bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Reliability and Validity of a Korean-Translated Version of the Gifted Rating Scales
Authors: Lee Donghyuck , Pfeiffer Steven I.
Published: August 2006

This study examined the reliability and validity of a Korean-translated version of the Gifted Rating Scales–School Form (GRS-S) and explored the effect of gender, rater, and grade. Data were collected from elementary schools in a metropolitan area and a midsize town in South Korea. In all, 49 elementary school teachers and 272 parents participated in the study; 257 students were independently rated on the GRS-S by teachers and parents. Results indicate high reliability for both teacher and parent ratings and substantial correlations with students' school performance. Results reveal no effect of rater or grade on any of the scales and small but significant differences in favor of females on four of the six GRS-S scales rated by teachers and five of the six scales rated by parents. The study provides preliminary support for a translated version of the GRS-S with elementary students in Korea.
Cross-Validation and Rasch Analyses of the Australian Version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised
Authors: Boman Peter , Curtis David , Furlong Michael J. , Smith Douglas C.
Published: August 2006

The construct validity of the Australian version of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory–Revised (MSAI-R) was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Rasch analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a sample of 1,400 Australian students enrolled in Years 8 through 12. The EFA revealed a strong replication of the MSAI-R's internal consistency and structure with the original four MSAI-R factors identified: Anger Experience, Hostility, Destructive Expression, and Positive Coping. However, the Rasch analysis revealed that some additional items could be added to the destructive anger expression and positive coping subscales to enhance their reliability. A CFA was also conducted to compare the four-factor and a one-factor model. The results indicated a good model fit for the four-factor solution apart from one index. It is concluded that the results lend further support to the MSAI-R's construct validity and support its use as a general survey and evaluation research instrument.
Reliability and Validity of a Spanish Version of the Social Skills Rating System–Teacher Form
Authors: Jurado Michelle , Cumba-Avilés Eduardo , Collazo Luis C. , Matos Maribel
Published: August 2006

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Social Skills Scale of the Social Skills Rating System–Teacher Form (SSRS-T) with a sample of children attending elementary schools in Puerto Rico ( N = 357). The SSRS-T was developed for use with English-speaking children. Although translated, adapted, and administered in Spanish, little was known about its psychometric properties. The authors evaluated the applicability of the Spanish SSRS-T by examining specifically its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, parent-teacher cross-informant correlations, and construct validity. Findings suggest that the Spanish SSRS-T is a valid and reliable instrument and support its potential utility in the early identification of social difficulties that may hinder the social, emotional, and academic adjustment of Latino children.
The Psychology of Residential Developers
Authors: Mohamed Rayman
Published: August 2006

Researchers have repeatedly observed satisficing by residential developers. The phenomenon has been attributed to their bounded rationality. In response, policy makers have designed policies that reduce risks to assist developers in overcoming bounds on their rationality. However, after decades of such policies, there is little evidence that developers have stopped satisficing. This article argues that bounded rationality is an insufficient explanation for satisficing by small developers. Lessons from behavioral economics suggest additional reasons for satisficing by developers. Satisficing is common because developers bracket projects one at a time, bracket each investment decision in isolation of others, create nonfungible investment accounts, establish self-imposed liquidity constraints, and temporally space projects. Policies that group risks to developers are likely to be the most effective. However, additional land-market-specific research is required to design policies that address these psychological traits. Academicians also need to design better survey instruments to investigate developer decision making.
Compact, Diffuse, or Would-be Discipline?
Authors: Goldstein Harvey A. , Carmin JoAnn
Published: August 2006

Some scholars maintain that academic planning has strayed from its technical and professional roots by becoming more aligned with the social sciences. Others suggest that the discipline has failed to develop a cogent identity. The authors evaluate these assertions by studying articles published in the Journal of the American Planning Association between 1963 and 2002. The authors' analysis confirms that academic planning has become more scientific with respect to intellectual contributions. However, it also indicates that the discipline is becoming more, rather than less, cohesive in terms of goals, methods, and standards for evaluation. These patterns suggest that planning is developing a distinct identity as it transforms from a “would-be” to a “diffuse” discipline.
Does Neighborhood Really Matter?
Authors: Bates Lisa K.
Published: August 2006

Theory suggests that it is important to consider the housing-market response to policy in terms of adjustments among housing submarkets. Defining areas as housing submarkets may be better for choosing, analyzing, and predicting the effects of revitalization policies than defining them as historically recognized neighborhoods if these neighborhoods do not reflect consumer behavior. The first key step in the submarket approach is to ascertain whether current definitions of neighborhoods adequately represent submarkets defined by consumer assessments of housing quality. This article uses the neighborhood planning of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to illustrate how quality-leveldefined housing submarkets compare to planners' administrative boundaries and historically recognized neighborhoods. The housing submarkets of the city diverge substantially from planner-defined geographic areas of analysis. This finding suggests that predefined neighborhoods, while valid for some purposes, do not define areas for predicting the housing-market response to policy.
Sustainable Urban Forms
Authors: Jabareen Yosef Rafeq
Published: August 2006

This article identifies sustainable urban forms and their design concepts. In addition, it addresses the question of whether certain urban forms contribute more than others to sustainability. A thematic analysis has been used to coop with the vast body of sustainable development and environmental planning literature. The analysis identifies seven design concepts related to sustainable urban forms: compactness, sustainable transport, density, mixed land uses, diversity, passive solar design, and greening. Moreover, it identifies four types of sustainable urban forms: the neotraditional development, the urban containment, the compact city, and the eco-city. Finally, this article proposes a Matrix of Sustainable Urban Form to help planners in assessing the contribution of different urban forms to sustainability.
Land Use Law in Planning
Authors: Anthony Jerry , Forkenbrock David J.
Published: August 2006

The environment in which land use is regulated is changing, and thus the skills that planning graduates need are likely to be changing as well. In this article, the authors present the results of a survey of 386 local planning agencies regarding the knowledge and skills pertaining to land use law they expect in entry-level land use planners. The authors also report on a parallel survey of 27 planning educators who teach land use law regarding the knowledge and skills their students possess as they enter the job market. The authors conclude that planning educators generally are providing the essential knowledge and skills relevant to land use planning and law that agencies desire. Also, the authors have found that the expectations of planning agencies often vary substantially by region of the United States, size of community, and the local rate of population growth.
Moving the Middle Ahead
Authors: Conroy Maria Manta
Published: August 2006

Sustainable development came onto the American planning scene with a flourish in the 1990s. It was hailed as the new planning paradigm, and cases began appearing in the literature that highlighted communities making progress toward sustainability. Noticeably absent from the literature, however, has been an examination of whether the concept is resonating across the rest of the country, and if so, how. This study attempts to address that deficiency through a survey of planning directors across municipalities and counties in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Findings of the study indicate that a general familiarity with the concept of sustainable development exists but that it has not been accepted as a new or different standard for planning practice.
Purpose and Collegiality in Planning Education
Authors: Hambleton Robin
Published: August 2006

This article considers the interplay between purpose, collegiality, and performance in planning education. A global transformation of higher education is now underway and this poses new challenges for all academics. This article adopts an international perspective and locates current U.S. debates about performance measurement of planning schools in a broader context. A critique of the highly centralized approach to research performance measurement in higher education in the United Kingdom— known as the Research Assessment Exercise— is followed by a discussion of the trajectory of the values that have under pinned U.S. higher education. The very nature of “scholarship” is now highly contested and this creates new challenges for all faculty, including planning academics. By drawing on a case study, the article suggests that an inclusive approach to strategic planning at the college level may provide a helpful way of building unity of purpose and collegiality in a period when universities are being forced to rethink their role.
Do Master’s in Social Work Programs Teach Empirically Supported Interventions? A Survey of Deans and Directors
Authors: Woody Jane D. , D’Souza Henry J. , Dartman Rebecca
Published: August 2006

Objective: A questionnaire to examine efforts toward the teaching of empirically supported interventions (ESI) was mailed to the 165 deans and directors of Council on Social Work Education-accredited Master’s in social work (MSW) programs; 66 (40%) responded. Method: Questions included program characteristics and items assessing both faculty and official program positions on ESI, which were summed to provide scores as an index of commitment to ESI. Results: Informal faculty commitment to teaching ESI was significantly higher than official program commitment, and offering more clinical practice courses was associated with greater program commitment. Factor analysis extracted two components from program emphasis on theoretical models in the overall practice curriculum: (a) experiential and (b) behavioral/systems; correlation of factor scores for these two components, as yielded from regression, with commitment scores, showed that the behavioral/systems component was significantly associated with greater faculty and program commitment. Conclusion: Study limitations are discussed and recommendations address how the findings apply to social work educators and innovations for promoting empirical practice in the MSW curriculum.
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Cultural Receptivity in Fostering Scale
Authors: Coakley Tanya M. , Orme John G.
Published: August 2006

Objective: The psychometric properties of a new measure of foster parents’ openness toward participating in activities that promote children’s cultural development are evaluated. The measure is titled the Cultural Receptivity in Fostering Scale (CRFS). Method: Data from 304 foster mothers who completed the CRFS and a battery of measures on psychosocial functioning are analyzed. Results: The CRFS demonstrates excellent internal consistency reliability and, to some extent, construct validity. Conclusions: The internal consistency reliability and, to some extent, validity of the CRFS is supported by these findings. The measure has potential use in facilitating socially appropriate and successful transcultural placements.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Participatory Empowerment Group for Chinese Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Lou Vivian W. Q. , Zhang Yiqi
Published: August 2006

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Participatory Empowerment Group (PEG) for Chinese type 2 diabetes patients in Shanghai. Method: A randomized waiting list control and pretest and posttest comparisons were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention by comparing blood sugar level and health-related quality of life. Results: Before the intervention, scores on both blood sugar and quality of life did not differ significantly between the experimental and control groups. After the intervention, participants in the experimental group scored higher on quality of life and lower on blood sugar level compared to the control group. Conclusions: The PEG was effective in enhancing the quality of life of Chinese type 2 diabetes patients.
The Role of Specialty Mental Health Care in Predicting Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Out-of-Home Placements
Authors: Glisson Charles , Green Philip
Published: August 2006

Objective: This longitudinal, prospective study examines the role of specialty mental health care as provided by community-based, usual-care practice settings in predicting out-of-home placements among children served by a child welfare and juvenile justice system. Method: The mental health needs of 1,249 children from 22 counties in Tennessee were assessed when the children were referred for child welfare and juvenile justice, in-home, case management services. The outpatient specialty mental health care received by the children in the 6-month period following the referral was recorded using the Service Assessment for Children and Adolescents and reimbursement records of TennCare. Children were then followed for 1.5 years to identify those who were subsequently placed in out-of-home care. Results: A majority of the children needed specialty mental health care, but most of these children did not receive it. This is important because their need was the best predictor of subsequent out-of-home placement. The odds of an out-of-home placement in the follow-up period were reduced by 36% to 40% for those children who received specialty mental health care. Conclusions: Improved systematic screening for mental health problems and access to specialty mental health care for children referred for in-home child welfare and juvenile justice case management services are promising strategies for reducing out-of-home placements.
The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Depression: The Role of Problem-Solving Appraisal
Authors: Chen Szu-Yu , Jordan Catheleen , Thompson Sanna
Published: August 2006

Objective: Many studies have confirmed the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for depression. However, the mechanism of CBT for depression reduction is still not well understood. This study explored the mechanism of CBT from the perspective of individuals’ problem-solving appraisal. Method: A one-group pretestposttest design was used. Results were based on the responses of 30 depressed individuals in an intensive outpatient program. Results: Findings supported the research hypothesis that the more individuals improved their problem-solving appraisal, the more their depression decreased. Additionally, it was discovered that the poorer individuals’ problem-solving appraisal before the CBT, the more improvement they had on depression and problem solving appraisal after the CBT. Conclusions: In sum, findings suggested that problem-solving appraisal might play an important part in CBT for depression reduction. Furthermore, CBT seemed to have a ceiling effect on improving individuals’ problem-solving appraisal.
Dependent Youth in Juvenile Justice: Do Positive Peer Culture Programs Work for Victims of Child Maltreatment?
Authors: Ryan Joseph P.
Published: August 2006

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the individual and group-level factors associated with recidivism for children in a long-term Positive Peer Culture (PPC) program. The current study focuses specific attention on the role of child maltreatment in understanding the risk of recidivism. It is widely accepted that victims of child abuse and neglect are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior as compared with their nonmaltreated counterparts. Yet little is known about dependent youth in the juvenile justice system. The maltreatment-delinquency literature focuses almost exclusively on the initial risk of juvenile or adult offending. Moreover, the comparison groups are always children in the general population rather than children in the juvenile justice system. Method: The sample includes 286 adjudicated delinquent offenders. Hierarchical nonlinear modeling is used to partition effects at the individual and group levels. Results: Overall, 117 (41%) of the sample was arrested. Youth with a history of physical abuse and neglect were more likely to have a subsequent arrest (50% vs. 37%). Conclusion: PPC programs may not be the most effective strategy for dependent youth in the juvenile justice system.
Using Knowledge in Management Studies
Authors: Golden-Biddle Karen , Locke Karen , Reay Trish
Published: August 2006

We know little about the impact of prior scholarly work. Focusing on citation frequency, studies have overlooked the question of how prior work is used. The authors argue for the development of a richer empirical foundation on which to base discussions of impact; its creation requires a situated and relational methodological approach incorporating an assumption of citation heterogeneity and comparative analyses of citation content in context with that of the referenced focal article. Conceiving focal articles as architectures of knowledge claims, the authors examine how knowledge from three award-winning articles is subsequently used during a 6-year period in 489 citations. Analyses generate a typology of prior knowledge use in citing and also disclose differences in prior knowledge use in each focal article. This situated and relational examination provides a more nuanced understanding of how prior work shapes ongoing knowledge development.
Albert and Whetten Revisited: Strengthening the Concept of Organizational Identity
Authors: Whetten David A.
Published: August 2006

The objective of this article is to formulate the concept of organizational identity in such a way that it can be distinguished analytically from related concepts, such as organizational culture and image, and can be used operationally to identify bona fide organizational identity claims referents and associated identity-referencing discourse. The proposal amounts to a stronger version of Albert and Whetten (1985), in that the implicit links between the elements of their composite, tripartite, formulation are made explicit and their treatment of organizational identity as a defined construct is emphasized. Although the proposal eschews conceptions of organizational identity formulated from the perspective of individuals, it treats organizational identity as an analogue of individual identity, drawing attention to the parallel functions identity plays for both individual and collective social actors, as well as the parallel distinguishing structural features of individual and organizational identity referents. The principle recommendation is to conduct the study of member-agents' answers to the question, “Who are we as an organization?” within the parameters of a defined identity-claim conceptual domain (what) and associated phenomenological markers of identity-referencing discourse (how, when, why).
Organizing for Mindfulness
Authors: Weick Karl E. , Putnam Ted
Published: August 2006

An enriched view of mindfulness, jointly informed by Eastern and Western thinking, suggests that attentional processes in organizing have been underspecified. Respecification of attention in the context of classical views of mindfulness results in a perspective that features diminished dependence on concepts, increased focus on sources of distraction, and greater reliance on acts with meditative properties. Enriched mindfulness reveals the reality of impermanence and the necessity for continuous organizing to produce wise action.
International Competition in the Academia
Authors: Marafioti Elisabetta , Perretti Fabrizio
Published: August 2006

During the past 30 years, the European management scholars' community, traditionally characterized only by national association, has witnessed the birth of two European associations: the European Group for Organizational Studies and, later on, the European Academy of Management. There is a wide ongoing interest on how these two actors are playing the game of international academia, traditionally represented by the Academy of Management. Analyzing the evolution of the international network of scholars we focus on European Academy of Management and we argue that to increase its reputation within the academia there are two choices: a generalist and a specialist approach. We discuss the risk and opportunities of the two alternatives.
The European Challenger
Authors: Ricart Joan E.
Published: August 2006

In a densely filled space of professional associations EURAM emerged as a new European Challenger. Professors Marafioti and Perretti claim in their article that EURAM is at a crossroads and must decide to be either a generalist or a specialist association. They also claim that in both cases EURAM will face powerful competitors. However, in this brief article I would like to claim that EURAM has successfully chosen a third way, a more difficult but challenging way that emerged from European diversity. The current strategy of EURAM has been developed by many different contributions without centralized planning, giving EURAM a very distinctive and unique position.
Off-the-Ice Action in the National Hockey League
Authors: Devine Kay , Foster William M.
Published: August 2006

Professional sports teams have become big business in North America, but sport management has received little academic attention. This interview with Scott Howson, the assistant general manager of the National Hockey League Edmonton Oilers, reveals what it is like to be a manager in professional sports. It explores strategy, human resources decision making, and innovation from the perspective of a manager.
Disability, Psychosocial, and Demographic Characteristics of Abused Women With Physical Disabilities
Authors: Nosek Margaret A. , Hughes Rosemary B. , Taylor Heather B. , Taylor Patrick
Published: August 2006

In a sample of 415 predominantly minority women with physical disabilities recruited from private and public specialty outpatient clinics, we examined experiences of physical, sexual, and disability-related abuse within the past year and its associations with demographic, disability, and psychosocial characteristics. Logistic regression analyses identified 27% of the variance and indicated that women with disabilities who were younger, more educated, less mobile, more socially isolated, and who had higher levels of depression may have a higher likelihood of having experienced abuse in the past year. This model correctly identified 84% of the abused women with disabilities. Questions of directionality, the role of disability, and validity testing are discussed.
Physical and Sexual Assault of Women With Disabilities
Authors: Martin Sandra L. , Ray Neepa , Sotres-Alvarez Daniela , Kupper Lawrence L. , Moracco Kathryn E. , Dickens Pamela A. , Scandlin Donna , Gizlice Ziya
Published: August 2006

North Carolina women were surveyed to examine whether women’s disability status was associated with their risk of being assaulted within the past year. Women’s violence experiences were classified into three groups: no violence, physical assault only (without sexual assault), and sexual assault (with or without physical assault). Multivariable analysis revealed that women with disabilities were not significantly more likely than women without disabilities to have experienced physical assault alone within the past year (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.62 to 2.27); however, women with disabilities had more than 4 times the odds of experiencing sexual assault in the past year compared to women without disabilities (OR = 4.89, 95% CI = 2.21 to 10.83).
The Impact of Differential Patterns of Physical Violence and Stalking on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Among Women With Protective Orders
Authors: Logan TK , Shannon Lisa , Cole Jennifer , Walker Robert
Published: August 2006

This study examined the severity of partner violence on women’s mental health and help-seeking as well as perceptions of safety and protective-order effectiveness. Three groups based on partner violence victimization in the past year were compared: (a) women who reported experiencing moderate physical violence but no history of severe violence or stalking ( n = 102), (b) women who experienced severe violence but no history of stalking ( n = 142), and (c) women who experienced severe violence and stalking ( n = 145). Results suggest that stalking has a unique impact on victims’ mental health and perceived safety, and that protections afforded by protective orders may not be adequate for women experiencing stalking.
Older Women’s Descriptions and Understandings of Their Abusers
Authors: Zink Therese , Jacobson C. Jeffrey , Regan Saundra , Fisher Bonnie , Pabst Stephanie
Published: August 2006

Thirty-eight women who were in abusive relationships since age 55 years were interviewed to understand their abuse stories, ways of coping, and health care experiences. In responding to these questions, women described the nature of the abuse perpetrated by their elderly partners and tried to “make sense” of what they had experienced and to define “who” these men were. This took various forms, from personal theories about aging, to labels (ethnic stereotyping, demonizing, pathologizing) to characterizations of the abuser’s private versus public behaviors. The authors explore the implications these findings have for assisting the elderly victim and perpetrator.
The Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research: Working to Increase Our Practice and Policy Evidence Base
Authors: Zlotnik Joan Levy , Solt Barbara E.
Published: August 2006

This invitational update on the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR) provides an overview of the work and progress toward strengthening the evidence base for social work practice and policy through research. The article includes information regarding IASWR work with its supporting social work organizations to provide a social work presence at national policy tables and highlights gains grown from educative and advocacy efforts. IASWR also provides resources through its weekly e-alert and resource service and its Web site, which includes social work research-related reports, agendas, venues for research training, and technical assistance slide presentations. The IASWR board provides a forum for social work member organizational leadership to engage in profession-bridging strategies and practice and policy-strengthening initiatives.
Taking Stock of Empowerment Evaluation
Authors: Miller Robin Lin , Campbell Rebecca
Published: August 2006

Empowerment evaluation entered the evaluation lexicon in 1993. Since that time, it has attracted many adherents, as well as vocal detractors. A prominent issue in the debates on empowerment evaluation concerns the extent to which empowerment evaluation can be readily distinguished from other approaches to evaluation that share with it an emphasis on participatory and collaborative processes, capacity development, and evaluation use. A second issue concerns the extent to which empowerment evaluation actually leads to empowered outcomes for those who have participated in the evaluation process and those who are the intended beneficiaries of the social programs that were the objects of evaluation. The authors systematically examined 47 case examples of empowerment evaluation published from 1994 through June 2005. The results suggest wide variation among practitioners in adherence to empowerment evaluation principles and weak emphasis on the attainment of empowered outcomes for program beneficiaries. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Making a Pie as a Metaphor for Teaching Scale Validity and Reliability
Authors: Nassif Nader , Khalil Yvette
Published: August 2006

Teaching difficulties often require creative approaches. Difficulties are often compounded when students in class show anxiety toward the material presented and, in particular, in the case of quantitative methods—“fear of numbers.” This case presented itself in an advanced course in health behavior theory, where teaching the concepts of validity and reliability became problematic. In this article, three classroom activities aiming at simplifying the concepts of validity and reliability are presented. The activities rely on the metaphor of scales being similar to the recipe of a pie, where different items in a scale would be similar to the ingredients of a pie. One activity addressing face validity, one addressing construct validity, and one for reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) will be described. In conclusion, the importance of using simple and relevant metaphors will also be stressed.
Challenges in the Evaluation and Implementation of School-Based Prevention and Intervention Programs on Sensitive Topics
Authors: Jaycox Lisa H. , McCaffrey Daniel F. , Ocampo Beverly Weidmer , Shelley Gene A. , Blake Susan M. , Peterson Donna J. , Richmond Lucinda S. , Kub Joan E.
Published: August 2006

The current emphasis on best practices for school-based health and mental health programs brings with it the demand for evaluation efforts in schools. This article describes the challenges of launching a successful school program and evaluation, with lessons learned from three projects that focus on intimate partner violence. The authors discuss issues related to constraints on the research design in schools, the recruitment of schools and participants within schools, program and evaluation implementation issues, the iterative implementation-evaluation cycle, and the dissemination of programs and study findings. The authors emphasize the need for flexibility and cultural awareness during all stages of the process.
Quieting Educational Reform... With Educational Reform
Authors: Greene Jennifer C. , Lee Jin-Hee
Published: August 2006

The authors report on an evaluation of a comprehensive school reform initiative in one elementary school intended to provide meaningful and sustainable structure, substance, and support to the school’s critical need to improve students’ standardized test scores. Serious implementation and communication problems during the year of the evaluation suggested that the reform itself was misdirected. Teachers’ accounts of their participation in the initiative suggested that some experienced it as a confusing set of external programs they were required to implement without adequate training or support. Sometimes, the reform programs actually conflicted with test preparation pressures and activities, and even with one another. The authors struggled as evaluators to find ways to connect to the dynamics of this complicated context, especially ways that could enact their evaluative commitments to responsiveness, the public good, and ethical practice. They were thwarted by apathy, withdrawal, and silence. This article offers the authors’ reflections on the contours of evaluative commitments in challenging contexts.
First Person, First Peoples
Authors: Kerr Sandy
Published: August 2006

This article documents the author’s personal journey as a new evaluator traversing paradigms, continents, and timelines on a quest to discover how best to practice evaluation for the benefit of Maori people (indigenous to New Zealand). The journey has taken the author to a number of evaluation conferences in Australasia and North America, which she has used as monitoring tools to help assess both her progress and the progress of indigenous evaluation generally. The article reports on the positioning of the indigenous evaluation journey from the global perspective afforded by attendance at these conferences. As well, from an indigenous perspective, it documents the author’s insights into the social interactions and internal politics of the evaluation conference “culture.”
Cis and trans regulation of hepcidin expression by upstream stimulatory factor
Authors: Bayele Henry K. , McArdle Harry , Srai Surjit K.S.
Published: August 2006

Hepcidin is the presumed negative regulator of systemic iron levels; its expression is induced in iron overload, infection, and inflammation, and by cytokines, but is suppressed in hypoxia and anemia. Although the gene is exquisitely sensitive to changes in iron status in vivo, its mRNA is devoid of prototypical iron-response elements, and it is therefore not obvious how it may be regulated by iron flux. The multiplicity of effectors of its expression also suggests that the transcriptional circuitry controlling the gene may be very complex indeed. In delineating enhancer elements within both the human and mouse hepcidin gene promoters, we show here that members of the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-ZIP) family of transcriptional regulators control hepcidin expression. The upstream stimulatory factor 2 (USF2), previously linked to hepcidin through gene ablation in inbred mice, appears to exert a polar or cis-acting effect, while USF1 may act in trans to control hepcidin expression. In mice, we found variation in expression of both hepcidin genes, driven by these transcription factors. In addition, c-Myc and Max synergize to control the expression of this hormone, supporting previous findings for the role of this couple in regulating iron metabolism. Transcriptional activation by both USF1/USF2 and c-Myc/Max heterodimers occurs through E-boxes within the promoter. Site-directed mutagenesis of these elements rendered the promoter unresponsive to USF1/USF2 or c-Myc/Max. Dominant-negative mutants of USF1 and USF2 reciprocally attenuated promoter transactivation by both wild-type USF1 and USF2. Promoter occupancy by the transcription factors was confirmed by DNA-binding and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Taken together, it would appear that synergy between these members of the bHLH-ZIP family of transcriptional regulators may subserve an important role in iron metabolism as well as other pathways in which hepcidin may be involved.
Growth factor receptors as regulators of hematopoiesis
Authors: Weinreich Michael A. , Lintmaer Ingrid , Wang Linlin , Liggitt H. Denny , Harkey Michael A. , Blau C. Anthony
Published: August 2006

Nearly 15 years have elapsed since the US Food and Drug Administration last approved a major new hematopoietic cytokine. Promiscuous binding to multiple receptors, or to receptors expressed by multiple tissues, reduces growth factor specificity and promotes side effects. Here we show that hematopoiesis can be differentially regulated using receptors rather than ligands. Conditional derivatives of both fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (F36VFGFR1) and the thrombopoietin receptor (F36VMpl) induced a sustained expansion of mouse marrow cells ex vivo, and erythroid cells in vivo. Only F36VFGFR1 could support the ex vivo expansion of short-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the ex vivo survival of long-term repopulating HSCs, and the prolonged in vivo expansion of granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets. Only F36VMpl induced a response sufficiently rapid to accelerate recovery from radiation-induced anemia. These results establish receptors as a new class of hematopoietic regulators possessing activities unobtainable with growth factors.
Phase 1 clinical results with tandutinib (MLN518), a novel FLT3 antagonist, in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome: safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics
Authors: DeAngelo Daniel J. , Stone Richard M. , Heaney Mark L. , Nimer Stephen D. , Paquette Ronald L. , Klisovic Rebecca B. , Caligiuri Michael A. , Cooper Michael R. , Lecerf Jean-Michel , Karol Michael D. , Sheng Shihong , Holford Nick , Curtin Peter T. , Druker Brian J. , Heinrich Michael C.
Published: August 2006

Tandutinib (MLN518/CT53518) is a novel quinazoline-based inhibitor of the type III receptor tyrosine kinases: FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and KIT. Because of the correlation between FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations and poor prognosis in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), we conducted a phase 1 trial of tandutinib in 40 patients with either AML or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Tandutinib was given orally in doses ranging from 50 mg to 700 mg twice daily The principal dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of tandutinib was reversible generalized muscular weakness, fatigue, or both, occurring at doses of 525 mg and 700 mg twice daily. Tandutinib's pharmacokinetics were characterized by slow elimination, with achievement of steady-state plasma concentrations requiring greater than 1 week of dosing. Western blotting showed that tandutinib inhibited phosphorylation of FLT3 in circulating leukemic blasts. Eight patients had FLT3-ITD mutations; 5 of these were evaluable for assessment of tandutinib's antileukemic effect. Two of the 5 patients, treated at 525 mg and 700 mg twice daily, showed evidence of antileukemic activity, with decreases in both peripheral and bone marrow blasts. Tandutinib at the MTD (525 mg twice daily) should be evaluated more extensively in patients with AML with FLT3-ITD mutations to better define its antileukemic activity.
The tryptophan catabolite l-kynurenine inhibits the surface expression of NKp46- and NKG2D-activating receptors and regulates NK-cell function
Authors: Chiesa Mariella Della , Carlomagno Simona , Frumento Guido , Balsamo Mirna , Cantoni Claudia , Conte Romana , Moretta Lorenzo , Moretta Alessandro , Vitale Massimo
Published: August 2006

Tryptophan (Trp) catabolism mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) plays a central role in the regulation of T-cell–mediated immune responses. In this study, we also demonstrate that natural killer (NK)–cell function can be influenced by IDO. Indeed, l-kynurenine, a Trp-derived catabolite resulting from IDO activity, was found to prevent the cytokine-mediated up-regulation of the expression and function of specific triggering receptors responsible for the induction of NK-cell–mediated killing. The effect of l-kynurenine appears to be restricted to NKp46 and NKG2D, while it does not affect other surface receptors such as NKp30 or CD16. As a consequence, l-kynurenine–treated NK cells display impaired ability to kill target cells recognized via NKp46 and NKG2D. Instead, they maintain the ability to kill targets, such as dendritic cells (DCs), that are mainly recognized via the NKp30 receptor. The effect of l-kynurenine, which is effective at both the transcriptional and the protein level, can be reverted, since NK cells were found to recover their functional competence after washing.
Cytotoxic T cells generated against heteroclitic peptides kill primary tumor cells independent of the binding affinity of the native tumor antigen peptide
Authors: Zirlik Katja Mauerer , Zahrieh David , Neuberg Donna , Gribben John G.
Published: August 2006

Heteroclitic peptide modifications increase immunogenicity, allowing generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against weakly immunogenic tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). A critical issue is whether T cells generated against heteroclitic peptides retain the ability to recognize and kill tumor cells expressing the original weak TAAs, and whether there is a lower threshold of binding affinity of the native peptides, below which such CTLs can still kill primary tumor cells. To examine this we used a model examining the ability of native and heteroclitic immunoglobulin (Ig)–derived peptides to generate CTLs that can kill chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. We demonstrate that CTLs generated against heteroclitic peptides have enhanced killing of CD40-activated B cells pulsed with either heteroclitic (P < .001) or native peptide (P = .04) and primary CLL cells (P = .01). The novel finding reported here is that the rate-limiting factor appears to be the ability to generate CTLs and that once generated, CTL lysis of primary tumor cells is independent of the binding affinity of the native peptide. These findings have implications for vaccination strategies in malignancies and are currently being further examined in vivo in murine models.
The mutational spectrum of type 1 von Willebrand disease: results from a Canadian cohort study
Authors: James Paula D. , Notley Colleen , Hegadorn Carol , Leggo Jayne , Tuttle Angie , Tinlin Shawn , Brown Christine , Andrews Chandler , Labelle Andrea , Chirinian Yvette , O'Brien Lee , Othman Maha , Rivard Georges , Rapson Dilys , Hough Christine , Lillicrap David ,   for the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada
Published: August 2006

In order to evaluate the changes within the VWF gene that might contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD), a large multicenter Canadian study was undertaken. We present data from the sequence analysis of the VWF gene in 123 type 1 VWD index cases and their families. We have identified putative mutations within the VWF gene in 63% (n = 78) of index cases, leaving 37% (n = 45) with no identified changes. These changes comprise 50 different putative mutations: 31 (62%) missense mutations, 8 (16%) changes involving the VWF transcriptional regulatory region, 5 (10%) small deletions/insertions, 5 (10%) splicing consensus sequence mutations, and 1 nonsense mutation. Twenty-one of the index cases had more than one putative VWF mutation identified. We were somewhat more likely to identify putative mutations in cases with lower VWF levels, and the contribution of other factors, such as ABO blood group, seems more important in milder cases. Taken as a whole, our data support a complex spectrum of molecular pathology resulting in type 1 VWD. In more severe cases, genetic changes are common within the VWF gene and are highly penetrant. In milder cases, the genetic determinants are more complex and involve factors outside of the VWF gene.
Immunologic and functional evidence for anti–Siglec-9 autoantibodies in intravenous immunoglobulin preparations
Authors: von Gunten Stephan , Schaub Alexander , Vogel Monique , Stadler Beda M. , Miescher Sylvia , Simon Hans-Uwe
Published: August 2006

Human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) preparations are increasingly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Earlier work demonstrated the presence of autoantibodies against Fas in IVIg, suggesting that IVIg might be able to induce caspase-dependent cell death in Fas-sensitive cells. In this study, we demonstrate that sialic acid–binding Ig-like lectin 9 (Siglec) represents a surface molecule on neutrophils that is activated by IVIg, resulting in caspase-dependent and caspase-independent forms of cell death. Neutrophil death was mediated by naturally occurring anti–Siglec-9 autoantibodies present in IVIg. Moreover, the efficacy of IVIg-mediated neutrophil killing was enhanced by the proinflammatory cytokines granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interferon-γ (IFN–γ), and this additional cell death required reactive oxygen species (ROSs) but not caspases. Anti– Siglec-9 autoantibody–depleted IVIg failed to induce this caspase-independent neutrophil death. These findings contribute to our understanding of how IVIg preparations exert their immunoregulatory effects under pathologic conditions and may provide a possible explanation for the neutropenia that is sometimes seen in association with IVIg therapy.
The immunosuppressive drug FK778 induces regulatory activity in stimulated human CD4+CD25− T cells
Authors: Kreijveld Ellen , Koenen Hans J. P. M. , Hilbrands Luuk B. , van Hooff Hans J. P. , Joosten Irma
Published: August 2006

The induction of transplantation tolerance involves a T-cell–mediated process of immune regulation. In clinical transplantation, the use of immunosuppressive drugs that promote or facilitate this process would be highly desirable. Here, we investigated the tolerance-promoting potential of the immunosuppressive drug FK778, currently under development for clinical therapy. Using a human allogeneic in vitro model we showed that, upon T-cell receptor (TCR) triggering, FK778 induced a regulatory phenotype in CD4+CD25− T cells. Purified CD4+CD25− T cells primed in the presence of FK778 showed hyporesponsiveness upon restimulation with alloantigen in the absence of the drug. This anergic state was reversible by exogenous interleukin-2 (IL-2) and was induced independent of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Pyrimidine restriction was a crucial requirement for the de novo induction of regulatory activity by FK778. The FK778-induced anergic cells showed suppressor activity in a cell-cell contact–dependent manner; were CD25high, CD45RO+, CD27−, and CD62L−; and expressed cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), and FoxP3. The cells revealed delayed p27kip1 degradation and enhanced phosphorylation of STAT3. In conclusion, the new drug FK778 shows tolerizing potential through the induction of a regulatory T-cell subset in CD4+CD25− T cells.
Polymorphisms in human homeobox HLX1 and DNA repair RAD51 genes increase the risk of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Jawad Mays , Seedhouse Claire Helen , Russell Nigel , Plumb Mark
Published: August 2006

Studies of radiation-induced acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in mice suggest that the number of target stem cells is a risk factor, and the HLX1 homeobox gene, which is important for hematopoietic development, is a candidate gene. The distribution of the C/T-3′ untranslated region (UTR) polymorphism in HLX1 in patients with AML and therapy-related AML (t-AML) compared with controls was therefore determined. The presence of the variant HLX1 allele significantly increases the risk of t-AML (OR = 3.36, 95% CI, 1.65-6.84). The DNA repair gene RAD51 (135G/C-5′ UTR) polymorphism also increases t-AML risk, and when combined analysis was performed on both RAD51 and HLX1 variant alleles, a synergistic 9.5-fold increase (95% CI, 2.22-40.64) in the risk of t-AML was observed. We suggest that the HLX1 polymorphism has an effect on stem cell numbers, whereas an increased DNA repair capacity (RAD51) will suppress apoptosis, a genetic interaction that may increase the number of genomes at risk during cancer therapy.