach that circumvents many of the benchmarking issues that arise in testing for racial profiling. Changes in natural lighting are used to establish a presumptively more race-neutral benchmark on the assumption that after dark, police suffer an impaired ability to detect motorists’ race. Applying the veil-of-darkness method to vehicle stops by the Syracuse (NY) police between 2006 and 2009 and examining differences among officers assigned to specialized traffic units and crime-suppression units, we found that African Americans were no more likely to be stopped during daylight than during darkness, indicating no racial bias.
Open-label trial of a multi-strain synbiotic in cats with chronic diarrhea
Authors: Hart Marcia L , Suchodolski Jan S , Steiner Jörg M , Webb Craig B
Published: January 2012

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cats with chronic diarrhea the daily administration of a proprietary synbiotic (Proviable-DC) would result in an improvement in stool character, as assessed by the owner. Adult cats with chronic diarrhea were recruited for the study and screened for systemic diseases. Fecal flotation, wet mount, immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for Giardia and Cryptosporidium species, and Tritrichomonas species polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were used to screen for intestinal parasitism. The synbiotic was administered for 21 days; otherwise, no changes were made to ongoing treatment(s) or diet. The severity of the diarrhea was assessed using a standardized fecal scoring system and the owner’s subjective perception before, and after, supplementation. The mean fecal score for the 53 cats completing the study decreased from 6.0 to 4.4, representing a significantly ( P <0.001) firmer stool character. Seventy-two percent of owners perceived an improvement in their cat’s diarrhea following a 21-day course of synbiotic supplementation.
Transcoding the news: An investigation into multimedia journalism published on nytimes.com 2000–2008
Authors: Jacobson Susan
Published: January 2012

Manovich (2001) describes the changes that result from translating an established cultural product into a new technology as ‘transcoding’. This study investigates the form that the journalism of The New York Times takes when transcoded to the Web by evaluating multimedia news packages published on nytimes.com from 2000–2008. The number and sophistication of the multimedia packages grew over time to include new interfaces that incorporated elements native to digital environments such as hypertextual links, interactivity, elements borrowed from digital games and social media tools. Most packages were produced as sidebars to stories published in the newspaper, suggesting that multimedia was used as an extension of the written word, not as a primary storytelling format.
ICT policy activism on a national level: Ideas, resources and strategies of German civil society in governance processes
Authors: Löblich Maria , Wendelin Manuel
Published: January 2012

This article deals with ICT policy activism on a national level and studies the case of Germany, where ICT policy activism became known to the public through its protest against the blocking of websites and data retention. Civil society is a political actor here, being invited to policy consultations. Drawing on the governance approach and resource mobilization theory, we interviewed 20 leading ICT policy activists about their values and goals, and forms of organization and political protest. According to their different focuses we distinguished between four types of activism: privacy protection, free access to information, free software and open standards, and equal opportunities for women in ICT policy. These activists are particular in that their political claims focus on the tools they are using for mobilizing and organizing. However, offline forms of protest still play an important role and mass media coverage is still seen as one of the main resources.
Empowering people with dementia: Rutherglen and Cambuslang Values History Project
Authors: Pearce Jacqueline , Forsyth Winn , Boyd Robert , Jackson Graham A.
Published: January 2012

This article describes the development of a Values History project helping people with early stage dementia to prepare a statement of the things that are important in their lives in anticipation of when they are no longer able to articulate their views. The experience of preparing a Values History has been positively evaluated by people with dementia and their family carers, and other professionals have found them to be useful in ensuring that wishes about future care are met.