bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomimetic substrate control of cellular mechanotransduction
Authors: Andalib Mohammad Nahid , Dzenis Yuris , Donahue Henry J. , Lim Jung Yul
Published: April 2016

Extracellular mechanophysical signals from both static substrate cue and dynamic mechanical loading have strong potential to regulate cell functions. Most of the studies have adopted either static or dynamic cue and shown that each cue can regulate cell adhesion, spreading, migration, proliferation, lineage commitment, and differentiation. However, there is limited information on the integrative control of cell functions by the static and dynamic mechanophysical signals. For example, a majority of dynamic loading studies have tested mechanical stimulation of cells utilizing cultures on flat surfaces without any surface modification. While these approaches have provided significant information on cell mechanotransduction, obtained outcomes may not correctly recapitulate complex cellular mechanosensing milieus in vivo. Several pioneering studies documented cellular response to mechanical stimulations upon cultures with biomimetic substrate modifications. In this min-review, we will highlight key findings on the integrative role of substrate cue (topographic, geometric, etc.) and mechanical stimulation (stretch, fluid shear) in modulating cell function and fate. The integrative approaches, though not fully established yet, will help properly understand cell mechanotransduction under biomimetic mechanophysical environments. This may further lead to advanced functional tissue engineering and regenerative medicine protocols.
Autophagy suppresses host adaptive immune responses toward Borrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Buffen Kathrin , Oosting Marije , Li Yang , Kanneganti Thirumala-Devi , Netea Mihai G , Joosten Leo A B
Published: April 2016

We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of autophagy increased the Borrelia burgdorferi induced innate cytokine production in vitro, but little is known regarding the effect of autophagy on in vivo models of Borrelia infection. Here, we showed that ATG7-deficient mice that were intra-articular injected with Borrelia spirochetes displayed increased joint swelling, cell influx, and enhanced interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 production by inflamed synovial tissue. Because both interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 are linked to the development of adaptive immune responses, we examine the function of autophagy on Borrelia induced adaptive immunity. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with autophagy inhibitors showed an increase in interleukin-17, interleukin-22, and interferon-γ production in response to exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi. Increased IL-17 production was dependent on IL-1β release but, interestingly, not on interleukin-23 production. In addition, cytokine quantitative trait loci in ATG9B modulate the Borrelia induced interleukin-17 production. Because high levels of IL-17 have been found in patients with confirmed, severe, chronic borreliosis, we propose that the modulation of autophagy may be a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with persistent Lyme disease.
Efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of depression
Authors: Hallahan Brian , Ryan Timothy , Hibbeln Joseph R. , Murray Ivan T. , Glynn Shauna , Ramsden Christopher E. , SanGiovanni John Paul , Davis John M.
Published: April 2016

Background

Trials evaluating efficacy of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in major depressive disorder report discrepant findings.

Aims

To establish the reasons underlying inconsistent findings among randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of omega-3 HUFAs for depression and to assess implications for further trials.

Method

A systematic bibliographic search of double-blind RCTs was conducted between January 1980 and July 2014 and an exploratory hypothesis-testing meta-analysis performed in 35 RCTs including 6665 participants receiving omega-3 HUFAs and 4373 participants receiving placebo.

Results

Among participants with diagnosed depression, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-predominant formulations (>50% EPA) demonstrated clinical benefits compared with placebo (Hedge'sG= 0.61,P<0.001) whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-predominant formulations (>50% DHA) did not. EPA failed to prevent depressive symptoms among populations not diagnosed for depression.

Conclusions

Further RCTs should be conducted on study populations with diagnosed or clinically significant depression of adequate duration using EPA-predominant omega-3 HUFA formulations.
Impact of loneliness and depression on mortality: Results from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam
Authors: Holwerda Tjalling J. , van Tilburg Theo G. , Deeg Dorly J. H. , Schutter Natasja , Van Rien , Dekker Jack , Stek Max L. , Beekman Aartjan T. F. , Schoevers Robert A.
Published: April 2016

Background

Loneliness is highly prevalent among older people, has serious health consequences and is an important predictor of mortality. Loneliness and depression may unfavourably interact with each other over time but data on this topic are scarce.

Aims

To determine whether loneliness is associated with excess mortality after 19 years of follow-up and whether the joint effect with depression confers further excess mortality.

Method

Different aspects of loneliness were measured with the De Jong Gierveld scale and depression with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in a cohort of 2878 people aged 55–85 with 19 years of follow-up. Excess mortality hypotheses were tested with Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses controlling for potential confounders.

Results

At follow-up loneliness and depression were associated with excess mortality in older men and women in bivariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, severe depression was associated with excess mortality in men who were lonely but not in women.

Conclusions

Loneliness and depression are important predictors of early death in older adults. Severe depression has a strong association with excess mortality in older men who were lonely, indicating a lethal combination in this group.
Clinical outcomes and mortality associated with weekend
admission to psychiatric hospital
Authors: Patel Rashmi , Chesney Edward , Cullen Alexis E. , Tulloch Alex D. , Broadbent Matthew , Stewart Robert , McGuire Philip
Published: April 2016

Background

Studies indicate that risk of mortality is higher for patients admitted
to acute hospitals at the weekend. However, less is known about clinical
outcomes among patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals.

Aims

To investigate whether weekend admission to a psychiatric hospital is
associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Method

Data were obtained from 45 264 consecutive psychiatric hospital
admissions. The association of weekend admission with in-patient
mortality, duration of hospital admission and risk of readmission was
investigated using multivariable regression analyses. Secondary analyses
were performed to investigate the distribution of admissions, discharges,
in-patient mortality, episodes of seclusion and violent incidents on
different days of the week.

Results

There were 7303 weekend admissions (16.1%). Patients who were aged
between 26 and 35 years, female or from a minority ethnic group were more
likely to be admitted at the weekend. Patients admitted at the weekend
were more likely to present via acute hospital services, other
psychiatric hospitals and the criminal justice system than to be admitted
directly from their own home. Weekend admission was associated with a
shorter duration of admission (B coefficient –21.1 days,
95% CI –24.6 to –17.6, P<0.001) and an increased risk
of readmission in the 12 months following index admission (incidence rate
ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.18, P<0.001), but
in-patient mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 0.79, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.23,
P = 0.30) was not greater than for weekday admission.
Fewer episodes of seclusion occurred at the weekend but there was no
significant variation in deaths during hospital admission or violent
incidents on different days of the week.

Conclusions

Being admitted at the weekend was not associated with an increased risk
of in-patient mortality. However, patients admitted at the weekend had
shorter admissions and were more likely to be readmitted, suggesting that
they may represent a different clinical population to those admitted
during the week. This is an important consideration if mental healthcare
services are to be implemented across a 7-day week.
The People with Asperger syndrome and anxiety disorders (PAsSA) trial: a pilot multicentre, single-blind randomised trial of group cognitive–behavioural therapy
Authors: Langdon Peter E. , Murphy Glynis H. , Shepstone Lee , Wilson Edward C.F. , Fowler David , Heavens David , Russell Alexandra , Rose Alice , Malovic Aida , Mullineaux Louise
Published: April 2016

Background

There is a growing interest in using cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) with people who have Asperger syndrome and comorbid mental health problems.

Aims

To examine whether modified group CBT for clinically significant anxiety in an Asperger syndrome population is feasible and likely to be efficacious.

Method

Using a randomised assessor-blind trial, 52 individuals with Asperger syndrome were randomised into a treatment arm or a waiting-list control arm. After 24 weeks, those in the waiting-list control arm received treatment, while those initially randomised to treatment were followed up for 24 weeks.

Results

The conversion rate for this trial was high (1.6:1), while attrition was 13%. After 24 weeks, there was no significant difference between those randomised to the treatment arm compared with those randomised to the waiting-list control arm on the primary outcome measure, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety.

Conclusions

Trials of psychological therapies with this population are feasible. Larger definitive trials are now needed.
Feasibility of Report Cards for Measuring Anesthesiologist Quality for Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Glance Laurent G. , Hannan Edward L. , Fleisher Lee A. , Eaton Michael P. , Dutton Richard P. , Lustik Stewart J. , Li Yue , Dick Andrew W.
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND:

In creating the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, Congress has mandated pay-for-performance (P4P) for all physicians, including anesthesiologists. There are currently no National Quality Forum–endorsed risk-adjusted outcome metrics for anesthesiologists to use as the basis for P4P.

METHODS:

Using clinical data from the New York State Cardiac Surgery Reporting System, we conducted a retrospective observational study of 55,436 patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2009 and 2012. Hierarchical logistic regression modeling was used to examine the variation in in-hospital mortality or major complications (Q-wave myocardial infarction, renal failure, stroke, and respiratory failure) among anesthesiologists, controlling for patient demographics, severity of disease, comorbidities, and hospital quality.

RESULTS:

Although the variation in performance among anesthesiologists was statistically significant (P = 0.025), none of the anesthesiologists in the sample was classified as a high- or low-performance outliers. The contribution of anesthesiologists to outcomes represented 0.51% of the overall variability in patient outcomes (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.0051; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.002–0.014), whereas the contribution of hospitals to patient outcomes was 2.90% (ICC = 0.029; 95% CI, 0.017–0.050). The anesthesiologist median odds ratio (MOR) was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.08–1.24), suggesting that the variation between anesthesiologist was modest, whereas the hospital MOR was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.25–1.48). In a separate analysis, the contribution of surgeons to overall outcomes represented 1.76% of the overall variability in patient outcomes (ICC = 0.018, 95% CI, 0.010–0.031), and the surgeon MOR was 1.26 (95% CI, 1.19–1.37). Twelve of the surgeons were identified as performance outliers.

CONCLUSIONS:

The impact of anesthesiologists on the total variability in cardiac surgical outcomes was probably about one-fourth as large as the surgeons’ contribution. None of the anesthesiologists caring for cardiac surgical patients in New York State over a 3+ year period were identified as performance outliers. The use of a performance metric based on death or major complications for P4P may not be feasible for cardiac anesthesiologists.
Survival of glucose phosphate isomerase null somatic cells and germ cells in adult mouse chimaeras
Authors: Keighren Margaret A. , Flockhart Jean H. , West John D.
Published: April 2016

The mouse Gpi1 gene encodes the glycolytic enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase. Homozygous Gpi1−/− null mouse embryos die but a previous study showed that some homozygous Gpi1−/− null cells survived when combined with wild-type cells in fetal chimaeras. One adult female Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c chimaera with functional Gpi1−/− null oocytes was also identified in a preliminary study. The aims were to characterise the survival of Gpi1−/− null cells in adult Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c chimaeras and determine if Gpi1−/− null germ cells are functional. Analysis of adult Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c chimaeras with pigment and a reiterated transgenic lineage marker showed that low numbers of homozygous Gpi1−/− null cells could survive in many tissues of adult chimaeras, including oocytes. Breeding experiments confirmed that Gpi1−/− null oocytes in one female Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c chimaera were functional and provided preliminary evidence that one male putative Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c chimaera produced functional spermatozoa from homozygous Gpi1−/− null germ cells. Although the male chimaera was almost certainly Gpi1−/−↔Gpi1c/c, this part of the study is considered preliminary because only blood was typed for GPI. Gpi1−/− null germ cells should survive in a chimaeric testis if they are supported by wild-type Sertoli cells. It is also feasible that spermatozoa could bypass a block at GPI, but not blocks at some later steps in glycolysis, by using fructose, rather than glucose, as the substrate for glycolysis. Although chimaera analysis proved inefficient for studying the fate of Gpi1−/− null germ cells, it successfully identified functional Gpi1−/− null oocytes and revealed that some Gpi1−/− null cells could survive in many adult tissues.
The central element of the synaptonemal complex in mice is organized as a bilayered junction structure
Authors: Hernández-Hernández Abrahan , Masich Sergej , Fukuda Tomoyuki , Kouznetsova Anna , Sandin Sara , Daneholt Bertil , Höög Christer
Published: April 2016

The synaptonemal complex transiently stabilizes pairing interactions between homologous chromosomes during meiosis. Assembly of the synaptonemal complex is mediated through integration of opposing transverse filaments into a central element, a process that is poorly understood. We have, here, analyzed the localization of the transverse filament protein SYCP1 and the central element proteins SYCE1, SYCE2 and SYCE3 within the central region of the synaptonemal complex in mouse spermatocytes using immunoelectron microscopy. Distribution of immuno-gold particles in a lateral view of the synaptonemal complex, supported by protein interaction data, suggest that the N-terminal region of SYCP1 and SYCE3 form a joint bilayered central structure, and that SYCE1 and SYCE2 localize in between the two layers. We find that disruption of SYCE2 and TEX12 (a fourth central element protein) localization to the central element abolishes central alignment of the N-terminal region of SYCP1. Thus, our results show that all four central element proteins, in an interdependent manner, contribute to stabilization of opposing N-terminal regions of SYCP1, forming a bilayered transverse-filament–central-element junction structure that promotes synaptonemal complex formation and synapsis.
Using in-cell SHAPE-Seq and simulations to probe structure–function design principles of RNA transcriptional regulators
Authors: Takahashi Melissa K. , Watters Kyle E. , Gasper Paul M. , Abbott Timothy R. , Carlson Paul D. , Chen Alan A. , Lucks Julius B.
Published: April 2016

Antisense RNA-mediated transcriptional regulators are powerful tools for controlling gene expression and creating synthetic gene networks. RNA transcriptional repressors derived from natural mechanisms called attenuators are particularly versatile, though their mechanistic complexity has made them difficult to engineer. Here we identify a new structure–function design principle for attenuators that enables the forward engineering of new RNA transcriptional repressors. Using in-cell SHAPE-Seq to characterize the structures of attenuator variants within Escherichia coli, we show that attenuator hairpins that facilitate interaction with antisense RNAs require interior loops for proper function. Molecular dynamics simulations of these attenuator variants suggest these interior loops impart structural flexibility. We further observe hairpin flexibility in the cellular structures of natural RNA mechanisms that use antisense RNA interactions to repress translation, confirming earlier results from in vitro studies. Finally, we design new transcriptional attenuators in silico using an interior loop as a structural requirement and show that they function as desired in vivo. This work establishes interior loops as an important structural element for designing synthetic RNA gene regulators. We anticipate that the coupling of experimental measurement of cellular RNA structure and function with computational modeling will enable rapid discovery of structure–function design principles for a diverse array of natural and synthetic RNA regulators.
Δωρεαί εις το Χριστιανικόν Αρχαιολογικόν Μουσείον κατά το έτος 1900
Authors: ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ (ΧΑΕ)
Published: April 2016

no abstract
Ευρωπαϊκός Νότος: σε αναζήτηση του πολίτη και της πολιτικής
Authors: Καφετζής Π.
Published: April 2016

Δεν διατίθεται περίληψη.
Back to the revolution: The 1974 Portuguese spring and its "austere anniversary"
Authors: Accornero Guya
Published: April 2016

The 40th anniversary of the Portuguese revolution took place in 2014 in a context of deep social and economic crisis. In common with Greek, Spanish, and to an extent, Italian citizens, the Portuguese had suffered, in the previous three years, from the imposition of drastic austerity measures of fiscal contraction. These measures, aside from worsening the economic situation and increasing unemployment, have deeply undermined what in the country are considered the “conquests” of the 25 April 1974 revolution that ushered in Portugal’s democracy – a set of social rights in terms of labour law, healthcare and access to education. As in other countries, these conditions have not gone unchallenged by civil society, and there has been an intensification of protest. If the “conquests of April” seem to be targeted in particular by the austerity measures, references to the revolution have returned to be a constant element in the contestation of the “troika’s” impositions.
They called it democracy? The aesthetic politics of the Spanish transition to democracy and some collective hijackings of history after the 15M movement
Authors: Labrador Méndez Germán
Published: April 2016

This article studies the imaginaries of political change available during the Spanish transition to democracy (1973–1982) and their new political usages by the Spanish 15M Occupy movement in the context of the 2008–2014 economic crisis. I argue that protesters are now rediscovering the old symbols used against Franco’s dictatorship and adapting them to the new political circumstances, through graffiti, slogans, artistic performances and other ephemeral materials.
Review of Thomas Gallant's The Edinburgh History of the Greeks, 1768 to 1913: The Long Nineteenth Century
Authors: Zanou Konstantina
Published: April 2016

Review of Thomas W. Gallant, The Edinburgh History of the Greeks, 1768 to 1913: The Long Nineteenth Century, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2015, viii + 372 pp
Οι ατομικές συνεντεύξεις ως μέσο γνωριμίας με τα παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας: Εμπειρίες αρχάριων φοιτητών
Authors: Μπιρμπίλη Μαρία , Παπανδρέου Μαρία , Γρηγοριάδης Αθανάσιος , Ιππέκη Βίκυ
Published: April 2016

     Ανάμεσα στις βασικές ικανότητες που πρέπει να αναπτύξουν κατά την αρχική εκπαίδευσή τους οι υποψήφιοι εκπαιδευτικοί, είναι η ικανότητα αναγνώρισης και κατανόησης των ιδιαίτερων χαρακτηριστικών των παιδιών μιας τάξης και η ικανότητα επικοινωνίας μαζί τους. Με στόχο την ανάπτυξη των παραπάνω ικανοτήτων μια από τις πιο συνηθισμένες στρατηγικές στις οποίες καλούνται να εξασκηθούν οι υποψήφιοι εκπαιδευτικοί, κατά τη διάρκεια των σπουδών τους, είναι οι ατομικές συνεντεύξεις με παιδιά.

     Κατά τη διάρκεια της Α’ φάσης του προγράμματος της Πρακτικής Άσκησης του Τμήματος Επιστημών Προσχολικής Αγωγής και Εκπαίδευσης του Αριστοτέλειου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι ατομικές συνεντεύξεις εκπαιδευτικών-παιδιών ως ένα εργαλείο που μπορεί να δώσει στους υποψήφιους εκπαιδευτικούς τη δυνατότητα να εξοικειωθούν με τεχνικές διατύπωσης ερωτήσεων και επικοινωνίας με μικρά παιδιά και να προσεγγίσουν τον τρόπο σκέψης αυτής της ηλικίας.

     Μετά τη συνέντευξη με ένα παιδί της δικής τους επιλογής, οι φοιτήτριες κλήθηκαν να απαντήσουν σε ερωτήσεις που αφορούσαν το σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση των ατομικών συνεντεύξεων με στόχο τη διερεύνηση των απόψεών τους για το συγκεκριμένο εργαλείο ως «μέσο γνωριμίας» με τα παιδιά. Η ανάλυση των απαντήσεων 114 φοιτητριών δίνει χρήσιμες πληροφορίες για τις αντιλήψεις των φοιτητών σχετικά με τα χαρακτηριστικά και τις δυνατότητες των παιδιών της προσχολικής ηλικίας και τη χρησιμότητα, ή μη της ατομικής συνέντευξης ως διδακτικό εργαλείο. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι η συνέντευξη με τα παιδιά μπορεί να αποτελέσει μια αποτελεσματική στρατηγική κατά την αρχική εκπαίδευση των εκπαιδευτικών, για την ευαισθητοποίηση και τη γνωριμία τους με τα παιδιά της προσχολικής ηλικίας.
Η επαγγελματική ανάπτυξη και ικανοποίηση των αποσπασμένων εκπαιδευτικών από την ενασχόλησή τους με την πρακτική άσκηση των φοιτητών
Authors: Μπότσογλου Καφένια
Published: April 2016

Οι πρακτικές ασκήσεις των φοιτητών των παιδαγωγικών τμημάτων  είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένες με την  εμπλοκή και υποστήριξη των αποσπασμένων εκπαιδευτικών. Η παρουσία τους αποτελεί έναν συνδετικό κρίκο ανάμεσα στο πανεπιστήμιο και στο σχολείο και είναι εκείνοι που με την καθημερινή τους επαφή  με τους φοιτητές, τους βοηθούν να διερευνήσουν και να χτίσουν σταδιακά το ατομικό διδακτικό τους προφίλ. Επιπρόσθετα, η εμπειρία τους μέσα στην τάξη, αλλά και τα αυξημένα προσόντα που συνήθως έχουν (μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές, διδακτορικοί τίτλοι) τους καθιστούν πολύτιμους συνεργάτες των μελών ΔΕΠ ενός τμήματος.

Όμως, ποια είναι τα κίνητρα που κάνουν ένα εκπαιδευτικό  να επιλέγει να αφήσει την σχολική τάξη και να αποσπαστεί σε κάποιο παιδαγωγικό τμήμα; Ποιες είναι οι προσδοκίες του  κατά  την περίοδο της απόσπασής του στο  Πανεπιστήμιο; Πως αξιολογεί αυτήν την εμπειρία και τι ρόλο μπορεί να παίξει στην επαγγελματική του ανάπτυξη; Πως πιστεύει ότι θα μπορούσε να αξιοποιηθεί καλύτερα;

Αυτά είναι μερικά από τα ερωτήματα  που επιχειρούμε να απαντήσουμε στο πλαίσιο της συγκεκριμένης έρευνας. Πρόκειται για μία μελέτη περίπτωσης, αφού το δείγμα αποτελείται από αποσπασμένους εκπαιδευτικούς των Παιδαγωγικών Τμημάτων του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας.  Για τη διεξαγωγή της έρευνας, χρησιμοποιήθηκε ερωτηματολόγιο  του οποίου τα αποτελέσματα τα επεξεργαστήκαμε με το στατιστικό πακέτο, SPSS 20.

Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας φωτίζουν ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρουσες οπτικές από την πλευρά των αποσπασμένων εκπαιδευτικών  σχετικά με την καλύτερη αξιοποίηση τους , αλλά και τις δυνατότητες επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης και ικανοποίησης που οι ίδιοι μπορούν να έχουν.
Ο ρόλος των πρακτικών ασκήσεων στη διαμόρφωση κατάλληλων συνθηκών για το «Νέο Σχολείο»
Authors: Χρυσαφίδης Κώστας
Published: April 2016

Η εποχή μας, εποχή των συχνών ανατροπών, διαμορφώνει νέες συνθήκες που αναδιοργανώνουν την κοινωνική ζωή προβάλλοντας νέες απαιτήσεις και προτεραιότητες. Μοιραία αυτές οι καταστάσεις επηρεάζουν τη σχολική ζωή και αναθεωρούν τις απόψεις που αναφέρονται στην αποστολή και στο ρόλο του σχολείου. Το «Νέο Σχολείο» δίνει έμφαση στη δημιουργικότητα του μαθητή και στην καλλιέργεια της συντροφικότητας. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι η διδακτική παρέμβαση χαρακτηρίζεται από την ενεργό συμμετοχή του μαθητή στη μαθησιακή διαδικασία και πρέπει να προσφέρονται μορφές δράσης που απαιτούν την καλλιέργεια ενός ομαδικού πνεύματος. Ταυτόχρονα αναβαθμίζεται ο ρόλος του εκπαιδευτικού, προβάλλοντας το μοντέλο του εκπαιδευτικού ερευνητή. Οι απόψεις σχετικά με τη μαθησιακή διαδικασία παραπέμπουν στη σχέση θεωρίας και πράξης και οι απαντήσεις δίνονται με βάση ποικίλα επιστημολογικά δεδομένα. Οι Πρακτικές Ασκήσεις στα Παιδαγωγικά Τμήματα των Πανεπιστημίων, έχοντας υπόψη το ζητούμενο του «Νέου Σχολείου» σχετικά με το ρόλο του εκπαιδευτικού και τα επιδιωκόμενα αποτελέσματα της εκπαίδευσης, μπορούν να σχεδιαστούν και να εφαρμοστούν κατά τέτοιο τρόπο, ώστε να βοηθήσουν τον μέλλοντα εκπαιδευτικό να ανταποκριθεί στο έργο του, σύμφωνα με τις απαιτήσεις της εποχής μας.
Ο Σημασιολογικός Ιστός και η Συμβολή του στην Ηλεκτρονική Μάθηση
Authors: Παγγέ Αποστολία , Παγγέ Τζένη
Published: April 2016

Ο σημασιολογικός ιστός αποτελεί την επέκταση του σημερινού παγκόσμιου ιστού με τεχνολογίες oι οποίες εμπλουτίζουν τις πληροφορίες, που αναρτώνται στο διαδίκτυο με συμβατική σημασιολογία. Η βασική του αρχή είναι ότι, σε ένα κοινό και διαλειτουργικό πλαίσιο αναπαράστασης των δεδομένων, τα οποία ορίζονται με τρόπο κατανοητό, τόσο από τους ανθρώπους όσο και από τους ηλεκτρονικούς υπολογιστές, η πληροφορία που παρουσιάζεται στο χρήστη αποκτά δομή και νόημα. Η παρούσα εργασία στοχεύει, τόσο στην παρουσίαση και στην ανάδειξη της χρησιμότητας του σημασιολογικού ιστού στο πλαίσιο της ηλεκτρονικής μάθησης μέσω της επισκόπησης της σύγχρονης βιβλιογραφίας, όσο και στην προβολή των απόψεων των φοιτητών του Παιδαγωγικού Τμήματος Νηπιαγωγών του Πανεπιστημίου Ιωαννίνων σχετικά με το σημασιολογικό ιστό.
Προκλήσεις και απαντήσεις διαπολιτισμικής διδασκαλίας: μελέτη περίπτωσης προσχολικής εκπαίδευσης στη χώρα των Βάσκων
Authors: Στεργίου Λήδα , Γούλα Κατερίνα
Published: April 2016

Στην εργασία αυτή γίνεται μια προσπάθεια παρουσίασης και κριτικής μελέτης ενός πολυπολιτισμικού εκπαιδευτικού περιβάλλοντος προσχολικής ηλικίας, στην Ισπανία, και ειδικότερα, στην περιοχή της Χώρας των Βάσκων. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, βασιζόμενες στη σχετική βιβλιογραφία και σε ερευνητικά δεδομένα που προέκυψαν από συμμετοχική παρατήρηση, επιχειρούμε, αφού σκιαγραφήσουμε τις ιδιαίτερες πολιτισμικές συνθήκες, και τις σχετιζόμενες γλωσσικές και εκπαιδευτικές πολιτικές που επικρατούν στην περιοχή, να εστιάσουμε στις μικροαλληλεπιδράσεις μεταξύ εκπαιδευτικών, παιδιών και κοινότητας. Σκοπός της μελέτης αυτής είναι ο εντοπισμός τόσο μιας σειράς καλών πρακτικών, όσο και περιορισμών που προκύπτουν κατά την εφαρμογή διαπολιτισμικής διδασκαλίας με σκοπό την ενδυνάμωση του ποικιλόμορφου μαθητικού κοινού.
Το Επίπεδο της Ποιότητας της Παρεχόμενης Αγωγής και Φροντίδας από Βρεφονηπιακούς Σταθμούς
Authors: Ρέντζου Κωνσταντίνα
Published: April 2016

Η αναπτυξιακή έρευνα συνδέει με συνέπεια την υψηλής ποιότητας αγωγή και φροντίδα με την ολόπλευρη ανάπτυξη και ευημερία των παιδιών. Αν και ο χρόνος που ένα παιδί δαπανά σε δομές ημερήσιας φροντίδας, η σταθερότητα της φροντίδας και ο τύπος της ημερήσιας φροντίδας συσχετίζονται ορισμένες φορές με τα αναπτυξιακά επιτεύγματα των παιδιών, είναι η ίδια η ποιότητα της ημερήσιας αγωγής και φροντίδας, η οποία φαίνεται να ασκεί τις πιο ουσιαστικές και άμεσες επιδράσεις στην ανάπτυξη των παιδιών. Η παρούσα μελέτη έχει ως στόχο την καταγραφή και αξιολόγηση των δομικών και διαδικαστικών πτυχών και της σφαιρικής ποιότητας της παρεχόμενης αγωγής και φροντίδας από παιδικούς και βρεφονηπιακούς σταθμούς. Η μελέτη διεξήχθη σε 27 τάξεις, εκ των οποίων οι 17 αποτελούν νηπιακά τμήματα και οι 10 βρεφικά τμήματα βρεφονηπιακών σταθμών. Για την αξιολόγηση της σφαιρικής ποιότητας της παρεχόμενης φροντίδας και αγωγής χρησιμοποιήθηκε η ελληνική μετάφραση της κλίμακας αξιολόγησης ACEI Global Guidelines Assessment – ACEI GGA (Association for Childhood Education International, 2006 2006). Τα Δομικά χαρακτηριστικά (αναλογία παιδιών / ενηλίκων και το μέγεθος της ομάδας) καταγράφηκαν σε φόρμες παρατήρησης. Τα δεδομένα της παρούσας έρευνας καταδεικνύουν ότι το επίπεδο της ποιότητας της παρεχόμενης αγωγής και φροντίδας από τους παιδικούς και βρεφονηπιακούς σταθμούς του δείγματος είναι εξαιρετικά χαμηλό. Η ίδια η ελληνική πολιτεία, η οποία είναι υπεύθυνη για την ρύθμιση των δομικών χαρακτηριστικών της ποιότητας, φαίνεται πως δεν δίδει στο θεσμό την αρμόζουσα σημασία. Τα δεδομένα, αποδεικνύουν ότι ο παιδικός σταθμός φαίνεται να θεωρείται κατεξοχήν θεσμός παροχής φροντίδας και δευτερευόντως θεσμός παροχής αγωγής. Τα απογοητευτικά αποτελέσματα της παρούσας μελέτης οδηγούν στην ανάγκη λήψης άμεσων μέτρωνπροκειμένου να βελτιωθεί το επίπεδο της ποιότητας της παρεχόμενης αγωγής και φροντίδας και να εξασφαλιστεί η καλύτερη δυνατή αρχή για τα παιδιά.
Comparative analysis of the activities of the specialized cluster organizations Rossiyckoy Federation and abroad
Authors: Далада  , Dalada Roman
Published: April 2016

At present, the priority is to cluster development in the formation of the region´s economy. For efficient

operation of regional clusters in Russia and abroad are specialized organizations that coordinate their work.
Cluster policy as an element of the state system of strategic management by the example of the tourism cluster of the Smolensk region
Authors: Ромчанкова  , Romchankova Yuliya
Published: April 2016

Through the creation of territorial and industrial clusters can be implemented competitive potential of the territory. Creating a cluster in the region leads to increased competitiveness of the region. By using the cluster approach tourism cluster can be competitive, as the cluster approach is used as a basis for the development of large and small businesses.
The International Diversification of Banks and the Value of Their Cross-Border M&A Advice
Authors: Rajamani Anjana , van der Poel Marieke , de Jong Abe , Ongena Steven
Published: April 2016

We examine the impact of the international diversification of banks on the value of their advice in 1,705 cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions. We find that bidders engaging internationally diversified advisors face lower announcement returns. An increase of one standard deviation in advisor diversification is associated with an announcement return lower by 92 basis points for a bidder acquiring a listed target. The lower bidder returns are attributable to the lower synergies of the deals being completed. Our evidence suggests that internationally diversified advisors offer lower-quality advice to their clients, since their reputational concerns are weakened by having access to multiple geographies from which they can derive fee-based income. We present further evidence that financial incentives in the form of the advisor’s involvement in deal financing and market incentives in the form of the potential to gain market share in the bidder country may mitigate some of the negative effects of the international diversification of the advisors.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2396 .

This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Mental Equilibrium and Strategic Emotions
Authors: Winter Eyal , Méndez-Naya Luciano , García-Jurado Ignacio
Published: April 2016

We model mental states as part of an equilibrium notion. In a mental equilibrium each player “selects” an emotional state that determines the player’s preferences over the outcomes of the game. These preferences typically differ from the players’ material preferences. The emotional states interact to play a Nash equilibrium and, in addition, each player’s mental state must be a best response to the mental states of the others (in the sense of maximizing material payoffs). We discuss the concept behind the definition of mental equilibrium and examine it in the context of some of the most popular games discussed in the experimental economics literature. In particular, our approach allows us to identify the mental states (the psychology) that lead players to play various prominent experimental outcomes. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for mental equilibria to be sustained by material preferences. Finally, we discuss the concept of collective emotions, which is based on the idea that players can coordinate their mental states.

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Paying for What You Get: Accounting for the Nonrenewable Component in Wood to Energy
Authors: Krč Janez , Taylor Adam , Hodges Donald
Published: April 2016

Growing international trade in wood pellets is one response to regional efforts to mitigate the global problem of climate change. With this growing use of wood energy, there is increased scrutiny of the associated environmental impacts and concern over possible unintended consequences (e.g., nonrenewable energy inputs) that may detract from the carbon savings provided by such renewable energy sources. The focus of this article is to present an accounting system for the embodied fossil fuels in wood energy systems. This system is based on life-cycle assessment methodology and could accommodate fairly the variability in fossil fuel inputs for various bioenergy systems. Such a system could be incorporated into biofuel subsidies or carbon taxation policies. We use three scenarios as examples to illustrate (1) that wood-to-energy systems entail the use of fossil fuels and that the amount of this “embodied fossil carbon” varies with the processing inputs and transportation required and (2) that carbon tax/biofuel subsidies can be adjusted to accommodate variations in embodied fossil carbon. The growth in life-cycle databases and the advent of environmental product declarations make embodied fossil fuel calculations such as those presented here an increasingly practical component of biofuels policy development.
A collection is born!
Authors: Walkden George
Published: April 2016

This collection is ScienceOpen's first linguistics collection - and, to my knowledge, its first collection that might be said to fall into the humanities rather than the sciences. There are many reasons for this state of affairs. For one, the humanities lag behind the sciences in both green and gold open access - though linguistics is leading the way (perhaps unsurprisingly, given its liminal status straddling the whole range from arts to hard science). But we ought to start somewhere.

Researchers in the field of historical linguistics and language change are likely to find this collection unrepresentative of the field as a whole. What is included in the collection so far is heavily skewed towards mathematical and computational modelling of language change, with more use of the word "evolution" than is normally found in historical linguistics papers, and some of the authors are not linguists by training - this is a natural bias given the origin of most of these articles in repositories such as arXiv. Ultimately the collection ought to become more representative, and I aim to include papers from all areas of the field - but this will only happen if publication practices change correspondingly (and ideally if ScienceOpen starts to draw content from sources such as lingBuzz). If you're a historical linguist, you can start today by publishing your work on ScienceOpen and letting me know!
Centralidades urbanas e oferta de transporte público coletivo em Goiânia-GO, 2014
Authors: Mendonça Neto Wilson Lopes , Kneib Érika Cristine
Published: April 2016

O objetivo desse trabalho consiste na identificação de centralidades urbanas e posterior análise da oferta de transporte público coletivo (TPC) nessas áreas, em Goiânia. Para a identificação de centralidades utilizou-se a Análise Exploratória de Dados Espaciais, análises estatísticas e investigações sobre outliers. A operacionalização dos procedimentos foi realizada por meio da utilização de ferramentas de Sistemas de Informações Geográficas que tiveram como foco quatro variáveis: média de renda, densidade populacional, densidade de linhas e densidade de oferta de transporte coletivo. Foram gerados gráficos, resumos estatísticos, BoxPlots e mapas temáticos agregados em infográficos. A análise espacial foi realizada por meio da geração de mapas de espalhamento de Moran (BoxMap). Os resultados permitiram identificar centralidades com alta e baixa oferta de TPC e, também, concluir que existe grande descompasso entre políticas de mobilidade com políticas de expansão urbana no caso analisado.
Acessibilidade em ambiente rural: uma abordagem multicritério com uso de SIG
Authors: Sakamoto Elisa , Lima Josiane Palma
Published: April 2016

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a avaliação da acessibilidade no meio rural, de produtores familiares, por meio de um estudo de caso no Município de Itajubá, MG. A agregação do Método Hierárquico Analítico (AHP) a um Sistema de Informação Geográfica permitiu a geração de mapas de acessibilidade, tanto para cada grupo de Locais de Interesse - LI (Comercialização da produção, Ensino, Saúde, Serviços e Lazer), quanto de forma global para todo território. O estudo considerou o grau de importância dos locais, as distâncias percorridas, tipo de pavimento das vias e acesso ao transporte público, levando em consideração as características da região, a opinião dos produtores e especialistas. Os locais de comercialização da produção foram considerados pelos especialistas como os mais importantes na avaliação da acessibilidade, e os mapas gerados possibilitaram verificar as áreas com maior e menor acessibilidade, e assim, as áreas prioritárias para planejamentos e investimentos em infraestrutura e transportes.
Impact on student learning: National Board Certified Teachers’ perspectives
Authors: Petty Teresa M. , Good Amy J. , Handler Laura K.
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study is to report National Board Certified Teachers’ (NBCTs) perceived impact on student learning. The guiding research question for this study, “How do teachers perceive the influence of the National Board Certification process on student learning in their own classrooms?” was explored. A total of 496 NBCTs currently teaching in North Carolina public schools completed the survey questionnaire in which they responded to demographic questions, Likert item questions, and open-ended questions. More than 80% of the study’s participants reported the certification process had positively influenced student learning in their classrooms. Thematic analysis revealed several reoccurring themes that NBCTs reported having impact on student learning in their classrooms. These included impact on academic achievement, improved teaching, and/or an increase of effective evaluation and assessment strategies.
Return on Service Amenities
Authors: Hamilton Rebecca W. , Rust Roland T. , Wedel Michel , Dev Chekitan S.
Published: April 2016

Firms often vie for competitive advantage by providing additional services (amenities)to their customers. Although extant research has focused on the effect of adding amenities on choice, return on service amenities may arise from two sources: increased initial choice and increased revenues from repurchase. The authors develop a return on investment (ROI) model to capture how service amenities produce financial return from these two sources. They apply the model to hotel amenities, using a discrete choice experiment and a large-scale customer database developed in collaboration with a multibrand global hotel company. The authors employ a hierarchical Bayesian formulation to estimate the parameters. They use the estimation results to compare ROI for three amenities for six brands and find that returns vary across amenities, and returns on a single amenity can vary substantially across brands. The authors validate the results for one amenity against the ROI from the actual historical implementation of that amenity using a natural experiment with a before/after design with controls. The present research demonstrates that the return on service amenities model provides a useful decision tool for managers deciding which amenities are most profitable.
Investment Secrecy and Competitive R&D
Authors: Sengupta Aditi
Published: April 2016

Secrecy about investment in research and development (R&D) can promote greater technological change and higher social welfare in competitive industries. In a duopoly where each firm has private information about its actual production technology (or cost) and firms engage in cost-reducing R&D with uncertain outcomes prior to engaging in price competition, the equilibrium outcome when firms do not observe the R&D investment chosen by the rival (investment secrecy) yields higher investment, social welfare, and industry profit compared to the outcome when R&D investment levels of firms are publicly observable. Government intervention to secure disclosure of R&D investments may be counterproductive; trade secret laws that protect privacy of information related to R&D inputs or investment may be helpful.
Communication as integral element of biomedical implant innovation
Authors: Klimmt Christoph , Link Elena , Emde Katharina , Schneider Beate
Published: April 2016

The success of medical implant innovation as a complex field of science and technology requires efforts and strategies in accompanying communication. Fostering public understanding and acceptance of biomedical research and its methods (animal experimentation in particular) is important to counteract wrong assumptions and expectations that journalists, lay people, and (future) patients may hold and that could impede effective take-up of true innovation in the clinical context. Two studies on media coverage of the term “personalized medicine” (n=118 newspaper articles) and on medical implants (n=256 newspaper articles) in Germany (published between 2008 and 2013) illustrate patterns of how journalists offer diverse frames of interpretation to lay audiences. Scholars in biomedical implant innovation and their institutions can benefit from taking these frames into account in order to bridge gaps of missing background knowledge or to counteract overgeneralization of past scandals with (breast) implants. This way, empirically informed communication strategies will satisfy public requirements for transparency and science-public dialogue so that sustainable trust in biomedical implant innovations can evolve.
After Obama
Authors: Kinder Donald , Chudy Jennifer
Published: April 2016

Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president, is approaching the end of his second and final term. Obama’s impending departure raises questions about his legacy. Here we explore what the consequences of the Obama Presidency might be for the future of racial politics in America: for prejudice itself; for the racialization of policy; for the mobilization of the Black vote; and for the racial polarization of the party system.
White Populism and the Transformation of the Silent Majority
Authors: Lowndes Joseph
Published: April 2016

Since 1968 a racially-defined conservative populism – what Richard Nixon called the “Silent Majority” – has been a durable part of Republican political identity. Yet across this era the GOP has continued to move away from protecting the rights and livelihoods of the very middle and working-class whites through which they built the modern party. For decades these whites have been experiencing falling or stagnant wages, the deterioration of collective bargaining, and the largest wealth gap in US history – an economic reality that was made worse by the Great Recession of 2008. Today the Silent Majority that made the rise of modern conservatism possible over the last half century is no longer a reliable element of national Republicanism. A combination of downward economic pressure, demographic changes, and political abandonment by GOP elites has created deep rifts that have destabilized the Republican Party and left its future uncertain.
Bit Error Rate Performance Limitations Due to Raman Amplifier Induced Crosstalk in a WDM Transmission System
Authors: Tithi F. H. , Majumder S. P.
Published: April 2016

Analysis is carried out for a single span wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission system with distributed Raman amplification to find the effect of amplifier induced crosstalk on the bit error rate (BER) with different system parameters. The results are evaluated in terms of crosstalk power induced in a WDM channel due to Raman amplification, optical signal to crosstalk ratio (OSCR) and BER at any distance for different pump power and number of WDM channels. The results show that the WDM system suffers power penalty due to crosstalk which is significant at higher pump power, higher channel separation and number of WDM channel. It is noticed that at a BER 10
Performance Evaluation of the Optical AND Gate at 200 Gbps
Authors: Tripathi Devendra Kr.
Published: April 2016

The article explores performance investigation for the all optical AND logic gate at the 200 Gbps data rate. Numerical simulations have been executed and output pattern for the AND logic operation has been verified. Accordingly good extinction ratio of 15.8 dB has been observed. Investigations depict optimum optical performance metric with the key deign parameters as the pump power (>1e-4 W), pump current (>1 ‎Å), current injection efficiency (>0.5), modulator bias voltage (>1.25 V), modulator on off ratio (>10 dB) and the SOA reflectivity (>0 dB). The schematic is evident, simpler tender’s option to endow different input combinations simultaneously. Furthermore, the outcomes are well sustainable to formulate forthcoming advanced higher data rate all-optical digital processing.
Enhancement of OCT imaging by blood optical clearing in vessels – A feasibility study
Authors: Zhernovaya Olga , Tuchin Valery V. , Leahy Martin J.
Published: April 2016

Objective: The results of a feasibility study of the application of PEG-300 and fructose as two independent optical clearing agents for the reduction of light scattering in biological tissues are presented.

Materials and methods: An OCT system operating at 1300 nm was used to study optical clearing effects. In in-vitro experiments in mice (n=2) an increase of the imaging depth was observed after intravenous injection of PEG-300 alone and in combination with intradermal injection of fructose. The optical clearing effect was also studied for the first time in two mice in vivo using intravenous injection of PEG-300 or solution of hemoglobin.

Results: The intradermal injection of fructose in combination with the intravenous injection of PEG-300 led to a rapid optical clearing effect. In the experiments on mice in vivo the injection of PEG-300 or hemoglobin solution into the tail vein of the living mice allowed for a rapid enhancement of the vein wall and the surrounding tissue image contrast.

Conclusion: The experiments on mice have clearly demonstrated that intradermal and intravenous injections of optical clearing agents enhanced light transport through the skin and blood vessels.
Spanish aspectual se as an indirect object reflexive: The import of atelicity, bare nouns, and leísta PCC repairs
Authors: MacDonald Jonathan E.
Published: April 2016

This article discusses four properties of Spanish aspectual