Reproductive and developmental effects of phthalate diesters in females.

Phthalate diesters, widely used in flexible plastics and consumer products, have become prevalent contaminants in the environment. Human exposure is ubiquitous and higher phthalate metabolite concentrations documented in patients using medications with phthalate-containing slow release capsules raises concerns for potential health effects. Furthermore, animal studies suggest that phthalate exposure can modulate circulating hormone concentrations and thus may be able to adversely affect reproductive physiology and the development of estrogen sensitive target tissues. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the epidemiological and experimental animal literature examining the relationship between phthalate exposure and adverse female reproductive health outcomes. The epidemiological literature is sparse for most outcomes studied and plagued by small sample size, methodological weaknesses, and thus fails to support a conclusion of an adverse effect of phthalate exposure. Despite a paucity of experimental animal studies for several phthalates, we conclude that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that phthalates are reproductive toxicants. However, we note that the concentrations needed to induce adverse health effects are high compared to the concentrations measured in contemporary human biomonitoring studies. We propose that the current patchwork of studies, potential for additive effects and evidence of adverse effects of phthalate exposure in subsequent generations and at lower concentrations than in the parental generation support the need for further study

Private provision of rural infrastructure services: competing for subsidies

Market-oriented reforms of infrastructure in developing countries tend to focus primarily on commercially viable services in urban areas. Nevertheless, an increasing number of countries are beginning to experiment with extending the market paradigm to infrastructure services in rural areas that are often less attractive in commercial terms. In these cases, subsidies are used to close the gap between market requirements and development needs, and are increasingly determined and allocated on a competitive basis. The authors discuss the conditions under which competition among firms for such subsidies-successfully used in the telecommunications sector in a number of middle-income countries-could also be applied to electricity, water and sanitation, and transportation services in lower-income countries.Health Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Decentralization,ICT Policy and Strategies,Health Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Sector Economics&Finance,Town Water Supply and Sanitation,ICT Policy and Strategies

“I Held on at Any Price”: Victim Self-Preservation in the Sonderkommando in Auschwitz and Treblinka

Many Holocaust victims have expressed uneasiness or even shame regarding the actions they took to stay alive in the death camps. These acts of self-preservation were usually humiliating and often came at the expense of their fellow victims. This comes out most clearly in the testimonies of the members of the Sonderkommando in Auschwitz and Treblinka. Writers such as Filip Müller, Zalmen Gradowski, and Richard Glazar recount how they survived the lethal environment of the camp by appropriating the food, clothing, and valuables of the people murdered in the gas chambers. Although most scholars have interpreted these testimonies, and the acts of self-preservation they describe, as a form of resistance, I argue that the writings reflect an awareness of enslavement to the body and the imperative of self-preservation, which Arthur Schopenhauer calls the “will-to-live.” For the victims are not only lamenting the degrading things they had to do to preserve their lives; they are also questioning self-preservation itself. By reducing the victim to little more than a body, which never ceases in its physical demands until death, the death camp cruelly exploited the human enslavement to the will-to-live. The writers of these testimonies are critical of their own servitude to the imperative to survive at all costs and tend to admire, perhaps even envy, their fellow inmates who have the courage to resist the Nazis or commit suicide, which they view as the only true liberation from their bondage to the will-to-live

Alien Registration- Foster, Christina R. (Portland, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/26631/thumbnail.jp

Post graduate student early years teachers’ perceptions of HE teaching and learning strategies which may be effective in terms of developing best professional practice in early years contexts

Aim: This paper reports on a project designed to address the differences between student perception and the reality of study during undergraduate early years education and childhood studies courses. Analysis of application data demonstrated that entrants to these courses were typically young, and a significant number were admitted with non-traditional qualifications. The study initially focused on methods of supporting transition from a variety of contexts ranging from H.E. or the workplace to early years education courses at University. The study subsequently evolved into an exploration of students’ perceptions of participation in the teaching learning processes, the impact this had on their expectations of subsequent teaching and learning opportunities in HE with an emphasis on the effects on student experiences of becoming practitioner researchers. Content: The REPEY study (2003) stresses that teachers with a well developed academic understanding of their role have a better impact on children’s learning. Programme and national analysis data demonstrated that the induction and academic development of early years and childhood studies students needed improvement, so that these students could gain maximum benefit from their studies and become effective in early childhood education and care. Student focus groups identified that the language of HE and the degree of independent learning were seen as problematic by young students. Researchers built on the work of Sambell et al (2010) by adopting teaching and learning approaches which were participatory and interactive. Concepts of reflection and criticality were deconstructed with the students to give them a better understanding. Tutors aimed to work within the students’ zone of proximal development (Vygotsky) and applied their professional teaching skills and student-centred approaches to tackling this challenge. Inspired by the work of Malaguzzi (1993) and the notion of building a curriculum around the learner based on the learner’s current level of development and interest tutors’ practice included inviting students to become active researchers as part of a final year module.in order to explore students’ perceptions of meaning, relevance and power in the learning /teaching process. The strategy was evaluated using a mixed method approach. Data was collected at several points throughout the academic year from a sample of 20 Post Graduate initial teacher training Early Years students. The data were analysed using a grounded theory approach in order to elicit significant themes and identify which teaching and learning strategies were most effective in supporting student learning in HE and why. Data included the completion of reflective activity forms and interviews and/or questionnaires. Follow up interviews are to be conducted towards the end of the academic year in order to elicit whether or not experience in planning, designing and implementing a small scale study has impacted on students’ perceptions of teaching and learning in H.E. In addition to this there will be some exploration of attitudes regarding what students perceive as successful teaching and learning strategies and if change can be detected from the most recent data when compared to initial data collected at the beginning of the academic year. Thinking deeply about teacher education: The REPEY study (2003) confirms that highly qualified staff are more likely to be effective educators of young children. The initial catalyst for this study was a desire among the presenters to maximise the academic achievement of students planning to work as early years educators by investigating successful methods of transition from school to higher education this subsequently developed into the examination of the effect teaching and learning strategies to support students’ continuous development as active learners. The country/ies to which the presentation relates: This study was focused on students in the United Kingdom but of universal interest where students are prepared for teaching through study in higher education

SUMOylation Status and Effects of SUMylation on DAX-1

DAX-1 (Dosage Sensitive Sex Reversal Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita on the X Chromosome gene 1) is a Nuclear Hormone Receptor, which acts as a transcriptional repressor in the nucleus. DAX-1 plays an important role in development and also appears to have some influence on the progression of cancer. In an effort to better understand DAX-1 function both in normal and disease states we are examining one type of posttranslational modification, SUMOylation. SUMOylation involves the addition of the small polypeptide conjugate SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) to proteins, this can have a variety of effects on protein activity. To study the effects of SUMOylation on DAX-1, the overall SUMOylation status of DAX-1 in mammalian cell lines was determined. It was found that DAX-1 is SUMOylated in several cell lines, both normal and carcinoma cells. Mutations were made in putative SUMOylation sites within the DAX-1 gene and assayed for changes in gene expression and activity

Accuracy of physical activity assessment during pregnancy: an observational study

BACKGROUND: Prenatal physical activity may improve maternal and infant health and lower future disease risk for both mother and baby; however, very few physical activity assessment methods have been validated for use during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a subjective physical activity record (PAR) and an objective activity monitor, against a reference standard to quantify moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in pregnant women. The reference standard was based on participant interviews to determine if a woman was an exerciser and confirmed with information obtained from the PAR and a heart rate monitor. METHODS: Fifty-two pregnant women completed a physical activity record (PAR) and wore a SenseWear(® )Mini Armband (SWA) activity monitor over a 7-day period at 18 weeks gestation. Total minutes spent in MVPA were totaled from both modalities and evaluated against the reference standard using contingency analysis and Pearson's chi-square test to evaluate the number of women meeting minimum prenatal physical activity recommendations (at least 3, 30 minute sessions of exercise per week). Both modalities were also tested individually and collectively to assess their ability as indicators of activity using empirically determined cut-offs as indicated by receiver-operator characteristic curves. These experimentally-derived criteria were also tested with Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: According to the reference standard, 13 of 52 participants (25%) met the criterion of 3, 30 minute sessions of volitional, moderate-intensity activity. When compared to the reference standard, both the PAR and SWA overestimated exercise status; 42 (81%) and 52 (100%) participants, respectively, achieved 90 minutes of MVPA (P < 0.0001 for both comparisons). Single-modality predictors of MVPA did not show a significant correlation. A composite predictor of MVPA offered the most favorable option for sensitivity and specificity (true positives, n = 8 and true negatives, n = 36) using cut-offs of 280 and 385 minutes/week for the PAR and SWA, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared to the reference standard, time spent in MVPA obtained from the PAR or SWA overestimated the prevalence of women meeting prenatal exercise recommendations. The most accurate predictor of women meeting current prenatal exercise guidelines was identified by using the PAR and SWA collectively

Can an Immersion in Wellness Camp Influence Youth Health Behaviors?

Summer 4-H camps present an untapped opportunity for advancement of mission mandates. The project reported here immersed campers in healthy living experiential learning. The goal was to improve self-efficacy and health behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity. Data was collected from enrolled campers through multiple survey tools. A total of 74 campers completed baseline surveys during summer 2012; 6-month follow-up rate was 72%. Camp improved intervention campers\u27 nutrition knowledge (

Removing all barriers in the way of Science: A case study on Sci–Hub’s usage in Europe

Sci- Hub is the world’s largest pirate academic library. This case study explores its usage in Europe based on the website’s log data for the 6-month period between September 2015 and February 2016. A quantitative analysis of the log data was conducted followed by a qualitative interpretation of the results. The analysis revealed the European countries with the largest number of download requests, emerging download trends across disciplines and academic publishers. Financial crises impact, academic publisher regimes and user behavior studies are used to explain the results. In addition, hacktivism and Open Access are explored and suggest Sci-Hub’s alignment with hacktivism and the formation of a unique digital social movement

The impact of cataract surgery on activities and time-use: results from a longitudinal study in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world, and blindness from cataract is particularly common in low-income countries. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of cataract surgery on daily activities and time-use in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A multi-centre intervention study was conducted in three countries. Time-use data were collected through interview from cases aged >or=50 years with visually impairing cataract (VA or=6/18). Cases were offered free/subsidized cataract surgery. Approximately one year later participants were re-interviewed about time-use. At baseline across the three countries there were 651 cases and 571 controls. Fifty-five percent of cases accepted surgery. Response rate at follow up was 84% (303 out of 361) for operated cases, and 80% (459 out of 571) for controls. At baseline, cases were less likely to carry out and spent less time on productive activities (paid and non-paid work) and spent more time in "inactivity" compared to controls. Approximately one year after cataract surgery, operated cases were more likely to undertake productive activities compared to baseline (Kenya from 55% to 88%; Bangladesh 60% to 95% and Philippines 81% to 94%, p<0.001) and mean time spent on productive activities increased by one-two hours in each setting (p<0.001). Time spent in "inactivity" in Kenya and Bangladesh decreased by approximately two hours (p<0.001). Frequency of reported assistance with activities was more than halved in each setting (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The empirical evidence provided by this study of increased time spent on productive activities, reduced time in inactivity and reduced assistance following cataract surgery among older adults in low-income settings has positive implications for well-being and inclusion, and supports arguments of economic benefit at the household level from cataract surgery