bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in Normal Fetuses and Infants: A Commentary
Authors: Moore David S.
Published: October 2015

Sex differences in infants warrant attention, not because they clarify the extent to which such differences reflect nature or nurture, but because studying them is likely to illuminate the origins of sex differences later in life and thereby yield manipulations that could influence the development of important competences. It is not yet clear how male and female infants come to differ. Testosterone is influential, but because of the complexity of the developmental systems in which it operates, its effects are not straightforward: Testosterone does different things in different contexts. Simple explanations invoking hormone exposure should not be expected to satisfactorily answer questions about the origins of sex differences, but standardizing protocols to allow meaningful meta‐analyses would help bring coherence to the research literature in this domain.
A New Sexual Revolution? Critical Theory, Pornography, and the Internet
Authors: GARLICK STEVE
Published: October 2015

La “révolution sexuelle” fut un élément central de la culture nord‐américaine durant les années 1960. Aujourd'hui, en grande partie suite à l'avènement de l'Internet, la sexualité occupe un place de plus en plus centrale dans la culture populaire, ce qui pose la question, à savoir si l'on vit présentement une période de l'histoire sexuelle semblable aux années 1960. Au cours de cet article, je discuterai les travaux de Herbert Marcuse, considéré comme le premier à théoriser la révolution sexuelle, afin de mesurer l'ampleur de leur contribution au développement d'une théorie critique de la sexualitéà l'âge numérique. Je rappellerai d'abord les grandes lignes de la théorie Marcusienne du rôle de l'éros dans la vie sociale. Une discussion suivra de deux sites web pornographiques qui combinent érotisme et critique sociale. Le travail de Marcuse prend toute son importance par la façon dont il fait ressortir l'intersection entre le sexe, la technologie et l'économie capitaliste. Cet article vise à compléter ce travail par une analyse de la masculinité et du corps masculin dans la pornographie sur Internet.

The “sexual revolution” was a central element of North American culture in the 1960s. Today, sex is increasingly central to mainstream culture, in large part due to the Internet, and we might wonder whether we are living through a comparable period of sexual history. In this article, I revisit the work of Herbert Marcuse—the original theorist of the sexual revolution—to ask whether it can contribute to a critical theory of sexuality in the era of digital technology. After outlining Marcuse's theory of the role of Eros in social life, I discuss two pornographic Web sites that combine eroticism and social critique. I argue that Marcuse's work is valuable for its emphasis on the intersection of sex, technology, and capitalist economy, but that it needs to be supplemented by a focus on masculinity and the male body in Internet pornography.
Persistent Inequality or Liberation from Social Origins? Determining Who Attends Graduate and Professional Schools in Canada's Expanded Postsecondary System
Authors: Zarifa David
Published: October 2015

S'appuyant sur l'Enquête nationale auprès des diplômés (promotion de 2000) et le suivi des diplômés, cette recherche examine qui va obtenir son diplôme et les écoles professionnelles au Canada. Une plus grande proportion d'étudiants se poursuivent à des niveaux plus élevés de l'éducation ces dernières années, mais il reste difficile de savoir si des antécédents familiaux sur ces décisions. Les résultats indiquent que les origines sociales influent sur la fréquentation des études supérieures à la fois directement par le niveau de scolarité des parents et indirectement par l'intermédiaire le rendement des élèves, les aspirations et la confiance académiques. Domaine d'études et de la région de l'institution de premier cycle jouent également un rôle dans le façonnement des résultats scolaires, les étudiants suggérant peut être partiellement ‘libérées’ de leurs antécédents familiaux en vertu de leurs expériences de premier cycle.
Safe Spaces: Gay‐Straight Alliances in High Schools
Authors: Fetner Tina , Elafros Athena , Bortolin Sandra , Drechsler Coralee
Published: October 2015

Dans les groupes militants comme dans la pratique sociologique, l’idée d’un espace sécuritaire («safe space») a été utilisée pour décrire une multitude de programmes, d’organisations et de pratiques. Malheureusement, trop peu d’études ont défini clairement les caractéristiques de ces espaces sécuritaires et la manière dont ils soutiennent ceux qui les occupent. Nous examinerons ici une organisation universellement reconnue pour sa promotion du concept d’espace sécuritaire: les groupes d’alliance homosexuelle‐hétérosexuelle («Gay‐Straight Alliance») implantés dans les écoles secondaires. Au travers d’entretiens approfondis avec des adolescents Canadiens et Américains ayant participé à ce type d’organisations, nous examinerons comment certains facteurs peuvent modifier les contours de cet espace sécuritaire. Les entretiens avec les participants nous ont permis d’identifier trois caractéristiques interreliéesà l’idée d’espace sécuritaire: le contexte social, l’appartenance et l’action.
Kinship Paths to and from the New Europe: A Unified Analysis of Peruvian Adoption and Migration
Authors: Leinaweaver Jessaca B.
Published: October 2015

Este ensayo compara migrantes y adoptados peruanos quienes viven en Europa, enfocándose en los movimientos desde un país remitente y los movimientos hacía tal país. Primero, analiza las reagrupaciones familiares usando un marco analítico de los estudios de parentesco y adopciones. Yuxtapone las experiencias de migrantes y adoptados para mostrar que la migración también es estructurada por preocupaciones de parentesco. Luego, analiza los retornos de adoptados mayores utilizando un marco analítico de los estudios de migración, enfocándose en la centralidad de la contribución que hace el migrante. Este articulo muestra cómo los adoptados y migrantes se enfrentan con los límites de las definiciones nacionales europeas de parentesco que limitan la migración. Se basa en investigaciones con migrantes y adoptados peruanos en España y sobre migraciones y adopciones en el Perú.
Dreams, Memory, and War: An Ethnography of Night in the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Cecconi Arianna
Published: October 2015

El conflicto armado entre Sendero Luminoso y el Ejército que golpeó al Perú entre los años 1980 y 1990, ha marcado profundamente la vida de la población andina de la región de Ayacucho, que fue el epicentro de la violencia. Este artículo propone un acercamiento a la memoria de esta guerra y al actual proceso de reconciliación a través del “punto de vista” de los sueños de los pobladores de dos comunidades campesinas de la región de Ayacucho, y a través de los relatos oníricos encontrados en los archivos de la Comisión de la Verdad y Reconciliación del Perú. Acercándonos a las revelaciones oníricas, a los sueños que “actúan” en los cuerpos, y a las visitas de las almas de los desaparecidos, se explorará la compleja dialéctica entre memoria y olvido que caracteriza a este contexto post‐conflicto y que asume, en la dimensión onírica, peculiares configuraciones.
Effect of the Eu3+ Addition on Photoluminescence and Microstructure of ZnO–CdO–TeO2 Glasses
Authors: Ruvalcaba‐Cornejo C. , Lozada‐Morales Rosendo , Zayas Maria E. , Rincón Jesús Ma. , Marquez Heriberto , Flores Aned de L.
Published: October 2015

In this work, the role of europium doping of glasses formulated in the ternary system ZnO–CdO–TeO2 is described. The Eu‐doped oxide glasses were prepared by the conventional melt‐quenching method and by using three different compositions. Structural studies reveal that there exists a good affinity between Cd and some rare earth (RE) ions to form the crystalline phase. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) diagrams display that the structure of these glasses is amorphous and with the increase in CdO content and the compatibility of Eu3+, there is a tendency to form nanocrystals of CdTe2O5. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation of their microstructure confirms the presence of phase separation. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) of these glasses showed small exothermic peaks noted around 450°C for the V2 glass and 480°C for V1 and V3 glasses, which could be attributed to the formation of these crystals. The infrared spectra showed a main absorption band around 800–600 cm−1 corresponding to the Te–O stretching mode in TeO4 and TeO3 groups. By optical absorption (OA), the band gap (Eg) for each glass was determined; these values were 3.27, 3.14, and 3.3 eV for the V1–V3 glasses, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of Eu3+ was detected in the 370–470 nm short‐range wavelengths. The photoluminescence (PL) experiments of the glasses showed light emission due to the following transitions: 5D0 → 7F1, 5D0 → 7F2, 5D0 → 7F3, and 5D0 → 7F4.
Ultra‐Broad Temperature Stability Obtained with Ce‐Doped BaTiO3‐Based Ceramics
Authors: Wang Mingjing , Li Lingxia , Zhang Ning , Liu Yaran , Chen Junxiao
Published: October 2015

Ce‐doped BaTiO3‐based ceramics were prepared and studied to satisfy ultra‐broad temperature stability (from −55°C to 300°C, capacitance variation rate based on C20°C is within ±15%). The sample with 0.6 mol% CeO2 succeeds to achieve this performance with a remarkably high ceiling temperature of 300°C. Meanwhile, the sample has good dielectric and electrical properties at room temperature (εr = 1667, tanδ = 1.478%, ρV = 5.9 × 1012 Ω·cm). Ce ion can substitute for Ti ion as Ce4+ or Ba ion as Ce3+. The substitution decreases the spontaneous polarization of BaTiO3, and then weakens the ferroelectricity of BaTiO3. As a result, the temperature stability of samples is improved obviously. Besides, CeO2 addition promotes the formation of exaggerated grains, which are consisting of Ba6Ti17O40.
Loyalty‐Shares: Rewarding Long‐term Investors
Authors: Bolton Patrick , Samama Frédéric
Published: October 2015

In the face of growing concern about investors' excessive focus on quarterly earnings, recent research has found new evidence of the benefits of a committed long‐term shareholder base, whether in terms of higher profitability, R&D investment, greater integration of ESG factors, or a reduced cost of capital. In light of this evidence, this article takes up the challenge of proposing a market solution to this problem.

Although much has already been done in the financial industry to lengthen the outlook of executives by imposing longer vesting periods for stock options, a significant fraction of institutional shareholders continues to have a short‐term orientation. The authors propose that companies try to attract a more long‐term‐oriented shareholder base by modifying the form of the common share contract to include a special reward for buy‐and‐hold investors. The type of contract proposed—called a “loyalty share”—is a call‐warrant attached to each share that is exercisable at a specified time‐horizon—say, three years—and exercise price, but is nontransferable and hence has value only if the share is held for the entire length of the specified “loyalty period.” Such a reward is expected to encourage a longer‐term valuation outlook, since those shareholders seeking the loyalty reward are likely to be those who are most confident about the company's ability to increase its value through the expiration of the loyalty period.
Pick Your Poison—Fragmentation or Market Power? An Analysis of RegNMS, High Frequency Trading, and Securities Market Structure
Authors: Pirrong Craig
Published: October 2015

The publication of Michael Lewis's has intensified an already contentious debate over high frequency trading (HFT). But the causes that have given rise to HFT are more complicated—and the general economic consequences far more positive—than at least the popular accounts (including Lewis's own) of the book would suggest. While directing much of its attention to the powerful computers and “predatory” potential of HFT, the “media” version of Lewis's book has all but ignored the fundamental driver of such activity: the implementation in 2007 of SEC Regulation NMS, which required all exchanges to direct their orders to the exchanges with the best prices.

Before RegNMS, U.S. equity trading was largely dominated by NYSE and Nasdaq. The major exchanges' effective “ownership” of their order flow gave exchange specialists significant edges in trading. RegNMS has resulted in the proliferation of competing stock exchanges, which in turn has dramatically reduced both trading costs and the economic franchise value enjoyed by institutional traders associated with the previously dominant exchanges.

The balance of evidence strongly indicates that the cost of trading has declined for retail traders and investors. The big losers have been the previously advantaged wholesale traders. HFT is simply one of the outcomes of the new, more competitive trading environment created by Regulation NMS.
Systematic Policy and Forward Guidance at the Fed
Authors: Plosser Charles I.
Published: October 2015

The President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia argues that the Federal Open Market Committee, by operating with a set of rules or guidelines and clearly stated objectives, could eliminate much of the second guessing about what it is doing and why, and the associated volatility in markets. The author's preference is that the FOMC formulate its policy as a “reaction function” that can be easily explained to the public. As an example of such a reaction function, he cites the proposal of Stanford economist John Taylor, whose “Taylor Rule” calls for setting the nominal fed funds rate based on three factors: (1) the economy's long‐run real interest rate; (2) the deviation of inflation from the central bank's target or goal; and (3) an adjustment of the funds rate to departures of real GDP from some measure of “potential” GDP.

Although many variations on Taylor's original recommendations could work, the author believes the FOMC should seek to develop a consensus on how it will react to future economic events. Even a qualitative description of such a reaction function would be a step forward. Taking such a systematic approach will improve the effectiveness of monetary policy in both normal times and more unusual or extreme circumstances, such as when policy is constrained by the lower zero bound on interest rates. The author also suggests that a recent (March 19) FOMC statement took a step in this direction when it moved to a qualitative form of forward guidance by stating that the Committee will be assessing progress—both realized and expected—toward its policy objectives.
Is There a Better Way to Examine Income Inequality?
Authors: Schmidt Ron
Published: October 2015

Dividing U.S. tax returns into half‐millionaires (those reporting adjusted gross income (AGI) of $500,000 or more in a given year) and their complement allows greater use of IRS data on income sources than is possible with an analysis that examines a fixed percentage of returns, such as the top one percent. Contrary to popular perception and media rhetoric, the inflation‐adjusted difference between the reported AGI of half‐millionaires and the rest actually declined by 25 percent from 1993 to 2011.

The income gap between half‐millionaires and other filers reflects differences in kinds of income, with half‐millionaires deriving a much larger fraction of their income from capital investments whose varying returns make that component of income—and thus the income of half‐millionaires—more volatile. The percentage of total tax returns filed by half‐millionaires in a given year and the percentage of their income derived from taxable gains reported on Schedule D account for virtually all of the variation in the half‐millionaire percentage of aggregate AGI.

As this finding suggests, the expanding income share for half‐millionaires does not signify that some collection of privileged rich have become richer. The significant net growth in the percentage of filers who are half‐millionaires has been uneven because a significant proportion of their income derives from volatile Schedule D gains, which are higher during economic expansions and lower during recessions. The incomes of half‐millionaires—and especially millionaires—are anything but recession proof. But even with that volatile component of income included, when their percentage of returns doubles, their percentage of income less than doubles, consistent with declining income inequality.
Determinants of the Use of Value‐based Performance Measures for Managerial Performance Evaluation
Authors: Dekker Henri C. , Groot Tom , Schoute Martijn , Wiersma Eelke
Published: October 2015

Abstract:  As value‐based (VB) performance measures include firms’ cost of capital, they are considered more congruent than earnings measures. Prior studies, however, find that their use for managerial performance evaluation is less extensive than their presumed benefits would suggest. We examine how the importance of VB measures for evaluation varies with firms’ need and managers’ opportunity to manage capital costs, and find this to increase with a need for intensive asset use, delegated authority and reduced unit interdependencies. In addition, importance of intensive asset use simultaneously limits the delegation of authority, partially offsetting the increase in importance of VB measures.
The Economic Impact of Capital Expenditures: Environmental Regulatory Delay as a Source of Competitive Advantage?
Authors: Wirth Carolyn , Chi Jing , Young Martin
Published: October 2015

This study tests the proposal that by undertaking voluntary capital expenditures that are subject to lengthy environmental regulatory delays, listed companies can gain a competitive advantage. The stock market is found to react positively to new capital expenditure announcements when projects are expected to experience long delays in obtaining environmental regulatory approval. Two sources of potential competitive advantage are firm learning and first mover advantages. Lengthy delays in regulatory processes and high compliance costs incurred for environmentally‐sensitive projects may allow firms opportunities to develop specialised capabilities and/or to deter industry competitors and new entrants, resulting in greater expected project NPVs. The findings also underscore the importance of non‐financial environmental information to investors in their assessment of firm value.
Payout Policy Tax Clienteles, Ex‐dividend Day Stock Prices and Trading Behavior in Germany: The Case of the 2001 Tax Reform
Authors: Haesner Christian , Schanz Deborah
Published: October 2015

This paper examines the impact of the German 2001 tax reform, where Germany switched from a full imputation system to a classical system. Theory suggests that both price drop ratios and trading volume decrease following the reform. We document a significant reduction in the valuation of net dividends–in particular for high dividend yield stocks–and weakening payout policy tax clienteles. Ex‐dividend day returns are likely to be driven by short‐term traders. Though the reform removed incentives for cross‐border dividend stripping and reduced tax heterogeneity among investors, we show that the high trading volume around ex‐dividend days persists.
Relationship between periodontitis‐associated subgingival microbiota and clinical inflammation by 16S pyrosequencing
Authors: Camelo‐Castillo A , Novoa L , Balsa‐Castro C , Blanco J , Mira A , Tomás I
Published: October 2015

Aim

To analyse the relationship between the chronic periodontitis‐associated subgingival microbiota and clinical inflammation.

Material and Methods

Sixty subjects with generalized chronic periodontitis participated in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to their bleeding on probing (BOP) scores: BOP‐1 group (mean scores ≤50% in sampled sites) and BOP‐2 group (mean scores >50%). Subgingival bacterial samples from periodontal patients were studied by pyrosequencing PCR products of the 16S rRNA gene and by real‐time PCR.

Results

In all the analysed subgingival samples, 102 bacterial genera and 203 species (from 41 genera of interest) were identified. Rarefaction curves showed a greater number of bacterial species in samples from BOP‐2 group compared to BOP‐1 group. The BOP‐1 group had significantly higher abundance percentages of Anaeroglobus (especifically, A. geminatus), Capnocytophaga (especifically C. gingivalis), TM7 and Veillonella. The BOP‐2 had significantly higher abundance percentages of Desulfobulbus (especially D. propionicus), Eubacterium (especially E. saphenum), Filifactor alocis, Streptococcus constellatus, Tannerella (especially, T. forsythia) and Treponema.

Conclusion

16S pyrosequencing revealed that increased inflammation, at sites with periodontitis, is associated with a more diverse subgingival microbiota and specific changes in the bacterial composition, involving “established” periopathogens, symbionts and novel low‐abundance pathobionts.
Financing Entrepreneurship and the Old‐Boy Network
Authors: Inci Eren , Parker Simon C.
Published: October 2015

We study entrepreneurs’ start‐up financing from banks and local financiers. An informal network, whose membership cannot be observed by outsiders, conveys the good signals it gets about the hidden types of network entrepreneurs to local financiers, which are then reflected in different loan terms. We show that there are winners and losers as a result of the network even among its members. Because all projects have positive net value, it is efficient to finance them even in the absence of a network. Thus, the formation of the network is inefficient as entrepreneurs incur networking costs for purely redistributive gains in the form of better loan terms as network members.
The Creation of A Middle‐Management Level by Entrepreneurial Ventures: Testing Economic Theories of Organizational Design
Authors: Colombo Massimo G. , Grilli Luca
Published: October 2015

Why do some entrepreneurial ventures rapidly switch from flat organizations composed of owner‐managers and line workers to deeper organizations that also include a middle‐management level? The aim of this paper is to investigate this issue and to test the predictions of different streams of the theoretical economic literature on organizational design. We use the estimates of survival data analysis models to examine the determinants of the addition of a middle‐management level to the corporate hierarchy of a large sample of Italian high‐tech entrepreneurial ventures. The econometric results lend support to the view proposed by the “information processing” stream that the information overload problems engendered by a highly competitive and unpredictable business environment are key drivers of the creation of a middle‐management level. Moreover, in accordance with the “knowledge hierarchy” literature, the greater the human capital of firms’ owner‐managers, the more likely the appointment of a middle manager. Conversely, we fail to provide evidence consistent with theoretical predictions inspired by the “decentralization of incentives” stream. Lastly, transaction costs and adverse selection problems in the managerial labour market are found to have a large negative effect on the likelihood of the appointment of middle managers.
Self‐reported post‐operative recovery in children: development of an instrument
Authors: Bramhagen Ann‐Cathrine , Eriksson Mats , Ericsson Elisabeth , Nilsson Ulrica , Harden Sue , Idvall Ewa
Published: October 2015

Rationale, aims and objectives

According to the United Nations (1989), children have the right to be heard and to have their opinions respected. Since post‐operative recovery is an individual and subjective experience and patient‐reported outcome measures are considered important, our aim was to develop and test an instrument to measure self‐reported quality of recovery in children after surgical procedures.

Methods

Development of the instrument Postoperative Recovery in Children (PRiC) was influenced by the Quality of Recovery‐24, for use in adults. Eighteen children and nine professionals validated the items with respect to content and language. A photo questionnaire was developed to determine whether the children's participation would increase compared with the text questionnaire. The final instrument was distributed consecutively to 390 children, ages 4–12 years, who underwent tonsil surgery at four hospitals in Sweden.

Results

A total of 238 children with a mean age of 6.5 years participated. According to the parents, 23% circled the answers themselves and 59% participated to a significant degree. However, there was no significant difference in participation between those who received a photo versus a text questionnaire. Psychometric tests of the instrument showed that Cronbach's alpha for the total instrument was 0.83 and the item‐total correlations for 22 of the items were ≥0.20.

Conclusion

Our results support use of the PRiC instrument to assess and follow‐up on children's self‐reported post‐operative recovery after tonsil operation, both in clinical praxis as well in research.
Resistance Training and White Matter Lesion Progression in Older Women: Exploratory Analysis of a 12‐Month Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bolandzadeh Niousha , Tam Roger , Handy Todd C. , Nagamatsu Lindsay S. , Hsu Chun Liang , Davis Jennifer C. , Dao Elizabeth , Beattie B. Lynn , Liu‐Ambrose Teresa
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To assess whether resistance training (RT) slows the progression of white matter lesions (WMLs) in older women.

Design

Secondary analysis of a 52‐week randomized controlled trial of RT, the Brain Power Study.

Setting

Community center and research center.

Participants

Of 155 community‐dwelling women aged 65 to 75 enrolled in the Brain Power Study, 54 who had evidence of WMLs on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline were included in this secondary analysis.

Intervention

Participants were randomized to once‐weekly RT (1× RT), twice‐weekly RT (2× RT), or twice‐weekly balance and tone (BAT). Assessors were blinded to participant assignments.

Measurements

WML volume was measured using MRI at baseline and trial completion.

Results

At trial completion, the 2× RT group had significantly lower WML volume than the BAT group (P = .03). There was no significant difference between the BAT group and the 1× RT group at trial completion (P = .77). Among participants in the two RT groups, reduced WML progression over 12 months was significantly associated with maintenance of gait speed (correlation coefficient (r) = −0.31, P = .049) but not with executive functions (r = 0.30; P = .06).

Conclusion

Engaging in progressive RT may reduce WML progression.
Using a Clinical Surveillance System to Detect Drug‐Associated Hypoglycemia in Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Culley Colleen M. , Perera Subashan , Marcum Zachary A. , Kane‐Gill Sandra L. , Handler Steven M.
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To determine whether a clinical surveillance system could be used to detect drug‐associated hypoglycemia events and determine their incidence in nursing home (NH) residents.

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Four NHs in western Pennsylvania.

Participants

Any resident of the four NHs who had a computer‐generated alert detecting potential drug‐associated hypoglycemia over a 6‐month period were included.

Measurements

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize all variables, including the frequency and distribution of alert type according to glucose threshold. Analyses were conducted according to numbers of alerts and residents. The medications associated with the drug‐associated hypoglycemia alerts were identified, and frequency of their inclusion in alerts was calculated. Additional calculations included time to drug‐associated hypoglycemic event alert from date of admission and frequency of events associated with postacute, short‐stay (≤35 days) admissions.

Results

Seven hundred seventy‐two alerts involving 141 residents were detected. Ninety (63.8%) residents had a glucose level of 55 mg/dL or less, and 42 (29.8%) had a glucose level of 40 mg/dL or less. Insulin orders were associated with 762 (98.7%) alerts. Overall incidence of drug‐associated hypoglycemia events was 9.5 per 1,000 resident‐days.

Conclusion

Hypoglycemia can be detected using a clinical surveillance system. This evaluation found a high incidence of drug‐associated hypoglycemia in a general NH population. Future studies are needed to determine the potential benefits of use of a surveillance system in real‐time detection and management of hypoglycemia in NHs.
Protecting Rights and Building Capacities: Challenges to Global Mental Health Policy in Light of theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Authors: Wildeman Sheila
Published: October 2015

The World Health Organization (WHO) has in the last decade identified mental health as a priority for global health promotion and international development, to be targeted through promulgation of evidence-based medical practices, health systems reform, and respect for human rights. Yet these overlapping strategies are marked by tensions as the historical primacy of expert-led initiatives is increasingly subject to challenge by new social movements — in particular, disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs). These tensions come into focus upon situating the WHO’s contributions to the analysis of global mental health in light of the negotiation and early stages of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly as it applies to persons with mental disabilities.
Abuses and Apologies: Irresponsible Conduct of Human Subjects Research in Latin America
Authors: Aultman Julie M.
Published: October 2015

As much as we can be squeamish and angry over what was being done in these studies, they force us to consider how we tell these stories and the policy we make now, as so much of our research is global and the risks and benefits of experimentation always in need of recalibration.

Susan M. Reverby

A growing distrust exists among Latin American populations as past abuses in medical research have rightly been publicized, and as researchers continue to intentionally and unintentionally circumvent the systems of regulation and oversight. Beyond the cultural gaps between researcher and subject, the Latin American people have their own perspectives about responsible conduct of research formed by sociopolitical thought and familial and community identity, which may be overlooked or ignored by the U.S. and other foreign nations. Just as the Havasupai Tribe in Arizona have challenged us to think about the role of culture and the need for improved regulations and practices in conducting research within the United States, through past abuses in human experimentation and the emergence of discourse between our Latin American neighbors, similar challenges confront us.
Doing Good and Doing Well: Corporate Social Responsibility in Post Obamacare America
Authors: Corbett James , Kappagoda Manel
Published: October 2015

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other federal initiatives are fostering the emergence of a coherent vision for chronic disease prevention that has never before existed in the United States. This investment in population health and prevention comes not a moment too soon. Health care costs are proving very difficult to control and are rising at an unsustainable rate, driven in part by sky-rocketing chronic disease rates.

This article looks at how a health system can engage in prevention activities beyond the clinical setting and makes a strong case that these interventions will result in documented cost savings. We first examine an individually targeted strategy that helps patients obtain health insurance coverage. This strategy furthers a hospital's goal of receiving reimbursement for care while also having the social benefit of increasing patients’ economic stability.
Using the Law to Promote the Mental Health of Older Adults during Disasters
Authors: Rutkow Lainie , Vernick Jon S. , Spira Adam P. , Barnett Daniel J.
Published: October 2015

When a disaster occurs, adults over age 65 may be disproportionately impacted due to sensory deficits, chronic health conditions, diminished social support and isolation, and financial limitations. Although older adults comprised approximately 15 percent of the New Orleans population, they accounted for over 70 percent of the fatalities associated with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Disasters can also impact older adults’ morbidity, as a disaster may disrupt established habits and routines (e.g., timing of medication administration) and result in removal from a familiar environment, promoting disorientation. This may raise particular challenges for older adults with mental and physical co-morbidities, and subsequently for their formal and informal caregivers.

While some older adults may need care for physical health problems following a disaster, mental health needs are often overlooked or unmet. One study of Hurricane Katrina survivors found that, compared to older adults, middle-aged individuals were twice as likely to have received mental health services in the eight months after the hurricane.
HIPAA Privacy Rule 2.0
Authors: Rothstein Mark A.
Published: October 2015

On January 25, 2013, theFederal Registerpublished the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, Enforcement, and Breach Notification Rules. These modifications also include the final versions of the HIPAA regulation amendments mandated by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Although the amended rules were effective on March 26, 2013, covered entities and their business associates (which now have direct liability for violations of the regulations) have a compliance date of September 23, 2013.

It has been 10 years since the April 14, 2003 compliance date for the original HIPAA Privacy Rule. Despite HHS’ clarification of some issues by posting answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), there have been no significant amendments to the Privacy Rule since 2003.
The Ethics of Pharmaceutical Research Funding: A Social Organization Approach
Authors: Gray Garry C.
Published: October 2015

What does unethical behavior look like in everyday professional practice, and how might it become the accepted norm? Examinations of unethical behavior often focus on failures of individual morality or on psychological blind spots, yet unethical behaviors are generated and performed through social interactions across professional practices rather than by individual actors alone. This shifts the focus of behavioral ethics research beyond the laboratory exploring motivation and cognition and into the organizations and professions where unethical behavior is motivated, justified, enabled and supported in specific social contexts. For instance, when pharmaceutical firms fund academic research, how do the funding arrangements intersect with individual behaviors that are typical in academic research? In turn, how do academic-industry interactions affect scientific norms, particularly those involving compliance with rules, regulations, and ethical codes of conduct? A social organization approach to ethics allows us not only to examine ethics in practice, but also to tease apart unethical behaviors that might operate on an unreflective level and become accepted as “just the way it is.”
Rooting Out Institutional Corruption to Manage Inappropriate Off-Label Drug Use
Authors: Rodwin Marc A.
Published: October 2015

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes the marketing of a drug only for uses that the manufacturer has demonstrated to be safe and effective, based on evidence from at least two clinical trials. However, the FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine, so physicians may prescribe drugs in any manner they choose. Prescribing drugs in ways that deviate from the uses specified in the FDA-approved drug label, package insert, and marketing authorization is referred to as off-label prescribing. This occurs when physicians prescribe a drug for a therapeutic purpose other than the one approved by the FDA; treat patients in a different age cohort or gender than the population on which it was tested; or prescribe a different dose, for a different duration of use, or a different mode of administration than indicated on the label.
A Proposed Ban on the Sale to and Possession of Caloric Sweetened Beverages by Minors in Public
Authors: Hodge James G. , Barraza Leila , Russo Susan , Nelson Kellie , Measer Greg
Published: October 2015

Obesity is the definitive epidemic of the modern era in the United States. Its well-documented public health impacts, especially related to children and adolescents, are horrific. Nearly one-third of American minors are overweight; over 50% of them are obese. Already, these kids suffer from multiple adverse physical and mental health conditions. Sadly, absent serious communal and individual interventions, their lives may be cut short compared to their own parents’ life expectancy. While recent surveillance suggests childhood obesity may be trending down slightly in some populations, public health experts remain concerned about the threat obesity poses to the health of America's youth.

The concurrent travesty underlying childhood obesity is the relative societal failure to slow and reverse its spread.
The Bad Mother: Stigma, Abortion and Surrogacy
Authors: Abrams Paula
Published: October 2015

Surrogacy and abortion represent two facets of procreative liberty, the right to reproduce and the right to avoid reproducing. Research on stigma associated with abortion and surrogacy illuminates how these very different experiences carry similar stigmatic harm. Why do certain decisions about reproduction engender social support, other decisions social disapproval? Restrictions on surrogacy and abortion derive from a common legal paradigm — state regulation on the pregnant body — that is rooted in traditional gender roles. Not all laws restricting abortion and surrogacy evince gender stereotyping. Abortion and surrogacy pose complex moral and social dilemmas. But research of stigma associated with abortion and surrogacy suggests that gender stereotypes play a role in the creation of stigma.
Organ Donation, Brain Death and the Family: Valid Informed Consent
Authors: Iltis Ana S.
Published: October 2015

In July 2013, parents in Ohio objected to their 21-year-old son becoming an organ donor. Elijah Smith was involved in an accident and pronounced dead using neurological criteria. The organ procurement organization (OPO) went to court and argued that because the young man was brain dead and because his driver's license indicated that he wished to be a donor, the court should allow them to use his organs. The mother argued that her son did not understand what he was signing when he signed his license and that his signature did not reflect an informed decision. The court disagreed with her, saying that he had indicated a wish to donate his organs and that no one but Elijah could revoke that wish. His organs were removed.

Elijah's mother suspected that he did not understand what he was signing. She might have been right, given what we know about the process for obtaining permission for organ donation and the limited public understanding of brain death.
An Integrated Systems Approach is Needed to Ensure the Sustainability of Antibiotic Effectiveness for Both Humans and Animals
Authors: So Anthony D. , Shah Tejen A. , Roach Steven , Chee Yoke Ling , Nachman Keeve E.
Published: October 2015

Antimicrobial resistance is a critical public health challenge, and the contribution of the widespread use of antimicrobials in food animals to bacterial drug resistance and human infection demands greater policymaker attention. Global consumption of antimicrobials in food animal production by 2030 is projected to rise by two-thirds due to increases in both food animal production and demand for animal products. In the United States (U.S.), the volume of antibiotics sold for use in food-producing animals is at least three times greater than that sold for human use. A One Health approach that emphasizes the connections among the health of humans, animals, and the environment is needed to address antibiotic resistance in an integrated manner. This approach holds the promise of collaboration across multiple disciplines, including doctors, veterinarians, food safety professionals, and environmental health experts.
Contraceptive Needs and Preferences of Bhutanese Women Refugees
Authors: Poudel Bindu , Dyer Jane M.
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Bhutanese immigrants are the first poor Hindus to arrive in the United States as refugees in large numbers, and health care providers are often not familiar with Bhutanese beliefs and attitudes toward contraception. The objectives of this qualitative study were to explore and identify Bhutanese contraceptive beliefs and practices to facilitate provision of culturally sensitive contraceptive services.

Background

All contraceptive methods, except abortion and emergency contraception, are considered acceptable to Hindi people. Sex outside marriage is prohibited in this culture, and sexual health is often considered a taboo topic. Women are generally not educated about contraceptive options until after the birth of their first child; however, contraception and family planning services were widely used and accepted in Bhutanese refugee camps.

Methods

Individual interviews were conducted with 14 Bhutanese women in the Nepali language. The interviews were audio recorded then later translated and transcribed verbatim. The interviews were evaluated for common themes and quotes.

Results

The interviews revealed contraception is a private matter for Bhutanese women. They are comfortable talking about pregnancy and other health issues rather than contraception. However, contraception is known about and accepted in Bhutanese culture. There are no religious prohibitions regarding contraception. The medroxyprogesterone acetate injection was the most common method of contraception. None of the Bhutanese women were using long‐term contraception such as intrauterine devices. Women were hesitant to use contraception because of the concerns about menstrual side effects and fears about infertility. Contraception appeared to be used only after the ideal family size and composition were met and only if women were married. Single women did not use any contraception. Most of the women agreed that they discussed contraception with married women, as a source of information. Most women were exposed to an explanation of contraceptive methods at the hospital after the birth of their first child.

Discussion

These findings inform midwives and other health care providers about Bhutanese women's beliefs so that they can provide culturally congruent contraceptive counseling.
Identification of Sensitive Predictors of Levator Ani Tear during First Complex Vaginal Birth
Authors: Low Lisa Kane , Zielinski Ruth , Tao Yebin , Brandon Catherine , Miller Janis
Published: October 2015

Objective

To determine maternal characteristics and birth events most predictive of increasing severity of levator ani tears, a recognized predisposing factor to pelvic floor disorders later in a woman's lifespan, so that prevention strategies may be developed.

Significance

Several studies link vaginal birth with levator ani tears resulting in increased risk of developing pelvic floor disorders later in life. The events of vaginal birth that contribute to development of levator ani tears and how these factors are linked are not explicitly known. Prior retrospective investigations indicated age greater than 33 years, use of forceps or vacuum, more than 150 minutes in second stage, anal sphincter tear, or macrosomic infant greater than 4000 grams were risk factors for levator ani tears. Taken together, we refer to women who had at least one of these factors as having a “complex” birth.

Methods

We purposefully recruited and enrolled primiparous women immediately postpartum who experienced a complex vaginal birth. Participants were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2 months postpartum. Severity level of levator ani tears was graded by degree of muscle volume loss measured on an ordinal scale as: 0) none, 1) less than 50% loss unilateral, 2) greater than or equal to 50% unilateral or less than 50% bilateral, and 3) greater than or equal to 50% bilateral. During analysis additional risk factors considered included episiotomy, infant head circumference, duration of active pushing, and use of epidural and oxytocin. Ordinal logistic regression was used for analysis with significance at P < .05 for univariate predictors.

Findings

Ninety women successfully completed the MRI and the majority (64.4%) showed no visible levator ani muscle loss, 10% showed only minor muscle volume loss, with 25.8% in severe muscle loss categories. Significant predictors of tear severity were time spent in active pushing (P = 0.04), not total time in second stage, and age (P = 0.02). Use of episiotomy was not statistically significant (P = 0.05).

Discussion

Despite recruiting women who experienced a complex birth, only about a quarter actually had clinically relevant levator ani tears. In this investigation of at‐risk women, significant predictors of levator ani tear severity included increasing age and duration of active pushing. When considering prevention, age is not modifiable, but monitoring active pushing time and potentially avoiding episiotomy warrant further investigation.

Funding

NIH Funding R21HD049818 and P50HD044406 002.
Is exercise‐in‐a‐bottle likely to proffer new insights into Alzheimer's disease?
Authors: Correia Sónia C. , Perry George , Castellani Rudy , Moreira Paula I.
Published: October 2015

Read the full article ‘Lactate administration reproduces specific brain and liver exercise‐related changes’ on doi: 10.1111/jnc.12394.
Verbal Abuse From Nurse Colleagues and Work Environment of Early Career Registered Nurses
Authors: Budin Wendy C. , Brewer Carol S. , Chao Ying‐Yu , Kovner Christine
Published: October 2015

Purpose

This study examined relationships between verbal abuse from nurse colleagues and demographic characteristics, work attributes, and work attitudes of early career registered nurses (RNs).

Design and Methods

Data are from the fourth wave of a national panel survey of early career RNs begun in 2006. The final analytic sample included 1,407 RNs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample, analysis of variance to compare means, and chi square to compare categorical variables.

Findings

RNs reporting higher levels of verbal abuse from nurse colleagues were more likely to be unmarried, work in a hospital setting, or work in a non‐magnet hospital. They also had lower job satisfaction, and less organizational commitment, autonomy, and intent to stay. Lastly, they perceived their work environments unfavorably.

Conclusions

Data support the hypothesis that early career RNs are vulnerable to the effects of verbal abuse from nurse colleagues. Although more verbal abuse is seen in environments with unfavorable working conditions, and RNs working in such environments tend to have less favorable work attitudes, one cannot assume causality. It is unclear if poor working conditions create an environment where verbal abuse is tolerated or if verbal abuse creates an unfavorable work environment.

Clinical Relevance

There is a need to develop and test evidence‐based interventions to deal with the problems inherent with verbal abuse from nurse colleagues.