Measuring intercultural competence: development of a German short scale

Als Konsequenz der Globalisierung und Internationalisierung gewinnt interkulturelle Kompetenz im alltäglichen Leben zunehmend an Bedeutung (z.B. Thomas 2009). Mit dem Ziel, eine umfassende sowie zugleich kurze und zuverlässige Skala zur Messung interkultureller Kompetenz in deutscher Sprache zu entwickeln, wurden zwei Studien durchgeführt. In der ersten Studie mit 125 Teilnehmenden ergaben Faktorenanalysen eine Vier-Faktoren Struktur mit den Faktoren interkulturelles Wissen (kognitiv), interkulturelle Verhaltensflexibilität (verhaltensbezogen) sowie Respekt für kulturelle Unterschiede und interkulturelle Offenheit (affektiv/einstellungsbezogen). In der zweiten Studie mit 241 Teilnehmenden wurde kulturelle Selbstreflexion als zusätzlicher Aspekt von interkultureller Kompetenz miteinbezogen. Insgesamt bestätigten die Ergebnisse der zweiten Studie die Resultate der ersten Studie. Die hier vorgestellte kurze Skala zur Erfassung interkultureller Kompetenz kann einen ersten Schritt zu einem neuen und zeitsparenden Messinstrument in verschiedenen Bereichen darstellen.As a consequence of globalization and internationalization, intercultural competence is becoming increasingly important in many parts of everyday life (e.g., Thomas 2009). In order to provide a comprehensive but short and reliable scale measuring intercultural competences in German language, two studies were conducted. In the first study on 125 individuals, factor analyses resulted in a four-factor structure with intercultural knowledge (cognitive), intercultural behavioural flexibility (behavioural) as well as respect for cultural differences and intercultural openness (affective/attitudinal) as important dimensions. In the second study on 240 individuals, cultural self-reflexivity was included as an additional yet often neglected aspect of intercultural competence. Overall, results of the second study replicated the findings of the first study. Taken together, the short scale presented in these studies may be a first step towards a new time-saving instrument of measuring intercultural competence in different areas

Zum Einfluss der Kaumuskelkontraktionsgeschwindigkeit auf die Beziehung zwischen Elektromyogramm und Kraftaufwand bei einseitigen isometrischen Bisskraftapplikationen und mögliche Auswirkungen auf die relative Aktivierung der Kaumuskeln

Background Ratios of jaw muscle acitivities measured by surface electromyography are an important tool for estimating intraoral forces and neuromuscular objectives during isometric biting. Precondition for the use of such activity ratios is that the activity is independent of the bite force. However, a previous study has demonstrated moderate associations between these parameters. An explanation for this could be a higher activity-per-bite force in the range of low forces than in the range of higher forces. The reason for these so-called additional acivities arising during muscle movement could be a minimal shortening during isometric contraction, because isometric biting cannot occur without any kind of shortening which is caused by anatomical and experimental conditions. During isometric contractions one could expect that the additional activities are proportionally higher in a range of low forces than in a range of higher forces due to the initial atony of the muscles. Furthermore it is known that the additional activity caused by movement increases with increasing velocity of the contraction. The purpose of this study was to investigate on the basis of the characteristics mentioned above if additional activities are effectively evoked during isometric contractions and whether they have any influence on the relation between activity ratios and biting force and therefore on the meaning of activity ratios in general. Methods The calculations of this study are based on a previous test carried out with 52 male dental students without any symptoms of craniomandibular disorders. Bite forces and bilateral electromyograms of masseter and temporalis muscles were recorded during unilateral isometric biting on a transducer with varying force levels in three different biting velocities (“slow”, “habitual” and “fast”). From these data the activity ratios between working- and balancing side (A/B) of masseter and temporalis muscle and the activity ratios between these muscles (T/M) on working or balancing side were computed in this study. The following parameters were assessed from muscle activities, activity ratios and bite force: relations between muscle activity and bite force, between activity ratios and bite force and between activity per bite force (A/FB) and bite force. The relations were tested for differences due to the varying velocities. Results Varying biting velocity didn´t show significant effects on the activity/bite force regressions. For the activity ratios correlated with the bite force there was also only a moderate reaction by changing velocity. At higher movement rates the A/B-ratio of the masseter and the T/M-ratio on the balancing side became more independent of the bite force. The A/FB were significant higher in the range of low forces up to 70% of the average bite force (324 N) than in the range of higher forces from 70% to 130%, where they were continuous. With increasing velocity of contraction the heightened A/FB of the low range increased only partially. Conclusions The study indicates the development of high activites per bite force at low isometric bite forces, which are continuous in a middle range of force and decrease with increasing bite force. This confirms the assumption that additional activities are caused by the initial muscle shortening during isometric biting. The expected increase of the A/FB with increasing contraction velocity could be proved only in parts and the expected influence of the movement rate on the activity ratios was also rather low. On the one hand these findings support the hypothesis that activity ratios are a relevant method for estimating the relative strength of muscle forces in the masticatory system. On the other hand the high and inconsistent activities per bite force at low forces demonstrate that the bite forces applied in EMG-studies shouldn´t be too low.Hintergrund und Zielsetzung Zur Untersuchung von Mustern, nach denen das neuromuskuläre System die Muskelkräfte bei isometrischen Beißvorgängen auf die kraniomandibulären Strukturen verteilt, werden in der oralen Physiologie und Biomechanik Verhältnisse der elektrisch messbaren Muskelaktivitäten verwendet. Dabei wurde bisher vorausgesetzt, dass die Aktivitätsverhältnisse über einen weiten Bereich unabhängig von der Bisskraft sind. Eine neuere Studie zeigte jedoch, dass bei isometrischen Beißvorgängen eine moderate Bisskraftabhängigkeit der Aktivitätsverhältnisse besteht. Erklärt werden könnte dies mit der Entstehung von relativ mehr Muskelaktivität pro Bisskrafteinheit bei niedrigeren im Vergleich zu höheren Bisskräften. Diese Vermutung leitet sich daraus ab, dass isometrisches Beißen aufgrund von anatomischen und versuchsbedingten Umständen niemals vollkommen ohne leichte Verkürzungen und damit Bewegungen der Muskeln stattfinden kann. Bei bewegten Muskeln entstehen sog. Zusatzaktivitäten, die die eigentlich kraftkorrelierten Aktivitäten überlagern. So müssten bei isometrischen Kontraktionen solche Zusatzaktivitäten im niedrigen Kraftbereich anteilmäßig an der Gesamtaktivität stärker sein als im höheren. Weiterhin ist aus der Muskelphysiologie bekannt, dass bewegungbedingte Zusatzaktivitäten bei schnellen Kontraktionen höher sind als bei langsamen. Ziel der Studie war es, anhand der beschriebenen Eigenschaften von Zusatzaktivitäten zu untersuchen, ob diese bei isometrischen Beißvorgängen tatsächlich entstehen und welchen Einfluss sie gegebenenfalls auf die Biss-kraftabhängigkeit und damit auf die Aussagekraft der Aktivitätsverhältnisse haben. Methoden Den Berechnungen dieser Arbeit liegen Daten aus Messsitzungen zu Grunde, in denen 52 männliche Zahnmedizinstudenten mit gesundem Kauorgan in den drei Geschwindigkeiten langsam, habituell und schnell mit variierenden Bisskräften isometrisch auf ein Dynamometer gebissen hatten. Parallel zu den Bisskräften waren mit Hilfe der Oberflächenelektromyographie die Aktivitäten der beiden Mm. masseteres und Mm. temporales aufgezeichnet worden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden aus den EMG-Daten die Arbeits-/Balanceseitenverhältnisse (A/B) der Masseter- und Temporalisaktivitäten, sowie die Temporalis-/Masseterverhältnisse (T/M) der Aktivitäten auf der Arbeits- und Balanceseite bestimmt. Aus den Muskelaktivitäten, Aktivitätsverhältnissen und Bisskräften wurden Relationen zwischen Muskelaktivitäten und Bisskraft, zwischen Aktivitätsverhältnissen und Bisskraft sowie zwischen Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft (A/FB) und Bisskraft berechnet. Die ermittelten Relationen wurden auf Unterschiede hinsichtlich der drei Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeiten untersucht. Ergebnisse Die Regressionen zwischen den Muskelaktivitäten und der Bisskraft ergaben keine eindeutigen Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit. Ebenso hatte die Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit nur geringen Einfluss auf die Abhängigkeit der Aktivitätsverhältnisse von der Bisskraft. Bei hoher Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit ergab sich eine leichte Abnahme der Bisskraftabhängigkeit des Masseter A/B-Verhältnisses und des T/M-Verhältnisses auf der Balanceseite. Die Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft waren bei allen Muskeln im unteren Kraftbereich bis ca. 70% der mittleren Bisskraft (324 N) signifikant höher als im Kraftbereich zwischen 70% und 130%, wo sie sich nur wenig veränderten. Die erhöhten Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft im unteren Kraftbereich stiegen bei Erhöhung der Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit nur teilweise noch weiter an. Schlussfolgerungen Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass bei niedrigen isometrischen Bisskräften relativ hohe Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft entstehen, die mit steigender Bisskraft abnehmen und im mittleren Kraftbereich annähernd konstant sind. Diese Beobachtung bekräftigt die vermutete Entstehung von Zusatzaktivitäten infolge von Muskelverkürzungen im initialen Stadium der Kontraktion, die dann aber wieder verschwinden, wenn sich die Muskeln im mittleren Kraftbereich kaum mehr verkürzen. Der erwartete Anstieg der Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft bei höherer Kontraktionsgeschwindigkeit konnte allerdings nur teilweise dargestellt werden. Ebenso wirkte sich die Kontraktions-geschwindigkeit nur gering auf die Bisskraftabhängigkeit der Aktivitätsverhältnisse aus. Dies stützt einerseits die These, dass Aktivitätsverhältnisse ein geeignetes Maß für die relative Muskelaktivierung darstellen. Andererseits zeigen die hohen und variablen Aktivitäten-pro-Bisskraft bei niedrigen Kräften, dass bei EMG-Untersuchungen nicht mit zu kleinen Kräften gearbeitet werden sollte

Deletion of fabN in Enterococcus faecalis results in unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophy and decreased release of inflammatory cytokines

The Gram-positive bacterium Enterococcus faecalis can cause life-threatening infections and is resistant to several commonly used antibiotics. The type II fatty acid pathway in bacteria is discussed as a potential target for antimicrobial therapy. However, it was shown that inhibition or deletion of its enzymes can be rescued in Gram-positive bacteria by supplementation with fatty acids. Here we show that by deletion of the fabN gene, which is essential for unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) synthesis in E. faecalis, growth is impaired but can be rescued by supplementation with oleic acid or human serum. Nonetheless, we demonstrate alterations of the UFA profile after supplementation with oleic acid in the fabN mutant using a specific glycolipid. In addition, we demonstrate that cytokine release invitro is almost abolished after stimulation of mouse macrophages by the mutant in comparison to the wild type. The results indicate that fabN is not a suitable target for antimicrobials as UFA auxotrophy can be overcome. However, deletion of fabN resulted in a decreased inflammatory response indicating that fabN and resulting UFA synthesis are relevant for virulence

Comportamento de baleias jubarte, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetacea: Balaenopteridae): comparação entre duas áreas de concentração na costa do Brasil

Behavior of humpback whales was observed during the reproductive period off the northern coast of the state of Bahia (NB, n = 378 groups) and at the Abrolhos Bank (AB, n = 919) to compare patterns and group composition between the two locations. Alone individuals and dyads were most often encountered in both areas, although mother-calf pairs were more common in AB. While these two regions comprise distinct concentrations of humpback whales, with intrinsic environmental differences, behavior patterns were quite similar. The only behavioral differences found where for "tail up" and "resting". The patterns found here may reflect differences in the protection status of the areas or intrinsic environmental differences.Eventos e estados comportamentais de baleias jubarte durante a temporada reprodutiva foram observados no Litoral Norte da Bahia (LNB) e no Banco dos Abrolhos (BA), para identificar possíveis diferenças nos padrões comportamentais específicos a determinadas composições de grupo. Foram analisados 378 grupos de baleias jubarte no LNB e 919 no BA. Obteve-se uma predominância de duplas e animais solitários em ambas as áreas. No entanto, grupos de "fêmea e filhote" foram mais comumente observados no BA, quando comparados ao LNB. Apesar das duas áreas serem distintas quanto à concentração de baleias jubarte, com diferenças ambientais intrínsecas, obtiveram-se probabilidades de ocorrência das condutas bastante similares para ambas as áreas. Diferenças significativas na probabilidade de ocorrência foram obtidas apenas para as condutas "exposição da caudal" e "repouso". As diferenças obtidas neste estudo, comparando-se as duas regiões amostradas, possivelmente refletem diferenças no status de proteção da área e/ou características ambientais intrínsecas a cada área

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Survival Following Breast Cancer

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is hypothesized to influence survival after breast cancer, but few studies have examined this association

Vehicular Traffic–Related Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure and Breast Cancer Incidence: The Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project (LIBCSP)

BackgroundPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental pollutants, known human lung carcinogens, and potent mammary carcinogens in laboratory animals. However, the association between PAHs and breast cancer in women is unclear. Vehicular traffic is a major ambient source of PAH exposure.ObjectivesOur study aim was to evaluate the association between residential exposure to vehicular traffic and breast cancer incidence.MethodsResidential histories of 1,508 participants with breast cancer (case participants) and 1,556 particpants with no breast cancer (control participants) were assessed in a population-based investigation conducted in 1996–1997. Traffic exposure estimates of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), as a proxy for traffic-related PAHs, for the years 1960–1995 were reconstructed using a model previously shown to generate estimates consistent with measured soil PAHs, PAH–DNA adducts, and CO readings. Associations between vehicular traffic exposure estimates and breast cancer incidence were evaluated using unconditional logistic regression.ResultsThe odds ratio (95% CI) was modestly elevated by 1.44 (0.78, 2.68) for the association between breast cancer and long-term 1960–1990 vehicular traffic estimates in the top 5%, compared with below the median. The association with recent 1995 traffic exposure was elevated by 1.14 (0.80, 1.64) for the top 5%, compared with below the median, which was stronger among women with low fruit/vegetable intake [1.46 (0.89, 2.40)], but not among those with high fruit/vegetable intake [0.92 (0.53, 1.60)]. Among the subset of women with information regarding traffic exposure and tumor hormone receptor subtype, the traffic–breast cancer association was higher for those with estrogen/progesterone-negative tumors [1.67 (0.91, 3.05) relative to control participants], but lower among all other tumor subtypes [0.80 (0.50, 1.27) compared with control participants].ConclusionsIn our population-based study, we observed positive associations between vehicular traffic-related B[a]P exposure and breast cancer incidence among women with comparatively high long-term traffic B[a]P exposures, although effect estimates were imprecise.CitationMordukhovich I, Beyea J, Herring AH, Hatch M, Stellman SD, Teitelbaum SL, Richardson DB, Millikan RC, Engel LS, Shantakumar S, Steck SE, Neugut AI, Rossner P Jr., Santella RM, Gammon MD. 2016. Vehicular traffic–related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and breast cancer incidence: the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project (LIBCSP). Environ Health Perspect 124:30–38; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.130773

TROMBOFILIA FAMILIAR: MUTAÇÃO HOMOZIGOTA DO FATOR V DE LEIDEN

O Tromboembolismo Venoso representa um grave problema de saúde publica mundial, representado pela Trombose Venosa Profunda (TVP) e pelo Tromboembolismo Pulmonar (TEP). Essa é uma doença multifatorial, ocasionada por fatores adquiridos ambientalmente e outros intrínsecos ao indivíduo. Dentre esses fatores podem-se destacar as deficiências dos fatores de coagulação, anomalia de plaquetas, doenças vasculares e alterações nos inibidores da cascata de coagulação. Em relação a essas causas, um dos principais fatores que levam a trombose é a mutação nos genes que expressam o Fator V de Leiden (FVL). A mutação genética de Leiden tem uma herança dominante e o gene mutado em heterozigose para a FVL aumenta o risco de trombose em até cinco vezes a mais em comparação a uma pessoa sem mutação, já a homozigose (quando ambos os alelos são mutados), aumenta as chances de trombose de cinquenta a cem vezes. Venous Thromboembolism represents a serious public health problem worldwide, represented by Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE). This is a multifactorial disease, caused by factors acquired from the environment and others intrinsic to the individual. Among these factors, deficiencies in coagulation factors, platelet anomalies, vascular diseases and changes in coagulation cascade inhibitors can be highlighted. Regarding these causes, one of the main factors that lead to thrombosis is the mutation in the genes that express Factor V Leiden (FVL). The Leiden genetic mutation has a dominant inheritance and the mutated gene in heterozygosity for FVL increases the risk of thrombosis by up to five times more compared to a person without mutation, whereas homozygosity (when both alleles are mutated) increases the chances of thrombosis from fifty to a hundred times.El Tromboembolismo Venoso representa un grave problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, representado por la Trombosis Venosa Profunda (TVP) y el Tromboembolismo Pulmonar (TEP). Esta es una enfermedad multifactorial, causada por factores adquiridos del ambiente y otros intrínsecos al individuo. Entre estos factores se pueden destacar las deficiencias en los factores de la coagulación, las anomalías plaquetarias, las enfermedades vasculares y los cambios en los inhibidores de la cascada de la coagulación. Respecto a estas causas, uno de los principales factores que conducen a la trombosis es la mutación en los genes que expresan el Factor V Leiden (FVL). La mutación genética de Leiden tiene una herencia dominante y el gen mutado en heterocigosidad para FVL aumenta hasta cinco veces más el riesgo de trombosis en comparación con una persona sin mutación, mientras que la homocigosidad (cuando ambos alelos están mutados) aumenta las posibilidades de trombosis de cincuenta a cien veces.O Tromboembolismo Venoso representa um grave problema de saúde publica mundial, representado pela Trombose Venosa Profunda (TVP) e pelo Tromboembolismo Pulmonar (TEP). Essa é uma doença multifatorial, ocasionada por fatores adquiridos ambientalmente e outros intrínsecos ao indivíduo. Dentre esses fatores podem-se destacar as deficiências dos fatores de coagulação, anomalia de plaquetas, doenças vasculares e alterações nos inibidores da cascata de coagulação. Em relação a essas causas, um dos principais fatores que levam a trombose é a mutação nos genes que expressam o Fator V de Leiden (FVL). A mutação genética de Leiden tem uma herança dominante e o gene mutado em heterozigose para a FVL aumenta o risco de trombose em até cinco vezes a mais em comparação a uma pessoa sem mutação, já a homozigose (quando ambos os alelos são mutados), aumenta as chances de trombose de cinquenta a cem vezes.&nbsp

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Lipid Mediators From Timothy Grass Pollen Contribute to the Effector Phase of Allergy and Prime Dendritic Cells for Glycolipid Presentation

Plant pollen are an important source of antigens that evoke allergic responses. Protein antigens have been the focus of studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for allergic reactions to pollen. However, proteins are not the sole active agent present in pollen. It is known that pollen grains contain lipids essential for its reproduction and bioactive lipid mediators. These small molecular compounds are co-delivered with the allergens and hence have the potential to modulate the immune response of subjects by activating their innate immune cells. Previous reports showed that pollen associated lipid mediators exhibited neutrophil- and eosinophil-chemotactic activity and induced polarization of dendritic cells (DCs) toward a Th2-inducing phenotype. In our study we performed chemical analyses of the pollen associated lipids, that are rapidly released upon hydration. As main components we have identified different types of phytoprostanes (PhytoPs), and for the first time phytofurans (PhytoFs), with predominating 16-F1t-PhytoPs (PPF1-I), 9-F1t-PhytoPs (PPF1-II), 16-E1t-PhytoPs (PPE1-I) and 9-D1t-PhytoPs (PPE1-II), and 16(RS)-9-epi-ST-Δ14-10-PhytoFs. Interestingly 16-E1t-PhytoP and 9-D1t-PhytoPs were found to be bound to glycerol. Lipid-containing samples (aqueous pollen extract, APE) induced murine mast cell chemotaxis and IL-6 release, and enhanced their IgE-dependent degranulation, demonstrating a role for these lipids in the immediate effector phase of allergic inflammation. Noteworthy, mast cell degranulation seems to be dependent on glycerol-bound, but not free phytoprostanes. On murine dendritic cells, APE selectively induced the upregulation of CD1d, likely preparing lipid-antigen presentation to iNKT cells. Our report contributes to the understanding of the activity of lipid mediators in the immediate effector phase of allergic reactions but identifies a yet undescribed pathway for the recognition of pollen-derived glycolipids by iNKT cells

Exposure to multiple sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and breast cancer incidence

Background: Despite studies having consistently linked exposure to single-source polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to breast cancer, it is unclear whether single sources or specific groups of PAH sources should be targeted for breast cancer risk reduction. Objectives: This study considers the impact on breast cancer incidence from multiple PAH exposure sources in a single model, which better reflects exposure to these complex mixtures. Methods: In a population-based case-control study conducted on Long Island, New York (N = 1508 breast cancer cases/1556 controls), a Bayesian hierarchical regression approach was used to estimate adjusted posterior means and credible intervals (CrI) for the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for PAH exposure sources, considered singly and as groups: active smoking; residential environmental tobacco smoke (ETS); indoor and outdoor air pollution; and grilled/smoked meat intake. Results: Most women were exposed to PAHs from multiple sources, and the most common included active/passive smoking and grilled/smoked food intake. In multiple-PAH source models, breast cancer incidence was associated with residential ETS from a spouse (OR = 1.20, 95%CrI = 1.03, 1.40) and synthetic firelog burning (OR = 1.29, 95%CrI = 1.06, 1.57); these estimates are similar, but slightly attenuated, to those from single-source models. Additionally when we considered PAH exposure groups, the most pronounced significant associations included total indoor sources (active smoking, ETS from spouse, grilled/smoked meat intake, stove/fireplace use, OR = 1.45, 95%CrI = 1.02, 2.04). Conclusions: Groups of PAH sources, particularly indoor sources, were associated with a 30–50% increase in breast cancer incidence. PAH exposure is ubiquitous and a potentially modifiable breast cancer risk factor