Political Violence and Adolescent Out-group Attitudes and Prosocial Behaviors: Implications for Positive Inter-group Relations

The negative impact of political violence on adolescent adjustment is well established. Less is known about factors that affect adolescents' positive outcomes in ethnically divided societies, especially influences on prosocial behaviors toward the out-group, which may promote constructive relations. For example, understanding how inter-group experiences and attitudes motivate out-group helping may foster inter-group co-operation and help to consolidate peace. The current study investigated adolescents' overall and out-group prosocial behaviors across two time points in Belfast, Northern Ireland (N = 714 dyads; 49% male; Time 1: M = 14.7, SD = 2.0, years old). Controlling for Time 1 prosocial behaviors, age, and gender, multi-variate structural equation modeling showed that experience with inter-group sectarian threat predicted fewer out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 2 at the trend level. On the other hand, greater experience of intra-group non-sectarian threat at Time 1 predicted more overall and out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 2. Moreover, positive out-group attitudes strengthened the link between intra-group threat and out-group prosocial behaviors one year later. Finally, experience with intra-group non-sectarian threat and out-group prosocial behaviors at Time 1 was related to more positive out-group attitudes at Time 2. The implications for youth development and inter-group relations in post-accord societies are discussed.

Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the ecfX and the gyrB genes

Phenotypic identification of Gram-negative bacteria from respiratory specimens of patients with cystic fibrosis carries a high risk of misidentification. Molecular identification techniques that use single-gene targets are also susceptible to error, including cross-reaction issues with other Gram-negative organisms. In this study, we have designed a Pseudomonas aeruginosa duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PAduplex) assay targeting the ecfX and the gyrB genes. The PAduplex was evaluated against a panel of 91 clinical and environmental isolates that were presumptively identified as P. aeruginosa. The results were compared with those obtained using a commercial biochemical identification kit and several other P. aeruginosa PCR assays. The results showed that the PAduplex assay is highly suitable for routine identification of P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical or environmental samples. The 2-target format provides simultaneous confirmation of P. aeruginosa identity where both the ecfX and gyrB PCR reactions are positive and may also reduce the potential for false negatives caused by sequence variation in primer or probe targets.

Presentation of a plasmablastic lymphoma in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient after administration of an inferior alveolar dental block

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a serious worldwide healthcare problem with implications for all healthcare workers. The reported oral manifestations of the disease are numerous and have been categorised according to the strength of their association with HIV infection. Oral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is strongly associated with HIV infection, and an increased incidence of such neoplasms is widely reported. This case report details the presentation of a rare subcategory of plasmablastic lymphoma in an HIV-positive patient after administration of an inferior alveolar dental block to facilitate extraction of mandibular teeth. This highly aggressive neoplasm is a large B-cell lymphoma with a predilection for the oral cavity. Unfortunately, the prognosis for such a tumour is poor as detailed in this case.

Gender Equality under the Charter of Fundamental Rights - a new lease for positive action?

This paper, which was published as a chapter of a Festskrift for Professor Ruth Nielsen, analyses Article 23 CFREU, the new provision on gender equality. It argues that Article 23 adds to the notion of gender equality in EU law, and not only allows, but also demands positive action measures if necessary to ensure equality between women and men. The provision also demands that positive action measures are suitable to achieve their aim. This implies that the EU legislator has to adapt positive action measure to the specific needs of the sector. The paper offers a critique of the proposal to introduce women quotas in board rooms, as proposed by the EU Commission in late 2012. It argues that the Commission unimaginatively copied rules developed for the German public service into a different sector, although these rules have not proven particularly efficient even in the public service. Consequently, a proposal that is demanding, but adapted to the sector should be developed.

L’action positive est-elle efficace? Une évaluation empirique du programme pour l’équité dans l’emploi en Irlande du Nord

A description, and analysis, of an empirical investigation of the effectiveness of affirmative action in the Northern Ireland employment