Gaming addiction, definition, and measurement: a large-scale empirical study

Aims: Although the general public appears to have embraced the term 'video game addiction', the scientific debate as to whether 'gaming addiction' can actually be considered an addiction similar to substance addictions of DSM-IV is still unsettled. To date, research on gaming addiction has focused on problematic behavior from the gaming activity itself and there has been little empirical research related to pathological personality patterns that usually are associated with substance addictions. Therefore, the current study examined how excessive gaming and ‘problematic gaming behavior’ are related to personality patterns associated with addiction by means of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 MMPI-2). Design, setting, and participants: A large-scale survey study among 1,004 adolescent boys (age-range 11-18 years; M =14.18, SD=1.36; response rate 96.17%). Measurements: Problematic gaming behavior, physical game-related symptoms, gaming behavior and three MMPI-2 subscales measuring personality patterns usually associated with substance addiction (MAC-R, APS, AAS) were assessed. Findings: Results showed that problematic gaming and physical game-related symptoms were positively related to all three substance abuse subscales of the MMPI-2. Conclusions: Problematic gaming should be clearly distinguished from excessive gaming. In short, excessive gaming merely indicates enthusiasm for some although it may be psychopathological for others

A within farm clinical trial to compare two treatments (parenteral antibacterials and hoof trimming) for sheep lame with footrot

From observational studies, farmers who use parenteral antibacterials to promptly treat all sheep with footrot (FR) or interdigital dermatitis (ID) have a prevalence of lameness of <2% compared with a prevalence of 9% lameness reported by farmers who treat lame sheep by trimming affected feet. We tested the hypothesis that prompt treatment of sheep lame with naturally developing FR or ID with parenteral and topical antibacterials reduces the prevalence and incidence of lameness with these conditions compared with less frequent treatment with trimming of hoof horn and applying topical antibacterials. A further hypothesis was that reduction of ID and FR would improve productivity. A lowland sheep flock with 700 ewes was used to test these hypotheses in an 18-month within farm clinical trial with four groups of ewes: two intervention and two control. The duration and severity of lameness was used to categorise sheep into three weighted scores of lameness (WLS): never lame (WLS0), mildly lame/lame for <6 days (WLS1) and severely or chronically lame (WLS2). The intervention reduced the prevalence of lameness due to FR and ID in ewes and lambs and the incidence of lameness in ewes. The WLS was also significantly lower in sheep in the intervention groups. Ewes with a higher WLS were subsequently significantly more likely to have a body condition score <2.5 and to have lame lambs. Significantly more ewes lambed and successfully reared more lambs that were ready for slaughter at a younger age in the intervention versus control groups. There was an increase in the gross margin of £630/100 ewes mated in the intervention group, including the cost of treatment of £150/100 ewes mated. We conclude that prompt parenteral and topical antibacterial treatment of sheep lame with ID and FR reduced the prevalence and incidence of these infectious conditions and led to improved health, welfare and productivity

The DyP-type peroxidase DtpA is a Tat-substrate required for GlxA maturation and morphogenesis in <i>Streptomyces</i>

The filamentous bacterium Streptomyces lividans depends on the radical copper oxidase GlxA for the formation of reproductive aerial structures and, in liquid environments, for the formation of pellets. Incorporation of copper into the active site is essential for the formation of a cross-linked tyrosyl-cysteine cofactor, which is needed for enzymatic activity. In this study, we show a crucial link between GlxA maturation and a group of copper-related proteins including the chaperone Sco and a novel DyP-type peroxidase hereinafter called DtpA. Under copper-limiting conditions, the sco and dtpA deletion mutants are blocked in aerial growth and pellet formation, similarly to a glxA mutant. Western blot analysis showed that GlxA maturation is perturbed in the sco and dtpA mutants, but both maturation and morphology can by rescued by increasing the bioavailability of copper. DtpA acts as a peroxidase in the presence of GlxA and is a substrate for the twin-arginine translocation (Tat) translocation pathway. In agreement, the maturation status of GlxA is also perturbed in tat mutants, which can be compensated for by the addition of copper, thereby partially restoring their morphological defects. Our data support a model wherein a copper-trafficking pathway and Tat-dependent secretion of DtpA link to the GlxA-dependent morphogenesis pathway. </jats:p

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FIRST-YEAR TEACHING MANUAL ON THE PRINCIPLES OF GRAPHIC DESIGN

ThesisThe origins of design are found in the Italian word disegnare, which means 'create' (Pipes, 2008:8). Pipes further claims that graphic designers use their knowledge to make consumer goods and gadgets desirable. To create a design that will interest the viewer, a graphic designer uses the rules and principles of graphic design. The vision of the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), is to be "a globally connected African university of technology that focuses on the needs of Southern Africa and supports graduates for citizenship with skills and competencies in appropriate technologies", while the mission of the CUT is to deliver "high-quality appropriate science, engineering and technology (SET) academic programmes supported by applied research" (Central University of Technology, Free State, Calendar 2015). Having been a lecturer for more than ten years, it became clear to the researcher that students struggle to link theory to practice and application. Tempelman and Pilot (2010:262) state that "a first promising solution to this problem is to interweave theory and practice much closer". Tempelman and Pilot further mention that the interweaving of theory and practice can contribute to the building of a student's knowledge and skills. The use of graphic design principles will also lessen the time taken to complete a successful design because these principles can be used as a formula (Castelluccio, 2008:58). A non-experimental research design which can be classified into three categories, namely relational designs, comparative designs and longitudinal designs, but for the purpose of this study a comparative design was used, because the comparative design compares two or more groups on one or more variable. In this case the effectiveness of a teaching manual was determined according to the perceptions of three groups, namely second-, third- and fourth-year graphic design students and graphic design lecturers at the CUT as well as the graphic design industry as represented in this study by a number of graphic design studio owners. A stratified purposeful sampling method was followed which included students, lecturers and industry in the field of graphic design. As background to the study, a literature review was conducted, providing an overview of graphic design principles and manual design and theory guiding the study. The research was conducted in three phases: (1) a quantitative research was conducted where student perception questionnaires were used to determine the respondents' (students') perceptions on The Principles of Graphic Design manual; (2) basic individual interviewing were used to gather information from specifically targeted participants (Munro, 2014:59) such as the lecturers of Basic Design Principles in order to determine whether the students' skills and competencies are enhanced with the aid of the aforementioned Manual and computerised self-administered questionnaires (CSAQ) were used as data collecting method for industry (design studio owners) to determine if the Manual positively influences the industry experience for the student by minimising the time spent on a design and enhance the lecturer’s teaching. It was concluded that The Principles of Graphic Design manual has a positive influence on the employability of the students of the Department of Design and Studio Art at the CUT and that the Manual is pitched at the appropriate level

The New Greece

The New Greece: Historic Site Improvements Since the 2004 Olympics, public slide show and talk by Professor Rebecca H. Sinos. Professor Tina Passman, Jay Bregnan, and Michael Grillo will design projects for the students of ancient history, art and classical languages, to incorporate this talk into their curricula

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts : characterization of disease variants

Objective : To provide an overview of clinical and MRI characteristics of the different variants of the leukodystrophy megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) and identify possible differentiating features. Methods : We performed an international multi-institutional, cross-sectional observational study of the clinical and MRI characteristics in patients with genetically confirmed MLC. Clinical information was obtained by questionnaires for physicians and retrospective chart review. Results : We included 204 patients with classic MLC, 187 of whom had recessive mutations in MLC1 (MLC1 variant) and 17 in GLIALCAM (MLC2A variant) and 38 patients with remitting MLC caused by dominant GLIALCAM mutations (MLC2B variant). We observed a relatively wide variability in neurologic disability among patients with classic MLC. No clinical differences could be identified between patients with MLC1 and MLC2A. Patients with MLC2B invariably had a milder phenotype with preservation of motor function, while intellectual disability and autism were relatively frequent. Systematic MRI review revealed no MRI features that distinguish between MLC1 and MLC2A. Radiologic improvement was observed in all patients with MLC2B and also in 2 patients with MLC1. In MRIs obtained in the early disease stage, absence of signal abnormalities of the posterior limb of the internal capsule and cerebellar white matter and presence of only rarefied subcortical white matter instead of true subcortical cysts were suggestive of MLC2B. Conclusion : Clinical and MRI features did not distinguish between classic MLC with MLC1 or GLIALCAM mutations. Absence of signal abnormalities of the internal capsule and cerebellar white matter are MRI findings that point to the remitting phenotype

SBD-RESP na busca ativa de casos de hanseníase

FUNDAMENTOS: A Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia Regional do Estado de São Paulo (SBD-RESP), apoiada pela Fundação Paulista Contra a Hanseníase, e em ação conjunta com os Serviços de Dermatologia do estado de São Paulo, credenciados pela Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia, lançou a campanha "SBD-RESP na Busca Ativa de Casos de Hanseníase". OBJETIVOS: Auxiliar o Programa Nacional de Controle da Hanseníase no controle da doença. MÉTODO: Todos os Serviços de Dermatologia do estado de São Paulo, credenciados pela Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia, foram convidados e os 17 que participaram receberam uma planilha de dados e modelos de materiais informativos sobre a doença. A campanha foi realizada entre os meses de maio e julho de 2010. Ao término do período, cada serviço encaminhou a planilha de dados para análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Foram examinadas 1718 pessoas e diagnosticados, no total, 90 casos de hanseníase, a maioria do gênero masculino e da cor branca, com percentuais semelhantes de multibacilares e de paucibacilares. Doze por cento apresentavam história familiar de hanseníase. O maior número de casos detectados foi na capital, seguido, no interior, pela região de Presidente Prudente. O índice de detecção em menores de 15 anos foi 4%. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados da campanha mostram a importância desta iniciativa da SBD-RESP. Sugere-se que ações semelhantes sejam repetidas e que se estendam a outras regionais da Sociedade Brasileira de DermatologiaBACKGROUND: The Brazilian Society of Dermatology of the State of Sao Paulo (SBD-RESP), supported by the Sao Paulo State Foundation Against Leprosy and acting jointly with Sao Paulo State Services of Dermatology, accredited by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, launched the campaign "SBD-RESP in active search for leprosy cases". OBJECTIVES: To assist the National Leprosy Control Program in eliminating Hansen's disease. METHODS: All of the Sao Paulo State Services of Dermatology, accredited by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, were invited to join the campaign. The 17 Services which accepted to participate received a spreadsheet of data and models of informative materials about the disease. The campaign lasted from May to July 2010. At the end of the campaign, each Service sent the spreadsheet data for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 1,718 people were examined and 90 cases of Hansen's disease were diagnosed. Most of the individuals infected were male and white and presented similar percentages of multibacillary and paucibacillary groups. Twelve percent had a family history of leprosy. The highest number of cases was detected in Sao Paulo city, followed by the region of Presidente Prudente, located in the countryside of Sao Paulo State. The detection rate in children younger than 15 years old was 4%. CONCLUSION: The campaign results show the importance of the SBD-RESP initiative. It is suggested that similar actions be repeated and extended to other regional offices of the Brazilian Society of Dermatolog

Tension, Free Space, and Cell Damage in a Microfluidic Wound Healing Assay

We use a novel, microfluidics-based technique to deconstruct the classical wound healing scratch assay, decoupling the contribution of free space and cell damage on the migratory dynamics of an epithelial sheet. This method utilizes multiple laminar flows to selectively cleave cells enzymatically, and allows us to present a 'damage free' denudation. We therefore isolate the influence of free space on the onset of sheet migration. First, we observe denudation directly to measure the retraction in the cell sheet that occurs after cell-cell contact is broken, providing direct and quantitative evidence of strong tension within the sheet. We further probe the mechanical integrity of the sheet without denudation, instead using laminar flows to selectively inactivate actomyosin contractility. In both cases, retraction is observed over many cell diameters. We then extend this method and complement the enzymatic denudation with analogies to wounding, including gradients in signals associated with cell damage, such as reactive oxygen species, suspected to play a role in the induction of movement after wounding. These chemical factors are evaluated in combination with the enzymatic cleavage of cells, and are assessed for their influence on the collective migration of a non-abrasively denuded epithelial sheet. We conclude that free space alone is sufficient to induce movement, but this movement is predominantly limited to the leading edge, leaving cells further from the edge less able to move towards the wound. Surprisingly, when coupled with a gradient in ROS to simulate the chemical effects of abrasion however, motility was not restored, but further inhibited.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Presidential FellowshipNational Institutes of Health (U.S.). Biotechnology Training FellowshipSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Biotechnology Training GrantMassachusetts Institute of Technology (Open-source Funding