bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To Love and Look After
Authors: Allendorf Keera
Published: March 2012

Domestic violence, which is one aspect of family relationship quality, is now well established as a determinant of maternal health in non-Western contexts. However, the potential health benefits of positive aspects of relationship quality remain neglected. Thus, this study uses qualitative data to explore the pathways linking high-quality family relationships to maternal health in one non-Western context, namely, one Indian village. The exploration suggests that high-quality family relationships may benefit maternal health in a variety of ways. Potential mechanisms include improving women’s subjective happiness, increasing nutritional intake, facilitating communication about sensitive health matters, and increasing the use of health care and attention inside and outside the home. High-quality family relationships can also act as a barrier to hospital delivery however. More broadly, high-quality relationships appear to motivate family members to do their best for women, but their best may not always be beneficial.
Political discussion, opinion leadership and trust
Authors: Campus Donatella
Published: March 2012

The recent developments in political communication, in particular the process of popularization of politics and the diffusion of Internet, are notably challenging the relationship between citizens and media. In this rapidly evolving context it is worth analysing the role of political discussion in personal networks and small groups. Also, very recent research has offered new evidence to the old thesis that, despite the massive presence of mass media, personal discussion shapes the formation of the political opinion. A particularly important aspect concerns the nature of opinion leadership: who are the new opinion leaders able to influence processes of interpersonal communication? This article reassesses such a theoretical framework by reviewing the state-of-the-art and providing a foundation for a debate on the themes of trust in information sources and the impact of opinion leaders.
Enthusiasm, trust and its erosion in mediated politics: On fans of Obama and the Liberal Democrats
Authors: Sandvoss Cornel
Published: March 2012

This article explores the interplay of political enthusiasm as a form of fandom and the creation and disappearance of trust as a result of the evolving relationship between fans and their objects of fandom. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with supporters of Barack Obama and the UK Liberal Democrats, the article illustrates how the bond between fans and their political fan object is built in the highly polysemic environment of convergence media in which audiences actively construct textual boundaries. Based on projective and self-reflective readings, enthusiasts of given political causes, actors or parties thus build an affective attachment to their fan object which allows for the creation of trust in its perceived proximity. If such readings become unsustainable over time, this affective bond and its associated levels of trust are eroded.
THE PAPWORTH PLUG – successful use of high dose fibrinogen concentrate and platelet concentrate in potential life-threatening complication after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in a patient with Type 2M Vicenza von Willebrand Disease
Authors: Amerikanou R , MacDonald S , Lawrence K , Large S , Besser MW
Published: March 2012

Anecdotally, fibrinogen concentrate (FC) has been used as a “universal” haemostatic agent in complex post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) coagulopathy. We present a case where FC and two pools of platelets prevented life-threatening bleeding in a patient with moderate von Willebrand Disease (vWD) immediately post CPB.
Adapting to flood risk under climate change
Authors: Wilby Robert L. , Keenan Rod
Published: March 2012

Flooding is the most common natural hazard and third most damaging globally after storms and earthquakes. Anthropogenic climate change is expected to increase flood risk through more frequent heavy precipitation, increased catchment wetness and sea level rise. This paper reviews steps being taken by actors at international, national, regional and community levels to adapt to flood risk from tidal, fluvial, surface and groundwater sources. We refer to existing inventories, national and sectoral adaptation plans, flood inquiries, building and planning codes, city plans, research literature and international policy reviews. We distinguish between the enabling environment for adaptation and specific implementing measures to manage flood risk. Enabling includes routine monitoring, flood forecasting, data exchange, institutional reform, bridging organizations, contingency planning for disasters, insurance and legal incentives to reduce vulnerability. All such activities are ‘low regret’ in that they yield benefits regardless of the climate scenario but are not cost-free. Implementing includes climate safety factors for new build, upgrading resistance and resilience of existing infrastructure, modifying operating rules, development control, flood forecasting, temporary and permanent retreat from hazardous areas, periodic review and adaptive management. We identify evidence of both types of adaptation following the catastrophic 2010/11 flooding in Victoria, Australia. However, significant challenges remain for managing transboundary flood risk (at all scales), protecting existing property at risk from flooding, and ensuring equitable outcomes in terms of risk reduction for all. Adaptive management also raises questions about the wider preparedness of society to systematically monitor and respond to evolving flood risks and vulnerabilities.
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Using Semitendinosus Tendons
Authors: Xie Guoming , Zhao Jinzhong , Huangfu Xiaoqiao , He Yaohua
Published: March 2012

Background: The comparative clinical outcome of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) using semitendinosus tendons with and without polyester suture augmentation for recurrent patellar instability is unknown.

Hypothesis: Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with polyester suture augmentation will yield better results than MPFLR without augmentation for recurrent patellar instability in adults.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods: One hundred patients with recurrent patellar instability receiving MPFLR using semitendinosus tendons were randomly divided into 2 groups either with or without polyester suture augmentation. Tibial tubercle transfer was performed in most cases. Follow-ups were performed at 12, 24, and 60 months postoperatively, and computed tomography (CT) was performed immediately after the operation and at follow-up. The passive patellar glide test was performed before surgery, immediately after MPFLR during the operation, and at each follow-up point. The degree of knee function was evaluated preoperatively and at 2 and 5 years postoperatively using the International Knee Documentation Committee, Lysholm, and Kujala rating scales. Redislocation or multiple episodes of patellar instability were considered failures.

Results: Forty-two patients in the augmentation group and 43 patients in the nonaugmentation group were followed for 5 years and received complete serial CT examinations and functional evaluations. The correction of the static patellar position deteriorated over time in the nonaugmentation group but not in the augmentation group. The results of the passive patellar glide test indicated stable patellae in all patients immediately after MPFLR and more stable patellae in the augmentation group at each follow-up point. Functional evaluations at 2 and 5 years revealed statistically significant superior results in the augmentation group. Finally, no patient in the augmentation group and 2 (4.7%) in the nonaugmentation group experienced episodes of redislocation, and 1 patient (2.4%) in the augmentation group and 8 (18.6%) in the nonaugmentation group experienced multiple episodes of patellar instability, resulting in failure rates of 2.4% and 23.3% in the augmentation group and nonaugmentation group, respectively ( P = .004).

Conclusion: Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with polyester suture augmentation results in better static patellar position, dynamic stability, and functional outcome than without augmentation in the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation in adults.
Effect of blend ratio on the mechanical and sorption behaviour of polymer–polymer microfibrillar composites from low-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate
Authors: Jayanarayanan Karingamanna , Thomas Sabu , Joseph Kuruvilla
Published: March 2012

The morphology of the neat blends, microfibrillar blends and the corresponding microfibrillar composites based on low-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate was analyzed. As the polyethylene terephthalate concentration increased, an increase in the diameter of polyethylene terephthalate spheres/fibrils was observed. The fibrils with relatively uniform diameter distribution were obtained in the range of 15–25 wt% polyethylene terephthalate concentration. The tensile properties of the blends and microfibrillar composites increased with polyethylene terephthalate concentration up to an optimum level. The neat blends exhibited inferior tensile properties in comparison with the microfibrillar composites. As the polyethylene terephthalate concentration increased, the solvent uptake reduced. The diffusivity and permeability of the microfibrillar composites were lower than the corresponding blends. The solvent uptake was found to be lowest for the composite with 25 wt% polyethylene terephthalate concentration. The polyethylene terephthalate microfibrils in the microfibrillar composites offered a tortuous path for the diffusion of the solvent.
Correlates of Treatment Response in Depressed Older Adults With Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Gildengers Ariel , Tatsuoka Curtis , Bialko Christopher , Cassidy Kristin A. , Al Jurdi Rayan K. , Gyulai Laszlo , Mulsant Benoit H. , Young Robert C. , Sajatovic Martha
Published: March 2012

Aims: To identify baseline clinical factors associated with acute treatment response in depressed older adults with bipolar disorder (BD) receiving lamotrigine. Methods: Secondary analysis of a multisite, 12-week, open-label, uncontrolled study of add-on lamotrigine in 57 adults 60 years and older with BD I or II depression. Measures included the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Cardiometabolic risk was measured with total serum cholesterol and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale–Geriatric (CIRS-G) item #13 (endocrine/metabolic burden). Neurocognitive (executive) function was evaluated using the Trail Making Test. Results: Greater reduction in MADRS from baseline was associated with higher baseline cardiometabolic burden at 6 and 9 weeks and lower YMRS scores at 9 weeks. At 12 weeks, improvement in the MADRS from baseline was no longer significantly related to baseline cardiometabolic burden or YMRS scores. A longitudinal mixed model of MADRS scores corroborated these findings with a significant finding of time-by-baseline cholesterol level interaction. In a subset of participants, better baseline executive function was related to greater improvement in the MADRS at 9 weeks but not at 6 or 12 weeks. Among all participants, higher baseline YMRS scores were related to greater likelihood of dropout. Conclusions: Lamotrigine appears to work best in depressed elderly patients with BD who have high cardiometabolic risk and low level of mania. Agents like lamotrigine that act primarily on neuroprogressive pathways involving oxidative stress, neurotrophins, and inflammation may be particularly effective in individuals with BD who have significant cardiometabolic burden because of their effects on shared vulnerability factors in BD and medical illness.
A Patient With Bipolar Disorder and Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Avari Jimmy N. , Young Robert C.
Published: March 2012

Antiphospholipidsyndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder which causes a hyper-coagulable state characterized by recurrent thrombosis. It has a diverse range of central nervous system manifestations. We describe a case of a 61 year old man with bipolar disorder and APS, and we compare this to a previously reported case. Additionally, we reviewed literature regarding APS-related markers and the relationship of APS to other psychiatric and neurologic illnesses. We discuss possible mechanisms for an association between APS and bipolar disorder. We encourage clinicians to be aware of this possible relationship and have proposed research strategies.
The Neurogenetics of Nice
Authors: Poulin Michael J. , Holman E. Alison , Buffone Anneke
Published: March 2012

Oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor genes influence prosocial behavior in the laboratory and in the context of close relationships. These peptides may also promote social engagement following threat. However, the scope of their prosocial effects is unknown. We examined oxytocin receptor ( OXTR) polymorphism rs53576, as well as vasopressin receptor 1a ( AVPR1a) polymorphisms rs1 and rs3 in a national sample of U.S. residents ( n = 348). These polymorphisms interacted with perceived threat to predict engagement in volunteer work or charitable activities and commitment to civic duty. Specifically, greater perceived threat predicted engagement in fewer charitable activities for individuals with A/A and A/G genotypes of OXTR rs53576, but not for G/G individuals. Similarly, greater perceived threat predicted lower commitment to civic duty for individuals with one or two short alleles for AVPR1a rs1, but not for individuals with only long alleles. Oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor genes may significantly influence prosocial behavior and may lie at the core of the caregiving behavioral system.
Undercontrolled Temperament at Age 3 Predicts Disordered Gambling at Age 32
Authors: Slutske Wendy S. , Moffitt Terrie E. , Poulton Richie , Caspi Avshalom
Published: March 2012

Using data from the large, 30-year prospective Dunedin cohort study, we examined whether preexisting individual differences in childhood temperament predicted adulthood disordered gambling (a diagnosis covering the full continuum of gambling-related problems). A 90-min observational assessment at age 3 was used to categorize children into five temperament groups, including one primarily characterized by behavioral and emotional undercontrol. The children with undercontrolled temperament at 3 years of age were more than twice as likely to evidence disordered gambling at ages 21 and 32 than were children who were well-adjusted at age 3. These associations could not be explained by differences in childhood IQ or family socioeconomic status. Cleanly demonstrating the temporal relation between behavioral undercontrol and adult disordered gambling is an important step toward building more developmentally sensitive theories of disordered gambling and may put researchers in a better position to begin considering potential routes to disordered-gambling prevention through enhancing self-control and emotional regulation.
A new statistical decision rule for single-arm phase II oncology trials
Authors: Chen Yiyi , Chen Zunqiu , Mori Motomi
Published: March 2012

Most single-arm phase II clinical trials compare the efficacy of a new treatment with historical controls through statistical hypothesis testing. One major problem with such a comparison is that the efficacy of the historical control is treated as a known constant, whereas in reality, it is never precisely known. This partially explains why many “Go” decisions made in single-arm phase II trials are shown to be incorrect in phase III trials. In this paper, we propose a new decision rule for an improved transitional decision for single-arm phase II oncology clinical trials with binary endpoints. This new decision rule is jointly based on the p value and a new statistical index named the testing confidence value. The testing confidence value reflects the uncertainty associated with the null value in the hypothesis testing of single-arm trials. Simulations are used to evaluate the operating characteristics of the new decision rule in comparison with the traditional decision rule and a widely used Bayesian decision rule. The application of the new decision rule is illustrated using a clinical trial on marginally resectable pancreatic cancer. A webpage http://www.yiyichenbiostatistics.com/TCV.html is available for readers to interactively compute the testing confidence value and to find the suggested decision based on the new decision rule.
Impact of a psychiatric unit’s daily discharge rates on emergency department flow
Authors: Bastiampillai Tarun , Schrader Geoffrey , Dhillon Rohan , Strobel Jörg , Bidargaddi Niranjan
Published: March 2012

Objective: To investigate relationships between time spent in the emergency department (ED) in patients requiring admission to the psychiatric ward, the day of the week of presentation and the daily number of discharges from the psychiatric ward.

Method: Retrospective analysis of patient flow as a function of day of week, time of day (a.m., p.m.), number of patients requiring admission and number of ward discharges over a one-year period, for all mental health related presentations to the ED of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia, before their admission to the psychiatric inpatient facility.

Results: The time spent by patients in the ED waiting for admission to the psychiatric ward was significantly greater on weekends. There were significantly fewer discharges from the psychiatric ward during weekends compared with weekdays. The average time spent by patients in the ED requiring admission to the psychiatric ward for those days when there were vacant beds was 17.9 hours (SD=14.5). More people presented to the ED with a psychiatric diagnosis in the afternoons. There was a significant inverse correlation between the time spent by patients in the ED requiring admission to the psychiatric ward per day and the number of discharges from the psychiatric ward per day.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that patient flow is significantly slower on weekends because of fewer discharges from the ward, leading to longer times spent in the ED before ward transfer. Waiting times in the ED were very substantially greater than the proposed 4-hour target even when vacant beds were available, raising considerable doubt about that target being realistic for psychiatric patients.
Comprehension and companionship in the emergency department as predictors of treatment adherence
Authors: Nitzan Uri , Hirsch Efrat , Walter Garry , Lurie Ido , Aviram Shai , Bloch Yuval
Published: March 2012

Objective: Lack of adherence to recommended treatment poses major clinical and economic challenges for psychiatry, and requires further examination. In this pilot study, we aimed to prospectively investigate the association between the level of understanding of psychiatric emergency department (ED) discharge recommendations and the presence of a companion with short-term treatment adherence.

Method: Sixty subjects were evaluated twice: upon ED discharge and a month later. Instruments included a structured questionnaire based on the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment, Mini Mental State Examination, and corroboration of data with the computerized hospital medical file. In order to control for the possibility that evaluation of the understanding of recommendations might positively influence adherence, the 60 subjects were randomly assigned into 50 who were interviewed with the full survey tool and 10 who were not asked questions about their understanding of treatment and/or follow-up recommendations.

Results: Understanding of discharge recommendations and the presence of a companion enhanced adherence.

Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that ensuring patients’ understanding of treatment recommendations and encouraging the company of patients are achievable, practical strategies that may improve adherence and thereby promote better outcomes.
Analytically describing the temperature-dependent constitutive parameters of an electromagnetic metamaterial
Authors: Arritt Brandon J , Smith David R. , Khraishi Tariq A
Published: March 2012

Analogous to mechanical systems, modeling the electromagnetic (EM) performance of large and complex metamaterial structures requires the use of effective-medium/constitutive properties. Constitutive properties are critical for efficiently bridging the gap between subwavelength geometry and performance at the mesoscale. In this article, the temperature-dependent effective medium properties for a metamaterial electric-inductive-capacitive (ELC) resonator are described analytically. ELC structures are commonly used in metamaterial designs to provide a tailored electric response to EM waves. An equivalent circuit model, coupled with analytic expressions for the capacitances, inductance, and resistance of the ELC resonator, is utilized to describe how thermally induced mechanical strain and changes in material properties manifest as temperature-dependent permittivity and permeability curves for the metamaterial. The resulting analytic expressions account for the effects of spatial dispersion and losses. This article also details how the process may be expanded to similarly describe the temperature-dependent constitutive properties of metamaterial magnetic resonators.
Large strain analysis of a soft polymer electromechanical sensor coupled to an arterial segment
Authors: Son Seyul , Goulbourne Nakhiah C
Published: March 2012

Dielectric elastomer membranes are one of the most promising transducers for developing soft large strain sensors. In this article, we describe the sensor response for a potential biomedical application. It is widely accepted that diseased arteries at various stages have a unique constitutive response. This means that ideally the output of an in situ artery sensor would have distinct profiles corresponding to various stages of unhealthiness. An in situ sensor can potentially allow access to information about the mechanical state of the artery that is not currently available. Furthermore, the potential to combine the functions of providing structural support (stent) and monitoring the mechanical state (sensor) is appealing. Traditional sensors such as strain gages and piezoelectric sensors are stiff and fail at low strains (<1%), whereas some dielectric elastomers are viable at strains up to and even surpassing 100%. Investigating the electromechanical response of a deformable tube sensor sandwiched between a pulsating pressure source and a nonlinear elastic distensible thick wall has not been attempted before now. The successful development of a multiphysics model that correlates the electrical output of a pulsatile membrane sensor to its state of strain would be a significant breakthrough in medical diagnostics. The artery is described using a structural model for a tubular membrane reinforced with two families of initially crimped fibers subjected to a pulsating pressure profile. In this article, the fundamental mechanics associated with electromechanical coupling during dynamic finite deformations of dielectric elastomers is derived. A continuum model for the dynamic response of tubular dielectric elastomer membranes configured for sensing is presented. The pressure profile leads to a nonlinear response of the artery sensor due to the nonlinear deformation behavior of the arterial wall. At pressures above 13  kPa, the artery undergoes infinitesimal deformation, which leads to very small changes in the sensor signal. In this range, fabricating thinner sensors and synthesizing hybrid polymers with higher dielectric constants can enhance the sensitivity.
Why I Write
Authors: Olthouse Jill M.
Published: March 2012

Eight students who excelled in a statewide, middle school creative writing tournament discussed their relationships with writing. Students’ interview transcripts were analyzed for references to positive and negative teacher influences. Students needed teachers who provided structured writing time and clear deadlines, valued the message of the work more than the format, used books as models, developed a sense of community, gave constructive feedback, honored students’ personal writing goals, specifically assessed creativity, and recognized that sometimes writing was therapeutic rather than productive.
The Selection of Gifted Students
Authors: O’Reilly Frances L. , Matt John J.
Published: March 2012

Both gifted educators and parents need to be vigilant as to how gifted education is characterized in the popular media. Gifted educators spend countless resources to meet the needs of gifted students using very limited fiscal resources, and it is imperative that those efforts are not undermined in the popular media by unsubstantiated statements. This study addresses one such statement and is presented as encouragement to document and defend the actions of gifted educators when the popular media attempts to discredit the field.
Educating Parents of Gifted Children
Authors: Weber Christine L. , Stanley Laurel
Published: March 2012

The focus of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a series of free workshops for parents of gifted children. The parent education workshops provided research-based information as recognized by experts in the field of counseling gifted children. Content areas include the characteristics of gifted children, identification, appropriate education, and parenting practices. Differences between the means of the pretest and posttest content questions indicated that the workshops were effective in educating parents. The findings support that parent workshops offer an option for providing quality information that parents need in raising their gifted children.
How to Kill a Journalism School
Authors: McDevitt Michael , Sindorf Shannon
Published: March 2012

The authors argue that journalism’s uncertain identity in academia has made it vulnerable to unreflective instrumentalism in the digital era. They show how instrumentalism intertwined with the digital sublime constitutes a rhetorically resonate rationale for closing a journalism school. Evidence comes from documents and testimony associated with discontinuance of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado. Vulnerability of the school became apparent in its own Advisory Board recommending closure. The authors warn against stakeholders in journalism education internalizing the fear and opportunism implicit in a discourse of the digital sublime, a discourse ultimately in service to discontinuance.
Getting Students Ready to Write
Authors: Poniatowski Kelly
Published: March 2012

A required writing mechanics course for mass communication students was moved online. A case study experiment manipulating the course design was conducted to determine effects on student engagement, learning, and satisfaction. Online designs with greater interactivity capabilities are positively associated with all three outcomes. These desirable results, combined with the online course’s cost-effectiveness and other benefits, support using this as one approach to improve student writing readiness.
I Need These Stories to Remind Me That There Is Hope
Authors: Bassett Deborah R.
Published: March 2012

This article uses poetic representation to describe 7 participants’ experiences living in Israel, where political violence is ongoing. The poems are derived from the participants’ spoken and written accounts of their daily lives in Israel during a 5-month period of the Al Aqsa Intifada of 2000-2004. Poetic representation of data allows the voices of participants to be heard on their own terms and provides an alternative to conventional social science research in which the perspective of the researcher is often privileged over that of the participants. Additionally, the perpetrators of terrorism and their acts are frequently made the object of media and public attention, but the voices of those whose lives are affected the most are typically unheard.
Mind the Gap
Authors: Cohen Dale J. , White Sheida , Cohen Steffaney B.
Published: March 2012

Historically, Whites have scored higher than Blacks on most measures of literacy (referred to as the Black-White literacy gap). The authors outline the historic social inequities that contributed to the Black-White literacy gap as well as the current school and home environment that may maintain it. They then examine the current state of the Black-White literacy gap using data from the primary instrument that the U.S. Department of Education uses to assess adult literacy: the 1992 National Assessment of Literacy Survey and the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. Their analysis shows that (a) the adult Black-White literacy gap decreased between 1992 and 2003, although is still sizable; (b) Blacks and Whites garner equal gains from advancing in educational attainment; (c) there was little evidence of a reduction in Black-White literacy gaps within educational attainment levels, and (d) there was significant evidence of more Blacks moving up the educational attainment ladder. This pattern of data suggests that the decrease in the overall Black-White literacy gap was significantly influenced by Blacks’ achievement of higher levels of educational attainment.
“This Project Has Personally Affected Me”
Authors: Scherff Lisa
Published: March 2012

This study draws from a number of researchers who push for critical literacy and a critical stance to question power, inequality, and the status quo; to understand scholars’ own participation in power structures; and to reframe and retheorize scholars’ beliefs and understandings. In this article, the author uses the critical stance framework to analyze preservice English language arts teachers multigenre inquiry projects, projects that were meant to engage them in reflection, critical thinking, and action. The qualitative analysis of classroom-based work is guided by the following questions: To what extent do preservice teachers go beyond answering a question of interest to adopting a critical stance, and what does this critical stance look like?
Castoriadis as a civilizational analyst
Authors: Arnason Johann P.
Published: March 2012

This article argues that a civilizational perspective is central to Castoriadis’s interpretation of ancient Greece, even if he does not use the language of civilizational analysis. More specifically, his line of argument has clear affinities with Eisenstadt’s definition of the ‘civilizational dimension’ in terms of connections between cultural interpretations of the world and institutional forms of social life. Castoriadis has less to say about geocultural and geopolitical structures of the Greek world, which would also be important topics for a balanced civilizational approach. His distinctive variation on the civilizational theme rests on the idea of social imaginary significations; in the ancient Greek case, this starting point leads to the reconstruction of a ‘primary grasp of the world’, an imaginary core that conditions further developments and innovations. This core component of Greek culture centres on the human condition as the existence of mortals in a world characterized by imperfect order and underlying chaos. The Homeric poems are Castoriadis’s main source for the contents and directions of this original Greek imaginary.  He understands the Homeric world as a framework within which the transformation of the polis towards autonomy could be initiated. Thus, the result is a strong emphasis on the archaic period as a formative phase of the whole Greek civilizational trajectory.
Engaging social imagination: The developmental work of wordless book reading
Authors: Lysaker Judith T. , Miller Angela
Published: March 2012

The reading process and reading development have been addressed by researchers for decades. As a result we know much about what reading is and how it happens. However, less is known about how reading influences other aspects of children’s development, specifically the development of social imagination. To address this, we examined the narrative produced by one child during wordless picture book reading using a conceptually derived coding scheme to identify instances of social imagination. We asked: Is children’s use of social imagination visible in wordless book reading, and if so, what does it look like and how might it give us a more detailed in-process view of the reader–text transaction? Results suggest that the use of social imagination is observable in wordless book reading and that it is an integral part of the comprehension of stories. From this we posit that through vicarious engagement with others, the process of reading may influence the relational capacity for social imagination.
On the elusive notion of meta-agreement
Authors: Ottonelli Valeria , Porello Daniele
Published: March 2012

Public deliberation has been defended as a rational and noncoercive way to overcome paradoxical results from democratic voting, by promoting consensus on the available alternatives on the political agenda. Some critics have argued that full consensus is too demanding and inimical to pluralism and have pointed out that single-peakedness, a much less stringent condition, is sufficient to overcome voting paradoxes. According to these accounts, deliberation can induce single-peakedness through the creation of a ‘meta-agreement’, that is, agreement on the dimension according to which the issues at stake are ‘conceptualized’. We argue here that once all the conditions needed for deliberation to bring about single-peakedness through meta-agreement are unpacked and made explicit, meta-agreement turns out to be a highly demanding condition, and one that is very inhospitable to pluralism.
Metabolic syndrome defined by modified International Diabetes Federation criteria and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk: A 9-year follow-up among the aged in Finland
Authors: Salminen Marika , Kuoppamäki Marikka , Vahlberg Tero , Räihä Ismo , Irjala Kerttu , Kivelä Sirkka-Liisa
Published: March 2012

The aim was to analyse the relationship between metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk among the aged. This was a prospective population-based study, with a 9-year follow-up. All subjects of the municipality of Lieto in Finland aged ≥64 in 1998–1999 with no type 2 diabetes mellitus at baseline ( n=1117) were included. Hazard ratios for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus predicted by metabolic syndrome (defined by modified International Diabetes Federation criteria) were estimated. During the 9-year follow-up, a total of 69 participants (6.2%) developed type 2 diabetes mellitus. After multivariable adjustment (age, gender, smoking, frequency of exercise, cardiovascular disease and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol), type 2 diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) (3.15, 1.89–5.25, p < 0.001) was more common in subjects with metabolic syndrome compared to subjects without it. Evaluating metabolic syndrome components individually, impaired fasting glucose (5.09, 2.64–9.82, p < 0.001) and obesity (1.71, 1.05–2.97, p = 0.034) predicted a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome predicts onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus even in late life. Impaired fasting glucose and obesity should be targets for primary prevention of diabetes among the aged with metabolic syndrome.
Frailty and Quality of Life for People With Alzheimer’s Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Mhaoláin Aine M. Ní , Gallagher Damien , Crosby Lisa , Ryan Deirdre , Lacey Loretto , Coen Robert F. , Coakley Davis , Walsh J. Bernard , Cunningham Conal , Lawlor Brian
Published: March 2012

Background: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between frailty and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in cognitively impaired elderly individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study of a convenience sample of 115 patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Frailty was measured using the biological syndrome model and HR-QOL was measured using the DEMQOL-Proxy. Regression models were constructed to establish the factors associated with HR-QOL. Results: Frailty and neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with HR-QOL, with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≥21 ( P = .037, P ≤ .001, and R2 = .362). Functional limitation was associated with HR-QOL, with MMSE scores ≤20 ( P = .017 and R2 = .377). Conclusion: Frailty and neuropsychiatric symptoms were the determinants of HR-QOL in the earlier stages of cognitive impairment. Functional limitation predicted HR-QOL in the later stages of cognitive impairment. Frailty may represent a novel modifiable target in early dementia to improve HR-QOL for patients.
A Case of Undue Violent Behavior Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Anand Kuljeet Singh , Verma Rohit
Published: March 2012

Although dementia is diagnosed by observing cognitive symptoms, noncognitive abnormalities are also highly prevalent. Although aggression is a common symptom, its presence is usually justifiable by a multitude of externally provoking factors. We present a case of Alzheimer’s disease with marked unwarranted violent behavior.
The Influence of Ethnicity and Culture on Dementia Caregiving
Authors: Sun Fei , Ong Rebecca , Burnette Denise
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this article is to pinpoint the cultural and ethnic influences on dementia caregiving in Chinese American families through a systemic review and analysis of published research findings. Eighteen publications on Chinese American dementia family caregivers published in peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and early 2011 were identified. Based on a systematic database search and review process, we found that caregivers’ beliefs concerning dementia and the concept of family harmony as evidenced through the practice of filial piety are permeating cultural values, which together affect attitudes toward research and help-seeking behaviors (ie, seeking information on diagnosis and using formal services). There is also evidence to suggest that these cultural beliefs impinge on key elements of the caregiving process, including caregivers’ appraisal of stress, coping strategies, and informal and formal support. The study concludes with recommendations for future research and practice with the Chinese American population.
Interventions for Hispanic Caregivers of Patients with Dementia
Authors: Llanque Sarah M. , Enriquez Maithe
Published: March 2012

Background: The number of Hispanics/Latinos living with dementia in the United States is expected to rise from 200,000 to 1.3 million by 2050, which will result in large numbers of Hispanics/Latinos assuming the role of caregiver. The demands of caregiving can negatively impact caregivers' health. The purpose of this review was to identify intervention strategies that can help Hispanics/Latinos deal with the burden associated with providing care for older adults with dementia. Methods: The authors critically reviewed and analyzed the literature for interventions and their relevance to these caregivers. The search engines and electronics databases of Google Scholar; Social Gerontology; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; MEDLINE; PsycARTICLES; CINAHL; and PubMed, were used to locate articles published between 1999 and 2011. Results: Ten intervention studies published between 2000 and 2011 were identified that targeted Hispanic/Latino caregivers: most were from one clinical trial (REACH). Discussion: Future studies should consider culturally tailoring interventions for Hispanic/Latino caregivers from differing subcultures, utilizing relevant technology in studies, and evaluating the functional level of the care receiver and assess where he/she is in the disease process continuum. A better understanding of within-group differences among Hispanic/Latino caregivers, especially with respect to acculturation, could lead to better tailoring of interventions. Future research should consider the possibility of discovery-based participatory approaches. Few studies have addressed these areas of concern in this population.
Treating PTSD and Disordered Eating in the Wake of Military Sexual Trauma
Authors: Mott Juliette M. , Menefee Deleene S. , Leopoulos Wendy S.
Published: March 2012

Despite high rates of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and disordered eating, there is little in the way of empirical research or practice guidelines to inform the treatment of these frequently co-occurring disorders. Clinicians who provide treatment for this patient population must navigate complicated decisions about whether these problems are best treated concurrently or sequentially, and which treatment approaches and modalities are most appropriate for the patient. The current clinical case describes the treatment of a female soldier who was admitted to a 25-day, trauma-focused inpatient program 3 months after she experienced military sexual trauma. Although treatment initially targeted her PTSD symptoms, she later disclosed her ongoing struggles with disordered eating, which raised complex questions about the most effective treatment approach. This case study illustrates the intricate link between PTSD and disordered eating, and highlights important clinical considerations relevant to the assessment and treatment of these commonly comorbid disorders.
Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Esophagogastric Devascularization Is a Safe, Effective, Minimally Invasive Alternative for the Treatment of Portal Hypertension With Refractory Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Zheng Xin , Liu Qingguang , Yao Yingmin
Published: March 2012

Open splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (OSED) is a typical surgery for portal hypertension. Because of the high morbidity associated with it, it is desirable to develop a minimally invasive alternative. To investigate the safety and effect of laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED), we performed LSED for 24 patients suffering from portal hypertension with refractory variceal bleeding while conducting OSED for 30 patients. The perioperative data and follow-up results were analyzed. Operation times were similar in both groups. Less intraoperative blood and faster return of gastrointestinal function were found in the LSED group. The LSED group had lower levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin after surgery. In both groups, the levels of platelet count, white blood cell count, or hemoglobin were increased after operation dramatically. During the follow-up period (range = 3-36 months), no patient had recurrent hypersplenism or variceal bleeding. Hence, LSED is a safe and minimally invasive intervention for portal hypertension with refractory variceal bleeding.
Working the ‘front lines’ in Washington, DC: Digital age terrorism reporting by national security prestige press
Authors: Epkins Heather Davis
Published: March 2012

This article reports on a critical tier in the global flow of terrorism information gathered through in-depth interviews with 35 national security journalists in the Washington, DC, ‘prestige press’. This research offers value by organizing, describing and analyzing the opinions of this elite group on terrorism reporting in the digital age. Rarely studied but extremely influential as conversation-shapers and a conduit to other press, these ‘front-line’ reporters offer insider knowledge and unique perceptions regarding the interplay of terrorist goals with resulting media coverage, the decline of traditional journalism, and how new media technologies are affecting their work. Findings include evidence of altered post-9/11 journalist routines. Reported results can offer practitioners insight into best practices and an opportunity for information-users to better understand and evaluate what they are receiving.
Exploring the form and function of dissident Irish Republican online discourses
Authors: Bowman-Grieve Lorraine , Conway Maura
Published: March 2012

This article seeks to contribute to broadening the focus of research in the area of violent online political extremism by examining the use of the internet by dissident Irish Republicans and their supporters. The argument here is not that the internet substitutes face-to-face contacts amongst Irish Republicans, including violent dissidents, nor that it currently plays a central role in processes of radicalisation into violent dissident groups, but that it has an important support function in terms of providing an ‘always-on’ space for discussion, consumption, and production of Irish Republicanism and thus a potentially educative role in terms of introducing ‘newbies’ to violent dissident Republicanism while also acting as a ‘maintenance’ space for the already committed. This exploratory study considers the importance of these functions in the context of repeated suggestions that the dissidents have no significant support base or constituency as internet activity certainly gives the appearance of some such support.
Exploring the Relationships of Perceived Discrimination, Anger, and Aggression among North American Indigenous Adolescents
Authors: Hartshorn Kelley J. Sittner , Whitbeck Les B. , Hoyt Dan R.
Published: March 2012

A growing body of research has documented associations between discrimination, anger, and delinquency, but the exact nature of these associations remains unclear. Specifically, do aggressive behaviors emerge over time as a consequence of perceived discrimination and anger? Or do adolescents who engage in aggressive behavior perceive that they are being discriminated against and become angry? We use autoregressive cross-lagged path analysis on a sample of 692 Indigenous adolescents (mean age = 12 years) from the Northern Midwest and Canada to answer these research questions. Results showed that the direction of effects went only one way; both perceived discrimination and anger were significantly associated with subsequent aggression. Moreover, early discrimination and anger each had indirect effects on aggressive behavior three years later, and anger partially mediated the association between discrimination and aggression. Perceived discrimination is but one of many strains related to unequal social position that these Indigenous youth experience, and it has important implications for the proliferation of disparities in later life.
Improvements in barrier properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films using commercially available high barrier masterbatch additives via melt blend technique
Authors: Mohsin ME Ali , Ali Ilias , Elleithy Rabeh H , Al-Zahrani SM
Published: March 2012

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) films which contained commercially available masterbatch additives were prepared by melt processing. Three different commercially available additives were selected, of which two of them significantly improved the oxygen and water vapour barrier properties. The additives did not significantly alter the optical, crystallization and melt rheological properties. The diffusion mechanism of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases through the polymer matrix is also explained. This article discusses the improvements in barrier properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films which can be used for food packaging applications with emphasis on preparation, characterization, properties and diffusion mechanism.
Unilateral Type II Schizencephaly
Authors: Dyson Lindsey , Carlan S. J. , Busowski John , Rasmussen Olga
Published: March 2012

Schizencephaly is a rare developmental disorder of the brain that is characterized by abnormal clefts within the cerebral hemispheres. Infants with this disorder commonly have developmental delay, delay in speech and language, partial or complete paralysis, poor muscle tone, and seizures. The manifestations and severity of the disease are related to the size and location of the clefts. The authors report a case of type II (open-lipped) schizencephaly diagnosed in the second trimester by sonography. Early prenatal diagnosis of fetal type II (open-lipped) schizencephaly allows time for patient counseling and discussion of options and preparation.