In search of the highest attainable standard of mental health for children

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) may be a leading example of psychological jurisprudence. By its emphasis on promotion of the "child's sense of dignity and worth," the CRC offers a framework for comprehensive child policy in a manner that is consistent with the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental health problems.     

In the Context of Adult Support: The Influence of Peer Support on the Psychological Well-Being of Middle-School Students

This study examines the influence of adult and peer support on the psychological well-being of middle-school students. Using data representing 13,843 middle-school students from seven U.S. states, which were collected with the School Success Profile, hierarchical regression analysis is used to examine a hypothesis in 2 models of relationships: continuity/cognitive and compensatory/competition. Results support the continuity/cognitive model, and indicate peer support is an important contributor to middle-school students’ psychological well-being at various levels of adult support. When adult support is low, high levels of peer support do not improve psychological well-being. Implications for research and practice are discussed.     

Building marginal models for multiple ordinal measurements

Biomedical and psychosocial researchers increasingly utilize multiple indicators to assess an outcome of interest. We apply the ordinal estimating equations model for analysing this kind of measurement. We detail the special complexities of using this model to analyse clustered non-identical items and propose a workable model building strategy. Three graphical methods— cumulative log-odds, partial residual and Pearson residual plotting—are developed to diagnose the adequacy of models. The benefit of incorporating interitem associations and the trade-off between simple versus complex models are evaluated. Throughout the paper, an analysis to determine how measured impairments affect visual disability is used for illustration.     

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among veterinary science students who work with calves

The authors describe an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis among students working with calves as part of their veterinary science technology program. After an off-campus provider identified an index case, school authorities requested cryptosporidium (crypto) as part of the stool ova and parasite examination of all students presenting to the college health center with significant gastroenteritis. Thirteen students submitted stool specimens that were examined for crypto; 7 were positive, and all were from veterinary science students. One of the calves used in the program also tested positive for crypto. All of the students were immunocompetent and recovered uneventfully. The outbreak was contained by strictly enforcing infectious-disease precautions in the calf barn. The authors recommend considering crypto as a cause of gastroenteritis, especially among farm-animal workers, and urge strict infectious disease precautions for those who attend to livestock.     

Relationships with Non-Parental Adults and Child Behavior

Significant non-parental adults likely play an important role in the lives of children and adolescents. This study explores the frequency and quality of contact youth have with non-parental adults and the relationship of this contact with child behavior. An instrument designed to measure contact with non-parental adults in a sensitive and inclusive manner is also presented. Seventy-five mothers were surveyed regarding their childs contact with non-parental adults and their childs behavior. Results indicate that children with more frequent and high quality contact with non-parental adults have fewer behavior problems. Relationships with specific categories of adults are examined and implications for social work practice are discussed.     

Vocational implications of post-polio syndrome

Of more than 1,000,000 survivors of poliomyelitis living in the United States, about 80% experience symptoms associated with post-polio syndrome (PPS). New weakness, fatigue, and pain are the most common symptoms that may appear years after acute polio. PPS is reported to be the most prevalent progressive neuromuscular disease in North America. The physical symptoms of PPS can be severe enough to decrease an individual's quality of life, significantly alter work function, and impose lifestyle changes. The psychological implications of battling once again with a disease that had stabilized decades ago can be devastating. Rehabilitation physicians and counselors knowledgeable of post-polio syndrome and its possible impact on employment can have a positive influence on persons with PPS.     

营建企业的潜智——要确保企业最有价值员工的深层专业技能代代传承

企业无时无刻不在丢失重要的知识，而且在很多情况下，它们根本不明白自己曾拥有过这些知识。     

不确定性在团队授权与新产品开发业绩关系中的作用

一个最新的理论研究表明授权的作用取决于环境中不确定性的程度。在对212个新产品开发项目的定量研究中,发现了团队授权与创新速度之间显著性相关关系。对由技术新颖性和技术动态性这两个不同因素引起的技术不确定性作了区分。结果发现,团队授权和创新速度之间的关系被技术动态性所调节,而技术新颖性则不能。通过进一步的研究发现,在不确定性较低的情况下,无论来源于技术新颖性或技术动态性,团队授权和创新速度均呈U形函数关系。这说明在不确定性较低的情况下,要么完全授权,要么完全不授权或高层介入,都有利于提高创新速度。与之形成对应,在不确定性高的情况下,团队授权和创新速度之间的关系受技术新颖性和技术动态性的影响是不同的。当技术新颖性高时,团队授权和创新速度之间呈线性关系,而当技术动态性高时,二者呈反U形函数关系。对于后者,极高程度的团队授权并不加快创新速度。这些结果说明,应该根据研发项目的不确定性的不同来源与水平选择不同的团队授权策略。这些发现或许也表明,技术动态性比技术新颖性对不确定性有更重要的影响。