bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal complications in a geographically challenging and hard to reach district of Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Authors: Biswas Animesh , Dalal Koustuv , Abdullah Abu Sayeed Md , Gifford Mervyn , Halim MA
Published: September 2016

Background: Maternal complications contribute to maternal deaths in developing countries. Bangladesh still has a high prevalence of maternal mortality, which is often preventable. There are some geographically challenging and hard to reach rural districts in Bangladesh and it is difficult to get information about maternal complications in these areas. In this study, we examined the community lay knowledge of possible pregnancy complications. We also examined the common practices associated with complications and we discuss the challenges for the community.

Methods: The study was conducted in Moulvibazar of north east Bangladesh, a geographically challenged, difficult to reach district. Qualitative methods were used to collect the information. Pregnant women, mothers who had recently delivered, their guardians and traditional birth attendants participated in focus group discussions. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with the family members. Thematic analyses were performed.

Results: The study revealed that there is a lack of knowledge of maternal complications. In the majority of cases, the mothers did not receive proper treatment for maternal complications.  

There are significant challenges that these rural societies need to address: problems of ignorance, traditional myths and family restrictions on seeking better treatment. Moreover, traditional birth attendants and village doctors also have an important role in assuring appropriate, effective and timely treatment.

Conclusions:  The rural community lacks adequate knowledge on maternal complications.  Reduction of the societal barriers including barriers within the family can improve overall practices. Moreover, dissemination of adequate information to the traditional birth attendant and village doctors may improve the overall situation, which would eventually help to reduce maternal deaths.
Breeding novel solutions in the brain: a model of Darwinian neurodynamics
Authors: Szilágyi András , Zachar István , Fedor Anna , de Vladar Harold P. , Szathmáry Eörs
Published: September 2016

Background: The fact that surplus connections and neurons are pruned during development is well established. We complement this selectionist picture by a proof-of-principle model of evolutionary search in the brain, that accounts for new variations in theory space. We present a model for Darwinian evolutionary search for candidate solutions in the brain.

Methods: We combine known components of the brain – recurrent neural networks (acting as attractors), the action selection loop and implicit working memory – to provide the appropriate Darwinian architecture. We employ a population of attractor networks with palimpsest memory. The action selection loop is employed with winners-share-all dynamics to select for candidate solutions that are transiently stored in implicit working memory.

Results: We document two processes: selection of stored solutions and evolutionary search for novel solutions. During the replication of candidate solutions attractor networks occasionally produce recombinant patterns, increasing variation on which selection can act. Combinatorial search acts on multiplying units (activity patterns) with hereditary variation and novel variants appear due to (i) noisy recall of patterns from the attractor networks, (ii) noise during transmission of candidate solutions as messages between networks, and, (iii) spontaneously generated, untrained patterns in spurious attractors.

Conclusions: Attractor dynamics of recurrent neural networks can be used to model Darwinian search. The proposed architecture can be used for fast search among stored solutions (by selection) and for evolutionary search when novel candidate solutions are generated in successive iterations. Since all the suggested components are present in advanced nervous systems, we hypothesize that the brain could implement a truly evolutionary combinatorial search system, capable of generating novel variants.
When Music Goes Up in Flames: The Impact of Advising on Music Major Burnout
Authors: Teasley Marilee L. , Buchanan Erin M.
Published: September 2016

Bringing their personalities and experiences to their relationships with students, academic advisors engage with a diverse population of students every semester. However, they meet with many students who display cynicism and exhaustion, known as burnout, toward their major. Over 300 music majors across the country were surveyed on their perceived academic advisor support, basic psychological needs, and burnout levels. Perceived student dissatisfaction of advising was positively correlated with burnout, such that larger measures of dissatisfaction are associated with larger measures of burnout. In addition, using basic psychological needs as mediators, we found numerous predictive relationships between advising factors and burnout; these findings suggest that advisors should consider the psychological needs of their students.
Developing Competency-Based Advising Practices in Response to Paradigm Shifts in Higher Education
Authors: Walters Giovanna
Published: September 2016

Competency-based programs have gained prominence in recent years for two primary reasons. First, more students are seeking ways to apply nonclassroom learning experiences toward a degree. Second, a paradigm shift in higher education encourages postsecondary curriculum developers to accept nonclassroom experiences as demonstrations of skills and competencies and to adapt curriculum to include these experiences. Educators must realize that the traditional classroom learning necessary to earn credits toward graduation must also apply to life outside academe and must reflect student experiences. Like educators in the classroom, advisors must respond to this change in perspective through inquiry-based practices and democratic relationships with students.
The role of resilience in rebuilding lives of injured veterans
Authors: Edward K-L. , Ousey K.
Published: September 2016

The aim of this commentary is to discuss potential clinical implications of introducing resilience-building interventions into care for veterans who are living with a war wound. Some war veterans are expected to live with a wound upon discharge from an active military role and also to fit into civilian life. These lifestyle adjustments can tax the person's coping abilities and in that context may hinder successful adaptation. The experience of living with a wound or wounds, either acute or chronic, is connected to losses, including loss of mobility, loss of financial capacity (unable to work at times) and losses attached to changed social roles. Psychological stress is also a common experience for veterans returning to civilian life. Psychological stress is associated with impaired wound healing. Modern health practice is centred on symptom reduction and working with pathology, however, working with people's adaptive behaviours such as resilience has not been considered. Using the resilience model as a conceptual framework health-care professionals can engage with veterans towards resilience within the context of their personal experience of ill health. Using this contemporary framework for considering these aspects of care has the potential to facilitate resistance to stressors associated with being injured, possibly preventing quality-of-life impairments.

Declaration of interest:

There are no declarations of interest.
Pull-out strength of cemented solidversusfenestrated pedicle screws in osteoporotic vertebrae
Authors: Leichtle C. I. , Lorenz A. , Rothstock S. , Happel J. , Walter F. , Shiozawa T. , Leichtle U. G.
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Cement augmentation of pedicle screws could be used to improve screw stability, especially in osteoporotic vertebrae. However, little is known concerning the influence of different screw types and amount of cement applied. Therefore, the aim of this biomechanical in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of cement augmentation on the screw pull-out force in osteoporotic vertebrae, comparing different pedicle screws (solid and fenestrated) and cement volumes (0 mL, 1 mL or 3 mL).

Materials and Methods

A total of 54 osteoporotic human cadaver thoracic and lumbar vertebrae were instrumented with pedicle screws (uncemented, solid cemented or fenestrated cemented) and augmented with high-viscosity PMMA cement (0 mL, 1 mL or 3 mL). The insertion torque and bone mineral density were determined. Radiographs and CT scans were undertaken to evaluate cement distribution and cement leakage. Pull-out testing was performed with a material testing machine to measure failure load and stiffness. The paired t-test was used to compare the two screws within each vertebra.

Results

Mean failure load was significantly greater for fenestrated cemented screws (+622 N; p ⩽ 0.001) and solid cemented screws (+460 N; p ⩽ 0.001) than for uncemented screws. There was no significant difference between the solid and fenestrated cemented screws (p = 0.5). In the lower thoracic vertebrae, 1 mL cement was enough to significantly increase failure load, while 3 mL led to further significant improvement in the upper thoracic, lower thoracic and lumbar regions.

Conclusion

Conventional, solid pedicle screws augmented with high-viscosity cement provided comparable screw stability in pull-out testing to that of sophisticated and more expensive fenestrated screws. In terms of cement volume, we recommend the use of at least 1 mL in the thoracic and 3 mL in the lumbar spine. Cite this article: C. I. Leichtle, A. Lorenz, S. Rothstock, J. Happel, F. Walter, T. Shiozawa, U. G. Leichtle. Pull-out strength of cemented solid versus fenestrated pedicle screws in osteoporotic vertebrae. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:419–426.
Generation of Full-Length Class I Human Leukocyte Antigen Gene Consensus Sequences for Novel Allele Characterization
Authors: Clark Peter M , Duke Jamie L , Ferriola Deborah , Bravo-Egana Valia , Vago Tunde , Hassan Aniqa , Papazoglou Anna , Monos Dimitri
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND

Routine, high-resolution human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping by next generation sequencing within clinical immunogenetics laboratories can now provide the full-length gene sequence characterization of fully phased HLA alleles. This powerful technique provides insights into HLA variation beyond the traditionally characterized antigen recognition domain, providing sequence annotation across the entire gene including untranslated and intronic regions and may be used to characterize novel alleles from massively parallel sequencing runs.

METHODS

We evaluated the utility of the Omixon Holotype HLA assay to generate credible, fully phased full-length gene consensus sequences for 50 individuals at major histocompatibility complex, class I, A (HLA-A), HLA-B, and HLA-C loci (300 genotyped alleles in total) to identify and characterize novel class I HLA alleles using our downstream analytical pipeline.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that 7.7% (23/300) of genotyped class I HLA alleles contain novel polymorphisms. Interestingly, all of the novel alleles identified by our analysis were found to harbor sequence variations within intronic regions of the respective locus. In total our analysis identified 17 unique novel class I HLA alleles from 23 of the 300 genotyped alleles and generated full-length gene sequence annotations for 9 previously incompletely annotated HLA class I allele sequences derived from 14 of the 300 genotyped alleles.

CONCLUSIONS

The demonstrated utility of the Omixon Holotype HLA assay in combination with our downstream analytical framework to generate fully phased, full-length gene consensus sequences for the identification and characterization of novel HLA alleles, facilitates the study of HLA polymorphism beyond the antigen recognition domain in human health and disease.
Identidades académicas en cambio en el seno de la universidad multilingüe
Authors: Larrinaga Renteria Ane
Published: September 2016

En este artículo se presenta un análisis de algunas de las consecuencias que ha tenido la internacionalización de la universidad en la reformulación de las identidades profesionales de los académicos que desarrollan su actividad en una lengua minoritaria. La hipótesis de la que se parte es que los procesos globales de cambio que están modificando la educación superior afectan a los roles e identidades profesionales de los académicos. Más concretamente, se pretende mostrar que las recientes exigencias profesionales a las que se están adecuando los docentes-investigadores comprenden también imperativos de orden lingüístico que van incorporándose progresivamente a las identidades cambiantes. El estudio empírico se ha llevado a cabo en un contexto universitario multilingüe con una lengua minoritaria, la Universidad del País Vasco, a través de entrevistas en profundidad que recogen las percepciones de docentes-investigadores vascoparlantes sobre su desempeño profesional. Este estudio, centrado especialmente en los componentes lingüísticos de la identidad profesional de los académicos, ha permitido identificar algunas tendencias de cambio reveladas a través del relevo generacional, que inciden en el desarrollo de la lengua minoritaria. En especial, la emergencia de fuertes orientaciones estratégicas en el diseño de las carreras académicas, la creciente centralidad de la identidad investigadora frente a la identidad docente, y la preeminencia de un ethos académico vinculado a las identidades disciplinares de las tecnologías y las ciencias experimentales
Islam e identidad nacional en el Senegal contemporáneo
Authors: Castien Maestro Juan Ignacio
Published: September 2016

En este artículo investigamos las relaciones entre la religión y la construcción de la identidad nacional. Para ello, combinamos diversas aportaciones de la antropología, la sociología y la historia. Se trata de una cuestión de una gran complejidad. En especial, supone adaptar un elemento tradicional, como lo es la religión, a los requerimientos de un proceso de modernización, caracterizado por el desarrollo de una mayor secularización e individuación. Nos centramos en el caso particular de Senegal, reinterpretando distintas aportaciones bibliográficas clásicas desde nuestro propio enfoque teórico y completándolo con materiales extraídos de nuestro propio trabajo de campo. En este país parece haberse dado una articulación bastante exitosa entre Islam y modernización, que lo vuelve muy interesante desde el punto de vista de las ciencias sociales. Exploramos los factores que parecen haber favorecido esta articulación, especialmente las características específicas del tipo de Islam predominante en el país, que son el resultado de un proceso histórico un tanto particular.
El vértigo de las identidades: secretos y personalidades falsas en el cine de Hitchcock
Authors: Francescutti Luis Pablo
Published: September 2016

En las películas de Alfred Hitchcock, secreto e identidad personal se entrelazan de manera eminente. En sus elencos abundan personajes acusados de delitos que no cometieron, individuos con un pasado oculto, sujetos confundidos con otros, chantajistas que buscan lucrarse con secretos ajenos, agentes dobles, impostores y personalidades escindidas. En sus tramas nadie es lo que parece, todos esconden algo. La identidad es la suma de las máscaras, tal es su mensaje central: también somos lo que ocultamos. Aplicando el corpus teórico desarrollado por Georg Simmel, Erving Goffman, Umberto Eco y otros autores, en este artículo se intenta demostrar desde una perspectiva novedosa que la filmografía del director británico es una concienzuda puesta en escena de las interacciones creadas por la retención deliberada de información, tanto en lo público (secretos oficiales) como en lo privado (secretos personales y familiares). Tales interacciones, revela el análisis, se hallan atravesadas por un hilo rojo: la naturaleza maleable de las identidades. Al escenificar sus ambigüedades y paradojas, estos filmes rinden un valioso servicio a la mirada sociológica interesada en fenómenos en proceso de definición, como identidades falsas, robo de identidades y relaciones entre identidades online y offline.
Etnicidad e identidad gitana en los cultos pentecostales de la ciudad de Madrid. El caso de la “Iglesia Evangélica de Filadelfia” y el “Centro Cristiano Vino Nuevo el Rey Jesús"
Authors: Montañes Antonio
Published: September 2016

Las relaciones entre identidad, etnicidad y religión ocupan un lugar preeminente en los debates contemporáneos sobre sociología y antropología de la religión. No obstante, apenas existen estudios empíricos que den cuenta de la multiplicidad de formas en las que la identidad y la etnicidad de un grupo social pueden articularse con una religión determinada en un mismo espacio geográfico. En el presente artículo analizamos, en perspectiva comparada, dos iglesias que, conjugando de manera diferente la identidad y etnicidad gitana con el pentecostalismo, luchan por la hegemonía en el campo religioso evangélico de Madrid. El trabajo de campo etnográfico, realizado en la “Iglesia Evangélica de Filadelfia” y el “Centro Cristiano Vino Nuevo el Rey Jesús”, se ha llevado a cabo entre los años 2012 y 2014. La tesis principal del artículo es que ambas iglesias utilizan el pentecostalismo para gestionar el cambio cultural en contextos de cambio social.
La identidad nacional y la religión. Un marco analítico aplicado al País Vasco y Quebec
Authors: Santiago Jose
Published: September 2016

Las relaciones entre la identidad nacional y la religión son complejas debido a la falta de una definición legítima o consensuada de cada uno de estos dos objetos de estudio. Este artículo persigue elaborar un marco de análisis para dar cuenta de esta relación, partiendo para ello de una problematización de ambos conceptos que atiende a sus definiciones y a las rupturas epistemológicas que han permitido repensarlos en nuevos dominios teóricos. Tras ello, se profundiza en dichas relaciones, prestando atención al papel de la religión histórica como marcador de identidad nacional y a la sacralización de la historia y territorio nacional. Para dar muestras de su potencialidad, este marco analítico se aplicará de forma comparada a Quebec y el País Vasco.
Mujer y cine en América Latina: proyectando una visión alternativa de la nación
Authors: Fregoso Rosa-Linda
Published: September 2016

Al explorar la relación entre cine de mujeres y cines latinoamericanos, este artículo interroga las categorías de cine nacional, cine latinoamericano y cine de mujeres con el fin de superar lógicas geopolíticas, de idiomas, colonialidad, y las lógicas industriales del mercado que han creado esas categorías. Partiendo de interrogantes como qué modelo de análisis feminista del cine es adecuado para articular las perspectivas de mujeres en las nuevas formaciones del cine mundial, propongo la utilidad del discurso de la interseccionalidad para un análisis de cine de mujeres que presente una visión alternativa de la nación.
Viejas y nuevas intersecciones entre religión e identidad: hacia un marco analítico
Authors: Pérez-Agote Alfonso , Santiago Jose
Published: September 2016

Introducción al número monográfico
Hubungan Penggunaan Media Elektronik dan Gangguan Tidur
Authors: Amalina Shyrien , Sitaresmi Mei Neni , Gamayanti Indria Laksmi
Published: September 2016

Latar belakang. Gangguan tidur pada remaja menyebabkan gangguan konsentrasi, gangguan regulasi mood dan perilaku, serta gangguan kognitif. Media elektronik merupakan salah satu faktor risiko terjadinya gangguan tidur di kalangan remaja.Tujuan. Mengetahui hubungan antara penggunaan media elektronik dengan gangguan tidur.Metode. Studi potong lintang dilakukan di Yogyakarta pada bulan Juni 2012. Total 288 pelajar dipilih dengan teknik cluster random sampling. Pengambilan data dengan menggunakan kuesioner sleep disturbance scale for children (SDSC) yang diisi oleh orang tua dan pelajar di rumah.Hasil. Prevalensi gangguan tidur didapatkan 62,24%, dengan gangguan memulai dan mempertahankan tidur yang memiliki persentasi tertinggi (18,75%). Uji kemaknaan menunjukkan hubungan antara kebiasaan 30 menit sebelum tidur dengan gangguan tidur (p<0,001, OR 2,71, IK95% 1,56-4,71). Gangguan tidur juga memiliki hubungan dengan mengantuk berlebihan di siang hari (p<0,001, PR 3,42, IK95% 2,06-5,83). Tidak terdapat hubungan antara gangguan tidur dengan ketersediaan televisi, komputer, video game, dan telepon genggam di dalam kamar. Aktifitas selain tidur di atas tempat tidur dan penggunaan kafein juga tidak memiliki hubungan yang bermakna dengan gangguan tidur.Kesimpulan. Aktivitas 30 menit sebelum tidur memiliki hubungan yang bermakna dengan gangguan tidur.
Hubungan antara Kadar Seng dalam Serum dengan Fungsi Eksekutif pada Anak dengan Gangguan Pemusatan Perhatian dan Hiperaktivitas (GPPH)
Authors: Lintuuran Rivo Mario Warouw , Wiguna Tjhin , Amir Nurmiati , Kusumawardhani Agung
Published: September 2016

Latar belakang. Belum ada hubungan yang jelas antara kadar seng serum dengan gangguan fungsi eksekutif pada anak dengan GPPH.Tujuan. Mengidentifikasi perbedaan rerata kadar seng dalam serum anak GPPH dengan gangguan dan tanpa gangguan fungsi eksekutif, anak non-GPPH, serta mendapatkan korelasi antara kadar seng dalam serum dengan fungsi eksekutif.Metode. Penelitian potong-lintang yang disertai dengan kelompok kontrol. Dari dua sekolah dasar di Jakarta, secara acak diambil 90 anak sebagai subjek penelitian yang terbagi dalam 3 kelompok, yaitu anak GPPH dengan gangguan (n=30) dan tanpa gangguan (n=30) fungsi eksekutif, serta non-GPPH (n=30). Kadar seng serum diperiksa dengan metode ICP-MS di Laboratorium Prodia Jakarta. Fungsi eksekutif didapatkan melalui kuesioner BRIEF versi Bahasa Indonesia. Analisis data menggunakan SPPS for Windows versi 20.Hasil. Dari seluruh subjek penelitian, 75% mengalami defisiensi seng. Kadar seng tidak normal terdapat pada 60% anak GPPH dengan gangguan fungsi eksekutif. Rerata serum seng pada kelompok anak GPPH dengan gangguan dan tanpa gangguan fungsi eksekutif, serta non-GPPH berturut-turut 59,40, 55,36, dan 52,93 μg/dL. Tidak dijumpai perbedaan rerata seng di antara tiga kelompok tersebut (p=0,119). Koefisien korelasi antara kadar seng serum dengan fungsi eksekutif adalah r=0,128.Kesimpulan. Kadar seng serum diduga tidak berhubungan secara langsung dengan gangguan fungsi eksekutif, tetapi lebih berhubungan dengan gejala klinis GPPH yang menyerupai beberapa gejala gangguan fungsi eksekutif
Perbedaan Myocardial Performance Index Ventrikel Kiri pada Remaja Obes dengan dan tanpa Sindrom Metabolik
Authors: Adriana Riri , Prasetyo Dwi , Rahayuningsih Sri Endah
Published: September 2016

Latar belakang. Myocardial performance index (MPI) merupakan pemeriksaan ekokardiografi yang lebih sensitif dalam mendeteksi disfungsi diastolik ventrikel kiri.Tujuan. Menentukan perbedaan MPI ventrikel kiri pada remaja obes dengan SM, obes tanpa SM, dan non-obes.Metode. Penelitian analitik potong silang pada 30 remaja obes (dengan dan tanpa sindrom metabolik) dan 30 non-obes usia 10-19 tahun yang memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Penelitian dilakukan di Instalasi Pelayanan Jantung RSUP Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung selama November 2014–Januari 2015. Pemeriksaan MPI dilakukan dengan alat ekokardiografi GE tipe Vivid 7. Dilakukan pemeriksaan kolesterol total, trigliserida, LDL, HDL, dan gula darah menggunakan alat Architect. Kriteria SM ditegakkan apabila terpenuhi dua dari parameter trigliserida >150 mg/dL, HDL <40 mg/dL, GDP >100 mg/dL, hipertensi, dan kegemukan sentral. Perbedaan nilai MPI antara remaja obes dengan SM, obes tanpa SM, dan remaja non-obes ditentukan dengan uji ANOVA satu arah.Hasil. Nilai MPI pada remaja obes dengan SM, obes tanpa SM, dan remaja non-obes adalah 0,35, 0,36, dan 0,36 (p=0,778).Kesimpulan. Tidak terdapat perbedaan nilai MPI pada remaja obes dengan SM, obes tanpa SM, dan remaja non-obes.
Efektivitas Premedikasi untuk Pencegahan Reaksi Transfusi
Authors: Esmeralda Nadia Devina , Chozie Novie Amelia
Published: September 2016

Latar belakang. Penggunaan premedikasi sebelum transfusi meskipun masih digunakan secara luas namun menjadi kontroversi sampai saat ini karena efektivitasnya belum diketahui dengan pasti.Tujuan. Mengetahui efektivitas pemberian premedikasi untuk mencegah reaksi transfusi.Metode. Penelusuran pustaka secara online dengan mempergunakan instrumen pencari Pubmed, Cochrane Library, dan Google. Kata kunci yang digunakan adalah ”premedication”,”transfusion” dan “transfusion reaction”.Hasil. Terdapat 3 artikel yang dianggap relevan dengan masalah. Penelitian retrospekstif penggunaan premedikasi pada pasien yang diberikan transfusi dengan asetaminofen dan difenhidramin tidak terdapat perbedaan dalam kejadian reaksi transfusi antara kelompok yang diberikan premedikasi dengan plasebo. Penelitian prospektif selama 3 tahun menyimpulkan bahwa pemberian premedikasi dapat dikurangi tanpa meningkatkan reaksi transfusi. Cochrane Collaboration melakukan telaah sistematik mengenai premedikasi mendapatkan hasil, reaksi alergi pada kelompok premedikasi RR 1,45 (0,78-2,72) dan untuk reaksi demam didapatkan hasil pada kelompok premedikasi RR 0,52 (0,21-1,25).Kesimpulan. Pemberian premedikasi sebelum transfusi tidak terbukti efektif dalam mencegah reaksi transfusi.
Preserving Canadian Music Culture: The Case of the Silver Dollar Room and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Management of Urban Spaces of Culture
Authors: Ross Sara Gwendolyn
Published: September 2016

On January 13, 2015, one of Toronto, Canada’s, iconic live music venues, the Silver Dollar Room, officially received cultural heritage designation pursuant to the City of Toronto By-law 57-2015 under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (“OHA”). What is significant about this designation, is that it was awarded, not on the basis of its physical or tangible heritage attributes but, instead, on the intangible cultural heritage value embodied within the space. Receiving cultural heritage designation is important for the future of the Silver Dollar Room as it has effectively led to the end of plans for its demolition and redevelopment that have been on the table since June 2013. By subjecting the redevelopment approval process to the greater scrutiny required due to cultural heritage designation, the interests of private developers have been better balanced with the artistic and cultural value of the Silver Dollar Room and the associated interests of the live music community culture linked to the space. This paper will examine these issues through the specific example of Toronto, but the implications of this study are applicable to the many rapidly developing cities around the world.
Kollaborative Ökonomie – Potenziale für nachhaltiges Wirtschaften
Authors: Petschow Ulrich , Peuckert Jan
Published: September 2016

Einführung in das Schwerpunktthema.
Drei Fragen zum transformativen Potenzial der Digitalisierung: Wolf oder Wollmilchsau?
Authors: Santarius Tilman , Lange Steffen
Published: September 2016

Die Digitalisierung der Wirtschaft ist in vollem Gange. Doch welche Rolle dieser Prozess für eine sozial-ökologische Gesellschaftstransformation spielt, ist noch unterbeleuchtet. Drei Fragen bringen Licht in das Dunkel.
New Production Practices of Solidarity
Authors: Gonçalves Jorge
Published: September 2016

In solidarity economics the best outcome is found when we consider cooperation as the basis of the social and economic processes. Cooperatives can be key stakeholders in a new collaborative economy.
Beliebigkeit und mangelhafte Transparenz bei der CSR-Berichterstattung
Authors: Wild Werner
Published: September 2016

Das Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz hat einen Referentenentwurf des Umsetzungsgesetzes der CSR-Richtlinie vorgelegt. Doch der Entwurf bleibt vage und lässt zu viele Schlupflöcher für Green Washing.
Ökologisches Verantwortungsbewusstsein und Ansatzpunkte zur Förderung im Unternehmen
Authors: Ewers Eyko , Hoff Ernst-Η. , Walter Jens
Published: September 2016

In diesem Beitrag wird eine Konzeption zum ökologischen Verantwortungsbewusstsein vorgestellt, die sich auf folgende Teilbereiche bezieht: (a) auf das ökologische Denken bzw. Strukturwissen zu Umweltproblemen; (b) auf ökologische Kontrollvorstellungen zu Handlungsmöglichkeiten angesichts dieser Probleme sowie (c) auf ökologische Moral- bzw. Wertvorstellungen. Zuerst geht es um die theoretischen und empirischen Zusammenhänge zwischen diesen Teilbereichen. Außerdem wird auf Bezüge zum tatsächlichen Umwelthandeln eingegangen. Anschließend werden Konsequenzen für die Förderung des ökologischen Verantwortungsbewusstseins und des Umwelthandelns im Unternehmen aufgezeigt. Diese zielen vor allem auf den Bereich der Umweltbildung, auf die Integration individuellen Umwelthandelns in kollektive Handlungsstrategien und auf die Entwicklung einer ökologischen Konfliktkultur im Unternehmen.
Umweltmanagementsysteme: Hemmschuh oder Auslöser für sozial-ökologische Lernprozesse in Kleinunternehmen der Bauwirtschaft?
Authors: Becke Guido , Meschkutat Bärbel , Weddige Petra
Published: September 2016

Die Einführung eines Umweltmanagements ist in Kleinbetrieben vergleichsweise wenig verbreitet. Anhand eines Modellprojekts in der Bauwirtschaft soll aufgezeigt werden, unter welchen Voraussetzungen das Umweltmanagement als Katalysator für sozial-ökologische Lernprozesse in Kleinunternehmen wirken kann. Eine kommunikative und organisatorische Einbettung von Managementsystemen ist erforderlich für ihre Anschlussfähigkeit an kleinbetriebliche Strukturen. Ein umweltorientierter Organisationswandel bleibt begrenzt, wenn es nicht gelingt, paternalistische Kommunikationsmuster in Kleinunternehmen zu verändern.
Cloning, expression, purification and characterization of Leishmania tropica PDI-2 protein
Authors: Ali Dina , Abbady Abdul-Qader , Kweider Mahmoud , Soukkarieh Chadi
Published: September 2016

In Leishmania species, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes thiol-disulfide interchange. The present work describes the isolation, cloning, sequencing and expression of the pdI-2 gene. Initially, the gene was amplified from L. tropica genomic DNA by PCR using specific primers before cloning into the expression vector pET-15b. The construct pET/pdI-2 was transformed into BL21(DE3) cells and induced for the protein expression. SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis showed that the expressed protein is about 51 kDa. Cloned gene sequence analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with those of several parasites PDIs. Finally, recombinant protein was purified with a metal-chelating affinity column. The putative protein was confirmed as a thiol - disulfide oxidoreductase by detecting its activity in an oxidoreductase assay. Assay result of assay suggested that the PDI-2 protein is required for both oxidation and reduction of disulfide bonds in vitro. Antibodies reactive with this 51 kDa protein were detected by Western blot analysis in sera from human infected with L. tropica. This work describes for the first time the enzymatic activity of recombinant L. tropica PDI-2 protein and suggests a role for this protein as an antigen for the detection of leishmaniasis infection.
High potential of sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands for sheep epizoochory
Authors: Kaligarič Mitja , Brecl Jožica , Škornik Sonja
Published: September 2016

There is a general decline of grasslands across Europe due to habitat loss and degradation. Ensuring plant dispersal thus becomes a key process for preserving grassland patches in all scales. We examined diaspore dispersal by sheep epizoochory in the pastures of the North Adriatic Karst (NW Slovenia) and determined the qualitative and quantitative features of diaspores in fur. We recorded 25,650 diaspores of 141 plant taxa (with 107 taxa and 23,350 diaspores determined to species level), using three different methods: (i) the “whole-coat method”, (ii) the “part-of-thecoat method” and (iii) a “seedling emergence method”. A comparison of these techniques revealed that the “wholecoat method” provided the highest number of diaspores and plant species. All diaspores were clustered into five emergent groups based on seven functional traits (diaspore weight, length, width, height, volume, specific weight and the diaspore surface structure). Our research revealed that sheep represent an important dispersal vector, since about half of the plant species recorded in the pastures were found as diaspores in fur. This study contributes to knowledge about the modes of seed dispersal in seminatural grasslands. Taking into account that livestock play a key role in vegetation dynamics, understanding their effects on seed dispersal is essential for conservation and restoration of these species-rich grassland communities.
Abnormal expressed long non-coding RNA IRAIN inhibits tumor progression in human renal cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Zhiqiang Wang , Qian Liu , Tieqiang Li , Xiaodong Li , Guangwei Zhang , Yang Li , Hao Zi , Chaoyang Zhu
Published: September 2016

Objectives

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) IRAIN has been verified to have key roles in tumor biology. The aim of this study was to explore its expression and biological functions in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells.

Methods

Quantitative RT-PCR was applied to detect the RNA expression of IRAIN in RCC tissues and cell lines when compared with respective controls. MTT and flow cytometry methods were respectively used to monitor the cell proliferation and apoptosis of 786-O cells after IRAIN was overexpressed. Altered expression of cyclin D1 and Bax was determined by immunoblotting. Xenograft models were finally carried out to confirm the roles of IRAIN in RCC in vivo.

Results

IRAIN expression was found to be remarkably decreased in RCC tissues and cell lines. Its overexpression in 786-O cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. We further demonstrated that cyclin D1 was reduced while apoptosis promoting protein Bax was elevated in IRAIN-overexpressed 786-O cells. Importantly, we found that IRAIN overexpression could suppress in vivo tumorigenesis of RCC, reflected by tumor volume and tumor weight measurement.

Conclusion

IRAIN might serve as a novel tumor suppressing lncRNA and a potential therapeutic target in RCC treatment.
Poly(acrylamide)-MWNTs hybrid hydrogel with extremely high mechanical strength
Authors: Feng Huanhuan , Zheng Tingting , Wang Xuezhen , Wang Huiliang
Published: September 2016

Poly(acrylamide)-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PAAm-MWNTs) hybrid hydrogels were prepared through the radiation-induced polymerization and crosslinking of the aqueous solution of acrylamide and well-dispersed MWNTs for the first time. The PAAm gels obtained by the radiation-induced polymerization and cosslinking showed very high mechanical strengths, and the PAAm-MWNTs hybrid hydrogels had improved mechanical properties compared with the PAAm gels, and hence the PAAm-MWNTs hybrid hydrogels showed extremely high compressive and tensile strengths. The hybrid hydrogels with water contents more than 80 wt.% usually did not fracture even at compressive strengths close to or even more than 60 MPa and strains more than 97%. And the hybrid hydrogels had very high elongations (more than 2000% in some cases), especially when the water content was high. The tensile strengths were in sub-MPa. The hybrid PAAm-MWNTs hydrogel is one of the strongest hydrogel even made.
Hydrothermal decomposition of actinide(IV) oxalates: a new aqueous route towards reactive actinide oxide nanocrystals
Authors: Walter Olaf , Popa Karin , Blanco Oliver Dieste
Published: September 2016

The hydrothermal decomposition of actinide(IV) oxalates (An= Th, U, Pu) at temperatures between 95 and 250 °C is shown to lead to the production of highly crystalline, reactive actinide oxide nanocrystals (NCs). This aqueous process proved to be quantitative, reproducible and fast (depending on temperature). The NCs obtained were characterised by X-ray diffraction and TEM showing their size to be smaller than 15 nm. Attempts to extend this general approach towards transition metal or lanthanide oxalates failed in the 95–250 °C temperature range. The hydrothermal decomposition of actinide oxalates is therefore a clean, flexible and powerful approach towards NCs of AnO2 with possible scale-up potential.
Determination of vapor—liquid equilibrium diagrams of multicomponent systems
Authors: Serafimov Leonid , Frolkova Anastasia
Published: September 2016

A method for the determination of vapor–liquid phase diagram structure of five-component systems based on the analysis of types and Poincare indexes of singular points of the geometric scan and full structure of the concentration simplex is proposed. Validity of the proposed method was demonstrated by vapor–liquid equilibrium modeling in five-component mixtures: ethanol + water + toluene + butanol + chlorbenzene and acetone + chloroform + ethanol + cyclohexane + water.
Magnetic properties of binary and ternary mixed metal oxides NiFe2O4 and Zn0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 doped with rare earths by sol—gel synthesis
Authors: Tsvetkov Martin , Milanova Maria , Pereira Laura C. J. , Waerenborgh João C. , Cherkezova-Zheleva Zara , Zaharieva Joana , Mitov Ivan
Published: September 2016

The spinel-type ferrites NiFe
Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose in a biphasic medium with AlCl3 and boric acid as the catalyst
Authors: Xu Zhi-Lei , Wang Xiao-Yue , Shen Mei-Yu , Du Chang-Hai
Published: September 2016

In combination with non-corrosive and low-toxic boric acid, AlCl3 ·6H2O was found to be effective for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from glucose. In this work, a 5-HMF yield of ≈ 60 % was obtained at 170°C for 40 min in a H
Why is diagnosis not probabilistic in clinical-pathological conference (CPCs): Point
Authors: Jain Bimal P.
Published: September 2016

The main reason a probabilistic approach is not employed for diagnosis in clinical-pathological conferences (CPCs) is the notion of prior probability as prior evidence in it which encourages failure to suspect diseases with atypical presentations thus increasing diagnostic errors. In addition, errors in some individual persons are a necessary consequence of employing a probabilistic approach for inference as is seen in its use in the life insurance business. This consequence is in conflict with the aim in diagnosis of determining a disease correctly in every individual patient which also leads to a probabilistic approach not being employed in CPCs.
Changes in cognitive function after pediatric intensive care unit rounds: a prospective study
Authors: Friedman Matthew L. , McBride Mary E.
Published: September 2016

Background:

Mental fatigue is impaired cognitive function induced by engaging in cognitively demanding activities. Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) rounds are demanding and may be a cause of impaired cognitive functioning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if PICU rounds induce poorer performance on cognitive tasks after rounds compared to before rounds and assess the feasibility of cognitive testing in the PICU.

Methods:

This was a prospective study of residents in the PICU. Participants were evaluated before and after rounds on a single day, consisting of two tests of cognitive function that are sensitive to mental fatigue, the cognitive estimation test (CET) and the repeatable episodic memory test (REMT).

Results:

Thirty residents participated. The mean length of rounds was 191 min (SD 33.8 min), the mean number of patients rounded on by the team was 14.9 (SD 2.3) and the median patients presented by the participant was two (range 0–6). The average number of words recalled on the REMT was significantly lower after rounds compared to before (29.6 vs. 31.2, p < 0.05). There were significantly more falsely recalled words after rounds (1.3 vs. 0.7, p=0.02). There was a correlation between worsening performance and later time of testing in the 4-week PICU rotation (r=0.42, p < 0.02). There were no differences in performance on the CET.

Conclusions:

PICU rounds induced impairments on cognitive testing but the effect size is small and not consistent across tests. There is an increased susceptibility to impaired cognition induced by rounds over the course of a rotation, this finding merits further investigation.
Inflationäre Schocks in Deutschland: Eine Common Trends Analyse / Inflationary Shocks in Germany: A Common Trends Analysis
Authors: Carstensen Kai , Hansen Gerd
Published: September 2016

In diesem Beitrag wird die Inflationsrate in Deutschland mit Hilfe eines Common Trends Modells untersucht. Ausgehend von einem IS-LM Modell der offenen Volkswirtschaft wird zunächst eine Kointegrationsanalyse durchgeführt, die der Bestimmung plausibler Langfristbeziehungen dient. Darauf aufbauend werden permanent und transitorisch wirkende Schocks strukturell identifiziert und hinsichtlich ihrer Bedeutung für die Inflationsentwicklung untersucht. Es zeigt sich, daß permanent wirkende Angebotsschocks langfristig zu einer Zunahme, transitorische Angebotsschocks hingegen zu einer vorübergehenden Reduktion der Inflationsrate führen. Negative Inflationserwartungsschocks besitzen dagegen eindeutig eine inflationssenkende Wirkung.
Selbständige in die gesetzliche Rentenversicherung? / Should Self-employed Persons Subject to the Statutory Pay-as-you-go Pension System?
Authors: Jess Heinrich
Published: September 2016

Die vorliegende Arbeit stützt sich auf frühere Arbeiten von Kifmann (2001) und Buslei (2002) und untersucht eine Einbeziehung der Selbständigen in das System der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung ab dem Jahr 2005 im Rahmen eines numerischen Gleichgewichtsmodells überlappender Generationen. Im Gegensatz zu den bisherigen Arbeiten wird hier erstmals die zukünftige Bevölkerungsentwicklung und eine steigende Lebenserwartung in Abhängigkeit von sozio-ökonomischen Merkmalen berücksichtigt. Die Simulationen werden für eine kleine offene Volkswirtschaft und eine geschlossene Volkswirtschaft unter Berücksichtigung von Anpassungskosten bei den Investitionen durchgeführt. In weiteren Simulationen wird die Veränderung des Altersquotienten im Zeitraum 2020 bis 2030 zur Absenkung des Nettorentenniveaus auf 60 % instrumentalisiert.

Im Rahmen der Untersuchung wird zwischen 5 Einkommensklassen sowie Arbeitnehmern und Selbständigen unterschieden. Die sich ergebenden intra- und intergenerativen Wohlfahrtseffekte zeigen, daß durch die Versicherungspflicht der Selbständigen und eine zeitlich verzögerte Absenkung des Nettorenteniveaus im Zeitraum 2020-2030 eine dauerhafte Besserstellung des bisher pflichtversicherten Personenkreises möglich ist.
Poverty Measurement Under Income Risk / Armutsmessung bei Einkommensrisiken
Authors: Weikard Hans-Peter
Published: September 2016

Poverty indices are usually calculated on the basis of (cross section) income data from the past. As past income is fixed and future income is uncertain such measurement does not reflect the ex ante risk of falling into poverty. This paper presents refinements of commonly used poverty measures to account for income risk. It is shown that the standard headcount ratio underestimates poverty in societies with moderate poverty if income is risky. The Foster, Greer and Thorbecke measure always underestimates poverty if income risk is neglected.
Consistency in Aggregation / Aggregationskonsistenz
Authors: Auer Ludwig von
Published: September 2016

In empirical economic research, individual prices are often aggregated into average prices of subaggregates. Then, these average prices are aggregated to produce the average price of the total aggregate. Often, such two stage procedures help to illuminate the underlying forces driving the overall result. Since price data are usually published as price changes, this two stage aggregation is typically based on some price index formula. In this paper, various screening devices are introduced which help to differentiate between suitable and unsuitable formulas. It is argued that testing for weak consistency in aggregation is a particularly important screening device. If a price index formula fails the weak consistency test and, nevertheless, this formula is used for a multi stage price index computation, then the measured overall price change depends on the number of computational stages and also on the precise manner in which the elementary items are partitioned into subaggregates. In other words, the findings are not robust and cannot be considered as particularly reliable. Based on these screening devices, it is examined which price index formulas can be expected to produce consistent results.
Die betriebliche Weiterbildung im organisatorischen Wandel / Continuous Training and Organizational Change
Authors: Berthold Norbert , Stettes Oliver
Published: September 2016

Der Beitrag zeigt, dass die Reorganisation von Unternehmen mit einem Wandel von einer tayloristischen Organisationsform in eine holistische erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die Weiterbildungsbereitschaft des Unternehmens hat. Die Abflachung von Hierarchien, die Partizipation der Mitarbeiter an Informations- und Entscheidungsprozessen sowie die Aufgabe der strengen funktionalen Arbeitsteilung erhöhen die Nachfrage nach qualifizierter Arbeit nicht nur dauerhaft, sondern verschieben sie auch zu Gunsten von multifunktionalem, transferierbarem Humankapital. Die zusätzlichen Qualifikationsanforderungen bewegen holistische Unternehmen, ihre Beschäftigten für die neuen Aufgaben weiterzubilden. Multifunktional ausgebildete Arbeitnehmer versichern das Unternehmen gegen negative Schocks und damit gegen Ertragsminderungen. Dies setzt jedoch voraus, dass die Beschäftigten auch nach Ablauf der Fortbildungsperiode im Unternehmen verbleiben. Unvollkommenheiten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt leisten die Gewähr, dass die Mobilität der Arbeitnehmer ex post reduziert ist und die Betriebe entgegen den Standardaussagen der Humankapitaltheorie ihre Finanzierungsbeteiligung an allgemeinen, multifunktionalen Humankapitalinvestitionen amortisieren können. Die institutionelle Ausgestaltung der Arbeitsmarktordnung in Deutschland hemmt jedoch die Finanzierungsbereitschaft der Betriebe bei allgemeinen Humankapitalinvestitionen und erweist sich zunehmend als Hindernis für den organisatorischen Wandel von tayloristischen in holistische Unternehmen.
Ancillary Benefits of Climate Policy / Sekundäre Nutzen der Klimapolitik
Authors: Markandya Anil , Rübbelke Dirk T.G.
Published: September 2016

The benefits of climate policy normally consist exclusively of the reduced impacts of climate change, i.e., the policy’s primary aim. Our analysis of benefits of climate policy suggests, however, that researchers and policymakers should also take account of ancillary benefits, e.g., in the shape of improved air quality induced by climate protection measures. A consideration of both, primary and ancillary benefits, has a positive influence on global climate protection efforts, e.g., because the regional impact of ancillary effects attenuates easy-riding motives of countries with respect to their provision of climate protection. In this article, we analyze the nature of ancillary benefits, present an overview of European assessment studies and explain possible methods to estimate ancillary benefits. Main differences between primary and ancillary benefits are pointed out. Furthermore, we stress the major influences of ancillary benefits on climate policy. Finally, we present one of the first models integrating primary and ancillary benefits. By this model quantitative results are calculated with respect to ancillary benefits in the UK considering different greenhouse gas (GHG) control levels. It is observed that the ancillary benefits could cover about 4 percent of the full GHG reduction cost.