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Selected AbstractsRelational Factors and Family Treatment Engagement among Low-Income, HIV-Positive African American MothersFAMILY PROCESS, Issue 1 2003Victoria B. Mitrani Ph.D. Clinically derived hypotheses regarding treatment engagement of families of low-income, HIV-positive, African American mothers are tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Predictors are baseline family relational factors (family support, mother's desire for involvement with family, and family hassles) and mother's history of substance dependence. The study examines a subsample of 49 mothers enrolled in a clinical trial testing the efficacy of Structural Ecosystems Therapy (SET). SET is a family-based intervention intended to relieve and prevent psychosocial distress associated with HIV/AIDS. Participants in the subsample were randomly assigned to SET and attended at least two therapy sessions. Findings reveal that family relational factors predicted family treatment engagement (family support, p < 004; mother's desire for involvement with family, p < 008; family hassles, p < 027). Family support predicted family treatment engagement beyond the prediction provided by the other relational factors and the mother's own treatment engagement (p < 016). History of substance dependence was neither associated with family treatment engagement nor family support. Post hoc analyses revealed that family hassles (p < 003) and mother's desire for involvement with family (p < 018) were differentially related to family treatment engagement in low-versus high-support families. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. [source] Pathways of Youth Development in a Rural Trailer Park,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 2 2006Katherine A. MacTavish Abstract: Limited empirical documentation exists for the developmental pathways available to rural youth growing up in low-resource community settings. Drawing on ethnographic data, this article examines the developmental pathways experienced by youth in a rural trailer park. Findings reveal how various factors, some inherent to working poor class status and others unique to trailer park residence and small town community, challenge youth's access to a pathway offering broader life chances. [source] University Choice: What Influences the Decisions of Academically Successful Post-16 Students?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2006Joan M. Whitehead The questionnaire survey reported in this paper is part of an ongoing evaluation of the effect of a bursary scheme on recruitment to Cambridge University. It sought to identify factors that encouraged or discouraged highly successful A Level students from applying to Cambridge. Findings reveal three main dimensions associated with the decision to apply to Cambridge, the nature of the courses, the prestige of the university and anxiety about the application process combined with fear of failure. Further analyses showed that there were complex interactions between these three dimensions which governed the decision to apply to Cambridge. These findings are relevant to other prestigious universities. The availability of a bursary did appear to influence the decisions of those who were eligible, but its influence was not as great as some of the other factors. [source] Services and functions provided by European city tourist offices: a longitudinal studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 1 2003Karl W. Wöber Abstract Tourism has become a major source of employment, revenue, international awareness and opportunity in European cities. As competition among European cities grows, the efficiency of management in city tourism organisations (CTOs) becomes increasingly important. This article reports on a longitudinal study of 50 European CTOs over the 4-year period from 1995 to 1999. The aim of the study is to examine the changes in functions provided by European CTOs during the given period of time. Findings reveal that five identifiable function categories can characterise the changes that happened during the given period of time: hotel booking service, commerce, conventional information dissemination, advanced information product and relationship management. It is argued that information technology and role change are the main driving forces of these changes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pasifika in the news: the portrayal of Pacific peoples in the New Zealand pressJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Robert Loto Abstract Pacific Islanders have faced discrimination in New Zealand particularly since the 1960s when communities began to be transplanted from their home nations to Aotearoa as cheap immigrant labour. Subsequently, the New Zealand vernacular has contained references to Pacific Islanders as ,overstayers', ,coconuts', ,bungas' and ,fresh off the boat' [FOB]. However, the legacy of a domineering relationship between the Palagi1 majority group and Pacific minorities2 that is captured by such derogatory terms is still evident in public forums such as the media. Using a quantitative content and qualitative narrative analysis, this paper documents portrayals of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand print media reports (n,=,65) published over a 3 month period. Findings reveal that Pacific people are predominantly portrayed as unmotivated, unhealthy and criminal others who are overly dependent on Palagi support. We consider this offered pacific identity formation with that implied for Palagi, which is active, independent, competent and caring. Issues in coverage are discussed in relation to how Pacific Islanders are encouraged to see themselves, and the health and social consequences of dominant practices in press coverage. We offer some suggestions as to how more equitable representations of Pacific people could be fostered in news media. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consumer Experiences with Predatory Lending PracticesJOURNAL OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2007RONALD PAUL HILL This investigation examines how consumers perceive and experience predatory lenders. Findings reveal that industry practices are carried out to the detriment of persons typically defined as "vulnerable," such as elderly, impoverished, and African American consumers. Using a series of personal interviews with a geographically diverse set of respondents, data reveal thematic categories that include the friendly veneer, the rules of engagement, and an aggressive response, which capture the nuances of this exchange relationship from the perspective of these unwitting consumers. The closing section provides implications for scholars and regulators seeking workable solutions to limit additional financial exploitation. [source] Gay Men: Negotiating Procreative, Father, and Family IdentitiesJOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 2 2007Dana Berkowitz Our qualitative study examines the social psychology of gay men's experiences with their procreative, father, and family identities. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 childless gay men and 20 gay men in the United States who have fathered using diverse means excluding heterosexual intercourse. By focusing on men aged 19 , 55 residing primarily in Florida and New York, our novel analysis illuminates how emerging structural opportunities and shifting constraints shape gay men's procreative consciousness. Findings reveal that gay men's procreative consciousness evolves throughout men's life course, and is profoundly shaped by institutions and ruling relations, such as adoption and fertility agencies, assumptions about gay men, and negotiations with birth mothers, partners, and others. [source] The Black,White Paradox in Health: Flourishing in the Face of Social Inequality and DiscriminationJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 6 2009Corey L. M. Keyes ABSTRACT This paper reviews published research and presents new analyses from the 1995 nationally representative sample from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to investigate whether there is support for the paradox of race and health in the United States. Findings reveal that Blacks have lower rates of several common mental disorders, but Blacks also have higher rates of flourishing than Whites. Blacks are mentally resilient in the face of greater social inequality and exposure to discrimination as well as high rates of physical morbidity,all of which are distinctive risk factors for mental distress and mental illness in the general population. Findings also show that controlling for perceived discrimination increases the Black advantage in 12 of the 13 signs of flourishing, suggesting that Blacks would have even better mental health were it not for discrimination. This paper concludes by considering what mechanisms,both adaptive and maladaptive,might explain this particular example of resilience in the Black population. [source] Using Home Gardens to Decipher Health and Healing in the Andes.MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2003Ruthbeth Finerman Home gardens are a pervasive component of Andean agricultural systems, but have been ignored in anthropological and agronomic research. Recent research in the indigenous community of Saraguro, Ecuador, employed a combination of in-depth interviews, free-listing, videotaped walk-throughs, and mapping to explore the role of home gardens, which are established and controlled by women. Findings reveal that, although gardens offer multiple benefits, they are overwhelmingly devoted to the cultivation of medicinal plants, operating as de facto medicine cabinets that supply women with most of the resources they need to treat family illnesses. Results also suggest that the natural history of home gardens mirrors transformations within the family, and that Saraguro women study the contents of their neighbors' gardens, using this knowledge as a foundation for deciphering the owners' economic and health status. New threats to the sustainability of home gardens threaten the foundation of Saraguro's ethnomedical system and women's authority in the home and community. [ethnobotany, gardens, Ecuador, women healers, family health] [source] The incidence of land tenure insecurity in Southern Africa: Policy implications for sustainable developmentNATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 3 2007Gladys Mutangadura Abstract The study presented in this article used a combination of key informant interviews and a review and synthesis of existing country level literature to identify the major sources of land tenure insecurity in six Southern African countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Findings reveal that the main causes of land tenure insecurity experienced in Southern Africa include lack of land rights of minority groups, unclear or overlapping land rights, overcrowding, land alienation into leasehold, insecurity of farm workers and farm labour tenants, inappropriate and exploitative administrative practices, land encroachment and illegal settlers and limited women's land rights. The article presents a summary of land tenure security related initiatives that the study countries have or are in the process of adopting. Analysis of these initiatives shows that tenure reforms have focused on changing the law and rules but little has been done to translate new laws into implementable programs; capacity building; prioritization of resources to support tenure reform; provision of complementary policies and incentives; addressing HIV/AIDS-land tenure related problems; and monitoring and evaluation. The paper contends that these policy issues should be addressed in order to ensure realization of land tenure security for all. [source] Should We Have Faith in Faith-Based Social Services?NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 1 2002Rhetoric Versus Realistic Expectations Early in his administration, President George W. Bush set forth his Faith-Based Initiative, which would authorize and encourage religious groups to compete for and provide publicly funded social services. This article analyzes the arguments made by supporters of faith-based social services in regard to their underlying values and premises. This analysis forms the basis for examining the managerial track record of faith-based organizations in the delivery of social services. To identify issues and trends within this category of service providers, the authors analyzed press reports of instances of wrong doing in faith-based groups from 1995 to 2001. Findings reveal that faith-based groups appear to be as susceptible to managerial and accountability inadequacies, if not outright wrongdoing, as are nonsectarian service providers. The authors identify implications regarding the credibility of faith-based groups and public trust as they pertain to an enhanced role in the less regulated service system that the president envisions. [source] Smoking and the Asian American workforce in the National Latino and Asian American StudyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2010A.B. de Castro PhD, MSN/MPH Abstract Background Smoking among the Asian American workforce has not been extensively researched. This study examines smoking prevalence among a nationally representative sample of Asian Americans with an emphasis on occupational classification. Methods Cross-sectional data come from the National Latino and Asian American Study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine smoking prevalence by occupation, gender, and nativity, among 1,528 participants self-identifying as in the labor force. Results Blue collar workers reported the highest smoking prevalence (32%) followed by unemployed (19%), other (17%), service (14%), and white collar (10%). Among both employed males and females, blue collar workers had the highest prevalence (45% and 18%, respectively). By nativity, smoking was highest among blue collar workers for immigrants (25%) and highest among the unemployed for U.S. born (16%). Blue collar employment was significantly associated with being a current smoker (OR,=,2.52; 95% CI: 1.23,5.16; P,<,0.05) controlling for demographics (e.g., age, gender, ethnic group, nativity, etc.). Conclusions Findings reveal that smoking differs by occupation among Asian Americans. Future research should examine factors explaining differences while considering gender and nativity. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:171,178 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Australian asylum policies: have they violated the right to health of asylum seekers?AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2009Vanessa Johnston Abstract Objectives: Notwithstanding recent migration policy amendments, there is concern that Australian asylum policies have disproportionately burdened the health and wellbeing of onshore asylum seekers. There may be a case to be made that Australian governments have been in violation of the right to health of this population. The objective of this paper is to critically examine these issues and assess the implications for public health practice. Methods:The author undertook a review of the recent empirical literature on the health effects of post-migration stressors arising from Australian policies of immigration detention, temporary protection and the restriction of Medicare to some asylum seekers. This evidence was examined within the context of Australia's international law obligations. Results: Findings reveal that Australian asylum policies of detention, temporary protection and the exclusion of some asylum seekers from Medicare rights have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes for this population. This is attributable to the impact of these policies on accessing health care and the underlying determinants of health for aslyum seekers. Conclusion: It is arguable that Australian Governments have been discriminating against asylum seekers by withholding access on the grounds of their migration status, to health care and to the core determinants of health in this context. In so doing, Australia may have been in violation of its obligation to respect the right to health of this population. Implications: While the ,right to health' framework has much to offer public health, it is an undervalued and poorly understood discipline. The author argues for more education, research and advocacy around the intersection between heath and human rights. [source] EFFECTS OF ACIDIFICATION ON PE ACTIVITY, COLOR AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF COLD BREAK TOMATO JUICEJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 1 2008FALLOU SARR ABSTRACT Turbidity maintenance, high antioxidant activity and attractive red color are important attributes of good tomato juice. Acidification was found effective in pectin esterase (PE) inactivation and turbidity maintenance. However, no information related to the changes of antioxidant properties after enzyme inactivation by acidification has been reported. In this article, acidification of cold break tomato juice to pH 2 or 3 was conducted after extraction. The changes of antioxidant properties (content and activity) and their correlation with PE activity and color in the juice were studied. Results indicated that acidification enhanced the viscosity of tomato juice by decreasing its PE activity. Significant increases of the main antioxidant contents (lycopene, polyphenols and vitamin C) and antioxidant activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging, ferrous ion chelating ability [FICA] and reducing power), as well as red color, were also found. In addition, the acidified cold break tomato juice exhibited better FICA and reducing power than butylated hydroxyanisole and, -tocopherol. This finding reveals the possibility of producing tomato juice with high antioxidant capacities by acidification. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The consumers' demand for healthy products with high quality toward fresh and health has increased remarkably these years. Tomato is one of the most popular vegetable juices, and its important quality aspects are color, stability and antioxidant capacity. Pectin esterase is the principal agent responsible for tomato juice stability. In addition, the goal of tomato juice processors is to optimize processing conditions by prevention of heat and oxidative damages on antioxidant components. Our results indicated that acidification may stabilize tomato juice and improve its color characteristics and main nutritional factors. Therefore, the acidification treatment could be used as a tool for providing the attractive color and enhancing the nutritional value and health-promoting properties of cold break tomato juice. [source] Changes in protein conformation and dynamics upon complex formation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor: Investigation by isotope-edited Fourier transform IR spectroscopyBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 1 2002Tiansheng Li Abstract The interactions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with the extracellular domain of its receptor (trkB) are investigated by employing isotope-edited Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy. The protein secondary structures of individual BDNF and trkB in solutions are compared with those in their complex. The temperature dependence of the secondary structures of BDNF, trkB, and their complex is also investigated. Consistent with the crystal structure, we observe by FTIR spectroscopy that BDNF in solution contains predominantly , strands (,53%) and relatively low contents of other secondary structures including , turns (,16%), disordered structures (,12%), and loops (,18%) and is deficient in , helix. We also observe that trkB in solution contains mostly , strands (52%) and little , helix. Conformational changes in both BDNF and trkB are observed upon complex formation. Specifically, upon binding of BDNF, the conformational changes in trkB appear to involve mostly , turns and disordered structures while the majority of the ,-strand conformation remains unchanged. The IR data indicate that some of the disordered structures in the loop regions are likely converted to , strands upon complex formation. The FTIR spectral data of BDNF, trkB, and their complex indicate that more amide NH groups of trkB undergo H,D exchange within the complex than those of the ligand-free receptor and that the thermal stability of trkB is decreased slightly upon binding of BDNF. The FT-Raman spectra of BDNF, trkB, and their complex show that the six intramolecular disulfide bonds of trkB undergo significant conformational changes upon binding of BDNF as a result of changes in the tertiary structure of trkB. Taken together, the FTIR and Raman data are consistent with the loosening of the tertiary structure of trkB upon binding of BDNF, which leads to more solvent exposure of the amide NH group and decreased thermal stability of trkB. This finding reveals an intriguing structural property of the neurotrophin ligand,receptor complex that is in contrast to other ligand,receptor complexes such as a cytokine,receptor complex that usually shows protection of the amide NH group and increased thermal stability upon complex formation. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopolymers (Biospectroscopy) 67: 10,19, 2002; DOI 10.1002/bip.10038 [source] Converting Core Compounds into Building Blocks: The Concept of Regiochemically Exhaustive FunctionalizationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2005Elena Marzi Abstract In a model study, 3-fluorophenol and 3-fluoropyridine were converted into the each time four possible carboxylic acids by passing through the corresponding organometallic intermediates. As an attempt to generalize the findings reveals, a restricted set of principles and methods suffices to cope with all standard scenarios. The most valuable and versatile tools for the regiochemically exhaustive functionalization of a great variety of substrate patterns are the optionally site-selective metalation (either by reagent/substrate matching or by peripheral coordination control), the use of activating or congesting protective groups and the basicity gradient-driven heavy halogen migration (followed by halogen/metal permutation). (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005) [source] |