bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Participation and Re-enacting Its Dilemmas? — Aarhus 2017 and “The Playful Society”
Authors: Eriksson Birgit , Stephensen Jan Løhmann
Published: December 2015

In 2012 the Danish city of Aarhus was appointed European Capital of Culture for 2017. The appointment was based on an ambitious programme that – under the headline Rethink – tried to set an agenda of societal transformation, mainly by seeking to increase the impact of art and culture, and to enhance civic participation at all levels of society. In this article we examine one of the first attempts of Aarhus 2017 to realize these grand ambitions: ‘The Playful Society’, a series of micro grants aimed at enabling young people to make their own art/culture projects and participate in the overall Rethink project. Informed by theoretical distinctions between different forms of participation, and the diverse interests invested in participatory processes, we investigate how the young cultural entrepreneurs and the artistic administrators of Aarhus 2017 separately, in conjunction, and sometimes even in opposition to each other, translated these overall ambitions into practice. We argue that they illuminate some of the dilemmas of contemporary cultural participation, including the importance of questioning who participates in what, how they do it, and in what context.
Participatory Academic Communities
Authors: Aaen Janus Holst , Nørgård Rikke Toft
Published: December 2015

This article explores community-driven participation in education beyond the institution. By reflecting on two MA courses at Aarhus University and including educatees’ reflections in the article, the concept of Participatory Academic Community is developed. The article discusses how an evolved understanding of participation in education can move educatees’ learning beyond institutions through focusing on educatees as researchers, participating in society, building a research community and obtaining academic citizenship. Further, the article discusses how a value-based, vision-driven approach to education and the use of ICT might nurture participation and construction of community within education. The article is genuinely transdisciplinary in its approach, applying different theoretical lenses to obtain a more holistic view on participation in education. The article creates a prismatic lens, illuminating participation in education from different viewpoints and positions. In conclusion, the article also reflects on some of the shadowy traits of participation in education when creating participatory academic communities.v
The Double Conditioning of Political Participation
Authors: Schou Jannick , Farkas Johan , Hjelholt Morten
Published: December 2015

The emergence of social network sites as a part of everyday life has given rise to a number of debates on the democratic potential afforded by these technologies. This paper addresses political participation facilitated through Facebook from a practice-oriented perspective and presents a case study of the political grassroots organisation, Fight For The Future. Initially, the paper provides a basic theoretical framework that seeks to map the relation between civic practices, materiality, and discursive features. Using this framework, the article analyses Fight For The Future’s use of Facebook to facilitate political participation. The study finds that user participation on the Facebook page is ‘double conditioned’ by the material structure of the social network site on the one hand and by the discourses articulated by the organisation and users on the other. Finally, the paper discusses the findings and raises a number of problems and obstacles facing participatory grassroots organisations, such as Fight For The Future, when using Facebook.
Le paradoxe de la distribution des marques de luxe face à l’e-commerce : proposition d’une typologie de consommateurs et de son évolution dans le temps
Authors: Veg-Sala Nathalie , Geerts Angy
Published: December 2015

A la fois source d’opportunités et de menaces, l’utilisation de l’e-commerce dans le secteur du luxe intensifie le paradoxe de la distribution des marques de luxe entre diffusion et sélectivité. Les objectifs de cet article sont de mieux appréhender les attitudes et les comportements des consommateurs de luxe envers l’e-commerce et d’étudier leurs évolutions. A l’aide d’une double méthodologie, qualitative et quantitative (avec une double collecte de données en 2010 et 2014), une typologie des consommateurs de luxe en fonction de leur profil et des niveaux de luxe est développée. Des implications théoriques et managériales en sont déduites.
Le support du document est-il lui-même un document ? L’exemple du papier
Authors: Gendron Céline
Published: December 2015

Le but de cet article est d’analyser le support du document dans une perspective informationnelle. L’auteure propose d’appliquer les éléments de la théorie du document élaborée par Niels Windfeld Lund au support du document et, par extension, de conclure que le support est aussi un document. Elle présente en conclusion les retombées possibles de cette réflexion dans un contexte de numérisation de masse. Le propos est illustré à l’aide de deux exemples de documents du XVIIe siècle sur support papier.
Les périodiques en généalogie et en histoire de la famille : des ressources très utiles, mais peu exploitées
Authors: Boudreau Denis
Published: December 2015

En héritant de l’ensemble de la collection de ressources en généalogie de la salle Gagnon de la défunte Bibliothèque centrale de Montréal en 2005, le Centre d’archives de Montréal reçoit notamment une grande quantité de revues de ce domaine. Cette acquisition enrichit avantageusement la collection de revues du Centre, jusque-là plutôt modeste. Ce sont plus de 280 titres différents qui forment aujourd’hui cette collection qui compte bien sûr des publications québécoises, mais aussi canadiennes, américaines et européennes. Même s’il n’est pas rare que l’on voie des usagers se consacrer au dépouillement des numéros de l’une ou l’autre de ces revues, il serait faux de dire que le potentiel de ces périodiques pour la recherche en généalogie est bien connu. Notre objectif est donc de valoriser cette collection.
Aportaciones de la toponimia a la investigación de la historia del léxico hispánico
Authors: Ruhstaller Kuhne Stefan
Published: December 2015

En la toponimia se conserva, de forma fosilizada, abundante información léxica que puede ser aprovechada para complementar la documentación histórica que ofrece la lengua viva reflejada en los textos. Los aspectos de la historia del léxico que pueden ser investigados gracias al estudio toponímico son diversos: detalles cronológicos de la evolución, la existencia de variantes fonéticas y de derivados, cambios en la difusión geográfica, entre otros; a veces incluso se atestiguan a través de los nombres formas nunca documentadas como apelativos. Para poner de relieve el procedimiento de análisis en que debe basarse este tipo de investigación estudiaremos una serie de casos concretos de formas toponímicas basadas en el castellano, destacando (no sin advertir de las dificultades que encierra el tema) la aportación del material examinado a la lexicología histórica y la etimología de esta lengua. Palabras clave: Lexicología histórica; etimología; lexicografía; léxico castellano.
EN, article personau onorific?
Authors: Rivière Vicent
Published: December 2015

La microtoponimia de la zòna de L’Isla de Baish (30 km de Tolosa en zòna gascona) es fòrça mercada per la preséncia de EN + X que remonta au nom deu proprietari de la bòrda precedit de la particula onorifica EN. En tant qu’article personau, esperam que EN sia emplegat unicament davant noms de personas (En Martin, En Colau, eca.). L’usatge de EN davant un nom de mestièr suggerís duas ipotèsis : Sia dins En Gireta, Gireta es un nom de persona derivat d’un nom de mestièr e EN pòt èster encara article au moment de la formacion deu toponim. Sia dins En Gireta, Gireta es un nom de mestièr e supausa que EN es reanalisat coma preposicion au sens de “entà” au sens tolosan (en çò de). Mots claus : gascon tolosan ; occitan ; article onorific ; toponimia ; gramaticalizacion.
O desafio da interdisciplinaridade na Faculdade de Medicina do ABC
Authors: Leite Fernanda Castilho , Correia Ricardo Lopes , Ruas Teresa Cristina Brito
Published: December 2015

Introdução: Vivemos a emergência de ações movidas interprofissionalmente, e caminhamos para superação da lógica multiprofissional fragmentada, para tanto, agenciamos maneiras para vivenciar as fronteiras criadas entre os distintos e necessários conhecimentos que demarcam a diversidade identitária de cada profissional. Diante dessa realidade, o presente estudo teve por objetivo discutir o posicionamento interdisciplinar da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC) em suas ações de ensinagem, em atenção especial para o campo da extensão universitária. Relato de experiência: As práticas diárias de ensinagem na FMABC, guiadas pelo tripé ensino, pesquisa e extensão, têm nos mostrado como resultado que, de fato as experiências de extensão, sustentadas pela Saúde Coletiva, nos parecem ser um núcleo que permite uma dialogicidade de saberes e práticas num campo amplo como a saúde e a suas interfaces, uma vez que é sua essência ser um núcleo multiprofissional e interdisciplinar, pois se constitui como um paradigma da realidade e de interpretações e intervenções na saúde. Conclusão: Portanto, é justamente pela ação interdisciplinar que o ensino superior em saúde consegue preconizar o pensamento complexo e formar profissionais capazes de compreender que o saber e a prática de intervenção se fazem em uma produção de compreensões e acordos para a ação das mudanças das barreiras e dos determinantes que impedem a qualidade de vida da população e os efeitos dessa implicação na formação universitária.
Methylation of RNA polymerase II non-consensus Lysine residues marks early transcription in mammalian cells
Authors: Dias João D , Rito Tiago , Torlai Triglia Elena , Kukalev Alexander , Ferrai Carmelo , Chotalia Mita , Brookes Emily , Kimura Hiroshi , Pombo Ana
Published: December 2015

Dynamic post-translational modification of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) coordinates the co-transcriptional recruitment of enzymatic complexes that regulate chromatin states and processing of nascent RNA. Extensive phosphorylation of serine residues at the largest RNAPII subunit occurs at its structurally-disordered C-terminal domain (CTD), which is composed of multiple heptapeptide repeats with consensus sequence Y1-S2-P3-T4-S5-P6-S7. Serine-5 and Serine-7 phosphorylation mark transcription initiation, whereas Serine-2 phosphorylation coincides with productive elongation. In vertebrates, the CTD has eight non-canonical substitutions of Serine-7 into Lysine-7, which can be acetylated (K7ac). Here, we describe mono- and di-methylation of CTD Lysine-7 residues (K7me1 and K7me2). K7me1 and K7me2 are observed during the earliest transcription stages and precede or accompany Serine-5 and Serine-7 phosphorylation. In contrast, K7ac is associated with RNAPII elongation, Serine-2 phosphorylation and mRNA expression. We identify an unexpected balance between RNAPII K7 methylation and acetylation at gene promoters, which fine-tunes gene expression levels.
Dbx1 precursor cells are a source of inspiratory XII premotoneurons
Authors: Revill Ann L , Vann Nikolas C , Akins Victoria T , Kottick Andrew , Gray Paul A , Del Negro Christopher A , Funk Gregory D
Published: December 2015

All behaviors require coordinated activation of motoneurons from central command and premotor networks. The genetic identities of premotoneurons providing behaviorally relevant excitation to any pool of respiratory motoneurons remain unknown. Recently, we established in vitro that Dbx1-derived pre-Bötzinger complex neurons are critical for rhythm generation and that a subpopulation serves a premotor function (Wang et al., 2014). Here, we further show that a subpopulation of Dbx1-derived intermediate reticular (IRt) neurons are rhythmically active during inspiration and project to the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus that contains motoneurons important for maintaining airway patency. Laser ablation of Dbx1 IRt neurons, 57% of which are glutamatergic, decreased ipsilateral inspiratory motor output without affecting frequency. We conclude that a subset of Dbx1 IRt neurons is a source of premotor excitatory drive, contributing to the inspiratory behavior of XII motoneurons, as well as a key component of the airway control network whose dysfunction contributes to sleep apnea.
Targeting senescent cells enhances adipogenesis and metabolic function in old age
Authors: Xu Ming , Palmer Allyson K , Ding Husheng , Weivoda Megan M , Pirtskhalava Tamar , White Thomas A , Sepe Anna , Johnson Kurt O , Stout Michael B , Giorgadze Nino , Jensen Michael D , LeBrasseur Nathan K , Tchkonia Tamar , Kirkland James L
Published: December 2015

Senescent cells accumulate in fat with aging. We previously found genetic clearance of senescent cells from progeroid INK-ATTAC mice prevents lipodystrophy. Here we show that primary human senescent fat progenitors secrete activin A and directly inhibit adipogenesis in non-senescent progenitors. Blocking activin A partially restored lipid accumulation and expression of key adipogenic markers in differentiating progenitors exposed to senescent cells. Mouse fat tissue activin A increased with aging. Clearing senescent cells from 18-month-old naturally-aged INK-ATTAC mice reduced circulating activin A, blunted fat loss, and enhanced adipogenic transcription factor expression within 3 weeks. JAK inhibitor suppressed senescent cell activin A production and blunted senescent cell-mediated inhibition of adipogenesis. Eight weeks-treatment with ruxolitinib, an FDA-approved JAK1/2 inhibitor, reduced circulating activin A, preserved fat mass, reduced lipotoxicity, and increased insulin sensitivity in 22-month-old mice. Our study indicates targeting senescent cells or their products may alleviate age-related dysfunction of progenitors, adipose tissue, and metabolism.
Editorial
Authors: Otterstad Ann Merete , Osgood Jayne
Published: December 2015

This volume offers the reader two articles and an interview with which to engage. Aligned with the objectives of Reconceptualizing Educational Research Methodologies the authors variously unfold and problematize conventional qualitative research philosophies and practices in unexpected ways. By undertaking and highlighting how transdisciplinary work might disrupt objective truth claims formed from particular research ideals - the authors avoid generalisations and glorification of their research data. Though the articles approach research practices differently, what unites them is the capacity to capture complexity within entangled assemblages of forces and intensities in which the individual subject is disrupted and rethought. Collective assemblages of desire are created by writing together, thinking together, and creating together - the yet not known. Dynamic elements work together to connect multiple literacies, artistic photos and transgressive writings that evoke liveliness and rhizomatic thinking.
A novel method to determine perineal artery occlusion among male bicyclists
Authors: Parthiban Sujeeth , Hotaling James M. , Kathrins Martin , Baftiri Amit P. , Freels Sally , Niederberger Craig S.
Published: December 2015

Background.Perineal pressure due to bicycle riding has been associated with erectile dysfunction. We developed a novel method to measure the occlusive force exerted over the perineal arteries and determined perineal artery occlusion by a variety of seat designs.

Methods.Doppler ultrasonography facilitated perineal artery localization and determination of the force required for perineal artery occlusion in 20 healthy men. Flexiforce®sensors were affixed over the proximal and distal aspects of the perineal arteries bilaterally. Individuals completed bicycle rides in the road- and stationary-settings with six distinct seat designs, including those with and without an anterior “nose.”

Results.The occlusion time proportion of the total ride time was calculated for each trial. The overall occlusion time proportion was 0.59 (95% CI [0.45–0.73]) across all seats and settings. The “no-nose” bicycle seat and the stationary-setting demonstrated significantly lower occlusion proportion times than the traditional nose bicycle seat and road-setting, respectively. However, all bicycle seats yielded an occlusion time proportion of 0.41 or greater.

Discussion.Our method of real-time, non-invasive force measurement localized to the perineal arteries may be used to validate future bicycle seat design. It also underscores the significant risk of perineal artery insufficiency in men who are avid bicyclists. This risk may be minimized by using newer “no-nose” bicycle seats.
Identification of novel in vivo obligate GroEL/ES substrates based on data from a cell‐free proteomics approach
Authors: Niwa Tatsuya , Fujiwara Kei , Taguchi Hideki
Published: December 2015

Chaperones are essential to maintain the proper folding of various proteins in vivo. The Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL/GroES (GroE) is one of the best‐studied chaperones, and its in vivo substrates have been identified, mainly by mass spectrometry‐based proteomic studies. Here, we newly identified 20 in vivo obligate GroE substrates with the aid of data from an in vitro comprehensive analysis. The newly identified substrates have similar physicochemical properties to the known substrates, but their expression levels in vivo were significantly lower. Information from the in vitro comprehensive analysis has the potential to compensate for limitations of the MS‐based proteomic approaches.
The potential role of regulator of G‐protein signaling 16 in cell motility mediated by δEF1 family proteins
Authors: Hoshi Yuta , Endo Kaori , Shirakihara Takuya , Fukagawa Akihiko , Miyazawa Keiji , Saitoh Masao
Published: December 2015

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumor progression. We reported previously that expression of the δEF1 family proteins (δEF1/ZEB1 and SIP1/ZEB2), key regulators of the EMT, is positively correlated with EMT phenotypes and aggressiveness of breast cancer. Here, we show that the expression levels of regulator of G‐protein signaling 16 (RGS16) are negatively correlated with those of the δEF1 family proteins. On the basis of the results of gain‐ and loss‐of‐function analyses, we suggest that δEF1 family proteins promote cell motility of breast cancer cells directly or indirectly through repressing expression of RGS16.
Biogeochemical sulfur cycling during Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events: A comparison of OAE1a and OAE2
Authors: Gomes Maya L. , Hurtgen Matthew T. , Sageman Bradley B.
Published: December 2015

Biogeochemical sulfur cycling has varied widely over geologic time, mainly in response to changes in primary productivity and organic carbon burial, volcanism, weathering, and evaporite deposition. Several of these processes are explicitly linked to discreet (<1.2 Ma) intervals of widespread organic carbon burial, termed oceanic anoxic events (OAEs). During the Cretaceous, there is a highly distinctive ~4‰ negative excursion in the sulfur isotope composition of seawater sulfate (δ34SSO4) that is bracketed by the two most prominent OAEs (OAE1a and OAE2). This excursion lasted for ~25 Ma and has been variously attributed to enhanced volcanism, changes in weathering, evaporite burial, and/or changes in modes of organic carbon remineralization. We present new high‐resolution carbon and sulfur isotope records from carbonate‐associated sulfate and pyrite for OAE1a and OAE2. OAE1a is characterized by a monotonic decrease in δ34SSO4values. Both negative and positive δ34SSO4excursions are associated with OAE2. To refine hypotheses for the observed changes in biogeochemical sulfur cycling associated with these events, we use a simple sulfur isotope box model. Both empirical and modeling results indicate that δ34SSO4variability was dominated by input fluxes during OAE1a, whereas enhanced volcanism, weathering, and pyrite burial controlled δ34SSO4records during OAE2. Our analysis supports the conclusion that Cretaceous marine sulfate concentrations were much lower than modern concentrations and indicates that increases in marine sulfate occurred at the onset of both events. We conclude that increases in marine sulfate from low background concentrations, in conjunction with other environmental characteristics, contributed to the development of OAEs.
Overexpression of YB1 C‐terminal domain inhibits proliferation, angiogenesis and tumorigenicity in a SK‐BR‐3 breast cancer xenograft mouse model
Authors: Shi Jian‐hong , Cui Nai‐peng , Wang Shuo , Zhao Ming‐zhi , Wang Bing , Wang Ya‐nan , Chen Bao‐ping
Published: December 2015

Y‐box‐binding protein 1 (YB1) is a multifunctional transcription factor with vital roles in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In this study, we have examined the role of its C‐terminal domain (YB1 CTD) in proliferation, angiogenesis and tumorigenicity in breast cancer. Breast cancer cell line SK‐BR‐3 was infected with GFP‐tagged YB1 CTD adenovirus expression vector. An 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐5‐(3‐carboxymethoxyphenyl)‐2‐(4‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium (MTS) proliferation assay showed that YB1 CTD decreased SK‐BR‐3 cell proliferation, and down‐regulated cyclin B1 and up‐regulated p21 levels in SK‐BR‐3 cells. YB1 CTD overexpression changed the cytoskeletal organization and slightly inhibited the migration of SK‐BR‐3 cells. YB1 CTD also inhibited secreted VEGF expression in SK‐BR‐3 cells, which decreased SK‐BR‐3‐induced EA.hy926 endothelial cell angiogenesis in vitro. YB1 CTD overexpression attenuated the ability of SK‐BR‐3 cells to form tumours in nude mice, and decreased in vivo VEGF levels and angiogenesis in the xenografts in SK‐BR‐3 tumour‐bearing mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the vital role of YB1 CTD overexpression in inhibiting proliferation, angiogenesis and tumorigenicity of breast cancer cell line SK‐BR‐3.
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities
Authors: Lysack Cathy , Stark Susan
Published: December 2015

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are broadly defined as geographical locations that individuals either remain in or move to when they retire. They exist in various forms and locations, including neighborhoods of apartments, condominiums, and single‐family houses. Although they vary widely, NORCs have features that make living in such locations attractive to older adults. Aging service programs have also naturally emerged within NORCs to help people remain in their homes and communities as they age. The social activities, volunteer and formal health services, and overall accessibility and walkability of successful NORCs have made these communities desirable places for active older adults to live.
Focus Groups With Older Adults
Authors: Ataie Jutta E. , Morgan David L.
Published: December 2015

Focus groups are a qualitative method of data collection, which uses interaction among a group of research participants to generate information around topics determined by the researcher. While much has been written on how to design and conduct focus groups, few publications have explicitly addressed issues relevant to gerontological research. This entry thus discuss focus groups as a general methodological choice, while highlighting critical issues in the use of focus groups with older adults.
Fluid–Crystallized Theory of Intelligence
Authors: Ellingsen Victor J. , Ackerman Phillip L.
Published: December 2015

The fluid–crystallized theory of intelligence consists of several ability factors, most notably fluid intelligence (Gf) and crystallized intelligence (Gc). The theory is primarily concerned with providing a developmental framework for the structure of intelligence and with the assessment of adult intelligence. This entry describes the structure of the fluid–crystallized intelligence theory, the relationships between the factors, and the development and lifespan trajectories of Gf and Gc.
Metamemory
Authors: Blake Adam B. , Castel Alan D.
Published: December 2015

Metamemory refers to the awareness, knowledge, and control of one's own memory. Metamemory is a relatively new area of study, with early foundational work examining children's ability to reflect on their own memory at an early age. Metamemory can involve monitoring and predicting how well one might learn or remember, as well as control processes (such as the choice to restudy or use strategies) that influence what one might do if/when being aware of memory ability and performance. While older adults experience memory declines, the ability to monitor memory appears to be intact in healthy older adults. Metamemory has important applications in the domain of education and training, as well as in terms of an improved understanding of memory overconfidence and the neural bases of learning and metacognition.
Terminal Change
Authors: Bosworth Hayden B. , King Heather A.
Published: December 2015

There has been increasing attention examining terminal decline; that is, clinical declines prior to mortality assessed by cognitive and psychosocial factors. This entry provides a review of recent select studies with a particular focus on the use of more sophisticated analyses and more informative databases that include additional measurements and account for additional confounding factors. For the typical person, markers of both age‐sensitive fluid abilities (e.g., perceptual speed) and relatively age‐insensitive crystallized abilities (e.g., word knowledge) exhibit late‐life decline, with some evidence that fluid abilities show the steepest decline.
Recruitment and Retention
Authors: Fraccaroli Franco
Published: December 2015

Labor market participation by people aged over 40 has been increasing since the mid‐1990s. This trend significantly conditions corporate strategies of recruitment and retention to a workforce that is older and in late careers. Recruitment involves a set of organizational actions to attract and hire new personnel from the external labor market. Considering recruitment processes primarily targeted on older workers, three different target categories can be identified: mature persons with advanced skills (technical or managerial) and extensive experience; low‐skilled workers on flexible, part‐time, or fixed‐term contracts; and retired persons returning to work. Retention consists of a set of human resources management strategies intended to keep personnel within the firm and to value them. Retention policies differ according to the age of employees, and they take account of organizational demography and generational differences. Of particular importance are retention strategies to persuade valuable workers approaching pensionable age to delay their retirement.
Tobacco Use
Authors: Grunberg Neil E. , Barry Erin S.
Published: December 2015

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and illness in the United States and around the world. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use. The health risks of tobacco use include increased mortality and morbidity. Millions of people use tobacco products and have difficulty giving up these products because they contain nicotine—a powerful, addictive drug. Behavioral, cognitive, and pharmacological treatments are available to help people abstain from tobacco use. However, it is difficult to abstain and avoid relapse. Therefore, prevention remains the most important approach to avoid health risks associated with tobacco use.
Exceptional Survivors
Authors: Martin Peter , Poon Leonard W.
Published: December 2015

Exceptional survivors are defined as individuals who live a very long life and do so in good physical, functional, and mental health. In relation to their physical health, they are often categorized as those who escape, delay, or survive disease. Subjective health ratings are also important, and exceptional survivors typically describe their health as good or even excellent. Functional health and cognitive health, on the other hand, may be more impaired as older adults reach very late life. High levels of depression occur in centenarians but may be explained by higher levels of fatigue. Whether exceptional survivors should be considered “successful agers” very much depends on the definition of successful aging.
Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Verhaeghen Paul
Published: December 2015

This entry summarizes the basic meta‐analytic techniques used in standard, effect‐size oriented meta‐analysis (effect‐size extraction, pooling of effect sizes, homogeneity analysis), as well as the use of allometric analysis (Brinley plots) in aging research. The main advantages and disadvantages of these methods (as compared to narrative reviews) are briefly summarized and illustrated.
Aging Self
Authors: Kotter‐Grühn Dana
Published: December 2015

Does getting older change the identity of a person? This entry provides an overview of the developmental changes of the self in old age, including concepts such as self‐concept, self‐esteem, and self‐perceptions of aging. Research shows that there are some changes in the self‐concept of an aging person whereas self‐perceptions of aging remain relatively stable and positive. The empirical evidence for changes in self‐esteem in old age is mixed.
Arthritis
Authors: Baker Tamara , Mingo Chivon A.
Published: December 2015

Within the past century, scientific and medical advancements have been successful in preserving health and preventing and treating acute and infectious diseases (e.g., polio and tuberculosis) that negatively impact population health. These accomplishments, coupled with the growth of the
US
population and increased life expectancy, have shifted the attention of medical and public health professionals to the prevalence and incidence of more chronic‐related medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. These increasingly conventional diagnoses modulate symptom management and treatment adherence, with mounting implications from the patient–provider dyad to influencing public policy. Arthritis, while considered a common diagnosis among the aged population, has serious social, physical, and behavioral implications for the well‐being of individuals across a continuum of demographic characteristics. Despite the diagnosis and resulting symptom outcomes, issues surrounding an arthritis diagnosis can begin to be addressed through efforts in prevention and self‐management strategies, by which the individual can achieve optimal symptom management, while improving quality of life.
Specialized Housing/Housing With Supportive Services/Elder Cohousing
Authors: Verbeek Hilde
Published: December 2015

Within long‐term care it is recognized that specialized housing and housing with services that support elderly people are an important contribution to quality of life. Older people are at risk for developing disabilities and diseases, such as a poor physical and/or mental health, chronic sensory impairment, and social isolation. Specialized housing models provide care services for older people and are instrumental to support their health and social care needs. Increasing residents' autonomy, supporting their independence, and trying to enable their own lifestyle for as long as possible are key goals of housing models. There are many specialized housing models across the world and their characteristics vary widely, which will be discussed in this entry. Innovative models of care focus on small‐scale and homelike initiatives as an alternative to 24‐hour care in traditional nursing homes, especially for people with dementia.
Reproductive Health
Authors: Wiringa Ann E. , Gondwe Tamala , Haggerty Catherine L.
Published: December 2015

Reproductive health comprises a diverse and dynamic set of components across the lifespan of both men and women, from puberty through old age. The ultimate goals are physical, social, and mental well‐being, beginning with the onset of puberty and including sexual initiation, reproductive and contraceptive choice, prevention of sexually transmitted infections and prompt recognition and treatment of infections and their sequelae, gender equity, healthy pregnancy and childbearing, healthy progression through the menopausal transition, and healthy aging.
Social Security and Pension Systems
Authors: Yao Xiang
Published: December 2015

Because of differences in history, population structure, and socioeconomic environments, most countries have a wide variety of systems to provide retirement security for their senior citizens. To recommend ways to establish secure, sustainable, and adequate senior‐citizen security systems, such as social security, pensions, and retirement saving systems, it is first necessary to understand the current status of retired security systems in different countries. This entry takes a comparative approach and focuses on systems in the United States, Germany, China, and India to determine the major challenges these countries face in providing senior‐citizen security systems, to compare their programs, and to recommend directions for reform.
Dynamical Systems Approaches
Authors: Deboeck Pascal R.
Published: December 2015

Dynamical systems are mathematical models of one or more constructs that change over time. Approaches to dynamical systems are concerned with describing the temporal evolution of constructs, with emphasis often placed on constructs that develop in a complex, nonlinear manner over time. The broad application of dynamical systems approaches to a wide variety of fields has provided a common repertoire of ideas, terms, models, and methods about quantities that change over time.
Falls
Authors: Klima Dennis W. , Morgia Judith
Published: December 2015

A fall episode can substantially change quality of life for older adults. Fall‐related injuries are a leading cause of hip fracture, traumatic brain injury, and death in the United States. Major risk factors include history of a previous fall, medications, and environmental hazards. Falls are associated with the fear of falling condition, which can potentially lead to activity curtailment. Fall risk examination includes identifying risk factors and performing physical performance tests that can identify balance and gait deficits. These tools can be used in a variety of settings and living domiciles. Interventions targeting fall reduction include single interventions such as tai chi and multidimensional strategies that integrate exercise, education, and environmental risk reduction. Community initiatives have promoted structured fall prevention classes to educate older adults and reinforce proactive falls efficacy.
Change Point Models
Authors: Muniz‐Terrera Graciela , Hall Charles B.
Published: December 2015

Change point models, also known as broken stick or piecewise models, are formulations of linear mixed models that describe change occurring in at least two phases, usually linear, and permit the estimation of the onset of a change in trend. This entry presents an overview of traditional formulations of change point models and of extensions, with particular focus on examples from the cognitive aging literature.
Long‐Term Marriages
Authors: Kulik Liat
Published: December 2015

Satisfaction with the spousal role is related to a sense of well‐being and sense of meaning in life among older men and women. Longitudinal studies have revealed that marital quality typically declines after the newlywed years and into middle adulthood and then either stabilizes or continues to decline after midlife. Although many older couples described their marriages as characterized by mutual affection, supportiveness, understanding, and companionship, long‐term marriage can also be characterized by high levels of stress following changes related to decline in health and to other transition points such as retirement. Compared with middle‐aged couples, older couples derive more enjoyment from talking about children or grandchildren, recent activities together, and vacations. Moreover, older couples show less potential for conflicts and greater potential for pleasure than middle‐aged couples in several areas of marital life.
Daily Diary Design
Authors: Lee Soomi , Almeida David M.
Published: December 2015

The daily diary is a research method that aims to capture experiences of participants across their day‐to‐day natural contexts. Although daily diaries involve higher participant burden and can be more expensive than traditional survey methods, they offer greater ecological validity and measurement sensitivity than other approaches through their use of repeated assessments. Diary methods are classified into three designs: time contingent, signal contingent, and event contingent. Depending upon the particular design, diary data can be obtained from several diary‐collection formats, such as paper‐and‐pencil, telephone interview, and electronic response. Diary data provide rich information that allows researchers to make between‐person comparisons and examine within‐person processes through the use of multilevel modeling. Research since the late 1990s has applied diary designs to understand complex and naturally occurring psychophysiological processes.
Psychosocial Development
Authors: Villar Feliciano , Pratt Michael W.
Published: December 2015

Psychosocial development in adults requires a broad view of the patterns of gains and losses across adulthood. It typically has been described from one of two general perspectives. One highlights a focus on discrete stages involving qualitative changes with age, whereas the other focuses on general mechanisms that explain gradual changes across adulthood. Both of these approaches may be useful and this entry concentrates on a description of these models with regard to three major contexts or roles in psychosocial development in adulthood: couple and family relationships, work and vocation, and civic engagement.
Swan‐Song Phenomenon
Authors: Kozbelt Aaron
Published: December 2015

Critics and scholars of the fine arts have long posited a so‐called
swan‐song phenomenon
, whereby creative individuals approaching death are motivated to produce transcendent final works embodying their creative legacy, before time runs out. Numerous instances of late‐life achievement among writers, visual artists, and composers appear to be consistent with the swan‐song phenomenon. Two large‐scale quantitative investigations of the phenomenon among classical composers have also been reported, though with divergent results. One study is consistent with earlier characterizations, while the other, using a different statistical approach, found little evidence supporting a swan‐song effect. Both studies are described in detail, to illustrate how historiometric research can bear on important questions about late‐life creativity.
Institutionalization
Authors: Barsness Sonya
Published: December 2015

Institutionalization in gerontology and geriatrics is grounded in a history that includes the creation of almshouses and asylums, which served older individuals and evolved to modern‐day nursing homes. While the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s swelled nursing homes as individuals left psychiatric hospitals, a new deinstitutionalization phase has resulted in individuals leaving nursing homes, finding alternative care settings, and fueling the development of a culture change movement to transform the institutional nature of nursing homes to a person‐centered model of care.
Learning
Authors: Girard Todd A.
Published: December 2015

Learning reflects a process of change in the potential for altered behavior gained through experience. Behaviorist views of learning focus on observable changes in behavior, whereas cognitive views recognize learning as a mental process intervening between experience and behavior. These associations may generalize to similar stimuli or events, forming a basis for structuring conceptual knowledge, language, and memory. It is now accepted that associative and cognitive processes may operate in parallel, interact, and/or dominate under different conditions. Much contemporary research focuses on determining underlying neurobiological and neurocognitive mechanisms, and on extensions of learning processes to understand more complex human behavior and cognition. Recent examples from the aging literature are reviewed toward the end of this entry.
Retest and Practice Effects
Authors: Thorvaldsson Valgeir
Published: December 2015

Conventional longitudinal aging studies with long intervals between testing occasions (e.g., years) confound retest effects (or practice effects) and within‐person, age‐related change in measures of cognitive functioning. Retest effects refer to the improvement, or reduction in decline, of subsequent measures due to factors such as global or specific improvements in test‐taking behavior, the remembering of study items, or the reduction in anxiety associated with the testing situation. Three main methodological approaches have been proposed to account for retest effects in estimates of age‐related change: control groups design, statistic control, and measurement burst design. The three methods can successfully distinguish retest effects from aging effects but they differ in viability when it comes to estimating retest effects when separated from aging as a within‐person process.
Intelligence, Fluid
Authors: Aizpurua Alaitz , Koutstaal Wilma
Published: December 2015

Within psychology and the cognitive and brain sciences, the term
fluid intelligence
is used to refer to an individual's ability to flexibly and adaptively solve novel problems for which prior learning and culturally acquired knowledge provide little benefit. Contrasted with
crystallized intelligence
, or an individual's culturally acquired knowledge, fluid intelligence is a broad and overarching concept that involves multiple cognitive skills such as inductive reasoning, comparing relations, and abstracting, and is correlated with working memory and cognitive control. Tests intended to assess fluid reasoning, such as progressive matrices or figure classification, are often visual–spatial. Conceptual models of fluid intelligence are reviewed, together with alternative views. Prominent empirical findings relating to cognitive changes over the lifespan, historical changes in test performance, and the neural bases of fluid intelligence are considered, as well as individual and developmental differences that may contribute to and maintain flexibly adaptive “on‐the‐spot” thinking and reasoning capacity.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Anderson Nicole D.
Published: December 2015

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. Interest in identifying people with MCI is mounting, in efforts to thwart dementia onset. Diagnosis of MCI involvesa combined medical and cognitive assessment, in order to rule out treatable conditions contributing to cognitive impairment, identify symptoms consistent with preclinical dementia, and confirm the presence of mild cognitive difficulties. Prevalence rates of MCI vary from 3% to 42% of the population over the age of 65 worldwide. The risk factors for MCI (e.g., higher age, lower education, the E4 allele of the apolipoprotein gene, conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, and depression) overlap with those for dementia. While there are no approved pharmacological treatments for MCI, a growing body of evidence is identifying lifestyle factors that can reduce either the risk of MCI or its progression to dementia, including exercise and cognitive interventions.
Anxiety in Later Life
Authors: Mohlman Jan , Bryant Christina
Published: December 2015

Recent empirical findings have refined the conceptualization and treatment of anxiety disorders in older adults, which are associated with significant consequences, including lower quality of life, deficits in cognitive functioning, and poorer recovery from physical illnesses. The DSM‐5 includes guidance as to the recognition of these disorders in older adults. Nevertheless, some important aspects of anxiety make detection and diagnosis challenging in this age group. With respect to treatment, a number of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications have been shown to be efficacious. Cognitive–behavioral therapy and mindfulness‐based interventions are effective psychotherapies, and there may be potential for online treatment of anxiety in older adults. Augmentation strategies are also being tested and have shown promise for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. These and other issues, such as neurobiology and cognitive functioning of anxious older adults, are discussed. This wave of research has greatly enhanced our knowledge of anxiety across the lifespan.
Spousal Support: Physical Health Conditions
Authors: Wilson Stephanie J. , Berg Cynthia A.
Published: December 2015

Support provided by spouses in the context of physical health conditions is important for maintaining health and well‐being in adulthood. Spousal support has been examined in a variety of ways including whether one has a spousal relationship or not, the perceived availability of support, and the amount, type, and quality of support received in the past. Having a spouse as a resource and perceiving support ability both consistently relate to positive outcomes. Received support is associated with both positive and negative outcomes and depends on whether the support is optimally matched to one's needs. Benefits of support can be enhanced or weakened by many contextual factors including chronic illness type, marital satisfaction, and gender. Exciting future directions include understanding the developmental origins of spousal support and how it unfolds over the course of marriage, as well as through what mechanisms aspects of spousal support relate to different outcomes across time.
Subjective Well‐Being
Authors: Ryan Lindsay H.
Published: December 2015

This entry is focused on two primary aspects of subjective well‐being. First, it discusses the conceptualization and history of evaluated subjective well‐being, such as life satisfaction. It then examines affective subjective well‐being, considering the differentiation of positive and negative affect as well as the measurement of state versus trait affect. New methodological advancements in the assessment of subjective well‐being are discussed, including the experience sampling method and the day reconstruction method. Finally, recent developments in the study of affective complexity and cross‐national comparisons of subjective well‐being are considered.
Marital Transitions: Widowhood, Divorce, and Remarriage
Authors: Carr Deborah
Published: December 2015

Although divorce rates historically have been low for persons in their fifties and older, recent cohorts of midlife and older adults are divorcing at unprecedented levels, a phenomenon referred to as
gray divorce
. Older men are less likely than older women to become widowed, reflecting both men's tendency to marry slightly younger women and men's elevated morality risk. Following marital dissolution, men are more likely than women to remarry, reflecting the larger pool of eligible partners and men's greater desire and need for a spouse. Growing numbers of divorced and widowed older adults are eschewing remarriage for
living apart together
arrangements, as a way to preserve financial, residential, and personal autonomy. Divorce and widowhood have far‐reaching deleterious effects on the physical, emotional, and financial well‐being of older adults. Understanding these patterns may help to inform policies and practices to enhance the well‐being of older adults.
Gender‐Related Issues in Psychopathology
Authors: Sigmon Sandra T. , Haigh Emily A. P.
Published: December 2015

Research on gender‐related issues in psychopathology has begun to focus on transdiagnostic factors. Transdiagnostic factors may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of multiple diagnoses and help to explain high rates of comorbidity in psychopathology. These contributions take the form of psychological processes and cognitive and behavioral strategies that begin in childhood and persist into adulthood. Anxiety sensitivity, rumination, and emotion regulation have been investigated in multiple disorders across the anxiety and depression spectrum. Further investigation of such constructs could shed light on gender‐related differences in rates of psychopathology.