A comparative framework: how broadly applicable is a 'rigorous' critical junctures framework?

The paper tests Hogan and Doyle's (2007, 2008) framework for examining critical junctures. This framework sought to incorporate the concept of ideational change in understanding critical junctures. Until its development, frameworks utilized in identifying critical junctures were subjective, seeking only to identify crisis, and subsequent policy changes, arguing that one invariably led to the other, as both occurred around the same time. Hogan and Doyle (2007, 2008) hypothesized ideational change as an intermediating variable in their framework, determining if, and when, a crisis leads to radical policy change. Here we test this framework on cases similar to, but different from, those employed in developing the exemplar. This will enable us determine whether the framework's relegation of ideational change to a condition of crisis holds, or, if ideational change has more importance than is ascribed to it by this framework. This will also enable us determined if the framework itself is robust, and fit for the purposes it was designed to perform — identifying the nature of policy change

Finite element computation of multi-physical micropolar transport phenomena from an inclined moving plate in porous media

Non-Newtonian flows arise in numerous industrial transport processes including materials fabrication systems. Micropolar theory offers an excellent mechanism for exploring the fluid dynamics of new non-Newtonian materials which possess internal microstructure. Magnetic fields may also be used for controlling electrically-conducting polymeric flows. To explore numerical simulation of transport in rheological materials processing, in the current paper, a finite element computational solution is presented for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), incompressible, dissipative, radiative and chemically-reacting micropolar fluid flow, heat and mass transfer adjacent to an inclined porous plate embedded in a saturated homogenous porous medium. Heat generation/absorption effects are included. Rosseland’s diffusion approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. A Darcy model is employed to simulate drag effects in the porous medium. The governing transport equations are rendered into non-dimensional form under the assumption of low Reynolds number and also low magnetic Reynolds number. Using a Galerkin formulation with a weighted residual scheme, finite element solutions are presented to the boundary value problem. The influence of plate inclination, Eringen coupling number, radiation-conduction number, heat absorption/generation parameter, chemical reaction parameter, plate moving velocity parameter, magnetic parameter, thermal Grashof number, species (solutal) Grashof number, permeability parameter, Eckert number on linear velocity, micro-rotation, temperature and concentration profiles. Furthermore, the influence of selected thermo-physical parameters on friction factor, surface heat transfer and mass transfer rate is also tabulated. The finite element solutions are verified with solutions from several limiting cases in the literature. Interesting features in the flow are identified and interpreted

Does the diurnal cycle of cortisol explain the relationship between physical performance and cognitive function in older adults?

Background Regular physical activity is a promising strategy to treat and prevent cognitive decline. The mechanisms that mediate these benefits are not fully clear but physical activity is thought to attenuate the harmful effects of chronic psychological stress and hypercortisolism on cognition. However, the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion is complex and it is not known which aspects are most closely associated with increased cognitive function and better physical performance. This is the first study to simultaneously measure cognitive function, the diurnal cycle of salivary cortisol and physical performance in older adults, without cognitive impairment (n = 30) and with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) (n = 30). Results Regression analysis showed that better cognitive function was associated with better physical performance. A greater variance in cortisol levels across the day from morning to evening was associated with better cognitive function and physical performance. Conclusions The results support the idea that a more dynamic cortisol secretion pattern is associated with better cognitive function and physical performance even in the presence of cognitive impairment, but our results could not confirm a mediating role in this relationship

Síndrome de quemarse por el trabajo (burnout) en los médicos de España.

El Síndrome de Quemarse por el Trabajo (SQT) o "Burnout" es un problema de salud que puede afectar a profesionales de todo tipo, pero muy especialmente a aquellos cuya actividad guarda relación con el cuidado de seres humanos. Los profesionales de la salud están particularmente expuestos a este cuadro y los médicos son el prototipo de trabajador expuesto al mismo. Se trata de un problema de salud tremendamente destructivo que afecta a la vida laboral y personal, que lesiona la calidad del trabajo prestado y que deteriora los planos cognitivo y emocional del individuo, su vida familiar y hasta su salud física

Towards a scientific interpretation of the terroir concept: plasticity of the grape berry metabolome

BACKGROUND: The definition of the terroir concept is one of the most debated issues in oenology and viticulture. The dynamic interaction among diverse factors including the environment, the grapevine plant and the imposed viticultural techniques means that the wine produced in a given terroir is unique. However, there is an increasing interest to define and quantify the contribution of individual factors to a specific terroir objectively. Here, we characterized the metabolome and transcriptome of berries from a single clone of the Corvina variety cultivated in seven different vineyards, located in three macrozones, over a 3-year trial period. RESULTS: To overcome the anticipated strong vintage effect, we developed statistical tools that allowed us to identify distinct terroir signatures in the metabolic composition of berries from each macrozone, and from different vineyards within each macrozone. We also identified non-volatile and volatile components of the metabolome which are more plastic and therefore respond differently to terroir diversity. We observed some relationships between the plasticity of the metabolome and transcriptome, allowing a multifaceted scientific interpretation of the terroir concept. CONCLUSIONS: Our experiments with a single Corvina clone in different vineyards have revealed the existence of a clear terroir-specific effect on the transcriptome and metabolome which persists over several vintages and allows each vineyard to be characterized by the unique profile of specific metabolites.Andrea Anesi, Matteo Stocchero, Silvia Dal Santo, Mauro Commisso, Sara Zenoni, Stefania Ceoldo, Giovanni Battista Tornielli, Tracey E. Siebert, Markus Herderich, Mario Pezzotti and Flavia Guzz

Association of CYP2B6 Genotype with Survival and Progression Free Survival in Cyclophosphamide Treated Multiple Myeloma

Objective: Cyclophosphamide is a conventional pro-drug used in Multiple Myeloma (MM) and other malignancies. The highly polymorphic CYP2B6 is suggested as a major contributor in cyclophosphamide bioactivation, and GST en-zymes are involved in detoxification. Polymorphisms of these enzymes may affect enzyme expression and function as well as treatment outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the CYP2B6 SNPs G516T, A785G and C1459T, GSTP1 SNP Ile105Val, and GSTM1 and GSTT1 null variants, on the outcome for cyclophosphamide treated MM patients, in order to find markers of value for individualised therapy. Methods: We used allele specific PCR and Pyrosequencing to investigate the impact of CYP2B6 SNPs G516T, A785G and C1459T, GSTP1 Ile105Val, and GSTM1 and GSTT1 variants, on the outcome for 26 cyclophosphamide treated multiple myeloma patients. Results and Major Conclusion: The CYP2B6 785G carriers had significantly shorter progression free survival (p = 0.048*) and overall survival (p = 0.037*) with 785G/G patients having the worst outcome compared to patients carrying the wild type. A shorter progression free survival was also indicated in patients carrying both CYP2B6 516T & 785G (p = 0.068). These results indicate a predictive role of CYP2B6 SNPs, particularly A785G, in cyclophosphamide treatment