bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Moxidectin Treatment at Peripartum on Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections in Ewes Raised under Tropical Andes High Altitude Conditions
Authors: Vargas-Duarte J. J. , Lozano-Márquez H. , Grajales-Lombana H. A. , Manrique-Perdomo C. , Martínez-Bello D. A. , Saegerman C. , Raes M. , Kirschvink N.
Published: May 2015

This study tested the impact of moxidectin at peripartum on nematode fecal egg count (FEC) and clinical parameters on ewes in the high altitude tropical Andes of Colombia. FEC and clinical evaluations were performed on 9 occasions in 43 naturally infected ewes before and during gestation and after lambing. Moxidectin (Mox, 200 µg kg−1) was applied at late pregnancy (T1,n=15) or 48 hours after parturition (T2,n=14). 14 untreated ewes served as controls (C). Suckling lambs(n=58)remained untreated and underwent four clinical and parasitological evaluations until 8 weeks after birth. Mox efficacy equaled 99.3% (T1) and 96.9% (T2). Highest mean FEC value reflecting periparturient nematode egg rise (PPER) was recorded in C ewes at 4–6 weeks after lambing. Significant FEC reductions were found inT1(94.8%) andT2(96.7%) ewes(p<0.05). All lambs showed a significant and ewes-group independent increase in FEC before weaning(p<0.05). Clinical parameters (anemia and diarrhea) showed time- and treatment-related differences(p<0.05). Monitoring of FEC and clinical parameters linked to gastrointestinal parasite infections allowed demonstrating that postpartum or preweaning are two critical periods to nematode infection for sheep raised under tropical Andes high altitude conditions. Use of Mox as anthelmintic treatment prevented PPER.
Medication Exposures and Subsequent Development of Ewing Sarcoma: A Review of FDA Adverse Event Reports
Authors: Cope Judith U. , Reaman Gregory H. , Tonning Joseph M.
Published: May 2015

Background. Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) are rare but deadly cancers of unknown etiology. Few risk factors have been identified. This study was undertaken to ascertain any possible association between exposure to therapeutic drugs and ESFT.Methods. This is a retrospective, descriptive study. A query of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was conducted for all reports of ESFT, January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2013. Report narratives were individually reviewed for patient characteristics, underlying conditions and drug exposures.Results. Over 16 years, 134 ESFT reports were identified, including 25 cases of ESFT following therapeutic drugs and biologics including immunosuppressive agents and hormones. Many cases were confounded by concomitant medications and other therapies.Conclusions. This study provides a closer look at medication use and underlying disorders in patients who later developed ESFT. While this study was not designed to demonstrate any clear causative association between ESFT and prior use of a single product or drug class, many drugs were used to treat immune-related disease and growth or hormonal disturbances. Further studies may be warranted to better understand possible immune or neuroendocrine abnormalities or exposure to specific classes of drugs that may predispose to the later development of ESFT.
Polyuridylation in Eukaryotes: A 3′-End Modification Regulating RNA Life
Authors: Munoz-Tello Paola , Rajappa Lional , Coquille Sandrine , Thore Stéphane
Published: May 2015

In eukaryotes, mRNA polyadenylation is a well-known modification that is essential for many aspects of the protein-coding RNAs life cycle. However, modification of the 3′ terminal nucleotide within various RNA molecules is a general and conserved process that broadly modulates RNA function in all kingdoms of life. Numerous types of modifications have been characterized, which are generally specific for a given type of RNA such as the CCA addition found in tRNAs. In recent years, the addition of nontemplated uridine nucleotides or uridylation has been shown to occur in various types of RNA molecules and in various cellular compartments with significantly different outcomes. Indeed, uridylation is able to alter RNA half-life both in positive and in negative ways, highlighting the importance of the enzymes in charge of performing this modification. The present review aims at summarizing the current knowledge on the various processes leading to RNA 3′-end uridylation and on their potential impacts in various diseases.
Targeting Heat-Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) as a Complementary Strategy to Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Proia David A. , Kaufmann Gunnar F.
Published: May 2015

The demonstration that immune checkpoint blockade can meaningfully improve outcomes for cancer patients has revolutionized the field of immuno-oncology. New biologic agents targeting specific checkpoints have shown remarkable durability in terms of patient response and, importantly, exhibit clinical activity across a range of human malignancies, including many that have traditionally proven refractory to other immunotherapies. In this rapidly evolving area, a key consideration relates to the identification of novel combinatorial strategies that exploit existing or investigational cancer therapies in order to optimize patient outcomes and the proportion of individuals able to derive benefit from this approach. In this regard, heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) represents an important emerging target for cancer therapy because its inactivation results in the simultaneous blockade of multiple signaling pathways and can sensitize tumor cells to other anticancer agents. Within the context of immunology, HSP90 plays a dual regulatory role, with its functional inhibition resulting in both immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory effects. In this Cancer Immunology at the Crossroads overview, the anticancer activity profile of targeted HSP90 inhibitors is discussed along with their paradoxical roles in immunology. Overall, we explore the rationale for combining the modalities of HSP90 inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade in order to augment the antitumor immune response in cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(6); 583–9. ©2015 AACR.
Prenatal Identification of Pierre Robin Sequence: A Review of the Literature and Look towards the Future
Authors: Kaufman Matthew G. , Cassady Christopher I. , Hyman Charles H. , Lee Wesley , Watcha Mehernoor F. , Hippard Helena K. , Olutoye Olutoyin A. , Khechoyan David Y. , Monson Laura A. , Buchanan Edward P.
Published: May 2015

Fetal ultrasonography is an important tool used to prenatally diagnose many craniofacial conditions. Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a rare congenital deformation characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction. PRS can present as a perinatal emergency when the retropositioned tongue obstructs the airway leading to respiratory compromise. More predictable and reliable diagnostic studies could help the treating medical team as well as families prepare for these early airway emergencies. The medical literature was reviewed for different techniques used to prenatally diagnose PRS radiologically. We have reviewed these techniques and suggested a possible diagnostic pathway to consistently identify patients with PRS prenatally.
Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Differentiate into Oligodendrocyte Progenitors Using the Expression of Olig2 Transcription Factor
Authors: Askari Nahid , Yaghoobi Mohammad Mehdi , Shamsara Mehdi , Esmaeili-Mahani Saeed
Published: May 2015

The helix-loop-helix transcription factor Olig2 is essential for lineage determination of oligodendrocytes. Differentiation of stem cells into oligodendrocytes and transplanting them is a novel strategy for the repair of different demyelination diseases. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are of great interest in regenerative medicine due to their potential for repairing damaged tissues. In this study, DPSCs were isolated from human third molars and transfected with the human Olig2 gene as a differentiation inducer for the oligodendrogenic pathway. Following the differentiation procedure, the expression of Sox2, NG2, PDGFRα, Nestin, MBP, Olig2, Oct4, glial fibrillary acidic protein and A2B5 as stage-specific markers was studied by real-time RT-qPCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. The cells were transplanted into a mouse model of local sciatic damage by lysolecithin as a model for demyelination. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) actively remyelinated and recovered the lysolecithin-induced damages in the sciatic nerve as revealed by treadmill exercise, the von Frey filament test and hind paw withdrawal in response to a thermal stimulus. Recovery of behavioral reflexes occurred 2-6 weeks after OPC transplantation. The results demonstrate that the expression of Olig2 in DPSCs reduces the expression of stem cell markers and induces the development of oligodendrocyte progenitors as revealed by the emergence of oligodendrocyte markers. DPSCs could be programmed into oligodendrocyte progenitors and considered as a simple and valuable source for the cell therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α Underlies Loss of Cortical Dendritic Spine Density in a Mouse Model of Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Meissner Anja , Visanji Naomi P. , Momen M. Abdul , Feng Rui , Francis Beverly M. , Bolz Steffen‐Sebastian , Hazrati Lili‐Naz
Published: May 2015

Background

Heart failure (
HF
) is a progressive disorder characterized by reduced cardiac output and increased peripheral resistance, ultimately leading to tissue perfusion deficits and devastating consequences for several organs including the brain. We previously described a tumor necrosis factor‐α (
TNF‐
α)–dependent enhancement of posterior cerebral artery tone and concomitant reduced cerebral blood flow in a mouse model of early
HF
in which blood pressure remains minimally affected.
HF
is often associated with cognitive impairments such as memory deficits, even before any overt changes in brain structure and function occur. The pathophysiology underlying the development of
cognitive impairments
in
HF
is unknown, and appropriate treatment strategies are lacking.

Methods and Results

We used a well‐established mouse model in which
HF
was induced by experimental myocardial infarction produced by permanent surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (infarct size ≈25% of the left ventricular wall). Ligated mice developed enlarged hearts, congested lungs, and reduced cardiac output and blood pressure, with elevated peripheral resistance within 6 to 8 weeks after ligation. In this study, we demonstrated the significance of the proinflammatory cytokine
TNF
‐α during
HF
‐mediated neuroinflammation and associated impaired hippocampus‐independent nonspatial episodic memory function. Augmented cerebral
TNF
‐α expression and microglial activation in
HF
mice, indicative of brain inflammation, were accompanied by morphological changes and significant reduction of cortical dendritic spines (61.39±8.61% for basal and 61.04±9.18% for apical spines [
P
<0.001]). The significance of
TNF
‐α signaling during the observed
HF
‐mediated neurodegenerative processes is supported by evidence showing that sequestration or genetic deletion of
TNF
‐α ameliorates the observed reduction of cortical dendritic spines (33.51±7.63% for basal and 30.13±6.98% for apical spines in wild‐type mice treated with etanercept; 17.09±6.81% for basal and 17.21±7.29% for apical spines in
TNF‐
α
−/−
). Moreover, our data suggest that alterations in cerebral serum and glucocorticoid‐inducible kinase 1 (SgK1) expression and phosphorylation during
HF
may be
TNF
‐α dependent and that an increase of SgK1 phosphorylation potentially plays a role in the
HF
‐associated reduction of dendritic spine density.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that
TNF
‐α plays a pivotal role in
HF
‐mediated neuroinflammation and associated alterations of cortical dendritic spine density and has the potential to reveal novel treatment strategies for
HF
‐associated memory deficits.
Learning Tensegrity Locomotion Using Open-Loop Control Signals and Coevolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Iscen Atil , Caluwaerts Ken , Bruce Jonathan , Agogino Adrian , SunSpiral Vytas , Tumer Kagan
Published: May 2015

Soft robots offer many advantages over traditional rigid robots. However, soft robots can be difficult to control with standard control methods. Fortunately, evolutionary algorithms can offer an elegant solution to this problem. Instead of creating controls to handle the intricate dynamics of these robots, we can simply evolve the controls using a simulation to provide an evaluation function. In this article, we show how such a control paradigm can be applied to an emerging field within soft robotics: robots based on tensegrity structures. We take the model of the Spherical Underactuated Planetary Exploration Robot ball (SUPERball), an icosahedron tensegrity robot under production at NASA Ames Research Center, develop a rolling locomotion algorithm, and study the learned behavior using an accurate model of the SUPERball simulated in the NASA Tensegrity Robotics Toolkit. We first present the historical-average fitness-shaping algorithm for coevolutionary algorithms to speed up learning while favoring robustness over optimality. Second, we use a distributed control approach by coevolving open-loop control signals for each controller. Being simple and distributed, open-loop controllers can be readily implemented on SUPERball hardware without the need for sensor information or precise coordination. We analyze signals of different complexities and frequencies. Among the learned policies, we take one of the best and use it to analyze different aspects of the rolling gait, such as lengths, tensions, and energy consumption. We also discuss the correlation between the signals controlling different parts of the tensegrity robot.
On the Evolution of Behaviors through Embodied Imitation
Authors: Erbas Mehmet D. , Bull Larry , Winfield Alan F. T.
Published: May 2015

This article describes research in which embodied imitation and behavioral adaptation are investigated in collective robotics. We model social learning in artificial agents with real robots. The robots are able to observe and learn each others' movement patterns using their on-board sensors only, so that imitation is embodied. We show that the variations that arise from embodiment allow certain behaviors that are better adapted to the process of imitation to emerge and evolve during multiple cycles of imitation. As these behaviors are more robust to uncertainties in the real robots' sensors and actuators, they can be learned by other members of the collective with higher fidelity. Three different types of learned-behavior memory have been experimentally tested to investigate the effect of memory capacity on the evolution of movement patterns, and results show that as the movement patterns evolve through multiple cycles of imitation, selection, and variation, the robots are able to, in a sense, agree on the structure of the behaviors that are imitated.
Evolving Gaussian Mixture Models with Splitting and Merging Mutation Operators
Authors: Covões Thiago Ferreira , Hruschka Eduardo Raul , Ghosh Joydeep
Published: May 2015

This paper describes the evolutionary split and merge for expectation maximization (ESM-EM) algorithm and eight of its variants, which are based on the use of split and merge operations to evolve Gaussian mixture models. Asymptotic time complexity analysis shows that the proposed algorithms are competitive with the state-of-the-art genetic-based expectation maximization (GA-EM) algorithm. Experiments performed in 35 data sets showed that ESM-EM can be computationally more efficient than the widely used multiple runs of EM (for different numbers of components and initializations). Moreover, a variant of ESM-EM free from critical parameters was shown to be able to provide competitive results with GA-EM, even when GA-EM parameters were fine-tuned a priori.
BOSTON IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
Authors: Dowling William C.
Published: May 2015

Boston medical students trained in Paris in the 1830s repudiated “heroic” practice (bleeding, drugging, purging) in therapeutics. When James Jackson Jr. encountered a supposed miracle treatment—saline injections bringing cholera patients back from the brink of death—he dismissed it as another heroic remedy. Viewed in historical context, that conclusion seems justified.
Women of the Subcontinent
Authors: Ghazi Inam ul Haq
Published: May 2015

Recorded Arabic travel logs about Asia in general, and in particular the Subcontinent during the Golden Era, contain interesting narratives about women of the region. This paper surveys narratives by Arab travellers regarding woman and tries to constitute a portrayal that may emerge from their writings. The selected writings for this paper cover 8 centuries (7th to 14th centuries ad) and the Subcontinent including modern-day countries of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The picture that emerges from this study depicts various aspects about the women of Sub-Continent during these centuries. The most important aspects are: the role of women in society, their legal status and marriage, descriptions of beauty, women’s festivals, slavery, fashion and dresses for various occasions, and women from different classes, castes and religions. An attempt has been made to compare and contrast these narratives among themselves.
Maḥmūd Darwīsh’s Athar al-farāshah: The Poetics of Proximity
Authors: Suyoufie Fadia
Published: May 2015

This study of Maḥmūd Darwīsh’s Athar al-farāshah (The Butterfly Effect) (2008)—published in translation as A River Dies of Thirst (2009)—investigates the nuances of the word athar in Darwīsh’s text by focusing on its dual meanings in Arabic as “effect” and “trace.” The semiotic aspects of the butterfly prove to be an important signifier for Darwīsh, articulating a concept of proximity to the other as an overarching ethical and aesthetic aim of Darwīsh’s poetry. The essay ends on the concept of dwelling in the world as an embodiment of both athar (trace/effect) as well as proximity. The argument is supported by reference to Emmanuel Levinas and Martin Heidegger, and in particular the notion of “dwelling,” which helps to further elucidate the philosophical stakes of Darwīsh’s “butterfly effect.”
Colloquium 2 Plato on the Good of the City-state in the Republic
Authors: Santas Gerasimos
Published: May 2015

This paper argues that in Plato’s utopia the good of the ideal city-state is not identical with the good of the citizens, but it is nevertheless not independent of the good of the citizens. And similarly with the happiness of the city-state and the happiness of the citizens in it, something that can be more clearly seen once the happiness of the city and the happiness of the individual are analyzed in terms of the goods appropriate to each. Plato’s principle of social justice distributes such goods proportionately so as to promote the good of the city as a whole. Popper and others have been mostly correct in criticizing Plato for his severe restrictions of various freedoms, but not correct in claiming that Plato’s ideal city-state is an organic super-entity with a good of its own separate and independent of the good of the citizens.
Colloquium 5 Socrates on Socrates: Looking Back to Bring Philosophy Forward
Authors: Schultz Anne-Marie
Published: May 2015

In this paper, I explore three autobiographical narratives that Plato’s Socrates tells: his report of his conversations with Diotima (Symposium 201d–212b), his account of his testing of the Delphic oracle (Apology 21a–23a), and his description of his turn from naturalistic philosophy to his own method of inquiry (Phaedo 96a–100b).1 This Platonic Socrates shows his auditors how to philosophize for the future through a narrative recollection of his own past. In these stories, Plato presents us with an image of a Socrates who prepares others to do philosophy without him. In doing so, Plato’s Socrates exhibits philosophical care for his students. In the first part of the paper, I briefly discuss Socrates’ overall narrative style as Plato depicts it in the five dialogues that Socrates narrates.  I then analyze each of these autobiographical accounts with an eye toward uncovering what they reveal about Plato’s presentation of Socrates’ philosophical practice.2 Finally, I offer a brief description of what it might mean to practice philosophy as care for self and care for others in a Socratic fashion.
Trichosanthes napoensis (Cucurbitaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China
Authors: NONG DONG-XIN , HUANG BAO-YOU , LAN ZU-ZAI , Xie Dong Mei , YU LI-YING , Huang Lu Qi
Published: May 2015

A new species of the genus Trichosanthes (Cucurbitaceae), T. napoensis, is described and illustrated from Guangxi Province, western China. It is closely related to T. pedata Merr. & Chun, but it can be distinguished from the latter by having 3-fid tendrils, a fruit apex with a prominent protrusion, and oblong-elliptical seeds with a ridge at the margin.
On the family-group ranks of katydids (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)
Authors: BRAUN HOLGER
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this note is to propose minor modifications to recent changes in the classification of katydids, to preserve the stability of the family Tettigoniidae as including all katydids. This concept has been used in the majority of references since it was established long ago (Krauss 1902), with comparatively few exceptions, where all katydid subfamilies were treated as families in superfamily Tettigonioidea.
The Failure of Progressive Classroom Reform: Lessons from the Curriculum Reform Implementation Project in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Guthrie Gerard
Published: May 2015

Progressive education has been an article of educational faith in Papua New Guinea during the last 50 years but the best available evidence indicates that major reforms to formalistic curriculum and teaching in primary and secondary classrooms have failed during this period despite large-scale professional, administrative and financial support. In particular, project evaluations from AusAID's 2000–06 Curriculum Reform Implementation Project (CRIP) were unaware historically and culturally. They provide no compelling evidence that CRIP's progressive curriculum reform had the intended classroom effects. Official evaluations predominantly attribute CRIP's failure to change teaching styles to technical input issues. More fundamentally, CRIP was embedded in the ‘progressive education fallacy’—confusing the teaching process (enquiry learning) with the educational product (enquiry skills). One result was inappropriate efforts to reform teacher-centred classroom methods. The opportunity was lost to develop a culturally intuitive formalistic teaching style, rather than trying unproductively to have teachers adopt counter-intuitive progressive methods. In PNG, as in many other contexts, the lessons learned from CRIP include a need to treat formalism as a deep-rooted cultural behaviour capable of adaptation and of performing important educational functions now and in the foreseeable future.
High- and Low-Order Overtaking-Ability Affordances
Authors: Basilio Numa , Morice Antoine H. P. , Marti Geoffrey , Montagne Gilles
Published: May 2015

Objective:

The aim of this study was to answer the question, Do drivers take into account the action boundaries of their car when overtaking?

Background:

The Morice et al. affordance-based approach to visually guided overtaking suggests that the “overtake-ability” affordance can be formalized as the ratio of the “minimum satisfying velocity” (MSV) of the maneuver to the maximum velocity ( Vmax) of the driven car. In this definition, however, the maximum acceleration ( Amax) of the vehicle is ignored. We hypothesize that drivers may be sensitive to an affordance redefined with the ratio of the “minimum satisfying acceleration” (MSA) to the Amax of the car.

Method:

Two groups of nine drivers drove cars differing in their Amax. They were instructed to attempt overtaking maneuvers in 25 situations resulting from the combination of five MSA and five MSV values.

Results:

When overtaking frequency was expressed as a function of MSV and MSA, maneuvers were found to be initiated differently for the two groups. However, when expressed as a function of MSV/ Vmax and MSA/ Amax, overtaking frequency was quite similar for both groups. Finally, a multiple regression coefficient analysis demonstrated that overtaking decisions are fully explained by a composite variable comprising MSA/ Amax and the time required to reach MSV.

Conclusion:

Drivers reliably decide whether overtaking is safe (or not) by using low- and high-order variables taking into account their car’s maximum velocity and acceleration, respectively, as predicted by “affordance-based control” theory.

Application:

Potential applications include the design of overtaking assistance, which should exploit the MSA/ Amax variables in order to suggest perceptually relevant overtaking solutions.
Nurturing Students' Spiritual Well-Being: Caring for the Whole Child
Authors: Fisher John W
Published: May 2015

Spiritual well-being is reflected in up to four sets of relationships that people have; namely with themselves, with others, with the environment, and/or with God. Details are provided about quantitative measures for spiritual well-being used with students and teachers in Victorian Christian primary and secondary schools. The results obtained are presented and discussed. Case studies illustrate how such quantitative measures can be used to inform pastoral care of students to help ensure the holistic development of each child in our schools.
Greek Orthodox Christian Anthropology and Person—Centered Approach to Education: Tentative Tracing of Their Parallel Paths and Exploration of Potential Encounter between Them
Authors: Mouladoudis Grigoris , Patrikiou Despina
Published: May 2015

Our purpose is the tracing of the possible parallel paths between Eastern Christian Orthodox anthropology and Carl Rogers's person-centered approach to education (PCA) and the investigation of their compatibility. Referring to the work of the Holy Fathers we study three basic elements of Greek Orthodox Christian theology, namely person, agape and discrimination. In addition, we explore the possible relation of the above to the specific anthropological aspects and qualities of person-centered theory and its educational practice, such as the concept of the person, unconditional positive regard and presence.
Setting the Vision: The Calling of the Christian Teacher in the Twenty First Century World
Authors: Cooling Trevor
Published: May 2015

Consideration of what it means to be an effective holistic Christian teacher leads to an exploration of the concept of vocation and a re-evaluation of the missiological focus of the church. The narrowness of the categories of church-recognised ministries is seen to be a product of the sacred-secular divide into which churches have stumbled. Teaching as a Christian vocation is examined using the framework of the believer's primary calling to be faithful to God and the secondary callings which are the means by which Christians express that faithfulness, including among other things their career(s). The article argues for a pneumatological understanding of fit and fulfilment as pre-requisites for teaching as a Christian vocation. The helpful distinction between what is distinctively Christian and what is uniquely so empowers the Christian teacher to work cooperatively with others in a plural environment to bring about transformation that corresponds with the coming new creation.
Nicholas P. Wolterstorff's Philosophy of Education: Christian, Open and Critically Committed
Authors: Miedema Siebren
Published: May 2015

Next to several other domains in philosophy, in his writings Professor Nicholas P. Wolterstorff has also dealt with issues belonging to the field of philosophy of education. In his own Christian, creative and open way he is striving to use the ties between education and character formation on the one hand, and his Christian theology on the other hand. All this is in the service of the praxis of Christian education. In this article a reconstruction is offered of the continuities and/or discontinuities in his contributions to the philosophy of education. Besides, the question is posed whether certain topics are not given continuously or hardly any attention by Wolterstorff.
Stress and Faith: An Inversely Proportional Relationship?
Authors: Shields Marion
Published: May 2015

This research study investigated stress and coping amongst the principals of a small, national, Christian, independent school system. Using an approach combining questionnaires and in-depth interviews, school principals' stressors and their reactions to these stressors were examined. The study also explored the coping strategies they used to reduce or manage their stress.

Forty seven principals participated in the study and 23 nominated for in-depth interviews. This paper focuses on a small group of eight (17%) who emerged from the data by indicating a very low stress level combined with a very high level of job-satisfaction. This group's practices, beliefs and values together with their perceptions about their low stress levels coupled with high satisfaction levels were examined initially through survey and then discussed in depth through extensive phone interviews with the individual participants. This small group attributed their low stress levels to their Christian faith and perspectives which they incorporated into their daily professional lives.
The Akadameia as Paradigm for Online Community in Theological Distance Education
Authors: Nichols Mark
Published: May 2015

Discussion in theological education literature associated with the use of online technologies is caught up in concerns related to the efficacy of online community with the on-campus seminary experience. Terminology is also inconsistent, and unchallenged assumptions make progress in research and practice difficult. Despite this, many examples of online distance-only theological education are emerging. Online theological distance education (OTDE) is emerging as a major form of theological education. Considering the complementary role of theological education within the church and drawing from primary research data investigating the spiritual formation experiences of distance theological education students making use of online tools, this article suggests that OTDE prioritise the requirements of the academy. Adopting the perspective of akademeia (Greek: the ‘academy’) makes it possible for online theological education providers to deliberately educate in ways complementary to the ministry and formational relationships students already have within the church. Critical to understanding the relevance of community to theological study is the distinction between the ekklesia as community, and the akademeia as community. The term ‘allēlon of dialogia’ (Greek: ‘one-anothering’ of ideas) is introduced as a means of describing the form of community most appropriate to theological education. Adopting the perspective of the akademeia serves to legitimise istance theological education, which is frequently criticised on the grounds that it cannot be as formative as seminary-based theological education.
Teaching Bioethics—A Christian Approach in a Pluralistic Age
Authors: Yap Siew
Published: May 2015

With the re-emergence of values education in the school curriculum in the last decade, science is viewed as one of the key teaching domains in which students can explore underlying beliefs and values and develop reasoning and critical thinking skills to make informed decisions on socio-scientific issues. This paper considers these issues and highlights the importance of integrating Christian values in science education in the field of biotechnology.

An investigation of the use of ethical frameworks in the teaching of bioethics is outlined. The research supports the proposition that the use of such frameworks assists students in the ethical reasoning process in dealing with socio-scientific issues.
‘Faithfully Christian Education’ An Exploration into What it is That Inspires Christians to Research and Practice Education in the Twenty First Century. (Theological Reflection as a Resource for Christians in the School)
Authors: Worsley Howard J
Published: May 2015

This paper begins from within the UK context of Church school education and then offers insights into wider cultures and other contexts which will include Australian Church schools. It does this by initially outlining the historical context in the UK which is currently trying to maintain an understanding of what it is for a school to be both ‘distinctively Christian and inclusive’. One way to do this is by opening the concept and to ask what it means for any school to be ‘faithfully Christian’. To develop this, this paper offers research that has been conducted into listening to what it is that motivates Christian practitioners in their current practice. In overview terms this theological reflection can be articulated into three areas which are 1) ‘The Character of God’, 2) ‘The General Action of God’ and 3) ‘The Specific Mission of God’. These research findings are then given further reflection as to what it means for a school to be faithfully Christian by having staff who are faithfully Christian. This is applied into educational context considering how a Church school might be a worshipping community.
The Relevance of a Christian Philosophy of Education
Authors: Hogg Anna C.
Published: May 2015

This article appeared in the Journal of Christian Education in June 1962 (vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 5–19). At that time, Dr Anna Hogg, B.A., Dip.Ed. (Sydney), B.Ed. (Melbourne), Ph.D. (London), F.A.C.E., was Senior Lecturer in Education at Sydney Teachers' College, and also the founding editor of this journal. Anna later became Head of the Department of Education at Sydney Teachers' College, a position she held until the end of 1972. From 1973–80 she was the chairperson of the Council of the Goulburn College of Advanced Education.

This article is the transcript of the Fourth I.V.F Annual Lecture delivered at the University of Western Australia on 14 October, 1961. Its contents were considerably influential at the time, contributing to the thinking of a number of educators whose names have become associated with significant Christian thinking about education, including two whose articles also appear in this issue – Bill Andersen and Brian Hill. The concerns and directions raised by Anna almost 40 years ago are still relevant ones, despite – alas – notably few educationists exploring them in relevant and appropriate ways.
The politics of mapping platforms: participatory radiation mapping after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster
Authors: Plantin Jean-Christophe
Published: May 2015

The release of the Google Maps API in 2005 spurred a trend of mapping mashups, adding cartography to online participatory culture. This article will present how the affordances of these ‘platforms’ give shape to the online participation of concerned citizens willing to access information during an environmental crisis. Based on the analysis of the radiation mashups created after the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in 2011, this article will highlight two types of online participation. First, participation as data extraction, where concerned actors either monitored data using Geiger counters or extracted and republished data from official websites. Second, participation as data aggregation, where maps were used to display and compare radiation measurements from official or crowdsourced venues. The conclusion will highlight the necessity to study how online platforms assign a place and temporality to online participation.
Toe-cut terraces
Authors: Larson Phillip H. , Dorn Ronald I. , Faulkner Douglas J. , Friend Donald A.
Published: May 2015

Alluvial fans and fluvial terraces occur in nearly all climatic settings and often coexist within the same drainage basin. These landforms play an important role in understanding the geomorphic, hydrologic, sedimentologic and erosional histories of a basin. The juxtaposition of fans and fluvial terraces, in some instances, can lead to misinterpretation in distinguishing traditional fluvial terraces from the truncated toe of tributary alluvial fans. This becomes particularly troublesome for those attempting to interpret results from published field studies where fan-cut terrace, truncated alluvial fan, toe-cut alluvial fan, alluvial terrace, and incision of the lower end of a fan piedmont all refer to the same genetic landform. We call for use of the term “toe-cut terrace” to represent this landform. We also present criteria to aid in the identification of toe-cut terraces, defined as an abandoned alluvial surface, formed by the truncation of the distal portion of tributary alluvial fans by streams flowing obliquely or perpendicular to the fan surface. Truncation occurs through lateral erosion (“toe-cutting”) or through vertical incision by the trunk drainage lowering the base-level of the alluvial fan. This results in incision into the fan surface abandoning the fan’s depositional surface at a higher level above the modern floodplain – a form that often resembles a fluvial terrace. A case study from the Sonoran Desert in central Arizona illustrates a sequence of abandoned alluvial surfaces that resemble fluvial terraces, but use of the proposed criteria reveal the presence of both toe-cut terraces and traditional fluvial terraces formed by the abandonment of the rivers former floodplain.
Resident and Facility Factors Associated With the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections Identified in the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set
Authors: Castle Nicholas , Engberg John B. , Wagner Laura M. , Handler Steven
Published: May 2015

Objective: This research examined resident and facility-specific factors associated with a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in the nursing home setting. Method: Minimum Data Set and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting system data were used to identify all nursing home residents in the United States on April 1, 2006, who did not have a UTI ( n = 1,138,418). Residents were followed until they contracted a UTI (9.5%), died (8.3%), left the nursing home (33.2%), or the year ended (49.0%). A Cox proportional hazards model was estimated, controlling for resident and facility characteristics and for the state of residence. Result: The presence of an indwelling catheter was the primary predictor of whether a resident contracted a UTI (adjusted incidence ratio = 3.35, p < .001), but only 6.1% of the residents in the sample had such a catheter. Therefore, only one eighth of the UTIs were contracted by residents with a catheter. Thus, subsequent analysis examined the populations with and without catheters separately. Demographic characteristics (such as age) have a much greater association with incidence among residents without catheters. The association with facility factors such as percentage of Medicaid residents, for-profit, and chain status was less significant. Estimates regarding staffing levels indicate that increased contact hours with more highly educated nursing staff are associated with less catheter use. Discussion: Several facility-specific risk factors are of significance. Of significance, UTIs may be reduced by modifying factors such as staffing levels.
Response Effects of Prenotification, Prepaid Cash, Prepaid Vouchers, and Postpaid Vouchers
Authors: Veen Floris van , Göritz Anja S. , Sattler Sebastian
Published: May 2015

In a web-based experiment with 1,750 randomly sampled university students, we investigated the effect of mailed prenotification plus prepaid cash, mailed prenotification plus a prepaid voucher, mailed prenotification plus a postpaid voucher, and mailed prenotification on its own as compared to a control group without prenotification or incentives. Dependent measures were response, retention, and item nonresponse. Mailed prenotification over no prenotification increased response and retention and decreased item nonresponse. Prenotification plus prepaid cash maximized response and retention. Item nonresponse was lowest with prenotification plus postpaid vouchers and second lowest with prenotification plus prepaid cash. In addition, we compared the cost for all experimental groups. Total costs were highest for prenotification plus prepaid cash, but costs per respondent or per retainee were highest in the control group. In sum, this experiment shows ways of improving participation in web surveys.
Burden of risk variants correlates with phenotype of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Hilven Kelly , Patsopoulos Nikolaos A , Dubois Bénédicte , Goris An
Published: May 2015

Background:

More than 100 common variants underlying multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility have been identified, but their effect on disease phenotype is still largely unknown.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to assess whether the cumulative genetic risk score of currently known susceptibility variants affects clinical presentation.

Methods:

A cumulative genetic risk score was based on four human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and 106 non-HLA risk loci genotyped or imputed in 842 Belgian MS patients and 321 controls. Non-parametric analyses were applied.

Results:

An increased genetic risk is observed for MS patients, including subsets such as oligoclonal band-negative and primary progressive MS patients, compared to controls. Within the patient group, a stronger association between HLA risk variants and the presence of oligoclonal bands, an increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) index and female gender was apparent. Results suggest an association between a higher accumulation of non-HLA risk variants and increased relapse rate as well as shorter relapse-free intervals after disease onset.

Conclusion:

MS patients display a significantly increased genetic risk compared to controls, irrespective of disease course or presence of oligoclonal bands. Whereas the cumulative burden of non-HLA risk variants appears to be reflected in the relapses of MS patients, the HLA region influences intrathecal IgG levels.
Timing of use of cod liver oil, a vitamin D source, and multiple sclerosis risk: The EnvIMS study
Authors: Cortese Marianna , Riise Trond , Bjørnevik Kjetil , Holmøy Trygve , Kampman Margitta T , Magalhaes Sandra , Pugliatti Maura , Wolfson Christina , Myhr Kjell-Morten
Published: May 2015

Background:

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), although it remains unknown whether this relationship varies by age.

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to investigate the association between vitamin D3 supplementation through cod liver oil at different postnatal ages and MS risk.

Methods:

In the Norwegian component of the multinational case-control study Environmental Factors In Multiple Sclerosis (EnvIMS), a total of 953 MS patients with maximum disease duration of 10 years and 1717 controls reported their cod liver oil use from childhood to adulthood.

Results:

Self-reported supplement use at ages 13–18 was associated with a reduced risk of MS (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.52–0.86), whereas supplementation during childhood was not found to alter MS risk (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.81–1.26), each compared to non-use during the respective period. An inverse association was found between MS risk and the dose of cod liver oil during adolescence, suggesting a dose-response relationship ( p trend = 0.001) with the strongest effect for an estimated vitamin D3 intake of 600–800 IU/d (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.31–0.70).

Conclusions:

These findings not only support the hypothesis relating to low vitamin D as a risk factor for MS, but further point to adolescence as an important susceptibility period for adult-onset MS.
Body fat in children and adolescents participating in organized sports: Descriptive epidemiological study of 6048 Latvian athletes
Authors: Kalnina Liga , Sauka Melita , Timpka Toomas , Dahlström Örjan , Nylander Eva , Selga Guntars , Ligere Renate , Karklina Helena , Priedite Ilga S. , Larins Viesturs
Published: May 2015

Background: Pressure among young athletes to meet body composition goals may lead to poor nutrition and affect growth. Aims: To examine the proportion of body fat (%BF), measured by bioimpedance analysis, among Latvian children and adolescents participating in organized sports. Methods: Our study had a nationally representative sample of 6048 young athletes, aged 10–17 years. Their %BF was measured using a multifrequency, 8-pole, bioelectrical impedance leg-to-hand analyzer. Results: About 19.2% (CI 14.4–20.0) of boys and 15.1% (CI 14.0–16.3) of girls had a %BF value below the recommended levels. The %BF in young female athletes participating in aesthetic sports was lower than among their peers participating in other sports. Young male athletes participating in aesthetic sports had lower %BF levels at 10 and 12 years of age, compared with participants in weight-class sports; and lower levels of %BF from age 10–14 years, compared with participants in non-weight-sensitive sports. Conclusions: Almost every fifth child and adolescent participating in organized sports displayed critically low body fat levels. Body fat needs to be assessed regularly in young athletes, to prevent negative consequences on health.
‘Being modern and modest’: South Asian young British Muslims negotiating multiple influences on their identity
Authors: Franceschelli Michela , O’Brien Margaret
Published: May 2015

With the rise of multiculturalism in Britain the visibility of religion, in particularly Islam, has increased. A growing religious diversity has created new contexts and affected young people’s identity and transitions to adulthood. This article applies and extends Bourdieu’s theory of habitus and social fields to a new area: the study of how South Asian young Muslims living in England negotiate between the Muslim and British aspects of their identity. The set of individual dispositions (habitus), which originates in the family field under the influence of South Asian cultures and Islam, changes when it comes into contact with non-Islamic fields. As with the concept of habitus, identity involves reconciling individual dispositions and structural conditions. Based on qualitative insights emerging from 25 semi-structured interviews with young South Asian Muslims, the article presents different strategies of identity negotiations exemplifying the constant and complex interplay between individual agency and the social world.