Nurit Carmi

A Global Look at Time: A 24-Country Study of the Equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

In this article, we assess the structural equivalence of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) across 26 samples from 24 countries (N = 12,200). The ZTPI is proven to be a valid and reliable index of individual differences in time perspective across five temporal categories: Past Negative, Past Positive, Present Fatalistic, Present Hedonistic, and Future. We obtained evidence for invariance of 36 items (out of 56) and also the five-factor structure of ZTPI across 23 countries. The short ZTPI scales are reliable for country-level analysis, whereas we recommend the use of the full scales for individual-level analysis. The short version of ZTPI will further promote integration of research in the time perspective domain in relation to many different psycho-social processes.

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia in major abdominal surgery in high-risk neonates and infants.

Background:  Combined spinal‐epidural anesthesia (CSE‐A) is reportedly safe and effective for the pediatric population in infraumbilical surgery. Our main purpose was to describe our experience of this technique in neonates and infants undergoing elective major upper abdominal surgery.

Transforming Environmental Knowledge Into Behavior: The Mediating Role of Environmental Emotions

The present study was based on the premise that environmental knowledge can drive environmental behavior only if it arouses environmental emotions. Using a structural equations modeling approach, we tested the direct, as well as the indirect (mediated) effects of knowledge on behavior and assessed the mediating role of environmental emotions. We found that knowledge is an important but distal variable, whose significant effect is fully mediated by emotions. The high explanatory power and good fit indices of the model supported and validated the important role of emotions in the learning process.

Caring about tomorrow: future orientation, environmental attitudes and behaviors

Almost any pro-environmental behavior arouses a temporal conflict, as protecting long-term interests requires the sacrifice of short-term ones. Similarly, many health promoting behaviors may involve present discomfort for the sake of future well-being. In both contexts, health or environmental, developed future orientation (FO) is required to succeed in achieving long-term goals. This study examined FO, measured by Zimbardos time perspective inventory (ZTPI), in both contexts in a sample of 333 Israeli undergraduate students. FO correlated positively with health concern and behavior. In the environmental context, the results were different. Highly future-oriented (according to ZTPI) respondents did not express stronger pro-environmental attitudes, and their willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the environment was significantly lower. They adopted pro-environmental behavior only if it coincided with their personal benefit. The study suggests that the future of the environment may not be perceived in the same way as peoples personal future health. The implications for environmental education and communication are discussed.

Comparison of the CobraPLATM (Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway) and the Laryngeal Mask Airway UniqueTM in children under pressure controlled ventilation

Background:  The Laryngeal Mask Airway‐Unique (LMAU) and CobraPLATM (Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway) are supraglottic airway devices. There are no published studies comparing these devices in children breathing with pressure controlled ventilation (PCV).

The Role of Future Orientation in Environmental Behavior: Analyzing the Relationship on the Individual and Cultural Levels

The concept of sustainability includes a personal and societal imperative to assume responsibility for the future outcomes of present actions, to look forward, or in other words, to have a future orientation. Future orientation is both a personality trait and a cultural characteristic that strongly influences behavioral decisions on the personal and societal levels, respectively. This research addresses the relationship between future orientation and pro-environmental behavior on both levels. In a representative sample of the population (n = 1216), we found that individuals with developed future orientation demonstrated more pro-environmental tendencies. On the cross-cultural level we also found that in countries that conduct future-oriented practices in general the environment benefits, because the citizens tend to behave more pro-environmentally. The parallel between factors that affect future orientation and environmental behavior and the implications for promoting pro-environmental practices in the social and personal levels are discussed.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on survival of composite grafts in rats

Most treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in plastic surgery is for wounds, burns, crush injuries, and infections. We aimed to find out if HBO increases the survival of composite grafts in rats. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two equal groups (treatment and control). A template 30×30 mm was placed on the skin and a composite graft taken from the upper back was harvested and then resutured to the fascia in situ. The treated group was placed in a hyperbaric chamber set at 202 kPa and 100% oxygen for 90 minutes daily for two weeks. Control animals were given no treatment. After death the mean surviving internal surface area of the graft was 372.5 (117.9) mm2 in the control group and 561.3 (85.7) mm2 in the experimental group (p=0.001). Treatment with HBO improved the surviving area of composite grafts in rats, and the beneficial effect was prominent only on the inner surface of the graft.

The association between stage 3 or higher retinopathy of prematurity and other disorders of prematurity.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between stage III or higher retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other prematurity disorders and parameters. DESIGN Retrospective, case-control study. PARTICIPANTS The subjects of the study were 55 consecutive premature neonates with stage III or higher ROP and 110 consecutive premature neonates without ROP. METHODS We compared consecutive premature neonates regarding the presence of ROP and other disorders as well as demographic and laboratory parameters. RESULTS Gestational age (p < 0.001); birth weight (p < 0.001); male sex (p = 0.031); bilirubin levels (p < 0.001); breast feeding (p < 0.001); clinical and laboratory sepsis (p < 0.001); number of sepsis events (p < 0.001); ventilation need (p < 0.001); number of ventilation days (p < 0.001); theophylline and surfactant use (p < 0.001); blood transfusions (p < 0.001); number of blood transfusions (p < 0.001); intraventricular hemorrhage and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p = 0.001); and other factors differed in the two groups. The logistic regression model showed a correlation between low gestational age (OD 0.474, CI 0.359-0.626); male sex (OD 2.991, CI 1.077-8.305); blood transfusion (OD 14.159, CI 1.570-127.7); and sepsis (OD 12.376, CI 2.532-60.503). CONCLUSIONS Certain disorders and parameters, such as sepsis and blood transfusions, may be predict the appearance of stage III or higher ROP. Close monitoring of neonates with these findings is imperative. Early detection and treatment of sepsis and reduction of blood transfusions may decrease the incidence of ROP that requires treatment.

Environmental literacy components and their promotion by institutions of higher education: an Israeli case study

The recognition of the key role and moral responsibility of higher education institutions (HEIs) in cultivating the environmental literacy (EL) of their students is growing globally. The current research examined the contribution of HEIs to their students’ EL by focusing on an Israeli college as a case-study. A survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1147 students from all departments in four phases of their academic studies. A moderate level of EL was found. The college’s green agenda attracted more pre-environmentally literate students, but its contribution to the development of students’ EL throughout the learning years was minor. Variation in pro-environmental behavior was better explained by students’ environmental values and attitudes than by their environmental knowledge. It seems that a combination of knowledge, values, and attitudes is needed in order to instill EL among students in HEIs. Commitment to environmental education must be translated into effective contents (what) and ways of teaching and learning (how) EL, which should be adapted to the varied populations of HEIs’ students in the various faculties and departments. Some recommendations are detailed.

Seeing the Forest as Well as the Trees: General vs. Specific Predictors of Environmental Behavior.

The domain of environmental protection is comprised from many sub-domains as recycling, conserving water, or reducing the consumption of energy. The attitude–behavior gap is partly explained by the gap between the specificity levels of the particular measured behavior and of its antecedent(s). The present study aimed at assessing the effects of general vs. domain-specific behavior’s proximal antecedents included in the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model (intentions, attitudes towards the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) on performance of specific environmental behaviors (EBs) in five environmental sub-domains. We found that in all of the environmental domains examined, a specifically worded TPB model predicted specific behaviors better than a generally worded TPB model did. However, the magnitude of the improvement varied among behavioral domains and the improvement did not arise from the same TPB elements in every domain. The implications for environmental education and for EB research are discussed.