Factors influencing help-seeking from informal networks among African American victims of intimate partner violence

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the challenges African-American women in abusive relationships face when they consider seeking-help from their informal networks. Data are reported from interviews with 15 African-American women who were self-identified as having survived physical intimate partner violence. A 13-item, semi-structured interview guide was developed in order to elicit information from participants. All of the interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for analysis. This analysis revealed emergent themes from these interviews concerning the social factors and perceptions that influence help-seeking behavior. Participants perceived their informal networks as willing to offer instrumental support. However, informal networks were not emotionally supportive. Participants also noted that the African-American community at-large believes victims of violence to be "stupid" for remaining in violent relationships. Additional results are also discussed. Results may be used to help enhance efforts to reduce the rates of intimate partner violence among African-Americans.     

A systemic perspective on regional integration after the end of the Cold War

This paper explains the systemic pressures on states in Europe and Southeast Asia to broaden their alliances after the end of the Cold War, and how expansion impacts on regional integration. Inter-state cooperation is still very much the basis of regional integration. In Europe, states will scuttle attempts at deepening integration if this threatens their security, as the recent political impasse in the European Union reveals. In Southeast Asia, by contrast, the threat to the security of states arises from their failure to deepen economic integration in order to survive an anarchic world financial system. This failure is due to entrenched internal constraints that prevents closer inter-state cooperation and the pooling of sovereignty. Thus, while attempts to move into the area of political union will be resisted by states eager to maintain their sovereignty, the inability to advance into the area of monetary union can only lead to demise of states.

---

Autopsy artifact created by the Revivant AutoPulse resuscitation device

In certain cases, the evaluation and correct identification of resuscitative artifacts is critical to the correct diagnosis and determination of the cause and manner of death. Resuscitative artifacts can resemble homicidal or accidental injury and thus possibly be misinterpreted. Occasionally, new technologies and/or medical procedures will create original and/or distinctive artifacts. In 2003, the San Francisco Fire Department emergency personnel began field-testing the Revivant AutoPulse, an automated chest compression device. This device is currently being used in two other counties in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as regions of Florida, Virginia, and Ohio. We present three cases of resuscitative artifact that could be potentially confused with homicidal or accidental injury. These cases illustrate resuscitative artifacts, specifically lateral chest and horizontally oriented upper abdomen cutaneous abrasions created by this automated chest compression device.