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Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare but serious primary immunodeficiency with varying prevalence and rates of X-linked and autosomal recessive disease worldwide. Functional defects in the phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase complex predispose patients to a relatively narrow spectrum of bacterial and fungal infections that are sometimes fastidious and often difficult to identify. When evaluating and treating patients with CGD, it is important to consider their native country of birth, climate, and living situation, which may predispose them to types of infections that are atypical to your routine practice. In addition to recurrent and often severe infections, patients with CGD and X-linked female carriers are also susceptible to developing many non-infectious complications including tissue granuloma formation and autoimmunity. The DHR-123 oxidation assay is the gold standard for making the diagnosis and it along with genetic testing can help predict the severity and prognosis in patients with CGD. Disease management focuses on prophylaxis with antibacterial, antifungal, and immunomodulatory medications, prompt identification and treatment of acute infections, and prevention of secondary granulomatous complications. While hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is the only widely available curative treatment for patients with CGD, recent advances in gene therapy may provide a safer, more direct alternative.

Elite higher education institutions work hard to secure diverse classes, and students seek out these institutions in part because they believe that diversity will enhance their own educational expe...

Compassionate release (CR) is touted as an ethical and cost-effective mechanism for releasing older adults or individuals with life-limiting illness from prison and reducing prison overcrowding. Ho...

The current study examines the essential role of motivation in workplace settings and the interrelationships among, reciprocity, organizational commitment, and organizational citizenship behavior (...

In light of allegations that the federal use of early disposition (§5K3) departures circumvents efforts at equality and transparency, this study examines the role of gender in the application of §5...

Interprofessional health-care models have been largely recognized as a critical component of effective and efficient health-care provision. While many health professions have established methods of...

Although college access has increased, first-generation college students are still less likely to enroll in postsecondary education, and when they do enroll, are more likely to attend less selectiv...

Dysregulated cortisol in older individuals is associated with neurodegeneration and executive dysfunction, among other negative health outcomes. Executive functioning deficits are believed to underlie declines in functioning among older adults. Despite these associations, there is limited research examining the relationship between cortisol and impaired functional status.The present study examined the relationship between cortisol and functional status in a community sample of 51 older adults with depression. Pearson correlations and ordinal regressions were used to determine whether greater cortisol dysregulation was associated with ADL and IADL impairment.Results indicated that individuals who had higher levels of cortisol also tended to demonstrate greater functional deficits. These findings remained true when functional status was measured by either a clinician-rated tool or a self-report measure.The results of this study provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that elevated cortisol, in the context of depression, is associated with functional status deficits in older adults.Findings from this study begin to fill the gap in research examining the relationship between cortisol and functional impairment in older adults and suggest that unique information can be gathered with the use of different functional status measures.

Unresolved relational issues with the deceased have been considered a prominent risk factor for negative bereavement outcomes. However, this area of study has suffered from a lack of conceptual clarity, with some commentators focusing on bereavement-related regret and others focusing on "unfinished business," or lingering or unspoken conflicts with the deceased. This study examined the two concepts in a sample of 229 bereaved individuals, finding them to be overlapping but distinct constructs. Unfinished business occurred more frequently with immediate family and friends and in cases of sudden and violent death of loved ones. Both forms of unresolved issues were associated with bereavement outcome, with the relation between distress over unfinished business and complicated grief symptomatology being particularly robust.

Although unresolved issues with the deceased are often targeted in bereavement interventions, understanding of this construct has been hampered by the lack of a psychometrically validated scale to assess it. To address this gap, the Unfinished Business in Bereavement Scale (UBBS) was developed and tested in two samples of bereaved adults (n = 292 and 168). In exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the UBBS was found to be composed of two related factors. Items tapping into Unfulfilled Wishes pertained to unspoken affirmations or missed opportunities with the deceased. These experiences often emerged in loving relationships and only became problematic when accompanied by high levels of distress. In contrast, Unresolved Conflict pertained to unaddressed disputes or indiscretions. It primarily occurred in relationships characterized by anxiety and conflict and conferred risk for prolonged grief reactions even when endorsed at moderate levels. Other findings strongly supported the internal consistency, concurrent validity, and incremental validity of the UBBS. Unfinished business and meaning made of loss together accounted for 50-60% of the variance in prolonged grief symptoms. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

The criminal justice system has increasingly been relied upon to address immigration apprehension, resulting in concerns that this institution will be abused in an effort to indirectly address this perceived social problem. The consequences of such an approach will likely extend to Latino/a populations as a result of rhetoric linking ethnicity, immigration, and crime. Despite popular theoretical frameworks suggesting that disadvantage will vary according to the size of the population and the extent of perceived threats toward this minority, many neglect attitudinal measures or fail to measure actual criminological outcomes. This project addresses this oversight by exploring potential mediating effects of attitudes on the relationship between population measures and ethnic sentencing disparities. After fitting multilevel models nesting cases within counties and states, the results indicate that there is significant variation across all levels. While greater disparities in Latino/a sentencing were f...

A mourner's success in making meaning of a loss has proven key in predicting a wide array of bereavement outcomes. However, much of this meaning-making process takes place in an interpersonal framework that is hypothesized to either aid or obstruct this process. To date, a psychometrically validated measure of the degree to which a mourner successfully makes meaning of a loss in a social context has yet to be developed. The present study examines the factor structure, reliability, and validity of a new measure called the Social Meaning in Life Events Scale (SMILES) in a sample of bereaved college students (N = 590). The SMILES displayed a two-factor structure, with one factor assessing the extent to which a mourner's efforts at making meaning were invalidated (Social Invalidation subscale), and the other assessing the extent to which a mourner's meaning-making process was validated (Social Validation subscale). The subscales displayed good reliability and construct validity in reference to several outcome variables of interest (complicated grief, general health, and post-loss growth), as well as related but different variables (social support and meaning made). The subscales also demonstrated group differences according to two demographic variables associated with complications in the mourning process (age and mode of loss), as well as incremental validity in predicting adverse bereavement outcomes over and above general social support. Clinical and research implications involving the use of this new measure are discussed.

This study examines how perceptions associated with customer personality traits can affect customer satisfaction, customer brand identification (CBI), and involvement as well as the development of ...

Religious reasons are frequently described as considerations that shape support for or opposition to capital punishment; however, there are many inconsistencies in the literature. This study represents a systematic review of the extant research on religious affiliations and beliefs as correlates of public attitudes toward capital punishment. Searches conducted in five databases identified 33 articles, representing 97,570 respondents. Results revealed that people belonging to Protestant affiliations and with negative images of God were more likely to support capital punishment. People possessing positive images of God and with strong beliefs in compassion were less likely to support capital punishment. The religious correlates commonly assessed in the extant literature, such as fundamentalism, are not significant correlates of attitudes toward capital punishment. Findings also revealed that the predominance of research examined Christian religious affiliations, to the exclusion of other common affi...

Persons referred by Child Protective Services (CPS) for substance abuse evidence high rates of nonattendance to therapy sessions, taxing systems of care and exacerbating outcomes. This study examined the influence of two telephone-based incentive programs on therapy session attendance in mothers who were referred by CPS for substance abuse. After baseline therapy session attendance was established in an evidence-based clinic that incorporated a telephone engagement intervention (Phase I), participants were provided free cellular telephones with limited minutes and permitted to order free meals delivered by the therapist during upcoming sessions (Phase II). The third phase was similar to Phase II, but participants were provided unlimited minutes. Results indicated that participants’ attendance was significantly improved when meals and cellular telephone minutes were contingent on attendance. Although the percentage of sessions attended by participants during Phase III was higher than Phase II, unli...

This study aims to alleviate some of the mixed findings throughout the literature on racial disparities in sentencing outcomes by utilizing propensity score matching and multilevel modeling to assess racial drug sentencing disparities in state courts from 2000–2012. The findings illustrate the effect of race on sentencing varies significantly across states, and aggregate factors impact this relationship. Specifically, although differential offending, minority population, and arrests do not alleviate disparities, they are moderators that explain variance across states. Finally, aggregate socioeconomic factors such as poverty and education are also significant moderators that indicate the importance of structural disadvantage in sentencing outcomes.

It has been suggested by some authors that the UK agri-environment ‘wild bird seed’ option negatively impacts Tree Sparrow populations in the UK. Here we provide evidence for a change in nestling diet with increasing wild bird seed coverage and propose a possible mechanism for its negative impact on population trends

Losses by violent means and the loss of primary attachment figures may increase the likelihood of developing a chronic and severe grief response (referred to as complicated grief, or CG). Path analysis was used to examine the relationships between these risk factors and CG symptoms. College student participants filled out online questionnaires relating to their bereavement. Analyses provided support for statistical models whereby meaning made of the loss fully mediated the association between cause of death and CG symptoms and partially mediated the association between relationship to the deceased and CG symptoms. Although based on cross-sectional data, these findings provide additional support for meaning-oriented understandings of adaptation to loss.

Alcohol and drug abuse represent a growing problem among older adults. There is some evidence to suggest that seniors may have better outcomes in age-specific substance abuse programs. However, little is known about the specific treatment preferences of older adults with histories of drinking and/or drug problems. Thus, this qualitative study investigated the treatment preferences of older adults with recent histories of substance abuse problems and their impressions regarding the most helpful and unhelpful aspects of treatment. Based on extensive interviews with 15 participants, older adults were found to prefer programs that are: (1) accessible, (2) led by warm, caring, and non-confrontational therapists, (3) able to provide peer support and individual attention, and (4) open to friend and family involvement.

Unfinished business (incomplete, unexpressed or unresolved relationship issues with the deceased) is frequently discussed as a risk factor for chronic and severe grief reactions. However, few empirical studies have examined this construct. The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining the presence and severity of unfinished business as well as common themes of unfinished business reported in open-ended qualitative narratives among a sample of 224 bereaved individuals. In bivariate analyses, self-reported presence of unfinished business and the severity of distress due to unfinished business were both found to be associated with poorer bereavement outcomes. However, after controlling for potential confounds, distress related to unresolved issues with the deceased emerged as a more robust correlate of these outcomes. Qualitative responses were categorized, and the type of reported unfinished business was not significantly related to the degree of unfinished business distress or other bereavement outcomes. These findings provide preliminary justification for bereavement interventions that aim to ameliorate distress related to unresolved relational issues with the deceased.

Coastal areas provide a wealth of resources and represent the most developed spaces worldwide. As pressures on these resources increase, managers and policymakers require understanding that facilitates comprehensive valuation of ecosystem services, including social–ecological dynamics and the coupling of social and natural systems. Adoption of ecosystem management approaches has created a need for increased knowledge of social systems commensurate to baseline ecological understanding; that is, managers benefit from integrating stakeholder values into decision-making processes. This study, using the Delphi technique, elicited knowledge and opinions from international coastal experts regarding relevant social values of ecosystem services, facilitating integration of multiple perspectives into an informed consensus typology of 16 social values. Agencies across the board see inclusive evaluation of ecosystem services, including social values, as critical to robust decision making regarding relevant resources....

Prolonged grief, a severe and chronic form of grieving most commonly studied in the context of bereavement, may have relevance to losses associated with chronic illness (e.g. grief related to loss of functioning or loss of a planned future). The purpose of the present study is to examine the unique associations between prolonged grief symptoms and service utilization patterns.An online self-report assessment battery was administered among a sample of 275 older adults with at least one chronic illness that caused significant physical impairment.Even after statistically controlling for relevant physical health (e.g. severity of physical limitations, somatic symptoms, number of chronic illnesses) and psychosocial variables (e.g. social support, depression/anxiety), more severe prolonged grief symptoms were associated with a greater number of emergency room visits, overnight stays in the hospital and total nights in the hospital.These findings highlight the importance of screening for prolonged grief symptomatology with older individuals with a debilitating chronic illness.Recent evidence suggests that prolonged grief may have relevance for losses associated with physical illness. The present study shows that prolonged grief reactions related to physical illness (e.g. grieving the loss of functioning) are uniquely associated with increased hospital-based service utilization. Given the relevance of prolonged grief reactions in this population, practitioners may wish to assess for these symptoms. Future clinical research should focus on developing interventions to target prolonged grief symptoms associated with these losses.

Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a debilitating condition that has been linked with problems with forgiveness and impaired quality of life (QOL) in physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. However, an amassing base of research studies also suggests that spirituality can be a vital resource for veterans exposed to severe traumas. Drawing on multidimensional assessments of spirituality and QOL, this study therefore tested direct/indirect associations between spirituality, forgiveness, and QOL among 678 military veterans with PTSD. When controlling for demographic risk factors, combat exposure, and PTSD symptom severity, structural equation modeling results revealed (a) an overall positive effect for spirituality on QOL and (b) that forgiveness fully mediated this link. These findings align with contemporary models of military trauma and suggest that forgiveness could be a critical pathway for promoting QOL as veterans attempt to recover from their posttra...

The book, The Rise of Women: The Growing Gender Gap in Education and What it Means for American Schools by Thomas DiPrete and Claudia Buchmann, is a timely overview of the dramatic changes in gende...

The sports lottery, as a distinct sport product, has gained increasing popularity throughout the world. This study empirically examines the relationship between social demographic factors and demand for sports lotteries in China. The main findings are: (1) people with higher financial and social burdens tend to buy more lottery tickets; (2) venue accessibility has a positive impact on sales; (3) provinces with higher income levels have a higher demand for sports lotteries; and (4) players from provinces with higher educational levels on average buy more sports lottery tickets.

As HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately affect African American communities, the need for culturally appropriate, tailored interventions for this clientele is growing. Although prevention efforts often include information about individual coping and mental health, not all programs address the role of traumatic events, including community violence in relation to HIV risk. The authors implemented the Treatment Advocacy Program-Sinai with HIV-positive individuals at a large urban hospital. After controlling for demographics and other psychosocial factors, they found that a history of traumatic events—domestic, sexual, and community violence—were associated with sexual risk behavior for men and women in our sample; however, community violence was overwhelming associated with sexual risk for women. Based on the prevalence of violence and the relationship with sexual risk, they discuss implications for prevention interventions in urban clinic settings.

The cessation of Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan in 2011 naturally prompted assessments of the effectiveness of the largest and most costly intervention, in terms of both lives and treasure,...

To quantify the numbers of live cattle, sheep and poultry imported into New Zealand and, where possible, their country of origin from 1860 to 1979.Information on the origin and number of live animal importations into New Zealand was collected for cattle, sheep and poultry for the period 1868-1979 from the annual reports compiled by the New Zealand Registrar General's Office, Government Statistician's Office, Census and Statistics Office, Census and Statistics Department, Customs Department and Department of Statistics. Census data from 1851 to 1871 were also used to estimate the livestock population during this period. The number of animals imported and the mean population for each species in a decade were determined, and the major countries of origin were identified.A large number of cattle (53,384) and sheep (604,525) were imported in the 1860s, and then there was a marked reduction in importations. Live poultry were imported in relatively small numbers (20,701) from 1880 to 1939, then 1,564,330 live poultry were imported between 1960 and 1979. Australia was the predominant country of origin for sheep between 1868 and 1959 (51,347/60,918; 84.3%) and of cattle between 1868 and 1979 (10,080/15,157; 66.5%). Only 6,712 (11.0%) sheep and 3,909 (25.8%) cattle were imported from the United Kingdom over the same periods, and even fewer from other countries.The collated data and historical reports show that from 1860 to 1979 Australia has been the main source of livestock introduced into New Zealand. The pattern of importation showed that large numbers of cattle and sheep were initially imported in the 1860s, probably in response to rapid agricultural expansion. Thereafter importations continued at much reduced numbers. In contrast, relatively small numbers of poultry were introduced until the 1960s when large numbers were imported as part of the development of a modern high-production industry. The overall pattern for both cattle and sheep was of a bottleneck event, as initially a relatively limited number of animals arrived from outside populations, followed by population expansion with ongoing but limited immigration (admixture). Investigation into the genetic population structure of New Zealand's cattle and sheep, as well as their host-associated microorganisms, could reflect the impact of these early historical events.

A 36-year-old male was admitted with left flank pain and during his workup was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with granulocytic maturation and translocations between chromosomes 8 and ...

The characterisation of macroscopic chemical segregation in engineering components over length scales of many metres can be an arduous task. This report investigates the implementation of a technique that is capable of mapping long range variations in the chemical composition of metal components, without the need for extensive sample preparation. The capability of the method is optimised for large production components in a setting where process parameters such as measurement time and minimal surface preparation are of importance. Hence, a readily available hand held X-ray fluorescence instrument and analysis software are used to map macrosegregation in a low alloy steel slab.

Interest in integrating human connections and natural areas into resource management decision making has steadily increased. While efforts to validate place meaning dimensions have identified meanings beyond established place dependence and identity concepts, further research to identify tangible and intangible meanings of nature-based recreation areas is needed. This study sought to examine place meanings as a second-order construct consisting of ecological integrity, economic dependency, place dependence, family identity, community identity, and place identity and to determine the influence of place meanings on participatory planning intentions (PPI). Data were collected from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation area visitors. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that six factors were reliable and valid, representing place meanings as an overarching concept. Structural equation modeling showed a significant association between place meanings and PPI. These findings demonstrated the importance of unde...

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) is an assessment of meaning made of stress that has been used successfully with bereaved individuals and other vulnerable populations. Drawing upon information from 741 bereaved respondents, the present study tests the validity of the ISLES-Short Form (ISLES-SF), which is a 6-item version of the original 16-item measure. Tests of concurrent and incremental validity yielded highly similar patterns of results for the full ISLES and ISLES-SF, supporting the use of this briefer version of the scale. Results also highlighted the unique association (controlling for demographics, circumstances of the death, and prolonged grief symptoms) between greater meaning made of loss and higher levels of mental and physical health. These findings add to a growing body of literature that supports theoretical models that view meaning-making as a crucial determinant of adjustment to loss among many grievers.

Systematic literature review.To investigate the various conservative interventions for coccydynia and determine their effectiveness.Coccydynia is the term used to describe pain in the coccygeal region. Pain in this region is typically caused by local trauma. Sitting is typically the most painful position for patients having coccydynia. Various methods of treating coccydynia are found in the literature but to our knowledge no systematic review has been performed that compared the effectiveness of these interventions.Searches were performed for research studies using electronic databases (Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Medline, PEDro, Scopus, and Sports Discus) from January 2002 through July 2012. The quality of the papers was assessed using the GRADE approach.Seven papers were located that satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria (2 RCTs, 5 observational studies). The level of evidence ranged from moderate to very low quality and recommendations for use ranged from weak recommendations for use to weak recommendations against use.Due to the dearth of research available and the low levels of evidence in the published studies that were located we are unable to recommend the most effective conservative intervention for the treatment of coccydynia. Additional research is needed regarding the treatment for this painful condition.

The primary objective of this study was to examine a variety of potential predictors of response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in depressed older adults.Sixty older adults with a clinical diagnosis of major or minor depression or dysthymic disorder received 12 individual sessions of CBT over a three- to four-month-period. The BDI-II was administered pre- and post-intervention to assess change in the level of depression. A cutoff score of 13 or less at post was used to determine positive treatment response. A variety of measures (obtained at baseline) were evaluated using hierarchical regression techniques to predict improvement following treatment.Individuals who showed greater improvement were: (a) more open to new experiences; (b) less negatively affected by past stressors; (c) less inclined to have an external locus of control but more likely to cite others as responsible for negative stress in their lives; and (d) were more likely to seek emotional support when symptomatic. Lower education level and reported use of active coping strategies at baseline were associated with less improvement. Other variables (e.g., age, overall physical health, and cognitive status) were not associated with treatment response. Use of logistic regression to predict responders vs. nonresponders yielded a similar pattern.These findings agree with prior research confirming the effectiveness of a brief CBT intervention for older depressed persons and suggest further exploration of several psychosocial factors that may contribute to a stronger response to CBT.

The aim of this article is to assess the role of Real Exchange Rate (RER) volatility on long-run economic growth for a set of 82 advanced and emerging economies, using a panel data set ranging from 1970 to 2009. With an accurate measure for exchange rate volatility, the results for the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) panel growth models show that a more (less) volatile RER has a significant negative (positive) impact on economic growth. The results are also robust for different model specifications.

Community residents’ attitudes, behaviours and emotional connections with adjacent natural areas are integral to the optimal management of those areas. Residents in communities proximal to Romanian protected areas have been described in various studies as passive, lacking environmental sensibility and ascribing responsibility for resource protection to authorities. Given little evidence supporting such assertions, this study examined the social and natural landscape interactions and connections of community residents neighbouring a Romanian national park and residents’ perceptions of attachment to the park. The relationship between park attachment and ascribed environmental responsibility was also analysed. Two block model regressions revealed that residents with longer duration of residence, who interacted more with friends and public officials, and those who hiked in the park, reported higher levels of park attachment. Park attachment, time spent in the community, female gender and level of education, p...

Offering travel information sources to potential tourists can be expensive, although the importance of the amount and variety of travel information sources has been stressed in many studies. Therefore, it would be useful to examine how much exposure to travel information would lead to optimal results. Effects of exposure time to travel information on destination image were examined in this study. Two hypotheses were suggested to account for the relationships between exposure time to travel information and destination image. Specifically, the first hypothesis was related to a linear trend, while the second one was related to a quadratic trend in the conceptual relationships. A posttest-only control group design was used, and 312 undergraduate students were recruited at six colleges. Multivariate analysis of variance and a series of quadratic regression analyses were used to test the two hypotheses. Results demonstrated that there were both linear and quadratic trends in the relationships between e...

Behavioral activation (BA) has been shown to be effective for a number of psychological problems, most notably depression. Although only a few studies have examined the efficacy of BA-based interventions with bereaved older adults, there are a number of reasons to believe that this approach has the potential to bring about meaningful and substantial change for this population. This article provides a theoretical and empirical rationale for the relevance of BA for bereaved older adults and describes the procedures and unique clinical considerations of BA with this population, which is illustrated in two case examples.

This study examined the theoretical relationships between consumers’ perceived benefits, place attachment and future visit intentions (FVI) at nature-based recreation and tourism areas, utilizing importance and performance concepts. The desired benefits and perceived attained benefits of consumers were treated as an antecedent to place attachment and FVI in structural models. Results of two separate structural models tests using responses from 934 visitors at the Ocala National Forest in Florida, USA, confirmed that place attachment fully mediates the relationship between benefits desired and FVI, while place attachment partially mediates the relationship between benefits attained and FVI. The former verifies the significant role of place attachment, and the latter validates the importance of place attachment as well as recreation benefit attainment in predicting visitors’ FVI. These findings suggest that both benefits desired and benefits attained are important predictors of place attachment and behavior...

Information about aging-related change in coping is limited mainly to results of cross-sectional studies of age differences in coping, and no research has focused on predictors of aging-related change in coping behavior. To extend research in this area, we used longitudinal multilevel modeling to describe older adults' (n = 719; baseline M = 61 years) 20-year, intraindividual approach and avoidance coping trajectories, and to determine the influence of two sets of predictors (threat appraisal and stressor characteristics; gender and baseline personal and social resources) on level and rate of change in these trajectories.Over the 20-year study interval, participants declined in the use of approach coping and most avoidance coping strategies, but there was significant variation in this trend. In simultaneous predictive models, female gender, more threat appraisal, stressor severity, social resources, and depressive symptoms, and fewer financial resources were independently associated with higher initial levels of coping responses. Having more social resources, and fewer financial resources, at baseline in late-middle-age predicted faster decline over time in approach coping. Having more baseline depressive symptoms, and fewer baseline financial resources, hastened decline in use of avoidance coping. Independent of other variables in these models, decline over time in approach coping and avoidance coping remained statistically significant.Overall decline in coping may be a normative pattern of coping change in later life. However, it also is modifiable by older adults' stressor appraisals, their stressors, and the personal and social resources they possess at entry to later life, in late-middle-age.

This article argues that the advent of a unipolar world following the end of the Cold War changed Canada's relation to and participation in NATO. It demonstrates how Canada's engagement in NATO combat operations since 1992 has been motivated primarily by a need to please the United States. It explores Canada's role through NATO in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and Libya. The desire to be a strong ally to the United States is the major driver of Canada's shift from the role of peace keeper to peace supporter. It explores the reasons why Canada did not join the US-led coalition to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003, a decision that is an anomaly in post-Cold War Canadian foreign policy.

This article traces the anthropocentric orthodoxy of public administrative thought and scholarship to suggest how nonhuman animals give shape to the field's theoretical discourse and inform, in important and unspoken ways, its everyday practice. Even critical approaches in public administration remain rooted in anthropocentrism and speciesism and do not offer fundamental alternatives to mainstream approaches. The article outlines several of the limiting and violent consequences for animals and humans of this anthropocentric mode of thought and ordering and suggests how this process, described as "radical othering," connects with other, more widely explored, human-to-human forms of marginalization in the field. It concludes by outlining personal, disciplinary, regulatory, and institutional possibilities for imagining a different kind of relationship with nonhuman animals.

Since its inception, the WNBA league and its teams have made tremendous efforts to improve their community image through high-quality mass media performance in an effort to promote consumer awareness, interest, and consumption of their game products. However, the relevance and effectiveness of these efforts remains unknown. Due to lack of financial stability, ticket sales, and spectator retention, today WNBA faces great challenges in its sustainability. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance and relevance of mass media performances associated with WNBA game consumption. Through qualitative research procedures, a questionnaire was developed that contained eight media performance, six game consumption, and 10 demographic variables. Following the conceptual framework of the ‘expectancy disconfirmation theory’, the media performance variables were phrased into two versions: importance and performance. Spectators (N = 1431) from five regular season home games of a WNBA team responded to the questionnaire, which was randomly split into two halves: one for EFA and the other for CFA. Two identical factors emerged in the EFA and CFA for the two media performance versions: Visual Media and Audio Media. An EFA was also conducted for the game consumption variables, resulting in one game consumption factor. One-sample t-tests with adjusted alpha level revealed that the mean Visual Media and Audio Media scores in both versions were significantly (p

Timeshare owners are a special group of tourists who have additional connections with the tourism destination through their timeshare. The purpose of this study was to investigate timeshare owners' perceptions of participating in tourism planning and their preferred ways of participating. This study was based on a questionnaire survey of U.S. timeshare owners. A two-stage structural equation modeling approach was applied in the data analysis. Results from the measurement model suggested that the proposed model fit the data well. Results from the structural model suggested that timeshare owners' attitudes toward tourism planning and their perceived cost of participating in tourism planning significantly impacted their perceptions of participating in tourism planning. Timeshare owners preferred indirect participation methods over direct ones. In addition, Internet-based participation was the choice for many timeshare owners over traditional face-oriented or file-oriented participation modes.

Regardless of the course topic, every instructor in a computing field endeavors to engage their students in deep problem-solving and critical thinking. One of the specific learning outcomes throughout our computer science curriculum is the development of independent, capable problem solving – And we believe good pedagogy can bring such about. Our experiences indicate to us that students improve their ability to analyze and solve complex computational problems when we pursue pedagogies that support them in developing these skills incrementally. Specifically, we pursue a problem-based learning approach that we apply individually in each course as well as across the entire curriculum of our department, instead of solely considering our pedagogy on a course-by-course basis.

The image on the television screen switched suddenly from B.C. Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, site of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to a group of Canadian soldiers...

By selecting Kandahar as the site of its Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in 2005, Canada chose the largest role possible for itself as an ally of the United States in its effort to neutralize Afghanistan as a base for international terrorism. Canada's prestige as a member of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and a major donor to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan was substantially enhanced by its fateful decision to make its stand in Kandahar, where its efforts were leveraged by its close collaboration with the United States. For three years, the Kandahar PRT contributed to the stabilization of this vital province, preparing the way for the military and civilian surge ordered by US President Barack Obama in 2009; that surge then shifted military responsibility in Kandahar to US forces and increased US aid to levels far beyond even Canada's generous commitment. By 2009, the provinces of southern Afghanistan around Kandahar became the locus of the NATO-led count...

For decades, experiential learning has been a driving theory in leisure studies. However, students today are more digitally orientated, and professors need to evolve to more current technologies to...

Forty-two individuals who had lost an immediate family member in the prior 2 years and 42 nonbereaved matched controls completed the World Assumptions Scale (Janoff-Bulman, 1989) and the Symptom Checklist-10-Revised (Rosen et al., 2000). Results showed that bereaved individuals were significantly more distressed than nonbereaved matched controls, and those grievers with weaker beliefs in the meaningfulness of the world and lower perceptions of self-worth had greater distress symptoms than those who perceived the world and themselves in more positive terms. Assumptive worldviews were not related to differences in psychological distress in the control group. The present findings suggest that problematic reactions to bereavement may reflect the influence of negative belief systems, which do not seem to have the same detrimental impact for individuals not dealing with a significant interpersonal loss.