bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What qualities in a potential HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis service are valued by black men who have sex with men in London? A qualitative acceptability study
Authors: Witzel T Charles , Nutland Will , Bourne Adam
Published: February 2018

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) have higher HIV incidence and prevalence when compared to other MSM, despite similar levels of condom use and testing. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could be a useful intervention to reduce these inequalities. This research therefore aims to understand the dimensions of acceptability of a potential PrEP service for BMSM aged 18–45 years in London. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 PrEP-eligible BMSM between April and August 2016. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, then subject to a thematic framework analysis, informed by intersectionality theory. BMSM had distinct preferences for sexual health services, which have implications for PrEP service development. Three primary domains emerged in our analysis: proximity and anonymity; quality, efficiency and reassurance; and understanding, empathy and identity. These relate, respectively, to preferences regarding clinic location and divisions from community, features of service delivery and staff characteristics. Due to concerns about confidentiality, community-based services may not be useful for this group. Careful consideration in regards to components used in service development will facilitate ongoing engagement. Interpersonal skills of staff are central to service acceptability, particularly when staff are perceived to be from similar cultural backgrounds as their patients.
Mental illness in Sweden (1896–1905) reflected through case records from a local general hospital
Authors: Appelquist Malin , Brådvik Louise , Åsberg Marie
Published: February 2018

Mental illness in a hospital in a medium-sized town in Sweden was studied. Consecutive case records from 1896 to 1905, and also from 2011, were selected. In the historical sample, neurasthenia was the most common diagnosis, followed by affective disorders and alcohol abuse. ICD-10 diagnoses corresponded well with the historical diagnoses. Melancholia resembled modern criteria for depression. Mania, insania simplex and paranoia indicated more severe illness. Abuse was more common among men and hysteria among women. Those with a medical certificate for mental hospital care were very ill and showed no gender difference. There were no diagnoses for abuse, but 17% had a high level of alcohol consumption. The pattern of signs and symptoms displayed by patients does not appear to change with time.
Experimental investigation of the comparison of compound parabolic concentrator and ordinary heat pipe-type solar concentrator
Authors: Ullah Fahim , Khattak Mansoor K , Min Kang
Published: February 2018

In this research study, we have compared between the two different concentrators with the flat absorber plate receiver of the compound parabolic concentrator heat pipe solar concentrator and ordinary heat pipe flat plate solar concentrator. For the reproduction of solar radiation in the experiment, iodine tungsten lamp was used. Thermal performance comparison of the two types of solar concentrator under different simulating radiation intensity conditions was carried out with including the fluid temperature, instantaneous efficiency, average efficiency, and average heat loss coefficient. The results of the experiment indicate that the compound parabolic concentrator heat pipe-type solar concentrator not only increased the fluid temperature and instantaneous efficiency but also decreased the average heat loss coefficient as compared with the ordinary heat pipe flat plate solar concentrator. It was noticed from the experimental results that the efficiency of compound parabolic heat pipe solar concentrator was higher than ordinary heat pipe solar concentrator up to 6 and 10°C with the light intensity, that is I = 679 W/m2 and I = 892 W/m2, respectively. From the results, it was concluded that the using of compound parabolic heat pipe solar concentrator increased the thermal performance of solar concentrator.
Evaluating the Interdisciplinary Mission of Small Group Research Using Computational Analytics
Authors: Norder Kurt , Emich Kyle J. , Sawhney Aman
Published: February 2018

Richard Kettner-Polley and Charles Gavin founded Small Group Research ( SGR) to present research, build theory, and generally advance the study of small groups by combining insights from multiple disciplines. Currently, we evaluate the extent to which this interdisciplinary mission has been upheld over time. To do this, we apply the perspective and tools of big data analytics to the nearly 3 million words that span the 829 articles that comprise the SGR corpus from February 1990 to June 2017. Keyword analysis, ontological ordering, and interdisciplinary content analyses identify intriguing patterns and detect latent trends. Our results speak to the consistent interdisciplinarity of SGR while identifying opportunities for further development and more complex disciplinary integration in research on small groups.
Effects of Sexual Media Literacy Education for School Nurses in South Korea
Authors: Baek Seong-Sook , Min Hae Young , Lee Jong-Eun , Kim Shin-Jeong
Published: February 2018

This study aimed to examine the effects of a sexual education program (SEP) focused on sexual media literacy (SML) for school nurses. A quasi-experimental, pre-/posttest design was used to examine SML knowledge, awareness, reinterpretation skill, and self-efficacy. A total of 66 school nurses participated. The experimental group ( n = 35) participated in an 18-hr SEP that focused on SML, while the control group ( n = 31) did not. The experimental group showed significant improvement in knowledge ( t = 6.47, d = 1.62, p < .001), awareness ( t = 5.08, d = 1.19, p < .001), reinterpretation skill ( t = 4.81, d = 2.28, p < .001), and self-efficacy ( t = 8.29, d = 1.38, p < .001) as compared to the control group. The SEP developed in this study may be an effective educational intervention for school nurses.
Relations Between Sleep and Temperament in Preschool Children With ADHD
Authors: Melegari Maria Grazia , Sette Stefania , Vittori Elena , Mallia Luca , Devoto Alessandra , Lucidi Fabio , Ferri Raffaele , Bruni Oliviero
Published: February 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the links between temperament and sleep in a group of preschoolers with ADHD. Method: Twenty-five ADHD ( M = 5.37 years, SD = 1.09) and 22 typically developing (TD; M = 5.10, SD = 1.18) preschoolers participated in the study. Sleep was assessed with the Sleep Disturbance Scale and wrist actigraphy. The Preschool Temperament and Character Inventory (PsTCI) was used to evaluate the child temperament. Results: ADHD children showed a temperamental profile characterized by higher novelty seeking, lower persistence, self-directness, and cooperativeness and marginally lower harm avoidance (HA) compared with controls. HA was associated negatively to wakefulness after sleep onset and sleep fragmentation and positively with sleep efficiency and sleep time. Reward dependence was negatively associated with wake episode length. Conclusion: Sleep and temperament are correlated in preschoolers with ADHD and temperament might represent an intermediate endophenotype underlying the relation between ADHD and sleep disorders.
The Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Flexibility and Task-Related Heart Rate Variability in Children With ADHD and Healthy Controls
Authors: Ludyga Sebastian , Gerber Markus , Mücke Manuel , Brand Serge , Weber Peter , Brotzmann Mark , Pühse Uwe
Published: February 2018

Objective: To investigate cognitive flexibility and task-related heart rate variability following moderately intense aerobic exercise and after watching a video in both children with ADHD and healthy controls. Method: Using a cross-over design, participants completed cognitive assessments following exercise and a physically inactive control condition. Behavioral performance was assessed using the Alternate Uses task. Heart rate variability was recorded via electrocardiography during the cognitive task. Results: The statistical analysis revealed that in comparison with the control condition, both groups showed higher cognitive flexibility following aerobic exercise. Moreover, decreased low frequency and high frequency power was observed in the exercise condition. Conclusion: The findings suggest that exercise elicits similar benefits for cognitive flexibility in children with ADHD and healthy controls, partly due to an increase in arousal induced by parasympathetic withdrawal.
Changing Digital Media Environments and Youth Audiovisual Productions
Authors: Poveda David , Morgade Marta
Published: February 2018

This article compares two studies conducted in Madrid in a seven–eight years span in which secondary school students (14–15 years of age) were asked to collaboratively create digital audiovisual narratives. In the first project, adolescents seemed to consider their audiovisual materials as transparent and with self-evident meanings. In the second project, adolescents problematized meaning and reflexively examined the design of audiovisual media. We explore two distinct but complementary factors that might help interpret the differences: (a) rapid historical changes in the digital narratives adolescents are exposed to and engage with and (b) methodological differences in the way adolescents were supported and guided during the creation of their audiovisual narratives. Through this analysis, we draw on an ethnographically grounded notion of ‘mediatization’ that helps unpack both rapid transformations in adolescent’s digital mediascape and how digital practices are socially co-constructed in collaborative projects with youth.
New British feminisms, UK Feminista and young women’s activism
Authors: Charles Nickie , Wadia Khursheed
Published: February 2018

Over the past few years we have witnessed a sharp resurgence in feminist activism as young women have become increasingly interested in feminist ideas as a means of making sense of their lives. This resurgence in feminist practice is evidenced by the formation of myriad groups and networks across Britain and the initiation of various feminist projects and campaigns, reported regularly and widely in local and national media. This article examines the renaissance of this new feminism through the example of one of the most active and publicly visible organisations, UK Feminista. It draws on ethnographic research into young women’s feminist activism, exploring the emergence of UK Feminista as part of this new wave of feminist activism in Britain. We argue that the wave metaphor has multifarious meanings and that to understand how the political practice of a small feminist organisation contributes to the amplification of this wave of feminist activism it is helpful to draw on concepts developed within social movement theory such as cycles of protest, repertoires of action and collective identities. We show how UK Feminista mobilises young women and provides resources to existing and new feminist organisations and activist groups, commenting particularly on its use of the Internet and social media as a mobilising device. We explore the role of the Internet in young women’s engagement with feminism, the forms of activism in which they take part and the importance of feminist cultural memory to the construction of a collective feminist identity. Our analysis reveals the significant part played by a small mobilising structure, UK Feminista, in the resurgence of feminist activism in the UK.
Gender outlaws or a slow bending of norms? South African bisexual women’s treatment of gender binaries
Authors: Lynch Ingrid , Maree David
Published: February 2018

A monosexual configuration of sexuality assumes that sexual desire is directed at either men or women. Bisexuality resists a choice between oppositional categories and is often theorised as having a transgressive potential to destabilise binary logic, not only in relation to sexuality but also to gender. There is, however, a lack of empirical work exploring how this potential might be realised in the accounts of bisexual individuals. Drawing on interviews with South African bisexual women, we use a narrative-discursive lens to examine the discursive resources employed by participants to trouble or resist hetero-gendered norms. Our findings demonstrate how resistance to the gender binary hinges on citational politics that are fundamentally gendered and linked to sexuality. Instead of entirely destabilising hetero-gendered norms, participants draw on gendered scripts that simultaneously expand norms to accommodate their sexual difference and, through processes of othering, function to reiterate hetero-gendered norms. While complete subversion of gender binaries is not possible in participants’ discursive contexts, what does occur is a ‘slow bending’ of norms. Theorising bisexuality as transgressing oppositional categories closes off opportunities to interrogate the pervasive influence of gender binaries in contexts that remain marked by pervasive heteronormativity and heterosexism. Significantly, it also obscures more modest improvisations of gender scripts that hold potential for destabilising gender binaries.
Breastfeeding and sexual difference: Queering Irigaray
Authors: Lee Robyn
Published: February 2018

It is commonly assumed that only women, and in particular women who have recently given birth, are able to breastfeed. However, through induced lactation, adoptive mothers, fathers and trans people have begun breastfeeding with greater frequency. Although breastfeeding is often regarded as a paradigmatic example of sexual difference, it actually exposes the instability of binary categories of sex. Luce Irigaray insists that sexual difference demands a new poetics, a language that is dynamic and fluid, capable of expressing difference while always keeping open the possibility of transformation and change. This article extends Irigaray’s work in order to theorise breastfeeding from a perspective that is both feminist and queer.
Probation officers’ judgements: A study using personal construct theory
Authors: Mullineux Judith C , Taylor Brian J , Giles Melanie L
Published: February 2018

• Summary

Social workers and probation officers are frequently called upon to make judgements about the likelihood of re-offending. However, whilst the use of risk assessment instruments is now commonplace, the cognitive processes through which these judgements are made are rarely explicit.

• Findings

This study used the repertory grid method to elicit the constructs of judgements about re-offending of 15 experienced probation officers. Primary factors in their judgements were related to: (1) responsibility and risk taking behaviour; (2) criminal history; (3) self-awareness; and (4) stability. Personality characteristics, substance misuse and family dysfunction were also important. The findings are discussed in relation to two theoretical frameworks for understanding decision making: heuristics and biases and image theory, which focuses on values.

• Application

It is suggested that the design and implementation of assessment tools should be undertaken in the light of the constructs used in making professional judgements which inform the relevant decision making.
Robust control simulation on following performance of high-speed railway in situ testing system
Authors: Mao Yang , Zeng Liangcai , Zhen Feilong
Published: February 2018

Subgrade bears both the impacts of the high-speed train and the weight of superstructures. Its stability affects the line smoothness directly, but it is very hard to simulate its working condition, and the in situ testing method is inadequate. The article presents a railway roadbed in situ testing device, and it proposes an excitation hydraulic cylinder system to output static and dynamic pressure simultaneously in order to simulate the force of the train. The dynamic following performance is quite poor without control algorithm, so the robust control block is adopted to improve the following performance of the excitation system under different frequencies and waveforms. In addition, considering the effects of the external disturbances, simulation is carried out with a certain intensity of noise to test the effectiveness of the control scheme. The simulation results show that the robust control algorithm makes the excitation system achieving much better following performance.
Collaborative school leadership in a global society: A critical perspective
Authors: Woods Philip A , Roberts Amanda
Published: February 2018

In the context of evolving global challenges and opportunities, this article explores the kind of leadership that moves beyond the philosophy of dependence which pervades many of the everyday assumptions of educational leadership practice. The article argues for educational leadership that places relational freedom, self-determination, and critical reflexivity as the driving aim of distributed leadership by teachers, students and others in non-positional leadership roles. A project arising from the International Teacher Leadership initiative is examined in order to offer practical illustration.
Are Americans really okay with torture? The effects of message framing on public opinion
Authors: Blauwkamp Joan M , Rowling Charles M , Pettit William
Published: February 2018

In December 2014, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on CIA detention and interrogation practices from 2002–2009. Several survey organizations then released polls that appeared to show a majority of Americans supportive of the CIA program, prompting such news headlines as ‘Polls Show a Majority of Americans Support Torture’ and ‘Let’s Not Kid Ourselves: Most Americans are Fine with Torture’. The authors of this article were skeptical of these conclusions. They therefore conducted a survey experiment in which they explored whether slight variations in how this issue is framed – e.g. referencing the 9/11 terrorist attacks, linking the policy to the George W Bush administration, identifying the specific tactics used on detainees or emphasizing the broader consequences for American interests abroad – impact public support for torture. They found that respondents can be primed to express slim support or substantial opposition to the policy based on which of these considerations are called to mind.
Impact of a Pharmacist-Provided Spirometry Service on Access to Results in a Primary Care Setting
Authors: Mueller Lisa A. , Valentino Alexa Sevin , Clark Aaron D. , Li Junan
Published: February 2018

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of a pharmacist-provided spirometry service within a federally qualified health center on the percentage of spirometry referrals completed with results reviewed by the ordering provider. Secondary objectives evaluated differences between internal and external referrals, medication recommendations made by the pharmacist, and revenue brought in by the service. Methods: Chart reviews were completed to determine the referral completion rates between patients who received a spirometry referral before (December 2014–September 2015) and after (January 2016–October 2016) the implementation of the pharmacy-provided spirometry service. Chart reviews were also used to determine the number and completion rate among referrals for internal and external services in the postimplementation time frame. Chart reviews also assessed medication recommendations made by the pharmacist. Results: The results demonstrate an increase in referral completion rate from 38.1% to 47.0% ( P = .08) between the pre- and postimplementation time frames. In the postimplementation time frame, there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of referrals completed between in-house referrals and external referrals (70.0% and 40.9%, respectively, P = .0004). Comparing clinics with and without the spirometry service, there was a statistically significant difference in the total number of spirometry referrals (1.13% and 0.59%, respectively, P < .0001) and the percent of referrals completed (0.55% and 0.27%, respectively, P = .0002). Conclusion: The results suggest that offering spirometry within the primary care setting helps to increase the rate of completed spirometry tests with results available to the primary care provider. Additionally, the results show that there is an increased completion rate in patients who receive an internal spirometry referral, which may be due to reduced barriers in obtaining this testing. Overall, these results demonstrate that providing spirometry in the primary care setting helps to increase spirometry results obtained and could be beneficial in other primary care settings.
Endometrial and Myometrial Multidimensional Growth During the Cycle
Authors: Ganor-Paz Yael , Sukenik Halevy Rivka , Shulman Adrian , Tepper Ronnie
Published: February 2018

Three-dimensional sonography enables assessment of uterine morphology. While the pattern of endometrial growth has been well described, little information is available on changes in endometrial and myometrial volume, area, and perimeters. We evaluated the ratio between myometrial and endometrial dimensions and its relation to endometrial thickness of inpatients with normal uterine morphology from our hospital. Routine hormonal assessment on the day of the sonographic exam was extracted from electronic medical records. Correlations between different dimensions of the uterus were examined. A total of 38 3D sonographic data sets were reviewed. A significant correlation was found between estradiol blood levels and endometrial thickness, area, and volume (R = 0.35, 0.53, 0.55, respectively; P < .05). The ratio between the endometrial and myometrial area remained constant regardless of endometrial thickness. The findings of this study suggest that endometrial thickness, area, and volume may correlate with circulating estradiol levels. Endometrial and myometrial changes correlated in more than one dimension.
Relationship between measured plastic limit and plastic limit estimated from undrained shear strength, water content ratio and liquidity index
Authors: Spagnoli Giovanni , Feinendegen Martin
Published: February 2018

The detection of the plastic limit of clays is subject to human error. Several attempts have been made to correlate across studies the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soils (water content, liquidity index, shear strength, etc.). Based on the premise that the liquidity index and water content ratio can be correlated directly, an alternative method to obtain indirectly the plastic limit is suggested here. The present study investigated 40 natural clayey samples of various mineralogies and origins and other publicly available data, where Atterberg limits and undrained shear strength values obtained with the vane shear tests were given. The liquidity index and water-content ratio correlate very well for defined undrained shear strength values of the clays. Solving the liquidity index equation for the plastic limit, estimated plastic limit values obtained by the liquidity index/water-content ratio relationship were compared with laboratory plastic-limit values. Preliminary results based on 62 values show an exponential trend with a multiple regression coefficient of 0.79. The data need to be confirmed on a larger database, however.
Hematopoiesis by iPSC-derived hematopoietic stem cells of aplastic anemia that escape cytotoxic T-cell attack
Authors: Espinoza J. Luis , Elbadry Mahmoud I. , Chonabayashi Kazuhisa , Yoshida Yoshinori , Katagiri Takamasa , Harada Kenichi , Nakagawa Noriharu , Zaimoku Yoshitaka , Imi Tatsuya , Takamatsu Hiroyuki , Ozawa Tatsuhiko , Maruyama Hiroyuki , Hassanein Hassan A. , Khalifa A. Noreldin Amal , Takenaka Katsuto , Akashi Koichi , Hamana Hiroshi , Kishi Hiroyuki , Akatsuka Yoshiki , Nakao Shinji
Published: February 2018

Key Points

HLA-lacking iPSC-derived HSCs from aplastic anemia patients show a hematopoietic ability similar to wild-type iPSC-HSCs. iPSC-HSCs that lack HLA-B4002 escape specific T-cell attack.
Combination of the low anticoagulant heparin CX-01 with chemotherapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Kovacsovics Tibor J. , Mims Alice , Salama Mohamed E. , Pantin Jeremy , Rao Narayanam , Kosak Ken M. , Ahorukomeye Peter , Glenn Martha J. , Deininger Michael W. N. , Boucher Kenneth M. , Bavisotto Linda M. , Gutierrez-Sanchez Gerardo , Kennedy Thomas P. , Marcus Stephen G. , Shami Paul J.
Published: February 2018

Key Points

In a pilot study, the nonanticoagulant heparin derivative CX-01 was well tolerated when combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of AML. Preliminary results show encouraging complete remission rates and rapid platelet recovery.
Small airways dysfunction: the link between allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma
Authors: Haccuria Amaryllis , Van Muylem Alain , Malinovschi Andrei , Doan Vi , Michils Alain
Published: February 2018

Abnormal airway reactivity and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) occurring in small airways have been found in asthma. If the “one airway, one disease” concept is consistent, such dysfunctions should also be detected in the peripheral airways of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis.

We investigated whether peripheral airway reactivity and NO overproduction could be documented in distal airways in patients with allergic rhinitis. Exhaled NO fraction (FeNO) and the slope (S) of phase III of the single-breath washout test (SBWT) of helium (He) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) were measured in 31 patients with allergic asthma, 23 allergic rhinitis patients and 24 controls, before and after sputum induction. SBWT is sensitive to airway calibre change occurring in the lung periphery.

TheFeNOdecrease was more significant in asthma and rhinitis than in controls (−55.1% and −50.0%, respectively,versus−40.8%) (p=0.007 and p=0.029, respectively). SSF6and SHeincreased in all groups. Change in SHe(ΔSHe) > ΔSSF6was observed in rhinitis (p=0.004) and asthma (p<0.001), whereas ΔSSF6= ΔSHein controls (p=0.431).

This study provides evidence of peripheral airway dysfunction in patients with allergic rhinitis quite similar to that described in asthma. Furthermore, a large proportion of the increased NO production reported in allergic rhinitis appears to originate in the peripheral airways.
Impact of Cancer Awareness Drive on Generating Awareness of and Improving Screening for Cervical Cancer: A Study Among Schoolteachers in India
Authors: Shankar Abhishek , Roy Shubham , Rath Goura Kishor , Chakraborty Abhijit , Kamal Vineet Kumar , Biswas Aalekhya Sharma
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India. Our study assessed the level and impact of awareness programs in the adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection.

Methods

This assessment was part of a Pink Chain Campaign, the mission of which is to fight cancer. During cancer awareness events from 2013 to 2015 at various women’s colleges in different parts in India, a pretest related to cervical cancer was followed by an awareness program. A post-test was conducted 6 months and 1 year later.

Results

A total of 872 of 985 teachers participated in the study, for a response rate of 88.5%. Mean age of the population was 42.4 years. There was a significant increase in the level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer at 6 months, which was sustained at 1 year. Regarding cervical cancer screening, knowledge and practice of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test as a screening test for cervical cancer among teachers were changed significantly at 6 months and 1 year. More than 75% of teachers were educated by physicians about the Pap test. At the time of the post-test, there was a significant change in alcohol and smoking habits. The main reasons for not undergoing a screening test were ignorance (50%), lethargic attitude (44.8%), and lack of time (34.6%).

Conclusion

The level of knowledge of cervical cancer was poor. A significant increase in the level of knowledge of cervical cancer among the population was found after this study. To inculcate safe lifestyle practices, awareness programs should be conducted more widely and frequently.
The transcriptome of early chicken embryos reveals signaling pathways governing rapid asymmetric cellularization and lineage segregation
Authors: Hwang Young Sun , Seo Minseok , Lee Bo Ram , Lee Hong Jo , Park Young Hyun , Kim Sang Kyung , Lee Hyung Chul , Choi Hee Jung , Yoon Joon , Kim Heebal , Han Jae Yong
Published: February 2018

The phylogenomics and comparative functional genomics of avian species were investigated in the Bird 10,000 Genomes (B10K) project because of the important evolutionary position of birds and their value as a research model. However, the systematic profiling of transcriptional changes prior to oviposition has not been investigated in avian species because of the practical difficulties in obtaining pre-oviposited eggs. In this study, a total of 137 pre-oviposited embryos were collected from hen ovaries and oviducts and subjected to RNA-sequencing analyses. Two waves of chicken zygotic genome activation (ZGA) were observed. Functionally distinct developmental programs involving Notch, MAPK, Wnt and TGFβ signaling were separately detected during cleavage and area pellucida formation. Furthermore, the early stages of chicken development were compared with the human and mouse counterparts, highlighting chicken-specific signaling pathways and gradually analogous gene expression via ZGA. These findings provide a genome-wide understanding of avian embryogenesis and comparisons among amniotes.
Polar cell fate stimulates Wolbachia intracellular growth
Authors: Kamath Ajit D. , Deehan Mark A. , Frydman Horacio M.
Published: February 2018

Bacteria are crucial partners in the development and evolution of vertebrates and invertebrates. A large fraction of insects harbor Wolbachia, bacterial endosymbionts that manipulate host reproduction to favor their spreading. Because they are maternally inherited, Wolbachia are under selective pressure to reach the female germline and infect the offspring. However, Wolbachia infection is not limited to the germline. Somatic cell types, including stem cell niches, have higher Wolbachia loads compared with the surrounding tissue. Here, we show a novel Wolbachia tropism to polar cells (PCs), specialized somatic cells in the Drosophila ovary. During oogenesis, all stages of PC development are easily visualized, facilitating the investigation of the kinetics of Wolbachia intracellular growth. Wolbachia accumulation is triggered by particular events of PC morphogenesis, including differentiation from progenitors and between stages 8 and 9 of oogenesis. Moreover, induction of ectopic PC fate is sufficient to promote Wolbachia accumulation. We found that Wolbachia PC tropism is evolutionarily conserved across most Drosophila species, but not in Culex mosquitos. These findings highlight the coordination of endosymbiont tropism with host development and cell differentiation.
Fat body glycogen serves as a metabolic safeguard for the maintenance of sugar levels in Drosophila
Authors: Yamada Takayuki , Habara Okiko , Kubo Hitomi , Nishimura Takashi
Published: February 2018

Adapting to changes in food availability is a central challenge for survival. Glucose is an important resource for energy production, and therefore many organisms synthesize and retain sugar storage molecules. In insects, glucose is stored in two different forms: the disaccharide trehalose and the branched polymer glycogen. Glycogen is synthesized and stored in several tissues, including in muscle and the fat body. Despite the major role of the fat body as a center for energy metabolism, the importance of its glycogen content remains unclear. Here, we show that glycogen metabolism is regulated in a tissue-specific manner under starvation conditions in the fruit fly Drosophila. The mobilization of fat body glycogen in larvae is independent of Adipokinetic hormone (Akh, the glucagon homolog) but is regulated by sugar availability in a tissue-autonomous manner. Fat body glycogen plays a crucial role in the maintenance of circulating sugars, including trehalose, under fasting conditions. These results demonstrate the importance of fat body glycogen as a metabolic safeguard in Drosophila.
Hormonal control of growth in the wing imaginal disks of Junonia coenia: the relative contributions of insulin and ecdysone
Authors: Nijhout H. Frederik , Laub Emily , Grunert Laura W.
Published: February 2018

The wing imaginal disks of Lepidoptera can be grown in tissue culture, but require both insulin and ecdysone to grow normally. Here, we investigate the contributions the two hormones make to growth. Ecdysone is required to maintain mitoses, whereas in the presence of insulin alone mitoses stop. Both ecdysone and insulin stimulate protein synthesis, but only ecdysone stimulates DNA synthesis. Insulin stimulates primarily cytoplasmic growth and an increase in cell size, whereas ecdysone, by virtue of its stimulation of DNA synthesis and mitosis, stimulates growth by an increase in cell number. Although both hormones stimulate protein synthesis, they do so in different spatial patterns. Both hormones stimulate protein synthesis in the inter-vein regions, but ecdysone stimulates synthesis more strongly in the veins and in the margin of the wing disk. We propose that the balance of insulin and ecdysone signaling must be regulated to maintain normal growth, and when growth appears to be due primarily to an increase in cell number, or an increase in cell size, this may indicate growth occurred under conditions that favored a stronger role for ecdysone, or insulin, respectively.
‘‘Classic’’ theories and current challenges concerning welfare state development
Authors: Lalioti Varvara
Published: February 2018

Στόχος του παρόντος άρθρου είναι μία πολύ συνοπτική παρουσίαση ‘κλασικών’ θεωριών που αφορούν στην ανάπτυξη του κράτους πρόνοιας, υπογραμμίζοντας ταυτόχρονα την ανάγκη η κοινωνική πολιτική να λάβει υπ’ όψιν της τις σύγχρονες προκλήσεις που αντιμετωπίζει το κράτος πρόνοιας, και να ‘μετασχηματίσει’ τις παλαιές θεωρίες, σε συμφωνία με νέες κατευθύνσεις στην έρευνα. Στο πρώτο μέρος του άρθρου παρουσιάζονται με τρόπο πολύ περιληπτικό και κριτικό ‘κλασικές’ θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις. Αυτές περιλαμβάνουν την επιρροή της βιομηχανικής ανάπτυξης, των εθνικών αξιών και των εργοδοτών στην ανάπτυξη κοινωνικής πολιτικής, καθώς και  τη θεωρία των πόρων εξουσίας και τον ιστορικό θεσμισμό. Περιλαμβάνουν όμως ακόμη τη γενικότερη τάση κατάταξης των κρατών πρόνοιας, η οποία βασίστηκε σε στοιχεία των προαναφερθεισών προσεγγίσεων και εισήγαγε νέες μεταβλητές όπως το φύλο. Το δεύτερο μέρος του άρθρου αφορά σε ισχυρές, σύγχρονες προκλήσεις που αντιμετωπίζει το κράτος πρόνοιας όπως είναι η μετανάστευση και η αυξανόμενη εθνική ποικιλομορφία, η νεοφιλελεύθερη παγκοσμιοποίηση και η πρόσφατη κρίση, καθώς και οι μεταβαλλόμενοι ρόλοι των φύλων. Οι προκλήσεις αυτές εγείρουν σημαντικές ερωτήσεις για το πεδίο της κοινωνικής πολιτικής και θέτουν σε δοκιμασία τα όρια παραδοσιακών αντιλήψεων για την κοινωνική πολιτική, προβάλλοντας ταυτόχρονα την ανάγκη για έναν εποικοδομητικό διάλογο ανάμεσα στο παλαιό και σε κάτι νεότερο, το οποίο θα συμπληρώσει το παλαιό. Ο διάλογος αυτός αποτελεί προαπαιτούμενο για τη σοβαρή και σύμφωνα με επιστημονικούς κανόνες διεξαγωγή έρευνας στο πεδίο της κοινωνικής πολιτικής. Η τελευταία ενότητα του άρθρου παρουσιάζει με τρόπο συνοπτικό τα συμπεράσματα.
A demographic dividend of the FP2020 Initiative and the SDG reproductive health target: Case studies of India and Nigeria
Authors: Li Qingfeng , Rimon Jose G.
Published: February 2018

Background: The demographic dividend, defined as the economic growth potential resulting from favorable shifts in population age structure following rapid fertility decline, has been widely employed to advocate improving access to family planning. The current framework focuses on the long-term potential, while the short-term benefits may also help persuade policy makers to invest in family planning.

Methods: We estimate the short- and medium-term economic benefits from two major family planning goals: the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020)’s goal of adding 120 million modern contraceptive users by 2020; Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.7 of ensuring universal access to family planning by 2030. We apply the cohort component method to World Population Prospects and National Transfer Accounts data. India and Nigeria, respectively the most populous Asian and African country under the FP2020 initiative, are used as case studies.

Results: Meeting the FP2020 target implies that on average, the number of children that need to be supported by every 100 working-age people would decrease by 8 persons in India and 11 persons in Nigeria in 2020; the associated reduction remains at 8 persons in India, but increases to 14 persons in Nigeria by 2030 under the SDG 3.7. In India meeting the FP2020 target would yield a saving of US$18.2 billion (PPP) in consumption expenditures for children and youth in the year 2020 alone, and that increased to US$89.7 billion by 2030. In Nigeria the consumption saved would be US$2.5 billion in 2020 and $12.9 billion by 2030.

Conclusions: The tremendous economic benefits from meeting the FP2020 and SDG family planning targets demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of investment in promoting access to contraceptive methods. The gap already apparent between the observed and targeted trajectories indicates tremendous missing opportunities. Accelerated progress is needed to achieve the FP2020 and SDG goals and so reap the demographic dividend.
Burden of neurodevelopmental disorders in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bitta Mary , Kariuki Symon M. , Abubakar Amina , Newton Charles R.J.C
Published: February 2018

Background: Childhood mortality from infectious diseases has declined steadily in many low and middle-income (LAMIC) countries, with increased recognition of non-communicable diseases such as neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). There is lack of data on the burden of NDD in LAMIC. Current global burden of these disorders are largely extrapolated from high-income countries. The main objective of the study was therefore to estimate the burden of NDD in LAMIC using meta-analytic techniques.

Methods: We systematically searched online databases including Medline/PubMed, PsychoInfo, and Embase for studies that reported prevalence or incidence of NDD. Pooled prevalence, heterogeneity and risk factors for prevalence were determined using meta-analytic techniques.

  Results: We identified 4,802 records, but only 51 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were from Asia-Pacific (52.2%) and most were on neurological disorders (63.1%). The median pooled prevalence per 1,000 for any NDD was 7.6 (95%CI 7.5-7.7), being 11.3 (11.7-12.0) for neurological disorders and 3.2 (95%CI 3.1-3.3) for mental conditions such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The type of NDD was significantly associated with the greatest prevalence ratio in the multivariable model (PR=2.6(95%CI 0.6-11.6) (P>0.05). Incidence was only reported for epilepsy (mean of 447.7 (95%CI 415.3-481.9) per 100,000). Perinatal complications were the commonest risk factor for NDD.

Conclusion: The burden of NDD in LAMIC is considerable. Epidemiological surveys on NDD should screen all types of NDD to provide reliable estimates.
ДРЕВНЕРУССКОЕ ИСКУССТВО – ИСТОЧНИК ИННОВАЦИОННЫХ РЕШЕНИЙ В ОБЛАСТИ ДИЗАЙНА
Authors: Gerasimova Maria Pavlovna , Sudarushkina Elena Sergeevna
Published: February 2018

Цель. Статья посвящена актуальной в условиях современной модной индустрии теме трансформации исторического и народного искусства в модели современного костюма и обуви. Предметом анализа выступают образцы русского костюма и орнамента, обувь и аксессуары, являющиеся творческим источником для создания современных коллекций. Авторы ставят целью раскрыть красоту древнерусского и народного искусства, выверенность его форм и пропорций, изысканность колористических и композиционных построений.

Метод или методология проведения работы. Основу исследования образуют методы трансформации, а также принцип современной реконструкции исторических архитектоничных форм и композиций в транскрипции современной моды.

Результаты. Результаты работы заключаются в том, что авторы транспортируют исторические идеи народного искусства в мир современного модного образа. Определяющим моментом данного исследования является не заимствование аутентичных композиционных решений, а создание коллекций, отвечающих требованиям модной индустрии. В результате тщательного анализа всех составляющих – формы, кроя, колористического и орнаментального решений, – получены новые формы костюма и обуви, соответствующие современной реальности.

Область применения результатов. Результаты исследования могут быть применены в сфере проектирования и моделирования изделий текстильной и лёгкой промышленности.
Research roundup
Authors: Costello John
Published: February 2018

Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care
Politics and palliative care: Republic of the Congo
Authors: Smyth Dion
Published: February 2018

Dion Smyth's review of palliative nursing on the internet
Implementing an integrated pathway to care for the dying: is your organisation ready?
Authors: Sharpe Kendall K , Noble Christy , Hiremagular Balaji , Grealish Laurie
Published: February 2018

Background:

Integrated pathways for care of the dying aim to promote the delivery of high-quality palliative care, regardless of access to specialist services.

Aim:

To produce a heuristic technique to assist with planning and evaluating the integration of the care of the dying pathway into everyday work.

Methods:

Electronic databases were searched to identify research papers focused on the implementation of integrated pathways for care of the dying in acute hospital settings.

Results:

A total of 13 articles were reviewed using the four elements of normalisation process theory—coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring. These results informed the development of a heuristic for organisational readiness.

Conclusion:

The organisational readiness heuristic provides an evidence-based checklist for organisational leaders who are planning to introduce new, or evaluate current, integrated pathways for care of the dying. The next step is to trial the heuristic for feasibility in practice.
Targeted palliative care day therapy interventions using modified MYMOP2 tool can improve outcomes for patients with non-malignant diseases
Authors: Monnery Daniel , Webb Esther , Richardson Lorna , Isaac Jane , Chapman Laura
Published: February 2018

Background:

There is a paucity of evidence supporting the benefits of palliative care day therapy services for patients with non-malignant diseases. Outcome measures in this setting are also lacking.

Aim:

To evaluate the use of the modified Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile 2 (MYMOP2) tool in tailoring day therapy services toward the needs of patients with non-malignant conditions

Method:

A single system, ‘before and after’ design quality improvement study was conducted. Data were collected regarding outcome measures, re-referral rates and mortality.

Result:

After the introduction of the modified MYMOP2 tool, there was an improvement in the mean outcome scores for patients with non-malignant disease. Re-referral rates for these patients dropped by 28% during the follow up period, with no change in mortality.

Implications for practice:

These findings suggest that using the modified MYMOP2 tool to tailor and measure the outcome of holistic day therapy services results in a more sustained improvement for patients with non-malignant disease.
The everyday Disney side: Disneybounding and casual cosplay
Authors: Brock Nettie A.
Published: February 2018

This project examines the fan practice of Disneybounding, dressing like a Disney character in everyday life, and suggests that this is part of a wider trend of everyday cosplay. Through interviews with participants, as well as engagement with the community online, I investigated and participated in this fan group. These Disney fans express their ‘Disney side’ in their everyday life by wearing normal clothing in ways that emulate Disney characters. They expressed to me two primary reasons for Disneybounding: they are able to find themselves within the larger Disneybounding community and they are striving to relive their childhood Disney memories. Because of the similarities between this and other forms of cosplay, I theorize a subset of cosplay, everyday cosplay, which can be used to discuss cosplay in different ways, as well as to look at a more ordinary way of expressing fandom.
Rectified Feature Matching for Spherical Panoramic Images
Authors: Chuang T.Y. , Perng N.H.
Published: February 2018

Spherical panoramic image processing has received renewed interest in the fields of photogrammetry and computer vision. The difficulty in spherical matching is largely due to inevitable image distortions introduced from the equirectangular projection. In this paper, we present an effective
strategy for tackling the problem of distortion to improve the performance of spherical image matching. The effectiveness of the rectified matching is evaluated with simulated data and compared with state-of-art methods. In addition, experiments with respect to matching between omnidirectional
and planar images, establishing 2D-to-3D correspondence with lidar, and the pose estimation of a spherical image sequence are conducted. The results verify the utility of the proposed method, which provides stable and evenly distributed corresponding points, and it is suitable for integration
with conventional techniques for further 3D exploitation of imagery.
Mapping and Modeling of Soil Salinity Using WorldView-2 Data and EM38-KM2 in an Arid Region of the Keriya River, China
Authors: Kasim Nijat , Tiyip Tashpolat , Abliz Abdugheni , Nurmemet Ilyas , Sawut Rukeya , Maihemuti Balati
Published: February 2018

Soil salinity is one of the common factors leading to land degradation problems on earth, especially in arid and semiarid regions. There is an urgent need for rapid, accurate and cost-effective monitoring and assessment of soil salinization. Remote Sensing (RS)
and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are employed as viable technologies for detecting, monitoring, and predicting spatial-temporal patterns of soil salinization. The purpose of this study is to establish partial least squares regression (PLSR)
models that are based on remotely sensed data and field measured electrical conductivity (ECa) and to retrieve soil salinity estimates by constructing an optimal model. First, the soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) was calculated based
on WorldView-2 images. Second, a statistical regression method was applied to analyze the correlation between ECa and SAVI under different parameters. The SAVI that was measured as the most stable parameter was an optimum index. Finally,
a PLSR prediction model of soil salinity was established based on the sensitivity bands, the optimum index and ECa. The results of this study are the following: (a) According to the adjusted parameter (L = 100), the SAVI index illustrated
the best correlation with ECa, and ECa was also significantly related to the bands ((Red Edge) Band6, (Near-IR1) Band7 and (Near-IR2) Band8) derived from a World-view-2 image. (b) The results of the PLSR predictive model calibration showed that the model-D performed
best through the sensitivity bands and optimal index, with the highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.67) and the smallest root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.19 dS·m-1. The results indicated that the model-D that is constructed
and applied in this paper could provide quantitative information for detecting and monitoring soil salinization in the Keriya Oasis and could also supply examples for the study of soil salinization in arid and semiarid regions with similar environmental conditions.