bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homicide Patterns in the West Midlands
Authors: Scott K. W. M.
Published: July 2017

In order to determine the incidence of various types of homicide, a retrospective review of 140 homicide post-mortems was carried out. Four major causes of death — stabbing, asphyxia, blunt head injury and shooting — accounted, alone or in combination, for 89% of the deaths.

Within each of these major groups an analysis was carried out of the pattern of injuries sustained by homicide victims.

In particular the changes seen at post-mortem in the cases of asphyxial death were analysed. Ligature strangulation was twice as common as manual, and fracture of the bones of the neck occurred in 50% of the cases of ligature strangulations compared to 33% of manual strangulations. Petechial haemorrhages were found with equal frequency in the facial skin and eyes above the level of neck constriction and in the thoracic organs below the level of constriction.

Of the victims, 54% were male and 46% were female, whereas 90% of the assailants were male and 8% were female. A ‘close’ family relationship existed between the victim and the assailant in 43% of cases and in only 4% of the cases was there a proven sexual motive for the homicide. In 4% of the cases natural pre-existing disease in the victim contributed to the death by homicide.
A Psychiatric Study of Adult Arsonists
Authors: Rix K J B
Published: July 2017

A series of 153 adult arsonists is described with particular reference to motives for fire-raising and psychiatric diagnosis. All had been referred for pretrial psychiatric reports and were assessed by routine clinical methods, supplemented where possible by the Personality Assessment Schedule. The series comprised mainly men, and most were relatively young, although these are also the characteristics of criminals in general. Most suffered from some form of mental disorder. Half of them had a personality disorder and a tenth were mentally handicapped. In addition to the mentally handicapped, a further 13 per cent had a history of special schooling, so that arsonists with some educational or learning difficulties made up a quarter of the total. Revenge was the most common motive, although present in only a third of the total, and the sexual element in motivation was much less common than appears to have been the case in the past. The motive of re-housing, not previously identified, was more common in women than in men. Almost two-thirds of the properties set on fire were domestic dwellings, and over a third of arsonists were intoxicated when they started the fires. Suggestions are made for further research focusing on personality characteristics which may be associated with fire-setting.
Patterns of Stab Wounds: A Six Year Study
Authors: Rouse D A
Published: July 2017

A series of 156 consecutive deaths from stabbing were analysed for age and sex of victim, number and size of wounds, the incidence and pattern of defence wounds, the association with other injuries and the pattern of self-inflicted wounds.
6. Diabetic Death Bed: Post-Mortem Determination of Hypoglycaemia
Authors: Patel F
Published: July 2017

The post-mortem biochemical determination of hypoglycaemia in the practice of forensic medicine is notoriously imprecise and attracts perennial criticisms, particularly from those who may be alien to the peculiarities of medical jurisprudence. There has been re-emphasis recently on the neuropathological pathoclisis ascribed to prolonged hypoglycaemia. Unfortunately, the value perceived is limited by pathognomonic unreliability owing to agonal multifactorial influences and rapidly fatal nocturnal hypoglycaemia.

The predicament is oppressive to a consideration of preponderant evidence and an unpopular diagnosis of perimortem hypoglycaemia, unless audacious, may be precluded simply because the proof is difficult. This is likely to contribute to diagnostic under-estimation of enigmatic diabetic deaths. A suspected case of lethal nocturnal hypoglycaemia in a young diabetic on ‘animal’ insulin is presented to restore some perspective to the clinico-pathological deference for an endangered post-mortem diagnosis of hypoglycaemia inferred from minimal evidence.
What's in a Name? — Medical Samples and Scientific Evidence in Sexual Assaults
Authors: Keating S M , Allard J E
Published: July 2017

A survey of findings in relation to body swabs, hairs, fingernails and protectives is presented. The need to sample precisely and without contamination is stressed, since interpretation of findings depends on this.
Psychiatric Interview Rooms and Violence
Authors: Shah A K
Published: July 2017

In this article, the layout of psychiatric interview rooms, the implications for preventing violent behaviour and avenues for improvement are discussed. By drawing attention to these poorly reported phenomena, it is hoped that future planning will be facilitated.
5. Homicide or Accidental Death?
Authors: Gaur J R , Sharma A , Thakur G C , Verma R K , Sharma S
Published: July 2017

A case of unnatural death was registered by the police as homicide due to the hue and cry made by the local people. The police could not locate the ‘murderer’. The case was ultimately referred to the Forensic Science Laboratory at Shimla. Examination of the evidence proved that the case was one of accidental death. The victim had been hit and dragged along by a moving train. The forensic aspects of the case are presented and discussed in this article.
Rubber and Plastic Ammunition Lethal Injuries: The Israeli Experience
Authors: Hiss Jehuda , Hellman Fredric N , Kahana Tzipi
Published: July 2017

Rubber and plastic ammunition was used by the Israeli Defence Forces between the years 1987 and 1993 (Intifada) almost exclusively as a deterrent to aggression by the Palestinian civilian population in the occupied territories of Gaza, Judea and Samaria. While designed to avoid the serious wounds and deaths caused by the use of conventional military ammunition, the firing of rubber and plastic bullets has resulted in extensive injuries and more than 20 deaths. The data from the autopsies of 17 of these victims, mostly teenagers, were analysed. Ten of the victims died from injuries inflicted by Improved Rubber Bullets, while the other seven succumbed to injuries caused by Plastic Bullets. In most instances, the cause of death was related to injuries to the brain.

Ballistic features of non-conventional bullets are discussed, and suggestions to curtail the serious injuries and fatalities arising from their use are given, with emphasis on firing from a safe range. British and South African experience with this type of ammunition is compared with our observations.
1. Sudden Unexplained Death in a Psychiatric Patient – A Case Report: The Role of Phenothiazines and Physical Restraint
Authors: Kumar Anil
Published: July 2017

Psychotropic drug use has long been associated with sudden unexplained and unexpected death in psychiatric patients despite controversies surrounding the issue. Physical restraint following violent episodes in psychiatric in-patients is also associated with neurally mediated sudden cardiac death. A case where these two mechanisms have jointly resulted in sudden death is reported. The literature on the subject is reviewed and the measures which may be useful in reducing the incidence of such deaths are discussed. The need for accurate and detailed reporting of such cases is emphasized.
Misunderstandings and mismatches: The collective disillusionment of written summative assessment feedback
Authors: Rand Jane
Published: July 2017

Feedback is slippery, its meaning changes according to the space(s) you occupy within the perceptual limits that define it; these can range from feedback perceived as correction, to feedback perceived as longitudinal developmental. This provocation focuses on written summative assessment feedback, a format that remains one of the most common practices within academic programmes, that has the potential to be one of the most powerful influences on student growth, development, and learning, and yet which many students report never reading. I develop the argument that written summative assessment feedback is the subject of collective disillusionment – the result of students misunderstanding assessment feedback discourses, and the mismatch(es) between student interpretations and lecturers’ intentions of feedback. As provocateur, I argue that collective disillusionment not only risks the negation of written feedback, but it also seriously threatens learning. I draw upon empirical data to illuminate how paying attention to the kind(s) of work the representation of feedback does can contribute to feedback being reframed for participation and offer an open invitation for further dialogue via Research in Education.
Differential Responses among Primary Care Physicians to Varying Medicaid Fees
Authors: Wilk Adam S.
Published: July 2017

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided for significant increases in Medicaid fees for primary care services—up to 100 percent of Medicare fees for 2013 and 2014—to encourage increased Medicaid participation among primary care physicians (PCPs). In this study, I use non-linear multivariate regression techniques and data from nationally representative physician surveys and periodic Medicaid fee surveys to investigate heterogeneity in the effects of such increases. I find that the PCPs more responsive to Medicaid fee changes are those who see fewer Medicaid patients typically. I also estimate effects associated with Medicaid fee increases comparable with the ACA’s fee changes.
Snowball Sampling: Problems and Techniques of Chain Referral Sampling
Authors: Biernacki Patrick , Waldorf Dan
Published: July 2017

In spite of the fact that chain referral sampling has been widely used in qualitative sociological research, especially in the study of deviant behavior, the problems and techniques involved in its use have not been adequately explained. The procedures of chain referral sampling are not self-evident or obvious. This article attempts to rectify this methodological neglect. The article provides a description and analysis of some of the problems that were encountered and resolved in the course of using the method in a relatively large exploratory study of ex-opiate addicts.
The California Disability Survey: Design and Execution of a Computer-Assisted Telephone Study
Authors: Shanks J. Merrill , Nicholls William L. , Freeman Howard E.
Published: July 2017

This article discusses the study objectives and survey methods associated with the California Disability Survey (CDS), a large-scale telephone study of the California household population. The CDS project was designed to estimate the prevalence of disability and disabling conditions for the state as a whole and in a variety of smaller administrative areas, and to assess the service needs of the disabled and the degree to which they utilize existing forms of governmental assistance. The CDS project was also the first large-scale academic or governmental study to use the new survey methods associated with computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). This article reviews the rationale for the general CDS design and its use of computer-assisted methods, and emphasizes those aspects of the CDS experience that may be relevant for other large-scale studies in the area of human services.
A Critical Pedagogy with College and High School Students in St. Louis Post-Mike Brown
Authors: Destine Shaneda , Katz-Fishman Walda
Published: July 2017

This article presents a critical pedagogy for a racially oppressed working-class community, situated in this current moment of capitalist crises. In the aftermath of the police killing of Mike Brown and militarized police occupation in St. Louis, MO, students from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) employed a Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) module with African American high school students, during Alternative Spring Break 2015. The political education tools were grounded in Historical Materialism and Critical Race Theory. This was rooted in a movement-based praxis by and for the most affected persons (people of color, women, indigenous, immigrants, and queer populations). The PIC module informed this pedagogical process of raising consciousness, creating a vision, and strategizing toward long-term social change. Here, we discuss how this module enabled students to begin to grapple with the root of systemic racism, by connecting theory to their lived experiences. We understand this process as contributing to scholar activism, rooted in transformative public sociology. The modifications are discussed for implementation within future curriculums.
Gender Inequality, Job Satisfaction and Job Motivation: Evidence from Indian Female Employees
Authors: Memon Nazia Zabin , Jena Lalatendu Kesari
Published: July 2017

Gender inequality (GI) at the workplace and the ensuing opportunity loss of economy has long been studied, and results were established in different context. Several empirical research confirmed the impact of non-fulfilment of job characteristics and employee expectations on job satisfaction and motivation levels. However, its debilitating effect on the job satisfaction and job motivation levels of the female employees have not seen any empirical conclusion. The primary purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between workplace gender equality, job satisfaction and job motivation of female employees in Indian context. The study was conducted during mid of 2016 on female employees identified through convenience sampling and are employed in Indian organizations ( N = 356). The subscales were tested for psychometric properties and model fit followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the hypotheses. The results confirmed a significant relationship between workplace GI inflicted on the women employees and their reduced satisfaction and motivational levels. The research finding aims at identifying various human resource practices adopted by organizations worldwide to reduce GI and empowers its female employees which are discussed in managerial implications.
Distinguishing Financialization from Neoliberalism
Authors: Davis Aeron , Walsh Catherine
Published: July 2017

Neoliberalism and financialization are not synonymous developments. Financialized nations are directed by particularly financialized epistemologies, cultures, and practices, not only neoliberal ones. In examining the financialization of the UK economy since the mid-1970s, this study discovers a socio-economic shift beyond the broad transition from Keynesianism towards free-market fundamentalism. Economic developments were guided by the very particular economic paradigms, discursive practices, and financial devices of the City of London, as financial elites became influential in the Thatcher governments. Five epistemological elements specific to finance are discussed: the creation of money in financial markets, the transactional focus of finance, the centrality of financial markets to economic management, the orthodoxy of shareholder value, and the intensely micro-economic approach to financial calculation. Identifying these distinctions creates new possibilities for understanding financialization, elites, and the neoliberal condition that brought about both the financial crash of 2007–8 and the political and economic crises that have followed.
Unesco and the Information Superhighway
Authors: Tocatlian Jacques
Published: July 2017

In 1995 the celebration of Unesco's 50th anniversary and a number of related historical commemorations create a propitious climate for reflection and renewal. This article analyzes Unesco's role in information, linking past and future. It briefly reports on the draft 4th Medium-Term Strategy (1996–2001) and explains how the information programmes of the Organization have adapted to the changing needs of Member States and the advances in information technologies. It argues that the proposed emphasis in Unesco's future strategy is in line with general trends observed in leading national studies. The information programmes of Unesco are gradually evolving to enter the information superhighway of tomorrow.
Do Visually Impaired People Develop Superior Smell Ability?
Authors: Majchrzak Dorota , Eberhard Julia , Kalaus Barbara , Wagner Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2017

It is well known that visually impaired people perform better in orientation by sound than sighted individuals, but it is not clear whether this enhanced awareness also extends to other senses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe whether visually impaired subjects develop superior abilities in olfactory perception to compensate for their lack of vision. We investigated the odor perception of visually impaired individuals aged 7 to 89 ( n = 99; 52 women, 47 men) and compared them with subjects of a control group aged 8 to 82 years ( n = 100; 45 women, 55 men) without any visual impairment. The participants were evaluated by Sniffin’ Sticks odor identification and discrimination test. Identification ability was assessed for 16 common odors presented in felt-tip pens. In the odor discrimination task, subjects had to determine which of three pens in 16 triplets had a different odor. The median number of correctly identified odorant pens in both groups was the same, 13 of the offered 16. In the discrimination test, there was also no significant difference observed. Gender did not influence results. Age-related changes were observed in both groups with olfactory perception decreasing after the age of 51. We could not confirm that visually impaired people were better in smell identification and discrimination ability than sighted individuals.
Optimizing Access to Public Services: A Review of Problems, Models and Methods of Locating Central Facilities
Authors: Hodgart R. L.
Published: July 2017

It must also be confessed, that, wherever we depart from this equality, we rob the poor of more satisfaction than we add to the rich, and that the slight gratification of a frivolous variety, in one individual, frequently costs more than bread to many families, and even provinces (D. Hume, An enquiry concerning the principles of morals).
Redirections in Transport Geography
Authors: Rimmer Peter J.
Published: July 2017

Transport geography lacks a unique identity. The role of the engineer, economist and even the sociologist is becoming widely accepted in multidisciplinary transport studies but that of the geographer is not self-evident. This identity crisis stems from the widespread borrowing from other disciplines that has characterized transport geography's development. If this dilemma is to be resolved there is a pressing need to specify what the transport geographer's particular contribution could be in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary transport studies. Before attempting to redirect the subdiscipline towards a unique identity the derivative nature of the evolution of transport geography has to be reviewed.
The Willing Adult
Authors: Amundson Jon K. , Parry Thomas Alan
Published: July 2017

As part of the current revival of interest in the experiential and integrative possibilities of the Adult ego state the work of Otto Rank is examined. Particular attention is paid to his concept of will as the directing dimension of the personality. Each ego state may be understood as organizing and integrating itself for an appropriate expression of its Will. The goal of personal autonomy is reached in the Integrated Adult which, in this paper is described as the Autonomous Will of the Willing Adult. The Willing Adult directs the responsiveness of the Child, and responsibility of the Parent by means of the receptivity of the Experiencing Adult and the activity of the Analytical Adult.
Discounting the Disabled
Authors: Belanger Elaine , Laube Jerri
Published: July 2017

Common discounts of disabled persons are explored. Historically, the disabled person has been seen as: (1) the sub-human organism; (2) an object of pity; (3) the holy innocent; and (4) an object of ridicule. The authors suggest a reactive cycle which perpetuates the discounting process and relegates the disabled person to a Not OK position.
A Practical Method to Analyse Projection
Authors: Pincherle Livio Tulio
Published: July 2017

The author used a technique to demonstrate the mechanics of projection which could be discussed with the patient.
Values, Hedonism, Autonomy?
Authors: Bary Brenda B.
Published: July 2017

Using Erik Erikson and James Marcia's scientific work on the identity crisis of adolescence and a children's story by Madeleine L'Engle, the process of maturation is described. The desirability of youthful hedonism and the need to relinquish it in a way that promotes stability of the life plan and joy and satisfaction in living are elaborated. Autonomous choosing of values and life plans, as opposed to submission to others' values, is shown to be the deciding factor in whether there is full measure of both stability and satisfaction.
Differentiating DSM-IV Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in the General Population: Comorbidity and Treatment Consequences
Authors: Ohayon Maurice M , Shapiro Colin M , Kennedy Sidney H
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To attempt, for the first time, to apply a positive and differential diagnosis process in the general population during interviews using DSM-IV classification to ascertain the profile and occurrence of concomitant mental disorders.

Method:

A representative sample of 1832 individuals aged 15 years or older living in the metropolitan area of Toronto were interviewed by means of telephone interviews. The participation rate was 72.8%.

Results:

Overall, 13.2% (n = 242) of the sample had either a mood disorder (n = 127; 6.9%) or an anxiety disorder (n = 770; 9.3%) at the time of their interview. The prevalence was higher among women (16.5%) than amongmen (9.7%), with an odds ratio of 1.8. The comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders was found in 3%(n = 55) of the sample. Less than one-third of respondents with a mood and/or anxiety disorder were being treated by aphysician for a mental disorder. However, these individuals were greater consumers of health care services. Most of them consulted a physician an average of 5 times in the past year. Individuals on medication diagnosed with a mood and an anxiety disorder consulted a physician an average of 12 times in the past year. Only 13% of them were treated with antidepressants and under 9% with anxiolytics.

Conclusions:

More than 70% of subjects with a mood disorder also complained of insomnia. With the differential process, 12%> of the subjects manifesting a full-fledged anxiety disorder were diagnosed with only a mood disorder because the anxiety occurred only in the course of the mood disorder. About two-thirds of the subjects diagnosed in this study were undiagnosed and untreated by their physician.
Tertiary Mental Health Services: I. Key Concepts
Authors: Wasylenki Donald , Goering Paula , Cochrane Jeanette , Durbin Janet , Rogers Joy , Prendergast Peter
Published: July 2017

There are some individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses who cannot be managed by primary and secondary services and who require tertiary care. Such clients are characterized by aggressiveness, noncompliance with medication, and dangerousness. Tertiary care program elements include psychosocial rehabilitation, sophisticated medication management, and behavioural approaches. Tertiary care may be delivered through assertive community treatment and/or specialized outreach teams, community residential programs, or hospital-based services. Increasingly, organized systems have been developed to ensure that individuals meet criteria for tertiary care and receive the most appropriate level of care. Most importantly, the delivery of tertiary care must not be tied to particular settings or timeframes, and level of care must be delinked from model or location of care in order to create flexible, efficient, effective mental health services.
Self-Reported Diagnoses of Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders May Be Valuable for Monitoring and Surveillance
Authors: Supina Alison L , Patten Scott B
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To examine whether a plausible estimate of the prevalence of schizophrenia can be obtained with a self-report item in a health survey.

Methods:

We estimated a self-reported prevalence of schizophrenia, using a grouped variable for all people who reported schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder in the Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being ( n = 36 984). Estimates were stratified according to age, sex, and province of residence.

Results:

Of survey respondents, 411 (1.1%) reported having schizophrenia or other psychosis, as diagnosed by a health professional; the weighted and adjusted estimate was 0.9% (0.7% to 1.0%). There was no statistical evidence that the prevalence estimates of schizophrenia and other psychosis varied by age, sex, or province of residence.

Conclusions:

Additional studies incorporating a gold standard diagnostic interview should be carried out to determine the validity of the approach. However, responses to 2 self-report survey items provide what appears to be a plausible epidemiologic pattern.
Cost, Effectiveness, and Cost-Effectiveness of a Collaborative Mental Health Care Program for People Receiving Short-Term Disability Benefits for Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Dewa Carolyn S , Hoch Jeffrey S , Carmen Glenn , Guscott Richard , Anderson Chris
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To examine the cost, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of a collaborative mental health care (CMHC) pilot program for people on short-term disability leave for psychiatric disorders.

Method:

Using a quasi-experimental design, the analyses were conducted using 2 groups of subjects who received short-term disability benefits for psychiatric disorders. One group ( n = 75) was treated in a CMHC program during their disability episode. The comparison group ( n = 51) received short-term disability benefits related to psychiatric disorders in the prior year but did not receive CMHC during their disability episode. People in both groups met screening criteria for the CMHC program. Differences in cost and days absent from work were tested using Student t tests and confirmed using nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Differences in return to work and transition to long-term disability leave were tested using chi-square tests. The cost-effectiveness analysis used the net benefit regression framework.

Results:

The results suggest that with CMHC, for every 100 people on short-term disability leave for psychiatric disorders, there could be $50 000 in savings related to disability benefits along with more people returning to work ( n = 23), less people transitioning to long-term disability leave ( n = 24), and 1600 more workdays.

Conclusions:

CMHC models of disability management based on our Canadian data may be a worthwhile investment in helping people who are receiving short-term disability benefits for psychiatric disorders to receive adequate treatment.
Reduction in Psychiatry
Authors: Gold Ian
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To examine the doctrine of reductionism in psychiatry.

Method:

A selective review of the literature.

Results:

Two arguments offered in support of reduction in psychiatry are presented and found to be unsatisfactory. An argument supporting skepticism about reduction is described.

Conclusion:

Currently, there is little reason to think that any significant portion of psychiatric theory will be reduced to neuroscience or genetics.
No Association between Prenatal Viral Infection and Depression in Later Life—A Long-Term Cohort Study of 6152 Subjects
Authors: Pang Dong , Syed Saddaf , Fine Paul , Jones Peter B
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Previous studies have suggested a role for prenatal viral infections in the etiology of schizophrenia; however, little is known about depression. We examined whether in-utero viral infections result in increased risk of depression in later life.

Method:

We identified a cohort ( n = 3076) born between 1946 and 1980, whose mothers suffered known viral infections in pregnancy. Subjects were individually matched by birthdate, sex, and area of birth to another cohort ( n = 3076) from the UK National Health Service Central Register (NHSCR). These 2 cohorts, one exposed to viruses prenatally, the other not known to have been exposed, were then followed-up to June 1996 by sending a morbidity questionnaire to their primary care physicians. This included specific items on affective disorders, schizophrenia, mental handicap (mental retardation), epilepsy, as well as other central nervous system disorders and specified physical illness, all coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition. Death certificates were supplied by the NHSCR. A method for matched-pair cohort data calculated the relative risk and 95% confidence intervals for depression in the exposed and unexposed cohorts by varying type of viral exposure.

Results:

The response to the questionnaire was high (85%). There was no overall increased risk for depression associated with viral exposure; a narrow confidence interval surrounded unity (RR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.2); effects for individual viral exposures were all scattered around unity.

Conclusions:

The results provide no support for the hypothesis that in-utero exposure to viral infection is associated with risk of subsequent nonpsychotic affective disorder. Further analyses on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and mental illness other than depression are required.
The Natural History of Antisocial Personality Disorder
Authors: Black Donald W
Published: July 2017

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is characterized by a pattern of socially irresponsible, exploitative, and guiltless behaviour. ASPD is associated with co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders and medical comorbidity. Rates of natural and unnatural death (suicide, homicide, and accidents) are excessive. ASPD is a predictor of poor treatment response. ASPD begins early in life, usually by age 8 years. Diagnosed as conduct disorder in childhood, the diagnosis converts to ASPD at age 18 if antisocial behaviours have persisted. While chronic and lifelong for most people with ASPD, the disorder tends to improve with advancing age. Earlier onset is associated with a poorer prognosis. Other moderating factors include marriage, employment, early incarceration (or adjudication during childhood), and degree of socialization.
Newspaper Coverage of Autism Treatment in Canada: 10-Year Trends (2004–2013)
Authors: Lanovaz Marc J , Dufour Marie-Michèle , Shah Shalaka
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To compare trends in coverage of empirically supported and alternative autism treatments in Canadian newspapers during a 10-year period and to examine whether the portrayal of empirically supported and alternative treatments differed.

Method:

We searched a sample of 10 daily local and national Canadian newspapers using the word autism combined with intervention or treatment in the Proquest Canadian Newsstand and Eureka.cc databases, which yielded a total of 857 articles published between 2004 and 2013. In our subsequent analyses, we only included articles whose main topic was autism and that referred to at least one treatment. We then categorized the 137 remaining articles by treatment and rated whether each treatment category was portrayed in a favourable, unfavourable, or neutral manner.

Results:

In total, 46% of the articles discussed at least 1 empirically supported treatment, 53% at least 1 alternative treatment, and 12% at least 1 uncategorized treatment. Newspaper articles provided favourable, unfavourable, and neutral portrayals of empirically supported treatments in 75%, 10%, and 16% of cases, respectively. In contrast, alternative treatments were portrayed favourably in 52%, unfavourably in 32%, and neutrally in 16% of cases. Our analyses indicated that empirically supported treatments were portrayed more favourably than alternative treatments (X2 = 10.42, df = 2, P = 0.005).

Conclusions:

Despite some encouraging trends, our study has shown that researchers and clinicians must continue to clarify misconceptions about autism treatment. Families of people with autism spectrum disorders should be directed toward more reliable and accurate sources of information.
Short-Term Natural Course of Depressive Symptoms and Family-Related Stress in Adolescents after Separation from Father
Authors: Gobbi Gabriella , Low Nancy C P , Dugas Erika , Sylvestre Marie-Pierre , Contreras Gisèle , O'Loughlin Jennifer
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To determine if separation from a father is associated with short-term changes in mental health or substance use in adolescents.

Methods:

Every 3 months, during a 5-year period, we followed 1160 Grade 7 students participating in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens Study who were living with both parents. Participants who reported not living with their father for 6 or more consecutive months during follow-up were categorized as separated from father. Pooled regressions within the framework of generalized estimating equations were used to model the associations between separation from father and indicators of mental health (depressive symptoms, and worry and [or] stress about family relationships or the family situation) and substance use (alcohol use and cigarette smoking) 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 months postseparation, controlling for age, sex, and baseline level of the outcome variable.

Results:

Compared with adolescents living with both parents, adolescent offspring separated from their fathers were more likely to report depressive symptoms (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.33) 4 to 6 months postseparation, as well as worry and (or) stress about their parents separating or divorcing (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.29 to 4.43), a new family (OR 4.25, 95% CI 2.33 to 7.76), and the family financial situation (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.60). Separation from father was also marginally significantly related to worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their father (OR 1.53; 95% CI 0.98 to 2.39). At 7 to 9 months postseparation, separation from father continued to be associated with worry and (or) stress about their parents separating or divorcing, a new family, and the family financial situation. Separation from father was no longer associated with worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their father, but it was associated with worry and (or) stress about their relationship with their mother. Separation from father was not related to use of alcohol or cigarettes.

Conclusion:

Adolescent offspring experienced family-related stress and transient depression symptoms in the 4- to 9-month period following separation from their fathers.
Increased Risk of Obesity and Metabolic Dysregulation following 12 Months of Second-Generation Antipsychotic Treatment in Children: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ronsley Rebecca , Nguyen Duc , Davidson Jana , Panagiotopoulos Constadina
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To determine the risk of developing obesity and related metabolic complications in children following long-term treatment with risperidone or quetiapine.

Methods:

This was a 1-year naturalistic longitudinal study conducted between February 2009 and March 2012. A total of 130 children aged 2 to 18 years without prior exposure to second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) were enrolled at initiation of treatment with either risperidone or quetiapine. Metabolic parameters were measured at baseline and months 6 and 12. Data of 37 participants (20 treated with risperidone and 17 treated with quetiapine) who completed 12-month monitoring were used in the analysis.

Results:

After 1 year of SGA treatment, mean weight increased significantly by 10.8 kg (95% CI 7.9 kg to 13.7 kg) for risperidone and 9.7 kg (95% CI 6.5 kg to 12.8 kg) for quetiapine. Body mass index z score also increased significantly in both groups ( P < 0.001). There was a high incidence of children becoming overweight or obese (6/15 [40.0%] for risperidone-treated and 7/14 [50.0%] for quetiapine-treated). The mean levels of fasting glucose (for risperidone-treated) and ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (for quetiapine-treated) increased significantly by 0.23 mmol/L (95% CI 0.03 mmol/L to 0.42 mmol/L) and 0.48 mmol/L (95% CI 0.15 mmol/L to 0.80 mmol/L), respectively.

Conclusion:

Children treated with risperidone or quetiapine are at a significant risk for developing obesity, elevated waist circumference, and dyslipidemia during 12 months of treatment. These data emphasize the importance of regular monitoring for early identification and treatment of metabolic side effects.
Long-term biocompatibility and osseointegration of electron beam melted, free-form–fabricated solid and porous titanium alloy: Experimental studies in sheep
Authors: Palmquist A , Snis A , Emanuelsson L , Browne M , Thomsen P
Published: July 2017

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term osseointegration and biocompatibility of electron beam melted (EBM) free-form–fabricated (FFF titanium grade 5 (Ti6Al4V) implants. Porous and solid machined cylindrical and disk-shaped implants were prepared by EBM and implanted bilaterally in the femur and subcutaneously in the dorsum of the sheep. After 26 weeks, the implants and surrounding tissue were retrieved. The tissue response was examined qualitatively and quantitatively using histology and light microscopic (LM) morphometry. Selected bone implants specimens were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and micro-computed tomography (mCT). The results showed that both porous and solid implants were osseointegrated and high bone–implant contact was observed throughout the porous implant. In the soft tissue, the porous implants showed thinner fibrous encapsulation while no signs of intolerance were observed for either implant type. Taken together, the present experimental results show that FFF Ti6Al4V with and without porous structures demonstrate excellent long-term soft tissue biocompatibility and a high degree of osseointegration. The present findings extend earlier, short-term experimental observations in bone and suggest that EBM, FFF Ti6Al4V implants possess valuable properties in bone and soft tissue applications.
Why Americans Don't Care about Income Inequality
Authors: Glazer Nathan
Published: July 2017

The United States is the most unequal of the economically advanced nations, but despite this inequality there seems to less concern in the USA for inequality, less support for measures to reduce it, than in other economically advanced nations. This is demonstrated by the lesser percentage of GDP that supports redistributive programs attempting to redirect resources to the poor and less prosperous part of the population than we typically find in Europe. Public opinion polls also show less concern or sympathy for the poor in the United States. A recent major effort to explain this anomaly argues that the explanation is the race problem, and the identification of the poor with blacks. As against Europe, redistributive programs are not seen as programs for ‘us’ and ‘people like us’, but for those who are different and less deserving, particularly blacks, and this seems true. But one must add to this the strong tradition in the USA of successive immigrant groups providing through religious and other institutions for the welfare of their own kind, a tradition which has reduced the public support for public services for all.
Designing the Person: Sociological Assumptions Embodied within the Architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Le Corbusier
Authors: Spencer Clare
Published: July 2017

This essay presents a comparative study of the sociological assumptions implicit, and to some extent explicit, in the work of two famous architects, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Le Corbusier. The inhabitant implied through the architectural practice of Le Corbusier resembles Elias's homo clausus (closed person), the mode of self experience viewed by Elias as the dominant one in Western society and one which sees the individual person as a ‘thinking subject’ and the starting point of knowledge. Mackintosh's designs, in contrast, imply individual people closer to Elias‘s homines aperti, social beings who are shaped through social interaction and interdependence. This paper demonstrates how, as well as fulfilling social, cultural and political needs, architecture carries, within in its designs, certain assumptions about how people and how they do, and should, live. The adoption of an Eliasian perspective provides an interesting insight into how these assumptions can shape self-experience and social interaction in the buildings of each architect.
The Experience of Families With Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I Across Health Care Systems
Authors: Murrell Diane V. , Lotze Timothy E. , Farber Harold J. , Crawford Claire A. , Wiemann Constance M.
Published: July 2017

Spinal muscular atrophy type I is a genetic disease characterized by degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons resulting in weakness, technology dependence and early demise. While the newly approved treatment nusinersen may alter the morbidity/mortality of this disease there continues to be complex treatment challenges to consider. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand from the parent’s perspective, experiences of the family and child in the emergency center, hospital, and clinical care settings to identify gaps in care. Nineteen families interviewed had 22 children with spinal muscular atrophy I (11 deceased, 11 living). Three overarching themes emerged from parent interviews describing a range of experiences surrounding diagnosis, informed medical decision making and acute care practice. Identified quality improvements include development of a diagnostic screening tool, a medical decision tool, and emergency center informational template individualized to the child and providing an overview of spinal muscular atrophy I.
Gentrification, Displacement, and the Role of Public Investment
Authors: Zuk Miriam , Bierbaum Ariel H. , Chapple Karen , Gorska Karolina , Loukaitou-Sideris Anastasia
Published: July 2017

Scholarly interest in the relationship between public investments and residential displacement dates back to the 1970s and the aftermath of displacement related to urban renewal. A new wave of scholarship examines the relationship of gentrification and displacement to public investment in transit infrastructure. Scholarship has generally conflated gentrification and displacement; however, this review argues for a clearer analytical distinction between the two. Although the displacement discussion in the United States began with the role of the public sector and now has returned to the same focus, it will be necessary to overcome methodological shortcomings to arrive at more definitive conclusions about the relationship.
The Role of Vitality in the Relationship Between a Healthy Lifestyle and Societal Costs of Health Care and Lost Productivity
Authors: Hartman L. , van Dongen J. M. , Hildebrandt V. H. , Strijk J. E.
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

To examine the mediating effect of vitality in the relationship between healthy lifestyle characteristics and health-care and productivity-related costs.

Design:

Observational prospective cohort study with 2 measurements. Online questionnaires were filled out in 2013 (T0) and 2014 (T1).

Setting:

A random sample of a Dutch online interview panel was obtained.

Subjects:

Data of 4231 Dutch adults who had complete data at T0 and T1 were used in the present study. Participants were representative for the Dutch adult population in terms of age, gender, and having chronic disease(s).

Measures:

Healthy Lifestyle Index (HLI), vitality, and health-care and productivity-related costs. The HLI consisted of the sum of 6 healthy lifestyle characteristics, including a healthy BMI (yes/no), meeting physical activity, fruit, vegetable, and alcohol consumption guidelines (yes/no), and smoking status (yes: non or former smoker/no: current smoker). Health-care and productivity-related costs were measured using a utilization questionnaire.

Analysis:

Linear regression analysis.

Results:

The HLI was related to vitality. In addition, vitality was related to health-care costs and productivity-related costs. Furthermore, vitality was found to transmit 28.4% of the effect of HLI on health-care costs and 39.4% of the effect of HLI on productivity-related costs.

Conclusion:

Lifestyle was related to vitality and vitality to health-care and productivity-related costs. Vitality mediated the relationship between lifestyle and health-care and productivity-related costs. Therefore, we recommend to sustain and improve both vitality and lifestyle.
Future Directions for Pharmacogenetics
Authors: Jann Michael W. , Lam Y.W. Francis
Published: July 2017

The discipline of pharmacogenetics will continue to expand as scientific and clinical investigations increase our understanding of genetic variabilities in drug metabolism and response. These research efforts will include determination of molecular mechanisms for the different polymorphisms and evaluation of their clinical significance. The availability of molecular methodologies such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis, polymerase chain reaction, and expression of cDNAs in cell cultures will further the investigative work in detection of normal and mutant alleles, identification of new substrates for different polymorphic metabolizing enzymes, and evaluation of mechanisms of individual susceptibility to biological disorders. Other areas such as the role of pharmacogenetics in drug development and regulatory control, in evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions, ethnic variation in polymorphic metabolism, and response, also need to be evaluated.
Synthesis of Acetal-contaming Main Chain Degradable Type Photosensitive Polyimides
Authors: Li Li , Sun Andrew , Jikel Mitsutoshi , Kakimoto Masa-Aki
Published: July 2017

A series of main chain degradable polyimides 6 were prepared by the polyaddition of acetalcontaining diamine monomer 4 with various aromatic tetracarboxylic anhydrides 5, followed by chemical imidization without isolating. The structures of polyimides obtained were confirmed by infrared, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Their thermal stability, solubility and transparency have also been investigated. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed degradation reactions of model compound 7 and polyimide 6d have been studied. These results suggest that polyimides 6 can be recognized as photosensitive polyimides.
Synthesis and Characterization of Main Chain Degradable Poly(amide-imide)s with Acetal Unit
Authors: Li Li , Jikei Mitsutoshi , Kakimoto Masa-Aki
Published: July 2017

A series of main chain degradable poly(amide-imide)s 7 were prepared from acetal-containing diimide-dicarboxylic acid 5 with various aromatic diamine monomers 6 by the direct polycondensation in NMP using triphenyl phosphite/pyridine as condensing agents. The novel diimide-dicarboxylic acid 5 bearing 2-trifluoromethylphenyl substituted acetal unit was synthesized by the condensation reaction of amine compound 4 with trimellitic anhydride. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.41-0.53 dl g-1. The structure of polymers was confirmed by IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy The poly(amide-imide)s obtained were soluble in polar solvents such as NMP and DMAc. Most were cast into transparent and flexible films, which had tensile strengths ranging from 40 to 80 MPa, elongation-to-breakage from 2.8 to 6.6%, and initial moduli from 1.2 to 1.6 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers were in the range 208-232°C and showed 5% weight loss temperature ranging from 350 to 385°C under air or nitrogen atmosphere. Furthermore, the acid-catalyzed degradation behavior of poly(amide-imide)s 7 was also investigated.