bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecological modernization from the actor’s perspective: Spatio-temporality in the narratives about socio-ecological conflicts in Chile
Authors: Campos-Medina Fernando
Published: January 2018

Studies on ecological modernization have produced a fruitful discussion concerning the connection between society and nature based on the evolution of socio-political institutions. However, the question from the individual’s perspective and their evaluation of the environmental institutions’ modernization remains unsystematically explored. This paper introduces the actor’s narratives on what I called time and space restructuration to define a sensitive method to explore the socio-ecological controversies produced by the enactment of a new environmental institution at the national level. The paper reconstructs the social discourse in relation to the exponential growth of Chilean extractive industries, which run in parallel with the government’s intent to ensure high levels of sustainability through institutional changes that occurred between 1990 and 2015. The main argument proposes that rendering the ecological modernization as a final stage of institutional improvement obscures a controversial reorganization of actions and roles at the environmental level. From this perspective, the clash between different organizations of time and space at the environmental level, among different social actors, offers a valid perspective on the re-emergence of socio-ecological conflicts.
Sport and the Sustainable Development Goals: Where is the policy coherence?
Authors: Lindsey Iain , Darby Paul
Published: January 2018

This article addresses the urgent need for critical analysis of the relationships between sport and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals enshrined in the United Nations’ global development framework, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Importantly, there has yet to be any substantial academic exploration of the implications of the position accorded to sport as ‘an important enabler’ of the aims of 2030 Agenda and its broad set of Sustainable Development Goals. In beginning to address this gap, we draw on the concept of policy coherence for two reasons. First, the designation of a specific Target for policy coherence in the 2030 Agenda is recognition of its centrality in working towards Sustainable Development Goals that are considered as ‘integrated and indivisible’. Second, the concept of policy coherence is centred on a dualism that enables holistic examination of both synergies through which the contribution of sport to the Sustainable Development Goals can be enhanced as well as incoherencies by which sport may detract from such outcomes. Our analysis progresses through three examples that respectively focus on: the common orientation of the Sport for Development and Peace ‘movement’ towards education-orientated objectives aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4; potential synergies between sport participation policies and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 Target for reducing non-communicable diseases; and practices within professional football in relation to several migration-related Sustainable Development Goal Targets. These examples show the relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals across diverse sectors of the sport industry and illustrate complexities within and across countries that make pursuit of comprehensive policy coherence infeasible. Nevertheless, our analyses lead us to encourage both policy makers and researchers to continue to utilise the concept of policy coherence as a valuable lens to identify and consider factors that may enable and constrain various potential contributions of sport to a range of Sustainable Development Goals.
The development and implementation of a discharge checklist for psychiatric inpatients: a pilot study
Authors: Khanbhai Yasmin , Nance Michael , Smith David
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

Readmission rates are a routinely used measure of patient and service outcomes, potentially improved by discharge planning. This pilot study aimed to develop a discharge checklist for psychiatric inpatients, exploring its feasibility, applicability, and impact on readmission rates.

Methods:

The study used a quasi-experimental, pre–post intervention design. The checklist was designed from an evidence-based literature review, and introduced for a three-month period, comparing 28-day readmission rates with the previous three months using interrupted time series analysis.

Results:

Checklists were completed for 80% of patients in the trial period, with 100% completion of checklist items. Demographic and clinical details for pre- and post-intervention groups were closely aligned. There was a small, but statistically non-significant, reduction in readmission rates.

Conclusions:

There was a high rate of checklist completion. The lack of significant reductions in readmission rates supports more development of the checklist application and design before a longer implementation period and re-evaluation.
How to Raise Different Game Collaboration Activities: The Association Between Game Mechanics, Players’ Roles and Collaboration Processes
Authors: Hämäläinen Raija H. , Niilo-Rämä Mikko , Lainema Timo , Oksanen Kimmo
Published: January 2018

Background. Designing collaborative three-dimensional (3D) learning games is one way to enhance the quality of learning and respond to the needs of working life. However, there is little research on how to apply different game mechanics to support different educational aims.

Aim. This study determines how game mechanics implemented within computer-supported collaboration roles (scripted vs. emergent) are associated with the emergence of collaboration.

Method. The research at hand applies both qualitative and quantitative content analysis. The target group consisted of 15 vocational school students. The data were gathered by recording the groups’ discussions and saving the game logs. A total of 8,128 transcribed utterances were eligible for content analysis to shed light on the characteristics in knowledge construction under scripted and emergent role situations.

Results. We found differences between the players’ utterances in tasks with scripted and emergent roles. At the scripted-role level, providing knowledge was the most dominant type of utterance. Further, students with similar roles performed actions and applied similar activities. In the level based on emerging collaboration processes, shared problem solving was the most actively used speech activity.

Conclusions. Emphasizing and applying different game mechanics with different collaboration roles (scripted vs. emergent) can be used to support different educational aims of games.

Recommendation. Collaboration is needed among professionals from technological and educational sites of game research to fully understand how to apply game mechanics in educational games.
Navigating the Dangerous Terrain of Moral Distress: Understanding Response Patterns in the NICU
Authors: Thorne Sally , Konikoff Laura , Brown Helen , Albersheim Susan
Published: January 2018

Moral distress is a well-recognized and ubiquitous aspect of health care professional practice in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) context. We used interpretive description methodology to guide a critical exploration of the dynamics of moral distress experience as reflected in the accounts of 28 health care professionals working in this setting. We learned about the kinds of clinical scenarios which triggered distressing experiences, and that the organizational and relational context of clinical work constituted a complex and dynamic working environment that profoundly affected both the individual and the collective experiences with moral distress in these situations. These findings shed light on possibilities for supporting NICU practitioners and developing the collaborative team cultures that may reduce the risk of unresolved effects of moral distress to the benefit of patients as well as the professionals who care for them.
It’s Not Just Welfare: Racial Inequality and the Local Provision of Public Goods in the United States
Authors: An Brian , Levy Morris , Hero Rodney
Published: January 2018

Recent research shows that inequality between racial groups is a critical determinant of redistributive policy in the United States. Using various measures of local and state spending and examining multiple levels of geographical and political jurisdictions, we extend this research to government spending on local public goods. Specifically, we examine (1) whether the extent to which income inequality falls along racial lines dampens local and state government spending on public goods, (2) which types of public goods are most affected by the racial structure of inequality, and (3) whether political variables such as local leaders’ racial identities and party affiliation mediate the relationship between racial inequality and spending on public goods. The findings reaffirm the need to consider racial diversity and inequality jointly as influences on policy.
A Model of Aging Perception in Iranian Elders With Effects of Hope, Life Satisfaction, and Socioeconomic Status: A Path Analysis
Authors: Yaghoobzadeh Ameneh , Gorgulu Ozkan , Yee Bit-Lian , Wibisono Ahmad Hasyim , Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Sharif Nia Hamid , Allen Kelly A.
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND: Aging perception plays a central role in the experience of healthy aging by older people. Research identified that factors such as hope, life satisfaction, and socioeconomic status influence the perception of aging in older populations. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to test a hypothetical model to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between hope, life satisfaction, and socioeconomic status with aging perception. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used with 504 older aged participants who live in Qazvin, Iran. Data were collected using the Barker’s Aging Perception Questionnaire, Life Satisfaction Index-Z, and Herth Hope Index. RESULTS: The results of path analysis showed that hope was the most important factor affecting aging perception. Results drawn from correlation analysis indicated that there was a positive significant correlation ( r = .383, p < .001) between hope and aging perception. Further analysis found that hope had the strongest impact on aging perception compared with the other variables analyzed (e.g., life satisfaction and socioeconomic status). CONCLUSIONS: A model of aging perception in Iranian elders is presented. The findings suggested that hope had a significant and positive impact on aging perception. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.
Micro- and nano-capsulated fungal pectinase with outstanding capabilities of eliminating turbidity in freshly produced juice
Authors: Mahmoud Khaled F , Abo-Elmagd Heba I , Housseiny Manal M
Published: January 2018

The present study aimed to compare the pectinase forms produced from Trichoderma viride—free, micro-capsule, and nano-capsule—in sodium alginate to analyze the pectin that causes the turbidity of orange juice. This was performed along with an estimation of viscosity, residual of pectin, and turbidity. The extracted and purified enzyme was 24.35-fold better than that of the crude enzyme. After application of free one, it loses most of the activity on low degrees of acidity and remains constant on the temperatures of pasteurization. Therefore, the tested enzyme was encapsulated by two different ways using the same polymer. The morphology of the three pectinase forms was obtained by transmission electron microscopy, and the micrographs clearly showed the pores on the surface of sodium alginate matrix after encapsulation. The size of the wall (sodium alginate) ranged from 3.24 to 3.76 µm diameter but was 3.15 µm for core of enzyme. Micro-capsuled and nano-capsuled pectinase can be used in the hydrolysis of pectic substances in orange juice with natural ways and maintaining the quality of final product. Consequently, the cost of juice clarifying can be reduced due to reusing the enzyme several times.
An Empirical Examination of Effective Practices for Teaching Board Game Play to Young Children
Authors: Barton Erin E. , Pokorski Elizabeth A. , Sweeney Erin M. , Velez Marina , Gossett Stephanie , Qiu Jia , Flaherty Celia , Domingo Maddisen
Published: January 2018

We examined an intervention package using peer modeling, systematic prompting, and contingent reinforcement to increase the frequency and complexity of board game play and social behaviors in young children with disabilities. Four children with or at risk for disabilities participated with their typically developing peers. Results indicated a strong functional relation given the magnitude of change across conditions and participants and robust study rigor. Minor individual adaptations were used for two of the four participants. Overall, the study extends the research on board game play interventions with young children by demonstrating the effectiveness of an intervention that was successful for a diverse sample of preschool children with or at risk for disabilities and their peers.
Same MSH2 Gene Mutation But Variable Phenotypes in 2 Families With Lynch Syndrome: Two Case Reports and Review of Genotype-Phenotype Correlation
Authors: Liccardo Raffaella , De Rosa Marina , Duraturo Francesca
Published: January 2018

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant syndrome that can be subdivided into Lynch syndrome I, or site-specific colonic cancer, and Lynch syndrome II, or extracolonic cancers, particularly carcinomas of the stomach, endometrium, biliary and pancreatic systems, and urinary tract. Lynch syndrome is associated with point mutations and large rearrangements in DNA MisMatch Repair ( MMR) genes. This syndrome shows a variable phenotypic expression in people who carry pathogenetic mutations. So far, a correlation in genotype-phenotype has not been definitely established. In this study, we describe 2 Lynch syndrome cases presenting with the same genotype but different phenotypes and discuss possible reasons for this.
Rare Skin Fistulas Relating to Ascending Colonic Carcinoma: An Unusual Mode of Revelation
Authors: Zhou Hanlei , Shao Huawei , Ho Jon Kee , Wang Xingang , Han Chunmao , Chen Guoxian
Published: January 2018

Chronic or nonhealing wounds is a complex disease influenced by a multitude of factors, such as infection, ischemia, malnutrition, and diabetes and infrequently relates to retroperitoneal carcinoma. We present a case of an adenocarcinoma of ascending colon in a 68-year-old male who had lumbago and waist fistulas with retroperitoneal abscesses preceding other signs or symptoms of colonic malignancy. Supplemental information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of nonhealing wounds and colon carcinoma has also been included in the report. Adenocarcinoma of ascending colon is rarely associated with nonhealing wounds; nevertheless, it should be considered in cases with long-term healing complications. Precise diagnostic deliberation is crucial in the management and treatment of all chronic and long-term nonhealing lesions, and appropriately performed biopsies are essential to determine whether malignancy is the primary cause.
Leadership of international schools and the International Baccalaureate learner profile
Authors: Gardner-McTaggart Alexander
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

this study offers a rare insight into senior leadership in International Baccalaureate (IB) international schools. The IB international school profits from the perceived quality and consistency of the IB brand; international schools, however, suffer from an endemic culture of change and reinterpretation. The IB learner profile (IBLP) offers scope for consistency and an overarching ethos, and research finds that ‘buy-in’ to the IBLP and modelling of it in all aspects of school life are essential in achieving this. It emerges that buy-in to the IBLP in directors is split between the personal and the operational.

Research method:

This interpretive study explores IB directors in multiphase research over two years employing an aspect of critical phenomenology through the lens of the IBLP and Global Citizenship Education (GCE).

Findings:

Only one in six directors uses the IBLP in leadership. Generally, directors attribute the IBLP a junior status. Analysis through Bourdieu finds IB directors have higher loyalty to (loosely defined) GCE through their Christian values. A foregrounding of individual values over the secular IBLP places IB directors as primary catalysts for the change culture unravelling the consistency of the IB international school, confirming the value of the IBLP in leadership.
Aligning policy and law? The creation of a domestic abuse offence incorporating coercive control
Authors: Burman Michele , Brooks-Hay Oona
Published: January 2018

Since 2000, the Scottish Government has adopted a gendered definition of domestic abuse which explicitly positions it as both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality. Following the launch of a new strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls, the Scottish Government announced proposals to create, for the first time, a bespoke offence of domestic abuse, designed to encompass the spectrum of abusive acts that constitute domestic abuse, including emotional and psychological abuse. The new offence is intended to better reflect the experience of victims subject to coercive control, improve the criminal justice response and facilitate access to justice. It represents one of the most radical attempts yet to align the criminal justice response with contemporary policy and feminist conceptual understanding of domestic abuse as a form of coercive control. Drawing on feminist scholarship which has interrogated the value of law reform, we critically assess the scope of the legislation, the likely challenges associated with its use in the Scottish context, and the potential for unintended consequences.
Fallen idols, broken noses: Defacement and memory after the Reformation
Authors: Schwyzer Philip
Published: January 2018

The Henrician and Edwardian Reformations of the 1530s and 1540s were marked by successive waves of iconoclasm in English churches and cathedrals. Statues, screens, wall paintings, and windows were among the idols targeted. While some objects and artworks were destroyed or effaced entirely, others remained in situ, bearing the marks of iconoclastic violence. Even today, many English cathedrals harbour numerous examples of defaced images which have suffered beheading or scoring of the face and hands, but have been neither repaired nor removed. This article explores how various post-Reformation observers including Protestants, Catholics, antiquaries, and poets understood and responded to defaced images, arguing that traditionalists and reformers found a paradoxical common cause in the curation of iconoclasm.
Debating early modern and modern memory: Cultural forms and effects: a critical retrospective
Authors: Hiscock Andrew
Published: January 2018

This discussion focuses upon the ways in which early modern and modern cultural debate examines memory both in terms of its functions and nature as human faculty and of its effects as a cultural phenomenon. It seeks to uncover some of the striking synergies as well as the contrary motions in the vigorous cultural debates surrounding the reflex to remember and its implications for various target audiences. Of particular interest will be the ways in which memory was and is pressed into service to forge critical narratives of origin and belonging at both a personal and collective level, notably with reference to Shakespeare’s history plays. Discussion ranges across a number of early modern textual genres (e.g. correspondence, drama, epic poetry, historiography, devotional writing) to probe the prevailing cultural expectations surrounding the exercise of recollection and the consequences of the failure to perform such duties.
Apparent diffusion coefficient value for a B-cell central nervous system lymphoma in a cat
Authors: Tanaka Toshiyuki , Akiyoshi Hideo , Shimazaki Hitoshi , Kawakami Ryo , Mie Keiichiro , Yamada Yuki , Ohashi Fumihito
Published: January 2018

Case summary

This report involves a 10-year-old male mixed-breed cat with a B-cell central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. The cat presented with ataxia progressing to left hemiparesis. While haematological findings were normal, serum biochemistry showed a high creatine phosphokinase concentration. MRI revealed a homogeneously enhancing well-demarcated extra-axial lesion involving the region of the left lateral aperture with oedema in left flocculus and left medulla oblongata. On diffusion-weighted imaging, the lesion margins showed marked hyperintensity relative to the right cerebellar hemisphere. On an apparent diffusion coefficient map, the lesion appeared hypointense, with an apparent diffusion coefficient value of 0.57 ± 0.01 × 10−3 mm2/s. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and cytology, and genetic analysis of CSF lymphoblasts confirmed a diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma. The owner opted for palliative treatment with prednisolone (1 mg/kg q12h); however, the cat died of dyspnoea 10 days after presentation.

Relevance and novel information

CNS lymphomas, which are the second most common intracranial tumours in cats, are highly infiltrative lesions and radical surgical excision is not recommended. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is crucial. However, contrast-enhanced MRI cannot always differentiate these lesions from other conditions, including other CNS tumours and strokes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to document the diffusion-weighted imaging features and apparent diffusion coefficient value for a feline CNS lymphoma. These findings are expected to improve the diagnostic accuracy of these lesions in cats.
Prevalence of Non-AIDS Comorbidities and Factors Associated with Metabolic Complications among HIV-Infected Patients at a Thai Referral Hospital
Authors: Nakaranurack Chotirat , Manosuthi Weerawat
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

The prevalence of non-AIDS-related comorbidities is increasing in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. In Thailand, data regarding the prevalence of non-AIDS comorbidities and factors associated with metabolic complications in HIV-infected patients have not been well-documented.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 and included 874 HIV-infected patients.

Results:

The age of patients was 45(8) years represented as mean (standard deviation [SD]). The current CD4 count was 502(247) cells/mm3. In all, 388 (44%) of the included patients had at least 1non-AIDS comorbidity. The most frequently documented comorbidities were hyperlipidemia in 271 (70%) patients. Using multivariate analysis, older age(odds ratio [OR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.51-2.19), male sex (OR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.14-2.11), high current CD4 count(OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 1.00-1.00), and taking abacavir (ABC)-containing(OR = 2.59, 95%CI = 1.16-5.78)and didanosine (ddI)-containing antiretroviral regimens (OR = 4.16, 95%CI = 1.09-15.84)were associated with the presence of metabolic complications (all Ps<.05).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of comorbidities is substantially high. Clinical monitoring and effective management of these comorbidities and metabolic complications are recommended, especially in HIV-infected patients who present with these associated factors.
Ruxolitinib protects skin stem cells and maintains skin homeostasis in murine graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Takahashi Shuichiro , Hashimoto Daigo , Hayase Eiko , Ogasawara Reiki , Ohigashi Hiroyuki , Ara Takahide , Yokoyama Emi , Ebata Ko , Matsuoka Satomi , Hill Geoffrey R. , Sugita Junichi , Onozawa Masahiro , Teshima Takanori
Published: January 2018

Key Points

Skin GVHD targets Lgr5+ HFSCs in association with impaired hair regeneration and wound healing. Topical ruxolitinib, unlike corticosteroids, protects Lgr5+ skin stem cells and maintains skin homeostasis in skin GVHD.
Incorporating electrostatic effects into the effective stress relation — Insights from chalk experiments
Authors: Nermoen Anders , Korsnes Reidar Inge , Storm Eirik Vika , Stødle Trond , Madland Merete Vadla , Fabricius Ida Lykke
Published: January 2018

Which forces are responsible for holding highly porous chalks together? We use the effective stress to quantify the electrostatic effects around particle contacts originating from the adsorption of ions onto charged mineral surfaces. The induration of chalk indicates that it is held together by contact cement, where planar crystal contacts allow the action of short-ranged adhesive Van der Waals forces. At particle distances exceeding a few nanometers, recent studies have indicated electrostatic repulsion between water-embedded adjacent particles. The magnitude of the repelling force depends, among other parameters, upon temperature and brine composition. Our premise is that by perturbing the electrostatic forces at the particle level, we can control the mechanical behavior of chalk samples tested in triaxial cells. We report the results of an experimental series, investigating how the mechanical strength and stiffness varied among samples saturated with four different brines, tested at two temperatures, and tested directly or after aging for three weeks at high temperature. We associate stiffness with bulk modulus and strength with the stress at yield. Systematic softening and weakening is observed, especially when the pore fluid is sulfate bearing, as well as for some high-temperature experiments and for aged samples. However, softening and weakening are not totally correlated, and neither brine composition, temperature, nor aging can alone dictate the mechanical behavior of the chalk — a combination is required to predict the chalk stiffness and strength. To obtain a coherent description of our experimental results, we estimated the electrostatic stress arising from ion adsorption and found it unnecessary for these experiments to postulate significant dissolution or precipitation-related changes to the rock frame.
Common-reflection-surface method in weakly anisotropic vertical transverse isotropic media
Authors: Bloot Rodrigo , Coimbra Tiago A. , Faccipieri Jorge H. , Tygel Martin
Published: January 2018

The extraction of kinematic parameters from wave propagation through traveltimes is one of the great challenges in seismic data processing. In this context, we modify the common-reflection-surface (CRS) traveltime to improve its accuracy and also interpret its parameters via paraxial ray theory in an anisotropic medium obtaining information about the wavefront curvatures measured at surface. The proposed method consists of searching for the best stacking parameters that fit the data set followed by the extraction of kinematic information from the measured waves. Numerical tests show the effectiveness of our assumptions and that the results obtained in the fitting and parameter extraction in anisotropic media achieve better accuracy than conventional CRS.
Transient loss of venous integrity during developmental vascular remodeling leads to red blood cell extravasation and clearance by lymphatic vessels
Authors: Zhang Yang , Daubel Nina , Stritt Simon , Mäkinen Taija
Published: January 2018

Maintenance of blood vessel integrity is critical for vascular homeostasis and mainly controlled at the level of endothelial cell (EC) junctions. Regulation of endothelial integrity has largely been investigated in the mature quiescent vasculature. Less is known how integrity is maintained during vascular growth and remodeling involving extensive junctional reorganization. Here we show that embryonic mesenteric blood vascular remodeling is associated with a transient loss of venous integrity and concomitant extravasation of red blood cells (RBC), followed by their clearance by the developing lymphatic vessels. In wild type mouse embryos, we observed activated platelets extending filopodia at sites of inter-EC gaps. In contrast, embryos lacking the activatory C-type lectin-like receptor-2 (CLEC2) showed extravascular platelets and excessive number of RBCs associated with and engulfed by the first lymphatic EC clusters that subsequently form lumenized blood-filled vessels connecting to the lymphatic system. These results uncover novel functions of platelets in maintaining venous integrity and lymphatic vessels in clearing extravascular RBCs during developmental remodeling of the mesenteric vasculature. They further provide insight into how vascular abnormality characterized by blood-filled lymphatic vessels arises.
Role of membrane-tension gated Ca2+ flux in cell mechanosensation
Authors: He Lijuan , Tao Jiaxiang , Maity Debonil , Si Fangwei , Wu Yi , Wu Tiffany , Prasath Vishnu , Wirtz Denis , Sun Sean X.
Published: January 2018

Eukaryotic cells are sensitive to mechanical forces they experience from the environment. The process of mechanosensation is complex, and involves elements such as the cytoskeleton and active contraction from myosin motors. Ultimately, mechanosensation is connected to changes in gene expression in the cell, known as mechanotransduction. While the involvement of the cytoskeleton in mechanosensation is known, the processes upstream of cytoskeletal changes are unclear. In this paper, by using a microfluidic device that mechanically compresses live cells, we demonstrate that Ca2+ currents and membrane tension-sensitive ion channels directly signal to the Rho GTPase and myosin contraction. In response to membrane tension changes, cells actively regulate cortical myosin contraction to balance external forces. The process is captured by a mechanochemical model where membrane tension, myosin contraction and the osmotic pressure difference between the cytoplasm and extracellular environment are connected by mechanical force balance. Finally, to complete the picture of mechanotransduction, we find that the tension-sensitive transcription factor YAP family of proteins translocate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to mechanical compression.
Cognitive skills of common shrews (Sorex araneus) vary with seasonal changes in skull size and brain mass
Authors: Lázaro Javier , Hertel Moritz , LaPoint Scott , Wikelski Martin , Stiehler Matthias , Dechmann Dina K. N.
Published: January 2018

In a rare phenomenon, shrews and few other species cope with seasonal environments by reducing and regrowing brain size, potentially at the cost of changes in cognitive abilities. Here, we confirm an extensive, seasonal shrinkage (21.4%) and regrowth (17.0%) of brain mass in winter and spring, respectively, in common shrew (Sorex araneus L.) in Southern Germany. In a spatial learning task experiment individuals with reduced winter brain size covered larger distances to find food, compared to the relatively large brained summer juveniles and regrown spring adults. By reducing their brain mass, these shrews may reduce their energetic demands, but at the cost of cognitive performance, implying a complex trade-off for coping with seasonally fluctuating resources. These results are relevant for our understanding of evolution and the dynamics of mammalian nervous systems in response to environmental changes.
Beyond Cut Points: Accelerometer Metrics that Capture the Physical Activity Profile
Authors: ROWLANDS ALEX V. , EDWARDSON CHARLOTTE L. , DAVIES MELANIE J. , KHUNTI KAMLESH , HARRINGTON DEIRDRE M. , YATES TOM
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Commonly used physical activity metrics tell us little about the intensity distribution across the activity profile. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a metric, the intensity gradient, which can be used in combination with average acceleration (overall activity level) to fully describe the activity profile.

Methods

A total of 1669 adolescent girls (sample 1) and 295 adults with type 2 diabetes (sample 2) wore a GENEActiv accelerometer on their nondominant wrist for up to 7 d. Body mass index and percent body fat were assessed in both samples and physical function (grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, and sit-to-stand repetitions) in sample 2. Physical activity metrics were as follows: average acceleration (AccelAV); the intensity gradient (IntensityGRAD from the log–log regression line: 25-mg intensity bins [x]/time accumulated in each bin [y]); total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); and bouted MVPA (sample 2 only).

Results

Correlations between AccelAV and IntensityGRAD (r = 0.39–0.51) were similar to correlations between AccelAV and bouted MVPA (r = 0.48) and substantially lower than between AccelAV and total MVPA (r ≥ 0.93). IntensityGRAD was negatively associated with body fatness in sample 1 (P < 0.05) and positively associated with physical function in sample 2 (P < 0.05); associations were independent of AccelAV and potential covariates. By contrast, MVPA was not independently associated with body fatness or physical function.

Conclusion

AccelAV and IntensityGRAD provide a complementary description of a person’s activity profile, each explaining unique variance, and independently associated with body fatness and/or physical function. Both metrics are appropriate for reporting as standardized measures and suitable for comparison across studies using raw acceleration accelerometers. Concurrent use will facilitate investigation of the relative importance of intensity and volume of activity for a given outcome.
Practice patterns for the radical treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer by head and neck oncologists in the United Kingdom
Authors: Petkar Imran , Bhide Shreerang , Newbold Kate , Harrington Kevin , Nutting Chris
Published: January 2018

Objective:

Advances in radiation delivery, imaging techniques, and chemotherapy have significantly improved treatment options for non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancers (NPC). However, their impact on the practice in the United Kingdom (UK), where this tumour is rare, is unknown. This study examined the current attitudes of UK head and neck oncologists to the treatment of NPC.

Methods:

UK head and neck oncologists representing 19/23 cancer networks were sent an invitation email with a personalised link to a web-based survey designed to identify the influence of tumour and nodal staging on current NPC management practices.

Results:

26/42 (61%) of clinicians responded. Induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiation was the treatment of choice for Stage III (69%) and IVa/b (96%), with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil combination being the most commonly used induction chemotherapy regimen (88%). 16 centres (61%) used a geometric approach, adding variable margins of 0–10 mm to the gross tumour volume to define their therapeutic dose clinical target volume. 54% of respondents used 3 radiotherapy (RT) prescription doses to treat NPC. Retropharyngeal nodal region irradiation policy was inconsistent, with nearly one-quarter treating the entire group to a radical dose.

Conclusion:

Significant heterogeneity currently exists in the RT practice of NPC in the UK. A consensus regarding the optimal curative, function-sparing treatment paradigm for NPC is necessary to ensure cancer survivors have satisfactory long-term health-related quality of life.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first study to highlight the significant variation in RT practice of NPC in the UK.
Transcriptional and chromatin changes accompanying de novo formation of transgenic piRNA clusters
Authors: Akulenko Natalia , Ryazansky Sergei , Morgunova Valeriya , Komarov Pavel A. , Olovnikov Ivan , Vaury Chantal , Jensen Silke , Kalmykova Alla
Published: January 2018

Expression of transposable elements in the germline is controlled by Piwi-interacting (pi) RNAs produced by genomic loci termed piRNA clusters and associated with Rhino, a heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) homolog. Previously, we have shown that transgenes containing a fragment of the I retrotransposon form de novo piRNA clusters in the Drosophila germline providing suppression of I-element activity. We noted that identical transgenes located in different genomic sites vary considerably in piRNA production and classified them as “strong” and “weak” piRNA clusters. Here, we investigated what chromatin and transcriptional changes occur at the transgene insertion sites after their conversion into piRNA clusters. We found that the formation of a transgenic piRNA cluster is accompanied by activation of transcription from both genomic strands that likely initiates at multiple random sites. The chromatin of all transgene-associated piRNA clusters contain high levels of trimethylated lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me3) and HP1a, whereas Rhino binding is considerably higher at the strong clusters. None of these chromatin marks was revealed at the “empty” sites before transgene insertion. Finally, we have shown that in the nucleus of polyploid nurse cells, the formation of a piRNA cluster at a given transgenic genomic copy works according to an “all-or-nothing” model: either there is high Rhino enrichment or there is no association with Rhino at all. As a result, genomic copies of a weak piRNA transgenic cluster show a mosaic association with Rhino foci, while the majority of strong transgene copies associate with Rhino and are hence involved in piRNA production.
Features of the Audit of the Rationale of the Initial (Maximum) Price of the Contract in the Implementation of Procurement to Provide the State and Municipal Needs
Authors: Проданова Н. , Prodanova N. , Зацаринная Е. , Zatsarinnaya E. , Коршунова Л. , Korshunova L. , Гендон А. , Gendon A.
Published: January 2018

The new Federal Law 44-FZ «On the contract system in the sphere of procurement of goods, works, services for provision of government and municipal needs» for the first time fixed the concept of substantiation of the initial (maximum) contract price (NMC). Th e authors disclosed the specifics of conducting an audit (NMCC) for state and municipal needs as a fundamentally new direction for carrying out a control measure.
Features of the Accounting of Re-export Operations
Authors: Еремеева С. , Eremeeva S.
Published: January 2018

This article deals with the re-export of goods, as a form of international economic relations, the conditions for the introduction of the re-export regime are considered. In addition, the work describes the types of re-export, gives features of re-export operations, offers sub-accounts for analytical accounting of re-export operations.
On the Question of the Methodology of Accounting of State Aid
Authors: Миславская Н. , Mislavskaya N.
Published: January 2018

Methodological issues of accounting of economic transactions and events are most directly related to the degree of disclosure and reliability of accounting (financial) reporting data with respect to the resources of the organization. The author believes that not always and not all information should be presented to a wide range of users. In particular, we are talking about state aid, which comes to our legal entities. Th e article provides justification for such arguments and suggests a version of the changes necessary to introduce into the current methodology of accounting for state aid organizations.
Features of Performance Analysis of Financial and Economic Activities of the Economic Entity in the Framework of the Statutory Audit
Authors: Егорова Ирина , Egorova Irina
Published: January 2018

Th is article is devoted to the features of the analysis of financial and economic performance of enterprises in terms of the application of analytical procedures in the framework of mandatory audit of their financial (accounting) statements.
Ideas about post-mortem existence in the philosophical picture of the world in the analysis of Christian culture
Authors: Карнаухов Игорь , Karnauhov Igor'
Published: January 2018

In the monograph developed and implemented category "picture of the world of posthumous existence (Kmps)" as of onto-epistemological ele-
ment of the modern philosophical picture of the world, allowing to expand the scientific tools of cognition of existence. Determined by socio-ideological model of meaning of life that shape Kmps in accordance with axiological constants of companies: earth, heaven,
median. Describes the theoretical category of "binarity" and "Carnaroli" in the evolution of ideas about posthumous existence. We study the facts, allowing you to comprehend the dialectical process of change
models picture of the world of the afterlife in Christianity from the standpoint of ontology and epistemology.
The monograph is addressed to a wide circle of specialists in the field of philosophical knowledge. The book can be useful for researchers, teachers, postgraduates and students of the philosophy and Humanities.
Modern performance management system
Authors: Попов Ринад , Popov Rinad
Published: January 2018

The book describes the main substantive aspects of construction and operation of control systems in territorial and economic and industrial organizations, illustrates the Genesis of management science and practice; lit methodology of applied research in the field of management, technological and organizational factors in the development and improvement of organizational and administrative structures at the territorial and sectoral perspective.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standard of the last generation.
For post-graduate students in the areas of "Corporate management and business administration", "Regional economy", "Construction", post-graduate students and teachers of universities and employees of state and municipal authorities, top-managers.
A Branch-and-Bound Algorithm for the Prize-Collecting Single-Machine Scheduling Problem with Deadlines and Total Tardiness Minimization
Authors: Cordone Roberto , Hosteins Pierre , Righini Giovanni
Published: January 2018

We study a prize-collecting single-machine scheduling problem with hard deadlines, where the objective is to minimize the difference between the total tardiness and the total prize of the selected jobs. This problem is motivated by industrial applications, both as a stand-alone model and as a pricing subproblem in column-generation algorithms for parallel machine scheduling problems. A preprocessing rule is devised to identify jobs that cannot belong to any optimal schedule. The resulting reduced problem is solved to optimality by a branch-and-bound algorithm and two integer linear programming formulations. The algorithm and the formulations are experimentally compared on randomly generated benchmark instances.
Encouraging families to promote healthy lifestyles from early life
Authors: Noakes Amy
Published: January 2018

Good nutrition is essential for a child's physical and mental development and health visitors have a vital role in supporting parents to make positive choices by ensuring their child has a balanced diet from the start, as Amy Noakes explains
Common childhood illnesses: Febrile seizures
Authors: Tinsley Elizabeth
Published: January 2018

Febrile seizures are a common symptom in a child with a feverish illness. They are usually uncomplicated, with no lifelong impact on a child's health and development. However, they can often be a frightening experience for parents who worry that the seizure is a sign that the child may be seriously unwell.
Perspectives on supporting fathers affected by postnatal depression and a history of violence
Authors: Laws Thomas , Keeling June
Published: January 2018

Intimate partner violence in the perinatal period is a significant problem that remains underscreened, underdiagnosed and undertreated. The establishment of evidence-based guidelines to enable health visitors to identify couples experiencing violence and offer appropriate support has been hampered by the complex interplay between maternal and paternal mental health problems and violence. This study explored the experiences of UK fathers who voluntarily engaged with services designed to eliminate their ideation to violence. The findings indicate that the tendency to violence is increased by stresses associated with the transition to parenthood. Men felt pressured by concerns for their partner's mental health, changes in the relationship, sleep disturbances and the burden of infant care they assumed when the mother was unable to cope. Health visitors are ideally placed to assess for factors linked to the emergence of violence and put in place interventions to minimise occurrence.
Our values are not just for Christmas
Authors: Hanley Jane
Published: January 2018

While many enjoyed the festive season with their loved ones at home, others spent it in homeless shelters or on the streets. Many of these people, says Jane Hanley, have mental health problems, which pose ongoing challenges to health services
Introduction: A Way of Looking
Authors: Erikson Kai
Published: January 2018

This book offers a sense of what social life looks like when viewed with a sociological eye. It reflects on the lay of the land when sociology first made an appearance 150 years ago and considers various locations on the surface of the earth where people gather into social clusters. It also discusses the passages and other forms of change we experience as human beings growing up and becoming active participants in the social order that surrounds us. The author shares his thoughts based on field visits in which he encountered a number of different peoples such as Appalachian coal miners, Puritan settlers, Polish immigrants to America, Army recruits, migrant farm workers from Haiti, Alutiiq fishers and trappers from Alaska, and survivors of civil war in Yugoslavia.
Human Origins
Authors: Erikson Kai
Published: January 2018

This chapter discusses the origins of the human species on earth, in part to emphasize the fact that we are social animals. The story of human evolution spans millions of years, although it is not easy to establish a starting date or to draw an easy narrative line across those immense stretches of time. The evidence available to us is a spare collection of fossil remains dug out of the ground in widely scattered parts of the world, and a good deal of significance can be given each skull fragment or bone splinter or tooth. The chapter considers the appearance of the early hominins, the australopithecines and how they became social. It also looks at the first humans as well as modern humans, noting how they made the transition from foraging to agriculture.
Discovering the Social
Authors: Erikson Kai
Published: January 2018

This chapter investigates the ways in which European thinkers came to recognize the importance of “the social.” It first considers the cultural temper of the medieval mind in more or less the same way that an anthropologist might study the ethos of a distant people in our own time. It then examines the onset of the Age of Reason, characterized by a revolution in both science and thought, that formed the foundation of a new way to comprehend not only the physical but the human social world. It shows that the Age of Reason spawned a vision of social life that came to dominate European thinking for most of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is still a prominent part of the intellectual climate in which we live now. Among the key figures in the development of that vision were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau.
The Journey of Piotr and Kasia Walkowiak
Authors: Erikson Kai
Published: January 2018

This chapter tells the story of peasants from rural Poland who entered a migrant stream around the turn of the twentieth century that carried them, along with tens of millions of others, across a number of clearly marked national borderlines as well as a number of unmarked cultural ones. The peasants were a couple named Piotr and Kasia Walkowiak, and the words spoken by them as well as the events recalled here are based on the hundreds of letters and diaries gathered in the 1910s by two sociologists from the University of Chicago, W. I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki. The chapter first describes the world into which Piotr and Kasia were born, focusing on family, village, and land. It then considers their journey, together with millions of other immigrants, and how they changed both the face of Europe and the face of the United States.