bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intervening Earlier: An Upstream Approach to Improving Relationship Quality
Authors: Joel Samantha , Eastwick Paul W.
Published: December 2017

Relationship quality has far-reaching consequences for health and well-being. To date, large-scale efforts to improve relationship quality have targeted established relationships. However, a novel approach would be to target relationships much earlier. Investment-based programs would intervene (on a voluntary basis) before partners become strongly tied to one another (i.e., within the first few months of “official” dating) and help people to avoid investing in relationships that they might later decide are wrong for them. Selection-based programs would intervene before an official dating relationship has formed, perhaps by helping people to identify especially compatible partners from within their network of friends and acquaintances. To develop such interventions, researchers must (a) identify when important relationship experiences (e.g., perceived responsiveness, capitalization, and sexual satisfaction) become reliably predictive of long-term outcomes and (b) identify how this information could be better incorporated into early relationship decisions. Overall, efforts to facilitate the initial formation and development of high-quality relationships may hold promising, untested potential.
Policy Insights From Advances in Implicit Bias Research
Authors: Payne B. Keith , Vuletich Heidi A.
Published: December 2017

Implicit bias, which refers to mental associations that can lead to unintentional discrimination, has become a focus as many organizations and institutions try to reduce disparities and increase inclusiveness. Many forms of implicit bias training are aimed at changing individuals’ implicit biases. This approach treats implicit bias as a trait-like attribute of the person. Recent theoretical advances in understanding implicit bias, however, suggest that implicit bias may not be a stable attribute of individuals. Instead, implicit bias may better characterize social environments than people. Understanding implicit bias as a cultural phenomenon, rather than a fixed set of beliefs, has important policy implications. Most notably, the best approaches for reducing the harm of implicit bias should aim at changing social contexts rather than changing people’s minds. Here, we highlight some considerations of this new understanding of implicit bias for policy makers aiming to reduce disparities and increase inclusion.
Threats to Belonging Threaten Health: Policy Implications for Improving Physical Well-Being
Authors: Jaremka Lisa M. , Sunami Naoyuki
Published: December 2017

Human beings have an innate need to form caring social bonds and be loved by others. Thwarting this basic human need should have negative health consequences. This article begins by reviewing empirical evidence linking belonging threats to concrete health outcomes and medical conditions. Next, alterations in immune function and appetite regulation are examined as two peripheral physiological mechanisms that partially explain how threats to belonging impact health. Empirically supported interventions that attenuate threats to belonging are also discussed. Throughout, the article focuses on loneliness, marital distress, and lack of perceived social support as three indices of belonging threats because they are commonly studied in the health context. Improving belonging, via reducing loneliness and marital distress and increasing social support, should thus be a focus for policy makers.
Best Practices for School-Based Moral Education
Authors: Meindl Peter , Quirk Abigail , Graham Jesse
Published: December 2017

How can schools help students build moral character? One way is to use prepackaged moral education programs, but as we report here, their effectiveness tends to be limited. What, then, can schools do? We took two steps to answer this question. First, we consulted more than 50 of the world’s leading social scientists. These scholars have spent decades studying morality, character, or behavior change but until now few had used their expertise to inform moral education practices. Second, we searched recent studies for promising behavior change techniques that apply to school-based moral education. These two lines of investigation congealed into two recommendations: Schools should place more emphasis on hidden or “stealthy” moral education practices and on a small set of “master” virtues. Throughout the article, we describe practices flowing from these recommendations that could improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of school-based moral education.
Psychology’s Replication Crisis as Scientific Opportunity: A Précis for Policymakers
Authors: Rodgers Joseph Lee , Shrout Patrick E.
Published: December 2017

Psychological science is in the midst of what has been referred to as a “replication crisis.” The realization that many individual findings do not replicate in new studies has led to questioning the scientific method and the integrity of psychological science. We review the history of the replication crisis, and its positive and negative effects. Most of the elements of the replication crisis are re-emergent issues that methodologists have studied in the past, but to which researchers have become increasingly sensitized. Ultimately, we argue the value of the replication crisis, in that it has led to positive self-examination within our science and to the development of new and innovative methodology. The field is emerging from the replication crisis with a realization of the importance of multiple replication efforts, and an improved ethic of openness and transparency in the conduct of research.
Educating Student Health Visitors About the Importance of Positive Parent–Infant Relationships: A Reflective Approach to Critically Explore the Planning and Delivery of a Teaching Workshop
Authors: Holland Amanda
Published: December 2017

Specialist Community Public Health Nurses known as health visitors lead and deliver the U.K. government’s Healthy Child Programme aimed at promoting and protecting the healthy development of children from conception up to age 5 years. Health visitors work with families to influence the development of positive parent–infant relationships from the beginning of a child’s life. It is essential that health visitors are educated about the importance of promoting positive parent–infant relationships; however, research reveals health visitors report a lack of initial theoretical education surrounding the parent–infant dyad. Therefore, as a newly appointed public health nurse lecturer teaching student health visitors undertaking an academic diploma at master’s level within a university, a teaching workshop was developed to meet this need and facilitate the learning of registered professional nurses and midwives studying to become health visitors. This article takes a reflective approach to critically explore the evidence base underpinning teaching and learning strategies applied to educate 21 student health visitors about the importance of supporting the development of positive parent–infant relationships. The effects of andragogy as a combination of constructivist and humanistic learning theories applied to plan and deliver the teaching workshop is critically discussed with a focus on incorporating group work to facilitate active learning. Recommendations are made to promote professional development and quality learning opportunities for future student health visitors.
Implications of True and Perceived Treatment Burden on Cardiovascular Medication Use
Authors: Sussman Jeremy B. , Schell Greggory J. , Lavieri Mariel S. , Hayward Rodney A.
Published: December 2017

Background: Clinical decisions require weighing possible risks and benefits, which are often based on the provider’s sense of treatment burden. Patients often have a different view of how heavily treatment burden should be weighted. Objective: To examine how much small variations in patient treatment burden would influence optimal use of antihypertensive medications and how much over- and undertreatment can result from clinicians misunderstanding their patients’ values. Methods: Analysis—Markov chain model. Data sources—Existing literature, including an individual-level meta-analysis of blood pressure trials. Target population—US representative sample, ages 40 to 85, no history of cardiovascular disease. Time horizon—Effect of 10 years of treatment on estimated lifetime quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) burden. Perspective—Patient. Outcome measures: QALYs gained by treatment. Results: Fairly small differences in true patient burden from blood pressure treatment alter the number of blood pressure medications that should be recommended and alters treatment’s potential benefit dramatically. We also found that a clinician misunderstanding the patient’s burden could lead to almost 30% of patients being treated inappropriately. Limitations: Our results are based on simulation modeling. Conclusions: Clinical decisions that fail to account for patient treatment burden can mistreat a very large proportion of the public. Successful treatment choices closely depend on a clinician’s ability to accurately gauge a patient’s treatment burden.
Echogenicity of the Carotid Arterial Wall in Active Smokers
Authors: Mitchell Carol , Piper Megan E. , Korcarz Claudia E. , Hansen Kristin , Weber JoAnne , Fiore Michael C. , Baker Timothy B. , Stein James H.
Published: December 2017

This pilot study evaluated associations between carotid wall echogenicity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and three markers of smoking heaviness in a cohort of active smokers. Common carotid artery (CCA) gray-scale median (GSM) values were measured from sonographic images. Univariable correlations and exploratory multivariable models were used to determine associations between CCA GSM, CVD risk factors, and measures of smoking heaviness. CCA GSM was measured in 162 smokers and was correlated inversely with cigarettes smoked/d (r = −0.16, P = .048); pack-years (r = −0.204, P = .009); CVD risk factors such as age, male sex, waist circumference, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P ≤ .03); and positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( P < .001). Associations between CCA GSM and smoking heaviness markers were not statistically significant after adjustment for traditional risk factors. The results from this pilot study demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the GSM value of the CCA far wall and its association with measures of smoking heaviness and traditional CVD risk factors among current smokers.
A branching morphogenesis program governs embryonic growth of the thyroid gland
Authors: Liang Shawn , Johansson Ellen , Barila Guillermo , Altschuler Daniel L. , Fagman Henrik , Nilsson Mikael
Published: December 2017

The developmental program that regulates thyroid progenitor cell proliferation is largely unknown. Here, we show that branching-like morphogenesis is a driving force to attain final size of the embryonic thyroid gland in mice. Sox9, a key factor in branching organ development, distinguishes Nkx2-1+ cells in the thyroid bud from the progenitors that originally form the thyroid placode in anterior endoderm. As lobes develop the thyroid primordial tissue branches several generations. Sox9 and Fgfr2b are co-expressed distally in the branching epithelium prior to folliculogenesis. The thyroid in Fgf10 null mutants has a normal shape but is severely hypoplastic. Absence of Fgf10 leads to defective branching and disorganized angiofollicular units although Sox9/Fgfr2b expression and the ability of cells to differentiate and form nascent follicles are not impaired. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of thyroid development reminiscent of the Fgf10-Sox9 program that characterizes organogenesis in classical branching organs, and provide clues to aid understanding of how the endocrine thyroid gland once evolved from an exocrine ancestor present in the invertebrate endostyle.
Commissural neurons transgress the CNS/PNS boundary in absence of ventricular zone-derived netrin 1
Authors: Moreno-Bravo Juan Antonio , Roig Puiggros Sergi , Blockus Heike , Dominici Chloé , Zelina Pavol , Mehlen Patrick , Chédotal Alain
Published: December 2017

During the development of the central nervous system (CNS), only motor axons project into peripheral nerves. Little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control the development of a boundary at the CNS surface and prevent CNS neuron emigration from the neural tube. It has previously been shown that a subset of spinal cord commissural axons abnormally invades sensory nerves in Ntn1 hypomorphic embryos and Dcc knockouts. However, whether netrin 1 also plays a similar role in the brain is unknown. In the hindbrain, precerebellar neurons migrate tangentially under the pial surface, and their ventral migration is guided by netrin 1. Here, we show that pontine neurons and inferior olivary neurons, two types of precerebellar neurons, are not confined to the CNS in Ntn1 and Dcc mutant mice, but that they invade the trigeminal, auditory and vagus nerves. Using a Ntn1 conditional knockout, we show that netrin 1, which is released at the pial surface by ventricular zone progenitors is responsible for the CNS confinement of precerebellar neurons. We propose, that netrin 1 distribution sculpts the CNS boundary by keeping CNS neurons in netrin 1-rich domains.
Clinical study of illness anxiety disorder in medical
outpatients
Authors: pandey Sunayna , Parikh Minakshi , Brahmbhatt Mehul , Vankar Ganpat
Published: December 2017

Aim of the study

To find out the prevalence of illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis) in medical outpatients and the risk factors and psychiatric co morbidities associated with it.

Subject or material and methods

400 consecutive medical outpatients were asked for socio demographic characteristics and risk factors associated with illness anxiety and were given Short Health anxiety inventory (SHAI). Psychiatric co-morbidities were assessed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I). People who scored 18 or above in SHAI, the diagnosis of Illness anxiety disorder was confirmed by using DSM 5 criteria for illness anxiety disorder (IAD). The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 17, Chi square and t test.

Results

The prevalence of IAD was 7%. Around 18% patients with IAD had positive family history for hypochondriasis. 32.1% of the patients had a history of abuse in the childhood. 71.4% of the patients had psychiatric co morbidities. 25% patients with IAD had co morbid depression and 28.6% had anxiety spectrum disorder.

Discussion

The range of prevalence of hypochondriasis is 0.4 to 14% in various studies and it is more common in third and fourth decade. Significant risk factors include divorce, family histrory and history of abuse. 65-88% of patients with hypochondriasis have psychiatric comorbidities like depression and anxiety disorders. Managing psychiatric comorbidities and early treatment of both will lead to better prognosis.

Conclusions

The anxiety of having a serious medical illness is reasonably high in patients attending medical O.P.D. About three fourth of these patients had co morbid psychiatric condition, mostly depression and anxiety disorders.
Ideal body stereotype internalization and
sociocultural attitudes towards appearance:
a preliminary cross-national comparison between
Czech, Polish and American women
Authors: Czepczor-Bernat Kamila , Kościcka Katarzyna , Gebauer Rafał , Brytek-Matera Anna
Published: December 2017

Aim of the study

The aims of the study were: (1) to evaluate an ideal body stereotype internalisation and a sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, (2) to assess the relationship between an ideal body stereotype internalisation and a sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, (3) to analyze the predictor of an ideal body stereotype internalisation, (4) to verify if nationality is a significant mediator in the relationship between pressure to conform to the Western ideals exhibited by the media and ideal body stereotype internalisation among Polish, Czech and American women.

Subject or material and methods

The research sample consisted of 213 women. We used the SATAQ-3 [19] and the Ideal-Body Stereotype Scale–Revised [20].

Results

American women report higher internalisation of general body shape ideal and athletic-ideal internalisation, and feel stronger pressure to conform to the Western ideals compared to Polish and Czech women. Polish women report the highest ideal body stereotype internalisation. Pressure to conform to the Western ideals is a statistically significant predictor of ideal body stereotype internalisation for each group. Moreover, mediation analysis indicates that nationality partially mediates the relationship between pressure to conform to the Western ideals to have a slim figure and ideal body stereotype internalisation.

Discussion

As we can see our research made in three different nationalities seems to support the view that phenomenon of body image is multidimensional structure. It is necessarily to verify universal positive determinants influenced body image.

Conclusions

Societal and cultural influences on body image are present among Polish, Czech and American women. They considerably determine their efforts in pursuit of an ideal body shape.
Marital relations of patients with myocardial
infarction from the spouses’ perspective
Authors: Mróz Swetłana , Bętkowska-Korpała Barbara , Gierowski Józef , Kołpa Małgorzata , Janusz Bernadetta
Published: December 2017

A myocardial infarction can result in disrupting the entire family system and requires reorganization and adaptation in order to ensure the proper functioning of marriage.
Study is aiming to compare functioning of marital dyad before and after myocardial infarction from perspective of patient’s spouse. Furthermore, the study takes into account gender differences in the assessment of the dyad relationships.
The respondents (60 spouses of patients - 17 men, 43 women) assessed the functioning of the marital dyad using the Family Assessment Questionnaire (modified by Cierpka). The first group of respondents was tested in the period immediately after a heart attack, and the spouses assessed the period of functioning before the onset of a heart attack. The second group was tested during the period of over one year after a heart attack.
The results in both groups show a satisfactory level of marital relationships. Spouses in the second group assessed the overall marital functioning worse, as well as functioning in four dimensions, as compared with the assessment made by the respondents in the first group. Gender differences were also reported.
Conclusion: From spouse’s perspective marital dyad functioning after myocardial infarction is worse than before that. One of the reasons for such situation could be near death experience of the spouse and necessity for reorganization of family life. Family context is very important for recovery after myocardial infarction and it seems to be sensible to include patient’s spouse to psychotherapeutic work. Furthermore, marital relations were more negatively assessed by women
Anxiety and depression in spouses of males
diagnosed with alcohol dependence:
a comparative study
Authors: Gandhi Rakesh , Suthar Mahesh , Pal Sutanaya , Rathod Ankit
Published: December 2017

Aim of the study

In this study, we aim to compare the proportion of anxiety and depression among spouses of males with alcohol use disorder with spouses of males without alcohol use disorder.

Subject or material and methods

We conducted a comparative study on patients attending the general practice OPD of an urban tertiary care hospital. Two groups were taken – wives of men with alcohol use disorder (diagnosed by DSM-5) and wives of those without alcohol use disorder. A semi-structured questionnaire, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were administered.

Results

: 58 women (38%) and 89 women (59%) married to men with alcohol use disorder reported depression and anxiety respectively, as opposed to 26 women (17%) and 58 women (38%) married to men without alcohol use disorder. The difference was significant with odds ratio of 3.01 and 2.31 respectively.

Discussion

The rates found were comparable to previous similar studies. However, this study better elucidates the causality of psychiatric morbidity among spouses of men with alcohol dependence as it is a comparative study.

Conclusions

Wives of men with alcohol use disorder show significantly higher rates of both depression and anxiety when compared with wives of men without alcohol use disorder. This increased psychiatric morbidity not only affects the individual, but the entire family unit, reduces effective participation in treatment and affects the overall quality of life of the family. Thus it is important to be vigilant about it and intervene in a timely manner.
Radiometric evaluation of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard indices in soils from quarries sites in southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ademila Omowumi , Ugo Raphael
Published: December 2017

Quarry activities increase the radiation dose received by humans by distributing the radionuclides associated with the natural resources to the soil surfaces. This study assessed the level of natural radiations in soils around two quarry sites to a maximum depth of 2.0 m and up to 500 m away from the sites. Activity concentration of 232Th, 238U and 40K in twenty soil samples collected from the quarries in Ondo State were measured by means of high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Average value of 232Th, 238U and 40K measured were 0.0027Â±0.0003 Bq/kg and 0.0036Â±0.00036 Bq/kg, 0.028Â±0.0012 Bq/kg and 0.026Â±0.0012 Bq/kg and 47.45Â±0.0313 Bq/kg and 69.42Â±0.0313 Bq/kg respectively. The estimated absorbed dose rates in all the soils investigated ranged from 0.38 nGy/hr to 15.67 nGy/hr and the annual mean effective dose equivalent varied from 2.13 to 10.28 ÂµSv/yr. The results revealed that the activity concentrations and radiological hazard indices when compared with their corresponding world permissible values are less than the recommended safe levels. This indicates that quarry activities in the areas have not enhanced the background radiation level of the areas. Regular exposure of the quarry workers and the people around the study areas pose no health hazards in the near future.Â
On Mordell–Weil groups and congruences between derivatives of twisted Hasse–Weil L-functions
Authors: Burns David , Macias Castillo Daniel , Wuthrich Christian
Published: December 2017

Let A be an abelian variety defined over a number field k and let F be a finite Galois extension of k. Let p be a prime number. Then under certain not-too-stringent conditions on A and F we compute explicitly the algebraic part of the p-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number of the pair

(

h
1

⁢

(

A

/
F

)

⁢

(
1
)

,

ℤ
⁢

[

Gal
⁢

(

F
/
k

)

]

)

(h^{1}(A_{/F})(1),\mathbb{Z}[{\rm Gal}(F/k)])

. By comparing the result of this computation with the theorem of Gross and Zagier we are able to give the first verification of the p-component of the equivariant Tamagawa number conjecture for an abelian variety in the technically most demanding case in which the relevant Mordell–Weil group has strictly positive rank and the relevant field extension is both non-abelian and of degree divisible by p. More generally, our approach leads us to the formulation of certain precise families of conjectural p-adic congruences between the values at

s
=
1

s=1

of derivatives of the Hasse–Weil L-functions associated
to twists of A, normalised by a product of explicit equivariant regulators and periods, and to explicit predictions concerning the Galois structure of Tate–Shafarevich groups. In several interesting cases we provide theoretical and numerical evidence in support of these more general predictions.
On ill-posedness concepts, stable solvability and saturation
Authors: Hofmann Bernd , Plato Robert
Published: December 2017

We consider different concepts of well-posedness and ill-posedness and their relations for solving nonlinear and linear operator equations in Hilbert spaces.
First, the concepts of Hadamard and Nashed are recalled which are appropriate for linear operator equations. For nonlinear operator equations, stable respective unstable solvability is considered, and the properties of local well-posedness and ill-posedness are investigated.
Those two concepts consider stability in image space and solution space, respectively,
and both seem to be appropriate concepts for nonlinear operators which are not onto and/or not, locally or globally, injective.
Several example situations for nonlinear problems are considered, including the prominent autoconvolution problems and other quadratic equations in Hilbert spaces.
It turns out that for linear operator equations, well-posedness and ill-posedness are global properties valid for all possible solutions, respectively.
The special role of the nullspace is pointed out in this case.
Finally, non-injectivity also causes differences in the saturation behavior of Tikhonov and Lavrentiev regularization of linear ill-posed equations. This is examined at the end of this study.
Comparison of long-term properties of laser sintered and injection molded polyamide 12 parts
Authors: Wörz Andreas , Wudy Katrin , Drummer Dietmar , Wegner Andreas , Witt Gerd
Published: December 2017

Selective laser sintering (SLS) of polymers is on the edge from a pure prototyping technique to a small-scale production. For this transition, characteristic values such as long-term properties, and thus the degradation mechanism, are crucial factors for enabling a series application. Due to the specific characteristics of SLS parts like porosity and rough surfaces, a direct transfer of known mechanisms and models for injection molded (IM) parts is not or just to a limited extent possible. This leads to the aim of this paper, which is to investigate and compare the degradation behavior of polyamide 12 parts produced by SLS and IM.
Two-Point Method: A Quick and Fatigue-Free Procedure for Assessment of Muscle Mechanical Capacities and the 1 Repetition Maximum
Authors: Garcia-Ramos Amador , Jaric Slobodan
Published: December 2017

THE FORCE-VELOCITY RELATIONSHIP IS USED TO EVALUATE THE MAXIMAL CAPACITIES OF ACTIVE MUSCLES TO PRODUCE FORCE, VELOCITY, AND POWER. THE LOAD-VELOCITY RELATIONSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN USED TO PREDICT THE 1 REPETITION MAXIMUM (1RM) AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE RELATIVE LOADS (%1RM). THE 2-POINT METHOD HAS RECENTLY EMERGED AS A QUICK AND FATIGUE-FREE PROCEDURE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BOTH THE FORCE-VELOCITY AND LOAD-VELOCITY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS ARTICLE SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS STUDIES THAT HAVE EXPLORED THE FEASIBILITY OF THE 2-POINT METHOD AND PROVIDES PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS APPLICATION BY STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONALS.
Agility Training: A Potential Model for the Reduction and Rehabilitation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Authors: Paul Darren J. , Akenhead Richard
Published: December 2017

RECENT DATA SUGGEST ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY OCCURRENCE IN TEAM SPORTS IS NOT DECREASING. ALTHOUGH THE REASONS CURRENTLY ELUDE US AND ARE LIKELY COMPLEX, ADOPTING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT SHIFTS OUR PERSPECTIVE FROM PURELY PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS MAY BE A GOOD STARTING POINT. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE INHERENT PERCEPTUAL DEMANDS OF TEAM SPORTS AND THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY BETWEEN PHYSICAL CAPACITIES AND DECISION MAKING, WHICH ULTIMATELY DETERMINES MOVEMENT, PERFORMANCE, AND INJURY RISK. TRAINING PROGRAMS CONTAINING A BROADER ARRAY OF PERCEPTUALLY DEMANDING EXERCISE DRILLS DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH PLAYERS AND COACHES MAY ALSO PROVE A FRUITFUL ENDEAVOR.
Evidence-Based Guidelines for Resistance Training Volume to Maximize Muscle Hypertrophy
Authors: Schoenfeld Brad , Grgic Jozo
Published: December 2017

THE MANIPULATION OF RESISTANCE TRAINING (RT) VARIABLES IS WIDELY CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL STRATEGY TO MAXIMIZE MUSCULAR ADAPTATIONS. ONE VARIABLE THAT HAS RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL ATTENTION IN THIS REGARD IS RT VOLUME. THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES AS TO VOLUME WHEN CREATING RT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE MUSCLE HYPERTROPHY.
Functional implications of corticosteroid-binding globulin N-glycosylation
Authors: Simard Marc , Underhill Caroline , Hammond Geoffrey L
Published: December 2017

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a plasma carrier of glucocorticoids. Human and rat CBGs have sixN-glycosylation sites. Glycosylation of human CBG influences its steroid-binding activity, and there areN-glycosylation sites in the reactive center loops (RCLs) of human and rat CBGs. Proteolysis of the RCL of human CBG causes a structural change that disrupts steroid binding. We now show that mutations of conservedN-glycosylation sites at N238 in human CBG and N230 in rat CBG disrupt steroid binding. Inhibiting glycosylation by tunicamycin also markedly reduced human and rat CBG steroid-binding activities. Deglycosylation of fully glycosylated human CBG or human CBG with only oneN-glycan at N238 with Endo H-reduced steroid-binding affinity, while PNGase F-mediated deglycosylation does not, indicating that steroid binding is preserved by deamidation of N238 when itsN-glycan is removed. When expressed inN-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-I-deficient Lec1 cells, human and rat CBGs, and a human CBG mutant with only one glycosylation site at N238, have higher (2–4 fold) steroid-binding affinities than when produced by sialylation-deficient Lec2 cells or glycosylation-competent CHO-S cells. Thus, the presence and composition of anN-glycan in this conserved position both appear to influence the steroid binding of CBG. We also demonstrate that neutrophil elastase cleaves the RCL of human CBG and reduces its steroid-binding capacity more efficiently than does chymotrypsin or thePseudomonas aeruginosaprotease LasB. Moreover, while glycosylation of N347 in the RCL limits these activities,N-glycans at other sites also appear to protect CBG from neutrophil elastase or chymotrypsin.
Espacialização e tolerância à perda de solo na Unidade Hidrográfica do Piraponema - PR
Authors: Bonifácio Cássia Maria , Silveira Hélio , Nóbrega Maria Teresa de
Published: December 2017

A Unidade Hidrográfica do Piraponema abrange três bacias hidrográficas: Pirapó, Paranapanema 3 e Paranapanema 4, no Norte-Central e Noroeste do Estado do Paraná. Esta área apresenta uma pluralidade de interesses e usos, que potencializam os problemas e conflitos ambientais locais e regionais, exigindo medidas de conservação e gerenciamento adequados. Sendo assim, verifica-se a necessidade de se fazer uso de métodos que agreguem informações sobre a Unidade, para identificar as áreas problemáticas e propor práticas adequadas, e, para isso, devido à escala, se utilizou de geotecnologias – técnicas de geoprocessamento. E, para o trabalho em questão, foram desenvolvidas cartas referentes à perda de solo por erosão e tolerância à perda, como também a espacialização dos tipos de solo na Unidade Hidrográfica. Para a elaboração da carta de perda de solo por erosão foi empregada a Equação Universal de Perda de Solo (EUPS) juntamente com o software Arcgis 9.3, já a carta de tolerância à perda de solo foi obtida com o emprego da carta de solos da Unidade Hidrográfica, associando-se a cada classe de solos os dados de tolerância apresentados para diferentes classes de solos. As cartas geradas mostraram as áreas com alto índice relativo à perda por erosão, permitindo identificar os locais que necessitam de monitoramento e controle dos processos erosivos, que devem nortear o contexto de intervenção sobre a realidade em questão.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Erosão. Geoprocessamento. Piraponema.
Métodos de Irrigação na Produtividade da Cana-de-Açúcar
Authors: Santos Maria Isabela de Souza dos , Boso Ana Cláudia Marassá Roza , Gabriel Camila Pires Cremasco
Published: December 2017

A irrigação da cana de açúcar cresce a cada ano em nosso território, necessitando o desenvolvimento de estudos que auxiliam no modelo de cultivo da cultura. Esses estudos permitem a melhoria da quantidade e qualidade da produtividade da cultivação. No entanto, a falta hídrica em algumas regiões possibilita o aumento de perdas da cultura durante a sua produção, necessitando assim a implementação dos métodos de irrigação na lavoura.
Os métodos que mais se destacam na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar são a irrigação localizada e irrigação por aspersão. A irrigação localizada é um método muito eficiente por ter a vantagem da água cair diretamente na raiz da planta, fazendo com que a mesma cresça mais rápido com uma qualidade e quantidade maior. A irrigação por aspersão é um método conhecido como uma chuva artificial, onde a água é aplicada por aspersores, sob pressão, no solo e na planta. Observando a importância dos métodos para irrigação, o objetivo do presente trabalho está em analisar e verificar o método de irrigação que se destaca na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar nas usinas da região de Tupã/SP.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Água. Cultura. Crescimento.
Patrimônio Cultural Imaterial e uso Turístico: o caso das Festas de São Sebastião e do Tropeiro no Distrito de Gardênia, Município de Rancharia /SP
Authors: Souza Sueli Aparecida de , Santos Clediane nascimento dos
Published: December 2017

Busca-se na contemporaneidade novas abordagens de desenvolvimento turístico que perpassa a esfera do econômico, a educação nessa perspectiva então, por sua proporção formativa, possibilita a cidadania e o conhecimento abrangente das dinâmicas espaciais por esse fenômeno. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é explicitar a relevância e a dimensão educativa do turismo cultural em áreas com uso e apropriação desses elementos pelo turismo, como no Distrito de Gardênia, Município de Rancharia/SP. Assim, intentou-se por meio da colaboração da comunidade escolar na aplicação de entrevistas com dois personagens responsáveis por duas festividades e visitantes/turistas, a conscientização e o reconhecimento da necessidade da inserção de temáticas relativas à realidade dos alunos, como a sua própria cultura. Desse modo, com o conhecimento de que os atrativos turísticos, sobretudo o patrimônio cultural, não serem retratados com prioridade no âmbito escolar no recorte espacial destacado, a pesquisa colaborativa foi eleita como um recurso viável a educação patrimonial. Os resultados alcançados expressam que essa iniciativa ainda que piloto contribuiu significativamente para a apreensão das manifestações culturais presentes no Distrito, bem como a forma como é apropriada como atrativo turístico e a conscientização da eminência de serem retratadas no contexto escolar visando sua preservação.
Palavras- chave: Educação Patrimonial. Distrito de Gardênia. Turismo.
Análise da Variação Espacial do Parâmetro pH no Aquífero Bauru nos anos 2010, 2011 e 2012
Authors: Marques Sâmia Momesso , Lima César Gustavo da Rocha
Published: December 2017

A utilização dos recursos hídricos tem sido cada vez mais elevada, frente ao considerável crescimento populacional e desenvolvimento de cidades. A maior busca aos recursos hídricos tem atingido tanto as águas superficiais quanto as subterrâneas. Juntamente à elevada demanda, as exigências por águas de qualidade também têm aumentado. As principais fontes de poluentes estão associadas aos esgotos domésticos urbanos, aos efluentes industriais e às águas de escoamento superficial, que carreiam desde lixos de áreas urbanas, a agrotóxicos em áreas agrícolas. De forma geral, as fontes de poluição se propagam no meio, afetando além do local de sua fonte. Para avaliar a qualidade da água é necessário constante monitoramento, e para isso existem diversos parâmetros que podem ser tomados como base. Um importante parâmetro associado à qualidade de consumo da água, é o pH. Ele indica a medida dos íons hidrogênio e expressa a intensidade das condições ácidas ou alcalinas da água. Tendo intervalos permitidos para despejos em corpos hídricos e também para consumo humano. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variabilidade do pH nas águas do Aquífero Bauru, ao longo dos anos 2010, 2011 e 2012. Foi realizada a caracterização do local de estudo, com o levantamento dos dados e localização dos pontos de coleta. Após esta etapa, foi feita análise estatística e geoestatística, para então desenvolver o mapeamento da área por período, tudo com o auxílio de programas computacionais. Os dados apresentaram homogeneidade e elevada consistência, comprovando a eficácia do método e se aproximando significativamente da realidade.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Água subterrânea. Semivariograma. Krigagem.
Proposta de Educação Ambiental em unidade escolar através de um programa de desenvolvimento de hortas suspensas
Authors: Souza Graziella Plaça Orosco de , Fluminhan Antonio
Published: December 2017

Este relato teve por objetivo descrever uma proposta de Educação Ambiental através da implantação de um programa de desenvolvimento de hortas suspensas, bem como ensinar a comunidade estudantil de uma unidade escolar da rede municipal e seus familiares, os principais aspectos da produção de gêneros alimentícios orgânicos. Esta proposta envolveu metodologias que podem ser adaptadas às necessidades escolares, incentivando o envolvimento de professores, estudantes e corpo administrativo, e representando uma alternativa viável para a Educação Ambiental, a fim de promover a produção de alimentos e subsidiar o ensino dos cuidados básicos à saúde. As atividades envolvidas tiveram como princípio norteador facilitar a construção do conhecimento, promover a integração de áreas e proporcionar a criação de um espaço de constante aprendizado. As ações decorrentes permitiram a consolidação de uma proposta passível de implantação em escolas com jornadas ampliadas, tais como aquelas abrangidas por políticas públicas nas esferas municipal, estadual e federal. Além de despertar a atenção para questões ambientais, esta proposta promoveu uma nova maneira de cultivo da terra, em pequenos espaços, com baixos custos, de forma a tornar possível a conscientização dos aspectos envolvidos com a sustentabilidade. Este programa representou uma eficiente ferramenta de Educação Ambiental, que estimulou o respeito ao meio ambiente e a preocupação com a questão ambiental e a segurança alimentar não somente nos alunos participantes, mas também nos educadores e na comunidade envolvida.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Sustentabilidade. Educação em tempo integral. Políticas públicas.
Potencialidades dos equipamentos públicos para a implantação de tipologias multifuncionais para redução dos alagamentos frequentes em Paranaguá-PR
Authors: Laureano Franciele Alves , Tonetti Emerson Luis
Published: December 2017

A área urbana do Município de Paranaguá apresenta pontos de alagamentos frequentes que ocasionam inúmeros problemas. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a potencialidade das praças para atuarem no controle dos alagamentos da área urbana de Paranaguá em uma perspectiva da ecologia e da multifuncionalidade desses equipamentos. Todas as praças do local de estudo foram avaliadas tendo como base os seguintes critérios: posição relativa em relação as vias circundantes, área total, percentual da praça não edificada em relação a área total, cobertura predominante do solo, presença de monumentos ou objetos que dificultem a implantação de tipologias multifuncionais. Parâmetros e valores foram atribuidos para cada um dos critérios gerando uma quantificação qualitativa e relativa da potencialidade de implantação de tipologias multifuncionais. No local de estudo, 33 praças foram avaliadas. Destas, 7 foram classificadas na categoria de alta potencialidade e 26 na de média potencialidade. Pavimento poroso, jardim de chuva e lagoa seca foram as tipologias mais recomendadas para a implantação nas praças. Alem de conterem temporariamente o escoamento superficial da água das chuvas, esses equipamentos podem conter sedimentos, poluentes e aumentar a infiltração de água no solo, entre outras funções. A carta de distribuição de potencialidade das praças permitiu visualizar que no planejamento conjunto esses equipamentos públicos podem conter um grande volume de água, em função da área de armazenamento representada, reduzindo a área e a frequência dos alagamentos no município.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Equipamento Público. Tipologia Multifuncional. Qualidade Ambiental Urbana. Planejamento da Paisagem.
Fluxo migratório da população rural jovem da região de Presidente Prudente- SP
Authors: Freitas Aline Alves de , Viais Neto Daniel dos Santos , Takenaka Edilene Mayumi Murashita
Published: December 2017

A Teoria Malthusiana, datada do século XVIII, trouxe a preocupação de que a população da terra cresceria exponencialmente enquanto a produção de alimentos não acompanharia tal crescimento. Essa teoria foi desmentida no século XX com a Revolução Verde. Entretanto, outra preocupação deve ser levada em consideração, o êxodo rural, que vem reduzindo o número de produtores rurais, juntamente com a aparente falta de ânimo dos seus sucessores em continuar esse legado. Existem políticas públicas que buscam fortalecer esta permanência do homem no campo, porém, ainda é insuficiente para a sustentação dessa cadeia. Mediante tais afirmações, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o comportamento de pessoas com idades entre 18 e 40 anos que vivem e/ou trabalham na zona rural por meio de questionamentos que demonstram o interesse dos mesmos sobre a permanência no campo. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica seguida de uma pesquisa de campo auxiliada de um questionário. Os questionamentos buscaram saber dos entrevistados qual o sexo, a idade, o grau de escolaridade, onde moram, onde trabalham, os motivos pelos quais os mesmos permanecem ou migraram do campo e seus anseios em relação ao futuro. É possível concluir que os jovens entrevistados em sua grande maioria têm intensões de viver e/ou trabalhar no campo, mas há a necessidade de políticas públicas mais eficientes e de melhorias na infraestrutura para motiva-los a permanecerem no campo.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Êxodo. Zona Rural. Alimentos.
O consumo consciente de água: uma experiência a partir da iniciação científica
Authors: Moraes Fabíola Eugênio Arrabaça , Silva Leandra Mota da , Souza Tiago Zanquêta de
Published: December 2017

As modificações na vida dos seres humanos estão sempre presentes, na qual pode ser observada no decorrer da história da humanidade. As mudanças que vem ocorrendo na sociedade sejam elas: ambiental, social ou econômica, interfere na vida da sociedade, sendo importante a inserção da educação ambiental na sociedade, para que a mesma se preocupe com o meio ambiente. O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar uma revisão teórica em torno do consumo consciente de água. Em que a metodologia utilizada foi à revisão teórica que teve como base uma abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, que buscou traduzir as informações coletadas em artigos sobre os fatores que interferem na aplicação de implementação de estratégias de redução de consumo de água. Na qual, o consumo de água mundial é um dos problemas da atualidade, pois esse consumo cada vez mais cresce, e existem varias regiões do mundo que sofre com a escassez desse recurso natural. E atualmente, a preocupação com a falta de água no Brasil para as necessidades da humanidade, foi um dos assuntos mais comentados e discutidos na mídia brasileira em decorrência da crise de água. Em que é importante à conscientização da humanidade, em relação às questões ambientais, na qual a educação ambiental contribui para a formação de cidadãos mais conscientes e que se preocupam com o meio ambiente, para que haja planejamento e gerenciamento dos recursos ambientais utilizados.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Educação ambiental. Ações educativas. Consumo consciente de água.
The role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in cancer: A comprehensive review
Authors: Skoda Ana Marija , Simovic Dora , Karin Valentina , Kardum Vedran , Vranic Semir , Serman Ljiljana
Published: December 2017

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway was first identified in the common fruit fly. It is a highly conserved evolutionary pathway of signal transmission from the cell membrane to the nucleus. The Hh signaling pathway plays an important role in the embryonic development. It exerts its biological effects through a signaling cascade that culminates in a change of balance between activator and repressor forms of glioma-associated oncogene (Gli) transcription factors. The components of the Hh signaling pathway involved in the signaling transfer to the Gli transcription factors include Hedgehog ligands (Sonic Hh [SHh], Indian Hh [IHh], and Desert Hh [DHh]), Patched receptor (Ptch1, Ptch2), Smoothened receptor (Smo), Suppressor of fused homolog (Sufu), kinesin protein Kif7, protein kinase A (PKA), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The activator form of Gli travels to the nucleus and stimulates the transcription of the target genes by binding to their promoters. The main target genes of the Hh signaling pathway are PTCH1, PTCH2, and GLI1. Deregulation of the Hh signaling pathway is associated with developmental anomalies and cancer, including Gorlin syndrome, and sporadic cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, pancreatic, breast, colon, ovarian, and small-cell lung carcinomas. The aberrant activation of the Hh signaling pathway is caused by mutations in the related genes (ligand-independent signaling) or by the excessive expression of the Hh signaling molecules (ligand-dependent signaling – autocrine or paracrine). Several Hh signaling pathway inhibitors, such as vismodegib and sonidegib, have been developed for cancer treatment. These drugs are regarded as promising cancer therapies, especially for patients with refractory/advanced cancers.
Evaluation of antihyperglycemic activities of Bangladeshi medicinal plant Cinnamomum tamala Leaf extracts in alloxan treated Albino Rats
Authors: Shibly Abu Zaffar , Suborna Laila Arjumand , Adhikari Juthi , Islam Md. Shariful
Published: December 2017

Background: Diabetic mellitus is a multifactorial disorder associated with its devastating consequences has assumed epidemic proportion in Bangladesh.Methods: The study evaluates the anti-hyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extracts of C. tamala (CTLEt) leaves in blood glucose of albino rats. Type II diabetes mellitus was induced by injecting alloxan at the concentration of 100mg/kg body weight in male albino rats. The diabetic rats were administered orally with aqueous CTLEt at the amount of 1.0ml, 1.5ml and 2.0ml with lab diet and glibenclamide (5mg/kg of body weight). Then blood glucose levels were estimated in all groups after 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 18 hours of the treatment with CTLEt and a known antidiabetic drug glibenclamide.Results: A comparison was made between the action of CTLEt and glibenclamide. Blood glucose levels of the CTLEt on 18th hours of the study were 8.6 to 5.1mmol/L (1ml CTLEt with lab diet), 10.4 to 4.9mmol/L (1.5ml CTLEt with lab diet), 14.7 to 4.3mmol/L (2.0ml CTLEt with lab diet) in comparison of diabetic control (9.5 to 8.5, 8.7 to 7.8, 7.7 to 7.1mmol/L) and glibenclamide (13.9 to 6.5, 16.3 to 6.1, 9.5 to 5.1mmol/L). Among the sample level, the 2.0ml CTLEt showed a higher efficiency of hypoglycemic effect on alloxan induced diabetic rats.Conclusions: Till date, there is no specific experimental work in Bangladesh about the evolution of antidiabetic activity of C. tamala plant in animal model. Further studies should be undertaken to find out the molecular mechanism of the leaf powder of C. tamala medicinal plant.