Cultivation and Enabling Effects of Social Support and Self-Efficacy in Parent–Child Dyads

Background There are two alternative mechanisms, elucidating the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and social support when explaining health outcomes: self-efficacy beliefs may operate as the establisher of social support (the cultivation model) or social support may enable the formation of self-efficacy beliefs (the enabling model). Purpose In line with the cultivation hypothesis, it was tested if self-efficacy (measured in parents and children) would indirectly predict parental and child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), via the mediator, social support (parent-provided, child-received). In line with the enabling hypothesis, it was tested if social support would predict MVPA indirectly, via the mediator, self-efficacy. Methods A total of 879 parent–child dyads (1758 individuals; 52.4% girls, aged 5–11 years old, 83.2% mothers) provided self-reports at the baseline (T1) and the 7- to 8-month follow-up (T2). Body weight and height were measured objectively. Manifest path analyses were performed, controlling for the baseline levels of the mediator and dependent variables. Results A similar number of significant simple indirect effects was found for the cultivation and the enabling model. Across the models, the indirect effects followed similar patterns: (a) within-individual indirect effects in children; (b) across-individual indirect effects, with the independent variable measured in children and the mediator/dependent variables measured in parents (e.g., child self-efficacy predicted parental support provision and, indirectly, parental MVPA); (c) across-individual indirect effects, accounting for self-efficacy and MVPA measured in children, combined with parental reports of social support. Conclusions The findings provide support for both cultivation and enabling models in the context of MVPA among parent–child dyads

Player strategies: achieving breakthroughs and progressing in single-player and cooperative games

Challenge is considered to be one of the key components of game-play, where game designers face the tricky task of getting the balance right so that game-play is neither too easy nor too difficult. Through attempting in-game challenges, players experience cycles of breakdown and breakthrough, where breakthroughs involve moments of insight in which learning occurs. However, little attention has been given to how players actually overcome challenges to progress during game-play. Across two studies, we explore the ways in which players attempt to achieve breakthroughs in relation to single-player and co-located multiplayer games. We identified a number of strategies that are used by players, which illustrate how learning occurs during play. For instance, while “Experiment” involves forming an informal hypothesis, “Trial & error” occurs when the player tries to find out what, if anything, will happen when they carry out an action. These strategies are considered in relation to supporting player progress and engaging game-play when designing commercial and educational games

Establishing multiple languages in early childhood : heritage languages and language hierarchies in German-English daycare centers in Switzerland

The number of conceptually bilingual daycare centers has been steadily increasing in Switzerland, a traditionally multilingual country. Yet, the focus on the languages introduced in these institutions has largely remained on one national language – and English. We look at how English and – in our case – German are employed in daycare centers and how their prioritization leads to a reproduction and legitimization of language hierarchies. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of translanguaging, code-switching, and language hierarchies as well as data from an ethnographic study in three daycare centers, we investigate how teachers and children employ different languages in the light of restrictions imposed by the daycare centers’ language policy. Although these are implemented differently in each institution, the overall commonality is the juxtaposition of the prestigious and official languages used, German and English, and the virtual exclusion of children’s heritage languages

Integrated reporting – a “one-size-fits-all” solution!?

In a world of constantly growing streams of information, extensive transparency in public and private environment as well as recent financial crises, it seems to be essential to enhance reporting to a higher, more sophisticated level that considers these changes. Especially, the worldwide financial crisis showed that a separated view on financial and non-financial reporting and an orientation on solely short-term information are no longer appropriate for many stakeholders. Integrated Reporting – representing a symbiosis of financial and non-financial information – might be a solution to satisfy the changing stakeholder needs. In order to establish this idea, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) was initiated aiming to provide quantitative and qualitative guidance in form of a framework for organizations on how to conduct integrated reporting. One of the main questions that arises within this context is whether IR is “a one size fits all”-solution or if there is a substantial need for sector-specific requirements. Therefore, this article provides not only a theoretical background on the concept of IR but also shows some results of experiences examining reporting habits of several, cross-sectoral companies participating in the IIRC’s pilot programme. Additionally, general and sector-specific requirements as well as chances, challenges and a prospect of IR have to be considered. This article analyses if a general framework on IR is sufficient or if there is the necessity to work on sector-specific  requirements

Digitization: Redefining and Innovating New Businesses. Bericht über die Veranstaltung «Steilvorlagen für den Unternehmenserfolg» auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse 2017

Tagungsberich

Reduced expression of innate immunity-related genes in lymph node metastases of luminal breast cancer patients

Immune system plays a dual role in cancer by either targeting or supporting neoplastic cells at various stages of disease, including metastasis. Yet, the exact immune-related transcriptome profiles of primary tumours (PT) and lymph node metastases (LNM) and their evolution during luminal breast cancer (BCa) dissemination remain undiscovered. In order to identify the immune-related transcriptome changes that accompany lymphatic spread, we analysed PT-LNM pairs of luminal BCa using NanoString technology. Decrease in complement C3—one of the top-downregulated genes, in LNM was validated at the protein level using immunohistochemistry. Thirty-three of 360 analysed genes were downregulated (9%), whereas only 3 (0.8%) upregulated in LNM when compared to the corresponding PT. In LNM, reduced expression was observed in genes related to innate immunity, particularly to the complement system (C1QB, C1S, C1R, C4B, CFB, C3, SERPING1 and C3AR1). In validation cohort, complement C3 protein was less frequently expressed in LNM than in PT and it was associated with worse prognosis. To conclude, local expression of the complement system components declines during lymphatic spread of non-metastatic luminal BCa, whilst further reduction of tumoral complement C3 in LNM is indicative for poor survival. This points to context-dependent role of complement C3 in BCa dissemination.publishedVersio

Guideline Adherence of Paediatric Urolithiasis:An EAU Members’ Survey and Expert Panel Roundtable Discussion

Background: Paediatric nephrolithiasis has increased globally, requiring standardized recommendations. This study aims to assess the paediatric urolithiasis care between EAU members along with the statements of three experts in this field. Methods: The results of an electronic survey among EAU members comparing the guideline recommendations to their current practice managing paediatric nephrolithiasis in 74 centres are contrasted with insights from an expert-panel. The survey consisted of 20 questions in four main sections: demographics, instrument availability, surgical preferences and follow-up preferences. Experts were asked to give insights on the same topics. Results: A total of 74 responses were received. Computerised Tomography was predominantly used as the main imaging modality over ultrasound. Lack of gonadal protection during operations was identified as an issue. Adult instruments were used frequently instead of paediatric instruments. Stone and metabolic analysis were performed by 83% and 63% of the respondents respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is the recommended standard treatment for stones > 20 mm, 12% of respondents were still performing shockwave lithotripsy despite PNL, mini and micro-PNL being available. Children have a high risk for recurrence yet stone and metabolic analysis was not performed in all patients. Expert recommendations may guide clinicians towards best practice

Gene set of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial regulators is enriched for common inherited variation in obesity

There are hints of an altered mitochondrial function in obesity. Nuclear-encoded genes are relevant for mitochondrial function (3 gene sets of known relevant pathways: (1) 16 nuclear regulators of mitochondrial genes, (2) 91 genes for oxidative phosphorylation and (3) 966 nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed no association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in these gene sets. Here we performed a GSEA for the same gene sets for obesity. Genome wide association study (GWAS) data from a case-control approach on 453 extremely obese children and adolescents and 435 lean adult controls were used for GSEA. For independent confirmation, we analyzed 705 obesity GWAS trios (extremely obese child and both biological parents) and a population-based GWAS sample (KORA F4, n = 1,743). A meta-analysis was performed on all three samples. In each sample, the distribution of significance levels between the respective gene set and those of all genes was compared using the leading-edge-fraction-comparison test (cut-offs between the 50(th) and 95(th) percentile of the set of all gene-wise corrected p-values) as implemented in the MAGENTA software. In the case-control sample, significant enrichment of associations with obesity was observed above the 50(th) percentile for the set of the 16 nuclear regulators of mitochondrial genes (p(GSEA,50) = 0.0103). This finding was not confirmed in the trios (p(GSEA,50) = 0.5991), but in KORA (p(GSEA,50) = 0.0398). The meta-analysis again indicated a trend for enrichment (p(MAGENTA,50) = 0.1052, p(MAGENTA,75) = 0.0251). The GSEA revealed that weak association signals for obesity might be enriched in the gene set of 16 nuclear regulators of mitochondrial genes