Valuing the voluntary sector: rethinking economic analysis

The voluntary sector plays an important role in the sports industry, as a provider of sporting opportunities and in the development of sport, from increasing participation through to supporting excellence and elite performance. However, despite this importance, research on its contribution to sport-related economic activity is limited, with information on this sector remaining the weakest part of current economic assessments of the UK sports industry. The research presented in this article examines the economic importance of the voluntary sector, using a case study of Sheffield. It demonstrates that the sports voluntary sector in the city is considerably smaller than was predicted when using national estimates, and that this is largely a consequence of methodological issues relating to previous research. The article suggests that in the light of the findings and the increasing use of sport in urban policy, there is a need to rethink the methodology used to evaluate the economic contribution of the voluntary sector in the future.</p

CP Violation in D0−D0‾D^0-\overline{D^0}Mixing

The existence of $D^0-\overline{D^0}$ mixing at a detectable level requires new physics, which effectively yields a $\Delta c = 2$ superweak interaction. In general this interaction may involve significant CP violation. For small values of the mixing it may be much easier to detect the CP-violating part of the mixing than the CP-conserving part.Comment: 3 pages, latex, no figure

Electrochemistry and application of a novel monosubstituted squarate electron-transfer mediator in a glucose oxidase-doped poly(phenol) sensor

Electrosynthetic poly(phenol) nanofilms were deposited in situ on platinum electrodes in the presence and absence of glucose oxidase. The synthesis charges and currents of the nonconducting polymer films were recorded at various applied potentials for films grown from 25–100 mM phenol concentrations. Film parameters such as the standard rate constant for film deposition, film thickness, and surface concentration of the poly(phenol) films were evaluated from the cyclic and step voltammograms of the polymerization process. A novel electron-transfer mediator consisting of monosubstituted 4-hydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione (squarate) was used as a mediator for Pt/poly(phenol) nano-film/GOx amperometric glucose biosensors. Amperometric responses for 3-diphenylamino-4-hydroxycyclobut-3-ene-1,2- dione (diphenylaminosquarate: E°′ = of +328 mV/Ag-AgCl at pH 7.0)-mediated systems were measured by both steady-state amperometric and cyclic voltammetry. The sensor sensitivity was calculated to be 558 nA cm –2 (µM) –1

Attentional control mediates the relationship between social anhedonia and social impairment

Social anhedonia (SA), a trait-like disinterest in social contact and diminished capacity to experience pleasure from social interactions, is consistently associated with social impairments in both healthy and clinical populations. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between SA and social impairment are poorly understood. Attentional control, selecting and focusing on relevant information and inhibiting irrelevant, may be one such mechanism. We examined individual differences in SA, attentional control, and social impairment in 108 healthy adults. High SA related to low attentional control and high social impairment. Moreover, attentional control mediated the relationship between SA and social impairment, establishing attentional control as one mechanism underlying aberrations in the fundamental human need for social contact. Although both attentional deficits and social impairment have been separately noted in SA, the relationship between SA, attentional control and social impairment in this non-clinical sample reflects a novel contribution

Lateral prefrontal cortex activity during cognitive control of emotion predicts response to social stress in schizophrenia

LPFC dysfunction is a well-established neural impairment in schizophrenia and is associated with worse symptoms. However, how LPFC activation influences symptoms is unclear. Previous findings in healthy individuals demonstrate that lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) activation during cognitive control of emotional information predicts mood and behavior in response to interpersonal conflict, thus impairments in these processes may contribute to symptom exacerbation in schizophrenia. We investigated whether schizophrenia participants show LPFC deficits during cognitive control of emotional information, and whether these LPFC deficits prospectively predict changes in mood and symptoms following real-world interpersonal conflict. During fMRI, 23 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 24 healthy controls completed the Multi-Source Interference Task superimposed on neutral and negative pictures. Afterwards, schizophrenia participants completed a 21-day online daily-diary in which they rated the extent to which they experienced mood and schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms, as well as the occurrence and response to interpersonal conflict. Schizophrenia participants had lower dorsal LPFC activity (BA9) during cognitive control of task-irrelevant negative emotional information. Within schizophrenia participants, DLPFC activity during cognitive control of emotional information predicted changes in positive and negative mood on days following highly distressing interpersonal conflicts. Results have implications for understanding the specific role of LPFC in response to social stress in schizophrenia, and suggest that treatments targeting LPFC-mediated cognitive control of emotion could promote adaptive response to social stress in schizophrenia

Liderança critica aplicada através da lens latinas: um abordagem alternativo do liderança educacional

The aims and objectives of this research were to investigate and better understand ways in which race and gender play out as differences of significant consequence in applied leadership practice. Utilizing qualitative case study methodology coupled with counter-story, a critical race theory approach, the authors analyze data on two Mexican descent educational leaders in the US: one Latino K-6 principal and one Chicana university Dean. Findings indicate evidence supporting positive identity leadership traits as practiced through raced and gender lenses, resulting in effective socially just and equitable leadership outcomes for the participants in the study. These findings are new and particularly relevant as demographic shifts in the US and the world include high numbers of Latino/a and Mexican descent individuals. The strategies employed by participants suggest subaltern ways of educational leadership not previously considered in research and literature. The authors discuss evidence of characteristics supporting applied critical leadership (ACL), an emerging leadership theory, in the leadership practices of the participants. Finally, mainstream implications and guidelines are provided for application in multiple educational leadership contextsEl propósito y objetivos de esta investigación fueron investigar y comprender mejor las formas en las que la raza y el género generan importantes consecuencias en la práctica del liderazgo aplicado. Se realiza un estudio de caso cualitativo con contra-historia con un enfoque teórico-crítico sobre raza,. Los autores analizan datos sobre dos líderes educativos de ascendencia mexicana en los EE.UU.: uno director de una escuela K-6 latina y el otro, director de una universidad chicana. Los hallazgos evidencian rasgos de identidad positiva de los líderes que permite la puesta en práctica de un liderazgo equitativo y socialmente justo entre los participantes del estudio. Estos hallazgos son novedosos y especialmente relevantes en EEUU y en el resto de países donde viven un alto número de descendientes de latinos y mexicanos. Las estrategias empleadas por los participantes sugieren alternar formas de liderazgo no consideradas ni en la investigación ni en la literatura. Los autores discuten las evidencias encontradas que definen la teoría emergente del liderazgo crítico aplicado (ACL). Por último, se aportan directrices para su aplicación en diferentes contextosA finalidade e objetivos desta pesquisa foram investigar e entender melhor as maneiras em que raça e gênero têm implicações importantes para a prática da liderança aplicada. Foi feito um estudo de caso qualitativo com contra-história é com uma abordagem teórica e crítica à raça e gênero. Os autores analisaram dados de dois líderes educacionais de ascendência mexicana em EUA: um director de um K-6 escola latina e no outro, diretor do faculdade chicana. Os resultados mostram traços de identidade positiva de líderes, que permite a implementação de uma liderança justa e socialmente justa entre os participantes do estudo. Estes resultados são novos e particularmente relevante em os EUA e outros países onde vivem um elevado número de descendentes de latinos e mexicanos. As estratégias empregadas pelos participantes sugerem formas alternativas de liderança não considerado ou pesquisa ou literatura. Os autores discutem as evidências encontradas que definem a teoria emergente de liderança crítica aplicada (ACL). Finalmente, orientações para a aplicação em diferentes contextos são fornecido

Effects of augmented exercise therapy time after stroke: a meta-analysis

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background and Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; To present a systematic review of studies that addresses the effects of intensity of augmented exercise therapy time (AETT) on activities of daily living (ADL), walking, and dexterity in patients with stroke.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Summary of Review:&lt;/b&gt; A database of articles published from 1966 to November 2003 was compiled from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro, DARE, and PiCarta using combinations of the following key words: stroke, cerebrovascular disorders, physical therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, rehabilitation, intensity, dose–response relationship, effectiveness, and randomized controlled trial. References presented in relevant publications were examined as well as abstracts in proceedings. Studies that satisfied the following selection criteria were included: (1) patients had a diagnosis of stroke; (2) effects of intensity of exercise training were investigated; and (3) design of the study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). For each outcome measure, the estimated effect size (ES) and the summary effect size (SES) expressed in standard deviation units (SDU) were calculated for ADL, walking speed, and dexterity using fixed and random effect models. Correlation coefficients were calculated between observed individual effect sizes on ADL of each study, additional time spent on exercise training, and methodological quality. Cumulative meta-analyses (random effects model) adjusted for the difference in treatment intensity in each study was used for the trials evaluating the effects of AETT provided. Twenty of the 31 candidate studies, involving 2686 stroke patients, were included in the synthesis. The methodological quality ranged from 2 to 10 out of the maximum score of 14 points. The meta-analysis resulted in a small but statistically significant SES with regard to ADL measured at the end of the intervention phase. Further analysis showed a significant homogeneous SES for 17 studies that investigated effects of increased exercise intensity within the first 6 months after stroke. No significant SES was observed for the 3 studies conducted in the chronic phase. Cumulative meta-analysis strongly suggests that at least a 16-hour difference in treatment time between experimental and control groups provided in the first 6 months after stroke is needed to obtain significant differences in ADL. A significant SES supporting a higher intensity was also observed for instrumental ADL and walking speed, whereas no significant SES was found for dexterity.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The results of the present research synthesis support the hypothesis that augmented exercise therapy has a small but favorable effect on ADL, particularly if therapy input is augmented at least 16 hours within the first 6 months after stroke. This meta-analysis also suggests that clinically relevant treatment effects may be achieved on instrumental ADL and gait speed.&lt;/p&gt

Identification of Melatonin-Regulated Genes in the Ovine Pituitary Pars Tuberalis, a Target Site for Seasonal Hormone Control

The pars tuberalis (PT) of the pituitary gland expresses a high density of melatonin (MEL) receptors and is believed to regulate seasonal physiology by decoding changes in nocturnal melatonin secretion. Circadian clock genes are known to be expressed in the PT in response to the decline (Per1) and onset (Cry1) of MEL secretion, but to date little is known of other molecular changes in this key MEL target site. To identify transcriptional pathways that may be involved in the diurnal and photoperiod-transduction mechanism, we performed a whole genome transcriptome analysis using PT RNA isolated from sheep culled at three time points over the 24-h cycle under either long or short photoperiods. Our results reveal 153 transcripts where expression differs between photoperiods at the light-dark transition and 54 transcripts where expression level was more globally altered by photoperiod (all time points combined). Cry1 induction at night was associated with up-regulation of genes coding for NeuroD1 (neurogenic differentiation factor 1), Pbef / Nampt (nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase) , Hif1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α), and Kcnq5 (K channel) and down-regulation of Rorβ, a key clock gene regulator. Using in situ hybridization, we confirmed day-night differences in expression for Pbef / Nampt, NeuroD1, and Rorβ in the PT. Treatment of sheep with MEL increased PT expression for Cry1, Pbef / Nampt, NeuroD1, and Hif1α, but not Kcnq5. Our data thus reveal a cluster of Cry1-associated genes that are acutely responsive to MEL and novel transcriptional pathways involved in MEL action in the PT

A study of the validity and the reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in screening for anxiety after stroke in older inpatients

Objectives: To investigate the validity and reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory in screening for anxiety in older inpatients post-stroke. Design: Longitudinal. Subjects: A total of 81 inpatients with stroke aged 65 years or older were recruited at four centres in England. Main measures: At phase 1 the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered and then the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (phase 2). The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was repeated a median of seven days later (phase 3). Results: Internal reliability of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was high (α = 0.95) and test-retest reliability acceptable (τB = 0.53). Construct validity of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was evident with respect to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -Anxiety subscale (τB = 0.61). At a cut off of 6/7, the sensitivity of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was 0.88 and specificity 0.84, with respect to Structured Clinical Interview diagnosis of anxiety. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale -Anxiety subscale sensitivity was 0.88, specificity 0.54 at the optimum cut off of 5/6. A comparison the areas under the curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristics for the two instruments indicated that the area under the curve of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory was significantly larger than that of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale –Anxiety subscale, supporting its superiority. Conclusions: The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory is an internally consistent, reliable (stable) and valid instrument with acceptable sensitivity and specificity to screen for anxiety in older inpatients with stroke