Census 2000 Partnership and Marketing Program Evaluation

To evaluate the Census 2000 integrated marketing strategy, the Census Bureau contracted with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) to conduct a national representative sample survey. In addition to having a nationalrepresentative sample, NORC oversampled populations whichare historically undercounted in the census. Using threecross-sectional mixed mode surveys, NORC obtained baseline,pre- and post-census measures of awareness, attitudes, knowledge,and mailback intentions over the period of the census. This paperreports on some of the preliminary results from the NORC reportof the Partnership and Marketing Program (PMP) evaluation.     

Images of 1812: Ivan Terebenev and the Russian Wartime Lubok

This article explores the articulation of national identity in Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. It examines this expression by focusing on the work of Ivan Terebenev, who produced 48 popular prints known as ‘lubki’ between 1812 and 1815. These images represented one of the first attempts by a Russian artist to redefine Russian national identity in the wake of Napoleon's invasion. By mocking the French emperor and emphasising the strengths of the Russian peasants, Cossacks and the Russian spirit in his images, Terebenev established themes that would continue to appear in prints in future Russian wars. Moreover, this article focuses on the reception of these images in Russia as a means of exploring how Russians who encountered them thought about their Russianness. Terebenev's images of 1812, as this article concludes, left a lasting impression on Russian visual culture and national identity.     

The view from within: how patients perceive the seclusion process.

1. Reported patient perceptions of seclusion revealed many negative feelings. The quest for the human element, dignity, to understand and to be understood, and to be reassured was a theme throughout. 2. Whatever nurses can do before or during the seclusion process that results in more positive perceptions by patients helps promote more comfortable feelings and more appropriate behavior. Frequent reviews of seclusion policies and procedures are important. 3. Debriefing may be one of the most important ways that staff can help the patient in diminishing the emotional impact of seclusion. It provides an opportunity to clarify the rationale for the seclusion, offer mutual feedback, and promote the patient's self-esteem.     

Developing a clinical care pathway for obese pregnant women: A quality improvement project

ProblemObesity in pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, from conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth and stillbirth. Between 20% and 25% of pregnant women in Australia are presenting to their first antenatal appointment with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m², defined as obesity in pregnancy. These figures are concerning for midwifery and obstetric staff directly involved in the clinical care of these women and their families. In the absence of national or state clinical practice guidelines for managing the risks for obese pregnant women, a local quality improvement project was conducted.AimTo plan, implement, and evaluate the impact of an alternative clinical care pathway for pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² at their first antenatal visit.Project settingThe project was undertaken in the antenatal clinic of a rural referral hospital in NSW, Australia.SubjectsEighty-two women with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² were eligible for the alternative care pathway, offered between January and December 2010.InterventionThe alternative care pathway included the following options, in addition to usual care: written information on obesity in pregnancy, referral to a dietitian, early plus repeat screening for gestational diabetes, liver and renal function pathology tests, serial self-weighing, serial foetal growth ultrasounds, and a pre-labour anaesthetic consultation.FindingsDespite being educated on the risk associated with obesity in pregnancy, women did not take up the offers of dietetic support or self-weighing at each antenatal visit. Ultrasounds were well received and most women underwent gestational diabetes screening.     

Home‐ownership,housing regimes and income inequalities in Western Europe

Norris M, Winston N. Home‐ownership, housing regimes and income inequalities in Western Europe This article compares the structural features of home‐ownership systems in European Union 15 (EU15) countries (home‐ownership rates, mortgages and public subsidisation of this tenure) with data on inequalities in outcomes (variations in home‐ownership access, risks and standards between income groups). Its purpose was to assess the relevance of the debate on the convergence and divergence of housing systems, which has dominated the comparative housing literature. The article concludes that, depending on the level of analysis adopted and the particular variables selected for examination, elements of both convergence and divergence are evident in Western European home‐ownership systems. The comparative housing literature has also largely failed to capture the key inter‐country cleavages in home‐ownership systems that are between the Northern and Southern EU15 countries. These shortcomings are related to methodological and conceptual problems in the literature.     

A nonparametric estimator of the number of classes based on a stratified random sample

Under stratified random sampling, we develop a k^th-order bootstrap bias-corrected estimator of the number of classes θ which exist in a study region. This research extends Smith and van Belle’s (1984) first-order bootstrap bias-corrected estimator under simple random sampling. Our estimator has applicability for many settings including: estimating the number of animals when there are stratified capture periods, estimating the number of species based on stratified random sampling of subunits (say, quadrats) from the region, and estimating the number of errors/defects in a product based on observations from two or more types of inspectors. When the differences between the strata are large, utilizing stratified random sampling and our estimator often results in superior performance versus the use of simple random sampling and its bootstrap or jackknife [Burnham and Overton (1978)] estimator. The superior performance is often associated with more observed classes, and we provide insights into optimal designation of the strata and optimal allocation of sample sectors to strata.     

Intimate partner violence and Hurricane Katrina: predictors and associated mental health outcomes

This study sought to establish the prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in the 6 months before and after Hurricane Katrina. Participants were 445 married or cohabiting persons who were living in the 23 southernmost counties of Mississippi at the time of Hurricane Katrina. Data for this study were collected as part of a larger, population-based, representative study. The percentage of women reporting psychological victimization increased from 33.6% prior to Hurricane Katrina to 45.2% following Hurricane Katrina (p < .001). The percentage of men reporting psychological victimization increased from 36.7% to 43.1% (p = .01). Reports of physical victimization increased from 4.2% to 8.3% for women (p = .01) but were unchanged for men. Significant predictors of post-Katrina victimization included pre-Katrina victimization, age, educational attainment, marital status, and hurricane-related stressors. Reports of IPV were associated with greater risk of post-Katrina depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Data from the first population-based study to document IPV following a large-scale natural disaster suggest that IPV may be an important but often overlooked public health concern following disasters.     

Establishing Concurrent Mands for Items and Mands for Information about Location in Children with Autism

This study replicated and extended the methodology used in Howlett et al. (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 943–947 2011) to bring the mands “Where’s (item)?” and “I want (item)” under appropriate antecedent control in two boys diagnosed with autism. Trials were alternated in which items were present, missing, and within view (but inaccessible) and missing and out of view. To program for generalization, fifteen items, multiple trainers, and multiple settings were used during teaching. For both participants, manding generalized to novel items, instructors, settings, and situations and maintained after 2 weeks following teaching. Results of the social validity assessment indicated that school staff found the procedures highly acceptable.