bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frontotemporal Dementia Caused by the P301L Mutation in the MAPT Gene: Clinicopathological Features of 13 Cases from the Same Geographical Origin in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Borrego-Écija Sergi , Morgado Joana , Palencia-Madrid Leire , Grau-Rivera Oriol , Reñé Ramón , Hernández Isabel , Almenar Consuelo , Balasa Mircea , Antonell Anna , Molinuevo José Luis , Lladó Albert , Martínez de Pancorbo Marian , Gelpi Ellen , Sánchez-Valle Raquel
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: We identified and studied 13 patients carrying the P301L mutation in the MAPT gene from the same area (Baix Llobregat County) in Barcelona, Spain. Methods: The demographic and clinical features were reviewed retrospectively. Detailed neuropathological characterization was obtained in 9 subjects. To investigate the origin of the P301L mutation in these families, 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MAPT gene were analyzed. Results: The mean age at disease onset was 51 years and the mean disease duration was 7 years. The most common initial symptoms were behavioral changes (54%), followed by language disturbances (31%) and memory loss (15%). 46% developed parkinsonism. Neuropathology showed an extensive neuronal and glial 4-repeat (4R) tauopathy with “mini-Pick”-like bodies in the dentate gyrus as the characteristic underlying pathology in all cases. In 1 subject, additional 4R globular glial inclusions were observed. All the mutation carriers showed the same haplotype for the SNPs analyzed, suggesting a common ancestor. Conclusion: These findings suggest a relative homogeneous clinicopathological phenotype in P301L MAPT mutation carriers in our series. This phenotype might help in the differential diagnosis from other tauopathies and be a morphological hint for genetic testing. The haplotype analysis results suggest a founder effect of the P301L mutation in this area.
CNTN-1 Enhances Chemoresistance in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Through Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Targeting the PI3K/Akt Pathway
Authors: Zhang Ruijie , Sun Shenghua , Ji Fuyun , Liu Chun , Lin Hua , Xie Lihua , Yang Honghui , Tang Wenxiang , Zhou Yan , Xu Jianping , Li Pei
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Chemoresistance has been a major obstacle to the effective treatment of lung cancer. Previously, we found that contactin-1 (CNTN-1) is related to cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma. Here, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism behind the role of CNTN-1 in cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: EMT-associated phenotypes, including alterations in cellular morphology and marker (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin) expression, were compared between A549 cells and A549/DDP cells (a cisplatin-resistant cell line of lung adenocarcinoma with abnormal CNTN-1 expression) by using real-time time PCR and Western blotting. Other methods, including CNTN-1 overexpression in A549 cells and CNTN-1 knockdown in A549/DDP cells, were also used to investigate the role of CNTN-1 in mediating the EMT phenotype and thr resulting cisplatin resistance and malignant progression of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Results: A549/DDP cells exhibited an EMT phenotype and aggravated malignant behaviors. CNTN-1 knockdown in A549/DDP cells partly reversed the EMT phenotype, increased drug sensitivity, and attenuated the malignant progression whereas CNTN-1 overexpression in A549 cells resulted in the opposite trend. Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt pathway was involved in the effects of CNTN-1 on EMT progression in A549/DDP cells, verified by the xenograft mouse model. Conclusion: CNTN-1 promotes cisplatin resistance in human cisplatin-resistant lung adenocarcinoma through inducing the EMT process by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CNTN-1 may be a potential therapeutic target to reverse chemoresistance in cisplatin-resistant lung adenocarcinoma.
Untangling Longevity, Dauer, and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans Insulin/IGF-1-Signalling
Authors: Ewald Collin Yvès , Castillo-Quan Jorge Iván , Blackwell T. Keith
Published: September 2017

The groundbreaking discovery that lower levels of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) can induce lifespan extension was reported 24 years ago in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this organism, mutations in the insulin/IGF-1 receptor gene daf-2 or other genes in this pathway can double lifespan. Subsequent work has revealed that reduced IIS (rIIS) extends lifespan across diverse species, possibly including humans. In C. elegans, IIS also regulates development into the diapause state known as dauer, a quiescent larval form that enables C. elegans to endure harsh environments through morphological adaptation, improved cellular repair, and slowed metabolism. Considerable progress has been made uncovering mechanisms that are affected by C. elegans rIIS. However, from the beginning it has remained unclear to what extent rIIS extends C. elegans lifespan by mobilizing dauer-associated mechanisms in adults. As we discuss, recent work has shed light on this question by determining that rIIS can extend C. elegans lifespan comparably through downstream processes that are either dauer-related or -independent. Importantly, these two lifespan extension programs can be distinguished genetically. It will now be critical to tease apart these programs, because each may involve different longevity-promoting mechanisms that may be relevant to higher organisms. A recent analysis of organismal “healthspan” has questioned the value of C. elegans rIIS as a paradigm for understanding healthy aging, as opposed to simply extending life. We discuss other work that argues strongly that C. elegans rIIS is indeed an invaluable model and consider the likely possibility that dauer-related processes affect parameters associated with health under rIIS conditions. Together, these studies indicate that C. elegans and analyses of rIIS in this organism will continue to provide unexpected and exciting results, and new paradigms that will be valuable for understanding healthy aging in humans.
Temperature Probe Placement during Preterm Infant Resuscitation: A Randomised Trial
Authors: Bensouda Brahim , Mandel Romain , Mejri Abdelwaheb , Lachapelle Jean , St-Hilaire Marie , Ali Nabeel
Published: September 2017

Background: Hypothermia on admission to intensive care is associated with poor outcomes in preterm infants. The neonatal resuscitation program recommends the use of servo-control thermoregulation during resuscitation. Very little evidence exists to guide optimal temperature probe placement in the delivery room. Objective: The aim of this work was to determine, in moderately preterm infants, if temperature probe placement in the dorsal, thoracic, or axillary area during delivery room resuscitation would result in differing temperatures on admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: A randomised trial with 3 arms was conducted. In total, 122 inborn preterm infants born between 280/7 and 356/7 weeks of gestational age were recruited. The infants were randomly assigned to thermal probe placement in the left lower back, left upper thorax, or left axilla immediately after birth. Temperature was servo-controlled using an infant resuscitation table set to 36.5°C. The primary outcome was axillary temperature at admission to the NICU before transfer to a closed isolette, recorded with a digital thermometer. The secondary outcomes assessed were temperature within the target range (36.5-37.5°C), hypothermia (<36.5°C), and hyperthermia (>37.5°C). Results: All 122 infants were available for outcome analysis. The groups were comparable for birthweight, gestational age, and sex. The mean admission temperature was comparable between the 3 probe positions (mean, 95% CI): dorsum (36.7°C, 36.6-36.8), thorax (36.8°C, 36.7-36.9), and axilla (36.7°C, 36.6-36.9), p = 0.43. The proportion of infants with admission temperatures in the target range was comparable (87.2, 81.4, and 72.5% respectively), p = 0.44. Conclusion: Dorsal, thoracic, or axillary temperature probe positioning during resuscitation yield similar admission temperatures in moderately preterm infants. Further studies are required in infants below 28 weeks of gestation to determine the best practice.
The Situation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine / Integrative Medicine in Finland: Genuine Research Is Needed
Authors: Zimmermann Peter Josef , Aarva Pauliina , Sorsa Minna
Published: September 2017

The official acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or integrative medicine in the academic discussion and in health policies in Finland is still poor. This is in contradiction to the fact that modern Finnish citizens use CAM as much as any people elsewhere in the European Union, with rates of 28-46% of the general population, or even more. This was one of the reasons for the foundation of the Finnish Forum for Research in Integrative Medicine and Healthcare (SILF) in November 2014. A first challenge for the SILF was to facilitate a research seminar to address the issue of CAM research as a part of the Finnish academic research. The seminar was organized by the Department of Health Sciences of the University of Tampere on November 13, 2015. Almost one third of the more than 400 participants were health professionals, and again one-third out of this group were physicians. As a result of the seminar, a research network was inaugurated. Obviously there is an increasing interest of health professionals in CAM and maybe even a change of attitude towards CAM also in Finland. However, genuine Finnish CAM research is essential in order to open up the academic discussion.
Rivaroxaban for Preventing Venous Thromboembolism in High-Risk Ambulatory Patients with Cancer: Rationale and Design of the CASSINI Trial
Authors: Khorana Alok , Vadhan-Raj Saroj , Kuderer Nicole , Wun Ted , Liebman Howard , Soff Gerald , Belani Chandra , O'Reilly Eileen , McBane Robert , Eikelboom John , Damaraju C.V , Beyers Karen , Dietrich Flavia , Kakkar Ajay , Riess Hanno , Peixoto Renata , Lyman Gary
Published: September 2017

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication of cancer associated with morbidity, mortality, increased hospitalizations and higher health care costs. Cancer patients at increased risk for VTE can be identified using a validated risk assessment score, and the incidence of VTE can be reduced in high-risk settings using anticoagulation. Rivaroxaban is a potent, oral, direct, factor Xa inhibitor approved for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events, including VTE. CASSINI is a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, multicentre study comparing rivaroxaban with placebo in adult ambulatory patients with various cancers who are initiating systemic cancer therapy and are at high risk of VTE (Khorana score ≥ 2). Patients with primary brain tumours or those at risk for bleeding are excluded. Approximately 700 patients will be randomized 1:1 to rivaroxaban 10 mg daily or placebo for up to 6 months if there is no evidence of VTE from compression ultrasonography (CU) during screening or from routine care imaging within 30 days prior to randomization. Mandatory CU will also be performed at weeks 8 and 16 (±7 days), and at study end (±3 days). The primary efficacy hypothesis is that anticoagulation with rivaroxaban reduces the composite of objectively confirmed symptomatic or asymptomatic, lower-extremity, proximal deep-vein thrombosis (DVT); symptomatic, upper-extremity DVT; symptomatic or incidental pulmonary embolism; and VTE-related death compared with placebo. The primary safety objective is to assess major bleeding events (Clinical trial information: NCT02555878).
Predicting Major Bleeding in Ischemic Stroke Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Hilkens Nina A. , Algra Ale , Greving Jacoba P.
Published: September 2017

Background and Purpose—

Performance of risk scores for major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation and a previous transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke is not well established. We aimed to validate risk scores for major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulants after cerebral ischemia and explore the net benefit of oral anticoagulants among bleeding risk categories.

Methods—

We analyzed 3623 patients with a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke included in the RE-LY trial (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy). We assessed performance of HEMORR
2
HAGES (hepatic or renal disease, ethanol abuse, malignancy, older age, reduced platelet count or function, hypertension [uncontrolled], anemia, genetic factors, excessive fall risk, and stroke), Shireman, HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly), ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation), and ORBIT scores (older age, reduced haemoglobin/haematocrit/history of anaemia, bleeding history, insufficient kidney function, and treatment with antiplatelet) with C statistics and calibration plots. Net benefit of oral anticoagulants was explored by comparing risk reduction in ischemic stroke with risk increase in major bleedings on warfarin.

Results—

During 6922 person-years of follow-up, 266 patients experienced a major bleed (3.8 per 100 person-years). C statistics ranged from 0.62 (Shireman) to 0.67 (ATRIA). Calibration was poor for ATRIA and moderate for other models. The reduction in recurrent ischemic strokes on warfarin was larger than the increase in major bleeding risk, irrespective of bleeding risk category.

Conclusions—

Performance of prediction models for major bleeding in patients with cerebral ischemia and atrial fibrillation is modest but comparable with performance in patients with only atrial fibrillation. Bleeding risk scores cannot guide treatment decisions for oral anticoagulants but may still be useful to identify modifiable risk factors for bleeding. Clinical usefulness may be best for ORBIT, which is based on a limited number of easily obtainable variables and showed reasonable performance.
Annotated catalogue of the click-beetle subfamily Tetralobinae (Coleoptera: Elateridae)
Authors: KUBACZKOVA MAGDALENA , KUNDRATA ROBIN
Published: September 2017

An annotated catalogue of the World Tetralobinae (Coleoptera: Elateridae) is presented. Two tribes are recognized, Tetralobini and Piezophyllini. Altogether, 78 species are classified in Tetralobinae. Tetralobini includes 73 species in six genera: Tetralobus Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (52 species; subgenus Tetralobus 51 species, subgenus Dodecamerus Laurent, 1968 one species), Neotetralobus Girard, 1987 (one species), Paratetralobus Laurent, 1964a (one species), Pseudalaus Laurent, 1967 (two species), Pseudotetralobus Schwarz, 1902 (16 species), and Sinelater Laurent, 1967 (one species). Piezophyllini includes only Piezophyllus Hope, 1842 (five species). Most Tetralobinae are distributed in the Afrotropical Region, and several species are additionally known from the Oriental, East Palaearctic, and Australian Regions. For each taxon we provide synonyms, information on types, type localities, distribution, and bibliography. Sinelater perroti (Fleutiaux, 1940) is recorded from Bhutan for the first time.
Two new species of the millipede genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847 from Southwest China (Diplopoda: Spirostreptida: Cambalopsidae)
Authors: JIANG XUAN-KONG , LV JING-CAI , GUO XUAN , YU ZHI-GANG , CHEN HUI-MING
Published: September 2017

Two new Chinese species of the millipede genus Glyphiulus Gervais, 1847, Glyphiulus latus sp. nov. and Glyphiulus liangshanensis sp. nov., from three caves in Sichuan Province are described. According to the structure of the first male leg pair, the new species belong to the javanicus-group.
A new genus and two new species of galling aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Distylium (Hamamelidaceae) in Taiwan
Authors: YEH HSIN-TING , KO CHIUN-CHENG
Published: September 2017

Cecidological and taxonomic investigations of members of the aphid tribe Nipponaphidini (Aphididae: Hormaphidinae) are proceeding very slowly owing to the rarity of galls and difficulty in distinguishing morphologies. We describe here two new Nipponaphidini species that induce galls on the primary host, Distylium racemosum Siebold & Zucc. (Isu tree, Hamamelidaceae), from Taiwan. One is designated Monzenia minuta sp. n. which induces a closed spherical gall on twigs of D. racemosum. The other one is designated as a new genus, Tripartita gen. n., and new species, formosana sp. n. which can induce open, spindle-like galls on leaves of D. racemosum and also on leaves of Distyliopsis dunnii (J.H.Hemsl.) Endress (Hamamelidaceae). This is the first report of the same hormaphidine aphid species inducing galls on two distinct primary hosts. Here we provide morphological diagnoses and cecidological information for both new species.
HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa: NGO interventions supporting transitions to alternative care
Authors: Breckenridge Tiffany Ann , Black-Hughes Christine , Rautenbach John , McKinley Michelle
Published: September 2017

By 2015, an estimated 2.3–4.8 million children will be orphaned due to AIDS-related illness. Limited information is available on the emotional and behavioral problems that AIDS-orphaned children experience. This qualitative study explores 49 orphaned children who were observed in a non-governmental organization group setting in a small, rural village located in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Of the children in this study, 20 were orphaned due to AIDS. However, 19 children were orphaned due to parental death with an undeclared cause, but the deaths are believed to have resulted from AIDS.
Thermal conductivity of biomimetic leaf composite
Authors: Liu G , Ghosh R , Mousanezhad D , Vaziri A , Nayeb-Hashemi H
Published: September 2017

The venous morphology of a typical plant leaf affects its mechanical and thermal properties. Such a material could be considered as a fiber reinforced composite structure where the veins and the rest of the leaf are considered as two materials having highly contrast mechanical and thermal properties. The variegated venations found in nature is idealized into three principal fibers—the central mid-fiber corresponding to the mid-rib, straight parallel secondary fibers attached to the mid-fiber representing the secondary veins, and then another set of parallel fibers emanating from the secondary fibers mimicking the tertiary veins of a typical leaf. This paper addresses the in-plane thermal conductivity of such a composite by considering such a venous fiber morphology embedded in a matrix material. We have considered two cases, fibers having either higher or lower conductivity respect to the matrix. The tertiary fibers do not interconnect the secondary fibers in our present study. We carry out finite element based computational investigation of the thermal conductivity of these composites under uniaxial thermal gradients and study the effect of different fiber architectures. To this end, we use two broad types of architectures both having similar central main fiber but differing in either having only secondary fibers or additional tertiary fibers. The fiber and matrix volume fractions are kept constant and a comparative parametric study is carried out by varying the inclination of the secondary fibers. We find the heat conductivity in the direction of the main fiber (Y direction) increases significantly as the fiber angle of the secondary increases. Furthermore, for composite with metal fibers, the conductivity in the Y direction is further enhanced when composite is manufactured by having secondary fibers forming a closed cell structure. However, for composite with ceramic fibers, the conductivity of the composite in the Y direction is little affected by having secondary fibers closed. An opposite behavior is observed when considering conductivity of the composite in the X direction. The conductivity of the composite in the X direction is reduced with increase in the angle of the secondary fibers. Higher conductivity in the X direction is achieved for composite with no closed cells for composites with metal fibers. The results also indicate that for composites with the constant fiber volume fraction, morphology of tertiary fibers may not significantly alter material conductivities. In conclusion, introducing a leaf-mimicking topology in fiber architecture can provide significant additional degrees of tunability in design of these composite structures.
Book Review: T.K. Khongsai, The Kukis Unforgettable Patriot: Profile of Lalkhohen
Authors: Haokip Kamminlen
Published: September 2017

T.K. Khongsai, The Kukis Unforgettable Patriot: Profile of Lalkhohen. Kolkata: Pages and Chapters, 2014, 248 pp., ISBN: 978-81-8211-117-2.
Adaptive composite control method of permanent magnet synchronous motor systems
Authors: Sun Zhenxing , Li Shihua , Wang Jiegao , Zhang Xinghua , Mo Xiaohui
Published: September 2017

With the development of digital signal processes, the relative differences of PMSM single loop in control periods between the speed loop and current loops are becoming smaller or even vanishing. Therefore, cascade control schemes seem to be unnecessary. In addition, considering the effects of disturbances and the variety of moments of inertia, this paper proposes a scheme using an adaptive non-cascade control method to design the controller, which merges speed loop and q-axis current loop into one single loop. First, an extended state observer (ESO) is employed to estimate the disturbances of the system. The estimated value is used in the feedforward compensation design to improve the capability of system anti-disturbance. Then, considering the performance degradation caused by inertia change, an adaptive control scheme is developed. By using inertia identification technology, the feedforward compensation gain can be tuned automatically according to the identification value. Several groups of simulations and experiments are carried out and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Design and implementation of an adaptive backstepping controller for a magnetic levitation system
Authors: Adıgüzel Fatih , Dokumacılar Ersin , Akbatı Onur , Türker Türker
Published: September 2017

Dynamics of magnetic levitation systems contain high order nonlinearities and uncertainties on the physical parameters. Despite of these uncertainties and nonlinearities, the main purpose of this study is to drive the position tracking error of the ball to zero. In order to achieve this, an adaptive backstepping controller is designed. After deriving the error dynamics and designing the adaptive backstepping controller, adaptation rules are defined for the uncertain model parameters and the gravitational acceleration in the system model. Numerical simulations are performed for different working conditions to test the designed controller and the adaptation rules. In addition to this, the viability of the proposed controller is verified through experimental studies and satisfactory results are obtained.
An investigation of postsecondary violin instructors’ remedial pedagogy: A case study
Authors: Mio Vanessa A.
Published: September 2017

Applied violin instructors at the postsecondary level often implement remedial pedagogy with incoming first-year students in order to address technical/musical habits or deficiencies. As students strive to alter their technique, resistance to change and low self-efficacy often result. Using a descriptive qualitative multiple case study research design, 10 postsecondary violin instructors from across North America were interviewed to gain insight into their personal perspectives and experiences implementing remedial pedagogy with first-year violin students. The interview data and external data sources were analyzed through the theoretical framework of attribution theory and teacher attribution scaffolding theory.

The results indicate that many participants address correction through effective communication, based on the individual physiological/psychological wellbeing of every student, their level of self-efficacy, motivation, resistance to change, and postsecondary expectations. The pedagogical expertise and applied experiences presented in this study should inform current and future violin pedagogues about how to effectively address technical/musical deficiencies so that the wellbeing of students remains a priority throughout the remedial process.
Symptomatic duodenal perforation by inferior vena cava filter
Authors: Baptista Sincos Anna PW , Sincos Igor R , Labropoulos Nicos , Donegá Bruno C , Klepacz Andrea , Aun Ricardo
Published: September 2017

Objectives

Duodenal perforation by an inferior vena cava filter is rare and life threatening. Our objective is to find out number of occurrences and compare diagnosis and treatments.

Method

The reference list of Malgor’s review in 2012 was considered as well as all new articles with eligible features. Search was conducted on specific databases: MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde.

Results

Most of the patients presented with upper abdominal pain and the use of radiologic studies was crucial for diagnosis. The most common treatment was laparotomy with filter or strut removal plus duodenum repair. However, clinical conditions of patients must be considered and the endovascular technique with endograft deployment into inferior vena cava may be an alternative.

Conclusion

Duodenal perforation by an inferior vena cava filter is uncommon and in high-risk surgical patients endovascular repair must be considered.
Music performance anxiety: Exploring structural relations with self-efficacy, boost, and self-rated performance
Authors: González Antonio , Blanco-Piñeiro Patricia , Díaz-Pereira M. Pino
Published: September 2017

The first aim of this study was to analyse performance self-efficacy as a predictor of music performance anxiety (MPA), and performance boost and self-rated performance as their outcomes in a sample of students and professionals (teachers and performers). This work also tries to ascertain the similarities and differences between genders and professional status by means of bivariate correlations, MANOVA, and structural equation model (SEM) analyses. A sample of 270 Spanish musicians participated in the study. With regard to the similarities, MPA was negatively predicted by self-efficacy and was a negative predictor of boost; the total effect of MPA on performance was negative and significant. Self-efficacy was a positive predictor of boost and performance. On the contrary, the predictive power of boost over performance was not significant. MPA mediated the effects of self-efficacy on boost; analogously, self-efficacy and boost mediated the influence of efficacy on performance. All of these relationships were equivalent for the four groups of females, males, students, and professionals. As for the main differences, the study showed that performers obtained the highest values in self-efficacy, boost, and performance; students surpassed teachers and performers in MPA; and females were the most anxious subsample. We discuss these findings, acknowledging their limitations and highlighting their implications.
How >:( is Bizet? Icon ratings of music
Authors: Murari Maddalena , Schubert Emery , Rodà Antonio , Da Pos Osvaldo , De Poli Giovanni
Published: September 2017

Can music be rated consistently using icon descriptors without verbal mediation? Sixty-eight participants rated six experimenter- and two self-selected pieces of music along 15 bipolar icon scales intended to portray emotions, and sensory experiences involving color, temperature, shape, speed, texture, and weight. Several replications were reported, including Mozart being blue, Brahms being soft and Bizet being takete (a jagged shape). Crossmodal associations with individual pieces were similar to those reported in previous studies, but self-selected liked and disliked musics did not evoke as many such associations, leading to the conclusion that crossmodal perception may be indicative of music character more so than it is of hedonic tone. The similarity of results in the present study and previous research suggests that icon scales may provide a convenient alternative to sensory scales in various modalities that are difficult to reproduce via current conventional computer interface technology.
Assessment of the municipal solid waste management system in Accra, Ghana: A ‘Wasteaware’ benchmark indicator approach
Authors: Oduro-Appiah Kwaku , Scheinberg Anne , Mensah Anthony , Afful Abraham , Boadu Henry Kofi , de Vries Nanne
Published: September 2017

This article assesses the performance of the city of Accra, Ghana, in municipal solid waste management as defined by the integrated sustainable waste management framework. The article reports on a participatory process to socialise the Wasteaware benchmark indicators and apply them to an upgraded set of data and information. The process has engaged 24 key stakeholders for 9 months, to diagram the flow of materials and benchmark three physical components and three governance aspects of the city’s municipal solid waste management system. The results indicate that Accra is well below some other lower middle-income cities regarding sustainable modernisation of solid waste services. Collection coverage and capture of 75% and 53%, respectively, are a disappointing result, despite (or perhaps because of) 20 years of formal private sector involvement in service delivery. A total of 62% of municipal solid waste continues to be disposed of in controlled landfills and the reported recycling rate of 5% indicates both a lack of good measurement and a lack of interest in diverting waste from disposal. Drains, illegal dumps and beaches are choked with discarded bottles and plastic packaging. The quality of collection, disposal and recycling score between low and medium on the Wasteaware indicators, and the scores for user inclusivity, financial sustainability and local institutional coherence are low. The analysis suggests that waste and recycling would improve through greater provider inclusivity, especially the recognition and integration of the informal sector, and interventions that respond to user needs for more inclusive decision-making.
The Significance of the Learner Profile in Recognition of Prior Learning
Authors: Snyman Marici , van den Berg Geesje
Published: September 2017

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is based on the principle that valuable learning, worthy of recognition, takes place outside formal education. In the context of higher education, legislation provides an enabling framework for the implementation of RPL. However, RPL will only gain its rightful position if it can ensure the RPL candidates’ success. Hence, the purpose of this study is to describe the significance of the learner profile of candidates. In this study, empirical research was conducted, which entailed the analysis of RPL candidates’ life stories as narratives. The findings illuminated specific characteristics of RPL candidates in terms of personal attributes, learning contexts, knowledge, and skills gained through a process of personal development. The conclusion is that this calls for an RPL approach that explicitly considers the significance of the profile at learner, practitioner, and institutional level.
Taking a Stand: Living the Art of Humanbecoming
Authors: Carroll Karen
Published: September 2017

Living the art is a disciplinary grounded knowledge contained in the humanbecoming paradigm honoring persons with true presence. The evidence and healthcare milieu may change; however, true presence brings new insights with illuminating meaning, shifting rhythms, and inspiring transcendence as nurses bear witness to the changing beliefs or patterns of persons, families, and communities. The author in this paper reviews a journey that focuses on living the art.
Adding to the Truth of the Matter: The Case for Qualitative Research
Authors: Florczak Kristine L.
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this column is to discuss the impact that qualitative research has on translational research, whose aim is to improve the health and well-being of individuals. To that end, rigorous qualitative research is examined; translational research is entertained and the manner in which qualitative research can be a co-equal partner with quantitative research is proposed.
A Unitary-Transformative Nursing Science: From Angst to Appreciation
Authors: Cowling W. Richard
Published: September 2017

The discord within nursing regarding the definition of nursing science has created great angst, particularly for those who view nursing science as a body of knowledge derived from theories specific to its unique concerns. The purpose of this brief article is to suggest a perspective and process grounded in appreciation of wholeness that may offer a way forward for proponents of a unitary-transformative nursing science that transcends the discord. This way forward is guided by principles of fostering dissent without contempt, generating a well-imagined future, and garnering appreciatively inspired action for change.
Holocene pool formation in oligotrophic fens from boreal Québec in northeastern Canada
Authors: Garneau Michelle , Tremblay Louis , Magnan Gabriel
Published: September 2017

At the biogeographical limit between the boreal and the subarctic domain in northeastern Canada, peatlands are mainly oligotrophic fens characterized by a dominance of aquatic microforms such as pools and wet hollows. These peatlands present similar features as the appa mires in Scandinavia. They show evidence for recent water-table rise indicated by tree mortality, physical degradation of strings, and pool expansion. This study aims to evaluate the timing of pool inception and their impact on the long-term dynamics of these microforms within two patterned oligotrophic fens in the Laforge region, northern Québec. Plant macrofossil and testate amoeba analyses from sediment underneath pools were used along with radiocarbon dating to reconstruct peatland pool dynamics over the Holocene. Our data indicate that wet hollows or shallow pools developed at minimal ages between ~4200 and ~2500 cal. a BP. Pool initiation in the peatlands of the Laforge region corresponds to the climate shift toward cooler and wetter conditions from the onset of the late-Holocene cooling. We suggest that the pool developed as secondary features influenced by short growing seasons, low accumulation rates, and wet conditions, which in turn affected the wettest microforms to shift into permanent pools. The differential response of microforms to shift in surface wetness shows the complexity of processes involved in pool initiation.
“Tempus Divitiae”: Locomotion orientation and evaluation of time as a precious resource
Authors: Amato Clara , Baldner Conrad S , Pierro Antonio , Kruglanski Arie W
Published: September 2017

Prior research on time issues has demonstrated that the value of time is subjective and shows that different evaluations of time (as a valuable or as an undefined resource) correspond to different attitudes, behaviors, and emotions. Based on recent research on the relationship between time and motion, the present research aimed to investigate the relationship between locomotion orientation (i.e., proclivity toward movement and change) and the evaluation of time as a resource. Two studies were conducted with 313 (244 students and 69 workers) and 139 (students) Italian participants, respectively. In the first study, The Locomotion Regulatory Mode Scale and the Mental Account Scale (Time version) were administered, while in the second study, participants were presented with two scenarios of a transaction where prior investments of time led to negative outcomes. The results of the two studies confirmed the hypotheses that (1) locomotion orientation is associated with the existence of a mental accounting process for time investments and (2) locomotion orientation is associated with greater disappointment from negative consequences of poor time expenditures. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Crossing Anatomic Barriers—Transplantation of a Kidney with 5 Arteries, Duplication of the Pyelocalyceal System, and Double Ureter
Authors: Bachul Piotr J. , Osuch Czesław , Chang Ea-sle , Bętkowska-Prokop Alina , Pasternak Artur , Szura Mirosław , Matyja Andrzej , Walocha Jerzy A.
Published: September 2017

During the time of organ harvest, it is crucial for the kidney procurement team to consider significant vascular anatomical variations. Multiple renal arteries are not uncommon, and unintentional injury can result in an irreversibly damaged kidney graft that needs to be discarded. We present a kidney graft with 5 renal arteries and a single vein that was successfully procured and implanted with good graft function at discharge and at 4-yr follow-up. According to the literature, additional renal arteries can be found in about 33% of kidneys. This is the first study on a kidney with 5 arteries in the published literature, especially in the context of transplantation.
The Pharmakon of Democracy
Authors: Kivotidis Dimitrios
Published: September 2017

This article examines the role of the Greek referendum of 2015 in the context of the Greek socio-economic and political crisis. The analysis of the mediating role of referendum in the process of class struggle leads to a more general argument relating to fundamental concepts of public law, namely, ‘general will’ and the ‘people’. Central to the analysis is the question of whether referendums are a remedy for the problems facing the institutions of representative democracy. By analysing the process of the Greek referendum, with a focus on the formulation of the question and the interpretation of the verdict of the Greek people by the executive power, a more general argument is constructed regarding the mediating role of the referendum in a crisis and the legitimating role of such concepts in a class-divided society. In a context of rising inequality and furthering distantiation of the popular strata from decision-making processes, the referendum is shown, on the one hand, as a remedy for the failings of representative institutions on behalf of capital and necessary for the reproduction of capitalist relations. On the other hand, on the background of a discussion of the relation between democracy and capitalism, it is argued that the referendum acts as a different kind of poison for the people themselves and the struggle of the popular classes.
Nurses performance in clinical ethics committees and commissions: An integrative review
Authors: de Brito Gabriela Menezes Gonçalves , de Oliveira Santa Rosa Darci
Published: September 2017

Background:

The research on nursing professionals in Clinical Ethics Committees and Nursing Ethics Commissions occurs in different parts of the world; however, little information on this subject is found in the literature.

Objective:

This study analyzed national and international publications in relation to the participation of nursing professionals in Clinical Ethics Committees.

Research design:

This was an integrative review of articles published in national and international journals between 1994 and 2016 which described the participation of nursing professionals in ethics commissions.

Participants and research context:

A total of 35 articles were selected.

Discussion and conclusion for this article:

The thematic categories were the need for time to discuss ethical issues; ethics committee to reduce the moral suffering of professionals; competencies required for participation; and barriers/difficulties and facilitators for implementation/ performance. It was concluded that professionals recognize the need for ethics committees to foster discussions. However, barriers hamper operation and fundamental competencies for participation. Communication of committee activities to professionals and educational activities may be major allies to improve the functioning of these committees.
The Khan as ‘Meta-Emperor’ in Marco Polo’s Devisement du Monde
Authors: Pérez-Simon Maud
Published: September 2017

Marco Polo’s Le Devisement du Monde (end of the thirteenth century) is one of the earliest, longest and more detailed travelogues of the Middle Ages. Widely read, the text not only describes the travels of its protagonist, but equally furnishes a comprehensive overview of Mongolian culture, society and territories. This article analyses the categories Marco Polo uses in order to describe the Khan’s realm and his exercise of power. The author rarely uses the notion of emperor in his narrative, although he clearly recognises the Khan’s claim to universal rule. The reasons behind this reluctance can be explained in several ways. First, Marco Polo became acquainted with the main languages in the regions under Mongolian rule; it might thus have seemed natural to him to use the ‘correct’ titles. Second, the French vernacular word ‘empire’ might have been reserved, in his mind, for the rulers of the ‘Roman Empire’ (in the Latin West and/or the Greek East). Finally, it seems that Marco Polo sought to ascribe to the Khans a kind of power and authority that surpassed even the might of the emperors in Europe, and this specificity could best be expressed by using a Mongolian title that, finally, was not entirely synonymous with the notion of empereur. All in all, these observations imply that the Devisement du Monde can be read not only as a travel narrative, but also as a treatise on the understanding of imperial power.
The Latino Immigrants’ Experience in Obtaining Required Childhood Vaccinations
Authors: deRose Barbara S.
Published: September 2017

Introduction: Alarming increases in childhood disease outbreaks present particular threats to children of immigrants in the United States. The researcher explores issues Latino immigrants experience when vaccinating their children in U.S. health care system. Methodology: A purposive sample of 11 Latino immigrants who sought immunizations for their foreign-born children during their first 5 years in the United States was obtained. Interview questions, probes, and data collection methods were based on interpretive phenomenology. Results: Trust issues emerged as the main theme from the Latino immigrants’ perspective based on interactions with the health care system: trusting themselves as parents to vaccinate children, trusting/mistrusting the U.S. health care providers/facilities, and mistrusting the U.S. health care system. Discussion: The researcher reports disparities in access to health care within a family unit. Parental distress results when Latino immigrants experience health care disparities between U.S.-born and foreign-born children. This can be mitigated by making vaccination practices and health care policies consistent.
Theoretical analysis of the dynamic properties of a 2-2 cement-based piezoelectric composite under impact load
Authors: Zhang Taotao , Liao Yangchao , Chen Jun
Published: September 2017

A theoretical analysis model of the dynamic properties of a 2-2 cement-based piezoelectric composite under impact load and its definite problems are presented based on the theory of piezo-elasticity in this article. Then, the theoretical solutions are obtained according to the Duhamel integral and variable separation method. The numerical simulations of the composite are presented by utilizing the transient step load, the transient haversine wave load, and transient isosceles triangle load, respectively, and compared with theoretical solutions, Zhang’s results, and Li’s results. It is found that the theoretical solutions have excellent agreement with the numerical simulations and Zhang’s results and Li’s results. In addition, the influences of piezoelectric parameters and thickness on the responses of the dynamic properties are discussed. The conclusion in this article could benefit the design and fabrication of 2-2 cement-based piezoelectric composites in engineering practice.
Understanding Setting Events: What They Are and How to Identify Them
Authors: Iovannone Rose , Anderson Cynthia , Scott Terrance
Published: September 2017

A functional behavior assessment is a process for identifying events in the environment that reliably precede (i.e., antecedents) and follow (i.e., consequences) problem behavior. This information is used to develop an intervention plan. There are two types of antecedents—triggers and setting events. Triggers are antecedent events that happen just before the behavior and seem to push it to happen while setting events can occur at a time removed before the behavior (hours or even days) and set the whole chain in motion. Setting events are not always affecting problem behavior, and they can be difficult to understand and to identify. However, when they are playing a role, it is important that they be included in the functional behavior assessment because support plans will need to incorporate them to be effective. In this article, we describe setting events, discussing how they work and why. We then explain how setting events might be identified, and how they can be incorporated into intervention planning.
Against “Whatever”
Authors: Dean Allyson S.
Published: September 2017

Weeks’s (2011) article on gender-inclusive housing explained, “The roommate you choose can be gay or straight or whatever.” This provoked a spoken-word response to Weeks and a call for seeing drag as a curricular technology. The piece invokes a drag performance the author performed in 2012, used as a teaching performance that queered the historic treatment and criticized the contemporary hypocrisy of the Catholic Church’s stance towards LGBTQ+ people.
(An)Other
Authors: Rodriguez Nathan J.
Published: September 2017

Gun violence generally and mass shootings in particular have increased dramatically over the past decade. The tragedy inherent in those incidents is magnified by our collective inability to find reasonable avenues for remediating the root causes of such action. Moreover, the ways in which many individuals process such events is to contort the context to suit their existing world view. We can and must do better.
Anesthetic Management of Laser Lead Extraction for Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices
Authors: Bhatia Meena , Safavi-Naeini Payam , Razavi Mehdi , Collard Charles D. , Tolpin Daniel A. , Anton James M.
Published: September 2017

Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) play a significant role in the modern management of cardiovascular disease. CIEDs include implantable pacemakers (PMs), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. These devices improve the quality of life of their recipients and help reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death. Traditionally, CIEDs have been reliant on the use of transvenous endocardial leads to directly connect with the heart. Over time, these endovascular leads may become endothelialized rendering removal extremely difficult. As the indications for CIEDs expands and with the continuing evolution of these devices, the number of patients requiring explantation for device recall, malfunction, and infection continues to increase. In this manuscript, we review the most common CIEDs, the indications and process of lead removal/device explantation, potential complications associated with the procedure and the anesthetic management of these patients.