bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Sīrah to Qasīdah: Poetics and Polemics in Al-Būsīrī's Qasīdat Al-Burdah (Mantle Ode)
Authors: Stetkevych Suzanne Pinckney
Published: June 2007

This study of the celebrated 7/13th century madīh/nabawī (praise poem to the Prophet Muhammad), al-Būsīrī's Qasīdat al-Burdah (Mantle Ode), takes as its premise the supplicatory structure of the ode expounded in the author's earlier study of the poem, "From Text to Talisman" (2006). It argues that the central portions of the Burdah, Parts IV to VIII, which are derived from prose sources for the Sīrah (biography) of the Prophet, have been poetically recast in the rhetorically ornate badī' style of the High 'Abbāsid period. This accomplishes two goals: first, by expressing the Prophet's Miracles, the Night Journey and Ascension, the Miraculousness of the Qur'aeān and the Prophet's Jihād and Campaigns in the robust metalanguage identified with the period of Arab-Islamic cultural and political hegemony, the poet creates a mythic concordance between the two eras. Second, through the intricate rhetorical workings of badī' devices, the poet elicits from "historical" events in the Prophet's life cosmic and timeless connections and associations. The result is that these sections of the Burdah provide a polemic that promotes an ideology of Islamic Manifiest Destiny. This is intended to establish the eternal veracity of Muhammad's prophethood and message (Islam), and its continued efficacy for both the Community and the individual believer. Above all, these sections, which function as extensions of the madīh (praise) section of the poem, confirm the mamdū;h's ability to grant the request that the poet-supplicant makes: the Prophet's intercession (shafā'ah) on the Day of Judgment.
Le Prélude Amoureux Ou la Quête de L'ipséité dans la Poésie Arabe Classique
Authors: Labidi Mokhtar
Published: June 2007

Dans le nasīb de la période préislamique, il y a « quelque chose dont l'invisible présence nous comble, dont l'absence inexplicable nous laisse curieusement inquiets, quelque chose qui n'existe pas et qui est pourtant la chose la plus importante entre toutes les choses importantes, la seule qui vaille la peine d'être dite et la seule justement qu'on ne puisse dire » (Vladimir Jankélévitch, Le je ne sais quoi et le presque rien). En effet, les thèmes amoureux que l'on trouve dans le prélude conventionnel reflètent le désir du poète arabe classique de comprendre "l'inexplicable," de se dégager de l'inertie voire de la décrépitude et de la mort pour aviver par le truchement de la réminiscence, de l'apostrophe et de la déploration des campements désertés le monde de la vie et de la stabilité. Le poète élégiaque de la Jāhiliyya, en se rappelant non sans amertume les moments inoubliables vécus auprès de la dulcinée tend à fuir la solitude, la séparation et l'oubli car il porte dans sa nature le désir de sortir du non-être (non-ipséité) pour accomplir son être (ipséité).
Classical Elements in Mahjar Poetry
Authors: Jubran Sulaiman
Published: June 2007

Mahjar poets, particularly members of al-Rābitah al-qalamiyyah, established a new "romantic" school that exercised an immense influence on modern Arabic poetry as a whole. Most of the scholars who have studied this poetry have put excessive emphasis on its Christian components, minimizing, if not altogether ignoring, Islamic and classical elements. This article examines whether this attitude is warranted, by investigating in detail the poetry of Nasıb Arıdah, a prominent representative of that school. It turns out that Christian sources are infrequent in Arıdah's poetry, whereas Islamic and classical sources predominate. I conclude that the generalization about the primacy of Christian culture in the works of the al-Rābitah group is of doubtful validity, and that further investigations similar to this study are needed.
New Opportunities and New Values: The Emergence of the Multicultural Church
Authors: Garces-Foley Kathleen
Published: June 2007

As Christians across denominations face increasing ethnic diversity in their cities and neighborhoods, they are forced to reconsider the purpose of church and what kind of church they wish to be a part of. Homogeneous churches are by far the norm, but there is notable interest in ending ethno-racial divisions among Christians, and a growing number of churches are finding some success in this endeavor. This article examines the multicultural church as a new social institution developing in response to the growing ethnic diversity in the United States and new attitudes toward diversity. Multicultural churches challenge their members to engage with the ethnically “other” and develop civic skills for living in a diverse society.
Active versus Passive Pluralism: A Changing Style of Civil Religion?
Authors: Hecht Richard D.
Published: June 2007

The reform of the United States Immigration Act in 1965 transformed what Robert Bellah identified as “American civil religion” and one of its central components: America's unique religious pluralism. At midcentury, Will Herberg showed how religion functions in the creation of American identity through what we call here “passive pluralism.” This passive pluralism allowed the mainline religions of America to claim a presence within the nation. But the new immigration patterns have created what the author calls here “active pluralism,” which lays assertive claim to the meanings of public time and space. This argument is explored through the construction of an Orthodox Jewish ritual space or eruv in Los Angeles.
Muslims in the United States: Pluralism under Exceptional Circumstances
Authors: Moore Kathleen M.
Published: June 2007

In the contemporary United States, can Muslims draw on religious authorities living in other, very different societies and to the normative ideas those authorities espouse? Or is this a challenge that cannot be tolerated by distinctively American dogmas of what constitutes a good society? The concept of pluralism, as fact and theory, is discussed in light of what the Muslim American experience has to tell us about the limits of tolerance. The idiosyncratic circumstances of Muslim Americans gives rise to both an internal struggle to be pluralists and an outward struggle to negotiate rights and liberties in a climate of fear. The study of Muslims in the United States illustrates the need to rethink what the term pluralism means in America.
All Need Toleration: Some Observations about Recent Differences in the Experiences of Religious Minorities in the United States and Western Europe
Authors: Niebuhr Gustav
Published: June 2007

Differences between Americans and Western Europeans in their public perceptions of largely immigrant religious minorities—particularly Muslims—have lately been thrown into high relief, with Europeans appearing increasingly less comfortable with a growing religious pluralism in their midst. By 2006, the trend had begun to draw attention from major news media. Underlying the differences are the continuing high value with which Americans (in sharp contrast to their European counterparts) view religion itself, their historic awareness of religious differences as part of the national landscape, and the willingness of at least some prominent Muslims in the United States to embrace American symbols and attempt to teach others about Islam itself.
The Role of Religion in the Process of Segmented Assimilation
Authors: Warner R. Stephen
Published: June 2007

This article informs students of urban religion about “segmented assimilation theory” and urges theorists of this persuasion to incorporate religion in their models. Segmented assimilation theory acknowledges the undeniable fact that children of post-1965 immigrants to the United States typically become American, but unlike older concepts of assimilation, the new theory recognizes diverse paths to assimilation, with the immigrant second generation assimilating to one or another segment of the highly unequal U.S. social structure. Heretofore, religion has played at best an implicit role in the theory. This article proposes ways that religion can be incorporated explicitly and complexly into the theory.
Pluralist Family Values: Domestic Strategies for Living with Religious Difference
Authors: McCarthy Kate
Published: June 2007

As microcosms of pluralist society, interfaith families reveal distinctive strategies for managing religious difference with respect, integrity, and creative problem-solving. In these families, assumptions about and possibilities for a religiously pluralist civil society are embedded in the daily choices of women, men, and children trying to create coherent relationships and spiritualities, a task for which the institutions of family and religion have for many Americans ceased to offer reliable instruction. This analysis of interfaith families, based on a series of face-to-face interviews with interfaith couples and five years of online exchanges among participants in interfaith family discussion groups, highlights the insights and skills developed in these families, and critically assesses their potential to transfer to the work of citizenship in pluralist civil society.
IRT True-Score Test Equating
Authors: von Davier Alina A. , Wilson Christine
Published: June 2007

This article discusses the assumptions required by the item response theory (IRT) true-score equating method (with Stocking & Lord, 1983; scaling approach), which is commonly used in the nonequivalent groups with an anchor data-collection design. More precisely, this article investigates the assumptions made at each step by the IRT approach to calibrating items and equating tests and discusses the approaches that one might take for checking whether these assumptions are met for a particular data set. We investigated two types of tests: tests that consist of multiple-choice items only and tests that consist of both multiple-choice and free-response items. Real data from the AP® Calculus AB exam are used to illustrate the application of the IRT true-score equating method as well as for the comparisons.
Evaluating Item Fit for Multidimensional Item Response Models
Authors: Bo Zhang  , Stone Clement A.
Published: June 2007

This research examines the utility of the s - χ2 statistic proposed by Orlando and Thissen (2000) in evaluating item fit for multidimensional item response models. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to investigate both the Type I error and statistical power of this fit statistic in analyzing two kinds of multidimensional test structures: approximate simple structure and complex structure. Overall, results show that this statistic is capable of evaluating item fit in the application of multidimensional item response models. It is important to identify the structure of multidimensional tests before this fit statistic is applied. For tests with an approximate simple structure, the sampling distribution can be approximated by a standard chi-square distribution. But for tests with a complex structure, that approximation is more complicated. As regards power in detecting the model nonfitting items, the performance of this statistic in multidimensional tests is comparable to that in unidimensional tests.
Toward Organizational Dialogue in Black Studies
Authors: Fenderson Jonathan
Published: June 2007

This article is a critical rejoinder to Manning Marable's “Beyond Brown: The Revolution in Black Studies,” featured in the Summer 2005 issue of The Black Scholar . Written in the form of a letter, the article addresses the role of professional organizations within the field of Black Studies and the failed commitment on behalf of “public intellectuals” to build and maintain these disciplinary institutions. Through an interrogation of scholarly writings, current events, conventional media coverage, and various organizational documents, the article lobbies for a recommitment to broad-based dialogue and professional Black Studies associations. Furthermore, it critically engages and outlines developing trends in the field of Black Studies, like institutional under/development, “theoretical balkanization,” and the emergence of paradigmatic schools of thought.
Black Solidarity and Racial Context
Authors: Hoston William T.
Published: June 2007

This article explores the concept of solidarity among Blacks in a majority Black and White context. Although past studies have shown the influence of Black solidarity, recent studies have concluded that the effects of Black solidarity are diminishing. Despite their findings, these studies have failed to identify why the role of solidarity has reduced. This study explores the contextual effects of Black solidarity. Specifically, this study asks the question: Does racial context influence Black solidarity; that is, is there more Black solidarity in a majority White context than in a majority Black context? Ordinary least squares regression results identify several important findings: (a) Blacks who lived in a majority White context displayed greater levels of Black solidarity and (b) linked fate is positively associated with Black solidarity. Further results and implications are discussed.
The Universal Negro Improvement Association, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Black Panther Party
Authors: Young Laing Bonnie
Published: June 2007

This work examines the organizing models of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Black Panther Party. Literature on the work of each organization is examined to uncover the organizing theory underlying the efforts of each group. Components of Rothman's community-organizing analysis framework, including (a) social philosophy, (b) power perspective, (c) goals, (d) mobilization methods, and (e) change strategies, are used to analyze first-person nonfiction and scholarly literature describing each movement. The analysis results in a five-component framework describing a theory of African American culture-based organizing, which includes (a) a definition of the target community, (b) a definition of community problems, (c) empowering oration, (d) antiracist hegemony focus, and (e) strategies that challenged existing power relationships. This article concludes with a discussion of the implications for conceptualizing community practice in African American communities, social work pedagogy, and future research.
Shedj-her-kek em Maa-aku-neferu
Authors: Wilson Khonsura A.
Published: June 2007

This article examines the findings of a shedj-her-kek analysis of select text in the corpus of DuBois's writings on creative matters. It defines shedj-her-kek — a heuristic concept derived and developed from kemetic lexicon and Dogon episteme—“as a multileveled reading and afrocentric analysis that illuminates and clarifies latent ideas and assumptions within both verbal text and nonverbal forms.” Using new Africological (Africana) terminology, this article situates DuBois as one of several major African creative—intellectuals (to borrow a term from Harold Cruse) to write on “the truly beautiful and morally effective” in the Africana intellectual tradition. It concludes that DuBois has made significant statements on creative matters that fall under several themes comprising his particular creative ideal and developing portrait of the creative—intellectual thought. Moreover, it finds that DuBois's creative ideal has practical implications and value as a point of theoretical departure and analysis of contemporary Africana creative production.
Inhaled Human [rDNA Origin] Insulin, a Novel Formulation for Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Pham David Q. , Cohen Henry , Chu Valery
Published: June 2007

Diabetic complications have been reduced significantly with the introduction of insulin more than 8 decades prior. Despite the proven benefits of normal glycemic levels, patients are deterred by the inconvenience and expect worse pain than there is on average with multiple daily insulin injections. Inhaled insulin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in early 2006 and is a novel product that introduces inhaled insulin as an alternate to the traditional subcutaneous delivery system, and hence could potentially improve patient compliance. The objective of this article is to review the clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of inhaled insulin.
Effect of the Treatment Period With Erythromycin on Cytochrome P450 3A Activity in Humans
Authors: Okudaira Toshiaki , Kotegawa Tsutomu , Imai Hiromitsu , Tsutsumi Kimiko , Nakano Shigeyuki , Ohashi Kyoichi
Published: June 2007

The aim of the present study was to estimate the time course change in cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) activity during repeated doses of erythromycin. Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this randomized, 4 × 4 Latin square design study. The pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of midazolam, a probe for CYP3A activity, were assessed in 4 conditions: (1) midazolam (5 mg) without erythromycin (EM0), (2) erythromycin 2 days + midazolam (2.5 mg) (EM2), (3) erythromycin 4 days + midazolam (2.5 mg) (EM4), and (4) erythromycin 7 days + midazolam (2.5 mg) (EM7). The dose of erythromycin was 800 mg/d. Erythromycin produced a 2.3‐, 3.4‐, and 3.4‐fold increase in dose‐corrected area under the curve of midazolam for EM2, EM4, and EM7, respectively, as compared with EM0 (P <.05/6). A significant prolongation of terminal half‐life was observed in EM4 and EM7. The relationship between the duration of erythromycin treatment and total clearance of midazolam indicated that a plateau level of CYP3A inhibition can be achieved by 4 days or more of erythromycin treatment. The repeated treatment with erythromycin yields CYP3A inhibition in a duration‐dependent manner. A 4‐day course of erythromycin treatment produces 90% or more of the maximal inhibition of CYP3A in humans.
Drugs Released for Clinical Use
Authors: de HAEN PAUL
Published: June 2007

This listing includes new single chemical entities and preparations, duplicate single products, and combination products that have been made available for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during the period from May 1 to June 30, 1976. This information is taken fron the manufacturer' package insert or brochure, which should be consulted for further details on indications, dosage, contraindications, and adverse reaction.
Motivated Prediction of Future Feelings: Effects of Negative Mood and Mood Orientation on Affective Forecasts
Authors: Buehler Roger , McFarland Cathy , Spyropoulos Vassili , Lam Kent C. H.
Published: June 2007

This article examines the role of motivational factors in affective forecasting. The primary hypothesis was that people predict positive emotional reactions to future events when they are motivated to enhance their current feelings. Three experiments manipulated participants' moods (negative vs. neutral) and orientation toward their moods (reflective vs. ruminative) and then assessed the positivity of their affective predictions for future events. As hypothesized, when participants adopted a reflective orientation, and thus should have been motivated to engage in mood-regulation processes, they predicted more positive feelings in the negative than in the neutral mood condition. This pattern of mood-incongruent affective prediction was not exhibited when participants adopted a ruminative orientation. Additionally, within the negative mood condition, generating affective forecasts had a more positive emotional impact on reflectors than on ruminators. The findings suggest that affective predictions are sometimes driven by mood-regulatory motives.
The Confluence Model: Birth Order as a Within-Family or Between-Family Dynamic?
Authors: Zajonc R. B. , Sulloway Frank J.
Published: June 2007

The confluence model explains birth-order differences in intellectual performance by quantifying the changing dynamics within the family. Wichman, Rodgers, and MacCallum (2006) claimed that these differences are a between-family phenomenon—and hence are not directly related to birth order itself. The study design and analyses presented by Wichman et al. nevertheless suffer from crucial shortcomings, including their use of unfocused tests, which cause statistically significant trends to be overlooked. In addition, Wichman et al. treated birth-order effects as a linear phenomenon thereby ignoring the confluence model's prediction that these two samples may manifest opposing results based on age. This article cites between- and within-family data that demonstrate systematic birth-order effects as predicted by the confluence model. The corpus of evidence invoked here offers strong support for the assumption of the confluence model that birth-order differences in intellectual performance are primarily a within-family phenomenon.
Contextual Influences on Interpersonal Complementarity
Authors: Moskowitz D.S. , Ho Moon-ho Ringo , Turcotte-Tremblay Anne-Marie
Published: June 2007

The influence of context on interpersonal complementarity was examined using an event-contingent recording procedure. Setting and role status moderated the relation between how a person behaved and how the other person behaved. Individuals were more likely to respond with agreeable behavior to agreeableness in others when not at work than when at work and when in a high status work role relative to a low status work role. Reciprocity between dominance and submissiveness was found in work settings but not in nonwork settings. Individuals were more likely to reciprocate more submissive behavior by the other person with more dominant behavior and more likely to reciprocate more dominant behavior by the other person with relatively more submissive behavior when in a higher status work role relative to lower status work roles. Results were interpreted in terms of the influence of decreased structure and shared goals on increasing interpersonal complementarity.
Pain Management Decision Making Among Long-Term Care Physicians and Nurses
Authors: Kaasalainen Sharon , Coker Esther , Dolovich Lisa , Papaioannou Alexandra , Hadjistavropoulos Thomas , Emili Anna , Ploeg Jenny
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this study is to explore attitudes and beliefs that affect decisions about prescribing and administering pain medications in older adults who live in long-term care (LTC), with a particular emphasis on those with cognitive impairment. At each of the four participating LTC facilities, data were gathered from three separate groups of health care professionals: physicians, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses. Based on grounded theory, a model was developed that highlighted critical decision points for nurses and physicians regarding pain management. The major themes that emerged from the data concerned pain assessment (lack of recognition of pain, uncertainty about the accuracy of pain assessment and diagnosis) and treatment (reluctance to use opioids, working to individualize pain treatments, issues relating to physician trust of the nurse on prescribing patterns). These findings may facilitate the development of innovative approaches to pain management in LTC settings.
Postpartum Functioning in Mothers With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Gulick Elsie E.
Published: June 2007

Increased family demands during the postpartum period together with having to cope with symptoms and curtailed everyday functioning associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest the need for additional support for mothers with MS throughout the first postpartum year. This study investigated factors (MS duration, MS relapse, symptoms, social support) that affect functional performance of 172 mothers with MS during the second 6-month postpartum period. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and path analysis. Findings indicated a good fit of the path models to the data at 9 and 12 months. Significant effects at both 9 and 12 months included positive relationships between duration of MS and symptoms and between social support and functional performance. Significant negative relationships were observed between symptoms and both social support and functional performance. Social support mediated the relationship between symptoms and functional performance. Findings suggest the importance of continued social support throughout the first postpartum year.
Symptom Assessment of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Jablonski Anita , Gift Audrey , Cook Kathleen E.
Published: June 2007

The primary purpose of this secondary data analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and suitability of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) for use with patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Symptoms experienced by patients with severe COPD were assessed in the original investigation using the 32-item MSAS. The sample consisted of 72 individuals with COPD ranging in age from 36 to 79 years. To increase its efficiency for use with severely ill COPD patients, the original MSAS was shortened to include the 19 most frequently reported symptoms. Reliability of the revised tool remained high (Cronbach's alpha = .86). Content and convergent validity of the revised tool were also established. The revised MSAS appears to be an appropriate measure of the multidimensional, multisymptom experience of patients with severe COPD.
Clinical Constructions by Nurses in Korea, Norway, and the United States
Authors: Kim Hesook Suzie , Ellefsen Bodil , Kyung Ja Han  , Alves Steve L.
Published: June 2007

Nursing practice involves engagement of nurses in clinical fields through deliberation and enactment. In the phase of deliberation, nurses observe, recognize, form ideas about and decide on clinical situations, and construct clinical pictures. Clinical pictures are critically connected to nursing enactments, thus it is important to discover how nurses arrive at clinical pictures. The purpose of this article is to describe how nurses construct meanings of clinical situations and arrive at specific clinical pictures. The results are from a clinical fieldwork study replicated in Korea, Norway, and the United States, with samples of nurses working in acute-care hospitals. Data were collected through participant observations and in-depth interviews. A general model of clinical construction was derived from the results, which specifies four dimensions (i.e., problem, progress, status, and particularism) as the bases for clinical picture evocations. Clinical pictures are constituted by nurses' elicitations of meanings of clinical situations on these dimensions.
Parent Communication and Sexual Risk Among African Americans
Authors: Hutchinson M. Katherine , Montgomery Arlene J.
Published: June 2007

African American adolescents and young adults disproportionately experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy. Despite the diversity of the African American population, many studies of sexual risk are limited to inner-city and clinic samples. The purpose was to examine the influence of parent—teen sexual risk communication on the sexual risk attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of 488 African American college students from a historically Black university and document the psychometric properties of the Parent—Teen Sexual Risk Communication Scale (PTSRC-III) when used with this population. The PTSRC-III demonstrated excellent internal reliability and construct validity across all four parent—teen communication dyad categories (e.g., mother—son, mother—daughter, father—son, father—daughter). PTSRC was associated with students' reports of more conservative sexual attitudes and beliefs and greater perceived ease of sexual communication with partners. PTSRC with mothers was also associated with fewer sexual risk behaviors and pregnancies among the female students.
Mexican Immigrant Mothers' Expectations for Children's Health Services
Authors: Clark Lauren , Redman Richard W.
Published: June 2007

Women of Mexican descent living in the United States raise children who use health care services. What do immigrant Mexican mothers expect from children's health care services? And how do their expectations for children's health services compare to acculturated Mexican American mothers' expectations? This focused ethnographic study, based on repeated interviews with 28 mothers of varying acculturation levels, describes their expectations and experiences with children's health care services in the United States. Findings support a shared core of expectations for both Mexican immigrant and Mexican American mothers, and differences in health care access and financing, time spent in health care encounters, and cultural and linguistic expectations for care. Health care providers can use this information to approach Mexican-descent mothers and children with their expectations in mind, and craft a negotiated plan of care congruent with their expectations.
Effects of Support on the Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding
Authors: Gill Sara L. , Reifsnider Elizabeth , Lucke Joseph F.
Published: June 2007

Researchers attempted to increase the initiation of breastfeeding and its duration to 6 months among a group of low-income, Hispanic women through an intervention program which included prenatal education and home based postpartum support. All participants were telephoned after delivery to determine infant feeding method. Duration of breastfeeding was determined by counting the number of days from initiation to the last day the baby was put to the breast. The Bayesian approach was used for the statistical analyses. In the intervention group, the propensity to initiate breastfeeding exceeded that of the control group. Results indicate the intervention group had twice (2.31) the odds of starting breastfeeding, twice (1.84-3.15) the odds of continuing to breastfeed for 6 months, and only half (.50-.54) the tendency to quit at any one time than did the control group.
Impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act on Participant Recruitment and Retention
Authors: Wipke-Tevis Deidre D. , Pickett Melissa A.
Published: June 2007

Recruiting and retaining an adequate sample is critical to the success of any research project involving humans. Recent reports indicate that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule has adversely affected research. Few resources are available to help researchers navigate the challenges to recruitment and retention after HIPAA privacy rule implementation. This article addresses obstacles to recruitment in prospective clinical research studies related to the HIPAA privacy rule, as well as HIPAA-compliant strategies to enhance recruitment and retention. Recruitment challenges discussed include evolving interpretations of the HIPAA regulations, inability to directly contact potential participants, complexity of HIPAA-required documents, increased costs of recruitment, and an expanding administrative burden. Among the strategies addressed are preparatory research reviews, using clinical collaborators and staff liaisons, prescreening potential participants, minimizing participant burden during the consent process, enhancing participant follow-up, facilitating recruitment for future studies, and streamlining compliance training for staff.
Which measurement scales should we use to measure breathlessness in palliative care? A systematic review
Authors: Dorman Saskie , Byrne Anthony , Edwards Adrian
Published: June 2007

Introduction: There is no universally accepted measurement scale to assess breathlessness in adult palliative care patients. This significantly hampers clinical practice and research into effective interventions. The aim is to systematically identify and appraise breathlessness measurement scales, which are validated for use in palliative care or which show potential for use. Methods: We undertook systematic searches of electronic databases (Cochrane databases 2005, MEDLINE 1966-2005, OLDMEDLINE 1950-1965, EMBASE 1980-2005, PsycINFO 1872-2005, AMED 1985-2005, CINAHL 1982-2005, SIGLE 1980-2005) with follow-up searches (reference lists of included papers, hand-searches of relevant journals). The basic search strategy was 'breathlessness (etc.) AND measurement (scales, validation etc.) AND palliative care/cardiac failure/respiratory disease/ neoplasm etc.', modified for each database, without language restriction. Patient-based scales with evaluations of at least two psychometric characteristics were included. Exercise-based tests were excluded. Scales were appraised with particular emphasis on construct validity and responsiveness. Results: We identified 29 scales: six to measure breathlessness severity, four to assess breathlessness descriptions, and 19 to measure functional impact of breathlessness. Severity: The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and modified Borg Scale have been evaluated in COPD (the NRS has also been evaluated in cancer). Both require further assessment of responsiveness and test-retest reliability over time intervals relevant to palliative care. Visual Analogue Scales have also been evaluated, but require larger sample sizes than NRS for evidence of intervention effectiveness. Descriptions: The Japanese Cancer Dyspnoea Scale (CDS) has been evaluated in patients with cancer, but requires further assessment of construct validity and responsiveness. Functional impact: The Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire dyspnoea subscale (CRQ-D) has been evaluated in chronic lung diseases and heart failure; the MND Respiratory Scale is similar. CRQ-D has face and construct validity, test-retest reliability and responsiveness, and shows promise for palliative care. Conclusion: The NRS, modified Borg, CRQ-D and CDS appear most suitable for use in palliative care, but further evaluation is required before adopting any scale as standard. This review has been registered with the Cochrane collaboration and will be published and updated as a Cochrane review. Palliative Medicine 2007; 21: 177-191
Novel Electrohydrodynamic Printing of Nanocomposite Biopolymer Scaffolds
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Seifalian Alexander M. , Ahmad Zeeshan , Edirisinghe Mohan J. , Winslet Marc C.
Published: June 2007

In this paper, we uncover a new method for the preparation of biopolymer scaffolds and demonstrate its potential for the development of organs with the aid of tissue engineering. Two novel nanocomposite polymers, a nonbiodegradable polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly (carbonate-urea)urethane and a biodegradable polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-polycaprolactone-poly(carbonate-urea)urethane, have been subjected to flow in an electric field. Electrically forced microthreading of the polymers occurs and a three-dimensional print-patterning device was used to deposit fine (<50 µm) threads of polymer according to a predesigned architecture to prepare scaffolds. The technique can offer tremendous potential in the development of organs.
In Vivo Behavior of Poly(∈-Caprolactone-co-DL-Lactide)/Bioactive Glass Composites in Rat Subcutaneous Tissue
Authors: Ranne T. , Tirri T. , Yli-Urpo A. , Närhi T.O. , Laine V.J.O. , Rich J. , Seppälä J. , Aho A.
Published: June 2007

In this study, tissue reactions and possible toxicological responses of two different bioactive and degradable composite materials consisting of poly( ∈-caprolactone-co-DL-lactide) and bioactive glass (S53P4) granules were evaluated. The chosen materials were implanted subcutaneously in the back of rats for six months. The glass granules retained their bioactivity within the polymer matrices. A fibrous capsule formed around all tested materials and around the materials containing bioactive glass the fibrous capsules appeared to be thicker. Tissue growth into these materials was observed during the healing period while no growth was noticed into the plain polymer matrices. No adverse reactions were seen with any of the evaluated materials.
A New Polyurethane/Heparin Vascular Graft for Small-Caliber Vein Repair
Authors: Yan Yngnian , Hong Wang Xiao , Yin Dezheng , Zhang Renji
Published: June 2007

Small-caliber (1.2 mm inner diameter) vein grafts, made from a mixture of heparin and polyurethane with superior compliance, excellent antithrombogenicity and biocompatibility, have been developed. Eighteen rabbits were used; 12 for the heparin containing grafts and the other six were pure polyurethane grafts as controls. Each graft segment (2 cm in length) was implanted into the femoral veins using a newly developed anastomosis method. Sodium heparin was given before surgery, but no anticoagulant was used thereafter. All the rabbits lived during the whole experimental period of 1 year. Histological analyses of vessels retrieved 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after implantation revealed regeneration of endothelial-like cells (in 2 weeks), elastin-like tissues (in 8 weeks), and neoadventitia-like layers (in 12 weeks). The patency rate for the heparin containing grafts was 100%, but was only 83.3% in the no heparin controls. These results indicate that “ideal” small diameter blood vessels can be synthesized and used directly without cellularization before implantation. By the properly selecting scaffold materials, a native vein can repair itself spontaneously to certain degree.
Variations in Pain, Sleep, and Activity During Hospitalization in Children With Cancer
Authors: Jacob Eufemia , Hesselgrave Joy , Sambuco Gennaro , Hockenberry Marilyn
Published: June 2007

This study examines the pain experiences of children with cancer during hospitalization. A descriptive design with repeated measures was used to describe the location, intensity, and quality of pain, pain medications, amount of pain relief, and perceptions of sleep and activity during hospitalization. Data were collected once daily from the day of admission for up to a maximum of 5 consecutive days during hospitalization. Results show that more than half of the patients (27 of 49 patients) indicated they were having pain. Eleven patients (22.4%) had mild pain (mean = 2.3 ± 0.9 SD; range, 0.3-3.6), 10 (20.4%) had moderate pain (mean = 5.3 ± 0.2 SD; range, 5.0-5.5), and 6 (12.2%) had severe pain (mean = 7.6 ± 1.3 SD; range, 6.5-10.0). The highest pain intensity ratings occurred on day 1. Overall, most patients reported good relief after pain medications during hospitalization. Consistent assessment and implementation of pain interventions within the 24 hours of admission is recommended, with particular attention to persistent pain after painful procedures.
Cultural Influence on Family Management of Children With Cancer
Authors: Thibodeaux Annaka Gustafson , Deatrick Janet A.
Published: June 2007

A family's cultural context directly influences how they define and manage their child's cancer. Knowing this dynamic can guide nurses in delivering holistic, culturally competent care. This literature review examines the international and domestic pediatric oncology research as it relates to the inclusion of family and cultural variables. Most international studies and comparative studies have investigated Asian cultures and found that health beliefs, communication beliefs, religious practice, and family structure are common themes of cultural influences on families. Additional studies within the United States are needed to explore cultural beliefs through carefully tailored family assessments. Implications for practice include the possibility of providing evidence-based culturally competent care to families of children with cancer.
Language simulations: The blending space for writing and critical thinking
Authors: Kovalik Doina L. , Kovalik Ludovic M.
Published: June 2007

This article describes a language simulation involving six distinct phases: an in-class quick response, a card game, individual research, a classroom debate, a debriefing session, and an argumentative essay. An analysis of student artifacts—quick-response writings and final essays, respectively, both addressing the definition of liberty in a liberty-granting society—indicates a considerable betterment of the quality of the evidence supporting the writer's stance and/or the clarity of expression of that stance. Based on those findings, the article argues that language simulation is beneficial to students, in that it enhances their skills as critical thinkers and writers.
Conference simulation in an English composition course
Authors: Nash Gail
Published: June 2007

This article discusses the use of a conference format in teaching a required English composition course. The focus of the course is student research and presentation; thus, simulating a conference was a natural fit for the course's overall goals. Students worked in one of four committees: the Call for Proposals Committee, the Proposal Evaluation Committee, the Program Committee, and the Conference Facilitation Committee. The students chaired or cochaired one of these committees. Although none of the students had presented at a conference or submitted a proposal for presentation, they quickly grasped the professionalism associated with these tasks. Debriefing revealed overwhelming support for the simulated conference approach to teaching research and presentation skills.
Debriefing can reduce misperceptions of feedback: The case of renewable resource management
Authors: Qudrat-Ullah Hassan
Published: June 2007

According to the hypothesis of misperception of feedback, people's poor performance in renewable resource management tasks can be attributed to their general tendency to systematically misperceive the dynamics of bioeconomic systems. The thesis of this article is that dynamic decision performance can be improved by helping individuals develop more accurate mental models of renewable resource systems through training using computer simulation-based interactive learning environments (CSBILEs) that include debriefing. A laboratory experiment is reported in which participants managed a dynamic task by playing the roles of fishing fleet managers. One group of participants used a CSBILE with debriefing, and another group used the same CSBILE but without debriefing. A comprehensive model consisting of four evaluation criteria was developed and used. The evaluation criteria were task performance, structural knowledge, heuristics, and decision time. It was found that debriefing was effective on all four criteria: Debriefing improved task performance, helped users learn more about the decision domain and develop heuristics, and reduced decision time in dynamic decision making.
Role-playing games for capacity building in water and land management: Some Brazilian experiences
Authors: Camargo Maria Eugênia , Roberto Jacobi Pedro , Ducrot Raphaèle
Published: June 2007

Role-playing games in natural resource management are currently being tested as research, training, and intervention tools all over the world. Various studies point out their potential to deal with complex issues and to contribute to training processes. The objective of this contribution is to analyze the limits and potentialities of this tool for capacity building in environmental management of stakeholders with low educational levels by comparing various Brazilian experiences. Five games that were developed and used to train local stakeholders or state technicians about specific aspects of new and di ficult to understand legislation are compared. The comparison of these experiences is based on (a) an analysis of the materials (game support) provided by the developers, (b) interviews with authors and game developers, and (c) participation in game sessions whenever possible.
Who wants to terminate the game? The role of vested interests and metaplayers in the ATOLLGAME experience
Authors: Dray Anne , Perez Pascal , Le Page Christophe , D'Aquino Patrick , White Ian
Published: June 2007

Low coral islands are heavily dependent on groundwater for freshwater supplies. The declaration by the government of Kiribati of water reserves over privately owned land has led to conflicts, illegal settlements, and vandalism. Also, the water consumption tends to increase toward Western-like standards, and human pollution has already contaminated most freshwater lenses. This project aims to provide relevant information to local stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and devise sustainable water management practices. A computer-assisted role-playing game is implemented to fulfill this aim. The following three-stage methodology is applied: collecting local and expert knowledge, blending the di ferent viewpoints into a game-based model, and playing the game with the di ferent stakeholders to explore di ferent scenarios. Although game sessions delivered successful outcomes, the final stage of the project is characterized by the upheaval of contradictory government stands that undermine the whole process. It is argued that heterogeneous viewpoints may be handled in a satisfactory manner during the gaming sessions but that long-term hidden agendas may override the outcomes. Beyond the inherent question of legitimacy attached to such approaches, some players clearly must deal with constraints that are often genuinely considered external to the ongoing negotiation process.
Functional design of games to support natural resource management policy development
Authors: Bots Pieter , van Daalen Els
Published: June 2007

This article works toward a conceptual framework for designing games to support policy development for managing natural resources. The point of departure for this framework is a typology for functions of games in support of policy. This typology consists of six classes of functions of a policy game: research and analyze policy contexts as systems, design and recommend alternative solutions to a policy problem, provide advice to a client on what strategy to follow in the policy process, mediate between di ferent stakeholders, democratize policy development by actively bringing in stakeholder views, and clarify the values and arguments pertinent to the policy discourse. These functions are illustrated using specific examples of games that have been used in the domain of natural resource management (NRM). The framework discussed in this article may help game designers to match specific game properties (players, roles, rewards, and representations of the NRM context) with the intended function of the game in the policy-development process.
The Teaching of Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work Higher Education—Living by the Charlie Parker Dictum: A Response to Papers by Shlonsky and Stern, and Soydan
Authors: Springer David W.
Published: June 2007

This article, as a response to two papers, identifies five critical issues and themes related to the teaching of evidence-based practice (EBP) in social work higher education. These five themes are: defining EBP; modeling the complexity of EBP in teaching; examining social work curriculum; coordinating social work professional organizations; and shifting the culture in social work. In response to these themes, one key recommendation is that a Task Force on the Teaching of Evidence-Based Practice be formed as a way to continue the momentum gained through the Symposium on the Teaching of Evidence-Based Practice.
Completion of Advance Directives: Do Social Work Preadmission Interviews Make a Difference?
Authors: Johnson Yvonne M. , Stadel Vivian L.
Published: June 2007

Objectives: This study tests the efficacy of a preadmission, educational interview on advance directives, in this case, health care proxies (HCPs) offered to elective, orthopedic patients. Method: Using a quasi-experimental design, participants (n = 54) are assigned to either treatment group (who received the educational interview, conducted by a social worker, over and above the federally mandated written information on HCPs) or comparison group (who received the written information only). Results: Logistic regression analysis indicates there is a statistically significantly higher probability that a patient would sign an HCP if assigned to the treatment group than if assigned to the comparison condition. Conclusion: Benefits of educating patients about HCPs as part of routine social work practice are outlined.