Gentrificando el Mahalle. Construcciones y deconstrucciones identitarias en torno a la gentrificación de Sulukule

Treballs Finals de Grau Antropologia Social i Cultural, Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2012-2013, Tutor: Sílvia BofillEste artículo analiza las construcciones y deconstrucciones identitarias derivadas del proceso de gentrificación que afectó en el año 2007 el mahalle de Sulukule, el barrio histórico romaní más antiguo de Estambul. A partir del análisis en profundidad de la memoria social de los actores Romanlar desplazados, este trabajo quiere dar cobertura a la singularidad de dicho proceso analizando las identidades que la entidad administrativa “mahalle” ha incrustado históricamente en el paisaje urbano, y la actual negociación de ellas a través de la nostalgia productiva. Finalmente, partiendo de la significación de Sulukule como mahalle, quiero proponer que no son solo fuerzas locales sino fuerzas globales las que impactan de manera directa e indirecta en los proyectos de renovación urbana, y mostrar como la gentrificación de Sulukule necesita ser significada en los marcos de la construcción identitaria del Estado-nación turco así como en la problemática histórica de la identidad transnacional romaní

Hiding Instagram Likes: Effects on negative affect and loneliness

Instagram, the social networking site (SNS), recently tested the initiative of hiding the number of Likes a post receives from other users. Instagram''s rationale for hiding Likes was to support wellbeing through reduced competition for Likes. In an experiment with 280 Instagram users in the United States, we investigated the effect of hiding Likes on negative affect and loneliness. Scenarios were created to simulate receipt of higher or lower Likes than desired, and the visibility of those Likes to others. Findings indicate that receiving greater Likes than desired reduces loneliness but increases negative affect, and this result is exacerbated by the visibility of Likes. However, when Likes are low, it does not make a difference to negative affect whether those Likes are visible or not. Vulnerable narcissism was associated with loneliness. Findings provide support for Instagram''s initiative, and reveal new insights about the interrelationship between loneliness and negative affect in Instagram use

Gamification in sport apps: the determinants of users'' motivation

Purpose: Gamification is a tool with great potential to motivate individuals to increase their physical activity. That is why sport apps for mobile devices, such as Nike+ or Strava, have integrated game elements. There is, however, little evidence of gamification''s effectiveness in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of game elements included in gamified sports'' apps on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (i.e. competence, autonomy and relatedness). Similarly, the research analyzes the impact of these needs on autonomous motivation. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve these goals, data were collected from users of gamified sport apps, using an online questionnaire. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings: The results showed that interaction in the app with achievement-related game elements satisfied the needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness; social-related elements satisfied the need for relatedness; and immersion-related elements satisfied the needs for competence and autonomy. Similarly, satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and relatedness while using the app is crucial to experience autonomous motivation. Practical implications: The findings of this study provide guidelines for practitioners and app developers. Originality/value: Based on self-determination theory, the paper provides new insights into the relationship between game elements included in sport apps and individuals'' basic psychological needs and motivation

Flow and business simulation games: A typology of students

In the context of management training business simulation games are increasingly emerging as pedagogical tools for motivating and engaging players actively in the learning experience. Business simulation games provide opportunities for students to enter the flow state. However, few studies have applied flow theory in this specific context. Using data from a two-wave longitudinal study with a sample of 430 students who played a business simulation game, this research draws on the four-channel model of flow to identify subgroups of students based on their levels of skill and challenge and to analyse the evolution of their optimal experience of flow. In addition, it explores whether students in flow achieve higher learning outcomes; in particular, students’ perceived learning, satisfaction and skills development

The importance of corporate brand identity in business management: An application to the UK banking sector

Corporate brand identity management is a key issue for any organisation. Accordingly, its study is a research field of great interest. This paper seeks to broaden the understanding of this strategic activity and its effects. Specifically, it investigates the concept of corporate brand identity from the employees' perspective in the UK financial banking sector and analyses the link between brand identity management and employees' attitudes and behaviours. Results indicate that organisations should pay special attention to the corporate brand identity management, given its influence on employees' commitment with their organisations, as well as their brand performance and satisfaction

Opportunistic linked data querying through approximate membership metadata

Between URI dereferencing and the SPARQL protocol lies a largely unexplored axis of possible interfaces to Linked Data, each with its own combination of trade-offs. One of these interfaces is Triple Pattern Fragments, which allows clients to execute SPARQL queries against low-cost servers, at the cost of higher bandwidth. Increasing a client's efficiency means lowering the number of requests, which can among others be achieved through additional metadata in responses. We noted that typical SPARQL query evaluations against Triple Pattern Fragments require a significant portion of membership subqueries, which check the presence of a specific triple, rather than a variable pattern. This paper studies the impact of providing approximate membership functions, i.e., Bloom filters and Golomb-coded sets, as extra metadata. In addition to reducing HTTP requests, such functions allow to achieve full result recall earlier when temporarily allowing lower precision. Half of the tested queries from a WatDiv benchmark test set could be executed with up to a third fewer HTTP requests with only marginally higher server cost. Query times, however, did not improve, likely due to slower metadata generation and transfer. This indicates that approximate membership functions can partly improve the client-side query process with minimal impact on the server and its interface

Regression of Late Onset Choroidal Metastasis from a Breast Carcinoma with Letrozole

We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus who underwent left breast lumpectomy and ipsilateral lymphadenectomy in 1994 because of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy to the breast and nodal areas were performed. In 2010, in a routine screening for diabetic retinopathy, two choroidal elevated masses above and below the optic nerve associated to serous retinal detachment of her right eye were noted. The patient was asymptomatic. Carcinoma was positive for hormone receptor. Hormone treatment with letrozole was established. Complete regression of the choroidal metastasis was observed 3 months later. Ophthalmologic screening in asymptomatic patients with breast cancer has the advantage of being a noninvasive procedure and enables an early treatment in isolated cases. However, some studies are an argument against the usefulness of eye screening due to the low incidence of asymptomatic choroidal metastasis and the cost that involves performing it routinely in a large number of patients. Aromatase inhibitors are well-tolerated drugs that may be a powerful tool in the management of metastatic breast cancer that express hormone receptors

Strong Purcell effect observed in single thick shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals coupled to localized surface plasmons

High quality factor dielectric cavities designed to a nanoscale accuracy are mostly used to increase the spontaneous emission rate of a single emitter. Here we show that the coupling, at room temperature, between thick shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals and random metallic films offers a very promising alternative approach. Optical modes confined at the nanoscale induce strong Purcell factors reaching values as high as 60. Moreover the quantum emission properties can be tailored: strong antibunching or radiative biexcitonic cascades can be obtained with high photon collection efficiency and extremely reduced blinking.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy that can cause blindness. Although panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is the treatment of choice for PDR, it has secondary effects that can affect vision. An alternative treatment such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), which produces an inhibition of vascular proliferation, could improve the vision of people with PDR. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of anti-VEGFs for PDR. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (2014, Issue 3), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to April 2014), EMBASE (January 1980 to April 2014), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 28 April 2014. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing anti-VEGFs to another active treatment, sham treatment or no treatment for people with PDR. We also included studies that assessed the combination of anti-VEGFs with other treatments. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data and assessed risk of bias for all included trials. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) or the mean difference (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS: We included 18 RCTs with 1005 participants (1131 eyes) of whom 57% were men. The median number of participants per RCT was 40 (range 15 to 261). The studies took place in Asia (three studies), Europe (two studies), the Middle East (seven studies), North America (three studies) and South America (three studies). Eight RCTs recruited people eligible for PRP, nine RCTs enrolled people with diabetes requiring vitrectomy and one RCT recruited people undergoing cataract surgery. The median follow-up was six months (range one to 12 months). Seven studies were at high risk of bias and the remainder were unclear risk of bias in one or more domains.Very low quality evidence from one study of 61 people showed that people treated with bevacizumab and PRP were less likely to lose 3 or more lines of visual acuity at 12 months compared with people treated with PRP alone (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.81). People treated with anti-VEGF had an increased chance of gaining 3 or more lines of visual acuity but the effect was imprecise and compatible with no effect or being less likely to gain vision (RR 6.78, 95% CI 0.37 to 125.95). No other study reported these two outcomes. On average, people treated with anti-VEGF (bevacizumab, pegaptanib or ranibizumab) had better visual acuity at 12 months compared with people not receiving anti-VEGF (MD -0.07 logMAR, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.02; 5 RCTs, 373 participants, low quality evidence). There was some evidence to suggest a regression of PDR with smaller leakage on fluorescein angiography but it was difficult to estimate a pooled result from the two trials reporting this outcome. People receiving anti-VEGF were less likely to have vitreous or pre-retinal haemorrhage at 12 months (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.65; 3 RCTs, 342 participants, low quality evidence). No study reported on fluorescein leakage or quality of life.All of the nine trials of anti-VEGF before or during vitrectomy investigated bevacizumab; most studies investigated bevacizumab before vitrectomy, one study investigated bevacizumab during surgery.People treated with bevacizumab and vitrectomy were less likely to lose 3 or more lines of visual acuity at 12 months compared with people given vitrectomy alone but the effect was imprecise and compatible with no effect or being more likely to lose vision (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.14; 3 RCTs, 94 participants, low quality evidence). People treated with bevacizumab were more likely to gain 3 or more lines of visual acuity (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.17; 3 RCTs, 94 participants, low quality evidence). On average, people treated with bevacizumab had better visual acuity at 12 months compared with people not receiving bevacizumab but there was uncertainty in the estimate (the CIs included 0; i.e. were compatible with no effect, and there was considerable inconsistency between studies; MD -0.24 logMAR, 95% CI -0.50 to 0.01; 6 RCTs, 335 participants, I(2) = 67%; low quality evidence). People receiving bevacizumab were less likely to have vitreous or pre-retinal haemorrhage at 12 months (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.52; 7 RCTs, 393 participants, low quality evidence). No study reported on quality of life.Reasons for downgrading the quality of the evidence included risk of bias in included studies, imprecision of the estimates, inconsistency of effect estimates and indirectness (few studies reported at 12 months).Adverse effects were rarely reported and there was no evidence for any increased risk with anti-VEGF but given the relatively few studies that reported these, and the low event rate, the power of the analysis to detect any differences was low. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There was very low or low quality evidence from RCTs for the efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF agents when used to treat PDR over and above current standard treatments. However, the results suggest that anti-VEGFs can reduce the risk of intraocular bleeding in people with PDR. Further carefully designed clinical trials should be able to improve this evidence

Osmium Catalysts for Acceptorless and Base-Free Dehydrogenation of Alcohols and Amines: Unusual Coordination Modes of a BPI Anion

A novel type of catalyst precursors for the dehydrogenation of hydrogen carriers based on organic liquids has been discovered. Complexes OsH6(PiPr3)2 (1) and OsH(OH)(CO)(PiPr3)2 (2) react with 1,3-bis(6'-methyl-2'-pyridylimino)isoindoline (HBMePI) to give OsH3{¿2-Npy,Nimine-(BMePI)}(PiPr3)2 (3) and OsH{¿2-Npy,Nimine-(BMePI)}(CO)(PiPr3)2 (4). The unprecedented ¿2-Npy,Nimine coordination mode of BMePI is thermodynamically preferred with Os(IV) and Os(II) metal fragments and allows for preparation of BMePI-based dinuclear metal cations. Treatment of OsH2Cl2(PiPr3)2 (5) with 0.5 equiv of HBMePI in the presence of KOtBu affords the chloride salt of the bis(osmium(IV)) dinuclear cation [{OsH3(PiPr3)2}2{µ-(¿2-Npy,Nimine)2-BMePI}]+ (6). Related homoleptic bis(osmium(II)) complexes have been also synthesized. Complex 4 reacts with the bis(solvento) [OsH(CO){¿1-O-[OCMe2]2}(PiPr3)2]BF4 to give [{OsH(CO)(PiPr3)2}2{µ-(¿2-Npy,Nimine)2-BMePI}]BF4 (7), whereas the addition of 0.5 equiv of HBMePI to {OsCl(¿6-C6H6)}2(µ–Cl)2 (8) affords [{OsCl(¿6-C6H6)}2{µ-(¿2-Npy,Nimine)2-BMePI}]Cl (9). The reactions of 4 with 8 and {OsCl(¿6-p-cymene)}2(µ–Cl)2 (10) lead to the heteroleptic cations [(PiPr3)2(CO)HOs{µ-(¿2-Npy,Nimine)2-BMePI}OsCl(¿6-arene)]+ (arene = C6H6 (11), p-cymene (12)). The electronic structrure and electrochemical properties of the dinuclear complexes were also studied. Complexes 3 and 4 are efficient catalyst precursors for the acceptorless and base-free dehydrogenation of secondary and primary alcohols and cyclic and lineal amines. The primary alcohols afford aldehydes. The amount of H2 released per gram of heterocycle depends upon the presence of a methyl group adjacent to the nitrogen atom, the position of the nitrogen atom in the heterocycle, and the size of the heterocycle