bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant Association Between Low Mitochondrial DNA Content in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes and Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Lien Li‐Ming , Chiou Hung‐Yi , Yeh Hsu‐Ling , Chiu Shang‐Yen , Jeng Jiann‐Shing , Lin Huey‐Juan , Hu Chaur‐Jong , Hsieh Fang‐I , Wei Yau‐Huei
Published: November 2017

Background

Cumulative evidence has shown that low mitochondrial
DNA
(mt
DNA
) content is related to elevated oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, which play important roles in ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to explore the association between mt
DNA
content in peripheral blood leukocytes and ischemic stroke.

Methods and Results

A total of 350 patients with first‐ever ischemic stroke and 350 healthy controls were recruited in this case‐control study. The mt
DNA
content in peripheral blood leukocytes was determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The levels of oxidized glutathione, reduced glutathione, and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine were measured by
ELISA
kits. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between mt
DNA
content in peripheral blood leukocytes and ischemic stroke. Our results show that mt
DNA
content of patients with ischemic stroke was notably lower compared with controls. A significant association was found between low mt
DNA
content and ischemic stroke. Furthermore, significant interactions were identified between low mt
DNA
and proven risk factors in patients with ischemic stroke. The levels of oxidized glutathione and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine were significantly greater in patients with ischemic stroke compared with controls.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that low mt
DNA
content in peripheral blood leukocytes is associated with ischemic stroke. The relationship of low mt
DNA
content and ischemic stroke was particularly notable in individuals who had low mt
DNA
content combined with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, or cigarette smoking. Oxidative stress may be one of the contributory factors to decreased mt
DNA
content in patients with ischemic stroke.
Plasma Nitrate and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease and All‐Cause Mortality in the Community: The Framingham Offspring Study
Authors: Maas Renke , Xanthakis Vanessa , Göen Thomas , Müller Johannes , Schwedhelm Edzard , Böger Rainer H. , Vasan Ramachandran S.
Published: November 2017

Background

Nitrate is a dietary component as well as an endogenously formed metabolite and source of the signaling molecule nitric oxide. Harmful as well as beneficial effects of nitrate have been advocated. Data regarding the prognostic relevance of plasma nitrate are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospective association of plasma nitrate with cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and Results

We assayed plasma nitrate in 2855 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 59 years, 54% women) by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and evaluated its association with all‐cause mortality and incident
CVD
. On follow‐up (median 17.3 years), 775 participants died and 522 developed new‐onset
CVD
(of 2546 participants free of
CVD
at baseline). In multivariable models adjusting for standard risk factors, plasma nitrate was associated with an increased risk of death in participants (hazard ratio per unit increase in log‐nitrate 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.40 [
P
=0.015]). The strength of the association was attenuated by additional adjustment for estimated glomerular filtration rate (hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.35 [
P
=0.057]). In contrast, no evidence was found for an association of plasma nitrate with incident
CVD
(multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio per unit increase log‐nitrate 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.89–1.31 [
P
=0.42]).

Conclusions

In our prospective community‐based investigation, a higher plasma nitrate concentration was associated with all‐cause mortality but not with incident
CVD
. The association of nitrate with mortality may at least in part be attributable to its association with renal function.
Variations in Use of Optimal Medical Therapy in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Oxner Adam , Elbaz‐Greener Gabby , Qui Feng , Masih Shannon , Zivkovic Nevena , Alnasser Sami , Cheema Asim N. , Wijeysundera Harindra C.
Published: November 2017

Background

There is a paucity of data on the need for optimal medical therapy (
OMT
) in nonobstructive coronary artery disease . We sought to understand if there was variation in the use of
OMT
between hospitals for patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease, the factors associated with such variation, and its clinical consequences.

Methods and Results

Using a population‐level clinical registry in Ontario, Canada, we identified all patients >66 years undergoing coronary angiography for the indication of stable angina, who had nonobstructive coronary artery disease between November 1, 2010, and October 31, 2013. Hierarchical multivariable logistic models were developed to identify the factors associated with
OMT
use, with median odds ratio used to quantify the degree of variation between hospitals not explained by the modeled risk factors. Clinical outcomes of interest were all‐cause mortality and rehospitalization, with follow‐up until March 31, 2015. Our cohort consisted of 5413 patients, of whom 2554 (47.2%) were receiving
OMT
within 1 year. There was a 2‐fold variation in
OMT
across hospitals (30.4%–61.8%). The variation between hospitals was fully explained by preangiography medication use (median odds ratio of 1.21 in the null model and 1.03 in the full model). There was no difference in risk‐adjusted mortality (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–1.16); however, patients receiving OMT had a lower risk of all‐cause hospital readmission (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.84–0.95).

Conclusions

There is wide variation in the use of
OMT
in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease, the major driver of which is differences in baseline medication use.
Combining ECG Criteria for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Improves Risk Prediction in Patients With Hypertension
Authors: Okin Peter M. , Hille Darcy A. , Kjeldsen Sverre E. , Devereux Richard B.
Published: November 2017

Background

Patients with hypertension with
ECG
left ventricular hypertrophy (
LVH
) have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but single
ECG
criteria may underestimate risk. Whether continued presence or new development of
ECG LVH
by 2 criteria can further concentrate risk during blood pressure lowering is unclear.

Methods and Results

Incident stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, the composite of these outcomes, and all‐cause mortality were examined in relation to the presence of on‐treatment
ECG LVH
by Cornell product and/or Sokolow‐Lyon voltage during a mean of 4.8±0.9 years follow‐up in 9193 patients with hypertension randomized to losartan‐ or atenolol‐based regimens. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to the presence or absence of
ECG LVH
by each criterion at baseline and yearly during the study. At baseline,
LVH
by both criteria was present in 960 patients (10.4%). Compared with the absence of
ECG LVH
by both criteria, persistence or development of
ECG LVH
by both criteria entered as a time‐varying covariate was associated with >3‐fold increased risks of events in multivariable Cox analyses adjusting for randomized treatment, baseline risk factors, and on‐treatment heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Patients with
ECG LVH
by either Cornell product or Sokolow‐Lyon voltage had 45% to 140% higher risks of all end points.

Conclusions

Persistence or development of
ECG LVH
by both Cornell product and Sokolow‐Lyon voltage criteria during antihypertensive therapy is associated with markedly increased risks of cardiovascular end points and all‐cause mortality. Further study is indicated to determine whether additional therapy in these patients can reduce their risk.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00338260.
Embracing the Lusitanian Legacy
Authors: Geudens Christophe
Published: November 2017

This article puts forward an analysis of the theory of signs contained in the Prodidagmata ad logicam Aristotelis (1627), a compendium on logic written by the Flemish philosopher and Louvain professor Laurentius Ghiffene (1594-1637). Focusing on Ghiffene’s definition and division of a sign and his account of the problem of self-reference, the author argues that Ghiffene positioned himself in the tradition of the Conimbricenses and relied extensively on their influential commentary on Aristotle’s Organon, published in 1606. The aim of the present contribution is to shed new light on the teaching of logic at Louvain during the years immediately preceding the rise of modern philosophy, an episode in the university’s history which remains almost entirely unstudied.
Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XV. Marsileaceae
Authors: KESSLER MICHAEL , SMITH ALAN R.
Published: November 2017

We provide a synopsis of the family Marsileaceae in Bolivia, including three species in the genus Marsilea and one in Pilularia.
Contact Reduces Immigration-Related Fears for Leftist but Not for Rightist Voters
Authors: Homola Jonathan , Tavits Margit
Published: November 2017

How does contact with nonnatives affect immigration-related fears? While there is strong general support for the argument that intergroup contact decreases intergroup prejudice and fear, previous research arrives at mixed conclusions when applying this argument to the study of natives’ attitudes toward immigrants. We propose that people’s preexisting partisan affinities condition the effect of contact, which may explain the mixed findings. Building on the literature on motivated reasoning, we argue that contact reduces immigration-related threats among leftist voters, but have a threat-increasing or no effect among rightist voters. We find support for our argument using original surveys conducted in two very different contexts: the United States and Germany.
Marching Forward, Marching in Circles: A History of Problems and Dilemmas in Teacher Preparation
Authors: Schneider Jack
Published: November 2017

This essay tracks the history of teacher preparation, from its origins in the early republic to the present. In so doing, it tells two stories. The first is a story about problems—a linear story in which problems are discovered, potential solutions are generated, and positive results are achieved. It moves from the past to the future and from the old to the new. The other story is about dilemmas. And because dilemmas cannot be solved, the passage of time leads back to the original point of departure. Solutions are tried and discarded, but as the past is forgotten, they eventually are embraced again. In telling these two stories, the essay proceeds chronologically, highlighting improvements in teacher preparation practice over time. That relatively linear chronology, however, is organized into four periods, which reveal not a march of progress, but an unmindful return to the once-maligned practices of the past.
Paradoxes of identity change: Integrating macro, meso, and micro research on identity in conflict processes
Authors: Rumelili Bahar , Todd Jennifer
Published: November 2017

Identity change is a core element of political conflict and transformation. Most relevant are changes towards and away from dyadically opposed identities. Defining an ‘enemy’, narrowing, or broadening the inner and outer circles of belonging to include or exclude the Other, are integral to conflict processes at international, state, group, and individual levels. This Special Issue brings together scholars with varied sub-disciplinary interests to engage with a set of common paradoxes surrounding identity change, in order to generate more synthetic comparative understandings of these processes. It aims to synthesize insights from different approaches and to show how change from dyadically opposed identities takes place in different contexts.
Children With Intellectual Disability and Hospice Utilization: The Moderating Effect of Residential Care
Authors: Lindley Lisa C.
Published: November 2017

Background:

Children with intellectual disability commonly lack access to pediatric hospice care services. Residential care may be a critical component in providing access to hospice care for children with intellectual disability.

Objective/Hypothesis:

This research tested whether residential care intensifies the relationship between intellectual disability and hospice utilization (ie, hospice enrollment, hospice length of stay), while controlling for demographic characteristics.

Methods:

Multivariate regression analyses were conducted using 2008 to 2010 California Medicaid claims data.

Results:

The odds of children with intellectual disability in residential care enrolling in hospice care were 3 times higher than their counterparts in their last year of life, when controlling for demographics. Residential care promoted hospice enrollment among children with intellectual disability. The interaction between intellectual disability and residential care was not related to hospice length of stay. Residential care did not attenuate or intensify the relationship between intellectual disability and hospice length of stay.

Conclusions:

The findings highlight the important role of residential care in facilitating hospice enrollment for children with intellectual disability. More research is needed to understand the capability of residential care staff to identify children with intellectual disability earlier in their end-of-life trajectory and initiate longer hospice length of stays.
A Case of Benign Phyllodes Tumor in a Transgender Woman Receiving Cross-Sex Hormones
Authors: Richards Stephanie M. , Pine-Twaddell Elyse D. , Ioffe Olga B. , Bellavance Emily C.
Published: November 2017

Phyllodes tumor is a relatively uncommon fibroepithelial neoplasm of the breast characterized by proliferation of both stromal and epithelial elements. Benign phyllodes tumors are distinguished from fibroadenomas by their prominent leaf-like architecture and exaggerated intracanalicular stromal growth pattern. Typically, these lesions affect older natal females; however, we present what we believe is the first reported case of benign phyllodes tumor in a hormonally treated transgender woman.
Adaptive Memory: Remembering Potential Mates
Authors: Pandeirada Josefa N. S. , Fernandes Natália Lisandra , Vasconcelos Marco , Nairne James S.
Published: November 2017

According to the adaptive memory perspective, memory should function more efficiently in fitness-relevant domains. The current work explored whether there is a mnemonic tuning in a fundamental domain for human evolution: reproduction. In two experiments, female participants assessed how desirable potential male candidates (represented by a face and a short descriptor) would be in the context of a long-term mating relationship or in the context of a long-term work relationship. Then, after a short distractor task, participants performed a recognition task for the faces and a source memory task. Finally, they were asked to recall the descriptors presented during encoding. Experiment 1 used a between-subjects design, whereas Experiment 2 employed a within-subject design. In both experiments, participants remembered the faces best when they were encoded in the mating condition. Also, in Experiment 1, source memory performance was better in the mating condition than in the working condition with the reverse being true for free recall of the descriptors. The latter difference was not observed in Experiment 2. These results suggest a potential mnemonic tuning for the faces of potential mate partners.
Curvature Blindness Illusion
Authors: Takahashi Kohske
Published: November 2017

We report a novel illusion––curvature blindness illusion: a wavy line is perceived as a zigzag line. The following are required for this illusion to occur. First, the luminance contrast polarity of the wavy line against the background is reversed at the turning points. Second, the curvature of the wavy line is somewhat low; the right angle is too steep to be perceived as an illusion. This illusion implies that, in order to perceive a gentle curve, it is necessary to satisfy more conditions––constant contrast polarity––than perceiving an obtuse corner. It is notable that observers exactly “see” an illusory zigzag line against a physically wavy line, rather than have an impaired perception. We propose that the underlying mechanisms for the gentle curve perception and those of obtuse corner perception are competing with each other in an imbalanced way and the percepts of corner might be dominant in the visual system.
Role of Urine Drug Testing in the Current Opioid Epidemic
Authors: Mahajan Gagan
Published: November 2017

While the evidence for urine drug testing for patients on chronic opioid therapy is weak, the guidelines created by numerous medical societies and state and federal regulatory agencies recommend that it be included as one of the tools used to monitor patients for compliance with chronic opioid therapy. To get the most comprehensive results, clinicians should order both an immunoassay screen and confirmatory urine drug test. The immunoassay screen, which can be performed as an in-office point-of-care test or as a laboratory-based test, is a cheap and convenient study to order. Limitations of an immunoassay screen, however, include having a high threshold of detectability and only providing qualitative information about a select number of drug classes. Because of these restrictions, clinicians should understand that immunoassay screens have high false-positive and false-negative rates. Despite these limitations, though, the results can assist the clinician with making preliminary treatment decisions. In comparison, a confirmatory urine drug test, which can only be performed as a laboratory-based test, has a lower threshold of detectability and provides both qualitative and quantitative information. A urine drug test’s greater degree of specificity allows for a relatively low false-negative and false-positive rate in contrast to an immunoassay screen. Like any other diagnostic test, an immunoassay screen and a confirmatory urine drug test both possess limitations. Clinicians must keep this in mind when interpreting an unexpected test result and consult with their laboratory when in doubt about the meaning of the test result to avoid making erroneous decisions that negatively impact both the patient and clinician.
Perioperative Noninvasive Blood Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Kuck Kai , Baker Philip D.
Published: November 2017

The most commonly monitored variable for perioperative hemodynamic management is blood pressure. Several indirect noninvasive blood pressure monitoring techniques have been developed over the last century, including intermittent techniques such as auscultation (Riva-Rocci and Korotkoff) and oscillometry (Marey) and continuous techniques. With the introduction of automated noninvasive blood pressure devices in the 1970s, the oscillometric technique quickly became and remains the standard for automated, intermittent blood pressure measurement. It tends to estimate more extreme high and low blood pressures closer to normal than what invasive measurements indicate. The accuracy of the oscillometric maximum amplitude algorithm for estimating mean arterial pressure is affected by multiple factors, including the cuff size and shape, the shape of the arterial compliance curve and arterial pressure pulse, and pulse pressure itself. Additionally, the technique typically assumes a consistent arterial compliance and arterial pressure pulse, thus changes in arterial compliance and arrhythmias that lead to variation in the pressure pulse can affect accuracy. Volume clamping, based on the Penaz principle, and arterial tonometry provide continuous tracking of the arterial pressure pulse. The ubiquitous use of blood pressure monitoring is in contrast with the lack of evidence for optimal perioperative blood pressure targets.
Ultrasound-Assisted Versus Fluoroscopic-Guided Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block: A Prospective and Randomized Study
Authors: Ryu Jung-Hee , Lee Chang Soon , Kim Yong-Chul , Lee Sang Chul , Shankar Hariharan , Moon Jee Youn
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND:

Fluoroscopy (FL)-guided lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) is widely performed to diagnose and manage various diseases associated with sympathetically maintained pain. Recently, numerous ultrasound (US)-assisted procedures in pain medicine have been attempted, showing an advantage of low radiation exposure. This randomized, prospective trial compared the procedural outcomes and complications between FL-guided and US-assisted LSGBs.

METHODS:

Fifty LSGBs were randomly divided into 2 groups: FL-guided (FL group) or US-assisted (US group) LSGB group. Both groups received FL-guided or US-assisted LSGB with 10 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine. The primary end point was the total procedure time. Secondary outcomes were success rate, imaging time, onset time (based on temperature rise), dosage of radiation exposure, other procedure-related outcomes, and complications.

RESULTS:

Total procedure time and success rate were not statistically different between the 2 groups, whereas imaging time of the US group was longer than that of the FL group (P = .012). The onset time was faster in the US group (P = .019), and bone touching during the procedure was less frequent in the US group (P = .001). Moreover, radiation exposure was significantly lower in the US group than in the FL group (P < .001). No serious complications were reported in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

US-assisted LSGB appears to be a feasible method with the added benefit of lower radiation exposure. In our study, we did not find an advantage of US-assisted LSGB over FL-guided LSGB in terms of performance time.
Improvement of the Elevated Tryptase Criterion to Discriminate IgE- From Non–IgE-Mediated Allergic Reactions
Authors: Gastaminza Gabriel , Lafuente Alberto , Goikoetxea Maria Jose , D’Amelio Carmen M. , Bernad-Alonso Amalia , Vega Olga , Martinez-Molina Juan Ambrosio , Ferrer Marta , Nuñez-Cordoba Jorge M.
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND:

Differentiating between immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent and IgE-independent hypersensitivity reactions may improve the etiologic orientation and clinical management of patients with allergic reactions in the anesthesia setting. Serum tryptase levels may be useful to discriminate the immune mechanism of allergic reactions, but the diagnostic accuracy and optimal cutpoint remain unclear.

We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of tryptase during reaction (TDR) alone and the TDR/basal tryptase (TDR/BT) ratio for discriminating IgE- from non–IgE-mediated allergic reactions, and to estimate the best cut point for these indicators.

METHODS:

We included 111 patients (45% men; aged 3–99 years) who had experienced an allergic reaction, even though the allergic reaction could be nonanaphylactic. Allergy tests were performed to classify the reaction as an IgE- or non–IgE-mediated one. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to estimate the discriminative ability of TDR and TDR/BT ratio.

RESULTS:

An IgE-mediated reaction was diagnosed in 49.5% of patients, of whom 56% met anaphylaxis criteria. The median (quartiles) TDR for the IgE-mediated reactions was 8.0 (4.9–19.6) and 5.1 (3.5–8.1) for the non–IgE-mediated (P = .022). The median (quartiles) TDR/BT ratio was 2.7 (1.7–4.5) in IgE-mediated and 1.1 (1.0–1.6) in non–IgE-mediated reactions (P < .001). The TDR/BT ratio showed the greatest ability to discriminate IgE- from non–IgE-mediated reactions compared to TDR (AUC TDR/BT = 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–2.2] and AUC TDR = 0.66 [95% CI, 1.1–2.2]; P = .003). The optimal cut point for TDR/BT (maximization of the sum of the sensitivity and specificity) was 1.66 (95% CI, 1.1–2.2).

CONCLUSIONS:

The TDR/BT ratio showed a significantly better discriminative ability than TDR to discriminate IgE- from non–IgE-mediated allergic reactions. An optimal TDR/BT ratio threshold of approximately 1.66 may be useful in clinical practice to classify allergic reactions as IgE- or non–IgE-mediated.
Effects of Increasing Airway Pressures on the Pressure of the Endotracheal Tube Cuff During Pelvic Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Rosero Eric B. , Ozayar Esra , Eslava-Schmalbach Javier , Minhajuddin Abu , Joshi Girish P.
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUND:

Tracheal tube cuff pressures exceeding the perfusion pressures of the tracheal mucosa have been associated with complications such as sore throat, tracheal mucosa ulcers, tracheal rupture, and subglottic stenosis. Despite appropriate inflation, many factors can increase the tracheal cuff pressure during mechanical ventilation. This prospective observational cohort study was designed to test the hypothesis that during a clinical model of decreasing respiratory compliance, the pressure within the endotracheal tube cuff will rise in direct relationship to increases in the airway pressures.

METHODS:

Twenty-eight adult obese patients (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) scheduled for elective laparoscopic gynecologic procedures were enrolled. All patients received general anesthesia utilizing endotracheal tubes with low-pressure high-volume cuffs. After baseline adjustment of the cuff pressure to 25 cm H2O, the airway pressures and endotracheal cuff pressures were continuously measured using pressure transducers connected to the anesthesia circuit and cuff pilot, respectively. Data on cuff and airway pressures, mechanical ventilation parameters, intraabdominal pressures, and degree of surgical table inclination were collected throughout the anesthetic procedure. General linear regression models with fixed and random effects were fit to assess the effect of increases in airway pressures on cuff pressure, after adjusting for covariates and the clustered structure of the data.

RESULTS:

The mean (standard deviation) age and body mass index were 42.2 (8.8) years and 37.7 (5.1) kg/m2, respectively. After tracheal intubation, the cuffs were overinflated (ie, intracuff pressures >30 cm H2O) in 89% of patients. The cuff pressures significantly changed after concomitant variations in the airway pressures from a mean (standard error) value of 29.6 (1.30) cm H2O before peritoneal insufflations, to 35.6 (0.68) cm H2O after peritoneal insufflation, and to 27.8 (0.79) cm H2O after peritoneal deflation (P < .0001). The multilevel mixed regression models revealed that after controlling for clustering of the data (at the patient and study phase levels) and covariates, increased peak airway pressures were significantly associated with increased pressures within the endotracheal cuff (coefficient [95% confidence interval], 0.25 [0.14–0.36]; P < .0001). Other variables associated with increasing endotracheal cuff pressure included degree of surgical table inclination (0.08 [0.04–0.12]; P = .0003) and I:E ratio of 1:1 (4.47 [2.10–6.83]; P = .0002).

CONCLUSIONS:

This clinical model of decreased respiratory compliance in mechanically ventilated patients reveals that the pressure within the endotracheal cuff significantly changes in direct relation to changes in the airway pressures. This finding may have clinical relevance in patients requiring prolonged use of high airway pressures.
The Science of Local Anesthesia: Basic Research, Clinical Application, and Future Directions
Authors: Lirk Philipp , Hollmann Markus W. , Strichartz Gary
Published: November 2017

Local anesthetics have been used clinically for more than a century, but new insights into their mechanisms of action and their interaction with biological systems continue to surprise researchers and clinicians alike. Next to their classic action on voltage-gated sodium channels, local anesthetics interact with calcium, potassium, and hyperpolarization-gated ion channels, ligand-gated channels, and G protein–coupled receptors. They activate numerous downstream pathways in neurons, and affect the structure and function of many types of membranes. Local anesthetics must traverse several tissue barriers to reach their site of action on neuronal membranes. In particular, the perineurium is a major rate-limiting step. Allergy to local anesthetics is rare, while the variation in individual patient’s response to local anesthetics is probably larger than previously assumed. Several adjuncts are available to prolong sensory block, but these typically also prolong motor block. The 2 main research avenues being followed to improve action of local anesthetics are to prolong duration of block, by slow-release formulations and on-demand release, and to develop compounds and combinations that elicit a nociception-selective blockade.
Διαταραχή Ελλειμματικής Προσοχής – Υπερκινητικότητα: Πρόγραμμα παρέμβασης στη συμπεριφορά σε μαθητή με ΔΕΠ-Υ
Authors: Σάλμοντ Ελευθερία , Πουλίδα Σοφιάννα
Published: November 2017

Η Διαταραχή Ελλειμματικής Προσοχής – Υπερκινητικότητα (ΔΕΠ-Υ) αποτελεί μία από τις πιο κοινές διαταραχές της παιδικής ηλικίας και χαρακτηρίζεται συνήθως από ανεπαρκώς ελεγχόμενη, παρορμητική και ενίοτε επιθετική συμπεριφορά σε καταστάσεις, όπου ο αυτοέλεγχος είναι απαραίτητος.Στη σχολική τάξη οι μαθητές καλούνται να είναι συγκεντρωμένοι, να παραμένουν στη θέση τους για μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα και να είναι ικανοί να ελέγχουν τις παρορμήσεις τους. Είναι φανερή η δυσκολία ενός παιδιού με ΔΕΠ-Υ να προσαρμοστεί σε ένα τέτοιο περιβάλλον χωρίς την κατάλληλη υποστήριξη. Οι σημαντικότερες δυσκολίες που φαίνεται να παρουσιάζουν τα παιδιά με ΔΕΠ-Υ στη σχολική τάξη σχετίζονται με τον έλεγχο της συμπεριφοράς τους, αλλά και με τις δυσκολίες στις αλληλεπιδράσεις με τους συνομηλίκους. Για τους λόγους αυτούς κρίνεται αναγκαίος ο σχεδιασμός και η εφαρμογή προγραμμάτων παρέμβασης, τα οποία θα μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν μέσα στη σχολική τάξη.Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση αυτής της αναπτυξιακής διαταραχής και των εκπαιδευτικών παρεμβάσεων, οι οποίες μπορούν να συμβάλλουν στην άμβλυνση των προβλημάτων που δημιουργούνται στη σχολική μονάδα. Επίσης, επιδιώκει την λεπτομερή παράθεση μελέτης περίπτωσης παιδιού με ΔΕΠ-Υ και την ολιστική προσέγγιση που ακολουθήθηκε με στόχο τη βελτίωση των ελλειμμάτων στη συμπεριφορά του.Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι συμπεριφορές στις οποίες στόχευε η συγκεκριμένη εκπαιδευτική παρέμβαση, η οποία εφαρμόστηκε, αναπτύχθηκαν σε ικανοποιητικό βαθμό. Συμφωνούν, επίσης, με τα αποτελέσματα ερευνών που έχουν διεξαχθεί κυρίως σε διεθνές επίπεδο, σχετικά με την εφαρμογή των προγραμμάτων παρέμβασης σε παιδιά με ΔΕΠ-Υ και την αποτελεσματικότητά τους.
Ο λαϊκός πολιτισμός στην εποχή των ΤΠΕ
Authors: Ζώη Σεβαστή , Λουρδή Ειρήνη
Published: November 2017

Οι εξελίξεις στον τομέα των Νέων Τεχνολογιών παρέχουν διαρκώς νέες δυνατότητες αξιοποίησης σε επίπεδο διδακτικής πράξης. Την τελευταία δεκαετία, η ψηφιοποίηση μεγάλου αριθμού υλικού πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς αποτέλεσε προτεραιότητα πολιτιστικών οργανισμών και εκπαιδευτικών ιδρυμάτων, με αποτέλεσμα να έχει πλέον τη δυνατότητα πρόσβασης σε αυτό κάθε δυνητικός χρήστης του διαδικτύου. Μολονότι, όμως, τα τελευταία χρόνια έχουν γίνει σημαντικές προσπάθειες, ο λαϊκός πολιτισμός εξακολουθεί να μην αποτελεί προτεραιότητα του ελληνικού εκπαιδευτικού συστήματος.Στο κείμενο, επιχειρείται η ανάδειξη του λαϊκού πολιτισμού στην εποχή των ΤΠΕ. Αρχικά, αναλύεται η σημασία των ψηφιακών συλλογών και οι δυνατότητες αξιοποίησής τους για την προσέγγιση του λαϊκού πολιτισμού ως ερευνητικού πεδίου, με ομάδα στόχο μαθητές δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης. Σε επίπεδο πρακτικής εφαρμογής, μελετάται η ψηφιακή συλλογή του Λαογραφικού Αρχείου και της Μουσειακής Συλλογής του Σπουδαστηρίου Λαογραφίας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, η οποία περιλαμβάνεται στην πρότυπη ψηφιακή βιβλιοθήκη «Πέργαμο» που αναπτύχθηκε από το Υπολογιστικό Κέντρο Βιβλιοθηκών. Διερευνώνται, επίσης, τρόποι δημιουργικής αξιοποίησης του υλικού της συλλογής, με στόχο τη διαμόρφωση, ενίσχυση και ανάπτυξη γνώσεων, δεξιοτήτων και στάσεων.Τέλος, βαρύτητα δίνεται στις προοπτικές που ανοίγονται στη σύγχρονη ψηφιακή εποχή για τη διαμόρφωση και προώθηση απλουστευμένων ψηφιακών συλλογών λαογραφικού περιεχομένου από τους ίδιους τους μαθητές, με τη χρήση λογισμικών ανοικτού κώδικα, όπως το OMEKA.
Εκπαιδευτικές προσεγγίσεις στη διδασκαλία παιδιών με Αυτισμό
Authors: Στελλάτου Αλεξάνδρα , Μαλλόπουλος Χρήστος
Published: November 2017

Ο αυτισμός ανήκει στην οικογένεια των Διάχυτων Αναπτυξιακών Διαταραχών (ΔΑΔ). Αποτελεί ισόβια αναπηρία και ο ρόλος της εκπαίδευσης επικεντρώνεται στη βελτίωση του ατόμου με αυτισμό μέσω της κατανόησης των αναγκών και την εφαρμογή ειδικών προγραμμάτων. Με βάση της έννοια της ενσωμάτωσης στην Εκπαίδευση, όλα τα άτομα έχουν το δικαίωμα συμμετοχής στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα ώστε να προωθηθεί η προσωπική τους ανάπτυξη σε όλους τους τομείς. Το παιδί με αυτισμό μπορεί να ενταχθεί σε εκπαιδευτικό πλαίσιο από το 4ο έτος της ηλικίας του. Η δημιουργία αναλυτικών προγραμμάτων εκπαίδευσης είναι σημαντική καθώς προσαρμόζει την εκπαίδευση στις γνωστικές ανάγκες του κάθε μαθητή, αξιοποιεί τα ενδιαφέρονται και τις δυνατότητές του και βοηθά στη γενίκευση. Κατά την αξιολόγηση προσδιορίζονται οι κεκτημένες και αναδυόμενες ικανότητες καθώς και τα σημεία που υπάρχει έλλειψη δεξιοτήτων. Υπό την αντίληψη ότι τα άτομα με αυτισμό δεν έχουν κατώτερο, αλλά διαφορετικό τρόπο αντίληψης και κατανόησης, ο ρόλος του εκπαιδευτικού είναι να βοηθήσει το άτομο στην κατανόηση και ανταπόκριση των απαιτήσεων του περιβάλλοντός του, με σεβασμό στις ιδιαιτερότητες του ατόμου με αυτισμό. Τα παιδιά με αυτισμό μαθαίνουν καλύτερα όταν υπάρχει πρόγραμμα και δομημένη διδασκαλία. Στην παρούσα εργασία εξετάζονται οι εκπαιδευτικές προσεγγίσεις σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο, σύμφωνα με τις σύγχρονες εξελίξεις και επιχειρείται μια κριτική αξιολόγηση αυτών στα πλαίσια της ελληνικής πραγματικότητας και εκπαίδευσης.
Η αναγκαιότητα ύπαρξης διευθυντών-ηγετών στους εκπαιδευτικούς οργανισμούς
Authors: Τσούνη Βασιλική , Αναστασόπουλος Ιωάννης , Γονίδου Μαρία , Τσούνης Γεώργιος
Published: November 2017

Η παρούσα έρευνα έθεσε στο επίκεντρο της μελέτης την εκπαιδευτική  μονάδα  προκειμένου μέσα από τη μελέτη της λειτουργίας  της  να  καταγράψει  ποιες από  τις  αρχές της Διοίκησης εφαρμόζονται ήδη ή θα μπορούσαν με την  συστηματικότερη  εφαρμογή τους να συμβάλλουν στην αποτελεσματικότητα . Ορίζοντας αρχικά  την  αποτελεσματικότητα,  αναφερθήκαμε στη συνέχεια  στη Διεύθυνση και την Ηγεσία στο χώρο της  εκπαίδευσης  και παρουσιάσαμε τις διαφορές τους.Βασική επιδίωξή μας είναι  να  καταγράψουμε τη γνώμη των εκπαιδευτικών σχετικά με το προφίλ των διευθυντών των σχολικών μονάδων της Α Διεύθυνσης Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης Αθηνών  αλλά και τη διοίκηση των εκπαιδευτικών  μονάδων  από  αυτούς  προκειμένου  να  αναδειχθούν τα χαρακτηριστικά εκείνα που διαφοροποιούν τον διευθυντή από τον  ηγέτη και να επισημανθεί η ανάγκη για επιμόρφωση των εκπαιδευτικών σε θέματα  Ηγεσίας και Διοίκησης. Η έρευνα διεξήχθη με επισκόπηση μικρής κλίμακας  μέσω  ανωνύμου ερωτηματολογίου προκειμένου να εξασφαλιστεί η αξιοπιστία, το μεγάλο  δείγμα και η ευκολία εξαγωγής συμπερασμάτων. Τα συμπεράσματα που  αναδείχθηκαν ενίσχυσαν τη θέση για αξιοποίηση των λειτουργιών της Διοίκησης στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία. Τόνισαν επίσης την έλλειψη διευθυντών –ηγετών και  κατέδειξαν την αδυναμία των σχολικών μονάδων να πραγματώσουν επιμορφωτικές δράσεις αλλά και να καινοτομήσουν. Τέλος η έρευνα ανέδειξε την ανάγκη για συνεχή  επιμόρφωση των διευθυντικών στελεχών σε θέματα Διοίκησης και Ηγεσίας πριν αλλά  και κατά τη διάρκεια της θητείας τους.  Η  έρευνα  πραγματοποιήθηκε  λίγο  πριν  αλλάξει το πλαίσιο επιλογής των διευθυντών πρωτοβάθμιας και δευτεροβάθμιας.
Λειτουργική ενσωμάτωση νηπίου με στοιχεία Δ.Ε.Π.Υ. στην προσχολική εκπαίδευση
Authors: Φράγκου Χρυσηίδα
Published: November 2017

Η εκδήλωση συμπεριφορών με στοιχείαΔ.Ε.Π.Υ.στο νηπιαγωγείο συνδέεται με φτωχή κοινωνική και σχολική λειτουργία. Οσεβασμός  σε διαδικασίες και άτομα,που διαμορφώνουν την ορθήσυμπεριφορά μέσα στην τάξη,προϋποθέτουν την ικανότητα  ελέγχου και διαχείρισης στοιχείων της προσοχής και των συναισθημάτων. Συνακόλουθα, η μείωση των ανεπιθύμητων συμπεριφορών νηπίου με στοιχεία ΔΕΠΥ μπορεί να επιτευχθεί μέσα από προγράμματα προαγωγής της αυτορρύθμισης και των κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων.Το εξατομικευμένο πρόγραμμα που καταρτίζεται γι’ αυτό το σκοπό περιλαμβάνει δραστηριότητες:Αναγνώρισης των ατομικών συναισθημάτων και των συναισθημάτων των άλλων-συμμαθητών, δασκάλων.Αυτή περιλαμβάνει τη συνειδητοποίηση των λεκτικών και μη λεκτικών σημείων των ανθρώπινων μηνυμάτων.Σύνδεσης καθημερινών καταστάσεων με το συναίσθημα που προκαλούν.Ομαδοποίησης συναφών συναισθημάτων.Αποδοχής της διαφορετικότητας.Εκμάθησης του τρόπου ανάπτυξης φιλιών.Εκτόνωσης της υπερδιέργεσης.Η ενεργή ανταπόκριση του νηπίου με Δ.Ε.Π.Υ. αυξάνεται με τη σκόπιμη εμπλοκή και άλλων συμμαθητών σε συγκεκριμένες  δραστηριότητες.Επιπλέον το εξατομικευμένο πρόγραμμα υιοθετεί τεχνικές της οικοσυστημικής προσέγγισης των προβλημάτων συμπεριφοράς. Η πρώτη είναι η τεχνική της αναπλαισίωσης και η δεύτερη της θετικής υποδήλωσης κινήτρων ενώ ταυτόχρονα γίνεται αποδεκτό ότι οι συμπεριφορές του νηπίου είναι ‘τεχνικές επικοινωνίας’ για εκείνο.
Η χρήση των Νέων Τεχνολογιών στη γενική και ειδική εκπαίδευση
Authors: Παπαγεωργίου Κωνσταντίνα
Published: November 2017

Οι Νέες Τεχνολογίες και οι ποικίλες χρήσεις τους στην εκπαιδευτική πράξη έχουν αποτελέσει πεδίο συστηματικής μελέτης μεταξύ των ειδικών της εκπαίδευσης τα τελευταία χρόνια. Στην παρούσα εισήγηση θα οριστούν οι Νέες Τεχνολογίες και θα αναλυθούν τα οφέλη αυτών με ενδεικτική αναφορά σε παραδείγματα όσον αφορά την πρωτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση. Κατόπιν, θα παρουσιαστούν μερικά σύγχρονα ψηφιακά μέσα ειδικής και γενικής κατηγορίας που διευκολύνουν την παιδαγωγική διαδικασία και μπορούν να αποτελέσουν σημαντικά εργαλεία για την αναβάθμιση της ποιότητας διδασκαλίας-μάθησης στα χέρια εκπαιδευτικών και μαθητών αντιστοίχως. Τέλος, μέσα από τη συνοπτική αναφορά βασικών σημείων του εποικοδομητικού μοντέλου μάθησης θα γίνει ανάλυση δύο ειδικά σχεδιασμένων φύλλων εργασίας/εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων πάνω σε συγκεκριμένες διδακτικές ενότητες του σχολικού Αναλυτικού Προγράμματος για το Δημοτικό που εφαρμόστηκαν στο πλαίσιο των προπτυχιακών πρακτικών ασκήσεων/διδασκαλιών.
Άτυπο αξιολογικό εργαλείο διάγνωσης δυσκολιών μάθησης
Authors: Παπουτσάκη Κ. , Γκουγκούμη Μ. , Γρυμάνης Ι. , Ζαχαρή Σ. , Σαλκατρά Τ. , Τσίγκα Κ.
Published: November 2017

Η ψυχοπαιδαγωγική διαγνωστική αξιολόγηση των Μαθησιακών Δυσκολιών (Μ.Δ.) αποτελεί καθοριστική φάση στη διαδικασία της ανίχνευσης, της διερεύνησης και  του εντοπισμού των γνωστικών,  συναισθηματικών και  κοινωνικών δεξιοτήτων του μαθητή. Η έγκαιρη και αξιόπιστη διάγνωση των μαθησιακών δυσκολιών συντελεί στην κατάρτιση αποτελεσματικών προγραμμάτων παρέμβασης. Η παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζει ένα άτυπο αξιολογικό εργαλείο ανίχνευσης των μαθησιακών δυσκολιών, το οποίο σχεδιάστηκε και κατασκευάστηκε από ομάδα ειδικών παιδαγωγών και  στηρίζεται σε θεωρητικό και επιστημονικό πλαίσιο, καθώς και στα Αναλυτικά Προγράμματα Σπουδών της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης. Εστιάζει στη διερεύνηση των προσχολικών δεξιοτήτων, στο βαθμό κατάκτησης της αναγνωστικής δεξιότητας,  της ορθογραφημένης γραφής, των μαθηματικών δεξιοτήτων, της παραγωγής γραπτού λόγου, καθώς και των κοινωνικών και συναισθηματικών δεξιοτήτων. Οι προτεινόμενες ασκήσεις βοηθάνε τον παιδαγωγό στη γρήγορη και εύκολη χορήγησή του και στην διεξαγωγή άμεσων συμπερασμάτων, τα οποία αξιοποιούνται για την κατάρτιση ενός εξατομικευμένου προγράμματος με στόχο την κάλυψη των εκπαιδευτικών αναγκών του μαθητή.
Russian and Foreign Experience of Application of Tax Accounting
Authors: Дмитриева И. , Dmitrieva I. , Дятлова О. , Dyatlova O.
Published: November 2017

In this article the authors review basic accounting principles US GAAP and IFRS for the realization of the main objective of fi nancial reporting, namely providing information needed by users for making decisions about investments and loans. Th e main characteristics of fi nancial information in accordance with US GAAP and IFRS are outlined.
Creating developmentally appropriate and culture-sensitive songs for Arabic-speaking preschool children in Israel: Considerations and directions
Authors: Gluschankof Claudia
Published: November 2017

Songs for children (i.e. a singing repertoire aimed at or performed by children), can be found in most societies. In Arabic-speaking societies, published and accessible collections of songs for children are few. In this article, I examine the issue of Arabic-language children’s songs aimed at children ages three to six living in the twenty-first century: the challenges arising from the language’s diglossic nature and the songs’ musical style and lyrics content in an era of globalization and westernization. Then, I present a solution proposed by Beit Almusica, a Palestinian NGO based in Shefa-Amr, Israel, featuring a collection of developmentally appropriate and culture-sensitive new songs for contemporary young children whose first language is Palestinian Arabic.
Singing and playing together: A community music group in an early intervention setting
Authors: Niland Amanda
Published: November 2017

In this article I outline a community music programme for young children within an early childhood intervention service. The ‘community’ is local families with a child or children who experience disability. The programme is not therapy: its aim is to celebrate the natural interest in music and play of all children, and to provide an opportunity for families to get together and engage in shared music-making. Analysis of this programme highlights the value of participation in community music. It shows the ways music can support social inclusion and identity for children who experience disability and their families. While not ignoring the therapeutic role music can play, I explore instead the richness and joy that music brings to childhood and advocate for all children’s right to participate in music in their community. A social model perspective of disability and a rights-based approach to provisions for early childhood and early intervention inform the discussion.
Ghetto Classics: Bringing hope to underprivileged children in Kenya
Authors: Andang’o Elizabeth
Published: November 2017

Ghetto Classics (GC) is a youth orchestra with players ranging from seven years old to late teens. It was formed around 2008 in Korogocho, a slum in Nairobi city, Kenya. The group performs western classical and other art music, introducing underprivileged children to the structure and discipline of art music performance. Through the lens of social constructivism theory proposed by Lev Vygotsky I will explore how children as learners construct ideas about music and their own musicality, as well as how knowledge construction in music results from interaction between learners and their tutors within the social environment of Korogocho slums with its attendant culture.
Film Review
Authors: Falter H. Ellie
Published: November 2017

The Beginning of Life (Documentary), Written and Directed by Estela Renner (2016) Brazil: Maria Farinha Filmes.
COMPUTER-BASED SIMULATION OF STOCHASTIC PROCESS FOR INVESTIGATION OF EFFICIENCY OF STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS TESTING IN PEDAGOGICAL RESEARCH
Authors: Kolgatin O.
Published: November 2017

Efficiency of Chi-square criterion and Fisher's angular transformation for statistical hypothesis testing are investigated at small samples with computer-based model. The results show that both criteria give satisfactory accuracy even at small samples. Accuracy zones of determination of the false positive rate (type I error) are analysed on the base of stochastic computational experiments. Comparison of sensitivities of investigated tests is shown as a function of samples size for some cases.
ORGANIZATION OF TEACHER’S PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY IN CONDITIONS OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Kartashova L. , Bahmat Natalia
Published: November 2017

The problem of organization of teacher’s professional activity in innovative educational environment is revealed in the article. The fundamental definitions of the concept of "innovative educational environment" in different aspects are determined. The analysis of researches of primary school teacher’s training in Ukraine and highly developed countries of the world is witnessed a number of contradictions that outlined necessity to generate the innovative (information) educational environment. Effective organizational and methodical decision in formation of competitive teacher is the introduction subject "Methods of organization of teacher’s professional activity in conditions of innovative educational environment" to educational process of primary school teacher’s training. Its aim, objectives,information scope, requirements to level of mastering of content component, methods and forms of monitoring and evaluation of students’ competency have been revealed. The course is based on designed innovative IT-based (cloudy-oriented) environment of pedagogical training of primary school teachers, and cloudy-oriented products are integrated in it, that will make the learning process interactive: OneNote, Skype, GoogleDisk, SkyDrive,teacher’s personal website, OneNote. The managing of students’ mastering process of pedagogical subjects is performed at lessons and using teacher’s electronic classroom.
Educomunicação como política pública de promoção ao trabalho autoral na escola
Authors: Siluk Ana Claudia Pavão , Saccol Lilian Roberta Ilha , Picada Angela Balbina Neves
Published: November 2017

O Programa Mais Educação constitui-se em uma política pública com o objetivo principal de ampliar os tempos e espaços das escolas públicas brasileiras. Essa política, com dez macro campos, dentre eles a Educomunicação, que se define a partir da educação para a comunicação, visa ao fortalecimento da capacidade de expressão dos estudantes. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo geral da pesquisa foi investigar os desafios e possibilidades da Educomunicação para potencializar o desenvolvimento do trabalho autoral de estudantes do ensino fundamental, com o uso da mídia rádio escola. Especificamente, buscou verificar quais são os desafios para implementar práticas comunicacionais na escola; relacionar os processos de autoria e coautoria estudantil aos princípios da Educomunicação e apontar as contribuições da mídia rádio escola, para o trabalho autoral dos estudantes. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa descritiva exploratória e a pesquisa-ação, o delineamento adotado. Participaram da pesquisa dezenove estudantes do quarto ano do ensino fundamental, de uma escola pública do sul do país. O estudo evidencia que esta política pública, no macro campo Educomunicação, instiga processos de autoria e coautoria dos estudantes, permitindo um ensino e aprendizagem contextualizados e imersos em práticas sociais.
Policy incentives in Canadian large-scale assessment: How policy levers influence teacher decisions about instructional change
Authors: Copp Derek T.
Published: November 2017

Large-scale assessment (LSA) is a tool used by education authorities for several purposes, including the promotion of teacher-based instructional change. In Canada, all 10 provinces engage in large-scale testing across several grade levels and subjects, and also have the common expectation that the results data will be used to improve instruction in classrooms. Yet despite agreement between ministries that instructional change based on LSA results is a positive development and employs data-based decision making at its heart, there remain significant differences in the kinds of incentives written into assessment policies in Canada. It is also true that implementation of the policies is less than uniform between schools and school divisions. Using mixed methods (survey data and follow-up interviews), this study examines which policy factors have the most significant impact on teacher decisions regarding the use of data. The findings indicate that highly incentivized policies correlate well to instructional change including aspects of both teaching (to) the curriculum as well as teaching to the test. Since the latter will be examined as a neither an educationally defensible practice nor a stated policy goal, the statement that ‘incentives work’ does not fully capture the nature of these impacts.