Ethical Issues in Disaster Research: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

Conducting research in the wake of a catastrophic event imposes the dual responsibilities on researchers of protecting the rights of the survivors as research subjects, while also ensuring research quality and the dissemination and application of findings. This article, based partially on the authors’ experiences of conducting research in school districts following Hurricane Katrina, examines the ethical issues that arise when working with survivors, reticent organizations, and institutional review boards. Challenges experienced by researchers concerning access, informed consent, confidentiality, subject compensation, and enlisting the assistance of stressed institutions are described. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0036566000. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.     

Professional Commitment in Novice Social Work Students: Socio-Demographic Characteristics,Motives and Perceptions of the Profession

The article attempts to define the characteristics of students at the beginning of their social work studies in institutes of higher education in Israel, including demographic characteristics, motives for choosing the profession, perceptions about the profession, and commitment to the profession. The study was conducted among a sample of 450 students, all beginning their first academic year, at four social work schools in Israel. Study findings show a demographic range, such as: nationality, level of religiosity, and political attitudes. Findings indicate that three of these socio-demographic variables predict commitment to the profession at the onset of academic studies: psychometric score, level of religiosity, and previous academic learning experience.

Findings indicate two profiles of novice students: students who choose to study social work out of a desire to bring about social change; and students who choose to engage only in clinical social work. The latter are not committed to the profession in its essence, but rather recognize the importance of its professional individual activities only. The article discusses these findings and implications with regard to both the social work profession and social work training.     

The Needs of Elders in Public Housing: Policy Considerations in the Era of Mixed-Income Redevelopment

A number of studies have followed the changes in the lives of public housing residents forced to relocate because of redevelopment. From 2002 to 2007, researchers followed the residents of a public housing development from the first year when residents learned of the pending demolition through 4 years of resettlement. Elder residents dispersed throughout the city provide insights into what life is like for low-income seniors leaving their homes and entering as strangers into new neighborhoods. The article concludes with recommendations for rethinking aging in place for poor elders.     

Innate immunity, local inflammation, and degenerative disease

The brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), which are referred to as neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, are characterized by the presence of a broad spectrum of inflammatory mediators. Surprisingly, these mediators, which include complement proteins, inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandins, and acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein and amyloid P, are produced by resident brain cells, including neurons. Although secondary to the fundamental pathology caused by the presence of tangles and plaques, there is strong evidence that inflammation exacerbates the neuronal loss. In particular, AD lesions show evidence of self-attack by the complement system--a part of the immune system that normally functions to rid the body of invading pathogens. However, the lesions are devoid of significant T cell infiltration, a hallmark of an inflammatory immune response, and antibodies. We define this phenomenon as autotoxicity to distinguish it from classical autoimmunity, in which the body raises antibodies to normal endogenous macromolecules. Locally produced inflammatory mediators have also been identified in atherosclerotic plaques, along with evidence of complement self-attack. As was previously shown for heart attacks, epidemiological evidence indicates that extended use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) results in a reduced risk of AD. NSAIDs inhibit the production of prostaglandin inflammatory mediators, but powerful new therapeutic agents might be developed by targeting more critical inflammatory mechanisms, especially the complement system.     

The contraceptive transition in Flanders

Changes in contraceptive use in Flanders are documented, largely though not solely using data from four surveys conducted between 1966 and 1983. Particular attention is paid to changes in the methods of contraception used. The contraceptive transition observed for Flanders is compared with information for other countries to assess whether a specific pattern can be delineated.