bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New State of Being
Authors: Denhup Christine Yvonne
Published: July 2016

In spite of growing bereavement literature, the meaning of the lived experience of parental bereavement is not well understood. This article presents selected findings from a Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological study which aimed to describe the lived experience of bereaved parents who experienced the death of a child due to cancer. Conversational interviews were conducted with six parents who experienced the death of a young child due to cancer at least one year prior to participation. The nature of parental bereavement was revealed to be a new state of being into which parents enter immediately after the death of a child and which has no end point. Findings will equip health professionals and others who work with bereaved parents with a deeper understanding of the meaning of parental bereavement.
College Student Adjustment and Coping
Authors: Cousins Chris , Servaty-Seib Heather L. , Lockman Jennifer
Published: July 2016

The present study examined the coping-related predictors of four domains of college adjustment (i.e., academic, social, personal or emotional, and institutional attachment) for bereaved and nonbereaved students ( N = 225). Findings indicated that support from friends was positively associated with academic and social adjustment and institutional attachment and that avoidant emotional-focused coping was negatively associated with all domains of adjustment for both bereaved and nonbereaved students. Interaction effects indicated that institutional attachment was lower at high levels of problem-focused coping for bereaved students and that bereaved students exhibited lower levels of both social adjustment and institutional attachment at low levels of family support, whereas nonbereaved students exhibited lower social adjustment at high levels of family support. Directions for future research and implications for practice and higher education policy are offered.
A Cross-Sectional View of Fear of Death and Dying Among Skydivers
Authors: Griffith James D. , Gassem Muath , Hart Christian L. , Adams Lea T. , Sargent Rikki
Published: July 2016

The literature lacks a consistent pattern on the relationship between attitudes toward death and dying across occupations and recreational pursuits. The present cross-sectional study categorized a group of individuals engaging in a high-risk recreational activity (i.e., skydivers) on the basis of experience and classified them into student, intermediate, and experts. There were more negative attitudes of death and dying among student skydivers compared with more experienced skydivers. It was also found that expert skydivers had more negative attitudes toward death and dying on some of the measures compared with the intermediate level experienced skydivers. It may be the case that factors such as perceived personal control, overconfidence, and metacognition may be related to these observed differences between the two more experienced groups of skydivers. The possibility of the factors playing a role in skydivers’ attitudes toward death and dying should be taken into consideration in the training programs for skydiving.
The Role of Self-Esteem in Suicides Among Young Men
Authors: Rasmussen Mette Lyberg , Dyregrov Kari , Haavind Hanne , Leenaars Antoon A. , Dieserud Gudrun
Published: July 2016

This study explores self-esteem in suicide among young males with no earlier history of suicide attempt(s) or treatment in mental health services. The data come from an ongoing psychological autopsy study; 10 cases of young men aged 18 to 30, were selected to generate a phenomenologically based understanding of the psychological mechanisms and processes involved in the suicidal process. The analyses are based on in-depth interviews with 61 closely connected individuals, as well as suicide notes. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For these young men, the transition to young adulthood, a period of major life challenges, seemed to be associated with personal defeats. According to their significant others, the deceased seemed to have experienced intolerable discrepancies between their actual performances and their ideal self standards. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) striving to find a viable path to life as an adult man; (b) experiencing a sense of failure according to own standards; (c) emotional self-restriction in relationships; and (d) strong feelings of loneliness and rejection of self. Improved understanding of suicides outside the mental illness paradigm may have important implications for preventive strategies.
Christopher Hitchens’ Public Dying: Toward a Secular-Humanist Ars Moriendi?
Authors: Brennan Michael
Published: July 2016

This article explores the public dying of journalist, writer, provocateur, public intellectual, and renowned atheist, Christopher Hitchens. It does so primarily through an analysis of television interviews given by Hitchens following his diagnosis with esophageal cancer in June 2010. Four key themes are identified as emerging from analysis of the interviews: (a) Hitchens’ explicit sense of mission in challenging myths and superstitions surrounding cancer, dying, and death; (b) the personal experience of terminal illness and dying and the particular way (or style of dying) by which it is approached; (c) issues of regret and a life well lived; and (d) questions surrounding religion, the afterlife, and possibility of deathbed conversion. In light of the claim that ours is a culture in search of an ars moriendi, the article examines what we can learn from Hitchens’ auto/pathographic interviews (and writings) and the extent to which this rational-humanist, atheistic, and stoical style of dying provides a useable “template” for others nearing the end of life.
A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Bereavement Process Following Suicide
Authors: Shields Chris , Kavanagh Michele , Russo Kate
Published: July 2016

Despite the fact that a large number of people are bereaved by suicide each year, the experiences of those bereaved by suicide are poorly understood. It has been suggested that a contributing factor in relation to this lack of understanding has been the use of quantitative methods, which may not be sensitive to the bereavement process and its thematic content. Therefore, the current article outlines a systematic review of 11 qualitative studies that address issues related to the bereavement process following suicide. The results indicate that those bereaved by suicide encounter a range of difficult feelings following suicide including blame, guilt, and emptiness and that these feelings are affected by participants’ ability to make meaning of the event. The meaning-making process is a complex one that occurs within a difficult social context in which both those bereaved by suicide and members of the wider community struggle to interact with each other in a beneficial way. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
The Perceived Experience of Children Bereaved by Parental Suicide
Authors: Schreiber Jennifer K. , Sands Diana C. , Jordan John R.
Published: July 2016

Children whose parent died by suicide are a vulnerable and underserved population. This phenomenon will be described, as well as implications for practice and research. “Double Whammy,” a conceptualization of the overall experience of this marginalized group, emerged through two in-depth interviews from a phenomenological qualitative study with professionals who facilitate support groups for children bereaved by parental suicide. It was corroborated with current literature and practice experiences of the authors and their colleagues. Stigma was the largest contributor to the “Double Whammy,” and the following themes emerged as well: feeling isolated, feeling abandoned, and feeling responsible. The self-volition of suicide challenges how bereaved children make meaning and internalize feelings about the deceased parent, one’s self, and others. Developmentally appropriate education about suicide grief, depression, and normalizing the grief process is pivotal in helping children to effectively cope and manage their feelings.
Beyond Recovery
Authors: Wong Paul W. C. , Lau Kenny C. T. , Liu Lucia L. , Yuen Gloria S. N. , Wing-Lok Poon
Published: July 2016

It is a worldwide trend that more households are having pets or companion animals. Hence, there has been an increasing number of animal lovers experience companion animal loss bereavement. This form of bereavement has not been explored in Chinese societies. We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 31 animal lovers and recruited through convenience and snowball sampling in Hong Kong. Companion animal loss bereavement appears to share similar features to other forms of bereavement but also has its unique features. The intensity of grief seemed to be affected by factors like the strength of the human–animal bond, lack of empathy from closed ones, being married without children, and euthanasia decision. Although the bereavement was distressful for many of our participants, many of them gradually achieved personal growth from their loss experience. We have identified seven common themes from the interview data and through self-reliance, social-supported, or professional-supported coping behaviors, people bereaved by animal loss can achieve growth from their experience. This study shows that postbereavement growth is possible from pet loss bereavement when appropriate coping strategies are adopted by the bereaved but some professional help may be needed.
Change and Innovation in the Funeral Industry
Authors: Beard Virginia R. , Burger William C.
Published: July 2016

The “modern” or traditional funeral, as it is known in the funeral industry today, that includes embalming, casket, service, and burial in a cemetery, emerged as a result of four forces in American society: the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, the emergence of a genteel code of conduct as a result of increased wealth in our society, and changing cultural views toward death. While the traditional funeral ritual remains the most popular funeral selection in the United States today, the industry is experiencing changes that are reshaping the death rituals and methods of body disposal. A meta-analysis of relevant news articles from 1987 through 2014 finds that these changes are occurring as a result of two general motivational themes: a Business-Related Motivation and a Consumer-Related Motivation, each with corresponding subthemes.
“Only a Friend”
Authors: Johnsen Iren , Dyregrov Kari
Published: July 2016

Friendships are very important for human beings, and especially for young people, but few studies have explored the consequences of losing a close friend. To identify and help this often overlooked population of bereaved, we need more knowledge of their bereavement processes. This study is part of a larger longitudinal study which aims to increase awareness of bereaveds’ situation after the killings at Utøya, Norway, July 22, 2011. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 young adults on the experiences of losing their close friend. Themes identified were how circumstances of the event complicate the grieving, the daily experiences of the loss, and recognition of friends as bereaved. Findings show that the loss of a close friend has had a profound effect on the young people, and the loss of a friend is also a distinct loss that is not comparable to other losses.
“They Say I Should not Think About It:”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experience of Infant Loss for Bereaved Mothers in Kumasi, Ghana
Authors: Meyer Anna C. , Opoku Constance , Gold Katherine J.
Published: July 2016

Despite the high rate of infant mortality in Ghana, few studies have explored the maternal experience of infant loss and the perinatal grieving process. As part of a larger study that interviewed 153 mothers with a sick infant, this 1-year follow-up study reinterviewed eight mothers from the original cohort whose infant died since the study began. Mothers were queried about mental health, coping, and cultural issues related to the loss. Mothers were often discouraged from speaking or thinking about the death due to fear of psychological harm and impact on fertility. Primary coping mechanisms involved seeking support within the community and accepting the loss as God’s will. Mothers desired more communication from health-care providers at the time of death. Despite the cultural norm of silent acceptance in the face of perinatal loss, intense maternal grief and desire to mourn may allow more opportunities for health-care workers to support bereaved mothers.
An Exploratory Study on University Students’ Perceptions of Posthumous Organ Donation Base on the Theory of Reasoned Action
Authors: Wong Shui Hung , Chow Amy Yin Man
Published: July 2016

In view of the general support for organ donation but low registration rate in Hong Kong, the present research attempted to understand the attitude-behavior inconsistency by identifying the underlying beliefs for organ donation through employing the theory of reasoned action. A qualitative approach using semi-structured focus groups was adopted and 19 students from three universities in Hong Kong participated; 10 constructs were identified: attitude, subjective norm, helping, continuation, contribution, body intact, distrust to the medical system, indifference to organ donation, negative affect, and family burden. Findings suggested that their attitudes toward organ donation were of both the cognitive and affective nature; subjective norm of family, friends, and people they respect were identified as influential to students’ views on organ donation. The study provided insight in promoting organ donation, that the cognitive concerns about keeping the body intact, and the negative affects introduced should also be addressed.
Psychometric Properties of Farsi Version of the Wish to be Dead Scale
Authors: Dadfar Mahboubeh , Lester David , Atef Vahid Mohammad Kazem , Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M.
Published: July 2016

The Wish to be Dead Scale (WDS) is a new scale to measure precursors to suicidal ideation, and the aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of a Farsi version of the WDS. The sample was a convenience sample of 145 Iranian female undergraduates and postgraduates selected from different faculties at Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Using a principal component analysis and a varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization, three factors were identified and labeled: (a) lack of purpose and usefulness in life, (b) lack of interest in living, and (c) fantasizing about being dead. The WDS had good inter-item and test–retest reliability and significant positive correlations with scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and negative correlations with scores on the Adult Hope Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Love of Life Scale, the Life Orientation Test, and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. We conclude that the WDS may prove to be useful in clinical practice and research into suicide.
Effectiveness of a Grief Intervention for Caregivers of People With Dementia
Authors: MacCourt Penny , McLennan Marianne , Somers Sandie , Krawczyk Marian
Published: July 2016

In this article, we report on the structure and effectiveness of a grief management coaching intervention with caregivers of individuals with dementia. The intervention was informed by Marwit and Meuser’s Caregiver Grief Model and considered levels of grief, sense of empowerment, coping, and resilience using five methods of delivery. Results indicate that the intervention had significant positive effects on caregivers’ levels of grief and increased their levels of empowerment, coping, and resilience. The intervention was found to be effective across caregivers’ characteristics as well as across five delivery modalities. Through description of this intervention, as well as outcome, this research contributes to the body of knowledge about caregivers’ disenfranchised grief and ways to effectively address it.
Meaning Reconstruction Process After Suicide
Authors: Kawashima Daisuke , Kawano Kenji
Published: July 2016

Although Japan has a high suicide rate, there is insufficient research on the experiences of suicide-bereaved individuals. We investigated the qualitative aspects of the meaning reconstruction process after a loss to suicide. We conducted a life-story interview using open-ended questions with one middle-aged Japanese woman who lost her son to suicide. We used a narrative approach to transcribe and code the participant’s narratives for analysis. The analysis revealed three meaning groups that structured the participant’s reactions to the suicide: making sense of her son’s death and life, relationships with other people, and reconstruction of a bond with the deceased. The belief that death is not an eternal split and that there is a connection between the living and the deceased reduced the pain felt by our participant. Furthermore, the narratives worked as scaffolds in the meaning reconstruction process. We discuss our results in the light of cross-cultural differences in the grieving process.
In Their Own Words
Authors: Upton Maranda A. , Carwile Tabitha M. , Brown Kristina S.
Published: July 2016

Last statements have been a common practice as part of capital punishment as far back as the 1300s in Europe. In the United States, the first execution occurred in 1608, and currently, 32 states have the death penalty. In 1991, Missouri integrated death row inmates into the general prison population, which makes this population unique compared with other death row populations across the United States. This article is a qualitative study on the themes found in the last statements of 46 capitally punished inmates in Missouri from 1995 to 2011. The purpose of this study was to determine if capital punishment inmates being housed in the general population had an impact on an inmate’s last statement prior to execution. Three domains emerged from these last statements: life, death, and execution. The most common theme identified was love while the least common theme was acceptance. The themes found in this research were consistent with previous studies which looked at inmates executed in Texas where inmates sentenced to capital punishment are separated from the general prison population. Implications, limitations, and future research areas are discussed.
The Equality Act 2010, specific learning difficulties and the police
Authors: Kirby Amanda , Welch Daniel
Published: July 2016

The focus of this paper is on one group of disabilities, those with specific learning difficulties, and from two perspectives. It discusses the tensions between medical and social models of disability in trying to meet legal obligations. It provides a potential means of delivering an embedded model of practice which includes equipping staff with the knowledge and confidence to support individuals with specific learning difficulties and the means of screening individuals taking a bio-psychosocial approach, to be potentially implemented in a police service context.
“You are Jesus, and I am your bird”: Christ, Persian poetry, and theological imagination in the Iranian diaspora
Authors: Woodhouse B. Neil
Published: July 2016

The growth of the gospel amongst the Iranian diaspora remains markedly unexamined in missiological circles. The few existing analyses draw attention to disillusionment with Islam as a result of the current political regime in Iran, sustaining an extractionist approach which tends to marginalize interest in spiritual resources Iranians find attractive and useful in their diasporic experience. This article explores the potential of classical Persian poetry, and its depictions of Jesus in particular, to inform and expand missiological engagement with the Iranian diaspora. Following a discussion of three poetic representations of Jesus, consideration is given as to how these representations might serve as sites for both creative evangelistic endeavour and as a potential source of reflection for Iranian Christians.
Qualitative and Semi-quantitative Estimation of Major Elements in Desktop Computer Motherboards
Authors: Das Arpita , Chakraborty Basab , Das Partha Pratim
Published: July 2016

The technical advancement and changing lifestyle have given rise to a new waste stream—‘electronic waste’ or ‘e-waste’ which is different from conventional municipal waste. The growing volume and complex composition of these items along with the absence of proper disposal mechanisms is a major area of concern today. Personal computer (PC) is one of the most widely used electronic products with limited life cycle. The present paper deals with qualitative and semi-quantitative estimation of major elements (mainly toxic and hazardous elements) in one of the key components of desktop computer viz. the motherboard. Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectroscopy and laser ablation inductively couples plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) techniques have been used to find out the elemental composition of obsolete motherboards. By performing composition analysis, a noticeable change has been found in concentrations of some major elements as a function of technology. With the advancement of technology, concentrations of Al and Cu have increased whereas Pb concentration is found to decrease. The distribution of various elements in the motherboard based on different technologies will enable us to monitor the changing trends of hazardous elements and may also provide better insights into waste segregation and disposal methods.
Spousal positive social control and men’s health behaviors and self-efficacy
Authors: de Montigny Francine , Meunier Sophie , Cloutier Lyne , Tremblay Gilles , Coulombe Simon , Auger Nathalie , Roy Bernard , Gaboury Isabelle , Bernard François-Olivier , Lavoie Brigitte , Dion Harold , Houle Janie
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spousal positive social control (SPSC) and men’s health behaviors. This study also tested the mediating effect of health self-efficacy in this relationship and the moderating effects of age and relationship satisfaction (RS) in the association between SPSC and health behaviors and self-efficacy. A total of 506 unionized male workers answered a questionnaire assessing their level of health self-efficacy, how often they performed various health behaviors, and their perceptions of the frequency with which their spouse used positive social control to influence their health. Results indicated that SPSC was positively associated with health behaviors and that this association was mediated by health self-efficacy. Moderation analysis indicated that, for middle-aged and older men, SPSC was only positively associated with health self-efficacy when RS was high. Also, for older men only, when RS was low, SPSC had a backfiring effect and was negatively associated with health self-efficacy. Finally, results indicated the presence of a moderated mediation with the indirect effect of SPSC on health behaviors through health self-efficacy being moderated by age and relationship satisfaction. By indicating more precisely how, with whom, and under what circumstances SPSC can be beneficial or not, the results from this study have important implications for interventions promoting men’s health.
Understanding G2G e-government project impasse
Authors: Pandey Vidushi , Gupta Sumeet
Published: July 2016

A number of studies have examined the failures of e-government efforts from various theoretical perspectives in the domains of government-to-citizen (G2C) and government-to-business (G2B). However, only a few studies have been done in government-to-government (G2G) e-government projects. This paper examines the impasse reached during the implementation of a statewide Digital Secretariat Project in India through the lens of stakeholder theory. A qualitative case study approach employing semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders was employed to explore the issue. The results reveal the importance of power dynamics, which can stall the entire project. In a G2G project, that is interactional in nature and has to be used by multiple departments, it is crucial for the implementing agency to identify dominant stakeholder departments and take them into confidence right from the beginning of the project. In such cases intervention by higher level government offices is important to impart saliency to the implementing agency and prevent any other dominant stakeholder from stalling the project. Undertaking such widespread projects without strong government support can lead to failure of implementation and waste of important public resources. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Developing a Home-Based Early Intervention Personnel Training Program in Southeast China
Authors: Xie Huichao , Chen Ching-I , Chen Chieh-Yu , Squires Jane , Li Wenge , Liu Tian
Published: July 2016

China is expected to have a rapid growth in specialized early intervention (EI) services for young children ages birth to 6 and their families. A major barrier in the provision of EI services in China is the shortage of well-trained EI personnel. In 2013, a Home-Based Early Intervention Program (HBEIP) was started at South China Normal University (SCNU) in Guangzhou, China to prepare future professionals to use family-centered EI practices adapted from similar programs in the United States. During the first year of implementation, HBEIP collected data from a self-efficacy survey and a needs assessment. Results from the evaluation showed that Chinese trainees perceived the family-centered approach to EI as relevant and valuable, and indicated needs for improving supervision and coaching supports in future implementation of HBEIP. The research team discussed implications for cross-cultural adaptation and implementation of personnel training practices.
In It for the Long Haul: Parent–Teacher Partnerships for Addressing Preschool Children’s Challenging Behaviors
Authors: Kuhn Miriam , Marvin Christine A. , Knoche Lisa L.
Published: July 2016

The Getting Ready intervention aims to strengthen parent–teacher partnerships to promote positive child outcomes. This study focused on the team process and social validity of the intervention when young children displayed challenging behaviors. Qualitative analysis yielded seven themes that provided a rich description of the preschool experiences of four children, their parents, and the preschool teachers and Early Intervention (EI) coaches serving them. Parent–professional partnerships, positive parent–child interactions, and team members’ engagement in collaborative problem solving and planning were reported. The social validity of the Getting Ready intervention was confirmed by participants valuing the academic and behavioral goals established for children, the parents’ partnerships with teachers to address chronic behavioral challenges, and reports of the durability of intervention impacts as three children completed kindergarten.
Novel method to study pericyte contractility and responses to ischaemia in vitro using electrical impedance
Authors: Neuhaus Ain A , Couch Yvonne , Sutherland Brad A , Buchan Alastair M
Published: July 2016

Pericytes are contractile vascular mural cells overlying capillary endothelium, and they have been implicated in a variety of functions including regulation of cerebral blood flow. Recent work has suggested that both in vivo and ex vivo, ischaemia causes pericytes to constrict and die, which has implications for microvascular reperfusion. Assessing pericyte contractility in tissue slices and in vivo is technically challenging, while in vitro techniques remain unreliable. Here, we used isolated cultures of human brain vascular pericytes to examine their contractile potential in vitro using the iCelligence electrical impedance system. Contraction was induced using the vasoactive peptide endothelin-1, and relaxation was demonstrated using adenosine and sodium nitroprusside. Endothelin-1 treatment also resulted in increased proliferation, which we were able to monitor in the same cell population from which we recorded contractile responses. Finally, the observation of pericyte contraction in stroke was reproduced using chemical ischaemia, which caused a profound and irreversible contraction clearly preceding cell death. These data demonstrate that isolated pericytes retain a contractile phenotype in vitro, and that it is possible to quantify this contraction using real-time electrical impedance recordings, providing a significant new platform for assessing the effects of vasoactive and vasculoprotective compounds on pericyte contractility.
Does Extended Preoperative Rehabilitation Influence Outcomes 2 Years After ACL Reconstruction?
Authors: Failla Mathew J. , Logerstedt David S. , Grindem Hege , Axe Michael J. , Risberg May Arna , Engebretsen Lars , Huston Laura J. , Spindler Kurt P. , Snyder-Mackler Lynn
Published: July 2016

Background:

Rehabilitation before anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is effective at improving postoperative outcomes at least in the short term. Less is known about the effects of preoperative rehabilitation on functional outcomes and return-to-sport (RTS) rates 2 years after reconstruction.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to compare functional outcomes 2 years after ACLR in a cohort that underwent additional preoperative rehabilitation, including progressive strengthening and neuromuscular training after impairments were resolved, compared with a nonexperimental cohort. We hypothesized that the cohort treated with extended preoperative rehabilitation would have superior functional outcomes 2 years after ACLR.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This study compared outcomes after an ACL rupture in an international cohort (Delaware-Oslo ACL Cohort [DOC]) treated with extended preoperative rehabilitation, including neuromuscular training, to data from the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) cohort, which did not undergo extended preoperative rehabilitation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria from the DOC were applied to the MOON database to extract a homogeneous sample for comparison. Patients achieved knee impairment resolution before ACLR, and postoperative rehabilitation followed each cohort’s respective criterion-based protocol. Patients completed the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at enrollment and again 2 years after ACLR. RTS rates were calculated for each cohort at 2 years.

Results:

After adjusting for baseline IKDC and KOOS scores, the DOC patients showed significant and clinically meaningful differences in IKDC and KOOS scores 2 years after ACLR. There was a significantly higher ( P < .001) percentage of DOC patients returning to preinjury sports (72%) compared with those in the MOON cohort (63%).

Conclusion:

The cohort treated with additional preoperative rehabilitation consisting of progressive strengthening and neuromuscular training, followed by a criterion-based postoperative rehabilitation program, had greater functional outcomes and RTS rates 2 years after ACLR. Preoperative rehabilitation should be considered as an addition to the standard of care to maximize functional outcomes after ACLR.
Compressive strength and stiffness of filament-wound cylinders
Authors: Henry Todd C , Bakis Charles E
Published: July 2016

In filament-wound composites, the existence of fiber undulation introduces unique challenges in the calculation of compressive modulus and strength using traditional composite theories. In the current work, a previously developed three-dimensional continuum representation of undulated fibers was incorporated into a multi-scale homogenization process to simulate the effective longitudinal stress-strain behavior of filament-wound cylinders and compressive failure in the undulation regions. Calculated properties were compared to previously obtained experimental data for carbon fiber cylinders made with various matrix materials and winding parameters. The average difference between predicted and measured properties was 14% and the predicted failure modes were consistent with the experimental observations.
Antibacterial superabsorbing hydrogels with high saline-swelling properties without gel blockage: Toward ideal superabsorbents for hygienic applications
Authors: Shahi Sina , Zohuriaan-Mehr Mohammad J , Omidian Hossein
Published: July 2016

Superabsorbent polymer hydrogels with antibacterial activity were prepared by an ion exchange reaction as a feasible approach to induce high saline absorption without gel blockage. Hydroethanolic solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were used to modify surface particles of cross-linked sodium acrylate- co-acrylic acid copolymers which already synthesized under defined conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to study the structural characteristic of the finished products. The influence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on free (in water) and loaded (in saline) swelling capacity as well as antibacterial activity of superabsorbent polymer hydrogels against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. Modified samples displayed an improved free and loaded swelling in water and saline, as well as no gel-blocking. These improvements were found to be affected by the reaction time, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide concentration, and water percentage in the solvent mixture. The results from energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed that cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was distributed uniformly in the superabsorbent polymer hydrogel particle surface. Moreover, the modified superabsorbent polymer hydrogels showed high antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Both bacteriostatic and bactericide effects were observed depending on the reaction conditions. Overall, several improvements were concurrently achieved via a single cost-effective post-treatment on the superabsorbent polymer hydrogel particles. Therefore, the results can effectively be used in designing larger scale production of antibacterial superabsorbent polymer hydrogels with desirable swelling properties in hygiene applications.
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Social Venture Creation in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Lurtz Kathrin , Kreutzer Karin
Published: July 2016

Although behaving entrepreneurially has become increasingly important for many nonprofit organizations, research on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) lacks a clear understanding of the construct in the nonprofit context. This study examines how EO is shaped on the organizational level of a nonprofit organization and contributes to the creation of a social venture. With a qualitative research design, we explore the role of entrepreneurial elements manifested in the pre-start-up phase of social venture creation according to their importance for upstream and downstream processes. Our findings show how risk taking has a financial and a social dimension and we identify collaboration as a pivotal additional element for social EO along with proactiveness and innovativeness.
Sam’s Cake Factory—A Delectable Journey of a Woman Entrepreneur
Authors: Zulfiqar Soha , Sohail Kanza , Qureshi M. Shahid
Published: July 2016

The case reflects on the life of a woman entrepreneur, Sumaira Waseem, who had set up an online cake business by the name of Sam’s Cake Factory. Sam’s Cake Factory was a start-up, which was only four years old but had become the preferred choice amongst the consumers looking for customized fondant cakes in Karachi. They offered bespoke creatively designed cakes, handcrafted to perfection using premium quality ingredients. The case describes the entrepreneurial journey embarked upon by Sumaira who, through her passion, resilience and creativity, turned a home-based small business into a full-fledged growing enterprise. The case further examines the vision Sumaira had of expanding her business and taking it to the next level. It was Sumaira’s dream to see herself established as the most famous cake designer in Pakistan.

The case is extremely pertinent because of the dearth of literature available on female entrepreneurs in Pakistan. It aims to shed light on the mushroom growth of the women-led online business sphere in Pakistan.
Precarious work and intrinsic job quality: Evidence from Finland, 1984–2013
Authors: Pyöriä Pasi , Ojala Satu
Published: July 2016

It is often argued that job insecurity and precarious work are on the rise. However, the evidence to back these arguments remains mixed and inconclusive. In this study, we define and measure precarious work in Finland using five variables that reflect both objective and subjective insecurity: atypical employment, actually experienced unemployment, the threat of dismissal or unemployment, poor chances of finding a new job, and low earnings. Results based on Statistics Finland’s Quality of Work Life Surveys from 1984 to 2013 indicate that, from a labour market or forms of employment perspective, the proportion of precarious wage earners has increased from 11% in 1984 to 13% in 2013. From a second perspective, however, focusing on changing working conditions, growing inequality and eroding social security mechanisms, we also analyse how a precarious labour market position is related to intrinsic job quality. Precarious workers experience decreased levels of skill and discretion, and they work in a less supportive environment than other employees.
Disability and Labor Market Earnings
Authors: Benito Shandra G. , Glassman Thomas S. , Hiedemann Bridget G.
Published: July 2016

Over one million Americans aged 15 years and older are deaf or hard of hearing. These individuals may face barriers to and within the labor market, leading to lower employment rates and reduced earnings compared with their counterparts without a hearing disability. Our study contributes to the sparse literature on the relationship between hearing disability and labor market outcomes by examining “hearing earnings gaps,” namely, earnings gaps between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and their counterparts without a hearing disability. Using a sample of 25- to 40-year-old full-time year-round workers from the 2011 American Community Survey, we estimate separate earnings equations by hearing ability and gender using generalized estimating equations. For both men and women, Blinder–Oaxaca decompositions indicate that roughly 40% of the overall hearing earnings gap is attributable to differences in educational attainment, potential experience, race/ethnicity, and marital status. The remaining 60% may reflect differences in communication skills and other unobservable characteristics, occupational segregation, labor market discrimination, and stigma.
Are Trends in Hospitalization Prior to Hospice Use Associated With Hospice Episode Characteristics?
Authors: Kaufman Brystana G. , Sueta Carla A. , Chen Cathy , Windham B. Gwen , Stearns Sally C.
Published: July 2016

This study expands current knowledge of factors associated with initiation of hospice care by examining prehospice patterns of medical care leading to Medicare hospice use and the relationships to hospice episode characteristics. Data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study cohort offer the ability to control for measures that are not available in Medicare claims data, including marital status, nursing home residency, and education. For 1248 ARIC participants who used hospice (2006-2012), participant level trends in the number of hospital days per 30-day period over the year prior to hospice initiation were generated using a fixed-effects model. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between increasing hospital use over the year prior to hospice enrollment with key patient characteristics (diagnosis, age, and comorbidity) and episode characteristics (short hospice stay ending in death, long hospice stay, and live discharge). Participants with severe comorbidity (measured as a Charlson comorbidity index score greater than 5) had higher odds of increasing hospital use prior to hospice (odds ratio [OR] = 3.28, confidence interval [CI] = 2.25-4.78). Increasing hospital use did not vary by diagnosis but was associated with reduced odds of a live hospice discharge (OR = 0.55, CI = 0.34-0.88) or long stay in hospice (OR = 0.44, CI = 0.24-0.79) and increased odds of a short stay in hospice (OR = 1.92, CI = 1.36-2.71). The evidence that care patterns prior to hospice use are associated with hospice outcomes could facilitate development of interventions to improve timely hospice referral.
Death Education Curriculums for Elementary Schools in Japan
Authors: Katayama Ai
Published: July 2016

Compared to thirty years of death education in the United States, death education in Japan became widely acknowledged among educators in elementary schools at the beginning of the 1990s. In Japanese curriculums, life-related issues suchas the beginning of life, growth, and the importance of life were more likely to be discussed, although they held the avowed purpose of preparing elementary-age children for loss experiences. Death education supported the development of healthy attitudes and understandings about life and death issues in order for the young to lead happy lives and avoid self-destructive behaviors. Although death education revealed a strong positive potential in contributing to children's lives, death still remained a difficult topic for educators to discuss with children. Many educators in Japan were not properly prepared to address death in their classrooms. Further research on death education should investigate support for children relating to the type of crises they might encounter in society.
Toward an Applied Anthropology of Disaster: Learning from Disasters-Experience, Method, and Theory
Authors: Stein Howard F.
Published: July 2016

This article begins with a specific event: the fire on 3 December 1999 at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Company, Worcester, Massachusetts, in which sixfirefighters died. Substantively, this article studies disaster, the human experience ofdisaster, thesocial construction ofdisaster, and the contribution of applied anthropology to being useful following disasters. Methodologically, this article explores anthropologically generic (1) epistemological issues (what we think weknow isoften atbest apart ofthe complex cultural picture), (2) ontological issues (fidelity todata andtolearningfrom experience, versusfidelity totheory and method), and (3) relational issues (learning from and with others in thevery process of applying what weknow). This article is situated at the intersection between theory, praxis, and ethics.
The December 3, 1999, Fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the Comparative Study of Disaster
Authors: Stein Howard F.
Published: July 2016

Case material in the form of vignette, anecdote, andstory iscrucial tothe understanding of disaster and toresponding topeople who are suffering. The comparativestudy of case material gathered from widely differing disasters helps in the correction of overgeneralizations in theory, method, treatment plan, and policy making. This article explores the corrective process through examples drawn largely from the Worcester, Massachusetts, fireof1999 and theOklahoma City bombing of 1995.
Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal
Authors: Corless Inge B.
Published: July 2016

“I just want the best!” Dr. Robert Fulton would say words to this effect when he was talking about his work and his expectations of his collaborators and himself. And although he was speaking about his scholarly work, he could as easily have been talking about his life.
Attitudes toward Dying and Death: A Study Building on Durkheim's Suicide Typology
Authors: Cox Gerry
Published: July 2016

Robert Fulton, prime mover the Sociology of Dying and Death movement since the 1950s to the present, has had a seminal impact on the development of the field, as a discipline, and upon those who have conducted research and educated others. For me, Professor Fulton has been an inspiration and a source of scholarly knowledge from my very first beginnings of study within the field of dying and death. He has been a mentor, friend, scholarly director, and object of esteem to me. He has been a hero as a scholar and giant within the field. It is a great privilege to write an essay in his honor.
The Significance of Dying Well
Authors: van der Kloot Meijburg Herman H.
Published: July 2016

Most of us will die in fashions out of our control and unaware of the moment of death itself. Consequently, it is a myth to think that the moment of death is our last opportunity to reveal who we truly are. This contribution, written in honor of the work done by Robert Fulton in the field of thanatology, explores the significance of the notion of wanting to die a good death and the drive of people to attain it. The question is raised whether we can control the circumstances of our death to such an extent that we all die well. “Dying well,” however, is for the happy few. This outcome is supported by history as well as by modern research. It implies that those dying will have to leave it to their family members, friends, and sometimes the media, to reconstruct their identity. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
What is the Truth of Death and Dying? Reflections on Fulton, Foucault, and Finitude
Authors: Sandstrom Kent L.
Published: July 2016

This article highlights Michel Foucault's neglected insights regarding the social and discursive construction of death in contemporary Western societies. It also describes the limitations of Foucault's views, pointing out some of the key dimensions of death, dying, and resistance he overlooks because he downplays the agency exercised by human beings. The article concludes with a discussion of how and why Foucault's analyses need the corrective offered by Robert Fulton's work. Fulton recognizes and emphasizes the human capacity for agency, meaning making, and resistance, particularly in addressing the “truth” of death and dying.
Retirement, Marriage, and Social Isolation
Authors: Weiss Robert S.
Published: July 2016

Robert Fulton focused his attention on the social and emotional consequences of bereavement: the loss of spouse or other pairbond partner. Another kind of relational loss might be considered that can interact with loss of a pairbond partner: loss is of access to one's community as a consequence of a major change in life. Retirement is one such change.
Grief after Brain Injury: A Validation of the Brain Injury Grief Inventory (BIGI)
Authors: Ruddle Jean Anne , Coetzer B. Rudi , Vaughan Frances L.
Published: July 2016

The objective of this article is to determine whether a new questionnaire (the BIGI) is a valid and reliable measure of grief in a brain injured population. Design: Within group, questionnaire based prospective study of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The BIGI was compared with other questionnaires to determine the construct validity and repeated to assess test re-test reliability. Results: The loss scale of the BIGI had a higher internal consistency than the adjustment scale. Test re-test reliability for both variables was good. Younger individuals appeared to be more likely to show a positive adjustment to a TBI than older individuals. Women reported higher scores for loss than men. On the adjustment scale, married individuals achieved lower scores than single persons. Conclusions: The BIGI scales of loss and adjustment were associated with a number of the other measures. The loss scale had a higher internal consistency than the adjustment scale. The clinical utility of the scale is discussed and further research suggested.