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To describe and evaluate a cost-effective, integrated model of service provision for people with Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD). Participants identified by three large acute hospitals as having ARBD and suitable for recovery and rehabilitation were offered a 12-week recovery-focussed program at a residential unit. The unit is a collaboration between an NHS board, the local council, and a 3rd sector organization Participants' pre-admission and post-admission medical data was gathered to analyze the effectiveness of the unit's program on Emergency Department (ED) attendance and inpatient bed use. Improvement in cognition was measured by comparing the ACE-III results for all participants at admission and just prior to discharge from the program. Thirty-one participants met the inclusion criteria. Paired t-tests revealed the 12-week program overall significantly reduced attendance at ED, use of in-patient beds after discharge, and improved cognitive functioning. This integrated model of service provision provides clear benefits to residents' cognitive functioning and to the NHS by freeing up inpatient beds and ED capacity. Therefore, it should be considered by commissioners when addressing the needs of people with ARBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In late 2022, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency National Institute of Forensic Science (ANZPAA NIFS) Document Specialist Advisory Group (DocSAG) began a capability mapping project with the broad aim to consider, in the Australian and New Zealand context, forensic document examination: where are we now, and where to from here? Our capability mapping project is based largely on the approach used for the 2022 Forensic Capability Mapping – Firearm Examination Project, led by ANZPAA NIFS. A survey was developed and disseminated to capture information addressing key topics: current and emerging risks, improvement areas, current and future capability, and business continuity. This paper outlines the project process and summarizes key findings of the first round of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has suggested that the perception of emotional images may also activate brain regions related to the preparation of motoric plans. However, little research has investigated whether these emotion-movement interactions occur at early or later stages of visual perception. In the current research, event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to examine the time course of the independent – and combined – effects of perceiving emotions and implied movement. Twenty-five participants viewed images from four categories: 1) emotional with implied movement, 2) emotional with no implied movement, 3) neutral with implied movement, and 4) neutral with no implied movement. Both emotional stimuli and movement-related stimuli led to larger N200 (200–300 ms) waveforms. Furthermore, at frontal sites, there was a marginal interaction between emotion and implied movement, such that negative stimuli showed greater N200 amplitudes vs. neutral stimuli, but only for images with implied movement. At posterior sites, a similar effect was observed for images without implied movement. The late positive potential (LPP; 500–1000 ms) was significant for emotion (at frontal sites) and movement (at frontal, central, and posterior sites), as well as for their interaction (at parietal sites), with larger LPPs for negative vs. neutral images with movement only. Together, these results suggest that the perception of emotion and movement interact at later stages of visual perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ICT4D projects fail. Researchers attribute this failure partly to the mismatch between the context in which ICTs are designed and the context of their use. This study aims to understand the interplay between design and ICT4D by (1) making an inventory of design principles across three themes: problem framing, design approach, and team composition, and (2) assessing design statements (distilled from the list of design principles) through a two-round Delphi study with a group of ICT4D researchers and practitioners. The results show that while there is a general awareness of the importance of design in ICT4D, a consolidated effort to investigate how design principles can be more effectively integrated with ICT4D is missing. The study further concludes that there is a shift towards co-designing, that it is difficult to design without pre-determined ideas of using ICTs/emerging technologies and that transdisciplinary collaboration has not yet flourished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the use of trauma-sensitive practices in second chance education across four European countries, namely Austria, Ireland, Italy and Malta. The study used a quantitative methodology, whereby an online questionnaire was distributed amongst 249 educators who worked in second chance education. Over half of respondents believed that most of their students had experienced trauma, highlighting the importance of trauma-sensitive practices in this sector. Results also indicated that educators generally had a high level of perceived understanding of trauma and its impact, with relatively high levels of trauma-focused support and trauma-sensitive interactions also observed. A low to average amount of secondary traumatic stress was observed amongst participants. Efficacy in classroom management and in student engagement was found to be relatively high, with educators with more years of experience and specialist training having achieved higher scores in classroom management. Specialist training, however, was not linked with greater efficacy in student engagement, suggesting that the development of new specialist training programmes which focus on ways in which educators can increase students' engagement could help to enhance the educational experience of these students. This study was conducted as part of the Erasmus+ funded research programme, Training Hope, Wellbeing, and Resilience in Vulnerable Early School Leavers (THRIVE) (2018–2020), which aimed to develop a trauma-focused training programme for educators in second chance education, to improve students' experience in this sector by enabling educators to effectively engage with students, providing them with meaningful learning experiences as well as by improving educators' classroom management skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testosterone concentrations in men decline with advancing age, with low testosterone concentrations being associated with multiple morbidities, an increased risk of early mortality, and a reduced quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol on testosterone synthesis in men by investigating its effects on each level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Acute consumption of a low-to-moderate amount of alcohol increases testosterone concentrations in men, while consumption of a large volume of alcohol is associated with a reduction in serum testosterone concentrations. Elevated testosterone concentrations result from the increased activity of detoxification enzymes in the liver. Conversely, the primary mechanisms of action involved in the reduction of testosterone are increased hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. When alcohol is consumed in excess, particularly chronically, it negatively affects testosterone production in men. Since testosterone is an important component of men's health and wellbeing, current levels of alcohol consumption in many countries of the world require urgent attention. Elucidating the relationship between alcohol consumption and testosterone may be useful in identifying strategies to attenuate the testosterone-reducing effects of excessive or chronic alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytopenias are important but less studied adverse events following chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell (CAR-T) therapy. In our analysis of patients with large cell lymphoma who received axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), we sought to determine the rate and risk factors of clinically significant short term cytopenias defined as grade ≥3 neutropenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia, or treatment with growth factors or blood product transfusions between days 20–30 after axi-cel. Fifty-three pts received axi-cel during the study period and severe cytopenias were observed in 32 (60%) pts. Significant cytopenias were more common in non-responders (stable or progressive disease) vs. responders (partial or complete response) (100% vs. 70%; p =.01). In the multivariable model, platelet transfusion within a month before leukapheresis, number of red blood cell and platelet transfusions between leukapheresis to lymphodepletion, pre-lymphodepletion absolute neurophil count, pre-lymphodepletion lactate dehydrogenase, and number of dexamethasone treatments after CAR-T were significantly associated with severe cytopenias after axi-cel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, Airbnb has attracted millions of new guests to begin using its service. Diffusion theory suggests that over time different types of customers will adopt an innovation, yet no research has examined differences between Airbnb guests based on when they first began using the service. Consequently, this study compared earlier adopters, later adopters, and non-adopters of Airbnb according to a variety of behaviours and characteristics. The study is based on innovation diffusion concepts, and entailed an online survey of 1,189 US travellers. Data analysis revealed numerous differences between the adopter categories. Earlier adoption corresponded with less attraction to Airbnb's hotel-like features, higher expectations and satisfaction with Airbnb, more positive attitudes towards Airbnb, and a greater likelihood of using other non-hotel forms of travel lodging. More recent adoption corresponded with a greater likelihood of using midrange and upscale hotels. As compared to travellers who had used Airbnb, non-adopters exhibited lower novelty-seeking tendencies and innovativeness towards information technology, in addition to lower socio-economic status. Various theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis plays a central role in the stress response. Plants, herbs, spices, and plant-based nutrients may influence HPA-axis activity. To evaluate randomised controlled, human trials assessing the effects of single plants or phytonutrients on HPA-axis related hormones. A systematic review of PubMed, Cochrane library, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria comprised of human, randomised controlled studies with a control intervention examining the effects of a single herb, spice, plant, or extract on pre- and post-changes in blood, saliva, urine, or hair concentrations of cortisol, cortisone, corticotrophin-releasing hormone, or adrenocorticotropic hormone. Databases were searched from inception until October 2020. Fifty-two studies were identified examining the effects of ashwagandha, Korean ginseng, St John's Wort, cannabidiol, Rhodiola rosea, curcumin, cherry juice, asparagus, Jiaogulan, Black cohosh, Siberian ginseng, Bacopa monnieri, blueberries, green tea, Caralluma fimbriata, cashew apple juice, melon, American ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, grape juice, grapefruit juice, rosella, hops, mangosteen, holy basil, and pomegranate juice. Due to significant variability in study designs, the effect of phytonutrients on HPA-axis activity in humans was unclear. The most consistent finding was a morning, cortisol-lowering effect from ashwagandha supplementation. For most phytonutrients, the effects of supplementation on HPA-axis activity in humans is unclear. Before more definitive conclusions about the effects of phytonutrients on the HPA-axis can be made, further research is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-germinal center B-cell (GCB) molecular subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is associated with chronic activation of B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling [[1]], has poorer prognosis than GCB subtype DLBCL [[2]], and treatment with Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors has resulted in greater anti-tumor activity than in GCB DLBCL [[3]]. Twenty-five patients with R/R DLBCL were included in the analysis for part 2, including 9 patients with GCB and 16 with non-GCB DLBCL (3 patients with non-GCB DLBCL were from part 1). Based on the MTD of ACP-319 determined in part 1 (50 mg BID), patients in part 2 received acalabrutinib 100 mg BID and ACP-319 50 mg BID, 1 group with non-GCB DLBCL and 1 group with GCB DLBCL. [Extracted from the article]

Many cities have to cope with annual snowfall, but are struggling to manage their snow plowing activities efficiently. Despite the fact that winter road maintenance has been a popular research subject for decades, very few papers propose scalable models that can incorporate side constraints encountered in real-life applications. In this work, we propose a Constraint Programming formulation for a Snow Plow Routing Problem (SPRP). The SPRP under consideration involves finding a set of vehicle routes to service a street network in a pre-defined service area, while accounting for various vehicle constraints and traffic restrictions. The fundamental mathematical problem underlying SPRP is the well-known Capacitated Arc Routing Problem (CARP). Common Mathematical Programming (MP) approaches for CARP are typically based on: (i) a graph transformation, thereby transforming CARP into an equivalent node routing problem, or (ii) a sparse network formulation. The CP formulation in this article is based on the former graph transformation. Using geospatial data from the city of Pittsburgh, we empirically show that our CP approach outperforms existing MP formulations for SPRP. For some of the larger instances, our CP model finds 26% shorter plowing schedules than alternative Integer Programming formulations. A test pilot held with actual vehicles proves the applicability of our approach in practice: our routes are 3–156% shorter than the routes the city of Pittsburgh generated with commercial routing software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Becoming educated physically need not be confined to gyms, playing fields, dance studios and aquatic complexes. A case in point is that of swimming which serves notice on training the body exclusively by offering an ecologically attuned, movement pedagogy. As an exemplar for the cultivation of the body-subject and its implication in the flesh of world, a phenomenological analysis of swimming provides a somaesthetic rendition of flow motion by highlighting the motional basis to enhanced ecological responsiveness. The gestures of flow that are shaped by swimming in a pool, a lake, or the ocean and by responsiveness to wave patterns in particular, are indicative of the circulations of not just waterscapes but, by gestural extension, of a bodily immersion within the world at large. Health and Physical Education can thus be guided by aspirations to care very practically and with disciplinary focus for this watery planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how Chinese elites understand the proper role of their nation vis-à-vis its 'periphery' and how this self-understanding shapes Chinese strategic policy toward neighboring states. It makes two specific arguments. First, after 2012 China began to understand itself as responsible for actively managing and shaping its periphery. Xi Jinping has overseen an evolution in China's neighborhood strategy that has changed from mere engagement to proactive efforts to shape regional order. Efforts to achieve this goal have come primarily through: institution-building and regional integration via the 'Belt and Road Initiative', strategic partnerships, normative binding, and developmental statecraft. Second, managing newly emerged power asymmetries between China and its neighbors is now a crucial task of Beijing's peripheral policy. The emerging China-led regional order relies on norms that are hierarchical, transactional, and reflect status distinctions. Xi Jinping's neighborhood strategy rests on an asymmetric bargain: respect China's core interests in exchange for benevolence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Away from the major population centres, the biodiversity of Australia's shallow coastal marine waters is poorly known. The Tweed-Moreton Bioregion, covering northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland, is both a focus of marine conservation (with three marine parks), and research efforts to predict the effects of climate change through species range extensions and shifts in community composition. Here we provide the first comprehensive list of shallow-water (<30 m) shelled, gastropod macro-molluscs (>5 mm) from the Solitary Islands Marine Park, compiled from a range of sources, including field collections over a 30-year period to 2017. The Cypraeidae (50 spp.), Muricidae (47 spp.) and Conidae (32 spp.) were the most speciose families, accounting for 26% of the total inventory of 500 species from 77 families. A total of 143 species are recorded at their southern limit of distribution on Australia's east coast, most being rare, tropically affiliated taxa found at offshore island sites that receive more frequent contact with the southward-flowing East Australian Current. The inventory confirms the high biodiversity of the Solitary Islands region and the importance of ongoing conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the growing issue of nomophobia, characterized by the anxiety of being without a mobile phone, in the workplace. Utilizing the broaden-and-build theory, this research examines the impact of supportive leadership, co-worker support, Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, and affective commitment on reducing nomophobia among employees. Data were collected from 393 employees across various educational organizations. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that supportive leadership significantly reduces nomophobia by enhancing HRM practices and affective commitment. However, contrary to expectations, co-worker support was found to increase nomophobia, suggesting that informal communication and social interactions via mobile devices might exacerbate smartphone dependency. HRM practices emerged as a critical factor in mitigating nomophobia, more so than affective commitment. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the complex dynamics of workplace relationships and offering practical insights for organizations aiming to reduce nomophobia and improve employee well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenomenology of the bodily experience of interactive flow adds to Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory. Whereas Csikszentmihalyi attended to teachers' and students' experiences of flow separately, this inquiry explores flow through three water-inspired layers of physical interaction between fitness professionals and their clients. Teaching fitness is likened to the emotive experience of surfing the ocean peaks, swimming in the shallows, and diving deep beneath the surface. As a producer of high, immersed, and deep flow, this teaching moves actively from an elevated stage of one-sided instruction to motions of deep, other-directed absorption. Learning to teach in this flow-producing way is portrayed through first-person accounts of the intensification of closeness, connection, reciprocity, and mutuality between fitness professionals and their clients. This study, with its reference to the postures, positions, gestures, and expressions of fitness instruction, indicates a kinaesthetic register of flow consciousness that serves as a guide to effective exercise pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is probably fair to say that academic interest in the role of conscience in healthcare (and specifically, in the phenomenon of conscientious objection (CO)) has never been more intense, as evidenced by the volume of articles (and indeed, special issues) devoted to the topic in recent years. Nevertheless, he argues, there is no I principled i distinction between the healthcare professions and other professions, and protection for individual conscience (and CO specifically) is important in all professional contexts. Like Oderberg's paper, their discussion aligns most closely with the theme of roundtable two: I why i should we protect conscience in the healthcare context?. [Extracted from the article]

There is increasing interest in participation by volunteers in data collection for marine ecosystems. Here we evaluate the contribution that citizen scientists can make to documenting marine biodiversity through underwater photography of targeted taxa. In a series of 13, 24-hr censuses of sea slugs, at intervals of three months from December 2013 to December 2016, volunteers recorded similar species richness (89%) to scientists at Port Stephens, NSW, Australia. Volunteer numbers only partially (24.9% of variation) explained the relative performance of volunteers against scientists, or the number of species found by volunteers (20.5%). Species richness in censuses was similar (97%) to estimates obtained during four-week lead-up periods. The programme provided novel information on diversity and seasonality of sea slugs, revealing strong seasonal patterns for chromodorid nudibranchs, and cyclical temporal change at the assemblage level. The programme inspired many of the participants to take part in multiple events, generated educational material, and led to the extension of the programme to other locations. The potential benefits of programmes such as this go beyond the generation of data to address specific research questions and, combined with extension activities, can help to deliver and reinforce messages about the importance of marine ecosystem health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent criticism of forensic science has focused on the fundamental aspects of the science, including the lack of supporting empirical studies, validation, accreditation, limitations and error rates. Proficiency tests are an essential component of accreditation and can be used to evaluate laboratory performance and identify systematic issues within components of the service provision. In 2016 we reported on the results of an analysis of 3176 CTS proficiency tests undertaken between 2005 and 2015 by Australian government service providers. The data analysed represented 43 unique CTS test types and covered 21 disciplines. Here we present further data from 2016 to 2017 and compare these results with those obtained from the previous study. These combined results further demonstrate that errors exist even though practitioners know they are examining proficiency tests and the tests undergo a review process. This study illustrates the need to continue to monitor trends in proficiency test results and also further highlights the need for well-designed, relevant, blind error rate studies to determine the approximate error rates for casework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can you find the child in physical education research? Can you see evidence of the child in research dealing with the school curriculum of physical education or the teaching-learning processes of the gymnasium or sportsfield? This is the pedagogical question to which I draw attention. My purpose is to show the significance of this question by (a) critiquing current research agendas and situating the question within the context of North American research traditions, by (b) entering the life of these traditions and showing how the question might guide our research activity, and by (c) indicating the nature of the methodology that supports oar work. Through descriptions of children's physical activities, I give textual evidence of the pedagogical orientation at the heart of physical education research and, at the same time, provide concrete examples of a human science approach to physical education research, which I think goes some way to answering the question ‘Where is the child?’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key phrase in working with horses, "bringing up life" is taken in its literal sense of moving expressively and energetically in order to animate the movements of the horses. The phrase also points to both what the radical phenomenologist Michel Henry referred to as the auto-affectivity of life and the vital powers of an essential hetero-affectivity. "Bringing up life" is the kinetic, kinaesthetic, affective expression of this fundamental impression that life is shared with other animate beings and that it is all the more powerfully felt for being so. Working with horses – in spite of all the human conceits that groundwork, liberty training, and the riding disciplines hold – can thus reveal what it means to "bring up life" as more than a topic of very practical interest and specific phenomenological description. Through the impressional investigation of this expression we may well begin to feel our way toward more life-affirming, life-enhancing interactions with others of our own and many other animal kinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial expressions of disgust, which involve movement of the levator labii muscles on the nose, allow an organism to restrict the intake of potentially aversive stimuli by constricting the air cavities in the nostrils and reducing the speed of air intake. In the current research, we used fMRI of the thoracic spinal cord to measure neural activity related to (1) the contraction of the intercostal muscles that modulate the velocity of air intake and (2) the sensory feedback associated with this contraction. Thirteen participants completed two spinal fMRI runs in which the thoracic segments of the spinal cord were measured. Each five-minute 40-second run consisted of three 60-second blocks in which participants repeatedly generated a disgusted facial expression or a non-emotional expression consisting of repeated stretching of the lips (which did not involve the nasal cavity). Forty-second rest blocks were interleaved between each expression block. The results demonstrated that generating emotional expressions of disgust produces significantly more activity than producing non-emotional facial expressions. This activity occurred in both ventral (motoric) and dorsal (sensory) regions of the upper segments of the thoracic spinal cord and demonstrates a link between the generation of facial expressions and embodied emotional responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smith SM, Fox SE, Lee KD, Medeiros K, Plaisted HC. 2017. Secchi depths in lakes of Cape Cod National Seashore from 1996 to 2016 and relationships with morphometry, water chemistry, and housing densities. Lake Reserv Manage. 34:88-103.The landscape of Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA) is scattered with numerous freshwater lakes (known as kettle ponds) that offer abundant recreational opportunities and provide important habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The rapid urbanization of Cape Cod has been cause for concern regarding potential impacts on these waterbodies. Septic system delivery of nutrients to the ponds and atmospheric nitrogen deposition from fossil fuel combustion has been high for many decades in this region. These systems have also undergone significant shifts in pH and temperature due to regional changes in air quality and climate warming. All factors have the potential to alter pond trophic state and, consequently, water clarity. In this study, we examined August trends in kettle pond Secchi depths within Cape Cod National Seashore from 1996 to 2016. We further analyzed relationships by regression analysis between recent (2013-2014) measurements of Secchi depths and water quality constituents, physical features, shoreline housing densities, and the occurrence of gulls, fish stocking, and herring spawning. This provided a “snapshot” portrait of the current state of these ponds and their functioning. The results suggest that water clarity has remained unchanged or has even increased over the last 2 decades. Water clarity was negatively related to deep-water nutrient concentrations (total nitrogen and phosphorus), which themselves were negatively correlated with pond depth. The occurrence of gulls and anadromous and stocked fish populations had no apparent effect on water clarity, nor did any of the variables that described housing densities around ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) display dysregulation of pathways controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. Combined proteasome and mTOR inhibition, demonstrated with bortezomib and everolimus in a preclinical model, thus warrants evaluation in humans. We conducted a phase I study to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of this combination in relapsed/refractory (r/r) NHL. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled from July 2008 to March, 2015. Toxicities were primarily hematologic, and dose-limiting thrombocytopenia defined the MTD as 5mg everolimus daily with 1.3 mg/m² bortezomib d1, 4, 8, and 11 every 21 days. Of 25 response-evaluable patients there was one complete response in a patient with MCL and three partial responses (two MCL, one FL) for an overall response rate of 16%. In conclusion, the combination of everolimus and bortezomib results in dose limiting thrombocytopenia, but is tolerable. This combination has limited clinical activity in heavily pretreated NHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mauna Loa volcano, on the Island of Hawaii, has numerous young lava tubes. Among them, two at high altitudes are known to contain ice year-round: Mauna Loa Icecave (MLIC) and the Arsia Cave. These unusual caves harbor cold, humid, dark, and biologically restricted environments. Secondary minerals and ice were sampled from both caves to explore their geochemical and microbiological characteristics. The minerals sampled from the deep parts of the caves, where near freezing temperatures prevail, are all multi-phase and consist mainly of secondary amorphous silica SiO2, cryptocrystalline calcite CaCO3, and gypsum CaSO4·2H2O. Based on carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios, all sampled calcite is cryogenic. The isotopic composition of falls on the global meteoric line, indicating that little evaporation has occurred. The microbial diversity of a silica and calcite deposit in the MLIC and from ice pond water in the Arsia Cave was explored by analysis of ~50,000 small subunit ribosomal RNA gene fragments via amplicon sequencing. Analyses reveal that the Hawaiian ice caves harbor unique microbial diversity distinct from other environments, including cave environments, in Hawaii and worldwide. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant microbial phyla detected, which is largely consistent with studies of other oligotrophic cave environments. The cold, isolated, oligotrophic basaltic lava cave environment in Hawaii provides a unique opportunity to understand microbial biogeography not only on Earth but also on other planets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a perceptual condition in which specific visual and auditory stimuli consistently trigger tingling sensations on the scalp and neck, sometimes spreading to the back and limbs. These triggering stimuli are often social, almost intimate, in nature (e.g., hearing whispering, or watching someone brush her hair), and often elicit a calm and positive emotional state. Surprisingly, despite its prevalence in the general population, no published study has examined the neural underpinnings of ASMR. In the current study, the default mode network (DMN) of 11 individuals with ASMR was contrasted to that of 11 matched controls. The results indicated that the DMN of individuals with ASMR showed significantly less functional connectivity than that of controls. The DMN of individuals with ASMR also demonstrated increased connectivity between regions in the occipital, frontal, and temporal cortices, suggesting that ASMR was associated with a blending of multiple resting-state networks. This atypical functional connectivity likely influences the unique sensory-emotional experiences associated with ASMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A principle concern for aquaculturists and aquarium hobbyists is the control and removal of dissolved organic matter. Granular activated carbon is a well-established medium for the adsorption of dissolved organic substances associated with these issues. The selection of activated carbon for aquaria and aquaculture is not well established due to innate heterogeneity of these waters. The means to completely characterize adsorption between carbon sources are generally not available to end users provided their level of expertise and/or resources at their disposal. This study introduces a relatively simple method for characterizing activated carbon quality and filter performance utilizing readily available and relatively safe indicator compounds to test adsorptive capabilities between different sources of granular activated carbon. Methylene blue and a commercial mix of humic and tannic substances were used to comparatively test adsorptive performance between two filter groups (i.e., sources of granular activated carbon) by tracking spectral absorbance with nonlinear regression statistics and validating removal trends against mature aquaculture water. Greater adsorptive capacities were consistently observed in one filter group throughout the indicator testing battery. Similar findings were observed between the two indicator tests, thereby confirming the method. This method can be adopted by commercial aquaculture operations or aquarists to assist in comparatively screening particular types, particle sizes, and sources of granular activated carbon for specific water quality and engineering requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An explicit NOxchemistry method has been implemented in AERMOD version 15181, ADMSM. The scheme has been evaluated by comparison with the methodologies currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for Tier 3 NO2calculations, that is, OLM and PVMRM2. Four data sets have been used for NO2chemistry method evaluation. Overall, ADMSM-modeled NO2concentrations show the most consistency with the AERMOD calculations of NOxand the highest Index of Agreement; they are also on average lower than those of both OLM and PVMRM2. OLM shows little consistency with modeled NOxconcentrations and markedly overpredicts NO2. PVMRM2 shows performance closer to that of ADMSM than OLM; however, its behavior is inconsistent with modeled NOxin some cases and it has less good statistics for NO2. The trend in model performance can be explained by examining the features particular to each chemistry method: OLM can be considered as a screening model as it calculates the upper bound of conversion from NO to NO2possible with the background O3concentration; PVMRM2 includes a much-improved estimate of in-plume O3but is otherwise similar to OLM, assuming instantaneous reaction of NO with O3; and ADMSM allows for the rate of this reaction and also the photolysis of NO2. Evaluation with additional data sets is needed to further clarify the relative performance of ADMSM and PVMRM2. Implications: Extensive evaluation of the current AERMOD Tier 3 chemistry methods OLM and PVMRM2, alongside a new scheme that explicitly calculates the oxidation of NO by O3and the reverse photolytic reaction, shows that OLM consistently overpredicts NO2concentrations. PVMRM2 performs well in general, but there are some cases where this method overpredicts NO2. The new explicit NOxchemistry scheme, ADMSM, predicts NO2concentrations that are more consistent with both the modeled NOxconcentrations and the observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assemblages of heterobranch sea slugs are notoriously variable in space and time which has sometimes led to their exclusion from broader studies of patterns of biodiversity. This variability may also result in a failure to detect underlying spatial and temporal patterns. Assemblage data (species abundances) from three intertidal sites over a period of 13 months, were used to compare the conclusions drawn from three different analytical approaches—a non-specific test for differences among months, and tests of cyclicity, and seriation, using specific model matrices. While no significant difference was detected for the non-specific test (i.e. concluding no significant temporal variation), the data were significantly correlated to both model matrices with the cyclicity model outperforming the seriation model at two of the three sites. The study also highlighted the spatial variability of assemblages over a scale of just a few kilometres. Wider testing using previously published datasets confirmed the utility of these models for exploring specific hypotheses about patterns of temporal change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper discusses contradictory imperatives in contemporary Australian pedagogy – the notions of ‘controversy’ and ‘diversity’ as they relate the subjects of genders and sexualities. It is a common view that both gender and sexuality are important organising features of identity, society and politics. Consistent effort is made in the Australian educational context to combat discrimination, prejudice against sexually, and gender ‘diverse’ people. However, the state’s commitment to diversity policies must be balanced with a secondary focus on appeasing those who are hostile to non-heteronormative expression, or who view such expression as inherently ‘political’ in nature and therefore inappropriate for the school setting. Australia has arguably demonstrated this dilemma recently in two notable controversies: an intervention in planned school screenings ofGayby Baby, a documentary exploring the experience of children in same-sex families, and media furore over the trans-positiveAll of Usteaching kit. Using these case studies, this paper explores the competing imperatives of controversy and diversity, commenting on the tendency for the lives and experiences of LGBTIQ people becoming consequently politicised. To do so, is arguably detrimental to the meaningful participation of LGBTIQ people as social citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Measuring cardiac troponins is integral to diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however, troponins may be elevated without AMI, and the use of multiple different assays confounds comparisons. We considered characteristics and serial troponin values in emergency department chest pain patients with and without AMI to interpret troponin excursions. We compared serial troponin in 124 AMI and non-AMI patients from the observational Performance of Triage Cardiac Markers in the Clinical Setting (PEARL) study who presented with chest pain and had at least one troponin value exceeding the 99th percentile of normal. Because 8 assays were used during data collection, we employed a method of scaling the troponin value to the corresponding assay's 99th percentile upper reference limit to standardize the results. In 81 AMI patients, 96% had elevated troponin at the first test following initial elevation, compared to 73% of the 43 non-AMI patients (P < 0.001). Scaling troponin to the 99th percentile of normal yielded a median value that was 4.8 [2.2, 14.1] times higher than the 99th percentile cutpoint among AMI patients, compared to 2.3 [1.5, 6.5] times higher among non-AMI patients (P = 0.04). The rise in serial scaled troponin values distinguished the AMI patients. Scaling to the 99th percentile was useful for comparing troponin when different assays were utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence prevention programs are commonplace in today’s schools, though reviews of the literature reveal mixed empirical findings on their effectiveness. Often, these programs include a variety of components such as social skills training, student mentoring, and activities designed to build a sense of school community that have not been tested for individual effectiveness. To fill this gap, we wanted to determine the relationships between specific violence prevention program components and aggression and violence outcomes. Using the U.S. Department of Education’s School Survey on Crime and Safety, we estimated the effects of components of violence prevention programs through analyses with proportional odds logistic regression and Poisson regression models. We found significant relationships between three violence prevention program components (individual attention, mentoring, tutoring, and/or coaching; recreational, enrichment, or leisure activities; and involving students in resolving student conduct problems) and aggression and violence outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recent criticism of forensic science has focused on the fundamental aspects of the science, including supporting empirical studies, validation, accreditation, limitations and error rates. Proficiency tests are an essential component of accreditation and can be used to evaluate performance and identify systematic issues within components of the service provision. 3,176 CTS proficiency tests undertaken between 2005 and 2015 by Australian government service providers were collated. These tests represent 43 unique CTS test types, covering 21 disciplines. The results for 262 tests were not submitted; the remaining 2,914 tests involved 32,208 comparisons and 21,187 results which were analyzed to determine the accuracy rates and error rates for each of the 21 disciplines. The results demonstrate that errors exist even though practitioners know they are examining a proficiency test and the tests are reviewed. This study illustrates the need to monitor trends in proficiency test results and also highlights the need for well-designed, relevant, blind error rate studies to determine the approximate error rates for casework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Creatine monohydrate (CrM) and nitrate are popular supplements for improving exercise performance; yet have not been investigated in combination. We performed two studies to determine the safety and exercise performance-characteristics of creatine nitrate (CrN) supplementation. Methods: Study 1 participants (N = 13) ingested 1.5 g CrN (CrN-Low), 3 g CrN (CrN-High), 5 g CrM or a placebo in a randomized, crossover study (7d washout) to determine supplement safety (hepatorenal and muscle enzymes, heart rate, blood pressure and side effects) measured at time-0 (unsupplemented), 30-min, and then hourly for 5-h post-ingestion. Study 2 participants (N = 48) received the same CrN treatments vs. 3 g CrM in a randomized, double-blind, 28d trial inclusive of a 7-d interim testing period and loading sequence (4 servings/d). Day-7 and d-28 measured Tendo™ bench press performance, Wingate testing and a 6x6-s bicycle ergometer sprint. Data were analyzed using a GLM and results are reported as mean ± SD or mean change ± 95 % CI. Results: In both studies we observed several significant, yet stochastic changes in blood markers that were not indicative of potential harm or consistent for any treatment group. Equally, all treatment groups reported a similar number of minimal side effects. In Study 2, there was a significant increase in plasma nitrates for both CrN groups by d-7, subsequently abating by d-28. Muscle creatine increased significantly by d-7 in the CrM and CrN-High groups, but then decreased by d-28 for CrN-High. By d-28, there were significant increases in bench press lifting volume (kg) for all groups (PLA, 126.6, 95 % CI 26.3, 226.8; CrM, 194.1, 95 % CI 89.0, 299.2; CrN-Low, 118.3, 95 % CI 26.1, 210.5; CrN-High, 267.2, 95 % CI 175.0, 359.4, kg). Only the CrN-High group was significantly greater than PLA (p < 0.05). Similar findings were observed for bench press peak power (PLA, 59.0, 95 % CI 4.5, 113.4; CrM, 68.6, 95 % CI 11.4, 125.8; CrN-Low, 40.9, 95 % CI −9.2, 91.0; CrN-High, 60.9, 95 % CI 10.8, 111.1, W) and average power. Conclusions: Creatine nitrate delivered at 3 g was well-tolerated, demonstrated similar performance benefits to 3 g CrM, in addition, within the confines of this study, there were no safety concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many actions to reduce GHG emissions have wider impacts on health, the economy, and the environment, beyond their role in mitigating climate change. These ancillary impacts can be positive (co-benefits) or negative (conflicts). This article presents the first quantitative review of the wider impacts on health and the environment likely to arise from action to meet the UK's legally-binding carbon budgets. Impacts were assessed for climate measures directed at power generation, energy use in buildings, and industry, transport, and agriculture. The study considered a wide range of health and environmental impacts including air pollution, noise, the upstream impacts of fuel extraction, and the lifestyle benefits of active travel. It was not possible to quantify all impacts, but for those that were monetized the co-benefits of climate action (i.e. excluding climate benefits) significantly outweigh the negative impacts, with a net present value of more than £85 billion from 2008 to 2030. Substantial benefits arise from reduced congestion, pollution, noise, and road accidents as a result of avoided journeys. There is also a large health benefit as a result of increased exercise from walking and cycling instead of driving. Awareness of these benefits could strengthen the case for more ambitious climate mitigation action. Policy relevance This article demonstrates that actions to mitigate GHG emissions have significant wider benefits for health and the environment. Including these impacts in cost–benefit analysis would strengthen the case for the UK (and similar countries) to set ambitious emissions reduction targets. Understanding co-benefits and trade-offs will also improve coordination across policy areas and cut costs. In addition, co-benefits such as air quality improvements are often immediate and local, whereas climate benefits may occur on a longer timescale and mainly in a distant region, as well as being harder to demonstrate. Dissemination of the benefits, along with better anticipation of trade-offs, could therefore boost public support for climate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social–emotional learning curricula to prevent student problematic behaviors should play a prominent role in public school instruction. While social–emotional curricula have been shown to be effective, there are few replication studies that substantiate their capacity to improve outcomes for students who exhibit problem behaviors. Thus, we conducted a partial replication of a randomized controlled field trial of the Tools for Getting Along curriculum designed to increase self-regulatory functions of upper elementary school students. We found main effects on social problem-solving and significant pretest-by-condition interaction effects on teacher-reported executive function, behavioral adjustment, and aggression. We also found interaction effects on student-reported anger. The current findings are similar to the results reported for the initial study. We also specified high-risk subsamples of students for each of eight outcome factors and found main effects on emotion regulation and positive social problemsolving and a marginally significant effect on metacognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide the first detailed documentation of a lava tube cave with permanent ice on the Hawaiian Islands. 'Mauna Loa Icecave' had been surveyed in 1978; we periodically visited the cave and monitored temperature, humidity, and ice levels from 2011 to 2014. Perennial ice still blocks the lava tube at the terminal end, but a previously present large ice floor (estimated 260 m2) has disappeared. A secondary mineral deposited on the cave walls is interpreted as the result of past sustained ice levels. Airflow measurements, scallop patterns in the ice, strong temperature and humidity variations, and ice volume fluctuations indicate ventilation of the cave, which suggests that additional ice loss could occur rapidly. The scientific potential of the ice record remains to be explored, before it is lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexuality education in Australian schools continues to struggle in its ability and willingness to address many of the broader social issues associated with sexuality, such as the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) students. Studies involving teachers have demonstrated that a reticence on their part to teach GLBTIQ-inclusive sexuality education is driven by a lack of training in handling ‘sensitive’ issues, a fear of backlash and confusion over their obligations under relevant departmental policies. This reticence may, in part at least, stem from a commonly held inference that the inclusion of queer sexualities is inherently ‘controversial’. There appears to be a tendency for curricula and government directives to ‘juggle’ principles of social justice for marginalised sexualities with ‘risk management’ policies, which seek to screen course content for potential ‘controversy’. Much of this controversy has its roots in the language and rhetoric used to describe and discuss issues dealt with in sexuality education curricula. The paper demonstrates, through the process of ‘languaging’, how the language and rhetoric of controversy and sexuality can be exposed so that they may be better addressed through policy and government directives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The perspective of 'place' has emerged as important one in many realms of scholarship and professional practice. Ironically, though, tourism - in which place is a central concept - has paid little attention to the concept. This paper explores the importance of place in the context of tourism product development and marketing, particularly the linkage between place and culture as a tourism experience. The linkage can be understood through an analogy to the concept of terroir from viniculture. Terroir is the set of qualities that shape the sensory and intellectual appreciation of a wine, including soil, climate, grape variety and wine-making techniques. In the case of placed-based cultural tourism development and promotion, the terroir of a place includes history, local traditions and cultures, religion, industry, the natural environment, cuisine and arts, as well as attractions and events. A key feature of place-based product development and promotion is the identification and telling the story of a place through a variety of narrative techniques. These techniques include the tradition of oral storytelling, but also print, video, graphic and digital media. The paper examines the themes of stories often told in connection with place-based cultural tourism and illustrates these with examples drawn from a Canadian cultural destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relative impacts of harvesting across an area such as a marine park is vital if the goals of fisheries management are to be met. Given their accessibility, densities of targeted intertidal turbinids should be relatively simple to quantify; however, natural spatial and temporal variability in these populations has hampered this effort. This study aimed to quantify short-term population dynamics of Turbo militaris in relation to current zoning regulations and accessibility. While our results reflected the variability found by other studies, we also detected significantly lower densities at a headland where harvesting is known to occur, and found a trend towards denser aggregations at more remote locations. Importantly, we found that densities at some locations were so low that current fisheries bag limits may be ineffective for protecting populations at local scales. Comparisons between study sites suggest a combination of no-take zoning and inaccessibility may provide the most effective protection for this species. However, a greater understanding of the wider impacts of harvesting, and processes affecting recovery, are essential to ensure sustainable management of this fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of commercial-scale co-composting of waste biomass from the control of invasiveAcaciaspecies with pine bark waste from the lumber industry, in a blend ratio of 60:40 (v:v), was investigated and compared with previous research on the composting ofAcaciawithout additional feedstock, to determine the potential process and end-product quality benefits of co-composting with bark. Pile temperatures rose rapidly to >70 °C and were maintained at >60 °C for several months.Acaciaand bark biomass contained a large fraction of mineralizable organic matter (OM) equivalent to approximately 600 g kg−1of initial OM. Bark was more recalcitrant to biodegradation compared withAcacia, which degraded at twice the rate of bark. Therefore, incorporating the bark increased the final amount of compost produced compared with compostingAcaciaresidues without bark. The relatively high C/N ratio of the composting matrix (C/N = 56) and NH3volatilization explained the limited increases incontent, whereas concentrations of conservative nutrient elements (e.g. P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe) increased in proportion to OM mineralization, enriching the compost as a nutrient source for horticultural use. Nitrogen concentrations also increased to a small extent, but were much more dynamic and losses, probably associated with N volatilization mechanisms, were difficult to actively control. The physicochemical characteristics of the stabilized end-product, such as pH, electrical conductivity and OM content, were improved with the addition of bark toAcaciabiomass, and the final compost characteristics were suitable for use for soil improvement and also as horticultural substrate components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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