Digital Commons Network^™

A Pilot Study Of An Automated Voice Response System And Nursing Intervention To Monitor Adherence To Oral Chemotherapy Agents, Veronica Decker, Sandra L. Spoelstra, Emily Miezo, Renee Bremer, Mei You, Charles W. Given, Barbara A. Given

Peer Reviewed Articles

This study was designed to develop and test a system to monitor adherence with non-hormonal oral chemotherapeutic agents using an automated voice response (AVR) system plus nursing intervention. Participants received the Symptom Management Toolkit then participated in an interview for symptom severity, satisfaction, and beliefs about oral agents. Patients received weekly AVR calls, which assessed adherence to oral agents and severity of 15 symptoms. Patients who reported adherence of < 100% of prescribed oral agents or symptoms of 4 or greater (0-10 scale) for three consecutive weeks, were called by a nurse for assistance with symptom management and adherence to oral chemotherapy medications. Following the 8 weekly AVR calls, patients participated in a follow up interview and medical record review. Subjects were 30 oncology patients who were ambulatory and treated at two cancer centers in Midwest USA. The results indicate 23.3% non adherence rate to oral chemotherapy medications due to symptoms and forgetting to take the medication. An association between symptom management and adherence was found. Symptom severity and beliefs about medications were not significantly different between adherent and non adherent patients. This pilot study demonstrated the ability to accrue patients for a longitudinal trial and informed intervention design, while providing guidance for future interventions and research studies.

This study was designed to develop and test a system to monitor adherence with nonhormonal oral chemotherapeutic agents using an automated voice response (AVR) system plus nursing intervention. Participants were patients …

Working Memory, Cues, And Wayfinding In Older Women, Rebecca L. Davis, Barbara A. Therrien, Brady T. West

Peer Reviewed Articles

Individuals create cognitive maps based on relationships between cues in the environment. Older individuals are often impaired in wayfinding, especially in environments that lack distinctive features. This study examines how working memory ability in older women is related to wayfinding performance in the presence of salient (distinctive, prominent) or nonsalient cues. The degree of salient cue complexity is also examined, thus leading to the hypothesis that salient, complex cues are important in wayfinding and that working memory capacity is related to wayfinding performance. The virtual computer-generated arena is used to test this hypothesis in 20 healthy older women in three …

Environmental Fit: A Model For Assessing And Treating Problem Behavior Associated With Curricular Difficulties In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Audrey Blakeley-Smith, Edward G. Carr, Sanja I. Cale, Jamie S. Owen-Deschryver

Peer Reviewed Articles

Theoretical considerations suggest that problem behavior should increase when a child’s competency does not match the curricular demands of the environment (i.e., when there is poor environmental fit). In the present study, environmental fit was examined for six children with autism spectrum disorders. Results indicated that the children exhibited high rates of problem behavior associated with poor motor or academic competency. Curricular modifications resulted in (a) a decrease in the level of problem behavior, (b) an increase in the percentage of task steps completed correctly, and (c) improved affect. Adults who worked with the children reported ease of intervention techniques. …

Spiny Lobsters Use Urine-Borne Olfactory Signaling And Physical Aggressive Behaviors To Influence Social Status Of Conspecifics, Shkelzen Shabani, Michiya Kamio, Charles D. Derby

Peer Reviewed Articles

Decapod crustaceans, like many other animals, engage in agonistic behaviors that enhance their ability to compete for resources with conspecifics. These agonistic behaviors include the release of chemical signals as well as physical aggressive and submissive behaviors. In this study, we report that Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, use both urine-borne chemical signaling and physical aggressive behaviors during interactions with conspecifics, and that these agonistic behaviors can influence the behavior and eventual social status of the interactants. Spiny lobsters that engaged primarily in physical aggressive behaviors became dominant, whereas spiny lobsters that received these physical aggressive behaviors responded with …

Doing Gender, Doing Heteronormativity: 'Gender Normals,' Transgender People, And The Social Maintenance Of Heterosexuality, Kristen Schilt, Laurel Westbrook

Peer Reviewed Articles

This article brings together two case studies that examine how non-transgender people, “gender normals,” interact with transgender people to highlight the connections between doing gender and heteronormativity. By contrasting public and private interactions that range from nonsexual to sexualized to sexual, the authors show how gender and sexuality are inextricably tied together. The authors demonstrate that the criteria for membership in a gender category are significantly different in social versus (hetero)sexual circumstances. While gender is presumed to reflect biological sex in all social interactions, the importance of doing gender in a way that represents the shape of one’s genitals is …

Production Of O2 Herzberg States In The Deep Uv Photodissociation Of Ozone, Reinhard Schinke, George C. Mcbane, L. Shen, P. C. Singh, A. G. Suits

Peer Reviewed Articles

High-resolution imaging experiments combined with new electronic structure and dynamics calculations strongly indicate that the O(³P)+O₂ products with very low kinetic energy release (E_tr2: A' ³Δ_u(v=0, 1, 2) and A ³Σ⁺_u(v=0, 1). This interpretation contradicts the earlier assignment to very high (v≥26) vibrational states of O²(³Σ^-_g).

Camponeses: Brazil’S Peasant Movement In Historical Perspective (1946–2004), Cliff Welch

Peer Reviewed Articles

Comparison of the histories of three leading peasant organizations in the Pontal do Paranapanema region of Brazil—the Partido Comunista do Brasil (PCB) from 1945 to 1964, the Confederação Nacional de Trabalhadores na Agricultura (CONTAG) from 1964 to 1984, and the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem-Terra (MST) from 1984 to 2004—suggests that continuity is as important as change in understanding Brazilian peasant movements. The MST has been considered a “new social movement” in that it has eschewed partisan politics, incorporated families as members rather than just male heads of household, had a national scope and a participatory decision-making structure, and been …

Peasant Movements In Latin America: Looking Back, Moving Ahead, Cliff Welch, Bernardo Mançano Fernandes

Peer Reviewed Articles

No abstract provided.

An Exchange-Coulomb Model Potential Energy Surface For The Ne-Co Interaction. I. Calculation Of Ne-Co Van Der Waals Spectra, Ashok K. Dham, Frederick R. W. Mccourt, William J. Meath, George C. Mcbane

Peer Reviewed Articles

Exchange-Coulomb model potential energy surfaces have been developed for the Ne–CO interaction. The initial model is a three-dimensional potential energy surface based upon computed Heitler–London interaction energies and literature results for the long-range induction and dispersion energies, all as functions of interspecies distance, the orientation of CO relative to the interspecies axis, and the bond length of the CO molecule. Both a rigid-rotor model potential energy surface, obtained by setting the CO bond length equal to its experimental spectroscopic equilibrium value, and a vibrationally averaged model potential energy surface, obtained by averaging the stretching dependence over the ground vibrational motion …

Participation In Prevention Programs For Dating Violence: Beliefs About Relationship Violence And Intention To Participate, Tara L. Cornelius, Kieran T. Sullivan, Nicole Wyngarden, Jennifer C. Milliken

Peer Reviewed Articles

This study utilizes the Health Belief Model (HBM) to examine the factors related to the intention to participate in prevention programming for dating violence. Perceptions of susceptibility to future violence and the benefits of prevention programming appear to be the strongest predictors of participation in prevention programs. Perceptions of the severity of dating violence do not appear to be related to intentions to participate. There were no differences in intention between those reporting psychological or physical violence in their dating relationship, although some of the HBM factors were associated with a history of violence. Contrary to hypotheses, psychological and physical …

Perceived Danger And Judged Likelihood Of Restoration, Thomas R. Herzog, Ashley E. Rector

Peer Reviewed Articles

The authors investigated the impact of perceived danger on judged likelihood of restoration. Participants imagined that they were in a state of directed attention fatigue and then that they were taking a walk in a potentially restorative setting. The authors varied two properties of the setting in a factorial design. The setting was either a nature trail or a busy urban street, and it contained either no obvious source of danger or an ominous stalker. Measures of perceived danger and of judged likelihood of restoration were obtained. For both types of measures, in the low-danger condition the two setting categories …

Differential Effects Of A Tier Two Behavior Intervention Based On Function Of Problem Behavior, Kent Mcintosh, Amy L. Campbell, Deborah R. Carter, Celeste R. Dickey

Peer Reviewed Articles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a tier two daily behavior card intervention and differential effects based on function of problem behavior. The participants were 36 elementary school students nominated for additional intervention beyond universal School-Wide Positive Behavior Support. Measures included standardized behavior rating scales and rate of office discipline referrals before and after 8 weeks of intervention. A multivariate analysis of variance was used, and results showed statistically significant differences in response to intervention based on teacher-identified function of problem behavior. Results are discussed in terms of considering function of behavior in selecting tier …

Functional Conservation Of Asxl2, A Murine Homolog For The Drosophila Enhancer Of Trithorax And Polycomb Group Gene Asx, Heather A. Baskind, Lucy Na, Quanhong Ma, Mayur P. Patel, David Geenen, Q Ting Wang

Peer Reviewed Articles

Background: Polycomb-group (PcG) and trithorax-group (trxG) proteins regulate histone methylation to establish repressive and active chromatin configurations at target loci, respectively. These chromatin configurations are passed on from mother to daughter cells, thereby causing heritable changes in gene expression. The activities of PcG and trxG proteins are regulated by a special class of proteins known as Enhancers of trithorax and Polycomb (ETP). The Drosophila gene Additional sex combs (Asx) encodes an ETP protein and mutations in Asx enhance both PcG and trxG mutant phenotypes. The mouse and human genomes each contain three Asx homologues, Asx-like 1, 2, …

Limits To Institutional Isomorphism: Examining Internal Processes In Ngo–Government Interactions, Ramya Ramanath

Peer Reviewed Articles

Neo-institutional approaches to the study of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) suggest that as more NGOs cooperate with the state, they become isomorphic in their structures and processes. Such cooperation is expected to threaten inventiveness of the NGO sector, including its spontaneity, variety, and unpredictability. This article analyzes the internal institutional processes of three leading housing NGOs as they each implemented cooperative strategies with the state in Mumbai, India. It finds that, contrary to customary apprehensions, NGOs use different tactics in response to the same public policy environment. The article argues that pervasive isomorphism is constrained by path dependency and variability in …

Effects Of Work Experience, Patient Size, And Hand Preference On The Performance Of Sonography Studies, Eric J. Bastian, Joel K. Kits, Joshua D. Weaver, John R. Stevenson, Lynn Carlton, Susan A. Raaymakers, Jennifer Vanderpoel

Peer Reviewed Articles

Reports to clinic managers of sonographer work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially those linked to larger patient body sizes, are increasing annually. This study was conducted to determine if patient size, sonographer experience level, and hand preference affected image quality associated with ambidextrous scanning. Thirteen experienced and 11 novice sonographers performed right- and left-handed scans of target organs on three models (5th, 50th, and 95th percentile body weight). Estimated grip force was measured during each scan through the use of force matching with a digital dynamometer. Results revealed a significant (P < .01) interaction effect between specialty and handedness for general and echocardiography for shoulder abduction angle; a significant difference among patient model sizes for grip forces, with the 95th percentile producing the highest estimated grip force values; and a significant difference in shoulder abduction angle among patient model sizes. Image quality was not different across specialties or handedness, and estimated grip force did not differ between handedness across specialties. These findings suggest that both inexperienced and experienced sonographers could benefit from ambidextrous abilities without increasing risk factors for injury or decreasing scanning quality for clinical practice.

Effects Of Work Experience, Patient Size, And Hand Preference On The Performance Of Sonography Studies, Eric J. Bastian, Joel K. Kits, Joshua D. Weaver, John R. Stevenson, Lynn Carlton, Susan Raaymakers, Jennifer Vanderpoel

Peer Reviewed Articles

Reports to clinic managers of sonographer work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially those linked to larger patient body sizes, are increasing annually. This study was conducted to determine if patient size, sonographer experience level, and hand preference affected image quality associated with ambidextrous scanning. Thirteen experienced and 11 novice sonographers performed right- and left-handed scans of target organs on three models (5th, 50th, and 95th percentile body weight). Estimated grip force was measured during each scan through the use of force matching with a digital dynamometer. Results revealed a significant (P < .01) interaction effect between specialty and handedness for general and echocardiography for shoulder abduction angle; a significant difference among patient model sizes for grip forces, with the 95th percentile producing the highest estimated grip force values; and a significant difference in shoulder abduction angle among patient model sizes. Image quality was not different across specialties or handedness, and estimated grip force did not differ between handedness across specialties. These findings suggest that both inexperienced and experienced sonographers could benefit from ambidextrous abilities without increasing risk factors for injury or decreasing scanning quality for clinical practice.

Context-Based Assessment And Intervention For Problem Behavior In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sanja I. Cale, Edward G. Carr, Audrey Blakeley-Smith, Jamie S. Owen-Deschryver

Peer Reviewed Articles

The present study used a context-based model of assessment and intervention to explore whether interventions that modify context result in reduction of problem behavior in ecologically valid settings (i.e., typical routines implemented by typical education personnel in neighborhood schools). The Contextual Assessment Inventory (CAI) and a post-assessment interview were administered to parents and teachers of eight children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to identify problem contexts. Then, environmental modification techniques were implemented in three priority contexts: namely, transitions, termination of preferred activities, and presence of a feared stimulus. Our results demonstrated an almost complete elimination of problem behavior in the priority …

Individual And Group Performance On Insight Problems: The Effects Of Experimentally Induced Fixation, Christine M. Smith, Emily Bushouse, Jennifer Lord

Peer Reviewed Articles

Recent research has shown that the benefits associated with incubation periods during individual problem solving can be explained in terms of forgetting the material or of any strategy that serves to block progress toward success (e.g., Smith & Blankenship, 1991). While interacting groups reliably outperform individuals on both problem-solving and recall tasks, groups’ superior memory capacity may serve to hinder problem solving, especially when fixation has occurred. In the present study, individuals and three-person groups attempted to solve a set of 20 rebus puzzles on two different occasions. In the first session rebuses were accompanied by “clues,” that were designed …

Exploring Possibilities: Virtual Reality In Nursing Research, Rebecca L. Davis

Peer Reviewed Articles

This paper describes the use of virtual reality (VR) as a method of measurement in nursing research. VR refers to the use of computerized displays to display a life-like environment in which the user interacts. Although many disciplines are beginning to use VR environments in research, nursing has yet to embrace this technology. Nursing, as a profession which values the interaction between the environment, individual, and health, can benefit from the use of VR in research. Establishing reliability and validity of the VR tool selected for research is important and requires special consideration. VR testing can produce side effects, such …

‘Dis Poem Is Vex Bout Apartheid’: Representations Of South Africa In Three West Indian Poems, David Álvarez

Peer Reviewed Articles

This article examines the ways in which three West Indian poems written between 1979 and 1992 – “Soweto” by Kamau Brathwaite, “Bedspread” by Lorna Goodison and “We Are Formed from Volcanoes” by Opal Palmer Adisa – engage the history of South Africa under apartheid. I argue that while Africa as a place with its own historical destiny is rarely encountered in West Indian literature, the texts that I probe constitute a minor yet important exception to this rule. At the same time, however, it is clear that the three poets and others who have written or sung about Africa and …

Strategic M&A’S: Stronger In Tough Times?, Carol M. Sanchez, Stephen R. Goldberg

Peer Reviewed Articles

Global acquisitions were worth $6.5 billion in the first quarter of 2008, were down 44% from the previous quarter, and down 41% from the first quarter of 2007.1 But the value of strategic M&As dropped less, only 33%, while the number of deals rose 8%, and cross-border deals represented 38% of the total value of global M&As. Kroll argues that strategic M&As, while likely to experience some drop in volume in 2008 and until the credit crisis bottoms out, will withstand the pressures of financial markets much better than financial M&As. Strategic M&As are deals conducted by companies that want …

Geografía Social De Zonas Críticas En México Su Contexto Económico Político: 1982-2005, Jose Antonio Roldan Amaro, Gabriel Saucedo Arteaga, Marsela Alvarez Izazaga, Richard Meindl, Cynthia Thompson, Tremaine Gregory

Peer Reviewed Articles

Resultaría muy difícil entender los problemas sociales en México, sin ubicarlos en el contexto económico-político del que forman parte y del que son una consecuen-cia. México se encuentra inserto en el sistema económico propuesto por el bM y el fMi. El modelo neoliberal marca como prioridad el crecimiento económico, la inversión privada y la exigencia al Estado para desvincularse cada vez más de las actividades económicas, y no tiene como objetivo el bienestar social. Por consiguiente ha tenido lugar la depauperización del campo y la migración rural a las ciudades. La consecuencia más importante en el ámbito social del modelo …