bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction to the Social Media + Society Special Issue on Selfies: Me-diated Inter-faces
Authors: Warfield Katie , Cambre Carolina , Abidin Crystal
Published: April 2016

This introduction to the special issue entitled Me-diated Inter-faces begins by bringing into question the concept of positioning: what is it that we are doing when we take a position within the study of social media? Reviewing the work of the inaugural manifestos of the journal Social Media + Society on one hand, and the introduction to the special issue on selfies for the International Journal of Communications on the other, this introduction provides both critical and creative in-roads for thinking and re-thinking digital self-images shared on social media. Given the constantly changing nature of social media, this paper is a call to researchers of social media to not fall prey to the ossification of our current positions since theorizing the “social” in social media means always at once theorizing the body. As such this intro offers numerous and diverse perspectives on the body that might inform emerging thoughts on the socially media body. The introduction then provides an overview of the papers in this special issue and concludes by offering openings and ruptures for further discussion, rather than closure of conclusions.
Making the Cut: An Agential Realist Examination of Selfies and Touch
Authors: Warfield Katie
Published: April 2016

This article leverages the work of Karen Barad to analyze digital self-imaging research. Drawing on findings from four interviews with avid selfie authors, this article argues that agential realism can provide a rich ontological framework for examining selfies that goes beyond the representational paradigm in some studies of socially mediated digital images. Rather than beginning the study with the presumption that bodies, photos, cameras, and expressed selves are distinct and pre-existing entities that then interact with one another, or touch, selfies here are construed as networked material–discursive entanglements wherein bodies, photos, cameras, and expressed selves are always and already touching. Within this entangled phenomenon, then, this article suggests that what reads as touch (images that grab or repulse/efface) is in a sense the opposite of touch—it is a pulling apart of the entangled phenomenon wherein agential cuts demarcate the desired boundaries of entities like bodies, images, and self. This article further suggests that what makes and doesn’t make the “cut” is not natural but emerges within gendered apparatuses of bodily production.
Green Urine in Traditional Persian Medicine
Authors: Kolouri Sepideh , Daneshfard Babak , Jaladat Amir-Mohammad , Tafazoli Vahid
Published: April 2016

The color of urine is an important factor in urine examination, which can help physicians differentiate various diseases. Today, it is known that certain dyes, drug intoxications, and diseases can induce green urine discoloration. In the view of traditional Persian medicine, which is based on humoral medicine, green urine discoloration is generally referred to the dominance of coldness in the body. In fact, it is considered to be a result of a special kind of humoral imbalance and fluid depletion or retention in the human body. Persian scholars believed that green urine could be an indicator of intoxication or a predictor of an imminent spasm or convulsion in pediatric patients. Further investigations could result in finding new diagnostic scales of urine color based on the teachings of traditional Persian medicine.
“Apostle of Ethnology”: Agnes C. L. Donohugh’s Missiological Anthropology Between the World Wars
Authors: Hartley Benjamin L.
Published: April 2016

Agnes C. L. Donohugh (1876–1966) taught at Hartford Theological Seminary’s Kennedy School of Missions between 1918 and 1944, the leading graduate program in mission studies in North America prior to World War II. The first missionary student of Franz Boas at Columbia University, Donohugh influenced the shape of graduate anthropological education for missionaries in America more than anyone else in the interwar period. Donohugh’s story provides a window into understanding how anthropology was first used in mission education in America.
Missions from Korea 2016: Sustainability and Revitalization
Authors: Moon Steve Sang-Cheol
Published: April 2016

According the most recent survey directed by the author, there are 20,672 Korean missionaries working through 159 mission agencies in 171 countries. The number of missionaries grew by 205 persons in 2015 marking an annual growth rate of 1.01 percent.

The annual growth rate dropped phenomenally from 2.19 percent in 2012, to 1.90 percent in 2014, and further down to 1.01 percent in 2015. The Korean missionary movement is entering an unfamiliar phase of development characterized by losing momentum for further growth. Most of the Korean missionaries are well aware of the current situation and share certain realistic views and outlooks.
The 1925 Vatican Mission Exposition and the Interface Between Catholic Mission Theory and World Religions
Authors: Dries Angelyn
Published: April 2016

After the First World War, which disrupted missions around the world, Pope Pius XI announced a Holy Year for 1925, a major focus of which was the creation of the Vatican Mission Exposition. After a description of the exposition, the work of four Catholic anthropologists on both sides of the North Atlantic illustrate some of the underlying anthropological and mission views encompassed in the exposition. The four anthropologists employed a pattern of close, empathic observation of people and an awareness of larger frameworks of religious meaning in relation to the whole of culture. This inductive methodology was a contrast to the deductive Thomist philosophical framework in place in many Catholic seminaries of the period.
Inequalities in medication adherence to statin treatment after stroke: A nationwide observational study
Authors: Sjölander Maria , Eriksson Marie , Glader Eva-Lotta
Published: April 2016

Introduction

The objective was to investigate differences in adherence to statins after stroke based on age, sex, socioeconomic status and country of birth.

Patients and methods

Patients with ischemic stroke in 2009–2010 were included from the Swedish stroke register. Adherence to statin treatment was measured over two years as proportion of days covered with 80% as cut-off for adherence. Income, education, and country of birth were obtained from official registers. Factors associated with adherence were controlled for in multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Of 15,192 included patients, 73.9% had an adherence rate ≥80%. The oldest (85+ years) and youngest (18–54 years) had the lowest adherence, and a smaller proportion of women were adherent (odds ratio (OR) 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.92). Adherence was less common in patients born in Nordic countries (OR 0.82; 95% CI (0.68–0.97), Europe (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.65–0.93), and in non-European countries (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.50–0.84) compared to Sweden-born. Patients with university education were to a lower extent adherent compared to patients with primary school education (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.72–0.91). There was no association between adherence and income.

Discussion

The study was based on individual level real-life data with national coverage. Adherence was estimated from data on filled prescriptions, but filled prescription does not mean that drugs are used as intended.

Conclusion

Adherence to statin treatment over two years was suboptimal, and adherence was less common among women, patients born outside of Sweden and patients with university education.
Insulin resistance modifies the association between obesity and current asthma in adults
Authors: Cardet Juan Carlos , Ash Samuel , Kusa Tope , Camargo Carlos A. , Israel Elliot
Published: April 2016

Insulin resistance potentiates the association between obesity and childhood asthma, but this relationship appears inconsistent in relatively small studies of adults. We investigated effect modification in adults using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2012, a large, nationally representative database.

Insulin resistance and a history of physician-diagnosed current asthma were obtained from 12 421 adults, ages 18–85 years. We used logistic regression to determine associations between obesity and current asthma, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty income ratio and smoking status. An interaction term evaluated effect modification by insulin resistance of the obesity–asthma association.

As expected, obesity was positively associated with current asthma. Insulin resistance modified this association, with obesity measured as body mass index, waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio. The relationship between obesity and current asthma was stronger with increasing insulin resistance tertiles (OR 2.05, 95% CI 2.76–3.00; p-value for interaction 0.03). This association was robust to adjustments for other components of the metabolic syndrome (hypertriglyceridaemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia and systemic inflammation). None of these components were themselves effect modifiers of the obesity–asthma association.

In this large, nationally representative sample, insulin resistance modified the association between obesity and current asthma in adults. Targeting insulin resistance may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for obese patients with asthma.
Pharyngeal collapsibility during sleep is elevated in insulin-resistant females with morbid obesity
Authors: Llanos Oscar L. , Galiatsatos Panagis , Guzmán-Vélez Edmarie , Patil Susheel P. , Smith Philip L. , Magnuson Thomas , Schweitzer Michael , Steele Kimberley , Polotsky Vsevolod Y. , Schwartz Alan R.
Published: April 2016

Insulin resistance is associated with sleep apnoea, leading us to hypothesise that it is also associated with elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility, even in the absence of sleep apnoea.

90 bariatric patients were characterised for sleep apnoea, pharyngeal collapsibility and insulin resistance. Patients with a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) >10 events·h−1, diabetes mellitus, tonsillar hypertrophy and pulmonary disease were excluded. The remaining 14 females underwent collapsibility measurements (passive critical pressure,Pcritp) during non-rapid eye movement sleep. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, a measure of insulin resistance, was derived from measurements of fasting glucose and insulin levels, and compared toPcritp.

Groups with highPcritpcompared to lowPcritpdid not differ in age, body mass index or RDI. HOMA and insulin were elevated in the highPcritpgroup compared to the lowPcritpgroup (p<0.02).Pcritpcorrelated with HOMA (Spearman's ρ=0.565, 95% CI 0.104–0.862; p=0.035) and insulin (Spearman's ρ=0.609 95% CI 0.196–0.835; p=0.021).

Obese insulin-resistant subjects without frank diabetes or sleep apnoea demonstrate preclinical elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility, which may increase their susceptibility to sleep apnoea. Our findings suggest that insulin resistance could play a significant role in sleep apnoea pathogenesis by generating requisite elevations in pharyngeal collapsibility.
Optimal correction of distinct CFTR folding mutants in rectal cystic fibrosis organoids
Authors: Dekkers Johanna F. , Gogorza Gondra Ricardo A. , Kruisselbrink Evelien , Vonk Annelotte M. , Janssens Hettie M. , de Winter-de Groot Karin M. , van der Ent Cornelis K. , Beekman Jeffrey M.
Published: April 2016

Small-molecule therapies that restore defects in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gating (potentiators) or trafficking (correctors) are being developed for cystic fibrosis (CF) in a mutation-specific fashion. Options for pharmacological correction of CFTR-p.Phe508del (F508del) are being extensively studied but correction of other trafficking mutants that may also benefit from corrector treatment remains largely unknown.

We studied correction of the folding mutants CFTR-p.Phe508del, -p.Ala455Glu (A455E) and -p.Asn1303Lys (N1303K) by VX-809 and 18 other correctors (C1–C18) using a functional CFTR assay in human intestinal CF organoids.

Function of both CFTR-p.Phe508del and -p.Ala455Glu was enhanced by a variety of correctors but no residual or corrector-induced activity was associated with CFTR-p.Asn1303Lys. Importantly, VX-809-induced correction was most dominant for CFTR-p.Phe508del, while correction of CFTR-p.Ala455Glu was highest by a subgroup of compounds called bithiazoles (C4, C13, C14 and C17) and C5.

These data support the development of mutation-specific correctors for optimal treatment of different CFTR trafficking mutants, and identify C5 and bithiazoles as the most promising compounds for correction of CFTR-p.Ala455Glu.
Beryllium-induced lung disease exhibits expression profiles similar to sarcoidosis
Authors: Li Li , Silveira Lori J. , Hamzeh Nabeel , Gillespie May , Mroz Peggy M. , Mayer Annyce S. , Fingerlin Tasha E. , Maier Lisa A.
Published: April 2016

A subset of beryllium-exposed workers develop beryllium sensitisation (BeS) which precedes chronic beryllium disease (CBD). We conducted an in-depth analysis of differentially expressed candidate genes in CBD.

We performed Affymetrix GeneChip 1.0 ST array analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 CBD, 10 BeS and 10 beryllium-exposed, nondiseased controls stimulated with BeSO4or medium. The differentially expressed genes were validated by high-throughput real-time PCR in this group and in an additional group of cases and nonexposed controls. The functional roles of the top candidate genes in CBD were assessed using a pharmacological inhibitor. CBD gene expression data were compared with whole blood and lung tissue in sarcoidosis from the Gene Expression Omnibus.

We confirmed almost 450 genes that were significantly differentially expressed between CBD and controls. The top enrichment of genes was for JAK (Janus kinase)–STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) signalling. A JAK2 inhibitor significantly decreased tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ production. Furthermore, we found 287 differentially expressed genes overlapped in CBD/sarcoidosis. The top shared pathways included cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, and Toll-like receptor, chemokine and JAK–STAT signalling pathways.

We show that PBMCs demonstrate differentially expressed gene profiles relevant to the immunnopathogenesis of CBD. CBD and sarcoidosis share similar differential expression of pathogenic genes and pathways.
Prognostic assessment in COPD without lung function: the B-AE-D indices
Authors: Boeck Lucas , Soriano Joan B. , Brusse-Keizer Marjolein , Blasi Francesco , Kostikas Konstantinos , Boersma Wim , Milenkovic Branislava , Louis Renaud , Lacoma Alicia , Djamin Remco , Aerts Joachim , Torres Antoni , Rohde Gernot , Welte Tobias , Martinez-Camblor Pablo , Rakic Janko , Scherr Andreas , Koller Michael , van der Palen Job , Marin Jose M. , Alfageme Inmaculada , Almagro Pere , Casanova Ciro , Esteban Cristobal , Soler-Cataluña Juan J. , de-Torres Juan P. , Miravitlles Marc , Celli Bartolome R. , Tamm Michael , Stolz Daiana
Published: April 2016

Several composite markers have been proposed for risk assessment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, choice of parameters and score complexity restrict clinical applicability. Our aim was to provide and validate a simplified COPD risk index independent of lung function.

The PROMISE study (n=530) was used to develop a novel prognostic index. Index performance was assessed regarding 2-year COPD-related mortality and all-cause mortality. External validity was tested in stable and exacerbated COPD patients in the ProCOLD, COCOMICS and COMIC cohorts (total n=2988).

Using a mixed clinical and statistical approach, body mass index (B), severe acute exacerbations of COPD frequency (AE), modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea severity (D) and copeptin (C) were identified as the most suitable simplified marker combination. 0, 1 or 2 points were assigned to each parameter and totalled to B-AE-D or B-AE-D-C. It was observed that B-AE-D and B-AE-D-C were at least as good as BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise capacity), ADO (age, dyspnoea, airflow obstruction) and DOSE (dyspnoea, obstruction, smoking, exacerbation) indices for predicting 2-year all-cause mortality (c-statistic: 0.74, 0.77, 0.69, 0.72 and 0.63, respectively; Hosmer–Lemeshow test all p>0.05). Both indices were COPD specific (c-statistic for predicting COPD-related 2-year mortality: 0.87 and 0.89, respectively). External validation of B-AE-D was performed in COCOMICS and COMIC (c-statistic for 1-year all-cause mortality: 0.68 and 0.74; c-statistic for 2-year all-cause mortality: 0.65 and 0.67; Hosmer–Lemeshow test all p>0.05).

The B-AE-D index, plus copeptin if available, allows a simple and accurate assessment of COPD-related risk.
CD133+cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Foris Vasile , Kovacs Gabor , Marsh Leigh M. , Bálint Zoltán , Tötsch Martin , Avian Alexander , Douschan Philipp , Ghanim Bahil , Klepetko Walter , Olschewski Andrea , Olschewski Horst
Published: April 2016

Circulating mononuclear cells may play an important role for the vascular remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but studies addressing multiple progenitor populations are rare and inconsistent.

We used a comprehensive fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of circulating mononuclear cells in 20 PAH patients and 20 age- and sex-matched controls, and additionally analysed CD133+cells in the lung tissue of five PAH transplant recipients and five healthy controls (donor lungs).

PAH patients were characterised by increased numbers of circulating CD133+cells and lymphopenia as compared with control. In PAH, CD133+subpopulations positive for CD117 or CD45 were significantly increased, whereas CD133+CD309+, CD133+CXCR2+and CD133+CD31+cells were decreased. In CD133+cells, SOX2, Nanog, Ki67 and CXCR4 were not detected, but Oct3/4 mRNA was present in both PAH and controls. In the lung tissue, CD133+cells included three main populations: type 2 pneumocytes, monocytes and undifferentiated cells without significant differences between PAH and controls.

In conclusion, circulating CD133+progenitor cells are elevated in PAH and consist of phenotypically different subpopulations that may be up- or downregulated. This may explain the inconsistent results in the literature. CD133+type 2 pneumocytes in the lung tissue are not associated with circulating CD133+mononuclear cells.
Interventions to modify physical activity in patients with COPD: a systematic review
Authors: Mantoani Leandro Cruz , Rubio Noah , McKinstry Brian , MacNee William , Rabinovich Roberto A.
Published: April 2016

The broad range of interventions to increase physical activity (PA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been systematically assessed. We aimed to perform a systematic review of the interventional studies that have assessed PA as an outcome in patients with COPD.

A systematic search in five different databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science) was performed in March 2015. Two independent reviewers analysed the studies against the inclusion criteria (COPD defined by spirometry; prospective, randomised/nonrandomised studies, cohort and experimental studies with interventions using PA as an outcome), extracted the data and assessed the quality of evidence.

60 studies were included. Seven intervention groups were identified. PA counselling increased PA levels in COPD, especially when combined with coaching. 13 studies showed positive effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on PA, while seven studies showed no changes. All three PR programmes >12 weeks in duration increased PA. Overall, the quality of evidence was graded as very low.

Interventions focusing specifically on increasing PA, and longer PR programmes, may have greater impacts on PA in COPD. Well-designed clinical trials with objective assessment of PA in COPD patients are needed.
3-dimensional bioprinting for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Gu Bon Kang , Choi Dong Jin , Park Sang Jun , Kim Min Sup , Kang Chang Mo , Kim Chun-Ho
Published: April 2016

The 3-dimensional (3D) printing technologies, referred to as additive manufacturing (AM) or rapid prototyping (RP), have acquired reputation over the past few years for art, architectural modeling, lightweight machines, and tissue engineering applications. Among these applications, tissue engineering field using 3D printing has attracted the attention from many researchers. 3D bioprinting has an advantage in the manufacture of a scaffold for tissue engineering applications, because of rapid-fabrication, high-precision, and customized-production, etc. In this review, we will introduce the principles and the current state of the 3D bioprinting methods. Focusing on some of studies that are being current application for biomedical and tissue engineering fields using printed 3D scaffolds.
Supported employment for people with severe mental illness:
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the international
evidence
Authors: Modini Matthew , Tan Leona , Brinchmann Beate , Wang Min-Jung , Killackey Eoin , Glozier Nicholas , Mykletun Arnstein , Harvey Samuel B.
Published: April 2016

Background

Individual placement and support (IPS) is a vocational rehabilitation
programme that was developed in the USA to improve employment outcomes
for people with severe mental illness. Its ability to be generalised to
other countries and its effectiveness in varying economic conditions
remains to be ascertained.

Aims

To investigate whether IPS is effective across international settings and
in different economic conditions.

Method

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
comparing IPS with traditional vocational services was undertaken; 17
studies, as well as 2 follow-up studies, were included. Meta-regressions
were carried out to examine whether IPS effectiveness varied according to
geographic location, unemployment rates or gross domestic product (GDP)
growth.

Results

The overall pooled risk ratio for competitive employment using IPS
compared with traditional vocational rehabilitation was 2.40 (95% CI
1.99–2.90). Meta-regressions indicated that neither geographic area nor
unemployment rates affected the overall effectiveness of IPS. Even when a
country's GDP growth was less than 2% IPS was significantly more
effective than traditional vocational training, and its benefits remained
evident over 2 years.

Conclusions

Individual placement and support is an effective intervention across a
variety of settings and economic conditions and is more than twice as
likely to lead to competitive employment when compared with traditional
vocational rehabilitation.
Morbidity and mortality of women and men with intellectual and developmental disabilities newly initiating antipsychotic drugs
Authors: Vigod Simone N. , Lunsky Yona , Cobigo Virginie , Wilton Andrew S. , Somerton Sarah , Seitz Dallas P.
Published: April 2016

Background

While up to 45% of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a comorbid psychiatric disorder, and antipsychotics are commonly prescribed, gender differences in the safety of antipsychotics have rarely been studied in this population.

Aims

To compare men and women with IDD on medical outcomes after antipsychotic initiation.

Method

Our population-based study in Ontario, Canada, compared 1457 women and 1951 men with IDD newly initiating antipsychotic medication on risk for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke and death, with up to 4 years of follow-up.

Results

Women were older and more medically complex at baseline. Women had higher risks for venous thromboembolism (HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.15–2.59) and death (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.10) in crude analyses; but only thromboembolism risk was greater for women after covariate adjustment (aHR 1.58, 95% CI 1.05–2.38).

Conclusions

Gender should be considered in decision-making around antipsychotic medications for individuals with IDD.
Cyclical DNA Methyltransferase 3a Expression Is a Seasonal and Estrus Timer in Reproductive Tissues
Authors: Lynch Eloise W. J. , Coyle Chris S. , Lorgen Marlene , Campbell Ewan M. , Bowman Alan S. , Stevenson Tyler J.
Published: April 2016

It is becoming clear that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation can be dynamic and, in many cases, reversible. Here we investigated the photoperiod and hormone regulation of DNA methylation in testes, ovaries, and uterine tissue across multiple time scales. We hypothesized that DNA methyltransferase 3a (dnmt3a) is driven by photoperiodic treatment and exhibits natural variation across the female reproductive cycle and that melatonin increases whereas estrogen reduces DNA methylation. We used Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) due to their robust changes in reproductive physiology across seasonal and estrus time scales. Our findings indicate that short-day (SD) winter-like conditions significantly increased global DNA methylation and dnmt3a expression in the testes. Using immunohistochemistry, we confirm that increased dnmt3a expression was primarily localized to spermatogonium. Conversely, the ovaries did not exhibit variation in DNA methylation or dnmt3a/3b expression. However, exposure to SD significantly increased uterine dnmt3a expression. We then determined that dnmt3a was significantly decreased during the estrus stage. Next, we ovariectomized females and subsequently identified that a single estrogen+progesterone injection was sufficient to rapidly inhibit dnmt3a and dnmt3b expression. Finally, we demonstrate that treatment of human embryonic kidney-293 cells with melatonin significantly increased both dnmt3a and dnmt3b expression, suggesting that long-duration nocturnal signaling in SD may be involved in the regulation of DNA methylation in both sexes. Overall, our data indicate that dnmt3a shows marked photoperiod and estrus plasticity that likely has broad downstream effects on the timing of the genomic control of reproductive function.
Inflammation and Epidural-Related Maternal Fever: Proposed Mechanisms
Authors: Sultan Pervez , David Anna L. , Fernando Roshan , Ackland Gareth L.
Published: April 2016

Intrapartum fever is associated with excessive maternal interventions as well as higher neonatal morbidity. Epidural-related maternal fever (ERMF) contributes to the development of intrapartum fever. The mechanism(s) for ERMF has remained elusive. Here, we consider how inflammatory mechanisms may be modulated by local anesthetic agents and their relevance to ERMF. We also critically reappraise the clinical data with regard to emerging concepts that explain how anesthetic drug–induced metabolic dysfunction, with or without activation of the inflammasome, might trigger the release of nonpathogenic, inflammatory molecules (danger-associated molecular patterns) likely to underlie ERMF.
Innervation regulates synaptic ribbons in lateral line mechanosensory hair cells
Authors: Suli Arminda , Pujol Remy , Cunningham Dale E. , Hailey Dale W. , Prendergast Andrew , Rubel Edwin W. , Raible David W.
Published: April 2016

Failure to form proper synapses in mechanosensory hair cells, the sensory cells responsible for hearing and balance, leads to deafness and balance disorders. Ribbons are electron-dense structures that tether synaptic vesicles to the presynaptic zone of mechanosensory hair cells where they are juxtaposed with the post-synaptic endings of afferent fibers. They are initially formed throughout the cytoplasm, and, as cells mature, ribbons translocate to the basolateral membrane of hair cells to form functional synapses. We have examined the effect of post-synaptic elements on ribbon formation and maintenance in the zebrafish lateral line system by observing mutants that lack hair cell innervation, wild-type larvae whose nerves have been transected and ribbons in regenerating hair cells. Our results demonstrate that innervation is not required for initial ribbon formation but suggest that it is crucial for regulating the number, size and localization of ribbons in maturing hair cells, and for ribbon maintenance at the mature synapse.
Αρχαί της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας κατά το έτος 1899
Authors: ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ (ΧΑΕ)
Published: April 2016

no abstract
Λόγος επικήδειος επί του νεκρού Αλεξάνδρου Βαρούχα, πρώτου προέδρου της Χριστιανικής Αρxαιολογικής Εταιρείας ρηθείς εν τω Αθήνησι Μτροπολιτικώ ναώ τη 1 Φεβρουαρίου 1899
Authors: ΛΑΜΠΑΚΗΣ Γεώργιος
Published: April 2016

no abstract
Κομματική επιλογή και αξιολόγηση των πολιτικών: μια κρίσιμη διάσταση του εκλογικού ανταγωνισμού
Authors: Μπεχράκης Θ. , Νικολακόπουλος Ηλ.
Published: April 2016

Δεν διατίθεται περίληψη.
Review of Nikos Daskalothanassis' Ιστορία της τέχνης: H γέννηση μιας νέας επιστήμης από τον 19ο στον 20ό αιώνα
Authors: Yoka Lia
Published: April 2016

Review of Nikos Daskalothanassis, Ιστορία της τέχνης: Η γέννηση μιας νέας επιστήμης από τον 19ο στον 20ό αιώνα [Art history: the birth of a new discipline from the 19th to 20th centuries], Athens: Agra, 2013. 497 pp.
Review Alexis Rappas' Cyprus in the 1930s: British Colonial Rule and the Roots of the Cyprus Conflict
Authors: Braat Eleni
Published: April 2016

Review of Alexis Rappas, Cyprus in the 1930s: British colonial rule and the roots of the Cyprus conflict, London: IB Tauris, 2014. 320 pp.
Review of Manuel Loff, Pilipe Piedade and Luciana Castro Soutelo (eds.), Ditaduras e Revolução: Democracia e Políticas da Memória
Authors: Cardina Miguel
Published: April 2016

Review of Manuel Loff, Filipe Piedade and Luciana Castro Soutelo (eds), Ditaduras e Revolução: Democracia e Políticas da Memória [Dictatorships and revolution: Democracy and politics of memory], Coimbra: Almedina, 2015. 492 pp.
Late this Summer-In Memoriam Vangelis Kechriotis
Authors: Laliotou Ioanna , Karamanolakis Vangelis
Published: April 2016

Obituaries in memoriam Vangelis Kechriotis by I. Laliotou and V. Karamanolakis
International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography Book Prize 2016
Authors: Lorenz Chris FG
Published: April 2016

Applications are now open for the International Commission for the History and Theory of Historiography (ICHTH) International Book Prize and the ICHTH Doctoral Dissertation Prize for the History and Theory of Historiography. Worth $500 each, the prizes are offered alternately for the best doctoral dissertation and book on any aspect of the history and the theory of historiography.
Η αναστοχαστική πράξη των υποψηφίων εκπαιδευτικών κατά την εφαρμογή μιας προσαρμοσμένης εκδοχής του μοντέλου Lesson Study.
Authors: Γιαννακίδου Ελένη , Γιόφτσαλη Κατερίνα , Τζιώρα Ελένη
Published: April 2016

Η εργασία αυτή αποτελεί τον αναστοχασμό μας πάνω στην αναστοχαστική πράξη που ανέπτυξαν οι φοιτητές του Τμήματος Επιστημών της Εκπαίδευσης στην Προσχολική Ηλικία του Δημοκρίτειου Πανεπιστήμιου Θράκης στο πλαίσιο της πρακτικής τους άσκησης. Η πρακτική άσκηση των φοιτητών υλοποιήθηκε υπό τη μορφή μιας προσαρμοσμένης εκδοχής του μοντέλου επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης των εκπαιδευτικών Lesson Study. Κατά την εφαρμογή του Lesson Study, συμμετείχαμε ενεργά ως επόπτριες - νηπιαγωγοί. Στοχαζόμενες πάνω στην εμπειρία μας μέσα από τη μελέτη μιας ομάδας φοιτητών, επιδιώκουμε να διερευνήσουμε και να ερμηνεύσουμε την αναστοχαστική πράξη που ανέπτυξαν οι φοιτητές, καθώς ένας κύριος  λόγος υιοθέτησης του συγκεκριμένου μοντέλου ήταν η επιθυμία διαμόρφωσης στοχαστικο-κριτικών εκπαιδευτικών. Με τα αποτελέσματα αυτής της αρχικής αναστοχαστικής διερεύνησης, καταλήγουμε στην υπόθεση ότι με την εφαρμογή της προσαρμοσμένης εκδοχής του Lesson Study σε συνδυασμό με την εφαρμογή μιας ανοιχτής μαθητοκεντρικής παιδαγωγικής προσέγγισης στο πλαίσιο της σχολικής τάξης,  φαίνεται να δημιουργούνται συνθήκες που ενθαρρύνουν την αναστοχαστική πράξη των φοιτητών. Η υπόθεση αυτή, όπως προκύπτει μέσω του αναστοχασμού της εμπειρίας μας, οφείλει να αποτελέσει στη συνέχεια αντικείμενο συστηματικής διερεύνησης, ώστε να καταλήξουμε σε έγκυρα και αξιόπιστα αποτελέσματα.
Αναζητώντας εκπαιδευτικά «τραύματα»: η χρήση της βιογραφικής μεθόδου στην προσπάθεια αναγνώρισης αποπροσανατολιστικών εκπαιδευτικών βιωμάτων στο πλαίσιο της θεωρίας της μετασχηματίζουσας μάθησης
Authors: Κουλαουζίδης Γεώργιος
Published: April 2016

Σύμφωνα με τη θεωρία της μετασχηματίζουσας μάθησης, η έναρξη μιας μαθησιακής διεργασίας που οδηγεί σε αλλαγή του πλαισίου αναφοράς των ενηλίκων εκπαιδευόμενων έχει τη βάση της σε κάποιο αποπροσανατολιστικό βίωμα. Ωστόσο, όταν τα αποπροσανατολιστικά αυτά βιώματα συνδέονται με μια βιογραφική εμπειρία που έχει σχέση με τη συμμετοχή στην εκπαίδευση, τότε τα βιώματα αυτά είναι δυνατό να αποτελέσουν παράγοντα εγκατάλειψης ή και μη συμμετοχής σε εκπαιδευτικές δραστηριότητες. Στο άρθρο αυτό υποστηρίζουμε, ότι η χρήση της εκπαιδευτικής βιογραφίας ως ερευνητικής μεθόδου μπορεί να βοηθήσει σημαντικά στην ανάδειξη αυτών των βιωμάτων και τεκμηριώνουμε τη θέση μας αυτή μέσα από την παρουσίαση δύο παραδειγμάτων από ανάλογα ερευνητικά εγχειρήματα.
Εκπαιδεύοντας του μελλοντικούς εκπαιδευτικούς: παράγοντες που διαφοροποιούν την μαθησιακή εμπειρία των υποψηφίων εκπαιδευτικών κατά την πρακτική άσκηση.
Authors: Αυγητίδου Σοφία
Published: April 2016

Στην παρούσα έρευνα μελετώνται οι πιθανές διαφοροποιήσεις της μαθησιακής εμπειρίας των μελλοντικών εκπαιδευτικών στο πλαίσιο της πρακτικής τους άσκησης και αναζητούνται οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη διαφοροποίηση αυτής της εμπειρίας.  4 μελέτες περίπτωσης υποψηφίων εκπαιδευτικών εξετάζονται σε διάρκεια ενός χρόνου ως προς τις πεποιθήσεις και τις πρακτικές τους πριν, κατά και μετά την υλοποίηση της εκπαιδευτικής πράξης.  Για τη συσχέτιση των πεποιθήσεων και των πρακτικών των υποψηφίων εκπαιδευτικών επιλέχτηκαν ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις πριν και μετά την ανάληψη εκπαιδευτικού έργου καθώς και παρατηρήσεις και βιντεοσκοπήσεις της εκπαιδευτικής τους πράξης.  Τα αποτελέσματα ανέδειξαν διαφοροποιημένες πεποιθήσεις και πρακτικές των υποψηφίων εκπαιδευτικών κατά την πρακτική τους άσκηση λόγω προσωπικών παραγόντων, διαφορών στις προσωπικές τους θεωρίες,  στην επάρκεια απαραίτητων γνώσεων και δεξιοτήτων καθώς και στην ικανότητα στοχασμού τους πάνω στην πράξη.
Προσδοκίες μαθητών της ΣΤ΄ Τάξης Δημοτικού Σχολείου αναφορικά με τη φοίτηση και μετάβασή τους στο Γυμνάσιο
Authors: Σιδηρόπουλος Δημήτριος Αλέξανδρος
Published: April 2016

Ο σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας πεδίου ήταν η διερεύνηση των προσδοκιών των μαθητών της ΣΤ΄ Τάξης του Δημοτικού Σχολείου αναφορικά με έξι (6) εκπαιδευτικές και ψυχοκοινωνικές παραμέτρους της λειτουργίας του Γυμνασίου. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων έγινε μέσω ενός αυτοσχέδιου γραπτού ερωτηματολογίου στάσεων με επτά (7) ερωτήσεις ανοιχτού τύπου. Το ερωτηματολόγιο συμπλήρωσαν 286 μαθητές δεκατριών (13) δημόσιων Δημοτικών Σχολείων του Κέντρου της Θεσσαλονίκης, το Μάιο του 2015. Η επεξεργασία του πραγματολογικού υλικού των γραπτών απαντήσεων των μαθητών έγινε με τη μέθοδο της Θεμελιωμένης Θεωρίας. Σύμφωνα με τα ευρήματα της έρευνας, τα περισσότερα αγόρια και τα περισσότερα κορίτσια του δείγματος: α) είχαν θετικές προσδοκίες ως προς τη σύναψη σχέσεων με συνομηλίκους και τη μη εμπλοκή τους σε περιστατικά σχολικού εκφοβισμού στο Γυμνάσιο, β) είχαν αρνητικές προσδοκίες ως προς τη μάθηση νέων γνωστικών αντικειμένων, την επίτευξη υψηλών επιδόσεων στα γραπτά διαγωνίσματα και στις προαγωγικές εξετάσεις και την ύπαρξη θεσμικών κυρώσεων στο Γυμνάσιο και γ) δεν είχαν ούτε θετικές ούτε αρνητικές προσδοκίες ως προς τη σύναψη σχέσεων με τους εκπαιδευτικούς του Γυμνασίου. Με βάση τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας χρειάζεται να σχεδιαστούν στοχευμένες εκπαιδευτικές δράσεις διετούς διάρκειας, υπό την καθοδήγηση των σχολικών συμβούλων δημοτικής και δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης και την εποπτεία του Υπουργείου Παιδείας, στις οποίες περιλαμβάνονται: α) η εκπόνηση εξειδικευμένων εκπαιδευτικών προγραμμάτων μετάβασης από τους αρμόδιους φορείς (Κέντρα Συμβουλευτικής και Προσανατολισμού, Πανεπιστήμια), β) η αρχική και ενδο-υπηρεσιακή εκπαίδευση των εκπαιδευτικών της δημοτικής και δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στην εφαρμογή των παραπάνω προγραμμάτων και γ) η διεπιστημονική υποστήριξη εκπαιδευτικών και γονέων από ειδικούς της ψυχο-κοινωνικής υγείας στα θέματα της μετάβασης. Το πιο σημαντικό όμως είναι να θεσπιστεί μία νέα κοινωνικο-εκπαιδευτική πολιτική από το Ινστιτούτο Εκπαιδευτικής Πολιτικής, που να προάγει τη συνοχή και συνέχεια της αγωγής και μάθησης από το Δημοτικό Σχολείο στο Γυμνάσιο. Ως προς αυτό το σκοπό χρειάζεται  να συγκροτηθεί ένα ενιαίο και κοινό πλαίσιο λειτουργίας των δύο εκπαιδευτικών ιδρυμάτων σε επίπεδο σκοπών, περιεχομένου και μεθοδολογίας. Ως αποτέλεσμα, οι απόφοιτοι μαθητές του Δημοτικού Σχολείου θα έχουν αποκτήσει βασικές ψυχοκοινωνικές δεξιότητες και θετικές προσδοκίες για να προσαρμοστούν στο νέο σχολικό περιβάλλον του Γυμνασίου υπό τις πιο ήπιες και ομαλές ψυχοκοινωνικές συνθήκες.

 
Πρόσβαση στην ανώτατη εκπαίδευση και κοινωνικές ανισότητες: Τα κοινωνικά χαρακτηριστικά των φοιτητών των Σχολών Επιστημών Αγωγής
Authors: Θάνος Θεόδωρος
Published: April 2016

Στο παρόν άρθρο εξετάζονται τα κοινωνικά χαρακτηριστικά των φοιτητών των Σχολών Επιστημών Αγωγής με βάση το επάγγελμα και το επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης των γονέων αλλά και το φύλο, κατά τη δεκαετία του 2000. Βασίζεται στα δεδομένα έρευνας που έχει ως πληθυσμό αναφοράς τους φοιτητές των Σχολών Επιστημών Αγωγής και πηγή των στατιστικών στοιχείων τις Στατιστικές της Εκπαίδευσης της Ελληνικής Στατιστικής Αρχής. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας, παρά την αύξηση των "βάσεων" εισαγωγής στις Σχολές Επιστημών Αγωγής και ιδιαίτερα στα Παιδαγωγικά Τμήματα Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης κατά τη δεκαετία του 2000, περισσότερες πιθανότητες εισαγωγής εμφανίζουν οι φοιτητές με γονείς που έχουν χαμηλό κοινωνικοοικονομικό και εκπαιδευτικό κεφάλαιο και οι γυναίκες ως προς το φύλο. Στο εσωτερικό των Σχολών Επιστημών Αγωγής, οι φοιτητές δεν διαφοροποιούνται μεταξύ τους εκτός από εκείνους που έχουν γονείς που ασκούν επιστημονικά επαγγέλματα και απόφοιτους Λυκείου καθώς και τους άνδρες, οι οποίοι εμφανίζουν υψηλότερες πιθανότητες εισαγωγής στα Παιδαγωγικά Τμήματα Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης και χαμηλότερες στα Παιδαγωγικά Τμήματα Νηπιαγωγών
Number sense in early and elementary mathematics education
Authors: Torbeyns Joke , Obersteiner Andreas , Verschaffel Lieven
Published: April 2016

no abstract
Βρεττανικός Αστήρ (18601863): Ο κοσμοπολίτικος χαρακτήρας της ελληνικής εφημερίδας του Λονδίνου και η εγκυρότητα των περιεχομένων της
Authors: Παπαϊωάννου Αριστούλα
Published: April 2016

Το παρόν άρθρο εστιάζει στον πολυσχιδή χαρακτήρα της ελληνικής εφημερίδας Βρεττανικός Αστήρ και αναλύει τη σχεδιαστική δομή της ύλης, η οποία διακρίνεται από τρεις κύριους άξονες: την πολιτική, το εμπόριο και τα κοινωνικά θέματα και ζητήματα της εποχής. Ο πρωτοεκδόθηκε τον Ιούλιο του 1860 στο Λονδίνο της Μεγάλης Βρετανίας από τον συγγραφέα, δημοσιογράφο και επιχειρηματία Στέφανο Ξένο (18211894). Κύριος στόχος του Στ. Ξένου ήταν η παραγωγή ενός ελληνικού πνευματικού έργου με τη μορφή της εφημερίδας σύμφωνα με τα χαρακτηριστικά αντίστοιχων έργων του δυτικού κόσμου (Winston, 2005; Cole & Harcup, 2010). Η θεματική διάρθρωση της εφημερίδας διαφαίνεται από το πρώτο φύλλο της έκδοσης και τηρείται με συνέπεια καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της κυκλοφορίας της. Κατά διαστήματα και ανάλογα πάντα με τις απαιτήσεις του αναγνωστικού κοινού και το πολιτικό και κοινωνικό γίγνεσθαι της εποχής, παρεμβάλλονται στην ύλη της εφημερίδας θεματικά αφιερώματα, αναλύσεις, κείμενα αλληλογραφίας. Καθώς μελετά κανείς την πληροφοριακή αξία και το χαρακτήρα του Βρεττανικού Αστέρα, διαπιστώνει ότι η ελληνική εφημερίδα του Στ. Ξένου περιέχει σημαντικό πρωτογενές υλικό και αποτελεί σπάνια ιστορική πηγή για τις δραστηριότητες του παροικιακού ελληνισμού και τη σχέση του με τις πολιτικές εξελίξεις στην Ελλάδα κατά τα τελευταία χρόνια της βασιλείας του Όθωνα (18321862) (Καυκαλίδης, 1998). Στόχος του παρόντος άρθρου είναι να παρουσιάσει, με έμφαση στο πρώτο έτος κυκλοφορίας, την ταυτότητα της εφημερίδας και τις θεματικές της κατευθύνσεις, όπως αυτές διαπιστώθηκαν μέσα από την έρευνα της δομικής σχεδίασης του περιεχομένου και των στόχων του δημιουργού της αλλά και να υπογραμμίσει τη σημασία της πρόσβασης στην ύλη των παλαιότερων περιοδικών και των εφημερίδων με τη βοήθεια των σύγχρονων μέσων διάθεσης αυτής της ύλης στο αναγνωστικό κοινό.
Η σχέση της γνωστικής γήρανσης με την οσφρητική ικανότητα: Σύγκριση νέων, μεσηλίκων και ηλικιωμένων ως προς την ικανότητα ταυτοποίησης οσμών
Authors: Κουκλίδου Βασιλική , Σφακιανάκη Ουρανία , Μωραΐτου Δέσποινα , Παπαντωνίου Γεωργία , Μασούρα Ελβίρα
Published: April 2016

Η παρούσα έρευνα αποσκοπούσε να εξετάσει τη σχέση της γνωστικής γήρανσης με την οσφρητική ικανότητα. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτελούνταν από 75 άτομα ηλικίας 20 έως 90 ετών, κατανεμημένα ισομερώς σε τρεις ομάδες με βάση την ηλικία: στους «Νέους Ενήλικες» (20-28 ετών), στους «Μεσήλικες» (48-58 ετών) και στους «Ηλικιωμένους» (75-90 ετών). Σε όλους τους συμμετέχοντες χορηγήθηκαν δοκιμασίες μέτρησης των εκτελεστικών λειτουργιών, μια δοκιμασία μέτρησης της εργαζόμενης μνήμης και η σχεδιασμένη και αναπτυγμένη για τους σκοπούς της παρούσας έρευνας, Δοκιμασία Οσφρητικής Ταυτοποίησης (ΔΟΤ). Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι η γνωστική γήρανση συνδέεται αρνητικά με την οσφρητική ικανότητα. Ειδικότερα, διαφάνηκε ότι σε σύγκριση τόσο με τους νέους όσο και με τους μεσήλικες, οι ηλικιωμένοι έχουν σημαντικά χαμηλότερη ικανότητα ταυτοποίησης οσμών. Επίσης, βρέθηκε ότι η προϊούσα ηλικία συνδέεται με έκπτωση των υψηλής ιεραρχίας γνωστικών λειτουργιών, κι αυτές συνδέονται με την οσφρητική ικανότητα. Ωστόσο, αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι το μορφωτικό επίπεδο αποτελεί εμπλεκόμενη μεταβλητή στις σχέσεις αυτές.
Αποκλείοντας τα Κορίτσια: Κορίτσια και Μαθηματικά Βιβλιοπαρουσίαση με μια κριτική θεώρηση
Authors: Σταθοπούλου Χαρούλα
Published: April 2016

"Δεν παρατίθεται περίληψη"
Πρόταση Ανάλυσης της Διδακτικής Διάστασης των Σχολικών Εγχειριδίων. Εφαρμογή στο Μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών
Authors: Στογιαννίδης Αθανάσιος , Κουτσουπιάς Νίκος
Published: April 2016

Με την παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζουμε μια πρόταση ανάλυσης της διδακτικής διάστασης σχολικών εγχειριδίων. Η πρόταση αυτή συνιστά μια νέα μέθοδο έρευνας πάνω στα σχολικά εγχειρίδια, την οποίαν ονομάσαμε Γεωμετρική Διδακτική Ανάλυση (Geometric Didactic Analysis – Ge.Di.An.). Με τον όρο «διδακτική ανάλυση» αναφερόμαστε σε δύο πτυχές έρευνας: α. πρώτον, στη διερεύνηση της διδακτικής καταλληλότητας ενός σχολικού εγχειριδίου. β. στη σχέση που διαμορφώνεται ανάμεσα στα περιεχόμενα και στον τρόπο με τον οποίο τα περιεχόμενα αυτά προσφέρονται κατά τη διδασκαλία.  Η έρευνά μας χρησιμοποιεί ως μονάδες ανάλυσης όλα τα μέσα ελέγχου της μάθησης, όπως π.χ. ερωτήσεις, εργασίες κτλ. Το καινοτόμο στοιχείο της μεθόδου έγκειται, στο ότι συνδέει γνωστές ταξινομίες, που αναπτύχθηκαν στον χώρο της Διδακτικής, με μεθόδους Πολυμεταβλητής Στατιστικής Ανάλυσης, και ως εκ τούτου, εξάγει ομαδοποιήσεις ποιοτικών χαρακτηριστικών με διδακτικό ενδιαφέρον. Στην ανά χείρας εργασία εφαρμόζουμε τη Γεωμετρική Διδακτική Ανάλυση στις τέσσερις διδακτικές ενότητες που υπάρχουν στο Β’ κεφάλαιο του βιβλίου μαθητή, για το Μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών της Α’ Γυμνασίου στην Ελλάδα. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνάς μας, μας οδηγούν στο συμπέρασμα, ότι ορισμένες διδακτικές επιλογές στις οποίες προέβησαν οι συγγραφείς των υπό εξέταση διδακτικών ενοτήτων, παρουσιάζουν ερωτηματικά και προβλήματα. Ως εκ τούτου, θα πρέπει να αναθεωρηθούν.
Παρουσίαση Βιβλίου Ρέντζου, Κ., Σακελλαρίου, Μ. (2014). Ο χώρος ως παιδαγωγικό πεδίο σε προσχολικά περιβάλλοντα μάθησης. Σχεδιασμός και οργάνωση. Αθήνα: Πεδίο
Authors: Γερμανός Δημήτρης
Published: April 2016

"δεν παρατίθεται περίληψη"
Recent advances in understanding and treating ARDS
Authors: Baron Rebecca M. , Levy Bruce D.
Published: April 2016

Acute respiratory distress syndrome represents a complex syndrome with considerable morbidity and mortality, for which there exist no targeted treatment strategies. However, recent advances in clinical care have improved outcomes, and we will review a number of these approaches here, as well as explore the mechanisms underlying the benefit of intervention that might point us in the direction toward future treatment and preventive strategies for this devastating syndrome.
Report on noninvasive prenatal testing: classical and alternative approaches
Authors: Pantiukh Kateryna S. , Chekanov Nikolay N. , Zaigrin Igor V. , Zotov Alexei M. , Mazur Alexander M. , Prokhortchouk Egor B.
Published: April 2016

Concerns of traditional prenatal aneuploidy testing methods, such as low accuracy of noninvasive and health risks associated with invasive procedures, were overcome with the introduction of novel noninvasive methods based on genetics (NIPT). These were rapidly adopted into clinical practice in many countries after a series of successful trials of various independent submethods.

Here we present results of own NIPT trial carried out in Moscow, Russia. 1012 samples were subjected to the method aimed at measuring chromosome coverage by massive parallel sequencing. Two alternative approaches are ascertained: one based on maternal/fetal differential methylation and another based on allelic difference. While the former failed to provide stable results, the latter was found to be promising and worthy of conducting a large-scale trial.

One critical point in any NIPT approach is the determination of fetal cell-free DNA fraction, which dictates the reliability of obtained results for a given sample. We show that two different chromosome Y representation measures—by real-time PCR and by whole-genome massive parallel sequencing—are practically interchangeable (r=0.94). We also propose a novel method based on maternal/fetal allelic difference which is applicable in pregnancies with fetuses of either sex. Even in its pilot form it correlates well with chromosome Y coverage estimates (r=0.74) and can be further improved by increasing the number of polymorphisms.
Normative data for Lezak’s Tinkertoy test in healthy Italian adults
Authors: Crippa Franca , Cesana Luca , Daini Roberta
Published: April 2016

The Tinkertoy test is a tool for the neuropsychological assessment of executive functions and a predictor of employability. Originally a children’s toy comprising pieces to assemble freely, the TinkerToy Test examines organizational abilities, planning, and response flexibility. It allows subjects to use their own initiative and does not force them to choose from a series of predetermined alternatives. Tinkertoy test normative values were collected from 256 neurologically healthy Italian subjects.

Multivariable analysis showed sex and education to have significant confounding effects. Adjusted and inferential cut-off points were determined and converted into equivalent scores, applying a distribution-free technique.
Uptake of dietary milk miRNAs by adult humans: a validation study
Authors: Auerbach Amanda , Vyas Gopi , Li Anne , Halushka Marc , Witwer Kenneth W.
Published: April 2016

Breast milk is replete with nutritional content as well as nucleic acids including microRNAs (miRNAs). In a recent report, adult humans who drank bovine milk appeared to have increased circulating levels of miRNAs miR-29b-3p and miR-200c-3p. Since these miRNAs are homologous between human and cow, these results could be explained by xeno-miRNA influx, endogenous miRNA regulation, or both. More data were needed to validate the results and explore for additional milk-related alterations in circulating miRNAs. Samples from the published study were obtained, and 223 small RNA features were profiled with a custom OpenArray, followed by individual quantitative PCR assays for selected miRNAs. Additionally, small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data obtained from plasma samples of the same project were analyzed to find human and uniquely bovine miRNAs. OpenArray revealed no significantly altered miRNA signals after milk ingestion, and this was confirmed by qPCR. Plasma sequencing data contained no miR-29b or miR-200c reads and no intake-consistent mapping of uniquely bovine miRNAs. In conclusion, the results do not support transfer of dietary xenomiRs into the circulation of adult humans.