bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Site Infections in Spine Surgery: Preoperative Prevention Strategies to Minimize Risk
Authors: Spina Nicholas T. , Aleem Ilyas S. , Nassr Ahmad , Lawrence Brandon D.
Published: December 2018

Study Design:

Literature review.

Objectives:

A review of the literature identifying preoperative risk factors for developing surgical site infections after spine surgery and discussion of the preventive strategies to minimize risks.

Methods:

A review of the literature and synthesis of the data to provide an updated review on the preoperative management of surgical site infection.

Results:

Preoperative prevention strategies of reducing surgical site infections in spine surgery remains a challenging problem. Careful mitigation of modifiable patient comorbidities, blood glucose control, smoking, obesity, and screening for pathologic microorganisms is paramount to reduce this risk. Individualized antibiotic regimens, skin preparation, and hand hygiene also play a critical role in surgical site infection prevention.

Conclusions:

This review of the literature discusses the preoperative preventive strategies and risk management techniques of surgical site infections in spine surgery. Significant decreases in surgical site infections after spine surgery have been noted over the past decade due to increased awareness and implementation of the prevention strategies described in this article. However, it is important to recognize that prevention of surgical site infection requires a system-wide approach that includes the hospital system, the surgeon, and the patient. Continued efforts should focus on system-wide implementation programs including careful patient selection, individualized antibiotic treatment algorithms, identification of pathologic organisms, and preoperative decolonization programs to further prevent surgical site infections and optimize patient outcomes.
Spinal Tuberculosis: Current Concepts
Authors: Rajasekaran S. , Soundararajan Dilip Chand Raja , Shetty Ajoy Prasad , Kanna Rishi Mugesh
Published: December 2018

Study Design:

Review article.

Objectives:

A review of literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of spinal tuberculosis (TB).

Methods:

A systematic computerized literature search was performed using Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, and PubMed. Studies published over the past 10 years were analyzed. The searches were performed using Medical Subject Headings terms, and the subheadings used were “spinal tuberculosis,” “diagnosis,” “epidemiology,” “etiology,” “management,” “surgery,” and “therapy.”

Results:

Tissue diagnosis remains the only foolproof investigation to confirm diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging and Gene Xpert help in early detection and treatment of spinal TB. Uncomplicated spinal TB has good response to appropriately dosed multimodal ambulant chemotherapy. Surgery is warranted only in cases of neurological complications, incapacitating deformity, and instability.

Conclusions:

The incidence of atypical clinicoradiological presentations of spinal TB is on the rise. Improper dosing, inadequate duration of treatment, and inappropriate selection of candidates for chemotherapy has not only resulted in the resurgence of TB but also led to the most dreadful consequence of multidrug resistant strains. In addition, global migration phenomenon has resulted in worldwide spread of spinal TB. The current consensus is to diagnose and treat spinal TB early, prevent complications, promote early mobilization, and restore the patient to his or her earlier functional status.
Etiology and Surgical Management of Cervical Spinal Epidural Abscess (SEA):: A Systematic Review
Authors: Stricsek Geoffrey , Iorio Justin , Mosley Yusef , Prasad Srinivas , Heller Joshua , Jallo Jack , Shahrokh Soroush , Harrop James S.
Published: December 2018

Study Design:

Systematic analysis and review.

Objective:

Evaluation of the presentation, etiology, management strategies (including both surgical and nonsurgical options), and neurological functional outcomes in patients with cervical spinal epidural abscess (SEA).

Methods:

The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria were used to create a framework based on which articles pertaining to cervical SEA were chosen for review following a search of the Ovid and PubMed databases using the search terms “epidural abscess” and “cervical.” Included studies needed to have at least 4 patients aged 18 years or older, and to have been published within the past 20 years.

Results:

Database searches yielded 521 potential articles in PubMed and 974 potential articles in Ovid. After review, 11 studies were ultimately identified for inclusion in this systematic review. Surgery appears to be a well-tolerated management strategy with limited complications for patients with cervical SEA. However, the quantity of data comparing medical and surgical treatment of cervical SEA is limited and the bulk of the data is derived from low quality studies.

Conclusion:

Data reporting was heterogeneous among studies making it difficult to draw discrete conclusions. Early surgical intervention may be appropriate in selected patients with cervical epidural abscess, but it is not clear what distinguishes these patients from those who are successfully managed nonoperatively.
Short-Term Outcomes of Concussions in Major League Baseball: A Historical Cohort Study of Return to Play, Performance, Longevity, and Financial Impact
Authors: Ramkumar Prem N. , Navarro Sergio M. , Haeberle Heather S. , Pettit Rowland W. , Miles Travis J. , Frangiamore Salvatore J. , Mont Michael A. , Farrow Lutul D. , Schickendantz Mark S.
Published: December 2018

Background:

The short-term outcomes of concussions within Major League Baseball (MLB) warrant further consideration beyond a medical standpoint given that performance, career, and financial data remain unknown. The perception of this injury directly affects decision making from the perspective of both player and franchise.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of concussion on MLB players by (1) establishing return-to-play (RTP) time after concussion; (2) comparing the career length and performance of players with concussion versus those who took nonmedical leave; and (3) analyzing player financial impact after concussion.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Contracts, transactions, injury reports, and performance statistics from 2005 to 2017 were analyzed by comparing matched players who sustained a concussion versus those who took nonmedical leave. Of the 4186 eligible MLB players, 145 sustained concussions resulting in the activation of concussion protocol and 538 took nonmedical leave. RTP time was recorded. Career length was analyzed in reference to an experience-based stratification of full seasons remaining after the concussion. Changes in player performance and salary before and after concussion were compared with the same parameters for players who took nonmedical leave.

Results:

The mean RTP time was 26 days (95% CI, 20-32 days) for athletes with concussion and 8 days (95% CI, 6-10 days) for those who took nonmedical leave. Athletes with concussion had a mean of 2.8 full seasons remaining, whereas athletes who took nonmedical leave had 3.1 seasons remaining ( P = .493). The probability of playing in the MLB after concussion compared with the nonmedical leave pool was not significantly lower ( P = .534, log-rank test; hazard ratio, 1.108). Postconcussion performance decreased significantly in position players, including a lower batting average and decreased on-base percentage in the players with concussion compared with those returning from nonmedical leave. Players who sustained a concussion lost a mean of US$654,990 annually compared with players who took nonmedical leave.

Conclusion:

This study of the short-term outcomes after concussion in limited-contact MLB athletes demonstrates that concussions may not decrease career spans but may result in decreased performance in addition to financial loss when compared with matched controls who took nonmedical leave. In sports such as baseball that are not subject to repetitive head trauma, career spans may not decrease after a single concussive event. However, sentinel concussions have deleterious short-term effects on performance and compensation among MLB players.
Manual Interventions for Musculoskeletal Factors in Infants With Suboptimal Breastfeeding: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hawk Cheryl , Minkalis Amy , Webb Carol , Hogan Olivia , Vallone Sharon
Published: December 2018

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continuing for at least the first year of life, is strongly recommended. Suboptimal breastfeeding, which is breastfeeding that does not meet these recommendations, is a multifactorial issue. Some authorities, particularly in the nursing and lactation counseling professions, have identified musculoskeletal issues that may interfere with successful breastfeeding. The purpose of this project was to survey the literature on manual treatments to correct musculoskeletal dysfunctions in infants with suboptimal breastfeeding. Our research question was, “Have manual interventions been used to correct infants’ musculoskeletal dysfunctions thought to be linked to suboptimal breastfeeding?” We searched PubMed and Index to Chiropractic Literature, from inception through July 2018, as well as relevant gray literature. We assessed quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies using modified SIGN checklists, and the overall strength of evidence using GRADE. The search yielded 461 articles, with a final inclusion of 27 articles: 7 expert commentaries, 1 high-quality RCT, 1 low-quality cohort, 1 pilot study, 2 cross-sectional surveys, 5 narrative reviews, and 10 case series or case reports. Combining the 10 case series and reports in our search with 18 discussed in narrative reviews included in our review yielded 201 infants who received manual therapy for nursing dysfunction. No serious adverse events were reported and improvement in nursing ability was observed using various outcome measures, usually maternal report. Based on the GRADE criteria, there is moderate positive evidence for the effect of manual therapy on suboptimal breastfeeding.
Microstructural and porosimetry analysis of Ag-TiO2 intercalated kaolin and diatomite as nanocomposite ceramic materials
Authors: Ajenifuja Emmanuel , Popoola Abimbola P.I. , Oyedotun Kabir O. , Popoola Olawale
Published: December 2018

Kaolin and diatomite are abundant and widely available geological materials that may immobilize or stabilize functional chemical species on their surfaces for various applications. Acid-treated kaolin and diatomite were intercalated with photocatalyst Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles using the sol–gel technique to prepare nanocomposite ceramic materials. The nanocomposites were sintered between 900°C and 1000°C to induce thermal reactions and to enhance nanoparticle–substrate attachment. Chemical and thermal characterizations of the acid-treated materials and intercalated nanocomposites were performed with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)-specific surface area and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed for physical and microstructural characterization of the nanocomposites, respectively. Morphological studies revealed a uniform distribution of Ag-TiO2 nanocrystallites in pores and on mineral particle surfaces. The BET analysis showed remarkable surface and grain modification by sintering. Decreases in the BET-specific surface area were observed for the sintered ceramic nanocomposite, Ag-TiO2-kaolin (20.244 to 5.446 m2/g) and Ag-TiO2-diatomite (19.582 to 10.148 m2/g).
Clay minerals related to the late magmatic activity of the Piton des Neiges (Réunion Island): consequence for the primitive crusts
Authors: Berger Gilles , Beaufort Daniel , Antoine Raphaël
Published: December 2018

This paper describes a detailed petrographic and isotopic study of hypabyssal sheets of quartz-syenite that represent the ultimate differentiation product of the oceanite alkaline magmatic reservoir of the Piton des Neiges stratovolcano (Réunion Island). Clay minerals of the corrensite to chlorite series crystallized during the late-magmatic activity, with quartz, carbonates and accessory minerals from juvenile fluids filling the primary porosity of the quartz-syenite. It is proposed that a double chemical transfer occurred at the end of the crystallization process: degassing of the exsolved CO2-rich and SiO2-rich fluid from the magmatic chamber through the porous quartz-syenite and diffusion of Al, Fe and Mg from the intruded basalts affected by the juvenile fluids towards the primary porosity of the quartz-syenite, feeding the crystallization of late-magmatic clays in the residual primary pores after quartz and carbonate deposition. This process may be generalized to alkaline plutonism, as well as to the primitive crusts of terrestrial planets, and may be the first source of clays in early planets.
Risk stratification and medical therapy of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Galiè Nazzareno , Channick Richard N. , Frantz Robert P. , Grünig Ekkehard , Jing Zhi Cheng , Moiseeva Olga , Preston Ioana R. , Pulido Tomas , Safdar Zeenat , Tamura Yuichi , McLaughlin Vallerie V.
Published: December 2018

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a severe clinical condition despite the availability over the past 15 years of multiple drugs interfering with the endothelin, nitric oxide and prostacyclin pathways. The recent progress observed in medical therapy of PAH is not, therefore, related to the discovery of new pathways, but to the development of new strategies for combination therapy and on escalation of treatments based on systematic assessment of clinical response. The current treatment strategy is based on the severity of the newly diagnosed PAH patient as assessed by a multiparametric risk stratification approach. Clinical, exercise, right ventricular function and haemodynamic parameters are combined to define a low-, intermediate- or high-risk status according to the expected 1-year mortality. The current treatment algorithm provides the most appropriate initial strategy, including monotherapy, or double or triple combination therapy. Further treatment escalation is required in case low-risk status is not achieved in planned follow-up assessments. Lung transplantation may be required in most advanced cases on maximal medical therapy.
Intensive care, right ventricular support and lung transplantation in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Hoeper Marius M. , Benza Raymond L. , Corris Paul , de Perrot Marc , Fadel Elie , Keogh Anne M. , Kühn Christian , Savale Laurent , Klepetko Walter
Published: December 2018

Intensive care of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right-sided heart failure includes treatment of factors causing or contributing to heart failure, careful fluid management, and strategies to reduce ventricular afterload and improve cardiac function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be considered in distinct situations, especially in candidates for lung transplantation (bridge to transplant) or, occasionally, in patients with a reversible cause of right-sided heart failure (bridge to recovery). ECMO should not be used in patients with end-stage disease without a realistic chance for recovery or for transplantation. For patients with refractory disease, lung transplantation remains an important treatment option. Patients should be referred to a transplant centre when they remain in an intermediate- or high-risk category despite receiving optimised pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy. Meticulous peri-operative management including the intra-operative and post-operative use of ECMO effectively prevents graft failure. In experienced centres, the 1-year survival rates after lung transplantation for PH now exceed 90%.
An Efficient movie recommendation algorithm based on improved k-clique
Authors: Vilakone Phonexay , Park Doo-Soon , Xinchang Khamphaphone , Hao Fei
Published: December 2018

The amount of movie has increased to become more congested; therefore, to find a movie what users are looking for through the existing technologies are very hard. For this reason, the users want a system that can suggest the movie requirement to them and the best technology about these is the recommendation system. However, the most recommendation system is using collaborative filtering methods to predict the needs of the user due to this method gives the most accurate prediction. Today, many researchers are paid attention to develop several methods to improve accuracy rather than using collaborative filtering methods. Hence, to further improve accuracy in the recommendation system, we present the k-clique methodology used to analyze social networks to be the guidance of this system. In this paper, we propose an efficient movie recommendation algorithm based on improved k-clique methods which are the best accuracy of the recommendation system. However, to evaluate the performance; collaborative filtering methods are monitored using the k nearest neighbors, the maximal clique methods, the k-clique methods, and the proposed methods are used to evaluate the MovieLens data. The performance results show that the proposed methods improve more accuracy of the movie recommendation system than any other methods used in this experiment.
Vortioxetine for depression: the evidence for its current use in the UK
Authors: De Giorgi Riccardo
Published: December 2018

The pharmacological treatment of depression is often hampered by side-effects and unsatisfactory response to treatment. Vortioxetine is one of the newest antidepressants on the market, purportedly with a different mechanism of action compared with other antidepressants. This month's Cochrane Corner review examines the evidence available for the use of vortioxetine as a first-line treatment for depression in adults. This commentary puts the Cochrane review's findings into their clinical context and revises them in view of earlier and later studies.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.
Advance Care Planning Among Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Schubart Jane R. , Levi Benjamin H. , Bain Megan M. , Farace Elana , Green Michael J.
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

Advance directives (AD) have been heralded as vehicles to promote patient autonomy and have been decried as ineffective. Efforts to improve advance care planning (ACP) and AD documents are wide ranging but have not been prospectively studied.

Materials and Methods:

In an institutional review board–approved, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we compared an interactive, educational ACP decision aid to standard ACP among patients with advanced cancer. We hypothesized that use of the decision aid would increase physician awareness of patients’ health care wishes and increase physician adherence to patients’ end-of-life wishes compared with standard ACP.

Results:

A total of 200 patients were randomly assigned to two study arms. We analyzed data from medical records and interviews with physicians and family members for 121 patients who died by August 2016. No differences in physician awareness or adherence were found between the ACP decision aid and standard ACP groups. End-of-life treatment wishes and discussion of wishes were documented for 70% and 64% of the patients, respectively, but only 35% had an actual AD in the medical record. According to family members, end-of-life care was consistent with the patients’ stated wishes 94% of the time. Similarly, according to physicians, it was consistent for 98%. However, according to AD documents, delivered care was consistent with desired care in only 65%. Considerably fewer patients than predicted died, and data from physicians were difficult to obtain.

Conclusion:

ACP type did not influence documentation of patient wishes or end-of-life care received. Future prospective studies must account for challenges in prognostication and point-of-care data collection at the end of life.
Practice Patterns for Older Adult Patients With Advanced Cancer: Physician Office Versus Hospital Outpatient Setting
Authors: Lipitz-Snyderman Allison , Atoria Coral L. , Schleicher Stephen M. , Bach Peter B. , Panageas Katherine S.
Published: December 2018

PURPOSE:

A shift in outpatient oncology care from the physician’s office to hospital outpatient settings has generated interest in the effect of practice setting on outcomes. Our objective was to examine whether medical oncologists’ prescribing of drugs and services for older adult patients with advanced cancer is used more in physicians’ offices compared with hospital outpatient departments.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective comparative study. SEER-Medicare data (2004 to 2011) were used to identify Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with advanced breast, colon, esophagus, non–small-cell lung, pancreatic, or stomach cancer. Between physicians’ offices and hospital outpatient departments, we compared use of selected likely low-value supportive drugs, low-value therapeutic drugs, chemotherapy-related hospitalizations, and hospice. We used hierarchical modeling to assess differences between settings to account for correlation within physicians.

RESULTS:

Compared with patients treated in a hospital outpatient department, those treated in a physician’s office setting were more likely to receive erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.53 to 1.94) and granulocyte colony–stimulating factors (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.38). For combination chemotherapy and nanoparticle albumin-bound–paclitaxel in patients with breast cancer, there was a trend toward higher use in physicians’ offices, although this was not statistically significant. Chemotherapy-related hospitalizations and hospice did not vary by setting.

CONCLUSION:

We found somewhat higher use of several drugs for patients with advanced cancer in physicians’ office settings compared with hospital outpatient departments. Findings support research to dissect the mechanisms through which setting might influence physicians’ behavior.
The connexin 30 A88V mutant reduces cochlear gap junction expression and confers long-term protection against hearing loss
Authors: Kelly John J. , Abitbol Julia M. , Hulme Stephanie , Press Eric R. , Laird Dale W. , Allman Brian L.
Published: December 2018

Mutations in the genes that encode the gap junction proteins connexin 26 (Cx26, encoded by GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) are the leading cause of hereditary hearing loss. That said, the Cx30 p.Ala88Val (A88V) mutant causes Clouston syndrome, but not hearing loss. Here, we report that the Cx30-A88V mutant, despite being toxic to inner ear-derived HEI-OC1 cells, conferred remarkable long-term protection against age-related high frequency hearing loss in Cx30A88V/A88V mice. During early development, there were no overt structural differences in the cochlea between genotypes, including a normal complement of hair cells; however, the supporting cell Cx30 gap junction plaques in mutant mice were reduced in size. In adulthood, Cx30A88V/A88V mutant mice had a reduction of cochlear Cx30 mRNA and protein, yet a full complement of hair cells. Conversely, the age-related high frequency hearing loss in Cx30+/+ and Cx30+/A88V mice was due to extensive loss of outer hair cells. Our data suggest that the Cx30-A88V mutant confers long-term hearing protection and prevention of hair cell death, possibly via a feedback mechanism that leads to the reduction of total Cx30 gap junction expression in the cochlea.
Contractility kits promote assembly of the mechanoresponsive cytoskeletal network
Authors: Kothari Priyanka , Srivastava Vasudha , Aggarwal Vasudha , Tchernyshyov Irina , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Ha Taekjip , Robinson Douglas N.
Published: December 2018

Cellular contractility is governed by a control system of proteins that integrates internal and external cues to drive diverse shape change processes. This contractility controller includes myosin II motors, actin crosslinkers and protein scaffolds, which exhibit robust and cooperative mechanoaccumulation. However, the biochemical interactions and feedback mechanisms that drive the controller remain unknown. Here, we use a proteomics approach to identify direct interactors of two key nodes of the contractility controller in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum: the actin crosslinker cortexillin I and the scaffolding protein IQGAP2. We highlight several unexpected proteins that suggest feedback from metabolic and RNA-binding proteins on the contractility controller. Quantitative in vivo biochemical measurements reveal direct interactions between myosin II and cortexillin I, which form the core mechanosensor. Furthermore, IQGAP1 negatively regulates mechanoresponsiveness by competing with IQGAP2 for binding the myosin II–cortexillin I complex. These myosin II–cortexillin I–IQGAP2 complexes are pre-assembled into higher-order mechanoresponsive contractility kits (MCKs) that are poised to integrate into the cortex upon diffusional encounter coincident with mechanical inputs.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Appetitive behavior of the honey beeApis melliferaL. in response to phenolic compounds naturally found in nectars
Authors: Hernández Ismael Gatica , Palottini Florencia , Macri Ivana , Galmarini Claudio Rómulo , Farina Walter Marcelo
Published: December 2018

The honey bee is the most frequently used species in pollination services for diverse crops. In onion crops (Allium cepa L.), however, bees avoid visiting certain varieties, being attracted differently to male sterile (MS) and fertile (OP) lines. These differences might be based on the phenolic profiles of the cultivars’ nectars. To understand the relationship between nectar composition and pollinator attraction to different onion lines, we tested sensory and cognitive abilities and palatability in honey bees exposed to MS and OP onion nectars and sugar solutions mimicking them. We evaluated the proboscis extension response (PER) after antennal contact (unconditioned response) to MS or OP onion nectars, finding no statistical differences, which denotes similar gustatory perception for both nectars. We also performed food uptake assays to test palatability of different artificial nectars, considering their flavonoids and potassium content. The presence of potassium decreased palatability of the artificial nectars. Finally, we evaluated the beeś cognitive abilities when the reward (unconditioned stimulus, US) offered during conditioning PER assays presents differences in composition. We found that potassium by itself impaired learning; however, such impairment was even higher when naringenin and quercetin were added in the US (MS mimic nectar). Interestingly, potassium together with luteolin (OP mimic nectar) improved learning. Our study demonstrates that the differences in the nectars’ flavonoid profiles combined with their high potassium content could explain the previously reported differences in attractiveness between onion lines, suggesting an important role of nectar-compounds other than sugars for the attractiveness of flowers to pollinators.
Το τραύμα στη μεταφρασμένη παιδική και εφηβική λογοτεχνία: The Book Thief
Authors: Κόρκα Νικολέττα
Published: December 2018

Στην παρούσα εργασία πραγματοποιείται συγκριτική μελέτη του βιβλίου The Book Thief και της μετάφρασής του στα ελληνικά και στα γαλλικά. Μέχρι πολύ πρόσφατα τραγικά γεγονότα, όπως είναι το Ολοκαύτωμα  προσεγγίζονταν με μεγάλη αμηχανία στην παιδική και εφηβική λογοτεχνία, ενώ οι εκδοτικοί οίκοι αντιμετώπιζαν το δίλημμα της υποχρέωσης της παρουσίασης της ιστορικής αλήθειας από τη μία και της προσπάθειας να μην τραυματίσουν τους ανήλικους αναγνώστες από την άλλη. Στόχος της εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση τυχόν διαφοροποιήσεων και προσαρμογών του έργου κατά τη μεταφορά του από τα αγγλικά στα ελληνικά και στα γαλλικά μέσα από τη συγκριτική μελέτη, η διερεύνηση μεταφραστικών στρατηγικών που υιοθετούνται κατά τη διαδικασία της μετάφρασης, εστιάζοντας στη μεταφορά του τραύματος από ένα πολιτισμικό σύστημα σε ένα άλλο και συνάγοντας συμπεράσματα για τον τρόπο με τον οποίο το τραύμα προσεγγίζεται στην εκάστοτε εθνική λογοτεχνία για ανηλίκους.
Διαφοροποιημένη διδασκαλία και αξιολόγηση: Ενδεικτικό σχέδιο στο μάθημα της Γλώσσας του Δημοτικού Σχολείου
Authors: Χολέβας Νικόλαος , Αλεξόπουλος Δημήτριος , Αναστασόπουλος Νικόλαος
Published: December 2018

Η σύγχρονη τάξη αποτελείται από ένα σύνολο μαθητών/τριών με διαφορετικές εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες, ενδιαφέροντα και προτιμήσεις, τα οποία οι εκπαιδευτικοί καλούνται να συγκεράσουν προκειμένου να φέρουν σε πέρας τη μαθησιακή διαδικασία. Η διαφοροποιημένη διδασκαλία αποτελεί ίσως την πιο κατάλληλη διδακτική προσέγγιση για την αντιμετώπιση αυτού του φαινομένου. Η διαφοροποιημένη αξιολόγηση, βασικό στοιχείο της διαφοροποιημένης διδασκαλίας, είναι μια συνεχής διαδικασία κατά την οποία ο/η εκπαιδευτικός συλλέγει δεδομένα από πολλαπλές πηγές, προκειμένου να εντοπίσει τις ανάγκες και τις δυνατότητες των μαθητών/τριών του. Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται αναλυτικά το σχέδιο μιας διαφοροποιημένης διδασκαλίας η οποία αφορά στο μάθημα της Γλώσσας της Γ’ τάξης Δημοτικού. Επιπλέον, προτείνονται σχετικές μαθησιακές δραστηριότητες, καθώς και δραστηριότητες που αφορούν στην αρχική, τη διαμορφωτική και την αθροιστική/τελική αξιολόγηση. Είναι χρονικής διάρκειας τεσσάρων διδακτικών ωρών.
Η ενίσχυση της ικανότητας αφήγησης φανταστικών ιστοριών παιδιών προσχολικής ηλικίας
Authors: Βρετουδάκη Ελένη , Τάφα Ευφημία
Published: December 2018

Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν να εξετάσει την επίδραση ενός προγράμματος παρέμβασης για την  ενίσχυση της κατανόησης του δομικού πλαισίου των ιστοριών σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας με στόχο την παραγωγή φανταστικών ιστοριών. Το δείγμα της μελέτης αποτέλεσαν 56 παιδιά ηλικίας 5-6 ετών τα οποία φοιτούσαν σε 5 τάξεις νηπιαγωγείων της πόλης των Χανίων στην Κρήτη. Τα παιδιά του δείγματος χωρίστηκαν σε δύο ομάδες, μία πειραματική και μία ομάδα ελέγχου. Το πρόγραμμα εφαρμόστηκε μία φορά την εβδομάδα για 8 εβδομάδες. Στα παιδιά της πειραματικής ομάδας διαβάστηκαν 8 βιβλία με αφηγηματικά κείμενα. Σε κάθε συνεδρία, μετά την ανάγνωση του βιβλίου, εφαρμόστηκε μια πολυεπίπεδη στρατηγική μέσω της οποίας τα παιδιά εκπαιδεύτηκαν στην κατανόηση της δομής της ιστορίας και στην παραγωγή φανταστικών ιστοριών. Στα παιδιά της ομάδας ελέγχου διαβάστηκαν τα ίδια 8 βιβλία χωρίς να εφαρμοστεί κάποιο συγκεκριμένο πρόγραμμα ενίσχυσης του δομικού πλαισίου των ιστοριών. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι η στρατηγική που εφαρμόστηκε στο πρόγραμμα παρέμβασης βελτίωσε σημαντικά την ικανότητα των παιδιών της πειραματικής ομάδας να κατανοήσουν τα δομικά στοιχεία των ιστοριών και να παράγουν πιο οργανωμένες φανταστικές ιστορίες από ότι τα παιδιά της ομάδας ελέγχου. Επιπλέον, τη μεγαλύτερη βελτίωση στην παραγωγή φανταστικών ιστοριών την παρουσίασαν τα παιδιά που είχαν χαμηλό βαθμό επίδοσης στα αφηγηματικά κριτήρια. Τέλος, η βελτίωση των παιδιών διατηρήθηκε και μετά την είσοδό τους στο δημοτικό σχολείο.
Διαπολιτισμική εκπαίδευση και κοινωνική ένταξη των παιδιών-προσφύγων: Αντιλήψεις εκπαιδευτικών
Authors: Σγούρα Αγγελική , Μάνεσης Νικόλαος , Μητροπούλου Φωτεινή
Published: December 2018

Η παρούσα έρευνα μελετά τις αντιλήψεις των εκπαιδευτικών σχολικών μονάδων Πρωτοβάθμιας και Δευτεροβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης της Αχαΐας στα οποία φοίτησαν παιδιά-πρόσφυγες το σχολικό έτος 2016-2017, σχετικά με τη διαπολιτισμική εκπαίδευση και την κοινωνική ένταξή τους στο σχολείο. Διεξήχθη ποσοτική έρευνα με ερωτηματολόγιο το οποίο αποτελείτο από ερωτήσεις κλειστού και ανοικτού τύπου. Το εργαλείο συλλογής δεδομένων στηρίχθηκε στη διεθνή και ελληνική βιβλιογραφική επισκόπηση και διανεμήθηκε σε δείγμα 120 εκπαιδευτικών που εργάζονταν στα σχολεία αυτά. Από τα ευρήματα καταδεικνύεται πως οι εκπαιδευτικοί πιστεύουν ότι η κοινωνική ένταξη των παιδιών-προσφύγων στην εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία έχει πραγματοποιηθεί σε μικρή κλίμακα, καθώς επίσης πως οι κύριοι εμπλεκόμενοι στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα (εκπαιδευτικοί, ημεδαποί μαθητές/μαθήτριες και γονείς) θεωρούν την παρουσία των παιδιών-προσφύγων στο ελληνικό σχολείο ως «λίγο» ή «αρκετά» θετική. Φαίνεται, επιπλέον, ότι τα παιδιά-πρόσφυγες δημιουργούν παρέες με ημεδαπούς/ημεδαπές μαθητές/μαθήτριες και συμμετέχουν στο παιχνίδι, αλλά λαμβάνουν λιγότερο ενεργά μέρος στις εκδηλώσεις του σχολείου. Οι εκπαιδευτικοί, ακόμη, τονίζουν την ανάγκη ενίσχυσης των γνώσεων των ημεδαπών μαθητών/μαθητριών σχετικά με την πολυπολιτισμικότητα και τη διαφοροποίηση τυχόν αρνητικών συναισθημάτων που φέρουν οι ίδιοι/ίδιες μέσω της ανάπτυξης διαπολιτισμικών δεξιοτήτων. Τα συμπεράσματα, σε συνάρτηση με τον αυξανόμενο αριθμό των παιδιών-προσφύγων στο ελληνικό σχολείο σήμερα, αναδεικνύουν την ανάγκη διερεύνησης του προσφυγικού ζητήματος, ώστε το εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα να κατανοεί και να ανταποκρίνεται καλύτερα στις ανάγκες όλων των παιδιών.
Αξίες εκπαιδευτικών: Απόψεις για τη δημοκρατία και τους θεσμούς της
Authors: Ζήση Χριστίνα , Γιαβρίμης Παναγιώτης
Published: December 2018

Οι αξίες αναφέρονται στη διεθνή βιβλιογραφία ως μια έννοια ρητή ή άρρητη που σχετίζεται με διακριτικά χαρακτηριστικά ατόμων ή ομάδων και επηρεάζει τις επιλογές τους. Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας ήταν η διερεύνηση των αντιλήψεων των εκπαιδευτικών της υποχρεωτικής εκπαίδευσης, που εργάζονται στη νήσο Λέσβο, για τη δημοκρατία και τους θεσμούς στον ελλαδικό χώρο. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτέλεσαν 400 εκπαιδευτικοί της υποχρεωτικής εκπαίδευσης. Από το σύνολο των εκπαιδευτικών που πήραν μέρος στην έρευνα 119 ήταν άνδρες και 281 ήταν γυναίκες. Από τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας διαφάνηκε ότι οι εκπαιδευτικοί έχουν δημοκρατικές αξίες και αρχές, θεωρούν τη δημοκρατία το καλύτερο πολίτευμα, είναι, όμως, απογοητευμένοι με τον τρόπο που λειτουργεί στην Ελλάδα σήμερα. Μεγάλη αμφισβήτηση διαπιστώθηκε για όλους τους θεσμούς που σχετίζονται με τη λειτουργία της δημοκρατίας, με τους δημόσιους φορείς, να μην εισπράττουν τόσο έντονη αμφισβήτηση που να καταλήγει σε απαξίωση. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας έρευνας αναδεικνύουν την αναγκαιότητα διερεύνησης των επιδράσεων των αξιών των εκπαιδευτικών για τη δημοκρατία και τους θεσμούς στη πολιτική κοινωνικοποίηση των μαθητών.
Πλαγιαρισμός στις μεταπτυχιακές εργασίες των φοιτητών/τριών: Διερευνώντας το φαινόμενο
Authors: Καρασαλίδης Θεόδωρος , Εμβαλωτής Αναστάσιος
Published: December 2018

Εισαγωγή: Η διάδοση του πλαγιαρισμού αποτελεί ένα θέμα με διεθνές ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό έχουν διερευνηθεί (μερικώς) η έκταση και οι μορφές του πλαγιαρισμού στο φοιτητικό πληθυσμό. Ωστόσο, από την ανασκόπηση της σχετικής βιβλιογραφίας, διαπιστώθηκε ότι το συγκεκριμένο ζήτημα δεν έχει ερευνηθεί σε σημαντικό βαθμό στην ελληνική ακαδημαϊκή κοινότητα παρά τα αναδυόμενα ανά διαστήματα περιστατικά, καθιστώντας έτσι αναγκαία τη διεξαγωγή της παρούσας έρευνας.Σκοπός της έρευνας: Με την παρούσα έρευνα επιδιώκεται η διερεύνηση της διάδοσης και των μορφών του πλαγιαρισμού σε μεταπτυχιακούς φοιτητές.Δειγματοληπτικός σχεδιασμός: Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτελείται από 155 μεταπτυχιακές διατριβές και 8 αποφοίτους Προγράμματος Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (ΠΜΣ) σε κάποιο ελληνικό Πανεπιστήμιο. Αξιοποιήθηκε το λογισμικό ανίχνευσης πλαγιαρισμού Turnitin για την εξέταση των διατριβών και η ημιδομημένη συνέντευξη με τους αποφοίτους του ΠΜΣ για τη διερεύνηση του φαινομένου.Ευρήματα: Διαπιστώθηκε ότι οι μεταπτυχιακοί φοιτητές ολισθαίνουν σε πρακτικές πλαγιαρισμού μέσω αυτολεξεί αντιγραφών, ανεπαρκών παραφράσεων και λανθασμένων ενδοκειμενικών αναφορών και παραπομπών ή/και επιμέρους ειδικών περιπτώσεων πλαγιαρισμού.Συμπεράσματα- Προτάσεις: Προτείνεται η επέκταση της διερεύνησης του θέματος (πλαγιαρισμός στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση) τόσο στους φοιτητές όσο και στο ακαδημαϊκό προσωπικό, για την αναγνώριση και πρόληψη σχετικών πρακτικών στο πλαίσιο της διασφάλισης της ποιότητας στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση.
Technology Development for Workers of Main Professions in a Product Company
Authors: Ашурбеков Р. , Ashurbekov R. , Каштанова Е. , Kashtanova YEkatyerina , Лобачева А. , Lobacheva A.
Published: December 2018

The article presents the solving problems directions associated with the construction of a career development system and employees development management of the main professions in the production company. As a rule, this category of employees is least susceptible to development processes, as it is one of the largest groups of employees of such companies, but career growth is significantly hampered by a single-level production units’ organizational structure. In this regard, the article describes a modern approach to the development of the multifunctional staff mechanism, to increase the employees’ interest and motivation for career growth. The paper presents real tools for building a career-motivation program for the category of employees. In order to transfer practical experience and reveal the potential of employees, it is proposed to use the mentoring institution more actively, in this connection the article considers its construction and operation experience.
Multifactor Model of Estimation of Personnel Turnover in Organization
Authors: Ширинкина Елена , Shirinkina Elena , Короленко В. , Korolenko V.
Published: December 2018

The relevance of studying staff turnover is determined by the contradiction between the requirements of development and organization efficiency and the likely negative consequences of the high dynamics of the shift of workers. The research methodology consisted of a theoretical analysis of work on personnel turnover, analysis of national statistics, the calculation of descriptive statistics based on the assessment of turnover factors in a particular organization. The results can be used to study the fluidity and make decisions to reduce its level.
Sociological analysis of the integral model of the leader's personality: theory and practice
Authors: Оганян Карина , Oganyan Karina
Published: December 2018

The monograph presents an analysis of the Genesis and development of the author's integral theory of the leader's personality: the development of a three-component model of effective management
The article presents the results of sociological analysis of the interdependence of the type of personality of the head and the style of management in the universities of St. Petersburg, to identify the optimal type of management of the organization. The influence of organizational culture on leadership qualities of the head on the example of comparative analysis of heads of social organizations of St. Petersburg is revealed. The analysis of results of empirical research of interdependence of type of the personality of the head and style of management on the example of the organizations of social service of the population of St. Petersburg is reasoned. The motivation of social and life success as a factor of competitiveness of the person of the head is proved.
The book is intended for undergraduates, graduate students and researchers and practitioners, including those interested in the problems of modern sociology of management, in the context of the development of conceptual and methodological foundations of the model of effective management of the organization.
Family and private life of merchants in the second half of XIX-early XX century (based on the materials of Tula province)
Authors: Лобачева Ирина , Lobacheva Irina
Published: December 2018

The work is devoted to the study of the history of everyday life of merchants — an elite group of the urban class of pre-revolutionary Russia. The author focuses on the evolution of the merchant family and private life in the period of capitalist modernization in Russia.
Is it possible to consider the merchant class solely as a layer of successful entrepreneurs? How stable was the composition of the merchant class, how and why did it change in the cities of Tula province? Why did the traditions of a big family go to the past? How did the merchants of the marriages of their children and how to treat manalansan? What are the requirements in the merchant environment to the marriage partners and how to resolve family conflicts? What qualities did the representatives of the merchant class hope to bring up in their children and how deep education did they strive to provide? How did the houses, furnishings, forms of merchants ' leisure change in the second half of XIX-early XX century? What were the features of the appearance of the representatives of the merchants? This is not a complete list of questions to which the author gives an answer in his monograph.
The work is based on a wide range of various sources, both published (legislative documents, literary monuments, sources of personal origin, photo documents) and unpublished materials of the state archive of Tula region (GATO) and the state archive of the Orel region (BUOO GAO).
The book is intended for historians, culturologists, ethnologists and all those interested in the history and way of life of the Russian merchant class.
Practical strategies for supporting elderly cats and their owners, both at home and in the veterinary surgery
Authors: Warnes Caroline
Published: December 2018

As cats become elderly they are at increased risk of developing both health and behaviour problems. Veterinary nurses can support owners of elderly cats by encouraging them to bring their cats to the surgery for regular health checks, as earlier diagnosis and treatment will improve the prognosis for many health problems. They can also ask about and provide advice on any behaviour problems that arise, including giving advice about simple changes that can be made in the home to support cats that are becoming less mobile, or that have cognitive or sensory deficits. This should reduce stress and the incidence of problem behaviours, resulting in improved welfare for elderly cats, and potentially also improved quality of life for their owners.
Chondrosarcoma in a paediatric population: A study of 247 cases
Authors: Wu A.-M. , Li G , Zheng J.-W. , Chen C.-H. , Chen D , Qiao Z.-G. , Zhao J.-G. , Wang B , Fu W.-L. , Sheng S.-R. , Wu Y.-S. , Tian N.-F. , Lin Z.-K. , Xu H
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The aims of present study are to clarify the follow questions: 1) what constitutes paediatric chondrosarcoma?; 2) what are the effects of the demographic and tumour characteristics on survival in patients with paediatric chondrosarcoma?; 3) which prognostic factors of paediatric chondrosarcoma differ from those of the adult population, which have been reported previously?

Methods

Paediatric patients who were diagnosed with chondrosarcoma were searched for using the case listing session protocol of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 databases (1973 to 2014). The extracted demographic information includes: age, race, gender, year of diagnosis, tumour sites, tumour histological subtype, grade, stage and treatment.

Results

A total of 247 paediatric chondrosarcoma patients were extracted and included in our present study. We find that the paediatric patients have significantly better survival rates than the adult patients. The year of diagnosis, tumour sites, tumour histological subtype, grade, stage and surgery received are independent prognostic factors for the survival rate of paediatric chondrosarcoma patients, but race, gender and age are not.

Conclusion

The paediatric chondrosarcoma patients have better survival rates than the adults. Paediatric patients with a diagnosis at an early age, tumour site at the vertebral column and pelvis/sacrococcyx, myxoid variants, high grade, distant stage and who did not have surgery have a poorer prognosis than patients with a diagnosis at a later age, tumour site at limbs, head and base, chondrosarcoma not otherwise specified, lower grade, localized stage and who received surgery.

Level of Evidence

II -Prognostic Study
Diseño de software para validación dietética de menús nutritivos
Authors: Pozos-Parra Pilar , Chávez-Bosquez Oscar , Anlehu-Tello Alejandra
Published: December 2018

Introducción: Aunque existe software que apoya la validación de menús nutritivos, el modelo que subyace es desconocido y poco flexible a modificaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar un modelo base, descrito en lenguajes estándar, flexible a modificaciones para validar menús nutritivos, así como una herramienta que automatiza el proceso de generación de software a partir de modelos. Aunque el software generado valida las Leyes de la Correcta Alimentación, criterios descritos en la mayoría de las guías alimentarias son incluidos en este modelo, donde la formulación de restricciones puede ser modificada sin necesidad de tener conocimientos en programación.Material y método: Después definir los requerimientos al analizar varias guías alimentarias y consultar a nutriólogas de la Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, se llevó a cabo el diseño del software e implementación, capturando los valores de las tablas de valor nutritivo de los alimentos de mayor consumo en México que sirvieron como base de datos. Al finalizar, se validaron y verificaron los menús.Resultados: Se generó un sistema embedido con el que se validaron 7 menús de personas con características variadas, 4 mujeres y 3 hombres, edades entre 18 y 43 años, tallas entre 153 y 178 cm, pesos entre 49 y 78 kg, y presupuestos entre $60 y $200 pesos. Todos los menús fueron también validados por nutriólogas y aceptados como adecuados.Conclusión: La elaboración de menús nutritivos para la intervención dietético-nutricional es esencial, este proceso consume demasiados recursos, así al ofrecer herramientas tecnológicas adaptables que automatizan la validación de esta tarea, se apoya en la solución de los problemas de salud directamente relacionados con la alimentación.
Prácticas parentales para promover hábitos saludables de alimentación en la primera infancia en Cali, Colombia
Authors: Varela Arévalo Maria Teresa , Tenorio Banguero Ángela Ximena , Duarte Alarcón Carolina
Published: December 2018

Introducción: Considerando la influencia del entorno familiar en el desarrollo de hábitos saludables en la primera infancia, este estudio se propuso explorar las prácticas que usan los padres para promover una alimentación saludable en niños de 1 a 5 años de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio mixto con una fase cualitativa y una fase cuantitativa, con análisis secuencial. En la fase cualitativa 20 padres fueron entrevistados en profundidad. A partir de esta información se construyó el Cuestionario Prácticas de crianza para promover hábitos de salud en la primera infancia. Con la subescala de alimentación se condujo la fase cuantitativa del estudio, en la que participaron 170 padres de diferentes niveles socioeconómicos.Resultados: Los padres reportaron que para promover los hábitos de alimentación utilizan en mayor medida prácticas responsivas o adecuadas (como supervisar el patrón de ingesta de los niños, establecer límites con niveles de control adecuados, modelar los hábitos, disponer de alimentos saludables en el hogar, reforzar los hábitos saludables y estimular a los niños para comer saludablemente), pero también hacen uso de algunas prácticas indulgentes y no responsivas. Las prácticas menos adecuadas fueron más frecuentes en padres de niveles socioeconómicos bajos. Conclusiones: Los padres utilizan un amplio rango de estrategias con diversidad de intencionalidades y estilos al promover hábitos de alimentación en sus hijos, presentando diferencias marcadas según su nivel socioeconómico. Los resultados señalan la necesidad de promover en los padres de niños en la primera infancia mayores conocimientos y habilidades para la crianza de sus hijos en relación con los hábitos de alimentación.