bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Midlife Blood Pressure, Plasma β-Amyloid, and the Risk for Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Shah Nilay S. , Vidal Jean-Sébastien , Masaki Kamal , Petrovitch Helen , Ross G. Webster , Tilley Cathy , DeMattos Ronald B. , Tracy Russell P. , White Lon R. , Launer Lenore J.
Published: March 2012

β-Amyloid (Aβ), a vasoactive protein, and elevated blood pressure (BP) levels are associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and possibly vascular dementia. We investigated the joint association of midlife BP and Aβ peptide levels with the risk for late-life AD and vascular dementia. Subjects were 667 Japanese-American men (including 73 with a brain autopsy), from the prospective Honolulu Heart Program/Honolulu Asia Aging Study (1965–2000). Midlife BP was measured starting in 1971 in participants with a mean age of 58 years; Aβ was measured in specimens collected in 1980–1982, and assessment of dementia and autopsy collection started in 1991–1993. The outcome measures were prevalent (present in 1991–1993) and incident AD (n=53, including 38 with no contributing cardiovascular disease) and vascular dementia (n=24). Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, β-amyloid neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles were evaluated in postmortem tissue. The risk for AD significantly increased with lower levels of plasma Aβ (Aβ1-40 hazard ratio: 2.1 [95% CI: 1.4 to 3.1]; Aβ1-42 hazard ratio: 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1 to 2.3]). Evidence of interaction between diastolic BP and plasma Aβ (1-40
P
interaction
<0.05; 1-42
P
interaction
<0.07) levels indicated that the Aβ-related risk for AD was higher when BP was higher. Low plasma Aβ was associated with the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (
P
trend
<0.05) but not the other neuropathologies. Aβ plasma levels start decreasing ≥15 years before AD is diagnosed, and the association of Aβ to AD is modulated by midlife diastolic BP. Elevated BP may compromise vascular integrity leading to cerebral amyloid angiopathy and impaired Aβ clearance from the brain.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reduces Cardiac Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Okayama Keita , Azuma Junya , Dosaka Norio , Iekushi Kazuma , Sanada Fumihiro , Kusunoki Hiroshi , Iwabayashi Masaaki , Rakugi Hiromi , Taniyama Yoshiaki , Morishita Ryuichi
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis induced by pressure overload in mice. Although cardiac fibrosis is attributed to excess pathological deposition of extracellular matrix components, the mechanism remains unclear. Recent reports revealed that α-smooth muscle actin–expressing myofibroblasts are primarily responsible for fibrosis. It is believed that myofibroblasts are differentiated from resident fibroblasts, whereas the transformation of vascular endothelial cells into myofibroblasts, known as endothelial-mesenchymal transition, has been suggested to be intimately associated with perivascular fibrosis. Thus, we hypothesized that HGF prevents cardiac fibrosis by blocking these pathways. We analyzed the pressure-overloaded HGF-transgenic mouse model made by transverse aortic constriction. Human coronary artery endothelial cells and human cardiac fibroblasts were examined in vitro after being treated with transforming growth factor-β1 or angiotensin II with or without HGF. The amount of cardiac fibrosis significantly decreased in pressure-overloaded HGF-transgenic mice compared with pressure-overloaded nontransgenic controls, particularly in the perivascular region. This was accompanied by a reduction in the expression levels of fibrosis-related genes and by significant preservation of echocardiographic measurements of cardiac function in the HGF-transgenic mice (
P
<0.05). The survival rate 2 months after transverse aortic constriction was higher by 45% (
P
<0.05). HGF inhibited the differentiation of human coronary artery endothelial cells into myofibroblasts induced by transforming growth factor-β1 and the phenotypic conversion of human cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. We conclude that HGF reduced cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting endothelial-mesenchymal transition and the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.
Sildenafil Citrate Rescues Fetal Growth in the Catechol-
O
-Methyl Transferase Knockout Mouse Model
Authors: Stanley Joanna L. , Andersson Irene J. , Poudel Rajan , Rueda-Clausen Christian F. , Sibley Colin P. , Davidge Sandra T. , Baker Philip N.
Published: March 2012

Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction are responsible for the majority of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with complicated pregnancies. Although their etiologies are complex and multifactorial, both are associated with increased uterine artery resistance. Sildenafil citrate is able to rescue the dysfunction observed ex vivo in uterine arteries of women with preeclampsia. The ability of sildenafil citrate to increase uterine artery vasodilation, thereby decreasing uterine artery resistance and, hence, ameliorated preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, was tested in a mouse model of preeclampsia, the catechol-
O
-methyl transferase knockout mouse (COMT
−/−
). COMT
−/−
and C57BL/6J mice were treated (0.2 mg/mL in drinking water, n=6–12) from gestational day 12.5 to 18.5. Measures of pup growth, including body weight, crown/rump length, and abdominal circumference, were reduced in COMT
−/−
mice; this was normalized after treatment with Sildenafil. COMT
−/−
mice also demonstrated abnormal umbilical Doppler waveforms, including reverse arterial blood flow velocity. This was normalized after treatment with Sildenafil. Abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms were not demonstrated in COMT
−/−
mice, although ex vivo responses of uterine arteries to phenylephrine were increased; moreover, treatment with Sildenafil did improve ex vivo sensitivity to an endothelium-dependent vasodilator. The data presented here demonstrate that Sildenafil can rescue pup growth and improve abnormal umbilical Doppler waveforms, providing support for a potential new therapeutic strategy targeting fetal growth restriction.
The Possibility of Theomusicology: William Bradbury’s Esther, the Beautiful Queen
Authors: Karpf Juanita
Published: March 2012

Abstract

African-American scholar, theologian, and musician Jon Michael Spencer issued his initial publications on his theory of theomusicology in 1986. As an alternative to more traditional musicologies, Spencer specifies theomusicology as a theoretical model of theologically, biblically, and spiritually-informed historical and analytical studies in music, of particular appropriateness to African-American music making. Theomusicology redirects the analytical and critical objectivity of musicologies to facilitate concentration on iterations of ethical, religious, and mythological beliefs, regardless of their medium, location, and cultural function. It seeks ways to describe the synthesis of the sacred and profane—the meshing of seeming opposites. This article explores the application of theomusicology to African-American performances of a popular large-scale vocal work entitled,Esther, the Beautiful Queen, written in 1856 by U.S. composer William Bradbury.
An EU Immigration Code: Towards a Common Immigration Policy
Authors: Peers Steve
Published: March 2012

Abstract

The Commission is planning to propose an EU immigration code in 2013. This will be an opportunity to revise the existing EU legislation in order to enhance standards and procedural rights for migrants, as well as to improve its clarity and coherence. This article discusses the key issues which the Code should address, and suggests a list of amendments which it should adopt. It is accompanied by a complete proposal for a text of the Code, published online.
Does an Extension of Time Clause Prevent a Construction Contract Being Infected by Gharar?
Authors: Crawley Shaun
Published: March 2012

Abstract

This article examines how gharar can infect a construction contract and if and how the extension of time and additional payment clauses can operate to negate the effect of gharar, and whether such provisions are compliant with the relevant articles of Law No. 1, 1987. This is done by identifying how gharar can infect a construction contract, reviewing the applicable laws that apply with respect to a construction contract and then the relevant provisions of FIDIC, Employer’s design forms of Contract.
The Constitutionality of the Jordanian Law of Election to the House of Deputies of 2010
Authors: Nasrawin Laith K.
Published: March 2012

Abstract

This article examines the constitutionality of the Law of Election to the Jordanian House of Deputies No. (9) for 2010. This law was introduced as a Provisional Law by the Executive, owing to the absence of legislative authority. The power of the Executive to decree provisional laws is constitutionally recognised; nevertheless, specific conditions in Article 94 of the Jordanian Constitution still apply. The Provisional Law of Election raises concerns regarding its adherence to the provision of Article 94, which makes its compliance with the Constitution questionable. Therefore, this article examines to what extent the conditions of Article 94 apply to the new Law of Election so that, in the event that one or more of the conditions are missing, the law should be deemed unconstitutional. This article concludes that the condition of ‘a state of necessity’ is not applicable, and, as such, the new Law of Election could be classified as unconstitutional.
The Force Majeure ‘Excuse’
Authors: Azfar Fareya
Published: March 2012

Abstract

This article elucidates the general meaning, concept, and scope of the legal doctrine of ‘force majeure’. It deals briefly with the concept and application of force majeure in the United Arab Emirates and addresses specifically whether, and if so, and when economic recession can amount to a force majeure excuse. Furthermore, the article also explains the application and impact of the ‘catch-all’ phrases that are used to define force majeure in many prevailing agreements, which are the subject matter of disputes today.
Rights of a Wife in the Case of Conversion to Islam under Family Law in Malaysia
Authors: Hak Nora Abdul
Published: March 2012

Abstract

This article focuses on the issues of conversion to Islam of one party to a non-Muslim marriage. In Malaysia, some legal problems need to be addressed, particularly concerning the rights of a wife to the ancillary claims after dissolution of the marriage such as maintenance, matrimonial property and custody. These issues have been discussed by the Malaysian courts in their judgments when they preside over cases involving conversion to Islam. Among the issues that have been raised is whether a non-Muslim wife is entitled to maintenance after her husband has converted to Islam and, if she is still entitled, for how long. Other problems concern which party shall be entitled to custody of any children as well as the legal status of the marriage. All these issues need to be discussed further as to whether amendment of the existing relevant law is necessary. This article analyses the legal provisions and the cases that have been decided by the Malaysian courts on conversion to Islam.
Building a South African Human Rights Culture in the Face of Cultural Diversity: Context and Conflict
Authors: Mubangizi John Cantius
Published: March 2012

Abstract

South Africa has faced enormous challenges since the advent of democracy in 1994. One of the difficulties in the post-apartheid era has been the building of a human rights culture in the context of substantial cultural diversity. In this paper, the constitutional, judicial and institutional contexts – which have consolidated and supported the expression of human rights in the face of cultural diversity – are reviewed. The focus on cultural rights in the constitution is discussed, and the relevance of several constitutional institutions in terms of ensuring human rights, is mentioned. With a clear understanding of the constitutional, judicial and institutional contexts in place, the paper discusses the potentially inherent conflict between human rights and cultural rights, using gender-related issues as a proxy. Several examples of this potential conflict are discussed, including female circumcision, virginity testing and polygamy. The importance of human rights education for informing the debate about cultural and human rights in South Africa is emphasized. The answers to the challenges associated with the clash between cultural rights and human rights are not simple, although pragmatically – in addition to the role of the available constitutional, judicial and institutional structures – they could reside in a cross-cultural debate.
Historical Revelations from the Milošević Trial
Authors: Armatta Judith
Published: March 2012

Controversy over Serbia's1 role in the decade of wars in the former Yugoslavia continues. The trial of Slobodan Milošević unearthed significant new material in documents and testimony, despite the trial's premature end with Milošević's death. While there was no legal resolution, evidence revealed at trial provides a rich resource for historians to further examine some of the major controversies arising from the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the decade of wars that ensued. This article will highlight evidence relevant to the following issues: Was Serbia opposed to disintegration and war or did Milošević seek it in his quest for power? Were the wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina civil wars in which Serbia was not involved except to provide humanitarian aid and negotiate for peace or was Serbia a primary protagonist? What was Serbia's role, if any, in the Srebrenica genocide?2 Was Serbia, NATO or the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) responsible for war and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo? While the trial of Milošević did not attempt to establish Serbia's or the FRY's responsibility, actions taken by Milošević as Serbia's president and de facto leader of the FRY necessarily implicate them as political entities.
The Blaškić trial: Politics, the Control of Information and Command Responsibility
Authors: Gordy Eric
Published: March 2012

In one of ICTY’s first prosecutions of a high-ranking official, Tihomir Blaškić’s 45-year sentence was heralded as an exemplar of decisive justice when it was handed down in 2000. With much of the conviction reversed and the sentence reversed on appeal three years later, the case looked less secure. Much of the conviction and appeal turned on issues of command responsibility, where the ICTY’s jurisprudence set a precedent going beyond that established by post-World War II jurisprudence. While this constituted an advance in law and a step toward demonstrating political responsibility, public perception of the trial treated it as a triumph for the accused.
The Cruelty of False Remorse: Biljana Plavšić at The Hague
Authors: Subotić Jelena
Published: March 2012

Biljana Plavšić, the former president of Republika Srpska, was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. After she plead guilty and issued a remorseful statement, the prosecution dropped the genocide charges and she was sentenced to 11 years in prison, and subsequently granted early release. While in prison, she published lengthy memoirs in which she retracted her confession. In this article, I take a look back at Plavšić's ICTY case to put forward three principal arguments. First, the Plavšić case demonstrates significant inconsistencies in ICTY procedures and sentencing, which have important ramifications for other international justice cases. Second, the expectation and hope displayed by many international justice promoters that war crimes trials may lead to truthful confessions, apologies, or acknowledgments of abuses is not borne out by evidence. Finally, the Plavšić case demonstrates that the international justice focus on individualizing accountability for mass atrocity is ill equipped to deal with the collectivist nature of such crimes.
The Second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment: VORTEX2
Authors: Wurman Joshua , Dowell David , Richardson Yvette , Markowski Paul , Rasmussen Erik , Burgess Donald , Wicker Louis , Bluestein Howard B.
Published: March 2012

The second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2), which had its field phases in May and June of 2009 and 2010, was designed to explore i) the physical processes of tornadogenesis, maintenance, and demise; ii) the relationships among tornadoes, tornadic storms, and the larger-scale environment; iii) numerical weather prediction and forecasting of supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes; and iv) the wind field near the ground in tornadoes. VORTEX2 is by far the largest and most ambitious observational and modeling study of tornadoes and tornadic storms ever undertaken. It employed 13 mobile mesonet–instrumented vehicles, 11 ground-based mobile radars (several of which had dual-polarization capability and two of which were phased-array rapid scan), a mobile Doppler lidar, four mobile balloon sounding systems, 42 deployable in situ observational weather stations, an unmanned aerial system, video and photogrammetric teams, damage survey teams, deployable disdrometers, and other experimental instrumentation as well as extensive modeling studies of tornadic storms. Participants were drawn from more than 15 universities and laboratories and at least five nations, with over 80 students participating in field activities. The VORTEX2 field phases spanned 2 yr in order to increase the probability of intercepting significant tornadoes, which are rare events. The field phase of VORTEX2 collected data in over three dozen tornadic and nontornadic supercell thunderstorms with unprecedented detail and diversity of measurements. Some preliminary data and analyses from the ongoing analysis phase of VORTEX2 are shown.
The United States' Next Generation of Atmospheric Composition and Coastal Ecosystem Measurements: NASA's Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Mission
Authors: Fishman J. , Iraci L. T. , Al-Saadi J. , Chance K. , Chavez F. , Chin M. , Coble P. , Davis C. , DiGiacomo P. M. , Edwards D. , Eldering A. , Goes J. , Herman J. , Hu C. , Jacob D. J. , Jordan C. , Kawa S. R. , Key R. , Liu X. , Lohrenz S. , Mannino A. , Natraj V. , Neil D. , Neu J. , Newchurch M. , Pickering K. , Salisbury J. , Sosik H. , Subramaniam A. , Tzortziou M. , Wang J. , Wang M.
Published: March 2012

The Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission was recommended by the National Research Council's (NRC's) Earth Science Decadal Survey to measure tropospheric trace gases and aerosols and coastal ocean phytoplankton, water quality, and biogeochemistry from geostationary orbit, providing continuous observations within the field of view. To fulfill the mandate and address the challenge put forth by the NRC, two GEO-CAPE Science Working Groups (SWGs), representing the atmospheric composition and ocean color disciplines, have developed realistic science objectives using input drawn from several community workshops. The GEO-CAPE mission will take advantage of this revolutionary advance in temporal frequency for both of these disciplines. Multiple observations per day are required to explore the physical, chemical, and dynamical processes that determine tropospheric composition and air quality over spatial scales ranging from urban to continental, and over temporal scales ranging from diurnal to seasonal. Likewise, high-frequency satellite observations are critical to studying and quantifying biological, chemical, and physical processes within the coastal ocean. These observations are to be achieved from a vantage point near 95°–100°W, providing a complete view of North America as well as the adjacent oceans. The SWGs have also endorsed the concept of phased implementation using commercial satellites to reduce mission risk and cost. GEO-CAPE will join the global constellation of geostationary atmospheric chemistry and coastal ocean color sensors planned to be in orbit in the 2020 time frame.
A Two-Century Precipitation Dataset for the Continent of Africa
Authors: Nicholson Sharon E. , Dezfuli Amin K. , Klotter Douglas
Published: March 2012

A wealth of historical information on climate and weather exists for the African continent. Documentary information, hydrologic indicators, and rain gauge records have been compiled and combined into a semiquantitative precipitation dataset that extends from 1801 to 1900. That dataset describes “wetness” for 90 regions of Africa, using a seven-category index. A regional gauge dataset for 1901–2000 has been converted to the seven-class system, extending coverage to two centuries. These datasets are available through the Paleoclimate Data Center.
Comparison of Objective Supercell Identification Techniques Using an Idealized Cloud Model
Authors: Naylor Jason , Gilmore Matthew S. , Thompson Richard L. , Edwards Roger , Wilhelmson Robert B.
Published: March 2012

The accuracy, reliability, and skill of several objective supercell identification methods are evaluated using 113 simulations from an idealized cloud model with 1-km horizontal grid spacing. Horizontal cross sections of vorticity and radar reflectivity at both mid- and low levels were analyzed for the presence of a supercell, every 5 min of simulation time, to develop a “truth” database. Supercells were identified using well-known characteristics such as hook echoes, inflow notches, bounded weak-echo regions (BWERs), and the presence of significant vertical vorticity.

The three objective supercell identification techniques compared were the Pearson correlation (PC) using an analysis window centered on the midlevel storm updraft; a modified Pearson correlation (MPC), which calculates the PC at every point in the horizontal using a small 3 km × 3 km analysis window; and updraft helicity (UH). Results show that the UH method integrated from 2 to 5 km AGL, and using a threshold value of 180 m2 s−2, was equally as accurate as the MPC technique—averaged from 2 to 5 km AGL and using a minimum updraft threshold of 7 m s−1 with a detection threshold of 0.3—in discriminating between supercells and nonsupercells for 1-km horizontal grid spacing simulations. At courser resolutions, the UH technique performed best, while the MPC technique produced the largest threat scores for higher-resolution simulations. In addition, requiring that the supercell detection thresholds last at least 20 min reduced the number of false alarms.
Lightning in the Anvils of Supercell Thunderstorms
Authors: Weiss Stephanie A. , MacGorman Donald R. , Calhoun Kristin M.
Published: March 2012

This study uses data from the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (OK-LMA), the National Lightning Detection Network, and the Norman, Oklahoma (KOUN), prototype Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) radar to examine the evolution and structure of lightning in the anvils of supercell storms as they relate to storm dynamics and microphysics. Several supercell storms within the domain of the OK-LMA were examined to determine whether they had lightning in the anvil region, and if so, the time and location of the initiation of the anvil flashes were determined. Every warm-season supercell storm had some flashes that were initiated in or near the stronger reflectivities of the parent storm and propagated 40–70 km downstream to penetrate well into the anvil. Some supercell storms also had flashes that were initiated within the anvil itself, 40–100 km beyond the closest 30-dBZ contour of the storm. These flashes were typically initiated in one of three locations: 1) coincident with a local reflectivity maximum, 2) between the uppermost storm charge and a screening-layer charge of opposite polarity near the cloud boundary, or 3) in a region in which the anvils from two adjoining storms intersected. In some storms, anvil flashes struck ground beneath a reflectivity maximum in which reflectivity ≥20 dBZ had extended below the 0°C isotherm, possibly leading to the formation of embedded convection. This relationship may be useful for identifying regions in which there is a heightened risk for cloud-to-ground strikes beneath anvil clouds. In one storm, however, anvil lightning struck ground even though this reflectivity signature was absent.
Synoptic Composites of Tornadic and Nontornadic Outbreaks
Authors: Mercer Andrew E. , Shafer Chad M. , Doswell Charles A. , Leslie Lance M. , Richman Michael B.
Published: March 2012

Tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks occur within the United States and elsewhere around the world each year with devastating effect. However, few studies have considered the physical differences between these two outbreak types. To address this issue, synoptic-scale pattern composites of tornadic and nontornadic outbreaks are formulated over North America using a rotated principal component analysis (RPCA). A cluster analysis of the RPC loadings group similar outbreak events, and the resulting map types represent an idealized composite of the constituent cases in each cluster. These composites are used to initialize a Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) simulation of each hypothetical composite outbreak type in an effort to determine the WRF’s capability to distinguish the outbreak type each composite represents.

Synoptic-scale pattern analyses of the composites reveal strikingly different characteristics within each outbreak type, particularly in the wind fields. The tornado outbreak composites reveal a strong low- and midlevel cyclone over the eastern Rockies, which is likely responsible for the observed surface low pressure system in the plains. Composite soundings from the hypothetical outbreak centroids reveal significantly greater bulk shear and storm-relative environmental helicity values in the tornado outbreak environment, whereas instability fields are similar between the two outbreak types. The WRF simulations of the map types confirm results observed in the composite soundings.
Domestic and International Influences on Green Taxation
Authors: Ward Hugh , Cao Xun
Published: March 2012

Economists have made a strong case for the relative efficiency of market-based mechanisms for environmental regulation such as cap and trade and “green taxes,” yet the spread of these forms has been limited, and traditional “command and control” regulation still predominates. The authors explain geographical and temporal variation in green tax burdens by considering their domestic and international determinants, modeling international influences using spatial lags. Hypotheses are tested using panel data on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member states from 1995 to 2004. At the domestic level, the authors show that green tax burdens are influenced by the left–right and environmental positions of legislative medians and the power of the energy-producing sector, among other factors. The authors also show that ideas about policy diffuse through international networks generated by trade and environmental intergovernmental organizations, but they do not find compelling evidence for international tax competition.
‘Something to Smile About’: An evaluation of a capacity-building oral health intervention for staff working with homeless people
Authors: Coles Emma , Watt Celia , Freeman Ruth
Published: March 2012

Objective:

To use a qualitative exploration to evaluate whether ‘Something to Smile About’ (STSA), an oral health intervention, had increased the oral health capacity of staff working with homeless people.

Setting:

A National Health Service board area in Scotland.

Method:

A purposive sample of 14 staff members from STSA-participating organizations took part in the evaluation. Three focus groups were held and the participants were encouraged to speak freely about their views on the intervention. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

Results:

The majority of participants stated they were able to use their newly-acquired oral health knowledge and pass it to their homeless clients. STSA appeared to be less successful with regard to assisting clients to change their oral health behaviours. Staff felt that oral health considerations were a low priority compared to the need for shelter, food, clothing and money. In addition, they stated that the level of success with clients was influenced by the homeless person’s specific and complex needs.

Conclusion:

STSA was successful in building staff oral health capacity; however, for STSA to be successful with clients, and for clients to achieve adherence with oral health messages, the complex needs and current life circumstances of homeless client groups must be incorporated into STSA.
The use of outpatient mental health care services of migrants vis-à-vis Dutch natives: Equal access?
Authors: Koopmans GT , Uiters E , Devillé W , Foets M
Published: March 2012

Background:

Although the use of outpatient mental health care services by migrants in the Netherlands has increased in recent years, whether it aligns with the need for care is unclear.

Aims:

To investigate ethnic-related differences in utilization in outpatient mental health care, taking need into account, and to examine whether socio-economic or cultural barriers explain such differences.

Methods:

Data for the native population was taken from the second Dutch National Survey of General Practice ( N = 7,772). An additional random sample was drawn ( N = 1,305) from four migrant groups (Surinamese, Dutch Antilleans, Moroccans and Turks) living in the Netherlands. Participants were surveyed on mental health care utilization, indicators of need, educational level, proficiency in Dutch and acculturation.

Results:

Use of outpatient mental health care was about 5% for the indigenous population. Among migrants, percentages of use ranged from 6.5% (Moroccans) to 9.0% (Turks). Corrected for need, however, all non-Dutch groups had a lower chance of service utilization than the native group. Acculturation predicted utilization but did not explain all ethnic-related differences; proficiency in Dutch and health beliefs were not explanatory factors.

Conclusions:

In non-Dutch-speaking migrant groups, utilization is about half the level of the native Dutch, suggesting that a substantial gap exists. Our study found that acculturation only partially explains the differences.
Problem Representation and Mathematical Problem Solving of Students of Varying Math Ability
Authors: Krawec Jennifer L.
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in math problem solving among students with learning disabilities (LD, n = 25), low-achieving students (LA, n = 30), and average-achieving students (AA, n = 29). The primary interest was to analyze the processes students use to translate and integrate problem information while solving problems. Paraphrasing, visual representation, and problem-solving accuracy were measured in eighth grade students using a researcher-modified version of the Mathematical Processing Instrument. Results indicated that both students with LD and LA students struggled with processing but that students with LD were significantly weaker than their LA peers in paraphrasing relevant information. Paraphrasing and visual representation accuracy each accounted for a statistically significant amount of variance in problem-solving accuracy. Finally, the effect of visual representation of relevant information on problem-solving accuracy was dependent on ability; specifically, for students with LD, generating accurate visual representations was more strongly related to problem-solving accuracy than for AA students. Implications for instruction for students with and without LD are discussed.
Learning and Memory Impairments in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Andersen Per N. , Egeland Jens , Øie Merete
Published: March 2012

There are relatively few studies on learning and delayed memory with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objective of the present study was to examine acquisition, free delayed memory, and recognition skills in medication naive children and adolescents aged 8–16 years with ADHD combined subtype (36 participants) and inattentive subtype (45) compared to 50 healthy controls (HC) aged 8–17 years. Learning and delayed memory were assessed with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised, which have compatible methods of administration, test format, and score ranges. The results showed that children with both ADHD subtypes scored significantly below HC in acquisition, free delayed memory, and recognition, even when controlling for the effect of IQ. Comparing phases in the learning process showed an initial deficit in acquisition but no increase in effect size in subsequent testing of free delayed memory or recognition. The study indicates that learning and delayed memory processes are impaired in both combined and inattentive subtypes of ADHD and that the deficits are not merely an artifact of IQ. The study indicates that emphasis must be put on the acquisition phase and how students with ADHD organize and encode new information.
Antecedents of the Male Adolescent Identity Crisis
Authors: Jones Randall M. , Dick Andrew J. , Coyl-Shepherd Diana D. , Ogletree Mark
Published: March 2012

Erikson (1950) contends that the physical changes associated with puberty serve as a catalyst for adolescents to question childhood identifications and to consolidate these with current self-conceptions, personal ideologies, interpersonal values, and future aspirations. Erikson describes the adolescent identity crisis as the developmental period when identity development becomes salient. For males, pubertal changes have implications for sexual identity development and self-perceptions of masculinity, which are aspects of the identity exploration and integration process that occurs during adolescence. This study is an examination of the impact of age, grade, and physical development on male identity development. A purposive sample of 173 Anglo-American male participants in Grades 6 through 12 completed the Petersen Development Scale and The Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS) in their homes. Statistical analyses revealed that physical development shared more variability (20% explained) with the identity measure than either age (8.3%) or grade (4.2%). Advanced physical development correlates with lower Foreclosure scores and higher Moratorium and Achievement scores. These findings are consistent with Erikson’s life span theory of psychosocial development.
Adolescents’ Commonsense Understanding of Rights and Duties
Authors: Passini Stefano
Published: March 2012

During adolescence, individuals start to develop a civic identity that contributes toward defining their civic participation later on in adulthood. In developing their civic identity, adolescents start to reason with the topics of rights, duties, and responsibilities. The aim of this study is to analyze how some Italian adolescents ( N = 134) conceive the concepts of rights and duties. Moreover, as some scholars—in reference to so-called individualist-focused cultures—assert that people tend to attach priority to their individual rights within an individualistic worldview and deemphasize duties, the aim is also to empirically identify this “individualization of rights.” Results show that adolescents who define rights as “are not limited by others” and as disjointed from the notion of duty tend to prioritize their personal rights ( vs. other’s rights) in two rights dilemmas. This effect is partially mediated by the importance attached to egalitarian values.
To Be or Not to Be: The Holocaust and Jewish Identity in the Postwar Era
Authors: Berger Ronald J.
Published: March 2012

In this essay I recount my engagement with my father's experience of the Holocaust and its impact on my professional career and way of thinking about the world. The voices of survivors like my father are no longer silenced and marginalized as they once were, but the legacy of the trauma they endured remains in dispute. As such, I consider questions of Jewish identity and continuity in the postwar era as well as controversies about Israel's role in the Middle East, especially as the latter is a source of contention within the political left. I conclude with some observations about particularistic and universalistic identities that mark the path toward expanded human liberation.
Scapegoating and the Simulation of Mechanical Solidarity in Former Yugoslavia: “Ethnic Cleansing” and the Serbian Orthodox Church
Authors: Doubt Keith
Published: March 2012

In this paper I use the concept of scapegoating to explain the ritualized character of “ethnic cleansing” after the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. I provide an overview of the political background behind these events, introduce the role and influence of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and analyze the collective violence known as ethnic cleansing through the concept of scapegoating. The Serbian Orthodox Church's use of a scapegoat paradigm to incite violence created a pseudo-sense of solidarity among the Serbian people. Although this solidarity resembles Émile Durkheim's concept of mechanical solidarity, I question the stability of this solidarity insofar as it is based on the negativity of war crimes and genocide. Implications for understanding collective violence in other areas such as the Middle East and Iraq are drawn by way of conclusion.
Being “Cool” is Not Enough: Interrogations on White-Ethnic Privilege and Student-Teacher Relations
Authors: Thomas Vaso
Published: March 2012

In this reflective essay, Critical Race Theory's (CRT) focus on “interrogating” racial representations is used to reveal the ways racial and ethnic privilege shape teaching practices and the relations between White teachers and their non-White students. The essay suggests that the progressive identity of White-ethnic teachers and professors works to obscure the social distances between White educators and their non-White students thereby silencing student subjectivity and reproducing distances based on race and ethnic-class privilege. Borrowing from CRT, the author utilizes a narrative style to highlight the importance of stories in theorizing the way race functions to sustain domination. This essay contributes to the work of White women teachers who interrogate their own privilege, the growing body of literature that integrates CRT with education and to Critical White Studies by exemplifying the way narrative can capture the complex and socially constructed nature of race and ethnicity.
Between the Rivers: A Socio-Historical Account of Hegemony and Heritage
Authors: Nickell David
Published: March 2012

Drawing from the writings of George Ritzer, James Scott, and others this paper offers a critical, first-person account of a people's struggle to defend their cultural heritage and connection to place against the Weberian application of “order,” and “modernity” by government agencies attempting to “improve” their lives. This paper focuses on the experiences of the Between the Rivers people, who, since the eighteenth century, lived on an inland peninsula formed by the Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio Rivers in far western Kentucky and extending into Tennessee, but the threat to placed cultures by the rationalized forces of “progress” applies to innumerable localities. Beginning with a sketch of the historical context in which geographical and social forces combined to forge a cultural heritage that is place specific, I move from the failed attempts to remain on the land as the Land Between the Lakes recreation area project culminated in a total population expulsion, to the twenty-first century struggle of a displaced people to retain ownership of their cultural heritage in the face of government attempts to “preserve” that heritage by usurping it as a commodity to market for heritage tourism.
In the River: A Socio-Historical Account of Dialogue and Diaspora
Authors: Bell Michael Mayerfeld
Published: March 2012

I give encouragement to David Nickell and the Between the Rivers community by offering an account of good relations between a government natural resource land management agency and local people: Canada's St. Lawrence Islands National Park and the people of the Thousand Islands, focusing on Grenadier Island. I speak from my perspective as a descendent of the former year-round community on Grenadier. I describe our diaspora, our heated disagreement with the St. Lawrence Islands National Park's 1970s expansion plans, and how the local community successfully engaged a dialogue that ended these plans. I recount what I term the double politics of dialogue, a “good-cop/bad-cop” approach used by the community, and its resulting providence of good relations. I conclude with the prospect of such providence for the people of Between the Rivers.
Cute Enough to Eat: The Transformation of Animals into Meat for Human Consumption in Commercialized Images
Authors: Grauerholz Liz
Published: March 2012

In order for a culture that generally likes, even loves, animals to eat them, and especially not to make the link between the two, it is necessary to construct the consumption of meat-eating in such a way that the connection is blurred or erased. In this paper, I suggest that one way this is done is by transforming animals, which are loved, into meats, which are eaten, so that the concepts of “animals” and “meats” seem distinct and unrelated. Using content analysis of commercialized images of animals, I find that this transformation involves two key processes, the representation of meat as something that no longer resembles any animal origins and the “cutification” (making objects appear cuter than they usually appear) of animals, that promote the consumption of their animal flesh. I argue that these types of objectification are similar to other forms of objectification of oppressed groups in society, including women and minorities, and serve to perpetuate the oppression of animals in contemporary society.
“They Gave Me a Reason to Live”: The Protective Effects of Companion Animals on the Suicidality of Abused Women
Authors: Fitzgerald Amy J.
Published: March 2012

Previous studies have documented the frequent coexistence of companion animal abuse and forms of family violence. The frequent coexistence of these forms of victimization is illustrative of the interconnectedness of forms of oppression and provides evidence in support of the claim that true social justice requires ending all forms of oppression—including the oppression of other animals. This paper moves beyond documenting the degree of coexistence between these forms of victimization and interrogating why they coexist—both goals of my initial study (Fitzgerald 2005)—to more fully examine the roles of “pets” in the lives of abused women. Using data from the larger project wherein 26 abused women were interviewed, this paper examines how “pets” can moderate the abuse experienced by the human victims of family violence. Illustrative of this moderating role played by “pets,” some participants report they stayed with their abusive partner longer than they otherwise would have because their “pets” “kept them going” by providing them with the social support necessary to cope with the abuse. The importance of the social support provided by “pets” is further evidenced by the finding detailed herein that some participants cite their “pets” as the reason they did not end their own lives. It is argued that “pets” are uniquely situated to provide social support to some abused women and can even serve a protective function against suicidality. Therefore, in order to adequately address the needs of abused women, particularly related to suicidality, the important roles “pets” can play in their lives must be taken seriously and, ideally, fostered.
From Touchstone to Tombstone: Children's Experiences with the Abuse of Their Beloved Pets
Authors: Atwood-Harvey Dana
Published: March 2012

This article explores the interconnections between animal and child victimization. Employing a symbolic interactionist perspective, I ask the following questions: What role do pets play in the lives of abused children? In what ways do children become entangled in the victimization of their pets? How do these children respond to the abuse of their pets? What do these covictimization experiences mean to the child? From a qualitative content analysis of selected personal and published accounts of abused children's experiences with their pets, I found that pets offer these children a lifeline in the form of emotional social support. However, these children become entangled in their pet's victimization in various ways by the perpetrator's perversion of this social support. Although children often resist this perversion, they ultimately face a challenge to their identity.
Weber on Status Groups and Collegiality: Applying the Analysis to a Modern Organization
Authors: Packard Noel
Published: March 2012

Max Weber's legacy includes his ideas about ideal types, status groups and value conflicts that help shape and give meaning to society. This paper uses these conceptualizations to examine Weber's ideal type status group, the Chinese Literate and test it by applying it to a modern group, specifically the Göring Institute, which harbored the German psychotherapy profession during the Third Reich (1933–1945). Weber's description of ancient Chinese Literate society is reiterated because it depicts Weber's “ideal type” status occupation group qualities. Then those qualities are applied to a contemporary organization, the Göring Institute. The way Weber's status group model applies to the Chinese Literate is compared and contrasted to the way the model applies to the Göring Institute. Information about the Göring Institute is drawn from: Psyche and Swastika: Neue Deutsche Seelenheilkunde 1933–1945 (1975), Psychotherapy in the Third Reich (1985), Medicine and Modernity (1997) and Treating Mind and Body (1998) by Geoffrey Cocks. Two findings derived from this comparison are: first, it appears Weber's criteria for his ideal type status group can be applied to a modern group such as the Göring Institute; second, social value conflicts were generated and mitigated by both the Chinese Literati and the Göring Institute. The later finding exemplifies Weber's micro-analysis of class conflict, while the former seems to re-enforce Weber's theory, and Cocks concern, that status groups have more influence in societies that are politically stressed, than in ones that are not.
Happiness and Global Justice: Contrasts, Convergences, Overlaps, and Complementarities of the World Social Forum and the Gross National Happiness Movements
Authors: Noy Darren
Published: March 2012

This article examines two global responses to the failures of neoliberalism. The first, the World Social Forum, is a process born out of the “global justice movement.” The other, the Gross National Happiness movement, is endogenous to Asia, but is beginning to influence intellectuals, NGOs, and policymakers worldwide. These movements attempt to reformulate neoliberalism and the trajectory of modern capitalist development as a whole. Although they are interconnected networks, they contrast in terms of their goals, focus, and origins. Nonetheless, they converge at important points and may help construct an alternative to neoliberalism. The Gross National Happiness movement is of particular interest to the sociological study of emotions and social movements. Rather than positioning emotion as a driver or sustainer of social movement activity, or as a result of movement participation, the Gross National Happiness Movement frames emotion as the goal of the public policies around which it mobilizes.