bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated microRNA-129-5p level ameliorates neuroinflammation and blood-spinal cord barrier damage after ischemia-reperfusion by inhibiting HMGB1 and the TLR3-cytokine pathway
Authors: Li Xiao-Qian , Chen Feng-Shou , Tan Wen-Fei , Fang Bo , Zhang Zai-Li , Ma Hong
Published: October 2017

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) affects microRNA (miR) expression and causes substantial inflammation. Multiple roles of the tumor suppressor miR-129-5p in cerebral IR have recently been reported, but its functions in the spinal cord are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of miR-129-5p after spinal cord IR, particularly in regulating high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 pathway.

Methods

Ischemia was induced via 5-min occlusion of the aortic arch. The relationship between miR-129-5p and HMGB1 was elucidated via RT-PCR, western blotting, and luciferase assays. The cellular distribution of HMGB1 was determined via double immunofluorescence. The effect of miR-129-5p on the expression of HMGB1, TLR3, and downstream cytokines was evaluated using synthetic miRs, rHMGB1, and the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C). Blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability was examined by measuring Evans blue (EB) dye extravasation and the water content.

Results

The temporal miR-129-5p and HMGB1 expression profiles and luciferase assay results indicated that miR-129-5p targeted HMGB1. Compared with the Sham group, the IR group had higher HMGB1 immunoreactivity, which was primarily distributed in neurons and microglia. Intrathecal injection of the miR-129-5p mimic significantly decreased the HMGB1, TLR3, interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and the double-labeled cell count 48 h post-surgery, whereas rHMGB1 and Poly(I:C) reversed these effects. Injection of miR-129-5p mimic preserved motor function and prevented BSCB leakage based on increased Basso Mouse Scale scores and decreased EB extravasation and water content, whereas injection rHMGB1 and Poly(I:C) aggravated these injuries.

Conclusions

Increasing miR-129-5p levels protect against IR by ameliorating inflammation-induced neuronal and BCSB damage by inhibiting HMGB1 and TLR3-associated cytokines.
Incorporating religion and spirituality into the design of community-based physical activity programs for African American women: a qualitative inquiry
Authors: Joseph Rodney P. , Ainsworth Barbara E. , Mathis LaTanya , Hooker Steven P. , Keller Colleen
Published: October 2017

Objective

Limited research has examined how aspects of religion and spirituality can be incorporated into community-based physical activity programs delivered outside of religious institutions. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore how spirituality and religion can be leveraged in the design of community-based physical activity programs for African American women delivered outside of faith-based or faith-placed settings.

Results

Three focus groups were conducted were conducted with 23 African American women (M age = 37.8 years, M BMI = 39.6 kg m2). Results showed that incorporating aspects of spirituality (i.e., words encouraging connectedness to a higher power, meditation, mind–body activities) into a physical activity program was universally accepted among participants, regardless of religious affiliation. In contrast, including concepts of religion (i.e., bible verses and/or quotes from religious leaders) was controversial and not recommended among women who did not identify with a religious faith. Findings indicate that when developing community-based physical activity interventions that will not be delivered through faith-based or faith-placed settings, researchers should avoid references to specific religious beliefs. Instead, interventions should focus on spirituality and emphasize the mind–body relationship between physical activity and an African American women’s inner-being and her connectedness with a higher power.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02823379. Registered July 1, 2016
Subtotal Parathyroidectomy and Relocation of the Parathyroid Remnant for Renal Hyperparathyroidism: Modification of a traditional operation
Authors: Low Tsu-Hui (Hubert) , Yoo John
Published: October 2017

Background

We describe a modification of the conventional subtotal parathyroidectomy operation where the parathyroid gland(s) remnant is repositioned with intact vascular supply to a plane superficial to the infrahyoid strap muscles and immediately under the skin incision. This technique called Subtotal Parathyroidectomy and Remnant Relocation (SPARE) retains all the metabolic advantages of the conventional operation with the added advantage of easier identification of a recurrent hyperplastic remnant if re-exploration becomes necessary.

Methods

In the SPARE technique, four parathyroid glands were identified and the quality of each gland and the length of each vascular pedicle to the parathyroid glands were assessed. The optimal parathyroid gland was relocated to a plane superficial to the strap muscles. The remainder of the glands were removed.

Results

In total, 30 patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to renal failure (HSRF) underwent parathyroidectomy with the SPARE technique. The mean age was 53.1±12.5 years and median follow-up was 17.1 months (range 1-78.9 months). There were no recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injuries or hematomas. The pre- and post-operative value for corrected calcium and PTH were 158.4±109.4 pmol/L and 11.4±12.1 pmol/L, respectively ( p < 0.05). Three recurrences were noted (10.0%), with a mean time to recurrence of 15.3±6.6 months. One patient had excision of the remnant parathyroid glands performed under local anaesthetic (29 min); one had re-exploration performed under general anaesthetic (81 min), and one was managed medically.

Conclusion

We described a novel parathyroidectomy technique for patients with HSRF, which provides the advantages of conventional subtotal parathyroidectomy while mitigating the challenges of thyroid bed re-exploration when recurrences arise.
Current strategies for treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration: substitution and regeneration possibilities
Authors: van Uden Sebastião , Silva-Correia Joana , Oliveira Joaquim Miguel , Reis Rui Luís
Published: October 2017

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration has an annual worldwide socioeconomic impact masked as low back pain of over 70 billion euros. This disease has a high prevalence over the working age class, which raises the socioeconomic impact over the years. Acute physical trauma or prolonged intervertebral disc mistreatment triggers a biochemical negative tendency of catabolic-anabolic balance that progress to a chronic degeneration disease. Current biomedical treatments are not only ineffective in the long-run, but can also cause degeneration to spread to adjacent intervertebral discs. Regenerative strategies are desperately needed in the clinics, such as: minimal invasive nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosus treatments, total disc replacement, and cartilaginous endplates decalcification.

Main body

Herein, it is reviewed the state-of-the-art of intervertebral disc regeneration strategies from the perspective of cells, scaffolds, or constructs, including both popular and unique tissue engineering approaches. The premises for cell type and origin selection or even absence of cells is being explored. Choice of several raw materials and scaffold fabrication methods are evaluated. Extensive studies have been developed for fully regeneration of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus, together or separately, with a long set of different rationales already reported. Recent works show promising biomaterials and processing methods applied to intervertebral disc substitutive or regenerative strategies. Facing the abundance of studies presented in the literature aiming intervertebral disc regeneration it is interesting to observe how cartilaginous endplates have been extensively neglected, being this a major source of nutrients and water supply for the whole disc.

Conclusion

Several innovative avenues for tackling intervertebral disc degeneration are being reported – from acellular to cellular approaches, but the cartilaginous endplates regeneration strategies remain unaddressed. Interestingly, patient-specific approaches show great promise in respecting patient anatomy and thus allow quicker translation to the clinics in the near future.
Improving Post-Earthquake Building Safety Evaluation using the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, Earthquake Rapid Visual Damage Assessment Data
Authors: Didier Max , Baumberger Salome , Tobler Roman , Esposito Simona , Ghosh Siddhartha , Stojadinovic Bozidar
Published: October 2017

A Rapid Visual Damage Assessment was initiated in the direct aftermath of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake to assess the safety and damage of residential buildings in the areas affected by the earthquake. Over 30,000 paper assessment forms have been subsequently digitized. The collected data set allows comparison of the observed damage to the residential building stock to the damage expected using existing fragility curves. Under certain conditions and respecting certain limitations, the post-earthquake building safety and damage data can be used to update the existing fragility functions for the Nepalese building stock. Recommendations are made for the improvement of post-earthquake building safety assessments in Nepal in order to: (1) make data collection more consistent, (2) increase the accuracy of the collected data, and (3) make more effective use of the collected data after future earthquakes.
Historic Earthquake-Resilient Structures in Nepal and Other Himalayan Regions and Their Seismic Restoration
Authors: Joshi Vishal M. , Kaushik Hemant B.
Published: October 2017

Since 1255, major earthquakes have struck Nepal. This article looks at the history of these earthquakes and how they impacted the region and its heritage. The recent April 2015 earthquake was characterized by the widespread destruction of historic buildings. It is worth noting that not all of the historic buildings succumbed to the earthquake. In the Kathmandu Valley, more than a handful of restored or reconstructed historic structures survived the force of the quake. Structures such as the Cyasilin Mandap, Patan Museum, 55 Windows Palace, and the south wing of the Sundari Chowk stood their ground. However, the Nepalese government would like to reconstruct the destroyed heritage using the traditional methods and materials. So what can we learn from the past? Can the past guide our future reconstruction? Is there a method that is traditional, and, at the same time, resistant to earthquakes?
Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling Impairs Protein Turnover Regulation in Hypoxia-Induced Muscle Atrophy in Male Mice
Authors: de Theije Chiel C , Schols Annemie M W J , Lamers Wouter H , Ceelen Judith J M , van Gorp Rick H , Hermans J J Rob , Köhler S Elonore , Langen Ramon C J
Published: October 2017

Hypoxemia may contribute to muscle wasting in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Muscle wasting develops when muscle proteolysis exceeds protein synthesis. Hypoxia induces skeletal muscle atrophy in mice, which can in part be attributed to reduced food intake. We hypothesized that hypoxia elevates circulating corticosterone concentrations by reduced food intake and enhances glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling in muscle, which causes elevated protein degradation signaling and dysregulates protein synthesis signaling during hypoxia-induced muscle atrophy. Muscle-specific GR knockout and control mice were subjected to normoxia, normobaric hypoxia (8% oxygen), or pair-feeding to the hypoxia group for 4 days. Plasma corticosterone and muscle GR signaling increased after hypoxia and pair-feeding. GR deficiency prevented muscle atrophy by pair-feeding but not by hypoxia. GR deficiency differentially affected activation of ubiquitin 26S-proteasome and autophagy proteolytic systems by pair-feeding and hypoxia. Reduced food intake suppressed mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity under normoxic but not hypoxic conditions, and this retained mTORC1 activity was mediated by GR. We conclude that GR signaling is required for muscle atrophy and increased expression of proteolysis-associated genes induced by decreased food intake under normoxic conditions. Under hypoxic conditions, muscle atrophy and elevated gene expression of the ubiquitin proteasomal system–associated E3 ligases Murf1 and Atrogin-1 are mostly independent of GR signaling. Furthermore, impaired inhibition of mTORC1 activity is GR-dependent in hypoxia-induced muscle atrophy.
“Carrying Our Country to the World”
Authors: Altınay Rüstem Ertuğ
Published: October 2017

In the Cold War era, as Turkey negotiated its place in a changing global order, tourism emerged as an important site of diplomacy. The amalgamation of tourism and diplomacy reached its peak during the cruise organized by the Turkey Tourism Association with the ocean liner Tarsus in 1954. The main destination of the cruise was the United States. Alongside an exhibition on the ship's deck promoting Turkey, the Tarsus also carried fashion models and musicians, staging performances to introduce the “people of the free world” to the “friendly nation Turkey.” The imaginary relationship between the female body and national identity put women at the forefront of the cruise's cultural diplomacy efforts. The case of the Tarsus reveals how social identities, spaces, and histories are performatively constructed in the context of tourism and how these processes both reproduce and challenge the broader systems and manifestations of power.
Falling off the Tourism Ladder
Authors: Holleran Max
Published: October 2017

Before the economic crisis of 2008, Spain's tourism economy was held up as a global model of how to ascend the virtuous tourism “ladder” from budget beachfront package tours to more profitable cultural tourism that emphasizes art museums, cuisine, and heritage. This article examines how the maturation of the tourism industry in Spain became a symbol of democratization and European integration in the 1980s and 1990s. The piece then considers how the 2008 crisis challenged public confidence in the tourism economy due to the scale of the real estate crash, revelations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds, and crushing regional debt. Finally, it shows how the new political geography of Europe is divided between creditor countries, from the European core, that visit and debtor countries, in the Mediterranean, that are visited.
Remembering and Honoring Marv Gettleman
Authors: Gosse Van
Published: October 2017

Van Gosse writes about Marv Gettleman as an exemplary radical historian from the early 1960s through the 2000s, and how activists in many movements have relied on his scholarship.
Welfare Consequences of Information Aggregation and Optimal Market Size
Authors: Kawakami Kei
Published: October 2017

We analyze the welfare implications of information aggregation in a trading model where traders have both idiosyncratic endowment risk and asymmetric information about security payoffs. The optimal market size balances two forces: (i) the risk-sharing role of markets, which creates a positive externality amongst traders, against (ii) the information-aggregation role of prices, which leads to prices that are more correlated with security payoffs, thereby undermining the hedging function of markets. Our analysis indicates that a market with infinitely many traders may not be the right welfare benchmark in the presence of risk aversion and information aggregation. (JEL D43, D62, D82, D83)
Partner Uncertainty and the Dynamic Boundary of the Firm
Authors: Hellmann Thomas , Thiele Veikko
Published: October 2017

We develop a new theory of the dynamic boundary of the firm where asset owners may want to change partners ex post. We identify a fundamental trade-off between (i) a “displacement externality” under non-integration, where a partner leaves a relationship even though his benefit is worth less than the loss to the displaced partner, and (ii) a “retention externality” under integration, where a partner inefficiently retains the other. With more asset specificity, displacement externalities matter more and retention externalities less, so that integration becomes more attractive. Wealth can resolve ex post inefficient partner arrangements, but may weaken ex ante incentives for specific investments. (JEL D21, D23, D25, D62, D86, G31)
Persistence and Change in Culture and Institutions under Autarchy, Trade, and Factor Mobility
Authors: Belloc Marianna , Bowles Samuel
Published: October 2017

Differences among nations in culture (preferences including social norms) and institutions (contracts) may result in specialization and gains from trade even in the absence of exogenous differences in factor endowments or technologies. Goods differ in the kinds of contracts that are appropriate for their production, and so strategic complementarities between contracts and social norms may result in a multiplicity of cultural-institutional equilibria. The resulting country differences in culture and institutions provide the basis for comparative advantage. In our evolutionary model of endogenous preferences and institutions, transitions among persistent cultural-institutional configurations occur as a result of decentralized and uncoordinated contractual or behavioral innovations by employers or employees. We show that the gains from trade raise the cost of deviations from the prevailing culture and institutions. As a result, trade liberalization impedes decentralized transitions, even to Pareto-improving cultural-institutional configurations. International factor mobility has the opposite effect. (JEL D02, D86, F11, F21, J41, O43, Z13)
Cap and Escape in Trade Agreements
Authors: Beshkar Mostafa , Bond Eric W.
Published: October 2017

We propose a model of flexible trade agreements in which verifying the prevailing contingencies is possible but costly. Two types of flexibility emerge: contingent protection, which requires governments to verify the state of the world, and discretionary protection, which allows governments to set tariffs unilaterally. The structure of the GATT/WTO agreement provides these two types of flexibility through a mechanism that we call Cap and Escape. Governments may choose tariffs unilaterally below the negotiated cap, but escaping from the cap requires state verification. We show that this framework explains key features of the GATT/WTO agreements, including the substantial variation across sectors and countries in the level of negotiated tariffs, and the rate at which different flexibility measures are used. (JEL D86, F11, F13, F41)
The SSU processome interactome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals novel protein subcomplexes
Authors: Vincent Nicholas G. , Charette J. Michael , Baserga Susan J.
Published: October 2017

Ribosome assembly is an evolutionarily conserved and energy intensive process required for cellular growth, proliferation, and maintenance. In yeast, assembly of the small ribosomal subunit (SSU) requires approximately 75 assembly factors that act in coordination to form the SSU processome, a 6 MDa ribonucleoprotein complex. The SSU processome is required for processing, modifying, and folding the preribosomal RNA (rRNA) to prepare it for incorporation into the mature SSU. Although the protein composition of the SSU processome has been known for some time, the interaction network of the proteins required for its assembly has remained poorly defined. Here, we have used a semi-high-throughput yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay and coimmunoprecipitation validation method to produce a high-confidence interactome of SSU processome assembly factors (SPAFs), providing essential insight into SSU assembly and ribosome biogenesis. Further, we used glycerol density-gradient sedimentation to reveal the presence of protein subcomplexes that have not previously been observed. Our work not only provides essential insight into SSU assembly and ribosome biogenesis, but also serves as an important resource for future investigations into how defects in biogenesis and assembly cause congenital disorders of ribosomes known as ribosomopathies.
A re-approach of Procopius’ ethnographic account on the early Slavs
Authors: KARDARAS George
Published: October 2017

H εθνογραφική διήγηση του Προκόπιου για τους πρώιμους Σλάβους.Μία επαναπροσέγγιση Στο έργο του Υπέρ των πολέμων, ο βυζαντινός ιστοριογράφος Προκόπιος παραθέτει μία σύντομη εθνογραφική διήγηση για τους πρώιμους Σλάβους (Σκλαβηνούς και Άντες), η οποία είναι η πρώτη χρονικά ως προς αυτό το θέμα. Μισό αιώνα αργότερα, εμφανίζεται η δεύτερη, και διεξοδικότερη, στο Στρατηγικόν του Μαυρικίου. Αν και η γενικότερη αξιοπιστία του Προκόπιου ως ιστοριογράφου δεν αμφισβητείται, το συγκεκριμένο απόσπασμα εμφανίζει πλήθος κοινών τόπων και πληροφοριών οι οποίες χρειάζονται ιδιαίτερη προσοχή από τον μελετητή, καθώς σχετίζονται κυρίως με την ευρύτερη φιλολογική-εθνογραφική παράδοση για τους βόρειους βαρβάρους. Ορισμένα από τα αναφερόμενα στοιχεία αφορούν στην πραγματικότητα νομαδικούς ή γερμανικούς λαούς ενώ ο ίδιος ο Προκόπιος σε άλλα σημεία του έργου του παραθέτει συμπληρωματικές πληροφορίες, π.χ. για την πολεμική τέχνη των Σλάβων, οι οποίες απουσιάζουν από την εθνογραφική του διήγηση. Αν και ο Προκόπιος υπήρξε αυτόπτης μάρτυρας της παρουσίας των Σλάβων στον βυζαντινό στρατό, η εθνογραφική του διήγηση μάλλον δεν προσφέρει μία αυθεντική εικόνα γύρω από τους Σλάβους στα μέσα του 6ου αιώνα, καθώς προσάρμοσε τη σχετική με αυτούς περιγραφή  στα παραδοσιακά εθνογραφικά πρότυπα για τους βόρειους βαρβάρους.
Good and bad Jobs in Greece during the first years of the crisis
Authors: Ioannides Alexis
Published: October 2017

Το άρθρο αυτό εφαρμόζει για πρώτη φορά τη μεθοδολογία των θέσεων εργασίας (Jobs Approach) στην Ελλάδα με στόχο τον προσδιορισμό των καλύτερων και χειρότερων θέσεων εργασίας στην Ελλάδα πριν την έναρξη της κρίσης και τη μελέτη της μεταβολής της απασχόλησης σε αυτές κατά τα πρώτα έτη της κρίσης. Συγκεκριμένα μελετάται η πόλωση των θέσεων εργασίας, μεταξύ των καλών, ενδιάμεσων και χειρότερων θέσεων εργασίας της Ελλάδας.
Ανάλυση των δεδομένων για την καινοτομία στην Ελλάδα και η προβληματική σχετικά με την καταγραφή της στις επιχειρήσεις και την οικονομία
Authors: Χρυσομαλλίδης Χαράλαμπος
Published: October 2017

Η καινοτομία αποτελεί μια έννοια που χρησιμοποιείται συχνά και με διασταλτικό τρόπο, ενώ και οι έρευνες που αποσκοπούν στη μέτρησή της υπόκεινται σε υποκειμενικά κριτήρια, θέτοντας έτσι όρια στην αναλυτική και επεξηγηματική ισχύ τους. Το παρόν άρθρο αποσκοπεί να παραθέσει αρχικά την προβληματική ως προς τον ορισμό της καινοτομίας, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις σύγχρονες εξελίξεις στο συγκεκριμένο θέμα, αποτυπώνει την καινοτομία στην Ελλάδα σε πραγματολογικό επίπεδο και αναδεικνύει τα αντικρουόμενα συμπεράσματα, στα οποία καταλήγουν συναφείς με την καινοτομία έρευνες. Τέλος επιχειρεί να ερμηνεύσει τις αιτίες για τις οποίες συμβαίνει αυτό, επικεντρώνοντας την ανάλυση περί καινοτομίας στην ελληνική περίπτωση.
Η πολιτική οικονομία της υγείας και της ασθένειας
Authors: Gutenschwager Gerald
Published: October 2017

Δεν διατίθεται περίληψη.
Αντιλήψεις μαθητών, γονέων και καθηγητών για την εκμάθηση της Αγγλικής ως Ξένης Γλώσσας (ΑΞΓ) σε μαθητές με ειδικές μαθησιακές δυσκολίες (δυσλεξία)
Authors: Σταμπολτζή Αγλαϊα , Τσιφτσοπούλου Μαρίνα
Published: October 2017

Η δυσλεξία αναφέρεται στις δυσκολίες ενός ατόμου στη φωνολογία, την ανάγνωση και το γραπτό λόγο. Οι περισσότερες έρευνες στη βιβλιογραφία αφορούν στις δυσκολίες που συναντούν οι μαθητές με δυσλεξία στη μητρική τους γλώσσα, και ιδιαίτερα στην αγγλική γλώσσα.Τα τελευταία χρόνια παρατηρείται ένα ενδιαφέρον για μελέτη της επιρροής που έχει η δυσλεξία στην εκμάθηση ξένων γλωσσών, και ιδιαίτερα στην αγγλική γλώσσα που μαθαίνεται από ένα μεγάλο μέρος του πληθυσμού. Έχει υποστηριχθεί πως στην εκμάθηση της ξένης γλώσσας σημαντικό ρόλο παίζει η μητρική γλώσσα, αφού συχνά οι δυσκολίες στη μητρική γλώσσα μεταφέρονται (μέσω της διαγλωσσικής παρέμβασης) και στην ξένη γλώσσα. Η παρούσα έρευνα εξετάζει τις αντιλήψεις και τις εμπειρίες μαθητών, γονέων και καθηγητών σχετικά με τις δυσκολίες και τις προκλήσεις που αντιμετωπίζουν οι μαθητές με δυσλεξία στην ΑΞΓ. Επιπλέον, δίνεται έμφαση στις αποτελεσματικές μεθόδους διδασκαλίας, αξιολόγησης και μελέτης των μαθητών στην ΑΞΓ. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτέλεσαν 13 μαθητές με δυσλεξία (9 αγόρια και 4 κορίτσια ηλικίας 10-14 ετών που μαθαίνουν αγγλικά για τουλάχιστον 2 έτη), 13 γονείς των μαθητών (10 μητέρες και 3 πατέρες ηλικίας 36-56 ετών) και 13 καθηγητές που διδάσκουν την ΑΞΓ στους συγκεκριμένους μαθητές σε φροντιστήριο ξένων γλωσσών (13 γυναίκες ηλικίας 26-55 ετών). Ως ερευνητικά εργαλεία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις, τα αποτελέσματα των οποίων αναλύθηκαν με τη θεματική ανάλυση. Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα, οι συμμετέχοντες συμφωνούν σε μεγάλο βαθμό ως προς τους τομείς δυσκολίας των μαθητών με δυσλεξία στην ΑΞΓ οι οποίοι είναι: προφορά λέξεων, ανάγνωση, ορθογραφία, γραμματική, σύνταξη και αυθόρμητη γραφή. Οι καθηγήτριες αναλύουν σε βάθος τις παραπάνω δυσκολίες. Η διαφοροποιημένη ή προσαρμοσμένη διδασκαλία, η χρήση οπτικο-ακουστικών μέσων και τεχνολογίας αλλά και η πολυ-αισθητηριακή διδασκαλία εξασφαλίζουν το ευνοϊκότερο πλαίσιο μάθησης για τους μαθητές με δυσλεξία. Επίσης όλοι οι συμμετέχοντες εστιάζουν στη σημασία που έχει η στάση των καθηγητών απέναντι στη δυσλεξία, οι γνώσεις τους και η συμπεριφορά τους απέναντι στους μαθητές που χρειάζονται ειδική μεταχείριση και ενθάρρυνση στην προσπάθεια εκμάθησης της ΑΞΓ. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας έρευνας έχουν ιδιαίτερη σημασία για τη βελτίωση της γενικότερης πολιτικής και των μεθόδων διδασκαλίας της ΑΞΓ σε ειδικούς πληθυσμούς. Τέλος, για πρώτη φορά στην παρούσα έρευνα καταγράφονται οι αντιλήψεις μαθητών και γονέων ενώ μέχρι τώρα έχουν διερευνηθεί οι αντιλήψεις και απόψεις καθηγητών/τριών για τη σχέση δυσλεξίας και ΑΞΓ.
Biodiversity, feeding habits and reproductive strategies of benthic macrofauna in a protected area of the northern Adriatic Sea: a three-year study
Authors: NASI F. , AURIEMMA R. , BONSDORFF E. , CIBIC T. , ALEFFI I. F. , BETTOSO N. , NEGRO P. DEL
Published: October 2017

The macrozoobenthic community at a sublittoral station located in the Marine Protected Area of Miramare, Gulf of Trieste (Italy) was investigated monthly from June 2002 to July 2005. Community variables were studied and related to food sources (particulate, total and biopolymeric carbon contents, benthic microalgae and meiofauna). In addition, the macrofaunal response to a heatwave that occurred in summer 2003 in the area was also explored. Univariate and multivariate analyses highlighted that the macrozoobenthic community structure shifted towards the end of the study. Diversity remained fairly stable throughout the study, despite the high turnover values. From a dominance of short-lived invertebrates related to irregular fresh organic matter inputs, the community shifted toward long-lived taxa, principally related to an increase of biopolymeric C and microalgal biomass. Semelparous invertebrates seem to be less resistant to high temperatures compared to iteroparous ones. The latter proved to be capable competitors since they prevailed over the semelparous species towards the end of the study.The community exhibited a certain degree of resistance to high temperature, due to the adaptation of the macrofaunal invertebrates to this particular stress, induced by the wide natural fluctuations in temperature that occur on a seasonal basis in the Gulf of Trieste. This study highlights the importance of long datasets to assess the state and ecological processes of the macrofaunal communities.
Non-native zoobenthic species at the Crimean Black Sea Coast
Authors: SHALOVENKOV N. N.
Published: October 2017

More than 40 non-native species have been registered in the zoobenthos of the Black Sea. Only, five alien species, the Crustacea, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841) and Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould, 1841), and the Mollusca, Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846), Mya arenaria (Linne, 1758) and Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906), were recorded in the benthos on the Crimean shelf  between 1999-2014. The blood-cockle A. kagoshimensis had settled on many sites of the Black Sea shelf in the past forty years. The first detection (1999) at the Crimean coast and the temporal variability of this mollusc’s population coincided with the tendency in variability of the water temperature in the area.The five alien species had spatial aggregation and their occurrence did not exceed 23 % in the boundaries of the distribution sites. An increasing trend for their abundance in the last five - seven years was observed. These years were characterized by temperature rise in the surface layer of coastal waters. Similar patterns have been observed in the interannual variability of the biomass and abundance ratio of aliens to native for all zoobenthic taxonomic groups, i.e. of dominance index of alien species.The low level of the dominance index of the introduced species is indicative of low impact on the diversity of the benthic communities of the Crimea coast, i.e. on the scale of the metacommunity. With the exception of the R. venosa, they exhibited lower biomass and abundance along the Crimean coast shelf as opposed to other areas of the Black Sea shelf. Occasionally, the dominance index for the barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854) could be high, a fact attributed to the low biomass and abundance of other benthic species.
New morphological and molecular evidence confirm the presence of the Norwegian skate Dipturus nidarosiensis (Storm, 1881) in the Mediterranean Sea and extend its distribution to the western basin
Authors: RAMÍREZ-AMARO S. , ORDINES F. , ÁNGEL PUERTO M. , GARCÍA C. , RAMON C. , TERRASA B. , MASSUTÍ E.
Published: October 2017

The present study confirms the presence of the Norwegian skate Dipturus nidarosiensis (Storm, 1881) in the Mediterranean Sea, by means of morphological traits and molecular markers providing the first record of this species in the Alboran Sea. Cannas et al. (2010) reported D. nidarosiensis for the first time in the Mediterranean from specimens captured in the central western basin, but Ebert & Stehmann (2013) and Stehmann et al. (2015) considered these records "likely refer to the smaller morphotype, Dipturus sp.", a species not yet described. Eight specimens of the Dipturus genus (Rajiformes: Rajidae) were caught off the Alboran Island (western Mediterranean) in 2012, 2013 and 2016, between 620 and 819 m depth. These specimens showed morphometric diagnostic features corresponding to those of Norwegian skates from the Northeast Atlantic and the central western Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the Alboran individuals were genetically compared to Northeast Atlantic specimens available in GenBank by means of two mitochondrial DNA fragments: cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cytb). Analyses showed that the Northeast Atlantic Norwegian skate specimens and the Alboran Sea ones were genetically similar and shared haplotypes, corroborating the identification of the Alboran individuals as Dipturus nidarosiensis. However, they were different from other Dipturus species distributed throughout the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Our results confirm the occurrence of this deep-sea large skate species in the Mediterranean, although the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species does not consider it possible (Stehmann et al., 2015).
Rapid establishment of the non-indigenous ascidian Styela plicata and its associated bacteria in marinas and fishing harbors along the Mediterranean coast of Israel
Authors: NOVAK L. , LÓPEZ-LEGENTIL S. , SIERADZKI E. , SHENKAR N.
Published: October 2017

Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823) (Tunicata; Stolidobranchia; Styelidae) is a solitary ascidian with a global distribution. Until recently it had not been observed along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, but is now to be found in many harbors attached to suspended ropes and other artificial structures. In order to monitor the populations of S. plicata, we surveyed eight harbors along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our results show that the condition and maintenance of each harbor significantly affected the presence of S. plicata. We also characterized the microbial communities in the tunic of three individuals using 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing and compared them to those in the surrounding seawater, in order to determine whether the symbiotic bacteria may contribute to the successful establishment of this ascidian species. We found 15 bacterial phyla in total, of which 14 were present in the animal hosts: 6 were present in all of the individuals and 4 in two of the individuals. Three of the 15 phyla observed were absent in the surrounding seawater. The high variability among the three hosts suggests a mechanism of horizontal transmission and may play a role in the process of invading new and less tolerant niches.
A new δεκαστάδιον (milestone) from Amphipolis
Authors: Nigdelis Pantelis , Anagnostoudis Pavlos
Published: October 2017

The article presents a dekastadion (σταδιοδείκτης, milestone, Distanzanzeiger) that was recently found in the area of Amphipolis. Thanks to the new inscription, the number of dekastadia originating from pre-Roman Macedonia increases now to five. The new find confirms that in pre-roman Macedonia the road between Amphipolis and Philippi was passing along the north side of Mount Pangaion, as it did in the later Via Egnatia. It also suggests that the central government had direct control over the construction and maintenance of road infrastructures in the Kingdom of Macedon.
Reference-Dependent Utility, Product Variety, and Price Competition
Authors: Amaldoss Wilfred , He Chuan
Published: October 2017

Products such as Nike running shoes, Gillette razors, and Gatorade sports drink serve as the standard against which consumers evaluate other members of the category. Empirical evidence suggests that consumers care about not only the consumption utility derived from a product, but also the gain–loss utility in comparison to the reference product of the category. This paper examines how reference-dependent utility affects price competition in a horizontally differentiated market where consumers’ tastes are diverse. When consumer valuations are low, the reference product is priced lower than a nonreference product. In contrast, when consumer valuations are high, the reference product is priced higher than a nonreference product. Moreover, loss aversion on the price dimension always intensifies competition among low-valuation goods, whereas loss aversion on the taste dimension softens competition among high-valuation goods only if consumer sensitivity to the difference in match quality is above a threshold. We also find that an increase in the diversity of consumers’ tastes reduces equilibrium profits if consumer valuation is low but has the opposite effect if consumer valuation is high. We further explore how an increase in the popularity of the reference product affects price competition. Finally, we assess the robustness of the findings by extending the model in different directions.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2834 .

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
High-Powered Performance Pay and Crowding Out of Nonmonetary Motives
Authors: Huffman David , Bognanno Michael
Published: October 2017

A previous literature cautions that paying workers for performance might crowd out nonmonetary motives to work hard. Empirical evidence from the field, however, has been based on between-subjects designs that are best suited for detecting crowding out due to low-powered incentives. High-powered incentives in the workplace tend to increase output, but it is unknown whether this masks crowding out. This paper uses a within-subject experimental design and finds evidence that crowding out also extends to high-powered incentives in a real work setting with paid workers. There is individual heterogeneity, however, with a minority of workers reporting crowding in of motivation. Thus, the impact of performance pay might depend on the mix of worker types.

Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2846 .

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Decentralized Clearing in Financial Networks
Authors: Csóka Péter , Jean-Jacques Herings P.
Published: October 2017

We consider a situation in which agents have mutual claims on each other, summarized in a liability matrix. Agents’ assets might be insufficient to satisfy their liabilities, leading to defaults. In case of default, bankruptcy rules are used to specify the way agents are going to be rationed. A clearing payment matrix is a payment matrix consistent with the prevailing bankruptcy rules that satisfies limited liability and priority of creditors. Since clearing payment matrices and the corresponding values of equity are not uniquely determined, we provide bounds on the possible levels equity can take. Unlike the existing literature, which studies centralized clearing procedures, we introduce a large class of decentralized clearing processes. We show the convergence of any such process in finitely many iterations to the least clearing payment matrix. When the unit of account is sufficiently small, all decentralized clearing processes lead essentially to the same value of equity as a centralized clearing procedure. As a policy implication, it is not necessary to collect and process all the sensitive data of all the agents simultaneously and run a centralized clearing procedure.

This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Fast Convergence of Best-Reply Dynamics in Aggregative Games
Authors: Babichenko Yakov
Published: October 2017

We consider small-influence aggregative games with a large number of players n. For this class of games we present a best-reply dynamic with the following two properties. First, the dynamic reaches Nash approximate equilibria in quasi-linear (in n) number of steps, and the quasi-linear bound is tight. Second, Nash approximate equilibria are played by the dynamic with a limit frequency that is exponentially (in n) close to 1.
Scheduling Position-Dependent Maintenance Operations
Authors: Drozdowski Maciej , Jaehn Florian , Paszkowski Radosław
Published: October 2017

This paper addresses one-machine scheduling with maintenance restrictions. A maintenance operation is position dependent in a sequence of normal jobs if the maintenance has to be performed after at most some defined number of job changes on the machine. We show that several problems with objective functions Cmax and Lmax are still solvable in polynomial time if position-dependent maintenance is considered. We then consider the problem of preemptive scheduling with ready times and due dates on one machine with the Lmax criterion. We show that this problem is computationally hard and present the characteristics of this problem—for example, the fact that optimum schedules may be nonactive. After determining a set of dominance properties, branch-and-bound and local search algorithms are proposed. The performance of the algorithms is evaluated using a series of computational experiments.
Continuing Professional Development: Prehospital management of severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Lilley Peter
Published: October 2017

Overview

This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module will explain how to treat a patient with a traumatic brain injury, with reference to elements such as the intracranial compartment, cerebral blood flow, and a practical case study. From this, a paramedic may enhance their practice around stabilising a patient with severe head injuries in a pre-hospital setting.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module the paramedic will be able to: Demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Perform an assessment of a TBI patient and formulate a prehospital management plan. Formulate a prehospital treatment plan for a patient with a TBI. Demonstrate the ability to make transport decisions for patients with a TBI.
Development of a Scale to Measure Educators’ Practice in Teaching Self-Determination
Authors: Chao Pen-Chiang
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale for assessing teachers’ self-determination instruction and to test the validity and reliability of this tool. The subjects included 315 teachers recruited from elementary and junior high schools nationwide in Taiwan. The Teaching Self-Determination Scale (TSDS) developed in this study aimed at assessing the extent to which educators teach students knowledge and skills related to self-determination. The 24-item TSDS is comprised of four subscales including Self-Realization, Psychological Empowerment, Self-Regulation, and Autonomy. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, t tests, and factor analyses. Findings showed that the TSDS has satisfactory psychometric properties. The internal consistency reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α) ranged from .76 to .93, while the test-retest coefficients ranged from .71 to .87. Findings of the exploratory factor analysis showed that the four TSDS subscale factors can be reasonably extracted, which can explain 59.7% of the total item variance. The confirmatory factor analysis results further indicated a good fit between the measurement model and the sample data (GFI = .96, AGFI = .91, RMSEA = .08, NFI = .97, RFI = .93, IFI = .98, TLI = .95, CFI = .98). Suggestions are provided for future research.
Effect of Feedback Strategy and Motivation of Achievement to Improving Learning Results Concept in Learning Civic Education in Vocational High School
Authors: Punaji Sumarno*, , Setyosari Punaji , Haryono Haryono
Published: October 2017

This study aims to examine the effect of feedback strategies on understanding and applying the concept of National ideology to students who have different achievement motivation, on learning Citizenship Education in vocational high schools. This research uses quasi experiment research design (Quasi Experiment). The subjects of this study were 133 vocational high school students. The research instrument used the achievement motivation questionnaires and test appraisal tools of understanding and application of the concept. Research data were analyzed using MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) method with 2x2factorial. The results reveal three findings, namely: (1) there are differences in posttest score of understanding and application of concepts between groups of direct and indirect feedback strategies; (2) there is difference of posttest score of understanding and application of concept between high and low achievement motivation group: (3) interaction between feedback strategy with achievement motivation does not influence simultaneously to understanding and application of concept.
The Views of Teacher Candidates Attending the Pedagogical Formation Program Regarding the Teaching Practice Course
Authors: Dursun Fevzi , Kiraz Zafer
Published: October 2017

One of the important aspects that increase the efficiency of learning is well trained teacher. Besides, increasing quality and ensuring permanent learning is undoubtedly dependent on teacher’s effort to achieve these and active participation of student in the teaching process more actively and willingly. This study was conducted to review the views of teacher candidates for the practices they performed at relevant schools in the scope of teaching practice. In the study, it was aimed to determine what teachers have carried out for the teaching process to be more qualified. In the study, six open-ended questions were asked to 26 teacher candidates, working at central district of Tokat province during the spring semester of 2015-2016 academic year, received pedagogical formation, agreed voluntarily respond to the information on the form in pre-interview. The study conducted qualitatively. In the analysis of the data, descriptive analysis technique from qualitative data analysis techniques was used. According to findings, it is seen that participants experienced various problems during teaching practice. The participants found short haul and temporary solutions that they usually developed by themselves to overcome their problems that they experienced. The majority of the participants expressed   that they benefited from teaching practice course in the topics of lecturing, addressing, recognizing students, communicating with students, classroom management and attracting attention. The majority of the participants stated that teaching practice satisfied their expectations from this practice. It was found that the participants didn’t have enough knowledge about the practice itself, so their expectations from this practice was low. The fact that participants' expectations were low and they didn’t have enough knowledge about the practice shows that the practice in question satisfied their expectations easier and faster. Regarding the participants' expectations about how teaching practice should be and what it should include; they expect  for   teaching staff and practice teacher to   get  more involved with participants   and course; the lesson plans to be more planned and functional, the communication of instructors, and practice teachers at school to be better.
Determining the Appropriateness of Visual Based Activities in the Primary School Books for Low Vision Students
Authors: Cakmak Salih , Yilmaz Hatice Cansu , Isitan Hacer Damlanur
Published: October 2017

The general aim of this research is to try to determine the appropriateness of the visuals in the primary school Turkish workbooks for the students with low visibility in terms of visual design elements. In the realization of the work, the document review method was used. In this study, purposive sampling method was used in the selection of student workbooks. The Ministry of National Education Publications Student Workbook which has been studied in the provinces of Ankara city is determined as the document to be examined. Within the scope of the research 1. 2. 3. and 4. Class Turkish lesson, a random theme was determined among the themes in the Student Workbooks and the activities included in that theme were examined. The "Visual Design Principles Evaluation Form" has been prepared so that the necessary data can be collected after the document review for the research is decided. Within the scope of the research, color use, contrast use, font, layout use, and visual complexity are not appropriate for the low vision students. This situation gives the impression that the visual limitations, the low vision students have difficulty in, are not taken into consideration while preparing the visual activities in the Turkish textbooks. It can be said that the elementary school students who see this way out of the way are disadvantaged compared to their peers who have the normal sight power and use the same text book.