Online Stakeholder Interactions in the Early Stage of a Megaproject

The purpose of this paper is to examine the network structure of online stakeholder discussions in the planning stage of a UK public mega project, High Speed Rail. By providing new rail connections between London, Birmingham and Manchester, this project is highly complex as it is embedded in a network of stakeholder relationships that may support or oppose the project. Data drawn from Twitter was analyzed using Social Network Analysis and inductive analysis of user profiles and content. Findings indicate that the majority of online stakeholders oppose the project and form stable clusters. Larger clusters within this network may attempt to deploy power directly in the form of a manipulation strategy while smaller clusters may seek to ally themselves with more powerful groups, a pathway strategy. Overall, the methodology is a useful complement to existing methods and may provide real time insights into the complex, evolving discussions around mega projects

Through the looking glass: Risk factors, radiological hallmarks and cognitive function in cerebral small vessel disease

‘Cerebral small vessel disease’ (CSVD) is een ziekte van de kleine bloedvaatjes in de hersenen. In onderzoek wordt vaak gebruik gemaakt van MRI markers: witte stofafwijkingen en lacunaire infarcten. Beide markers komen vaak voor in de normale bevolking. Dit proefschrift onderzoekt 1) mogelijk andere behandelbare risicofactoren naast hypertensie, 2) de klinische relevantie van deze radiologische markers, en 3) de etiologische verschillen tussen deze markers. Er werd gevonden dat verhoogd homocysteïne geassocieerd is met aanwezigheid en toename van beide witte stofafwijkingen en lacunaire infarcten, maar ook met toename van hersenatrofie en cognitieve tekorten. Daarnaast bleek dat homocysteïne een effect heeft op de ontwikkeling van een systemische kleine-vaatjes-ziekte, waarvan cerebral small vessel disease een onderdeel is. Daarnaast geven witte stofafwijkingen en lacunaire infarcten een hoger risico op beroertes en overlijden. Bovendien hangen witte stofafwijkingen, in tegenstelling tot de huidige inzichten, samen met cognitieve functiestoornissen en verslechtering daarvan in álle onderzochte cognitieve domeinen. Ook werd aangetoond dat witte stofafwijkingen en lacunaire infarcten - en voornamelijk toenamen - geassocieerd zijn met toename van hersenatrofie. Met 7T MRI werd de perivasculaire distributie van witte stofafwijkingen gedemonstreerd. De aard van het bloedvaatje verschilt afhankelijk van de anatomische locatie. Ook bleken risicofactorenprofielen voor het ontwikkelen van lacunaire infarcten in diepe witte stof en basale kernen te verschillen. Concluderend kan gezegd worden dat 1) homocysteïne betrokken is bij de ontwikkeling van CSVD en een mogelijk veelbelovend therapeutisch doelwit is, 2) radiologische markers van CSVD wel degelijk klinisch relevant zijn en 3) dat radiologische markers waarschijnlijk etiologisch van elkaar verschillen

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity: A systematic comparison of their impact on cognition

Item does not contain fulltextVascular risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity, have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction, particularly in the elderly. The aim of this systematic review was to compare these risk factors with regard to the nature and magnitude of the associated cognitive decrements. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that assessed cognitive functioning in non-demented persons in relation to diabetes/impaired glucose metabolism (k=36), hypertension (k=24), dyslipidemia (k=7) and obesity (k=6) and that adjusted or matched for age, gender and education were included. When possible, effect sizes (Cohen's d) were computed per cognitive domain. Diabetes and hypertension were clearly associated with cognitive decrements; the results for obesity and dyslipidemia were less consistent. Effect sizes were moderate (median similar to -0.3) for all risk factors. Decline was found in all cognitive domains, although the effects on cognitive speed, mental flexibility and memory were most consistent. Methodological aspects of included studies and implications of these findings are discussed.12 p

მ. ქოიავა და ე. კორძახია

მ. ქოიავა - აბაშის საქალაქო ბიბლიოთეკის აბონემენტის გამგე; ე. კორძახია - წიგნდამტარებელი

The assumption of the righteous dead in the Wisdom of Solomon and the Sayings Gospel Q

From the publisher\u27s website: The Wisdom of Solomon applies language from the Genesis reference to Enoch\u27s assumption (Gen. 5:24 LXX) to the dead righteous one (Wis. 4:7-17). This unusual use of the motif of assumption, normally thought of as an escape from death, is facilitated by topoi drawn from Hellenistic consolation materials; however, the typical corollary of assumption in the Jewish tradition—heavenly or eschatological exaltation—is also applied to the righteous one in Wis. 5:1-5. This innovation is particularly instructive for Q, which may understand Jesus\u27 post-mortem vindication and exaltation in terms of assumption (Q 13:35)