bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Forms of the Relationship between Politics and Religion
Authors: Suárez Hugo José
Published: February 2016

Beginning in the 1960s, new forms of living the faith emerged in Latin America that linked it with a political dimension. The Catholic Church changed its pastoral orientation, and ecclesiastical base communities were established as part of an “option for the poor.” The reflection that accompanied this process was known as liberation theology. By the end of the 1970s these communities were organizing conferences, publications, and theological reflections with strong international links and included hundreds of believers both in the countryside and in the city. During the following two decades, they were active participants in the construction of leftist political alternatives. While a minority pastoral practice today, they continue to hold national gatherings and maintain their international contacts. In-depth interviews with three members of ecclesiastical base communities in a working-class neighborhood in Mexico City show how these individuals have built their socio-religious practice and their religious beliefs. Their experience is part of a global reconstitution of belief systems in Mexico that affects all of the salvation enterprises in their various expressions.

A partir de la década de los sesenta, nuevas formas de vivir la fe surgieron en América Latina que las asociaron con una dimensión política. La Iglesia Católica Romana cambió su orientación pastoral, y las comunidades eclesiales de base nacieron como parte de una “opción por los pobres”. Se conocía la reflexión que acompañó a este proceso como teología de liberación. Para finales de los setenta estas comunidades estaban organizando congresos, publicaciones, y reflexiones teológicas con fuertes lazos internacionales, comprendiendo centenares de creyentes tanto en la campiña como en la ciudad. Durante las siguientes dos décadas, fueron participantes activas en la construcción de alternativas políticas de izquierda. Si bien es una práctica pastoral minoritaria hoy en día, continúan convocando reuniones nacionales y mantienen sus contactos internacionales. Entrevistas a fondo con tres miembros de comunidades eclesiales de base en un barrio obrero en la ciudad de México demuestran cómo estos individuos han construido su práctica socio-religiosa y sus creencias religiosas, que implican una comprensión de Dios no como juez sino como aliado. Su experiencia forma parte de una reconstrucción de sistemas de creencias en México que afecta a todas las entidades salvíficas en sus varias expresiones.
The Bolivian Climate Justice Movement
Authors: Hicks Kathryn , Fabricant Nicole
Published: February 2016

The Bolivian Platform against Climate Change is a coalition of civil society and social movement organizations working to address the effects of global warming in Bolivia and to influence the global community. Many of the organizations use indigenous philosophy and worldviews to contest normative conceptions of development. A study of the growth of this movement drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in 2010 reveals a complex relationship between state and nonstate actors that has had a striking impact on the global community despite the failure of multilateral climate change negotiations.

La Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático es una coalición de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y movimientos sociales trabajando para abordar los efectos del calentamiento global en Bolivia y para influenciar a la comunidad mundial. Muchas de las organizaciones utilizan filosofía y cosmovisiones indígenas para impugnar concepciones normativas de desarrollo. Un estudio del crecimiento de este movimiento basándose en el trabajo de campo etnográfico en 2010 revela una relación compleja entre actores esta-tales y no estatales que ha tenido un impacto sorprendente sobre la comunidad global a pesar del fracaso de las negociaciones multilaterales sobre el cambio climático.
When Every Test Is a Winner
Authors: Sefiha Ophir , Reichman Nancy
Published: February 2016

This article examines the trend toward risk-based, preemptive social control as it has developed in anti-doping regulation in professional cycling. Specifically, this research considers how the regulatory technologies of anti-doping surveillance have become a core component of the everyday routines of professional cyclists. Drawing from interviews with professional cyclists and analysis of mediated representations of anti-doping, we find that surveillance and disclosure have become not simply routine, but a central orienting practice in the everyday lives of professional cyclists. Blended into the everyday routines, surveillance technologies extend the gaze of those who watch and increase pressures to disclose. As athletes internalize surveillance and disclosure as consistent with their professional norms, the power relationships that surround sport performance become increasingly difficult to discern.
Sport for Development and Peace in Action
Authors: Webb Andrew , Richelieu André
Published: February 2016

The aim of this article is to provide insight on how claims that sport contributes to development or peace are transformed into facts. Beyond a theoretical discussion about how sport for development and peace (SDP) facts are built, this article demonstrates, in rich detail, the subtle art of SDP fact building for funding purposes. Specifically, through an integrative literature review and two case studies, a mix of fact-building actors composed of experts, literature, and allies, is exposed and analyzed. Furthermore, a conceptual model that synthesizes the relationship between the mix of fact-building actors and contextually predisposed funding agencies is also proposed.
Politicizing cultural sociology: The power of/in global injustice symbols
Authors: Olesen Thomas
Published: February 2016

The article does two things. On the one hand, it provides a theoretical and conceptual framework for understanding global injustice symbols: i.e. events, situations and individuals infused with collective injustice meanings in a global public sphere. On the other hand, it offers a critical discussion seeking to identify aspects of power and politics in their formation and employment. The goal is to demonstrate the relevance of Durkheim’s late work in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life for global analysis as well as to point to some limitations in the way it has been employed by contemporary cultural sociologists. A core limitation is a tendency to balance theorization away from issues of power and politics. Three themes of power and politics of/in global injustice symbols are treated: (1) the way symbolic processes involve amnesia and idolization; (2) how they revolve around meaning adaptation and self-celebration on the part of symbolizing agents; and (3) their implication in de-symbolizing and re-symbolizing activities. Studying globality through the lens of global injustice symbols allows research to combine an emphasis on culture and ideas with a focus on power and politics.
Why do corporate elites form cohesive networks in some countries, and do not in others? Cross-national analysis of corporate elite networks in Latin America
Authors: Cárdenas Julián
Published: February 2016

This article analyzes, compares, and explains the corporate elite networks formed by interlocking directorates across five Latin American economies in order to comprehend why corporate elites are interconnected by cohesive networks in some countries and not in others. Results show cohesive elite networks in Mexico, Chile, and to some extent in Peru, but not in Brazil and Colombia. After testing and rejecting the hypotheses from existing theories, the author identifies complementarities among cohesive corporate elite networks, state–business relations through strong encompassing business associations, and market openness. In economies where state–business relations are mediated by strong encompassing business associations and open up to free trade with developed economies, corporate elites form cohesive networks, whereas in economies with weak encompassing business associations and low trade openness, corporate elites do not form cohesive networks. These novel explanations are useful to understand corporate elite networks in emerging economies, and a benchmark for future studies on corporate elites.
Giving something back? Sentiments of privilege and social responsibility among elite graduates from Britain and France
Authors: Power Sally , Allouch Annabelle , Brown Phillip , Tholen Gerbrand
Published: February 2016

This article explores the complex relationship between transnational elites and civil society through examining the contrasting orientations of two cohorts of ‘elite graduates’ from Paris and Oxford. Both cohorts believe their privileged status has been earned through hard work and ability. But they are also aware that they have benefited from advantages not available to all. Perhaps because of this, they express the need to ‘give something back’. However, the means through which they seek to discharge their social responsibilities are very different. While the Oxford graduates seek to ‘give something back’ through volunteering and third sector engagement, the Paris graduates will ‘give something back’ through public service. The article discusses how the contrasting relationship between the state, civil society and the education system in these two countries may shape dispositions, and speculates on the extent to which these elite recruits’ commitment to ‘give something back’ will make a difference.
How Long Did You Look At Me? The Influence of Gaze Direction on Perceived Duration and Temporal Sensitivity
Authors: Thönes Sven , Hecht Heiko
Published: February 2016

Faces that exhibit emotionally negative expressions in mutual gaze have been shown to induce a dilation of perceived duration. The influence of gaze by itself on duration judgments, however, has rarely been investigated. We argue for a social interaction hypothesis, according to which humans should be highly accurate and precise (sensitive) when processing the temporal dynamics of mutual gaze. In three experiments, we investigated whether the direction of observed gaze affects perceived duration and temporal sensitivity. In Experiment 1, subjects did indeed estimate the duration of direct gaze more accurately as compared to the duration of averted gaze. In Experiments 2 and 3, subjects had to categorize direct and averted gaze stimuli as being short or long in duration (temporal bisection). Experiment 2 found temporal sensitivity (but not mean duration judgments) to be improved in cases of mutual gaze. In Experiment 3, the effect of mutual gaze on prolonged subjective duration did replicate, however, it was rather small. Moreover, temporal precision was not improved in the case of naturalistic stimuli. In sum, effects of mutual gaze on duration judgments are rather weak, and cannot be attributed to arousal, as such ratings did not differ between direct and averted gaze stimuli.
Cultural Capital, Motherhood Capital, and Low-income Immigrant Mothers’ Institutional Negotiations
Authors: Lo Ming-Cheng M.
Published: February 2016

Complementing the research on immigrants’ exclusion from most U.S. service institutions as well as their “bureaucratic incorporation,” this study examines how and why immigrants’ negotiations with informal barriers vary across institutional contexts. Drawing on 25 in-depth interviews, I compare low-income, monolingual Mexican immigrant mothers’ caretaking experiences across two settings: at schools and in health care facilities. My analysis suggests that different institutional settings place different demands for cultural capital on these women while offering varying opportunities for their usage of “motherhood capital,” resulting in diverse patterns of institutional negotiations. These mothers’ interactions with school personnel feature the experiences of “emergent alliance.” When advocating for their children at healthcare facilities, they report a mixture of “successful confrontations” and “blocked negotiations.” These findings contribute to discussions of immigrant inclusion/exclusion. More broadly speaking, by developing the concept of motherhood capital, the study dialogues with the literatures on cultural capital and political mothering.
Wine as a Cultural Product
Authors: Beckert Jens , Rössel Jörg , Schenk Patrick
Published: February 2016

In markets for goods that are valued for their aesthetic qualities, the ascription of value appears to be an uncertain social process. The wine market is an extraordinary example, as most persons are not able to differentiate between wines based on objective sensory characteristics. Therefore, we theorize valuation according to Bourdieu’s field theoretical perspective as a social process in which quality is contested. Our empirical analysis shows, first, that his model has considerable power in explaining price differentiation between wineries and second, that the orientation of consumers toward different segments of the field is based on a homologous class hierarchy.
Meso-scale study of non-linear tensile response and fiber trellising mechanisms in woven composites
Authors: Koohbor Behrad , Ravindran Suraj , Kidane Addis
Published: February 2016

The non-linear deformation response of plain woven carbon fiber-reinforced composites is experimentally studied at meso-scales. Stereovision digital image correlation is utilized to capture the full-field strain distribution over a 10 × 10 mm2 area of interest located at the center of the specimens. The evolution of local strains on the fiber bundles and matrix-rich regions as a function of loading is extracted. The effect of fiber orientation angle on fiber bundles stretch ratio and their angle of rotation (fiber trellising) and the related underlying failure mechanisms are analyzed using the measured full-field displacement data. The results indicate that the local load-bearing mechanisms are different in on-axis and off-axis loading conditions, whereas the larger global failure strain noticed in off-axis conditions is attributed to the occurrence of fiber rotation. The fiber trellising is also shown to promote high local shear strain and consequently leads to the protrusion of the matrix material on the deformed specimen surface.
Exploring Psychosocial Predictors of Bullying Involvement for Students With Disabilities
Authors: Rose Chad A. , Simpson Cynthia G. , Preast June L.
Published: February 2016

Students with disabilities are disproportionately involved within the bullying dynamic. However, few studies have investigated the interaction between victimization and proactive or reactive aggression, and psychosocial predictors for bullying involvement among school-aged youth with disabilities. This study used structural equation modeling to examine the predictive nature of depression, hostility, and self-esteem on victimization, bullying, fighting, bully-victimization, and reactive-victimization for a diverse sample of 1,183 adolescents with disabilities. Results suggest that victimization predicted bullying and fighting. In addition, lower levels of depression and higher levels of hostility predicted bullying and fighting; higher levels of depression, hostility, and lower levels of self-esteem predicted higher levels of victimization. Finally, higher levels of depression, hostility, and lower levels of self-esteem predicted bully-victim and reactive-victim status. Therefore, schools should begin to incorporate targeted interventions that address skill development, social and emotional learning, and emotion regulation to address escalated rates of bullying involvement for youth with disabilities.
A Qualitative Study of Urban, Chinese Middle-Class Mothers’ Parenting for Adolescents
Authors: Chen-Bouck Li , Duan Changming , Patterson Meagan M.
Published: February 2016

Through interviews with 22 middle-class mothers and their adolescent children, we explored contemporary approaches to parenting in urban China. The participants provided evidence of authoritative parenting style. We also examined the applicability of Chao’s construct of Chinese parenting guan (管) for adolescence; the participants seemed to support the idea, but viewed the underlying meaning of guan differently than described in earlier studies conducted with mothers of younger children. We thus argue that guanjiao (管教), which means “to govern and to educate/teach,” may be a more appropriate word to use than guan to describe urban, middle-class Chinese mothers’ approach to parenting of adolescents. The findings also suggest that neither Chao’s construct of guan nor Baumrind’s prototypes could fully capture its essence. Additional elements, such as modeling, self-sacrifice, and expression of affection through behavior, also emerged as common themes.
Biodegradable scaffolds designed to mimic fascia-like properties for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Roman Sabiniano , Mangir Naside , Bissoli Julio , Chapple Christopher R , MacNeil Sheila
Published: February 2016

There is an urgent clinical need for better synthetic materials to be used in surgical support of the pelvic floor. The aim of the current study was to construct biodegradable synthetic scaffolds that mimic the three-dimensional architecture of human fascia, which can integrate better into host tissues both mechanically and biologically. Therefore, four different polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds with various degrees of fibre alignment were electrospun by modifying the electrospinning parameters. Physical and mechanical properties were assessed using a BOSE electroforce tensiometer. The attachment, viability and extracellular matrix production of adipose-derived stem cells cultured on the polylactic acid scaffolds were evaluated. The bulk density of the scaffolds decreased as the proportion of aligned fibres increased. Scaffolds became stronger and stiffer with increasing amounts of aligned fibres as measured along the axis parallel to the fibre alignment. In addition, more total collagen was produced on scaffolds with aligned fibres and was organised in the direction of the aligned fibres. In conclusion, the electrospinning technique can be easily modified to develop biodegradable scaffolds with a spectrum of mechanical properties allowing extracellular matrix organisation towards human-like fascia.
Investigation of the in vitro photocatalytic antibacterial activity of nanocrystalline TiO2 and coupled TiO2/Ag containing copolymer on the surface of medical grade titanium
Authors: Györgyey Ágnes , Janovák László , Ádám András , Kopniczky Judit , Tóth Krisztián L , Deák Ágota , Panayotov Ivan , Cuisinier Frédéric , Dékány Imre , Turzó Kinga
Published: February 2016

Antibacterial surfaces have been in the focus of research for years, driven by an unmet clinical need to manage an increasing incidence of implant-associated infections. The use of silver has become a topic of interest because of its proven broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and track record as a coating agent of soft tissue implants and catheters. However, for the time being, the translation of these technological achievements for the improvement of the antibacterial property of hard tissue titanium (Ti) implants remains unsolved. In our study, we focused on the investigation of the photocatalysis mediated antibacterial activity of silver (Ag), and Ti nanoparticles instead of their pharmacological effects. We found that the photosensitisation of commercially pure titanium discs by coating them with an acrylate-based copolymer that embeds coupled Ag/Ti nanoparticles can initiate the photocatalytic decomposition of adsorbed S. salivarius after the irradiation with an ordinary visible light source. The clinical isolate of S. salivarius was characterised with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, while the multiplication of the bacteria on the surface of the discs was followed-up by MTT assay. Concerning practical relevance, the infected implant surfaces can be made accessible and irradiated by dental curing units with LED and plasma arc light sources, our research suggests that photocatalytic copolymer coating films may offer a promising solution for the improvement of the antibacterial properties of dental implants.
“Walking Between the Raindrops”: Intimate Partner Violence in the Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel From Social Workers’ Perspective
Authors: Band-Winterstein Tova , Freund Anat
Published: February 2016

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in faith-based communities has unique characteristics that social workers should consider. This qualitative study examines how social workers describe their encounter with abused Jewish ultra-Orthodox women. In-depth interviews were conducted among 24 social workers (one man, 23 women: four were ultra-Orthodox, 19 were modern Orthodox, and one was secular); all respondents worked in the public sector, welfare offices, and non-profit organizations in ultra-Orthodox communities. Three major themes emerged: (a) “There is no guardian against unchastity”: Is there no safe haven when it comes to domestic violence?; (b) “I’m not religious enough, not disciplined enough”: describing the experience of violence in the therapeutic encounter; and (c) “walking between the raindrops”: culturally sensitive social work in the context of IPV. Findings and implications are discussed in the context of cultural sensitivity.
“Behind the Curtain”: Strip Clubs and the Management of Competition for Tips
Authors: Mount Liz
Published: February 2016

Ethnographers have amassed a large body of literature on exotic dance and strip clubs. However, this literature contains little information about strip club managers and the work they perform “behind the curtain.” This article draws on participant observation in strip clubs and semistructured interviews with managers of strip clubs to explore how managers must work to mitigate the consequences of a payment and staffing structure that exacerbates competition between dancers for tips. Managers are keenly aware of the negative effects of competition between dancers, and they employ motivational tactics to manage the dancers through economic precarity, such as normalizing uncertainty, encouraging self-blame, and using “teamwork” discourses to inculcate a sense of solidarity among dancers and to diffuse the competitive environment in strip clubs. This article reveals how managers strive to normalize and legitimate the precarious work of exotic dancing, contributing to the literatures on exotic dance and tipped employment.
Ultrasonic machining of WC–Co composite material: Experimental investigation and optimization using statistical techniques
Authors: Kataria Ravinder , Kumar Jatinder , Pabla BS
Published: February 2016

In manufacturing industries, WC–Co composite material is highly demanded due to its excellent properties such as toughness with hardness, good dimensional stability, and higher mechanical strength. However, the difficulties in its machining restrict the application and competitiveness of this material. This investigation is aimed at studying the impact of different experimental conditions (by varying cobalt content, thickness of workpiece, tool geometry, tool material, abrasive grit size, and power rating) on responses of interest (cutting ratio, overcut, and taper angle) in ultrasonic drilling of WC–Co composite material. The experiments have been planned using Taguchi’s L-36 orthogonal array, and analytic hierarchy process–based technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution has been applied for optimization of multiple responses. Analysis of variance is also employed to identify the significant factors and the optimized process settings for the different responses. The experimental results showed that abrasive grit size and power rating are most influential for cutting ratio, overcut, and taper angle.
The Effects of Sex Education on the Risky Sexual Behaviour of School Going Adolescents
Authors: Rashid San , Mwale Marisen
Published: February 2016

Adolescents are at a high risk for a number of health consequences associated with early and unsafe sexual activity including infection with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. The amplified sexual risk-taking behaviour among adolescents culminates into thinking that perhaps lack of knowledge pertaining to sex and sexuality provokes adolescents into undertaking sexual risks. Consequently, sex education was introduced as a means of introducing youths in the field of sexual and reproductive health in Malawi to help them go for informed decisions. The use of several interventions countrywide is cited to have decreased the rates of sexual activity in some adolescents, however, despite the positive trend many adolescents remain at risk for unintended pregnancy, STIs and HIV/AIDS infection. This study empirically evaluates how sex education has impacted risky sexual behaviours undertaken by the schooling youths in the Machinga district particularly in three schools namely: Mbenjere, Ntaja and Nsanama Community Day Secondary Schools. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were employed in the study. Questionnaire and focus group discussions served as data collection tools. Results of the study revealed that a good number of schooling youths had enough sexual knowledge but still undertook sexual risks. The study however concludes that sex education is failing to positively impact schooling youth’s behaviour because of some cultural and personal factors which seems to contradict the whole purpose of sex and sexuality education amongst youths in Machinga.
A Study on Board Characteristics and Corporate Performance of Indian Oil and Gas Upstream Companies - Evolving a Board Performance Culture Maturity Model
Authors: Chaitanya C.K. , Madala Mani. K.
Published: February 2016

The study is focused on the corporate performance of the Indian oil and gas upstream companies. The crude oil price hike and delicensing of administrative price mechanisms has put the performance of the oil and gas sector to test . But there is notable difference in performance of the companies operating in this segment. The paper looks at the board structure and the prevailing culture in the boardrooms of the three companies. The authors propose a Board performance culture maturity model to assess the culture based on the board activities and make an attempt to see the impact of Board characteristics on the corporate performance of the above-mentioned companies.
Corporate Governance Regulations across Specific Countries � A Theoretical Examination
Authors: Hemamalini T. , Madhumathi R.
Published: February 2016

The diverse system of corporate governance in some of the developed and the developing countries around the world has been studied. In most of the countries, the committees that are present in common are: audit committee, compensation and nominating committees. Boards are unitary in nature in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Establishment of remuneration committee became active after being insisted in Greenbury report in the U.K. There is either a unitary system of governance or two tier systems with the management committee and the supervisory committee. Two tier board structure has been followed in most of the firms in Germany. In Hong Kong there is an outsider system of governance with an insider mould. Family ownership is predominant in Hong Kong. Malaysian system of governance is insider-oriented and is controlled by the founding families. Board structure is one tier in nature. Governance code recommends a board with only independent directors in Malaysia especially nominating committee. India has a one tier board structure. Significant differences persist in the corporate governance practices of countries studied in this research paper.
Appeasement and Corporate Conscience
Authors: Rao Venkoba , Polasani Sishir
Published: February 2016

This paper frames a debate on the presence of interdependent and appeasing relationships among the various stakeholders and participants of a corporate community. This sense of appeasement renders ineffective, any regulation that�s incremental and narrowly focused on controlling fraud and rewarding their exposure. The current anti-fraud regulations address a range of issues from conflicts of interest, whistle blower protection, executive pay, independence of auditors and the board, separation of powers between the chairman and chief executive, stakeholder rights and even morality of greed. But these issues are largely treated in the context of opportunity for fraud and motivation for its exposure. This narrow and incremental focus fails to explain why regulations are proving ineffective in controlling the ever increasing instances of fraud and also why the current incentives and protections aren�t increasing the rates of exposure. This leads to a consideration that interdependent, appeasing relationships create a complex web of conflicts of interest�-the so called �soft conflicts�-�that elude regulations. The newer emphasis on fostering a culture of good corporate governance fails to acknowledge the most probable custodians of corporate conscience and relies on the �tone at top� to enforce ethics through the organization structure. This approach fails to properly address the conscious subversion and pretence of good governance by the executive management. The authors opine that the �tone at top� should really be enforced on the executive management by the most probable and most capable custodians of the corporate conscience
Some Reflections on Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector in Zimbabwe
Authors: Pfumorodze Jimcall , Nzonzo Jennifer Chishamiso
Published: February 2016

During the last quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, a number of banking institutions in Zimbabwe faced serious corporate governance challenges. By the end of 2004, ten banking institutions had been placed under curatorship, two were under liquidation, and one discount house had been closed. This paper seeks to discuss the nature and scope of the 2003/2004 Zimbabwean banking crisis and several measures which were taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in trying to improve corporate governance practice in the Zimbabwean financial sector in the wake of banking crises of such a high magnitude. It begins with a historical background which is followed by case studies on banks which faced corporate governance challenges. It will then discuss how the RBZ responded to this banking crisis and then winds up with a conclusion.
Board Conflict, Board Performance and Firm Performance in Singapore Listed Companies
Authors: Wan David , Ong C.H.
Published: February 2016

Board of directors deal with complex, strategic issues and conflict among members is natural. Group conflict is often associated with reduced productivity and lower cohesiveness. However, conflict might also improve group decision making and governance practices. This paper seeks to examine the relationship among the following: (a) three types of conflict (cognitive, affective and process) and board performance; (b) board performance and firm performance; and (c) the mediating role of board performance on board conflict and firm performance. It was found that only cognitive conflict is (positively) related to board performance. In addition, board performance does not impact firm performance nor board performance mediates the relationship between board conflict and firm performance.
Corporate Governance Structure and Performance of Indian Companies
Authors: Chauhan Shikha , Pasricha J.S.
Published: February 2016

This study investigates the relationship between corporate governance structure and performance of Indian companies. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of selected board characteristics and ownership structure on the firm performance. This analysis ranges over a period of six years, from 2001-02 to 2006-07 and is based on Pharmaceutical and IT industry. Least square dummy variable regression model has been used to study the relationship. We find that while board size, listing status of firm and foreign shareholding has positive and significant relationship with firm performance, public shareholding has negative and significant impact. However, independent director proportion, participation rate of independent directors and separation of Chairman and CEO post does not have a significant relationship with firm performance.
Choices and Control: Parental Experiences in Pediatric Terminal Home Care
Authors: Vickers Janet L. , Carlisle Caroline
Published: February 2016

During the past decade, palliative care at home has become an alternative option to hospital care for terminally ill children. This study describes the experience of caring for a dying child at home from a parent's perspective. A qualitative research design was used to conduct and analyze data. Nonstandardized, focused interviews were conducted with 10 families. Thematic content analysis assisted in deriving themes from the transcripts of the interviews. "Choice and control" was the major theme that linked all the other concepts, and it appeared to be fundamental to parental coping strategies. Most parents were willing to take responsibility for the nursing care of their child, including administration of intravenous medication. The patient's home was the overwhelming choice of parents for delivery of terminal care, with most parents perceiving it as their child's choice also.
Children's Perceptions of Pain During 3 Weeks of Bone Marrow Transplant Experience
Authors: Pederson Carol , Parran Leslie , Harbaugh Bonnie
Published: February 2016

Most patients undergoing bone marrow transplant (BMT) experience severe pain. Because self-reporting is the most reliable source when assessing pain, it is important that health care providers understand how children perceive their pain and alleviating factors. The purpose of this descriptive, exploratory study was to understand children's perceptions of: (a) their BMT pain, (b) interventions effective in relieving their pain, and (c) caregivers' role in managing their pain. The sample consisted of 20 children (50% male), age 5 to 17 years, undergoing BMT. All study participants received continuous-infusion opioid therapy with additional boluses as needed for pain. Using investigator-developed structured interview guides, children were interviewed four times: on the day of transplant, then at three weekly intervals. Data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. In the first interview, children reported that when they hurt, they most commonly told someone. Several children used nonpharmacologic techniques to relieve pain. Although all had been told to expect some pain during BMT, only one-third of the children described the kinds of pain that they anticipated having during BMT. During subsequent interviews, the majority said that medication worked best to decrease their pain. In the final interview, most children said they still hurt. They reported pain predominantly in their mouth and throat, but mentioned seven other pain sites. Anecdotal comments included that pain management should be improved on the first BMT day and that nurses need to teach children that it is okay to use drugs for pain. Implications for clinical practice, education, and research are discussed.
Theoretical and experimental correlation of mechanical wave formation on beams
Authors: Avirovik Dragan , Malladi V. V. N. Sriram , Priya Shashank , Tarazaga Pablo A.
Published: February 2016

Mechanical waves can be broadly categorized into traveling waves and standing waves. In this study, the nature of the waves in a finite solid medium is investigated to reveal the excitation parameters that influence their behavior. Theoretical and experimental analysis is conducted to find the conditions for generating traveling waves using piezoelectric ceramics as the actuation agent in piezo-structural-coupled systems. A continuous electromechanical model is developed in order to predict the structural dynamics and is validated through experiments. The results from this study provide the fundamental physics behind the generation of mechanical waves and their propagation through finite mediums.
Health-Related Quality of Life Among Jordanian Adolescents
Authors: Hourani Eman Mohammad , Hammad Sawsan Mohammad , Shaheen Abeer , Amre Huda Musa
Published: February 2016

Adolescence is an unpredictable stage of life with varied and rapid changes. In Jordan, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been examined among diabetic and obese children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to assess the HRQoL of Jordanian healthy adolescents. Three hundred fifty-four male and female adolescents whose ages ranged from 12 to 19 participated in the study. A descriptive comparative design was employed to investigate adolescents’ HRQoL. The results revealed statistically significant differences in physical well-being, psychosocial well-being, and autonomy in favor of male adolescents. In addition, statistically significant differences were observed in favor of nonsmoker adolescents in psychosocial well-being, self-perception, parent relations and home life, financial resources, social relations and peers and school environment. In conclusion, the creation of a school health nurse role in Jordanian schools is crucial for helping adolescents improve their health.
Readiness for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and School Mental Health Interconnection: Preliminary Development of a Stakeholder Survey
Authors: Anello Vittoria , Weist Mark , Eber Lucille , Barrett Susan , Cashman Joanne , Rosser Mariola , Bazyk Sue
Published: February 2016

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and school mental health (SMH) are prominent initiatives in the United States to improve student behavior and promote mental health and wellness, led by education and mental health systems, respectively. Unfortunately, PBIS and SMH often operate separately in districts and schools, resulting in a number of missed opportunities for interconnecting programs and services and increasing their depth and quality within multi-tiered frameworks of prevention, support, and intervention. The current article details a necessary first step in the process of improved interconnection of these two frameworks by describing the development of a process and tool for schools/districts to assess readiness for connecting PBIS and SMH through a blended system. Relevant literature, pilot data, and methodology are discussed, in addition to psychometric properties of the survey and future applications of this instrument for practice, research, and policy.
The Relationships Between Victim Age, Gender, and Relationship Polymorphism and Sexual Recidivism
Authors: Stephens Skye , Seto Michael C. , Goodwill Alasdair M. , Cantor James M.
Published: February 2016

Victim choice polymorphism refers to victim inconsistency in a series of offenses by the same perpetrator, such as in the domains of victim age, victim gender, and victim–offender relationship. Past studies have found that victim age polymorphic offenders have higher rates of sexual recidivism than offenders against adults only and offenders against children only. Few studies, however, have examined gender and relationship polymorphism, or accounted for the impact of the number of past victims. The present study analyzed the relationship between polymorphism and sexual recidivism, while controlling for the number of victims. The sample consisted of 751 male adult sexual offenders followed for an average of 10 years, 311 of whom were polymorphic (41% of the total sample). The main finding suggested that there was an association between sexual recidivism and age and relationship polymorphism; however, these associations were no longer significant after controlling for the number of victims.
Cutaneous Strongyloides Infection Postchemotherapy
Authors: Merman Erica , Siddha Sanjay , Keystone Jay S. , Al Habeeb Ayman , Ghazarian Danny , Cy Ajith , Rosen Cheryl F.
Published: February 2016

Background and Objective:

While clinical symptoms of strongyloidiasis are often nonspecific, larva currens (with erythematous, serpiginous, and pruritic papules and plaques) should prompt investigation including stool microscopy, serology, and skin biopsy of the lesion. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment with ivermectin is necessary, especially in the immunocompromised patient who is at increased risk for hyperinfection syndrome and disseminated disease.

Conclusion:

We present a 61-year-old immunocompromised man with presentation of larva currens of cutaneous strongyloides infection without symptoms of hyperinfection or disseminated disease.
Supilinn, Tartu—The Lively Vernacular Against Urban Renewal
Authors: Nutt Nele , Hiob Mart , Kotval Zenia
Published: February 2016

In today’s highly technical and rapidly changing world, the topic of people-friendly living has become increasingly acute. Therefore, great attention is paid to create new spaces (and transform unpleasant ones). In this race to create new spaces, however, vernacular sites that are already people friendly have been forgotten or they are taken for granted. This article explores a neighborhood, which has evolved into a valuable living environment after hundreds of years of development characterized by weak planning and design. Current efforts to regenerate the area may actually ruin the valuable vernacular environment. The authors have worked with this historic area for over 10 years and are familiar with the people and environments in depth. This longitudinal research allows one to observe and compare many different aspects of urban development (urban analysis, people’s values, adopted spatial plans, etc.) to provide insights to the question of what characterizes the lively city.
Aging and multiple sclerosis
Authors: Sanai Shaik Ahmed , Saini Vasu , Benedict Ralph HB , Zivadinov Robert , Teter Barbara E , Ramanathan Murali , Weinstock-Guttman Bianca
Published: February 2016

The life expectancy and average age of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased significantly during the last two decades. The introduction of disease-modifying therapies and a better delineation and understanding of the superimposed comorbidities often diagnosed in MS patients are probably the most important factors accountable for the increase in aging MS population worldwide. Healthcare teams must therefore address the problems arising due to advancing age superimposed on this chronic neurologic disease. In this review, we focus on the physiology of aging, its effects on MS disease course, and the pathological and immunological changes associated with aging and disease progression. Additionally, we discuss the common comorbidities that occur in aging persons with MS that may arise either as a result of the aging process or from relentless chronic MS disease progression as well as the challenges on differentiating the two processes for a more appropriate therapeutic approach.
The processes of meaning making, starting from the morphogenetic theories of René Thom
Authors: De Luca Picione Raffaele , Francesca Freda Maria
Published: February 2016

Each process of meaning making can be seen as a field of semiotic organization that shows a variety of continuities and discontinuities, rather than as a linear trajectory of accumulated signs, progressively articulated through syntagmatic chains. In this work, we address the idea that the sign is a discontinuous form within a field; it emerges where there are different trajectories of meaning, different epistemic positions, and different subjective or affective ways of experiencing a phenomenon. The central aspect of the paper is based on the idea that the sign is a form within a semiotic relational system that allows its emergence towards a “morphogenetic field of semiosis”. The starting point for this discussion is the philosophical, mathematical and semiotic work of Rène Thom, which addressed the relationship between continuity and discontinuity in natural human, social, and linguistic phenomena.
How self-harmers use the body as an interpretive canvass
Authors: Rosenbaum Philip J
Published: February 2016

This commentary to Arcoverde, Amazonas, and de Lima builds off their advice to psychologists to attend to the varied and multiple meanings of self-harming conduct. Its focus is on how in the absence of the ability to symbolically communicate, self-harmers use their bodies to communicate the need to make meaning of their experiences (emotional, interpersonal, and cognitive). The physical usage of the body challenges the therapeutic field, providing at once avenues for novel meaning making, but also the potential to undermine these processes. Some thoughts are offered about the role of the therapist in this context.
Descriptions and interpretations on self-harming
Authors: Arcoverde Renata Lopes , de Almeida Amazonas Maria Cristina Lopes , de Lima Ricardo Delgado Marques
Published: February 2016

The present study analyzed how subjects who self-harm described this practice, position themselves and others in relation to various discourses regarding this matter, and how they produce subjectivity through their bodies. The study was conducted using the Internet users' posts in public virtual communities through the search engine of Orkut. The inclusion criteria were as follows: those who described self-harm practices, Internet users' interpretations on this practice, and indication of an identity. The exclusion criteria were as follows: communities ruled by a moderator who could censor posts and restrict access; topics or posts involving advertising unrelated to the subject of the present study. Document analysis was used in a Foucauldian perspective. Results indicated the mainstream discourse of life preservation to be circulating as described by Foucault as biopolitics dispositif, although subversions could be found among people who define self-harm as art, a privileged way to express emotions, or as source of pleasure taking self-harm beyond the discourses and knowledge fields of medicine, psychology, psychoanalysis, or religion; thus, as forms of subjectivation.
Psychologists finding religious belief: Building bridges between developmental cognitive science and cultural psychology
Authors: McLean Michelle , Cresswell James , Ashley Christina
Published: February 2016

Cognitive science of religion holds that religious belief emerges via universal pre-given cognitive mechanisms. This position is at odds with cultural psychology, which treats culture and cognition as inseparable, pointing out that phenomena like religious cognition cannot be understood without consideration of the culturally constituted realities people live. We seek to enhance cognitive science of religion with cultural psychology and articulate why change is needed in the former. We predicate our work on Bakhtin’s articulation of the constitutive role of language in religious cognition. A Dynamic Systems approach to cognition enables a cognitive approach that can permit the changes in cognitive science of religion promoted by cultural psychology. This approach leads to a view of cognition that accounts for the phenomena of religious cognition by including language practices of a community.