bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haplotype heterogeneity and low linkage disequilibrium reduce reliable prediction of genotypes for the ‑α3.7I form of α-thalassaemia using genome-wide microarray data
Authors: Ndila Carolyne M. , Nyirongo Vysaul , Macharia Alexander W. , Jeffreys Anna E. , Rowlands Kate , Hubbart Christina , Busby George B. J. , Band Gavin , Harding Rosalind M. , Rockett Kirk A. , Williams Thomas N. ,   MalariaGEN Consortium
Published: December 2020

Background: The -α3.7I-thalassaemia deletion is very common throughout Africa because it protects against malaria. When undertaking studies to investigate human genetic adaptations to malaria or other diseases, it is important to account for any confounding effects of α-thalassaemia to rule out spurious associations.

Methods: In this study we have used direct α-thalassaemia genotyping to understand why GWAS data from a large malaria association study in Kilifi Kenya did not identify the α-thalassaemia signal. We then explored the potential use of a number of new approaches to using GWAS data for imputing α-thalassaemia as an alternative to direct genotyping by PCR.

Results: We found very low linkage-disequilibrium of the directly typed data with the GWAS SNP markers around α-thalassaemia and across the haemoglobin-alpha (HBA) gene region, which along with a complex haplotype structure, could explain the lack of an association signal from the GWAS SNP data. Some indirect typing methods gave results that were in broad agreement with those derived from direct genotyping and could identify an association signal, but none were sufficiently accurate to allow correct interpretation compared with direct typing, leading to confusing or erroneous results.

Conclusions: We conclude that going forwards, direct typing methods such as PCR will still be required to account for α-thalassaemia in GWAS studies.
NEW TRANSLATIONS RECEPTION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF LITERARY WORKS RETRANSLATION
Authors:   Northeastern state university, Sherstneva Ekaterina
Published: December 2020

Variability of the reception of literary works retranslations is viewed in the article. Some factors that influence the readers' reception of translation from the inside and from the outside are described in the article. Within the research the author singles out and characterizes two types of retranslations which replace previous translations.
REALIZATION OF THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER STRATIGIES IN THE AMERICAN POLITICIANS' CAMPAIGHN SPEECHES(BASED ON H. CLINTON'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS)
Authors:   Northeastern state university, Evtushenko Valeriya
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to the study of the implementation of the struggle for power strategies, as well as the stylistic devices of the American political discourse based on of H. Clinton's public statements. It gives the definition of strategy, tactics of political discourse. The author points out the most frequently used tactics of the struggle for power strategies during the pre-election race by H. Clinton, as well as the lexical stylistic devices embodying these tactics.
R.R. TCHAIKOVSKI - A TRANSLATERAND A THEORIST OF TRANSLATION
Authors: Lysenkova Elena
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to a significant Russian translator and scientist who entered the theory of translation at the turn between XX-XXI centuries. A teacher, a translator and a scientist with inexhaustible energy he dedicated all his life to teaching and scientific career brought up more than a dozen worthy young colleagues-researchers.
THE PROCESS OF TRANSVERSALA IN THE PRACTICE OF RENAMING TOPOBJECTS OF KAZAKHSTAN: PRAGMALINGUISTIC ASPECT
Authors: Musabekova Ulzhan
Published: December 2020

This article discusses the renaming of settlements in the Republic of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. The article analyzes the regulatory framework of the active renaming campaign in the Republic. The motivational basis of initiatives on renaming topoobjects is also described.
LANGUAGE AND SYMBOL IN THE INFORMATION AGE: "TURBULENCE" OF MEANINGS
Authors:   Northeastern state university, Soloviev Alexander
Published: December 2020

The article is focused on processes of language and symbol functioning in the information age. The author analyzes linguistic and symbolic aspects of information society culture and concludes that the modern human lives in a situation of semantic “turbulence”: continuous change of linguistic and symbolic forms, information overload and changing modes of total communication.
TYPES OF LITERARY TEXT TRANSLATION AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
Authors:   Northeastern state university, Tsepeleva Alina
Published: December 2020

The article examines the main features of a literary text as an object of translation activity. The author of the article highlights the main characteristics and methods of literary translation, focusing on the main differences between the translation of a literary text from other types of translation. The article also discusses the role of the translator and the formation of a picture of the world in translations of fiction.
ТЕОРИЯ И ПРАКТИКА ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯ КИТАЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА В РОССИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯ КИТАЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА В СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОЧНОМ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ УНИВЕРСИТЕТЕ)
Authors:   Northeastern state university, Haixia Li
Published: December 2020

In this article, the author considers various aspects of teaching Chinese in Russia, and also specifies some factors that affect the successful mastery of the Chinese language, in particular, learning in a natural language environment as a part of student exchange programs, during which students study language material in class with native speaker and have the opportunity of extensive language practice outside the school. In addition, the author notes the importance of the sociocultural component in learning - familiarity with the traditions and holidays of China, thereby increasing students' interest in the culture of the country of the language being studied. The article also notes the difficulties that both students and the teacher encounter in the classroom at North-Eastern State University, caused by the fact that in the same group are both students who have undergone language training in China and those who have not yet had a chance to study there. This is manifested in different levels of language proficiency by students, primarily in the level of their oral speech skills. This situation affects the group's learning speed and requires the teacher, in turn, to have a differentiated approach to conducting classes. The author suggests maximizing the practice of students using the Chinese language - conducting classes in the language they are studying, stimulating them to communicate only in Chinese within the class, and also, if possible, beyond. The basis of this practice is proposed to put thematic-situational training, for example, within the framework of the topic “Shopping”, interactively consider situations “in a clothing store”, “in a mobile phone store”, etc. At the same time, the author notes that the same situations proposed in the educational literature are perceived differently by native speakers and students, since they are filled with realities characteristic of China and different from the usual realities of Russia. To familiarize students with similar sociocultural content, it is proposed to use multimedia teaching aids - video and graphic presentations.
El impacto y la percepción de los usuarios acerca del servicio del TransMicable en Bogotá D.C., como modo de última y primera milla
Authors: Garnica Quiroga Viviana
Published: December 2020

El transporte es una actividad fundamental en la cotidianidad de las personas. Es importante comprender que los viajes presentan varias etapas de desarrollo cuando se realizan en transporte público, y que cada etapa tiene una percepción distinta para el usuario. En territorios con con­diciones topográficas montañosas y baja cobertura de transporte en corta longitud, es necesario desarrollar sistemas complementarios que faciliten la realización de los viajes. En ese sentido, en Bogotá fue construido un sistema aéreo denominado TransMicable, un servicio que cambió positivamente los patrones de viaje de los habitantes. Mediante la aplicación de encuestas a los usuarios del sistema se conoció la percepción en relación al cambio en la dinámica de los viajes de acceso y regreso al modo principal, se evidenció disminución en tiempos de viaje, en costos de transporte y mayor percepción de seguridad y calidad de vida. Así mismo, se encontró una favorabilidad al sistema por las mejoras urbanísticas y dinámicas sociales que ha traído consigo al área de influencia.
Algorithm Supported Induction for Building Theory: How Can We Use Prediction Models to Theorize?
Authors: Shrestha Yash Raj , He Vivianna Fang , Puranam Phanish , von Krogh Georg
Published: December 2020

Across many fields of social science, machine learning (ML) algorithms are rapidly advancing research as tools to support traditional hypothesis testing research (e.g., through data reduction and automation of data coding or for improving matching on observable features of a phenomenon or constructing instrumental variables). In this paper, we argue that researchers are yet to recognize the value of ML techniques for theory building from data. This may be in part because of scholars’ inherent distaste for predictions without explanations that ML algorithms are known to produce. However, precisely because of this property, we argue that ML techniques can be very useful in theory construction during a key step of inductive theorizing—pattern detection. ML can facilitate algorithm supported induction, yielding conclusions about patterns in data that are likely to be robustly replicable by other analysts and in other samples from the same population. These patterns can then be used as inputs to abductive reasoning for building or developing theories that explain them. We propose that algorithm-supported induction is valuable for researchers interested in using quantitative data to both develop and test theories in a transparent and reproducible manner, and we illustrate our arguments using simulations.
ASPECTOS FONÉTICO-FONOLÓGICOS E MORFOSSINTÁTICOS NO ENSINO DA LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA
Authors: Alves Jefferson Evaristo Do Nascimento Silva , Felipe Marcia Gama da Silva
Published: December 2020

Este texto pretende refletir sobre algumas questões que envolvem variação e mudança linguística, com implicações diretas no ensino de Língua Portuguesa. A dimensão social da língua promove uma diversidade linguística característica em qualquer nação. A reflexão que aqui propomos gira em torno de dois fenômenos de variação linguística bastante recorrentes na oralidade, uma no âmbito dos aspectos fonético-fonológicos, outra no âmbito da morfossintaxe, cuja realização, típica da modalidade oral da língua, apresenta reflexos no texto escrito. Assim, pretendemos demonstrar que tais ocorrências são recorrentes e, nesse sentido, devem apoiar um ensino analítico-crítico da língua portuguesa, contribuindo para a formação de um aluno reflexivo sobre sua própria prática.
ASPECTOS DISCURSIVO-PRAGMÁTICOS DA VARIANTE BRASILEIRA DA LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA
Authors: Felipe Marcia Gama da Silva , Alves Jefferson Evaristo Do Nascimento Silva
Published: December 2020

Este artigo parte de uma reflexão teórico-metodológica de dois professores acerca da apresentação de alguns aspectos discursivo-pragmáticos da variante brasileira da língua portuguesa ensinada a falantes de Português no Brasil. A discussão começa por indicar brevemente alguns dos principais momentos da investigação sobre esses aspectos, de forma a situá-los no campo dos estudos da linguagem. Na sequência, são apresentadas algumas ponderações, com exemplos práticos e algumas inserções pedagógicas para o ensino dos fenômenos em questão. Os resultados apresentados indicam o campo dos aspectos discursivo-pragmáticos dessa variante como bastante produtivos no que diz respeito não só ao ensino dessa língua, como também à prática docente, sem deixar de considerar, também, a formação desses mesmos docentes.
POLÍTICA CRIMINAL BRASILEIRA NO GOVERNO LULA (2003-2010): diretrizes, reformas legais e impacto carcerário
Authors: Cifali Ana Claudia
Published: December 2020

A presente pesquisa buscou conectar a questão das transformações atuais das políticas criminais frente ao delito ao tema do surgimento de um governo nacional que se construiu desde alianças e programas políticos relacionados à tradição política da esquerda. A partir dos fenômenos mencionados, surgiu a pergunta que fundamentou a investigação: Como a experiência nacional de um governo baseado na tradição política de esquerda trabalhou no âmbito da elaboração político-criminal? O objetivo era dar conta da questão da penalidade, principalmente no que se refere às características e impactos mais marcantes das reformas legais relacionadas à penalidade realizadas durante o governo de Luís Inácio Lula da Silva.
O estudo das instituições políticas na ciência política brasileira: uma análise da produção acadêmica (1966-2014)
Authors: Oliveira Lilian Paula Da Costa
Published: December 2020

O objetivo do artigo é analisar os estudos sobre as instituições políticas na ciência política brasileira. A pesquisa analisa os artigos publicados, entre os anos de 1966 e 2014, em cinco revistas brasileiras: Dados, Novos Estudos, Revista Brasileira de Ciências Sociais, Opinião Pública e Brazilian Political Science Review. Os resultados mostram que as instituições políticas formam a área temática privilegiada para a ciência política brasileira e que esses estudos estão fortemente concentrados nos métodos quantitativos.
Hebe Vessuri: antropóloga e especialista em estudos sociais sobre a ciência na América Latina
Authors: Candido Marcia Rangel , Daflon Verônica Toste
Published: December 2020

Nossa entrevistada, Hebe Vessuri, é antropóloga social, vinculada a institutos de pesquisa na Argentina, na Venezuela e no México (Centro de Estudos Sociais de Ciência do Instituto de Investigação Científica - IVIC, Centro de Pesquisa de Geografia Ambiental - CIGA-UNAM, Conselho Nacional de Investigações Científicas e Técnicas -CONICET e Instituto de Ciências Humanas e Sociais)., Conselho Nacional de Investigações Científicas e Técnicas (CONICET) e Instituto de Ciências Humanas e Sociais). É pioneira em estudos sociais sobre a ciência na América Latina, pelos quais recebeu vários prêmios nacionais e internacionais. Após realizar doutorado na Universidade de Oxford, foi exilada durante a ditadura argentina, e ajudou a fundar programas de graduação na Venezuela e no Brasil. Exerceu importantes atividades na comissão de Ciência e Tecnologia do Conselho Latino Americano de Ciências Sociais (CLACSO), na Reitoria da Universidade das Nações Unidas, na União Internacional de Ciências Antropológicas e Etnológicas (IUAES), na Comissão de Ética na Ciência da UNESCO, no Conselho Internacional de Governança de Risco (IRGC), no Programa Internacional Para o Desenvolvimento Humano (IHDP) e no Conselho Internacional de Ciências Sociais (ISSC). Vessuri desenvolve trabalhos acadêmicos profundamente comprometidos com a democratização da ciência. Na pequena entrevista apresentada a seguir, a autora comenta sobre desigualdades na produção e circulação do conhecimento científico.
Algumas notas de pesquisa sobre Flora Tristan: feminismo, socialismo e viagens
Authors: Campos Luna
Published: December 2020

O objetivo desse texto é refletir sobre os cruzamentos históricos entre socialismo e feminismo através do estudo da trajetória de Flora Tristan (1803-1844), cujos ativismos, vivências, diálogos, produção intelectual e experiências enquanto uma mulher viajante no século XIX permitem reler uma época atravessada por lutas e disputas em torno de novas noções do direito. Os itinerários de Flora Tristan permitem iluminar o incipiente debate que surgia na Europa nas primeiras décadas do século XIX ao redor das ideias socialistas e feministas, no qual ela viria a ter papel de destaque com a publicação de panfletos, artigos de jornais e livros, dos quais os relatos de viagem reunidos em Peregrinações de uma pária, de 1837, e o livro A União Operária, publicado em 1844, são os mais importantes para essa discussão.
Gênero, racionalidade e escrita em “O papel de parede amarelo”
Authors: Soter Teresa
Published: December 2020

Este trabalho é uma análise do conto “O papel de parede amarelo”, de Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Sua leitura contemporânea, sob ótica feminista, possibilita revisitar esse clássico a partir de questões sociais contemporâneas. Dessa forma, o objetivo é estudar a obra a partir de seus diferentes aspectos e significados ligados ao gênero e à leitura de autoras mulheres. Para isso, foram utilizados tanto o conto em si quanto a obra teórica “Women and economics” (Gilman, 1998) e “Um teto todo seu” (Woolf, 1990). Esses textos possibilitam pensar a ficção a partir de seu aspecto de crítica social, mas também realizar uma crítica da forma como a ficção produzida por mulheres é comumente recebida. O trabalho trata-se de uma tentativa de releitura de um clássico da literatura a partir de um viés feminista que busca não menosprezar a obra de sua autora. Para tal, aborda a forma como a noção de racionalidade é perpassada pelos papéis sociais de gênero e instrumento para a opressão.
As Perspectivas Teóricas Queer e o Uso Cotidiano da Língua Portuguesa
Authors: Lanz Helza Ricarte , Napoles Juliane Noack
Published: December 2020

O objetivo desse artigo é refletir sobre as contribuições da perspectiva teórica queere o uso cotidiano da língua portuguesa. O artigo está divido em três partes: primeiramente, apresentaremos a perspectiva teórica queere alguns de seus conceitos básicos que nos servirão de base para inferirmos o valor da língua dentro dessa abordagem. Na segunda parte, apontaremos três exemplos do uso cotidiano da língua portuguesa e, dentro da perspectiva queer, discutiremos possíveis significados dessa prática social. Na terceira parte, focaremos algumas possíveis consequências da perspectiva teórica queer. Concluímos o artigo apontando para as contribuições queer, osnovos impulsos revisionistas e questionamos o risco de uma aporia teórica.
DIÁLOGOS ENTRE A MORTE E A AUTOLEGITIMAÇÃO DA VIDA
Authors: Vianna Alexandra De Gouvêa , Pfeil Bruno Latini
Published: December 2020

Resumo: Este artigo objetiva uma melhor compreensão da morte a partir do fenômeno do suicídio. O suicídio se apresenta como um analisador desta discussão, pois compreende-se como a fuga, pela morte, a uma aniquilação presente em vida. O artigo se utiliza, principalmente: dos estudos de Karl Menninger (1938/2018) sobre comportamentos autodestrutivos, tais como automutilação e acidentes propositais; da experiência de Elisabeth Kluber-Ross (1969/1981) com pacientes terminais e de suas impressões sobre a lida de pessoas próximas e da equipe médica desses pacientes com o estreitamento da morte; e da análise de Maria Julia Kovács (1992) acerca da morte durante o desenvolvimento humano, bem como das mudanças de significação do corpo morto, no decorrer dos séculos; juntamente com demais autores para complementar a sustentação teórica do artigo. Com eles, argumenta-se que os comportamentos autodestrutivos buscam, muitas vezes, a preservação do sujeito, ao invés de seu total aniquilamento, e que a retirada da morte de seu lugar inacessível na cultura é uma das possíveis formas de evitá-la. A partir disso, conclui-se que a preservação da vida a todo custo promove mais morte do que vida e aniquilamento de subjetividade, que poderia ser considerada uma morte em vida, como nos dirá Kovács (1992). A evitação da morte propõe sua negação e mudez em torno de comportamentos supostamente destrutivos relacionados a ela.Palavras-chave: Suicídio. Morte. Autoaniquilamento.Abstract: This article intends to provide a better understanding of death through the phenomenon of suicide. Suicide presents itself as an analyzer of this discussion, once it is read as the escape, through death, from an annihilation of life. In this article, it is mainly used Karl Menninger's (1938/2018) studies on self-destructive behaviors, such as self-mutilation and purposed accidents, Elisabeth Kluber-Ross' (1969/1981) experience with terminally ill patients and her impressions about the way the closed ones and the medical staff of the patients deal with the narrowing of death, and Maria Julia Kovács’ (1992) analysis over death during the human development and the changes of the significations of the dead body throughout the centuries, along with other authors. With them, it is argued that self-destructive behaviors often seek the preservation of the subject rather than its total annihilation, and that the removal of death from its inaccessible and denied place in culture is one of the possible ways to avoid it. Finally, it is concluded that the preservation of life at all costs promotes more death than life and annihilation of subjectivity, that could be considered a death in life, as Kovács (1992) will report. The avoiding of death proposes its denial and muteness around supposedly destructive behaviors related to it.Keywords: Suicide. Death. Self-annihilation.
CLÍNICA PSICANALÍTICA E SEGREGAÇÃO EM DISPOSITIVO DE INTERNAÇÃO PARA USUÁRIOS DE ÁLCOOL E OUTRAS DROGAS
Authors: Torres Maycon Rodrigo Da Silveira , Vidal Paulo Eduardo Viana
Published: December 2020

Resumo: O presente artigo tem por objetivo discutir a tese de que o modelo de tratamento de usuários de drogas em regime de internação funciona como dispositivo de segregação. O percurso metodológico partiu da elaboração de casos clínicos de pacientes internados em enfermaria especializada de um hospital psiquiátrico, identificando uma relação de continuidade lógica entre as cenas de uso de drogas e a internação. A análise dos dados foi realizada com o aporte teórico da psicanálise de orientação lacaniana. De acordo com a teoria lacaniana dos discursos, os problemas associados ao uso de substâncias psicoativas, ou toxicomanias, são efeitos da relação entre o desenvolvimento do discurso científico e o avanço do capitalismo, na medida em que a ciência opera no real através de seu trabalho de formalização matemática e introduz no mercado novos objetos de consumo como as drogas. Enquanto o Discurso do Mestre induz a perda do objeto de gozo pela incidência da linguagem e produz um sujeito dividido, o Discurso do Capitalista se articula com a homogeneização do gozo operada pela ciência e aumenta o risco de abolição da subjetividade. Como efeito, o laço social que atravessa estes discursos é a segregação, expressa em diferentes formas de privação de liberdade. A prática psicanalítica sustenta o lugar do sujeito como resistência ao comando do mestre, impondo limites ao movimento institucional de suprimir a experiência subjetiva em nome de uma cura generalizada.Palavras-chave: Toxicomanias. Segregação. Psicanálise. Discurso do Mestre. Discurso do Capitalista.Abstract: This paper discusses a thesis on drug addict treatment as a segregation device. Its methods is based on clinical cases of patients admitted in specialized ward at psychiatric Hospital. It was identified association between hospitalization and places of drug intake as a logical continuity. Data was analyzed using Lacanian oriented psychoanalysis. Drug addiction is related to the development of the scientific discourse as science produces real from its work by mathematical formalization as capitalism expands and introduces new consumer goods. As Master Discourse induces a loss of jouissence object by incidence of language and produces a splitted subject, Capitalist Discourse is articulated to the homogenization of juissence made by science and increases risk of abolishing subjectivity.  In consequence, segregation is the social bond that crosses these discourses and it is expressed by different means of freedom privation. Psychoanalytical treatment for drug addicts sustains a place for subject as resistence to mater´s command. It imposes a limit to institutional tendance to supress subjectivity for a generalized cure.Keywords: Drug addiction. Segregation. Psychoanalysis. Master Discourse. Capitalist Discourse.
Avaliação do perfil da resiliência e fatores associados em idosos comunitários [Assessment of resilience profile and associated factors in community elderly] [Evaluación del perfil de resiliencia y factores asociados en personas mayores de la comunidad]
Authors: Ferreira Gildiane Siqueira , Souto Rafaella Queiroga , Almeida Sandra Aparecida de , Ribeiro Gerson Da Silva , Araújo Gleicy Karine Nascimento de , Santos Rafael Da Costa
Published: December 2020

Objetivo: identificar a prevalência de resiliência em idosos comunitários e sua relação com o apoio social e a satisfação com a vida. Método: estudo transversal, realizado com 159 idosos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio das escalas de Resiliência, Apoio Social e Satisfação com a vida. Resultados: apresentaram baixa resiliência os idosos do sexo feminino, com idade mais avançada, que não sabem ler e escrever, solteiros, residem sozinho, não trabalham, recebem até um salário mínimo, estão insatisfeitos com a vida e apresentam alto apoio social. Os idosos insatisfeitos tem 4,72 vezes mais probabilidade de apresentar baixo nível de resiliência. Foram encontradas correlações positivas entre a resiliência e o apoio social (p=0,022) e entre satisfação com a vida e a resiliência (p=0,000). Conclusão: a resiliência esteve relacionada com o apoio social e satisfação com a vida. ABSTRACTObjective: to identify the prevalence of resilience in older community members, and its relationship with social support and life satisfaction. Method: in this cross-sectional study of 159 older adults, data were obtained using Resilience, Social Support and Life Satisfaction scales. Results: low resilience was found in older adults who were female, older, single, lived alone, could not read and write, did not work, received up to 1 minimum wage, were dissatisfied with life, and had strong social support. Resilience was 4.72 times more likely to be low in dissatisfied older adults. Positive correlations were found between resilience and social support (p = 0.022), and between life satisfaction and resilience (p = 0.000). Conclusion: resilience was related to social support and life satisfaction.RESUMENObjetivo: identificar la prevalencia de la resiliencia en los miembros mayores de la comunidad y su relación con el apoyo social y la satisfacción con la vida. Método: en este estudio transversal de 159 adultos mayores, los datos se obtuvieron mediante escalas de Resiliencia, Apoyo Social y Satisfacción con la Vida. Resultados: se encontró baja resiliencia en adultos mayores que eran mujeres, mayores, solteros, vivían solos, no sabían leer ni escribir, no trabajaban, recibían hasta 1 salario mínimo, estaban insatisfechos con la vida y tenían un fuerte apoyo social. La resiliencia tenía 4,72 veces más probabilidades de ser baja en los adultos mayores insatisfechos. Se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre resiliencia y apoyo social (p = 0.022), y entre satisfacción con la vida y resiliencia (p = 0.000). Conclusión: la resiliencia se relacionó con el apoyo social y la satisfacción con la vida.
A safe space for parents
Authors: Fisher Jane
Published: December 2020

Antenatal Results and Choices supports parents through antenatal testing and its consequences
Professional autonomy for midwives in the contemporary UK maternity system: part 1
Authors: Sonmezer Ellie
Published: December 2020

The history and professionalisation of midwifery has travelled through turbulent times to arrive at an opportunity for transformation in the contemporary UK maternity system. This professionalisation, the midwifery profession and professional autonomy are explored in this article from a sociological perspective, to answer the question of whether a midwife can achieve professional autonomy within the UK system. This is a two-part article. Part one has a strong focus on the historical context of midwifery, government policy and guidelines, risk, litigation and increasing managerialisation to frame the discussion in part two. The second part provides a discussion of autonomy, choice, managerialisation and reflexive practice, to create a conceptual framework utilising the concept New Professional Midwifery. This is to centralise a core belief in midwifery autonomy and women's choice facilitation. This paper is part one of two.
Why Erasmus matters
Authors: Coates Chloe
Published: December 2020

Broadening perspectives on other healthcare systems and approaches to woman-centred care can only benefit the UK's midwifery workforce, Chloe Coates writes
‘An operation under difficulties’ 100 years ago
Authors: Ellis Harold
Published: December 2020

In a change from recalling births, deaths or medical discoveries, this article looks at a paper published in The Lancet 100 years ago. Occupying a little more than a single column, its vivid description of an operation carried out successfully under primitive conditions will be of great interest.
Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic from five aesthetic practitioners
Authors: Ayodele Dija , Singh Harry , Davies Emma , Lee Yolanda , McGloin Claudia
Published: December 2020

As the year comes to a close and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, five aesthetic practitioners, Dija Ayodele, Harry Singh, Emma Davies, Yolanda Lee and Claudia McGloin, reflect upon their experiences and the challenges faced during the height of the pandemic and the first lockdown
How to create intimacy with your patients through marketing
Authors: Bermant Danny
Published: December 2020

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the warm, inviting environment of aesthetic clinics has been replaced with feelings of anxiety and intimidation. Danny Bermant details how a sense of intimacy can be recreated through marketing
The ABC of sales for the 21st century
Authors: Ratcliffe Jason
Published: December 2020

For many people, selling is an ugly word. However, everyone relies on their powers of persuasion to get friends, family and colleagues to behave in a particular way. In this article, Jason Ratcliffe discusses how these techniques have evolved over the past 30 years, and what now works for the 21st century
Cardiometabolic and Cardiovascular Complications of Obesity in Children
Authors: Pérez-Gimeno G. , Argente-Arizón P. , Rupérez A.I. , Bueno-Lozano G. , Moreno L.A.
Published: December 2020

The rise in obesity in both children and adults has made obesity one of the biggest public health problems of this century. Obesity along with other factors such as hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Overweight and/or obesity during childhood and its maintenance until adult life has been associated with early stages of cardiovascular disease. For this reason, the aim of this study is to revise the state of the art of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular complications related with overweight and/or obesity in children and adolescents. The first consequence of weight gain is an increase in adipose tissue, with different distribution depending on the sex. The excess of fat mass entails dysfunction of adipose tissue with an altered secretion of adipokines and instauration of a proinflammatory environment, which may derive in metabolic syndrome condition. The increase of adipose tissue along with an increase in sympathetic nervous system, triggers an increased left ventricular mass and with a reduced diastolic function.
Therefore, obesity should be prevented from the early stages of life, in order to avoid obesity itself and the metabolic disturbances that could undermine quality of life further on.
Effect of Alfalfa Cultivar and Bale Wrap Type on Dry Matter and Forage Quality of Large Round Bales in Outdoor Storage
Authors: Reiter Amanda S. , Sheaffer Craig C. , Wells M. Scotty , Grev Amanda M. , Hathaway Marcia A. , Lazarus Bill , Martinson Krishona
Published: December 2020

Highlights

Time to bind a round bale was longest for twine (56 s) compared to B-Wrap® (28 s) and net wrap (18 s).

Alfalfa cultivar had minimal effects on changes in dry matter and forage quality of round bales stored outdoors.

Dry matter losses were 7% for twine bales, 5% for net wrap bales, while B-Wrap® bales maintained DM in outdoor storage.

Deleterious changes in forage quality were generally observed after =180 days of outdoor storage.

Abstract. Large round bales are commonly fed to livestock; however, it has been well documented that outdoor storage can negatively impact dry matter (DM) and forage quality. To reduce storage losses and improve feeding value, new wrap types and alfalfa cultivars have been developed; however, these options have not been extensively investigated. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to evaluate the time required to bind large round bales, determine changes in DM and forage quality, and examine the economics of reduced-lignin and conventional alfalfa hay bound in twine, net wrap, and B-Wrap® while in outdoor storage. Hay was baled into 24 large round bales; 12 bales each of reduced-lignin and conventional alfalfa. Within each cultivar, four replicates were bound with each wrap type. Using stopwatches, the time to bind each bale was recorded. At the time of harvest, and every 90±3 days for 365 days, individual bales were weighed and cored to determine changes in DM and forage quality. Significance was set at P = 0.05. Time to bind a bale was longest for twine, intermediate for B-Wrap®, and shortest for net wrap (P < 0.01). Alfalfa cultivar had minimal effects on the parameters measured; therefore, the interaction between wrap type and storage length was reported. After 365 days in outdoor storage, DM losses were 7% for twine bales, 5% for net wrap bales, while B-Wrap® bales maintained DM. Changes in forage quality were observed at =180 days of storage where nonstructural carbohydrates were decreased and insoluble fiber components were concentrated. B-Wrap® bales had a higher value compared to net wrap and twines bales at 180 and 270 days in storage. These results suggest that B-Wrap® was better able to shed precipitation which preserved forage quality and bale value compared to large round bales bound in net wrap and twine in long term, outdoor storage. Keywords: B-Wrap®, Bale value, Net wrap, Reduced-lignin alfalfa, Twine.
Assessment of Heat Unit Availability and Potential Lint Yield of Cotton in Oklahoma
Authors: Masasi Blessing , Taghvaeian Saleh , Gowda Prasanna H , Moriasi Daniel N , Starks Patrick J
Published: December 2020

Highlights

Water availability challenges have increased interest in cotton production in Oklahoma.

An attempt was made to understand the feasibility of growing cotton in all counties of Oklahoma.

Many areas in Oklahoma have sufficient thermal conditions for cotton production.

Potential cotton lint yields generally increase from northern to southern areas of the state.

Abstract. With the expansion of planted area, Oklahoma is increasingly becoming a major cotton producing state in the United States (U.S.). However, the feasibility of growing cotton in all counties of Oklahoma has not been determined. In this study, a heat unit based model was used to estimate the potential cotton lint yields (PCLYs) for all 77 counties of Oklahoma using 38 years (1981-2018) of air temperature data. PCLYs were estimated for optimal (no stress) conditions. The long-term total heat units (THUs) were more than 1000°C·d in 99% of counties, an indication that many areas in Oklahoma may have conducive thermal conditions for cotton production in most years. Similar to the THUs, the PCLYs generally increased from the northern to the southern counties of the state, and long-term averages ranged from 407 to 2472 kg ha-1. About 97% of the counties achieved long-term average PCLYs of at least 1000 kg ha-1. However, the results showed significant interannual variability of the estimated PCLYs in each county over the 38-year period. Low and high PCLYs mostly coincided with years characterized by cool and warm growing seasons, respectively. Reductions of PCLY ranging from 6% to 29% were observed when planting was delayed by just one week from the optimized planting date. This indicates that cotton producers need to carefully consider planting date to maximize cotton lint yield. As THUs were the only factor considered for calculating PCLYs in this study, future research should incorporate other variables such as rainfall and heat stress to improve PCLY estimations. Keywords: Air temperature, Planting date, Soil temperature, Yield gap, Yield variability.
Job (In)Security and Workers’ Training Decisions: A Framing Approach
Authors: Kamphuis Pascal , Glebbeek Arie C.
Published: December 2020

Context: In this study, we attempt to contribute to the scarce evidence about the relationship between perceived labour market insecurity and worker training investments. Drawing on existing research into framing in decision-making, we investigate whether framing the labour market as insecure increases the willingness of workers to invest in training. We also investigate whether this effect is larger when training contract terms are favourable, such as when training is done mostly in an employer’s time, or when no payback clause is included.Approach: Data are gathered through a vignette-study under a sample of senior Dutch students, with experimental manipulation of frames. Respondents are given a questionnaire in which they are asked to imagine themselves working for a fictitious firm (but presented to them as real). The security/insecurity frames are elicited by randomly stressing either the positive or negative side of a series of events related to the labour market position of people working in this firm. Respondents are then asked to respond to five vignettes, each of these a randomly generated combination of training contract terms. For each vignette, respondents are asked to state whether or not they would be willing to go along with the specified training program under the conditions outlined in that vignette. Data are analysed with multilevel logistic regression. Findings: The willingness to train is not invariably greater under an insecurity frame. Instead, we find a crucial interaction: the willingness to train is greater under an insecurity frame when training-contract terms are favourable (e.g when no payback clause is included), but smaller when training-contract terms are unfavourable. Since the positive and negative effects are approximately equal in size, in a balanced design such as ours they cancel each other out, resulting in a close to zero overall effect for the frame variable.Conclusion: Our results suggest that, when workers are aware of the insecurity in their situation, this only makes them more willing to follow training when the risk of losing their investment is low.
Measuring and Tracking Personal Opportunity Outcome Measures Over 3 Years to Guide Policy and Services That Promote Inclusive Community Living
Authors: Cheng Sheng-Lun , Prohn Seb M. , Dinora Parthenia , Broda Michael D. , Bogenschutz Matthew
Published: December 2020

National policy and litigation have been a catalyst in many states for expanding personal outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and have served as an impetus for change in state IDD systems. Although several metrics are used to examine personal outcomes, the National Core Indicators (NCI) In-Person Survey (IPS) is one tool that provides an annual depiction of the lives of people who receive Medicaid Home and Community Based IDD waiver services (HCBS). This article examines whether a validated, three-factor (Privacy Rights, Everyday Choice, and Community Participation) measure of Personal Opportunity, derived from NCI items, functions as predicted across non-equivalent, NCI cohorts (N = 2400) from Virginia in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Multiple-groups confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to examine the invariance and generalizability of the Personal Opportunity constructs. Results indicated that Privacy Rights, Everyday Choice, and Community Participation measured the same concepts even when time and group varied. Significant improvements in Privacy Rights and Community Participation were observed when comparing latent factor means across years. Findings provide stakeholders with a tool for interpreting personal outcomes in the contexts of policy and practice intended to improve inclusion and quality of life for adults with IDD.
Random object optical field diagnostics by using carbon nanoparticles
Authors: Angelsky Oleg V. , Zenkova Claudia Yu. , Hanson Steen G. , Ivansky D. I. , Tkachuk V. M. , Zheng Jun
Published: December 2020

We propose a new approach of using carbon nanoparticles for correlation optical diagnostics of а complex scalar optical field created by scattering and diffraction of radiation off a rough surface. This surface is simulated and we generate a diffraction pattern of the amplitude and phase distribution in the far field. Carbon nanoparticles of a certain size and concentration are obtained by the bottom-up methods of hydrothermal synthesis of citric acid and urea followed by centrifugation. The optical properties of carbon nanoparticles, such as luminescence and absorption in the visible spectrum that essentially differs for different wavelengths, as well as particle size of about dozen nanometers, are the determining criteria for using these particles as probes for the optical speckle field. Luminescence made it possible to register the coordinate position of carbon nanoparticles in real time. The algorithm for reconstruction of the scalar optical field intensity distribution through the analysis of the nanoparticle positions is here displayed. The skeleton of the optical speckle field is analyzed by Hilbert transform to restore the phase. Special attention is paid to the restoration of the speckle field’s phase singularities.
Extracting more than two orthogonal derivatives from a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor
Authors: Rouzé Bastien , Giakoumakis Georges , Stolidi Adrien , Jaeck Julien , Bellanger Cindy , Primot Jérôme
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this paper is to show that the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS) gives access to more derivatives than the two orthogonal derivatives classically extracted either by estimating the centroid or by taking into account the first two harmonics of the Fourier transform. The demonstration is based on a simple model of the SHWFS, taking into account the microlens array as a whole and linking the SHWFS to the multi-lateral shearing interferometry family. This allows for estimating the quality of these additional derivatives, paving the way to new reconstruction techniques involving more than two cross derivatives that should improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
Associations among circulating sphingolipids, β-cell function, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes: A population-based cohort study in China
Authors: Yun Huan , Sun Liang , Wu Qingqing , Zong Geng , Qi Qibin , Li Huaixing , Zheng He , Zeng Rong , Liang Liming , Lin Xu
Published: December 2020

Background

Animal studies suggest vital roles of sphingolipids, especially ceramides, in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) via pathways involved in insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and inflammation, but human studies are limited. We aimed to evaluate the associations of circulating sphingolipids with incident T2D and to explore underlying mechanisms.

Methods and findings

The current study included 826 men and 1,148 women who were aged 50–70 years, from Beijing and Shanghai, and without T2D in 2005 and who were resurveyed in 2011. Cardiometabolic traits were measured at baseline and follow-up surveys. A total of 76 sphingolipids were quantified using high-coverage targeted lipidomics. Summary data for 2-sample Mendelian randomization were obtained from genome-wide association studies of circulating sphingolipids and the China Health and Nutrition Survey (n = 5,731). During the 6-year period, 529 participants developed T2D. Eleven novel and 3 reported sphingolipids, namely ceramides (d18:1/18:1, d18:1/20:0, d18:1/20:1, d18:1/22:1), saturated sphingomyelins (C34:0, C36:0, C38:0, C40:0), unsaturated sphingomyelins (C34:1, C36:1, C42:3), hydroxyl-sphingomyelins (C34:1, C38:3), and a hexosylceramide (d18:1/20:1), were positively associated with incident T2D (relative risks [RRs]: 1.14–1.21; all P < 0.001), after multivariate adjustment including lifestyle characteristics and BMI. Network analysis further identified 5 modules, and 2 modules containing saturated sphingomyelins showed the strongest associations with increased T2D risk (RRQ4 versus Q1 = 1.59 and 1.43; both Ptrend < 0.001). Mediation analysis suggested that the detrimental associations of 13 sphingolipids with T2D were largely mediated through β-cell dysfunction, as indicated by HOMA-B (mediation proportion: 11.19%–42.42%; all P < 0.001). Moreover, Mendelian randomization evidenced a positive association between a genetically instrumented ceramide (d18:1/20:1) and T2D (odds ratio: 1.15 [95% CI 1.05–1.26]; P = 0.002). Main limitations in the current study included potential undiagnosed cases and lack of an independent population for replication.

Conclusions

In this study, we observed that a panel of novel sphingolipids with unique structures were positively associated with incident T2D, largely mediated through β-cell dysfunction, in Chinese individuals.
Learning from urban form to predict building heights
Authors: Milojevic-Dupont Nikola , Hans Nicolai , Kaack Lynn H. , Zumwald Marius , Andrieux François , de Barros Soares Daniel , Lohrey Steffen , Pichler Peter-Paul , Creutzig Felix
Published: December 2020

Understanding cities as complex systems, sustainable urban planning depends on reliable high-resolution data, for example of the building stock to upscale region-wide retrofit policies. For some cities and regions, these data exist in detailed 3D models based on real-world measurements. However, they are still expensive to build and maintain, a significant challenge, especially for small and medium-sized cities that are home to the majority of the European population. New methods are needed to estimate relevant building stock characteristics reliably and cost-effectively. Here, we present a machine learning based method for predicting building heights, which is based only on open-access geospatial data on urban form, such as building footprints and street networks. The method allows to predict building heights for regions where no dedicated 3D models exist currently. We train our model using building data from four European countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany) and find that the morphology of the urban fabric surrounding a given building is highly predictive of the height of the building. A test on the German state of Brandenburg shows that our model predicts building heights with an average error well below the typical floor height (about 2.5 m), without having access to training data from Germany. Furthermore, we show that even a small amount of local height data obtained by citizens substantially improves the prediction accuracy. Our results illustrate the possibility of predicting missing data on urban infrastructure; they also underline the value of open government data and volunteered geographic information for scientific applications, such as contextual but scalable strategies to mitigate climate change.