bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychological Well‐Being and Social Support for Parents With Intellectual Disabilities: Risk Factors and Interventions
Authors: Darbyshire Laura Valerie , Stenfert Kroese Biza 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIndividuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to be socially isolated and at risk of poor psychological well‐being. The added pressure of becoming a parent may magnify these risks, which are highlighted in Sterling's “determinants of parenting” model. The authors reviewed psychological well‐being and social support among parents with ID, addressing three aims that explore the importance of these two factors in their lives. The findings are discussed within the context of Sterling's model. A systematic search of electronic databases was carried out. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed, and the integrity and outcomes of the studies are discussed. Parents with ID experience poorer psychological well‐being than the general parenting population and a relationship was found between psychological well‐being and social support. Two of the intervention studies found evidence that by improving social support, psychological well‐being was improved. The authors also observed that the relationship between social support and parenting ability was supported by findings of a positive relationship between satisfaction with social support and positive maternal reactions. Sterling's model was supported by the majority of the studies; however, a number of recommendations for further research are suggested to more fully explore the relationship between psychological well‐being and social support.
A Conceptual and Measurement Framework to Guide Policy Development and Systems Change
Authors: Schalock Robert L. , Verdugo Miguel Angel 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe authors describe a conceptual and measurement framework that provides a template for guiding policy development and systems change. The framework is built on the concepts of vertical and horizontal alignment, system‐level processes, and organization‐level practices. Application of the framework can structure the thinking and analytic activities of systems and organization‐level personnel and can help them identify significant disconnects between and among system‐level processes and organization‐level practices. Once the disconnects are identified, information can be used to develop policies that enhance the alignment or congruence between system‐level processes and organization‐level practices, or implement systems changes that enhance the logical sequence of input and throughput, input and output, and/or throughput and output program logical components. The article concludes with a discussion of a number of change‐oriented principles (vision of the future, simple communication, leadership, empowering, immediate feedback and reinforcement, organization's culture) and guidelines (pace the change process, reallocate and restructure resources, alignment process, partnerships, continuous quality improvement framework, system and organization‐level outputs, innovation, performance‐based evaluation and management system) that address significant challenges faced today by intellectual and developmental disabilities' organizations and systems.
The Internet as Social Support for Older Carers of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Perkins Elizabeth A. , LaMartin Kimberly M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractSocial support is a potentially powerful mediator of well‐being for family carers. Given that social engagement often decreases with age, the Internet broadens the opportunities for aging carers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to provide support to one another. This article reviews what constitutes social support, its importance to older adults, and more specifically carers of those with I/DD. Computer and Internet usage by older adults is briefly reviewed. The Internet as a medium for facilitating social support and support groups for carers is discussed. The role of the Internet in the lives of people with I/DD is also briefly reviewed. The literature review, compiled from a literature search of PubMed, Science Direct, PsycInfo, OvidSP, and CINAHL databases, revealed that there is a relative paucity of information regarding support on the Internet for aging carers, particularly for aging carers for people with I/DD. The review also revealed the utility of the Internet to be utilized as a medium for social support groups. The authors noted that aging adults can acquire new technological abilities and cognitive benefits when learning new skills. Both older adults and individuals with I/DD benefit when web sites are attentive to layout and usability. The authors suggest that Internet‐based aging carer support groups that also incorporate educational content should be developed. Although many research questions remain about the design of Internet‐based carer groups, web sites that appeal to both carers and individuals with I/DD for peer support and information are interesting avenues for further investigation.
An Assessment of Policies Guiding School Emergency Disaster Management for Students With Disabilities in Australia
Authors: Boon Helen Joanna , Pagliano Paul , Brown Lawrence , Tsey Komla 
Published: March 2012

AbstractRecent weather‐related disasters (i.e., floods, fires) impacting Australia may potentially increase in frequency and severity as a result of predicted climate variability. The dearth of literature pertaining to school emergency response planning for vulnerable students with disabilities (including those with intellectual disabilities) when such disasters occur and the lack of evidence‐based support for school guidelines addressing the needs of such students led the authors to investigate the presence and extent of governmental policies and guidelines underpinning disaster management in schools in Australia. In the absence of routine policies and procedures, students with disabilities may be placed at risk to ill‐advised evacuation efforts or neglected during severe emergencies. The study's results indicate that insufficient consideration has been given to the emergency preparedness planning and management with respect to meeting needs of vulnerable students with disabilities. The findings suggest that disaster preparedness is underresourced and possibly neglected. Although the particular needs of vulnerable students with disabilities are briefly noted in the various state governments' education policies, they have not been systematically considered in the context of overall disaster planning for Australian schools, with the ambiguity of student characterization terms such as “special needs” adding to the problem. The study also scrutinized the terms with respect how they might impact school plans that relate to emergency management. The authors conclude that processes already embedded in local schools for students with disabilities may be possible vehicles to appropriate statewide emergency management planning. They recommend that education authorities worldwide review current emergency management policies in a consultative manner with schools, researchers, first responders, and carers so as to minimize risk for students with disabilities in natural disaster emergencies.
Insects are electrified in an electric field by deprivation of their negative charge
Authors: Kakutani K. , Matsuda Y. , Haneda K. , Nonomura T. , Kimbara J. , Kusakari S. , Osamura K. , Toyoda H. 
Published: March 2012

An electric field screen (EF‐screen) is a physical device for excluding pest insects from greenhouses and warehouses to protect crops during their production and storage periods. In this study, a simple version of the EF‐screen, an insulated conductor iron wire (ICW) paralleled to an earthed net, was constructed to effectively observe the attraction of test insects in relation to their electricity release. The ICW was negatively charged to dielectrically polarise the insulator sleeve of the ICW: negatively on the outer surface and positively on the inner conductor wire surface of the sleeve. The negative surface charge of the ICW caused an electrostatic induction in the earthed net and a resultant positive charge at the ICW‐side surface of the net. An electric field formed between the ICW (negative pole) and earthed net (positive pole). Insects were attracted to the ICW when they were placed onto the earthed net. A vital step for the attraction was the creation of a transient bioelectric discharge from an insect. During this discharge, an electric charge of the insect was transferred to the earthed net. Eventually, the insect became net positive and was then attracted to the ICW. The magnitude of the current increased in direct proportion to the increase in voltage applied to the ICW, and the attraction force was directly proportional to the increase in the electric current. Larger voltages were necessary to attract much larger insects because larger insects were stronger and therefore more able to escape from the ICW attraction. Similar results were obtained for a wide range of pest insects belonging to different taxonomic groups (8 orders and 15 families). This study demonstrated that transient bioelectric discharge is common in insects and can be utilised to create an electrostatic force capable of moving insects in a generated electric field.
Syringosubarachnoid shunt as a management for syringohydromyelia in dogs
Authors: Motta L. , Skerritt G. C. 
Published: March 2012

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of syringosubarachnoid shunt for the management of syringohydromyelia/syringomyelia.Methods: Eleven dogs diagnosed with syringohydromyelia/syringomyelia by magnetic resonance imaging associated with Chiari‐like malformation underwent placement of a syringosubarachnoid shunt at the cervical (nine dogs) or lumbar (two dogs) spinal cord. In one dog, a suboccipital decompression (foramen magnum decompression) was performed 4 months before inserting a syringosubarachnoid shunt. All dogs were evaluated neurologically a few hours after surgery, 2 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Retrospectively, cases were assigned a preoperative and postoperative pain score.Results: There were no intra‐ or peri‐operative complications. One dog (9%) was euthanased 5 weeks after surgery. Progressive neurological improvement was observed in nine dogs (81·8%) 2 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. No clinical improvement was seen in another dog (9%). One dog (9%) had replacement of the syringosubarachnoid shunt. Seven dogs (63·6%) were still alive 1 to 4 years (mean, 2·6 years) after surgery.Clinical Significance: Placement of a syringosubarachnoid shunt in the presence of a sufficiently large syrinx appears to be beneficial in dogs with Chiari‐like malformation and associated syringohydromyelia/syringomyelia.
Familial subvalvular aortic stenosis in golden retrievers: inheritance and echocardiographic findings
Authors: Stern J. A. , Meurs K. M. , Nelson O. L. , Lahmers S. M. , Lehmkuhl L. B. 
Published: March 2012

Objectives: To describe the echocardiographic findings and pedigree analysis of golden retrievers with subvalvular aortic stenosis.Methods: Seventy‐three golden retrievers were evaluated by auscultation and echocardiography. A subcostal continuous‐wave Doppler aortic velocity ê2·5 m/s and presence of a left basilar systolic ejection murmur were required for diagnosis of subvalvular aortic stenosis. Three echocardiographic characteristics were recorded: evidence of aortic insufficiency, subvalvular ridge or left ventricular hypertrophy. A disease status score was calculated by totalling the number of echocardiographic ‐characteristics per subject.Results: Thirty‐two of 73 dogs were affected and their aortic velocities were as follows: range 2·5 to 6·8 m/s, median 3·4 m/s and standard deviation 1·2 m/s. Echocardiographic characteristics of 32 affected dogs were distributed as follows: left ventricular hypertrophy 12 of 32, aortic insufficiency 20 of 32 and subvalvular ridge 20 of 32. Disease status score ranged from 0 to 3 with a median of 2. There was a statistically significant correlation between aortic velocity and disease status score (r=0·644, P<0·0001). Subvalvular aortic stenosis was observed in multiple generations of several families and appears familial.Clinical Significance: Subvalvular aortic stenosis in the golden retriever is familial. Severity of stenosis correlates well with cumulative presence of echocardiographic characteristics (left ventricular hypertrophy, subvalvular ridge and aortic insufficiency).
A prospective study of basal insulin concentrations in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts
Authors: Collings A. J. , Gow A. G. , Marques A. , Yool D. , Furneaux R. , Mellanby R. , Watson P. J. 
Published: March 2012

Objectives: Hypoglycaemia is a common cause of morbidity in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts but the aetiology is unknown. The hypothesis of this study was that dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts would have significantly higher insulin concentrations than dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts. The main objective of the study was to compare peripheral glucose and insulin concentrations between dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and dogs without congenital portosystemic shunts.Methods: Peripheral serum insulin and plasma glucose concentrations were measured in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts and compared both between groups as well as to reference intervals derived from healthy dogs.Results: Congenital portosystemic shunts were diagnosed in 41 dogs. Forty‐eight dogs hospitalised with other conditions acted as controls. Serum insulin concentrations were mildly elevated (Ä40 μU/mL) in seven dogs and were markedly elevated in two dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts, yet mild hypoglycaemia (3·3 mmol/L) was detected in only one of these dogs. Four dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts showed fasting hypoglycaemia, yet insulin concentrations were within or below the reference interval in three. There was no difference between the median insulin concentration of dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts and without congenital portosystemic shunts.ClinicalSignificance: Hyperinsulinaemia is infrequently observed in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts. The aetiology of hypoglycaemia in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts merits further investigation.
Analysis and Design of Photobioreactors for Microalgae Production I: Method and Parameters for Radiation Field Simulation
Authors: Heinrich Josué Miguel , Niizawa Ignacio , Botta Fausto Adrián , Trombert Alejandro Raúl , Irazoqui Horacio Antonio 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHaving capabilities for the simulation of the radiation field in suspensions of microalgae constitutes a great asset for the analysis, optimization and scaling‐up of photobioreactors. In this study, a combined experimental and computational procedure is presented, specifically devised for the assessment of the coefficients of absorption and scattering, needed for the simulation of such fields. The experimental procedure consists in measuring the radiant energy transmitted through samples of suspensions of microalgae of different biomass concentrations, as well as the forward and backward scattered light. At a microscopic level, suspensions of microalgae are complex heterogeneous media and due to this complexity, in this study they are modeled as a pseudocontinuum, with centers of absorption and scattering randomly distributed throughout its volume. This model was tested on suspensions of two algal species of dissimilar cell shapes: Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus quadricauda. The Monte Carlo simulation algorithm developed in this study, when used as a supporting subroutine of a main optimization program based on a genetic algorithm, permits the assessment of the physical parameters of the radiation field model. The Monte Carlo algorithm simulates the experiments, reproducing the events that photons can undergo while they propagate through culture samples or at its physical boundaries.
Ultrasound Pleural Effusion Sign as a Useful Marker for Identifying Heart Failure Worsening in Established Heart Failure Patients During Follow‐Up
Authors: Kataoka Hajime 
Published: March 2012

©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Clinical significance of UltraSound Pleural Effusion (US‐PLE) and test characteristics of this sign for identifying worsening heart failure (HF) during follow‐up of HF patients are unclear. Clinical records of 83 established HF patients were examined. The diagnosis of worsening HF was classified as “highly certain,”“probable,”“uncertain,” or “no” based on the combination of the changes in symptoms/signs and B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Routine test included searching for the US‐PLE sign. During a follow‐up of 652±456 days, 1826 visits were evaluated. Among the 83 study patients, 78 had at least one of the following: worsening symptom(s), HF‐related sign(s), and/or elevated BNP levels (≥3‐fold increase) at one or more clinic visits. The US‐PLE sign was present at 83 visits of 49 study patients. Its appearance was associated with the presence of HF‐related symptom(s)/sign(s) and BNP elevation (odds ratio, 53–177, P<.0001 each). The test characteristics of the US‐PLE sign for diagnosis of high possibility of worsening HF status fulfilling the “highly certain” or “probable” criteria were: sensitivity (76.6%), specificity (98.6%), positive predictive value (71.1%), and negative predictive value (99.0%). The US‐PLE sign has high diagnostic accuracy for identifying worsening HF, including asymptomatic events, in HF patients during follow‐up.
Risk Score Model for Predicting Mortality in Advanced Heart Failure Patients Followed in a Heart Failure Clinic
Authors: Zafrir Barak , Goren Yaron , Paz Hagar , Wolff Rafael , Salman Nabia , Merhavi Dina , Lavi Idit , Lewis Basil S. , Amir Offer 
Published: March 2012

©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The prevalence of heart failure (HF) in the population is increasing, concomitant with high incidence of rehospitalizations and mortality. The aim of this study was to characterize a prognostic risk score model for patients with chronic HF. A total of 500 patients followed at the HF clinic were evaluated by clinical, functional, laboratory, imaging, and therapeutic variables that were correlated to mortality during a follow‐up period of 25 months. Risk stratification was carried out by applying a risk score model based on multivariate analysis. Predictors correlated with mortality during follow‐up were systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg, male sex, age older than 70 years, 6‐minute walk distance <300 m, lack of β‐blocker therapy, hyperuricemia (>7.5 mg/dL), hyponatremia, and prolonged QTc interval (>450 ms). Based on these variables, a risk score model (score 0–55) was established and included low risk, score <21 (9% mortality during 2‐year follow‐up); moderate risk, 21 to 29 (22%); high risk, 30 to 35 (35%), and very high risk: ≥36 points (62% 2‐year mortality). The risk model had good discrimination ability (concordance index 0.75), which was better than the performance of the Seattle Heart Failure Model on our cohort (0.69). Simple noninvasive characteristics examined during the initial admission to the HF clinic can serve as prognostic markers for mortality and may help in the process of therapeutic decision‐making in patients with HF.
Effets de la crise mondiale sur la performance des régimes de retraite, par répartition et financés par l'impôt, en Amérique centrale
Authors: Mesa‐Lago Carmelo 
Published: March 2012

RésuméDurant les trente dernières années, l'Amérique latine a mis en œuvre des réformes structurelles des régimes de retraite. Cet article traite des régimes de retraite par répartition et financés par l'impôt, ainsi que des réformes récemment introduites dans ce domaine, dans un échantillon représentatif de sept pays d'Amérique ayant des niveaux inégaux de développement (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua et Panama). Il évalue la performance de ces régimes en regard de cinq principes de la sécurité sociale: degré d'intégration; universalité de la couverture; adéquation des prestations; égalité de traitement, solidarité sociale et égalité entre les sexes; viabilité financière. L'article analyse également l'impact de la crise mondiale sur ces régimes de retraite, souligne les différences entre les programmes publics et privés, tire certains enseignements du passé et propose des politiques pour l'avenir.
Paiements de transfert semi‐conditionnels en espèces, sous forme de prestations pour enfants et adolescents, dans l'économie informelle en Argentine
Authors: Bertranou Fabio , Maurizio Roxana 
Published: March 2012

RésuméEn 2009, l'Argentine a mis en place un nouveau programme de prestations destiné aux enfants et aux adolescents de moins de 18 ans (Allocation familiale universelle). Ce programme étendait la couverture offerte en vertu du programme contributif d'allocations familiales afin d'y inclure les familles des chômeurs et des travailleurs de l'économie informelle. Le présent article décrit ce programme novateur, qu'il compare avec les programmes similaires existant en Amérique latine; il analyse son impact sur la couverture sociale, ainsi que ses effets potentiels sur le bien‐être de la population. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent que l'extension du droit à ces prestations a permis de réduire considérablement les lacunes de la couverture sociale dans les couches pauvres et indigentes de la population. Elle a aussi permis d'améliorer la coordination, auparavant déficiente, des différents programmes sociaux.
Application de théories anciennes à un environnement nouveau: étude du délai de mise en œuvre des premières lois de sécurité sociale en Afrique
Authors: Kangas Olli E. 
Published: March 2012

RésuméLe présent article examine le délai selon lequel ont été introduits quatre grands programmes de sécurité sociale — assurance contre les accidents du travail, prestations de santé, pensions et allocations familiales — dans 43 pays d'Afrique. Il étudie également si le cadre législatif, la religion dominante ou le passé colonial du pays jouent un rôle lorsque l'on prend également en compte l'année de l'indépendance, la prospérité, le degré de démocratie, la stabilité politique, l'industrialisation du pays et la taille et l'homogénéité ethnique de sa population. En se fondant sur le modèle de Cox, il conclut que les pays industrialisés, homogènes et présentant une population relativement élevée qui ont été autrefois sous administration française paraissent aujourd'hui plus avancés en matière de législation de sécurité sociale.
L'efficacité du revenu minimum garanti au Luxembourg
Authors: Amétépé Fofo 
Published: March 2012

RésuméLe présent article analyse l'efficacité du revenu minimum garanti (RMG) au Luxembourg en comparant les proportions de ménages éligibles en 2007 et en 1986. Il ressort que 5,5 pour cent des ménages sont éligibles avec les critères de 2007 contre 3,75 pour cent avec ceux de 1986. Cela montre que l'assouplissement des critères a permis de toucher plus de ménages pauvres, donc il est efficace. L'article examine ensuite l'efficacité de cette aide sociale à travers le taux de non‐recours en 2007. Les deux tiers des ménages éligibles ne recourent pas au RMG. Les analyses de régression sur les potentiels déterminants du non‐recours ont confirmé les hypothèses souvent mentionnées dans la littérature: le facteur pécuniaire — le bénéfice net tiré du recours — et la stigmatisation jouent un rôle majeur dans l'explication du non‐recours au RMG.