Reasons for Returning to Abusive Relationships: Effects of Prior Victimization

Studies have demonstrated that women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are at increased risk of revictimization, but research has not yet examined whether a history of CSA may affect patterns of remaining in or returning to abusive relationships in adulthood. This study examines the impact of a CSA history on decisions to return to abusive relationships in a sample of 104 adult domestic violence survivors. Participants were interviewed about the number of times that they had previously separated from and returned to their abusive partner, the factors that influenced their decision to return (both psychological/internal and environmental/external factors), and their perceived likelihood of returning in the future. As predicted, CSA survivors (n = 34) reported a significantly greater number of past separations than non-CSA survivors (n = 70). CSA survivors were also significantly more likely to report that their decisions to return were influenced by emotional attachment to the batterer. CSA survivors did not perceive themselves to be at greater risk of returning in the future, suggesting that they may be more likely to underestimate their vulnerability to returning to the battering relationship. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.     

鸭肠炎病毒gB胞浆区基因片段的克隆及原核表达

为了研究鸭肠炎病毒gB胞浆区的反应原性,以鸭肠炎病毒C-KCE株为模板,扩增了gB胞浆区基因片段,并构建了其原核表达载体pET-32a-gB-N,将其转化至大肠杆菌感受态细胞Rosetta(DE3)pLysS中,经IPTG诱导,用SDS-PAGE及Western-blot检测目的蛋白的表达情况及其反应原性。SDS-PAGE分析表明获得了30ku的融合蛋白,在Western-blot检测中,纯化的融合蛋白可与鸭肠炎病毒阳性血清发生特异性反应,表明其具有良好的反应原性。     

The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents

This article examines the impacts of Building Strong Families, a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program serving unmarried parents who were expecting or had recently had a baby. Based on a random assignment research design, the analysis uses survey data from more than 4,700 couples across eight research sites to estimate program effects. Results varied across sites, with one site having a pattern of positive effects (but no effect on marriage) and another having numerous negative effects. However, when impacts are averaged across all research sites, the findings indicate that the program had no overall effects on couples’ relationship quality or the likelihood that they remained together or got married.     

The snowman outline: fact sheets by extensionists for farmers

Writing for smallholders in developing countries is an art that demands clear prose, a sound idea, and a logical outline. Although extension agents are often unaccustomed to writing, and usually need a sympathetic editor, extensionists know the target audience better than agricultural researchers or professional communicators. A one-page, 300-word fact sheet is a suitable format, allowing extensionists to write their insights for farmers. The fact sheet must be validated by farmers, who read it and review it for prose and concepts.

The “snowman” is a logical outline in three-parts: head (problem), middle (agro-ecological background), and main part (the solution). The middle section is the hardest for potential fact sheet authors to grasp, but it is also the most important. Anticipating the information that will convince the reader to try the recommendation requires a good knowledge of the audience. The farmers are not a passive audience. Smallholders can be engaged in logical, creative ways, even in writing.

La silhouette d'un bonhomme de neige : les fiches d'informations produites par des vulgarisateurs pour les fermiers

Ecrire pour de petits agriculteurs dans les pays en voie de développement est un art qui exige de la clarté dans la prose, une idée valable, et une forme logique. Malgré le fait que les éducateurs n'ont pas l'habitude d'écrire et qu'ils ont souvent besoin d'un éditeur compatissant, les vulgarisateurs connaissent mieux que les chercheurs agricoles ou les communicateurs professionnels leur public cible. Une seule page de 300 mots est un format approprié à la fiche d'informations, qui permet aux vulgarisateurs de transmettre leurs perspectives aux fermiers. La fiche doit être validée par des fermiers qui la lisent et qui passent en revue sa prose et ses idées. Le ‘bonhomme de neige’ fournit une silhouette logique en trois parties : la tête (le problème), le centre (contexte agri-écologique) et le corps (la solution). Le contexte est la partie la plus difficile à comprendre par les auteurs potentiels de fiches d'informations, mais il est aussi la plus importante. Anticiper les informations qui convaincront le lecteur d'essayer la démarche recommandée exige une bonne connaissance du public. Les fermiers ne sont pas des lecteurs passifs. On peut impliquer les petits agriculteurs d'une façon logique et créative, même à l'écriture.

El esbozo en forma de muñeco de nieve: hojas informativas escritas por extensionistas para pequeños productores

Escribir para un público de los pequeños productores de países en desarrollo es un arte que exige prosa clara, ideas firmes y un esbozo lógico. Si bien los agentes de extensión no están acostumbrados a escribir y, en general, necesitan de un buen editor, conocen al público objetivo mejor que los investigadores en agricultura o que los comunicadores profesionales. La hoja informativa de una cuartilla y de 300 palabras constituye un formato adecuado que permite a los extensionistas difundir sus hallazgos entre los campesinos. Dicha hoja informativa debe ser validada por los productores, quienes la leen y la valoran de acuerdo a su claridad y a los conceptos que contiene. El esbozo lógico consta de tres partes en forma de “muñeco de nieve”: el encabezado (presentación del problema), la parte central (exposición de los antecedentes agroecológicos) y la parte final (propuesta de solución). Para los potenciales autores de las hojas informativas, la sección de antecedentes representa la parte más difícil de escribir pero también la más importante. Se requiere de un buen nivel de familiaridad con el público para ser capaz de anticipar la información que impulsará al lector a poner en práctica las recomendaciones. Los pequeños productores no son un público pasivo. Participarán en actividades lógicas y creativas, aun cuando éstas impliquen la escritura.

A apresentação do homem das neves: informes produzidos por extensionistas para produtores rurais

Escrever para pequenos produtores de países em desenvolvimento é uma arte que exige um texto claro, uma ideia bem fundamentada e uma apresentação lógica. Embora agentes de extensão não estejam muito acostumados a escrever, e normalmente precisam de um editor compreensivo, os extensionistas conhecem o público-alvo melhor do que os pesquisadores agrícolas ou comunicadores profissionais. Um informe de uma página e 300 palavras possui uma forma adequada, permitindo aos extensionistas escrever suas ideias para os produtores rurais. O informe deve ser validado pelos produtores rurais, que o lêem e revisam o texto e os conceitos. O “homem das neves” é uma apresentação lógica em três partes: cabeça (problema), meio (contexto agro-ecológico) e parte principal (a solução). A seção do contexto é a mais difícil para compreensão dos autores em potencial dos informes, mas é também a mais importante. Antecipar as informações que convencerão o leitor a tentar seguir a recomendação exige bom conhecimento sobre o público. Os produtores rurais não são um público passivo. Os pequenos produtores podem ser engajados de forma lógica e criativa, até mesmo por escrito.     

Sexual dimorphism in the tarsal bones: implications for sex determination

An accurate determination of sex is essential in the identification of human remains in a forensic context. Measurements of some of the tarsals have been shown to be sexually dimorphic by previous researchers. The purpose of the present study is to determine which dimensions of the seven tarsals demonstrate the greatest sexual dimorphism and therefore have the most potential for accurate sex determination. Eighteen measurements of length, width, and height were obtained from the tarsals of 160 European-American males and females from the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection. These measurements were made using a mini-osteometric board. Logistic regression analyses were performed to create equations for sex discrimination. All measurements showed significant sexual dimorphism, with the talus, cuboid, and cuneiform I producing allocation accuracies of between 88 and 92%. Combinations of measurements provided better accuracy (88.1-93.6%) than individual measurements (80.0-88.0%).