Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin for PADAM: A preliminary report

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for patients with partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM). Twenty-one patients over 50 years of age with PADAM symptoms were included in this study. Laboratory and endocrinologic profiles were reviewed as appropriate, and PADAM symptoms were judged by means of several questionnaires such as the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale, short version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Laboratory and endocrinologic values and symptom scores were evaluated and compared before and after treatment by hCG injection. The treatment period was 8.0 ± 5.0 months (3.0 – 24.0 months). Serum concentrations of testosterone, including total testosterone, calculated free testosterone, and calculated bioavailable testosterone, increased significantly. AMS total scores and subscores decreased significantly after treatment. However, IIEF-5 and SDS scores did not improve. With respect to adverse effects, laboratory tests showed that only red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin level increased significantly after treatment, however, these values remained within the normal range. No adverse effect was identified after treatment. We conclude that hCG injection may be considered as a treatment for PADAM.     

Evictions,Petitions and Escraches: Contentious Housing in Austerity Spain

In the context of the new period of mobilization begun in Spain with the rise of the indignados in May 2011, protests against home evictions are today at the center of local and international discussions. This article seeks to make an initial examination of these mobilizations and their relationship with routine politics in Spain. After a brief historical introduction the article looks at the different kinds of action, both contentious and conventional, employed by the movement against the evictions, as well as the various scale shift mechanisms that have diversified the number and range of actors involved in this particular case of contentious politics. The conclusions look at the question of as to what point recent developments have broken with the deep-rooted tendency toward a lack of interaction between protest movements and institutional actors.     

Researching Resistance to Neoliberal Globalization: Engaged Ethnography as Solidarity and Praxis

In this paper we investigate the process of carrying out ethnographic studies of organized resistance to neoliberal globalization. We do so by drawing upon the critical and public social science of Bourdieu and Santos, two highly influential opponents of neoliberalism, and by utilizing Burawoy's ‘extended case method’ for the investigation of two instances of resistance. The first is of a trade union, Sintraemcali, that has been engaged in a longstanding struggle over the introduction of neoliberal policies in the city of Cali in south-west Colombia. The second is of ‘The European Marches against Unemployment, Job Insecurity and Social Exclusion’. We then reflect upon our approach to researching this resistance and conclude by identifying two key elements of engaged ethnography, solidarity and praxis, that together help provide new insights into the strategies and practices of social movement resistance to neoliberal globalization.

En este documento investigamos el proceso de llevar a cabo estudios etnogràficos sobre la resistencia organizada a la globalización neoliberal. Lo hacemos utilizando la ciencia social crítica y pública de Bourdieu y Santos, dos oponentes altamente influyetes del neoliberalismo, y utilizando el ‘método del caso ampliado’ de Burawoy, (ECM, por sus siglas en inglés) para la investigación de dos ejemplos de resistencia. El primero es sobre un sindicato, Sintraemcali, que se ha involucrado en una lucha de larga duracíon contra la introducción de politicas neoliberales en la ciudad de Cali en el sudeste de Colombia. El segundo es sobre ‘Las Marchas Europeas contra el paro, la precariedad y la exclusión. (Red EM, por sus siglas en inglés). Luego reflexionamos sobre nuestro enfoque en la investigación de esta resistencia y concluimos en la identificación de dos elementos claves de etnografía comprometida, solidaridad y praxis, que juntas ayudan a proporcionas nuevos puntos de vista sobre las estrategias y prácticas de la resistencia de los movimientos sociales a la globalización neoliberal.     

How Political Is the Personal? Gender Differences in the Level and the Structure of Political Knowledge

ABSTRACT

In this research note we report on the results of an experimental study among 469 respondents in Belgium. The study shows that the familiar gender differences in political knowledge can be substantially reduced when including more questions on female politicians. Using confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory measurements, we can observe that the structure of political knowledge is identical for women and men implying that women and men do not have different conceptions of what constitutes the political domain. Both for women and men, “personal items” (in this case: The correct name of the new baby of the female vice-prime minister) were shown to load strongly and one dimensionally with the more traditional institutional political knowledge questions. It seems that women and men respond in the same manner to information about the personal lives of politicians.     

合理控制上海人口规模优化人口结构研究

根据历次人口普查数据分析,上海人口过快增长主要源于来沪人员的快速导入,而来沪人员数量的过快增长又主要源于低端就业人群、非法就业人群以及非就业人口的无序导入。同时,来沪人员过度集聚在城郊结合部的态势仍很明显,给城市正常运行造成一定压力。面对人口总量不断攀升、城市承载负荷日益加重的严峻现实,上海必须要有紧迫意识,切实贯彻中央关于"特大城市要合理控制人口规模"的意见精神,把加强人口调控作为一项重大任务。在人口流动因素多元复杂的大背景下,重点抓住导致人口不合理增长的政策因素,审慎甄别其内在的驱动机理,有针对性地进行政策的强化、补充、调整与完善。     

Family group decision making: Measuring fidelity to practice principles in public child welfare

This study describes the development and validation of a short, self-administered fidelity measure used to capture the perspectives of a range of individuals participating in a family group decision making conference. Exploratory factor analyses suggested either a two or a three factor solution. Findings from confirmatory factor analysis supported a three factor model that includes sets of practices yielding: (1) Productive Decision Making; (2) Family Group Inclusion; and (3) Professional Supportiveness. These results provide direction to public child welfare practitioners and policymakers about the importance and the feasibility of attending to multiple perspectives in assessing program delivery.     

College Students' Perceptions of Professor/Instructor Bullying: Questionnaire Development and Psychometric Properties

Abstract

Objective: This study developed and examined the psychometric properties of a newly formed measure designed to assess professor/instructor bullying, as well as teacher bullying occurring prior to college. Additionally, prevalence of instructor bullying and characteristics related to victims of instructor bullying were examined. Participants: Participants were 337 college students recruited in 2012 from a northeastern university. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to college students. A split-half, cross-validation approach was employed for measurement development. Results: The measure demonstrated strong criterion validity and internal consistency. Approximately half of students reported witnessing professor/instructor bullying and 18% reported being bullied by a professor/instructor. Report of teacher bullying occurring prior to college was related to professor/instructor bullying in college, and sex was a moderating variable. Conclusion: College students perceive instructor bullying as occurring but may not know how to properly address it. Prevention efforts should be made by university administrators, faculty, and staff.     

Impact of Support Groups on Well-Being of Older Women

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to determine whether differences in incidence of depression and level of well-being are manifested between older women, aged 60 and older, who attend either (a) a peer-run support group, (b) a staff-run support group, or (c) a comparison group (i.e., who do not attend a support group).

Thirty-six women participating in peer-run and staff-run support groups and 9 women receiving nongroup support were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Separate analyses of variance were employed on each scale to determine the significance of differences in scores according to facilitator type (i.e., peer-run vs. staff-run vs. comparison group).

Analysis of scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale indicated significant differences between women in the peer-run groups and women in the comparison group, but no significant differences between women in the peer-run groups and women in the staff-run groups or between women in the staff-run groups and women in the comparison group. Analysis of scores on the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale did not indicate any significant differences between women based on facilitator type.

Results of this study have implications for those who run face-to-face support groups for older adults, for those who train peer group facilitators, and for community agencies that desire to initiate a support group system for their clientele.     

公交车司机心理健康状况调查与分析——以成都地区为例

本调查运用SCL-90量表对成都地区公交车司机心理健康状况进行随机抽样调查。结果显示,公交车司机心理健康状况不容乐观;公交车司机的婚姻质量对心理健康存在影响;学历越高的公交车司机心理健康水平越低;中年公交车司机心理健康水平最低;男性公交车司机心理健康水平较女性更低。据此,对提高公交车司机的心理健康水平笔者提出了适当的建议。     

湖南省普小教育经费投入实证研究

作为教育活动得以发展、赖以生存的物质基础和前提条件,教育经费的投入规模直接影响着教育事业的发展水平.但是通过对比发现,2001至2011十一年问湖南省普通小学的生均教育经费均低于全国平均水平.实证研究结果表明：人口规模效应未充分发挥,产业结构不合理以及政府对普小重视程度不够等因素是造成这一现象的主要原因.因此,推行有针对性的改革措施是改善湖南省普通小学教育经费投入规模的明智之举.