bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PAD4 is not essential for disease in the K/BxN murine autoantibody-mediated model of arthritis
Authors: Rohrbach Amanda S , Hemmers Saskia , Arandjelovic Sanja , Corr Maripat , Mowen Kerri A
Published: May 2012

Introduction

Both murine and human genome-wide association studies have implicated peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD4) as a susceptibility gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, patients with RA commonly have autoantibodies which recognize PAD4 or and/or citrullinated peptides. This study aims to evaluate the role of PAD4 in the effector phase of arthritis.

Methods

PAD4 knock out (KO) and wild type (WT) C57BL/6J mice were injected with K/BxN sera to induce disease. Progression of disease was monitored by measuring paw and ankle swelling and clinical indexes of disease, and pathogenesis was assessed by indexing of clinical progression on paws collected from WT and PAD4 KO mice injected with K/BxN serum. PAD4 activity was determined by visualization of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and immunohistological analysis of histone citrullination.

Results

PAD4 activity is readily detectable in the inflamed synovium of WT but not PAD4 deficient animals, as demonstrated by histone citrullination and NET formation. However, PAD4 WT and KO animals develop K/BxN serum transfer disease with comparable severity and kinetics, with no statistically significant differences noted in clinical scores, swelling, joint erosion or joint invasion.

Conclusions

PAD4 WT and KO mice develop disease in the K/BxN serum transfer model of arthritis with similar severity and kinetics, indicating that PAD4 is dispensable in this effector phase model of disease.
Efficacy of an immunotoxin to folate receptor beta in the intra-articular treatment of antigen-induced arthritis
Authors: Nagai Taku , Kyo Akira , Hasui Kazuhisa , Takao Sonshin , Matsuyama Takami
Published: May 2012

Introduction

We previously demonstrated that synovial sublining macrophages express folate receptor beta (FRβ). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular administration of a recombinant immunotoxin to FRβ for treating rat antigen-induced arthritis.

Methods

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) to rat FRβ was produced by immunizing mice with B300-19 cells (murine pre-B cells) transfected with the rat FRβ gene. Recombinant immunotoxin was prepared by conjugating the Fv portion of the anti-rat FRβ mAb heavy chain with a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A and the Fv portion of the anti-rat FRβ mAb light chain. Antigen-induced arthritis was induced through intra-articular injection of methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) after two subcutaneous injections of mBSA and complete Freund's adjuvant. Immunotoxin was intra-articularly injected into the arthritis joint every other day for seven days after arthritis onset. Joint swelling was measured and histological scores of inflammation, synovial thickness, cartilage, and bone destruction were determined. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect osteoclast and osteoclast precursor FRβ-expressing macrophages and cathepsin K-positive cells on day 21.

Results

Intra-articular administration of the immunotoxin attenuated joint swelling (61% suppression; P < 0.01 compared to the control on day 21) and improved histological findings, particularly cartilage and bone destruction (scores of rats treated with control versus the immunotoxin: 2.2 versus 0.5; P < 0.01), by reducing the number of FRβ-expressing macrophages and cathepsin K-positive cells.

Conclusions

Intra-articular administration of an immunotoxin to FRβ is effective for improving rat antigen-induced arthritis.
A STATus report on DC development
Authors: Li Haiyan S , Watowich Stephanie S
Published: May 2012

Review of the role for cytokines and cytokine-responsive STAT transcription factors in dendritic cell development.

DCs have a vital role in the immune system by recognizing exogenous or self-antigens and eliciting appropriate stimulatory or tolerogenic adaptive immune responses. DCs also contribute to human autoimmune disease and, when depleted, to immunodeficiency. Moreover, DCs are being explored for potential use in clinical therapies including cancer treatment. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate DCs is crucial to improving treatments for human immune disease and cancer. DCs constitute a heterogeneous population including plasmacytoid (pDC) and classic (cDC) subsets; however, the majority of DCs residing in lymphoid organs and peripheral tissues in steady state share common progenitor populations, originating with hematopoietic stem cells. Like other hematopoietic lineages, DCs require extracellular factors including cytokines, as well as intrinsic transcription factors, to control lineage specification, commitment, and maturation. Here, we review recent findings on the roles for cytokines and cytokine-activated STAT transcription factors in DC subset development. We also discuss how cytokines and STATs intersect with lineage-regulatory transcription factors and how insight into the molecular basis of human disease has revealed transcriptional regulators of DCs. Whereas this is an emerging area with much work remaining, we anticipate that knowledge gained by delineating cytokine and transcription factor mechanisms will enable a better understanding of DC subset diversity, and the potential to manipulate these important immune cells for human benefit.
Role of Intramitochondrial Arachidonic Acid and Acyl-CoA Synthetase 4 in Angiotensin II-Regulated Aldosterone Synthesis in NCI-H295R Adrenocortical Cell Line
Authors: Mele Pablo G. , Duarte Alejandra , Paz Cristina , Capponi Alessandro , Podestá Ernesto J.
Published: May 2012

Although the role of arachidonic acid (AA) in angiotensin II (ANG II)- and potassium-stimulated steroid production in zona glomerulosa cells is well documented, the mechanism responsible for AA release is not fully described. In this study we evaluated the mechanism involved in the release of intramitochondrial AA and its role in the regulation of aldosterone synthesis by ANG II in glomerulosa cells. We show that ANG II and potassium induce the expression of acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thioesterase 2 and acyl-CoA synthetase 4, two enzymes involved in intramitochondrial AA generation/export system well characterized in other steroidogenic systems. We demonstrate that mitochondrial ATP is required for AA generation/export system, steroid production, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein induction. We also demonstrate the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases regulating acyl-CoA synthetase 4 and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein induction, and hence ANG II-stimulated aldosterone synthesis.
Gonadotropin-Inhibitory Hormone (GnIH) Secretion into the Ovine Hypophyseal Portal System
Authors: Smith Jeremy T. , Ross Young I. , Veldhuis Johannes D. , Clarke Iain J.
Published: May 2012

GnIH was first identified in avian species, and there is now strong evidence that it is operant in mammals as an inhibitor of reproduction. Mammalian gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH)-3 is encoded by the RFRP gene in neurons of the dorsomedial nucleus. These neurons project to the median eminence, predicting a role as a secreted neurohormone and regulation of the pituitary gonadotropes. To determine whether GnIH-3 is a secreted neurohormone, we measured its concentration in hypophyseal portal blood in ewes during the nonbreeding (anestrous) season and during the luteal and follicular phases of the estrous cycle in the breeding season. Paired portal and jugular blood samples were collected and plasma prepared for RIA using an ovine GnIH-3 antibody. Pulsatile GnIH-3 secretion was observed in the portal blood of all animals. Mean GnIH-3 pulse amplitude and pulse frequency was higher during the nonbreeding season. GnIH-3 was virtually undetectable in peripheral blood plasma. There was a lack of association between secretory pulses of GnIH-3 (portal) and LH (peripheral). To determine the role of secreted GnIH-3, we examined its effects on GnRH-stimulated LH secretion in hypothalamo-pituitary-disconnected ewes; a significant reduction in the LH response to GnRH was observed. Finally, to identify cellular targets in the pituitary, the expression of GnIH receptor [G protein-coupled receptor 147 (GPR147)] in fractions enriched for gonadotropes somatotropes, and lactotropes was examined; expression was observed in each cell type. These data show GnIH-3 is secreted into portal blood to act on pituitary gonadotropes, reducing the action of GnRH.
mTOR Pathway Overactivation in BRAF Mutated Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Faustino Alexandra , Couto Joana P. , Pópulo Helena , Rocha Ana Sofia , Pardal Fernando , Cameselle-Teijeiro José Manuel , Lopes José Manuel , Sobrinho-Simões Manuel , Soares Paula
Published: May 2012

Context:

There are several genetic and molecular evidences suggesting dysregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in thyroid neoplasia. Activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT pathway by RET/PTC and mutant RAS has already been demonstrated, but no data have been reported for the BRAFV600E mutation.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activation pattern of the mTOR pathway in malignant thyroid lesions and whether it may be correlated with known genetic alterations, as well as to explore the mechanisms underlying mTOR pathway activation in these neoplasias.

Results:

We observed, by immunohistochemical evaluation, an up-regulation/activation of the mTOR pathway proteins in thyroid cancer, particularly in conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (cPTC). Overactivation of the mTOR signaling was particularly evident in cPTC samples harboring the BRAFV600E mutation. Transfection assays with BRAF expression vectors as well as BRAF knockdown by small interfering RNA revealed a positive association between BRAF expression and mTOR pathway activation, which appears to be mediated by pLKB1 Ser428, and emerged as a possible mechanism contributing to the association between BRAF mutation and mTOR pathway up-regulation. When we evaluated the rapamycin in the growth of thyroid cancer cell lines, we detected that cell lines with activating mutations in the MAPK pathway show a higher sensitivity to this drug.

Conclusions:

We determined that the AKT/mTOR pathway is particularly overactivated in human cPTC harboring the BRAFV600E mutation. Moreover, our results suggest that the mTOR pathway could be a good target to enhance therapy effects in certain types of thyroid carcinoma, namely in those harboring the BRAFV600E mutation.
Ten Novel Mutations in the NR5A1 Gene Cause Disordered Sex Development in 46,XY and Ovarian Insufficiency in 46,XX Individuals
Authors: Camats N. , Pandey A. V. , Fernández-Cancio M. , Andaluz P. , Janner M. , Torán N. , Moreno F. , Bereket A. , Akcay T. , García-García E. , Muñoz M. T. , Gracia R. , Nistal M. , Castaño L. , Mullis P. E. , Carrascosa A. , Audí L. , Flück C. E.
Published: May 2012

Context:

Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/NR5A1) is a nuclear receptor that regulates adrenal and reproductive development and function. NR5A1 mutations have been detected in 46,XY individuals with disorders of sexual development (DSD) but apparently normal adrenal function and in 46,XX women with normal sexual development yet primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Objective:

A group of 100 46,XY DSD and two POI was studied for NR5A1 mutations and their impact.

Design:

Clinical, biochemical, histological, genetic, and functional characteristics of the patients with NR5A1 mutations are reported.

Setting:

Patients were referred from different centers in Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. Histological and genetic studies were performed in Barcelona, Spain. In vitro studies were performed in Bern, Switzerland.

Patients:

A total of 65 Spanish and 35 Turkish patients with 46,XY DSD and two Swiss 46,XX patients with POI were investigated.

Main Outcome:

Ten novel heterozygote NR5A1 mutations were detected and characterized (five missense, one nonsense, three frameshift mutations, and one duplication).

Results:

The novel NR5A1 mutations were tested in vitro by promoter transactivation assays showing grossly reduced activity for mutations in the DNA binding domain and variably reduced activity for other mutations. Dominant negative effect of the mutations was excluded. We found high variability and thus no apparent genotype-structure-function-phenotype correlation. Histological studies of testes revealed vacuolization of Leydig cells due to fat accumulation.

Conclusions:

SF-1/NR5A1 mutations are frequently found in 46,XY DSD individuals (9%) and manifest with a broad phenotype. Testes histology is characteristic for fat accumulation and degeneration over time, similar to findings observed in patients with lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (due to StAR mutations). Genotype-structure-function-phenotype correlation remains elusive.
A Critical Pedagogy of Place?: Te Ātiawa (Māori) and Pākehā (Non-Māori) History Teachers' Perspectives on the Teaching of Local, Māori and New Zealand Histories
Authors: Manning Richard F.
Published: May 2012

This article describes the objectives and methodology of
a doctoral research project (Manning, 2008). It then draws
upon the key findings of that project to briefly describe
how an envisioned critical pedagogy of place partnership
model, involving nominated members of the
Te Ātiawa iwi(tribe) and local history
teachers, might enhance the quality of history teaching in
the Port Nicholson Block area. This area is located in the
Wellington district (south-western corner) of New Zealand's
North Island. The discussion then explains, in more detail,
why obstacles are likely to be encountered by any attempt
by
Te Ātiawaand/or the teacher participants
to develop such a partnership model. Two related
place-based metaphors help draw brief conclusions about how
these obstacles relate to the New Zealand government's own
(1989) principles for action on the Treaty of Waitangi and
recount its obligations to uphold the Articles of the
United Nations' (2007) Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples.
How Do the Sámi Culture and School Culture Converge — or Do They?
Authors: Keskitalo Pigga , Määttä Kaarina
Published: May 2012

This article dissects instruction in the Norwegian Sámi
School and its cultural sensitivity. The focus is on the
classroom culture of Sámi education: how Sámi education is
arranged in practice. The core of the research is
intertwined with issues concerning the status, language,
and culture of Indigenous people in education. The research
was ethnographic and the research data consists of
questionnaires (
N= 108), teachers' (
N= 15) interviews, and the researcher's
field diaries. The research showed that the Sámi culture
and school culture do not meet: the western school culture
dominates teaching at the Sámi School and socialises the
Sámi School into mainstream society. The Sámi people's
conception of time, place, and information should be
emphasised in the teaching arrangements.
Success Stories from an Indigenous Immersion Primary Teaching Experience in New South Wales Schools
Authors: Harrington Ingrid , Brasche Inga
Published: May 2012

A federal report released by the Department of Families
and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
(FaHCSIA, 2009), entitled
Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: The
Challenge for Australia, highlighted the
inequality that exists between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous students based on a restricted access to
resources, issues of isolation, staff and student
retention, and cultural differences and challenges. In New
South Wales (NSW), the Department of Education and Training
(DET) and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
(AECG) in 2003/2004 undertook their own review of
Aboriginal education in NSW Government schools that
revealed significant concerns about the outcomes being
achieved by Aboriginal students in NSW DET schools,
confirming the more recent FaHCSIA (2009) findings. In 2006
the NSW DET implemented the Enhanced Teacher Training
Scholarship Program (ETTSP) to empower 20 final-year
education students to successfully engage with Indigenous
students in schools and their wider community during their
internship period. Using themes, this article explores the
experiences of 10 University of New England scholarship
holders at the end of their final year of teacher training
and immersion/internship experience in 2010. The article
puts forward useful recommendations for both teacher
universities and students intending to teach in schools
with high Indigenous student populations.
Using Participatory Action Research to Share Knowledge of the Local Environment and Climate Change: Case Study of Erub Island, Torres Strait
Authors: McNamara Karen Elizabeth , McNamara John Patrick
Published: May 2012

Reading seasons and environments has been a long-held
practice for Torres Strait Islanders through their close
relationships with their islands and seas. This research
project worked with elders on Erub (Darnley) Island, in the
eastern group of islands in the Torres Strait, to document
and synthesise their knowledge of seasonal patterns and
indicators, and climate change. This knowledge varied from
details on the migration and nesting patterns of the main
totem birds, to the movement of the Tagai star
constellation, to the onset of wind patterns indicating
certain planting or fishing cycles. The importance of
documenting and transferring such knowledge is that it
continues the task of generating interest among the younger
generation to ‘read’ their landscape, which is especially
pertinent given the projected impacts of climate change.
The ability of islanders to identify indicators and ‘read’
their country is an important tool in monitoring and
adapting to environmental change, as well as maintaining
culture, livelihoods and environment. This article outlines
this knowledge, and documents the process of utilising this
knowledge to develop a seasonal calendar, which was also
transposed into a larger mural at the local primary school.
The school children were involved in assembling the mural,
and its contents will now form part of the teaching
curriculum. It is hoped that by documenting and sharing
such knowledge, younger generations can see its value, for
instance in monitoring the impacts of environmental change,
and in turn it will be valued by them.
Indigenous Australian Students' Participation Rates in Higher Education: Exploring the Role of Universities
Authors: Pechenkina Ekaterina , Kowal Emma , Paradies Yin
Published: May 2012

Indigenous Australians are underrepresented and
considerably disadvantaged within the Australian system of
higher education. The various measures taken by Australian
universities over the past decades have produced varying
levels of success in increasing Indigenous participation
and completion rates. In order to continue improving
Indigenous Australian participation in higher education, it
is important to understand the current patterns of
participation and factors within universities that are
associated with participation and success. In this article
we analyse higher education student and staff statistics
available from the Department of Education, Employment and
Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and information sourced from
the web sites of 40 Australian universities to examine
correlations between various Indigenous student support
mechanisms and Indigenous students' higher education
participation rates. Our results indicate that there is a
dual system of Indigenous higher education, with one group
of universities excelling at attracting Indigenous
students, and a different group of universities
demonstrating high Indigenous student completion rates. We
argue that challenges remain in determining how to increase
commencements at universities with high Indigenous
completion rates without compromising entrance requirements
or further diluting the level of student support, and how
to increase completion rates at universities with higher
numbers of Indigenous students.
Failure of Care in State Care: In-Care Abuse and Postcare Homelessness
Authors: Thoresen Stian H. , Liddiard Mark
Published: May 2012

This article reviews initial findings from an Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute [AHURI]-funded research project examining housing outcomes among Australian young people who have been in state out-of-home care. Our findings suggest a linkage between incidents of in-care abuse and poor postcare housing outcomes among our research participants, including primary homelessness. Not attending school when leaving care was also highly associated with having experienced in-care abuse. The authors postulate that adverse in-care experiences may have contributed to poor postcare housing outcomes among the research participants; and this article raises a number of specific concerns related to neglect, abuse and assault while in care. It is also argued that support in the transition from care needs to be strengthened to mitigate poor post-care outcomes, as does accountability for in-care adversities.
Foster Care and Adoption: Carer/Parent Hours Over and Above ‘Ordinary Parenting’
Authors: Forbes Catherine , O'Neill Cas , Humphreys Cathy , Tregeagle Susan , Cox Elizabeth
Published: May 2012

Caring for children in home-based care is seen as requiring considerably more time and energy from caregivers than is the case for most other children who are not in care. This article reports on a study that quantified the amount of time, over and above ‘ordinary parenting’, spent by 26 foster carers and prospective adoptive parents of children during a 9-month period in a program offering long-term care. The findings provide information that is potentially useful, not only in the debate about the decline in carer numbers, but also for agencies when they are recruiting, training and assessing prospective carers. Carers in the study spent an average of 55 minutes per day (or approximately 6 hours 22 minutes per 7-day week) on activities over and above the ordinary care of children. Carer time was highest for cases in the first year of placement when the average time was close to 2 hours per day. The tasks that took the greatest carer time, on average, were access visits, meeting with caseworkers, school- and tutoring-related matters, counselling and medical appointments, and organising respite care. Not surprisingly, more time was spent on children with challenging health and behavioural issues. Despite these differences in the average level of time required for each individual situation, the study also demonstrates that most carers experience days that are substantially taken up with their care responsibilities.
The Scottish Children's Home: An Evolving Model of Residential Provision for Vulnerable Children
Authors: Milligan Ian , Furnivall Judith
Published: May 2012

This article describes developments in residential childcare services in Scotland and the influence of various policy trends; in particular, it draws on the work of the National Residential Child Care Initiative, a major government-led review that reported in 2009. The development of small-scale residential units, the emergence of a ‘mixed economy’ of provision and a focus on staff training are key features of residential care for children in Scotland. The sector has received strong central government affirmation for two decades, notwithstanding a gradual reduction in its overall size. The article focuses on developments over the past 10 years and identifies a number of ‘drivers’ that aim to promote improvement, including staff training and the promotion of interprofessional collaboration. The emergence of specialist education and health services for ‘looked after children’ is noted. The relative underemphasis, until recently, on specific theories of care or particular therapeutic approaches is considered. Constraints on improvement are also considered; these include the fragmentation of provision and the operation of markets, the pressure on places and a high level of placement breakdown.
Can Stability in Out-of-Home Care Be Improved? An Analysis of Unplanned and Planned Placement Changes in Foster Care
Authors: Tregeagle Susan , Hamill Rosemary
Published: May 2012

This article presents the findings of a study of unplanned and planned placement changes in foster care programs designed for restoration or time-limited assessment for long-term care. In this study, the causes of placement changes in the program are analysed to assess whether stability could be improved. The study was undertaken by examining computer records of placement changes over a 6-year period, in five Temporary Family Care (TFC) programs. Once these changes were identified, social workers were asked to describe the circumstances of the placement change for each named child. These were then categorised into two groups: unplanned and planned placement changes. Unplanned changes are those that were not anticipated at initial entry to care, nor during scheduled case reviews. The frequency of unplanned changes was 2% of all placements; within this group of unplanned changes no child had more than two unplanned moves and only 0.6% of children had two unplanned changes. Planned placement changes were those changes considered as part of routine case decision-making according to the requirements of the ‘Looking After Children’ (LAC) system. These changes occurred in 4.5% of all planned placements. Some children experienced both planned and unplanned changes. The changes were then categorised according to the reasons for change. Some placement changes appeared unavoidable. This finding leads to questions about whether instability can ever be entirely eliminated. The TFC programs appear to have a lower rate of breakdown than that reported in the literature; however, variations in study design make comparisons difficult.
Coping and Development: An Index of Resilience
Authors: Nikkerud Hannah C. , Frydenberg Erica
Published: May 2012

Resilience is a concept that has captured people's interest in recent years in the hope of being able to readily identify the elements that make young people able to bounce back from adverse circumstances. Coping is an important component of resilience in that it can be conceptualised, operationalised, measured and developed. Since stress and coping have been arguably one of the most widely researched areas in the field of psychology there is a diverse literature. This article provides a brief review of the literature in the field of coping, particularly as it relates to adolescents. It provides a definition of the construct and considers correlates such as age and gender. It draws attention to the paucity of literature on family patterns of coping, such as an exploration of parents and their children's coping. Coping is helpful as part of a person-centred, rather than a situation-centred, approach to risk and resilience.
An Exploration Into the Coping Strategies of Preschoolers: Implications for Professional Practice
Authors: Chalmers Kirsten , Frydenberg Erica , Deans Jan
Published: May 2012

This study aims to explore the coping strategies of preschoolers, by asking 4-year-old children (N = 46) at an early learning centre in Melbourne to describe their coping strategies when dealing with seven age-appropriate challenging situations. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The results indicated that preschoolers could articulate coping strategies that are theoretically clustered into productive and nonproductive coping styles. The capacity to identify a range of coping strategies related to specific situations has implications not only for theory development, but also for the design of effective prevention and intervention programs to help children more effectively deal with life challenges.
A Comparison of the Coping Styles Used by Parents and Their Adolescent Children
Authors: Nikkerud Hannah C. , Frydenberg Erica
Published: May 2012

This aim of this study was to compare the coping styles of adolescent males and females with the coping styles of their fathers and mothers respectively, extending on previous research by Lade, Frydenberg and Poole (1998) that compared the coping styles of older adolescent females with their mothers. To date, there has been a lack of clarity about how coping skills are acquired and this study helps to bridge a gap in the literature by directly comparing coping styles of parents with their children. Year 7 (n = 4; M age = 12) and Year 11 (n = 16; M age = 16) students, as well as their parent of the same gender, completed the Adolescent Coping Scale. Paired t tests and correlations revealed that adolescent children do not simply imitate the coping strategies used by their parents. Predictable age and gender-related differences were found between the parent and child groups, indicating that intra-individual and developmental factors may be a better determinant of adolescent coping than parent behaviour.
Coping Strategies Used by Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Robertson Kerry , Frydenberg Erica
Published: May 2012

Little is understood about how adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders attempt to cope with problems. Six males between 13- and 17-years-old with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism completed an adapted Adolescent Coping Scale, the Social Skills Rating System, the Personal Wellbeing Index and a semistructured interview about the ways they coped. Parental reports on an adapted Adolescent Coping Scale and the Social Skills Rating System were also collected for four participants. Social skill and subjective wellbeing measures demonstrated a sample characterised by considerable variability between normative and less than normative ranges. Adolescents reported using a range of coping strategies, however they described their coping efforts as often ineffective. Parents also perceived that their sons used several nonproductive coping strategies more frequently. The results support that coping is a relevant area for future research attention with these young people and that the assessment of coping would be useful for targeted intervention practices.
A Qualitative Study Exploring Coping Strategies in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Serlachius Anna , Frydenberg Erica , Northam Elisabeth , Cameron Fergus
Published: May 2012

Adolescents diagnosed with a chronic illness such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) face the typical physical and psychosocial challenges associated with adolescence, as well as the additional challenges of having to cope with the daily stressors of living with a chronic illness. In order to explore coping strategies in this population of adolescents, and to compare the constructs with those identified by the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS), four focus groups were conducted with 13 adolescents with T1DM. The qualitative data was analysed using content analysis and grouped according to the ACS. Prevalent nonproductive coping strategies included Tension Reduction (the use of maladaptive techniques to reduce tension/stress), Ignore the Problem and Keep to Self. Prevalent productive coping strategies included Seek Social Support, Physical Recreation and Seek Relaxing Diversions. The qualitative data not only affirmed the conceptual areas of the ACS for use with adolescents with T1DM, but also highlighted the need to teach coping strategies to adolescents with T1DM to give them an additional skill set to help them better manage the challenges of diabetes.
The Munro Review of Child Protection: Final Report — A Child-Centred System: A Review and Commentary
Authors: Ainsworth Frank , Hansen Patricia
Published: May 2012

In June 2010 the Secretary of State for Education in England asked Professor Eileen Munro, Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics, to conduct an independent review of child protection in England. As Professor Munro says in her third and final report, she: ‘sets out recommendations that taken together, will help to reform the child protection system from being over bureaucratised and concerned with compliance to one that keeps a focus on children, checking whether they are being effectively helped, and adapting when problems are identified.’ This article, which is a selective review of the final report, firstly cites the principles of an effective child protection system and then the principles to guide ‘risk-sensible’ decision-making as put forward in the report. It concludes with the 15 major recommendations of the Munro report and makes some comment and comparisons with recent Australian state- and territory-based reviews of child protection services.
Social Pedagogy: What Questions Can We Ask About Its Value and Effectiveness?
Authors: Cameron Claire
Published: May 2012

Social pedagogy is a field of professional practice associated with the care and education of young children, support of young people, and with family support that has an established place in many continental European countries. It has attracted attention in the United Kingdom (UK) for its potential relevance to the policy ambition of improving the generally poor educational and social outcomes for young people in public care. In this article, I discuss some issues arising from the task of establishing the value, or effectiveness, of the social pedagogic approach. Using findings from cross-national studies, I argue that there are various problems with measuring the ‘effectiveness’ of social pedagogy, but that in countries where social pedagogy is well established and supported by a policy and cultural context, its role in supporting children and families is highly valued. I conclude by considering some implications for the introduction of social pedagogy into the UK.
Key Concepts in Social Pedagogy — or How to See Everyday Life in Children's Residential Homes From a Social Pedagogical Perspective
Authors: Holthoff Sylvia , Harbo Lotte Junker
Published: May 2012

“Now I can actually play soccer with the young people without fearing that my colleagues think I am escaping the paper work.”

These were the words from a participant in a social pedagogy training course in England a few years ago. This understanding emerged through in-depth discussions and activities around key social pedagogical concepts, such as the ‘common third’, the ‘3Ps’, the ‘zone of proximal development’ and the ‘learning zone model’. In this article we will explore how a joint activity, for example, playing soccer, can be seen as a pedagogical activity and with what intentions it is undertaken to make it pedagogically purposeful.
Sickness Absence as an Indicator of Health in Sweden
Authors: Selander John , Buys Nicholas
Published: May 2012

For many years Sweden has experienced high rates of sickness absence among employees. Sickness absence is often regarded as an indicator of health in a population, with low rates of absence associated with good health and high degrees of absence associated with poor health. The aim of this article is to examine this hypothesis — that the high rates of sickness absence in Sweden is an indicator of poor health. Sickness absence and health data was obtained from official government statistics in order to compare Sweden with six other European countries and a number of health-related variables. The hypothesis was not supported by the results of this study. While Sweden has a high rate of sickness absence, it ranks highly on a range of health variables when compared to other European countries. Instead, sickness absence may be more strongly associated with rates of unemployment. In times of high unemployment, sickness absence is low, and in times low unemployment, sickness absence is high. While public health programs are essential components of primary health care initiatives, the evidence from this study indicates that they are unlikely to have significant impact on sickness absence in Sweden. Instead more effort should be made to intervene early following sickness absence through providing timely vocational rehabilitation and disability management programs.
United States Employment Disability Discrimination Charges: Implications for Disability Management Practice
Authors: Bruyère Susanne M. , von Schrader Sarah , Coduti Wendy , Bjelland Melissa
Published: May 2012

It is 20 years since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, yet employment and economic inequities continue for people with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to inform and encourage disability management leading practices to contribute toward reducing these disparities. The approach is an examination of where in the employment process applicants and incumbent employees perceive employment disability discrimination, leading to the filing of charges against an employer. Employment disability discrimination claims filed by individuals over 15 years (1993–2007) with the United States (US) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or state and local Fair Employment Practice Agencies are studied. The authors analyse employment discrimination charges by year, basis (i.e., protected class characteristics, such as disability, age, or race), issue (i.e., actions of the employer, such as discharge, hiring, or harassment), employer characteristics (i.e, size of business and industry sector), and joint filings under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (gender, race/ethnicity, and religious discrimination) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Special attention is paid to where in the employment process people with specific impairments are perceiving discrimination. Implications of these research findings for the practice and administration of disability management and employer policies are discussed.
Disability Management Services in Unionised Environments: A Delphi Study
Authors: White Antony R.
Published: May 2012

A common suggestion in the disability management research literature is that consultative relationships between disability manager specialists and key union personnel can significantly enhance disability management services provided in unionised workplaces. However, the findings of previous knowledge validation studies have indicated that a sizeable proportion of disability managers believe they are under-prepared to provide services in unionised environments. Plausibly, these findings could reflect the dearth of existing outcome studies that expressly describe characteristics associated with the successful provision of disability management services in unionised workplaces. As a first step towards addressing the aforementioned gap in the disability management research literature, the current study reports the results of a Delphi procedure designed to provide information regarding possible factors that impact disability management services provided in unionised workplaces. The goal of the study was to develop a preliminary survey that could be used in subsequent research studies that address disability management best practises. Four thematically classified domains were identified that included: (a) disability managers' and disability management client characteristics, (b) rate of union representatives' participation in disability management services, (c) disability management service characteristics in unionised environments, and (d) disability managers' attitudes regarding working with labour union representatives. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of rehabilitation counsellor education and development of empirically based disability management practice strategies.
The Adequacy of Institutional Responses to Death at Work: Experiences of Surviving Families
Authors: Matthews Lynda R. , Quinlan Michael , Rawlings-Way Olivia , Bohle Philip
Published: May 2012

Over 5 thousand family members and close friends of Australian workers become survivors of sudden workplace death each year. Formal responses following the death are central to surviving families' ability to adapt, yet families' experiences of these responses are unknown. This study used in-depth interviews to explore 7 surviving family members' experiences of formal workplace death mechanisms: postdeath protocols; interactions with employers, unions, media and statutory authorities; stages of legal process including coronial inquests, prosecutions by the occupational health and safety (OHS) regulator, and civil action; and outcomes of judicial proceedings. Participants identified difficulties arising from insensitive treatment by authorities, and significant bureaucratic problems, including a lack of information, communication and support. Systematic research that fully examines families' needs and identifies organisational postdeath protocols is required to advance the management of institutional responses following workplace death and thereby improve outcomes for families.
Rejection Sensitivity in Childhood and Early Adolescence: Peer Rejection and Protective Effects of Parents and Friends
Authors: McLachlan Julie , Zimmer-Gembeck Melanie J. , McGregor Leanne
Published: May 2012

Theory suggests that rejection sensitivity, a social cognitive processing style characterised by anxious and angry expectations of rejection, develops from experiences of rejection or acceptance by others. The purpose of this study of 417 children and early adolescents (age 9 to 13) was to examine how relationship experiences are directly and interactively associated with their rejection sensitivity. In a multivariate analysis, there was an association of rejection by parents and by peers with rejection sensitivity, with a stronger association between peer rejection and sensitivity than between parent rejection and sensitivity. Regarding interactive effects, peer rejection was found to have a strong association with rejection sensitivity among participants with low or high parent acceptance, and among those with high friendship satisfaction. Yet, there was evidence of a stronger association between peer rejection and rejection sensitivity among those with low parent acceptance or high friendship quality. This was because rejection sensitivity was highest when peer rejection was high and parent acceptance was low, and sensitivity was lowest when peer rejection was low and friendship quality was high. Findings show how young people's relationships in different domains uniquely co-vary with rejection sensitivity and interact in accounting for angry and anxious expectations of rejection by others.
Discussion of Crabbe: Restoring Balance to Hawaii: “Kūpa'a i Ke Kāhua o Hawai'i”
Authors: Kaholokula Joseph Keawe'aimoku
Published: May 2012

Dr Crabbe presents a broad overview of the sociohistory of Hawaii following western contact and its colonisation by the United States (US). He describes the constant political, societal, and psychological struggles of Kānaka Maoli (native Hawaiians) against the never-ending tides of foreign influences to the shores of Hawaii. Within his sociohistorical overview, three significant issues for Kānaka Maoli are emphasised. One issue is that of ' Āina land. (The word ' Āina is capitalised throughout because, in the Native Hawaiian worldview, ' Āina is a living entity who gives and sustains life; it is an ancestor of the Hawaiian people, and it is important to the existence of Kānaka Maoli.) The second issue has to do with Kānaka Maoli is identity, which has been impacted by various foreign contacts and US colonisation that has negatively impacted traditional Hawaiian practices, customs, beliefs, language, and society. The constant struggle of Kānaka Maoli in regaining sovereignty, or self-determination, is a third issue of significance in Dr Crabbe's article. This article will briefly discuss the interplay among, and significance of, these three issues: ' Āina, Kānaka Maoli, and sovereignty, focusing on the importance and relevance of the first for the second and third.
That the People May Live: The Cowlitz Tribe's Journey of Peace and Justice
Authors: Wiggins Eugene A.
Published: May 2012

In an age of conflict and violence, the human family seeks peace-building paradigms. ‘Wisdom’ in traditional Native American culture provides a lens for exploring peace psychology. Native American culture understands ‘wisdom’ to be, ‘that the people may live’. Living implies love of life, love of others' lives, and the right to life and dignity. Here lies wisdom, that people may live with peace and justice. The Cowlitz Indians of western Washington, United States (US), traditionally, based constructive relations on the wisdom of kinship values, an ethic of generosity and reciprocity towards the wider community. Despite land loss and assimilation efforts of the dominant society, the US federal government finally recognised the Cowlitz Nation. This long awaited acknowledgment, won through adherence to traditional wisdom and values, has provided affirmation ‘that the people may live’.
Discussion of Marai: Melanesian Consensus: Questions?
Authors: Kesselman Martin
Published: May 2012

Leo Marai's article proposes to study the central role of consensus in conflict resolution in Melanesia and to describe its particular psycho-cultural characteristics. He applies his view to the resolution of the Bougainville crisis as an illustrative example.
Integrative Complexity in Correspondence
Authors: Koo Jasook , Han Joon
Published: May 2012

Integrative complexity, the interaction of conceptual and cognitive rules, is used in processing information. High integrative complexity people evaluate situations and make decisions diversely; low integrative complexity people reason simplistically and dichotomously. We examined the social psychology of South/North Korean relations in their correspondence by an integrative complexity coding process. Time series analysis predicted mean levels of integrative complexity for each half-year period between 1984 and 1997. Analysis showed that South/North Korean relations exert significant influence on integrative complexity levels. We also found a mutual effect of integrative complexity levels in the two. Major coordinative events relate to a decline in integrative complexity in the following half-year period. During South Korean presidential elections, correspondence integrative complexity levels decline in both.
Using Professional Leadership to Promote Multicultural Understanding and Social Justice
Authors: Arredondo Patricia
Published: May 2012

Social justice icons, like Rosa Parks, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and César Chávez, known for their tireless, courageous leadership initiating societal changes that have benefited many, lead the way for contemporary professional psychologists. These leaders opened pathways for inclusive principles and practices in education, employment, and political contexts. At the same time, professional leadership on behalf of multicultural and social justice issues in professional organisations and other contexts is known to be challenging. Biases and assumptions, micro-aggressions, and ignorance of experiences with interpersonal oppression are communicated daily. In multiculturally diverse global societies, social justice leadership is in great demand. Psychologists are encouraged to develop multicultural competencies in educational, research, and organisational practices and emulate the social justice icons.
The Life Experiences of Young Maori: Voices From Afar
Authors: Ormond Adreanne
Published: May 2012

Societal relationships of dominant and minority societal groups show that the marginalised minority societal group are not powerless victims of the dominant societal group. The societal groups are positioned within dynamic power relationships shaping their societal engagements. The dominant societal group silences the indigenous community experiences to advance the dominant societal group, by demeaning the minority societal group's societal and cultural knowledge. Minority societal group marginalisation is heard in the young voices of the indigenous community. The identity of the young is flavoured by local, national and global cultures. They articulate their marginalisation by interweaving dominant and minority discourses. Their voices speak of marginalisation in ways that are transferable to many minority and indigenous societal groups.