bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malacca Creole Portuguese in the 19th century
Authors: Baxter Alan N.
Published: October 2018

Earlier linguistic research suggested that Malacca Creole Portuguese (MCP) had existed without diglossia with Portuguese ever since the Dutch conquest of Portuguese Malacca in 1642, yet it had experienced some contact with Portuguese in the 19th and 20th centuries. The present study adds significantly to this discussion. It considers a range of information from sociohistorical studies and archival sources (including linguistic data) relating to the Dutch (1642–1795, 1818–1823) and early British (1795–1818, 1823–1884) colonial periods. For the Dutch period, it is seen that contact with other Creole Portuguese communities is likely to have persisted for some time. Most significant, however, is the finding that 19th century texts in Portuguese and creole Portuguese, recently identified in archival sources in London and Graz, show that Portuguese continued to be part of the Malacca sociolinguistic setting until the early British period, and that missionary Indo-Portuguese also had a presence at that time. It is concluded that, rather than presenting a narrow lectal range akin to that of the MCP community in the late 20th century, the creole lectal grid in the 19th century was more complex, and included dimensions of a continuum in a diglossic relationship with Portuguese.
The adaptation of French liquids in Haitian
Authors: Storme Benjamin
Published: October 2018

Haitian, a French-lexifier creole with a Gbe substrate, shows an asymmetry in the way it has adapted French liquids: the French
lateral was maintained in postvocalic coda position in Haitian, but the French rhotic was systematically deleted in this position.
This paper presents the results of a perception study showing that the lateral is generally more perceptible than the rhotic in
coda position in Modern French. The hypothesis that perception played a role in the phonological asymmetry in Haitian is
compatible with these results. The paper sketches an analysis of how the perceptual asymmetry between French coda laterals and
rhotics resulted in the emergence of a new phonological grammar, distinct from both the grammar of the substrate and superstrate
languages. This analysis is in line with previous works on the role of perception in second language acquisition, loanword
adaptation, creolization, and sound change more generally.
Where the husbands stand
Authors: Ide Risako
Published: October 2018

In this paper, I analyse women’s interview narratives from the United States and Japan about their child rearing experiences to
examine how stance-taking towards their experiences and their family members manifest itself differently. Paying attention to the
narratives regarding their husbands’ role in child rearing, I examine how stance-taking may be perceived through overt and implied
references in the use of linguistic resources. With the American English data, I discuss how the shift of personal pronouns
combined with the discourse marker but create metaframes of the speakers’ stances, categorized as
“abstract/positive” and “concrete/negative.” In contrast, Japanese narratives revealed that women’s stance-taking towards their
husbands was marked through the concurrent usage of supportive giving verbs (-te kureru), indexing indebtedness
on the side of the women, as well as nominalization forms that categorized their partners as certain types of men based on shared
social expectations.
The effect of the audience on the spoken narrative of Chinese children
Authors: Wang Juan , Evangelou Maria , Xu Shanshan
Published: October 2018

This study investigated the influence of the audience and narrator’s gender on spoken narratives produced by Chinese children.
Sixty typically developing five- and six-year-old children were evenly divided into three groups. Each group was assigned one
audience, being a teacher, a same-age peer, or a younger peer. The children were asked to view a wordless picture book and retell
the story to the audience. The results showed that the children tended to use more macrostructure elements when telling stories to
same-age peers, with boys using more macrostructure elements than girls. Girls used more words and more events when narrating to
younger peers, whereas boys used more words, more diverse words, and more evaluative language when narrating to teachers. In
addition, the children marked temporality more in narratives to younger peers than to same-age peers. The findings indicated that
the audience and narrator’s gender influence the narrative production of Chinese children.
Negation in narrative
Authors: Norrick Neal R.
Published: October 2018

Negation in narrative has been described primarily as a resource for expressing evaluation, and secondarily in its role in
establishing orientation, but this article investigates a range of ways negated statements can contribute directly to complicating
action. Negation works through presupposition in the rhetorical figure of paralipsis with phrases like “to say nothing of.”
Reporting “I don’t see how she got in” presupposes that she got in. Semantic double negation in phrases like “never fail to”
contributes to the complicating action. Idiomatic negatives like “didn’t go out” and negatives matching expectations like “didn’t
go to sleep” mirror positive actions in the narrative model. Constructions coupling main clause negation with a positive embedded
clause produce statements entailing actions in the chain of events, as in “I couldn’t face going back.” Taken together, these
constructions provide powerful resources for contributing positively to the dynamic narrative model with negative statements.
Are you talking to me?
Authors: Walkington Zoe , Pike Graham , Strathie Ailsa , Havard Catriona , Ness Hayley , Harrison Virginia
Published: October 2018

Police use of social media has increased in the United Kingdom since 2008 (Crump, 2011),
yet there has been little qualitative exploration of how police-owned Facebook sites work to shape the identity of forces. This
study explores the action orientation of small stories on the Facebook site of a UK metropolitan police force. The research
considers the collaborative ways in which stories are positioned and constructed collectively by multiple narrators (both formal
police posts, and the commenting public). Given the ability of social media to enact identity through interaction, this research
explores how the identity of the police force is positioned, and repositioned, by social media activity. It concludes that both
the opportunity for dyadic interactions that may underpin effective community policing, and the potential benefits of harnessing
the opportunity for effective identity work, are currently being under utilised on police Facebook sites.
Figurative uses of the head-denoting wordsbaşandkafain Turkish idioms
Authors: Baş Melike
Published: October 2018

This study analyzes the metaphoric and metonymic nature ofbaş/kafa‘head’ in Turkish idiomatic expressions from a cognitive linguistic perspective. The database for the study is composed of idioms containing the two head-denoting wordsbaşandkafa. Idioms and their definitions are analyzed in terms of their figurative uses of abstract concepts, and the conceptual metaphors and metonymies are identified. Findings are examined under five categories: head as the representative of the person, the seat of mental faculties, the locus of emotions, the sign of superiority/power, and the sign of value. The study proposes a cultural model in which the image schemaswhole-part,containmentandverticalityplay a key role, and reveals cross-cultural similarities and differences in the conceptualization ofhead. The study also provides further support for the embodiment thesis, and underscores the impact of cultural processes in shaping the way the body is conceptualized.
Atenuación retrospectiva y reformuladores de distanciamiento como recursos suyos
Authors: Sánchez Manuel Martí , Gómiz Sara Fernández
Published: October 2018

Abstracto

Este artículo se organiza en dos partes. La primera es una introducción acerca de las propiedades fundamentales de la atenuación y su clasificación, que permitirá plantearse el problema de los límites de la atenuación. De acuerdo con la teoría de S. Fernández Gómiz (2017), la segunda parte analiza una atenuación poco atendida: la atenuación retrospectiva. En este análisis, se pone el foco en los reformuladores de distanciamiento, como recursos ligados a la atenuación retrospectiva y a la táctica de la autorreparación. Finalmente, esta base teórica se llevará a la descripción de un corpus de tuits compilado en 2015.
Atenuación, género discursivo e imagen
Authors: Figueras Bates Carolina
Published: October 2018

Abstracto

La imagen constituye un fenómeno que puede abordarse desde múltiples perspectivas y que involucra distintos componentes de carácter cognitivo, psicológico, social, cultural e interpersonal. El presente trabajo persigue un doble objetivo: por una parte, ofrecer una definición multidimensional e interdisciplinar de la imagen que resulte aplicable al estudio de determinadas operaciones pragmáticas, como la atenuación lingüística; por otra, establecer la relación entre género discursivo e imagen, a partir del examen de las estrategias de atenuación en cinco géneros distintos (conversación coloquial, artículos académicos, foros en línea, mesa redonda de expertos en TV y debates presidenciales). El análisis revela que los mecanismos lingüísticos de atenuación constituyen índices de los atributos individuales de la imagen reclamados por los participantes en cada modalidad discursiva.
La variación genérico-discursiva de la atenuación como resultado de la variación de la imagen
Authors: Albelda Marco Marta
Published: October 2018

Abstracto

El presente trabajo investiga en qué medida la atención a la imagen social incide en la expresión de la atenuación. Para ello se realiza un estudio de los mecanismos atenuantes en cinco géneros discursivos seleccionados por su diferente tratamiento de la imagen: artículos de investigación, foros de comunicación en línea, conversaciones coloquiales, mesas redondas de discusión de expertos y debates políticos. Los resultados muestran variación tanto en las formas empleadas como en las funciones atenuantes, de acuerdo con las diferentes necesidades de imagen que origina cada género. Ello constituye un fuerte argumento a favor de la implicación de la noción de imagen en la caracterización de la atenuación.
Tone assignment and grammatical tone in Anal (Tibeto-Burman)
Authors: Ozerov Pavel
Published: October 2018

Complex phenomena of grammatical tone, well-described for many African languages, are increasingly attested also in the Tibeto-Burman family. This paper describes the tone assignment rule and two cases of tonal expression of grammatical categories in the Tibeto-Burman language Anal. The typologically unusual rule involves tone spreading, tonal polarity on a non-edge constituent and additional spreading, resulting in constant tonal patterns across grammatical suffixes. In two different cases the combination of the tonal pattern assigned by this rule with peculiar morpho-tonological processes results in a marking of a grammatical category (future and 1sg-person) by grammatical tone, by vowel-length, or only by the overall tonal pattern of the verbal form. Both cases are related to the omission of an explicit marking of the category, although the outcome cannot be explained only by the concept of a floating tone.
Cyclic renewal of demonstratives
Authors: Vindenes Urd
Published: October 2018

Demonstratives, broadly defined as a subclass of deictic expressions used for exophoric reference, do not develop through direct grammaticalization (Diessel 1999: 150). The renewal of demonstratives, and the mechanisms and motivations underlying such processes, have not received as much attention as the related negative cycle.Greenberg’s (1978)observation that demonstratives are often replaced by reinforced forms might shed light on this diachronic process, and this study aims to explore this phenomenon further, as well as its connection with grammaticalization. Reinforcement of demonstratives can lead to the development of new demonstratives, which may catalyze the grammaticalization of old ones through paradigmatic competition (niche competition). The analysis presented here sees reinforcement as a possible driving force behind grammaticalization, and not vice versa, as suggested in Diessel (2006: 474) and van Gelderen (2011: 210), among others.
On the diminutive morpheme -gama in Ikema, a Ryukyuan language
Authors: Fujinaga Kiyono
Published: October 2018

Ikema is defined as ‘definitely endangered’ by UNESCO (2009). The study examines an evaluative morpheme -gama used by old Ikema speakers aged 64 to 86 when speaking between Ikema speakers and when speaking Standard Japanese with outsiders. Descriptive grammar of Ikema (Hayashi 2010; Hayashi 2013

inter alia) has treated -gama as diminutive morpheme, representing smallness such as tui-gama ‘small bird’ or showing the affections to the base noun. The observations on naturally occurring data, however, revealed that the Ikema speakers barely used -gama by means of describing smallness: the most frequent use of -gama was found to be non-supplementary (Shetter 1959) and carries various socio-pragmatic functions. The related meanings/functions of -gama are presented in radial category (Lakoff 1987).
NGT classifier constructions
Authors: de Lint Vanja
Published: October 2018

This paper seeks to find empirical evidence for categorical associations between classifier types and argument structure in Sign Language of the Netherlands (Nederlandse Gebarentaal – NGT), based on an influential proposal byBenedicto & Brentari (2004). In the light of (sign) language typology and possible modality effects, it is of interest to investigate whether the morpho-phonological similarities of sign language classifier predicates are associated with the same syntactic-semantic properties cross-linguistically. This paper offers three additions to the quest: data from another sign language, an empirical approach, and a more fine-grained distinction of verb types. In an elicitation study, signers produced classifier descriptions of verbs with different argument structures. Their responses were analyzed for phonological handshape and classifier type. Based on the results, I conclude that (i) NGT classifier constructions show categorical associations between argument structure and classifier type, that (ii) specifically, NGT handling and whole entity classifier predicates may take part in a transitive-intransitive alternation, and that (iii) with respect to NGT classifier constructions, we need to distinguish manner verbs from causative verbs.
Wh-clefts as evidence of resultatives in ASL
Authors: Kentner Ashley , Wilbur Ronnie B.
Published: October 2018

The status of syntactic resultative constructions has been disputed in the American Sign Language (ASL) literature. These are single sentences such as “Mary hammered the metal flat,” where two predicates share the same object and an event (hammered) causes the affected object (the metal) to change state (flat)as a result. While not all languages permit such constructions, this study shows that (several) alternate multi-sentential analyses can be ruled out. WH-clefts are used to provide a test for independent clausal boundaries, providing additional support that American Sign Language (ASL) permits resultative constructions. We also observe possible word order variations and note common features of the result predicates in these constructions.
Using digital media to measure diet.
Authors: Allman-Farinelli M.
Published: October 2018

The assessment of dietary intake with food records has traditionally been a burdensome experience for both the person keeping the records and the dietitian/nutritionist analysing the record. The advent of Smartphones with high-resolution cameras, the ability to run apps and internet connections has enabled developments in the field. Pubmed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant articles from 2013 to present to synthesize this review. The digital methods for dietary assessment fall into three categories: apps that require digital entry of foods (researcher and commercial); digital images; and image-assisted methods. All categories have advanced substantially. Researcher apps have shown good agreement between energy and food intakes when compared with a 24-hour dietary recall but no biomarker studies were located. Commercial apps can yield valid results for energy but when used in the community with uncontrolled conditions significant omission of foods and underestimation occurs. Digital image methods whereby the participant's photos with or without audio or text messages are submitted to the researchers' server are increasingly being used. Some of these methods have been tested by comparison with energy intake estimated from doubly labelled water and demonstrate promising results. This accuracy combined with user acceptability likely means this will become the preferred method for prospective food records. Continuous capture of images is being employed to complement other methods of dietary intake that mostly underestimate energy and food intake. The potential of these new methods of capturing accurate food intake data is yet to be fully realized.
Influences: The Cell Physiology Laboratory in Montemar, Chile
Authors: Bezanilla Francisco
Published: October 2018

Bezanilla recalls the profound influence that the Laboratory of Cell Physiology in Montemar, with its investigators and visitors, have had in shaping his scientific career.
The limits of instrumentalizing disorder: Reassessing the neopatrimonial perspective in the Central African Republic
Authors: de Vries Lotje , Mehler Andreas
Published: October 2018

Assumptions about the political economy of African states predominantly centre on a dominant elite’s ability to stabilize power. A key assertion is that elites maintain clientelistic networks of rents and redistribution and in turn extend their control over their respective territories by instrumentalizing disorder. We challenge the assumption that disorder plays such a functional role. Largely drawing on data and fieldwork from the Central African Republic, we demonstrate the profoundly unproductive consequences of disorder that tend to be overlooked through current approaches to the political economy of African countries. We investigate how disorder impacts three dimensions of effective politics of domination: a set of elite groups that structure power in society, a political economy that redistributes its benefits through formal and informal networks, and the existence of functional centre–periphery ties across a territory. The article shows with regard to the Central African Republic that disorder has produced a small political elite that is largely unable to stabilize its power basis. We argue that certain African states are subject to forms of disorder that political elites cannot turn into an advantage.
Paracoccidioidomycosis: characterization of subpopulations of macrophages and cytokines in human mucosal lesions
Authors: Pagliari C , Kanashiro-Galo L , Jesus A C C , Saldanha M G , Sotto M N
Published: October 2018

Mucosal lesions of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) are frequently described and clinically important. Macrophages are classified as M1 or M2. M1 are proinflammatory and M2 are related to chronicity. Dectin-1 recognizes β-glucan and plays an important role against fungal cells. The objective was to verify the presence of M1, M2, and dectin-1 and a possible correlation with Th1/Th2 cytokines in mucosal PCM lesions. In sum, 33 biopsies of oral PCM were submitted to histological and immunohistochemistry analysis, and positive cells were quantified. Eleven biopsies were characterized by compact granulomas (G1), 12 with loose granulomas (G2), and 10 with both kind of granulomas (G3). pSTAT-1 was equally increased in the three groups. G1 was characterized by an increased number of CD163+ macrophages. G2 presented similar number of arginase 1, iNOS, and CD163 expressing cells. G3 presented an increased number of cells expressing arginase 1 and CD163 over iNOS. G1 and G3 presented high number of cells expressing interferon (IFN)-γ; interleukin (IL) 5 was increased in G2 and G3; the expression of IL10 was similar among the three groups, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was higher in G3. G1 correlates to Th1 cytokines and pSTAT-1 and G2 correlates to Th2 cytokines. G3 presents both kinds of cytokines. We could not associate the expression of arginase-1, CD163, iNOS, and dectin-1 with the pattern of cytokines or kind of granuloma.
Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease: an update on subgroups, pathogenesis and therapies
Authors: Segelmark Mårten , Hellmark Thomas
Published: October 2018

Most patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease present with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with or without pulmonary haemorrhage; however, there are several variants and vigilance is necessary to make a correct diagnosis. Such variants include overlap with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies-associated vasculitis and membranous nephropathy as well as anti-GBM occurring de novo after renal transplantation. Moreover, patients can present with isolated pulmonary haemorrhage as well as with negative tests for circulating anti-GBM. Virtually all patients with anti-GBM disease have autoantibodies that react with two discrete epitopes on the α3 chain of type IV collagen. Recent evidence suggests that healthy persons have low-affinity natural antibodies reacting with the same epitopes, but most people are protected from developing disease-causing high-affinity autoantibodies by human leukocyte antigen-dependent regulatory T-cells (Tregs). The α3 chain-derived peptides presented by the HLA-DR15 antigen lack the ability to promote the development of such Tregs. The detection of anti-GBM in circulation using the rapid assay test has led to early diagnosis and improved prognosis. However, our present tools to curb the inflammation and to eliminate the assaulting antibodies are insufficient. Only about one-third of all patients survive with functioning native kidneys. More effective therapies need to be developed; agents that inhibit neutrophil recruitment, deplete B cells and cleave immunoglobulin G (IgG) in vivo may become new weapons in the arsenal to combat anti-GBM disease.
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Role of Surgery in the Management of Adults With Metastatic Brain Tumors
Authors: Nahed Brian V , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher , Brastianos Priscilla K , Shih Helen , Sloan Andrew , Ammirati Mario , Kuo John S , Ryken Timothy C , Kalkanis Steven N , Olson Jeffrey J
Published: October 2018

Please see the full-text version of this guideline https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-treatment-adults-metastatic-brain-tumors/chapter_2) for the target population of each recommendation listed below.

 
SURGERY FOR METASTATIC BRAIN TUMORS AT NEW DIAGNOSIS

QUESTION: Should patients with newly diagnosed metastatic brain tumors undergo surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT)?

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Level 1: Surgery + WBRT is recommended as first-line treatment in patients with single brain metastases with favorable performance status and limited extracranial disease to extend overall survival, median survival, and local control.

Level 3: Surgery plus SRS is recommended to provide survival benefit in patients with metastatic brain tumors

Level 3: Multimodal treatments including either surgery + WBRT + SRS boost or surgery + WBRT are recommended as alternatives to WBRT + SRS in terms of providing overall survival and local control benefits.

 
SURGERY AND RADIATION FOR METASTATIC BRAIN TUMORS

QUESTION: Should patients with newly diagnosed metastatic brain tumors undergo surgical resection followed by WBRT, SRS, or another combination of these modalities?

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Level 1: Surgery + WBRT is recommended as superior treatment to WBRT alone in patients with single brain metastases.

Level 3: Surgery + SRS is recommended as an alternative to treatment with SRS alone to benefit overall survival.

Level 3: It is recommended that SRS alone be considered equivalent to surgery + WBRT.

 
SURGERY FOR RECURRENT METASTATIC BRAIN TUMORS

QUESTION: Should patients with recurrent metastatic brain tumors undergo surgical resection?

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Level 3: Craniotomy is recommended as a treatment for intracranial recurrence after initial surgery or SRS.

 
SURGICAL TECHNIQUE AND RECURRENCE

QUESTION A: Does the surgical technique (en bloc resection or piecemeal resection) affect recurrence?

RECOMMENDATION:
Level 3: En bloc tumor resection, as opposed to piecemeal resection, is recommended to decrease the risk of postoperative leptomeningeal disease when resecting single brain metastases.

QUESTION B: Does the extent of surgical resection (gross total resection or subtotal resection) affect recurrence?

RECOMMENDATION:
Level 3: Gross total resection is recommended over subtotal resection in recursive partitioning analysis class I patients to improve overall survival and prolong time to recurrence.

The full guideline can be found at https://www.cns.org/guidelines/guidelines-treatment-adults-metastatic-brain-tumors/chapter_2.
Understanding Legislative Speech in the Turkish Parliament: Reconsidering the Electoral Connection under Proportional Representation
Authors: Bulut Alper T , İlter Emel
Published: October 2018

We aim to address two weaknesses of the growing literature on legislative debate and legislative behaviour. First, most studies on legislative speech focus on the role of party unity and individual dissent on speech-making behaviour and largely ignore the role of legislators’ own calculations regarding their electoral vulnerability. Secondly, research on legislative behaviour that studies mechanisms other than legislative speech usually explores the role of electoral incentives where there is Single Member District (SMD) or open list system, and largely neglects closed list proportional representation systems with multi-member districts. We suggest that, similar to SMD and single transferable vote systems, the electoral vulnerability of individual legislators provides incentives to nurture a personal reputation and signals their efforts to their constituents and party leadership. Using a novel dataset of parliamentary speeches in the Turkish Parliament (2007–2011), we demonstrate that legislators who are electorally more vulnerable participate more in legislative debate, and are more likely to deliver constituency-related speeches.
European consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease – the SHARE initiative
Authors: de Graeff Nienke , Groot Noortje , Ozen Seza , Eleftheriou Despina , Avcin Tadej , Bader-Meunier Brigitte , Dolezalova Pavla , Feldman Brian M , Kone-Paut Isabelle , Lahdenne Pekka , McCann Liza , Pilkington Clarissa , Ravelli Angelo , van Royen-Kerkhof Annet , Uziel Yosef , Vastert Bas , Wulffraat Nico , Kamphuis Sylvia , Brogan Paul , Beresford Michael W
Published: October 2018

Objectives

The European Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe initiative aimed to optimize care for children with rheumatic diseases. Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children and an important cause of long-term cardiac disease into adulthood. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of KD is difficult due to the heterogeneity of the disease but is crucial for improving outcome. To date, there are no European internationally agreed, evidence-based guidelines concerning the diagnosis and treatment of KD in children. Accordingly, treatment regimens differ widely. The aim of this study is to provide consensus-based, European-wide evidence-informed recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of children with KD.

Methods

Recommendations were developed using the EULAR’s standard operating procedures. An extensive systematic literature search was performed, and evidence-based recommendations were extrapolated from the included papers. These were evaluated by a panel of international experts via online surveys and subsequently discussed in three consensus meetings, using nominal group technique. Recommendations were accepted when ⩾80% agreed.

Results

In total, 17 recommendations for diagnosis and 14 for treatment of KD in children were accepted. Diagnostic recommendations included laboratory and imaging workup for complete as well as incomplete KD. Treatment recommendations included the importance of early treatment in both complete and incomplete KD, use of intravenous immunoglobulin, aspirin, corticosteroids for high-risk cases, and other treatment options for those with resistant disease.

Conclusion

The Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe initiative provides international evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating KD in children, facilitating improvement and uniformity of care.
ABDOMEN–PELVIS COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY PROTOCOL OPTIMIZATION: AN IMAGE QUALITY AND DOSE ASSESSMENT
Authors: Pelegrino Bastos Maués Nadine Helena , Fattori Alves Allan Felipe , Menegatti Pavan Ana Luiza , Marrone Ribeiro Sergio , Yamashita Seizo , Petean Trindade André , Mascarenhas Yvone Maria , Nicolucci Patrícia , Rodrigues de Pina Diana
Published: October 2018

Computed tomography (CT) has a high level of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis and follow-up of pathologies of the abdomen–pelvis region. Some features, such as automatic tube current modulation (ATCM), permits the acquisition of quality images with low radiation doses. This study evaluated the image quality and radiation dose of abdomen–pelvis CT protocols with ATCM technique. Were performed five CT protocols using 16-slice and 64-slice scanners, an anthropomorphic phantom for dosimetric measurements, an analytical phantom and retrospective examinations for image quality analysis. Were found significant reduction in effective dose. The highest absorbed doses were found in the stomach and spleen (56.1 and 47.2 mGy, respectively). Objective parameters as noise, low contrast and spatial resolution did not significantly differ between the protocols (p > 0.05). All protocols received the range of ‘Optimum/Acceptable’ in patient’s image quality analysis. This methodology can be reproduced in any clinical routine to optimize CT protocols.
Presbyopic Personal Computer Work: A Comparison of Progressive Addition Lenses for General Purpose and Personal Computer Work
Authors: Kolbe Oliver , Degle Stephan
Published: October 2018

SIGNIFICANCE

Computer-specific progressive addition lenses (PC-PALs) are shown to reduce computer vision syndrome (CVS) symptoms, increase visual comfort and tolerance, and improve body posture at the personal computer. They are highly preferred by computer workers. Increasing their use may aid prevention measures within the workplace health management.

PURPOSE

This study investigates whether technical differences between general-purpose progressive addition lenses (GP-PALs) and PC-PALs are subjectively manifest in CVS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred ninety presbyopic visual display unit (VDU) workers aged 53 ± 6 years (mean ± SD) were fitted with GP-PALs and PC-PALs in a subject-masked, randomized, crossover study. Subjects tested both corrections at their personal workplace for 2 weeks each, for VDU work only. Comfort and lens type preferences were assessed using a 24-item questionnaire developed for this study.

RESULTS

Computer vision syndrome was perceived approximately seven times more often with GP-PALs compared with PC-PALs. Eighty-four percent of subjects preferred PC-PALs for their VDU work. Computer-specific progressive addition lenses ratings were statistically and clinically significantly better than GP-PALs (5.95 vs. 4.42 of 7 points; 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 1.85). An existing ametropia or prior experience with PALs did not influence the score. Only 14.2% of subjects had received information about specific VDU eyewear from their optician or optometrist, whereas 79% expressed the wish to be informed about these products.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer-specific progressive addition lenses reduce the perception of the CVS and are highly preferred by VDU workers.
Ocular Component Development during Infancy and Early Childhood
Authors: Mutti Donald O. , Sinnott Loraine T. , Lynn Mitchell G. , Jordan Lisa A. , Friedman Nina E. , Frane Sara L. , Lin Wendy K.
Published: October 2018

SIGNIFICANCE

The study fills an important gap by providing a longitudinal description of development of the major structural and optical components of the human eye from 3 months to nearly 7 years of age. Normative development data may provide insights into mechanisms for emmetropization and guidance on intraocular lens power calculation.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of development of refractive error and the ocular components from infancy through early childhood.

METHODS

Cycloplegic retinoscopy (cyclopentolate 1%), keratophakometry, and ultrasonography were performed longitudinally on between 162 and 293 normal birth weight infants at 0.25, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6.5 years of age.

RESULTS

Refractive error and most ocular components displayed an early exponential phase of rapid development during the first 1 to 2 years of life followed by a slower quadratic phase. Anterior and vitreous chamber depths, axial length, and crystalline lens radii increased at every visit. The crystalline lens thinned throughout the ages studied. The power of the cornea showed an early decrease, then stabilized, whereas the crystalline lens showed more robust decreases in power. The crystalline lens refractive index followed a polynomial growth and decay model, with an early increase followed by a decrease starting at 1 to 2 years of age. Refractive error became less hyperopic and then was relatively stable after 1 to 2 years of age. Axial lengths increased by 3.35 ± 0.64 mm between ages 0.25 and 6.5 years, showed uniform rates of growth across the range of initial values, and were correlated with initial axial lengths (r= 0.44,P< .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early ocular optical and structural development appears to be biphasic, with emmetropization occurring within the first 2 years of infancy during a rapid exponential phase. A more stable refractive error follows during a slower quadratic phase of growth when axial elongation is compensated primarily by changes in crystalline lens power.
Factors Affecting Dental Rehabilitation Following Jaw Reconstruction With Free-Fibular Graft In Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Dholam Kanchan P. , Singh Gurkaran Preet , Gurav Sandeep V. , Yadav Prabha
Published: October 2018

Existing anatomic factors play a significant role in affecting the possibility of dental rehabilitation in head and neck cancer patients undergoing free-fibular graft reconstruction. An observational, cross-sectional study was initiated to evaluate factors affecting dental rehabilitation following free-fibular graft jaw reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients.

Patients who had undergone jaw reconstruction with free-fibular graft, requiring dental rehabilitation were recruited. Irradiated, reconstructed patients who had completed at least 1 year since the last dose of radiotherapy and nonradiated patients who had completed 6 months since reconstruction were recruited. Patients who had undergone soft-tissue reconstruction or free-fibular graft in non-condyle sparing resections were excluded. Patient's demographic data, disease and treatment-related data were obtained. An intra-oral examination was carried out to evaluate anatomic variables affecting dental rehabilitation. Descriptive statistical analyses were carried out to study demographic data. Logistic regression analysis was carried out using Pearson χ
2 test and Fisher exact test. Estimates of regression coefficient and their standard errors with 95% confidence interval were calculated.

Total of 138 patients were enrolled and considered for prosthetic rehabilitation. A review of the frequency-based data revealed that 30% (n = 41) patients were considered suitable for prosthetic rehabilitation. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, morbidity of radiotherapy (P = 0.01), interference to placement of implants by reconstruction plates and screws (P = 0.023), unfavorable diagnostic maxilla-mandibular relationship (P = 0.011), and obliterated vestibule (P = 0.001) were statistically established (P < 0.05) as the most significant reasons for not carrying out dental rehabilitation in patients who had undergone free-fibular graft reconstruction.
Comparison of Oral Sodium Bicarbonate and Solifenacin Treatment in Female Overactive Bladder Patients With Acidic Urine pH
Authors: Sönmez Mehmet Giray , Ecer Gökhan , Atici Ahmet , Özkent Mehmet Serkan , İyisoy Mehmet Sinan , Öztürk Ahmet
Published: October 2018

Objective

In this study, we planned to compare the effects of oral sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and anticholinergic (solifenacin) treatments in women with overactive bladder (OAB) and acidic urine pH values (<6).

Methods

According to the referral order of OAB patients, 8 g/d oral NaHCO3 (group 1) or 5 mg/d solifenacin succinate (group 2) was given to the patients. Both treatment regimens were applied one at a time for 12 weeks in total. Laboratory values, bladder diary, Patient Perception of Bladder Condition score, Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale, Overactive Bladder–Validated 8-Question Awareness Tool, and the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) scores before and after treatment were compared.

Results

A total of 59 patients were evaluated. Thirty-one patients were included in group 1, and 28 patients were included in group 2. No difference was detected in pretreatment and posttreatment laboratory values other than urine pH values in both groups. Whereas there was no difference in pretreatment urine pH values among the 2 groups, posttreatment urine pH values were significantly higher in group 1 compared with group 2 (P = 0.08, P < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant amelioration in the bladder diary parameters, symptom scores, and KHQ values measured after treatment in both groups. However, degree of amelioration in posttreatment outcomes was similar among the groups.

Conclusions

It was demonstrated that urinary alkalization made with oral NaHCO3 in female OAB patients with acidic urine pH had a significantly positive effect on symptoms and symptom scores, and these results are similar to the results of solifenacin treatment.
Management of Recurrent and De Novo NAFLD/NASH After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Germani Giacomo , Laryea Marie , Rubbia-Brandt Laura , Egawa Hiroto , Burra Patrizia , O'Grady John , Watt Kymberly D.
Published: October 2018

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a growing indication for liver transplant whether the primary or secondary cause of liver disease, and it is expected to be the leading indication in the years to come. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis recurs after transplant but the impact of the recurrence on allograft and patient outcomes is unclear. A group of multidisciplinary transplant practice providers convened at the International Liver Transplantation Society NASH consensus conference with the purpose of determining the current knowledge and future directions for understanding the recurrence rates, risk and management of NASH in the transplant allograft. Specific questions relating to posttransplant NASH were proposed and reviewed in detail with recommendations on future actions to fill the knowledge gaps.
Microbial predator-prey interactions could favor coincidental selection of diverse virulence factors in marine coastal waters
Authors: Robino Etienne , Poirier Aurore C. , Lopez-Joven Carmen , Auguet Jean-Christophe , Rubio Tristan P. , Cazevieille Chantal , Rolland Jean-Luc , Héchard Yann , Destoumieux-Garzon Delphine , Charrière Guillaume M.
Published: October 2018

Vibrios are ubiquitous in marine environments and opportunistically colonize a broad range of hosts. Strains of Vibrio tasmaniensis present in oyster farms can thrive in oysters during juvenile mortality events. Among them, V. tasmaniensis LGP32 behaves as a facultative intracellular pathogen of oyster hemocytes, a property rather unusual in vibrios. Herein, we asked whether LGP32 resistance to phagocytosis could result from coincidental selection of virulence factors during interactions with heterotrophic protists, such as amoeba, in the environment. To answer that question, we developed an integrative study, from the first description of amoeba diversity in oyster-farming areas to the characterization of LGP32 interactions with amoebae of the Vannella genus that were found abundant in the oyster environment. LGP32 was shown to be resistant to grazing by amoebae and this phenotype was dependent on previously identified virulence factors: the secreted metalloprotease Vsm and the copper efflux p-ATPase CopA. Using dedicated in vitro assays, our results showed that these virulence factors act at different steps during amoeba-vibrio interactions than they do in oysters-vibrio interactions. Hence, the virulence factors of LGP32 are key determinants of biotic interactions with multiple hosts ranging from protozoans to metazoans, suggesting that the selective pressure exerted by amoebae in marine coastal environments favor coincidental selection of virulence factors.
Spatial updating of attention across eye movements: A neuro-computational approach
Authors: Bergelt Julia , Hamker Fred H.
Published: October 2018

While scanning our environment, the retinal image changes with every saccade. Nevertheless, the visual system anticipates where an attended target will be next and attention is updated to the new location. Recently, two different types of perisaccadic attentional updates were discovered: Predictive remapping of attention before saccade onset (Rolfs, Jonikaitis, Deubel, & Cavanagh, 2011) as well as lingering of attention after saccade (Golomb, Chun, & Mazer, 2008; Golomb, Pulido, Albrecht, Chun, & Mazer, 2010). We here propose a neuro-computational model located in LIP based on a previous model of perisaccadic space perception (Ziesche & Hamker, 2011, 2014). Our model can account for both types of updating of attention at a neural systems level. The lingering effect originates from the late updating of the proprioceptive eye position signal and the remapping from the early corollary discharge signal. We put these results in relationship to predictive remapping of receptive fields and show that both phenomena arise from the same simple, recurrent neural circuit. Thus, together with the previously published results, the model provides a comprehensive framework to discuss multiple experimental observations that occur around saccades.
Authorship inflation and author gender in pulmonology research
Authors: Umberham Blake , Smith Caleb , Henning Nolan , Vassar Matt
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Honorary authorship and equal gender representation are two pressing matters in scientific research. Honorary authorship is the inclusion of authors who do not meet the criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship guidelines. The inclusion of honorary authors in the medical literature has led to an increase of the number of authors on studies and a decrease in single author studies in various fields.

Methods

Our primary objective was to assess authorship trends in two major pulmonology journals (selected on the basis of Google Scholar rankings): Thorax and American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. We reviewed all articles published in both journals in the years 1994, 2004, and 2014 using Web of Science and extracted data such as number of authors and gender of the first and last authors.

Results

The total number of authors steadily increased from 1994 to 2014. The median number of authors grew from about four in 1994 to nearly seven in 2014, which is approximately a 75% increase. When we compiled all the data, we found the percentage of female authors from both journals had increased from 17% to 29.9% during the study period.

Discussion

We found an increase in the average number of authors on pulmonology publications between 1994 and 2014 as well as an increase in the number of females with a lead or main author position. This may be due to a variety of factors, such as increased team science. However, our data in conjunction with data from other areas of medicine, indicate that honorary authorship may be contributing to the trends we identified.
CopySwitch -in vivooptimization of gene copy numbers for heterologous gene expression inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Nadler Florian , Bracharz Felix , Kabisch Johannes
Published: October 2018

1.

The Gram-positive bacteriumBacillus subtilishas long been used as a host for production and secretion of industrially relevant enzymes like amylases and proteases. It is imperative for optimal efficiency, to balance protein yield and correct folding. Gene copy numbers are an important tuning valve for the optimization of heterologous gene expression. While some genes are best expressed from many gene copies, for other genes, medium or even single copy numbers are the only way to avoid formation of inclusion bodies, toxic gene dosage effects or achieve desired levels for metabolic engineering. In order to provide a simple and robust method to address above-mentioned issues in the Gram-positive bacteriumBacillus subtilis, we have developed an automatable system for the tuning of heterologous gene expression based on the host’s intrinsic natural competence and homologous recombination capabilities. By supplying our reporter strains with a linearized, low copy number plasmid containing homology regions left and right of the reporter genes and an antibiotic resistance marker, we could show an up to 3.6-fold highergfp(green fluorescent protein) expression and up to 1.3-fold highermPLC(mature phospholipase C) expression after successful recombination and thus circularization of our plasmid. Furthermore, the plasmid-bornegfpexpression seems to be more stable, since over the whole cultivation period the share of fluorescent cells compared to all measured cells is consistently higher.